2024/2/24(土)SMC

President's Remark: SM Kei Narisawa

He talked about why the missionaries couldn't make it to the meeting. They had their bike stolen and one bike was recovered but the other is still missing. The police asked them to come to the police station at 10:00 am. So that's why they were absent.

He also talked about contraction. One day he talked with Elder Rogers about how contraction is important when they speak English. You see, when you pronounce the phrase, 'miss you', you should pronounce it like 'mis shu:'. This is what Mr. Rogers insisted. The same thing can be applied to Japanese pronunciation. If you pronounce a Japanese word, 'Biyouin', a beauty salon', with contraction, it should sound like 'Byouin', hospital.

Word of the Day: SM Yu. Narisawa

“Ubiquitous”

   Congratulations, everyone, your stocks have reached post-bubble highs! Some of you might not have stocks or might not be catching the market momentum even if you hold stocks. But don’t worry, be happy. It’s a matter of time before stock certificates may turn into confetti, which stock investors are to scatter crying over it some day.

   Well, now today’s word is “Ubiquitous.” 

   In today's digital age, smartphones have become “ubiquitous,” found in the hands of modern people. “Ubiquitous” is derived from a Latin word meaning “anywhere at any time.” “Ubiquitous” sounds slightly different from “very common.” How different?

1.  Sounds very very very very common.

2.  Used in an academic or business situations.

Lecture: SM Eda

Mr.Obama Interview ( Jimmy Kimmel Asks President Barack Obama about his Daily Life )

Table Topic Speech

1 What's one downside of the modern day world?

2 What's the most sensible thing you've ever heard someone say?

3 What is the number one solution to healing the world?

4 What's something you wish you had done earlier in life?

5 What can someone do to grab your attention?

6 Do you ask enough questions or do you settle for what you know?

7 Have you done anything lately worth remembering?

Prepared Speech

1 Eye-opener: SM Yoko Narisawa

The other day, I learned about おみやげ算. Have you ever heard of this term? This was a real eye-opener for me. It is an easy way to do mental arithmetic. We can easily do multiplication using this method. It is effective for multiplying two two-digit numbers but we can only use おみやげ算 under the condition that the tens place of two numbers is the same. I’d like to explain how to do the calculations. Everyone can calculate within 10 seconds.

 For example,    18 x 17 = ? ( 306 )

             18 + 7  17- 7

              25  x  10 = 250   8x7= 56  250+ 56= 306

Let’s try some calculations.

1. 12 x 16 = ? ( 192 )  2. 24 x 24 = ? ( 576 )  3. 85 x 85 = ? ( 7225 )

 When usingおみやげ算, we have to consider the condition. But it is certain that we can calculate easily. If necessary, please try to make use of it.

2 The Shikoku Pilgrimage: SM Ishimura

The Shikoku Pilgrimage, also known as Shikoku junrei, is a journey to 88 temples linked to the Buddhist monk Kukai on Shikoku Island, Japan.

It’s a famous part of the island’s culture, attracting many pilgrims, called henro, who undertake the trip for various reasons like spiritual devotion or tourism. Traditionally, it’s done on foot, but today, people also use cars, buses, or bikes. The main route is about 1,200 kilometers long and takes 30 to 60 days to finish.

Local people along the route, known as o-henro-san, often help pilgrims by giving them alms or osettai.

Pilgrims can get a certificate as a “Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Henro Ambassador” before reaching Temple 88. At Temple 88, they can buy a certificate to mark the completion of their journey, called a Kechi-gan-sho.

Many pilgrims also start and end their journey by visiting Mount Koya, the center of Shingon Buddhism. Though there’s a walking trail to Koya-san, most pilgrims prefer to use the train.

My middle school and high school classmate currently lives in Kawasaki. To commemorate his retirement, he visited 88 temples on foot.

After visiting Kukai’s historical sites, he made a booklet about a solo pilgrimage on the Shikoku pilgrimage and sent it to me. According to it.

The purpose of his departure was to rejuvenate himself, gain the ability to cope with a life different from that of an office worker, and decide what kind of lifestyle he would like to lead in the future.

He says total cost incurred 333,000 yen.

3 Acquired taste: SM Kei Narisawa

The speaker shares personal anecdotes to illustrate the concept of acquired tastes and changing perspectives over time. Initially, the speaker disliked sushi and raw fish, finding the idea unappetizing, but over the years, this perception changed, and now the speaker enjoys various types of sushi. Similarly, the speaker's initial reluctance towards parenthood shifted dramatically after the birth of their children, highlighting a profound change in perspective regarding family life. The speaker also mentions an aversion to eggplants based on their appearance and a past struggle with reading, particularly in English. However, through persistence and inspired by English teachers, the speaker developed a passion for reading, emphasizing it as an acquired taste and a crucial skill, especially for non-native environments. The overarching theme is the importance of openness to change and the value of patience and perseverance in overcoming initial dislikes or challenges.

4 Second Anniversary of my mother’s death: SM Koizumi

A few days before the second anniversary of my mother's passing, as a chief mourner, I felt a sense of uncertainty how to properly commemorate the occasion.  Following the adage, "A stitch in time saves nine." I asked the priest and scoured the internet to know the way of the ceremony in detail.

The morning of the anniversary arrived, I with my wife and daughter moved by car.  I remembered many memories of the past, such as my childhood raised after the war, playing soft tennis with her in Matsudo City, her challenge to go abroad alone after 70, or entering a nursing home after dementia at the age of 96, and died there at the age of 99.  She was a positive women with a lot of smiles.

I picked up a beautiful bouquet of flowers to place on the altar of the temple named “Soutou-shu Kankizan Jouan-in（曹洞宗歓喜山常安院）” in Moriya City, Ibaraki Prefecture.

At 12:15, we all gathered in a waiting room.  Just before the ceremony I asked the priest how to offer incense in “Soutou-shu” denomination.  He said “We offer incense 2 times respectively.  First one is for wishing a peaceful rest of the deceased.  And second one is nothing but for lingering sensation innocently.”  If you have another way in another denomination, that will do.

As the clock struck 12:30, we commenced the second anniversary ceremony.  As the chief mourner, I was first to offer incense, and feeling a little bit nervous.  I bowed 4 times.  Firstly to the attendants, to the priest, to the photograph of my late mother before offering incense, and to the photograph after offering incense.  The ceremony progressed seamlessly, with prayers, reflections, and shared memories.

At 13:00, we moved to the main temple's exterior, where we paid our respects to my mother at her resting place. The act of laying incense sticks and offering prayers felt like a tangible connection to her spirit, a moment of quiet reflection and gratitude for the love she had bestowed upon us.

Thanks for the preparation and participants’ cooperation, the ceremony was over without any trouble.

May my mother and father be peaceful in the heaven and protect us strongly.

Meeting Schedule

In-person: 9:30 AM on Mar. 9 at Oyama Community Center (medium room)

Coordinator: SM Takahata, Word of the Day: SM Eda, Lecturer: SM Noro)

Zoom: 7:30 PM on Feb. 26 and Mar. 4