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Mon, 09 Jun 2025
DANGIN PURI KANGIN – Widiatmika High School once again demonstrates its dedication to academic excellence, as Cok Istri Mutiara Gayatri Widhiana, a Grade XI.2 student known as Gek Rara, claimed first place in the Kana Taikai competition during the Bunkasai XI Sparkling Kazaru event. The competition was organized by the Faculty of Foreign Languages at Mahasaraswati University Denpasar on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
Her victory stands as a testament to the synergy between the school’s guidance, her dedication, and her talent in Japanese language. Gek Rara outperformed 21 other participants from senior high schools across Bali, affirming that Widiatmika High School students are capable of competing and excelling at the provincial level.
Kana Taikai is a Japanese language competition focused on the mastery of kana characters—hiragana and katakana. Participants face a variety of challenges, from puzzles and listening tests to image recognition, all requiring strong kana comprehension.
This is not Gek Rara’s first achievement. She previously won third place in the Japanese speech contest at JFest #8 hosted by ITB STIKOM Bali and secured first place in Kana Taikai at D’JaFU 13th at Udayana University.
“When they announced my name, I was so happy my hands were shaking,” she recalled. “I studied hard at night and during school breaks. One of my methods was creating my own kana chart for practice.”
Initially, she struggled to distinguish similar katakana characters. But through consistent practice and immersion—such as watching anime and reading manga—she gradually improved her fluency and comprehension.
Her passion for Japanese began in Grade 6 but grew stronger during middle school. For Gek Rara, joining competitions is both a learning journey and a way to prove that mastering foreign languages opens many future opportunities.
“Learning a foreign language, like Japanese, can unlock paths for further studies, international careers, and meaningful connections with people from various cultures,” she said.
The school plays a vital role in nurturing such talents. Luh Made Sri Wahyuni, Widiatmika’s Japanese language teacher and coach, noted Gek Rara’s consistent dedication and enthusiasm in every class.
“She absolutely deserves the win,” Wahyuni said. “She’s diligent, determined, and quick to grasp the material. She always completes the writing and listening exercises we provide.”
Wahyuni also highlighted the school’s full support for students participating in language competitions. Widiatmika High School offers a Japanese language extracurricular program that serves both as a learning space and a competition training ground.
“Through this program, students not only study the language in theory but also engage in practical use and build connections within the broader Japanese language learning community,” she concluded.
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