2025/11/22(Sat.)*SMC*

Lecture: SM Noro

Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition:

1. Boys are usually better …… technology than girls.

2. Citizens demonstrated …….… the government’s policies.

3. What’s the matter …… you, Mr. Jones?

4. Some young people would like to become independent …… their parents, but they can’t.

5. I’m fed up …… working long hours!

6. Professor Smith organizes lectures …… philosophy.

7. Paul has got a degree …… medicine.

8. There are obvious disadvantages …… single-sex schools.

9. Sobriety tests certainly prevent people …… drinking and driving.

10. Mum always complaints …… the electricity bill.

11. Tom has just applied …… a new job.

12. The candidate made a good impression …… the Managing Director.

13. Martha decided to split up since she and her husband weren’t right ……… each other.

14. Sarah is very upset because her boyfriend cheated ……… her.

15. I’m afraid your point …… view …… the matter is completely different …… mine.

16. Patrick never apologizes ……… being so rude …… us.

17. Carl has made a successful career ……… marketing.

18. Have you got a recipe ……… sponge cake?

19. If you want to lose weight, you must stick ………a diet.

20. You’d better concentrate …… what you are doing now.

21. The room smelt …… smoke.

22. Why don’t you look …… the bright side? You’re always so pessimistic!

23. I’m looking forward …… meeting John. I haven’t seen him …… three months.

24. We must thank Mr. Jones …… his kindness.

25. Some politicians have been reported to be involved …… scandals.

26. My parents are really worried …… the future.

27. We’ve been waiting …… Mary …… 5:30. p.m.

Answers:

1. Boys are usually better AT technology than girls.

2. Citizens demonstrated AGAINST the government’s policies.

3. What’s the matter WITH you, Mr. Jones?

4. Some young people would like to become independent FROM their parents, but they can’t.

5. I’m fed up WITH working long hours!

6. Professor Smith organizes lectures ON philosophy.

7. Paul has got a degree IN medicine.

8. There are obvious disadvantages TO single-sex schools.

9. Sobriety tests certainly prevent people FROM drinking and driving.

10. Mum always complains ABOUT the electricity bill.

11. Tom has just applied FOR a new job.

12. The candidate made a good impression ON the Managing Director.

13. Martha decided to split up since she and her husband weren’t right TO each other.

14. Sarah is very upset because her boyfriend cheated ON her.

15. I’m afraid your point OF view ON the matter is completely different FROM mine.

16. Patrick never apologizes FOR being so rude TO us.

17. Carl has made a successful career IN marketing.

18. Have you got a recipe FOR sponge cake?

19. If you want to lose weight, you must stick TO a diet.

20. You’d better concentrate ON what you are doing now.

21. The room smelt OF smoke.

22. Why don’t you look ON the bright side? You’re always so pessimistic!

23. I’m looking forward TO meeting John. I haven’t seen him FOR three months.

24. We must thank Mr. Jones FOR his kindness.

25. Some politicians have been reported to be involved IN scandals.

26. My parents are really worried ABOUT the future.

27. We’ve been waiting FOR Mary SINCE 5:30. p.m.

Table Topic Speech

(1) What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

(2) What would you regret not fully doing, being or having in your life?

(3) What do we all have in common besides our genes that makes us human?

(4) What is the most desirable trait another person can possess?

(5) What impact do you want to leave on the world?

Prepared Peech

(1)  Japanese Thanking-for-Hard-Labor-Day SM Eda

(2) YMO (Yankee / Miha / Otaku) in Japanese Pop Culture: SM Noro 

I read the Nikkei Shinbun and something in its column inspired me to write my speech today. Have you heard about YMO which is related to Japanese pop culture? It is a sociological short form for three major consumer groups that have shaped Japanese mass culture:

Y = Yankee – delinquent / working-class youth

M = Miha – mainstream consumers who follow trends

O = Otaku – fans deeply involved in anime, games, and technology

This YMO classification is often used by cultural critics and marketers to describe how Japanese popular culture is driven by these three preference types.

1. Yankee (Y)

“Yankee” in Japan refers to a subculture of rebellious, flashy, working-class youth.

Typical traits:

l  Strong emphasis on loyalty, friendship, and “guts”

l  Interest in cars, bikes, sports, flashy fashion

l  Represented in media by shows/manga like Gokusen, Crows, Yowamushi Pedal (bike culture), etc.

Yankees influence:

l  Action movies/ Sports culture/ Car/motorcycle culture/ “Hot-blooded” school dramas

2. Miha (M)

“Miha” describes trend followers — people who always chase the latest hit, fashion, or media trend.

Typical traits:

l  Loving popular products, hit songs, viral trends

l  Heavy consumers of TV, pop idols, SNS trends

l  Not deeply involved; quick to move to the next trend

Examples of their trends:

l  Seasonal boom in sweets, cosmetics, K-POP, hit dramas, Instagram/TikTok-driven fashions, Variety shows and mainstream J-POP

They represent the largest and most visible mass-market audience.

3. Otaku (O)

“Otaku” are deep enthusiasts of anime, manga, games, technology, idols, etc.

Typical traits:

l  High knowledge and deep specialization

l  Strong spending in niche markets

l  Fueling Japan’s anime/game/idol industries

Their influence is visible in:

l  Anime (global success)/ Gaming culture/ Cosplay/ Vocaloid & virtual idols/ Doujin culture and Comic market

Otaku culture has become one of Japan’s strongest global cultural exports.

Why is it said that "Japanese pop culture is made up of YMO"?

It's because these three groups are the primary drivers of cultural consumption.

Yanki often drives passion, enthusiasm, and loyalty.

Miha can embody mainstream popularity and trends.

Otaku matters and sticks to depth, creativity, and technology issues.

These preference types form the foundation of Japanese entertainment and consumer culture. And it is said many cultural researchers argue that Japan lacks a kind of strong “elite class” (unlike Europe), so mass culture is overwhelmingly shaped by these YMO groups.

(3) he Echo of “市” — A Tale of Two Firsts: SM Kaneko

In two distant worlds — the board of shogi and the stage of politics — two women rose to heights no woman had reached before.

Shimizu Ichiyo, first female chair of the Japan Shogi Association. Takaichi Sanae, first female leader of Japan’s ruling party. Their paths never crossed, and yet their names whisper to each other —

both carrying the character 市 (ichi / shi), the mark of a city, a place where people gather, compete, and connect. Even more curiously, Ichiyo’s teacher was Takayanagi —and Sanae’s name begins with Taka.

Two “high” names, two “city” names, as if destiny had woven a quiet rhyme between them.

Perhaps language itself sensed their roles — rising, dignified, breaking boundaries — and gifted them names that speak of the public, the market of minds and hearts, where change begins.

(4) What is your favorite food?: SM Yoko Narisawa

 If I am asked this question, I might answer like this: “ I have so many favorite foods that I can’t pick just one. But there are certain foods that I often remember from my childhood or from travels long ago. Their flavors were unforgettable --- they still remain in my heart.

 One of them is takikomi gohan - Japanese mixed rice with burdock root, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, chicken and other ingredients. This was the takikomi-gohan my next-door friend’s mother used to cook. Whenever she made it, she shared some with my family. I loved the seasoning she used. A little sweet seasoning went well with rice. Nowadays, we can buy easy-to-make rice seasonings at the supermarket, but when I was a child, each home had its own homemade flavor. I still can’t forget the rice dish she made.

 Another unforgettable dish is the udon I ate in Kyoto. More than 40 years ago, Yuichiro-san, his wife, my husband and I took a trip to Kyoto together. Yuichiro-san and his wife went sightseeing separately, while my husband and I rented bicycles near our hotel and cycled to Arashiyama. We stopped at an udon restaurant along the way. Of course, I ordered udon. It was elegant and lightly flavored. The broth was very delicious. It was the best udon I had ever tasted. My husband and I often go to Marugame Seimen, where the udon is delicious, but it doesn’t compare to the Kyoto udon I ate then. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the name or address of that restaurant and I don’t know if the restaurant is still open.

 I’m not good at cooking. But my friends sometimes praise my dishes. The other day, one of my friends came to see our newly renovated house. She said, “ This kitchen looks like it would make cooking enjoyable.” And what’s more, she asked me to make potate salad for her birthday, which is on the 23^rd of this month. She really likes my potato salad. It is one of the  few dishes I enjoy making. I was so happy she requested it.

 My potato salad is simple. The ingredients are potatoes, cucumbers, onions, boiled eggs, carrots and a few slices of ham. I think these are common ingredients, but one of my favorite parts is choosing the  mayonnaise. I love this particular mayonnaise --- it makes my potato salad even more delicious.

 Our new kitchen is much easier to use. I want to expand my cooking repertoire.

(5) No music, no life: SM Kei Narisawa 

Do you like singing? I’m sure you do—after all, we SMC members have enjoyed karaoke gatherings for many years. Think back: when was the first time you sang karaoke?

For me, it was about 30 years ago at a friendly teachers’ gathering. I couldn’t sing well at all. But Japanese people are interesting—we appreciate praise, yet people often tell us how to improve right afterward. And then we actually try to improve. Maybe that’s why we’re said to be good at educating not only our children but also ourselves.

Recently, I watched a Korean TV program called the Korea–Japan Singing Contest. Three Japanese singers took part: Utagokoro Rie, Masaya, and Takenaka Yūdai. The first two aren’t very famous, but they have beautiful voices. Takenaka Yūdai, on the other hand, is already a star among young people in Japan, and he’s well known worldwide thanks to YouTube.

All the singers—Japanese and Korean—performed wonderfully. But there was a moment I will never forget. When Takenaka Yūdai came on stage, the atmosphere completely changed. The Korean studio suddenly felt like his concert. Fans were jumping, waving, and screaming his name. Later, when I read Korean viewers’ comments online, many people said the same thing.

He has an ability that many singers lack: he can keep his voice beautiful not only when shouting dramatically but also in the verse and the pre-chorus—the A-melo and B-melo. Some of his popular songs include Tsukimisō, Walking with You, and my favorite, Ai da toka Koi da toka.

In the end, the contest result favored the Korean team—so much so that even Korean viewers criticized the judging. But the bright side was that Takenaka Yūdai won the MVP award. To me, he is truly one of a kind—the GOAT.

So today, I talked about singers you may or may not know. But how about Mrs. GREEN APPLE or Yuuri? They also have massive hits like Keserasera and Dry Flower. And all the artists I mentioned share one thing in common: they make wonderful use of falsetto.

So the next time you go to karaoke, why don’t you try singing in falsetto, too?

Meeting Schedule

In-person: 9:30 AM on Dec. 13 at Cyuo Community Center (cooking practice room)

(Coordinator: SM Takahata)