iNTOUCH Jan-Feb

Unpackingthe FutureAfter three years of redevelopment, the Club unveils its spectacular new home in Azabudai

Living LegendPrint and sumi artist Toko Shinoda shares her passion for her aesthetic craft

Neighborhood Watch The new Club’s diverse environs offer plenty to explore

Going, Going, GoneMembers support scholarly dreams at the annual Carpet Auction

Welcome toOur Home

January 18 sees the much-awaited opening of Tokyo American Club’s breathtaking facility in Azabudai, marking the Club’s sixth incarnation in its illustrious 82-year history.

After three years of redevelopment, the Pelli Clarke Pelli-designed clubhouse offers an entirely fresh range of spaces and services to enjoy with friends, family and colleagues.

To coincide with this momentous event, the Club launches a new category of Membership this month. Equipped with a state-of-the-art home to meet the 21st-century needs of its Members, the Club wants to expand its vibrant, international community. Term Regular Membership has been designed to help it do just that.

With its lower entrance fee and higher monthly dues, Term Regular Membership (complemented by the Resident Membership and Corporate Membership options) allows those who have been assigned to Japan for a shorter period of time or who are unsure how long they will be staying to enjoy the full range of lifestyle possibilities as well.

To find out more about Term Regular Membership or to request a tour of the impressive Azabudai facilities, contact the Membership Office at 03-4588-0687 or [email protected] today.

January–February 2011

T O K Y O A M E R I C A N C L U B

iNTOUCH

Unpackingthe FutureAfter three years of redevelopment, the Club unveils its spectacular new home in Azabudai

Living LegendPrint and sumi artist Toko Shinoda shares her passion for her aesthetic craft

Neighborhood Watch The new Club’s diverse environs offer plenty to explore

Going, Going, GoneMembers support scholarly dreams at the annual Carpet Auction

Welcome toOur Home

January 18 sees the much-awaited opening of Tokyo American Club’s breathtaking facility in Azabudai, marking the Club’s sixth incarnation in its illustrious 82-year history.

After three years of redevelopment, the Pelli Clarke Pelli-designed clubhouse offers an entirely fresh range of spaces and services to enjoy with friends, family and colleagues.

To coincide with this momentous event, the Club launches a new category of Membership this month. Equipped with a state-of-the-art home to meet the 21st-century needs of its Members, the Club wants to expand its vibrant, international community. Term Regular Membership has been designed to help it do just that.

With its lower entrance fee and higher monthly dues, Term Regular Membership (complemented by the Resident Membership and Corporate Membership options) allows those who have been assigned to Japan for a shorter period of time or who are unsure how long they will be staying to enjoy the full range of lifestyle possibilities as well.

To find out more about Term Regular Membership or to request a tour of the impressive Azabudai facilities, contact the Membership Office at 03-4588-0687 or [email protected] today.

January–February 2011

T O K Y O A M E R I C A N C L U B

iNTOUCH

Urban EscapeUnwinding is a breeze thanks to the

new Club’s stunning cityscape views,

array of rejuvenating treatments, saunas,

whirlpool baths and relaxation rooms.

16

A New BeginningThree years after the old Azabudai

facility was shuttered, the Club’s sixth

incarnation in its 82-year history is set

to be unveiled in its place. Ahead of

the much-anticipated ribbon-cutting

ceremony on January 18, photographer

Kayo Yamawaki offers Members a sneak

preview of their stunning new home.

24

recreation

feature

Territorial TensionsAs turf spats continue to strain

relations in East Asia, one Member and

defense expert assesses the security

questions facing Japan over the

coming years.

30talking heads

Paper DivaThe creator of the striking washi

paper hanging in the Winter Garden,

Eriko Horiki, explains how she hopes

innovation will revive her centuries-

old craft.

32redevelopment

iNTOUCH Editor Nick Jones [email protected]

Designers Ryan MundtJasmine Lai

Production AssistantYuko Shiroki

Assistant Editor Wendi Hailey

Design AssistantMiki Amano

Communications Manager Matthew Roberts

ManagementMichael BumgardnerGeneral [email protected]

Bob SextonAssistant General [email protected]

Lian ChangInformation Technology [email protected]

Darryl DudleyEngineering [email protected]

Alistair GoughRedevelopment [email protected]

Shuji HirakawaHuman Resources [email protected]

Linda JosephAdministrative Services [email protected]

Mutsuhiko KumanoFinance [email protected]

Scott YahiroRecreation [email protected]

To advertise in iNTOUCH, contact Miyuki Hagiwara: [email protected] 03-4588-0976

For Membership information, contact Mari Hori:[email protected] 03-4588-0687

Tokyo American Club2-1-2 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8649

www.tokyoamericanclub.org

contents

2 Contacts

4 Events

6 Board of Governors

7 Management

8 Food & Beverage

10 Library

12 DVD Library

14 Committees

16 Recreation

20 Women’s Group

24 Feature

30 Talking Heads

32 Redevelopment

34 Frederick Harris Gallery

36 Member Services

38 Inside Japan

40 Out & About

42 Event Roundup

50 Tokyo Moments

Cover photo by Kayo Yamawaki

2 January–February 2011 iNTOUCH

Department/E-mail PhoneAmerican Bar & Grill [email protected]

Banquet Sales and Reservations [email protected]

Beauty Salon 4588-0685

Bowling Center [email protected]

Café Med [email protected]

Catering [email protected]

Childcare Center [email protected]

Communications [email protected]

DVD Library [email protected]

Engineering [email protected]

Finance 4588-0222 [email protected]

Fitness Center 4588-0266 [email protected]

Food & Beverage Office 4588-0245 [email protected]

Foreign Traders’ Bar [email protected]

General Manager's Office [email protected]

Guest Suites [email protected]

Human Resources 4588-0679

Information Technology 4588-0690

Library [email protected]

Membership Office [email protected]

Member Services Desk 4588-0670 [email protected]

Pool Office [email protected] Rainbow Café [email protected]

Recreation Desk [email protected]

Redevelopment Office [email protected]

The Cellar [email protected]

The Spa [email protected]

Weddings [email protected]

Women’s Group Office [email protected]

Getting in Touch

Catherine Shaw is a freelance journalist who writes for a number of international publications, including the South China Morning Post newspaper in Hong Kong and BCCJ Acumen and Eurobiz magazines in Japan. Born and raised in Africa, she has lived in Hong Kong, Britain and now Tokyo, where she has been a resident for more than six years. Writing on a range of subjects, she has a special interest in Japanese arts and culture. A mother of two daughters, Alexandra and Francesca, Shaw is married to the Club’s Redevelopment director, Alistair Gough. For this month’s Redevelopment section, on pages 32 and 33, she spoke to washi artist Eriko Horiki about her eye-catching hanging in the Club’s Winter Garden.

CatherineShaw

contributors

editorfrom the

Words from the editor 3

Kit Pancoast Nagamura is a prize-winning, internationally published fiction writer and photojournalist. First visiting Japan on a fellowship from Brown University, she moved to Tokyo after completing her PhD in literature in 1991. She has been an editor at the publisher Kodansha for more than 15 years, but also writes a monthly column for The Japan Times, titled “Backstreet Stories,” as well as essays for various publications. In addition, she has published five language books, including, most recently, The Ultimate Japanese Phrasebook. In this month’s Out & About section, on pages 40 and 41, she takes a wander around the warren of small streets surrounding the Club in Azabudai. Nagamura is currently working on a collection of poetry and photographs.

Kit PancoastNagamura

Find your way around the expansive Azabudai facilities with ease using the 11 touch-screen iPad navigation points conveniently stationed throughout the Club. Alternately, visit the Great Adventure portal of the Club website to peruse the interactive floor plans from home.

New Club Navigation

Not only do windows provide buildings with light, insulation, ventilation and security, but, according to Eleanor Gawne and Michael Snodin in their book Exploring Architecture: Buildings, Meaning and Making, windows “are also the ‘eyes’ of a building, playing a key role in the design of its façades.”

If this is the case, then the new Club in Azabudai, set to open this month, is one large eyeball. Its vast walls of glass present an appealing, welcoming face to the world while permitting natural light to flood the inside. At night, those same windows allow the interior lights to give the building an incandescent quality, as the Club is transformed into a luminous hilltop jewel.

It presents a vastly different visage to its Azabudai predecessor. That white, mushroom-shaped structure was far more optically challenged, sporting rows of “peephole” windows. According to an architect who worked on the project in the early 1970s, the oil crisis sent the cost of glass skyrocketing and the Club looking for cheaper window options.

Besides enhancing a building’s appearance, experts say that there are numerous benefits to well-positioned windows. Derek Phillips, in his book Daylighting: Natural Light in Architecture, says that people have an instinctive desire “to keep in touch with the outside world, whether to know the time of day or the nature of the weather.”

We also feel better working in rooms that are naturally lit, research has shown. Levels of stress often are lower for workers in offices with windows, while productivity is higher. In fact, in A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction, architect Christopher Alexander claims that people, when given a choice, gravitate to rooms with windows on at least two sides.

Thankfully, many of the offices in the new Club, although technically underground, have windows, due to the building’s hilltop location. They should help, in some way, to calm frayed nerves during this month’s preparations to open the Club.

If you have any comments about anything you read in iNTOUCH, please e-mail them to [email protected], putting “Letter to the Editor” in the subject title of the mail.


What’s happening in

JanuaryPlay TimeThe Sky Pool, Fitness Center, The Spa, Library, DVD Library, The Cellar retail shop and Childcare Center all swing their doors open with an array of vibrant offerings. Check the Club website for locations and operating hours.

19 Wednesday

29 Saturday

Bridal FairFuture brides and grooms need look no further than the Club for a profusion of wedding inspiration and valuable finds when Tokyo’s top vendors assemble for this first-of-a-kind event in Azabudai. Details on page 8.

5–7 Saturday– Monday

Sapporo Snow Festival Preview TourThis annual Women’s Group trek to wintry Hokkaido takes in the colossal snow monuments of the famed festival, along with theme parks, hot springs and delicious local delicacies.

24 Monday

Coffee ConnectionsMeet new people and learn about the Women’s Group at this relaxed gathering. 10:30 a.m. Winter Garden. Contact the Women’s Group Office to organize free childcare.

Thursday

Men’s Golf Kickoff PartyGolfers are invited to get acquainted with other players and the Club’s cutting-edge golf simulators while learning about the upcoming year. 7 p.m. Head to page 19 for more.

3

Monday

Committees and ClassesThe energizing lineup of recreational classes and committee meetings resume in stimulating new surroundings. To join a committee, see page 14. For more on recreational activities, head to 19.

31

The Future Is HereCelebrate the Club’s monumental move to its state-of-the-art digs in Azabudai during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house.

18 Tuesday

Spring Enrichment Class FairMeet class instructors during this informative event and find the perfect high-energy pursuit to fit your passion. Get the lowdown on page 19.

30 Sunday

25 Friday

Warabi Naked Festival TourGrown men and babies come together in one great, messy spectacle during the annual farming village rite in Chiba. Read more about this Women’s Group jaunt on page 22.

26 Saturday

Carpet AuctionThe Women’s Group hosts a lively night of carpets and rugs to support one luminous scholar in Japan. 5 p.m. Previous bidders explain their passion for their purchases on pages 20 and 21.

27 Sunday

Sky Pool CelebrationFamilies enjoy an exuberant afternoon in the soaring Sky Pool with relay races, water volleyball and more. 2 p.m. Head to page 19 for more.

28 Monday

Coffee ConnectionsMeet new people and learn about the Women’s Group at this relaxed gathering. 10:30 a.m. Winter Garden. Contact the Women’s Group Office to organize free childcare.

Frederick Harris Gallery Inaugural ExhibitionThe art gallery, named to honor late Member and artist Fred Harris, holds its first exhibition, a collection of prints from renowned artist Toko Shinoda. Flip to page 34 or 38 for more.

18 Tuesday

Tuesday

Wine and Cheese ReceptionPrint artist Toko Shinoda shares her latest batch of abstract wonders during this delightful gathering. 6:30 p.m. Flip to pages 34 and 38 for more about the show and the 97-year-old master.

11 Tuesday

Crowd PleasersThe Club’s unbeatable banquet and catering services reboot with tantalizing menu options and cutting-edge facilities that surpass the best in Tokyo.

Noteworthy dates for the month 5

Culinary KickoffDiscover the wealth of tasty treats dished up in the Club’s expansive new eateries. Turn to page 8 for details.

19 Wednesday 19 Wednesday

Tranquil TogethernessGrab a friend or loved one to indulge in a session of opulent relaxation in The Spa’s new treatment room for couples and receive 20 percent off the total price. Through February 28. For details, see page 18.

19 Wednesday

New Year’s Lucky BagBargain goodies are up for grabs with the Club’s sporty take on the Japanese shopping tradition. Check out page 19 for more.

31 Monday

Angel Campaign EndsThe final day for this annual Women’s Group fundraiser, which helps to support those in need across Tokyo and beyond.

Monday

Super Bowl XLVAn action-packed morning lineup of football, food and fun for the Club’s diehard NFL fans and casual spectators alike. Get the lowdown on this year’s Entertainment Committee-sponsored gridiron festivities on page 14.

7

Women’s Group Office ReopensThe Women’s Group moves into its new home, conveniently located near the ground-level lobbies and its five classrooms.

24 Monday

Tuesday

Monthly Luncheon: Champagne and ChocolateGet a pre-Valentine’s Day education on two of the world’s most beguiling culinary delights, hosted at Tokyo’s ANA InterContinental Hotel. Turn to page 23 for the luncheon lineup.

8Princess PamperingAhead of the Father-Daughter Dinner Dance, party-going girls can receive extra-special beauty treatments from The Spa. 1 p.m. Check out the details on page 19.

12 Saturday

28 Monday

Guest Studios OpenThe Club’s seven uniquely designed overnight rooms debut as idyllic resting spots for business travelers and visiting friends and relatives alike.

28 Monday

Exhibition OpeningA compelling selection of ukiyoe prints from Edo-era master Utagawa Kuniyoshi visits the Frederick Harris Gallery. Flip to page 35 to read more.

12 Saturday

Father-Daughter Dinner Dance Dads and their daughters (ages 5 to 13) enjoy fantastic food, dancing, gifts and photo sessions. 5 p.m. For more on this annual sellout, flip to page 19.

EVENTS

1 Tuesday

Spring Classes RegistrationTackle an intriguing hobby and greet new faces with more than 50 Women’s Group classes, from cooking to language to art. 9 a.m. Learn more on page 22.

Toddler TimeA revamped session of fun and engaging activities for preschoolers launches at the brand-new Children’s Library. 4 p.m. Continues February 8, 15 and 22. More on page 10.

1 Tuesday

Coming up in

March1

8–9121415

17–22

Utagawa Kuniyoshi Exhibition Reception

Tokyo: Here & Now

Tokyo: Here & Now Cocktail Party

Women’s Group Monthly Luncheon

Yokohama Walking Tour

Men’s Golf Group Spring Stag

What’s happening in

February

RooftopViews


Board of Governors

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

by Jeff McNeill

Lance E Lee (2012)—PresidentAmane Nakashima (2011)—Vice President

Jerry Rosenberg (2011)—Vice PresidentNorman J Green (2011)—Secretary

Dan Stakoe (2011)—Treasurer

Kavin C Bloomer (2012), John Durkin (2012), Hiroyuki Kamano (2012), Charlotte Kennedy Takahashi (2012), Per Knudsen (2012), Jeff McNeill (2011), Brian

Nelson (2012), Steve Romaine (2012), Mary Saphin (2011), Ann Marie Skalecki (2012), Deborah Wenig (2011), Ira Wolf (2011), Shizuo Daigoh—Statutory Auditor (2012),

Barbara Hancock—Women’s Group PresidentHaving belonged to the Club since 1983, it was with great nostalgia that I witnessed the closing of the old Azabudai facilities at the end of 2007. My son and I went to the Club

on the last day to spend the final hours playing platform tennis on the courts on top of the Recreation Building.

As the final seconds ticked down, we gazed at the twinkling lights of Tokyo Tower and reflected on the wonderful experiences we had enjoyed over the years and the accumulated memories that were stored in the silent walls below us. We watched other Members walk around in the waning moments, snapping keepsakes as they commemorated their own links to the Club. All the while, we couldn’t help but wonder what experiences the next Club back in Azabudai would bring.

Over the past three years, we watched as the old Club disappeared piece by piece, leaving a large hole in the ground. Then the scaffolding began to rise, heralding the start of what would become our new home. Periodically, we would drive along the Shuto Expressway and catch a glimpse of the Club as it took shape.

Finally, last October, I was able to tour the facility with other members of the Board of Governors. While the exterior was complete, work inside was still going on, with more than 800 workers performing the myriad of tasks necessary to bring the facilities to life. It was a tantalizing vision of the great potential our new Club now offers us.

As our redevelopment journey comes to fruition this month, it

is appropriate to thank all those who dedicated their energies to help us reach this watershed moment in our Club history. It took many years of effort on the part of hundreds of Members and dedicated staff to enable us to close the doors of the old Azabudai Club and create an entirely new one. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their stewardship of this great endeavor.

In 2003, the Club adopted a vision of becoming the premier international club in Asia. As the structure rose from the ground over the past year, we moved closer and closer to that goal. But whether the Club will achieve its vision will depend on each of us. The true test lies with the strength and vitality of the Membership and staff. Will the new Club be a place worthy of that “premier” descriptor? Only time will tell.

One thing I do know is that I look forward to standing on the roof of the Club on that first day to catch a glimpse of what the future might hold. I sincerely hope you will all reach out to be a part of the new adventure that is only just beginning. o

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will mark the opening of the new Club on January

18, with the various facilities and services starting up from the following day.

United Dental welcomesTAC back to Azabudai

MANAGEMENT

Executive remarks 7

The JourneyBeginsby Michael Bumgardner

Michael BumgardnerGeneral Manager

In May 2006, after 10 years of discussions, analysis and research, the Club made a historic decision to totally redevelop its site in Azabudai. Finally, from this month, we will be able

to enjoy the fruits of those many years of debate, scrutiny and construction. But the opening of the doors to our new, state-of-the-art facility is just the start of a great adventure and marks the beginning of a whole new era for the Club.

While the journey begins on January 18 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, it will never really end. The Club will evolve from the first moments of the phased opening of the facilities and services on January 19. The vast majority of Member facilities will be up and running by the end of January, while some programs and services will start up gradually over the coming months.

Our first major event at the Club will be the annual Super Bowl party, which will be held in the stunning New York Ballroom on Monday, February 7 (see page 14 for details). That will be followed quickly by our traditional Father-Daughter Dinner Dance on Saturday, February 12 (details on page 19). More and more of these kinds of events will be staged as we grow more comfortable with our surroundings.

Each area of the Club will open as it was designed and intended, but elements may change depending on usage and Member feedback. During this early period, new rules and systems will

be implemented, tested and revised as well. In particular, the Club’s Membership card readers for accessing certain areas will need considerable testing, as will the mechanical parking and procedures for loading and unloading vehicles.

The phased opening is expected to continue through mid-May and culminate with a grand opening that will celebrate the founding of the Club in May 1928. Tentatively, a black-tie gala is being planned for Friday, May 20, and a dedication ceremony for Monday, May 23.

Although the facilities look fantastic, they bear with them a financial obligation that has been of much concern to the Membership. Through an extended effort, this year’s budget will cover the debt service while meeting all the loan covenants. However, there have been changes made to the operations to ensure that we do meet our financial obligations. The budget is considered conservative by most and, if met, will help us to achieve our objectives and provide a small cushion.

As with any club, your Club’s success depends on new Members. They provide not only financial benefits to the Club, but ensure its continued vitality and sense of community. You should take great pride in your new home and invite friends and colleagues to visit the Club and consider joining. Contact the Membership Office to find out how you can help spread the word about our great adventure. o


New York Ballroom

FOOD & BEVERAGE

T he holidays are a popular time to get engaged, and the Club’s planning pros offer an impressive array of

options to craft the picture-perfect wedding day, whether it’s a graceful, black-tie celebration or a quirky, fun-loving affair brimming with personality and style.

To help betrothed couples get started, an American-inspired Bridal Fair will showcase the stunning new Club facilities in Azabudai and an exclusive lineup of international vendors, including modern gown and tuxedo designers, jewelers, makeup artists, photographers and florists.

“It’ll be a fun, unique way to let couples

know about our incredible services and resources and to inspire them to plan an unforgettable day,” says bridal sales executive Chizuka Yamakita. “And whether they just got engaged yesterday or are in the middle of planning their wedding, they will definitely leave the fair with a bunch of fabulous ideas, from dresses and music to food and flavors, and maybe even a few things crossed off their long to-do list.”

The event will also reveal the Club’s two customizable wedding themes with a fun, sassy Las Vegas-style area and a vintage-chic spot inspired by the New York scene, replete with entertainment, a wine tasting,

canapés and refreshments.“The idea is for brides and grooms to put

their own twist on tradition,” Yamakita says. “Our role is to take those unique ideas and help them throw the party of a lifetime.” o

American Bar & Grill Classic comfort foods and seasonal dishes combine with spacious booths, terrace seating and open views of the kitchen at this bistro for grownups on the first floor. Opens: January 19

Café Med Fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza and delicious Mediterranean fare are dished up for families in a relaxed atmosphere on the first floor.Opens: January 19 (breakfast only; all-day service from January 22)

Decanter Amid bright pops of color, the formal restaurant on the third floor focuses on innovative gastronomic delights, complemented by an ample wine list. Opens: October 3

Foreign Traders’ Bar Saturated in rich wooden tones and signature fabrics, the stylish pub on the first floor offers an extensive menu of food, beer, spirits and gourmet coffee. Opens: January 19

Rainbow CaféThe vibrant family eatery on the first floor features hearty, nutritious dishes, open chef stations and themed cuisine nights, along with outdoor seating and a children’s play area. Opens: January 19

Splash! This all-American poolside café on the fifth floor is the ideal spot for a post-swim snack or alfresco meal. Opens: April 29 (weekends only; daily service from July 1)

Teppan With its intimate counter seating, the teppanyaki grill on the third floor churns out sizzling fare for an up-close and unforgettable dining experience. Opens: October 3

For restaurant operation hours and contact details, access the Great Adventure portal through the Club website.

With eating and drinking such an integral part of Club life, the stunning array of new restaurants and spots to enjoy a relaxing coffee or snack can’t fail to impress.

Dig In!

WeddingWowsby Wendi Hailey

Tokyo American Club Bridal Fair

Saturday, January 29

10 a.m.–7 p.m.

Brooklyn Rooms

Free

Open to the public

Reserve a spot at 03-4588-0671

or [email protected]

Sparkling wines from regions as far flung as Arizona and England have become viable options on the

bubbly scene in recent years, joining such European stalwarts as Cava in Spain, Italy’s Spumante and French alternatives Mousseux and Crémant.

“The continuous growth of non-Champagne sparkling wine has been one of the less well-publicized developments of the wine world,” concluded a recently published report from Ireland-based Research and Markets.

Champagne sales dropped 3.6 percent last year amid global economic woes, while sparkling wine slipped less than 1 percent. To stay ahead of the escalating competition, Champagne houses have opted, in some instances, to modernize the centuries-old luxury libation.

In October, celebrated label Dom Pérignon unveiled a limited-edition version of its newly released 2002 vintage, paying tribute to pop artist Andy Warhol, who drank the bubbly during his nights at New York’s legendary Studio 54. The neon-hued red, blue and yellow labels and packaging, created by a London art college, were introduced as a playful way to appeal to American drinkers.

This colorfully wrapped Champagne and other effervescent items from the Moët Hennessy collection, including the Veuve Clicquot, Krug and Moët & Chandon brands, will be uncorked at this month’s holiday tasting. Brand ambassador Vincent Agulhon will lead a horizontal sampling of the 2002 vintage, which is widely considered the best vintage since 1996.

“There cannot be a better choice for a

toast, celebration or start of a fantastic meal than one of these Champagnes,” says Eric Simonet, marketing director for the brand.

The parallel tasting will be matched with an ambrosial menu that fuses French and Japanese ingredients. “Champagne makes a sommelier’s life easy, as it truly goes well with anything,” Simonet says.

Moët Hennessy has smartly tapped into the sparkling wine trend, producing bottles under the Domaine Chandon brand in Napa Valley, Australia’s Yarra Valley, Argentina and Brazil, mostly for the local markets. “This represents a more affordable, casual and informal everyday alternative to Champagne. As such, it is perhaps best seen as a complement rather than a competitor,” Simonet says.

But for an unbeatable evening of top-tier treats, it’s good, old-fashioned French bubbly that will enchant palates at the Club. “The key is to understand that each Champagne is made with a different style and occasion in mind,” he says. “There won’t be any winners and losers among the Champagnes, but each one of the participants will undoubtedly walk away with a stronger understanding of tastes and pairings, enabling them to pick the right—or favorite—bubbles for each occasion.”

Perhaps attendees will even leave with a couple of seasonal gift ideas, too. o

Fear and Loathing in Nagasakiby Susan Millington


off theshelf

Librarians’

Corner

a preview of what’s on for the Club’s inquiring minds

Great novels about Japan in English have tended to feature culture, family life or an important historical event. British author David Mitchell, however, has broken the

mold with his vast and complex retelling of the last years of the Dutch trading post at Dejima in The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet.

Construction of the fan-shaped island off the coast of Nagasaki in Kyushu was completed in 1636. The Dutch arrived in 1641 and were to remain for 218 years. Life on a tiny manmade island had to be humdrum and tense, even from the start. As time went by, it could only have become worse. Despite such small pleasures as botanical studies and the occasional musical evening, “healthy” amusements were few.

The shogunate gradually imposed limits on trade. By 1790, a single Dutch ship a year was allowed to enter the port. Mitchell’s Dejima saga begins shortly after that. With so few sailings and meager trading profits, opportunities to get rich and return home dried up. Corruption was rife not only in the local Japanese magistracy, but also in the Dutch East India Company.

Mitchell takes all these seamy ingredients and turns them into an engaging concoction of intrigue, murder, kidnap, naval warfare and love, while at the same time painting an intelligent, penetrating study of what life might have been like for the few people on Dejima who tried to pursue honest lives.

Although The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet is complex from the start, with a little patience, any Japan devotee should find it a thrilling and, ultimately, satisfying read. o

Millington is a member of the Library Committee.

Besides The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, the Library stocks the Mitchell

titles Ghostwritten (1999), number9dream (2001), Cloud Atlas (2004) and Black

Swan Green (2006).

The all-new, glass-enclosed Children’s Library, packed with shelves of kids’ titles, comics and educational resources, hosts its first Toddler Time sessions from next month. Head to the second floor of the Azabudai Club for a playful affair of stories and songs aimed at fostering a passion for words at a young age.

Every Tuesday in February4 p.m.Children’s LibraryFreeNo sign-up necessary

Toddler Timeby Erica Kawamura

new

Literary gems at the Library 11

Absence of Mindby Marilynne RobinsonPulitzer Prize winner Robinson believes human thought

has not been explained by “true” science and rejects

attempts by popular writers to dismiss the importance

of thought as mere “parascience”—the study of subjects

outside the scope of science because they cannot be

explained or tested by scientific means. SM

Lunch in Paris: A Love Story with Recipesby Elizabeth BardThis delicious book offers not only a sweet love

story, but also many surprising insights into cross-

cultural relationships—in this case, between an

American and a Frenchman. There’s also a passel

of recipes for seemingly easy-to-prepare, great-

sounding dishes. SM

Painted Ladies by Robert B Parker In Parker’s final novel, Boston PI Spenser, while trying

to retrieve a rare painting held for ransom, investigates

the world of art theft and uncovers, among other

things, a deceased client’s avocation as a sexual

predator of coeds. Spenser fans should be prepared

to say farewell. SM

The Haiku Handbookby William J Higginson and Penny Harter This bible for non-Japanese fans of the poetry form

contains everything needed to appreciate, write and

even teach haiku. The updated, 25th-anniversary edition

includes 20th-century changes to the verse form as it has

adapted to a modern culture. SM

Intertwinedby Gena ShowalterAden Stone is never alone. He has four souls living inside

him: one can time travel, one can tell his future, one

can possess other people and one can raise the dead.

Unfortunately, using those powers sometimes lands

Aden in heaps of trouble. For grade 8 and above. EK

Members: Max and Sophie RadmilovichTitle: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stoneby JK Rowling

What’s the book about?After finding out that he is a wizard and that regular people are called Muggles, Harry Potter is accepted to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he learns all about a dark wizard who can’t be named.

What did you like about it?That Harry meets Ron and Hermione and they go on so many adventures together. We also love all the magic in the book and wish we had it in our world!

Why did you choose it?We like the Harry Potter movies very much, but our mom told us that we were missing a lot of details and the backstory (whatever that means).

What other books would you recommend?We can’t wait to finish the rest of the books in the series of seven.

member’s choice

Reviews compiled by Library Committee member Susan Millington and librarian Erica Kawamura.

Djiboutiby Elmore LeonardIn this topical tale of modern-day piracy by a champion

suspense writer, filmmaker Dara Barr and assistant Xavier

LeBo discover that almost no one in the Middle East is

who they claim to be. While some critics found this novel

too much of a departure from Leonard’s standard fare,

others heaped praise on it. SM

reads

LIBRARY


Movie listings nowadays are rife with numerals and suffixes. Sequels reign supreme at the box

office, along with prequels, third and fourth installments and full-fledged remakes.

These second (or more) incarnations can enhance the original with fresh

layers, a deepened narrative and fantastic new adventures, stand on their own as cinematic classics or, in some cases, offer nothing more than a stale rehashing of the same old story. Stellar sequels (let’s forget about atrocious ones like Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights) as diverse as The

Godfather: Part II, Before Sunset, Aliens and Toy Story 2 possess merit and wit in spades, making them worthy of their sublime predecessors.

But when it comes to a following act that surpasses the first, which would our trusty cinematic critics name? o

Superior Second Comings

critics’corner

“The Batman franchise was in desperate need of a reboot after some goofy films and over-the-top acting. In 2005, red-hot director Christopher Nolan reacquainted audiences with the serious and introspective side of Batman in Batman Begins. A major portion of the film is dedicated to how Bruce Wayne becomes Batman, so by the time he confronts the villain he is almost a conveniently defeated afterthought and the film wraps up. The Dark Knight (2008), however, is even better than the first Nolan film, with viewers already acquainted with Batman’s dark side and inner demons. Heath Ledger posthumously won an Oscar for his brilliant performance as the homicidal, demented Joker. Strong characters, an excellent storyline and nonstop action make this film superior to Batman Begins on all levels, but see both films (again)!”

Superior sequel: The Dark KnightClub critic: David Fujii

Superior sequel: Star Trek II: The Wrath of KhanClub critic: Nick Johnson

Superior sequel: Terminator 2: Judgment DayClub critic: David Hunter

All titles mentioned are either available at the DVD Library or on order.

“I am not a Trekkie. I have never attended a convention and there is no Klingon grammar book on my shelves. But, by some twist of fate, I have watched all the Star Trek movies except Nemesis. There is a rule about the movies: odd bad, even good. The original Star Trek (1979) with Shatner and company left me underwhelmed. I remember nothing about it except the odd detail that bubbles up in my memory once in a while. The Enterprise crew finds a big ship drifting in space causing havoc, and it’s got something to do with the Voyager probe. (At least someone deciphered the scribble they put on the side of it to guide folks to our little solar system.) But then came The Wrath of Khan three years later. Treachery, violence, heroism, ear-bound creepy crawlies and a villain to rank among the best; in one fell swoop, the franchise was saved.”

“The Terminator (1984) is one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made, with all the ingredients of a cult classic. How could it get any better? Terminator 2. The 1991 follow-up brings the story to a new dimension, including the use of special effects that had not been seen before: a liquid-metal, shape-shifting robot, an entire building and dozens of cars blown up simultaneously, more guns than Uncle Sam and Arnie’s restraint from killing anyone (‘Orders from John Connor’). The plot remains the same, but the twist of Arnie taking on the new role of an outdated robot bodyguard for John Connor and mom Sarah give the movie a new angle. Making him the assassin and then the savior of the same people in the same story—great stuff! Well worth watching again.”

TV and film selections 13

DVD LIBRARY

HE SAYS, SHE SAYSHe is Club President Lance E Lee. She is Yuko Akisato, manager of the Video Library.

smokin’give it a goabort

The Twilight Saga franchise of books and films is proving hugely popular with tweens. In this third movie installment, Bella (Kristen Stewart) finds her love for Edward (Robert Pattinson) severely tested. In the realm of vampire films, this is

a disappointment.

•

This humorous animated movie about an evil villain who meets his match in three orphan girls isn’t as good as the typical Pixar production, but it’s a heartwarming, entertaining story that’s

worth watching. And the voices are spot on.

•••

A fantastic movie about the youth of former Beatle John Lennon, portrayed by young British star Aaron Johnson. Kristen Scott Thomas also produces a wonderful performance as Lennon’s Aunt Mimi. Beatles fans are sure to love this movie, as will those

who just enjoy watching well-told, captivating stories.

•••

This biopic about John Lennon’s schooldays in Liverpool and the start of his journey into music offers an interesting insight into the early life of this 20th-century icon. Aaron Johnson (Lennon), Kristin Scott Thomas (Aunt Mimi) and Anne-Marie Duff (Lennon’s mother, Julia) all give superb performances. A must-see film for Beatles fans.

•••Combining cuteness with humor, this touching flick about a criminal mastermind, Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), who has his evil-doing life turned upside down when he encounters three girls, should appeal to all ages.

•••With Seattle gripped by a series of strange murders, Bella (Kristen Stewart) faces some difficult decisions concerning her love for vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) and her friendship with werewolf Jacob (Taylor Lautner). An entertaining film for teenage girls.

••

All movies reviewed are either available at the DVD Library or on order.

other new titles...

CO

MED

YD

RA

MA

Shrek Forever AfterSuffering a midlife crisis, Shrek (Mike Myers) gets hoodwinked by Rumpelstiltskin and banished from existence into a gloomy alternate kingdom in this final chapter of the green ogre’s fairy-tale franchise.

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'HooleA lushly animated pearl, featuring a star-studded voice cast, that captures a plucky young owl’s battle to save his race from its sinister, winged enemies.

DevilFive unfortunate passengers of a stranded elevator discover that Satan may be standing among them in this no-frills thriller from M Night Shyamalan.

Wall Street: Money Never DiesA rising broker (Shia LaBeouf ) teams up with disgraced corporate renegade Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) as the world economy careens toward financial disaster in this sequel to Oliver Stone’s 1987 testament to greed and excess.

FAM

ILY

MY

STER

Y

Recreation Tim Griffen

(Tim Griffen)

Recreation Subcommittees

Bowling Pam Jenkinson

Fitness Jerry Rosenberg

Golf Steven Thomas

Library Melanie Chetley

Logan Room Diane Dooley & Cathleen Fuge

Squash Alok Rakyan

Swim Jesse Green

& Stewart Homler

DVD Jane Hunsaker

Youth Activities Linda Genty

Community Relations Stan Yukevich

(Jeff McNeill)

Community Relations Subcommittees

Distinguished Achievement Award Jeff McNeill

Independence Day Stan Yukevich

& Barbara Hancock

Sportsman of the Year Jeff McNeill

Compensation Brian Nelson

Culture Miki Ohyama

(Deborah Wenig)

Culture Subcommittee

Frederick Harris Gallery Yumiko Sai

Entertainment Per Knudsen

(Per Knudsen)

Finance Akihiko Mizuno (Dan Stakoe)

Food & Beverage Craig Saphin

(Amane Nakashima)

Food & Beverage Subcommittee

Wine Mark Baxter

House Mary Saphin

(Ira Wolf )

House Subcommittee

Architectural Michael Miller

Human Resources Victoria Muir

(Barbara Hancock)

Membership Alok Rakyan

(Mary Saphin)

Membership Subcommittee

Marketing Mark Ferris

Nominating Nick Masee

Members interested in joining one of the committees listed should contact its chair or inquire at the General Manager’s Office.

Joining aCommittee

Names in parentheses denote Board liaisons.


T he Dallas Cowboys have made eight Super Bowl appearances and hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy

five times over the contest’s 45-year history, but their own stadium has never played host to the big game. Now, the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolis is pulling out all the stops to deliver a memorable gridiron spectacle on the first Sunday in February.

Opened in 2009, the $1 billion Cowboys Stadium is one of the most expensive sports venues ever constructed and a crowning achievement for Arlington, Texas, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. The awe-inspiring stadium, which houses the world’s largest high-definition screen, will make Super Bowl XLV one to remember, regardless of the teams on the turf.

Likewise, our brand-new Club in Azabudai will be hosting its first Super Bowl screening on the morning of February 7. And this year, Members have the option of catching all the action with the crowd in the hugely impressive New York Ballroom or enjoying some VIP treatment with a gang of friends in a separate suite, complete with food

and drinks. Last year, the ultimate underdogs, the

New Orleans Saints, with their super-accurate quarterback, Drew Brees, were crowned Super Bowl champs for the first time ever during what turned out to be the most-watched television show in history.

To find out if this year’s contest will offer up similar excitement, head to the new Club for a morning of winning food, quizzes, betting pools, prizes and, of course, great football from Dallas. o

Shimamoto is a member of the Entertainment

Committee.

COMMITTEES

Super Bowl XLV

Monday, February 7

7:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

New York Ballroom: ¥5,000

(includes all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet

and welcome drink)

VIP room packages: e-mail

[email protected] for details

Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk

Sponsored by the Entertainment Committee

by Jeff Shimamoto

February Football Fever

A Pioneer in Dental CareFinding a good-quality, reliable dentist

can be tough at the best of times. Living in an unfamiliar country

can make the task even more difficult. International Dental Clinic in Tokyo offers patients peace of mind.

With its team of highly experienced, bilingual dentists, technicians and hygienists, International Dental Clinic, in partnership with International Dental Academy, treats patients using the very latest technological advances in dental care and methodology.

Patient care is central to International Dental Clinic’s philosophy, so whatever the area, from occlusion and gum disease to implants, orthodontics and aesthetic treatment, all patients can expect professional care from the same dentist, ensuring a clear, comprehensive plan.

Established in 1972 by Dr Sumiya Hobo, who studied in both Japan and the United States and was a guest professor at UCLA’s School of Dentistry for more than

20 years, International Dental Academy is an educational institution for dental professionals who want to keep learning in a field that is forever changing and adopting new, groundbreaking approaches.

In keeping with the academy’s founding principle, staff regularly visit North America and Europe to research and import fresh or, in some cases, revolutionary techniques, procedures and equipment. In turn, the academy helps to educate dentists and technicians from across Japan. To date, more than 3,000 professionals have benefited from International Dental Academy’s collective knowledge and expertise.

To ensure dependable and prompt treatment quality, International Dental Clinic’s laboratory on the second floor produces fully customized products for patients. In the treatment rooms, meanwhile, patients can expect a clean, hygienic environment, in which equipment is—if not disposed of or

switched after use—thoroughly irrigated, disinfected and sterilized.

A leader in Japan in all areas of dental care, International Dental Clinic is the clinic of choice for people who really care about their teeth. o

Peter K. HoboHead director of International Dental Clinic

Born in Los Angeles, Dr Hobo is a highly qualified dental surgeon, with experience in both Japan and the United States. A graduate of Tsurumi University’s School of Dental Medicine in Yokohama, he also studied periodontics at the University of Michigan. Certified with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, he is a member of the American Academy of Periodontology and an implant instructor with Astra Tech.

Advertorial 15

ADVERTORIAL

Peter K. Hobo

1-25-18 Shoto, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0046

Tel: 03-3465-5861 | www.dent-ida.co.jp

Implants | Aesthetics | Orthodontics

Endodontics | Cleaning | and more


John Antista has been scrubbed, kneaded and therapeutically pampered in some 30 far-flung countries,

dabbling in such exotic spa offerings as gold, chocolate and grapes. While in Japan, the oft-traveling businessman stops by the Club every couple of weeks for a regular facial treatment.

“I visit The Spa whenever I’m in Tokyo,” says the Osaka-based Member. “As far as personnel, they’re best in class.

The quality and service and consistency are great.”

When The Spa first opened in Takanawa three years ago, it was a novel undertaking for everyone involved. “Everything was a learning process, as we had no experience running a spa,” says manager Joy Tolentino.

The team worked with a consultant to train its therapists on a solid variety of treatments, and it didn’t take long for

the revivifying haven to find its footing. Tolentino says she quickly learned that “it is better to do a few things very well and create your signature touches, rather than think that ‘more is better.’”

Those trademark elements will be refined and expanded within the custom-built sanctuary of the new Club. The 220-square-meter Spa, which opens January 19, is swathed in rich brown hues, sleek curves and honey-colored

by Wendi HaileyPhotos by Kayo Yamawaki

Continuing the high standards of revitalizing treatments set by The Spa in Takanawa, the Azabudai facilities promise to take relaxation to a whole new level.

Urban Escape

Fitness and well-being 17

RECREATION

tiles. Each of the six treatment rooms, including a space dedicated to couples, boasts floor-to-ceiling vistas of the city.

“The décor looks so rich—much more upscale,” says Recreation Director Scott Yahiro. “The overall quality is amazing.”

The area also includes indoor and outdoor relaxation lounges, a small nail salon and private showers and changing areas. The first addition to the treatment menu is a trio of body wraps aimed at slimming and toning, restoring youthful glows and relieving muscle aches using

such ingredients as seaweed, chocolate and essential oils.

“[We will] continue to look at different offerings, but our goals will remain the same: to provide excellent service to our Members,” says Tolentino.

To deepen the restorative experience, a spacious locker room complex nearby houses single-gender saunas, steam rooms, whirlpool baths and cold plunge pools, as well as lounges furnished with massage

chairs and high-definition TVs, pristine showers and a women’s powder room with fully equipped vanities.

“That was one thing I was asking to have included in the temporary Club,” Antista says of the relaxation area. “It’s long overdue.”

Yahiro anticipates the chilly plunge pools to prove especially popular in the summertime, when Members are looking for a quick, post-workout cool down.

The locker rooms lead to an adults-only sun terrace, which offers “a little

bit of privacy,” Yahiro says. Off-limits to children, the secluded, fourth-floor spot is ideal for those looking for a serene escape overlooking the Tokyo cityscape.

Five hundred monthly rental lockers are available for men and 350 for women for a fee of ¥1,500 per month. In addition, there are 120 lockers each for free daily use. The towel attendant at the Recreation Desk outside the locker rooms also supplies new workout gear, so

users don’t have to bring their own. The Spa, meanwhile, provides plush robes and slippers.

“We have to stay competitive, not only in price but in service, as we have a limited market,” says Tolentino. “So our service has to be very good. This will happen with customized, personalized service.”

Member Karima Boubekeur was a frequent user of The Spa in Takanawa. “I regularly enjoyed the high-quality treatments and the extreme kindness of the staff,” she says. “I just expect the

same in the new facility, but I am also happy that it will take less time to get there from home.”

For Members seeking a little pampering to soothe their harried Tokyo lifestyles, this deluxe new den in Azabudai may be just the ticket. o

For details about The Spa’s treatments and operating

hours, as well as the new relaxation space, visit the

Club website.


The Spa is open daily from 10 a.m. Make an appointment or visit the fourth-floor haven of relaxation to

discover more about the pampering possibilities in store.

Tel: 03-4588-0714 E-mail: [email protected]

Grab a friend or loved one (remember, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner) and indulge in a session of opulent relaxation in The Spa’s couple’s treatment room for a 20 percent discount off the total price through the end of February.

Tranquil Togetherness

Kick Yourself Fit

Canadian Robert Daoust is an active athlete and martial artist with more than 15 years’ experience as a personal trainer and fitness teacher, specializing in weight loss, strength training, Muay Thai, karate and numerous other fitness areas. He is a Canadian Association of Fitness Professionals-certified personal training specialist, a second-degree black belt in karate, first-degree black belt in Kudo and a Tao Shiatsu practitioner.

Robert Daoust The Instructor

“Kick Yourself Fit is a very enjoyable class, but at the same time it makes you work a lot. It’s really fun and interesting to learn moves that are often seen in movies! It’s also great to make new friends.”

Arianna Tombesi The Student

classfocus

Kick Yourself Fit is an exhilarating class for teens that combines traditional and modern Muay Thai (Thai boxing) techniques with key fitness and conditioning exercises. A typical class consists of a gentle warm-up and stretches followed by a review of basic Muay Thai techniques and the gradual introduction of more complex combinations that demand intense concentration. After practicing the moves, students use such fitness equipment as bands, balance balls and dumbbells to build strength, coordination, balance and flexibility. Also gleaning discipline and camaraderie, participants discover basic self-defense skills without the risk of injury.

The next semester of Kick Yourself Fit runs every Sunday from February 6 to June 2 (1–2 p.m.) in The Studio. Contact the Recreation Desk for details.

RECREATION

Fitness and well-being 19

what’son

Sky-High CelebrationFamilies and their guests enjoy an exuberant afternoon in the soaring Sky Pool, located on the fifth floor. Relay races, water volleyball and other high-energy activities will be held for all ages, or partygoers can opt to just take in the stunning views and one-of-a-kind atmosphere. For ages 4 and above.

Sky Pool Opening CelebrationSunday, February 272–4 p.m.Sky Pool¥1,575Sign up online or at the Recreation Desk

Daddy’s GirlDads and their daughters (ages 5 to 13) enjoy fantastic food, dancing, gifts and photo sessions at the Club’s elegant ballroom. Ahead of the big night, girls can receive extra pampering with hair, makeup and nail-art treatments from The Spa professionals. Beauty sessions run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Father-Daughter Dinner Dance Saturday, February 125 p.m.New York BallroomSign up online or at the Recreation Desk from Wednesday, January 19Visit The Spa for beauty reservations

Head of the Class Ahead of the fabulous lineup of spring enrichment classes, Members of all ages are invited to get acquainted with the myriad instructors during this informative fair and find the perfect pursuit to fit their passion. Classes kick off on Monday, January 31.

Going for the Greens Get acquainted with other golf lovers and the Club’s state-of-the-art golf simulators during this Men’s Golf Group meet and greet, which includes a complimentary buffet and cash bar. To take advantage of the packed calendar of regular outings and tournaments, join the group for annual dues of ¥12,500.

In the BagScore a bounty of bargain goodies with a fun take on the Japanese New Year shopping tradition. Each bag contains a surprise selection of recreation items, including beauty-care supplies, swim gear and golf accessories.

New Year’s Lucky BagsFrom January 19Visit the Recreation Desk for details

Spring Enrichment Class FairSunday, January 302–5 p.m. GymnasiumFree

Men’s Golf Kickoff PartyThursday, February 37–9 p.m.Committee Rooms and 19th HoleFreeSign up online or at the Member Services Desk


Bidding for BeautyThe annual Carpet Auction is a lively evening of handcrafted elegance, spirited bidding and scholarly support. Member photos by Kayo Yamawaki

T he Women’s Group annual Carpet Auction is much more than a chance to pick up a couple of delicately

woven floor coverings while learning about the various distinctive styles. The event, hosted by Edmund Rajendra and A Shukor of Eastern Carpets in Singapore, also helps to further the education of a scholar.

Established in 1990, the CWAJ-Tokyo American Club Women’s Group Non-Japanese Graduate Scholarship contributes

funds to the continuing studies of a foreign student in Japan. Proceeds from this year’s auction will aid Chinese doctor Oyihan in her neuroscience PhD studies at the University of Tokyo and help her toward realizing her dream of becoming a neurosurgeon.

Ahead of next month’s event, three successful bidders from last year’s auction explain what attracted them to their particular purchases. o

“We bought a Kazak tribal rug and a Kurdish nomadic rug. We were told that essentially the tribal rugs are a piece of tribal art, usually created by nomadic or semi-nomadic people living in small villages or on the open plains where the raw materials for the rugs come from their own animals or from shops along their routes of travel. We love how the rich colors, textures and designs found on the rugs add warmth to our home.”

Katherine Hall

Katherine Hall

WOMEN’S GROUP

An interactive community 21

“Entering the auction room, this carpet immediately spoke to me. Knowing nothing about Oriental carpets, I was only looking for something that I knew I would be happy living with for years to come. My husband, Tom, bought it for me to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. It’s a Kashmiri silk carpet, with about 420 knots per square inch, and it took 26 months to weave.”

8 pt

Lisa Jardine

“On the lookout for two small rugs to place in specific areas of our apartment here in Tokyo, we were so pleased when we ended up finding two that we not only really liked and thought would work well, but would someday give us fond memories of our time here in Tokyo when they end up back in our home in Chicago. The rugs’ design and durable, sturdier weave fit our home’s décor and lifestyle and mesh really well with our other rugs.”

Libby Hopkins

Libby HopkinsLisa Jardine

Carpet Auction

Saturday, February 26

Carpet preview and registration: 5 p.m.

Carpet appreciation class: 5:30 p.m.

Light buffet: 6 p.m.

Auction: 7 p.m.

Lucky draws and dessert: 9 p.m.

Finish: 11 p.m.

tourpreview


Mud Games

If you read in the daily newspaper that somewhere in a small town about an hour from where you live grown

men and babies were to come together in a mud pit on a Friday afternoon in February to worship the soil for the upcoming planting season, would you say you were too busy to go?

Every February 25, at the Mimusubi Shrine in the small town of Yotsukaido, roughly an hour outside of Tokyo in Chiba Prefecture, men dressed only in loincloth-like fundoshi, white, split-toe tabi socks and brightly hued bandanas around their heads bring small children from the village to the shrine to be “baptized” in mud.

Each baby reacts differently. Some sleep right through it. Some wail, thrashing around, desperate to be out of the arms of the strange men and away from the

boisterous crowds. The men range in age, from early adulthood to bald-headed ojisan, some skinny and pale, others bronzed and buff.

The procession continues as the men come and go, fetching new babies to dab with mud. A few of the men are seasoned professionals, quietly whispering in the ears of their charges and delicately painting kanji characters on their foreheads. After an hour of the baby pageant, fireworks are set off to signal the end of the first part of the festival.

The noise level of the crowd increases with anticipation until the men come running down the path and jump straight into the mud pit, splashing each other and turning their crisp white fundoshi and tabi dark. They break off into four teams, and the smallest of each group climbs onto

the shoulders of the largest. The four sets of chicken fighters come together in the inner circle and begin wrestling.

When the men can’t take the cold anymore, they scuttle up the hill to a bonfire burning at the shrine, where they drink hot sake and refuel on bean-filled pastries. This run to the mud pit, wrestling and bonfire ritual continues for another hour.

Throughout the afternoon, the participants like to stop and taunt the crowd with fistfuls of mud. Some lucky bystanders even get their faces painted. When it’s all over, the men are filthy, freezing and filled with sake; the soil is purified and ready for the planting season.

Do yourself a favor and make time to join the muddy madness. o

Jardine is director of programs for the Women’s Group.

by Lisa Jardine

Warabi Naked Festival Tour

Friday, February 25

11:30 a.m.

Women’s Group members: ¥4,500

Non-Women’s Group members: ¥5,000

Sign up at the Member Services Desk

A year in Boston, Massachusetts, as a high school student had a profound effect on Yuriko Hirayama. “I recognized the beauty in Japan when I returned,” she says, explaining that while the United States is home to dramatic, breathtaking scenery, Japan’s allurement lies in its fine details, whether it’s the intricate ritual of Japanese tea ceremony or the craftsmanship found in kimono fabric or pottery.

Hirayama, 69, imparts her knowledge of Japanese culture and history through the Women’s Group biannual program of enriching and educational classes for all Club

Members. “I love meeting interesting people, getting to know them and sharing my love for this country,” she says.

Currently offering sessions on tea ceremony and how to get the most out of trips to Kyoto and Kamakura, Kyoto native Hirayama also leads information-packed tours to Kamakura and the Mitake Valley in western Tokyo. In the upcoming spring schedule of classes, she will be guiding participants to Jindai Temple, the second-oldest temple in the capital, and the Jindai Botanical Gardens, near Chofu. o

Spring Classes Registration

Tuesday, February 1

9 a.m.

Sign up online or at the Women’s Group Office

School Trips by Nick Jones

Yuriko Hirayama

Lisa

Jard

ine

A few years ago, Judy Williams assembled Easter baskets full of fresh-baked goodies and directed

a fashion show to raise funds for a local women’s organization in New Jersey. This fondness for food and fashion has found its way into her volunteer work at the Club.

“If it involves food, I can do it,” the North Carolina native recalls of her initial thought when asked to take on the role of monthly luncheon director for the Women’s Group last June.

The programs slated for February and March feature food as more than an accompaniment to the entertainment. Food, in fact, will be the tantalizing centerpiece.

In February, participants will be treated to exquisite bubbly and rich confectionaries at the ANA InterContinental Hotel in Akasaka. “What woman doesn’t love chocolate and Champagne?” says Williams. “It’s a week before Valentine’s Day, so the aim of it is to provide ideas of what you can do for your valentine.”

The following month’s event will take place in another of Tokyo’s opulent hotels, the Mandarin Oriental. The hotel’s Molecular Bar chef, Jeff Ramsey, famed for his extraordinary culinary creations, will give luncheon-goers a private cooking demonstration before serving an equally unforgettable meal.

The upcoming luncheons, Williams notes, were conceived as part of a wider goal “to do fun and exciting events [that] attract a larger audience.”

The approach appears to be working. Last fall’s lineup attracted sizable crowds each month, with celebrated designer Junko Koshino’s fashion show pulling in nearly 100 guests. Williams, along with several other Women’s Group members, was chosen to model Koshino’s creations. “It felt like walking out onto a New York runway,” says the former insurance executive.

Since joining the Women’s Group in 2008, the energetic volunteer has helped coordinate the International Bazaar and Asian Home Furnishings Sale. She is heading the annual Carpet Auction on February 26, in addition to finding time to play a game or two of mahjong, her newfound hobby, at the Club.

“I’ve always enjoyed the combination of fun and fundraising,” she says, “as you feel like you are doing something useful while doing something enjoyable.” Sounds like a recipe worth following. o

Sheldon is director of communications for the

Women’s Group.

women’s groupprofile

WOMEN’S GROUP

An interactive community 23

Somerset Service Residence is managed by The Ascott Limited, a member of CapitaLand. It is the largest global serviced residence owner-operator in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Gulf region, managing the Ascott, Citadines and Somerset brands in over 60 cities across more than 20 countries.

Somerset Azabu East and Somerset Roppongi serviced residences are designed to bring welcoming comfort and homely warmth to hectic Tokyo lifestyles. And with the full dining, recreational and entertainment facilities of the new Club in Azabudai just a short stroll away, making the most of life is easier than ever before.

Azabudai Club Opening CampaignSomerset RoppongiStudio Premier (43sqm): from ¥330,000 a monthSomerset Azabu EastStudio Premier (54sqm): from ¥390,000 a month

Because life is about living

For further inquiries, please contact Ascott International Management Japan at 03-5575-5513 or [email protected].

SweetCharity

by Gaby Sheldon

Kayo

Yam

awak

i

Judy Williams

Monthly Luncheon:

Champagne and Chocolate

Tuesday, February 8

Doors open: 11 a.m.

Luncheon begins: 11:30 a.m.

ANA InterContinental Hotel

Women’s Group members: ¥3,150

Non-Women’s Group members: ¥4,200

Sign up online or at

the Member Services Desk


A NewBeginningJanuary 18 marks the dawn of a fresh, exhilarating era for

the Club and its multifaceted community. After years of planning and patience, the luxurious, eight-story building,

designed by prominent American architectural firm Pelli Clarke Pelli, welcomes Members into a warm, inspired haven that will serve all ages for generations to come. The interiors effortlessly meld American and Japanese elements, both modern and traditional, to create truly one-of-a-kind spaces that reflect the Club’s rich heritage and ever-evolving Membership and serve up some of Tokyo’s most sublime dining, cultural, recreational and business pursuits under one roof. o

Photos by Kayo Yamawaki

The sleek, sophisticated exterior of the new Club glows against the backdrop of a Tokyo night.

FEATURE

A New Beginning 25


A New Beginning 27

FEATURE

Clockwise from top left: The neon-infused Bowling Center offers Members a fantastic escape; visible through the crystal crown of the Sky Pool, Tokyo Tower promises to be a common view for swimmers; a cavernous gymnasium provides an unparalleled venue for the sports-minded; kids can find entertainment and enrichment aplenty in the vibrant-colored Childcare Center; the state-of-the-art Fitness Center boasts alluring floor-to-ceiling

windows; the glow of the Parking Booth greets evening visitors to the Club.


Clockwise from top left: One of three private dining bridges, bathed in natural light, boasts stunning views of the sprawling cityscape; an illuminated sculpture welcomes diners to Decanter, the Club’s wine-centric restaurant; playful curves and bright colors, as well as kid-friendly meals, are sure to make Rainbow Café a well-traversed family spot; with plush décor, sublime cuisine and an expansive wine list, Decanter will craft the ultimate dining experience when it opens in October; deep tones and lush natural wood enhance the cozy pub atmosphere of Traders’ Bar.

FEATURE

A New Beginning 29

TALKING HEADS


The past few months have been filled with sleepless nights for the bureaucrats of Japan’s foreign ministry. Already-tense relations with some of the country’s regional neighbors have grown even more strained following incidents over territorial disputes.

Last September, the arrest of a Chinese trawler captain by the Japanese coastguard near the contested Senkaku Islands sparked demonstrations in both capitals, while a November visit by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to the Russian-held Kuril Islands, also claimed by Japan, caused a flurry of yet more angry statements.

In a further ratcheting up of tensions in Asia, an increasingly belligerent North Korea continues to make provocations toward its southern neighbor. All this comes at a time when Japan’s relationship with the United States, its long-standing security partner in the region, appears mired in uncertainty.

Tony Ennis is the Northeast Asia president of defense giant BAE Systems. iNTOUCH’s Nick Jones sat down with the Club Member to discuss the issue of security for Japan and the region. Excerpts: Tony Ennis

Territorial Tensions

iNTOUCH: How would you describe Japan’s military capability?

Ennis: Japan has a very modern military, which is focused exclusively on defense. Japan faces a challenge, of course, as it is surrounded by neighbors that clearly have a different approach to national defense.

iNTOUCH: How does Japan’s military capability compare with its neighbors’ capabilities?

Ennis: In size, it is clearly much smaller than Russia and China. Japan has something in the order of 140,000 troops, whereas China has some 1.6 million troops and Russia has 90,000 troops based in the Far East. In a breakdown of capability, Japan has some 430 aircraft, China has about 1,900 aircraft and Russia in the Far East has about 500.

iNTOUCH: How have these kinds of numbers affected the way Japan has invested in its defense?

Ennis: Japan puts a great premium on quality, as opposed to numbers. This is its predominant focus as a counterbalance to the much larger numbers of its neighbors.

iNTOUCH: Is this trend of focusing on technology likely to continue?

Ennis: Yes, and one of the challenges Japan has is that it has had a defense budget that is held at about 1 percent of GDP, whereas if you look at China, it has had 21 years of double-digit growth. If, for example, you compare China when it had the last big [military] parade in 2009

to the one before that in 1999, it has had a five times increase in defense spending over that period of 10 years and has made considerable technological advances.

iNTOUCH: How does this kind of spending affect regional security?

Ennis: China has declared the South China Sea an area of “national interest” and it has developed a blue-water navy. It is engaged in anti-piracy patrols in the Middle East. It has taken exercises further and further offshore from China, so Japan has to be very conscious of its increase in capability. Also, what has to be of great concern to Japan is what is happening in North Korea, not just recently, but over the last five years.

iNTOUCH: How important is the development of the US-Japan missile defense shield to the security of Japan?

Ennis: I think given the fact that North Korea has launched short- and medium-range missiles that have passed over Japan…ballistic missile defense is very important to Japan, as are US undertakings in terms of “extended deterrence,” whereby the US has committed to make the full arsenal of US capability available to the defense of both Japan and [South] Korea.

iNTOUCH: How vital is America’s presence in this region?

Ennis: I think in Japan and Korea there has been in the general population a degree of complacency resulting from a very high standard of living, but I think what has happened recently has brought into focus that this prosperity is enjoyed as a result

of security, and US participation in that security is critical.

iNTOUCH: In an article in Newsweek magazine last year, British politician Denis MacShane asked, “Should Japan put all its national-security eggs in Washington’s basket? Does Japan need to reach out to democratic military alliances like NATO?” How would you answer those questions?

Ennis: The more support that any country has from the community of nations, the stronger they are. So, to that extent, I think stronger links with NATO and Europe would add to the security of Japan and, from a US standpoint, should be welcomed.

iNTOUCH: Over the coming years, is it likely that Japan will revisit the debate over the so-called pacifist clause [Article 9] of the constitution and possibly decide on another approach to national defense?

Ennis: If we see a continuation of the events we have seen in the last couple of years in this region…I think Japan would have to reexamine the basis for its defense.

iNTOUCH: How do you see this region developing in terms of security?

Ennis: I think one great hope for the region is the level of trade. Japan and Taiwan are the two largest investors in China, and I think with the development of trade comes a greater understanding and greater levels of interdependence between all the nations. So, as you see that economic community develop, hopefully that will then bring some amelioration of the tensions that arise over territory. o

PaperDiva


Kayo

Yam

awak

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Eriko Horiki defies the stereotypical traditional craftsman image in almost every respect. Tall, slim,

elegant and immaculately attired in her trademark black Armani suit, the 48-year-old looks more like an investment banker than an artist credited with revolutionizing the 1,500-year-old world of handmade Japanese paper, known as washi.

In fact, Horiki used to be a banker. Horiki discovered her passion for washi in her twenties while assisting a company that had closed down. “Even though their product was beautiful, it couldn’t compete with quicker and cheaper, machine-produced paper,” she says. “I could see that the tradition wouldn’t survive in today’s new commercial environment, so I decided to do something. I didn’t want the traditional skills lost for future generations.”

For the Kyoto native, it was clear the future lay in extending the use of washi beyond its traditional applications. “Washi’s character makes it perfectly suited to contemporary interiors and buildings,” she says. “It is also completely different to machine-made paper. I was so impressed when I first saw how it was made. It’s physically demanding, time-consuming and requires absolute devotion. Artisans have to repeatedly wash the fibers clean of dirt and sand grains in very cold water. But when a sheet of washi is born, it’s magical.”

Horiki’s reputation for understanding clients’ needs and creating distinctive statement pieces made her the artist of choice when American architectural firm Pelli Clarke Pelli was looking for a momentous work of art to adorn the spacious Winter Garden in the new Club.

“We wanted something that resonated with both the United States and Japan [that could] still hold its own in a space that large, where the lighting changes dramatically

REDEVELOPMENT

The journey back to Azabudai 33

Eriko Horiki is a pioneer of innovation in the centuries-old craft of washi paper production—and her spectacular hanging in the new Club proves it.

throughout the day and at night,” says Club Redevelopment Director Alistair Gough. “It was a true collaborative relationship between client, artist and architect.”

The artistic result, titled “Light Wall,” was created from natural white paper, a material believed since ancient times to possess certain spiritual, purifying qualities. Rainbow-colored threads, symbolizing light and hope, were added to form variations in the texture.

“The composition is based on the motif inspired by tatewaku,” says Horiki, referring to the traditionally auspicious pattern that represents steam rising up and curling in the air—a mark of happiness and prosperity. “The two sets of curved lines crossing each other create a motif, expressing the exchange between Japan and America.”

“Overcoming the natural limitations of washi was critical in creating such a large piece,” she continues. “When I first started working with washi, not knowing the limitations of [it] helped me go beyond the confines of traditional rules. I tried things that others couldn’t. Our earliest experiments weren’t always successful, and that was very frustrating, but our work with colors and patterns was very successful.”

With her team of highly skilled craftsmen, Horiki has experimented by applying dyes and such novel elements as stainless steel wire, silk and gold powder to the natural fibers. She even patented a process that combines washi with other materials, so it can be used as an architectural form. Sandwiched

between layers of safety glass, the washi forms a robust, non-reflective wall that retains the texture and translucency of paper and transforms the aesthetic of the spaces. Another breakthrough, evident in the creation of “Light Wall,” has been the production of larger sheets of paper than ever before, allowing for seamless installations.

Producing one washi sheet is a delicate, labor-intensive process. An average of 10 workers are needed to make a standard sheet, which measures 2.7 meters by 2.1

meters. The Winter Garden piece, by comparison, stands 9.8 meters high and 1.4 meters wide; it took a full month to complete.

“When a client comes looking for something unusual, I try to think about what new technique could achieve what they want,” says the artist. “We keep pushing the potential of washi

and try not to have preconceived ideas about limits.”

Horiki takes pride in being involved in all aspects of her business, from developing the design concept and making the paper in her workshop to supervising the final installation to ensure that it meets her rigorous standards. And it’s such dedication and passion that has proven the driving force behind a wider renaissance in washi. o

Shaw is a Tokyo-based freelance journalist.

Eriko Horikiwww.eriko-horiki.com

by Catherine Shaw

Open ForEnrollment

・Reggio Emilia-inspired school・Outstanding second language

program in Mandarin・Offer after class Mandarin program・Highly qualified international staff

・Parents welcomed as education partners・Excellent teacher-student ratio

Eriko Horiki


All exhibits in the Frederick Harris Gallery are for sale and can be purchased by Membership card at the Member Services Desk. Sales of works begin at 6 p.m. on the first day of the exhibition.

More than anything, 97-year-old artist Toko Shinoda wants her abstract works of art, which elegantly marry traditional calligraphy with modern sensibilities, to hold a different meaning for each observer. A child, she hopes, will not see the same thing as a grandmother. That significance should evolve over time so that each viewing reveals a fresh take.

“When you observe a painting of a rose, it will look the same tomorrow as it does today,” she says. “When you look at the same work of abstract art from one day to the next, even though the artwork hasn’t changed, you have.”

Renowned for their equilibrium of bold and delicate, with occasional splashes of color, Shinoda’s lithographs and sumi ink paintings have been exhibited worldwide. While one of her large pieces, “Soumon,” has adorned Club walls for years, many novel works will mark the first exhibition in the sleekly designed Frederick Harris Gallery in Azabudai.

All but the prints are left untitled to further the unlimited potential for imagination. “If a work is called ‘Wind,’ you think about wind only,” she says. “Without a title, maybe more conversations will occur between you and the piece.”

by Wendi Hailey

TokoShinoda

ExhibitionJanuary 18–February 27

Wine and Cheese ReceptionTuesday, February 16:30–8 p.m.Frederick Harris GalleryFreeOpen to all Members

To learn more about the celebrated artist, turn to page 38.

Exhibitions of art 35

FREDERICK HARRIS GALLERY

With a robust sense of humor and provocative inclinations, Utagawa Kuniyoshi crafted an estimated 10,000 prints in his lifetime and possessed a refined talent and popularity that rivaled such esteemed Edo-era peers as

Hokusai and Hiroshige.

Kuniyoshi was born to a silk dyer in 1797 and joined the Utagawa school of ukiyoe printmaking at age 14, studying under master Utagawa Toyokuni until striking out on his own. The young artist gravitated initially to Kabuki actors as his subjects in a similar style to his teacher, but then produced a breakthrough series of prints, 108 Heroes of the Suikoden, based on a 14th-century Chinese tale of adventurous bandits

and rebels.

The printmaker continued to create remarkable works of warriors, heroes, ghosts and cats (which often loitered around his studio), as well as a large number of comical prints called giga, some of which were silly entertainment and others that captured

social and political critiques of the time.

“Especially his comic prints were very creative and unique, and we can find his real passion, soul and love in them,” says Haruno Akiyama, who owns part of the private collection that will adorn the Club’s art cases later this month. “Kuniyoshi’s comic prints [are likely] one of the origins of the now-flourishing

Japanese comic culture.”

The historical display will offer the first bilingual translation of the prints and their Edo-period background. In addition, a poignant memorial portrait of Kuniyoshi, created after his death in 1861 by Utagawa Yoshiiku, one of his many pupils, will be

displayed during this unique retrospective.

by Wendi Hailey

UtagawaKuniyoshi

ExhibitionFebruary 28–March 27

Wine and Cheese ReceptionTuesday, March 1

6:30–8 p.m.Frederick Harris Gallery

FreeOpen to all Members


Go MobilePhone Rental

Need a rental mobile phone or help with translation? Want to find useful English mobile sites? Go Mobile—more than just a phone.www.gomobile.co.jp

MyToyota.jp

English support for all your Toyota and Lexus needs. Available services: Q&A by e-mail; dealer visit assistance; and translation of estimates, contracts and other related documents. www.mytoyota.jp/english

stacks of services at the Club

André Bernard Beauty Salon

Hair care for adults and kids, manicure, pedicure, waxing and more.Tel: 03-4588-0685 Family Area (B1)Tue–Sun9 a.m.–6 p.m.

FedEx

To find out more about the range of services and Member discounts, visit the FedEx counter. Family Area (B1)Mon–Fri: 1–5 p.m. (closed Sun and national holidays)Sat: 12 p.m. (pickup only)

Spica

The Club’s professional shoe repair and polishing service. Tel: 03-4588-0670Family Area (B1)Sat: 1–4:30 p.m. Sun: 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.Weekday drop-off: Member Services Desk (B1)

JTB Sunrise Tours

Enjoy a 5 percent discount on all package tours and start making unforgettable memories. Tel: 03-5796-5454 (9:30 a.m.–8 p.m.)E-mail: [email protected]

MEMBER SERVICES

yokoso

sayonara

Ikuyo Maeda & Jon TarumotoJapan—Willowbrook International School

Rosalie BarsottiUnited States—Westinghouse Electric Company

Michael & Allison Leoni United States—Goldman Sachs (Japan) Holdings

Matthew & Veronica MittinoUnited States—Abbott Japan Co., Ltd.

Nichole BanksAustralia—Beacon Communications K.K.

Kris Sisneros & Tomoko Sisneros-Yasutaki United States—Alcon Japan Ltd.

Thomas & Emily CannellUnited States—MSD K.K.

Gary & Kelley Maggetti United States—Walt Disney Attractions Japan Ltd.

David & Amy BrandtUnited States—Dow Corning Toray Co., Ltd.

Gordon & Denise BellAustralia—Barclays Capital Japan Ltd.

Darrow Becker & Hisako KomiyamaUnited States—Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC

Masanari & Regina KawashimaJapan—Gonohashi Ladies Clinic

Suga KotakeJapan—Team, Inc.

Olga Notkina & Mark PareRussia—Japan Tobacco, Inc.

Roger & Michele HeinzelmannSwitzerland—Straumann Japan K.K.

Michelle KramerUnited States—Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K.

David & Denise KallasUnited States—McDonald’s Japan

David & Michelle Swick United States—Caterpillar Japan Ltd.

Michael Rude & Sharon Reisner-RudeUnited States—Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.

William & Sonia GillUnited States—MSD K.K.

Paul Watkinson & Hiroko KandaUnited Kingdom—GE Capital Real Estate

Peter Glusker & Dalia GoldUnited States—Gilt Groupe

Anders & Tina Peterson Sweden—Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics Asia

Emmanuel & Christine BlinFrance—Bristol-Myers K.K.

Hitoshi & Ai Masumizu Japan—Jefferies Japan Ltd.

Scott & Heather LeClair United States—Nike Japan Corp.

Jan HedemannAustralia—Alfa Laval K.K.

Taiga & Kaori HosokiJapan—Nido Tokyo

Winston JenAustralia—Kenmei Real Estate K.K.

Hiroko FuruichiJapan—taller de Hortensia

Fusataro & Hideko Oshima Japan

Matthew & Kaori Bogomol

Jeffrey Boyle

Daniel & Lisa Brand

Wataru Horie

Damien Horth & Jacqueline Bennett

Christian & Nicolette Jaeger

David & Stacie Mitchinson

Andrew & Maria Palmer

Marcus & Nozomi Sakamoto

David & Gabrielle Townshend

Faruk & Dilek Yener

Ashley Young & Andrew Brown

Gary & Chana Zimmerman

MEMBER SERVICES

Services and benefits for Members 37

Why did you decide to join the Club?“After spending nine years in Hanoi, Vietnam, this is a good time for us to become Members. We are happy to have the opportunity to meet and socialize with other Members. Our kids enjoy renting movies and checking out books from the Library, and we look forward to participating in more events.”

(l–r) Jun, Mei, Mayumi and Tohma Kobayashi

Why did you decide to join the Club?“We’ve been living in Oregon [for] the last three years, so becoming Members looked [like] the best option for smoothing the transition into the Japanese world. Thanks to the sport facilities and the opportunities for socializing, it is a great place for our kids as well. My husband is passionate about wine, and the Club has been presented to him as the place to share this passion with other wine enthusiasts. I’m a children’s book illustrator and painter, so this

should be a great opportunity for people to get to know my art.”

(l–r) Cecilia, Tiziano, Virginia, Monica and Pietro Russolo

new member profileJun & Mayumi KobayashiJapan—IHI Infrastructure Systems, Co., Ltd.

new member profileTiziano & Monica Russolo

Italy—Nike Japan Corp.

HarumiNarizuka

Harumi Narizuka’s first trip to the United States was so overwhelming for the painfully shy 15-year-old that

it’s a wonder it didn’t prove to be her final encounter with the English language.

Traveling to cities like Chicago and Seattle with her sister and an American student who had stayed with Narizuka’s family in Tokyo while attending university, Narizuka was stunned by the towering buildings, people and plates of food.

The language was equally intimidating. “I couldn’t understand any words [people said],” she says. “I tried not to look at people, in case they talked to me.”

Despite the rather traumatic linguistic

experience, Narizuka grew inquisitive. “If I hadn’t gone then, I wouldn’t have learned English,” says the 38-year-old. Her interest in the global lingua franca grew at vocational school after high school, and she eventually headed to Australia to improve her language skills.

After studying in Noosa on the east coast, she headed south to the Gold Coast, where she helped Japanese tourists at a local amusement park. Missing home, she returned to her native Tokyo after 10 months in Queensland and began looking for a job.

Hearing about the Club from a friend who worked there, Narizuka applied for a position at the Recreation Services Desk. She

has now been guiding Members through the myriad of fitness and health-related facilities and services for 14 years, and in November she was named Employee of the Month (she picked up the Employee of the Year award in 2001).

In recent years, Narizuka has developed a particular fascination with the cultures of the Mediterranean. Last year, she traveled around Egypt for two weeks (her second trip) and in 2009 she ventured to Turkey. Next on her to-visit list is Tunisia, a North African country rich in history and culture.

Without that distressing first journey to America more than two decades ago, however, her passport may well have stayed unused. o

employee of the month

by Nick Jones


As a small child, Toko Shinoda would practice calligraphy, diligently copying the graceful strokes onto a canvas as her father, a tobacco executive and her shodo instructor, looked

on. In her teenage years, though, she grew tired of the conventions and a fascination with creative form began to take hold.

“By the time I was 20 years old, I wanted to make something new,” recalls the 97-year-old artist, sitting in her softly lit, two-story apartment in central Tokyo on a rainy, late autumn afternoon. “I was not interested in merely replicating things on paper. I wanted

Modern MasterWith the new Club’s inaugural art exhibition set to feature the works of Toko Shinoda, the much-lauded artist discusses a life of pushing back artistic boundaries.

by Wendi Hailey

A look at culture and society 39

INSIDE JAPAN

to create something that does not exist out of lines and color. I still desire to do that now.”

Donning a simple kimono, her white hair neatly pinned back, Shinoda shuffles through her studio space, filled with piles of canvases and paint brushes, and into a small den, where she eloquently reveals the evolution of her fêted work, which deftly blends traditional calligraphy with avant-garde concepts.

“If I go to a field and observe a plant, when the wind blows, it moves,” she explains. “If you’re painting landscapes or still-life portraits, you can only capture one precise moment. But it is always changing. It might grow, might move. It might rain, might fall down. People also have a lot of movements and emotions. You can only capture one moment with flowers and people. But abstractions can portray the possibility of the object.”

The extensive catalog of paintings and lithograph prints she has produced over several decades unfailingly captures those intangible motions and expressions. Many of her works exist in such permanent collections as the Guggenheim and Museum of Modern Art in New York. In a 1983 write-up, Time magazine concluded that “her trail-blazing accomplishments are analogous to Picasso’s.”

Born in 1913 in Manchuria, where her father managed a tobacco factory owned by the Japanese government, Shinoda moved to Tokyo when she was just a year old. The family practiced such time-honored pursuits as poetry and the 3,000-year-old Chinese art form of calligraphy. “It wasn’t a hobby, but a tradition,” she says. That cultural training led naturally to a prolific art career as Shinoda tested the bounds of convention.

Following World War II, while much of the resources and artistic vigor was depleted in Japan and Europe, the abstract expressionist movement began to ripple around the globe. New York City was at the apex of it all, sending creative minds flocking to its promising shores.

“I was very much impressed by abstract art,” Shinoda says. “All over the world, this art movement was beginning. I longed to express myself freely. When I discovered this movement after the war, it really matched my desire to express something inside of myself on paper.”

In 1956, she sailed across the ocean to join the movement in New York, showing her pieces at the famous Betty Parsons

Gallery and other admired art venues of the time. She mingled with the likes of Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline at cocktail parties as she forged a name for herself.

“Toko Shinoda, one of Japan’s leading calligraphic painters, represents a progressive movement among Japanese artists to liberate the art of writing from stiffened conventions,” surmised art critic Dore Ashton in an October 1957 New York Times review.

Shinoda moved back to Japan after three years, but continued to find success in America and revisited New York many times to exhibit her work. “It is a rare artist whose modernism is rooted in tradition without compromise in either direction,” esteemed Times critic John Canaday wrote in his appraisal of her sumi collection in May 1971. “Toko Shinoda…is such a rarity.”

The majority of her elegant works employ a monochrome palette to tap into the observer’s thoughts and experiences. “The best artwork pulls our imagination or heart by a string,” Shinoda says. “Even the same person, if they look at the same art on a different day, they might see a different thing.”

The pieces crafted in her studio are never predetermined. They are as uncontrollable, she says, as the weather and artistic perfection remains elusive. “It’s like life,” muses the painter. “You might make it and be happy one day, but not like it in three days. It’s different every day.”

Living alone, with the assistance of a helper who visits during the day, Shinoda continues to transform canvases with precise strokes on a daily basis. “Even if I don’t feel like it, I should do so because this is my work,” she says. “Otherwise, it’s my hobby; it’s fun.”

During the summer months, the painter stays at her rural home near Mount Fuji. Most of the time, the mountain remains stubbornly hidden in the clouds, but when it does make an appearance, it unshakably brings a fresh joy to the artist. “I’ve been observing Mount Fuji since I was 25 years old,” she says, “and I never get tired of it. It changes every day.”

It is that same dreamy sentiment that dwells at the essence of her masterful artwork. o

To learn about Shinoda’s exhibition of artwork at the Club, which starts this month, turn to page 34.

Kayo

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Starting from the entrance to the new Club, and with the wind in my face, I headed toward Gaien Higashi Avenue on a brisk fall day. Twenty steps later, I realized that wind can suck all the

moisture from your skin. At Hanbang, purveyor of Korean skin-care products, Miho Kaneda

had just the remedy. “Our products feature ginseng and collagen,” the 34-year-old said, smoothing a fragrant, slightly glittery gloop onto my cheeks. “Is there gold in it?” I asked. Kaneda nodded. I thanked her and skipped out feeling sparkly and 10 years younger.

Locating Mamiana slope, I found a historical marker that informed me that the hill was named after a hole dug at its foot by badgers, raccoon dogs, flying squirrels or miners (no one knows for sure) back in the area’s rural days. Continuing down the slope, I reached Mamiana Park and turned left onto a small street in the shadow of the Club.

Passing tiny stucco “kitchen bar” Furawana, I played peek-a-boo with Tokyo Tower between buildings. Streetlamps sporting dated celebrations of the tower, fish and soba chefs washing the street and a profound tranquility give this neighborhood a slightly worn vibe.

Here and there, though, new art galleries and entrepreneurs have brought some variation to the area. Take Ninagawa Gallery is one such addition. Focusing on emerging artists, it was hoping for a good audience at an upcoming show, titled “Strange Attractors,” by


Exploring the Club’s Backyard

The warren of small streets nestled around the new Club in Azabudai is home to a curious mix of the artistic, storied and unusual.

by Kit Pancoast NagamuraPhotos by Irwin Wong

provocative performance artist Aki Sasamoto. Across the street, I encountered a strange attractor myself, inside

what resembled a medieval castle grotto squeezed between two ordinary buildings. Fashion Hotel Alpha-In’s sign features a masked male, but nothing was to prepare me for Tokyo’s only love hotel devoted exclusively to the S&M set.

Requesting a tour, my attention bounced between handsome hotel owner Saori Imazeki, 38, and the various rooms he displayed. I glimpsed a leather horse (don’t ask), various restraint chairs, some threatening hotel “amenities” and soon learned the story behind the Alpha-In.

Imazeki’s father, fiction writer Kazumichi, once ran Ume no Yu, an onsen-like spa, on the same spot. As the area evolved and the onsen grew anachronistic, Kazumichi demolished it and built a business hotel instead. Noting that his S&M fiction was proving popular, he styled a room or two accordingly. Those rooms did a screamingly good business, so he revamped the entire place.

“We’re unique in Japan,” Imazeki told me. “Our clientele includes famous actors, top sports players, politicians—you name ’em.” Naturally, he eschewed names.

I walked across the street, straight into a party. Arjya, an antique accessories, jewelry and fashion furs boutique, was celebrating moving its business from Odaiba. “I simply adore this neighborhood,” gushed owner Etsuko Kurihara, 47, adjusting displays of chunky rings and vintage adornments. “When you see the right thing, it calls to you.”

Nearby, I met Takae Kitahara, 60, owner of Ki o Gama, which sells the works of Saga Prefecture potter Suehiro Koga. “His work is practical, clean design,” Kitahara said, lighting a candle under one of Koga’s precisely carved ceramic lamps.

Something about Kitahara convinced me that she was a key figure in the neighborhood. Arjya’s owner dashed over with a plate of food and cup of wine for her, then several neighbors, followed by a gang of kids,

stopped by to gossip over tea or grab candy from a bowl. She chatted with each, welcoming them in as she did me, a complete stranger.

I was reluctant to leave Kitahara, but hunger led me to Tokyo’s first Michelin-starred unagi (grilled eel) restaurant. Nodaiwa, with 170 years in the business, knows eel. The one I ordered was subtle and sweet and so soft it yielded to the gentlest nudge from my chopsticks. After lunch, I was lucky to meet fifth-generation owner Kanejiro Kanemoto. An avid mountain climber, the 82-year-old beckoned me

to follow as he bounded up the stairs to a tatami-matted room.

Nodaiwa’s décor was impressive, with enormous beams and intricate screens rescued from an Edo-era storehouse in Nagano Prefecture. A kimono-clad waitress, bathed in light from hand-blown bulbs beneath milk-glass shades, brought tea and sliced persimmons while Kanemoto described his birthplace.

“Originally, we had merchants up on the hill, and artisans here below, like me, who started learning trades from age 12,” he explained. “Then the war came, the streets were widened and the area became devoted to car repair; it was a horrible time and we lost nearly all our artisans and businesses. Artisans are essential people.”

Kanemoto, who satisfies on average 5,000 customers a month, is clearly essential. Thanking him, I moved on and paid tribute to the deities at Kumano Shrine: Ebisu, the

god of prosperity, and Yatagarasu, a three-legged crow that represents the sun and divine intervention and serves as the mascot of the Japan Football Association.

A (bipedal) crow cawed overhead, divinely suggesting that my day was nearly done. I briefly browsed fragrant Cigar Club La Casa del Habano, which sells Cuba’s finest and offers patrons a stogie hotel in its climate-controlled basement vaults, before ascending the narrow slope toward the Club. o

Nagamura is a Tokyo-based writer and freelance journalist.

OUT & ABOUT

HANBANG SALON

CIGAR CLUB

KUMANO SHRINE

NODAIWA

ARJYA/KI O GAMA POTTERY SHOP

Cigar Club www.cigarclub.co.jp

Take Ninagawa Gallerywww.takeninagawa.com

Nodaiwawww.nodaiwa.co.jp

Hanbang Salonwww.hanbang.co.jp

Ki o Gama Pottery Shop Tel: 03-3224-0580

ArjyaTel: 03-5455-5928

MAMIANA PARKTOKYO AMERICAN CLUB

TAKE NINAGAWA GALLERY

Explorations beyond the Club 41


For more photos from some events displayed in these pages,visit the Event Image Gallery (under News & Info) on the Club website.

The New York Suite took a cue from Bryant Park when

illustrious Japanese fashion designer Junko Koshino

unveiled a fabulous line of garments and accessories

in a show titled “Japan Essence.” Celebrity Mako Hattori

Valentine hosted the event and several Women’s Group

members were selected by Koshino to walk the runway

alongside bona fide models for the crowd of nearly 100

attendees. A portion of the proceeds from the sale that

followed the show was donated to the Women’s Group’s

charitable programs.

Photos by Kayo Yamawaki

Women’s Group Monthly Luncheon: Junko KoshinoFashion ShowNovember 15

1. Nandini Gupta 2. (l–r) Nandini Gupta, Lynda Yonamine, Judy Williams, Catherine Shaw, Junko Koshino, Sandra Isaka, Amisha Sarvaiya and Florina Neagu 3. Lynda Yonamine 4. (l–r) Tina Nishida, Haruno Akiyama and Kit Nagamura 5. Junko Koshino with Mako Hattori Valentine 6. (l–r) Barbara Hancock, Anita Pratap, Carmela Ben Shitrit, Florina Neagu, Junko Koshino, Haruno Akiyama and Lynn Lai 7. Carmela Ben Shitrit 3

65

Snapshots from Club occasions 43

EVENT ROUNDUP

1

2

7

4



Paul Hobbs Wine Showcase November 18

Wine-loving Members and their friends were in for a

treat when trailblazing American vintner Paul Hobbs

brought a diverse selection of his top-notch wines

to Vineyards. With lush décor that hinted at the new

Decanter restaurant scheduled to open at the new Club

in October, diners were treated to six newly released

vintages from his California winery and knockout bottles

from his Viña Cobos venture in Argentina, along with

black truffles and other decadent dishes.

Photos by Irwin Wong

1. Paul Hobbs (left) 2. Jon Sparks 3. Machiko Romaine 4. (l–r) Former Food & Beverage Director Michael Marlay with Gary and Kathleen Winer 5. Gayle Olsen (left) and Steve Romaine

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Snapshots from Club occasions 45

EVENT ROUNDUP

Christmas at the Club December

Decked in seasonal lights and decorations, the Club

became a winter wonderland throughout December

with an array of festive celebrations for children of

all ages. The Tokyo International Players delighted

audiences during the annual Family Christmas Dinner

Show with a colorful, interactive play called “Shape Up,

Santa.” And Santa himself made another Club cameo to

chat with kids, snap photos and spread holiday cheer.

Photos by Ken Katsurayama

1. Kimberly and Eric Tani 2. Aiden Thomas (right) with guest

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Twenty members of the Mudsharks, the Club’s swim team,

headed to the Taiwanese capital in November to compete

against a number of other teams from across Asia. The

action-packed annual event at the Taipei American School

saw all the Club’s swimmers chalk up personal bests in

one or more of their events.

Citi InvitationalSwim Meet in TaipeiNovember 20–21

1. (l–r) Nicola Lindell, Sarah Chan, Mudsharks coach Simon Hadlow, Ashley Lin and Rebecca Chant 2. (l–r) Matthew Chant, Ashley Lin, Matthew Rossiter, Sarah-Ann Stephenson, Sarah Chan, Katie Genty, Philip Rossiter, Carolyn Genty, Mattias Lindell, Samantha March, Frank Glantz, Nicola Lindell, Courtney Ishibashi, Mariko Lee, Clayton Genty, Jon-Jon March, Grant Pulley and Sam Stephenson 3. Katie Genty 4. Sarah Chan and Nicola Lindell 5. Ashley Lin and Sarah Chan 6. (l–r) Ashley Lin, Sarah Chan and Nicola Lindell

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Two dozen participants explored the inner workings of the

renowned Hakkaisan Sake Brewery in Niigata Prefecture. The

group learned about the history, ingredients and brewing

process of Japan’s iconic drink before touring the facility,

enjoying a private sake tasting and sitting down to a luscious

lunch of local cuisine and premium sake with Hakkaisan boss

Jiro Nagumo. Before heading home, the Culture Committee-

sponsored tour stopped at a famed Zen temple, Untoan, to

soak up the ethereal surroundings and colorful foliage.

Photos by Miki Ohyama

Hakkaisan Sake Brewery Tour November 14

1. Shigematsu Nagumo with Makiko McLellan 2. (l–r) Bonnie Corwin, Sachiko Katsumata and Sylvia Wong 3. (l–r) Kathy Urquhart, Adriana and Peter Ferraro and Kazumasa Ohyama

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Hachiya has been pioneering originality since its inception in Kagoshima in 1898. Initially producing tabi socks for kimono, Hachiya expanded its range of products to include exclusive kimono accessories, before establishing the Think Bee! brand in the 1970s. Think Bee! uniquely fuses traditional Japanese design with European textile expertise in a line of stunningly stylish handbags, shoulder bags and clutch purses. Much like the dedication and craftsmanship displayed by a colony of bees, Hachiya and Think Bee! apply the same qualities in the pursuit of the exquisitely elegant.

Think style. Think chic. Think Bee!

2-5-14 Azabu Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0045Tel: 03-3402-1324

Daily: 11 a.m.–8 p.m. (closed New Year holidays)

Customer service: 0120-898-554 (weekdays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.)

www.thinkbee.co.jp


TOKYO MOMENTS


So, how do I look?” I asked my sons. I had spent some extra time on my appearance and was looking for honest feedback. “Do you see any wrinkles or laugh lines? Do I look youthful and

energetic? Which is my best side? Do I look thirsty?”“I don’t get it, Mom. Are you going out?” my youngest son said.“Yes, in fact, I am,” I answered. “I have a date with destiny.”“Who’s Destiny?” he asked. “Does Dad know about this? Daaaaaaad!”I had decided to check out a new kind of drink vending machine

in Shinagawa Station. During my time in Japan, I have seen the full gamut of vending machines, dispensing cold drinks, hot drinks, beer, energy drinks, ice cream, snacks and even kids’ toys, as well as machines for photos, pachinko and parking. I thought there was nothing more to see.

I was wrong. There’s a new vending machine in town. Not only does it have a high-tech, touch-screen menu, but it recommends particular drinks based on how you look.

“Please, no coffee, please, no coffee, please, no coffee,” I muttered as the machine’s built-in camera studied me. I just didn’t want a machine telling me that I looked stressed and exhausted.

“OK, shoulders back, chin up,” I told myself. “No, wait, chin down. Or should it be chin up? Glasses on…or off?” Flash!

“Can you take it again, please?” I pleaded with the machine. “I think you scanned me mid-blink. Let me put my glasses back on.”

“Please, no coffee, no coffee, no coffee,” I chanted quietly. The machine ran its diagnostic calculations and offered me its

first recommendation: water. No surprise there. “No coffee, no coffee, no coffee,” I droned. The machine’s second recommendation was green tea. Being in

Japan, that was hardly an eye-opener, either. Waiting for the machine’s third and final suggested tipple, I

continued to hope against a caffeine-infused pick-me-up. “So, Mom, how did it go?” my son asked later.“There’s good news and bad news,” I said. “Apparently, vitamin-

enriched lemon liquid is written all over my face.”“What’s the bad news?”“Well,” I said, studying the small jar in my hand, “when I selected

it, a message popped up in Japanese that I couldn’t read. Now, I’m not sure if I’m supposed to drink it or wash my face with it.” o

Face-Offby Karen PondIllustration by Akiko Sato

Documents

iNTOUCH Jan-Feb