Toast of the Town

Member Monica Akabane aims to build bridges between Japan and the world—one word at a time.

Flashing her megawatt smile, Member Monica Akabane speaks confidently on all manner of topics, from traditional Japanese culture to her ambitions for a career in mergers and acquisitions.

And not a single “um” or “er” passes her lips, thanks to her training through the Club’s Toastmasters group, part of the international speech club founded in California that celebrated its centenary last year.

Akabane, also from the Golden State, has something to crow about herself: she won second prize in a Toastmasters Tokyo-area competition among five clubs, taking home the accolade for a seven-minute speech about the labels people live by. She was also selected as a judge of a Toastmasters district speech contest on April 13.

“Public speaking appeals to me because, when you share stories, they can be about the most mundane experience to you but can really impact and change the lives of others,” says Akabane, 20. “I’ve long been a fan of TED Talks, and my favorite is by Jia Jiang. His talk was essentially about how he went on this journey to get over his fear of rejection but ultimately found the kindness in people.”

Apart from two years of elementary school in Tokyo, Akabane grew up in Santa Monica and debated in high school. During the coronavirus pandemic, she decided to move to Japan so she could do remote learning amid lockdowns and take advantage of internship opportunities. She also studied tea ceremony, traditional cooking and kimono. After joining the Club just over a year ago, she joined the Toastmasters group—she’s the youngest member—because she wanted an intellectual challenge but nothing too heavy.
The experience has helped Akabane overcome her fear of public speaking.

“The scariest part is to gauge people’s reactions. That’s still scary, but I’ve come to enjoy the thrill of adrenaline,” she says with a laugh. “Maybe you get used to that fear. I told myself that nervousness is just me being excited. The lead-up is frightening when you’re worried about forgetting everything, or what if they think what I’m saying is silly. But in the end, people are there to learn something. Telling myself that has eased my anxieties and stage fright.”

Apart from honing her speaking skills, Akabane has traveled to South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia to expand her world view. She has written articles about her life in Japan for the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper and is busy choosing a university to study East Asian studies and business. Her goal is to become someone who can act as a bridge between Japan and the rest of the world.

Despite all that, Akabane finds time to volunteer at a mental health nonprofit in Tokyo, helping people age 15 to over 50. She visits nonprofits, companies and schools to help people set goals in springtime, when the new school and fiscal years begin and many feel overcome by disappointment and the urge to give up.

“In America, it’s very common to have goals and aspirations in our education system. But in Japan, you are just dedicated to that school or work,” she says. “I’ve found that, just like with Toastmasters, you can learn from each other’s perspectives.”

Toastmasters Luncheons
Interested in joining? Learn more about Toastmasters by visiting the Leisure & Learning section of the Club website.

Words: Tim Hornyak
Image: Monica Akabane wins second prize in a Toastmasters Tokyo-area competition

May 2025