🍂＜Podbean＞Okegawa Festival MC

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Okegawa Citizens Festival

I am always trying to improve my Japanese. I had an excellent opportunity recently.

RAM English Service is a member of the Okegawa City Chamber of Commerce and Industry and has been since we opened our school in 2000. The Chamber provides a wealth of services for businesses small and large. We have used those services ranging from using their copy machine to business consultations.

And the truth is that I just happened to be at that Chamber of Commerce early last month as they started preparing for the annual Okegawa Citizens Festival. It was held on November 3^rd which is the Culture Day celebration here in Japan. I was standing at the counter as the office staff was busy with this, that and the other for the festival when I asked “Do you need an MC for the festival?” They said one staff member usually does that. I declared “I’d like to do that, if possible.” They called over Mr. Kudo, the man in charge. He asked “Can you do the morning and afternoon shows.” I replied “Sure”. He said OK and that started the ball rolling.

The following week we met twice at his office to discuss. He gave me the info written out exactly as I needed to introduce each performance or guest. He also gave me the profiles for the three Rock Bands. With that, I started practicing.

The introductions were simple. They were only one or two lines. However those three Rock Band profiles proved a challenge.  They were profiles that I was to read before their performances. I practiced these introductions and profiles almost every day. I practiced reading them while holding a microphone in my right hand and that paper in my left. By show time I believed I had all the readings nearly prefect.

On November 3^rd I biked 20 minutes to the site. It is on the east side not far from Okegawa station. At the site I met members of the Chamber. They explained the layout and where I was to be stationed. Then I walked all around the park to get my bearings (that is, to locate everything in respect to the stage.) There were many food booths, 40% being foreign dishes. There were also some games and booths selling items like dolls, utensils and scarves. I then located the toilets, which I used, and then went to the stage to get ready. It was cloudy, windy with a touch of rain.

At long last … SHOWTIME! First I introduced the gent who opened the ceremonies. Then I introduced myself. From there came the performances. First was a Hayashiren performance. Then came the Hula dancers. Then a hand puppet show. Next was PR time for some of the booths in the park. After that was an award ceremony presentation for postcards. After an intermission there came a dance performance with kids from about 8 to 18 years old and one not-so-young lady. The Okegawa high school brass band performed. They had a lot of trouble with the wind but they persevered admirably. For these,  all my intros went well. It was now time for some rock and roll!

I had to read the band profiles after their five minutes warm-ups. The intros took a minute or two to read. They proved to be difficult because at every intro, I was holding the mike in my right hand and the paper in my left. Suddenly the wind blew that paper closed so I couldn’t read it! I tried to find my place in the text again smoothly but it was tough. However, I was determined. One guy suggested not reading the intro…No way, Jose! I practiced long and hard for this moment so I continued reading till the end.

During the day, I had conversations with the audience. I kept them entertained when there was a pause in the action. Of course I used the mike then, too. That was fun and difficult at the same time. Here, I could used English and Japanese. On top of that I met several of my students, past and present. The truth be told I was tired but I was happy with my efforts and the results. I said goodbye