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| Newsletter
No.69 |
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January 2005
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New Year's Message
HANABUSA Masamichi Chairman, ESUJ
It gives me great pleasure to join with the members of ESUJ in celebrating our 7th New Year. The English-Speaking Union of Japan has been growing steadily, thanks to the eager efforts of its ardent volunteers and to the financial and other support from many corporations. I would like to express our sincere appreciation to them at the beginning of this New Year.
Last year's University Debating Competition was extremely successful, drawing participating teams from not only the Kanto and Kansai areas but also from other parts of Japan. I do hope that those of you who have not experienced this event will make a point of coming to National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in October 2005, to witness for yourselves the hotly contested intellectual exchanges among our youthful debaters.
During the past year many new members, both Japanese and foreign, participated in various ESUJ activities ranging from lectures in English on topical themes, takuwa-kai lunch meetings in Japanese, the May Evening Gala and the Christmas Party to outings to the races, visits to museums, etc. Our overseas outreach program also fared well, with a large number of Japanese views and opinions posted on our website. I am grateful to the members in charge of the respective activities for their achievements.
I am reasonably satisfied by the progress made in the direction of "ESUJ activities aimed at the promotion of friendship among its members," as anticipated in my 2004 New Year Message. The participation of foreign members and guests in our activities seems to be on the increase. I am happy to note that Mr. Mirhat Alykulov, a Kyrgyzstani student, led his Yokohama National University team to victory in the Debating Competition and since then has participated in other activities of the ESUJ. I wish to see many more such cases.
Last year saw the launch of the ESU Korea as another sister organization. On this occasion we sent a large delegation to the launch to convey our hearty felicitations. Unfortunately, Mr. Masumi Muramatsu, who participated in the delegation and has presided over our English Club since its inception, is currently unwell. We earnestly hope for MM's speedy recovery.
Wishing you all good health and prosperity in the year 2005!
Christmas Party a Huge Success
On ESUJ's annual Christmas party was held on Tuesday, December 21 at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in the Yurakucho Denki Building. Featured in the events column of the new monthly publication Aera English, the party was attended by 130 people, many of them first-time participants. Following the Chairman's opening remarks, HE Samir Naouri, the Jordanian ambassador, proposed a toast. The evening's highlight was a concert featuring a cast of our own English Club Singers, led by Muneo Wakabayashi, with piano accompaniment by Ayako Hanabusa. Cradling original ESUJ songbooks in their hands, more than 20 chorus members raised their voices to sing best-loved Christmas carols in English, with the entire room eventually swelling in song. With everyone enjoying the pleasure of singing together, the impromptu group of amateur singers gave their best efforts. This time we all sang in unison but suggestions were heard that a two or three-part chorus of mixed voices be formed sometime in the future. Following the singing, party guests enjoyed the delicious buffet dishes, and pleasant conversation flowed while talented ESUJ member Yuka Mizuno provided accompanying background music on the digital piano. There was no need for an apology from Mr Matsudaira for a shortage of food this year, as the happy and lively party atmosphere continued all the way to the end of this delightful evening.
Coming Events
English Club: Jan.18 (Tue), 18:30-20:30 @Nikkei
Main Building, 11th floor B conference room. Speech and
Debate Coach Expert Toshiyuki Inoue will be speaking on
the topic 'How to prepare the speech'.
ESUJ Lecture (first of the New Year) 'Haiku in English'
Jan. 25 (Tue), 18:30-20:00 Lecturer: Ms. Emiko
Miyashita
@Kasumi Kaikan (34th fl. Kasumigaseki Bldg.) Apply in advance to ESUJ office; free for members, \1,000 for non-members. An exploration of the very popular world of English-language haiku, in English. We will also try composing our own haiku.
Ambassador's Lecture Series 'Sudan, the Current Situation
and the Future' Lecturer: Sudanese Ambassador to Japan,
HE Musa M. OMER Saeed (detail will follow)
Feb. 22(Tue.) 18:30-20:00
@Japan National Press Club (Uchisaiwaicho)
Another in our very popular series of Ambassador's Lectures, Ambassador Musa will explain to us from various angles the conflict in Darfur and the precarious domestic situation in the Sudan. The ambassador has a wealth of Japan experience
Notice:
Our bank account number for bank transfer payment of membership dues has been changed to suit the convenience of our bank, as follows:
Bank of Tokyo -Mitsubishi, Nihombashi Branch (branch number 020)
Account No. (Ordinary): 4874960
Account name: Nihon Eigo Koryu Renmei, Kaicho Hanabusa Masamichi
A notice about payment of annual dues is sent individually to members when their payment becomes due.
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For
further informaiton contact!
E-MAIL:esuj@esuj.gr.jp
Fujikage-Building
9th Floor, Motoakasaka 1-1-5
MInato-ku, Tokyo 107-0051
TEL: 03-3423-0970 FAX: 03-3423-0971
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