2026/3/14(Sat.)*SMC*

Lecture (1): SM Yoko Narisawa

Please read the following story of friendship and fill in the blank with a suitable idiom from the list below.

List

break the ice / out of the comfort zone / stand by each other / see eye to eye/ a fish out of water /

have your back / jump to conclusions / show someone the ropes / get the best of me / stand the test of time / give you the shirt off her back / make a mountain out of a molehill / two peas in a pod / keep her chin up / through thick and thin

 <  A Friend in the Storm  >

 When Mika first moved to the small seaside town, she felt completely 1(         ). She didn’t know a single person, and the quiet streets made her feel as though she were 2(         ).

 On the first day at school, she dropped her books in the hallway. Papers flew everywhere. She wished the ground would swallow her whole. Suddenly, a girl with bright eyes knelt beside her.

 “ Don’t worry,” she said warmly. “ I’ve got you.”

 That was how Mika met Lily --- the kind of person who would 3(        ).

 From that day on, Lily 4(    ed Mika      ). She introduced her to classmates and helped her 5(         ) with jokes that made everyone laugh. Whenever Mika felt nervous, Lily would remind her to 6(        ).

 But friendship isn’t always smooth sailing.

 One afternoon, Mika overheard a rumor about Lily. Without thinking, she believed it. She decided to 7(        ) and avoided her friend the next day. Lily noticed immediately. Instead of getting angry, Lily confronted her gently. “ If something’s wrong, let’s talk. Don’t 8(        ).

 Mika felt terrible. She realized she had been listening to gossip instead of trusting her friend. Fighting back tears, she apologized. “ I should have talked to you. I guess I let it 9(        )”. Lily smiled. “ We all make mistakes. That’s just part of life.”

 From that moment, they promised to always 10(       ) by talking honestly --- even when it was difficult.

 Years passed. They supported each other through exams, heartbreaks, and big dreams. When Mika wanted to quit the school play because she was scared, Lily stood backstage and whispered, “ Just remember, I’ll always 11(      ).” And she did.

 Through every storm, they 12(        ). When one felt like giving up, the other would remind her that they were stronger together. Their bond became the kind that 13(         ).

 On the day they graduated, Mika looked at Lily and said, “ Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

 Lily laughed. “ That’s what friends are for --- 14(            ).”

 And Mika knew, no matter where life took them, they would always remain 15(         ), their friendship forever close to their hearts.

< Answer >

1. out of her comfort zone  2. a fish out of water 

3. give you the shirt off her back  4. showed Mika the ropes

5. break the ice  6. keep her chin up  7. jump to conclusions

8. make a mountain out of a molehill  9. get the best of me

10. see eye to eye  11. have your back  12. stood by each other

13. stood the test of time  14. through thick and thin

15. two peas in a pod

Lecture (2): SM M.G

The Difference Between the Sounds ZH and J (I'll use the simplified American respelling system because IPA symbols are difficult to type on a computer)

1. For ZH, the tongue does not touch the gums at all. For J, the tongue lightly touches the back of the upper front teeth.

2. The connection between spelling and sound.

The spelling ge has both ZH and J sounds.

The spelling s or si has ZH sound.

The spelling j has J sound.

Table Topic Speech

(1) What are some recent compliments you've received?

(2) What is the best advice you have ever received?

(3) What do you sometimes pretend you understand that you really don't?

(4) Are you happy with where you are in your life? Why?

(5) Where would you most like to go and why?

(6) What are your top five personal values?

(7) What is something you have always wanted since you were a kid?

(8) What is the closest you have ever come to fearing for your life?

(9) What's the difference between settling for things and accepting the way things are?

(10) When you look back over the past month, what single moment stands out?

Prepared Speech

(1) Mr. Y Through M.K.’s eye: SM Koizumi

After leaving the SMC meeting venue, I took the Yokohama Line from Sagamihara Station and headed to a Gusto restaurant near Machida Station to meet Mr. Y.

At 11:30 I sent him a message on LINE:　　“I’m on my way.”

He quickly replied, “I’ve just arrived in Machida.”　Soon another message came: “Seat number 74.”

The last time I met Mr. Y was on December 7, 2024, at a karaoke gathering.

He is always busy and somewhat mysterious, so I was curious to see how he was doing.

Gusto was crowded at lunchtime, but I found him sitting at a table in the back.

His appearance had not changed much, but somehow he looked brighter.

That alone made me happy.

In the past, Mr. Y was a quiet man of few words, with the calm air of a craftsman.　　At work he was known as a “god of translation.”　　He led translation projects and made the final decisions.

If he was not satisfied with the translation, he would never approve it. After retiring from that job, however, he started a new career. Now he works as a face-to-face cram school teacher.

He taught for two years at Tokyo Individualized Educational Institute and has been teaching for six years at TOMAS. At first he struggled with teaching, but his persistence paid off, and now he has become a popular teacher.

He told me some memorable stories about his students. This year many of his students successfully passed their entrance exams. One high school student who loved video games gradually increased his lessons, improved his grades, and was accepted into his desired school.

He also teaches returnee students from International Baccalaureate programs. Although their English is already native level, they appreciate his guidance for entrance examinations.

He even teaches Japanese to an elementary school student from China, helping him improve his language ability by encouraging him to write more. Listening to these stories, I noticed that Mr. Y spoke fluently and his eyes were shining.

Once he was known as a god of translation. Now he has become a popular teacher who prepares original materials and carefully supports each student. Finally, he told me one thing that surprised him.

“None of my students use a paper English dictionary anymore.”

Perhaps it is the quiet lament of a former translator who once worked with thick English dictionaries every day.

(2) Graduation Ceremony: SM Eda

(3) Dogs are man's best friend: SM Kei Narisawa

(4) Trump Tariffs - even here!: SM Takahata

As you all know, the high tariff policy promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump since last year has been causing major ripples in the global economy. In Japan as well, many export companies are being affected - not only the key automobile industry, but also manufacturers of parts and materials, electronics, and even food products. I had been hearing about this in the news, but recently I experienced the impact of the Trump tariffs firsthand.

My daughter and her husband have been living in the U.S. state of Indiana for the past three years. Because of that, I send them packages from Japan a few times a year. The packages usually contain small everyday items - Japanese foods my daughter misses, or clothes and books that are not sold in the United States. Until now, I have always used the international mail service Japan Post provides, called EMS (Express Mail Service). It is an airmail service. The postage is expensive, but you can track the package, and it reliably arrives within a week. Recently, for the first time since last September, I tried to send another package to my daughter using EMS - and I was shocked. EMS packages to the United States are no longer accepted if the contents are worth more than 100 dollars. The reason is that items worth more than 100 dollars are now subject to tariffs. If you want to send items valued over 100 dollars, you must register for a new service called UGX as a business customer. After the tariff amount is determined by U.S. customs, you are required to pay it later by credit card. I was so surprised that I called the customer service center. But I was told that the UGX registration process is already backed up, and it takes about a month just to register! In the end, I had no choice but to reduce the value of the items in the package to under 100 dollars - about 15,000 yen - and send it by EMS. I had to give up sending half of the things I wanted to include.

I can’t believe tariffs are being applied even to these small gifts exchanged between ordinary family members. Honestly, I feel angry - but I don’t even know where to direct that anger. Of course, to Trump! But, there's nothing I can do.

(5) “Am I a Super Ager?”: SM Ishimura

 Today, I would like to talk about “Super Agers.”

First, let me ask you a question. How old is “old”? Seventy? Eighty? Or ninety?

I am 83 years old. Some people may say, “Oh, you are old.” But inside, I do not feel old. In fact, I feel curious, sometimes excited, and sometimes even ambitious!

Recently, I learned about the idea of “Super Agers.” Researchers at places like Northwestern University have studied people over 80 whose memory and brain function are as strong as people in their 50s or 60s.

Can you imagine that? An 80-year-old brain that works like a 55-year-old brain! These people are called “Super Agers.”

So, what is their secret? Scientists say there are several common points.

First, they keep moving. Regular physical activity, especially walking, helps the brain. Good blood circulation feeds the brain with oxygen.

Second, they keep learning. They challenge their brains with new things—languages, music, puzzles, or reading.

 Third, they stay socially connected. They talk, laugh, argue a little, and share experiences with others.

Now, I would like to ask you something. Does this sound familiar?

I try to walk every day. Sometimes I walk to the station, sometimes around my neighborhood. I am not training for the Olympics, of course! But I keep moving. I also study English. At my age, remembering new words is not easy. Sometimes I learn a word in the morning… and forget it in the afternoon! But that is okay. Because learning is not only about memory. It is about attitude. When we try to learn something new, our brain says, “Oh! Something interesting is happening!” And the brain wakes up. I also enjoy meeting all of you at this English club.

We talk. We laugh. Sometimes we make mistakes in English — but we survive! Communication gives energy to the mind. There is another interesting point about Super Agers. They are not special superheroes. They are ordinary people with strong curiosity and a positive attitude. They do not say, “I am too old.” Instead, they say, “Why not try?” I like that spirit very much.

Of course, aging is natural. Our hair becomes white. Our steps become slower. Sometimes our memory becomes… selective! But aging does not mean stopping.

At 83, I still want to improve my English. I still want to learn new expressions. I still want to surprise myself.

Maybe I am not officially a “Super Ager.” No university has tested my brain. But every morning when I put on my shoes and go for a walk, and every time I open my English notebook, I feel that I am fighting against aging — not with fear, but with curiosity.

 So today, I would like to encourage all of you. No matter your age, keep walking. Keep learning. Keep talking. Maybe the real definition of a Super Ager is not about brain scans. Maybe it is about hope. As long as we have curiosity, as long as we have something to look forward to tomorrow, we are all Super Agers.

(6) A third-grade boy: SM Yamazaki

It’s been a while—actually, a very long while.

Nice to see everybody again. How have you been?

There are so many things I could talk about today, but let me jump right in.

Today, I want to share a small story about one of my students—a third‑grade boy in elementary school. Recently, I started teaching Japanese language classes, and this is the first time I’ve had a student of that age for this subject.

What amazes me the most is his attention span.

An online English conversation tutor once told me that the average attention span for children around his age is about 15 minutes. That sounded reasonable to me.

But this boy?

He can stay fully focused for the entire 80‑minute class. Not just sitting quietly—he’s genuinely engaged, absorbing everything, asking questions, and staying with me from beginning to end.

And here’s the surprising part:

My class is actually his second class of the day. Before mine, he has arithmetic. He gets only a 10‑minute break between the two subjects. Yet even after that, he maintains the same level of concentration for the whole session.

It made me rethink what we assume about children’s attention. Maybe it’s not just about age. Maybe it’s about curiosity, motivation, or the environment we create for them.

There’s another part of this experience that I really enjoy.

After each class, I write a small report for his mother—just a short update about how he did that day. And every time I talk with her, I feel genuinely happy and motivated. From her facial expressions and her gentle attitude, I can’t help thinking that he probably takes after her in many ways.

Honestly, the whole experience feels like a warm moment between a grandfather and his cute grandchild. That’s how much I enjoy teaching him. Every class feels like a small, happy time that brightens my day.

(7) Punch, the baby monkey: SM Noro

Did you know about a monkey named Punch living at the Ichikawa Zoo, who has been featured in Western news sources? I guess the zoo likely named him Punch quoting the famous author’s name of the manga “Lupin the Third”. And he has attracted attention and support from many international news readers.

Punch was abandoned and neglected by his mother due to postpartum stress. With no one to protect him, he initially had been clung to the zookeeper and refused to let go, but when the zookeeper gave him a stuffed orangutan toy, he began to spend his time holding the stuffed animal toy.

International readers were critical of the zookeepers' decision, saying it was not very appropriate, even cruel, but as Punch learned to live with the stuffed animal toy among the monkey group, news readers noticed that he was developing the social skills needed to interact with other monkeys.

If an abandoned monkey is separated from his group and left alone, he will not receive food and will not be able to survive. But it has become clear that the Japanese zookeeper’s care caused a fine move that Punch can be within the group.

At first, Punch would keep hugging his stuffed animal toy and not let go, but now, at seven months old, he drags the stuffed animal toy around with him, and it seems that he has gone from being a passive recipient of comfort to reversely caring for it. And as a result, he has become more sociable and has made friends with other monkeys of his age, with whom he grooms and who grooms him. This topic is still frequently covered overseas, and on the internet, it is filled with cheers for Punch to hang in there.

The story of Punch reminds us that compassion and social learning are not only human values but part of the broader living world we share.

At the same time, the zoo's response may also encourage us to think about how we support abandoned children or isolated people so they can reconnect with society. After all, humans, like monkeys, are social animals who need companionship and belonging fundamentally.

I chose this topic to share with you today because it has given me a lot to think about. If you have an interest, please try searching for it on YouTube.

Meeting Schedule

In-person: 9:30 AM on Mar. 28 at Oyama Community Center (medium conference room)

(Coordinator: SM Koizumi)