Parliamentary Debating Seminar in Osaka

The "Parliamentary Debating Seminar in Kansai" was held on Wednesday, October 9 at 6:30p.m. at the Osaka Prefecture University's Gakujutsu Koryu Kaikan, under the joint auspices of ESUJ and KIEF (Kansai Intercollegiate ESS Federation). There were around 160 participants, mainly from the ESS clubs of universities in Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto and Nara. The seminar started with an explanation in Japanese of debating and comment on the highlights of the model debate by ESUJ debate committee member, presently working in the Kansai, Masaki Miyashita. After that, a model debate was given by the four visiting British university students on the motion "This House would make voting compulsory." The audience were riveted to the punchy, larded-with-wit presentation, which included high-level scholarly debate about basic concepts of democracy and what an election should be, in easy-to-understand, clearly pronounced English. After that, Mr Marc Whitmore, ESU lecturer, gave a concrete explanation of the significance and fine points of debate, as well as its charm. This fourth annual Kansai seminar seemed to exude a feeling that the coming to grips with parliamentary debate increases every year in the Kansai as well.

Guest Instructor and Debaters

Mr. Marc Whitmore
Head, Center for Speech and Debate, The English-Speaking Union

Mr. George Payne
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn

Mr. Joe Devanny
University of Cambridge

Ms. Alexis Hearnden
University of Oxford

Mr. Ian Mann
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn

Organisers:
KIEF (Kansai Intercollegiate ESS Federation) &
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
Contact: The English-Speaking Union of Japan
Tel: 03-3423-0970 E-mail: esuj@esuj.gr.jp