Some took the opportunity to look back on the historical relationship between their countries and Japan. Others focused on everyday life in today's Tokyo, like sending e-mail by mobile phone.
In all, 22 diplomats from 17 countries took part in the annual Japanese Speech Contest for Foreign Diplomats in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on Saturday.
Fabien Fieschi from the French Embassy won the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister's Prize for a speech titled "The Day When Tokyo Becomes Edo." This year marks the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Edo, or premodern Tokyo.