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| Newsletter
No.97 |
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June 2007
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May Evening Gala
ESUJ's annual May Evening Gala took place this year with over 100 people attending in the Wakatake Room of the Meiji Kinenkan.
Following a welcoming speech by Chairman Hanabusa and a toast by the British Ambassador Sir Graham Fry, ESUJ members and guests chatted happily among themselves over glasses of wine, while enjoying a buffet at the international gathering. Many guests chose to linger on the terrace, regarding the lovely garden site.
During the party, a DVD of special moments from six past May Evening Galas was shown. Scenes such as songs praying for peace and musical performances along with Japanese culture interpreted by non-Japanese provoked delighted surprise. Members who were present were surprised and happy to spot their own faces among the animated expressions appearing on the screen. Thus, the May Evening Gala has become the ESUJ "meeting place". At the entrance to the room, there was a display of art flowers so lovely they almost seemed real by clay artist and ESUJ supporting member Noriko Kawaguchi, which included apple blossom, old roses, and wildflowers.
Toward the end of the evening the audience joined together in singing "My Country Home", as performed by American Greg Irwin and accompanied by Mariko Egawa on the piano, for a heartwarming ESUJ moment of English singing about Japan's heart. Even when the singing had ended, chatting continued long into the night. With Special Thanks to ESUJ Directors Mr and Mrs Kato for all their hard work in creating this program documenting the history of the May Evening Gala through past years.
The 9th Directors and Councilors Meeting
On May 25, The Directors and Councilors' joint meeting took place at Meiji Kinenkan, with 14 Directors, 2 Auditors, and 5 Councilors in attendance. Items to be proposed at the 9th AGM were discussed.
JET National Museum Project
On Wednesday, June 6 ESUJ, in cooperation with the Tokyo National museum, invited some 70 young native English instructors to the National Museum in Ueno. The instructors are participants on the Japan Exchange Teaching Program (JET) working at junior and senior high schools right across the country. They were in Tokyo at the time attending an annual briefing.
This year ESUJ presented a demonstration of nanga painting by Ms Shoko Ohta. Her black and white ink painting featuring natural beauty projected majestically onto a big screen. Upon request she demonstrated an impromptu painting of peacocks, peony and such which were presented to some of the JETs.
Lady Fry, the wife of the British Ambassador, kindly joined the latter part of the program which included a tea ceremony and a viewing of the Museum's exhibition, "Highlights of Japanese Art". Again this year many ESUJ members worked so hard as volunteers.
ESUJ Debate 2007
The ESUJ Debate Competition for Adults took place on June 9 (Sat.) at the International House in Roppongi. The participating 10 teams ranged from young businesspersons who have graduated from student debating societies to mature citizens who jointed the competition for the first time.
Motions in the preliminary rounds were:
1. This house believes that the "Baby-post" brings more benefits than harms.
2. This house supports privatization of prisons.
3. This house would prefer to live in the country after retirement.
4. This house believes that Microsoft should provide Windows to developing nations for free.
After a rigorous and fair judgment, 4 teams proceeded to the final rounds. The motion of the semi-final round was "This house would levy a congestion tax on cars coming in to Tokyo". There were lively exchanges from both environmental and economical business viewpoints. The grand final's motion was "This house believes that juveniles convicted of serious crimes should receive the same punishment as adults." A key point of contention was whether a boy should receive capital punishment when he commits a murder.
The audience judge gave 36 of 66 votes cast to the team Kenny & CB (Keiichi Kawarazaki, Mieko Kobayashi)! The Runners Up: Capital Idea! (Jonathan Borock, Toshimitsu Kiji). Third Place: Ashida Cantabile (Tsutomu Namiki, Maki Ashida), Thansand Winds (Shigeo Suzuki, Yumi Kubota).
English Club
English Club met on May 15 (Tue.) at the Japan National Press Club. We welcomed two young architect; Ms. Jessie Turnbull (Scholar of Daiwa Anglo-Japan Foundation) and Mr. Steve Chodoriwsky (Exchange scholar of TIT) as guest speakers under the title of "Experiencing Architecture: Study and Practice in Tokyo" Jessie explained about Water Temple in Awajishima designed by Mr. Tadao Ando with many photos while Steve showed his original unique Tokyo map (out of Yamanote-line). Those Japanese sceneries introduced by non-Japanese viewpoint were very fresh for us.
ESUJ's Annual General Meeting and Lecture
June 27 (Wed.) at Kokusai Bunka Kaikan (I.House)
AGM: 18:15-18:45, Lecture: 19:00-20:30
"Social Systems and Sprit of the Edo Era" by Mr. T. Tokugawa
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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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