UNAIR NEWS – On Saturday, February 7, 2026, six students from the Japanese Language and Literature Program, Faculty of Humanities (FIB), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), participated in the HABATAKE 2026 regional student competition in East Java. Organized by the Consulate General of Japan in Surabaya, the event was held at SMAN 5 Malang. This year’s competition marked a departure from previous formats, which had focused on Japanese essay writing.
The competition featured a new format in the form of a live photo caption contest. Instead of submitting captions online, participants were presented with random images and required to deliver on stage explanations in Japanese within approximately two minutes. The images covered a broad range of topics related to Japan, including food, technology, sports, culture, tourism, politics, distinctive colors, and budo, or Japanese martial arts.
Winning second place in a knowledge-based competition about Japan
Facing competitors with more advanced academic backgrounds, Ifani demonstrated strong determination to prepare intensively. As a first-year student without a Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) certification, Ifani remained confident and committed to improving her ability to interpret and explain the images.
“I was honestly surprised and nervous when I first learned about the challenging format. Our sensei organized training sessions for about a month, where we discussed possible topics for the competition. Through this process, I gained a deeper insight of Japan and significantly improved my ability to speak spontaneously in Japanese,” Ifani said.
Training alongside lecturers and native Japanese speakers
The six participants were Siti Nadhyatul H., Revita Ahya, Electra Asiloningtyas G., Daniel Ferdinand F., Raphael Davis L., and Shaviera Ifani F. Their preparation began in early January 2026 through intensive training led by lecturers and supported by native Japanese speakers. Initially, many participants initially faced challenges due to limited exposure and lack of firsthand experience with Japan. However, with consistent effort and guidance from their instructors, they utilized digital resources to expand their knowledge. As a result, their performance improved steadily each week.
“For students interested in joining competitions, the key is consistent practice and discipline in independent training. Do not forget to pray and leave the results to God. We should focus on doing our best, and the results will follow as a reward for our efforts,” Ifani said.
The program’s commitment to encouraging student participation in academic competitions align with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4 on quality education.
Author: Dhaniswari Ananta Ayu, M.Hum.
