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JAPAN Forward launched its "Ignite" series of English compositions to directly share the voices of students in Japan with their global peers. St Paul's University student Risa Hirooka is one. Within the Institute for International Business Communication (IIBC) speech contest's motto, "Let's communicate with the world," Hirooka discusses the importance of communication with someone who accepts you for who you are, following the trauma of a bad personal experience. She explains her promising, simple-sounding method.
There are three steps in her method. While all three are important, the first step ー reopening the experience by talking to someone who accepts you for who you are ー is the most important. Sharing her own painful experience, she illustrates how her method works.
Her speech won the 1st Prize in the 3rd annual contest in 2025. Have you experienced a trauma? Her method might help, but first, let's listen.
Thirty-seventh in the Series, 'Ignite'
Risa Hirooka (©IIBC)
Risa Hirooka, 1st Prize Winner of the 3rd IIBC University Student English Speech Contest
Watch Risa Hirooka give her presentation in English:
About the Winner:
St Paul's University student Risa Hirooka experienced trauma when a sexual pervert violated her personal space in a public space. Describing the intensely personal horror, she explains how the police seemed to take her complaint lightly, and others tried to brush off the experience. She lost her self-confidence and carefree love of life. Yet, not giving up, she identified three steps ーopen, sort, and take out ー to overcome the experience. Listen to her speech to learn how it could work for others.
Upon winning the 1st Prize in the 3rd annual IIBC English Contest in 2025, she also shared this comment:
"If this speech has served as a source of support for anyone, or perhaps even sparked a subtle shift in perspective, I would be immeasurably happy. Moving forward, I intend to continue cherishing the connections I make with the people I encounter and to dedicate myself even more earnestly to the art of public speaking. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the organizers of this competition, to everyone who offered their support, and to my fellow members of the ESS."
About the Speech Contest
The "IIBC University Student English Speech Contest" is a nationwide contest for university students, organized by the organization that administers the TOEIC® Program. Risa Hirooka's presentation is from the contest's 3rd edition in May, 2025. To learn more or to participate in the future, see the IIBC homepage.
Explaining the contest, IIBC says, "In this globalized era, leading people in the direction they desire requires logical thinking, appropriate word choice, and skillful use of voice and body language.
"IIBC supports English speech activities that utilize these skills and provide a platform for communication, thereby contributing to the creation of global talent that 'connects the world.'"
Feel free to join the conversation by leaving comments on the topic in the comment box below.
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Author: Risa Hirookai, Student,
St Paul's University
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