St. Giles Hotel, Kuala Lumpur – April 18th, 2026 – Karaoke Manekineko (managed by KOSHIDAKA International / KOSHIDAKA Malaysia) was invited to participate as one of the esteemed sponsors for The 23rd Japanese Speech Contest hosted by Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur (JFKL).
Our company strives to promote Japanese culture and contribute to local communities via entertainment. Through our support for this competition, we hope to encourage the many aspiring young talents working hard to master the Japanese Language in Malaysia.
■ Contest Overview and Results
From the nationwide submissions, 14 high school student finalists were selected. The theme for this year was “Hoshi (Star)”. The participants each has to submit a draft of their speech on what the word “Hoshi” means to them, and are free to interpret the theme as they will.
After a rigorous judging process, Ms. Lim Ern Yii from Tsun Jin High School, Kuala Lumpur was named as the first place winner. In Ms. Lim’s speech “Watashi ni Hikari wo kureta Star (The Star who gave me light)”, she eloquently conveyed her profound gratitude to her supportive mother in Japanese, employing deeply moving language and emotionally resonant expressions.
■ Our Contribution
In recognition of the dedication and passion demonstrated by all 14 finalists—who showcased the fruits of their daily efforts—we presented each of them with a gift voucher from Karaoke Manekineko, redeemable at all our outlets across Malaysia.
■ Future Prospects
KOSHIDAKA International/KOSHIDAKA Malaysia remain committed to actively supporting the promotion of Japanese language education and cultural exchange initiatives. Through our karaoke service, we aim to foster activities that serve as a meaningful bridge between Malaysia and Japan.
This article is also published on VRITIMES
