The 13th National Soroban Competition
2023/11/22
The National Soroban Competition was held on 16 November at the Sir Sofele Kakala and Bishop Patelesio Finau Hall. Over 240 children from the Tongatapu, Vava'u and Ha'api participated in this year's competition.
The National Competition has been an annual event since 2010, co-hosted by the Embassy of Japan and the Ministry of Education and Training with the support of JICA Tonga Office, Japan International Soroban Diffusion Foundation and Tonga Soroban Education Association. The 2022 competition was cancelled due to COVID19, so the children were looking forward to this year's event with great anticipation.
His Excellency Mr. MUNENAGA Kensaku, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Tonga, Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, Minister for Education and Training, along with Mr. TAKASHIMA Hiroaki, JICA’s Resident Representative attended and observed the competition.
H.E. Mr. MUNENAGA delivered a speech in Tongan, describing the benefits of learning Soroban, and encouraging the children to have confidence in their achievements, regardless of whether they won or lost in the competition.
Tongatapu Eastern District 1 won the overall competition, with Central District in second place and Western District in third place.
Soroban education has been ongoing in Tonga since it was introduced by the King Tupou IV in the 1970s.
This education is supported by second-hand Soroban donated by Ono City, Hyogo Prefecture, through JICA, with a cumulative total of more than 10,000.
During the competition, a gift was presented to Mr. TAKASHIMA, JICA Resident Representative, as a token of appreciation for Ono City's long-standing donation.
The National Competition has been an annual event since 2010, co-hosted by the Embassy of Japan and the Ministry of Education and Training with the support of JICA Tonga Office, Japan International Soroban Diffusion Foundation and Tonga Soroban Education Association. The 2022 competition was cancelled due to COVID19, so the children were looking forward to this year's event with great anticipation.
His Excellency Mr. MUNENAGA Kensaku, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Tonga, Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, Minister for Education and Training, along with Mr. TAKASHIMA Hiroaki, JICA’s Resident Representative attended and observed the competition.
H.E. Mr. MUNENAGA delivered a speech in Tongan, describing the benefits of learning Soroban, and encouraging the children to have confidence in their achievements, regardless of whether they won or lost in the competition.
Tongatapu Eastern District 1 won the overall competition, with Central District in second place and Western District in third place.
Soroban education has been ongoing in Tonga since it was introduced by the King Tupou IV in the 1970s.
This education is supported by second-hand Soroban donated by Ono City, Hyogo Prefecture, through JICA, with a cumulative total of more than 10,000.
During the competition, a gift was presented to Mr. TAKASHIMA, JICA Resident Representative, as a token of appreciation for Ono City's long-standing donation.