The Learning Session in Japanese, Learning Session in English and the end of year party were all successful thanks to the wonderful members! I am glad all the attendees enjoyed my hand-made Japanese Christmas cake so much. I wanted to make it in order to show my appreciation to all.

Katayama san was absent this time but she kindly gave us her hand-made coasters. Noda san had just come back from Japan and gave us Japanese sweets as the souvenir. Duncan san also came back from Japan and shared the biscuits from Tokyo. I am happy to feel the great support from those members!

Also, thank you so much for the Christmas cards and presents! The warm messages made me feel more motivated to give back more for the members in the future. I will do my best!

The comments from the attendees are at the bottom!

It was not possible to continue these activities without the great support from the members for the last four and half years. I believe that the skills and attitude of learning and accepting the differences between different countries and sharing these with others will be more and more important in the globalizing world. This could be the crucial skills not only in business, but in any relationships in the society. I would like to provide opportunities for further  mutual learning and improvement for the members.

Thank you very much for all the kind support in 2019!

Mineko Arai

今月の「日本語で学ぶ会」「英語で学ぶ会」は今年最後のイベントとなり、忘年会も大変盛り上がりました。手作りの日本のクリスマスケーキも大変好評をいただき、皆様への感謝の気持ちが伝わったようで大変嬉しく存じます。

片山さんから手作りのコースターをクリスマスプレゼントとしていただき、野田さんは日本から戻られたところで、日本のお菓子をお土産にくださいました。ダンカンさんも先月日本から戻り、東京のお菓子をお土産にくださいました。メンバーのためにいろいろとお心遣いいただき、大変感謝しております。

また、クリスマスカードやプレゼントもいただき、誠にありがとうございます。皆様からのあたたかいお言葉に大変励まされますし、来年もより良い活動が提供できるよう励んでまいります。

皆様のご協力、ご紹介があってこそ、この4年半素晴らしいメンバーに恵まれこのイベントを続けてこられました。国際化の中で違いを学び共有し合う姿勢は今後さらに必要なスキルとなっていくと考えております。ビジネスシーンのみならず、様々な対人関係における関係作りの基礎だと考えております。お互いから学び、その成長を喜び合える活動の場をこれからも提供していきたいと存じます。今後ともご支援よろしくお願いいたします。

参加者の声は下記にございます。

新井峰子

Things I taught for the partners 相手に教えたこと
- Brexit, Europe political turmoil situation.
- I spoke about a typical British Christmas including Christmas dinner.
-日本の天皇制とイギリスの皇室の違い
-日本の天皇制について
-日本の仕事の態度について
-知っている単語を使おうとする姿勢
-新しい言葉「治安」
-助詞「に」「で」の使い方

Thing I learnt from the partners 相手から学んだこと
-A bit of British monarchy system
- Role of emperor which is only country's emblem/UK queen signature
- Lots of useful Japanese phrases and conversation
-Japanese perspectives on Christmas and British food
-日本のサービスと物の値段の釣り合わなさ。過剰サービス
-イギリスのいろいろなアクセントについて
-新しいたんご「ちあん（Safety)」
-Saving my appetiteのフレーズを自分のものにします！

Thank you very much for attending the Learning Session in Japanese and Learning Session n English this month! I hope you enjoyed your Japanese speaking practice and this event has enriched your vision on the topics by exchanging your opinions with the native language speakers outside of your Japanese lessons.

This month, I brought 'Tim Tam' from Sydney, Australia and Kaori san brought nice biscuits from Brussels, Belgium. Thank you so much, Kaori san! 

Thank you for your warm donation and I would like to accumulate it in case for any incidents in Japan. I am sorry for those who could not attend this time but I look forward to meeting you all next month!

Brexit can probably give a massive impact on Japanese companies in the UK. Already some companies have moved their offices into EU in order to reduce the influences from Brexit. Fortunately, Japanese government mentioned to support those firms in the UK after the referendum.

The Prime Minister Abe said 'I want the BOJ (Bank of Japan) to support financial intermediary functioning by providing ample funds to help Japanese firms operating in Britain and other companies in need of funds.' Companies asked the central bank on Tuesday to loan them US$1.47bn in its regular dollar-supplying operation. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jun/29/brexit-bank-of-japan-urged-to-free-up-cash-for-japanese-companies-in-uk

Let's stay positive and do what we can do for the best! Here are the comments from the attendees below.

今月も「英語で学ぶ会」「日本語で学ぶ会」にご参加いただき誠にありがとうございます。この会を通じて会話練習のみならず、より国際的視野が広がったなら、大変嬉しく存じます。

今回は私のシドニー旅行からのお土産だけでなく、かおりさんが出張先のブリュッセルからおいしいクッキーをお土産にいただきました。どうもごちそうさまでした！

また、日本への支援金もありがとうございました。万が一に備えてまた蓄積していけたらと考えております。今回は帰国中の方もおおく、ご参加できなかった方々、ぜひまたの機会にお会いできるのを楽しみにしております。

以下に参加者からのコメントを載せておきました。

'We were comparing the political situation in the UK to Hong Kong and Japan.'
'It was interesting to hear Japanese views on Brexit.'
'I talked about the perspective of people from different countries on politics (Brexit, Japanese politics, etc.)'
'I learnt Japan-Chinese relations and the Japanese Royal Family.'
'I taught English life style and growing up here.'
「英国EU離脱の今後について学びました。」
「日本人が天皇に何を求めているかを教えました。」
「英国のロイヤルファミリーと日本の天皇家の違う点を学びました。」

Thank you very much for attending the Learning Session in Japanese and Learning Session in English last Saturday! Thank you very much for your generous donation for helping the catastrophic disaster in Japan. It was very nice to meet you all and had a great discussion on 'The Idea of Protesting'. It was topical as there was a massive march in Westminster on the day. Japanese people are very quiet and it is unlikely to express their opinion in general. Should Japanese people change their attitude in this globalising world? It is nice to see these active people in London! I feel the energy and I believe that this vibration can move things better. I am happy to hear that the session was a lively Japanese lesson for you with the native Japanese speakers. The comment from the attendees are below.

先日は「日本語で学ぶ会」「英語で学ぶ会」にお越しいただき誠にありがとうございます。また、日本の激甚災害への寄付金も大変ありがとうございました。このように日本を支えるために協力し合える仲間がいることに心から感謝しております。今回も皆様と有意義な時間が過ごせ、大変嬉しく思います。トピックは「抗議活動」についてでしたが、国によって国民の活動、政府の対応が違うので、大変興味深い話ができました。ちょうど同じ日にロンドンで抗議活動があり、この人々のエネルギーがとても刺激的でした。日本人は和を大切にする分、このような意見を伝えることがあまりないので、国際化の中で、日本人としてどのような振る舞いが望ましいのか気になるところです。

- I learned the phrases related to overworked.
- I learnt the opinion about protesting from Japanese members.
- I taught cultural differences such as talking about typhoon vs cyclones.
-  ロンドンと日本での生活の相違について教えられた。
-　日本語で話す時、どの単語を選べばわかりやすいかが勉強になった。
-　抗議活動の国による違いを学んだ。
-　日本での抗議活動について教え、意見交換ができた。
-　イギリスの教育現場の状況について教えられました。

Thank you very much for sharing your opinions on 'cashless society' and 'etiquette and manners in your country' at the Learning Session in Japanese and in English last weekend! I appreciate for this great vibe you all brought into and the diversity of the attendees.  Prof. Yoshikawa (Keio University) was not able to attend but he kindly brought the beautiful snack from Japan for the members.  Kenric who was one of the oldest members moved to Japan but joined us this month and brought nice Japanese sweets for us. Gochisosamadeshita! Also, Yuka's father, about the same age as my father, and my oldest student from my hometown also joined the group and it was a nice mixture of people. I would like to share some comments below.

今回の日本語で学ぶ会・英語で学ぶ会では「キャッシュレス社会」「各国のエチケットとマナー」について意見交換していただき誠にありがとうございました。９月初めにロンドンでお会いした元メンバーの吉川先生（慶応大学）からは日本からおいしいあられをお土産にいただき、元メンバーで現在東京滞在中のケンリックさんが帰国最終日にもかかわらず参加くださりお菓子もいただき、どうもごちそうさまでした。また、メンバーの有香さんのお父さんや私の日本での教え子も参加いただき、とても有意義な時間となりました。以下に皆様のコメントをいくつか紹介させていただきます。

  'I taught about current events in Hong Kong.'
  'I learnt Japanese etiquette!'
  'I learnt more Japanese words to study.'
「今日はキャッシュレスについてスペイン、イタリアの状況を知ることができました。」
「熱心さや好奇心について学びました。」
「いつも相手の話を折らないようにしていたが、少しずつ相手によっては訂正しようと思った。」

今月のトピックは各国のタブーについてでした。知らずに相手の国のタブーなことをしていることがあるかもしれません。普段から学んでいることだとは思いますが、直接聞く機会もあまりないと思いますので、今回改めて多くの学びがあったなら、大変嬉しく思います。

The monthly topic was taboos in your country. You never know if you break the taboos in other countries. Also it is important to learn it from the native speakers' perspectives rather than books. I hope you have deepened your understanding of different ideas and widen your world through the event.

Lesley Downer, an English journalist specialising in Japan, will be sharing some of her observations and experiences of Japanese culture as a JAPAN FOCUS event this year. I am very glad of this opportunity to hear what she has to say. I feel that a deeper understanding of Japan will enhance language learning for language learners. Understanding different cultures is very important for us, living as we do in a global society. It will also be helpful for Japanese people to enable them to explain the historical background to Japanese society to western friends.
 
Title: The New Samurai: The Extraordinary Story of the Transformation of Japan
Speaker: Lesley Downer - profile below.                         
Date: Wednesday September 11th 2019
Time:  18:20 - Doors open
           18:30-20:00 Presentation in English by Lesley Downer
           20:00-20:30 Group discussion (Two groups, one in Japanese & the other in English)
           *Please feel free to join the event at any time.     
Venue: The Whittington, City Business Library, Guildhall, Aldermansbury London EC2V 7HH
           (Nearest Tube stations-Moorgate, Bank & St Paul’s)
Price: £8 per person  *Advance payment is required in order to secure your booking.
Booking: Please book via 'Contact' on this website. Your friends are welcome!
              

Ms Lesley Downer
Journalist and writer
 
On July 8th 1853 four enormous American warships appeared at the mouth of Edo Bay, threatening Edo. For Japanese of the day it was as shocking as if aliens had landed. The next year Commodore Perry returned to force the government to open the country. After fifteen years of upheaval a new government of radical young samurai took over and set about transforming Japan. Within a year rickshaws were clattering through the streets. Women experimented with bustles and bonnets and men ate beef, cut off their samurai topknots and started wearing boots and Inverness capes. Lesley Downer spent 15 years immersing herself in this period and has written four novels about it. She will tell the dramatic story of the coming of the Black Ships and the transformation of Japan, with lots of glorious pictures.
 
Lesley Downer first went to Japan more than thirty years ago and her life has revolved around Japan ever since. She is the author of many books on Japan, including Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World and a quartet of novels bringing alive the extraordinary years in the mid-19th century when Japan changed overnight from a feudal to a modern nation: The Shogun’s Queen, The Last Concubine, The Courtesan and the Samurai and The Samurai’s Daughter.
 
The Shogun’s Queen:
ttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Shoguns-Queen-Shogun-Quartet-Book/dp/055216349X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0
 
The Last Concubine:
​https://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Concubine-Shogun-Quartet-Book/dp/0552155209/ref=pd_sbs_14_2/257-3947980-5404463?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0552155209&pd_rd_r=05a3d4c1-5944-4b2d-bd3b-b4f4b5c015fc&pd_rd_w=hxYgJ&pd_rd_wg=2jqXC&pf_rd_p=18edf98b-139a-41ee-bb40-d725dd59d1d3&pf_rd_r=W5S0BXQBAKT6J5724A35&psc=1&refRID=W5S0BXQBAKT6J5724A35
 
Official website: https://www.lesleydowner.com/​

Thank you very much for attending the Speaking Sessions last Saturday! It was fantastic to have  deep conversations with the members. Thank you very much for your generous donation for Japan too. Luckily, no serious natural disaster has attacked in Japan this year. And I hope I can donate the sum for the organisation supporting social disorder people in the end of the year.

The topic of the month was 'The Feature of the Cities in Your Country'. In Europe, there are many churches in each town and a cathedral in a bigger town. Some are on sale and converted into student house or bar/night club in the UK! There are some castle towns as well such as York in Yorkshire. I also found that many of the shops and restaurants are chains in this country. I heard that this is because the British people like to enjoy the same food wherever they go!

In Japan, most cities have a Shinto shrine, many Buddhist temples, and often a castle. My hometown is also a castle town as the castle was used as the second/holiday home of shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa who mainly lived in Tokyo and reigned over Japan in Edo period. There are many local shops which sell the local products or food in Japan and people always enjoy the local specialties. My local speciality is 'wasabi ice cream'!

I have never seen Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples on sale in Japan but it is very interesting to know that the consumer preferences create the  different business of the towns although religious buildings (for mental strength or power) and castles (for reign) exist in both far East and far West.

I am sorry for those who could not join this time. i look forward to seeing you on another occasion. Best wishes.

今回も「日本語を話す会」「英語を話す会」にお越しいただき誠にありがとうございます。皆さんとの有意義な会話からまた学ばせていただきました。日本への支援金もありがとうございます。今のところ大きな災害がなく、このままうまくいけば、年末に引きこもり等の支援団体に寄付できればと考えております。

今月のトピックは「自国の町の特徴」でしたが、ヨーロッパでは教会や大聖堂があり、中世の城があるところもありますね。イギリスでは教会が売りに出され、学生寮やバー、ナイトクラブなどに使われるところもあるそうですね。また、イギリスの町ではどこに行ってもチェーンのレストランやカフェを見かけるんですが、どうやらこれはイギリス人がどこに行っても「いつもの味」を楽しみたいからだということを聞いたことがあります。

日本では大抵の町に神社、お寺、それにお城も点在していますね。私の出身、駿河は天下統一を果たした徳川家康の別邸の城下町として賑わっています。また、各地方では名物料理などがあり、そこでしか食べられないものを楽しむ傾向もあると思います。駿河では緑茶の産地のみならず、「わさびアイスクリーム」も人気があります。

私はまだ日本で神社やお寺が不動産として売られているのを見たことがないんですが、この現象はあるのでしょうか。何はともあれ、使わなくなったところを需要のあるものに変え、使えるようにしていくという発想はとても面白いと思います。また、消費者の動向によって商店街の様相が違うというのも興味深い点です。共通点としては東西に関わらず、古くから、精神面を支え、また権力にも使われる宗教関連の建物、統治のための建物が存在していることですね。人間としての共通点と言えるのではないでしょうか。

最後に、今回やむなく参加できなかった方、またの機会にぜひお会いできることを楽しみにしております。

Thank you very much for attending the first weekday sessions on 6thbof June! Katayama san helped me to organise this additional Speaking Sessions and I really appreciate for her kind support. It was also nice to welcome the new Japanese member. I am sorry for those who could not make it this time. However, I am sure there will be another chance to meet. Take care until then!

６月６日の平日の日本語を話す会＆英語を話す会にご参加いただき誠にありがとうございます。ようやく平日にも実施できることになったのは、熱心な片山さんのお手伝いがあってこそです。本当にこのようなご支援に感謝しております。新しい日本人メンバーも来てくださり、嬉しく思います。今回残念ながらご参加できなかった方々もまたいつか一緒に異文化交流できることを心より楽しみにしております。