2026/2/14(Sat)*SMC*

Lecture: SM Noro

Complete the sentences with a prepositional phrase from the box.

[AT THE AGE OF, AT THE LATEST, AT SHORT NOTICE, AT TIMES, BY CHANCE, BY FAR, BY NATURE, BY SURPRISE, IN A GOOD MOOD, IN CONCLUSION, IN DETAIL,

IN FASHION, IN NO TIME, IN PUBLIC, IN VAIN, ON FIRE, ON LEAVE, OUT OF STOCK, UNDER REPAIR, UNDER STRESS]

1. He started composing his own symphonies _________________ 9.

2. I'm not ____________________ today, so please leave me alone.

3. Has anyone _________________ found my red fountain pen? I lost it yesterday.

4. Shorter skirts were ______________ a few years ago but they're not anymore today.

5. Mom told me I had to be home by midnight, _______________ .

6. He was questioned ___________________ so don't believe everything he says.

7. By the time someone got to the scene of the accident, the car was ______________ .

8. I tried to convince her to take part in the course, but all my efforts were ____________ .

9. ____________________ , I don't think we should hire too many new workers.

10.The headmaster cancelled the meeting ______   ______ because he had to be

somewhere else.

11.Mission Impossible is ____________________ the best thriller I have ever seen.

12.I'm sorry but this item is _____________________ . We'll try to get it by next month.

13.He is _______________ until the end of the year, so I'm afraid we won't be here

for the planning stages.

14.The main bridge of the city is still __________ , so you'll have to find another route across the river.

15.The question took him ______________ , so he was struggling to find the right answer.

16.Politicians sometimes make statements ____________________ that they regret later.

17. If you study really hard, your English will improve _______________ .

18.The new girl is shy ______________ , so you'll have to give her some time to loosen up.

19.I wrote out the instructions _________________ so she would know exactly what to do.

20. ___________ , I feel like leaving this country and moving somewhere else.

ANSWER KEY

1. He started composing his own symphonies at the age of 9.

2. I'm not in a good mood today, so please leave me alone.

3. Has anyone by chance found my red fountain pen? I lost it yesterday.

4. Shorter skirts were in fashion a few years ago but they're not anymore today.

5. Mom told me I had to be home by midnight, at the latest.

6. He was questioned under stress so don't believe everything he says.

7. By the time someone got to the scene of the accident, the car was on fire.

8. I tried to convince her to take part in the course, but all my efforts were in vain.

9. In conclusion, I don't think we should hire too many new workers.

10. The headmaster cancelled the meeting at short notice because he had to be

somewhere else.

11. Mission Impossible is by far the best thriller I have ever seen.

12. I'm sorry but this item is out of stock. We'll try to get it by next month.

13. He is on leave until the end of the year, so I'm afraid we won't be here for the planning

stages.

14. The main bridge of the city is still under repair, so you'll have to find another route

across the river.

15. The question took him by surprise, so he was struggling to find the right answer.

16. Politicians sometimes make statements in public that they regret later.

17. If you study really hard, your English will improve in no time.

18. The new girl is shy by nature, so you'll have to give her some time to loosen up.

19. I wrote out the instructions in detail so she would know exactly what to do.

20.At times, I feel like leaving this country and moving somewhere else.

Table Topoic Speech

(1) What personal prisons have you built out of fears?

(2) Excluding romantic relationships, who do you love?

(3) If you had to teach something, what would you teach?

(4) What makes someone a hero?

(5) Would you rather lose all of your old memories or never be able to make some new ones?

(6) How to you define success?

(7) 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?

(8) What makes you proud?

(9) What the best decision you've ever made?

Prepared Speech

(1) Namba Walking: SM Ishimura

Today, I would like to introduce a unique and traditional Japanese way of walking called “Namba Walking.”

Some of you may have heard of it, but many people—even in Japan—don’t really know what it is.

So I hope this short talk will give you a new perspective on how we move our bodies.

What is Namba Walking?

Namba Walking is a style of walking in which the right hand and right foot move forward together, and the left hand and left foot move forward together.

In other words, the arms and legs move on the same side, instead of moving in opposite directions like we do today.

At first, this may sound strange.

But in fact, this style of walking was common in Japan until the early modern period.

Historical Background

There are several theories about its origin.

•   Some researchers say it comes from the movements of kabuki actors, especially the powerful “roppo” style.

•    Others believe that people who carried heavy loads—such as travelers, messengers, and workers—naturally developed this method because it allowed them to walk long distances without getting tired.

•    And some say that before Western culture arrived in the Meiji era, Japanese people simply moved their bodies in a more unified, efficient way.

Whatever the true origin is, Namba Walking reflects a very Japanese sense of body movement—quiet, centered, and efficient.

Why is it attracting attention today?

Recently, Namba Walking has been rediscovered as a healthy and mindful way of moving.

People say it has several benefits:

•   It reduces unnecessary body movement and helps you walk longer without fatigue.

•    It naturally improves posture, because the spine stays straight.

•    It puts less stress on the knees and lower back.

•    And it encourages a calm, rhythmic way of walking that feels almost like moving meditation.

For me, this point is especially interesting.

When we walk with awareness of our center—our tanden—our mind becomes quieter, and our steps become lighter.

How to Try It

You don’t need any special training.

Just try these simple steps:

1.   Relax your shoulders.

2.   Keep your arms close to your body.

3.   Move your right hand and right foot forward at the same time.

4.   Then move your left hand and left foot together.

5.   Walk slowly at first, and feel your body moving as one unit.

You may feel a little awkward at the beginning, but after a few minutes, you will notice a smooth, flowing rhythm.

Conclusion

Namba Walking is not just an old Japanese custom.

It is a reminder that our bodies have many natural, efficient ways of moving, and that sometimes, ancient wisdom can teach us something valuable about modern life.

If you have time during your next walk, please try Namba Walking for a few steps.

You might discover a new connection between your body, your breath, and the world around you.

(2) Memorable Exchange Students and Returnees: SM Kei Narisawa

Thirty years ago, when I was in my prime, I was working at Minamitama High School, a Tokyo Metropolitan high school in Hachioji. It has a history of about 200 years. It was a good school, though not the best. One distinctive feature was that each grade had two classes for returnees. I was a homeroom teacher for one of those classes.

These classes consisted of students who had lived in the United States or some Asian countries for several years and then returned to Japan, as well as exchange students from various countries. The rest were Japanese students. Among the returnees were Kato-kun and Lisa. Both had returned from the United States, and they were trying hard to assimilate themselves into the Japanese student body.

One day, while the students were cleaning the classroom, someone asked Kato-kun what houki was called in English. He answered “broom” in a perfect American accent. Everyone there—including myself—uttered “Wow” in unison. One student even said, “I didn’t know there was an American among us.” From this episode, you might think Kato-kun was American through and through, but in fact he was modest and kind, especially to younger children.

Unlike Kato-kun, Lisa was opinionated and talkative. In a nutshell, she was strong. According to her mother, she had once been an ordinary, meek Japanese student, but after being bullied in America, she became a fiery girl. To me, however, she was a good student—she listened to my advice and was attentive in class.

One day, an exchange student was standing in the classroom, clearly not knowing where to go. Suddenly, Lisa stood up and said something to him in English—so quickly that everyone else dropped their jaws in awe. My reaction was the same as the students’. At that moment, we realized that she had been hiding her true self. She wanted so badly to be like the other students that she avoided showing her English ability. When asked to read English passages aloud, she deliberately read somewhat poorly. As for her grades, she was doing well at school. She also had a brother. I did not teach him directly, but he was smart and built a reputation as an excellent student. He later went on to attend a prestigious American university, Georgetown University.

Finally, let me talk about an exchange student from Thailand. He was half Thai and half British. By the way, do you remember the exchange student Lisa spoke to earlier? He was the one. While I was explaining the idiom “take one’s place,” he raised his hand and asked whether it was acceptable to use “take the place of one” instead. It is rather rare for Japanese students to interrupt a class to ask questions, so I was a little surprised. Fortunately, I knew the answer. However, after class, I stopped him in the hallway and said, “Don’t ask questions during class. If you have questions, come to me privately.” The reason was simple: I did not want to lose face in case I couldn’t answer his question. I still clearly remember the frightened look on his face.

Anyway, I am grateful to all of them. My experiences with foreign students and returnees have made me who I am today.

(3) Landline phone: SM Takahata 

Do you still use a landline phone at home? We still have one, but in recent years it’s mostly been suspicious sales calls, so whenever the phone rings, I check the number and don’t answer if it’s not registered.

Since we hardly use it at all, I’m wondering whether we should cancel the service. There are some downsides to canceling, though. We’d need to update the phone number we’ve registered with banks, government offices, credit card companies, and so on, which is too much trouble. Also, we wouldn’t be able to use our fax anymore. It also feels a bit unsettling to rely only on mobile phones in case of emergencies.

On the other hand, there are some advantages. We’d save the money we’re currently paying for the landline and wouldn’t have to deal with nuisance calls anymore. By the way, I heard that even if you try to sell the　“telephone subscription right” you once bought from NTT, no one will buy it now. When I first entered university and started living on my own, I didn’t have a phone at all, and it was very inconvenient. After a while, when I started living with my younger sister, my parents had a landline installed for us, and I remember being really happy about it. At the time, I recall that the telephone subscription right was quite expensive.

It seems that most young people today don’t have landlines. As a result, many struggle with answering phones at work after they start their careers. That’s just the sign of the times, I guess.

After thinking about all this, it started to feel like too much trouble, and I ended up leaving things as they are - that’s my current situation. What about you?

(4) Creating a Dance Demonstration: SM Koizumi 

I am going to Kanda Institute of Foreign Languages tomorrow.　It is not for English or foreign language studies, but for a dance party where we will perform our dance demonstration.　

K-Dance Studio organizes three parties a year—in winter, summer, and autumn. Two of them are home parties without food or drinks, while the autumn party is the main event, held at a hotel with food and drinks, including wine and whiskey.　Tomorrow’s party is the winter home party, and it will be the second time we have held it at the institute.

The K-Dance Studio home party will mark its 10th event since I started attending. I have participated in all of them and performed a demonstration each time. So tomorrow’s performance will be the 10th work by our group, called YumaFridays.　Yuma is our Latin dance teacher, and our group lessons are held on Fridays. That is the background of the name YumaFridays.　This time, the demonstration was created by three members: one man—that’s me—and two ladies, our teacher Yuma and my partner.

We created this piece very smoothly. We chose the music for the demonstration on Friday, October 17th last year. The title of the music is “Tango” by Mgzavrebi. Although the title is “Tango,” the music itself suits Rumba.

There are some important points when creating a dance:

1. The dance movements should match the musical accents.

2. The choreography should have variety through combinations of the man’s solo part, the ladies’ solo parts, the couple’s part, and the section with one man and two ladies.

3. The choreography should include not only traditional Rumba steps but also original movements.

It is very exciting to create a demonstration that is truly one of a kind in the world.

Yesterday, I had the final lesson for this demonstration. Not only the music and choreography, but also the costumes are important. This time, all members will wear black to express the image of mature adults. I will wear a black shirt, black vest, black tie, black shoes, and a black hat.

The music lasts two minutes and thirty-six seconds—almost the same length as the short program in figure skating at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Yesterday’s rehearsal showed excellent workmanship. Now, I want to enjoy our performance while feeling the audience’s reactions.

Like athletes competing at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, I hope to deliver the highest-quality performance of our “Tango” demonstration and receive thunderous applause.

Tomorrow is the day we perform before an audience.

Take a deep breath.　　A deep breath.　　A deep breath.

(5) The north wind & the sun: SM Eda

A lot of people try to criticize Mr. Trump. However hard they tried, he wouldn't change. He tried to take  Greenland by threatening EU with tariffs and NATO with invasion of  Greenland. A lot of criticism, but he did not change. But Mr. Rutte, NATO leader praised him and call him Daddy. To our surprise, Mr, Trump listened to him and gave up threatening EU or NATO.  I hope  Ms.  Takaichi will be using this wise way of keeping in touch with Mr. Trump.

(6) Second Street: SM Yoko Narisawa

Do you know Second Street? It’s a comprehensive reuse shop that buys and sells items at over 900 physical stores nationwide. The nearest shop to my house is in Atsugi. It sells a wide variety of products, including clothing and accessories, furniture, home appliances, kid’s goods, musical instruments, hobby items, household goods, and so on.

 My son’s family often uses the shop. They purchase kid’s goods that have a limited period of use such as strollers or car seats. I thought it was wise of them to buy those things at a reuse shop. I became interested in the shop from the first time I heard about it from my son.

 As you know, we renovated our house last year. While cleaning up, I found a lot of unwanted things. I sorted them out, deciding whether to throw them away or sell them to a recycle shop. I decided to sell the unused items, so I brought them to Second Street. Each item was new, so I expected a high price. But my hope was completely dashed - they were dirt cheap. From the seller’s point of view, I felt a little dissatisfied. On the other hand, from the buyer’s perspective, it is lucky to get things we want at low prices because the shop sells them so cheaply.

 I go to a dentist near Second Street, so I sometimes stop by on my way home. Every time I go there, I get excited thinking that I might find something I like. I love the excitement of finding a great deal. It’s like a treasure hunt.

 Last December, I went there and found this bag among the bags piled up on the shelf. I immediately fell in love with its color and size. I thought it was perfect for everyday use. I was even more surprised by the price - it cost me only 250 yen. I decided to buy it without any hesitation.

 I have a friend who has been wanting to buy four dining room chairs. She lives in her house alone because her husband passed away five years ago. Her only son’s family live in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture. Furthermore, she doesn’t have a driver’s license, so it’s not easy for her to find dining room chairs. I knew her situation, so I wanted to help her. I told her that I would look for dining room chairs at Second Street. She said that if the quality was the same as new ones, it would be fine.

 The other day, I went there. To my surprise, I found four dining room chairs that matched her preferences. I immediately took a picture and sent it to her. Lo and behold, they cost only 900 yen per chair. She decided to buy them. I loaded the four chairs into my car and drove them to her house. But I felt a little worried because she had only seen them in a picture. When I arrived, she dashed out of the house. I was happy to find out that she liked them.

 If there is a Second Street near you, why not go there and try looking for something interesting?

(7) A Closedown of a Supermarket: SM Kaneko 

Introduction Hi everyone, I'm Mamoru. My topic is "A Closedown of a Supermarket"—Daiei Kamimizo-ten, closing its main floors permanently on February 24th after 53 years. I was born and raised in Kamimizo, and this store is less than 200 meters from my childhood home—practically next door. This closure feels personal, stirring concern, memories, and a mix of sadness and hope.

Main Points My main concern is losing a neighborhood landmark. Due to the old building's deterioration, unlike other Daiei stores rebranding under Aeon, this one shuts down completely. I didn't shop there often—prices higher than OK Store—but its unbeatable closeness made it convenient for quick needs. More than that, it's full of memories: opened as Chujitsuya in 1972, rooftop playground, browsing at the Seria Hyakkin on the 3rd floor. It was part of growing up in Kamimizo.

Three Developments First, past: It symbolized local growth with one-stop shopping, but its influence gradually reduced small individual shops—many butchers, fish shops, and vegetable stores around the area faded away over the decades. Second, current: Shoppers are flooding in for last visits; I feel emptiness already—like a hole in my heart with wind blowing through, taking away old routines. People are turning more to convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Lawson, or NewDays, and Hyakkin shops like Seria for affordable alternatives. Third, future: Uncertainty about the site, but this closedown opens possibilities—maybe better, more affordable options or a renewed role for Hyakkin and convenience stores to support everyday needs.

Conclusion This closedown ends an era, leaving emptiness, yet that emptiness is an opening for something new. Thank you, Daiei Kamimizo, for 53 years. Has a local closure ever touched you? Thanks for listening!

(8) RAPID TRAINS: SM Nori

The other day when I was waiting for some rapid trains to pass through at the local station near my home, one tiny memory in my twenties suddenly came to me in which I was working as a company employee, so to speak ”a salaried man", in a field of sales and I had many business trips in those days. One day I was together with my colleague at the station and finding the display of "Limited Express", we were joking what is "Limited" , what should be ""Limited", what must be "Lmmited " for expressing the meaning of rapid trains. Of course it was not any important for us , just a juking, so our conversation didn't come to conclusion and in a long lapse of period it must've been lost out of my mind. But this time it suddenly

came to me so I didn't know even if it is meaningful for me to do that but anyway just after that I looked into that with some dictionaries and with some views I found in the Internet.



And what was interested to me was that the interpretation of that I found in one of the dictionaries was totally different from the one of the views I found in the Internet.

First the interpretation of one of the dictionaries I found was that rapid trains of course skip some stations so they stop "Limited" stations. That’s the reason the word of "Limited" is used for expressing the meaning of rapid trains.

And then expecting same or similar result to that , looking into some views in the internet, I found one of them completely different from it.

It says that in the days when the rapid train service started, in their society it was so expensive for ordinary citizens to pay for the new service. So only the "Limited"citizens in the high status, maybe in a virtical society I guess from the explanation in the article, could use the service. So the word of "Limited" for meaning of the rapid trains stemmed from that.

Of course I'm not sure which is true, so one of the reasons for me to have chosen this theme as a topic this time was that I thought I would be happy if some of you give me some ideas or opinions after this.

Meeting Schedule

In-person: 9:30 AM on Feb. 28 at Seishin Community Center (small conference room)

(Coordinator: SM Eda)