On November 11th, 2023, the 18th Beijing Japanese Essay Speech Contest was held at Capital Normal University in Beijing, China, where Hiroshima University’s Beijing Research Center is located.

The theme of this year's contest was "Marking the 45th Anniversary of Concluding the Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship." Contestants were recruited from universities throughout China, and five outstanding students who passed the first round of essay judging competed in the final competition.

The contest began with an opening speech by Professor Yoshichika Honda, Director of the HU Beijing Research Center, followed by the greetings given by special guests, Counselor Sawago Nagamori from the Embassy of Japan in China and Mr. Kazuki Kohara from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Beijing Representative Office. Also, as an online special guest, Chief Director Shigehiro Komaru of the Shibuya Ikueikai Foundation (President and Representative Director of the Fukuyama Transporting Co.), who is the special sponsor of this contest, gave an address.

Following the opening addresses, five students presented speeches in fluent Japanese, and after careful consideration, Mr. Ma Changhe from Sichuan International Studies University was awarded first prize.

At the end of the contest, each judge commented on the speeches, and closing remarks were given by Deputy Director Li Junyang from the HU Beijing Research Center. The participants, approximately 80 people, both in-person and online, listened enthusiastically until the very end.