On November 30, at the 6th All-Japan Student French Presentation Contest (hosted by the Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Department of French Studies), Ms. Miyu Onishi from the School of Letters (British, American, and European Languages and Literatures, and Linguistics) secured first place. Another participant, Mr. Seichi Fujioka, also from the School of Letters (British, American, and European Languages and Literatures, and Linguistics), achieved 5th place and was honored with the Franco-Japanese Cultural Center Award.

Ms. Onishi delivered a presentation titled "Expressive Silences (Silences expressifs)," inspired by her childhood question about why the stories of atomic bomb survivors she heard in elementary school remain so vivid in her memory. Through her current involvement in a bibliobattle club, she came to understand that non-verbal expressions, such as pauses during speech or sighs, convey the speaker’s emotions even more powerfully than words. Her presentation explored the eloquence of silence and its profound communicative power.

Mr. Fujioka delivered a presentation titled "A Tribute to the 'Useless' (Éloge de l’inutile)," advocating for the value of literature and art, often regarded as "useless," in enhancing our insight and understanding. During the Q&A session, he was asked about the connection between the image of the Eiffel Tower on his slides and his argument. He responded that while many considered the Eiffel Tower useless at the time of its construction, it has now become a symbol of Paris. This clever and insightful answer drew great enthusiasm from the audience.

Ms. Onishi, the champion, was awarded several prizes: round-trip travel expenses between Japan and France courtesy of the Embassy of France in Japan/Institut Français du Japon, eligibility to attend a French language course at Université Catholique de l'Ouest, and a ¥30,000 Amazon gift card presented by the President of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies.

Mr. Fujioka, who placed 5th, received eligibility for a French language course and French textbooks from the Franco-Japanese Cultural Center, along with a ¥10,000 Amazon gift card from the President of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies.

With Ms. Onishi's victory, Hiroshima University achieved its second consecutive win in this contest. Notably, Ms. Onishi is enrolled in Hiroshima University's specialized Trilingual Training Program.