2025/10/25(Sat.)*SMC*

Lecture: SM Kaneko

自然なつなぎ表現リスト（filler & discourse markers）

【考える時間がほしいとき】

Well,

Let me think.

That’s an interesting question.

I’ve never thought about it deeply, but…

Give me a second to consider that.

使い方例：

“That’s an interesting question. Well, I believe education plays a key role in solving this issue.”

【話を始めるとき】

To begin with,

First of all,

Let me start by saying that…

In my opinion,

I believe that…

使い方例：

“To begin with, I think climate change is the most serious issue we face today.”

【話を続けるとき・展開するとき】

Also, / In addition,

Another point is that…

Moreover,

Besides that,

What’s more,

使い方例：

“Moreover, we should consider the long-term effects on the economy.”

【具体例を挙げるとき】

For example,

Take ~ as an example.

One good example is…

To illustrate this point,

使い方例：

“For example, in Japan, the population is rapidly aging.”

【意見を強調するとき】

Actually,

As a matter of fact,

I strongly believe that…

It’s clear that…

使い方例：

“I strongly believe that education should be free for everyone.”

【言い換えたいとき】

In other words,

To put it simply,

What I mean is…

使い方例：

“In other words, it’s not just a local issue—it’s global.”

【結論やまとめに入るとき】

In conclusion,

To sum up,

All in all,

Overall, I’d say…

使い方例：

“In conclusion, technology has both benefits and drawbacks, but we must use it responsibly.”

【意見を補足・やや弱めるとき】

I guess…

Maybe…

It seems to me that…

As far as I know,

I suppose…

注意：使いすぎると自信がない印象を与えるので、バランスよく使うのがおすすめです。

Table Topic Speech

(1) Are you more like your mom or your dad? In what way?

(2) What word best describes the way you've spent the last month of your life?

(3) How would you describe your future in three words?

(4) What is your saddist memory?

(5) What is one opportunity you missed out on when you were younger?

(6) If you were forced to eliminate every physical possession from your life with the exception of what could fit into a single backpack, what would you put in it?

(7) Would you ever give up your life to save someone else?

Prepared Speech

(1) Impermanence and Emptiness: 無常と空: SM Ishimura

Today, I’d like to share two beautiful ideas from Buddhist philosophy: impermanence and emptiness. These may sound abstract, but they are deeply connected to our daily lives—even to something as simple as the falling of cherry blossoms.

Let’s begin with impermanence, or mujō in Japanese.

Everything in life is constantly changing. The seasons shift, flowers bloom and fade, people grow older. Nothing stays the same forever. This is the essence of impermanence.

Imagine a cherry blossom. It opens in spring, dances in the wind, and then gently falls to the ground. We admire its beauty because it is fleeting. If it lasted forever, would it move our hearts in the same way?

Impermanence teaches us to appreciate each moment. It also reminds us not to cling too tightly—because change is natural, and even necessary.

Now, let’s turn to emptiness, or kū.

Emptiness doesn’t mean “nothingness.” It means that things do not exist independently. Everything is connected, like threads in a tapestry.

Take a simple wooden table. It seems solid, but it’s made from wood, which came from a tree, which grew from sunlight, rain, and soil. The table also needed a carpenter, tools, and time. So the table is not just “a table”—it’s a collection of conditions.

Emptiness helps us see that nothing has a fixed, separate identity. We are all part of a larger web. This understanding can bring peace, because it softens our ego and opens our hearts to others.

So, how are impermanence and emptiness related?

Impermanence shows us that things change. Emptiness shows us that things depend. Together, they teach us to live with grace, to let go of rigid thinking, and to find beauty in the flow of life.

I’ve recently become interested in Buddhism and have been studying it in English. However, I still struggle to fully understand the relationship between impermanence (mujō) and emptiness (kū). I hope to explore this topic little by little each day through continued learning.

Thank you.

(2) My trip to Yamagata: SM Takahata

Ever since she saw on TV a temple built on a cliff in Yamagata Prefecture a long time ago, she's wanted to visit it someday. The Temple is called Yamadera. Its official name is Hōshū-zan Risshaku-ji. It's famous as the place where Matsuo Bashō wrote his haiku in The Narrow Road to the Deep North. It was founded in the year 860, almost 1100 years ago. She went on a three-day, two-night tour around Yamagata with her sisters to realize her dream.

After visiting famous tourst spots like, Zao, Mogami river, Gassan, Sakata and Ginzan-onsenn, she finally reached the highlight of the trip - Yamadera.

Unfortunately, it was drizzling when we arrived at the trailhead, but she and her sisters managed to climb the long stone steps, all 1,015 of them, in about 30 minutes. These steps are said to be very special, as with each step you take, one earthly desire (Bonno) disappears. Fortunately, when they reached the top and entered the temple famous for its breathtaking views, the clouds cleared, and they were able to take in the vast, magnificent rural landscape below. She said it’s hard to believe that over a thousand years ago, someone built a temple atop that sheer cliff without using machines or electricity.

As for whether her Bonno disappeared after climbing all 1,015 steps… she's not really sure herself, but in any case, she said she's just glad that her long-cherished dream came true.

(3) Soft Power: SM Kei Narisawa

What comes to mind when you hear “soft power”? It’s not about software or soft-serve ice cream, but about cultural influence rather than military strength.

Japan’s soft power has grown remarkably. When sumo wrestlers visited London this year for the first time in 34 years, locals welcomed them as part of Japanese culture, not just an exotic show. Disdain has turned into respect.

Japanese anime also plays a big role. On Netflix, seven of the world’s top ten non-English shows are Japanese anime. Its freedom and diversity attract fans around the world, unlike the limited range of American or Chinese animation.

Anime inspires people across fields—NASA engineers credit Gundam, athletes mimic Dragon Ball, and even world leaders like Justin Trudeau say they learned values from Sailor Moon.

The number of Japanese learners has grown from 300,000 in 2003 to 1.7 million in 2023. From sumo to anime, Japan’s soft power continues to win hearts worldwide. Soft power, indeed, speaks louder than military might.

(4) My Halloween Dance Experience: SM Koizumi

Halloween is now a fun costume event enjoyed all over the world.

But if we go back in history, it began with the ancient Celtic festival called Samhain. It was a time to celebrate the harvest and to drive away evil spirits. People believed that on the night of October 31, the spirits of the dead visited their families.

To protect themselves from evil spirits, they wore masks, dressed in costumes, and lit bonfires.　That’s the origin of today’s Halloween costumes and Jack-o’-lanterns.　October 31 was called All Hallows’ Eve, which later became Halloween.　Today, the religious meaning is almost gone, and it has become a joyful event for both children and adults.

 In the dance world, we often enjoy costume dance parties in October.

 On October 13, we had the Diana Club Halloween Party at Shin-Yurigaoka Twenty-One. I joined as an attendant and spent a lot of time thinking about my costume.

 There are two kinds of costumes — easy and heavy.

Easy costumes are just masks or hats.　But I chose a heavy one — four different masks, two hats, two cloaks, and several Halloween decorations.　I tried six combinations, took selfies, and asked my friends to vote for the best one.

 At the party, we also prepared extra items like masks and hair ribbons for guests who didn’t bring their own costumes. The event was bright, cheerful, and full of smiles.

 My outfit was a white dance shirt, black vest, black pants, and a black bow tie.　On my head, I wore a Halloween hat and a full white mask like The Phantom of the Opera.　I was the only one in a heavy costume.

When I invited Mrs. A to dance, she couldn’t recognize me and looked puzzled — “Who are you?” she asked.　Because of the mask, I could only see her face close-up, and she seemed unsure if it was safe to dance with me.　But once we started dancing, she smiled and said, “Oh, you’re Mr. Koizumi! I’m glad.”　I replied, “I’m glad too.”

 That night, I danced with about thirty people in my heavy costume.　Some said it was scary, but many said it was wonderful and impressive.

 After that, I joined two more Halloween dance parties, each time with a new costume.

Next week, I’ll be on the Nippon Maru Cruise, where a Halloween event will surely be held.　I’ll bring my best costume again — to share the joy and magic of Halloween on the dance floor.

(5) Autumn has come: SM Yoko Narisawa

  The scorching hot summer is over and autumn is finally here. The surrounding scenery is beginning to look like autumn. Speaking of autumn, it is often said to be the season for hearty meals, sports, appreciating art and reading books. Autumn is a time when we can enjoy a variety of things. I’d like to talk about autumn from four perspectives.

 First, autumn is the season for hearty meals. It offers a lot of delicious food. A persimmon tree next door is producing a lot of fruit now. Every time my neighbor picks persimmons, he shares some with us. When I was a child, there were both a persimmon tree and a chestnut tree in our garden. I would often climb the persimmon tree and pick fruit myself and also stomp on the chestnut husks with my feet to extract the nuts. Persimmons and chestnuts were my favorite snacks. I used to eat them almost every day. I often ate the chestnuts raw because I couldn’t wait for them to be cooked. I feel nostalgic about the days when I could eat as many chestnuts and persimmons as I wanted.

 Second, autumn is the season for sports. Various sporting events are held at this time of year. The other day, my daughter-in-law sent us videos of my grandson’s kindergarten sports day. The children were the main participants. Each and every child played with dignity. I was impressed to see my grandson dancing with a ribbon, making spirals and circles. I was surprised at how quickly my grandson has grown up.

 Third, autumn is the season for appreciating art. Various exhibitions are held in art museums and other venues. For example, the Van Gogh Exhibition is currently being held at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno until December 21st. I saw the Van Gogh Exhibition seven years ago. I remember being thrilled to see his artworks firsthand. He was greatly inspired by ukiyo-e and incorporated its elements into his own works. By enjoying art, we have the opportunity to understand other societies and cultures.

 Lastly, autumn is the season for reading books. I read all year round, not just in autumn. But autumn may be the best season to enjoy reading quietly during the long autumn nights. Reading books enriches our souls.

 As autumn deepens, the surrounding colors begin to change. Leaves turn red, orange and yellow. What kind of autumn is this for you?

(6) Do what one can do: SM Eda

Meeting Schedule

In-person: 9:30 AM on Nov. 8 at Oyama Community Center (cooking practice room)

(Coordinator: SM Koizumi)