With cherry blossoms in full bloom across Tokyo, we kicked off our 405th meeting by warmly welcoming our two newest members—welcome aboard! The meeting was smoothly led by TM Ko, who took on the role of Toastmaster of the Day (TMOD) for the very first time. We were also delighted to host five guests. Thank you for joining us!
In the “Good and New” session, members shared recent positive moments, including their appreciation for the sunny weather after a long stretch of rain, and the excitement of honing their golf skills for an upcoming competition.
Next, we enjoyed three inspiring prepared speeches. First, TM KT spoke about the power of showing appreciation for small, everyday things—how such gestures can spark kindness in others, supported by touching anecdotes. Then, TM Ra explored how we often unconsciously rely on labels instead of rational thinking, which can hinder genuine human connection. Finally, TM Ro delivered a moving story on how the simple act of daily writing can make a global impact—even changing someone’s life halfway around the world. TM Ro will be presenting this speech in an upcoming contest—good luck, TM Ro!
We then moved on to the Table Topics session, hosted by TM I. Participants were challenged with imaginative prompts related to “convoluted” hanami. One question asked, “Imagine you are a cherry blossom tree watching humans every spring. What would you say about their hanami behavior?” What would you say?
During the General Evaluation session, TM M, TM F, and TM Yo provided insightful feedback on the prepared speeches. TM N kept time, TM S tracked filler words, and TM Ya highlighted some standout phrases. To wrap things up, TM KM delivered a well-rounded general evaluation.
Our next meeting will be held in Japanese on April 19th. We’d love to see you there!