The Finals Day of the 2024 JaLaChamp, Japanese Language Championship for Young Learners UK, was held on 11th May 2024 in London.

JaLaChamp is a contest for primary and secondary school students studying Japanese, and consists of two categories: a speech category, and a video category where students are asked to create an original video. On Finals Day, speech category finalists gave their speeches in front of a live audience and a panel of judges. Additionally, videos created by all the video category finalists were played on the big screen of Japan House London Hall for everyone to enjoy.

The first category of the day was the Speech Category. The four finalists in this category gave speeches on the topic of their choice, with speeches on themes as varied as the environment and cash vs electronic money. First place in this category was awarded to Polly Fletcher, a Year 12 student at Wolfreton School and Sixth Form College for her speech entitled: “Food waste is not good for both people and the planet / 食べ残しはだれにもちきゅうにもよくないです”. Second place went to Rupert Lam, a Year 12 student at Harrow School. His speech was called: “Three Ways My School Can Help the Environment / 学校は環境を守る三つの方法”.

After the Speech Category finalists finished giving their speeches, it was time for the three video categories. The finalists in these categories made videos on a set theme while using their Japanese skills as well as harnessing their creativity. They were allowed to work solo or in a group. The video category was divided by age (secondary school and primary school), and the secondary school division was split further into two according to Japanese language ability.

The first videos to be shown were the seven videos in Secondary School Division 1 (theme: “My/Our Talent / わたし（たち）の得意なこと”). Finalists in this category have a Japanese level of A1-A2 (JF Standard for Japanese-language education/CEFR). All seven videos creatively responded to the theme, using acting, presentation skills, and graphics.

Sky Phisuthikul from Wycombe Abbey School won second place for her video “Me and my hobby- Cooking!”. First place was won by Timothy Pooley from James Gillespie’s High School, for his video “ぼくのとくいなもの / My favourite thing to do”.

Next was Secondary School Division 2, where finalists have a Japanese level of B1 (JF Standard for Japanese-language education/CEFR). The set them was “What I/We Want to Save for the Future / 私（たち）が未来に残したいもの”. There were two videos in this category, with one group awarded first prize: ロクニンジャ/ROKUNINJA from Bristol Chibikko Juku (Miyo Graham from Cotham School, Elias Arango from Cotham School, Abby Callanan from Cotham School, Mei Horobin from Winterbourne Academy, Sayo Kubo-Richards from Oldfield School and Ria Stagg from Backwell School), for their video, “What we want to save for the future… Freddo’s”.

The final videos of the day were the finalists of the Primary School Division (theme: “Where I/We Live / わたし（たち）の町”). Finalists in this category have a Japanese level of A1-A2 (JF standard for Japanese-language Education/CEFR). The audience was treated to seven videos where places all over the UK were introduced. Prizes in this category were not placed, and each finalist instead won a unique individual prize based off the theme of their video.

Following the videos, there was a JaLaChamp Special Talk with guest Dr Catherine Butler from Cardiff University. Dr Butler discussed the influence of British children’s literature on Japanese animation, using the Studio Ghibli Film “Arrietty” to illustrate her points. She took questions on a variety of topics from the audience, such as translation and her favourite Ghibli films.

The microphones were then turned to the finalists and young audience members as we held the first JaLaChamp chat show, where finalists were given a chance to ask each other questions about their speeches and videos. We all got a great idea of all the hard work that went into their preparation for the contest, and there was a lot of laughter too.

Finally was the award ceremony, during which all of our finalists (both those who placed and runners-up) won wonderful prizes, many of which were provided by our brilliant and generous sponsors. It was great to see the young finalists so well-deservedly rewarded for all of their hard work.

List of Awards

Speech Category

• First Place: Polly Fletcher (Wolfreton School and Sixth Form College)


• Second Place: Rupert Lam (Harrow School)


• Runners-Up: Eric Taylor (Whitgift School); Abubakar Sambo (Wycliffe College)

Video Category – Secondary School Division 1

• First Place: Timothy Pooley (James Gillespie’s  High School)


• Second Place: Sky Phisuthikul (Wycombe Abbey School)


• Runners-Up: Hugo (Kathrine Lady Berkeley’s School); The Karate Cubers - Charis Taylor, Niamh Cardinal, Parker Bonnefin, Sean Landers (Japanese4Schools); Lochlann (Whitgift School); Yuna (Sheffield Japanese Play-group & Study-club/Tapton School); Wolfreton Year 9 Group - Rebecca H, Hannah R, Henry B, Chloe N, Sophia D (Wolfreton School and Sixth Form College)

Video Category – Secondary School Division 2

• First Place: ロクニンジャ/ROKUNINJA - Students from Bristol Chibikko Juku - Miyo Graham (Cotham School), Elias Arango (Cotham School), Abby Callanan (Cotham School), Mei Horobin (Winterbourne Academy), Sayo Kubo-Richards (Oldfield School), Ria Stagg (Backwell School)


• Runners-Up: A Japanology Producion - Polly F, James M, Harry N, Gracie F (Wolfreton School and Sixth Form College)

Video Category – Primary School Division

• The Excellent Explorers Award: JeDAK - Jessica Koga, Edward Oguri, Akihiko Kitagawa (The Japanese Saturday School in London)


• The Lindfield Ambassador Award: Blackthorns Community Primary Academy Japanese Club


• The Excellent Research Award: London Girls - Ayla Murase, Mira Nonomura, Ai Ukita (Kotoba no Kakehashi)


• The Wonderful Woking Award: Chan Brothers - Leo Chan (Hermitage School), Clement Chan (St. Hughof Lincoln Catholic Primary School)


• The Magical Teleporters Award: Gutch Girls - Emi Gutch, Saya Gutch (Fielding Primary School)


• The Edinburgh Navigators Award: Alice Barker (St Mary’s RC Primary School Edinburgh)


• The Nice Cooperation Award: Maple Walk School Japanese Club

We had an amazing day with a completely packed audience who all came out to see what young students studying Japanese want to say. Otuskaresama deshita (well done!) to all the finalists!

 Download the JaLaChamp 2024 programme

View photos from JaLaChamp 2024 Finals Day 

View videos from JaLaChamp 2024 Finals Day

We would like to thank our judges, interlocutor, special guest, and venue staff for all of their invaluable assistance in helping us to hold this event. This event would also not have been possible without the support of our generous sponsors: