The 6th Annual Asahi, Meikai & Central Queensland Universities' Japanese Speaking Festival will be held at the Tradewinds Esplanade Hotel this Saturday May 14.

Contestants will come from local secondary schools as well as from secondary schools throughout the state.

Four of the contestants will be selected to travel to Japan in November when they will participate in a Forum at Meikai University with students of Japanese from China, Taiwan and Korea.

Following the Forum, they will have the opportunity for travel and sightseeing, including a visit to Asahi University in beautiful Gifu Prefecture.

Judges include Assoc Professor Yamashita (Meikai University), Professor Shinato (Asahi University), Saeko Kitai (Japanese Language Advisor, Education Queensland) Takahiro Yokoyama (CQU) and Akiko Katsumura (CQU).

This is the first time the Festival has been held in Cairns and organisers are pleased with the response from local students.

The Festival is organised each year by staff of the Bachelor of Learning Management (Japanese) program which is offered in the Faculty of Education & Creative Arts at Central Queensland University. A CQU staff member will accompany the contest winners to Japan in November.

It is anticipated that presentation of the prizes will take place in the Trinity Esplanade Room of the Tradewinds Esplanade Hotel between 4pm and 4.30pm. ENDS Details from Carol Ann Ferguson via c.ferguson@cqu.edu.au or 4930 9275.