2023/12/23(土)SMC
President's Remark: SM Kei Narisawa
Today we had two native speakers of English who are studying Japanese just like we do English. And it is about time the members were getting tired of my pep talk about English, so we turned this session into cross-cultural discussion where the Americans ask about Japanese and Japanese culture and we make ourselves helpful in teaching Japanese. Today's session was about seasonal greetings like 'Akemasite Omedetougozaimasu' or 'Kotoshimo Yorosiku'. Next time we can expect more vivid and heated discussion with them.
Word of the day: SM Kei Narisawa
K. Narisawa presented us with the word, 'eccentric'. Though the word sounds familiar, we may find it difficult to use it properly. Some of the members were successful in using it in their speeches.
Lecture: SM Yoko Narisawa
Let’s read the following short story and do the crossword puzzle.
< The untouchable >
1. A traveler, after losing his way in the mountain, took refuge for the night in a cave. He saw at once that another had preceded him and was now warming himself before a fire of sticks and leaves. When the traveler entered, the other man said, “ I’m an untouchable. Be careful not to stumble and fall against me.”
2. The traveler sat on the other side of the fire watching his companion. He wondered what differences made one of them an honorable man and the other outcast. Not seeing any great physical difference between them, he thought perhaps the solution lay in another field. He said, “ Tell me,do you feel hate and joy and love, as I do? Are you capable of feeling hope and jealousy and regret?”
3. “ Yes,” said the untouchable. “ I feel all those things. I also feel shame, envy, sorrow and pity.
4. And so the two men talked. They tried to discover some differences between them but did not succeed. Then the traveler said, “ As far as I can see, we are very much alike,” and added, “ Do you know why you’re an untouchable and I am not?”
5. “ No,” said the other, “ I only know I was born an untouchable of parents who were like myself.”
6. There was a long silence while the two men examined each other across the fire. Finally the traveler said, “ I wonder what would happen if I touched you?”
7. The eyes of the traveler widened at his own audacity, and he said, “ You know --- I’m going to touch you and find out.” The outcast drew back against the wall and covered his eyes. The traveler stretched out his arms and touched the untouchable. After a time the outcast asked in a frightened voice, “ Did the mountain totter? Did the river dry up? Did the moon fall out of the sky?”
8. The traveler said in astonishment, “ Nothing at all happened. Everything is precisely as it was before.”
< Notes on italicized words >
* took refuge --- found a place to stay
* preceded --- came before
* outcast --- someone who is not included or accepted by the others
* solution lay in another field --- the answer would be found in another place
* audacity --- directness, boldness
* drew back --- moved further away
* totter --- stumble, begin to fall
* fall out of --- disappear from
[ Crossword Puzzle ]
Complete the squares of the crossword puzzle with the words in your reading that are similar in meaning to the italicized words or phrases in the sentence below. The numbers in parentheses at the end of the sentences will tell you which paragraphs contain the words you need.
< Words Across >
1. One of the men in the cave was not to be touched by persons of other castes. (1)
3. When his father scolded him, the boy lowered his head in embarrassment. (3)
6. This story takes place in an Asian country where there is a system of social castes. (Introduction)
9. Looking up, he saw his friend lose his balance on the ladder. (7)
10. “ Nothing at all happened,” he said in great surprise. (8)
12. The traveler was surprised at his own directness when he told the untouchable that he was going to touch him. (7)
14. I wish I had your beautiful new car. (3)
15. The teacher asked for quiet in the room during the examination. (6)
< Words Down >
2. They climbed a large hill in Yosemite Park last week. (1)
4. They dislike their uncle very much. (2)
5. Did you look at the diamond closely when the jeweler showed it to you? (6)
7. The old woman is not able to climb those stairs. (2)
8. I am sorry that I didn’t help him when I could have. (2)
11. The mother’s face showed great happiness when her baby was born.(2)
13. The finding of an oil well on his land made him a rich man. (4)
16. He doesn’t live in this village; he is a visitor on his way to the city. (1)
Table Topic Speech
(1) What is the best advice you have ever received?
(2) What white lies do you often tell?
(3) If I gave you $1000 and told you that you had to spend it today, what would you do?
(4) Other than money, what else have you gained from your current job?
(5) If you had to be someone else for one day, who would you be and why?
(6) What do you think about when you lkie awake in bet?
(7) Do you like the city or town you live in? Why or why not?
(8) How would you spend your ideal day?
Prepared Speech
(1) My Students' Speeches: SM Yu. Narisawa
Following the end of the second term exams, and with no intention to use the textbook, I decided to have my first-year high school students give a two-minute English speech. They were told to talk about things they like or things they want to do during this time.
In the past, students used to take a while before they start speaking, but these days, high schoolers readily come forward and make a presentation without hesitation.
Now, about the content of the speeches, first of all, I was surprised to hear that out of 40 students, four are going to Taiwan. Initially, I thought Taiwan was very popular among them, but it turned out it's part of a city-sponsored program. Everyone takes an exam and then is chosen. Within that program, there's even a requirement to give a speech in English at a university.
There were also four students planning to visit their parents' house, which surprised me, because they are not young enough to.
Some students mentioned spending their winter break much studying English or a lot of practicing the piano.
There were speeches typical of high schoolers, like two of them planning to take the overnight train, Sunrise Izumo, to go to Okayama, or another student who regained lost confidence by assisting an elderly lady who got lost and being appreciated. Then there were mentions of going to Comic Market with friends, reading lots of manga, participating in club activities, karaoke sessions, going to see illuminations, helping with New Year’s Eve major cleanups, and more. Additionally, some talked about their favorite TV program, stand-up-comedian championships or M1 Grand Prix, or even discussions about K-POP and marathon runner, Osako Suguru,
That sums up the speeches. There's no punchline to this speech. I conveyed to my students in advance that if they don't have a punchline, they can simply end with 'Thank you.' That was a magic wand to conclude their speeches. Thank you.
(2) Masadoka Shiki: SM Ishimura
Masaoka shiki (1867 - 1902) was a haiku poet, essayist, and literary critic.
He played a significant role in modernizing and reforming the traditional haiku form, contributing to its evolution into a more contemporary style.
Shiki was born as Tsunenori, but its later took the pen name Shiki, meaning “four seasons,” to reflect his love for nature and his commitment to depicting it in his poetry.
Shiki was born in Matsuyama, now the Ehime Prefecture, 1867.
Shiki advocated for reforms in the haiku form, moving away from the rigid structure and thematic constraints of traditional haiku. He emphasized a more realistic and objective approach to poetry, encouraging the inclusion of contemporary and everyday language in haiku.
In addition to his poetry, Shiki was an influential literary critic. He wrote essays and critiques on various aspects of Japanese literature, contributing to discussions on the direction of modern literature in Japan.
He moved to Tokyo to attend Tokyo Imperial University in 1883, where he studied English literature.
Shiki faced health challenges throughout his life, starting with tuberculosis during his university days. His health issues continued.
Shiki advocated for the term “haiku” instead of “hokku”to refer to the standalone poem, emphasizing its independence. He encouraged the use of a 5-7-5 syllable structure for haiku, a departure from the older 5-7-5-7-7 structure. Shiki traveled to various places in Japan, and his experiences influenced his poetry.
His writings reflect a keen observation of nature, daily life, and a focus on human experiences. His efforts to reform haiku and make it more accessible and contemporary have influenced generations of poets.
Masaoka Shiki’s life in Tokyo was marked by his dedication to literature, his contributions to haiku reform, and his perseverance in the face of health challenges.
In 1895, he became seriously ill with spinal tuberculosis, which let to his death in 1902 at the age of 34.
His legacy endures, and he is remembered as a key figure in the development of modern Japanese poetry.
Haiku mailboxes are scattered throughout Matsuyama city. So When you visit Matsuyama, kindly compose and submit your own haiku. The chosen winning entries will be featured in the magazine.
(3) Back to the world of Yuujirou: SM Koizumi
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed members of the Speech Master Club, thank you for gathering here today as we embark on a journey down memory lane to celebrate the illustrious past of our beloved SMC. Today, I stand before you with a purpose that transcends time and space – to evoke a pang of nostalgia for the golden era of Showa when Ishihara Yuujirou graced the world with his melodious voice.
As we revel in the memories of our 10th-anniversary celebration at the enchanting Côte d'Azur, where the azure waves kissed the shore, I cannot help but recall the joy we experienced during our karaoke time. It was there that Yoko-san, one of the founding members of SMC, enchanted us with the timeless songs of Yuujirou Ishihara. It was as if the echoes of the Showa era resonated in the azure coast that time.
Yoko-san, with her heart in the past, revealed a delightful connection – her brother-in-law, Yuuichirou, whose name bears a striking resemblance to the great star Yuujirou. I ingeniously noticed that "ichi" is superior to "ji," leading me to a whimsical decision. Inspired by Yoko-san's passion, I resolved to translate and modify one of Yuujirou's classics into English, envisioning a day when we would sing it together at an SMC meeting.
In my quest to honor the Showa legend, I delved into the depths of the internet to gather information about Yuujirou Ishihara. The man who, at 23, declared, "Ore wa matteruze," at 28, painted a vivid picture with "Akai Handkerchief," and at 43, serenaded us with "Brandy Glass" as a solo artist. Collaborations like "Ginza no Koi no Monogatari" with 牧村旬子 at 27, "Yuuhi no Oka" with 浅丘ルリ子 at 29, and "Wakare no Yoake" with Aki Yashiro at 40 adorned his illustrious career.
Amidst the plethora of choices, I found myself drawn to "Ginza no Koi no Monogatari" – a tale of love set against the backdrop of Ginza. Today, I present to you my humble attempt at translating and modifying the lyrics into English.
True Love In Ginza
1, ❤The sigh of your heart / floating in the dark / tingles to the depths of my heart.
♠ Not only a sigh / but also signs of / whispering a kind of love.
❤Tears well up full of eyes / involuntarily
♠making even someone like me / want to cry sadly
♠❤This is Tokyo / This is Ginza
Young couple might meet here / for the first time in their lives
The love story / in Ginza / wondering where it goes
:
2, ❤A sincere feeling of / woman’s soul / having kept secret in my heart
♠ You confessed it / I’ve taken it / what a charming words of love
❤I’m willing to give you everything / that you want
♠I want just one thing / that is your love
♠❤This is Tokyo / This is Ginza
Young couple might fall in love / at the risk of their lives
The love story / in Ginza / wondering where it goes
3, ❤Gently embraced / closing eyelids / listen to the saxophone's lament.
♠ Time stops / Tone of love spring up / in our heart
❤Even if the lights go out / stay here unchanged
♠Even if a storm comes / our love is pure
♠❤This is Tokyo / This is Ginza
Young couple might swear love / at midnight with wine and rose
The love story / in Ginza / wondering where it goes
The story / of the true love / wondering where it goes
(4) Class Changes: SM Takahata
The speaker shared a newspaper article about the prestigeous high school in Tokyo, Kunitachi High School, where there is a tradition to not change classes for the entire three years of high school. A newly-appointed principal proposed implementing class changes, which caused quite a disturbance.
She talked about the pros and cons of class changes during the susceptible high schoold years considering her own experiences.
Meeting Schedule
In-person: 9:30 AM on Jan. 13 at Oyama Community Center (tea room)
(Coordinator: SM Yoko Narisawa, Word of the Day: SM Noro, Lecturer: SM Takahata)
Zoom: 7:30 PM on Dec. 25 and Jan. 8
