2026/8/22(Sat.)*SMC*

Lecture

Idiom quiz: SM Yoko Narisawa

Fill in the blank with a part of the body.

1. He is completely under his wife’s ( t     ).

   = is so strongly influenced by his wife that she controls him completely

2. She never let fame go to her ( h     ).

            = fame makes her feel more important than she really is

3. She keeps all men at ( a    ’s) length to avoid getting hurt.

     = avoid developing a relationship with all men

4. ‘ Really?’ Mary said, raising her ( e         s ).

                = showing surprise or disapproval

5. He looks down his ( n     ) at anyone foreign.

  = behaves as if he thinks that anyone foreign is not good enough for him

6. I tried a dating agency once, but got my ( f      s ) badly burnt -- I’ll never do it again.    

          = suffered the unpleasant results of something that I have done

7. I always have butterflies in my ( s      ) before an exam.

        = feel very nervous before doing something

8. She has an ( e   ) for good English usage.

 = is good at noticing a particular type of thing, especially something attractive, valuable, of good quality etc

9. She has a sharp ( t     ) when she is angry.

  = talks in a way that shows she is angry

10. I put my ( f    ) in my ( m     ) when I asked about her ex-boyfriend. = said something without thinking carefully, so that I upset her

11. This paperwork is such a pain in the ( n     ).

             = a thing that is very annoying or difficult to deal with

12. My laptop is on its last ( l    s ).

   = old or in bad condition and likely to stop working soon

13. I’m up to my ( e    s ) in work.

= have a lot of work

14. The company has its ( b     ) against the wall.

= is in a difficult situation with no choice about what to do

15. She tried to keep a stiff upper ( l    ) when she lost her job.

             = remain brave and composed even in hardship

  < Answer >

1. thumb  2. head  3. arm’s  4. eyebrows  5. nose

6. fingers  7. stomach  8. eye  9. tongue  10. foot  /  mouth

11. neck  12. legs  13. ears or eyes  14. back  15. lip

Table Topic Speech

(1) Why do we think of others the most when they're gone?

(2) What is your fondest memory from the past three years?

(3) What do you love to practice?

(4) What's the most sensible thing you've ever heard someone say?

(5) How many of your friends would you trust with your life?

(6) What gets you excited about life?

(7) What do you wish you spent more time doing five years ago?

Prepared Speech

(1) Why Are AI Models So Interested in Japan?: SM Noro

Today, I’d like to share an interesting piece of news about generative AI and Japanese culture.

We use AI systems such as ChatGPT and Gemini almost every day. We ask them questions about history, food, travel, culture, and many other things.

But recently, researchers discovered something quite surprising.

Generative AI seems to have a cultural bias toward Japan.

Researchers from Europe tested several major AI models by asking cultural questions in 24 different languages. Importantly, they did not specify any particular country in their questions.

For example, they asked general questions about family values, food, traditions, customs, and lifestyles.

You might expect the AI to choose examples from many different countries around the world.　But that was not always the case.

Again and again, the AI models referred to Japan and the United States, and Japan was particularly prominent. In fact, Japan was the most frequently referenced country in six of the eight AI models they tested.

So, here is the interesting question:

Why Japan?

One possible explanation is simply that there is a huge amount of information about Japan on the Internet.

Japanese anime, manga, video games, food, fashion, architecture, and traditional culture are known around the world.

Think about sushi, ramen, Pokémon, Nintendo, samurai, ninja, Zen, tea ceremony, and cherry blossoms.

Even people who have never visited Japan probably know several of these things.

But the researchers found that the amount of information available online may not completely explain the phenomenon.

Another possible reason is the way AI models are trained.

After learning from enormous amounts of text, AI models are further adjusted so that their answers are useful, safe, and acceptable to people.　During this process, Japan may become a kind of “safe cultural example.”

Japan is widely known, but references to Japanese culture are often less politically sensitive than references to some other countries.

This brings me to another interesting idea: soft power.

Soft power means influencing people not through military or economic force, but through culture, values, ideas, and attraction.

In this sense, Japan has remarkable soft power.

Anime and manga are obvious examples, but Japanese influence goes much further.

Japanese food has become part of everyday life in many countries. Japanese ideas about simplicity and design have influenced architecture and fashion. Concepts such as Zen, wabi-sabi, have become familiar outside Japan.

What I find particularly interesting is that Japan may have become not only a country, but also a kind of cultural reference point.

When AI needs an example of a distinctive culture, Japan seems to come to mind very easily.

Of course, we should be careful about the conclusion.

This research does not prove that Japanese culture is better than other cultures, or even that Japan has the strongest soft power in the world.

It may partly reflect a bias in AI training.

But I still think the result tells us something interesting about Japan’s position in the world.

For many people, Japan is geographically far away, linguistically different, and culturally distinctive.

And yet, Japanese culture has become surprisingly familiar.

Perhaps that combination — different, but familiar — is one of the secrets of Japan’s soft power.

Thank you.

(2) Body Clock: SM Ishimura

Today, I would like to talk about something that is inside all of us.

It is our body clock.

Everyone has a body clock. We cannot see it or touch it, but it plays an important role in our daily lives.

Our body clock is like a natural timetable. It tells our body when to wake up, when to sleep, when to eat, and when to carry out many other important functions.

This natural daily rhythm is called the circadian rhythm.

The word “circadian” comes from Latin and means “about a day.” It describes the approximately 24-hour cycle that controls many functions of our bodies.

Our body clock is closely connected to the rising and setting of the sun.

During the daytime, our body is generally prepared for activity. We are awake, active, and able to concentrate.

As evening comes, our body gradually prepares for sleep. Our body temperature changes, and our brain begins to produce more melatonin, a hormone that helps us sleep.

During the night, our body and brain have an opportunity to rest and recover.

So, the body clock is not simply about sleeping and waking.

It affects many parts of our health.

When our body clock works properly, we are more likely to sleep well, have enough energy during the day, and maintain good physical and mental condition.

However, modern life can easily disturb this natural rhythm.

Today, many people stay up late at night.

They use smartphones, computers, and televisions in the evening.

The bright light from these devices can make our brains think that it is still daytime.

As a result, our bodies may not be ready for sleep when we want to go to bed.

Eating habits can also affect our body clock.

Some people eat meals at very different times from day to day.

They may skip breakfast, eat lunch late, or have dinner very late at night.

Our bodies work best when our daily schedule is reasonably regular.

Unfortunately, many people today have irregular schedules.

Some people go to bed early on one day and very late on another day.

They may wake up at different times, eat at different times, and get different amounts of sleep.

Even people who do not work night shifts can sometimes live a lifestyle that is similar to shift work.

This irregular lifestyle can confuse the body's natural timetable.

When our body clock becomes disturbed, we may feel tired during the day even if we have spent enough time in bed.

We may have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

We may also have trouble concentrating, remembering things, or thinking clearly.

If this continues for a long time, an unhealthy sleep rhythm can be associated with a number of health problems.

It can affect our mood and our ability to manage stress.

It can also affect our metabolism and other important functions of the body.

This is why paying attention to our body clock is important, especially as we get older.

So, what can we do to protect our body clock?

The good news is that we do not need anything special.

There are several simple habits that can help.

First, try to wake up at about the same time every morning.

A regular waking time helps our body know when the day begins.

Second, get some natural morning light.

Going outside for a walk in the morning is a good way to expose our eyes to natural light.

This helps our brain recognize the beginning of a new day.

Third, try to keep a regular meal schedule.

Eating meals at approximately the same times each day can support our body's daily rhythm.

Fourth, reduce bright light in the evening.

Especially before going to bed, it is helpful to avoid unnecessary bright light from smartphones, computers, and other screens.

Finally, make sleep a priority.

We should give our bodies enough time to rest and recover.

The important point is that our body clock does not work separately from the rest of our body.

It is connected to our brain, hormones, sleep, digestion, metabolism, and many other biological functions.

Our bodies have been developing these natural rhythms for a very long time.

Modern technology has changed our lives dramatically, but our basic biological system has not changed at the same speed.

Therefore, we need to find a balance between modern life and our natural rhythm.

In conclusion, everyone has a body clock inside.

We cannot see it, but it is working every day and every night.

When we respect our body's natural rhythm, we can support better sleep, better energy, and better overall health.

We cannot control time itself.

But we can control some of our daily habits.

So, let us listen to our body clock and give our bodies the regular rhythm they need.

Taking care of our body clock is one simple way of taking care of our health and our future.

(3) Vivaldi and Queens: SM Koizumi

I'm a social dance instructor, and I've been managing a dance circle for six years.

One of my dance students told me that a nice movie was showing. Its original title is "Primavera," and its Japanese title is "ヴィヴァルディとわたし."

At the same time, our dance circle, Queens Dance, was preparing to take part in “the Autumn Stage Art Festival(舞台芸術祭)”.  After watching the movie, my partner and I decided to create our dance demonstration based on the world of Vivaldi.

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was an Italian composer, virtuoso(巨匠) violinist, and impresario(興行者・座元) of Baroque music. He is regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers. He was born in March 1678 and died in July 1741 at the age of 63.  His most famous work is The Four Seasons. The first concerto is Spring, or "Primavera" in Italian. It was composed in 1725. To my surprise, this beautiful and dramatic music was written more than 300 years ago.

At that time, there were no recording devices, so people gathered in churches or concert halls to listen to live performances. Vivaldi also visited royal courts to perform his music before kings, queens, and noble people.  Vivaldi really inspired me.  So I decided to use the atmosphere of Vivaldi's era for our dance demonstration. The title of our performance is "Vivaldi and Queens."

My partner and I have been preparing many things before inviting our circle members to join us.

The Stage Art Festival will be held on Sunday, October 18. We have a total of 30 minutes, including preparation, the performance itself, and clearing the stage afterward.

    First, I planned the concept of our performance. The setting is an 18th-century royal court, where Vivaldi's musicians are performing.

    Second, I selected the music, recorded it, edited it, and made a trial CD for the performance.

The music includes:  (1)Spring by Vivaldi (2)L'Arlésienne(アルルの女) by Bizet (3)Winter by Vivaldi (4)Divertimento by Mozart (5)Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley

    Third, I attended the organizers' meeting to confirm our stage schedule.

    Fourth, I informed our members about the event and asked whether they could participate.

    Fifth, I have been teaching them how to perform and thinking hard about how to make our performance the best it can be.

    Sixth, I made flyers to invite our friends and acquaintances to come and watch us.

    Seventh, the big day will finally arrive on October 18.

    Eighth, we will have a review meeting on October 31.

Right now, we are at the fifth stage—practicing hard, making improvements, and enjoying the process.  I hope you'll look forward to hearing about our performance.

Thank you.

今年で代田区民センター祭は11回目になりますが、舞台芸術祭は2回目になります。

公式のチラシと、クィーンズダンスPRのチラシを添付します。

クィーンズダンスは、10月18日(日)の14:30～15:00の出演になります。

宜しくお願いします。　　小泉

(4) Delivering a Speech Is More Difficult Than Writing One: SM Kei Narisawa

There are many people I respect. One of them is my brother. But aside from my brother, there is another person who is special to me.

He taught my brother and me when we were high school students. He was a mentor and a role model in many ways. His name was Mr. Kasima, an English teacher at Kunitachi High School.

He stood out from the other teachers because he had perfect pronunciation, and no one could beat him when it came to grammar. He was sent to America on a Fulbright scholarship. He was a teacher who left a lasting impression on me. 

As time went by, I began to forget about him. My brother didn't. Mr. Kasima and my brother maintained a close relationship because they were both members of Speechcraft. Speechcraft was a study group for practicing English speeches, much like our SMC.

Later, I also became a member of Speechcraft. Unlike us SMC members, Speechcraft members volunteered to give speeches at the next meeting. At the end of each meeting, I made a habit of raising my hand to volunteer as a speaker.

I learned a lot from the Speechcraft members. None of them looked down at their speech drafts while giving a speech. So I took it for granted that I should give a speech without looking at my draft.

Why is it important not to read from a speech draft? Because giving a public speech is not just about reading a script. In order to get your message across effectively, you should make eye contact and use gestures.

If you look down at your draft, you break eye contact. And you can't use your hands freely if you are holding a piece of paper. In other words, you sound more persuasive when you make good eye contact and use gestures, even if you stutter a little, than when you simply read your speech.

Then why do people want to read their speeches, even though they know they sound better without reading?

No. 1: After writing what seems like a perfect speech, they really want to use good idioms, impressive words, and poetic phrases. They want to say those wonderful phrases exactly as they wrote them.

No. 2: They are not confident that they can get by when they forget what they want to say in the middle of their speech.

But we are not in a speech contest. You don't have to worry about how judges evaluate your speech. You are here to hone your speaking skills and develop your ability to get by in English when you get stuck in the middle of your speech.

Think on your feet and make full use of your knowledge of English.

Don't worry about what other people think of you, because you are here to learn how to speak English, not to learn how to read English.

*use a memo or a card

(5) Things to Do: SM Eda

Now I enjoy travels, spa, gardening, English and movies.

However, I will stop working fulltime come next April, and I will have more

free time.

 I want to add some more things to the above list.

 I will play baseball, play shogi, paint picturers, work out in a sports gym and having a pet, such as a parrot or a rabbit.

(6) Hot and Humid: SM Kaneko

It is hot and humid, isn't it?

Today, I'd like to talk about some English expressions we use to describe heat and humidity.

The main point of my speech is this: I noticed that many words beginning with B and S are related to this subject.

Let's look at some examples.

For B, we have:

burning, baking, boiling, broiling, blazing, and blistering.

For S, we have:

scorching, searing, sizzling, sultry, sweltering, stuffy, sticky, steamy, sweaty, stifling, and suffocating.

There are also some other expressions, such as fiery, flaming, roasting, and muggy, as well as phrases like “as hot as an oven” and “like a sauna.”

These are only some examples, but they cover a fair amount of vocabulary related to heat and humidity.

Interestingly, I also noticed that summer and sun both start with S.

So, in conclusion, simply remembering that many words beginning with B and S are used to describe heat and humidity may help you increase your English vocabulary.

Thank you.

Meeting Schedule

In-Person: 9:30 AM on Sep. 12 at Seishin Community Center (small conference room)

                   (Coordinator: SM Kei Narisawa)