ESUJ's biggest event, its annual debate competition, was held for the 10th time on October 7 (Sun) and 8 (Mon) at the
  National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Yoyogi, with 32 teams from 25 universities competing passionately again this
  year. After the  preliminary rounds and the final rounds, ICU 1 and ICU2 from the same University advanced to the
  championship final for the first time ever. This year, also for the first time, the final was held in the 700-seat Large Hall of the
  Olympic Center, taking place before a vast audience with an international flavor provided by the 45 delegates from 19
   worldwide ESUs. The motion was: This House would ban civilians from entering foreign conflict zones. With the state's
  responsibility to protect its citizens opposed by individual citizens desirous of the freedom to help citizens in the foreign
  conflict zone, the two teams conducted a debate worthy of the 10th anniversary competition. Judges awarded the winner's
  crown by 11 to 8 to the Opposition ICU 1 team (Manabu Igusa and Dai Oba). For additional information, please visit the
  ESUJ web site. In addition to the anniversary competition, special events were also held. The first was a panel discussion
  in English by four past university champion debaters who are now working persons, including a discussion of past
  impressions of the debating experience, its current influence on their lives, and messages for the present generation of
  student debaters, which was very well-received by the visitors from abroad. Another special event was an All-Asian Style
  Model Debate (three-person teams). This year's four-person squad of UK students, who had been active on many fronts
  during their visit, combined with ace Japanese debaters for a high-level demonstration.
  At the closing ceremony, ESUJ's gratitude to our sponsoring corporations and various individuals for their continuing
  support of the event was expressed with the presentation of certificates of appreciation to them. Representatives from TV
  Tokyo, Toyota Motors, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Japan Airlines and eigoTown came to the podium to receive their
  certificates. Next honored with certificates of appreciation where judges who had participated in eight or more competitions,
  the 'British Squad' who have come every year from the UK to offer guidance to the Japanese students, and
  MC Mr. Anthony Millington, who has presided with humor over every competition. This very successful "anniversary"
  event could not have been realized without the support of the many sponsors and volunteers who have sustained the
  event over its ten-year history. Finally, a grand reception for more than 250 people was held to welcome the members of
  various ESU delegations around the world who were visiting Japan, along with the students participating in the
  competition, ESUJ members, and  volunteers. Later the same evening (October 8), the championship debate was
  reported   on TV Tokyo's World Business Satellite News.