| Newsletter
No.46 |
|
January
2003
|
The New Year's Greetings from the Chairman
Chairman, Masamichi Hanabusa
A Happy New Year to you all!
Uncertainty and uneasiness abound both at home and abroad
even at this normally auspicious beginning of a new year.
We shall try, nevertheless, to do our best to make this
year a merry one with the various enjoyable activities of
the English-Speaking Union of Japan.
Thanks to goodwill and help from our members, supporters
and volunteers, the ESUJ could successfully organize the
5th University Debating Competition, Mr. Muramatsu's English
Club meetings, Lectures in English on various timely topics,
social gatherings like May Evening Gala and Christmas Party
as well as our overseas outreach activities. I wish to take
this opportunity to thank all the members of our Committees
for their wonderful work.
Among the last year's programs a special mention must be
made of the beginning of the long-hoped-for Shakai-jin Debates
and the making by several ESUJ member volunteers of an English
version of the audio aid for the Special Japanese Art Exhibition
organized by the National Museum of Tokyo for the foreign
visitors coming to Japan on the occasion of the World Cup
soccer games in this part of the world.
This year the ESUJ is going into its fifth year of activities.
It is indeed gratifying that our activities have steadily
grown in substance and mutual friendship among the Members
further deepened. The target of this year is to strengthen
our social activities for our Members. Under planning are
"Outings" to visit interesting and historic sites in and
around Tokyo, which foreign residents in Japan may enjoy,
too.
Following Thailand, in neighboring South Korea and Mongolia
Steering Committees are preparing for the Launch in the
near future of our sister organizations in these countries.
It seems that the ESUJ is the 3rd largest member among the
ESU family, after Britain and America. To our satisfaction
our activities attract international attention.
Marking the 85th Anniversary of the English-Speaking Union,
a Special Service is to be held in Westminster Abbey, London
and the Members Conference will be held in Chicago, USA
in October 2004. My New Year's Dream of our members taking
part in such important overseas events may come true.
In concluding, may I wish you all good health and happiness
in 2003.
ESUJ Debate 2003 Participants Wanted!
Parliamentary-style debate competition for non-students
(shakaijin) Sunday, 23 February. For details click
here.
Hearty Christmas Party
On Tuesday, December 17, ESUJ's Christmas Party was held
as was before at Media's Room of Foreign Correspondence
Club, with some 110 participants got together. Amongst the
guests were H.E. Sir & Lady Stephen Gomersall, British Ambassador
to Japan and ESUJ's Honorary Chairman, and those who had
contributed a lot to our activities in 2002 such as Mr.&
Mrs. Thakur, Vice Rector of UN University, who jointly hosted
a symposium in May, H.E. Mr.& Mrs. Naouri, Jordanian Ambassador
to Japan who gave a lecture in September, Mr. Fujimoto and
Mr. Bordbaatar who spoke about Mongolia in April, and Mr.
Kiji, the runner-up of 5th University Debating Competition.
The party was so enjoyable and pleasant as the very last
event of ESUJ in 2002. In the course of the party, all of
us enjoyed to play a game "Who am I?", a game to find out
the name attached to one's back by questioning to the audience.
The participants to the game were presented nice Christmas
gifts from ESUJ.
New Year's Lecture by Dr. Yoshihiro Tsurumi
"Whither America, Whither Japan"
Monday, 27 January 2003, 6:30-8:30pm
Place: Japan National Press Club (10F Hall)
Admission: Free for Members, \1000 for non-members
To attend: Please apply from here.
Prof. Tsurumi, one of the most eminent controversialists
living in America, prognosticates the future of Japan through
the mirror of America.
English Club Tue. January 21
January English
Club under Mr. Muramatsu's chairmanship will have TWO
youthful and energetic guest speakers. One is Ms Mio Urata,
editor of The Jiji Eigo (Current English), a venerable Kenkyusha
magazine, sharing with us her experiences in editing a magazine
on English language for the Japanese readers in working
with the rest of the world. Another is a Columbian artist,
Mr. Hector Sierra, helping as a volunteer UNICEF and other
activities for children, who will talk about the Artists
Without Borders and about the Afghanistan children with
a video. Join us for this New Year's special event!
January. 21 (Tues.) Tokyo International Forum, Room G502
February. 18 (Tues.) Doyu Club, Otemachi
Meetings will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
