How the KANAMACHI Kids English Contest 2025 Created a Meaningful Global Experience
“You don’t have to be fluent to stand on stage.” “Perfection isn’t the goal — trying is.”
With these beliefs at its heart, the KANAMACHI Kids English Contest 2025 was held on November 30, 2025, at Kanamachi Plat in Tokyo.
On that day, 20 children aged 4 to 10 bravely stepped onto the stage. Surrounded by supportive parents, local community members, and even child volunteers, the venue was filled with warmth, encouragement, and smiles.
Valuing the Desire to Try — Not Just English Ability
What makes this contest truly special is its philosophy.
Instead of ranking children or comparing scores, the event celebrates each child’s unique strengths and courage.
The performances were wonderfully diverse:
Memorized recitations
Short speeches and self-introductions
Songs and read-alouds
Creative presentations using handmade panels
Some children shared their love for Rubik’s Cubes, others demonstrated flexibility exercises, talked about SDGs, space, or spoke passionately about their favorite place — Kanamachi.
Every child expressed themselves in their own way, at their own level. And every effort was met with applause.
Everyone Is a Star: Awards That Celebrate Individual Strengths
At the awards ceremony, there were no winners or losers.
Instead, children received awards that recognized who they are and how they tried, such as:
Creativity Award
Good Smile Award
Beautiful Pronunciation Award
Outstanding Effort Award
Excellent Speech Award
There were no rankings. Simply standing on stage and giving it a try was already an achievement worth celebrating.
Another Set of Heroes: The Child Volunteer Staff
This event had more than just performers.
Ten children participated as volunteer staff, taking on roles such as:
Stage decoration team
Reception
Timekeeping
Guide
Working together with Teacher Angeli, the children communicated, supported one another, and helped run the event themselves.
The stage backdrop? That was designed and created by the Stage Team of child volunteers.
Many parents shared comments like:
“It was wonderful to see children working together to create the event.”
Being part of the supporting side became a powerful learning experience — one that went beyond performing in English.
Voices from Parents (Survey Highlights)
“Speaking in front of so many people was an incredibly valuable experience.”
“My child was nervous, but was able to show the results of their practice.”
“The preparation and the sense of tension were all meaningful learning experiences.”
Looking Ahead: Creating More Spaces to Try, Starting from Kanamachi
This event was free to participate, made possible by the generous support of local partners, sponsors, and volunteers.
Thanks to the community’s support, every child went home proudly carrying awards and smiles.
