The half-day Tokyo city tour organized by District 76 was full of twists and excitements. After all tour participants met at JR Yaesu Central Entrance at 12 noon, our tour leader Toastmaster Chiba announced another meeting point for the charter bus.
Without much thinking, I misled a dozen Toastmasters to wait at Yaesu Central Entrance. A group of talking toastmasters went astray at the labyrinth JR Tokyo Station. After 30 minutes of seek and hide, we finally found our lost tour leader Chiba, or our tour leader Chiba finally found his lost members. No sooner than later we got on the charter bus, Toastmaster
Akiko Yoshizaki
impressed us with her bus lady uniform, a navy blue hat, a pair of white gloves, and standard friendly greetings. We laughed all the time while tour group members taking turns introducing ourselves and promoting our individual Toastmasters clubs.Tsukiji Market
Our first stop was Tsukiji Fish Market. Tour leader Chiba took us to the famous scramble egg shop run by a famous TV celebrity. While everyone wanted to savor the fresh sushi, I decided to attempt a famous noodles vendor eating standing up, as I'd already had Sushi Don at with Toastmaster Abe Masafumi at the famous Fish Four Seasons near the Sumida River.
Being alone, I could slurp noodles in a voice as loud as I could in Tokyo, a moment impossible for a gorgeous and elegant golden lady like me in Taipei. But, nobody knew me in Tokyo. A sense of freedom added extra flavor to my huge bowl of noodles with four thick slices of pork to cover the entire bowl. I loved noodles and I finished the whole bowl of noodles till the last drop of soup. A hiccup was the attestation of my satisfaction.
Edo-Tokyo Museum
After lunch, we went to Edo-Tokyo Museum. Upon crossing a replica of the "Nihonbashi" Bridge at the Museum, I saw the Toastmaster Raoul Nivon, the fifth President of Kyoto Toastmasters Club. Raoul told me that he served as the recycled president of Kyoto Toastmasters Club last year, and he was the area governor now. Upon the request of Raoul, we took a lot of photos together and chatted during the second half of Edo tour.
Edo was built from1590 by Tokugawa Ieyasu and lasted 300 years history. The shogunate was officially established in Edo on March 24, 1603, by Tokugawa Ieyasu. The period came to an end with the Meiji Restoration on May 3, 1868, after the fall of Edo. Edo was renamed Tokyo at meiji Era.The European and American influences first started the Meiji Era, then, the effects of WWII and the reconstruction period that occurred after the war.
Senso Temple
Senso Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. It is Tokyo's oldest temple. According to legend, a statue of the Kannon was found in the Sumida River in 628 by two fishermen brothers. The chief of their village recognized the sanctity of the statue and enshrined it by remodeling his own house into a small temple in 645 in Asakusa so that the villagers could worship Kannon. During the Edo Era, Tokugawa Ieyasu designated Senso Temple as tutelary temple of the Tokugawa clan.
On our way to Senso Temple, I saw the Skytree at her foot. It was a magnificent architecture. What a contract of the a state-of-the-arts Skytree in the midst of traditional corners of the old Edo period. We had a relaxing one hour break at Senso Temple to take photos, go shopping, fetch a cup of coffee at the 7-11 till Sunset.
During our 40 minutes journey from Senso Temple to Yoyogi Center, Raoul sat next to me. He told me that he would compose a theme song for Kyoto Toastmasters Club to celebrate her 15th anniversary in 2016. Then Raoul and I started humming "Bésame Mucho" (Kiss me a lot).
I broke the silence by going to the front of the bus to call upon Raoul to sing Kiss me a lot to entertain us on bus in the traffic jam of afterwork rush hours. Kiss me a lot is a song written in 1940 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez. It is one of the most famous boleros, and was recognized in 1999 as the most sung and recorded Mexican and Latin American song in the world.
Besame, besame mucho, como si fuera ésta noche la última vez
Besame, besame mucho que tengo miedo a perderte perderte después
Besame, besame mucho, como si fuera ésta noche la última vez
Besame, besame mucho, que tengo miedo a perderte perderte después
Quiero tenerte muy cerca mirarme en tus ojos verte junto a mi
Piensa que tal vez mañana yo ya estaré lejos, muy lejos de ti
Raoul impressed the audience with the memorization of the lyrics and impeccable articulation of the Spanish language with a perfect Mexican accent. Raoul took a bow when he received a big round of applause. Then Raoul delivered an icebreaker speech for 10 minutes, from his childhood, his studies of theology for four years in Vatican City, his romance with his Japanese wife, his works as wedding minister and Spanish teacher at Universities. Time flew fast when we were entertained by talking Toastmasters.
Yoyogi Center
In the dark, we checked in at the International Exchange Building (Building D) of Yoyogi Youth Center. I was in Room 616. After a quick shower, I attended the educational session “Finding Your Voice” by Lance Miller*. Lance mentioned that the hardest thing about a public speech was be yourself and talk to the audience. Before we connect with the audience, we need to connect with ourselves. Lance also encouraged the audience to find the extraordinary in ordinary. He used a ballpoint pen as an example to ask the participants to find the extraordinary in an ordinary ballpoint pen. Then Lance delivered an impromptu speech with power and persuasion. Lance raised his voice volume throughout the education session. I couldn't help dozing from time to time nodding my head up and down.
At the welcome party in honor of Lance, I met with Toastmaster Jogen. She showed me the flier she designed for the first Mandarin speaking Toastmasters Club in Japan. We moved to the lobby to continue our discussion with Toastmaster Yada till 10 o'clock in the evening. I was exhausted and I knew a few Toastmasters on the same floor, but there were no nomikai (drinking parties), or I was not invited. What a pity that no party) even though I prepared the snacks and liquor just in case.
Remarks:
Lance gave away many printed cards of his speaking tips, including valuable speaking know-hows and public speeches rules.
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