Chairman's New Year Greetings
Masamichi Hanabusa, Chairman ESUJ

Happy New Year to you all. Thanks to our many members and supporters, ESUJ continues to grow steadily. At the start of this year, I would like to express my appreciation to everyone.

Launched in October 1998, ESUJ this year ushered in its ninth New Year. Next year we will turn ten. To mark this achievement, we will commence our "10th anniversary Year" this coming October, with the first of three big events planned, the ESUJ University Debating Competition in English. This is our biggest activity, and we will be holding it for the tenth time this year. From the first competition, we have worked to provide a full program of activities, including the inviting to Japan of a team of student debaters and their coach from England. As a result, our competition has become the pinnacle of the annual calendar for parliamentary collegiate debaters here. Therefore, we are anticipating a very special tournament this year. Our second event will be the hosting this Autumn of the ESU International Council Meeting, at which representatives from the 52 nation members of ESU will gather. In order to make this first-time-ever meeting of the International Council in an Asian Country a big success, we have already begun preparations. With the chairpersons and officers of ESUs from many countries gathering in Japan, we intend to make the occasion an opportunity for them to meet and get to know the members of the English-Speaking Union of Japan. Next, the voices of various insightful Japanese individuals are made public in our JITOW(Japan In Their Own Words) column at the ESUJ web site. Of the more than 200 columns already published, fifty are being selected for inclusion in a bound volume. We also intend to continue and expand our other activities such as English Club and lectures in English as well as pleasurable outings and parties. We very much want our members to enthusiastically participate in all our activities, for their pleasure and edification.

For a volunteer-supported organization such as ESUJ to continue to develop, it is necessary to secure our financial base. We fervently request your cooperation by becoming a supporting member or introducing corporate sponsors for ESUJ. Finally, best wishes for a wonderful 2007.

"ESU Book of International Fairy Tales and Traditions"

At the initiative of ESU Lebanon, an attempt is being made to gather folk tales from ESUs around the world for binding into a book. As well as fairy tales, manners and customs and cultural traditions are all welcome. Please submit your ideas for works from Japan to be included. Please raise interesting Japanese customs and traditions you feel you would like the world to know about (fax or email).

ESUJ Christmas Party!

The annual ESUJ Christmas party was held in grand style on December 19 (Tues.) at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in Yurakucho, with 120 members and guests filling the room. Following words of welcome by ESUJ Chairman Hanabusa, Prof. Toshiko Marks lead the toast. Professor Marks decried sole use of "thumb communication" (mobile phone email), and stressed the importance of getting together for conversation, adding a special significance to the party. Many young foreign students also attended and enjoyed participating in the "name game". Prizes provided by Mr and Mrs Katoh, ESUJ directors, were given to those correctly identifying their famous person, delighting everyone. This year, Director-General Matsudaira, who has had to apologize in times past for a food shortage, had to encourage guests to "eat up", as food and drink were plentiful. With everyone chatting happily, in no time this delightful occasion drew to an end, for a successful conclusion of 2006 for ESUJ.

ESUJ New Year's Lecture     A Must!

"How much is Japan Changing?"
--Professional and personal observations over 30 years―
Lecture by Mr. Graham M Harris OBE
Date: January 25 (Thu.) 19:00-20:30 *Time Attention!
Place: Japan National Press Club (9th Floor)
Mr. Harris is President of Harris Consultancy, former president of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan.

Other Coming Events

English Club: January 16 (Tue) 18:30-20:30
Place: Japan National Press Club (9th Floor)
Speaker: Dr. Magdi Elsayed Khalil
"Arabic and Islamic Culture"
(English Club, ESUJ monthly activity will be held every third Tuesday. 2/20, 3/20 @Japan National Press Club)

Haiku in English Part 4
Lecture by Ms. Emiko Miyashita
Date: February 16 (Fri.) 18:30-20:00
Place: Japan National Press Club (9th Floor)

**English Club is free for ESUJ members and does not require a reservation. Non-members are invited to attend for free the first time, and readers of the Nikkei Weekly are welcome to attend provided they bring a copy of the latest issue of the paper with them. ESUJ activities such as lectures require, in principle, a reservation, and there is a fee for attendance. We ask for your kind cooperation.