Friendly to Senior
Care · Conversation
学生時代は、どんなクラブに入っていらしたんですか。 — What clubs were you in during your school days? (Care · Conversation, Friendly to Senior, JLPT N3)
You
学生時代は、どんなクラブに入っていらしたんですか。
がくせいじだいは、どんなくらぶにはいっていらしたんですか。
What clubs were you in during your school days?
Romaji: Gakusei jidai wa, donna kurabu ni haitte irashitan desu ka. / Reply Romaji: Watashi wa kendou-bu de ne. Kentaikai made ittan desu yo.
Reply
私は剣道部でね。県大会まで行ったんですよ。
わたしはけんどうぶでね。けんたいかいまでいったんですよ。
I was in the kendo club. We made it to the prefectural tournament.
Gesture & etiquette
Sit at eye level, lean slightly forward. When they name a club, react with interested confirmation ('剣道部!すごい!'). Ask follow-ups about sensei, teammates, or matches — these stories live in vivid detail.
School clubs are vivid lifelong identity anchors in Japan. Common Showa-era clubs: 剣道 (kendo), 野球 (baseball), 合唱 (chorus), ブラスバンド (brass band), 茶道 (tea ceremony), 書道 (calligraphy). The respectful 'いらした' (humble 'were') frames this as honoring their past. Listen for tournament memories, lifelong friendships, sensei stories — pure gold for conversation.