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| Newsletter
No.78 |
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Oct. & Nov. 2005
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8th University Debating Competition: Keio
are the Winners
Our annual major event, the ESUJ University Debating
Competition, took place again this autumn on October
9 and 10 at the National Olympics Memorial Youth
Center in Yoyogi. The event has come to be recognized
the “jewel in the crown” of parliamentary debate
competitions among students, thanks to the enthusiasm
and support of everyone involved. The event has
come to have a special luster thanks to the wonderful
debaters who come to Japan from English universities,
the supporters who make up the audience, and to
Mr. Anthony Millington, who again this year served
as our ever-witty and sensible MC, as well as
all those who serve as judges and staff members.
This year, there were 32 teams appearing, from
26 universities, our largest number of teams so
far. Results of the four preliminary rounds held
the 9th were announced the following morning,
with these eight outstanding best teams advancing
to the finals (in order): ICU1, ICU2, Yokohama
National Univ. 1, Keio 1, Tsuda 2, Tsuda 1, Kita
Kyushu 1, Keio 2. From here on out, the competition
followed tournament format, with blistering intensity,
until Keio University 1 (Kentaro Suzuki, ad Keiko
Shindo) and Kita Kyushu Team 1 (Miki Kawaguchi
and Chihiro Kato) advanced to the championship
final round. The Final Motion was This House would
introduce English debate in public schools. Should
a child master his native tongue first? Is it
OK to introduce English so soon? The debaters
engaged in heated English debate, with the result
that, in an 11 to 2 ruling, Opposition team Keio
emerged victorious. For Keio University, who have
participated in every ESUJ debate from the beginning
but never won the championship, victory was especially
sweet. A huge thanks from the bottom of our heart
to the leader of the debate management team, Chihiro
Nakagawa, Assistant TDs Takeshi Sasaki and Kaoru
Yoshii, judges and other volunteers, and everyone
who lent their support.
British Team Active Giving Seminars
Another splendid five-person team of debaters headed
by ESU London's James Probert came to Japan again
this year. They were active even outside the debate
competition, and deepened communication with Japanese
students. On Wednesday, October 5, they held the
4th parliamentary debate seminar at Osaka Prefecture
University under the joint auspices of Kansai KIEF
and ESUJ. Along with the many students from universities
in various parts of Kansai, teachers and people
from the general public participated, at a high
level of intensity. During the day, students from
Kansai University of Foreign Studies guided them
around Kyoto, taking them to places such as Kiyomizudera
and out for a lunch of yudofu, to the delight of
the British students. On October 7, the British
squad gave a seminar with view to participating
in the world championships under the auspices of
the JPDU, and on Saturday the 8th, they gave a seminar
at Keio Shonan Fujisawa High School for the first
time, with all second year high school students
participating, including a mixed team model debate.
In the evening, a debate for adults was finally
realized, having been canceled last year due to
a typhoon. Forty adults participated, and on this
occasion also, the UK members engaged in a miniDebate
and lively Q & A session, in what developed
into a very intense and thorough Workshop.
English Club (Sep. & Oct.)
English Cub met on September 20, with ESUJ member Michio Hamaji stepping up as our pinch hitter speaker to speak on the topics pertaining to the theme, Saudia Arabia, Islamic Culture and including the Saudi Pavilion at EXPO and the Koran. Foreign exchange student Salem Al-Fairowz from the United Arab Emirates also spoke on such topics as the popularity of Japanese anime. On October 18, Maestro Richard Pontzious, who has been passionately involved with the Asian Youth Orchestra for 15 years, provided beautiful, moving musical images of the AYO from a HK Television program introducing the orchestra. He also spoke about how young musicians from over ten Asian countries have been able to join their hearts into one in a very short time. On Tuesday, November 15, Patrick Carey will give the second half of his talk on Rediscovering the Old Tokaido Road.
ESU International Council Convenes
ESU International Council Meeting was held on September 8 and 9 at London's Dartmouth House, with nearly 50 persons attending from 27 countries. Mr. Tsunetada Matsudaira, Director General, attended from Japan. Each country reported on its own activities, with our own ESUJ's list of activities being regarded as very complete and special. This year ESU launches are planned for Mexico, the Czech Republic, and the Philippines.
Coming Events! (see separate page for details)
November 4 (Friday) Autumn Nighter Twinkle Race
Racing as viewed from a special private room at Oi.
Prior booking required (members only) Fee: \5000
November 24 (Thursday) Special Reception (Members Only)
To meet ESU's Director General, Mrs Valerie Mitchell
Join us in the banquet room of the very special and traditional
Tokyo Club for a pleasant time. (18:30-20:30) Fee: \5000.
December 21 (Wednesday) ESUJ Christmas Party
Venue: Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan (Yurakucho)
Cost: \7000 (students \3000)
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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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