Eight High School and Junior High School Students Tackling Social Issues Gather in Tokyo: "Social Impact National English Speech Contest 2026 Spring" Finals Held, Over 170 Applicants Nationwide

The Social Impact National English Speech Contest, a general incorporated association, held the finals of the "Social Impact English Speech Contest (SIESC) 2026 Spring" on April 29, 2026 (Wednesday, a national holiday) in Taito City, Tokyo.

Over 170 junior high and high school students applied from across the country, and eight selected finalists presented their awareness of social issues and their own proposals in English speeches.

In this contest, not only English proficiency but also "understanding of social issues," "communication skills," "feasibility," and "initiative" were comprehensively judged. It became a platform for young people to send messages to society based on their own experiences and feelings of discomfort.

The Challenge of Junior High and High School Students Who See Social Issues as Their Own

The 2026 Spring contest covered a wide range of themes, including youth political participation, gender equality, period poverty, education in the AI era, the digital divide, support for returnee children, water issues, and labor problems.

Special Training for Finalists Also Implemented

The number of applicants increased compared to the previous contest. As a new initiative, special training for finalists was also conducted before the finals. In this training, Mr. Yuya Kubota, one of the judges, served as an instructor and held a session on the theme "What is a Better Speech?" The training aimed not only to teach speech techniques but also to cultivate each participant's ability to communicate their thoughts to society.

The training covered topics such as "What is a speech?", "What is social impact?", effective speech structure and scriptwriting methods, effective delivery techniques, how to handle Q&A sessions, and mindset preparation for the actual event. The session concluded with a Q&A where the instructor carefully answered questions from participants. Providing these learning opportunities for free, supporting the growth of challenging junior high and high school students beyond just a "contest," is one of the major features of SIESC.

The Close Finals

In the finals, the finalists proposed specific solutions and action plans for social issues based on their own experiences. Judges commented that "the overall level was extremely high, making it a close contest that required time for judging." Many participants were already engaged in local activities, educational activities, international exchange, and awareness-raising efforts, making the contest characterized by "socially implemented" speeches by high school students.

Grand Prize Winner Cocomi Sun Advocates for Youth Political Participation and Gender Equality

The grand prize (with a supplementary prize of 100,000 yen) was awarded to Cocomi Sun, Year 11 (first year of high school) at K. International School Tokyo. In her speech titled "It's Our Turn to Be Heard," Sun raised issues about political apathy among young people and the low level of female political participation in Japan. Based on her experience in Model United Nations, she emphasized the importance of young people gaining experience in speaking as political subjects from an early age. She also introduced her efforts to create an environment where young people can easily voice their opinions on social issues through English speech workshops and educational activities, powerfully stating that "Democracy needs generational participation, not generational replacement."

Excellence Award Winner Umi Yumoto Addresses Period Poverty

The excellence award (with a supplementary prize of 50,000 yen) was awarded to Umi Yumoto, Year 11 (first year of high school) at Shoei Girls' High School. Yumoto gave a speech on "Period Poverty" based on her experiences in the UK and the Philippines. She proposed the "Luna Youth Network," connecting schools in developed and developing countries, and outlined a vision to address issues of education, hygiene, and gender equality through the provision of handmade sanitary products and online exchanges. Her message, "Periods are universal. A location on a map should never determine how much a girl can participate in society," left a strong impression on many attendees.

Voices of Participants, Attendees, and Judges

Participants and parents shared comments such as: "I thought it had a unique angle different from regular English speech contests and hope it continues," "Meeting peers of the same generation who are actually working on social issues was a great inspiration," "I really liked that not only English skills but also awareness of issues and efforts were evaluated," "Experiencing the passion and challenge at the national final level made me think deeply," and "Communicating about social issues in a second language led to significant personal growth." Judge Dr. Makiko Hirata (Instructor, Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education) commented, "It was a contest with an extremely high level of speeches, content, and passion, and I was impressed, moved, and excited."

SIESC Offers Free Training Materials

SIESC offers free training materials on its official website for junior high and high school students who "don't know how to prepare a speech" or "want to speak out about social issues." Through resources like the "My Speech Workbook" and training videos by special instructors, even first-time participants can prepare for their English speeches. An archive video of the 2026 Spring finals is also available on YouTube.

About the Next Contest

The next contest, "Social Impact English Speech Contest 2026 Autumn," is scheduled to be held on October 29, 2026. Applications are expected to open around late June 2026. SIESC will continue to support the challenges of junior high and high school students who "articulate their social concerns and communicate them to the world."

[2026 Spring Finals Overview]

Contest Name: Social Impact English Speech Contest 2026 Spring
Date: April 29, 2026 (Wednesday, National Holiday)
Location: Station Front 3F, 1-4-5 Yanagibashi, Taito City, Tokyo
Organizer: Social Impact National English Speech Contest (General Incorporated Association)
Sponsor: Crimson Education Japan Co., Ltd.

[Judges]

Dr. Makiko Hirata (Instructor, Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education)