11th ESUJ Debate Competition : Winners are Keio Univ!

ESUJ's big annual event of the autumn season is its University Debate Competition, which was held this year on October 12 (Sun) and 13 (Mon) at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center.

Parliamentary Debate, which ESUJ has worked to promote the popularity of, is modeled on the spontaneous impromptu debating of the British Parliament The motion, along with whose side of the argument each of the two competing teams is to take, that of the government or of the opposition, is announced in the main hall only twenty minutes before the actual debate. The debaters, who have worked hard preparing for this day, pour all of their strength and effort into their debate.

Largest Ever ESUJ Competition : 36 teams from 30 Universities!
This year's competition greatly exceeded last year's 32 teams from 25 universities with 36 teams competing from 30 universities, for the greatest number so far both of teams and of universities. First time participants were Takasaki City Univ.of Economics, Tokyo Univ.of Science, Hiroshima Shudo Univ., and Hosei Univ.

Championship Finalists : Keio University 1 versus University of Tokyo
October 12 featured four preliminary rounds, with the Final Eight Teams announced the following morning. In points order: 1. Kansai Gaidai Univ., 2. Keio Univ.2, 3. Tokyo Univ., 4. Keio Univ.1, 5. Tokyo Univ. of Foreign Studies, 6. Seikei Univ., 7. Univ.of Kitakyushu, 8. ICU 1. From here on out tournament rules were followed, with Keio University 1 and Tokyo University advancing to the championship battle in the Large Hall. Debating the motion “This House believes that taxpayers' money should not be used to bail out financial institutions”, Tokyo University (Ido Shota and Takeuchi Yuri) proposed the motion for the Government, with Keio University 1 (Miyauchi Yui and Sako Yoko) opposing the motion. Final result was a 10 to 3 victory for Keio 1, with the Best Speaker award going to TokyoUniversity's Ido Shota.

British Ambassador David Warren Honored Guest
Ambassador David Warren, who arrived in Japan in September and became an Honorary President of ESUJ, was present at the championship final. The ambassador, once a student debater himself, served as President of the renowned Oxford Union Society and was once even a member of a traveling team of British debaters dispatched to the United States by ESU. He spoke enthusiastically and engagingly to those present at the closing ceremony. Once more this year, a British team of debaters came to Japan, and Mr. Anthony Millington along with many adult judges and staff volunteered their time to help make the competition possible. Thank you, everyone. This year's motions and a report of the results are posted at www.esuj.gr.jp

Once more with the cooperation of ESU London a squad of four top level debaters were selected and dispatched to Japan for the period of October 6-14 along with ESU's specialist debating coach for the ESUJ University Debate Competition. ESU London's Mr Andrew Fitch himself was a strong debater while he was a student at Australia's Monash University. Presently he teaches debate around the world.

Ms. Patricia Edwards and Mr. Frederick Cowell are now practising barristers and Mr. Ben Jasper and New Zealander Ms. Melanie Bunce are studying for Masters Degrees at Oxford. This was the first trip to Japan for all, but naturally, open-minded debaters that they are, they showed wisdom and were brimming with curiosity at their seminars in Fukuoka, Osaka, Kyoto and finally Tokyo, immediately fitting into various ‘scenes' and completing their program enthusiastically.

In Fukuoka they conducted two seminars at the Kyusyu University for students and the general public; in Kansai they participated in a seminar organized by Kansai student members of the student debating society JPDU at Kansai Gaidai University; and finally, in Tokyo, they presented a model debate at the ESUJ competition and also served as judges as well as giving two seminars at other locations. The seminar at Ina Gakuen Comprehensive Upper School in Saitama Prefecture in particular was a huge success, with morning and afternoon sessions for First, Second and Third year high school students each. Debates in which a team of high school students mounted a resolute challenge against the “British dream team” completed a very fulfilling day. At each and every venue audiences were stimulated by the visitors' persuasive speaking power and charmed by the dignity and wit of their speeches. The British Team's schedule sounds awfully packed, even exhausting, but they were able to enjoy Japanese food and karaoke (to become an annual ritual?) in between events as well.

Major Industrialized Countries Must Return to Real Economics to Prevent Future Financial Crisis-- ONO Goro (Oct. 27)
The Collapse of Leveraged Capitalism --SHIBUSAWA Ken (Oct. 23)
Japan should not shirk real engagement in Afghanistan -- TANAKA Koichiro (Oct. 21)
Was the Beijing Olympic Games a Success? -- FUKUHARA Koichi (Oct.14)
Political Upheaval in Israel and Peace Negotiations-- HIRAYAMA Kentaro (Sep. 30)