The Undergraduate Program in Japanese Literature of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FIB USU) held the 2023 North Sumatra and Aceh Regional Japanese Presentation Competition with the theme “Technology and I” on September 13, 2023. The activity was organized in collaboration with The Japan Foundation Jakarta, the Consulate General of Japan in Medan, and Medan Japan Club as a platform for university students and Japanese language learners to develop their Japanese language skills and convey ideas through presentations.

The activity was attended by five students of the Undergraduate Program in Japanese Literature of FIB USU and one student from the Habatake Medan Course Institute. The event began with remarks from the Head of the Organizing Committee, Drs. Yuddi Adrian Muliadi, M.A., and the Head of the Undergraduate Program in Japanese Literature of FIB USU, Alimansyar, S.S., M.A., Ph.D. In his remarks, the Dean of FIB USU, Dr. Tengku Thyrhaya Zein, M.A., expressed his hope that the activity would motivate students to be more active in participating in various competitions related to Japanese studies while improving their Japanese language skills.

The activity was also attended by the Consul General of Japan in Medan, Mr. Takonai Susumu, Ph.D. The presence of the Consul General of Japan was part of the support for learning activities and the development of Japanese language skills among university students. In addition to delivering remarks, he also officially opened the activity held at FIB USU.

The 2023 North Sumatra and Aceh Regional Japanese Presentation Competition was judged by three judges, namely Mr. ASANO Shunya, Consul of Japan in Medan, as the Head of the Jury, Ms. ONO Eriko from Medan Japan Club, and Ms. SHIGEMURA Miyoko from The Japan Foundation Jakarta. The participants presented their ideas based on the theme “Technology and I” in Japanese before the jury and activity participants.

In the competition results, Syahban Danas from Universitas Sumatera Utara became one of the winners along with Fauzi Hensauba Surya and Felicia Zanlim, who were also from Universitas Sumatera Utara. Syahban Danas was then selected as the representative of the North Sumatra and Aceh region to continue the competition at the National Japanese Speech Competition held in Jakarta in November 2023.

Syahban Danas's participation at the national level was part of an opportunity for students of the Undergraduate Program in Japanese Literature of FIB USU to develop their Japanese language skills through a broader-level competition. The achievement at the regional stage also demonstrated students' active participation in various activities that support the development of Japanese language skills and public speaking abilities.

Through the organization of competitions and students' participation in Japanese language competitions, the Undergraduate Program in Japanese Literature of FIB USU continues to provide opportunities for students to hone their academic and communication skills in Japanese. The activity also strengthened the relationship between FIB USU, The Japan Foundation Jakarta, the Consulate General of Japan in Medan, and the Medan Japan Club in supporting the development of Japanese language and culture learning in North Sumatra.