2026/7/11(Sat.)*SMC*

Lecture: SM Yoko Narisawa

Idiom Quiz

 Fill in the blank.

1. Even after failing twice, Ken decided to get back on the ( h     ) and try again.               = recover from failure and try again

2. The new cafe became popular overnight and now everyone wants a piece of the ( p    ).   = part of the profit or benefit

3. During the debate, Aya stayed calm while everyone else was losing thier ( h     s ).  = losing their temper

4. The twins look so similar that it’s hard to tell them ( a     ).

                 = recognize the difference between the twins

5. The loud noise made me jump out of my ( s     ).        

               = I was extremely surprised by the loud noise

6. Even though Yui looked confident, she was actually shaking like a ( l     ) before her speech.

 = shaking in a way that she couldn’t control because she was very nervous

7. When the comedian forgot his lines, his partner quickly saved the ( d   ).   = made a bad situation end successfully

8. Kenji likes to pretend he is relaxed, but in reality he’s usually running around like a headless ( c      ).  = very busy doing a lot of things, but in a way that is not very effective

9. My uncle always says that investing without research is like playing with ( f     ).  = to act in a way that is very dangerous and take risks

10. Despite fierce criticism, the artist stayed true to her vision and refused to ( t    ) the line.  = follow rules and regulations

11. We need to ( i     ) out a few problems first.

      = solve or get rid of problems, especially small ones

12. The manager asked everyone to be on the same ( p     ) regarding the new company policy. 

      = have the same understanding about the new company policy

13. The CEO asked us not to jump the ( g    ) before all the data had been analyzed. 

= do something too soon, especially without thinking carefully about it

14. Mika always goes the extra ( m    ) for clients, so everyone trusts her.

       = makes more effort than is expected of her

15. The chairman tried to soften the ( b     ) by explaining the situation calmly before announcing layoffs.  = make a bad situation less serious

< Answer >

1. horse  2. pie  3. heads  4. apart  5. skin

6. leaf  7. day  8. chicken  9. fire  10. toe

11. iron  12. page  13. gun  14. mile  15. blow

Table Topic Speech

(1) When did you not speak up when you should have?

(2) Who makes you feel good about yourself?

(3) What does "The Amerian Dream" mean to you?

(4) What is your favorite time of the year?

(5) What's something you wish you had done earlier in your life?

(6) What is your most prized possession?

(7) What is your most striking physical attribute?

(8) What type of person angers you the most?

Prepared Speech

(1) Usage of Tools: SM Kaneko

(2) Pursuit of Perfection: SM Kei Narisawa

About forty years ago, I was sent to the United States on a program sponsored by the Japanese government and the Tokyo Board of Education. I spent a little more than two months studying American culture. The program included taking courses at a college, visiting local schools, and staying with American host families.

One of the families was very wealthy. They owned a boat, had a jacuzzi, and even a large basement that served as a private library. Their backyard was enormous, and they grew tomatoes and other vegetables there. One day, with nothing in particular to do, I wandered into the backyard and found some delicious‑looking tomatoes practically calling out to me. I started eating them, and before I knew it, I had eaten seven. Tomatoes in America taste absolutely out of this world. American tomatoes and Japanese tomatoes have very different flavors. You’ll understand what I mean if you’ve ever compared Del Monte and Kagome tomato juice. American tomatoes are much more rich and full‑bodied, although their shapes are not as perfectly round as Japanese ones.

On another day, the teachers at the school I was visiting treated me to lunch. We went to a local Pizza Hut, where they paid ten dollars for the smorgasbord. However, the all‑you‑can‑eat Pizza Hut buffet wasn’t very good, and I still can’t understand why it cost ten dollars per person—especially considering this was more than thirty years ago.

To be honest, I think Western food often tastes better in Japan. Perhaps that’s because Japanese chefs tend to pursue perfection and constantly refine their craft. Even ramen and curry originally came from abroad, yet many would argue that the Japanese versions have surpassed the originals.

This pursuit of perfection is extremely important. For example, Hydrogen fluoride, fluorinated polyimide, and photoresists are indispensable materials in semiconductor manufacturing. Japan produces about 90 percent of the world’s photoresists used in semiconductor manufacturing, and its hydrogen fluoride reaches an astonishing purity level of 99.9999999999 percent—twelve nines. Japan is also among the world leaders in medical care. In the field of immunotherapy for leukemia, Japanese researchers and physicians are at the forefront of innovation, and medical tourism continues to grow as patients from around the world travel to Japan for advanced treatment.

Research into materials science and other behind‑the‑scenes industries may not attract as much attention as high‑profile consumer products, but they are absolutely essential. Considering that some countries have shown a willingness to restrict rare‑earth exports for political reasons, Japan must continue strengthening these foundational industries for the sake of economic security.

And frankly, while I believe medical care should be accessible to all, I would feel conflicted about seeing leaders like Xi Jinping(習近平)or(プーティン)who has caused significant global tension seeking treatment in Japan.

(3) Word Games Using My Name: SM Koizumi

 I'm not so meticulous to review SMC in-person gathering. I don't usually review every SMC in-person gathering very carefully. However, this time, SM Yoko Narisawa's speech inspired me to look back at her main points.  She introduced several kinds of English word games, such as palindromes, pangrams, anagrams, and hidden words.  Just for fun, I decided to apply some of these word games to my own name, Minoru Koizumi.

    First, I tried making a palindrome.

I remembered the famous example, "Madam, I'm Adam."

Then I looked at my family name, Koizumi. Reading it backward gives "imuziok." I noticed that "Uzi" is an actual word—the name of a submachine gun developed in Israel. So I jokingly created this palindrome-style exchange:

      "I'm Uzi OK, Koizumi?"　"No way, yaw on!"

Both of sentences are palindromes respectively.

    Next, I tried my first name, Minoru.

Reading it backward, I found "nim," which is the name of a mathematical game. Then I added "Euro" and came up with a funny phrase: "Euro Nim, Minorue!"  In my imagination, when I asked to my friend, money game addict, “What do you want to do”, he answered.  "Euro Nim, Minorue!"

In another way, “Mino rues Euro Nim.” is also a palindrome.  So Mino might lose a lot of money.

    Then I moved on to anagrams.

An anagram is a word or phrase made by rearranging the letters of another word. For example, the anagram of "Elvis" is "lives." Using the letters in "Minoru," I came up with "uni ROM." Uni means university. ROM is read only memory. It sounds like a secret computer device that Minoru keeps hidden somewhere!

    Wow! These word games took quite a bit of time, but they also gave me a fun way to learn new English words.  Why don't you try playing word games with your own name? You may discover something surprising!

(4) TOEIC - How to get a high score: SM Zhanje

(5) Ferrari’s First EV: SM Noro

Today, I’d like to talk about Ferrari’s first electric vehicle, or EV.

When Ferrari unveiled its first electric car, many people expected excitement. However, in reality, many fans were disappointed.

Some people said, “This is not a Ferrari.”

Why would people react that way to a car that is faster, cleaner, and more advanced? 

I think this story is not only about cars. It is about identity and change.

What happened in the background?

The company has been trying to enter the growing EV market and prepare for a future with strict environmental regulations. 

Technically, the new car is impressive. It has powerful acceleration and advanced technology.

However, many long-time Ferrari fans criticized it.

They said the car lacks something emotional that Ferrari is known for.

For them, a Ferrari is not just a machine. Ferrari is something that connects emotion and passion.

Why are fans upset? The biggest reason is the loss of the engine sound.

Ferrari’s V8 and V12 engines are famous around the world.

Many fans say the sound is part of the soul of Ferrari.

Without that sound, they feel something important is missing.

Some people even compared the new EV to an electrical appliance.

When technology changes, how much change is acceptable?

If a Ferrari car no longer sounds like a Ferrari, is it still a Ferrari?

I think this issue applies to many things in life.

For example, English dictionaries became digital, letters became emails and classrooms became online meetings recently.

In many cases, technology improved efficiency.

But some people felt that something valuable was lost.

The Ferrari story reminds us that people do not value only function.

We also value memories, emotions, and traditions.

Sometimes progress creates gains, but it also creates losses.

I am very worried about Ferrari’s future.

(6) TACO Trump; A New Political Phrase: SM Ishimura

Today, I would like to talk about a funny expression that I recently learned from the news; “TACO Trump.”

At first, I was confused. When I heard the word “taco,” I thought about Mexican food. I imagined a taco with meat, cheese, and vegetables. I wondered, “What does Mexican food have to do with American politics?”

Then I learned that TACO is actually an acronym. It stands for;

Trump Always Chickens Out.

The expression “chicken out” means to become afraid and decide not to do something. For example, if you promise to ride a roller coaster but become scared at the last minute, your friends might say,” You chickened out.”

Some critics of President Trump use this phrase because they think he sometimes makes vey strong statements or threats and then later changes course.

Whether you agree with that opinion or not is not the point of my speech. What interest me is the English language itself.

English is full of colorful expressions involving animals.

For example:

# If someone is very busy, we say they are busy as a bee.

# If someone copes another person, we call them a copycat.

# If someone is very brave, we say they have the heart of a lion.

#And if some becomes afraid and backs out, we say they chicken out.

I think these expressions make English more vivid and memorable.

The phrase “TACO” Trump” also shows how creative people can be with language. Political supporters and political opponents often invent nicknames.  Some nicknames become famous, while others quickly disappear.

As an English learner, I find these expressions interesting because they help me understand not only vocabulary but also culture.

Sometimes a single phrase can tell us a lot about what people are thinking and talking about.

When I first heard “TACO Trump,” I learned three things.

First, I learned a new expression; chicken out.

Second, I learned that acronyms are common in English.

And third, I learned that news headlines can be creative and sometimes humorous.

Of course, we should be careful when using political nicknames.

Different people have different opinions, and it is important to respect those opinions.

Still, leaning these expressions can be a fun way to improve our English.

(7) Dementia Risks: SM Eda

1 hearing loss                   6.7%

2 lack of exercise               6%             

3 cholesterol                    4.5%         

4 social isolution             3.5%

5 diabetes                            3%

6 high blood pressure   2.9%

7 depression                    2.6%

8 air pollution                   2.5%

9 smoking                         2.2%

10 poor education           1.5%

11 overdrinking                 1.3%

12 brain damage              0.8%

13 obesity                          0.7%

14 bad eyesight               0.6%

 By attending SMC, you can fulfill the requirements of #2, 4, 7 and 10, totalling 13.6%.

Ohtani's batting average is 29%.

Regumlar pitcher's average is 15%.

The difference is 14%, which is close to the advantage you have by joining SMC. When you send a pinch hitter, who do you use, Ohtani or a regular pitcher? That's why you should attend SMC!

(8) I Want to Be Able to Make Inquiries by Phone: SM Takahata

These days, it seems that more and more companies are eliminating their customer service phone lines and offering support only through email or chat. Given that customer harassment has become a serious social issue, I can understand why companies might choose to get rid of phone support - it costs money, places a heavy burden on employees, and can be very stressful. In that sense, it may be a reasonable decision.

Still, whether or not customers can contact a company by phone is a very important issue.

I recently had an experience that made me think about this.

I returned an item that I had purchased with my credit card and was expecting a refund. A few days later, I received a letter from the company saying:

"For reasons unknown, we were unable to process the refund through your credit card company. Therefore, we will issue the refund by bank transfer. Please let us know your bank account details."

I wanted to know why the refund couldn't be processed, so I went to my credit card company's website. No matter how far I scrolled, I couldn't find a phone number. The site was clearly designed so that customers had to use the AI chat service for inquiries.

Reluctantly, I started chatting with the AI. However, it kept giving me the same response over and over: "Cancellation processing may take some time." That wasn't what I wanted to know. I wanted to know why the refund couldn't be processed in the first place. But if your question doesn't fit one of the predefined categories, the AI simply can't answer it.

After struggling with the AI chat for about twenty minutes, I finally gave up and provided my bank account information so the company could send the refund by bank transfer.

Later, I discovered that customers with paid membership cards - such as Gold or Premium cards - do have access to a customer service phone number. I couldn't help feeling a little discriminated against, but I suppose that's the way the world works: better service comes at a price.

Self-checkout lanes at supermarkets and cashier-less convenience stores are becoming increasingly common. As labor shortages continue and companies focus on reducing costs, there may be fewer and fewer opportunities to receive help from an actual person.

But is that really making our lives better?

There are times when a kind staff member's thoughtful assistance brightens your day, or when a casual conversation teaches you something new. Those are experiences that only human interaction can provide.

Perhaps that's simply an old-fashioned way of thinking now.

Meeting Schedule

In-person: 9:30 AM on Jul. 25 at Oyama Community Center (medium conference room)

(Coordinator: SM Ishimura)