Eastern Michigan University senior Taylor Marberry won first place in the University Division II category at the 31st Annual Michigan Japanese Speech Contest, according to a Mar. 18 announcement from the university.
The contest, organized by the Japanese Teachers Association of Michigan and supported by the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, brings together students from across the state to deliver speeches in Japanese. The event aims to encourage language learning and cultural exchange among participants.
Marberry’s speech focused on her experiences living in Japan and how she navigated cultural differences. “My speech was about my time in Japan and some of the feelings I experienced while there,” said Marberry. “Specifically, I spoke about how living in such a homogenous country where you may stand out can feel very difficult and uncomfortable. However, by giving it time and patience, and by making an active effort to engage with others, you can find that, despite being outwardly different, there is acceptance and friendship.”
She began studying Japanese as a hobby before pursuing it academically at Eastern Michigan University. Marberry later became a United States–Japan Bridging Scholar, which allowed her to study abroad in Japan. She said that learning formalities and speech types unique to Japanese posed challenges because they are not found in English: “I wouldn’t say I had many challenges learning Japanese,” said Marberry. “It started as a hobby for me, and so the more I learned, the more interesting and fun it became. If I were to describe a challenge I faced, I’d say that Japanese is a language that definitely becomes more difficult the more you learn, so some things, like formalities and speech types, were a little challenging. Especially because those things aren’t common/found in English, so it was a new concept.”
Hitomi Oketani, professor and Japanese section head for Eastern’s Department of World Language, commented on Marberry’s achievement: “We leverage this unique advantage to support our students’ career readiness and connect them with Japan‑related professional pathways,” said Oketani. “In other words, just like the saying ‘Sanshō wa kotsubu demo piriri to karai (small but mighty),’ we spend four years polishing raw stones into diamonds. Marbury’s victory this time feels like a powerful demonstration of that process in action, and we are truly delighted.”
Marberry credited her education at Eastern Michigan University for broadening her worldview: “Studying Japanese made me realize how differently people live around the world,” Marberry said. “Living in Japan exposed me to a culture unlike my life in America… Through the language, I’ve made friends and had conversations that broadened my worldview.” She also expressed gratitude for faculty support: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate in the speech contest,” said Marberry. “I appreciate my teachers for believing in me… Even if I hadn’t won, it would still have been an incredible experience that I’d recommend to anyone.”
Eastern Michigan University prepares students to make significant contributions to society through its educational focus according to the official website. The university includes historic architecture alongside modern facilities designed for student success according to its official website. It has gained national recognition for programs across various fields according to its official website.
The university offers more than 200 undergraduate majors and minors as well as graduate programs according to its official website. Its approach emphasizes critical thinking skills aimed at fostering meaningful societal contributions according to its official website. James Smith served as president of Eastern Michigan University according to its official website.
The broader impact of achievements like Marberry’s highlights Eastern Michigan University’s commitment to preparing students for global engagement through language proficiency and cross-cultural understanding.
