|
|
 |
|
Shizuoka International Opera Competition
World-Class International Opera Competition
The Shizuoka International Opera Competition was established in 1996 to commemorate Tamaki Miura, one of Japan's great divas. It is held every three years and has already gained a solid reputation in opera circles worldwide. In the 2005 competition, 365 applicants from all over the world where narrowed down to 80, eventually leaving 6 finalists who competed for the prizes. The winner was Russian baritone Vasily Ladyuk, with Belorussian bass Alexei Tanovitski taking second prize, and Russian soprano Ekaterina Scherbachenko in third place. The next competition is scheduled for November 1-9, 2008, at ACT City, in Hamamatsu.
 |
 |
Russian soprano Ekaterina Scherbachenko (left) and Belorussian bass Alexei Tanovitski (right) at the fourth competition in 2005
|
|
|
|
The World Garden Competition
A World-Class Gardening Competition
In honor of the 5th anniversary of Pacific Flora 2004 (Shizuoka International
Garden and Horticulture Exhibit) and the opening of Mt.Fuji Shizuoka Airport,
the World Garden Competition will be held as an event of Hamanako Flower
& Garden Competition 2009"(tentative name). The competition venue
will be in Hamanako Garden Park, the site of Pacific Flora 2004.
First-class garden designers, including the gold medalist of the Chelsea
Flower Show, and domestic garden designers selected among the public will
compete under the theme of "mind-relaxed garden". With the "Shizuoka
Green, Flower, Festival" in 2001 and Pacific Flora 2004 gaining national
attention recognizing their excellent works, Shizuoka Prefecture showcases
"Shizuoka, a flowering and greening prefecture"within Japan and
throughout the world by this competition. |
2001 Grad Prix
"Pride of England"
2004 Grad Prix
"Wa-kei-sei-jaku～Ｍutural Respect and Thoughtfulness
|
|
Shizuoka International Translation Competition
A Competition to Translate Japan to the World
One of the best ways to introduce Japanese culture to the world is through its literature. But top-quality literary translators must be nurtured, and Shizuoka has been doing this since 1995 through the Shizuoka International Translation Competition. The annual event, which includes both fiction and non-fiction translation, regularly attracts over one thousand entries, both for English and two other languages that are selected on a revolving basis. The Shizuoka International Translators窶・Network (SITN) was established in 2003 as an offshoot of the competition to create ties between translators and publishers.
|
Some 300 people applied for the sixth competition held in 2006.
|
World Soccer Kids Come to Shizuoka
Shizuoka Prefecture set up the Shizuoka World Junior Football Tournament in 2000 with the goal of promoting international friendship and goodwill and making Shizuoka a major soccer center. Shizuoka already leads Japan in the number of elementary schoolboys who play soccer, with 15% of boys active in the sport. The tournament is held annually in August and brings together teams from five continents. The 2006 tournament had 12 teams participating, including seven from overseas, and was won by the Boca Juniors team from Argentina, with Jeju Select team from South Korea the runners-up.
|
Only two prefectures, Saitama and Shizuoka, have under-12 tournament with international participants.
|
|
