Japanese Calligraphy Competition Results

Japanese Calligraphy Competition Results 

This year again, Year 1 to Year 6 students tried Brush Calligraphy and Pencil Calligraphy. This competition is a state competition that Government schools, Catholic schools, and Independent schools that teach Japanese in Victoria participate in. Japanese Language Teachers’ Association of Victoria (JLTAV) gave the theme “Expo 2025” to the Calligraphy Competition, which was open to all schools in Victoria. Expo 2025 was held in Osaka, Kansai from 13 April to 13 October. The Expo revolved around the theme ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives’ and was held on an artificial island in Osaka Bay called Yumeshima.

Students learned the right posture, how to hold the brush, then techniques of brush strokes, inks and paper, and the topics given to each category. 

Year 1 and Year 2 category: 日本 (Nihon/Japan)

Year 3 and Year 4 category: 国々 (Kuni guni/countries)

Year 5 and Year 6 category: 未来 (Mirai/future)

Our students made a significant improvement from previous years, and we received wonderful news from the JLTAV. 

Gardenvale dominated most of all the categories for the brush calligraphy competition. The prize-winning students received a special certificate and medals. Our school received beautiful plaques with the names of the first-prize winners engraved for a school display cabinet at the senior school.

JLTAV Calligraphy Competition Prize Winners

Pencil Calligraphy

No winner this year

Brush Calligraphy

Year level            Place                     Name

Primary 1/2        First                       Owen R, 2D

Primary 1/2        Third                      Lucy M, 2D

Primary 3/4        First                       Leo L, 4A

Primary 3/4        Second                 Noah B, 3D

Primary 5/6        First                       Zoe J, 6C

Primary 5/6        Second                 Aria B, 6C

Primary 5/6        Third                      Alma K, 6B

Nominees (Calligraphy work entered to the competition) 

Pencil Calligraphy

Yr 1&2: Ellie H, Austin C, Tali M, Eden B, Emilie C, Kepler B, Madeleine R, Leo B, 

Yr 3&4: Saskia P, Dorian P, Thea H, Harvey H, Sadie K, Annie L, Meja F, Trini A, Ella T, Frankie A

Yr 5&6: Isla T, Charlie A, Lucy N, Annika N, Terrance L, Danny P, William J, 

Brush Calligraphy

Yr 1&2: Eva C, Karan C, Harper H, Alyssa H, Tali M, Eden E, Poppy J, Lucy M, Owen R, Jake V

Yr 3&4: Eytan K, Gal R, Jude L, Noah B, Leona C, Lucy W, Hudson B, Annie L, Leo L, Ava B

Yr 5&6: Lionel Z, Mila S, Sylvia W, Maya M, Alma K, Zoe J, Aria B, 

Thank you to all the students who worked enthusiastically during the calligraphy lessons. Arigato gozaimasu to the teachers who supported their students in improving their neat handwriting skills daily, which has been reflected in our students’ Japanese writing skills. 

Congratulations/Omedeto gozaimasu to the prize winners, nominees and everyone who tried the calligraphy in 2025!!! 

2025 Japanese Captains

Finally I want to say a big Arigato to our Japanese Captains, Zoe J, Nina R and Sylvia W, for their time and help throughout this year. They made the Japanese Ninja Star Awards every week, coming down to the Junior Campus to register ELLA apps on iPads, planning and announcing the winners of the Shoe for thoughts (weekly assembly trivia information) and creating the Mini Japanese Day announcement video. ありがとうございました Arigato gozaimashita, and wishing you all an incredible journey ahead!

Naoko Nishikawa

Japanese teacher