Irene Blackstone: Area Governor for Toastmasters. REGIONAL TOAST AND SPEAKING SHOWDOWN Toastmasters from around the area gathered in Kitimat recently for the Area 45 Spring Mini-Confer- ence. Attending the conference were Toastmasters .from Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert and the newly chartered Kemano club. Also in attendance was Division "D" Governor. Bob Larmour of Prince George. | ct Two speech competitions were held at the confer- ence, with the winners of both becoming eligible to enter the speech contests at the Division "D" confer- ence in Fort St. John on April 11. Winner of the ‘International Speech Contest was Gordon Fox of Kitimat and winner of the Canada Day Speech ‘Contest was Ernie’Archer of Kemano. ' At the Area 45 business meeting Irene Black- stone ‘of the Terrace club ‘was re-elected Area Gov- ernor. Although the organization's constitution ‘details that a member may hold an Area Governor '- position for only one year running, Blackstone was . ~ “able to accept the position because she had stepped . into the position last year,: part way through the: ~. term. _. and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 30 p.m: at the | Inn of the West. . _ - \ 62 Terrace Review — April 10, 1992 eae cn td ape eect te Eg OPE eR er er ey a oe The Terrace Toastmasters Club meets the first — Diana English ‘MESSAGE FROM JAPAN Jason. Krause is ‘currently in Japan on a one-year ePacific Rim scholarship studying the Japanese language. This is the continuation of a letter from Jason published in last week's Terrace Review. © Everything in. Japan involves big money, from staying one’ night in a hotel room to running ° an international company. So naturally, the. couritry’s biggest trading companies are big, some of the wealthiest in the world. But, as one scandal in Japan revealed, they may have had some help in amassing their wealth. Last fall, Japan's four biggest trading “| companies were charged with ignoring stock trading m rules and making secret deals with the Japanese mafia — the "Yakuza". The result? Some trading suspensions and fines. What the news story did for me was to open my eyes to the huge mafia organiiz~ ation in Japan. The Yakuza deals mainly in prostitution, gamb- ling, liquor bootlegging and the import of firearms. It is generally peaceful, although illegal, ‘unless you go into competition with them or get in a car accident with a Yakuza member (even if its not your fault, you'll pay!). | : oe ‘The groups’ operations are so. cbvious —~ from huge fluorescent-lit gambling halls to bars with ‘hostesses’ standing outside to attract customers. It’s almost like they’re taunting the police. With punch curl perms, huge tattoos, missing fingers (punish- ment for messing up a job), and chauffeured black limousines, the gangsters are easy to spot... heck, I pass one decked out in a full black leather suit every day on my way to school (the most powerful mafia family in Japan lives about a three-minute bus ride from my-house). Yet still, although well known to law enforcement | agencies, the whole organization is largely ignored. I did hear the government is going to implement new, tougher laws against organized crime, but most people doubt they'll be-effective. I think their oper- ations have become so integrated into Japanese society and business that people just accept the Yakuza’s existence. As long as the.’boys’ don’t cause too many problems, citizens just steer clear. While the Yakuza strive to earn respect in Japanese society, I read about a breed of teachers who are among the most respected in Japan — Juku teachers. Juku is a word that makes most Japanese - school children shiver. Juku means "a small private + school". But nowadays, the schools, while still pri- vate, are far from small. With competitive exams at | every level of the J apanese education system, almost esa ats ee a SSSR RST ARTEAGA E SSS SUSE WEA ST EV ve