Two years ago, I froze.

It was an interview for my daughter’s elementary school admission. Sitting beside my family, with everything at stake, I could not get the words out. I still remember the silence in that room.

A year later, I gave my first speech at Otemachi Toastmasters Club, the Ice Breaker. The feedback I received: “Relax! I could see your hands shaking!” and “Try to keep eye contact. You kept looking away.” I had joined with a severe fear of standing in front of people, and everyone in the room could see it.

In August 2026, I stood on the stage of the World Championship of Public Speaking Finals. Along the way, I won the District 76 International Speech Contest, becoming champion for all of Japan, and advanced through the international rounds to become the first contestant from Japan ever to reach the World Championship Finals.

My name is Toshiki Tanaka. At Otemachi, everyone calls me Carlos. I joined in April 2025, and I now serve as Vice President Membership for the 2026-2027 term. The fear has not disappeared. I still manage it every time I step on stage. So the question I am asked most often is this:

How did you get this far, this fast?

The short answer: because I am a member of Otemachi Toastmasters Club.

The people who got me here

I have visited many clubs across Japan, before joining and since. Otemachi stands out, and the reason is its people. I could write a page about every member of Otemachi. These are just a few of the people whose fingerprints are on my journey.

Ted Agatsuma, our founder, has been a Toastmaster for 40 years. He has mentored successful speakers across Japan, including multiple District Champions and Finalists. He is an excellent speaker himself, but what shaped me more was his warmth. Ted creates an atmosphere where a shaking, stumbling beginner feels safe enough to come back the next week and try again. Without that, there is no second speech, and there is certainly no championship.

Frank, our former president, taught me stage presence. Watching him was the first time I understood that movement, energy, and sincerity are not decoration. They are how you make people listen. When Frank starts talking, the room goes quiet. I studied why, and it changed how I speak.

Marie taught me how to hear my own speeches. Her evaluations are sharp and specific, and always delivered constructively. Many of the improvements between my Ice Breaker and the Finals stage started as a comment from Marie.

Joju, our current president, is the connector. He builds and maintains the meeting management platform now used across multiple clubs, upgraded our website, and has traveled as far as Hokkaido and Vancouver to cheer on fellow members. When I competed, I never once felt I was competing alone.

And around them, members like Naoko and Kozue, who notice when you are struggling before you say anything, and Noritama, whose humor can lift the energy of an entire meeting. And long-standing members like Max and Hidenori, who keep the bar high for all of us. Skill development gets you on stage. This kind of support keeps you there.

And behind them all, every member who sat through my shaky early speeches, gave me a role, wrote me feedback, or simply applauded. A championship speech carries one name, but it takes a whole club to build it.

A club that keeps growing

Otemachi is not a club living on its history. We attract a steady inflow of new members, many in their early twenties, who bring fresh perspectives and ambitions. In the past two years alone, we have welcomed members from Bangladesh, India, Korea, Myanmar, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Sierra Leone. Every meeting is a mix of experience and new energy, of Japan and the world.

Where we meet

Thanks to the generous support of NI+C, we meet in a modern, professional environment in Tsukiji, St. Luke’s Tower: a spacious room, a large high-resolution screen, and a setting that makes every meeting feel like the real stage.

Your turn

Two years ago, I could not speak in front of my own family. This year, I spoke on the world stage. I am not special. I simply found the right club.

If you have ever felt your hands shake in front of an audience, or watched an opportunity slip away because the words would not come, come visit us. Guests are always welcome.