On November 27, 2022, the final of 2022 Sasakawa Cup Japan Research Paper Competition for Japanese major undergraduates in Chinese universities took place in the cloud. The competition was jointly organized by the China Research Association of Japanese Language Teaching, Jilin University and the Japan Science Association, and was hosted by the School of Foreign Languages of Jilin University. Hu Lingfeng from Grade 2020 of the Japanese Department of the School of Foreign Languages of Shanghai Jiao Tong University won the Grand Prize of Literature Group, and Wang Luer won the third prize of Literature Group, and Cao Lei won the third prize of Language Group. Jin Wenfeng, Li Siqi and Yu Yang, teachers of the Japanese Department, won the Excellent Advisor Awards.

ChinaYouth Net, Sina News and other media reported the contest in detail on November 30. Hu Lingfeng’s prize-accepting speech was mentioned in particular. “The study of classical Japanese literature is extremely difficult. Besides my self-study, the help and guidance from the teachers of the Japanese department is indispensable. From now on I will continue to study classical Japanese literature."

Hu Lingfeng, winner of the grand prize of the literature group 

Wang Luer, winner of the third prize of the literature group

Cao Lei, winner of the third prize of the language group

The Sasakawa Cup Japan Research Paper Competition started in 2018 and has been held for five consecutive years. It aims to cultivate the research ability of Japanese major undergraduates in China, improve their ability to use Japanese to solve problems, and promote students' critical thinking ability and research ability. 

Zhou Yifu, president of the China Research Association of Japanese Language Teaching and Dean of the School of Japanese Language at Beijing Foreign Studies University, mentioned at the award ceremony that Sasakawa Cup Japan Research Paper Competition aimed to cultivate more Japanese studies professionals, and improve students' critical thinking and research skills. In 10, 20 years they will become the important bridge of Sino-Japanese relations. 

A total of 147 research papers from 47 universities in China were received by the organizing committee. After strict and fair evaluation, 10 excellent papers from the language group, the literature group and the culture group respectively were selected. A total of 30 papers participated in the final defense and the judges' questions and answers. Among them, 1 grand prize, 1 first prize, 3 second prizes and 5 third prizes were awarded to the language group and the culture group respectively. 1 grand prize, 1 first prize, 3 second prizes and 4 third prizes were awarded to the literature group.