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| Newsletter
No.85 |
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June
2006
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May Evening Gala
ESUJ's annual May Evening Gala took place on Monday, May 22 in the Lounge Kinkei at the Meiji Kinenkan, starting at 6:30. Facing a fragrant garden with lights glowing among new leaves, the historic Lounge was filled with 130 members and guests, and graced with the presence of the Turkish and Jordanian ambassadors as well as the former Indian Ambassador and his wife. With both numerous international participants as well as ladies in their Japanese finery, it was a richly international and gorgeous soiree. Entertainment was provided by Nobuko on the koto, accompanied by oboist Masaru Nakayama and percussionist Kenji Yoshiura playing a selection of mostly Mozart and starting off with 'Spring Sea', followed by excerpts from The Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute, concluding with the traditional Hokkaido folk song Soran-bushi. Members of the audience were charmed by the combination of musical instruments, shown off to their best by the musical selection, for a mixture of past and present, East and West. Next, Chairman Hanabusa welcomed the group, followed by a toast from Jordanian Ambassador Naouri, after which everyone enjoyed a delicious buffet with wine and pleasant conversation. The evening was so splendid, no one noticed when it was time to go, as we were all greatly enjoying the party!
Directors and Councilors Meeting
On May 22 the 8th Directors and Councilors' joint meeting took place at Meiji Kinenkan prior to the May Evening Gala, with 15 Directors, 2 Auditors, and 6 Councilors in attendance. Following presentation of measures to be proposed at the 8th AGM, there was an exchange of opinions.
JET / National Museum Project
On Wednesday June 7th, ESUJ, in cooperation with the Tokyo National Museum, invited over 100 young native speakers of ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) to the National Museum in Ueno. They are teaching English in junior high schools or high schools scattered all over Japan under the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program) scheme and once a year gather together in Tokyo for a joint briefing. In continuation from the last year, ESUJ is inviting some of them to the museum to let them study Japanese culture in depth. They had a lecture "The charms of Japanese Art" by Ms. Hiroko Nishida, Vice president of Nezu Art Institute. Photographs of many Japanese classic arts (before and after the restoration) were projected to a big screen and explanations from various aspects were made. It was a good preliminary study before watching the exhibition. Then they proceeded to the "Highlights of Japanese Art" exhibition in the main building. Furthermore, they are invited to the Tea Ceremony at Oukyo-kan. They fully enjoyed Japanese culture as well as Japanese hospitality and returned to their respective stations. More than 10 ESUJ volunteers made a wonderful team play so that the movement of this big group in the vast area were perfectly managed.
English Club
English Club held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 16 at the Japan National Press Club, starting off with two-minute speeches, led by Mr. Satoshi Deguchi titled "Morning Call from the Police Station" and concluding with Mr. Masayuki Ukaji's "A Spiral Model--as a clue for successful language teaching/learning and maybe, for other aspects of life as well!" The guest speaker this month was Mr. Russell Willis, CEO of eigoTown.com, Japan's largest portal site for English learning and culture. Russell explained that his entrepreneurial activities had begun at the tender age of 15, with the creation of a guide to tourist sites in his home town, and progressed from there to his current involvement with publishing and English-language related businesses. Coming to Japan, What's eigoTown?, business tribulations, Podcasts (the current 'hot topic' in the Internet education businessplace: "broadcasts" which can be downloaded and played back via cell phone or over the Internet whenever one chooses), one after the next Russell Shacho covered many topics in clear and lively English. His supple thought and verbal agility as well as obvious continual delight in the "new" were very stimulating for those gathered, and an extremely lively Q&A session followed.
The next meeting of English Club will take place on Tuesday, June 20 (6:30-8:30) at the Japan National Press Club (9th fl, Conference Room). Our guest speaker will be Ms. Samar Ahmed Said, from the Egyptian Embassy. Our guest speaker for July English Club on Tuesday, July 18 (same time and place) will be former simultaneous interpreter and English expert, Mr. Toyoo Kakiuchi.
Tue. 27 June ESUJ's Annual General Meeting & Lecture
Place: International House of Japan
Time: AGM 18:00-18:30 Lecture 18:30-20:00
Lecturer: Mr. Thomas Novohradsky
Coming Events!
Tue. 27 June ESUJ's Annual General Meeting & Lecture |
| Place: |
International House of Japan |
| Time: |
AGM 18:00-18:30 Lecture 18:30-20:00 |
| Lecturer: |
Mr. Thomas Novohradsky |
Please do not forget to send back your proxy (post card) for AGM to us. |
Thu. 6 July "Haiku in English" Part 3 |
| Place: |
Japan National Press Club (9th fl. Large Conference Room) |
| Time: |
18:30-20:00 |
| Lecturer: |
Ms. Emiko Miyashita |
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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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