2026/5/9(Sat.)*SMC*

Lecture: SM Noro

When reading English books, I often come across the expressions that I would like to try using myself. Today, I would like to explore an interesting English structure using the dummy subject “It”.The key expressions are:1) What it feels like to ~/ What it is like to ~2) What it takes to ~3) What it means to ~Example 1: I don’t understand what it feels like to be a billionaire.*Note: [ I don’t understand what to be a billionaire feels like.] 

It seems this sentence is grammatically ok but sounds “heavy” and unnatural nativespeakers. So, native speakers use “it” to keep the sentence balanced and move the long part to the end.Example 2: I want to know what it takes to be an essayist.Example 3: Do you imagine what it is like to be pregnant?Example 4: We have to know what it means to hunt animals.Please translate the following sentences into English in order from SM Ishimura.Question 1:　成功するのがどんな感じか知っていますか？Question 2:　プロになるには何が必要か理解しています。Question 3:　一人で生きるのがどんな感じか想像できません。Question 4:　作家になるには何が必要だと思いますか？Question 5:　子供を育てるということについて想像できますか？Question 6:　歴史を学ぶことにどんな意味があるか分からない。

Question 7:　アメリカの大統領になるために必要なことが分かりません。

Ans. 1: Do you know what it feels like to succeed.?

Ans. 2: I understand what it takes to become a professional.

Ans. 3: I can't imagine what it feels like to live alone.

Ans. 4: What do you think it takes to become a writer?

Ans. 5: Can you imagine what it means to raise children?

Ans. 6: I don't understand what it means to study history. 

Ans.7: I don't know what it takes to be US President.

Table Topic Speech

(1) What is your most beloved childhood memory?

(2) Would you rather have less work or more work you actually enjoy doing?

(3) Can there be hapiness without sadness? Pleasure without pain? Peace without war?

(4) How would you describe 'freedom' in your own words?

(5) Is it more important to do what you love or to love what you are doing?

(6) If you could live one day or your life over again, what day would you choose?

(7) What is your greatest strength and your greatest weakness?

(8) What three words would you use to describe the last three month of your life?

Prepared Speech

(1)  Five Zen Habits for a Peaceful Life: SM Ishimura

Good morning everyone. Today, I would like to talk about five simple Zen habits that can help us live a calmer and more meaningful life.　In our busy modern world, we often feel stressed, distracted, and overwhelmed. However, Zen teaches us that peace is not something far away—it is something we can find in our daily actions.

Let me share five practical habits.

First, breathing consciously.

Breathing is something we do every moment, but we rarely pay attention to it. In Zen practice, conscious breathing is very important.　When we feel anxious or upset, we can simply focus on our breath—slowly breathing in and out.This helps calm our mind and bring us back to the present moment.　Even just one minute of mindful breathing can make a big difference.

Second, mindful eating.

Many of us eat while watching TV or looking at our phones.We eat quickly, without really tasting our food.　Zen teaches us to eat slowly and with awareness.We should notice the color, smell, and taste of each bite.　When we eat mindfully, we not only enjoy our meals more, but we also feel gratitude for the food and the people who prepared it.

Third, moving every time.

Our bodies are designed to move, but we often sit for long hours.　Zen encourages us to move our body regularly, even in small ways.　For example, we can stretch, walk slowly, or simply stand up and move around.　When we move mindfully, we become more aware of our body and feel more alive.

Fourth, purifying our emotions.

We all experience negative emotions such as anger, sadness, or worry.　Zen does not tell us to suppress these feelings.　Instead, it teaches us to observe them calmly, without judgment.　When we accept our emotions and let them pass naturally, our mind becomes clearer and more peaceful.

Fifth, simplifying your life.

Today, we have too many things—too many possessions, too much information, and too many worries.　Zen teaches us to simplify.　We can start by letting go of unnecessary things and focusing on what is truly important.A simple life brings clarity, freedom, and inner peace.

Conclusion

These five Zen habits are very simple:

breathing consciously,eating mindfully,moving regularly,purifying emotions,and simplifying our life.

We do not need special skills or equipment.We can start anytime, anywhere—even today.

By practicing these habits, we can bring more peace, balance, and happiness into our lives.　Thank you very much for listening.

(2)  A Way to Enjoy SMC in Person: SM Koizumi

 When I prepare a speech for SMC in person, choosing a topic is always a challenge for me.

  Recently, I came up with a new idea. Why not create a short story from my daily life using useful idioms and words from the previous gathering?

I believe this is a great way to improve both vocabulary and speaking ability.

So today, I’d like to share this “new way to enjoy SMC.”

At the last gathering, our Speech Master, Yoko, introduced many useful idioms. I was inspired by her lecture and also by the speeches of other members.

So, I selected a few expressions and made a story.

Here are the idioms or words: fish for information about / praise someone to the skies

of one’s own accord / in full swing / many doors open for one / digital dementia / polyglot

  Now, let me use them in a story about my favorite topic—dance.

Every month, during the first week, I fish for information about upcoming party schedules.

Then, I plan my monthly schedule of my own accord, carefully balancing requests from organizers, my dance clients, personal events, and my health.

This May is especially busy. I will join a six-day cruise on the MSC Bellissima, and I am still preparing my luggage—actually, I left it halfway!

In addition, I have my regular dance lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and parties on other days, where I attend as a ribbon or charter partner.

So, I can say that my dance life is truly in full swing this month.

Through dance, many doors have opened for me.

It keeps my mind active and helps me stay healthy.

In fact, I believe it protects me from digital dementia and even from becoming frail.

Finally, I truly feel that this “new way” of making stories using learned expressions is very effective.  It helps me expand my vocabulary, remember new words more easily, and enjoy English in a relaxed and meaningful way.

I would like to praise SMC to the skies, because it not only helps us improve our English, but also inspires us to connect learning with our real lives.  And most importantly, it makes my life a little happier.

Next week, I'll be on MSC Bellissima which is an Italian Cruise Ship.  I will learn some Italians to start for polyglot.

(3) Everything in moderation - Oyatsu -: SM Kei Narisawa

What kind of snacks do you like: potato chips, chocolate-covered peanuts, or ebisen (shrimp crackers)? I’d say I like all of them. When I was young, I really hated being confined to my room with nothing to do. Naturally, I didn’t eat as many snacks as I do now.

My theory is that if you have something to do, you don’t eat many snacks. On the other hand, if you have nothing to do but watch YouTube, you tend to eat more snacks than you should. That’s why, as you get older, kyouiku and kyouyou become important. It’s a pun derived from a Japanese phrase meaning “Today I have somewhere to go and something to do.”

One day, I went downstairs to look for some snacks in the living room. There’s a place in the living room where snacks, candies, and coffee are usually kept. I know my wife can’t live without rice cakes, but that day there were none. She was sitting in front of the dresser. As I passed by, I asked, “Where on earth are my snacks?” I suspected she might have hidden them. She silently went back to her room and brought me some. When it comes to snacks, she has me wrapped around her little finger.

Back when I was in the fifth or sixth grade, I opened the refrigerator when I was hungry and found a big chunk of cheese. It made my mouth water. I took a small bite, and before I knew it, I had eaten quite a lot of it. Later, my mother found the cheese with teeth marks on it and jokingly said, “A black-haired mouse ate the cheese.” In those days, there weren’t many fancy snacks. Baked sweet potatoes and rice cakes were typical treats.

It is well known that people in the Edo period had only two meals a day. Naturally, they got hungry around 2 or 3 p.m. At that time, they called that period yatsu-doki (around 2 o’clock). That’s why a light meal was called oyatsu, which served both as nutrition and as a change of pace. It was also effective in reducing stress.

In conclusion, snacks (oyatsu) have certain benefits, but eating too much can harm your health. If you want to cut down on snacks, you should get out of the house and keep yourself busy. It’s similar to reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke. When you are busy at work, you don’t smoke as often. But when you have nothing to do, you tend to smoke more. In fact, the only time you feel like smoking is when you take a break, not when you are busy.

(4) My Golden Week: SM Yamazaki

It’s such a perfect season for taking walks, isn’t it?

At our last meeting, SM Ishimura and SM Noro showed me how to use Google Lens to look up the names of plants along the roadside. It seems to be getting quite popular — I’ve even seen commercials for it, and people holding up their phones to check plants. Since coming back to SMC after returning from a years-long break, I’ve been learning so many new things from all of you. I’m really grateful.

Speaking of walking, I’ve started reading aloud and memorizing short English sentences while I walk. I heard that, from a brain‑science point of view, it has four different benefits. I’ve been recommending it to my students as well.

By the way, how was your Golden Week?

Mine was the same as usual — nothing special. But during that time, I was inspired by a photo someone posted on X of their bookshelf, full of books. In the post, they said that when people ask, “Where are you going for the holidays?” and they answer, “I’ll be spending my time reading,” people give them a puzzled look. I completely understand that feeling. Recently, I’ve been trying to cut down on video time and read even a little more.

There was another post on X that really stayed with me. It said:

“The reason I am who I am today is because my 16‑year‑old self worked so hard. And the same is true the other way around — if the 58‑year‑old me does my best now, then the 16‑year‑old me will be rewarded, and so will the 70‑year‑old me. When I take a step forward today, both my past self and my future self take a step forward with me. I believe time doesn’t just flow vertically — it spreads out horizontally as well.”

These words made me realize the true source of determination and effort.

The person who wrote this is both a singer and an actress, yet she continues to speak her mind openly in an entertainment world where political expression is often treated as something close to taboo. Her language is literary and philosophical — which makes perfect sense, given that she served for some years as a book reviewer for the Yomiuri Shimbun.

And before I finish, let me ask you something a bit lighter.Are you familiar with Japanese parody songs, or 替え歌?

For example, there’s “Holmes Strait Floating Winter Scenery”, which is a parody of Tsugaru Strait Winter Scenery. And there’s another one that goes “Kick back, Tell a lie” based on the original song “Headlight, Taillight”. I always find it fascinating how just changing the words can completely transform the mood of a song. It’s another reminder of how playful and flexible language can be — in Japanese and in English.These parody songs are created by Shimizu Michiko.

(5) Pantheism and Panpsychism: SM Kaneko

Good morning, everyone.

Let me be a little philosophical this time. Today, I’d like to talk about pantheism and panpsychism.

These philosophical terms sound alike. In Japanese, too, their translations are pronounced almost the same: han-shin-ron. However, the Chinese characters for shin are different. Pantheism is written as 汎神論, while panpsychism is written as 汎心論. One uses the character for “god,” and the other uses the character for “mind” or “heart.”

The point of my speech today is this: these ways of thinking can lead us toward a peaceful attitude. At least, that is my current understanding of them.

Let’s look at them one by one.

First, pantheism.

To understand this word, it helps to break it down.“Pan-” is a prefix meaning “all.”“Theo” or “the” refers to God.And “-ism” means a doctrine or philosophy.

So, in simple terms, pantheism means: “All is God,” or “God exists in everything.”

A famous philosopher associated with this idea is Baruch Spinoza. He said, “God is Nature.” In Japanese, this idea is sometimes expressed as 神即自然, meaning “God itself is nature.”

Interestingly, Albert Einstein once said that he believed in “Spinoza’s God.” He did not believe in a God who judges or rewards people like a person, but rather in the harmony and laws of nature itself. In that sense, Einstein can also be regarded as close to a pantheist.

Pantheism may encourage respect for nature and for the universe as a whole. If everything is connected to the divine, then the world itself becomes something sacred.

Next, let’s move on to panpsychism.

The important difference here is the part “psych.” As we see in the word “psychology,” it means mind, soul, or consciousness.

So, panpsychism means: “All things have mind,” or “Everything possesses some form of consciousness.”

At first, this idea may sound strange. We usually think that only humans, or perhaps animals, have consciousness. But panpsychism suggests that consciousness might exist, in some primitive form, throughout the universe.

One philosopher connected to this idea is Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. In his philosophy called “Monadology,” he proposed that the universe is made of tiny units called monads. According to him, every monad has perception and desire, even if only at a very simple level.

Another interesting figure is Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, one of the founders of Russian rocket science. He suggested that every atom possesses some kind of sensation or feeling.

Although these ideas may sound unusual, consciousness itself remains one of the greatest mysteries in modern science and philosophy. Even today, scientists and philosophers debate what consciousness really is and how it arises.

Some researchers even argue that consciousness may be fundamental to the universe — perhaps more fundamental than elementary particles themselves. In other words, instead of consciousness appearing only after matter becomes complex, consciousness may have existed from the very beginning of reality.

Of course, nobody knows the final answer yet. These are still philosophical and scientific questions under discussion.

However, personally, these ideas give me a sense of unity with the world. They make me feel respect not only for people, but also for nature and existence itself.

When we feel deeply connected to the whole universe, hatred and excessive selfishness may become weaker. These philosophies can bring peace of mind and encourage a more compassionate attitude toward others.

So, hopefully, ways of thinking like pantheism and panpsychism may help make the world a little more peaceful.

Thank you very much.

(6) A day trip to Kamakura: SM Yoko Narisawa

 I talked a little about Kamakura at the last meeting. Today I’d like to share not just my experiences, but also the feelings and memories that  Kamakura brings back to me.

 Do you remember I once lived in an apartment located between Ofuna Station and Kitakamakura Station for three years just after graduating from college? In a way, Kamakura became one of my hometowns. Yet, to be  honest, I only know the same famous spots that everyone else knows. You might know more about Kamakura than I do.

 So, I want to share my own memories of Kamakura.

 About three weeks ago, I went to Kamakura with my childhood friends. We take a trip together once a year. Our annual event started in 1998, and  our first trip was to Kamakura. It has been 28 years since then. When we realized that 28 years had passed, everyone said the same thing: “ Unbelievable! ”. It wasn’t just a word --- it was a feeling of gratitude for the years we’ve shared and the friendship that has lasted a lifetime.

 Kamakura also reminds me of our junior high school trip nearly 60 years ago. We stayed at a hotel named 鶴ケ岡会館 on 若宮大路 Street. When I found the same hotel still standing in the same place, I felt a sudden warmth in my chest. At the same time, memories from that trip came flooding back. I remembered that I had lost my voice because I had caught a bad cold during the school trip. It is an unforgettable memory.

 As I mentioned at the last meeting, we visited 報国寺 and 浄妙寺. I used to think both temples were unfamiliar to tourists, but this time, they were filled with both Japanese and foreign tourists. They were taking pictures of the beautiful gardens and enjoying 抹茶. I was touched to see how sincerely foreign tourists were trying to understand Japanese culture. And I was even more moved to see them waiting in a neat line at the bus stop, just like Japanese people.

 That day I took the Enoden railway from Fujisawa Station to Kamakura Station. It took about 35 minutes. It was my first time riding from the first stop to the last stop. I enjoyed looking out the window at the Shonan sea. Enoshima Island was visible in the distance. When the train passed Kamakurakokomae Station, the famous seaside view opened up before me. It felt like a small journey. The Enoden train runs so close to people’s houses, and it seems the railway tracks were laid where there was originally a road. It’s interesting, isn’t it?

 There are still so many interesting places in Kamakura that I have never visited. I’d like to look for them and visit there someday. If you haven’t been to Kamakura recently, why don’t you go there?

(7) A Day Journey: SM Eda

Meeting Schedule

In-person: 9:30 AM on May 23 at Oyama Community Center (medium conference room)

Coordinator: SM Yamazaki