day!) It was clearly a fashionable location as we spotted an up-and-coming Sumo wrestler sitting a few seats down from us at the ‘frying bar’ (after having him pointed out by the more knowledgeable in the group). Rejuvenated by our delicious meal (which was rounded off with tempura ice cream!) we hit the shops of Shinjuku, including a Japanese institution like Tokyu Hands (a cross between B&Q and Selfridges). We made a quick pit-stop at the Olympic Centre and after checking in, dropping off our purchases and catching up with the ESU-J debate committee we hopped on a downtown metro. As it was a very clear evening, we decided to ride the complimentary high-speed lift up to the top of the Tokyo Metropolitan Building which offered a breathtaking aerial panorama. We walked around the Golden Gai district observing the groups of final-year undergraduates celebrating their official ‘Welcome Ceremony’ in which their future graduate employers formally initiate them into their corporation. After a rather expensive day we plumped for a wholesome and economical dinner in a central Raman noodle house and then went home for an early night. Saturday-Sunday: 2010 ESU-J Debating Competition
The annual ESU-J Debating Competition is always held at the Olympic Centre, which was built for the 1964 Games. It is in an amazing location, nestled on the edge of an ancient forest with great views east of the Shinjuku skyline. All of the rooms are complete with authentic 1964 furnishings, including a built-in bed-side radio which is still enviable today. After the briefing we were sent off to judge each of the four preliminary debate rounds. The motions were both topical and challenging, taking in issues that included whether Consumption Tax was equitable and the morality of eating meat. Although all of Saturday’s debates had closed adjudication (meaning we could not give individual feedback), a very well attended general feedback session was held that evening. The standard of analysis and rhetorical flair was extremely high and the Japanese debaters were a pleasure to watch. The next morning, the teams discovered who had made it through to the Quarter Finals, and we all finished preparations for our afternoon lecture covering ways in which ESU-J members could improve their public speaking skills using philosophy in structure and strategy. After a quick bite to eat in the Olympic Centre canteen, the squad was divided into teams for the final exhibition debate on the motion ‘This House Would not eat meat’. Alex was paired with Ben and they had the task of proposing the motion in front of 300 people – many of whom had already given fantastic speeches on this very topic earlier in the competition. Lizzie and Ben delivered DIALOGUE 18
a staunch opposition and the show debate ended with rapturous applause. In the end, Ben and Alex won a close debate with a sophisticated team-line that appealed to the crowd. Their prize was as much shabu shabu (Japanese hot pot) as they could eat. Our final official duty on the tour was to sit as members of the 13-member judging panel for the grand final, which was fiercely contested between two universities who had never before reached that stage of the competition. Waseda University triumphed over Tokyo University in a 7-6 decision. We said our goodbyes to the ESU-J committee and many of our new Japanese friends, then walked to a nearby Nepali restaurant for a squad farewell meal. Our thanks to: All the committee members at ESU-Japan for their generosity and support throughout the tour, the students on the ESU-Japan debate committee who ran a fantastic tournament! All our student hosts, particularly the Osaka debaters who introduced us to Mr Children, all the other members of the squad for some excellent show-debate banter. Sakura and Hitomi from Utsunomiya Girls’ High School for their sterling efforts in the now famous air conditioner debate!