June 2022 INTOUCH Magazine by Tokyo American Club

第四十七巻六八六号

TOKYO AMERIC AN CLUB

毎月一回一日発行

TOKYO AMERIC AN CLUB JUNE 2022

トウキョウアメリカンクラブ

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INTOUCH

インタッチマガジン二〇二二年六月一日発行

The essence of urban living

Featuring expansive, panoramic views of the city,

Rock of Ages

Legendary guitarist and songwriter Randy Bachman prepares to rock the Club

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Contents 22 TAKIN’ C ARE OF (UNFINISHED) BUSINESS

LE ADER SHIP

DIGE ST

AGENDA

SETH MIRANDA

INDEPTH

21 R AINBOW RIGHTS AND ROBES

This Monk Wears Heels writer Kodo Nishimura, who speaks at the Club in June, shares how Buddhism helped him find happiness.

A DV E N T U R E

SAKE

SO CIET Y

FO CU S

Ahead of his star performance at the Club in July, legendary rock guitarist Randy Bachman explains how a decades-long search has led him to Japan.

17 HIT TING NEW HEIGHTS

Far from taking it easy in his 60s, Member Bradley Smith is just getting started with his mountain and ocean adventures.

COMMUNITY

WELLNE SS

VOICE

HIGHLIGHTS

PURSUIT

COVER IMAGE OF RANDY BACHMAN BY CALLIANNE BACHMAN

JUNE

TOKYO AMERIC AN CLUB

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

GENERAL MANAGER

Representative Governor Jesse Green (2023)

Darren Morrish

First Vice President Sam Rogan (2022) Second Vice President Dean R Rogers (2022)

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGERS Business Operations Wayne Hunter

Secretar y Nils Plett (2023)

Business Suppor t Lian Chang

Treasurer Rune Sølvsteen (2023) Governors Michael Benner (2022), Trista Bridges Bivens (2022), Gregory Lyon (2023)

DIRECTORS

Anthony Moore (2022), Tetsutaro Muraki (2022), Catherine Ohura (2023)

Communications Shane Busato

Reiko Saito (2023), Christina Siegel (2022), Olivia Smith—Connections president (2023)

Facilities Toby Lauer

Statutor y Auditors Koichi Komoda (2022), Paul Kuo (2023)

Finance Naoto Okutsu

Parentheses denote term limit.

Food & Beverage Suranga Hettige Don Human Resources Jason Dominici

CLUB COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Member Services Jonathan Allen

Compensation Anthony Moore

Nihonbashi Noriaki Yamazaki

Culture, Community & Enter tainment Joseph Billi (Trista Bridges Bivens)

Recreation Susanna Yung

Finance Mihoko Manabe (Rune Sølvsteen) Food & Beverage Mark Spencer (Sam Rogan)

INTOUCH

House Adam Donahue (Dean R Rogers)

Editor Nick Jones

Human Resources Ken Cogger (Reiko Saito)

editor@tac-club.org

Membership Risa Dimacali (Tetsutaro Muraki)

Designer Kohji Shiiki

Nihonbashi Ginger Griggs (Catherine Ohura)

Designer Clara Garcia

Nominating Alok Rakyan

Production Administrator Yuko Shiroki

Recreation Shinji Yamasaki (Nils Plett)

CONTRIBUTORS

Risk Control Justin Keyes (Gregory Lyon)

Writers

Parentheses denote Board liaison.

Joan Bailey

TASK FORCE CHAIRS

Trista Bridges Bivens

Refinance John Durkin

Tim Hornyak

Sustainability Trista Bridges Bivens

David McElhinney Mark Pink

SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS

Demir Sadikoglu

Community Relations Bryan Norton

Photographers

Frederick Harris Galler y Emily Okada

Callianne Bachman

Golf Masaki Sato

Brian Campbell

Squash Jeremy Markwick-Smith

Clara Garcia

Swim Agnes Ouellette

Yuuki Ide

TAC Talk Simon Farrell

Munemasa Takahashi

Wine & Beverage Keith Truelove

Kayo Yamawaki Illustrator Tania Vicedo

ADVERTISING IN INTOUCH

JOINING TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB

Explore the Club’s range of advertising possibilities by talking to

To arrange a tour of the facilities,

the Club’s exclusive advertising agency, Custom Media.

contact the Membership Office.

Custom Media President Robert Heldt

Tokyo American Club

Custom Media Publisher Simon Farrell

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

adver tising@tac-club.org

membership@tac-club.org

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03-4588-0687 | www.tokyoamericanclub.org

All prices referenced in INTOUCH include consumption tax.

INTOUCH

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LEADERSHIP

Bringing Back the Buzz WORDS TRISTA BRIDGES BIVENS IMAGE KAYO YAMAWAKI

s members of the Board, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to serve the Club and Members in many ways. For example, every standing committee has a Board liaison to ensure smooth communications between Club leaders, and I’m delighted to be serving as liaison to the Culture, Community & Entertainment Committee. The committee organizes many of the regular social and cultural events at the Club, including the monthly Friday Night Lives, the well-received TAC Talks, the annual Super Bowl party and July’s hugely popular, all-day Independence Day Celebration. Such events enable Members to mix and meet new people—one of the fundamental reasons why many Members join the Club in the first place. My liaison role has given me a deeper insight into the workings of this important committee and the dedication of its members to deliver new and exceptional experiences each year. While the Culture, Community & Entertainment Committee plays a central role in putting on events, it is not alone. The Food & Beverage Committee, Recreation Committee, Connections and Club departments also organize a steady stream of programs that bring the Club community together. Needless to say, the pandemic brought huge disruption to the Club’s calendar of events, with many experiences limited in scope and frequency over the last two years or so. Thankfully, things have begun to ramp up. As government restrictions have eased, the Club has expanded its lineup of events. From Super Bowl in February to Connections’ Dancing in the Rain and recent Sangria at Sunset parties to the well-attended Hanami Night, Members are appreciating these opportunities to safely mingle again. And next month’s Independence Day Celebration is set to be one to remember with rock legend Randy Bachman playing live in the New York Ballroom (the Canadian rocker talks to INTOUCH on page 22). We are slowly getting back to the volume and scale of events staged in the past. But this period also gives us a chance to look at how we can do things even better than before. Over the coming months, you can expect new programs for families, teens and young adults along with more networking and cultural events. And with them, a new vibrancy around the Club.

“SUCH EVENTS ENABLE MEMBERS TO MIX AND MEET NEW PEOPLE—ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL REASONS WHY MANY MEMBERS JOIN THE CLUB IN THE FIRST PLACE.”

Trista Bridges Bivens is a Club governor.

JUNE

D I G E ST E D I TO R

Superior Interior

Attention to Detail

NACÁSA & PARTNERS

AWA R D

The Nihonbashi Club has won a second prestigious award for its interior design. The iF Design Award follows the Club’s Good Design Award last year. “The consistent use of fine materials and detailing, lighting technique, original furnishings and art collection make the spaces of a truly exceptional quality,” the Hanover-based award judges noted. Architect and Nihonbashi Club Member Daishi Yoshimoto oversaw the design of the Club, which opened in March 2021. “We are very proud and excited that our design was recognized by a major international design award program,” he says. “It’s another win for the Nihonbashi team and Members.” NJ MEMBERSHIP

YUUKI IDE

Spreading the Joy

“Shared joy is a double joy” goes the Swedish proverb. And from June 1, the Nihonbashi Club is inviting Members to introduce their friends and coworkers to the joys of membership. In addition, whenever a Member accompanies an interested guest to the Club in June, they will be entered into a draw to win a prize from a lineup of spectacular Club experiences, including dinner for four and personal training sessions. And if the guest applies to join the Club by August 31, the Member will receive a voucher worth ¥20,000 for spending at either clubhouse. Visit the Club website for details or contact membership@tac-club.org. NJ

INTOUCH

The fact that a guitar stolen more than four decades ago was ever found was incredible enough. But the way in which it was discovered makes the episode particularly extraordinary. In 2021, an amateur sleuth in Canada uncovered the whereabouts of the treasured 1957 Gretsch guitar of rock legend Randy Bachman, who shares the story ahead of his Club performance next month on page 22. After scouring online images and videos for clues, William Long chanced upon a video of a guitarist playing in a Japanese bar. He had struck gold. The three telltale marks on the guitar that Long had identified from an old Bachman video were clearly visible. Remarkably, the guitar looked in the same condition as the day it went missing from a hotel in 1976. Maybe we’ll never know how it arrived in Japan, but Bachman is lucky that it did wind up in a Tokyo guitar shop. Anyone who has bought anything vintage or secondhand in Japan knows that Japanese owners—particularly hobbyists—look after the object of their interest. They care about every detail. It’s no surprise that vinyl collectors from abroad visit Japan to pick up mint-condition records. In this case, the guitar shop that sold Bachman’s orange 1957 Gretsch knew exactly the value of the guitar, as did its discerning purchaser, the Japanese musician Takeshi. When the Gretsch is returned to its original owner when Bachman and Takeshi meet in Tokyo in July, the Canadian rocker can be thankful for a nation’s appreciation for craftsmanship.

L I B R A RY

From the Shelves Since joining the Club with her husband last year, Yuka Tanaka has been exploring the shelves of the Library and immersing herself in titles recommended by staff and fellow members of the Club’s Book Lovers’ Group.

What inspired your love of books? Barnes and Noble in Irvine, California. I was raising two boys at the time and the bookstore was a place where I could find peace. The boys would run to the children’s book section, and I would pick my favorite books and head to the store’s Starbucks, where they had the best banana and nut muffins! What genre do you most enjoy? As I traveled so much, I always seemed to encounter the latest bestsellers. I ended up loving self-help books, especially ones with tests to measure your strengths and weaknesses. They

Yuka Tanaka

also provided me with some useful advice to pass on to my kids. Since joining the Book Lovers’ Group, I have been reading more genres. What are you reading now? I just finished The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera and No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai. Both deal with the hardships of life and the meaning of existence. There is so much depth to these books, and I am keen to reread them to better understand them.

KAYO YAMAWAKI

What was your favorite childhood book? Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans. I was 5 years old when my mother bought me this book. It’s about 12 girls at a Paris boarding school, with Madelaine the smallest but bravest girl. She gave me so much courage and help in how to grow up. At that time, I faced my own challenges after moving from Japan to New York, where I had to speak English and make new friends at my kindergarten.

When were you last unable to put down a book? How Will You Measure Your Life? by the late Harvard professor Clayton Christensen is a book I keep going back to in quiet moments. I especially like the part about relationships. He says the path to happiness in a relationship is not just finding someone you think is going to make you happy. Rather, it is about finding someone you want to make happy, someone whose happiness is worth devoting yourself to.

S PA

KAYO YAMAWAKI

Me-Time Moments Since everyone deserves a break from the rigors of life, The Spa is helping Members unwind with two weekday specials. With a Time-Out Special, book a 60- or 90-minute rejuvenating therapy or facial treatment together with a reservation at the Childcare Center and enjoy 20 percent off your treatment and 50 percent off childcare while you lie back in bliss. Available between 10am and 3pm. If evenings are better for you, why not take a Weekday Spa Vacation when all treatments are 15 percent off after 6:30pm? Contact 03-4588-0714 or spa@ tac-club.org to book a pampering. NJ

JUNE

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D I G E ST R EC O G N I T I O N

WINE

More Than Words

Pink Perfection WORDS DEMIR SADIKOGLU

CLARA GARCIA

IMAGE KAYO YAMAWAKI

“The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library,” Albert Einstein once declared. Only when Drew Damron took over as manager of the Club Library in 2017, he wasn’t convinced that all Members knew the whereabouts of the second-floor repository. “By their own nature, libraries are a hub for whichever community they’re situated within,” he says. “It was clear that our Library is important for families, and it continues to be, but I found that it doesn’t benefit from regular traffic patterns in the building.” Damron and his team set about putting the Library on the map. They expanded programs for children and adults, developed the Library’s digital offerings and quickly adapted to the increased demand for the Library’s services during the pandemic. Member Betty Noguchi says Damron has used his experience from working in public libraries in the United States to build the Library into a “vital and valued center for the Club community.” But, she says, his influence goes further. “What I would like to commend about Drew is how he has shared his many personal talents in creating other educational programs,” says Noguchi, citing the comic book workshops and genealogy classes Damron established and the monthly TAC Talk lectures he helps organize. Noguchi was a member of the organizing committee for the 10th anniversary celebrations for the Azabudai Club in 2021. The organizers turned to Damron for his help. “We learned of his past work as an archivist and that he had already been quietly researching the Club’s history on his own,” she says. “What he did for us was to take us on a fascinating walking tour to specific sites around Tokyo related directly to the Club’s history and, from this, he developed a wonderful presentation that he gave at the 10th anniversary event.” Damron and his librarians have been steadily building a Club archive, which they aim to digitize and turn into an exhibit to open next year. It’s hoped a book on the Club’s history will follow. “At times, communities can lose their sense of self, and it’s through sharing and celebrating our heritage that we can reconnect to that shared story again,” Damron says. “The Club has gone through a lot of incredible changes, and the more we uncover, the more interesting this place becomes.” NJ Members can recognize Club staff by submitting a Tell TAC online or by filling out one of the cards available around the Club. Photo: Drew Damron and Betty Noguchi

With summer’s humidity beginning to grip Tokyo, it’s time to think cool and refreshing when selecting something from The Cellar. And I have three great-value rosé wines that fit the bill. Viña Real’s 2019 Rosado (¥1,980) from Spain’s Rioja region is an elegant rosé with a deliciously balanced palate, lightly acidic aftertaste and long, fruit-driven finish. Pairs well with most summer foods but is equally enjoyable on its own. Moving onto southern France, Hecht & Bannier’s 2020 Côtes de Provence Rosé (¥2,400) is a fresh wine of immense charm and minerality and perfect for sipping outdoors with anchovies and olives. Wölffer Estate’s Long Island vineyard (one of only three in the Hamptons) might be located on former potato fields, but you wouldn’t know it from the quality of its wines, including its 2019 Estate Rosé (¥3,520). Bursting with fresh fruit aromas and flavors, this lively wine is well structured with an elegant mouthfeel. It’s an incredibly versatile rosé that would enhance a range of dishes, from grilled meats and smoked salmon to poached lobster and soft cheeses. Sounds like the perfect summer partner! Demir Sadikoglu is a member of the Club’s Wine & Beverage Committee. For the month of June, receive a 10 percent discount on purchases of at least three bottles of any of these recommended Cellar wines.

JUNE

AG E N DA

Events in June Since some events may be postponed or cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, please check the Club website for the most up-to-date information.

Exhibition: Neinei In this first exhibition of the Frederick Harris Gallery’s summer of shows by emerging artists, Neinei (the pseudonym of Chinese artist Lou Xiaoning) shares her kaleidoscopic portraits of Japanese women.  Through June 27  Frederick Harris Gallery  Artworks available for purchase through Member Services  Details online

Looking Good Spa Offer

 Through June 30  The Spa  Details online

Fitness Machine Orientation Get the most out of your workout at the Nihonbashi Club’s Fitness Center by learning the ins and outs of the exercise equipment during free, 20-minute orientation sessions. Contact satoshi.nagae@ tac-club.org to reserve.  Weekdays  7am–8:30pm  Nihonbashi Fitness Center  Details online

Weber Terrace Embrace the sizzle this summer with your own Weber grill and a selection of barbecue-ready eats and sides at Rainbow Café’s alfresco dining spot. Choose from two packages. Drink specials available.  Through October 31  Daily  11am–8:30pm  Rainbow Café Terrace  Details online

INTOUCH

KEN KATSURAYAMA

Put your best face forward this month with The Spa’s latest Dermalogica facial treatment. Enjoy 20 percent off 30-minute and 60-minute Pro Clear sessions that will leave your skin blemish-free and radiant.

Hondoji: Chiba’s Secret Garden There’s one sightseeing spot Blanka Kobayashi never fails to take friends or family visiting from overseas. “Hondoji is a true hidden gem of Japan,” says the Connections member. “It is very close to Tokyo, just 45 minutes from Akasaka, and it’s truly beautiful in any season, but especially during hydrangea season when the grounds are filled with over 50,000 flowers.” Members will be able to take in the Instagram-worthy scenery during a tour to the centuries-old temple in the Chiba Prefecture city of Matsudo. With its links to Japan’s first shogun, Ieyasu Tokugawa (one of his concubines is buried at the temple), and Nichiren Buddhism, Hondoji attracts pilgrims and garden lovers in equal number.

“I can’t even count how many times I’ve visited,” says Kobayashi, who will lead the tour along with Hiroko Hata. “What sets it apart is its garden with an iris pond, cherry blossom trees, hydrangeas and maple trees.” The half-day, Connections-organized excursion includes lunch at Ichinoito, a local restaurant known for its contemporary take on traditional kaiseki and other Japanese cuisine. If Members are as enamored with Hondoji as Kobayashi was on her first visit, this trip to Matsudo likely won’t be their last. NJ  9am–2:30pm  Connections members: ¥4,800 (nonConnections members & guests: ¥5,300)  Price includes lunch and entrance fee  Sign up online

Beer Terrace In the tradition of Japan’s bustling beer gardens, American Bar & Grill is serving up a terrace menu of great-value drinks and bites all summer long.  Through October 31  Daily  4pm (drinks available) & 5pm (food available)  American Bar & Grill Terrace  Details online

Toastmasters Luncheon Hone your public speaking and presentation skills at regular meetings of the Club’s supportive cohort of Toastmasters. All are welcome.  12–1:30pm  New York Bridge  ¥2,420 (online: ¥550)  Sign up online

1 & 15

Getting to Know You New Nihonbashi Club Members get acquainted at casual luncheons each month. Reserve your spot by calling 03-6262-6976.  12–1:30pm  ¥1,100  American Room (private dining room)  Nihonbashi Club Members only  Details online

NBA Finals And then there were two. Basketball’s top teams battle it for the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy in this best-of-seven series. Catch all the morning action live on the Traders’ Bar screens. Food and drinks available from 11am.  Traders’ Bar  Details online

Broadway Friday Night Live The bright lights of Broadway come to the Winter Garden for an evening of musical hits performed by singer Michael David Bodin and pianist Kevin McHugh and a showstopping lineup of drinks and buffet treats.  6:30–8:30pm  Winter Garden  ¥4,950 (walk-ins: ¥7,150); guests: ¥7,150 (walk-ins: ¥9,350)  Limit: two guests per Member  Sign up online

Thirsty Thursday: Dos Amigos Champagne and caviar. Claret and steak. Sake and sashimi. The tradition of marrying complementary food and drink flavors continues with an evening of Cal-Mex cuisine and wine. This latest edition of Thirsty Thursday, hosted at Splash!, features items from the rooftop café’s Baja-inspired menu, including quesadillas, blue corn tacos, Mexican red rice and fried jalapeño poppers. Keith Truelove, chair of the Wine & Beverage Committee, says the evening will introduce some alternatives to beer or margaritas when enjoying Mexican or other spicy foods.

“Everyone is familiar with tacos, but Torrontes? We’ll introduce some excellent—if less commonly known— wines that pair exceptionally well with the Cal-Mex menu,” he says. The liquid lineup of five wines runs from a Chilean red made from the País grape to a German Riesling from the storied Dr Loosen winery in Mosel to a blend of Chardonnay and Torrontes from Argentina’s Bodegas Callia. Book your spot for an alfresco evening of flavor friendships. NJ  7–9pm  Splash!  ¥11,000 (guests: ¥13,200)  Limit: one guest per Member  Sign up online

JUNE

AG E N DA

 Order online by June 16 (12pm)  Pickup from The Cellar: June 19 (11am–6pm)  Details online

5–26

The Gymnasium and Squash Courts shut their doors for three weeks of renovations. Both second-floor areas will reopen on June 27. The O-Zone outdoor play space will also be closed during this period.  Gymnasium & Squash Courts  Details online

There might be some debate over exactly where and when the “taco Tuesday” tradition started in the United States, but Traders’ Bar is happy to continue the custom regardless. Drop by the Club’s watering hole for an all-youcan-eat buffet of Mexican tortillas and fillings each Tuesday.  5–9pm  Traders’ Bar  ¥2,200

Order an American wagyu T-bone from Idaho’s Snake River Farms for dinner, and you’ll enjoy a steak “side” on the house.  Dinner  American Bar & Grill  Details online

Father’s Day If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, then the Club’s mouthwatering spread of Father’s Day treats should ensure plenty of happy dads on June 19. Available for delivery to the door or pickup from The Cellar, this year’s feast features a choice of

Facility Upgrade

ing to cook up a special dinner,” she says. “We simply picked up our order from The Cellar and then enjoyed a delicious Father’s Day feast on our very own balcony.” Skip the gifting guesswork this Father’s Day and order a present that is sure to put a smile on Dad’s face. NJ

three mains (creole-spiced roasted chicken, barbecue combo and tenderloin steaks) and a selection of sides, including chili, buffalo wings and potato salad, to satisfy the entire family. After last year’s meal was a hit with her husband and two young sons, Member Karen Dobbie says she plans on ordering again this year. “It was the perfect way to end a busy day and for us all to celebrate without anyone being stuck in the kitchen try-

INTOUCH

Taco Tuesday

T-Bone Tuesday

Summer Reading Challenge Bookworms build their own paper ice cream sundae by completing reading logs on the way to prizes and real ice cream. Reading logs available from the Library.  Through August 17  Library  Details online

Winter Garden Melodies Pianist Akika Nakano helps Members ease into the weekend with soothing melodies in the Winter Garden. A graduate of Ueno Gakuen University’s musical performance program, Nakano is a member of a Beethoven ensemble.  6–9pm  Winter Garden  Details online

Cub Scout Meeting Elementary school kids are introduced to the exciting world of Scouting through the Club-sponsored Pack 51.  6:30–8pm  Toko Shinoda & Yukiko Maki classrooms  Details online

10–12

Chic Summer Sale Give your summer wardrobe a makeover at this sale of stylish European and Japanese fashion brands, with big discounts on women’s shoes, bags and accessories and men’s footwear, shirts, jackets and more.  10:30am–7pm (June 10 & 11); 10:30am–5pm (June 12)  Beate Sirota Gordon & Haru Reischauer classrooms  Details online

Show & Tell Jamboree Ages 6 to 9 pick up tips on how to engage an audience at an afternoon of games, music and confidence-boosting activities.  1–2:30pm  Toko Shinoda & Yukiko Maki classrooms  ¥1,000 (guests: ¥1,200)  Sign up online

Youth Toastmasters Club Youngsters learn the finer points of public speaking and debating from members of the Club’s own Toastmasters group.  3–4pm  Toko Shinoda & Yukiko Maki classrooms  ¥1,100 (guests: ¥1,320)  Ages 10–18  Sign up online

Exhibition: Ken Noguchi Ken Noguchi’s lacquerware wouldn’t be out of place on the minimalist shelving of an über-chic, steel-andpolished concrete home. It’s hard to believe that the young artist employs a technique from Japan’s Nara period, more than a millennium ago, to craft his works. Buddhist statues from that time were often made using the so-called hollow dry lacquer method, where layers of lacquer-soaked hemp cloth were applied to a rough clay core, which was later removed. Switching clay for Styrofoam and other modern materials, Noguchi still uses hemp cloth and lacquer to shape his designs. The textured surfaces of flowing ridges and swirling patterns are made with string and lacquer. “Lacquer is a natural material that has been used in Japan since the Jomon period and continues to be used today,” Noguchi says. “With this background in mind, I hope that visitors will be able to see and feel the diversity of expression, charm and beauty of this material.” Noguchi completed his graduate studies at the Kanazawa College of Art in 2010, and his exhibition is part of the Frederick Harris Gallery’s summer of shows by emerging artists. NJ

Moment I realized I wanted to become an artist. I have always loved drawing and building things since I was a child, so becoming an artist was a natural progression for me. What I would tell my 20-year-old self. There will be hardships ahead, but you will meet many wonderful people through your art and your world will expand beyond your expectations. So please don’t give up. Keep doing your best. My perfect creative environment. A place with a mix of both old and new. I need both stimuli to be able to create. Artist, living or dead, I’d most like to share a meal with. From the past, it would be lacquer artist Zeshin Shibata, and film director Christopher Nolan from the present.  Through July 25  Frederick Harris Gallery  Artworks available for purchase through Member Services  Details online

JUNE

AG E N DA

11 & 18

Introduction to Wine Members learn the fundamentals of wine on their way to earning a globally recognized qualification from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Taught by Kanako Ijichi, the Club’s wine program manager.  2:30–6pm  Washington & Lincoln rooms  Details online

Tie-Dye Party Give a tote bag (included in the event fee) and any items from home a dazzling, fresh design at this tie-dye workshop for families. Prepare for an afternoon of messy creativity.  1:30–4pm  Activity Rooms  ¥2,200 (walk-ins & guests: ¥2,640)  Ages 4 & above (ages 4–5 require parental assistance)  Sign up online

Summer Camp Discovery The Club’s Camp Discovery returns for another summer of weeklong sessions of crafts, games, dance and sports designed to boost young campers’ confidence and independence.  Through August 26  Weekdays: 9am–3pm  Preschool Camp (ages 3–4): ¥49,500 per week (non-Members: ¥64,350); Big Kids’ Camp (ages 5–10): ¥55,000 per week (non-Members: ¥71,500): ¥5,000 discount for each younger sibling; Camp Plus (3–5pm): ¥3,960 per day  Sign up online

Summer Swim Programs Kids build water confidence and basic swim skills during group sessions with one of the Sky Pool’s qualified instructors. Classes run each Monday to Thursday.  Through August 10  Sky Pool  Sign up online

Toastmasters Luncheon: Shoot for the Stars Members are invited to share their tales of success and accomplishment at this themed session with the Club’s band of public speaking enthusiasts.  12–1:30pm  Washington & Lincoln rooms  ¥2,420 (online: ¥550)  Sign up online

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TAC Talk: Nancy Matsumoto and Michael Tremblay The two sake experts appear virtually to discuss Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake, their book about the pioneering brewers and farmers working to expand sake’s appeal in Japan and abroad. Find out more about the state of sake on page 19.  7–8pm  Toko Shinoda & Yukiko Maki classrooms & online  Members: ¥1,650 (online: ¥550); guests: ¥1,980 (online: ¥660)  Sign up online

Winter Garden Melodies Talented pianist Kotomi Hasegawa entertains Members during a relaxed evening in the Winter Garden. A graduate of Musashino Acadamia Musicae, Hasegawa teaches and performs alone and with ensembles in Tokyo.  6–9pm  Winter Garden  Details online

Father’s Day Gift Workshop Club kids turn the creativity up to 11 as they decorate a tie to present to Dad on Father’s Day morning.  2–3:30pm  Activity Rooms  ¥4,180 (walk-ins & guests: ¥5,020)  Ages 3 & above (ages 7 & below require parental assistance)  Sign up online

Father’s Day Grand Buffet Dads are treated to a spread of Club classics and culinary favorites, including smoked St Louis ribs, beer can-roasted chicken, beef brisket, pan-roasted king salmon and lobster and shellfish bisque. Will they have room for dessert?  11am–3pm  New York Ballroom  Adults (food only): ¥7,480; adults (all-you-can-drink beverage package for ages 20 & above): ¥3,080; ages 13–17: ¥4,890; ages 4–12: ¥2,450; ages 3 & under: free  Sign up online by June 16

Sky Pool Splash-A-Round While Dad sleeps off that Father’s Day lunch, the kids dive into an afternoon of water basketball and trampoline thrills at the Sky Pool.  3–4pm  Sky Pool  ¥2,200 (guests: ¥2,750)  Ages 5–12  Sign up online

Boy Scout Court of Honor Members of the Club-sponsored Troop 51 are recognized for merit badges and new ranks earned and other achievements at a ceremony.  5–7pm  Activity Rooms  Details online

Nihonbashi Chef ’s Table Sit down to six exquisite courses paired with sommelier-selected wines during an intimate dinner with fellow Members. The menu includes duck breast with orange-endive marmalade and Delmonico steak from Snake River Farms in Idaho.  6pm  American Room (private dining room)  ¥15,000 (guests: ¥18,000)  Sign up online

TAC Talk: Kodo Nishimura The author of This Monk Wears Heels: Be Who You Are discusses his life as a Buddhist monk, makeup artist and LGBTQ+ activist. Turn to page 21 to read more about Kodo Nishimura’s transformative time in New York.  7–8pm  Washington & Lincoln rooms & online  Members: ¥1,650 (online: ¥550); guests: ¥1,980 (online: ¥660)  Sign up online

Winter Garden Melodies Winter Garden regular Shunei Baba tickles the ivories during an evening of soothing sounds. Baba is currently pursuing his master’s degree at Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo.  6–9pm  Winter Garden  Details online

Cocktail Hour Budding mixologists learn how to make a cocktail from the golden age of hotel bars. The Queen’s Park Swizzle is a rum-based concoction named after the hotel in Trinidad where it was created in the 1920s.  5:30pm  Muromachi Bar & Lounge  ¥2,200  Members only  Sign up online

2 | 10AM–10P Y L M JU

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Celebration

LIVE MUSIC WITH ROCK LEGEND

RANDY BACHMAN 7–10PM • NEW YORK BALLROOM

Fanfare

Food

CEREMONY, TOASTS AND SPEECHES

A BUFFET OF ALL-AMERICAN CLASSICS

11:30AM–12:30PM

12:30–2:30PM

WINTER GARDEN

NEW YORK BALLROOM

Fun

GAMES, THRILLS AND CONTESTS

10AM–5:30PM

GYMNASIUM, SKY POOL, BOWLING CENTER

CHECK ONLINE FOR DETAILS ORGANIZED BY THE CULTURE, COMMUNITY & ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE

A DV E RTO R I A L

TOP MARKS Malvern College Tokyo helps young learners prepare for bright futures

alvern College has set exceedingly high educational standards since its founding in 1865 in Malvern, England. As the school now has campuses in China, Hong Kong, Egypt and Switzerland, students around the world can benefit from this venerable tradition. And in September 2023, the newest campus—Malvern College Tokyo (MCT)—will open its doors and share the Malvern experience with learners in Japan. The school’s founding headmaster will be Mike Spencer, an educator with more than 20 years at schools in Hong Kong, India, Shanghai and Mozambique. He is a trained school evaluator and Team Chair for the Council of International Schools and also serves as Head of University Relations and Teacher Development at Malvern College International. INNOVATIVE APPROACH As Dr. Robin Lister, the regional executive advisor of Malvern College International (Asia Pacific), explains, one key to a

Mike Spencer

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Malvern education is its strong link to the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum—which MCT plans to offer at the primary and secondary year levels— coupled with the school’s dedication to comprehensive education: “It is true to say that Malvern’s philosophy goes hand in hand with the philosophy of the IB. What Malvern brings in addition to shared values is a passion for pastoral care and educating the whole child.” This is accompanied with a focus on technology that is an integral part of the school’s curriculum. During their coursework, students will have the chance to learn everything from digital media and AI to robotics and design software. Another key element at MCT will be education in entrepreneurship. Lister points out that these entrepreneurial skills go beyond just business acumen: “They are rooted in instilling in children the ability to analyze issues, to ‘think out of the box’ when looking at problems, to be critical and self-reflective and even to challenge their teachers or what a textbook says. I would go further to suggest that the skills that underlie an entrepreneurial approach to education are absolutely essential if we are to prepare our pupils for what will undoubtedly be demanded of them in the world of work when they leave school.” THINKING GREEN MCT will also encourage its graduates to be deeply concerned with the future of the planet. And this begins at an early age with the Forest School, designed

for young learners aged three to six. The program allows children to spend time outdoors and take part in activities that include gathering and counting pebbles, learning how to build a fire with adult help and creating abstract designs from twigs. As Lister explained, these activities not only encourage a love of nature in young learners, but also teach lessons of collaboration and problem solving. BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Finally, recognizing Malvern’s British heritage while honoring the values and traditions of Japan will be central to the MCT experience. All students will take Japanese language classes, which will be grouped according to students’ abilities. Students will also be exposed to Japanese culture through everyday activities that range from celebrating local festivals and eating national dishes in the dining room to taking part in Japanese sports and crafts. At the same time, students will be introduced to the etiquette for which Britain’s top public schools are well known. This uniting of British and Japanese culture provides students with an array of social skills that enable them to be aware of those around them and put them at ease in a variety of situations. Thanks to a comprehensive curriculum and innovative approaches that educate the whole child, Malvern College Tokyo will prepare its students to not only succeed at university but take on leadership roles in whatever paths they choose in life. www.malverncollegetokyo.jp

I N D E P T H | A DV E N T U R E

Hitting New Heights

Far from retiring quietly, one Member is forging a life of adventure. WORDS DAVID McELHINNEY

radley Smith didn’t expect to be spending his 60s climbing snow-capped peaks, sailing oceans and surfing Hawaiian waves. But he wouldn’t have it any other way. “Sure, I can spend a lot of time and money drinking vodka martinis in the Four Seasons,” says the 65-yearold Member. “But they taste a lot better after you’ve hiked 19,000 feet [5,790 meters].” After a career in investment banking in the financial hubs of New York and Asia, Smith settled in Hawaii. He says that his drive and “type-A personality” that helped him succeed in business is now paying dividends in the great outdoors. A renewed approach to fitness has also been key to Smith’s life transformation. “I was always interested in staying in shape,” he says. “But over the last few years, I’ve stepped it up.” While Smith was a competitive middle-distance runner in high school and frequented the gym during his corporate years, his “much more holistic” workouts focus on bodyweight exercises, functional movements and yoga. “After my first yoga session, I felt so good because my body had moved in a range of motion it probably hadn’t moved in for 40 years,” he says. That single half-hour yoga session 15 years ago, he says, “completely changed [his] life” and he began looking for challenges beyond the gym. In 2013, Smith and his then 16-yearold son climbed Kilimanjaro, Africa’s

Bradley Smith at the summit of Ecuador’s Mount Cotopaxi

highest mountain at 5,895 meters. The climb whet his appetite for more. He set his sights on Ecuador’s 6,310-meter Mount Chimborazo in 2020. But bad weather forced him to abandon his attempt. “We were in 3 or 4 feet of fresh snow,” he says. “And that’s very hard to climb in.” Earlier this year, Smith and his son returned to Ecuador to climb the country’s second-highest mountain, Cotopaxi (5,897 meters). Reaching the summit, Smith says, was “the most beautiful feeling in the world,” but not without its challenges. “It was a hard grind,” he says. “There are points where you’re thinking, ‘What the hell am I doing here?’ But you’ve just got to push through.” Smith hasn’t limited his adventures to dry land. A keen surfer, he took up sailing in 2009 and, with a skeleton

crew of friends, he sailed from Long Beach in California to Honolulu last summer. It was a two-week, sleep-deprived voyage. “But to be up at 5am and watch the sun rise over the Pacific—and not see any land or boat in sight—is just a great experience,” he says. And Smith isn’t done yet. Next year, he plans to climb Argentina’s 6,960-meter Aconcagua, the highest peak outside the Himalayas, then sail more than 4,300 kilometers from Hawaii to Tahiti. While such exploits might have their dangers, Smith says, they are also life-affirming. “People are animals and when they lose touch with their physical nature and the primitive parts of themselves, I think they really lose a lot,” he says. “When you’re on the edge, it’s just a good gut check that you’re still alive.”

JUNE

INDEPTH | SAKE

Sake’s Saviors

TAC Talk speakers Nancy Matsumoto and Michael Tremblay explain why the future of Japan’s iconic drink is bright. WORDS NICK JONES

nce the everyday tipple of a nation, sake has been losing ground to other libations in Japan for years. But while Japanese drinkers fill their glasses with wine, craft beer and cocktails, sake is exploding in popularity abroad. Writer and sake lover Nancy Matsumoto and sake sommelier Michael Tremblay decided to dig deeper into the state of sake. The result is Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake: Rice, Water, Earth, a book that explains the process of sake making while introducing the farmers and brewers transforming the industry. What type of book did you want to produce? NM: A book that would tell the stories of the master brewers, the generational sake-brewing families and the many rice, yeast and koji kin [mold] researchers who work hard to advance

(l–r) Senkin Shuzo brewery’s Masato Usui, Nancy Matsumoto and Michael Tremblay

the art and science of sake brewing. MT: We wanted a book that could appeal to someone new to sake and the aficionado alike. What surprised you the most during your research? NM: One thing that struck me was how welcoming our subjects were and how much they want their stories told to the wider world. One way to do this is to tell the stories of the brewing families and their illustrious histories, to explain the technical advances taking place and to show how sake—in the hands of a new generation of boundary-pushing brewers—is a dynamic and evolving craft beverage. Why does sake consumption continue to decline in Japan? NM: I think there is a lack of understanding of the truly great sake being made in Japan today. Sake is seen as old-fashioned or kind of a nerdy drink. While Japanese drinkers might happily spend a lot on imported wine, which comes with a certain cachet, spending even a fraction of that on a great bottle of sake is not something many consumers think is worth the money. If only they knew what a bargain premium sake is in Japan. MT: In the past two decades, many breweries have shifted to producing smaller batches of higher grades of sake. This is reflected on the consum-

er side, where people are drinking less higher-quality sake versus heaps of cheaper, regular sake. Considering this decline, what does the future hold for the industry? NM: It is the international sake market that will continue to drive growth. I hope there will eventually be a boomerang effect within Japan. The importance of the international market is why you see Asahi Shuzo, makers of the Dassai brand, planning a giant brewery in New York’s Hudson Valley, why Hakkaisan has partnered with Brooklyn Kura and why Japanese brewers are happy to welcome foreign students. MT: The explosion of local craft sake breweries in the US will only help grow demand for Japanese sake in a massive consumer market. In addition, I do think that sake is reinventing itself in Japan. Older brewers are retiring and younger brewers are learning how to market their sake in a hip, fashionable way. My hope is that sake won’t only continue to grow in export markets but in Japan also. TAC TALK: NANCY MATSUMOTO AND MICHAEL TREMBLAY  June 15  7–8pm  Toko Shinoda & Yukiko Maki classrooms & online  Members: ¥1,650 (online: ¥550); guests: ¥1,980 (online: ¥660)  Sign up online

JUNE

A DV E RTO R I A L

A HOTEL FOR ALL SEASONS MUNI KYOTO offers accommodations as stunning as the city itself

rashiyama is one of Kyoto’s most scenic areas and is rich with unforgettable views. One of them is the stately Togetsukyo Bridge, which was built some 400 years ago to span the Katsura River. Undoubtedly, more than one haiku has been inspired by someone standing on the bridge in the evening, listening to the murmuring of the river and regarding the light of the moon. It is in this scenic setting that you can find the MUNI KYOTO hotel, which was created to be a soothing retreat that blends in with the seasonal charms of Arashiyama. Its 21 rooms, which range in size from 48 to 76 square meters, offer an ideal base for your experience of Kyoto. The décor of the rooms has been considered down to the smallest detail and brings together Western and Eastern styles—as well as traditional and modern sensibilities—while using a variety of natural materials. The guest rooms have large windows and terraces that look out over the hotel’s beautiful surroundings, including its garden and the river nearby. They

have been designed to foster both a sense of openness and privacy. To make yourself more comfortable during your stay, you can enjoy bath amenities made from local Kyoto products, such as yuzu citron sourced from Mizuo and Kitayama cedar. REFINED DINING The dining options at MUNI KYOTO offer an equally refined experience. The hotel has two Michelin-starred restaurants created in partnership with DUCASSE Paris, the restaurant business that was founded by world-renowned chef Alain Ducasse. MUNI ALAIN DUCASSE is a contemporary restaurant serving cuisine that brings together local ingredients from Kyoto with traditional French culinary techniques. The other outlet is MUNI LA TERRASSE, where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea while admiring the scenic Katsura River landscape. The executive chef at both restaurants has a wealth of experience at Ducasse’s Michelin-starred restaurants around the world.

Finally, for lighter fare throughout the day, MUNI LA BOUTIQUE offers signature dishes, such as flavorful brioche, chocolate tablets and a variety of pastries that you can take away. RELAX AND REFRESH Arashiyama is home to a number of cultural destinations, including Tenryu-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site with a famous garden. You can also visit Fukuda Art Museum, which is right in front of the hotel. The museum exhibits Japanese works by major artists dating from the 16th to the 20th century and guests can visit for free during their stay. If the history, culture and nature of the area weren’t enough to put you at ease during your stay at MUNI KYOTO, you can truly unwind at the MUNI SPA. It’s the perfect place to experience a wide variety of treatments that use local Kyoto ingredients in a tranquil atmosphere. With its blend of stylish design, refined dining and elegant comfort, MUNI KYOTO is a hotel that befits a storied city. muni-kyoto.com/en Exclusive offer for Club members: 20% discount for one night, including breakfast + ¥10,000 credit

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INDEPTH | SO CIET Y

Rainbow Rights and Robes Set to speak at the Club this month, Buddhist monk Kodo Nishimura talks diversity and empowerment. WORDS JOAN BAILEY IMAGE MUNEMASA TAKAHASHI

odo Nishimura might wear robes and sport a shaven head, but he is no ordinary Buddhist monk. He is just as comfortable transforming faces as an accomplished makeup artist or speaking as a LGBTQ+ activist as he is chanting sutras at his family’s temple in Tokyo. “I wanted to break the stereotypical understanding of Buddhist monks,” says Nishimura. “My mother, for example, is a mother, works in the temple and is a pianist. We are not just one identity. We can be flexible and be anything. That’s why I thought these identities can be mine.” While Nishimura is keen to share his broadminded philosophy, this wasn’t always the case. In his book, This Monk Wears Heels: Be Who You Are, published

Kodo Nishimura

earlier this year, Nishimura, 33, chronicles his journey from teenage self-doubt and self-loathing to spreading a message of tolerance and acceptance. “When I was younger, I was frustrated because people didn’t see me for who I was, nor did they perceive my sexuality,” he says. “But as I grew up, I realized I have experience and teachings I can use to share happiness.” Nishimura’s transformation began in 2007 when he moved to the United States to study at the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York City. Welcomed by the LGBTQ+ community and people who encouraged him to embrace who he was, Nishimura began to express himself through makeup, jewelry and heels. When he landed an internship as an assistant makeup artist for the Miss

Universe pageant, he dedicated himself to developing his skills and style, spending hours perfecting techniques. After graduation, his talent also earned him work with the Miss USA pageant and New York Fashion Week. But something was missing. Nishimura realized that a core part of his identity was grounded in Buddhism, a religion to which 22 generations of his family had devoted themselves. Six years after leaving Japan, he returned to begin two years of training to become a monk—like his parents—in the Pure Land school of Buddhism. As Nishimura immersed himself in scriptures and sutras, he discovered that beneath the teachings and strict practices was a tradition of acceptance that he hadn’t anticipated. “Buddhism teaches that everyone can be equally liberated,” he says. “I learned there is a place for me and who I am.” Nishimura has also found the Buddhist community welcoming of his advocacy. He has spoken at several Buddhist symposiums, and a sticker he designed of two hands pressed together in prayer on a rainbow background is widely used as a symbol of LGBTQ+ awareness. “It has been very validating,” says Nishimura, who took his story global when he made a guest appearance on the hit show “Queer Eye: We’re in Japan!” in 2019. While he concedes that Japanese society remains largely conservative, he believes that talking about LGBTQ+ issues can help change people’s attitudes. “Buddhism says we are all valuable,” he says. “The only difference between us is our names. In the end, we are just human beings.” TAC TALK: KODO NISHIMURA  June 22  7–8pm  Washington & Lincoln rooms & online  Members: ¥1,650 (online: ¥550); guests: ¥1,980 (online: ¥660)  Sign up online

JUNE

I N D E P T H | FO CU S

TA K I N ’ C A R E OF

(UNFINISHED) BUSINESS Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings

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Ahead of his Independence Day performance at the Club next month, rock star Randy Bachman explains how his Japan trip is particularly momentous. WORDS TIM HORNYAK

t was 1976 and Randy Bachman was on top of the world. The legendary Canadian rocker had released an album with his band, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, that hit the top five the year before. They followed it up with the successful jazz-influenced single “Lookin’ Out for #1.” The band toured Japan, playing the famous Nippon Budokan in Tokyo and venues in Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka. Bachman built an enormous house in Washington State with its own recording studio and bowling alley. Then a gut punch: his treasured Gretsch guitar was stolen from a hotel outside Toronto. Bachman was devastated. He wept for days. The Gretsch wasn’t just any guitar. Bachman had crafted hit songs on it and had performed with it on stages across the world. He enlisted the help of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and contacted guitar dealers across North America. Nothing. Months, years, decades went by. Then, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, he received an unexpected message. Bachman grew up in the Canadian prairie city of Winnipeg. His parents told him that the only way out of the “ghetto” of Ukrainians, Jews and Catholics where they lived was by excelling at sports or an instrument. Naturally musical, Bachman would sing along to songs on the radio and took up the violin at age 5. But he struggled with the strictures of classical music. Then in September 1956, a gyrating, guitar-strumming Elvis Presley appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Bachman’s parents told him it was rock and roll. The teenager borrowed a guitar from a cousin and was hooked. “I found out the guitar is the most intimate instrument there is,” says Bachman, 78, from his home in British Columbia. “It’s the only one you hold next to you, with both arms around it, like a person. Your whole body resonates with what you’re playing, and it’s very special.”

Randy Bachman with his son, Tal, in 1970

“I FOUND OUT THE GUITAR IS THE MOST INTIMATE INSTRUMENT THERE IS. IT’S THE ONLY ONE YOU HOLD NEXT TO YOU, WITH BOTH ARMS AROUND IT, LIKE A PERSON.” —Randy Bachman

Bachman learned his craft from jazz guitarist Lenny Breau and developed a crush for guitars made by Gretsch, a manufacturer founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch in Brooklyn, New York. He and fellow rock icon Neil Young would ogle Gretsches in the window of a Winnipeg music store. Finally, after saving up enough cash from babysitting and other odd jobs, Bachman bought a 1957 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins hollow body with a western orange finish. Endorsed by the fingerpicking country music legend, the guitar’s rosewood fingerboard with hump-style inlays, single-coil DeArmond pickups and a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece produce a distinctive, punchy tone that was a hallmark of the rockabilly sound of the 1950s. Only a few dozen were made in 1957, and existing ones sell for more than $10,000 today. In 1960, Bachman founded a band with Chad Allen that would eventually become The Guess Who. Their 1965 cover of Johnny Kidd and the Pirates’ “Shakin’ All Over” went straight to the top of the charts in Canada and hit No 22 in the United States. When singer Burton Cummings joined the group the following year, he and Bachman proved a powerful songwriting team. “These Eyes” broke into international markets in 1969,

JUNE

I N D E P T H | FO CU S

Randy Bachman and Fred Turner

“MY MIDLIFE CRISIS CAME, AND IT WASN’T A BLONDE CHICK IN A RED CORVETTE. IT TOOK ME 10 YEARS, AND I ENDED UP WITH 350 GRETSCH GUITARS.” —Randy Bachman

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and the antiwar anthem “American Woman” became the first single by a Canadian band to reach No 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Along with another Guess Who hit, “No Sugar Tonight,” it was recorded with Bachman’s trusty Gretsch 6120. But by 1970, deteriorating relations with Cummings led Bachman to quit the band. Three years later, he formed Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) with his brothers, Robbie and Tim, and Fred Turner. They would go on to write such rock classics as “Let It Ride” and “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,” another Hot 100 topper. Once again, the guitar at the heart of the band’s most iconic single, the working-class anthem “Takin’ Care of Business,” was Bachman’s Chet Atkins. The guitar’s theft in 1976 preceded another period of change for Bachman. Cranking out two albums a year had taken its toll on BTO. After Freeways, released at the height of the disco phenomenon in 1977, Bachman left. Solo and shortlived band projects followed. He reportedly lost millions in a bitter divorce and custody battle, and it seemed like he’d lost his mojo. “It was like Dumbo’s magic feather,” says Bachman. “When that guitar was stolen, my magic feather was gone. I had a No 1 album and single with The Guess Who and BTO, and that has never repeated since 1976.”

Meanwhile, the search for the Chet Atkins continued. Bachman called guitars shops everywhere, without success. Gretsch, purchased in 1967 by the Baldwin Piano Company, had fallen out of favor amid changing musical tastes, so Bachman picked up old Gretsch guitars for a few hundred dollars or less. It turned into an obsession. “My midlife crisis came, and it wasn’t a blonde chick in a red Corvette,” he says. “It took me 10 years, and I ended up with 350 Gretsch guitars.” The hoard would later prove to be an unexpected boon. In 1984, family scion Fred Gretsch bought back the guitar brand from Baldwin, which hadn’t manufactured Gretsch guitars in years. But since the vintage specs had been lost in a series of factory fires, Fred Gretsch turned to Bachman for help. The company borrowed guitars from his collection and used them as prototypes for new instruments. As rock stars returned to the brand, Gretsch prices exploded. Bachman’s collection was now worth millions. In 2008, he sold it to Gretsch and bought himself a penthouse in London. The deal helped put Bachman back in clover, but he couldn’t forget about his beloved Chet Atkins six-string. With live music shut down by the pandemic from 2020, Bachman had begun hosting jam sessions on YouTube with his son, Tal Bach-

BRIAN CAMPBELL

Randy Bachman

Takeshi

man, known for his 1999 hit “She’s So High.” In 2021, the pair were riffing live when a YouTube message popped up. The sender, an amateur sleuth by the name of William Long, claimed to have found Bachman’s long-lost Gretsch. Long, also living in British Columbia, had heard about the missing guitar online. Intrigued, he set about searching for images of the guitar and any distinguishing characteristics it might have. By enhancing a frame of a BTO video, Long noticed three distinctive marks on the guitar’s finish.

After a week of online research, he discovered that a Tokyo guitar shop had sold a Gretsch 6120 a few years earlier. He focused his attention on Tokyo-based guitarists. Days later, he spotted the instrument in a video from a bar in Japan. The musician was playing Johnny Marks’ “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” “I knew instantly that was Randy’s guitar, a 100 percent match. The woodgrain fingerprint was a perfect match that no other guitar could have,” Long says. “Personally, it is a great feeling of accomplishment to have been able to find his guitar, change his life and see the renewed joy Randy will now have. With that Gretsch, he gave the world great music. It is rare that one can give something so meaningful back.” The guitarist in the video was Takeshi Kaneda, a professional songwriter and lyricist known simply as Takeshi. In one of those quirks of fate, Tal Bachman’s partner, Koko, is Japanese, and she managed to contact the musician. A Zoom chat was set up. “When [Takeshi] brought it on the Zoom, I just started crying,” says Bachman. “It was like someone knocking on your door and saying, ‘Is your name George? I think I’m your daughter.’” Takeshi agreed to return Bachman’s Gretsch if he could find a “sister” replacement—the same model from the same year that hadn’t been repaired or modified. Through his network of dealers, Bachman found one with a serial number only three digits off his own. For Takeshi, who has penned songs for J-pop acts like Tokio, Arashi and Kat-tun, finding the Gretsch in a Tokyo store eight years ago proved serendipitous. “When I played it and compared it to some 1959 Gretches in the shop, the 1957 just had the perfect fit for me,” he says. “The thing about vintage guitars that makes them so attractive is you can dream that they were once owned by a superstar. That dream came true for me.” Bachman and Takeshi don’t speak the same language, but they have bonded through music. The pair will meet when Bachman arrives in Japan in July, with the visit being recorded for a rockumentary. For the veteran rocker, it will be an emotional culmination to a 46-year quest that has crossed national and cultural borders. “The two guitar brothers are going to be trading guitar sisters. It’s going to be a miracle,” Bachman says. “Tal’s big ending to this story is: you get your magic feather back, you get your silver bullet back, you get your Excalibur back, and you’re going to have a No 1 song!”

“THE THING ABOUT VINTAGE GUITARS THAT MAKES THEM SO ATTRACTIVE IS YOU CAN DREAM THAT THEY WERE ONCE OWNED BY A SUPERSTAR. THAT DREAM CAME TRUE FOR ME.” —Takeshi

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION WITH RANDY BACHMAN  July 2  7–10pm  New York Ballroom  ¥9,350 (guests: ¥11,000)  Sign up online

JUNE

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C O M M U N I T Y | W E L L N E SS

Staying the Course

Member Stephen O’Neill explains how being a part of the Men’s Golf Group has increased his love of the game.

played a lot of sports growing up. I grew up partly in Washington, DC and partly in Southeast Asia, in Bangkok and Singapore. I only played golf once when I was a kid. We were on vacation in the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. We were staying in a colonial-era hotel right on a golf course, and I found a golf club and a couple of golf balls, and I went out on the fairway. I must have swung the club 20 times and barely touched the ball, and I said to myself, “This game is not for me.” But years later, when I was at business school in California, I changed my mind. I was at Stanford, which has a beautiful golf course, and had met two guys a year ahead of me during a trip to Taiwan. For whatever reason, they invited me to play a round with them. Somehow they helped me to stop missing the ball, and I just fell in love with the game. What did I suddenly love about it then? Finding something when I was older that reminded me of playing sports as a kid. I enjoyed being outside. I enjoyed the simple pleasure of making solid contact with the ball. I had played sports enough growing up that, of course, I wanted to do well, but the feeling of participating and making progress was fun. Since then, I have always had the interest to play, but I wasn’t able to access it as much as I would like. Some years, I would play only four or five times. Other years, I might play 12 or 15 times. I do just love to get on a golf course. I can’t really explain it, but when I’m out there, I’m relaxed and happy. When I lived in Singapore in the mid-90s, I was a member of Raffles Country Club. Through somebody at

Stephen O’Neill

work, I joined a group of eight guys who had grown up in Singapore and played with them each Saturday morning. It was a great course and a lot of fun to be part of that group. I hadn’t really anticipated being able to play much golf in Japan when I moved here in 2019. But the following year, I signed up with the Men’s Golf Group. From the first outing, I had a good time and felt really welcomed. And, by the 10th outing, I felt like I had generally learned how to approach the competitions. The group has competitions every two weeks that are based on handicap. Before joining, I had never played in a competition, and it’s a really fun part

of the group. There’s been this whole experience of learning how to play golf more seriously and, by doing so, getting to enjoy the game even more. Joining the group has given me access to a welcoming community and a wonderful window into Japan. The members of the group are a great blend of Japanese nationals and international people, and we play lots of interesting courses around the greater Tokyo area. Yes, I would like to improve. Yes, I wouldn’t mind if one day I could be a 15 handicap or even a 12, but I don’t want to overthink it. I just want to get out there and play. As told to INTOUCH’s Nick Jones.

JUNE

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C O M M U N I T Y | R EG I ST E R

Arrivals

Up Close

AZABUDAI US A

JA PA N

Misao & Christopher Cook UP & UP Corporation

Yosuke & Sawa Fujioka GLP Japan, Inc.

Hans Klemm & Mari Kano RhRMA

Takayuki & Ai Kito Business Platform Corporation

Archibald Ken & Fumie Look Stanford University

Eisaburo Maeda Senzoku Gakuen

Michael Novak & Akiko Shibayama-Novak Redpoint Global, Inc.

Yasuhiko Nagase Nagase Kenko Corporation

Toshio Okumura & Barbara Rich Rich Energy Joaquin Terceno III & Sara Mihara Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

C A N A DA

Shima & Takashi Osaka Amazon Japan G.K. Riichi Takumiya Mitsubishi Corporation Tetsu & Hitomi Yaoka Angelo Gordon International LLC

NETHERLANDS

William Chin & Yisiu Chin Lai Shuhokai Co., Ltd.

Norman & Mayumi Tweeboom Bloomberg L.P.

H O N G KO N G Lavina Siu Fung Lau & Yau Shun Chu IPG Wealth Management HK Ltd.

UK Christopher Reilly & Rebecca Whitaker SThree K.K.

Anup and Bhawna Agarwal

AZABUDAI INDIA |

Bhawna & Anup Agarwal

Rich Diamonds, Inc.

“Nearly three decades ago, my husband came to Japan to start his diamond business. I have been living here for 26 years. Our two kids were born and raised here and attended many events at the Club. After they graduated from ASIJ, we decided to move closer to the Club. It has always been a part of our lives in Tokyo, and now we are excited to officially become Members. We look forward to attending events, meeting Members and holding our own exhibitions.”

NIHONBASHI JA PA N Takeshi Nakabayashi Ping An Japan Investment

Kanae Imada Tetsuo Imada Kyowa Kogyo Co., Ltd. Akiyoshi Mohri Amtrec, Inc.

Masaaki Suzuki The Mitsubishi Asset Brains Co., Ltd.

Departures Tomomichi & Keiko Arita Marcus Cheah & Karen Ong Iho Chen & Hsini Cheng Cyrille & Emmanuelle Dupont Frank & Cecile Eijsink Kenji Osada Carlos Sayde & Chelsea Chang Marcio Theme & Flavia Correa Theme Eiko & Osamu Uchiyama Yuji & Kyoko Yonezawa

Yusuke Takahashi

NIHONBASHI JA PA N |

Yusuke Takahashi

Boehringer Ingelheim

“When I first visited the Club, I was impressed by its spectacular facilities and world-class interior design. All the staff were cheerful, and I could immediately feel that it was a friendly community. As a resident of Chiyoda Ward, the Club’s location makes it a perfect place for working out and getting ready for work in the morning, entertaining friends and business partners or relaxing with a glass of wine. I’m looking forward to meeting many Members.”

Golden State Sippers A new Club lineup of California flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir ¥2,400 a bottle | The Cellar & online

JUNE

Executive Coaching for International Leaders Greetings! My name is Katheryn and I’m a fellow Club member. I help professionals live, work, and thrive in Japan through leadership, cross-cultural education, and wellness engagements. Whether you’re leveling up your career and want to be at your best, are transitioning to living in Japan and want to make your mark, or are seeking support for self-management and work–life balance, I’m here to help you achieve your goals clearly, quickly, and eﬀectively.

Ready to rise to your title? Contact me at Katheryn@thrivetokyo.com

www.thrivetokyo.com

St Alban’s Nursery, only five minutes from Tokyo American Club, offers a select English-language program of learning and self-discovery for preschoolers, inspired by Montessori principles. Located in the quiet, leafy grounds of St Alban’s Anglican-Episcopal church, the Nursery is independently operated and open to children of all denominations and cultures, and focuses on each child’s individuality and needs, in a caring, highly personalized atmosphere.

• Large enclosed outdoor playground • Safe off-street drop-off and pick-up area • Parent visits welcome at all times

HITOMI DENTAL OFFICE EDOGAWABASHI Asahi Sekiguchi Mansion 1F 1-24-6 Sekiguchi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-0014

3-6-25 Shiba-Koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0011 Email: stalbanstokyo@gmail.com www.saintalbans.jp

HITOMI DENTAL OFFICE AKASAKA Akasaka Royal Plaza 2F 2-13-8 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052

C O M M U N I T Y | VO I C E

Savored Moments WORDS MARK PINK

t was January 2019 when I lit up my first cigar at the Club. I was following that time-honored tradition of smoking a cigar to celebrate the birth of a child. In my case, it was the arrival of my grandson, Leo. Since that moment, I have come to truly appreciate the culture of cigars and the new friends that I have made while enjoying them at the Club. Cigars always set a friendly mood. They naturally elicit conversation, particularly when paired with a glass of fine wine or whiskey. Fellow Member David Leibowitz has become my cigar “mentor.” He introduced me to my first smoke, and I have learned so much about cigar culture from him since then. Having grown up in Miami, with its close ties to the home of the cigar, Cuba, David is something of a cigar expert. Cuba might be the place most people associate with hand-rolled cigars, but there are many other countries now producing them. The likes of Arturo Fuente in the Dominion Republic

ILLUSTRATION TANIA VICEDO

are well known among aficionados for their high-quality cigars. While I grew up in the Canadian city of Montreal, I spent time with wealthy relatives in New York. I soon identified cigars with sophistication and success. This image runs through popular culture, from Winston Churchill to Arnold Schwarzenegger to a gun-slinging, cigarillo-smoking Clint Eastwood in countless Westerns. During my journey of discovery through the world of cigars, I have learned about their various shapes, sizes, lengths, grades and flavors. Much like with wine, cigar enthusiasts have their particular preferences. Some favor a straight cut with a guillotine clipper over a V-cut or a punch cut before smoking. How you light up also divides people, with some preferring a match to a lighter. Few other pastimes have a culture so layered and nuanced. Cigars demand time to be enjoyed. You cannot rush one. Smoking a cigar is about savoring the moment and the conversation that goes with it. That is what appeals to me. It has also become

a great way to meet other Members and the kind of people I had hoped to meet when I joined the Club nine years ago. I have met some of the finest gentlemen and raconteurs over a cigar. The Vista patio on the third floor is where Club smokers congregate. It’s a welcoming space with lighters, cutters and large ashtrays to use, and there is a full selection of cigars on sale at Vista. Happy hour is a particularly popular time there. Even if you don’t know a fellow cigar smoker, a simple “What are you smoking?” usually breaks the ice and soon leads to another shared moment. I have come to know more than a dozen Members through a mutual love of cigars. This social circle has been particularly welcome during the last two years of pandemic-related travel restrictions. Little did I know that a smoke three years ago would open the door to so many experiences and friendships. And I look forward to many more on the Vista patio. Mark Pink is a Member of the Club.

JUNE

Kochi PA ID PRO M OT IO N

Year-Round Golﬁng Adventures And More!

W ith everyone’s thoughts turning to summer adventures, Kochi beckons. Stretching across the southern side of Shikoku, it is a sur-

prisingly diverse prefecture: from tropical seascapes to cloud-tipped mountain plateaus, and pristine river valleys to retro towns. This wide range of landscapes, along with a year-round temperate climate, also make Kochi a hidden gem for golf enthusiasts looking to escape crowded courses around Tokyo. There are many options in this golf-loving spot, but here are a few to get you started! The Kochi Kuroshio Country Club has two 18-hole championship courses and hosts the Casio World Open. The course is long, perfectly maintained and has tropical ocean views that rival Hawaii’s. There are even English-speaking staff to help book your tee time. Another coastal beauty is the Tosa Country Club, which boasts 36 holes along scenic fairways lined with palm trees. From the top of the hills, views of the cerulean Pacific Ocean unfold, and might just distract you from your game.

Kochi has a lot to see and do! Spend your Sunday morning at Kochi’s beloved over 300-year-old market that covers 1.3 kilometers from the foot of Kochi Castle, or explore the Shimanto River valley, where Japan’s last free-flowing river is dotted with chinkabashi submersible bridges and settlements of traditional houses. Towns like Yusuhara, home to 6 buildings designed by architect Kengo Kuma, the pretty preserved fishing village of Kure and sake (and cherry blossom!)-filled Sakawa are just a few highlights to check out after a day on the links. Kochi Ryoma Airport is just over an hour flight from Haneda Airport, and conveniently located just outside Kochi City. From Osaka there are excellent train connections via Okayama. For details on golf in Kochi, please contact Jarman International (representatives of Kochi Prefecture): emika@jarman-international.com

The Sky Bay Golf Club has a particularly serenity-inducing course, located on a raised headland jutting into the bay, offering ocean views framed by the lush peaks of nearby mountains. Sister club Sky Hill Golf Club also has mountain scenery along the fun course, with whimsical holes and plenty of up and down (and glamping accommodation). For something a bit different, check out Green Feel Golf Club. The front 9 has tapered landing areas and undulating greens which will test your control, while the back 9 is a blast with doglegs, high tee boxes, river-carries and heavy rough. visitkochijapan.com

Sky Bay GC

Shimanto River

Green Feel GC

Tosa CC

April 13 TAC Talk: Taro Kono

Member and Japan’s former vaccine czar Taro Kono shared his thoughts on the government’s handling of the pandemic and a range of other issues at a sold-out event. IMAGES YUUKI IDE

JUNE

COMMUNIT Y | HIGHLIGHTS

May 12

Connections Annual General Meeting

The Club’s Connections group unveiled its brand-new board of directors at an evening of appreciation for the hard work of its volunteers over the year. IMAGES KAYO YAMAWAKI

INTOUCH

May 13

Mexican Fiesta Friday Night Live Local musicians the Saboten Brothers provided the mariachi soundtrack to an evening of Cinco de Mayo celebrations and south-of-the-border refreshments. IMAGES YUUKI IDE

JUNE

COMMUNIT Y | PURSUIT

CLASS

Spin Blast

Enjoy all the fitness benefits of cycling but without the punctures, traffic lights or stifling summer humidity. Open to all fitness levels, this indoor cycling class boosts stamina and strength while allowing riders to adjust the bike’s resistance and so the level of each session’s “challenge.”

INSTRUCTOR

Mio Josepehine Yamashita (pictured right)

A certified Spin Power and level-1 Spinning instructor, Mio Josephine Yamashita’s fitness specialities also extend to functional training, Les Mills Bodypump (she teaches a Club class each Tuesday evening) and yoga. She graduated from Tokyo’s Juntendo University with a degree in sports science.

STUDENT

Julianne Lim

“Prior to kids, I was an avid road cyclist. Spin Blast is a great way to keep up my fitness, and I’ve been able to build up my endurance, strength and sprinting ability. Mio not only pushes everyone through to the end of each track but also ensures everyone gets there with the proper technique.”

SPIN BLAST  Mondays: 8–8:45pm & Sundays: 9:30–10:15am  The Studio  one fitness pass  Sign up online

INTOUCH

KAYO YAMAWAKI

Hitting the Indoor Road

Lap Pool, Resort Pool, and Spa

Amazing Amenities Just Steps Away From Your Front Door The buzz of the city below, the sparkling Pacific Ocean and the tranquility of Victoria Ward Park—it’s all on display at the amenity deck of The Park Ward Village in Honolulu. This expansive private lānai is a place for both activity and relaxation. It’s here, amongst the palms, where magic happens and memories are made. 都会の喧騒、太平洋のきらめき、ビクトリアワードパークの静けさ、これらすべてがホノルルのザパークワードビレッジのアメニティー・デッキにあります。この広々としたプライベートラナイは、アクティビティとリラクゼーションの両方を楽しめる場所です。ヤシの木に囲まれたこの場所で、奇跡が起こり、思い出が作られるのです。

STUDIO, ONE, TWO AND THREE BEDROOMS AVAILABLE スタジオ、1 2 3ベッドルームをご用意しています。 INQUIRE THEPARKWARDVILLAGEHONOLULU.COM | +1 808 500 9081 Offered by Ward Village Properties, LLC RB-21701

THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AN OFFERING OR SOLICITATION OF SALE IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE PROJECT IS NOT REGISTERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW OR WHERE SUCH OFFERING OR SOLICITATION WOULD OTHERWISE BE PROHIBITED BY LAW. WARD VILLAGE, A MASTER PLANNED DEVELOPMENT IN HONOLULU, HAWAII, IS STILL BEING CONSTRUCTED. ANY VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF WARD VILLAGE OR THE CONDOMINIUM PROJECTS THEREIN, INCLUDING THEIR LOCATION, UNITS, COMMON ELEMENTS AND AMENITIES, MAY NOT ACCURATELY PORTRAY THE MASTER PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OR ITS CONDOMINIUM PROJECTS. ALL VISUAL DEPICTIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS IN THIS ADVERTISEMENT ARE FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. THE DEVELOPER MAKES NO GUARANTEE, REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WHATSOEVER THAT THE DEVELOPMENTS, FACILITIES OR IMPROVEMENTS OR FURNISHINGS AND APPLIANCES DEPICTED WILL ULTIMATELY APPEAR AS SHOWN OR EVEN BE INCLUDED AS A PART OF WARD VILLAGE OR ANY CONDOMINIUM PROJECT THEREIN. WARD VILLAGE PROPERTIES, LLC, RB-21701. COPYRIGHT ©2020. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA BOARD OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EX AMINED OR QUALIFIED THIS OFFERING.

第四十七巻六八六号

TOKYO AMERIC AN CLUB

毎月一回一日発行

TOKYO AMERIC AN CLUB JUNE 2022

トウキョウアメリカンクラブ

natural extensions of your living space, Toranomon Hills Residential Tower offers a new way to experience life in

本体七二八円

comfort in mind, and common areas that feel like

平成三年十二月二十日第三種郵便物許可定価八００円

luxuriously appointed units designed with the utmost

INTOUCH

インタッチマガジン二〇二二年六月一日発行

The essence of urban living

Featuring expansive, panoramic views of the city,

Rock of Ages

Legendary guitarist and songwriter Randy Bachman prepares to rock the Club

Tokyo. Newly completed one- to five-bedroom units

Toranomon Hills Residential Tower

available for lease. JUNE 2022

CELEBR ATING SAKE + EYE SHAD OW AND SUTR A S + COURSE CONNECTION

June 2022 INTOUCH Magazine

Articles inside

HIGHLIGHTS

VOICE

WELLNESS

AGENDA

FOCUS

LEADERSHIP

DIGEST

ADVENTURE

SAKE

SOCIETY