Kakehashi Project: Post-Return Presentation by a Japanese Speech Contest Winner (March 19, 2026)

On March 19, 2026, a post-return presentation was held at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) by Mr. Joseph Marsh, a third-year student who visited Japan in February as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Kakehashi Project, a program aimed at promoting understanding of Japan.

Mr. Marsh was selected as one of ten representatives from the United States after achieving excellent results at the Japanese Speech Contest held in Denver, Colorado, in November 2025.

During his presentation, Mr. Marsh spoke about how his interest in and understanding of Japan had deepened significantly through his visit. He also expressed his gratitude for this valuable opportunity and offered words of encouragement to his juniors.

Consul Kanno and a consular staff member attended the presentation, where they were able to hear firsthand about Mr. Marsh’s meaningful experiences in Japan and interact with other attending Japanese language-learners.

We look forward to Mr. Marsh’s continued success, and hope that opportunities like this will inspire many more students of Japanese.

For related articles, please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website:
https://www.mofa.go.jp/na/na1/pageite_000001_01486.html