Discovering Cultural Differences Through Toastmasters: A Visit to a Boston Club
This May, I visited Boston, a city known for its rich history, academic excellence, and vibrant culture. One reason for my trip was to meet my son, who works at the Boston branch of a Japanese pharmaceutical company. But beyond the family visit, I had another goal, such was to observe how Toastmasters clubs operate in the United States.
A City of Knowledge and Tradition
Boston is famous as a “town of universities.” World-class institutions such as:
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Harvard University
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
are located here. It's also home to Fenway Park, the oldest baseball stadium in the United States and the home ground of the Boston Red Sox.
Harvard university
Over 50 Toastmasters Clubs in Boston
As a regular Toastmasters participant in Japan, I was curious about how clubs function in other countries. I was surprised to find that there are over 50 clubs within 10 miles of central Boston—a reflection of the city's strong academic and professional communities.
The map of Toastmasters in Boston (within ten miles of the city center)
Cultural Insight #1: Meeting Times
One of the most surprising differences was the meeting schedule.
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In Boston: Most Toastmasters clubs meet on weekdays.
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In Japan: Most clubs meet on weekends, due to weekday work schedules.
It seems that many Americans reserve weekends for family and leisure, while Japanese professionals often use weekends for personal development. Eventually, I found a club that met on a Thursday evening.
Cultural Insight #2: Punctuality Means Something Different
The meeting was scheduled to start at 5:00 PM and finish at 6:30PM, so my son and I arrived 10 minutes early. To our surprise, no one was there.
We waited at the door, where the meeting name and time were posted. I almost gave up, thinking this might be a case of miscommunication. But just 5:00, two members arrived and began setting up the online system for hybrid participation. The meeting began about 15 minutes later.
My son said, “This kind of delay is normal here. In America, ‘start time’ often means the time you arrive, not when you begin.”
In contrast, in Japan, being even a few minutes late can be seen as unprofessional. This was an important reminder of how cultural expectations differ.
Cultural Insight #3: Flexible Format
Unlike Japanese clubs, which often follow a detailed agenda, this meeting was quite informal. The structure was simple:
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Guest self-introductions
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One prepared speech and evaluation
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Table Topics: Each participant, including guests, gave a short talk on a prompt:
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“Please share something you’re currently involved in or focusing on.”
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There were no timekeepers, no printed agenda, and no formal evaluations during the Table Topics. It felt more like free conversation than structured practice. The meeting lasted exactly the right time.
Cultural Insight #4: Motivation for Joining
One American guest mentioned that he joined Toastmasters to improve his public speaking. I found this impressive. Even native English speakers seek to develop their communication skills, showing that effective public speaking is not just about language fluency—it's about confidence and structure.
Final Thoughts
Of course, this is just one club meeting, and I cannot speak for all Toastmasters in the United States. As there are a lot of types of clubs, including advanced or restricted clubs. See the Toastmasters International Club webpage, "Find a Club" (https://www.toastmasters.org/).
But from this experience, I sensed a different culture and a more relaxed, flexible approach to club operation.
A journey always gives us something new.
I’m grateful for this small but meaningful experience—and for the reminder that even shared global platforms like Toastmasters reflect the local cultures they are part of.
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