intouch july 2014

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

July 2014

I WANTYOU TO CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY AT THE CLUB

Issue 591 • July 2014

FLAVORS FROM PARADISEA weeklong tribute to modern Hawaii

CONSERVING CRAFTSMANSHIPOne Member’s lifeline for Japanese design

DOWN ON THE FARM Nurturing Club-supported rural leaders

Gastronomic pleasures, vibrant nightlife, intimate

pool settings, exhilarating spa treatments and

all that Oahu has to offer create a feeling of

progressive luxury, as refi ned as it is relaxed.

Make the most of every moment with us.

808.450.3396

A C O S M O P O L ITA N L I F E S T YL E H O T E L

®

let our style seduce you

808.943.5900MORIMOTOWAIK IK I .COM

W A I K I K I

THE MODERN HONOLULU & Morimoto Waikiki blend sexy and sophisticated in everything we do.

iNTOUCH ManagementAnthony L CalaGeneral Manager Wayne Hunter, DirectorGMO & Membership Business OperationsBrian MarcusAsst GM, Business Operations Scott Yahiro, DirectorRecreation Nori Yamazaki, DirectorFood & Beverage Jonathan Allen, DirectorMember Services & Guest Studios

To advertise in iNTOUCH, contact Rie Hibino: [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

14 Video Library

16 Recreation

18 Women’s Group

20 Feature

26 Talking Heads

28 Frederick Harris Gallery

30 Cultural Insight

32 Member Services

34 Inside Japan

36 Out & About

39 Event Roundup

48 Back Words

Editor Nick Jones [email protected]

DesignersShane BusatoAnna Ishizuka

Production AssistantYuko Shiroki

Assistant Editor Nick Narigon

Business SupportLian ChangAsst GM, Business Support Darryl Dudley, DirectorEngineering Shuji Hirakawa, DirectorHuman Resources Naoto Okutsu, DirectorFinance Aron Kremer, DirectorMarketing & Communications Toby Lauer, DirectorInformation Technology

FEATURE American-SizedBirthday BashJuly Fourth at the Club was

once a three-day festival

of fireworks, dances and

tantalizing spreads of food.

With the Club planning a

new-look celebration for

this year, longtime Members

share memories of past

Independence Day bashes.

8 FOOD & BEVERAGEAloha FlavorsSet to bring some Hawaiian flair

to the Club kitchens this month,

Scott Toner, executive chef of

the ultrachic Modern Honolulu

hotel, talks about his journey

into the world of cuisine.

34 INSIDE JAPANNurturing Crops and Leaders in Rural JapanTwo Women’s Group-supported

rural leaders explain how a

hands-on course at a farm in

Tochigi will help them develop

their communities back home.

16 RECREATIONBeating the BulgeJohn Irvine, champion of the “I

Lost It at the Club” weight-loss

challenge, reveals the exercise

and diet regimen that helped

him drop more than 7 kilos in

10 weeks.

22

Cover illustration by Yohei Takahashi

Benj

amin

Par

ks

Gastronomic pleasures, vibrant nightlife, intimate

pool settings, exhilarating spa treatments and

all that Oahu has to offer create a feeling of

progressive luxury, as refi ned as it is relaxed.

Make the most of every moment with us.

808.450.3396

A C O S M O P O L ITA N L I F E S T YL E H O T E L

®

let our style seduce you

808.943.5900MORIMOTOWAIK IK I .COM

W A I K I K I

THE MODERN HONOLULU & Morimoto Waikiki blend sexy and sophisticated in everything we do.

2 July 2014 iNTOUCH

Department/E-mail Phone

American Bar & Grill (03) [email protected]

Banquet Sales and Reservations (03) [email protected]

Beauty Salon (03) 4588-0685

Bowling Center (03) [email protected]

Café Med (03) [email protected]

Catering (03) [email protected]

Childcare Center (03) [email protected]

Communications (03) [email protected]

Decanter/FLATiRON (03) [email protected]

Engineering (03) [email protected]

Finance (03) 4588-0222 [email protected]

Fitness Center (03) 4588-0266 [email protected]

Food & Beverage Office (03) 4588-0245 [email protected]

Foreign Traders’ Bar (03) [email protected]

Guest Studios (03) [email protected]

Human Resources (03) 4588-0679

Information Technology (03) 4588-0690

Library (03) [email protected]

Management Office (03) [email protected]

Membership Office (03) [email protected]

Member Services (03) 4588-0670 [email protected]

Pool Office (03) [email protected]

Rainbow Café (03) [email protected]

Recreation Desk (03) [email protected]

The Cellar (03) [email protected]

The Spa (03) [email protected]

Video Library (03) [email protected]

Weddings (03) [email protected]

Women’s Group Office (03) [email protected]

Getting in Touch

Words from the editor 3

contributors

Back in the 1970s, the Club was very much an American oasis in the heart of a rapidly growing city. So many of the conveniences and foods from home we now take for granted in this cosmopolitan capital were simply unavailable then.

In a world of global brands and ubiquitous fast-food outlets, it’s hard to believe that Members came to the Club for a taste of a “genuine” American burger. But they did.

Naturally, then, the Club ensured that the July Fourth holiday was the biggest party of the year. Hundreds of Members descended on the Club for what was often a multiday celebration, complete with free drinks, a barbecue, speeches, dignitaries, music, entertainment and games.

“The Fourth of July was always a big deal,” recalls Steve Rice, who was the Club’s pool director and swim coach for the summers of 1971 to 1974. Such a large event, though, was always at the mercy of Mother Nature.

“The one I remember most was a near disaster as we were either at the beginning or the end of a typhoon,” says Rice, a retired high school guidance counselor, now living in Oregon. “The rain and wind drove us undercover of the parking garage. Paper plates and napkins and hot dogs blew into the pool. The party went on, accompanied by John Philip Sousa marches played over and over again on not very good speakers.”

For this month’s cover story, “American-Sized Birthday Bash,” my colleague Nick Narigon talked to a host of longtime Members to hear similar tales from past Independence Day parties at the Club.

In a nod to those July Fourth extravaganzas of yesteryear, the Club’s Independence Day celebration on July 5 promises to be a day packed with fun, food and family entertainment. Get set to party like it’s 1971!

from theeditor

TimHornyak

Rob Goss is a freelance writer specializing in Japan-related stories on everything from business and sustainability to society and travel. His work has appeared in publications around the world, including Time, National Geographic, Eurobiz Japan and Lexus

magazines and Fodor’s, Rough Guides and Insight Guides guidebooks. His most recent project has seen him write a pair of Japan guides for Tuttle Publishing. Originally from Dartmoor, in southwest England, Goss arrived in Japan in 1999 and currently lives in Tokyo with his wife and young, soccer-obsessed son. A frequent contributor to iNTOUCH, he offers a selection of ideas for fun and adventure-laden summer day trips from Tokyo in this month’s Out & About.

RobGoss

Tokyo-based freelance journalist Tim Hornyak’s writings on Japanese culture, technology and history have appeared in the likes of Wired News, Scientific American and the Far Eastern Economic Review. The author of Loving the Machine: The Art

and Science of Japanese Robots, the Montreal native has been a contributor to CBS Interactive’s popular CNET News website and is now the Tokyo correspondent for technology newswire IDG News. Having traveled to all 47 of Japan’s prefectures, he has coauthored Lonely Planet guidebooks on Tokyo and Japan. For this month’s Inside Japan, he traveled to the Asian Rural Institute in northern Tochigi to meet two South Asian women learning sustainable farming and leadership skills there.

TimHornyak

4 July 2014 iNTOUCH

Wednesday–

Thursday9–10New Zealand NightThe Club’s executive chef and resident Kiwi, Lindsay Gray, serves up a stunning New Zealand spread, including succulent roasted leg of lamb. 5 p.m. More on page 8. Continues July 23–24.

What’s on in July

Sunday20Modern Hawaii Grand BuffetA Polynesian feast is topped off with live entertainment and the chance to win a holiday in paradise. New York Ballroom. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4:30–7 p.m. Adults (18 and above): ¥5,555; children (4–17 years): ¥2,700; infants (3 and under): free. Sign up online or by calling 03-4588-0308.

Tuesday–

Monday15–21Tribute to Modern HawaiiThe Club’s restaurants celebrate cuisine from the Aloha State, as chefs from the Modern Honolulu boutique hotel bring a touch of Hawaiian flair to the Club’s kitchens. Read more on page 8.

Tuesday 1 Spa SurveyTake The Spa’s online survey and receive a ¥2,000 gift certificate for use on a range of a rejuvenating treatments. Check the details on page 17.

Tuesday 1 Women’s Group Office Summer HoursThrough August 1, the Women’s Group Office is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (9 a.m.–2 p.m.) and for Coffee Connections on July 28. The office will be closed for the Bon holiday (August 4–15) and return to normal hours on August 18.

Tuesday 1 Summer All-Star SportsEnergetic youngsters learn teamwork and skills through an array of fun sports. Discover more on page 17.

Tuesday 1 Summer All-Star ScholarsAhead of the next school year, kids get an academic boost through a series of tutor-led sessions. For details, turn to page 17.

Saturday5Early Pregnancy and Birth PlanningExpectant parents prepare for the arrival of their bundles of joy during this Women’s Group class. 10 a.m.–12 p.m. ¥6,700. Sign up at Member Services.

Saturday–

Sunday5–6Family BBQ WeekendThe Independence Day festivities continue over the weekend with a feast in the Club’s family dining outlets. 5–8:30 p.m. Adults (18 and above): ¥2,670; juniors (12–17 years): ¥1,860; children (7–11 years): ¥1,430; kids (4–6 years): ¥950; infants (3 and under): free.

(Prices do not include 8 percent consumption tax.)

Noteworthy dates for the month 5

Coming up in August

1First Friday: Bon Odori

2New Member Orientation

Tuesday 1Summer Reading ProgramThe Library promises youngsters a summer of adventure, discovery and prizes through its bounty of books on offer. Stamp cards available at the Library. Ages 6–12. Free. Runs through August 15.

EVENTS

Thursday10Squash Social NightThe Club’s squash players enjoy an evening of casual play and a chance to put their skills to the test against professional Hitoshi Ushiogi, a former national champion. 6:15 p.m. Continues on July 29.

Saturday11 12–13Birth Preparation for CouplesExpectant parents prepare for the arrival of their bundles of joy during this Women’s Group class. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. ¥34,300. Sign up at Member Services.

Saturday–

Sunday

The Ultimate Lunch and Learn Workshop SeriesClub Member and president of Dale Carnegie Training Japan Dr Greg Story explains how to recover from mistakes and prevent them from happening again. 12 p.m. Washington Room. ¥1,900. Sign up online or at Member Services.

Friday4Family BBQ NightThe Club’s family dining venues fire up the coals for a Fourth of July holiday feast. 5–8:30 p.m.

Saturday5Independence Day CelebrationCelebrate the birthday of the United States with a daylong event, including live entertainment, special attractions and a traditional American barbecue. Turn to page 20 for the full rundown and memories of past July Fourth parties.

New Member OrientationThe Club’s newest Members learn about the Club and have a chance to mingle. 10 a.m. Washington and Lincoln rooms. Contact the Membership Office to reserve your spot at least one week in advance.

12

Wednesday16Gallery Reception: Art-muraPasona Heartful-supported talents launch an engaging exhibition of diverse works with a casual gathering at the Frederick Harris Gallery. 6:30 p.m. Learn more about the artists on page 28.

Saturday–

Sunday25–27 28Coffee ConnectionsWhether you’re new to Tokyo or you just want to meet new people, drop by this free Women’s Group gathering. Contact the Women’s Group Office to organize free childcare. 10:30 a.m.

Monday

TAC Premier ClassicThe Club hosts three days of top-level squash, as Japan’s pros battle for the TAC Premier Classic crown and Club players enjoy a chance to put their skills to the test. Squash Courts. All are welcome to watch.

American Red Cross Certificate ProgramThis basic water rescue course provides the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies. 11 a.m. Find the full details on page 17.

26–27Friday–

Sunday

Wednesday30New Member OrientationThe Club’s newest Members learn about the Club and have a chance to mingle. 6:30 p.m. Washington and Lincoln rooms. Contact the Membership Office to reserve your spot at least one week in advance.

11Employee Recognition Day

15Yatai Night

25Coffee Connections

Friday

6 July 2014 iNTOUCH

With an exciting variety of venues and activities on offer at the Club these days, daily usage is

high and there’s an inviting buzz in the air. The Club is an oasis where we can relax, dine, share a drink with a friend, keep fit, read a book, check out a movie, entertain a colleague, pamper ourselves in The Spa or beauty salon, be entertained at special events or just hang out.

The enticing possibilities are many, but have you ever considered using the Club as a source of personal growth? One point on which experts in all facets of well-being agree is that regardless of our age, for good physical and mental health, it is critical that we regularly step outside our comfort zone and challenge ourselves.

One way to do this is through the Club’s Toastmasters club. Worldwide, public speaking is one of the most

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

frequently cited fear-generating activities, yet it is crucial for influencing, informing and motivating others. Since its humble beginnings in 1924 in a YMCA basement in Santa Ana, California, Toastmasters has grown to nearly 300,000 members in 122 countries.

As a member myself, I invite you to take advantage of our TAC Toastmasters club, where you can improve your communication and leadership skills in a supportive environment, using the proven Toastmasters approach.

If you check out the recreation and Women’s Group classes, you’ll find a variety of additional opportunities to challenge yourself. For the greatest personal growth, try something in an area with which you have little to no experience.

You might also think about volunteering for a Club committee and, particularly if you tend to be rather quiet, asking questions and offering opinions and suggestions. If you have an interest that the Club doesn’t serve, why not consider starting the activity yourself?

Especially if you’ve never run for any kind of office before, consider putting your name in the ring for the Board of Governors when the next slate of candidates is drawn up. While it’s a rewarding experience for both men and women, I would particularly encourage

women to step forward, since I think we’re currently underrepresented on the Board and we add valuable, complementary experiences, perspectives and abilities to those of our male colleagues. Win or lose, male or female, stepping out of your comfort zone and becoming a candidate for governor is a growth experience.

Finally, a suggestion to all of us, but one that is undoubtedly a greater hurdle for our shyer Members: consider regularly introducing yourself to someone you don’t know. If you can do this across nationalities and language barriers, so much the better! This would not only be an important growth experience for each of us as individuals, it would add exponentially to the sense of community that is perhaps the greatest gift that the Club has to offer. o

Board of GovernorsJohn Durkin (2014)—Representative Governor,

Gregory Lyon (2014)—First Vice President, Brenda

Bohn (2014)—Second Vice President, Per Knudsen

(2014)—Secretary, Hiroshi Miyamasu (2015)—

Treasurer, Ginger Griggs (2015), Lance E Lee (2014),

Mark Miller (2015), Machi Nemoto (2014), Betsy

Rogers (2015), Jerome Rosenberg (2014), Mark

Henry Saft (2014), Sadashi Suzuki (2014), Kazuakira

Nakajima—Statutory Auditor (2014)

Barbecue party packages start from

¥6,900 per person (minimum: 20

people). To book your summer bash,

call 03-4588-0308 or e-mail

[email protected].

We’ll take care of the spectacular rooftop venue, sumptuous barbecued food and free-flow drink, so all you’ll need to organize is the eager partygoers.

Terms and conditions 8 percent consumption tax apply.

CELEBRATE THE SUMMER WITH THE PERFECT PARTY.

EARLYBIRD OFFERSave 10 percent on the cost of your party by booking it at least 30 days in advance.

Taking Up a Challenge

by Ginger Griggs

Executive remarks 7

MANAGEMENT

In 1785, the English poet William Cowper penned the lines: “Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all

its flavor.”Fast-forward 229 years to Azabudai,

where those lines hold true every day at the Club. If indeed variety is the spice of life, the vast offerings at the Club are like a veritable souk in Fez, with its aromas of cardamom and cumin, or a Sunday afternoon at Bangkok’s Chatuchak market, where the fragrance of lemongrass and Kaffir lime fills the air. I would say that it’s this variety that makes the Club so special.

As your assistant general manager of business operations, working with the Recreation, Food & Beverage, Member Services and Guest Studios teams over the past few months, I’ve learned that we are exploding with “spices” that entertain, nourish, teach and engage the

Membership. You only need to visit the website, stroll through the Club or speak with the staff to discover the world of possibilities at your Club.

Where else in Tokyo can you rent the latest Hollywood blockbuster, enjoy a massage or facial (or both!), golf at Pebble Beach (in our simulator), have a great pizza with a glass of world-class wine, dive into a magazine or newspaper from just about anywhere in the world, have your car

When we organize our classes, menus and other offerings, we keep all of you in mind. From tots to adults, carnivores to vegans, body builders to spinners, burger aficionados to molecular gastronomy adventurists—we truly offer something for everyone. Yes, variety is the spice of life and we love it hot!

Have you missed out on something? Did you learn too late about a Club-organized hike to Mount Fuji or an award-winning author evening? The information for the Club’s events, classes and food festivals is easier to locate than a spice vendor at Chatuchak or zatar in Fez’s Grand Bazaar. All upcoming events and classes at the Club are listed on the website and many of the events there you can register for online.

The Club also sends out Spotlight, an e-mailed weekly roundup of goings-on, as well as weekly e-mail announcements about particular events. You can also keep track of Club life and upcoming events through the Club’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Of course, our Member Services staff are also just a phone call away.

While Mr Cowper wrote those infamous lines long before the Club was founded, we have done a great job living up to them. So come and explore the Club—Tokyo’s largest spice market. Close your eyes and inhale. o

Practical Daily Conversation / Business Japanese / Test Preparation / Intensive Courses

Classes tailored to your needs • Home and office lessons available

Experienced Teachers | Supportive Counselors | Great Location and Atmosphere

3 minutes’ walk from Shibuya Station Tel: 03-5489-6480 www.we-japan.com

The Spices of the Club

by Brian MarcusAssistant General Manager

When we organize our classes, menus and other offerings, we keep all of you in mind. ”

“

washed, swim a few laps, grab a cappuccino with a friend, take an ikebana class and then book concert tickets—all before noon?

Then, after an afternoon snack, sweat your way through a cardio class before attending a wine dinner with one of Italy’s top winemakers and then sip a nightcap on the terrace of your five-star Guest Studio? I would venture to say nowhere else.

Scott Toner’s interest in food revealed itself at a young age. Growing up in Trenton, New Jersey, he would observe his grandmother

busy herself about her kitchen, which happened to be next door. “I used to watch her cook breakfast, lunch, dinner like it was a grand experience,” he says.

Inspired by the flavors crafted at home, he took his first step into the professional world of cooking at the age of 15. He was hired to work in the kitchens of a summer resort nearby. The experience proved to be a defining one.

Although he worked as a dishwasher, Toner (pictured) would come in before his shift to watch the chef at work in the same way he had scrutinized his grandmother’s kitchen creativity. “I think, in a lot of ways, it was almost classroom learning because I

guest

classic

chef

eats

Tribute to Modern HawaiiJuly 15–21

Modern Hawaii Grand BuffetSunday, July 2011 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4:30–7 p.m.New York BallroomAdults (18 and above): ¥5,555Children (4–17 years): ¥2,700Infants (3 and under): freeSign up online or by calling 03-4588-0308Prices exclude 8 percent consumption tax.

New Zealand NightJuly 9–10 and 23–245–8:30 p.m.Café MedAdults (18 and above): ¥2,380Juniors (12–17 years): ¥1,710Children (7–11 years): ¥1,430Kids (4–6 years): ¥950Infants (3 and under): freePrices exclude 8 percent consumption tax.

by Nick JonesAloha Flavors

was working with a chef,” the 43-year-old says. “But I think what was important was my first chef was very well disciplined and he had a great personality.”

With such a solid culinary grounding, Toner’s career began to blossom. In 1992, he flew almost 8,000 kilometers to join the kitchen team of the newly opened Grand Wailea resort in Maui, Hawaii. “That was my introduction to Hawaii and I don’t think I was here more than a week or two and I really fell in love with the culture and especially the weather,” he says.

Now the executive chef at the Modern Honolulu, a chic, cosmopolitan boutique hotel on Oahu, with one of the hottest restaurants in Honolulu, Toner, together with two of his talented staff, will be at the Club as part of a weeklong Tribute to Modern Hawaii festival this month.

“I’d say we are more modern American, with a little Pacific Rim influence,” he says of the highly regarded cuisine at the Modern Honolulu. “I think we are going to bring a lot of flavors of Hawaii, especially a lot of flavors of the Modern.”

With an array of aloha-inspired dishes available in all the Club restaurants, as well as at a special Modern Hawaii Grand Buffet, featuring live entertainment and the chance to win a holiday in paradise, you may as well cancel that stay in Waikiki. o

Kiwi Treats Simple, with good quality. That’s how the Club’s executive chef and resident Kiwi, Lindsay Gray, describes the cuisine of

his homeland. This month, the Club celebrates the

produce of the Land of the Long White Cloud with a bountiful spread that includes such culinary surprises as grass-fed beef, roasted leg of lamb, roasted kumara sweet potatoes and steamed mussels with a lemongrass twist.

“We will finish with New Zealand’s most famous dessert, pavlova,” says Gray. “I am proud to give Members an

exclusive taste of my favorite dishes from back home.” o

8 July 2014 iNTOUCH

Hawaii: The Perfect Escape

Hawaii. The name alone conjures images of white sand beaches, clear blue waters, teeming with tropical fish, gorgeous resorts,

and, of course, the unparalleled shopping of Waikiki. For those considering a visit to the 50th US state, there are a multitude of getaway possibilities across the archipelago.

Let’s begin with Oahu, a direct flight from Haneda. Honolulu—and Waikiki, in particular—offers a range of accommodations, miles of beach front and a serious shopper’s paradise. The Modern Honolulu is a perfect choice for visitors who appreciate a sophisticated, hip hotel. With several excellent dining options, superb hospitality and a prime location, The Modern attracts a diverse clientele.

For those looking for something more classically elegant and “Hawaiian,” the Halekulani has it all. With a Japanese-speaking staff, beautiful rooms and entrée into Honolulu’s many cultural venues, it’s the perfect base from which to explore all the city has to offer.

If you’re traveling with children, Aulani Disney has everything you need and more. Just three years old, this sprawling resort has both hotel rooms and villas, with full

ADVERTORIAL

Four Seasons Hualalai

kitchens at reasonable rates. Much of the resort is English-Japanese bilingual, and there’s enough going on to keep kids of all ages entertained for days.

For something a bit less populated, consider the Big Island. Just a short plane ride away, it’s the largest of all the islands but home to the smallest population, two volcanoes, endless gorgeous beaches and the best coffee in the northern hemisphere.

And for the ultimate Hawaii experience, look no further than Four Seasons Hualalai. From the moment you arrive, you’ll find the hospitality and service outstanding, as well as thoughtfully designed rooms and villas, fantastic food, many family-friendly activities and a splendid spa.

Just up the road sits the granddaddy of Big Island resorts: the inimitable Mauna Kea and, next door, the Hapuna. Both resorts offer a spectrum of accommodations and activities, and both are experienced with Japanese guests. Known for its stellar art collection, Mauna Kea continues to impress nearly 50 years after it opened its doors.

Hop over to Maui’s Wailea for many options, including the brand new Andaz Maui, a tribute to contemporary architecture and design, with an award-winning restaurant, dozens of activities, and a prime location. Not far away sits the luxurious Four Seasons Maui, inspired by Mediterranean architecture and overflowing with family-friendly activities and experiences. Just down the beach is the delightful, European-inspired Fairmont Kea Lani, which boasts both hotel-style rooms and private villas.

Last but far from least, there’s Lana’i, formerly known as the pineapple island. Nowadays, it’s home to two very different Four Seasons resorts: the classic Manele Bay property, abutting a beautiful golf course and with its own sheltered bay and playful porpoises, and Koele, which is inland and just beyond the quaint town of Lana’i. Feeling more like a huge plantation house than a hotel, the main building sprawls elegantly across a massive lawn, with an orchid house, pool, gym and easy access to horseback riding and archery.

Whichever island you favor (don’t forget Kauai and Molokai), there’s also the option to rent a vacation home or villa. Keep in mind that between December 20 and January 5, you can expect reduced availability and higher prices, while the rest of the year you’ll enjoy an unforgettable vacation on just about any budget. o

Talk to Erin at The Art of Travel travel desk about special Member-only benefits or e-mail [email protected].

Four Seasons Maui

Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. The Cellar (B1)

Tel: 03-4588-0516/076-221-1586E-mail: [email protected]

w w w. t h e a r t o f t r a v e l . n e t

Advertorial 9

In Search of HomeAuthor Mariko Nagai explains how her upbringing led to Dust of Eden, a collection of prose poems about a teenage girl’s experiences of a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II.

Our family moved around every three years or so when I was growing up. We were some of Japan’s first corporate nomads, those salarymen and their families who were

dispatched to offices around the world in the 1970s and early ’80s. In many ways, the history of our moves is the history of Japan’s rising economy.

These pioneering kaigai chuzaiin, or overseas workers, were selected to set up branch offices, find suitable sites for factories and represent the company abroad. What we knew, without being told, was that we had to carry with us, as the Japanese saying goes, the metaphorical hinomaru—the Japanese flag—wherever we went.

We also knew that wherever we went, we were only temporary visitors and would have to pack up and move at a single command from head office. We could never immerse ourselves too much in the host country. We weren’t immigrants or exiles; we were

Mariko Nagai

privileged expatriates, protected by the company and watched over by our country. And we could never turn “native.” Our home was Japan. We were Japanese.

Up until the age of 8, I experienced living in six different houses and among four different languages (Flemish, French, Japanese and English) and three different religions (Catholicism, Buddhism and Lutheran Christianity).

My brother changed schools 10 times in grades K-12, my sister and I, six times. I wasn’t supposed to feel at home anywhere, but, at the same time, I discovered how to feel at home everywhere, even in a strange land. I learned to cope with this sense of homelessness by establishing different aspects of my identity. Each language had its own place and I intuitively navigated between languages and gestures by watching people.

I learned to take on the colors of the landscape, blending in with the crowd, disappearing, or at least making myself so

10 July 2014 iNTOUCH

LIBRARY

Meet the Author: Mariko NagaiWednesday, November 267–8 p.m.Toko Shinoda Classroom

inconspicuous that even now, when I walk down a street in any city, people will often come up to me and ask for directions.

I have multiple selves, and I am perpetually baffled by the concept of home. What is home? Where do we feel at home? Or, more precisely, where do I feel at home? I hold a Japanese passport but culturally and intellectually I am a mixture of Japanese, American and European sentiments.

I’m comfortable wherever I go, be it a Southeast Asian village or Bavarian town, but I write in English, which makes me a part of the ever-growing diaspora of non-American, non-English writers, who write in English. Am I like a snail, carrying my home and identity on my back, forever moving from one place to another, or can I have that nomadic life because I have a sense of home here, where my true north is?

Displacement. Nationality. Loyalty. Home. I often ponder and write about these words’ meanings. My time in America proved to be the genesis for Dust of Eden. There, I met Japanese-Americans and learned about what happened to them during the period of internment during World War II.

Though their history wasn’t mine, I experienced—and still experience—racism on macro and micro levels wherever I travel. My fourth-grade teacher, when talking about Pearl Harbor, kept pronouncing the word Japanese as “Jap-nese”; teachers tried to give me an “American” name because they couldn’t pronounce mine; and someone once said to me, “Don’t speak Japanese around me—you’re in America.”

There were many stories. An older Japanese-American woman told me, “When I first moved here in the 1950s, I wore my best gloves whenever I went to a department store, or they wouldn’t sell anything to me.” While our doctor in San Francisco had to quit his university studies to enter an internment camp during the war. Later, a Quaker sponsored him to finish his degree at a Midwestern college. He then graduated from Harvard.

It feels like I have been thinking about Dust of Eden ever since I was small. Only when I reached a certain point in my life could I open that box of memories and see how they were all connected in a way I never thought possible.

There are many ways to tell a story. There are too many ways to tell a story, and you never know what makes it into a story, what remains untold or what triggers a string of ideas. Dust of Eden is one of those stories, constructed from a hodgepodge of experiences, both real and fictional. o

Nagai is an associate professor of creative writing and Japanese literature at Temple University, Japan Campus, in Tokyo.

Dust of Eden is available at the Children’s Library.

Nick Jones

Literary gems at the Library 11

off theshelf

The Birth of the Beatles

Ochs Sulzberger, who was the publisher of The New York Times well into his 80s, continued to

write book reviews even after he retired because he enjoyed reading so much. He once reviewed a book about penguins. He wrote that it was a fine book but told him more about penguins than he really wanted to know.

Unless you are an avid Beatles’ fan, you might well have the same reaction to Mark Lewisohn’s Tune In: The Beatles: All These Years, Volume 1. “Volume 1” is highlighted because after a whopping 803 pages (not counting the notes and index) the book only covers through 1962. There are three volumes planned and if you are a Beatlemaniac, you can look forward to at least another couple of thousand pages over the next few years.

Lewisohn modestly styles himself as “the world’s only professional Beatles historian.” His body of work is, indeed, impressive. The Complete Beatles and, in particular, Recording Sessions are well researched and highly readable. All These Years, however, is something else altogether. Through his own meticulous and painstaking research, as well as hundreds of interviews with even the most passing figures in the Beatles’ lives, Lewisohn humanizes John, Paul, George, Stu, Pete and, of course, Ringo.

“It all boils down to this,” he writes. “They were four war babies from Liverpool who really did change the world, and whose music lives on in so many ways, after all these years. Let’s scrub what we

by Haig Oghigian

know, or think we know, and start over: Who really were these people, and how did it all happen?”

It is extraordinarily (in both the positive and negative sense) thorough. Before the prologue, there is a three-page explanation of the pre-1971 British monetary system, so readers can understand what pounds, shillings, pence, guineas and bobs are, as well as a chart explaining what the equivalent value of one pound (from 1850 to 1962) is in 2013, as well as the current valuation in US dollars. It brings to mind a story I read about penguins.

Having said that, it’s the best book I have read about the group’s early years—where they came from and how they shaped their sound to become the Beatles. It is filled with nuggets from their Liverpool and Hamburg years, before their fame made it impossible to see them as ordinary people.

The book features some interesting tidbits: “It’s not possible to say precisely when Richard Starkey became Ringo Starr: His new name first appeared in print in a souvenir brochure for an eight-day jazz festival at the Cavern that began on January 10, 1960. The event was arranged before

Christmas 1959 and it’s probable that the information was received and souvenir brochure laid out before the holidays.” Too much information?

Lewisohn also explains how the Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein’s middle name came from his great-grandfather and that John Lennon’s father moved the family (the Stanleys) to Huskisson Street from 71 Berkley Street in 1938.

I exaggerate to make my point. If you are a fan and have the time, I recommend Tune In, which is packed with information and insights I hadn’t considered (George Martin’s comment that John brought in Paul, Paul introduced George and George championed Ringo’s entry into the Beatles).

My favorite line, though, is John’s response to a reporter’s question as to whether Ringo is one of rock and roll's best drummers: “Hell, he’s not even one of the best drummers in the Beatles!” o

Oghigian is a member of the Library Committee.

Tune In: The Beatles: All These Years, Volume 1 is available at the Library.

Before you jet off...To avoid being welcomed back to Tokyo with a Library fine, please remember to return your books before you leave for the summer.


new

Member: Joy Peterson Title: Who Was Steve Jobs? by Pam Pollack and Meg Belviso

What’s the book about?It is about Steve Jobs’ life and how he started Apple.

What did you like about it?I liked the book because I could read about a person who followed his dreams and kept on trying to succeed. Also, I liked it when he came to his meetings barefoot, so he could feel free.

Why did you choose it?I chose the book because I wanted to learn about a man who invented the computer I use every day.

What other books would you recommend?Other Who Was and Who Is books.

reads

LIBRARY

member’s choice

The Animal Book by Steve JenkinsFilled with fascinating trivia on creatures from prehistoric times to the present-day, this book will please budding scientists and animal lovers alike. Jenkins’ recognizable colorful artwork is ever prominent, with vivid details, rich colors and textures.

Revolutionary by Alex MyersDuring the Revolutionary War, a woman disguised herself as a man and enlisted in the Continental Army to fight for her country’s independence. In a novel that celebrates the struggles for individual freedom, Deborah Samson’s journey through the army’s ranks parallels her path to find her own voice.

Charlie and the New Baby by Ree DrummondEveryone’s favorite lovable hound returns, only this time he must share his space with a new addition to the family. Children will love the adorable illustrations while learning about the importance of adjusting to change through Charlie’s hilarious antics.

If This Isn’t Nice, What Is? Advice for the Young by Kurt VonnegutOne of the best-known contemporary novelists, Kurt Vonnegut was also one of the most in-demand commencement speakers of his time. This collection of graduation speeches to students across the United States offers a different lens into the author’s genius.

Frog Music by Emma DonoghueDuring a summer heat wave, a young woman is murdered and her friend risks everything to bring her murderer to justice. In her first crime thriller, Donoghue captures the soul of San Francisco while delivering a worthy slice of edge-of-your-seat suspense.

Yoga Anatomy (Second Edition) by Leslie Kaminoff and Amy MatthewsThis introductory guide to the fundamentals of yoga is filled with full-color illustrations and in-depth information on how to enhance the effectiveness of every movement. The best-selling manual is an invaluable resource for both beginners and advanced yoga enthusiasts.

Library & Children’s Library Daily: 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Tel: 03-4588-0678 E-mail: [email protected] compiled by librarian Finn Kanegae.

Literary gems at the Library 13

VIDEO LIBRARY

flick

In the 1956 film The Searchers (named the greatest Western of all time by the American Film Institute), John

Wayne’s character, Ethan Edwards, and his adoptive nephew, Martin, hunt for his niece, Debbie, who has been kidnapped by Comanche Indians.

In a heated moment, after a failed escape attempt, Martin tells a wounded Ethan, “I

pick

Video Library Daily: 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Tel: 03-4588-0686 E-mail: [email protected] Reviews compiled by Nick Narigon.

by Ginny Orchard

newmovies

ANIMATIONThe Lego MovieAn ordinary construction worker (voiced by Chris Pratt) is prophesied to save the Lego universe from a tyrant scheming to freeze the world with crazy glue.

SCI -F IThe MachineIn this future-noir thriller, two artificial intelligence engineers’ work to create the first-ever, self-aware android is commandeered by the British military for a darker purpose.

Ernest & CelestineA French-Belgian comedy-drama about an unlikely friendship between a bear (voiced by Forest Whitaker) and a young mouse (voiced by Mackenzie Foy).

COMEDYBad WordsA middle-aged eighth-grade dropout exacts revenge on the father he never met by finding a loophole and entering the largest spelling bee in the United States.

DRAMARob the MobSmall-time crooks Tommy (Michael Pitt) and Rosie (Nina Arianda), from Queens in New York, target mafia social clubs for heists and stumble upon a much bigger score.

AC TIONNoahDirected by Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan), this controversial version of the biblical story portrays Noah (Russell Crowe) as a dark and complicated man.

Did you know? If you don’t watch enough DVDs to commit to a monthly fee, à la carte membership allows you to rent movies for ¥400 a movie, or ¥200 for a short feature.

Contrasting Hollywood Heroes

hope you die.” Wayne, in his cool, iconic drawl, delivers one of the most famous lines in movie history: “That’ll be the day.”

For more than a generation, the Iowa native was the leading action-hero star in a Hollywood that was loaded with talented actors. Westerns and war films dominated the silver screen and the straight-shooting, steely eyed cowboy or soldier was what audiences craved.

Wayne was a product of Hollywood’s old studio system. He acted in more than 100 movies, and excepting his brilliant performance in The Quiet Man, most of Wayne’s characters closely resembled Ethan Edwards.

In today’s global movie market, would the Duke even get regular work or was he truly one-dimensional as an actor?

Tom Hanks’ versatile career may provide some insight. Hanks memorably starred as a World War II soldier in Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, but his range of talent earned him Oscars for his roles as an AIDS-afflicted lawyer in Philadelphia and as the simple-minded Forrest Gump.

Hanks also played a Southern

congressman in Charlie Wilson’s War, an astronaut in Apollo 13 and an animated cowboy in the children’s classic Toy Story. Early in his career, the Californian was even a lead in the gender-bending sitcom “Bosom Buddies.”

In short, it’s hard to define Hanks.From a stranded executive who talks to a volleyball (Cast Away) to a cop who adopts a dead man’s dog (Turner & Hooch), Hanks transforms himself in each movie while retaining an admiring and loyal following.

However, during Hollywood’s golden age, John Wayne’s swaggering stride and iron handshake were his hallmarks, and anything else would have been out of character.

Draw your own conclusions by exploring the works of these two screen legends at the Video Library. o

Orchard is a member of the Video Library Committee.


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W ith his legs outstretched, John Irvine supports himself by his elbows on a large yellow

fitness ball. Personal trainer Robert Daoust stands nearby, counting off the seconds on his watch. “OK, that’s good,” he says.

Irvine breathes out and lowers his knees to the f loor of the Fitness Center. Winner of the “I Lost It at the Club” weight-loss challenge in the spring, Irvine says a year ago he wouldn’t have been able to complete more than one rep.

“I know there are some things if [Daoust] didn’t crack the whip, I definitely wouldn’t have done,” says Irvine. “That’s where the trainer comes in, pushing you and knowing how to do the [exercises] right and safely.”

When Irvine started training with Daoust in May last year, he weighed

The Club’s weight-loss challenge earlier this year helped a number of Members discover healthy, energized lifestyles. by Nick Narigon

Beating the Bulge

almost 118 kilograms. At the time, the 39-year-old father of two says he frequently felt lethargic and had trouble fitting into his clothes. He began shedding weight, but had plateaued by the beginning of the year.

“The problem was I was going to the gym, and I was using the gym as an excuse that, well, now I can eat what I want,” says Irvine. “I was paying for my sins in the gym, but all I was doing was negating the effects.”

The Scotsman decided to join the Fitness Center’s weight loss-competition, which kicked off in February and ran for a little more than two months. Irvine upped the intensity of his biweekly workouts with Daoust and took advice from nutritionist Dan Mullaney.

He also began working out at the small gym in his apartment building

every morning for 30 minutes. “That took a lot of discipline because it’s so easy to lie in bed every morning and check e-mails,” he says.

Irvine’s diet was another key area that had to change. Cutting back on wheat and dairy foods, he discovered that a caffe latte contains up to 600 calories and that Diet Coke—while low fat—packs a considerable sugary punch.

“It was all small things,” says Irvine. “I love bread. I would have toast for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, maybe some bread at dinner. The fact that I really cut out the wheat, with pasta, pizza or bread, made a difference.”

The winner of the women’s category of the challenge, Christa Rutter, says the weekly Monday weigh-ins provided an incentive to maintain her routine. “Both the training sessions and the dietary changes were challenging, but I got stronger and felt better as the program went on,” she says. “Now that the program is over, I feel more motivated to keep up the exercise routine because the health benefits are well worth the effort.”

During the weeks of the challenge, Daoust says he didn’t drastically alter Irvine’s hour-long workout routine of interval training on an exercise bike or treadmill, stretching, core exercises and weight training.

“I want to hit every motion at least once, if not twice in the workout,” says Daoust. “For my part, I’m only involved as a coach. It’s really what you do at home; it’s the lifestyle changes. It is really up to the individual to take it into his own hands and do it.”

By the end of the competition, Irvine had lost 7.3 kilograms, and he says he’s on his way to achieving his goal of shedding another 10 kilos. “I can cinch my belt a couple of more notches,” he says. “I got half my wardrobe back.” o

To find out how the Club’s professional trainers can help with fitness and weight-loss goals, contact the Fitness Center.

Benjamin ParksJohn Irvine and Robert Daoust


RECREATION

Life-Saving LessonsLearn the skills necessary to prevent, recognize and respond to different types of aquatic emergencies at a two-day, American Red Cross-certified basic water rescue course.

American Red Cross Certificate ProgramJuly 26–27/August 20 and 3111 a.m.–1 p.m.Sky Pool¥8,000Ages 9 and aboveSign up online or e-mail [email protected]

Lean and MeanJoin the Club’s new addictive power pump group fitness class. Paired with heart-thumping music, this workout challenges all of the major muscle groups through weight-room exercises like squats, presses, lifts and curls.

Power PumpEvery Friday7:30–8:15 p.m.The StudioOne blue Fit-tix ticket or ¥1,500

Fit-Tix Summer Stamp RallyNow you have an even bigger incentive to work out this summer.

Pick up a summer stamp rally card from the Recreation Desk and earn a stamp for each Fit-tix class you take in July and August. Once the card is complete, you’ll receive one yellow and two blue Fit-tix tickets.

H E A LT H YO U T H

Earn a ¥2,000 Gift Certificate

The Spa proudly uses products by

If you haven’t already received the online survey, contact The Spa at 03-4588-0714 or [email protected]

Monday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–8 p.m. | Sunday and national holidays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Fill out The Spa’s online survey and receive a ¥2,000 gift certificate,

redeemable for any of The Spa’s treatments between July 1 and

August 31.

Summer ThrillsFrom baseball and soccer to basketball and martial arts, budding athletes have a chance to try out a range of fun pursuits at the Club’s Summer All-Star Sports program.

Summer All-Star SportsThrough August 22Weekdays (except Thursday)3:30–4:30 p.m.Members: ¥10,000Non-Members: ¥11,500Ages 6–12Sign up at the Recreation Desk or e-mail [email protected]

Getting AheadThe Club’s professional tutors offer academic tips and guidance in a host of subjects.

Summer All-Star Scholars Through July 25August 4–15 (sessions 8–9) Weekdays (except Thursday)3:30–4:30 p.m.Members: ¥10,000Non-Members: ¥11,500 Ages 6–12Sign up at the Recreation Desk or e-mail [email protected]

(Prices do not include 8 percent consumption tax.)

Fitness and well-being 17

Benjamin Parks

Capturing Life through a LensAhead of another semester of Women’s Group enrichment programs, one Member explains how a recent class deepened her passion for photography. by Gianni Simone


Every time Amanda McCready attends her sons’ baseball games, she makes sure to take along her Nikon D5200 camera and a zoom

lens. Then, positioning herself as close to the action as possible, she snaps hundreds of shots, capturing each play.

“That’s what really got me hooked on photography,” says the mother of two. “It’s fun when I see all the little details, like the stripes on a ball and everything seems to be frozen. While my kids are playing, they forget I’m watching, but then I show them those special moments they have actually lived and they just love it.”

McCready wasn’t always so adept behind the lens. Though she became a shutterbug in high school when her father gave her an old Pentax, she never found the time to receive any proper training. That is until last January when she joined a Women’s Group photography class, taught by veteran photographer Tim Porter.

“I had always struggled with taking pictures indoors and I wanted to improve on that, so when my husband bought me a new camera, I took it as a sign,” says McCready, 38. “Until then, I used to shoot on auto, just choosing from a preselected menu. But when you take a class with Tim, the first thing he tells you is to forget about it. He wants to see your eye, the angle you choose, etcetera, and how you manage to make a simple object look interesting.”

For most lessons, Porter takes his students to a different park, where they practice landscape photography or close-ups of flowers and nature. A photography studio in Omotesando was the setting for a recent lesson, in which students used a backdrop to practice different lighting techniques.

Amanda M

cCreadyAm

anda

McC

read

y

WOMEN’S GROUP

“My classes are about the hands-on teaching and sharing of photographic creativity in a warm, friendly and supportive atmosphere,” says Porter. “Each student is different and I hope to bring out the very best in everyone.”

McCready acknowledges that oftentimes she doesn’t realize the importance of certain lessons until she reviews her photos at home and notices the drastic improvement. She says she has learned what powerful computers modern cameras truly are, and small adjustments make a world of difference.

“One more thing I’ve realized is that you just have to go out and practice because you will always make mistakes, even if you are a professional,” says McCready. “As Tim says, you may take a thousand pictures and just get three good ones, but that’s OK.”

Enrichment Program Registration DayTuesday, September 169:30–11 a.m. (Women’s Group members only: 9:30–10 a.m.)Beate Sirota Gordon ClassroomFor more information, contact the Women’s Group Office

Porter also introduced the class to photo-editing software like Photoshop, Lightroom and Aperture, and McCready now has a solid understanding of how to change, refine or even rescue the pictures she has taken, which can total 200 photos a day.

“I would hope to say that I am now an intermediate photographer, but I still have so much to learn,” she says. “This said, it’s amazing to me that as I’m maturing as a photographer I’m starting to know how to make a picture look the way I want, instead of just being lucky.”

In the end, though, McCready admits she especially loves the sentimental side of the craft. “Pictures have so much value. They capture moments and emotions. That’s why when there’s a fire people especially regret losing their photos. It’s because they feel like they have lost their memories. I think that’s what really speaks to me. You are capturing a moment in time and each one of them is special because there’s a memory attached to them.” o

Simone is a Yokohama-based freelance journalist.

An interactive community 19


Independence Day Task Force (l–r): JoAnn Yoneyama, Daniel Smith,

Miki Ohyama and Matt Krcelic

FEATURE

AMERICAN-

For this year’s new-look Independence Day bash, organizers

have drawn inspiration from past Club celebrations.

by Nick NarigonPhotos by Benjamin Parks

SIZEDBIRTHDAYBASH

American-Sized Birthday Bash 21

Tokyo American Club’s 1976 bicentennial celebration was a party for the ages. Beginning with a concert in January, organizers threw a special event nearly every month, culminating with a three-day Independence Day fête. The Club’s birthday was also commemorated on July 4, resulting in the largest bash of the year, and possibly Club history.

More than 400 Members, or roughly half of the Club’s population, attended. The festivities included a hoedown, a “Dixie jive,” an outdoor movie, water volleyball, pie-eating contests and a feast of hot dogs, hamburgers and apple pie. The August 1976 issue of The Tokyo American featured a photo of former Club President Bill McGovern beside a life-size statue of George Washington, crafted out of butter by the Club’s chefs.

“I honestly don’t recall that butter statue, but it wasn’t unusual for the Club to have ice carvings, or butter, too, I guess, for various occasions,” says McGovern, 74, from his home in Florida. “I think Americans living abroad feel their patriotism a bit more than when at home. Accordingly, the Fourth of July was a big day for Americans at TAC. It was also humorously said that July Fourth was the only time Members got a free drink.”

According to The Tokyo American, there were also fireworks, which the publication described as “beautiful fiery displays of intricate design.”

“The fireworks were spectacular,” says Member Daniel Kraslavsky, 78. “I

don’t know [for] how many years, but the Fourth of July always had fireworks. That was the main event, by far. The Azabu Fire Department used to come to make sure we didn’t burn the place down. I don’t know when they stopped—probably the first time some lady from Pennsylvania got her gown burned or something.”

While there won’t be fireworks, this year’s Independence Day celebration on July 5, organized by the Culture, Community and Entertainment Committee, will draw on some of the excitement from past festivities at the Club.

With a mischievous smile and a smart

suit, Kraslavsky sits in the Jean Pearce Classroom, his arm draped over the back of the chair. His parents were Members in the 1950s and Kraslavsky, who once rode a school bus with Raúl Castro as a high school student in Cuba, joined the Club in 1956 at the age of 21.

An avid bowler, Kraslavsky was head of the Club’s bowling committee for seven years in the late 1960s and early ’70s, which meant he was also in charge of the recreation building. The facility hosted all the Independence Day kids’ events for up to 50 youngsters, including Kraslavsky’s three children.

T22 July 2014 iNTOUCH

Daniel Kraslavsky

FEATURE

Kraslavsky recalls one particular incident in the building’s second-floor bathroom, which overlooked the present-day Russian Embassy’s tennis court.

“On the Fourth of July, we had a very inventive kid,” says Kraslavsky. “In those days, the decorations were superb. It looked like what you see in the movies—a lot of ribbons and everything. The paints, for some reason, were unattended. This kid grabbed them, and he knew about this bathroom window. He went up there and threw three buckets down on the [Soviet Union Embassy’s] tennis court. So they had red, white and blue paint splattered on their court. It was obvious where it came from.”

While such issues were usually resolved amicably, Kraslavsky says this time the police were called, and Kraslavsky was the peacemaker.

D a v i d Wo u t e r s remembers the episode well. A Member since 1969, Wouters was involved with athletics at the Club and led regular morning jogs. To help appease the Club’s neighbors, he and a team of volleyball players took on an embassy team in a friendly match.

A former college baseball player and US Army veteran who once replaced the “Willie Mays” on the Fort Eustis

baseball squad, Wouters was Coca-Cola’s marketing rep in Vietnam during the war. Former Club President Hal Roberts, after whom the Library is named, was his boss.

“He said, ‘Hey Dave, I understand they’re shooting at you.’ I said ‘Yeah, Mr Roberts, they are.’ He said, ‘How would you like a vacation?’ I said, ‘Boy, would I like a vacation,’” Wouters says with a grin while posing for photos in the New York Ballroom. “So here I am.”

Wouters used to bring his family to the Club’s Fourth of July celebration for the kids’ games, nostalgic US Army tunes and the opportunity to chat with friends. A native of New Jersey, Wouters, who will attend this year’s event, was president of the Reserve Officers Association of the Far East and a member of the Army Reserve until 1993.

“What does the Fourth of July mean? One word: freedom,” he says. “I don’t think we ever missed a Fourth of July celebration. It was always one of the highlights. Everybody was there. Everyone had the same feeling and thinking about what we were doing and why we were here.”

Member Bill Ireton, whose parents joined the Club in 1953, two years before he

was born, has fond memories of the Club’s July Fourth festivities. As an American citizen, who had never been to the States, he says the purpose of the holiday was a mystery to him. The Club’s celebration served as an introduction to American independence—and hamburgers.

“I think a hamburger was ¥300 yen,” says Ireton, now 58. “It was the only place in town where one could get what my born-in-the-USA friends told me were authentic hamburgers.”

“Cornucopia of food” is how he describes the Independence Day buffet. “I still remember the mounds and mounds of boiled shrimp which sat at the base of a giant ice carving. Smoked salmon galore, of course, with capers, onions and lemon,” he says. “And then a genuine standing


Randy Furudera

rib roast of Japanese beef, complete with mashed potatoes, gravy and, of course, freshly grated horseradish.”

The Club’s original Azabudai home was housed in two buildings: the main building, reminiscent of a Quonset hut, and the recreation building, which accommodated the bowling alley and

snack bar. The outdoor swimming pool was at the front of the facility.

“We had Saturday night movies by the pool, with 35mm projection equipment brought in, usually by my father,” says Ireton. “I specifically remember seeing Dr. No, starring Sean Connery as 007.”

Randy Furudera joined the Club with

his family in 1969, at the age of 8. “In those days, the pool was the center of activity,” he says. “When you came to the Club, everybody walked by the pool and you would say hi to whoever was there.”

A former member of the Mudsharks swim team, Furudera, 57, still swims at the Club three times a week.

FUN RUN 9 a.m. A 5-kilometer run to kick off the festivities. Club entrance to Shiba Park: 2 laps¥2,000 (includes a T-shirt and bottle of water)Sign up online or at Member Services

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION: MAIN STREET USACHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES 11 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1–4 p.m. Inflatable castle, petting zoo, face painting, balloon artist and more.Gymnasium and O’zone | ¥1,500Sign up online or at Member Services

3-ON-3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT 1–3 p.m.Who will be crowned Club champs? Gymnasium | Free | Ages 16 and above Sign up online or at the Recreation Desk

INDEPENDENCE DAY RECEPTION 12–1 p.m.National anthems performed by pop star Crystal Kay, formal toasts and a cake-cutting ceremony. New York Ballroom | FreeNo sign-up necessary

Sponsored by the Culture, Community and Entertainment Committee


David Wouters

FEATURE

During the Independence Day celebrations, Furudera says he and his friends would spend their time at the pool, playing games like sharks and minnows or Marco Polo. The parking lot was filled with carnival games and food booths, while the Azabu Fire Department usually brought in a truck for kids to clamber over and an earthquake house, where people could experience a simulated temblor.

“Back then, because Tokyo was very different from what it is now, there was even more of a sense that the American Club was really the center of social activity for Americans, or for international people in general, so the Fourth of July was a big deal. There was a big turnout,” says Furudera. “It was just one of those events that made everybody feel, ‘OK, this is a little part of America, even though we are halfway around the world.’”

Furudera says that for his father, the day provided a way for him to instill in his children the significance of being American. It’s a tradition, Furudera says, he wants to continue with his 5-year-old son. “It will be important for

him to experience Fourth of July as an American and TAC will be a big part of that—teaching him what it is to be an American,” he says.

Former Club President Robert Connelly, 88, who now lives in Nevada, is returning to Tokyo to attend this year’s Independence Day party. A Member since

MAIN STREET USA FESTIVAL 1–4 p.m.Featuring the US Army Japan Pacific Brass Band, magician Steve Marshall, electric violinist Songae Kim, acoustic duo My Life Story, graffiti artist Bill Hall, Alex Mejia, a spider wall, pedestal jousting, giant boxing, carnival games and more.New York Ballroom | FreeNo sign-up necessary

AMERICAN BARBECUE BUFFET 1–4 p.m. Barbecued pork ribs, hot dogs, burgers, potato salad, corn on the cob, watermelon and other July Fourth staples.Winter Garden | Adults (13 and above): ¥4,500 | Children (3–12 years): ¥2,800| Infants (2 and under): freeSign up online or at Member Services

INDEPENDENCE DAY DINNER 6:30–9:30 p.m.Decanter, the Club’s home of steaks, chops and wine, hosts a patriotic evening of classic American favorites and a performance by talented singer Claudia Vazquez.¥8,200 | Adults onlySign up online or at Member Services

(* Prices do not include 8 percent consumption tax.)

1973, he wrote a letter to The Tokyo American in 1974, asking why the national anthem wasn’t sung during the July Fourth reception. The letter changed that. In 1980, during his tenure as president, the Club began the tradition of performing the American and Japanese national anthems. This year, pop star Crystal Kay will perform both songs during the reception.

“It felt strange, not being able to sing the anthem,” says Connelly. “I really wanted to show my pride that there are Americans in Japan and we are very close to our country. It’s been a great tradition ever since.”

According to Connelly, one highlight of the three-day 1980 celebration was a clown who dropped his britches to reveal Old Glory. There were also solemn occasions, and Connelly had the chance to meet ambassadors, congressmen, even presidents.

“During my 30 years in Japan, friends would ask, ‘Bob, are you still an American citizen?’ Honestly, I felt closer to America while in Japan than I ever did living in California. Through my interactions at TAC, I learned more about my country than ever before,” Connelly says.

JoAnn Yoneyama, a Club Member since 1993 and a part of the Independence Day Task Force, says besides the traditional

barbecue, children’s games and formal reception, this year’s celebration will feature a Main Street USA festival, complete with live entertainment and special attractions. The day will also be filmed for Fox International’s Backstage Pass program.

“We wanted that carnival feel we had in the old building,” says Yoneyama. “That’s how we came up with these ideas. Let’s just have an all-American barbecue and a fun Fourth of July. We want activities for the kids, as well as adults, using this new space to the best of our abilities.”

Yoneyama says the 2011 earthquake stymied efforts to plan a large Independence Day celebration, but the organizing committee thought this year was the right time for a memorable occasion. The goal is to attract up to 350 people.

“Everything is new,” she says. “It will be exciting to see the final outcome. With all the activities going on, I think it will be a fun day. It will be something that will make people feel like they are back home.” o

PIE-EATING CONTEST 3:30–4 p.m.Independence Day wouldn’t be complete without some messy head-to-head competition. New York Ballroom | Free | Age groups: 13–17 and 18+Sign up online or at the Recreation Desk


Lifeguards Sam Mihara and Lee Hibler(Club Independence Day celebration, 1971)

Apple’s Steve Jobs understood explicitly the power of design, which is why he saw the tech firm’s

design chief, Jonathan Ive, as his “spiritual partner.” Since joining Apple in 1992, Ive has been a member of the team that has brought the world such groundbreaking products as the iMac, iPod MP3 player and iPad tablet.

Speaking to Nippon.com in 2012, the award-winning product designer Toshiyuki Kita said that with countries like China and South Korea now recognizing the economic potential of design, Japan had to rejuvenate its own well-established tradition of quality design and artisanship.

“Japan already has a rich foundation for design and plenty of skilled workers, so once lifestyles start to change, we would probably see dramatic improvements,” he said. “It’s quite simple: people have to make a conscious decision to enjoy their lives more….That’s the first step to reinvigorating Japanese design and the traditional industries that support it.”

Crafting Japan’s Design Future

Minoru Yokoyama (pictured) is an interior designer, the author of the book Five Senses of Design and a professor of art, design and global fashion at Bunka Gakuen University in Tokyo. iNTOUCH’s Nick Jones spoke to the Club Member about the role of design in modern Japanese society. Excerpts:

iNTOUCH: What are the characteristics of modern Japanese design?

Yokoyama: Every designer has a different perspective, but I think design is not just about style and decoration; it reflects the wisdom, history, culture, lifestyle, spirit and sometimes the succession of tradition of [a country]. From the end of the 20th century, people began to think that design was just about visual [elements], but in Japan we have a long history of using our five senses to appreciate products, food, everything, really. But I think we are losing [our ability] to use these senses as a result of our convenient lifestyles.

Since early times until now, traditional characteristics have always been found in Japanese design: [attention to] detail, like you can see on the intricate work of a katana [sword] guard or modern car; simplicity or Zen emptiness, which you can see in Katsura detached houses in Kyoto, with their tatami floors and simple spaces; delicacy or fragility, as you see in delicate staggered shelves in Katsura homes. Another characteristic is [meticulous presentation], so things are carefully wrapped or carefully considered. I’ve never seen this phenomenon of wrapping anywhere else. We also have a tradition that precious things should be wrapped two or three times. Useful beauty is also key in Japanese design.

iNTOUCH: To what degree does modern Japanese design incorporate elements of traditional Japanese design, such as minimalism and wabi sabi [the aesthetic of imperfection]?

Yokoyama: A lot of designers have started to design modern types of teahouses, pottery and utensils for traditional sado tea ceremony, and I can clearly see how tradition has continued from the past to the present. But that does not apply to everything. For example, lots of things, or mono, are piled up in Japanese homes these days. So minimalism and wabi sabi [are evident] in just some areas or in some

Satoshi Asakaw

a

Hakoiri Tsugite Endai (M. Y. Yokoyama)


TALKING HEADS

sophisticated shops or restaurants. But I’m concerned about whether the younger [design] students understand Zen spirit. A majority don’t seem to pay attention to Japanese tradition.

iNTOUCH: How much do designers consciously blend those traditional Japanese elements with modern design?

Yokoyama: Once when I was a design student, I asked a master of Japanese culture, “How can I get a sense of Japanese tradition in the designs that I will produce?” And he said, “As long as you are speaking Japanese, you have a sense.” I think a lot of people think in this way. And to some extent, I think it’s true, if they are conscious of it.

iNTOUCH: During the economic bubble era, did Japan encourage a throwaway culture at the detriment of the country’s traditional appreciation for well-crafted, long-lasting products?

Yokoyama: There are two trends in Japan. On the one hand, there is this idea of constantly buying inexpensive goods. On the other hand, there is also a trend of buying expensive, quality items that will

last a long time and age well. We are struggling with this, I think. It isn’t very visible yet, but some of the manufacturers and designers are following this latter trend. Also, the problem is the attitude of the government. For example, the government is encouraging people to buy electric cars by offering tax deductions, but no tax incentives are offered for vintage cars. So these old things are not valued.

iNTOUCH: How vibrant is the Japanese design scene right now?

Yokoyama: It’s so-so, I would say. It differs from one design field to another, but if you look at the design of airports, for example, and compare Narita with Changi Airport [in Singapore] or other airports in Europe, I think we need more development. I think we are in the process of becoming vibrant. When we have a big event, like the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, it changes all of Japan from a design point of view. And I’m expecting another vibrant design period in the years leading up to the 2020 Olympics.

iNTOUCH: While an enduring image abroad of Japan is of minimalist, Zen-like

interiors, the reality is actually of cluttered Japanese homes and workplaces, isn’t it?

Yokoyama: I think it’s because of working lifestyles. So for my father’s generation, for example, it was common for people to entertain their coworkers at their home after work. Such a tradition we began to lose after that period when people started to work very hard and not invite their coworkers to their home. They then thought they could pile things up at home because nobody saw them. That kind of lifestyle change affected the style of living a lot. Compared to the bubble age, people now go home earlier, so maybe it’s a good time to start thinking about living and entertaining people. It’s also good for design, as people think about changing the fixtures, for example, and that’s good for the economy.

iNTOUCH: Are we seeing a return to the use of more natural materials in Japanese design?

Yokoyama: Yes and no. Some people have become more sensitive about the air and materials in their house, like chemicals and [allergens]. That could be the start of a movement to use more natural materials. iNTOUCH: In a 2012 interview, designer Toshiyuki Kita said, “Japan’s traditional craft industries enjoy a high reputation all over the world, but in Japan itself they are on the brink of extinction.” What can be done to reinvigorate traditional craftsmanship in Japan?

Yokoyama: Some younger designers are working with craftsmen in Tohoku, for example, to make new products. But the key, in my mind, is education. High schools are focused on university entrance examinations and don’t spend much time teaching art, culture and aesthetics. But if we continue to value only entrance exam scores, we’ll lose the beauty of traditional Japanese culture. Craftsmanship will be lost because people won’t be willing to pay for products that will last 100 years.

iNTOUCH: Is it still possible to save Japan’s tradition of artisanship?

Yokoyama: It’s not too late, so long as we develop a contemporary system for younger people to learn the skills of artisans. All of this will lead to better design in Japan. o

Katana guard

Member insights on Japan 27


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.

by Nick Narigon

Late in her life, famed American painter Georgia O’Keeffe lost her central vision and decided to stop painting with oils. To feed her hunger for artistic expression, she took up pottery and produced several series of clay pots up until two years before her death, in 1986, at the age of 98.

“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way—things I had no words for,” she once said.

The Art-mura project ensures that the creative talents of artists with challenges similar to those faced by O’Keeffe have the opportunity to shine. This month’s inspiring exhibition at the Frederick Harris Gallery features the works of 15 Japanese artists with learning disabilities.

The show (the second at the Club) is organized by Pasona Heartful, a subsidiary of the Pasona job agency, which helps people with intellectual disabilities, who have difficulty securing traditional employment, earn money through making and selling art.

Since 1992, Art-mura has offered courses for free in painting, pottery and other skills to more than 100 budding artists. It has also planned myriad public exhibitions, some at its own atelier.

Under the tutelage of painter Tokie Aizawa, the artists created works inspired by Japanese traditions. From samurai dolls to the festival of the peach, the pieces depict elaborate Japanese meal sets, World Heritage sites, iconic landscapes and time-honored Japanese crafts and products.

“With their sharp sensitivities, which are free from any preconceived ideas, the members of Art-mura tried to express traditional [Japan],” says Aizawa. “Their styles of painting don’t belong to any existing school of art or trend, but are vividly sparkling in each picture displaying their originalities.”

Art- mura

FREDERICK HARRIS GALLERY

ExhibitionJuly 14–August 10

Gallery ReceptionWednesday, July 166:30–8 p.m.Frederick Harris Gallery (B1 Formal Lobby)FreeOpen to invitees and Members only “Sumo Dolls“ by Mika Matuzawa

“A Sea Bream Grilled with Salt“ by Miyuki Satake

“Shippoku Dishes“ by Takehiro Katou

Advertorial 29

Nihonbashi: Discover a Summer Like No Other

OMOTENASHI NIHONBASHI: THE BEST OF JAPAN TOURSee Nihonbashi’s blend of old and new through a 90-minute walking tour that includes the area’s must-see spots, from a century-old shrine to brand-new shopping complexes.

Since Nihonbashi’s famous bridge is the zero point from which distance to Tokyo is measured within Japan, this tour is a fitting start for any exploration of the capital and the country.

Where: COREDO Muromachi B1F, Nihonbashi Information Center

When: Every Saturday. Register in person at 12 p.m. for either the 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. tour.

Price: ¥1,000 per person (includes small gift)Capacity: 10 peopleTo arrange a tour for another time or day, please e-mail [email protected].

Goldfish, river cruises, yukata, festivals, movies and more—summer in Nihonbashi.

ART AQUARIUMGoldf ish have been a Japanese summertime motif for centuries and this exhibit fuses the old and the new, combining modern art, light and a video installation with live goldfish.

From 7 p.m. each night, enjoy the “Night Aquarium” with drinks and a DJ and live music on Saturdays and holidays.

Where: COREDO Muromachi 5F, Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall

When: July 11–September 23, 2014Price: ¥1,000 per personhttp://h-i-d.co.jp/art/nihonbashi

RIVER CRUISES FROM NIHONBASHIEnjoy a luxurious river cruise along Tokyo’s waterways.

Cruises depart from the Nihonbashi Boarding Dock, opened in 2011, the year the area’s iconic bridge celebrated its 100th anniversary.http://www.nihonbashi-tokyo.jp/en/rivers

INFORMATIONGoldfish, river cruises, yukata, festivals, movies and more—summer in Nihonbashi.http://www.nihonbashi-tokyo.jp/en

ADVERTORIAL

Discover the essence of summer in Japan in the heart of Tokyo. Experience Nihonbashi, where cutting-edge urban bustle meets 300-year-old traditions, through walking and river tours, underwater art installations, and live music and festivals.

NIHONBASHI INFORMATION CENTERLet our English-speaking concierges help you explore Nihonbashi, the heart of Tokyo.Visit us on Facebook for more information: https://facebook.com/nihonbashi.information

CULTURAL INSIGHT

Say “ I do”

Whether you want your special day to be an elegant, black-tie celebration or an intimate, low-key a�air, our professional planning team will help you craft the perfect wedding.

to style and personality at Tokyo American Club

BRIDAL FAIRSunday, August 24

11 a.m.–7 p.m.New York Ballroom,

Brooklyn rooms, DecanterFree | Open to the public

(walk-ins are welcome)Reserve your spot at 03-4588-0977

or [email protected]

Often grand affairs, wedding receptions in Japan are also important symbolic events for families. by Efrot Weiss

More than Bubbly and Best Men

Japanese wedding receptions are unlike anything I have ever experienced,” says Brian Marcus, the Club’s assistant general manager

for business operations. “Everything has to be perfect.”

The hiroen, or formal wedding reception, is a highly choreographed, ritualistic introduction of the new couple to society. A wedding in Japan is more about the creation of a new web of social relationships than a religious union of two people.

“The purpose of the hiroen is to introduce the newlyweds to one’s parents, friends and business colleagues,” says Club Member Aya Higa. “We were told that marriage is not just between the couple, but between families as well.”

During this formal rite of passage, the newlyweds sit at their own table, or they may be joined by their nakodo, a husband and wife who serve as go-betweens during the wedding preparations. In a gesture of humility, the parents sit at the back of the room.

Legally, a bride’s name is removed from the family register after she is married. As her family mourns her loss as she leaves them for her new life, it’s no coincidence that the white kimono worn by the bride at a Shinto wedding ceremony is similar to the type worn by the dead. Additionally, wearing white exemplifies the bride’s receptiveness to her new family and their customs. To symbolize her rebirth as a wife, the bride reemerges at the reception in a different outfit. There may be up to five changes of outfit, including elaborate red kimono and Western-style dresses.

Speeches are a key component of a Japanese reception. The most senior person in the room is expected to orate, regardless of how well they know the couple. Other speakers include bosses,

former professors or high school teachers. Bosses emphasize how valuable the bride or groom is to the company and may also give advice for a successful marriage, while friends may perform skits or sing songs. A video of the couple growing up is often shown as well.

A traditional Japanese menu includes such auspicious foods as sea bream, herring roe and shrimp. Red bean rice, or sekihan, is the quintessential celebration food in Japan, since red is associated with happiness and celebration. This custom is declining, however, as young couples prefer serving a Western meal at their receptions.

These elaborate celebrations don’t come cheap. The average spend on a Japanese wedding is almost ¥3.5 million (around ¥35,000 per attendee). Guests are meant to reciprocate with a cash gift. This goshugi must be an odd number, as even numbers can be easily split—not a good omen for a new couple. The average gift is ¥30,000, although a boss or close relative is expected to give at least ¥50,000 and often ¥100,000 (this even number is acceptable).

In the past, old bills were used as their edges were not sharp, so they couldn’t “cut” (a taboo word for weddings). Today, crisp, new, unfolded bills are placed in a special envelope, which is handed to a receptionist. In return, each guest receives a gift bag at their seat, containing tableware, food or a gift catalog (without prices), from which they can select something.

Certain dates are considered fortuitous for weddings. The six-day rotating rokuyo calendar predicts how lucky each day of the year will be. Two of the days (taian and tomobiki) are considered fortunate and are therefore popular. Another popular date, according to Kota Arai, the Club’s wedding executive sales manager, is November 22. “In Japanese, this date can be read as ii fufu,” he says, “which translates into very good husband and wife day.” o

Weiss has been a Club Member since 2002.

Compensation Mark MillerCulture, Community & Entertainment Daniel Smith (Lance Lee)

SubcommitteesCulture & Community JoAnn YoneyamaEntertainment Matthew KrcelicFrederick Harris Gallery Yumiko Sai

Finance Rodney Nussbaum(Hiroshi Miyamasu)

Food & Beverage Michael Alfant (Jerome Rosenberg)

SubcommitteeWine Stephen Romaine

House Jesse Green (Gregory Lyon) SubcommitteeFacilities Management GroupTomio Fukuda

Human Resources Jon Sparks (Per Knudsen)

Membership Alok Rakyan (Machi Nemoto) Nominating Steven GreenbergRecreation Samuel Rogan(Mark Miller)

SubcommitteesBowling Crystal GoodflieshVideo Library Abigail RadmilovichFitness Samuel RoganGolf John Breen

Library Alaine LeeLogan Room Christa RutterSquash Martin FluckSwim Alexander Jampel Youth Activities Narissara March

Joining a Committee

Decorative envelopes for goshugi (cash gift)


Say “ I do”

Whether you want your special day to be an elegant, black-tie celebration or an intimate, low-key a�air, our professional planning team will help you craft the perfect wedding.

to style and personality at Tokyo American Club

BRIDAL FAIRSunday, August 24

11 a.m.–7 p.m.New York Ballroom,

Brooklyn rooms, DecanterFree | Open to the public

(walk-ins are welcome)Reserve your spot at 03-4588-0977

or [email protected]

Tomoyuki & Yoko Yoshida Japan—Wai Wai Capital Corporation

Bruce & Asami Henwood United Kingdom—Instinct Asset Management

Mark & Katherine Schirmer United States—Walt Disney Attractions Japan, Ltd.

Chiaki & Seigo Kawagoe Japan

Shuichi & Yukari TsujiJapan—Eminecross, Inc.

Rodrigo Zorrilla & Guillermina Gonzalez SerranoMexico—Citigroup Global Markets Japan, Inc.

Nathan & Jessica Hedtke United States—Deutsche Securities, Inc.

John & Jennifer Hopkins United States—Gogo G.K.

Russell & Elizabeth Anderson United States—Nike Japan Corp.

JaSeung KooSouth Korea—Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory Co., Ltd.

Rikako OmataJapan—Credit Suisse Securities (Japan) Ltd.

Neville Falkner & Ai SakanouchiNew Zealand—Fonterra (Japan) Ltd.

Tsunegoro & Kikuko NishinoJapan—Sanwa Systems Co., Ltd.

Fereidun Fesharaki & Tomoko Hosoe United States—FGE

Maki Kobayashi-Terada & Kenzo Terada Japan—Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Kunihiro & Akiko ShimazakiJapan—Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.

Brendy & Anne Lange United States—Dow Chemical Japan Ltd.

Kazunari & Hiroko WatanabeJapan—Kurt Salmon US, Inc.

Jung Hyuk Hong South Korea—BGF Retail

Hiroyuki & Mami Komatsu Japan—C&K Corporation

Matthias Hildebrandt United States—Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC

Naoto & Mizuho YotsugiJapan—Yotsugi Co., Ltd.

Jean-Philippe & Mika CharrierFrance—Shiseido Co., Ltd.

Christophe & Beatrice WeberFrance—Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Kenji & Rieko Taneda United States—Morrison & Foerster LLP

Tetsuya HisatomiJapan—Ocean Asset Management Co., Ltd.

Donald & Valerie McGhee United States—AIG Japan Holdings K.K.

Song Yang & Yurina MatsuiChina—S&S, Inc.

Yuichi & Amy KatohDonald StaufferAkitane KiuchiG & Mitsuyo ConnellyHirokazu & Chie Hasegawa

Hans Josef & Yukie CremersTimothy & Susannah FortinDaniel & Claudia S LeFortRichard Binnie & Rachael WattsAndrew & Naoko Collier

Robert & Renee WaitkusTimothy TynanStephanie Bova & Christophe Faramaz

sayonara

yokoso

Stacks of Services at the Club

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

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

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

The Art of TravelDiscover Japan and beyond with help from the Club’s travel desk consultants. The Cellar (B1)Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.Tel: 076-221-1586E-mail: [email protected]


T he promise of adventure abroad was finally too much to resist. Even college life couldn’t keep her

in Japan. So, after two years of study at Kanda University of International Studies in Chiba, Minori Kanai decided to drop out.

With her parents’ approval, she began teaching English at a cram school to save money for her planned relocation overseas. In June 2008, drawn by the country’s accents, music and art, a 20-year-old Kanai arrived in Britain.

After studying at a language school in London for about three months “mainly to meet people,” she began to work and

explore the vibrant city. In between the trips to gigs, parks and art museums, she took classes in German, French, singing and graphic design. “That was really fun,” she says of the creative course.

Kanai, 26, now uses design software to manipulate and enhance her sketches and drawings (“I really suck at painting!”) to create intriguing pieces of art that she prints on T-shirts and bags. She occasionally exhibits her works at design festivals around Tokyo as well.

She returned—somewhat reluctantly—to Japan after a year in London that included excursions to other cities in Britain and elsewhere in Europe. Kanai

says she has fond memories of the British capital. “That was great, and I love that lifestyle,” she says. “Now I can do anything by myself. I went traveling and did random stuff in London. I’ve got [more] confidence.”

Joining the Club for the opening of the new Azabudai facility in January 2011, Kanai, who picked up the Employee of the Month award for May, works in the Bowling Center. She also helps organize the men’s and women’s golf groups.

“It’s fun working with different people from different backgrounds,” she says of her job. “I like to do customer service and I like speaking with people.” o

MEMBER SERVICES

Why did you decide to join the Club?“We were excited to join TAC so that we could interact with other international families whilst making use of the exceptional facilities. Coming from Scotland, we have a love affair with soccer and the range of classes on offer will give my son plenty of opportunity to develop into a great player. The ability to eat out as a family is also important for us and the Club environment seems perfect for being able to do just that.”

(l–r) Laura, Luke and Kenneth MacGregor

Why did you decide to join the Club?“We are honored to be Members of TAC. The Club offers a diverse range of social, sporting and family activities that match our lifestyle. We are looking forward to memorable experiences and opportunities that we can share with new friends in a contemporary, international ambience.”

(l–r) Jean-Noel and Charley Ryuta Coster and Mimi Gumelaty

New Member ProfileKenneth & Laura MacGregor United Kingdom—State Street Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.

New Member ProfileMimi Gumelaty & Jean-Noel CosterIndonesia—Avon Products Co., Ltd.

employeeof the month

Minori Kanai

by Nick Jones

Services and benefits for Members 33


On a hillside in Tochigi Prefecture, Ayoma Thennakoon pulls another daikon giant radish from the soil. It’s nearly as big

as the Sri Lankan’s arm and her gigawatt smile flashes as she shows it off to a friend from Africa.

This unlikely scene of Asians and Africans working the fields in Japan is

a regular occurrence at the Asian Rural Institute (ARI), a nonprofit organization supported by the Club’s Women’s Group. Tucked away in a forested area in the Nasushiobara district of northern Tochigi, ARI has been training people from overseas NPOs for 40 years.

More than 1,200 people from 55 countries, spanning the globe from

Cuba to Cambodia, have learned organic farming and other skills here and brought them back to their own countries. Trainees, who tend to be in their 30s, 40s or older, spend nine months, beginning in March, studying at ARI.

“I came here to help my community,” says Thennakoon, a field manager for women’s affairs at Sri Lanka’s Human and Environment Links Progressive Organization and one of two ARI participants sponsored by the Women’s Group.

“The Women’s Group has long been a supporter of ARI,” says Therese Cowled, chair of the group’s charities committee. “By sponsoring participants in the program in Japan, we are able to help communities all over the world.”

Based in southern Sri Lanka, Thennakoon works with local groups on issues ranging from bookkeeping to microfinance. Going house to house in poor, rural communities, she meets the likes of fishermen, shopkeepers, farmers and handicraft workers to discuss small loans.

“These are the poorest people of Sri Lanka, many of whom were affected by the tsunami of 2004,” she says.

Thennakoon is a woman of many civil-

Nurturing Crops and Leaders in Rural JapanHundreds of rural leaders from across the world have learned practical skills to help develop their communities back home, thanks to funds raised by the Women’s Group.by Tim HornyakPhotos by Kayo Yamawaki

Rehana Yesmin and Ayoma Thennakoon

A look at culture and society 35

society skills. She also cooperates with family planning offices to reduce rates of HIV transmission and promotes work on solid-waste management and biogas, as well as human rights issues. But farming, it seems, comes naturally to her. She proudly shows off photos of the produce harvested by her team at ARI, which she has led for the past two weeks. Not only has Thennakoon learned everything from duck farming to bokashi (a kind of fast-acting compost), she has honed her leadership skills, a key ARI export.

“We learn servant leadership here,” says fellow trainee Rehana Yesmin, executive director of Satata Development Society in Bangladesh. She also helps farmers back home with microfinance loans and is studying poultry farming and fisheries techniques at ARI.

“Before ARI, I didn’t understand this system and was surprised to see ARI leaders cleaning the toilets here,” says Yesmin, who also benefits from funds raised by the Women’s Group.

She describes servant leadership as a way of guiding people by helping them. It reflects the teachings of Christianity, which informs ARI’s guiding principles.

“We never think that we are the teacher and they are the learners,” says Tomoko Arakawa, ARI’s associate director. “But we always learn from each other and teach each other and grow with each other.”

It was Bangladesh that provided the impetus for ARI’s foundation. When a devastating cyclone hit the country in 1970, pastor Toshihiro Takami visited the area to help with reconstruction efforts.

INSIDE JAPAN

He was struck by the lack of local leaders and decided to found ARI in 1973 as way to cultivate leadership and invest in human resources.

The institute has been growing ever since, welcoming trainees from all religions, though most are Christian. Besides growing nearly all the food required to meet its needs on its Tochigi farm, ARI sells pork, eggs, rice, coffee and other homemade products like cookies and jam.

ARI’s greatest challenge in recent years was the massive earthquake that struck northern Japan in March 2011. While no one was injured at ARI, many of its buildings were so damaged they had to be torn down and rebuilt. Its extensive network of donors, however, responded with reconstruction funds and now ARI has a new central building housing a dining hall, kitchen, classroom and library, as well as a dormitory, chapel and pigpens. In keeping with the farm’s environmentally sustainable approach, most of the new buildings feature solar-powered floor-heating systems.

But with the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant only about 100 kilometers away, the campus still struggles with the effects of radiation exposure. The soil had to be decontaminated at great cost and dairy farming stopped due to the risk of the milk being contaminated. Food produced on the farm is checked for radiation, and all has been found to be below the official safety limit. ARI plans to continue monitoring the radiation for at least 10 years.

There was a positive aspect to the disaster, however. “The earthquake actually gave us an opportunity to connect with local people here,” says Arakawa, who regularly monitors the farm with a Geiger counter. “We were one of the core members of a citizens’ movement to fight radiation. Many people didn’t have any idea how to do that.”

Although it is part of a movement to address radiation concerns in Tochigi, ARI’s main focus is on providing its trainees with valuable skills they can use in their home countries. “Our priority,” Arakawa says with a smile, “is the happiness of the people.” o

Hornyak is a Tokyo-based freelance journalist.

Asian Rural Institute www.ari-edu.org

Fuji-Q Highland

Kanto’sWild SideFrom wild animals to rollercoasters, the Kanto area is brimming with options for games console-free days out with the family.by Rob Goss

With the long school break having started, it’s time to think about keeping the kids occupied (while retaining

your sanity) over the summer. Luckily, there are plenty of fun and adventurous distractions for families within day-trip range of Tokyo.

FUJI SAFARI PARK, SHIZUOKAThere are lions on the prowl in Shizuoka Prefecture. Elephants and tigers, too. Located on the opposite side of Mount Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi, Fuji Safari Park provides an enjoyable 50-minute safari ride through a variety of zones dedicated to different exotic animals. It’s cheaper to take the safari in your own car, but should the prospect of a giraffe licking your windshield not appeal, you can pay extra to ride in one of the park’s “jungle buses” or rent a zebra-patterned 4WD.

Drop by the park’s Fureai Zone, which has an animal petting farm, a small zoo and areas for ages 3 and above to play with cats, dogs and rabbits.www.fujisafari.co.jp

FUJI-Q HIGHLAND, YAMANASHIFuji-Q amusement park is home to some of Japan’s most thrilling, white-knuckle rides. Among them, Fujiyama, dubbed the “king of the coasters,” mixes speeds of 130 kilometers per hour with drops of up to 70 meters, while Dodonpa manages to top that by hitting 171 kilometers per hour within two seconds of launch. Then there’s the Eejanaika ride, which trades breakneck speeds for stomach-churning twists and spins. There are less heart-pounding attractions suitable for small kids. You could bust your buffers with Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends at Fuji-Q’s small Thomas Land or try escaping from the Ultimate Fort maze. According to the park, only one person in 100,000 finds their way out.www.fujiq.jp

CANYONS, GUNMA Minakami in Gunma is well known for its hot springs and ski areas, but the town also has some fantastic options for outdoor thrill seekers. The Kiwi-run Canyons, in particular, offers full-day rafting and canyoning tours, and, in partnership with other outfitters, can arrange bungee jumping, lake canoeing, paragliding and mountain biking. Canyons also run an alpine lodge, café and bar, where you can let the adrenaline

Andersen Park


OUT & ABOUT

Mother Farm

settle down at the end of the day with burgers, a barbecue and beer overlooking the Tone River.http://canyons.jp

KODOMO NO KUNI, KANAGAWA Spread over 240 acres, on a site between Yokohama and Machida, Kodomo no Kuni opened in 1965 to commemorate the marriage six years prior of the current emperor and empress and promote children’s health. Even 50 years on, and despite creaking a little in places, Children’s Land (as it’s known in English) is still a great day out for families with smaller children, thanks in kind to the summer swimming pools, winter skating rink, mini zoo and barbecue areas, not to mention the lush fields, working farm, pony rides and boating lake.www.kodomonokuni.org

BROWN’S FIELD FARM, CHIBAFounded in 1999 on the Boso Peninsula by natural foods author Deco Nakajima and her writer-photographer husband, Everett Kennedy Brown, Brown’s Field is an eco-friendly farm where you can experience traditional Japanese rural living. Visitors are able to muck in with farm activities, such as rice planting, or just chill out—whether that’s napping in one of the hammocks by the rice paddies, picnicking under a tree with a lunchbox from the farm’s organic café or exploring the bamboo grove. Stay overnight in one of the farm’s tree houses or at the nearby Ji Ji no Ie,

a beautifully restored farmhouse, as that will give you the time to borrow a bicycle and explore the area’s quiet countryside lanes and beaches.www.jijinoie.com

MOTHER FARM, CHIBAAnother farm in Chiba, but this one is very different from Brown’s Field. Beyond the bucolic environs and the chance to stroll around the farm fields, Mother Farm is geared toward entertainment, with daily events ranging from sheep-shearing shows to pig races and opportunities to milk cows and stroke farm animals. If you visit in July or August, you’ll also be able to do some blueberry picking, while any time is good to try the farm’s ice cream or feast on barbecued fare.www.motherfarm.co.jp

HC ANDERSEN PARK, CHIBA Built in honor of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, this quaint amusement park in Funabashi doesn’t have anywhere near the production quality of Disney, but it nonetheless has a great range of simple, fun attractions. Start with the obstacle course or a rowboat “voyage” on the boating pond before cuddling the rabbits and sheep at the petting zoo or trying your hand at making pottery at one of the craft classes. In line with the (rather tenuous) HC Andersen theme, there are Scandinavian-style buildings, a windmill and a statue of Andersen.www.park-funabashi.or.jp/and (Japanese only)

Goss is a Tokyo-based freelance journalist.

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EVENT ROUNDUP

First Friday: Cinco de MayoMay 9

Members celebrated the American and Mexican

holiday of Cinco de Mayo, which has its roots in

19th-century Mexico, with an evening of snacks,

drinks and music from the United States’ southern

neighbor in the Winter Garden.

Photos by Yuuki Ide

1. Sandra Mori

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Mother’s Day at the ClubMay 11

Families celebrated Mother’s Day at the Club’s

traditional mom-pampering spread of mouthwatering

eats in the New York Ballroom.

Photos by Ken Katsurayama

1. (l–r) Shuhei, Kotaro and Masae Hara and Renee, Yasuko, Chloe,

Dominik and Makoto Steiner 2. (l–r) Mitchell Krcelic, Akiko Arai and

Matt and William Krcelic


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

Summer SippingMay 12

The Women’s Group invited Brian Marcus, the Club’s

assistant general manager (business operations), to host

another fun luncheon of cocktail-making tips and friendly

competition between teams of amateur mixologists.

Photos by Yuuki Ide

1. (l–r) Punita Singh, Elizabeth Butler, Rumi Ide, Therese Cowled,

Linda Schnetzer, Nancy Davis, Roni Krinsky, Sibyl Kane and Betsy

Rogers 2. Denise LaTouche and Kimberly Colibert 3. (l–r) Cathy

Noyes, Diana Bohm, Lennea Van Hercke, Linda Border, Jamie

Burger and Jennifer Halverson 4. (l–r) Aline Schick, Allyson See,

Tami Lightle, Donna Burke, Anush Balian, Brian Marcus, Carrie

Fraipont and Kris Freitas

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A Day at the Races May 24

A band of Members headed to Tokyo Racecourse

in Fuchu, where they enjoyed a day of galloping

thoroughbreds, trips to the paddock and the

occasional flutter.

Photos provided by Miki Ohyama

Meet the Author: Dr Shuichi Tsuji

May 21

Consultant and sports psychology guru Dr Shuichi

Tsuji, who has written numerous books about how

to apply the so-called “Tsuji method” of thinking to

all aspects of life, gave an entertaining presentation

before answering Members’ questions.

Photos by Yuuki Ide

1. (l–r) Hiro Sasaki, Mariko Nakagawa, Junko Maeda, Miki

Ohyama, Nancy and Brian Davis and Demir and Naoko Sadikoglu

2. Front row (l–r): Nancy Davis, Ellie Suzuki, Mariko Nakagawa,

Linda Schnetzer, Elizabeth Butler, Michelle Herring, Masako

Shirako and Miki Ohyama

Back row (l–r): Brian Davis, Demir and Naoko Sadikoglu, Kazumasa

Ohyama, Junko Maeda, Joe Terschak, Tomoko Ueno, Hiro Sasaki,

Rie Kamiya, Makiko Daigo, Takao Kamiya, Michael Misurelli,

Shizuo Daigo, Richard Butler, Brooks Herring, Shigenari Shirako,

Dean Cowan, Junji Noda, Ai Nishiyama and Keitaro Matsushita

1. Dr Shuichi Tsuji



Mudsharks ChampionshipsMay 20–21

Members of the Club’s youth swim team wrapped

up the season’s aquatic action with two evenings of

intense competition in the Sky Pool.

Photos by Ayano Robichon

1. Emma Liu and Sofia Shortis 2. (l–r) Sky Pool manager and

Mudsharks assistant coach Haldane Henry, Oliver Chadwick and

Eigen Schinaman 3. Minami Ide and Thomas Garita 4. Eigen

Schinaman (near) and Sofia Shortis 5. Emily Busby

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Gifu Cormorant Fishing and Shirakawago Tour

May 19–20

Members journeyed west to the mountains of Gifu

Prefecture to take in a demonstration of the centuries-

old practice of nighttime cormorant fishing and the

stunning bucolic beauty of the village of Shirakawago,

a World Heritage site.

Photos by Heidi Sanford

1. (l–r) Heidi Sanford, Christa Rutter, Sharon Fuller, Grace McCauley,

Michelle Herring, Coleen Curley-Ostrower, Mary H Hager, Barbara

Maffeo, Diana Bohm, Alaine Lee, Simmie Mehra, Toshiko Hobo,

Cathy Noyes, Kazuko Morio, Elizabeth Butler and Anna Zarifi 2. (l–r)

Mary H Hager, Grace McCauley, Cathy Noyes, Diana Bohm, Heidi

Sanford and Sharon Fuller 3. (front–rear) Christa Rutter, Alaine Lee,

Coleen Curley-Ostrower, Barbara Maffeo, Mary H Hager, Kazuko

Morio, Diana Bohm, Elizabeth Butler and Grace McCauley



Epicurean Tour of Italy Wine Dinner May 23

The representatives of five prominent Italian wineries,

from such celebrated regions as Piedmont, Chianti

Classico, Umbria and Alto Adige, hosted a memorable

dinner of fine wines and modern Italian cuisine.

Photos by Yuuki Ide


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Club Recital May 25

Following the Japanese tradition of the annual

happyokai concert, the Club’s students of the violin,

viola, piano and voice, as well as their teachers,

performed at an inaugural recital.

Photos by Kayo Yamawaki

1. Zamil Alani 2. Miki and Rumi Kawamura 3. Eleanor Lewis

4. Piano instructor Ai Noguchi and Voice instructor Ya-shan

Cheng 5. James MacNamara 6. Benjamin and Isabelle Maury



L iving in Tokyo means sharing the city with Japan’s so-called “idols.” These attractive, young celebrities are ubiquitous,

appearing in everything from music videos and movies to TV shows and gossip magazines. In many aspects, they aren’t much different from the ones whose faces you tore out of magazines and wallpapered your bedroom with as a teenager.

Idols are the pop star, actor or model with a knack for attracting the lenses of the paparazzi. In certain, subtle ways, however, Japan takes a unique approach to its idols, particularly in the way they are developed.

Recall your favorite teen idol when you were growing up. They probably emerged on the scene with some definable skill, right? For Mick Jagger, it was his first-rate rock hooks, not just his good looks that electrified audiences. Japanese idols, in contrast, can debut with little ability in anything.

It’s accepted that they will improve, and it’s through this process that they can build an intensely loyal following.

BACK WORDS Whatever the story, anecdote, fictitious tale, rant, cultural observation or Club commentary, now’s your chance to take it to the world…well, Membership, anyway. E-mail your submission (no more than 700 words) to [email protected].

by Akihiko Kubo

Japan’s Idol Machine

The most successful idols work tirelessly to develop the skills that befit a famous entertainer. As singers, they begin to hit the right notes, while their acting becomes a little less wooden. They literally grow up in the public eye. By the time they mature into legitimate performers, some idols have accumulated huge, devoted fanbases.

There’s no better example of this than the most successful idol group in Japan today: AKB48. The all-female, 140-member pop juggernaut’s meteoric transformation into a top-selling phenomenon in less than a decade is directly attributable to the unprecedented access fans are given to the group and its direction.

AKB is a crowdsourced group with its own theater in, naturally, Akihabara. Have a favorite member? Pick up one of the band’s special “election singles” that allows you to vote in the annual AKB48 popularity contest, which determines who will appear on the next AKB release. Other singles might contain a ticket for a “handshake” event. (It was at one of these meet and greets in Iwate in May that a crazed fan attacked two members of the group with a saw.)

Like an endless season of “American Idol,” fans are encouraged to rally support for their favorite members and push them to the top. Members start as low-profile trainees, but those with the right combination of skill and charm eventually join the ranks of Japan’s “queens of cute.”

But nothing lasts forever. It’s rare for an idol to retain their status beyond

From the hottest concerts to sumo tournaments, the Club’s TAC-tix service is your gateway to Tokyo’s exciting entertainment scene.

Check out the latest event tickets and deals by visiting the TAC-tix page of the Club website or Member Services.

Member Services Daily: 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m. | Tel: 03-4588-0670 | E-mail: [email protected]

their mid-20s. That’s because for many Japanese, idols are pure, idealized paragons of youth. So when a prominent AKB member can no longer masquerade as a fresh-faced teenager, she simply retires from the group. The most popular go on to forge successful careers as entertainers, while the others fade into the background, never to be seen again.

So it goes. In a business where nothing sells as well as a cute, young face, there’s always someone eagerly waiting to take your place. o

Club Member Kubo is president of the advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather Japan Group.

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