RESULTS
2nd International Original Kanji Competition - 2021 - "Caring/Kindness"
Senior division (高校生部門)
Grand prize:
Nicole Papenfuss
(Washington Japanese Language School)
Second place:
Hiroto Eto
(Hiroo Gakuen)
Junior division (中学生部門)
Grand prize (tie):
May Paine
(Washington Japanese Language School)
Rui Iwase
(MLK middle school)
Second place (tie):
Julia Usami
(North Penn Japanese School)
Hayato Eto
(Mita International School)
Elementary Division (小学生部門)
Grand prize:
Alyssa Usami
(North Penn Japanese School)
Second place (tie):
Sakura Hinchey
(Philadelphia Japanese Language School)
Haruka Fujii
(Washington Japanese Language School)
Maya Tomisugi
(Magome 2nd elementary school)
Comments from Judges for 2021 applicants!
Ms. Turner's general comments: I enjoyed looking at all the Original Kanji Competition again. I am glad so many people are participating.
One thing I noticed was that in some of the kanji I could not see the connection to this year's theme.
Contestants need to remember that kanji originated as pictorial images, and developed slowly, over many years.
Kanji works best if it is simplified, sophisticated, and understandable. If it needs to be explained, shorter is better.
I value this contest for the way it challenges students to try new things! It’s not easy for us to judge everyone’s effort’s and creations, but I know everyone enjoyed seeing them.
Ms. Yoshimura's general comments: As in last year they all had great ideas and I enjoyed looking through them as we as appreciated every effort which every person made. However, in some cases reading (yomi) does not convey the real meaning of the kanji. This year many characters contained the character "心". I suppose this is due to the current situation we have been in. However, I would have liked to see more varieties in theme. I would have been nice to see more creativities in presentation.
1ST, HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
Nicole Papenfuss
1ST, MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION
May Paine
1ST, MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION
Rui Iwase
1ST, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DIVISION
Arisa Usami
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1st International Original Kanji Competition - 2020 - "FUN"
Senior division (高校生部門)
Grand prize:
Erica Brown, Melbourne Girls' College, Australia
Mr.&Mrs. Jack and Kelley Scott-Gentle Award:
Tony Wu, Ritsumeikan high school, Japan
AGI Award:
Honoka Ise, Harrison high school, USA
Junior division (中学生部門)
Grand prize:
Atsuki Kojima, Taki junior high school, Japan
Mr.&Mrs. Jack and Kelley Scott-Gentle Award:
Leo Sano, South Pasadena middle school, USA
AGI Award:
Chinatsu Ogawa, Kasuga junior high school, Japan
Comments from Judges for 2020 applicants!
Ms. Turner's general comments: I liked all the projects sousaku kanji! But it wasn't always easy to judge people's efforts. Some KANJI presentations were hard for me to understand. It’s important to remember that KANJI is pictorial, it isn't used like the letters in the English alphabet. You don't have to read it. I tried to evaluate these projects by category. The important points should be: 1) to convey an idea to people all at once, 2) to including the theme "FUN", and 3) to look artistic – I should want to put it in my room as shodou (calligraphy). I would like the participants to keep working and to discuss their projects with each other. Please keep this group working and enjoying KANJI.
Ms. Yoshimura's general comments: They all had great ideas and I can see lots of efforts. However, In some cases the intention and meaning were not conveyed in the works. It would be important that the work does not need lots of explanations by words. Also, the presentation should be given more thoughts. What are the differences between simple pencil/pen wiring, calligraphy and printing for your intention? What is the best way for your presentation? This affects the artistic value of your work.
GRANT PRIZE OF HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
Erica Brown, Melbourne Girls' College, Australia
GRAND PRIZE OF MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION
Atsuki Kojima, Taki junior high school, Japan
