The 206th Regular Meeting : September 20, 2025

We had six speeches today, including “Here’s My Trick” by Anne.

A variety of stories, from social ettiquette, film and novel, recorder, Anpanman, to exercise.  We truly enjoyed the diverse flavors of speeches. Once again, we realized that every member has their own drama and their own perspective in daily life. The stories were as varied as autumn leaves, changing color from the foot to the top of a mountain. It’s amazing that today’s meeting theme was "Autumn Imagery."

This was followed by  Table Topics Session, hosted by Sora, which focused on the autumn equinox, “お彼岸” in Japanese. It was a rather unique theme. When we heard about equinox customs in China and Mongolia, we were intrigued by the differences from Japan’s. Additionally, many speakers seemed to be a little bit perplexed but nostalgic.

Toward the end of the meeting, we held our usual business session consisting of reports from officers. There was the report about meeting feedback that was shared by members about the meeting itself. Sharing both constructive suggestion and praise helps boost motivation of members.

And tonight, how about enjoying moon viewing with a strong beer in hand?

”Vocal Variety” & "Moments of Truth" Meeting: August 30, 2025

今回のミーティングは「Vocal Variety Presentation」と「Moments of Truth Discussion」の二本立てで開催されました。

 前半の Vocal Variety Presentation では、Tentenさんによる、Vocal Variety（声の多様性）に特化したキーノートスピーチが行われました。自身がコンテストに出場した際の経験を踏まえ、パブリックスピーチにおけるVocal Varietyの極意を、非常にわかりやすく紹介してくださいました。特に「Pause（間）」「Pace（速度）」「Pitch（音程）」「Volume（音量）」「Tone（音色）」の5要素に分けて説明されたことで、聴衆にとっても整理しやすく、すぐに実践できる内容となっていました。

 後半は Moments of Truth セッションです。これは年に一度、クラブの課題についてメンバー間で討議する重要な機会です。事前に役員によるアンケート調査が実施され、ミーティング当日はその結果をもとに議題が設定されました。「新会員を迎えるにあたり、クラブをどう改善していきたいか」「メンバーがより成長を実感するために何ができるか」などのテーマについて、数人ずつのグループに分かれて意見交換を行い、各グループの代表が内容を全体に共有しました。

 私たちはスピーチクラブですので、共有の場もまた、限られた時間内で要点を伝える練習の機会として活用しています。限られた時間で深い議論を行うためには、やはり準備が重要です。今回は、役員の方々が事前にアンケート結果や説明資料を配布してくださったことで、活発な意見交換が実現しました。

 「段取り八割」という言葉がありますが、まさにその通り。役員の皆さんの準備のおかげで、非常に充実したミーティングとなりました。

 ご興味のある方は、ぜひ一度クラブにご訪問ください。会員一同、心よりお待ちしております。

 This meeting featured a two-part program: the Vocal Variety Presentation and the Moments of Truth Discussion.

 In the first session, we enjoyed a keynote speech by Tenten, focused on Vocal Variety. Drawing from his own experience competing in speech contests, he shared practical insights into how vocal variety enhances public speaking. His explanation was especially clear and actionable, as he broke down the concept into five key elements: Pause, Pace, Pitch, Volume, and Tone. This structure made it easy for the audience to understand and apply the tips from now on.

 The second session was our annual Moments of Truth session—a valuable opportunity for members to discuss the club’s strengths and areas for improvement. Prior to the meeting, club officers conducted a survey, and the results were used to shape the discussion topics. In small groups, members exchanged ideas on themes such as “How can we improve the club to better welcome new members?” and “What can we do to help members feel a stronger sense of growth?” Each group then shared their key points with everyone. 

 As a public speaking club, we also treat these sharing sessions as opportunities to practice delivering concise and impactful messages within a set time. 

 To establish deeper discussions within limited time, preparation is essential. Thanks to the officers’ efforts in distributing survey results and materials in advance, we were able to have a lively and productive exchange of ideas. 

 Generally speaking, “Preparation is 80% of success.” This meeting was an expressive example of that. The officers’ thoughtful planning made it a truly fulfilling experience. 

 If you're interested, we warmly invite you to visit our club. All members look forward to welcoming you!

Kamayan, General Evaluator

The 205th Regular Meeting: August 16, 2025

 Full of Energy!

Our 205th Regular Meeting was filled with energy. We had five prepared speeches for the first time in eight months, which also means that we had five evaluation speeches. Additionally, we had 10 Table Topics (impromptu) speeches.Topics of the prepared speeches vary from a self-introduction to the speaker's communication style to an introduction of Mongolian culture to an invitation to Kansai Osaka Expo to developments around a genocide in Rwanda. The first speaker, Ma-chan, made her debut with her Ice Breaker speech (the first speech a new member delivers to introduce themselves to the club). She tactfully organized her speech so the audience members easily understood what brought her to the Senri Toastmasters Club. 

The second speaker, Yasuko, talked about her communication style, referring to a glasses shop owner, "Gotou san," who has a similar style to hers, in a humorous presentation. The third speaker, Yuriko, introduced a Mongolian greeting and how Mongolian people enjoy summer by sharing her experience during her three-week trip to Mongolia. The fourth, Mune-san, shared his experience at the Kansai Osaka Expo, and tried to convince us that the expo is worth our visit. The last speaker, Hiko, delivered a well-researched, thought-provoking speech about a genocide in Rwanda and the developments afterward.Five evaluators discussed how the speeches could be improved after commending the speakers on things well done. The Best Evaluator Award winner, Anne, effectively demonstrated how Ma-chan could use her hand gestures to enhance her speech by using many examples from different parts of her speech. Giving demonstrations is always a great way to clearly communicate our suggestions. Another evaluator, Mariko, took a step further and did something unusual. She brought her speaker, Yuriko, to the stage and took her to different places on the stage to demonstrate how she could have used the width and depth of the stage to make her speech engaging.

Another thing that was unusual this time was that we listened to as many as ten Table Topics speeches. The Topicsmaster, Madelyn, presented the topics before calling on a participant to speak on each topic. In this way, she forced everyone to consider how to talk about these topics. This helped create an energetic atmosphere in the meeting, along with the summer-related topics she prepared and her efficient facilitation of the session. With five prepared speeches, five evaluation speeches, and 10 Table Topics speeches, the meeting was fully packed and lasted for two hours and a half, but it didn't feel that long thanks to the energy these speeches brought about. A great way to spend a hot summer day.

Tenten, General Evaluator

The 204th Regular Meeting: Jul 19, 2025

 Step Up and Conquer – A Fresh Start at Senri Toastmasters

Today marked the first meeting of the new term at Senri Toastmasters, and what an invigorating start it was! With a newly installed team of officers and a theme that called on us to "Step Up and Conquer," the atmosphere was filled with energy, purpose, and a touch of nervous excitement.

When I heard the theme, I thought—that’s exactly why I’m here! At Senri Toastmasters, I’m trying to conquer my fear of public speaking and evaluations.  Many times I feel nervous and awkward, but I hope to become a strong and confident speaker. My goal this term is to level up, battle my fear, and conquer it one speech at a time.

🎉 Welcome to Our New Member!

The meeting started with a special moment: the Induction Ceremony for our newest member, Ma-chan. Welcome to Senri Toastmasters! We’re so excited to have you on this journey with us and can’t wait to support you as you step up and conquer your own goals.

🌟 Highlights of the Prepared Speeches

We had the pleasure of hearing three inspiring speeches, each offering something unique:

1. Kan Kan took us on a virtual tour of Xiamen, China, recommending it as a wonderful travel destination. Her speech followed the structure of a well-organized presentation, which was the goal of her Pathways project. After a warm introduction, she guided us through three exciting places to visit and wrapped it all up with an inviting conclusion.  I would love to go there!

2. Yuriko shared her experience of “Exploring Mongolia through a Local Toastmasters Club.” She recounted her recent journey and the friendships she built with local Toastmasters in Mongolia. It was interesting to hear how their club operates a bit differently from ours—and surprising to learn that their meetings pause for summer vacation! Her speech gave us fresh ideas we might consider for our own club.

3. Kama-yan delivered a thought-provoking speech titled “Shall We Set a Positive Feedback Timer?” He emphasized the power of frequent positive reinforcement in communication and leadership. By blending humor, he demonstrated how intentional feedback can encourage growth—something we can all take to heart.

🙌 Leadership in Action

Our Toastmaster of the Day, Eri, did a wonderful job leading the meeting with grace and clarity. She kept the program running smoothly, set a welcoming tone, and created a supportive space for everyone to shine.

As we kick off this new term, let’s remember the spirit of "Step Up and Conquer." Whether it's delivering a speech, taking on a new role, or offering encouraging feedback, every step we take is a step toward growth.

Evaluators Hiko, Marilyn and Tamiko all did incredible jobs using the sandwich technique, providing constructive feedback with encouragement.  Good suggestions made: If you had used your own personal experience….Use more vocal variety…We now feel more familiar with…

A big thank you to Word Master, Madelyn for choosing the word “invigorating”—it perfectly captured the spirit of the meeting!

Thank you to Topics Master Yasuko for your simple but deep questions like—“What makes you angry?” and “What makes you happy?”  These questions encouraged us all to think more deeply. 

Here’s to a bold, invigorating journey ahead—together!  Come and visit us!

Anne, General Evaluator

The 203rd Regular Meeting: June 21, 2025

This meeting went punctually as usual. When its agenda was open, General Evaluator suggested simplifying the time schedule, but it was nicely explained that we shouldn't add unnecessary time because having as many Table Topics speeches as possible is more important, which turned out to be very true.

Yasuko-san's "My Senri Experience" speech was very impressive with her sincere expressions like "day by day," "step by step," and it finished at 14:18 as planned. The following prepared speeches, Tamiko-san's humorous and surprising "The Origin of My Name," Takashi-san's sincere and moving "My Big Boss," and Kazu's informative and persuasive "Change is Only Constant" also went well, all in time and the Prepared Speech Session finished at 14:48. Then, after the colorful Evaluation Session, the Table Topics Session started exactly at 15:12 and had as many as 7 speeches!

The Business Session had two most important and special annual events, "Hall of Fame" and the "Installation Ceremony" for officers 2025-2026. The Hall of Fame reviewed how well this club and each member had done throughout the past year. Kudos to our former president, Mariko-san, for her meticulous preparation to report everyone’s contribution and achievement, which made us happy and motivated towards the new year.

Area C3 Director Sumie Nakayama conducted the installation ceremony, which took place in a warm atmosphere. Our new President Eri-san had told us in her election speech in May that she had thought she wasn't good enough for it for a long time, but that Tenten's contest speech had persuaded her into accepting it. She mentioned today about her experience of being a contestant at the division contest, being greatly supported by Senri TMC mates, and she encouraged everyone to give it a try.

Thus, our last meeting of the year 2024-2025 was an especially successful and meaningful one, thanks to everyone's real "dedication," which was selected by the Grammarian Kan Kan as "Word of the Day," the word every participant is encouraged to incorporate into their speech.

(by General Evaluator Momo)

Impromptu Speech Practice Meeting: June 7, 2025

It was a suuuuper special meeting where all participants could join and share our stories on the spot.

Toastmaster of the day, who led the meeting, set the concept of today’s meeting with the theme “Story bank,” preparing stories in advance and delivering a speech like a prepared impromptu speech with some stored stories.

As you can see in the picture, we actively applied this tip in our speeches and truly enjoyed the meeting. Look at those smiles. And I also appreciate all the role-takers who put in their efforts to facilitate the meeting.

See you at the next meeting! Our meeting is always open to newcomers

Written by Jinyoung

Getting Ready for Impromptu Speaking: Special Online Meeting: May 31, 2025

Today, on May 31st, Senri Toastmasters Club held a special online meeting, entirely focused on impromptu speaking. This unique session was produced by our creative member, Tenten, and thanks to his thoughtful planning, we all walked away feeling more confident and better prepared.

Today’s Word of the Day, "Elaborate," introduced by Rene, turned out to be surprisingly relevant. As the meeting progressed, we saw how our impromptu speeches became more developed and expressive, thanks to the techniques we learned. Even impromptu speeches can become elaborate when built on our own messages and stories.

Can We Actually Prepare for Impromptu Speeches?

That was the question many of us had. Impromptu speeches are, by nature, unprepared. We are given a topic on the spot and expected to deliver our thoughts immediately. But today we learned, there is a way to prepare to build a foundation for the impromptu speeches. Tenten gave us a simple assignment before the meeting: Prepare at least three personal messages and three stories. This planted the seeds.

Stories and Messages

Tenten encouraged us to “Think about the message that comes to your mind often. Then think of stories related to the messages that are important to you.” During his workshop, Yuriko volunteered for the demonstration. Thank you, Yuriko! With her willingness to participate, we all learned how a prepared message or story can connect with an unexpected topic. After her demo speech, we discussed how it could be enhanced. This collaborative analysis deepened everyone's understanding.

Table Topics Session

Then came the real test, the Table Topics Session! Yuriko, our Topicsmaster*, prepared engaging questions for us. Thanks to Tenten’s workshop, we were all able to elaborate on our responses more naturally and confidently. What I loved was that Tenten quickly volunteered to take over as Timer when Mune-san, the Timer, was selected to speak. This small act of support perfectly captured the spirit of teamwork that defines our club.

Evaluation

One of the most valuable aspects of Toastmasters is the evaluation. After Tenten’s workshop, Jinyoung gave a concise and insightful evaluation. His comments were clear and to the point, making it easy for everyone to understand what worked and what could be improved.

Recognizing the Smiles Behind the Screens

At the end of the meeting, Tenten awarded the Smile Prize to Jinyoung. Despite the distance of an online setting, his warm, constant smile and engaged nods supported every speaker. Being a good audience—listening with a smile—is an essential ingredient in creating a positive and uplifting meeting.

Behind-the-Scenes Contributors: Ah-Counter and Grammarian

Let’s not forget the importance of roles like the Ah-Counter and Grammarian. Tamiko, our Ah-Counter, carefully tracked filler words like "um", "ah", and "you know". These can distract listeners and break the flow of speech, so identifying them helps us improve. And Rene, our Grammarian, provided helpful corrections to improve our English. As a native speaker, her input was incredibly valuable.

This Impromptu Speech Workshop was a worthwhile session, offering us practical tools and confidence. So next time we’re asked to deliver an impromptu speech, we won’t panic. Tap into our story and message banks and connect it to the topic. With what we have learned today, let’s elaborate on our skills and take on impromptu speeches with a bit more confidence and natural flow next time.

Written by Eri