2026 FSFA Japanese Speech Contest

The Frankston Susono Friendship Association held its annual Japanese Speech Contest at Monash Peninsula Campus on Friday 4^th September. The Association is a group of volunteer citizens who administer Frankston’s sister city relationship with Susono, Shizuoka in Japan on behalf of the Frankston City Council. FSFA have worked to promote Japanese culture, the study of Japanese language plus student and cultural exchanges since the sister city relationship was established in February 1982.

The Association invited students from local primary and secondary schools to this year’s contest and 40 entries were received. Contestants were required to recite a short self-introduction followed by a set piece based on the story of Hachikō, an Akita breed dog remembered for his strong loyalty to his owner, for whom he continued to wait at Shibuya Station for almost ten years following his death in 1925.

Contestants were judged by a panel of Japanese speakers and competed in Lower Primary, Upper Primary, Japanese Environment (Primary), Junior Secondary, Intermediate Secondary, Japanese Environment (Secondary) and Senior Secondary divisions.

FSFA Vice-Chairperson Simon Hast welcomed all contestants, their parents and teachers before explaining the work undertaken by the Association and the importance of the annual contest in promoting the teaching of Japanese language in our local schools.

The evening’s program started with the 3 primary divisions and 24 excited and nervous contestants presenting before the judging panel. Individual trophies were awarded to the top three students in each division, with the top contestant in each division also awarded a perpetual trophy which is displayed at their school for the next 12 months.

Results:

Lower Primary (Prep to Year 3):

1^st           Kai L (Derinya Primary School)

2^nd          Jensen H (Derinya Primary School)

3^rd           Issy R (Derinya Primary School)

Lower Primary Trophy Winners

Upper Primary (Years 4 to 6):

1^st           Dylan F-K (Derinya Primary School)

2^nd          Max W (Derinya Primary School)

3^rd           Lewis McC (Derinya Primary School)

Upper Primary Trophy Winners

Japanese Environment (Primary):

1^st           Noah L (Derinya Primary School)

2^nd          Kai dG (Overport Primary School)

Japanese Environment (Primary) Trophy Winners

The secondary schools followed with students presenting a more detailed self-introduction and set piece or Japanese themed topic in each of the 4 divisions. At the conclusion of these speeches FSFA Committee member and MC for the night Therese Sakamoto spoke on behalf of the judges noting the high standard of all contestants and recognized the enormous challenge of memorizing and presenting a speech in the Japanese language, especially given that the senior division students are required to write, memorize and present a 3-to-5-minute speech on a topic of their choice.

Results:

Junior (Years 7 & 8):

1^st           Matilda B (Frankston High School)

2^nd          Candice C (Frankston High School)

3^rd           Neetanya S (Hillcrest Christian College)

Junior Secondary Trophy Winners

Intermediate (Years 9 & 10):

1^st           Nimar D (Hillcrest Christian College)

2^nd          Enrica L (Frankston High School)

3^rd           Joey S (Frankston High School)

Intermediate Secondary Trophy Winners

Japanese Environment (Secondary):

1^st           Aki O (Frankston High School)

2^nd          Mae F (Frankston High School) 

Japanese Environment (Secondary) Trophy Winners

Senior (Years 11 & 12):

1^st           Mitch K (Frankston High School)

2^nd          Diti G (Frankston High School)

3^rd           Lakeesha H (Hillcrest Christian College)

 

Senior Secondary Trophy Winners

Secondary School Trophy Winners

A special thank you to our panel of judges for assisting at this year’s contest; the teachers and language assistants for their hours of hard work preparing their students; and the parents and families for their attendance, encouragement and support. Finally, our appreciation and thanks to the hard-working members of the FSFA Committee for organising and running another successful Japanese Speech Contest.

Judges accepting gifts from Secondary Division Winners

International Ground Golf Report - Tony Preston (JCV Ground Golf Co-ordinator)

イベント報告

イベント参加報告

JCV Ground Golf Coordinator のTony Preston さんが、昨年に引き続き、グラウンドゴルフ発祥の地(鳥取県湯梨浜)で行

われた国際大会に参加しました。その様子をレポートしてもらいました。

Ground Golf in Yurihama 2026

JCV member Tony Preston, his younger brother Dr Mark Preston, and five members of Frankston Susono Friendship Association (FSFA) played in the 2026 Yurihama International Ground Golf Open in Tottori Prefecture on Saturday-Sunday 30-31 May this year.

Last year Tony played in the tournament with his son Riki as the first Australian representatives; this year he was joined by Bev Hannan, Derek and Joan Mosely, Therese Sakamoto and Mick Collard from FSFA.

Although there were bear attacks in cities on TV, the most ferocious wildlife they saw was a hare that wandered on to the course while they were practicing.

As part of their uniform all wore an Aboriginal-designed colourful shirt, which made it easy to pick them out in the crowd, and which got Mick Collard (left) and Mark Preston (right) on the Sunday Sports page of the Nihonkai Shinbun (see below), and in the You Tube video of the competition shot by the Ground Golf Ohji Yamane Souta.

See: You Tube https://youtu.be/g3Kat2E-D2g?si=GwFCexhc8o9glUdN

Tony was also interviewed for the Yurihama Kohyo 7 2026 Vol. 262.

On Monday 1^st June, Tony travelled using a week-long rail pass to stay 2 nights at the Okuizumo-cho Cycling Terminal near Izumi-Minari Station, in order to play in the “Tsunagu” Ground Golf Tournament at Green Hill Sato on Tuesday 2^nd June. The tournament was cancelled due to rain, but Tony had come a long way so he actually played the 3 courses in light rain.

The next stop was 2 nights at the Peace Inn Masuda Ekikita at Masuda Town. Tony played in the 114^th Fureai (International, because Tony played) G.G. Tournament at Hidamari Park Mito on Thursday 6^th June. Tony scored 146/146, getting 99 strokes for 32 holes.

On Friday, Tony headed up the coast to Hamada Town to play at the Kanagi Kinta Hai GG Tournament on Saturday. Tony came 18^th out of 20, scoring 23, 25, 23, 25 for a total of 96.

On Sunday Tony caught the train back to Kurayoshi in Tottori Prefecture. On Monday 8^th June, Tony played in the 26^th Hakuto Ground Golf Hamanasu Tournament, playing with his partner from Kurayoshi Town, Nakano Kana-san.

This was the second time Tony had played on this course, playing with his fellow Australians 2 weeks ago, and he got 158/331, scoring 63 for 24 holes, 19, 23 and 21, with a hole-in-one on the last hole in the rain.

Tony practiced at Lakeside Daiei Ground Golf Course on Wednesday 10^th June, and entered the Fuse G.G. Competition at the Yamata Sports Park Athletic Field on Thursday. Tony scored 198/250, getting a hole-in-one.

On Friday 12^th June, Tony moved to Yurihama to stay at Suimeiso Inn in preparation for the 38^th Birthplace Open Competition at Shiokaze no Oka Tomari on Saturday 13^th June and Sunday 14^th June. This was a 4-person event, so Tony partnered Nakano Kana-san from Kurayoshi, and sisters Mitsue and Akemi from Tokyo, to form Team Dragon, the first team from Australia. Kana-san got 2 holes-in-one, which saved us from coming last.

So it was a pleasant 3 weeks devoted to Ground Golf in Tottori Prefecture and Shimane Prefecture in May and June, participating in 6 tournaments and practicing at another 5 courses.

Frankston Taiko Drumming Group @ VFL Frankston Dolphins Home Game

The Frankston Taiko Drumming Group was formed just over 3 years ago when Toshi Sakamoto, Melbourne’s best-known taiko group Wadaiko Rindo’s leader, came to Frankston High School to teach our first lesson. We started with the basics of taiko drumming – how to hold the bachi (drum sticks), stance and body position, arm movements and simple drumming patterns and rhythms.

Our first taiko lesson with Toshi Sakamoto - Sunday 28th June 2023

In the years since, the group has performed at the Australian Fair in our sister city of Susono, practiced using gomi daiko (rubbish bin drums) made by the group thanks to the generous support from Frankston Bunnings, run numerous Bunnings Sausage Sizzles which have raised funds to purchase our own set of taiko drums and other equipment, conducted Come ‘N’ Try workshops at Ballam Park, Frankston Bunnings and for the St Johns Ambulance group at the Ebdale Community Centre, started a Taiko Club at Overport Primary School, and performed at numerous other community and school events including our own Japanese Festival held in early August 2025.

Come 'N' Try at Ballam Park using gomi daiko

By far our largest public performance occurred on Friday 31^st July when the group attended Kinetic Park to play at the Frankston Dolphins’ home game against Port Melbourne. Eight members of our taiko group performed 2 pieces on the oval before drumming as the Frankston team ran onto the ground and then joined the crowd on the Plowman Place wing.

Frankston Taiko members performing on the ground

The original aim was to play the drums after each Frankston goal, but that soon changed to celebrating any time a Frankston player marked, tackled or kicked the ball inside their forward line. The atmosphere and vibe was amazing and the group thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

Frankston team led out by Noah Gown in his 100th VFL game!

During the night we were joined by one of the students visiting Derinya Primary School from Susono City with 9 other Year 6 to 8 students, plus his host family and friends, and also students from Overport Primary School. There were also children in the crowd who joined to play along with the group. The feedback from people in the crowd was also very positive and complimentary – we had apparently created a great atmosphere for the players and crowd!

Japanese visitors Keito and Rio joined the group to play

And thankfully, the Frankston team had a great win! The team also showed their appreciation as they left the ground and the feedback from club officials, including Commercial Lead Adrian Lloyd, was greatly appreciated. We’ve been invited back, and the club is keen to secure our participation at future home fixtures!

Group members wore a Frankston Dolphins jumper under our Susono happi coats