AGENDA

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.

1

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

1

Looking Good Spa Offer

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.  Through June 30  The Spa  Details online

1

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

1

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

KEN KATSURAYAMA

8

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

1

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

1

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

3

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

3

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

16

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

19

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 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-

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

5–26

Facility Upgrade

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

7

Taco Tuesday

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

7

T-Bone Tuesday

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

8

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

10

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

10

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

11

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

11

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

28

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

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

12

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

13

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

13

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

15

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

15

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

17

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

18

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

19

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

19

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

19

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

21

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

22

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

24

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

28

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

TOP MARKS

Malvern College Tokyo helps young learners prepare for bright futures

M 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 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.

Mike Spencer

www.malverncollegetokyo.jp