The Annual NECTJ Bunkasai Cultural Festival and the NECTJ High School Japanese Speech Contest

Japan Society’s Education Department is proud to partner with the Northeast Council of Teachers of Japanese (NECTJ) and Hunter College for the annual Bunkasai cultural festival and Speech Contest. Japan Society has long supported this event as an activity provider, and from the upcoming 2026 Bunkasai, we are taking an even greater role in supporting this large student-centered cultural festival to enhance students’ experience with Japanese culture and language. 

For further information, please contact the Education Department at [email protected] or 212-715-1275 orr visit the NECTJ Bunkasai website.

The 31^st NECTJ Bunkasai in Partnership with Hunter College and Japan Society 

Each year, high school students who study Japanese in the New York City and tri-state areas gather with Hunter College Japanese Studies student volunteers to celebrate the Japanese language and culture while building connections with peers who share their passion for Japanese. Students compete in a language competition and haiku poem contest, and join various participatory cultural experiences that encourage them to use the Japanese language, such as tea ceremony, calligraphy, origami, karate, kendo, and more.  

Originally called “Harumatsuri,” this annual Japanese festival has been hosted by NECTJ since 1994. In 2025, Hunter College joined the event and the name of the festival changed to “Bunkasai” (Cultural Festival). 

The 30^th NECTJ High School Japanese Speech Contest (NECTJ 高校生日本語スピーチコンテスト)

Japan Society, in partnership with NECTJ, organizes  the High School Japanese Speech Contest as part of Bunkasai. The contest provides an opportunity for high school Japanese language students to present the diverse perspectives and new knowledge they have gained through studying the Japanese language and culture. This contest serves as the Northeast regional competition, and students who place in the top three are eligible to submit their speeches for consideration to the Aurora Foundation All-USA High School Japanese Speech Contest. 

Partnering Institutions

Northeast Council of Teachers of Japanese (NECJT) is a vital non-profit organization for educators and enthusiasts of Japanese language and culture. NECTJ serves as a resource for K-16 Japanese language education across the Northeastern United States. The organization focuses on promoting high-quality teaching standards, supporting professional development, and fostering collaboration among educators. NECTJ organizes workshops, conferences, and cultural exchange initiatives to enhance the teaching and learning of Japanese in addition to providing access to exclusive teaching materials and advocating for policies that support foreign language education in schools.

Hunter College Japanese Studies was established in 1986 and is the only college level program in the New York City area that offers a specific major in Japanese Language and Culture, as well as minors in Japanese Language and Japanese Studies. Students can choose from a variety of courses in language and culture, make real world connections through the program’s relationships with Japanese cultural institutions and businesses, and study abroad with partner colleges in Japan.

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The 31st NECTJ Bunkasai in partnership with Hunter College and Japan Society is supported by generous gifts by the SMBC Global Foundation, Dr. Joshua Solomon, and other Education and Family supporters.

Additional assistance is provided by ITO EN (North America).