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| Newsletter
No.70 |
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February 2005
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"Haiku in English" Lecture a Great Success
The first ESUJ Lecture for 2005, our "New YearÕs Special", was held on Tuesday, January 25 at the Kasumi Kaikan, with 48 people attending. The topic was "Writing Haiku in English." Lecturer Emiko Miyashita first encountered haiku more than ten years ago. Presently she is working to popularize haiku writing internationally. With the meeting room arranged in tables of six, the lecture took the form of a workshop. English-language haiku are enjoying a quiet boom, and haiku are composed in English by many people around the world. Miyashita-san introduced haiku from America, Canada, and England as well as other countries, first concentrating on feeling the "fresh breeze", then asking members of the audience to listen attentively a second time while conscious of grasping the meaning as the image swelled inside oneself. She also provided some beautifully expressed English translations of haiku by SUZUKI Masajo and ARIMA Akito.
Next, it was the audienceÕs turn! We were caught off guard, but after learning the three basic rules of 1.) write only three lines, 2.) begin with only small letters, and 3.) donÕt end with a period, we quickly entered our own inner worlds and concentrated on writing haiku. In about 15 minutes, everyone had written one haiku, with each of the eight tables choosing a representative haiku. Next, each of the eight selected authors read his or her haiku aloud, and finally the entire audience voted for the best three.
Each haiku described a seasonal scene painted in the authorÕs heart, and made us nodded and impressive. Kyoshi Takahama is said to have commented "Haiku are poems describing changes and phenomena which occur as a result of the earthÕs rotation." Miyashita-sanÕs own version of this was "Haiku is an interesting poetry genre available to all who feel the rotation of the earth." How true this is! We were all impressed and stimulated our inspiration by ESUJÕs Utakai Hajime (New yearÕs poetry reading meeting).
Haiku "Best Three":
a glove
left alone on the road
wishing to be paired again @@Shoji Matsumoto
memory of you
deep in my mind
like stars in the summer night sky Ivan Ulcek
little buds of plums ---
my sonÕs knuckles
hard and white from cold@@ Masayuki Ukaji
This Haiku Programme is expected to be continued!
English Club
The third meeting of English Club led by Mr Toshiyuki Inoue took place on Tuesday, January 18 at the Nikkei Main Building. Opening the meeting as usual was MC Muneo Wakabayashi, reporting on our "music corner". The end-of-year Christmas Party had marked the debut appearance of the English Club chorus, and there are plans to try various singing opportunities this year. The theme of the meeting was "How to prepare the speech". In America, winning the audience over when giving a speech is emphasized, with business executives regularly practicing public speaking. Veteran Toastmasters Mark Yoshikawa and Mieko Kobayashi gave impromptu speeches, demonstrating their polished speech-giving capabilities. A video of a top-class American speech contest winner was shown, followed by Inoue-senseiÕs own prize-winning speech in Japan, entitled "Bonji Tettei", which translates something like "doing your best, even with mundane tasks". Using song lyrics and small tools, he spoke with passion. Next the audience practiced making impromptu speeches, putting their instruction into practice in pairs. With Inoue sensei firing off speaking topics, each member created his or her own speech. This style of actual participation quickly became second nature, with every audience member a wonderful study in concentration as they endeavored to produce their speeches. The two hours flashed by in no time.
The next meeting of the English club will take
place on Tuesday, February 15, from 6:30 to 8:30,
at the Nikkei Main Building, 11th floor conference room
B. The theme will be "Friendly Debate". Come along and
join the fray once more!
Coming Events
"Sudan, the Current Situation and the Future"
By Sudanese Ambassador to Japan, HE Musa M. OMER Saeed
Feb. 22(Tue.) 18:30-20:00
@Japan National Press Club (Uchisaiwaicho)
Ambassador Musa will explain to us from various angles the conflict in Darfur and the precarious domestic situation in the Sudan.
Outing Programme: Visit to the Yokohama Doll Museum
March 5 (Sat.) 14:00-15:30
The collection of hina dolls from every part of Japan as well as dolls from 138 countries are spectacular!
For Both to attend: Inform the ESUJ office in advance.
"News Flash" newly established at ESUJ web site.
Also, don't miss our popular JITOW (Japan In Their Own
Words) column, which provides articles by Japan's opinion
makers. http://www.esuj.gr.jp
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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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