and the winner of the Mikami Cup...

Drumroll please...

A girl who gave a very moving speech detailing the tragedy brought upon her family in the past year. Her father, in debt from various gambling activities, went to a loan company...which triggered a vicious cycle of borrowing more and more money. Finally his loans exceeded 40,000USD (within a span of less than 2 years!) before he admitted it to his wife who threatened to divorce him.

How did it end? All went well...her mother's sister lent them the money, interest free and he paid back all the money he owed. However her mom had to find a job and works 8 hours a day, even her brother (not even out of high school) has to work, and she herself can no longer go abroad to volunteer in a developing country as she had dreamed. Right after graduation from university she is off into the work field. What a sad story. As a questioner, I had to be particularly sensitive and not ask her any potentially offending questions. What I really wanted to know (but refrained from asking) is if she resents her father from this incident. She interviewed him to write the speech but in fact he did not want her to speak about such a shameful, face-losing topic in front of all sorts of strangers. In the end, she stuck to her guns and gave the speech. What a strong and impressive girl she is!

I have heard of other cases where men frequent hostess bars in Ginza and other posh districts in Tokyo, only to rack up bills and end up in financial disaster. You would think that they 'get some booty' in the end but in fact, at the classy hostess clubs, you won't get very far with the gals. More on hostess bars in the future.