2026/2/28(Sat.)*SMC*

Lecture: SM Takahata

(1) A: If I win the jackpot in the lottery, I will ^*1 be on easy (s　　 ) for the rest of my life.

B: It could all ^*2 be (p   ) in the sky. Stop chasing rainbows.

  ^*3 Come down to (e     ).

*1: = to be in a situation in which you have plenty of money (A.E informal)

*2:= something good that someone says will happen, but which you think is impossible or unlikely

*3: = to be realistic

 (Answer: street, pie, earth)

(2) I’ve managed ¹ to cut (c       ) to save 10 million yen. But that’s a mere ² drop in the (b     ) when you think of the soaring prices of houses in Tokyo.

*1: = to cut down expenses

*2: = a small, usually inadequate amount in relation to what is needed or requested  

 (Answer: corners, bucket)

(3) The traditional retirement age of 65 is ¹ arbitrarily (im     ) finish line. It’s unreasonable ² to put someone out to (p       ). I’m still healthy enough to ^*3 bring home (b    ). 

*1: = officially forced in a way that uses personal power unfairly and without considering people’s rights and wishes

*2: = to stop someone working in a job because they are too old to be useful

*3: = to earn a living

 (Answer: imposed, pasture, bacon)

(4) We are ¹ (r      ing) up a huge cellphone bill because two of our sons suffering from ² (no          ) are addicted to online games and never switch off their mobile phones.

*1: = to let bills or debts accumulate

*2: = a state of stress caused by having no access to or being unable to use one’s mobile phone

 (Answer: running, nomophobia)

(5) My wife and I decided to move to Karuizawa after retirement. I’m going to ^*1 tighten my (b    ) over the next 10 years and save as much money as possible before we leave.

*1: = to take measures to reduce expense  

 (Answer: belt)

(6)  A: The time is finally come for Mika to go to college.

B: ^*1 The hard (p    ) is still to come. We need to build up ² a nest (e  ) for Kenta’s courage education.

*1: = The tough time is just beginning.

*2: = a sum of money saved or kept for a particular purpose

 (Answer: part, egg)

和訳

（１）「宝くじで１等が当たったら、一生お金に困らずに暮らせるぞ」／「そんなにうまい話はないわよ。夢ばかり追うのはやめて、現実に戻って！」

（２）節約して何とか１千万円をためましたが、都内の住宅価格の高騰を考えれば、それっぽっちでは焼け石に水です。

（３）65歳定年というしきたりは、勝手に作られたゴールに過ぎません。高齢を理由に解雇するのは理不尽です。私はまだ生活費が稼げるほど元気です。

（４）我が家では携帯電話代がとてもかさんでいます。理由は携帯電話依存症の２人の息子がオンラインゲームに夢中になっていて、携帯の電源を切ることがないからです。

（５）妻と私は退職後に軽井沢へ引っ越すことに決めました。移住する前に今後10年で生活を切り詰めて、できるだけ貯金をするつもりです。

（６）「いよいよミカも大学生だな」／「大変なのはこれからよ。ケンタの大学進学に備えて貯金しなきゃね」

Table Topic Speech

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

(2) What is the most spontaneous thing you've ever done?

(3) If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?

(4) What's one downside of the modern day world?

(5) Now that it's behind you, what did you do last week that was memorable?

(6) If you could ask one person, alive or dead, only one question, who would you ask and what would you ask?

(7) What confuses you?

(8) How would the world be different if you were never born?

Prepared Speech

(1) Olympic Figure Skating: SM Koizumi

 Recently, we have enjoyed many inspiring stories from the Milan–Cortina Olympics.Japan won 24 medals — a new record, surpassing the 18 medals at the Beijing Olympics.Among all the events, figure skating impressed me the most, because it is the sport closest to my favorite activity — social dance.

 I was especially moved by the team competition, including ice dance, pairs, women’s singles, and men’s singles. Japan performed strongly and remained tied for first place going into the final event. In the end, we won the silver medal after Ilia Malinin of the USA scored higher in men’s singles.

The most dramatic moment came in the pairs event. Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara — “RikuRyu” — placed fifth in the short program after a mistake. Ryuichi was devastated and cried. But Riku supported him, and in the free skate they delivered a flawless performance, earning the highest score in history and winning the gold medal.Afterward, Ryuichi cried with joy.Riku gently patted his head and said, “Today, I am your older sister.”

 I cried too — every time I watched that scene. The Olympic theme was “Beauty in Action.” For me, RikuRyu perfectly embodied that theme.

 This experience inspired me to bring Olympic beauty into my own dance. I studied decisive poses from figure skating by taking photos from TV recordings. Although lifts are too difficult for social dance, many poses are possible.

 Today, I will show you two poses inspired by RikuRyu.

The first is:  Standing upright, facing opposite directions, holding left hands.

The second is: Low-Altitude Reconnaissance Eyes.  In this pose, the woman crouches like an airplane ready for flight, arms wide and eyes sharply forward.  Behind her, the man kneels in shadow position, embracing her while extending his free arm outward.

I actually tried these poses at a dance party this week.  It was wonderful to feel Olympic-level emotional beauty in our own social dance setting.   

Even casual dancers recognized RikuRyu’s famous moment, and they were happy to share that feeling together.

(2) The Power of Tears: SM Kaneko

"We often believe that to be a champion, you must be made of stone. We are told that crying is a sign of weakness. But if you look at the greatest icons of our time, you will see that tears are not a leak in their character—they are the fuel for their greatness.

Think of Shohei Ohtani, crying in the dugout as a high schooler before becoming a global legend. Think of the Shogi genius Sota Fujii, who as a child would cling to the board in tears after a loss. Or Haruka Kitaguchi, who wept under the immense pressure of the world stage before throwing her golden javelin. Even in the quiet world of Go, Ryo Ichiriki used his 'tears of regret' to finally break a 19-year drought and become a world champion.

Most recently, at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, we saw this power in Ryuichi Kihara. After a devastating mistake in the short program, he didn't hide his heartbreak. He cried. But those tears acted as a biological reset. He returned to the ice for the Free Skate with a clear mind and a fiery spirit, leading Japan to its first-ever Olympic gold in pairs skating.

But the power of tears isn't just for those who have already reached the summit. I once saw the Sumo wrestler Atamifuji, currently in the Komusubi rank, crying after a difficult bout. It was the pure expression of kuyashisa—that burning bitterness of defeat.

In the traditional world of Sumo, players are expected to be stoic. But when I saw Atamifuji’s tears, I didn't see a loser. I saw a future champion. I predict his great success—his katsuyaku—is inevitable. Because someone who cares enough to cry is someone who will never stop evolving.

So, don't apologize for your tears. They are the rain that allows your greatness to grow. True power is crying, drying your eyes, and then conquering the world."

(3) Internet Archive: SM Noro

Today I will introduce you to the internet archive service site.

Archive.org is a non-profit digital library based in the United States. Its mission is to provide universal access to all knowledge. The platform offers free access to millions of digital materials, including: Websites/ Books and academic texts/ Movies and videos/ Music and audio recordings/ Software and games/ Images and historical documents.

It is one of the largest digital preservation projects in the world.

And I am very happy that the non-profit organization, Wayback Machine allows users to view archived versions of websites from the past.

You can enter a website URL and select a date from the calendar. And then, you can view the old site and how the site looked at that time.

I may say, It works like a “time machine” for the internet.

Also, you can enjoy the following ways on this site, Archive.org

No.1 Research and Historical Investigation

You can recover deleted or changed web pages, track public statements or policy changes, restore broken links.

This is especially useful for researchers, journalists, and analysts.

No.2 Academic and Literary Study

Archive.org contains public domain books, historical newspapers and academic publications. Many items can be read online or downloaded. Some materials may require a free account for borrowing.

No.3 Multimedia Exploration

You can explore classic films, historical speeches, vintage radio programs, old computer games and software. It is a rich resource for cultural study and creative inspiration.

No.4 Preserve Your Own Web Content

Using the “Save Page Now” feature in the Wayback Machine, you can archive important web pages for future reference.

This works like creating a permanent digital snapshot.

Archive.org is more than a storage site, it is a digital library of the internet age. With tools like the Wayback Machine, users can travel through the history of the web, access rare materials, and preserve digital knowledge for future generations. Please visit this website when you have time.

(4)  Bond: SM Yoko Narisawa

Today I’d like to talk about bond. One is the bond between Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuuichi. The other is the bond between the Toyotomi brothers.

 The Winter Olympics held in Italy have come to an end. Japanese athletes performed very well and delivered many impressive moments. I was deeply moved by their powerful and inspiring performances. In particular I was amazed that Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuuichi won the gold medal with a dramatic comeback from the brink of defeat. Pair skaters must perform in perfect harmony, yet they made an unexpected mistake on the lift in the short program. Despite their disappointment, they reset their mindset in just one day and performed their free skate with bright smiles. Then Lady Luck smiled on them. As the saying goes, creating a strong bond is essential for success in pair skating. Over the years, they have built a relationship of deep mutual trust, and they demonstrated that trust beautifully in their performance. They impressed countless people. The bond between Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuuichi was truly deep and strong.

 Next is the bond between the Toyotomi brothers. I have been enjoying the NHK Taiga Drama 豊臣兄弟. The drama portrays the dramatic rise of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his younger brother Toyotomi Hidenaga, highlighting their strong bond as they climb from poverty to positions of power under Oda Nobunaga during the turbulent Sengoku period. Sengoku warlords such as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu often appear in dramas, but I knew almost nothing about Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s younger brother. Their strong bond appears throughout the story. The Sengoku period was a dog-eat-dog era. It wasn’t uncommon for even brothers to kill each other. But in their case, they risked their lives to protect one another. Together, they overcame hardships and supported each other as they rose to prominence. The drama has only just begun, and I’m looking forward to seeing how their bond continues to deepen.

 A bond is built on mutual trust. Even when problems arise, people with a strong bond will not betray each other.

 It has been more than 10 years since we started SMC. I believe our bond has grown stronger. Let’s continue enjoying learning English together for as long as possible.

(5)  “The Brain Is Foolish, the Gut Is Wise”: SM Ishimura

 Today, I would like to talk about a book I recently read. Its title is “脳はバカ、腸はかしこい“ The title itself is quite surprising, but the message is simple and powerful: our gut plays a much bigger role in our health and emotions than we usually imagine.

In the past, I believed that the brain controlled almost everything. But as I read this book, I realized that the gut is not just a place where food is digested. It is actually a highly intelligent system that communicates with the brain, influences our mood, and even shapes our personality.

1. The Gut Has Its Own “Brain”

Scientists say that the gut contains about 100 million nerve cells. This network is sometimes called the “second brain.”

It can operate independently, and it sends signals to the brain through the vagus nerve. In fact, 90% of the communication between the gut and the brain goes from the gut upward—not the other way around.

This means that our gut is constantly telling the brain how we feel. When the gut is healthy, we feel calm and positive. When it is not, we may feel anxious, irritated, or depressed.

2. The Gut Controls Our Emotions More Than We Think

The book explains that many neurotransmitters—such as serotonin, which is known as the “happiness chemical”—are produced in the gut.

Surprisingly, about 90% of serotonin is made in the intestines, not in the brain.

So when our gut is in good condition, we naturally feel happier and more stable.

On the other hand, when the gut is stressed, our emotions become unstable too.

I found this idea very convincing, because it matches my own experience. Recently, I have come to feel that taking care of my gut is extremely important. When my digestion is smooth and comfortable, my mind also feels lighter and clearer.

3. The Gut and the Immune System

Another important point is that about 70% of our immune cells live in the gut.

This means that the gut is like the headquarters of our body’s defense system.

If the gut is healthy, our immunity becomes stronger.

If the gut is weak, we easily get sick or feel tired.

This made me realize that taking care of the gut is not only about digestion—it is about protecting our entire body.

4. How We Can Take Care of Our Gut

The book suggests several simple habits:

•            Eat more fiber-rich foods such as vegetables, fruits, and fermented foods.

•            Chew slowly and enjoy meals mindfully.

•            Reduce stress, because stress directly harms the gut.

•            Move the body gently every day.

These habits are not difficult, but they make a big difference.

I have started paying more attention to what I eat and how I feel after meals.

Little by little, I can sense that my body and mind are becoming more balanced.

5. My Personal Reflection

After reading this book, I realized that the gut is not just an organ—it is a partner.

It supports our emotions, our immunity, and even our sense of well-being.

In Japanese culture, we often say things like “腹が立つ,” “腹をくくる,” or “腹がすわる.”

These expressions show that we have always felt a deep connection between the gut and our emotions.

Now, modern science is confirming what our ancestors intuitively knew.

Conclusion

To conclude, the message of the book is clear:

If we take care of our gut, our gut will take care of us.

The brain may sometimes be confused or overwhelmed, but the gut is steady, honest, and surprisingly wise.

I hope this idea inspires you to pay a little more attention to your own gut health.

(6) Motivation: SM Kei Narisawa

Buongiorno, everyone. Are you following the Winter Olympic Games in Italy? The Japanese team did well. Behind their brilliant achievements, there are stories about how hard they had worked to overcome injuries and setbacks. Strangely enough, some athletes had made unbelievable comebacks. They even seem to be stronger than before their injuries and setbacks. These stories don’t apply only to skiers but to almost all athletes, because there are hardly any who have not experienced hardship. The same can be said about other sports as well.

There are many cases in which baseball players, after suffering injuries or being demoted to the minor leagues, make remarkable comebacks. Even Shohei Ohtani is expected to return as a pitcher next season.

In a nutshell, human beings are resilient. Through hardship and frustration, we can become stronger.

The other day, I happened to watch a YouTube program—a TED Talk. In it, the presenter discussed how people can be motivated. The English used in the program was challenging, but the theory he presented coincided with what I had learned in graduate school, so I was able to understand him. To make a long story short, people feel strong motivation when they experience dissatisfaction. In other words, they don’t work as hard when everything seems fine and nothing appears to be lacking. How many people truly feel motivated under such comfortable conditions? There must be some dissatisfaction or obstacles. However, those obstacles must be surmountable. If you feel they are impossible to overcome, you may give up—just like a baseball player whose injury is too severe to allow a comeback.

I myself have experienced many frustrations as a teacher. I attended various conferences and speech contests and sometimes felt inferior to my colleagues. I gave model lessons more than once before large groups of teachers and principals. Not all of those occasions went well. When I couldn’t speak English fluently during a model lesson or at a conference, I felt motivated to improve myself rather than becoming discouraged.

As members of SMC, you should resolve to become better speakers of English whenever you hear someone else’s excellent speech. It’s always important to feel there is something to be desired in your speech. For if we feel dissatisfied, it means you are still making progress.

(7) Carrots before eyes: SM Eda

Meeting Schedule

In-person: 9:30 AM on Mar. 14 at Oyama Community Center (cooking practice room)

(Coordinator: SM Kaneko)