TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB
第 四 十 七 巻 五 六 一 号
TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB
毎 月 一 回 一 日 発 行
January 2012
ト ウ キ ョ ウ ア メ リ カ ン ク ラ ブ
i N T O U C H
イ ン タ ッ チ マ ガ ジ ン 二 〇 一 二 年 一 月 一 日 発 行 平 成 三 年 十 二 月 二 十 日 第 三 種 郵 便 物 許 可 定 価 八 ０ ０ 円
The Face of Japan’s Future?
本 体 七 七 七 円
Club Member and political maverick Taro Kono talks nuclear energy, corruption and his designs on premiership
Issue 561 • January 2012
Sky Pool Strides
Preparing Club youngsters for lifetimes of pool pleasures
On the Map Enhancing the Experience
One Club Member offers tips on wooing visitors to Japan
A review of changes and tweaks to eating at the Club
As if you needed an excuse for staying at the Club.
©Jeff Goldberg/ESTO
Whether you’re planning a girls’ getaway, romantic break or weekend retreat, check out our array of exciting overnight packages to suit every occasion.
mac zen spa fitness oasis For more details, visit the Guest Studios page under the Activities & Amenities section of the Club website.
Tel: 03-4588-0734 | E-mail: guest.studios@tac-club.org
www.tokyoamericanclub.org
den for two
library
Tipple Tips
10
From local shochu to fine Scottish whisky, explore the vastness of Japan’s drinking scene through the bar-hopping exploits and recommendations of investigative imbiber and author Chris Bunting. inside japan
36
contents
Survival Test Club Member Maria Bromley heads to Tokyo’s enduring geisha districts to find out how the famed “flower and willow world” is fending off extinction.
out & about
Winter Wonder
38
To advertise in iNTOUCH, contact Miyuki Hagiwara: marketing@tac-club.org 03-4588-0976
For membership information, contact Mari Hori:
Designers Ryan Mundt Nagisa Mochizuki Production Assistant Yuko Shiroki
mari.hori@tac-club.org 03-4588-0687
Assistant Editor Erika Woodward
Tokyo American Club 2-1-2 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8649
Communications Manager Matthew Roberts
www.tokyoamericanclub.org Cover photo of Taro Kono by Kayo Yamawaki
6 Board of Governors
7 Management
8 Food & Beverage
18 Recreation 22 Women’s Group
With last year’s Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster still fresh in Japan’s collective memory, Club Member, politician and longtime campaigner against nuclear energy Taro Kano talks frankly to iNTOUCH about his disdain for Japan’s corrupt political system and his pursuit for the country’s top job.
editor@tac-club.org
4 Events
16 Committees
Taking on the Pillars of Power
Editor Nick Jones
14 DVD Library
24
iNTOUCH
2 Contacts
10 Library
Nestled in nearby Tochigi prefecture, the hidden town of Nasushiobara in winter becomes a snow-covered, outdoor paradise for fans of skiing, hot springs and scenery—without the throngs of tourists. feature
Management
24 Feature
30 Talking Heads
32 Frederick Harris Gallery
34 Member Services
36 Inside Japan
38 Out & About
40 Event Roundup
48 Back Words
Bob Sexton General Manager gm@tac-club.org
Shuji Hirakawa Human Resources Director hum_res@tac-club.org
Lian Chang Information Technology Director itdir@tac-club.org
Mutsuhiko Kumano Finance Director finance@tac-club.org
Darryl Dudley Engineering Director eng@tac-club.org
Scott Yahiro Recreation Director recdirector@tac-club.org
Getting in Touch Department/E-mail Phone American Bar & Grill
(03) 4588-0676
american.bg@tac-club.org
Banquet Sales and Reservations
(03) 4588-0977
banquet@tac-club.org
Beauty Salon
(03) 4588-0685
Bowling Center
(03) 4588-0683
bowling@tac-club.org
Café Med
(03) 4588-0978
cafe.med@tac-club.org
Catering
(03) 4588-0307
banquet@tac-club.org
Childcare Center
(03) 4588-0701
childcare@tac-club.org
Communications
(03) 4588-0262
comms@tac-club.org
Decanter
(03) 4588-0675
decanter@tac-club.org
DVD Library
(03) 4588-0686
dvd.library@tac-club.org
Engineering
(03) 4588-0699
eng@tac-club.org
Finance
(03) 4588-0222
acct@tac-club.org
Fitness Center
(03) 4588-0266
fitness@tac-club.org
Food & Beverage Office
(03) 4588-0245
fboffice@tac-club.org
Foreign Traders’ Bar
(03) 4588-0677
traders.bar@tac-club.org
Guest Studios
(03) 4588-0734
guest.relations@tac-club.org
Human Resources
(03) 4588-0679
Information Technology
(03) 4588-0690
Library
(03) 4588-0678
library@tac-club.org
Management Office
(03) 4588-0674
gmoffice@tac-club.org
Membership Office
(03) 4588-0687
membership@tac-club.org
Member Services Desk
(03) 4588-0670
tac@tac-club.org
Pool Office
(03) 4588-0700
pool@tac-club.org
Rainbow Café
(03) 4588-0705
rainbow.cafe@tac-club.org
Recreation Desk
(03) 4588-0681
rec@tac-club.org
Redevelopment Office
(03) 4588-0223
redevelopment@tac-club.org
The Cellar
(03) 4588-0744
the.cellar@tac-club.org
The Spa
(03) 4588-0714
spa@tac-club.org
Weddings
(03) 4588-0671
banquet@tac-club.org
Women’s Group Office wg@tac-club.org
2 January 2012 iNTOUCH
(03) 4588-0691
from the
editor
Just as the mangled reactor buildings at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant were left dangerously exposed following the devastating earthquake and tsunami of last March, so the world was given a disturbing view of the seedy underbelly of the Japanese establishment in the weeks and months after the disaster. As foreign governments, scientific institutions and citizen groups demanded more information and transparency from an increasingly embattled power company, the cozy ties between big business, Japan’s bureaucracy and politicians, in a relationship known as the “iron triangle,” became clear. Although these kinds of incestuous links are far from exclusive to Japan, the way in which the nuclear industry had been nurtured in the country led the Washington, DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies to conclude in its report last year that the Japanese authorities had a “serious trust and credibility problem.” The think tank called for greater transparency about radiation levels across the nation and the setting up of an independent, international team to examine the public health risks from long-term exposure to low-level radiation. Throughout this crisis, there has been at least one man who can claim to have foreseen such a catastrophe. The outspoken LDP lawmaker Taro Kono was campaigning against Japan’s nuclear energy sector long before most people had even heard of “containment vessels” or “fuel rods.” In this month’s cover story, “Taking on the Pillars of Power,” the Club Member explains to Tim Hornyak why he has always taken such a strong stance against nuclear power, how the supporters of the energy source are planning on building more plants in the future and why he should be the man to lead a new, cleaner kind of government.
If you have any comments about anything you read in iNTOUCH, please e-mail them to editor@tac-club.org, putting “Letter to the Editor” in the subject title of the mail. For this month's letter, turn to page 48.
contributors Craig Saphin
Tim Hornyak
A native of Australia, with an MBA from the University of New South Wales, Craig Saphin is the president and representative director of recruitment firm Wall Street Associates in Tokyo. He has extensive sales and marketing experience in the Asia-Pacific region and moved to Japan for his second stint in 2000. In the Tokyo community, he is chair of the B2B Sales Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, secretary of the Tokyo B&B Club and chair of the Club’s Food & Beverage Committee, while his wife, Mary, is a Club governor. On page 8 of this month’s iNTOUCH, Saphin explains the various tweaks and changes that have been introduced to Club dining over the past year. Canadian freelance journalist Tim Hornyak’s writings on Japanese culture, technology and history have appeared in a number of publications, including Wired News, Scientific American and the Far Eastern Economic Review. The author of Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots, which was selected as one of the top 10 science books of 2006 by Amazon.com, Hornyak returned to his native Montreal in 2008 after almost a decade in Japan and now writes for the tech website CNET. Having traveled to all 47 of Japan’s prefectures, he contributes to Lonely Planet guidebooks. For this month’s cover story, “Taking on the Pillars of Power,” he sits down with Club Member and outspoken politician Taro Kono to hear his thoughts on nuclear energy and the state of Japan’s political system.
Find Us on Facebook and Twitter Join the Club’s social network and keep tabs on news, photos from events and announcements, take part in lively dialogues and so much more. Look for the Tokyo American Club page on Facebook and Twitter and discover endless ways to connect with your fellow Members!
Words from the editor 3
What’s happening in January 1
Sunday
3
Club Closure The Club shutters its doors for New Year’s Day, before welcoming back Members on January 2.
Happy Birthday Spa Special For the entire month of your birthday, for as many times as you want, receive 30 percent off select treatments. Discover which ones on page 21.
8
9
Sunday
Monday
Lucky Gods Walking Tour Amass good fortune for the coming year by joining this annual Women’s Group tour to the temples of the seven lucky gods in Tokyo’s Yanaka district. 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Sign up at the Member Services Desk.
Sumo Stable Tour Take in a morning training session of sweating, grunting sumo wrestlers, before lunching ringside with them. 7:45 a.m. For more on this intriguing cultural trip, turn to page 17.
18
20
Wednesday
Friday
Organic Wine Tasting Delight in unadulterated varietals when the Wine Committee uncorks premier preservativefree wines. 7 p.m. Learn more about the biodynamic winemaking trend on page 9.
Sapporo Snow Festival Registration Registration ends today for the popular Women’s Group trip to the northern island of Hokkaido for a wander through ice sculptures, skiing and more. Check the Club website for more information.
30
30
Monday
Gallery Reception American-born painter Diane Rakocy launches her vibrant exhibition of eye-catching Tokyo moments and more with a reception at the Frederick Harris Gallery. 6:30 p.m. Find out more about the artist on page 33.
The Club staff offer their sincere thanks to the following Members for their generous donations to the 2011 staff bonus fund: Ira Blumberg Jeffrey Watts Kenju Watanabe Hidetoshi Mukai Chikako Satoh Marcus Everard Gayle & Ernie Olsen Dana & Nancy Ritchey Bruce Benson
Monday
Coffee Connections Whether you’re new to Tokyo or want to meet new people, drop by this relaxed Women’s Group gathering. 10:30 a.m. Beate Sirota Gordon Classroom. Contact the Women’s Group Office to organize free childcare. Free. Women’s Group volunteers meet from 9:30 a.m.
Thank You
4 January 2012 iNTOUCH
Tuesday
Keith George Kazumasa Yoshida Tozo Nunomura Reiko Matano Monika Maria Merz Michael H Kanagawa Hiroshi Matsushima Iwao Maekawa George Pearson
Skip Schwartz Rikikazu Sugiyama Akira Kondoh Nobutaka Goto Mitsunori Aoyama Shinri Isaka Shosuke Fujita Kensuke Shizunaga Naotaka Obata Yoshikazu Matsumoto Masakazu Sugiura Isamu Nakamura Fred Taniguchi Kiichiro Matsumaru Masayuki Kurahashi Toru Abe Masao Okazaki
EVENTS
3
Tuesday
3
Tuesday
7–9
Saturday– Monday
Toddler Time A fun half-hour session of engaging stories and activities awaits preschoolers at the Children’s Library. 4 p.m. Free. Continues January 10, 17, 24 and 31.
Sky Pool Stimulus Take to the water for fun, fitness, friendly competition and more. Find out about the array of Sky Pool aqua programs on offer. Flip to page 21 for more.
Family Holiday Brunch Buffet Mark the long weekend with a feast of treats in the New York Ballroom. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Adults (12 and above): ¥1,950; juniors (7– 11 years): ¥1,250; children (4–6 years): ¥700; infants (3 and under): free.
11
14–15
16
Wednesday
Saturday– Sunday
Monday
Youth Basketball Season Opener Keen craftsmen of the court hit the Gymnasium for another dynamic season of hoops with former pro Dan Weiss. Get the scoop on page 21.
Birth Preparation for Couples Expecting couples get expert help to develop their own choices and styles for labor. 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. ¥36,000. Sign up at the Member Services Desk.
Gallery Reception American artist Scott Silvey kicks off his thought-provoking exhibition of numinous paintings with a reception at the Frederick Harris Gallery. 6:30 p.m. More on page 32.
22
28
28
Sunday
Saturday
Chinese New Year Grand Buffet Ring in the Lunar New Year with a spread of Middle Kingdom-inspired cuisine. 11 a.m.– 3 p.m. and 5–8 p.m. New York Ballroom. Adults (18 and over): ¥4,900; juniors (7–17 years): ¥2,800; children (3–6 years): ¥1,800; infants (2 and under): free. Reserve at 03-4588-0977.
Japanese Daruma Doll-Making Class Create your own Japanese round-faced good luck charm for the start of the year. 10 a.m. Find out more about this talismanic class on page 21.
30
31
Monday
Biggest Loser Kickoff Don’t miss the start of this 10-week total-body transformation program at the Fitness Center. Find out more on page 21.
Koichi Iwase William Robert Hogan Yuichi Ozaki Hisashi Kitami Curtis Freeze Gunji Sakamoto Tohru Horinouchi William E Thygeson Jon Tanaka Alex Miller Paul Bradley Shippee Hisaaki Izawa Mark J Oberhellman Toshio Oshiro Rodney Nussbaum Arseny Chuk Besher John Timothy Jameson
James Lawden Paul Matthew Wetzel James Mori Minoru Yokoyama Yasuaki Mitsuyuki Nancy Ngou Natsuko Konishi Masami Ohkawa Paul James Worthy Mark R Nebelung John David Harris Tong Yu Masaaki Toyama Takashi Nishioka Mark Miller Brooks W Herring Yuriko Yasuma
Early Pregnancy and Birth Planning Parents-to-be prepare for the arrival of their bundles of joy during this Women’s Group class. 10 a.m.–12 p.m. ¥7,000. Sign up at the Member Services Desk.
Coming up in February
Tuesday
Women’s Group Class Registration Sign up for another enlightening semester of fun and informative classes. Turn to 23 for details.
François Maury Jun-Ichi Shikata William Montgomery Jack Bird Shinji Miyabe Marc Merlino Masashi Shimojo Hideki Katayama Mitsuko Miyagawa Tokiko Mori Patrick Brady Noriyuki Kanayama Miyo Mori Yoshie Hirano Hideko Hirano Hiroshi Ninomiya Mark Slade
Saturday
6 11 24 25 27
Super Bowl XLVI at the Club Father-Daughter Dinner Dance Run for the Cure Foundation Pink Ball Carpet Auction Coffee Connections
Sachin N Shah David Bryan Horner David Abrams Donald Soo Darrow Lee Becker Allison Renee Rosario Katsuyuki Toyoda John Hiroshi Ozeki Noritake Kobayashi Leo Takagi Yasutaka Yanase Michael March Jack Keese Tatsuko Brady Tetsuya Otsuka Asif & Khumara Malik Andrew Liu
Noteworthy dates for the month 5
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Looking Good by Brian Nelson
Board of Governors Lance E Lee (2012)—President Brian Nelson (2012)—Vice President Mary Saphin (2013)—Vice President Steve Romaine (2012)—Treasurer Deb Wenig (2013)—Secretary Kavin C Bloomer (2012), John Durkin (2012), Norman J Green (2013), Hiroyuki Kamano (2012), Charlotte Kennedy Takahashi (2012), Per Knudsen (2012), Jeff McNeill (2013), Hiroshi Miyamasu (2013), Paul Hoff (2013), Ann Marie Skalecki (2012), Dan Stakoe (2013), Ira Wolf (2013), Shizuo Daigoh—Statutory Auditor (2012), Ginger Griggs—Women’s Group President
W
hat a difference a year can make. In January last year, we enjoyed an impressive launch of the Club’s new facilities, with a speech by US Ambassador John Roos, who is also honorary president of the Club, to the Members and honored guests who attended the opening day and ribboncutting ceremony. After opening, the Club’s event and party facilities proved popular with Members and their guests and the outdoor eatery Splash! was fun during the summer months. And now with Decanter open we have even more to look forward to in the way of improved service and an upscale dining experience. I have been hearing good things about all of the facilities at TAC, which makes me feel that there is something for everyone, both young and old. Even though it will take more time to really feel at home in the new facilities, 2011 helped us all get to know our Club a little better. All of my guests who have visited the Club, whether it has been to bowl, play basketball or dine, have been impressed with our Azabudai home. That good feeling will be shared in and around the community. TAC’s great community spirit was on display in 2011, with the Women’s Group leading the way, as many Members donated muchneeded supplies to the Tohoku region, which remains in need of support. Being able to come together and give back to our host nation
6 January 2012 iNTOUCH
is important; just ask former sumo wrestler Konishiki, who was good enough to volunteer his time throughout the year in order to help TAC support Tohoku. Last year saw General Manager Mike Bumgardner retire from the Club after 17 years of service. As chair of the Compensation Committee, I have been working with a handful of my fellow Board members (and reporting to the Board) to find a replacement for Mike—within a Board-approved budget. As presented at the Annual General Meeting in November, the committee and Board have worked to keep the budget for a new general manager in check. But soon we should have a new general manager to lead the way forward at a fair and reasonable cost to TAC. In the meantime, the Board is relying on the Club’s assistant general manager, Bob Sexton, to take over as an interim general manager until we can find a suitable replacement. I am glad that we have worked to keep costs down, even though that means waiting a little longer for our next general manager. If we had rushed the process, the cost would have been too high. As we begin 2012, with new Members joining us to enjoy our year-old facilities and the wonderful service of the helpful staff and a soon-to-be-hired general manager, Tokyo American Club is looking good. On behalf of the Board of Governors, and as a longtime Member, I wish you all a wonderful New Year! o
MANAGEMENT
Change, Progress and Growth by Brian Marcus
I
fondly remember arriving in Japan only a year ago to assist with the opening of the Club’s dining, meeting and event facilities. Looking back over the year, I am in awe of the changes, progress and growth that have taken place in such a short period of time, particularly given the challenges that we faced. After moving into the new facility, each department scrutinized its operations and examined how the new Club would impact Members and whether the years of planning had proved to be successful. From there, adjustments were made throughout the Club. These changes rapidly morphed into progress at almost every turn and resulted in great growth, despite the tragedy and lingering aftereffects of March 11. In fact, the two main departments—Food & Beverage and Recreation—closed the financial year with all-time Club records of excellence. There have also been major changes in how the Club is used. In the previous facility in Takanawa, children were allowed to dine in adult areas, whereas our new building allows families to enjoy two restaurants and adults to enjoy two restaurants. Although this arrangement has been difficult at times, it gives children the opportunity to dine with their families while allowing business to be conducted on the formal side of the Club. Other changes around the Club include the creation of rules for children’s behavior in family dining outlets and smoking and the opening of Decanter to the public. When any organization is looking to grow, change is required, which, in turn, can lead
Brian Marcus
Food & Beverage Director
to such highly debated issues. Having become the Club’s Food & Beverage director, I am experiencing change of my own. This is a fantastic opportunity for not only me and my family, who joined me from San Diego last month after a year apart, but for the Club. Aside from enjoying huge growth and a record-breaking financial performance over the past year, we have developed the Club’s event and meeting service into a product in which we can all be proud and have ensured that the restaurants are continually busy. We have a lot of work ahead of us this year to deliver on our promise of great value in American Bar & Grill, Traders’ Bar, Rainbow Café and Café Med. We will be steadfast in our training, frequent menu changes and determination to produce quality and consistency in our food and drink offerings. Serving such a diverse range of Members can be a challenge, but, in coordination with the Food & Beverage Committee, we aim to deliver “bang for your buck” while progressing and growing. I love change. To me, it’s exciting, refreshing and, in the case of the Club, economically sound. While change can fill some people with trepidation and anxiety, when its aims are right and it is approached and communicated correctly, I think everyone can understand the importance of it. There’s little doubt that the next few months will be filled with change that will, in turn, produce progress and ultimately fantastic growth for the Club. o
Executive remarks 7
club
dining
Fine-Tuning Club Dining by Craig Saphin
A
lmost a year after the Club moved into its new home, Members seem to be increasingly comfortable with making the world-class facilities work for them. We now seem to be spoilt for choice in the range of dining experiences on offer at the Club. Each month, the Food & Beverage Committee meets to discuss business in each restaurant, new initiatives from the Food & Beverage team and Member feedback. Over the past year, the committee has spent considerable time dealing with the following issues:
Adult Dining One of the hottest issues has been access to adult dining for younger Members. There is no correct solution for this matter.
8 January 2012 iNTOUCH
The Club was designed to have formal (adult) and family sides. The formal outlets have been well received by Members and have performed well financially since their opening. After listening to Member suggestions and complaints, the committee worked with the Food & Beverage director to make several changes, including opening Café Med to all ages and serving some of the more popular American Bar & Grill dishes there on Sunday evenings. Café Med is an outstanding dining spot (the weekday lunch is particularly good!), and we will monitor the reaction of the Members to the adjustments.
Decanter The opening of Decanter in November seems to have been well received. We have been lucky to have Brian Marcus as our Food & Beverage director. Opening benchmark restaurants is his specialty and he has proved it with Decanter. While there was a great deal of demand for such a restaurant, the Food & Beverage Committee was unsure whether there would be enough Members using it to make it the success it needed to be. Based on historical data and projected revenue, we made a decision
to accommodate non-Members on a trial basis and under strict conditions. This was supported by the House Committee and Board of Governors. We realize this has upset some Members, but we couldn’t afford to have such a huge investment fail because of a lack of diners. Naturally, if Decanter is able to be supported by Members alone, we will review the policy.
Rainbow Café The closure of Rainbow Café’s Chill Zone in October was a controversial decision. It was made in the interest of safety and to rethink the space’s use. More broadly, the behavior of some children in Rainbow Café was causing stress to Members and staff. The new rules on display in the outlet are aimed at encouraging Members to take more responsibility for the behavior of their children. So far, the changes appear to be resulting in a better Club experience for all. The largest Club committee, the Food & Beverage Committee discusses issues raised by Members and implements improvements accordingly. All feedback is welcome. o Saphin is chair of the Food & Beverage Committee.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
wine
T
he organic boom appears to have no bounds, with the wine world increasingly adopting organic and “biodynamic” methods for growing grapes, as well as “natural” and “preservative-free” approaches to making wine. Wines in these categories now account for 10 percent of all commercial wine production. Additionally, that some of the world’s finest estates are adopting these techniques means that there must be more to them than just an attempt at green marketing. Generally, natural or organic wine is made without the use of synthetic chemicals, such as fertilizers, pesticides or fungicides, and with as few additives as possible. Grapes are often harvested by hand in order to minimize damage and to maintain a light footprint on the vineyard soil. Following the harvest, their juice may be fermented without the use of added yeasts or sugar. The problem, though, is that there are no standards worth mentioning. I can be biodynamic-certified and still spray nasty chemicals on my vines. Biodynamic farming only sets out what a grower must do, not what he cannot do. There is also more than a little skepticism around following such practices as stirring fermented cow poo in water and spreading it on your vineyard under a descending moon or picking grapes on “fruit days” when the moon is in a fire constellation. Then there is the appearance of the wine. Most organic winemakers do not fine or filter their wines, preferring time to settle the wine naturally. This can leave the wine with a cloudy appearance. Having said all of that, more often than not, well-made biodynamic or natural wines seem to have an intensity and complexity of flavor. They not only taste better than most conventionally produced wines, they taste different, packed with an extra vitality and liveliness on the tongue. At this month’s tasting, we will shed some light on the emerging biodynamic and natural wine movements, but, more importantly, we will share in the unadulterated pleasure of drinking good organic wine. o
tasting
Biodynamic Beauties by Jon Sparks
Sparks is a member of the Wine Committee.
Organic Wine Tasting Wednesday, January 18 7 p.m. Washington and Lincoln Rooms ¥9,000 Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk
Club wining and dining 9
Tipple Tips Author and intrepid imbiber Chris Bunting explains the alcohol-soaked inspiration for his book, Drinking Japan: A Guide to Japan’s Best Drinks and Drinking Establishments.
I
think the moment I realized I would never make it as an alcohol connoisseur was about halfway through my research for a book about the stuff. I was at a beer tasting hosted by the Tokyo beer guru Bryan Harrell. Since the audience was made up of non-specialists, he was keeping it pretty basic. There were a few lone males with guts to prove some sort of a commitment to beer, a couple and a group of office ladies sitting around one of the back tables. Bryan produced a fruit beer and asked casually which fruit we thought it contained. It was an easy question and I thought I may as well get an answer in early before the real tasting began. “Cherry!” I blurted. One of the office ladies immediately turned in her chair to take a look at me. I think she smiled. “Mikan [satsuma],” she said, a little more quietly than I had managed. Of course, she was right. I could taste it as soon as she said it. “Why,” I asked myself, “was I writing a book about alcohol when I couldn’t even tell the difference between a cherry-flavored beer and a satsuma-flavored one?” It was a good question and I am not sure I have yet found a satisfactory answer. There were other humbling moments during my research for the book, like when the Sapporo pub owner Phred Kaufman and the Norwegian brewer Kjetil Jikiun drank me flat under a table in Hokkaido. They were still opening the doors of new bars at 5 a.m., while I remained in bed feeling sorry for myself at 5 p.m. the next day. It felt like the wannabe barfly had been dealt a lesson by two imbibers of horsefly proportions. Although I frequently pondered my qualifications for writing a book about Japanese bars and alcohol culture during the year and a half I spent exploring the subject, I never had to question the topic itself. I first proposed the book to my publisher after I was struck
10 January 2012 iNTOUCH
by Japanese alcohol culture’s phenomenal diversity and energy. I appreciated this as I was leaving a Shinjuku whisky bar stacked with at least 500 bottles of Scottish single malt on my way to a place with 250 Japanese whiskies. On the same street was a makkori bar, offering an exhaustive selection of the Korean rice wine, while just a short walk away were three great sake pubs, another superb whisky bar, an American whiskey bar selling drinks you would struggle to find in the United States and a hotel with the best range of North American wines in Asia (350 bottles). But that kind of variety in close proximity isn’t particularly unusual in Japan. In Tokyo districts like Roppongi, Shibuya, Ginza and Akasaka, as well as in Osaka and Kyoto, such opportunities are expected by drinkers. It goes deeper than the excellence and range of the bars.
LIBRARY
Japan offers a whole world of superb alcohol that is unobtainable anywhere else. We all know about sake, but Japan has other alcohol traditions that are really only accessible when you are in the country. There are six major types of honkaku shochu, Japan’s indigenous distilled spirit, produced by hundreds of small distilleries across Japan, while Okinawan awamori is a completely separate, centuries-old distilling tradition that rivals that of whisky. There is a wine industry that produces both quality wine and the foul plonk sold in Japanese supermarkets, a thriving craft beer sector and a whisky industry that has been a major force in international whisky competitions for more than a decade. In light of my inability to tell fruits apart, I kept tasting notes to a minimum in the guide and instead concentrated on
painting as comprehensive a picture as I could of a rich alcohol scene. The result is a fairly wide-ranging survey of the history and culture of Japanese booze in its many forms, livened up with some entertaining anecdotes. The other half of the guide provides practical information on the 140 best bars and shops I found on my travels, including maps, photos, language tips and locations. But my secret hope is that the book might also be a fun and informative read on a sofa thousands of miles away. Just as I discovered, Japan’s alcohol culture definitely deserves widespread appreciation. o Drinking Japan is available at the Library. Drinking Japan www.drinkingjapan.com
Literary gems at the Library 11
off the
shelf
Moscow’s Mystery Master by Susan Millington
R
ussian author Boris Akunin (the pen name of Grigory Shalvovich Chkhartishvili) is best known to English-speaking readers for his historical mystery series featuring Erast Fandorin, a detective with the Moscow police. His 10th and most recent Fandorin mystery, The Diamond Chariot (2011), takes place mainly in late 19th-century Japan, with an introductory section set in early 20th-century Moscow. Two additional Fandorin novels can be found in the Library. In The Winter Queen (2003), our man discovers why a student from a wealthy Russian family has (apparently) shot and killed himself in a Moscow park—but only after connecting the death to a separate
12 January 2012 iNTOUCH
incident he witnesses, which is clearly a case of murder. In Akunin’s 2004 book, Murder on the Leviathan, also set in the late 19th century, the story is told from the perspectives of the four main suspects and the French police commissioner, who are all on board a British steamship. Fandorin himself is seen through only their eyes, which renders him even more enigmatic and intriguing. The true culprit he finally identifies may be a surprise. Born in Georgia to a Georgian father and Jewish mother, Akunin, 55, has spent almost all of his life in Moscow. A specialist in Japanese literature (akunin means bad or evil person in Japanese), he is editor in chief of the 20-volume Anthology of
Japanese Literature. Naturally, millions of copies of his books have been sold in Russia, but Japanese translations of his works also do well here. The winner of the 2009 Japan Foundation Award for Arts and Culture, Akunin was named Russian writer of the year in 2000. Three Fandorin novels have been made into big-budget Russian films, and a Hollywood adaptation of The Winter Queen, starring Milla Jovovich and Anton Yelchin, is due for release later this year. o Millington is a member of the Library Committee. The Library stocks The Diamond Chariot, Murder on the Leviathan and The Winter Queen.
LIBRARY
new
reads Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet by John Bradshaw This pet help book is ideal for dog owners who wish to better understand the nature of their favorite pooches and learn how they can help their furry companions fit comfortably into their masters’ homes. Think Lassieinspired makeover meets Cesar Millan.
Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin: Forty Years of Funny Stuff by Calvin Trillin Born in Kansas, educated at Yale and now living in colorful Greenwich Village, New York, journalist and novelist Trillin has chronicled the whole panorama of American life—or at least four decades’ worth—in humorous real-life essays that make the perfect pickme-up any time of day.
Luminous Airplanes by Paul La Farge A coming-of-age story set at the dawn of the 21st century, existing in past, present and future possible realms, La Farge’s latest novel covers loss and love, successes and failures, everything experienced by a young programmer, from childhood games to the dramas and disintegrating dreams of adulthood.
A Beggar’s Art: Scripting Modernity in Japanese Drama, 1900–1930 by M Cody Poulton In the early 20th century, popular Japanese novelists used playwriting as a vehicle to chronicle the emerging contemporary reality, penning thought-provoking dramas. This book interprets and translates several of these “modern” plays, including those inspired by the life-changing 1923 Kanto earthquake.
Robert Redford: The Biography by Michael Feeney Callan
The Moon Over the Mountain by Atsushi Nakajima
Since becoming a film icon as the breakout star of 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Robert Redford has been dubbed one of Hollywood’s hottest and most admired actors. Now, Callan provides a candid, surprising portrait of this celebrated celebrity.
The first-ever collection of Nakajima’s famous stories to be translated into English, this narrative amalgamation of ancient Chinese and Japanese thought, written at a time of turmoil and war in mid-20th-century Japan, is intriguing, easy to read, entertaining and profound.
Reviews compiled by Susan Millington.
member’s choice Member: John Delp Title: A Painted House by John Grisham
What’s the book about? Set on a farm in rural Arkansas in 1952, the story’s protagonist is Luke Chandler, whose family rents 80 acres of land for cotton farming, hiring “hill people” and Mexican migrants to help with the harvest. This is a tale of a boy’s journey from innocence to teenage discovery.
What did you like about it? The way in which Grisham portrays the challenges of the cotton harvest and how everyone is forced to participate. Grisham’s novels are written to curl up with and spend pleasant hours savoring.
Why did you choose it? Obviously, with 26 Grisham titles on the Library’s shelves, I’m not the writer’s only fan, but those with experience of life in America’s cotton country in the 1950s will particularly be able to relate to this dramatic, clearly defined adventure through the trauma of the cotton harvest.
What other books would you recommend? Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama.
Literary gems at the Library 13
critics’
corner
D
esperate for a catch that could pay his abstemious yet mounting middle-class expenses, fisherman Billy Tyne (George Clooney) steers his boat into the eye of a nor’easter that’s joined forces with a hurricane. “You’re steaming into a bomb! Turn around for Christ’s sake! Billy, can you hear me? You’re headed right for the middle of the monster!” Linda Greenlaw screams desperately at the Andrea Gail captain over the radio in the box office smash
The Perfect Storm (2000). He presses on. “Billy?” she pleads. Silence. Nature racks up yet another win. But audiences enjoy another cinematic depiction of one of man’s many power struggles with the unpredictable natural world. In this spirit, our Club film critics offer their selections for cinema’s best man-versus-nature disaster flick while reminding us that sometimes we can triumph over Mother Nature. Can’t we? o
“Based on the book Between a Rock and a Hard Place, this film’s producer and director Danny Boyle described his work as ‘an action movie with a guy who can’t move.’ While Aron Ralston (James Franco) is hiking in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park, a boulder tumbles loose and pins his hand against the canyon wall. Trapped in a remote spot, with little water and food, he begins to record a video diary for his family. In one poignant scene, he realizes in solemn reverence that every choice he has ever made has brought him to this point. He must save himself. So, on the fifth day, he uses his dull pocketknife to sever his own arm. ‘There is no force on earth more powerful than the will to live’ the movie reminds us.”
“With global warming and climate change a hot topic, The Day After Tomorrow has bad weather aplenty. While El Niño is caused by cooler ocean surface temperatures, melting Antarctic ice creates a saline imbalance in the North Atlantic current and so an array of violent weather patterns in this flick. As the film’s protagonist, paleoclimatologist Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid), tries to warn the world, giant hail batters Tokyo, snow falls on New Delhi and a freezing tsunami slams into New York City. With the northern hemisphere entering a new ice age, Jack sets out to walk the 150 kilometers from Philadelphia to New York in a blizzard to save his son. That’s Little Rock to Batesville for me.”
“Man-versus-nature films are always intense, with characters forced to make unthinkable choices to survive extreme conditions. For their sheer nail-biting tension, I would recommend three films: the 1993 flick Alive, based on the true story of a rugby team that crashed in the Andes and had to choose between starvation and cannibalism; 127 Hours (2010), the story of Aron Ralston’s remarkable survival in the Utah desert; and Tom Hanks’ emotional rollercoaster Robinson Crusoe film Cast Away (2000). While different circumstances, all these films make you consider how you would react in a similar situation.”
Best man-versus-nature disaster flick:
Best man-versus-nature disaster flick:
Best man-versus-nature disaster flick:
127 Hours
The Day After Tomorrow
Alive, 127 Hours and Cast Away
Club critic: Diane Harris
Club critic: Sara Sakamoto
Club critic: David Fujii
Screen Survival
All titles mentioned are either available at the DVD Library or on order.
14 January 2012 iNTOUCH
DVD LIBRARY
HE SAYS, SHE SAYS He is Club President Lance E Lee. She is Yuko Akisato, manager of the DVD Library.
abort
Based on a true story, this perfectly cast film should appeal to even those with little baseball knowledge or interest. The acting is wonderful, and Jonah Hill, in a rare non-comedic role, is especially good. While it’s a well-known plot, Aaron Sorkin does a spectacular job delivering a truly clever story.
give it a go
smokin’
This surprisingly well-made film about how Oakland A’s manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) puts together a highly successful baseball team with the help of a Yale-educated geek (Jonah Hill) will be enjoyed by both those who love baseball and those who know nothing about the game. I enjoyed every moment, and Pitt doesn’t disappoint.
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There is excellent chemistry between Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis in this great romantic comedy. With more comedy than romance, it doesn’t overdo the usual rom-com clichés. The good dose of drama makes it a recommended movie to watch as a couple or with a group of friends.
While similar to the recent No Strings Attached, starring Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman, this film about the complications that occur when two friends (Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis) add sex to their relationship is much better.
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Even the most passionate sci-fi fan would have to agree that the basic premise of this film—about how a group of cowboys and natives overcome an alien force—is incredibly far-fetched. The “boy-becomes-a-man-when-given-the-weapons-to-fight” cliché makes it even worse. The special effects are mediocre.
When an alien ship arrives in the Wild West in 1873, a hardened posse of locals have to stop them taking over the planet. With Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford starring, who wouldn’t expect it to be good? Unfortunately, the battle scenes are too numerous and long, rendering the whole movie pointless.
Although somewhat under-promoted, this rework of a classic is fun, refreshing and entertaining, with well-choreographed fight scenes, too. Once again, Milla Jovovich wows us with her athletic prowess as she pulls off some wonderfully over-thetop action scenes.
D’Artagnan (Logan Lerman) teams up with three rogue musketeers to take on a beautiful but deadly double agent and her equally dangerous employer. While an entertaining family flick, the endless special effects become a little tedious.
DR AMA
The Help An unlikely rebellion is brewing in a 1960s-era Mississippi neighborhood now that Skeeter has returned from college and, dreaming of a publishing career, tries convincing black maids— privy to the secrets of the white families they work for—to dish all in this intelligent comedy about discrimination. Starring Viola Davis.
SUSPEN SE
The Debt As secret agents, they undertook a dangerous mission, risking everything to track down a Nazi war criminal. Succeeding, they retired, only to discover years later that nothing was what it seemed in this twisting suspenser with Helen Mirren.
COM EDY
Midnight in Paris A ride in an antique cab whisks a Hollywood screen writer (Owen Wilson) off to Picasso-era Paris, where he falls in love with the painter’s mistress and hobnobs with everyone from Hemingway to Josephine Baker in this dreamy comedy by Woody Allen.
AC T ION
Catch .44 Three girlfriends go from slogging at a local strip joint to barreling down I-40 to hijack a coke deal for their crime boss (Bruce Willis), before linking up with a rowdy murderer (Forest Whitaker) in this bloody thriller.
Kung Fu Panda 2 The rambunctious and lovable furry martial artist Po confronts a villainous peacock trying to take over China while claiming kung fu is dead in this second installment of the lighthearted 3-D flick that rocked the box office.
SCI -FI
other new titles...
Apollo 18 Robinson Crusoe meets The Blair Witch Project in this thriller that features unearthed footage from a secret American mission to the moon in 1973. This flick is so brilliantly believable that NASA had to refute claims it covered up a made-for-themovies mission to the moon.
All movies reviewed are either available at the DVD Library or on order.
TV and film selections 15
Super Bowl Spectacular by Matthew Krcelic
Y Super Bowl XLVI at the Club Monday, February 6 7:30 a.m.–12 p.m. New York Ballroom ¥5,500 (includes all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet and welcome drink) For details, e-mail eventsignup@tac-club.org Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk Sponsored by the Programs and Events Committee
16 January 2012 iNTOUCH
ou won’t need to be among the 63,000 shrieking football fans at Lucas Oil Stadium for Super Bowl XLVI to enjoy NFL’s greatest spectacle. The Club’s annual party in February promises to be another highenergy morning of great prizes, betting pools, delicious food and, naturally, scintillating gridiron. This year marks the first time that football’s biggest game has visited Indianapolis and, while the city’s famous Motor Speedway will be silent that day, there will be plenty of thunder emanating from the home of the Colts. Built in 2008, the $720 million field house was designed to invoke the feel of
a bygone era, when quarterback Johnny Unitas wore a Colts uniform and led his Baltimore team to the 1958 NFL Championship in what has been dubbed “the greatest game ever played.” It was also one of the first games to be televised nationally. More than 50 years later, Club Members and their guests will descend on the cavernous New York Ballroom to celebrate this much-loved American tradition. Book your tickets now for what is sure to be a sellout show from Indy. o Krcelic is a member of the Programs and Events Committee.
COMMITTEES
Joining a Committee Members interested in joining one of the committees listed should contact its chair or inquire at the General Manager’s Office.
Recreation Tim Griffen (Ira Wolf) Recreation Subcommittees Bowling Pam Jenkinson Fitness Sam Rogan Golf Steven Thomas Library Melanie Chetley Logan Room Diane Dooley & Cathleen Fuge Squash Martin Fluck Swim Jesse Green & Alexander Jampel DVD Abby Radmilovich Youth Activities TBA
Jim Hand-Cukierman
Compensation Brian Nelson
Beyond the Ring by Erika Woodward and Nick Jones
L
unging after his Estonian opponent, Mongolian sumo wrestler Hakuho overextended himself and slipped to the dirt. It was a dramatic end to the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in November, the year’s final basho, and meant that Hakuho finished the tournament with a 14-1 record. After that exciting climax to 2011, all eyes will be on the 26-year-old yokozuna grand champion when he takes to the ring for this month’s New Year’s tournament, running from January 8 to 22, at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan stadium. Culture-hungry Members can get a taste of the behind-the-scenes excitement this month with a private tour of the Mihogaseki stable in Sumida Ward. Participants will take in the wrestlers’ early-morning practice session, overseen by stable master Noriaki Mihogaseki,
before sitting down to share a traditional sumo lunch of chankonabe with the wrestlers at the stable. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity for an inside peek at this time-honored sport. o Mihogaseki Stable www.mihogaseki.com (Japanese only)
Sumo Stable Tour Monday, January 9 7:45 a.m. Meeting point: Morishita Station (A5 exit) ¥5,600 (includes lunch) Adults only Sign up online and at the Member Services Desk Sponsored by the Programs and Events Committee
Finance Gregory Davis (John Durkin)
Food & Beverage Craig Saphin (Amane Nakashima) Food & Beverage Subcommittee Wine Mark Baxter
Programs & Events Barbara Hancock (Ann Marie Skalecki) Programs Community Relations Donald Soo Culture Miki Ohyama Entertainment Matthew Krcelic Frederick Harris Gallery Yumiko Sai
House Jesse Green (Charlotte Kennedy Takahashi) House Subcommittee Facilities Management Group Gregory Lyon
Human Resources Jon Sparks
Membership Alok Rakyan (Mary Saphin) Membership Subcommittee Branding Mark Ferris
Nominating Nick Masee
Names in parentheses denote Board liaisons.
Cornerstone of the Club 17
Reaching for the Sharks by Erika Woodward Photos by Irwin Wong
James Hathaway
18 January 2012 iNTOUCH
Club youngsters are picking up aqua skills, confidence and even better eating habits through the Sky Pool’s Mudsharks group swim program.
RECREATION
A
t first, James refused when his coach asked him to put his head underwater as part of his swim lesson at the Sky Pool. It took him weeks to build up the confidence to do it, “but as soon as he did, he just took off,” says James’ father, Christopher Hathaway, as he sits poolside on a November evening, watching his 5-year-old son swim freestyle. “That was the moment [my wife and I] said, ‘OK, he’s really got some potential.’” As a member of the Wobbegongs youth swim class since last July, James hopes he’ll soon graduate to the next rank and join his elder brother on the first rung of the Mudsharks swim team. But for his mother, he’s already reached a life-changing milestone. Maylen Hathaway never learned to swim as a child, finally taking adult swim classes at the Club. “I think the main reason our boys are doing swim lessons right now…is that she decided it was important,” Christopher says. The group lessons are designed not only to teach children how to swim, but to provide a clear path to the Club’s competitive swim team, the Mudsharks. The Sky Pool’s manager, Haldane Henry, says that it is important to set goals for young swimmers. “The best way for the pool program to work is to have it [set up] as a ladder or progression, so that they can grow up from novice swimmers to competitive swimmers,” he says. Children may start as early as age 4 with the Gummysharks. Once they’ve learned to float and kick and master the backstroke, they’re ready to advance to the Wobbegongs. From there, they can continue on to the Mini Muddies, the first level of the swim team. Eager swimmers can progress through the ranks to the highest level, the Tiger Sharks, which affords opportunities to compete at international meets. The Mudsharks is the kind of program that produced Japanese medal-winning professionals like Tomoko Hagiwara and Kosuke Kitajima, who trained at independent swim clubs, where talents study with the same coach or family of coaches from elementary school through college. “The instructors are just awesome,” Christopher says. “Benni [Edriansyah] really gets James, understands his needs and really knows how to get the most out of him.”
Once an integral part of samurai training, swimming in Japan became parents’ top extracurricular activity of choice for boys and the third most popular for girls in 2002, according to a survey published by the Japan Information Network website. Christopher, a New Jersey native, says the self-driven sport is perfect for his son, who is active and ambitious, but not a ruthless competitor. “In the last four months, [James has] grown up dramatically, in part because he has improved so much as a swimmer,” he says. “It’s just a huge confidence booster for him.” Meena Kamran is equally impressed with how her 6-year-old daughter, Radhika, has progressed as a Gummyshark, learning to float and do the backstroke in just three months. “I think it’s a phenomenal program,” Meena says. Former competitive swimmer and Member Jill Chopyak Hogan enrolled the eldest two of her three children in swim lessons for safety reasons. “I want my children to have confidence in the water,” says the Swim Fit student, whose family enjoys boating, beaches and trips to her in-laws’ Connecticut lake house. “If [my children] are in a situation where something unexpected happens and they fall off a boat, they need to be able to swim.” Club Member Becky Oberhellman, meanwhile, discovered some surprising benefits of the swim program. The extra workout has encouraged her 8-year-old son, Max, who was once a picky eater, to enjoy a balanced diet. “Before [Max joined the Mudsharks], for vegetables, he would only eat cucumber and carrots, for fruits, only apple, and for food, only pasta, pizza and hamburger,” she says. “Now, he’s eating more vegetables, rice and a variety of foods, because he burns lots of calories and his body needs it.” Kids like James Hathaway, though, aren’t thinking about nutrition. Smiling after another weekly practice, he says that the best part about the swim program is “just being in the water.” o
For more information on Mudsharks group lessons, please visit the Sky Pool Office or the Sky Pool pages of the Club website.
Fitness and well-being 19
class
focus Simply Yoga In this all-encompassing class, students of all levels study the key yoga postures and breathing exercises that lead to enhanced flexibility, toned muscles and stress relief. Students also explore a range of yoga-related subjects, including the link between postures and meditation, Raja yoga, which is generally concerned with bringing the mind and emotions into balance, Patanjali sutras and human anatomy and physiology. Simply Yoga classes run every Tuesday (11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.) for beginners and every Saturday (10:20 a.m.–12 p.m.) for all levels. Visit the Recreation Desk or Club website to learn more.
Mai Okumura
The Instructor
Certified by the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in 2003, Mai Okumura has been studying with renowned teacher Tasha Patterson in Tokyo for the last decade. She guides her students to inner tranquility and strength while supporting their experiences as a lifelong teacher. “When our body is in alignment with our breathing, we simply feel good,” she says of the benefits of yoga.
Christy Ramos
The Student
“Mai makes everyone comfortable, whether they have done yoga before or not, and she pays individual attention to each student. Her class relaxes the mind while conditioning and strengthening the body.”
20 January 2012 iNTOUCH
RECREATION
what’s
on
Biggest Loser 2012 Get a jump on your New Year’s resolution to lose weight, get fit and look great. Enroll in the 10-week total-body makeover program at the Fitness Center, starting January 30. For more information, contact the Fitness Center at 03-4588-0266.
Youth Basketball Program Kickoff The Club’s budding NBA stars commence yet another exciting season under the guiding hand of former basketball pro Dan Weiss. Elementary through high school students learn the fundamentals of the sport through drills, games and skills training.
Luck-Crafting Class Partake in a colorful Japanese New Year tradition by creating your own rotund, talismanic daruma doll. An hour or so of fun should (hopefully) lead to a year of luck and good fortune. Saturday, January 28 10–11:15 a.m. Sign up online or at the Recreation Desk
Wednesday, January 11–Sunday, March 25 Sign up at the Recreation Desk or e-mail reina.collins@tac-club.org
Happy Birthday Spa Special
Father-Daughter Dinner Dance
For the entire month of your birthday, for as many times as you wish, receive 30 percent off a luxuriating massage or rejuvenating facial— because sometimes one day of celebration just won’t do.
Dads and their little princesses, ages 5 to 13, enjoy a magical evening of mouthwatering food, music, dancing, gifts and photo keepsakes.
(This year-round, Member-exclusive offer applies to 60- or 90-minute massages and 60- or 75-minute facials.)
Saturday, February 11 5–9 p.m. Sign up online or at the Recreation Desk from January 10
Sky Pool Stimulus Meet the most diverse international swimming community in Tokyo at the Sky Pool, where year-round swimmers of every age, level and ambition take to the water for fun, fitness, competition and more. Find the program that suits you by visiting the Sky Pool Office or the Sky Pool section of the Club website.
Daddy’s Little Girl Makeover Ahead of the fun, all girls are invited to The Spa for hair styling and more for an additional cost. Sign up at The Spa.
Fitness and well-being 21
Join Us by Ginger Griggs
I
t’s the beginning of a new year, and as we say goodbye to last year, few of us would disagree that it was both an exciting step forward and a period of great challenge. As Club Members, we
moved into our long-awaited new facility. As residents and friends of Japan, we witnessed the devastation and aftermath of March 11. For me, a link between these otherwise unrelated events is the need for a sense of community. Creating a strong sense of community is what the Women’s Group is all about. We offer classes, information programs, social activities, trips and tours, fundraising events and much-needed support to charities. If you haven’t yet joined the Women’s Group or experienced
Ultimate City Guide Whether you’re new to Tokyo or you just want to learn more about your adopted home, Tokyo: Here & Now, the Women’s Group’s twoday orientation program, is the perfect primer on life in Japan. Jam-packed with lectures and panel discussions on Japanese traditions, culture
22 January 2012 iNTOUCH
one of our programs, why not put that on the top of your to-do list this year? And while you’re at it, why not consider serving as a volunteer for one or more of our activities? Volunteering, in particular, offers you the opportunity to make life-long friendships and have fun while learning new skills and making an important contribution to our community. Come check us out—you’re guaranteed a warm welcome! o Griggs is president of the Women’s Group.
shock, daily living, medical systems and much more, this event also provides an excellent opportunity to make friends and meet other new arrivals. o Tokyo: Here & Now March 8–9 Open to the public Sign up from February 1 at the Member Services Desk Tokyo: Here & Now Cocktail Party Saturday, March 10
WOMEN’S GROUP
Spring Semester The Women’s Group offers a wide range of enlightening classes that provide both cultural insight and the chance to pick up new skills or hone old ones. This spring’s class selection includes a number of first-time programs, such as a journaling workshop that will teach
students how to use free downloadable photo software, three more ever-popular Backstreet Tours with Kit Nagamura, Japanese nabe hot pot cooking classes, courses on how to prepare mouthwatering Thai and Indian curry and a fascinating morning expedition to a flower market (think Tsukiji, but better smelling!). o Registration for all Women’s Group classes starts on Tuesday, January 31.
An interactive community 23
Taro Kono
24 January 2012 iNTOUCH
FEATURE
Taking on the
Pillars of Power Known for his heretical politics, Club Member and politician Taro Kono is sure he’ll be prime minister one day. With Japan embroiled in a fierce debate over the future of its relationship with nuclear energy, his ship may have finally come in. by Tim Hornyak
Kayo Yamawaki
P
olitical protests in Tokyo are a rare sight, but anti-nuclear rallies were frequent in 2011—a watershed year of cataclysm in Japan. As Japanese search for political leaders they can believe in, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmaker Taro Kono has stepped up his rhetoric against the establishment. Long before last year’s earthquake and tsunami that sparked the ongoing nuclear crisis in Fukushima, Kono opposed nuclear power. Since the disaster, he has excoriated his own party for accepting money from the nuclear industry, and warns that pro-nuclear Dietmen are biding their time until the public forgets Fukushima, so construction of nuclear plants can resume. Kono says Japan, like Germany, should phase out nuclear plants in favor of alternative energy sources. This wasn’t just lip service to the current tide of mistrust in nuclear power, which has traditionally accounted for some 30 percent of Japan’s electricity. In a 2008 United States diplomatic cable disseminated by WikiLeaks, he told US officials that Japanese utilities had long concealed the costs and risks of nuclear power from the public while selling them the concept
of recycling uranium with the failed Monju fastbreeder reactor. If Kono seems a man for the hour, he’s more known to outsiders for his political pedigree and sharp tongue. Born in 1963 and raised in Hiratsuka, the Sagami Bay town in Kanagawa Prefecture, he’s the grandson of politician Ichiro Kono, who challenged wartime Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, and the son of Yohei Kono, one of the only leaders of the LDP who did not become prime minister. Taro clashed publicly with his father over relations with the US and surgical transplants in Japan, which carry decades-long wait times, before Kono Sr’s own liver failed due to a chronic hepatitis C infection. In 2002, the son donated part of his organ to his father, an act that drew broad media attention. The two have a special bond, though it hasn’t changed their sometimes strained relationship. Yohei, terminally ill, initially refused the transplant offer, but relented after Taro prevailed on him to become a grandfather to his daughterin-law’s unborn child. After a successful operation, the elder Kono lived on to become the longest-serving speaker of the powerful
Taking on the Pillars of Power 25
House of Representatives. As a member of the chamber representing Chigasaki and nearby communities in Kanagawa, Taro Kono has a small office in Nagatacho, with mementos of his soccer activities adorning the walls (he’s also an avid scuba diver and film buff). He speaks with easy fluency in English, gained from his studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, where he read The Washington Post every day and attended foreign policy lectures by former US
People may call me a maverick, but I think everyone else has gone the wrong way. I’m not a socialist or communist, so I’m not going to be able to join such parties. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. He is laser-sharp in his assessment of how Japan’s energy establishment has failed the nation. “The power industry is a corrupt industry,” he says, describing the cozy ties between politicians, bureaucrats and industry. “Staff from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry [METI] get jobs after they retire with power companies. Although they’re supposed to be regulating, they’re not really regulating. LDP politicians get a lot of political contributions from the power companies. The Democratic Party of Japan [DPJ] gets a lot of votes from the power companies’ labor unions. University professors get lots of R&D research fees…and the media get a lot of money for commercials.” Although Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, is the spider at the center of this web, Kono says the whole establishment is to blame for the nuclear crisis. “Everyone is guilty for the Fukushima accident,” he says. “METI, the industry and the government were telling people that nuclear reactors in Japan would not have an accident, but they were telling lies.” METI, Kono asserts, is now stacked with pro-nuclear bureaucrats following a purge of staffers who supported alternative 26 January 2012 iNTOUCH
energy about eight years ago. He adds that more than half the members of a special government committee that was tasked with determining the theoretical height of future tsunami waves striking Tohoku consisted of people from the nuclear industry, and that they were unwilling to invest the sums necessary to protect power plants. The March 11 tsunami disabled the Fukushima plant’s cooling mechanisms, resulting in a meltdown of its cores, massive radiation leakage and the evacuation of some 160,000
people from a 30-kilometer zone. Historically, Japan has often been slow to change politically unless prompted by an outside threat or force, such as war. In September, one of the largest antinuclear protests in Tokyo drew tens of thousands of demonstrators. Could the Tohoku disaster prove to be a catalyst for a national transformation? “The tsunami woke up everyone,” Kono says. “People thought nuclear reactors are a necessary evil, but it has proved that you
FEATURE don’t really need them to survive.” Japanese can be disabused of nuclear necessity, but Kono emphasizes it will take direct grassroots political action like lobbying lawmakers to initiate change. He cautions that Diet members are openly talking about keeping mum on nuclear issues until Fukushima blows over. “A lot depends on the people,” he says. “Bureaucrats, power companies, politicians and banks want to go back to the old way because lots of money is involved.” Kono has said LDP and DPJ members
with similar goals should unite to change the energy industry. His message is finding ears. Some politicians as well as business leaders, such as the president of online shopping giant Rakuten, Hiroshi Mikitani, now agree with Kono’s views on the power industry; Club Member Mikitani has called out big business lobby Keidanren for encouraging support of nuclear energy. Meanwhile, Wakamono Manifest Sakutei Iinkai, a policy research group on issues that are important to Japanese under 40, polled its members
about who should lead the nation, and Kono picked up the most votes. Yet the Keio University grad doesn’t want to wait for the public to try to regenerate Japan. He says he’s determined to lead the fight for change himself if given the country’s top job. Asked if he might be Japan’s prime minister one day, he cracks a brazen smile and quips, “Might? You should ask me ‘when.’” Tough talk for an opposition lawmaker with relatively little clout. Kono, who turns
Taking on the Pillars of Power 27
49 this month, has been returned to his seat in the lower house in every election since he first stood in 1996. Returning to Japan after college in the American capital, he was struck by how Japan news was so sparse in the US media, but Japanese newspapers were full of reports about America’s president and pop stars. He felt that Japan needed better politicians to improve its image on the world stage. When a new electoral district was ordained for his hometown, a friend
28 January 2012 iNTOUCH
convinced him to throw his hat in the ring. He began his campaign a year before the election, standing at his local train station at 6 a.m. in the morning. “It tested my will and my health,” he recalls. “It was good training. I know what it feels like to run for president of the United States.” Election returns show Kono, a fiscal and social conservative, has had strong public support: in the 2005 vote, he picked up 186,770 ballots, second only to then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, a fellow LDP
maverick. In the historic 2009 election, Kono retained his seat despite enormous LDP losses that saw the party lose its half-century grip on power to the DPJ. In the aftermath of the rout, Kono stood for leader of the severely wounded party but lost to Sadakazu Tanigaki. He blames conservative elements of the party for backing Tanigaki, an older politician who was Koizumi’s finance minister. The premiership, which eluded Kono’s father as well, remains a dream for Kono while the
FEATURE Kono is someone who is rather more famous and liked by Western observers than the ordinary Japanese...He is not unknown in Japan, but hardly popular.” Indeed, relatively few LDP members can boast of coverage in The New York Times— Kono was written up for helping his father with a slice of his liver. His appeal among Western journalists and scholars can be put down to his English skills, clear-cut views and interest in international affairs. Currently director of the LDP’s international bureau, he has been active on such issues as nuclear waste disposal and the Kyoto Protocol and has pledged not to visit the controversial, war-related Yasukuni Shrine as prime minister. “He’s a very dynamic and imaginative politician who has a global perspective,” says Robert Dujarric, director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University Japan. “Unfortunately for him, as a relative outsider, he has yet to assume a leadership position. But he’s still young, so things could change.” Nakano acknowledges that Kono’s firm anti-nuke stance distinguishes him among LDP politicians, but adds that it’s also a weakness. “One is often left wondering why he continues to stay in the LDP rather than switching sides or funding a new party of his own,” he says. “In spite of the popular yearning for a strong leader, Japanese politics is essentially a collective game, given its parliamentary system. This is even more the case in the LDP.” Kono insists that the faction-ridden LDP
to join such parties. The New Komeito is different—religion…The DPJ is basically not for economic growth. They are trying to redistribute wealth.” Senior vice justice minister in the Koizumi administration, Kono preaches growth through reform. He may cast himself as a latter-day Koizumi, but he says the wildly popular lion-maned prime minister didn’t go far enough with his attempts to overhaul government. He says the LDP needs to “clean house” and rid itself of its socialist-leaning members to revitalize the economy and reduce the deficit. “Kono is no Koizumi,” says Nakano, “because he doesn’t have his charisma, good looks and, in fact, loyal faction to back him up. It’s commonly misunderstood that Koizumi was a loner but, in reality, he had always been a loyal member of the FukudaMitsuzuka-Mori faction and supported the very unpopular [Yoshiro] Mori as prime minister until the very end. He was then supported in turn by the Mori faction. Kono doesn’t have such a power base in the LDP.” A member of the faction of former Prime Minister Taro Aso, Kono says the LDP’s subgroups are not the power structures they used to be and are now more like social clubs due to changes in electoral and political rules. “Factions in the LDP are basically whom you eat lunch with on Thursdays,” he says, emphasizing that the LDP must first return to power in order to implement change. Following a string of one-year prime ministers and a questionable response to the Tohoku disaster, the DPJ’s tenure so far
Everyone is guilty for the Fukushima accident. METI, the industry and the government were telling people that nuclear reactors in Japan would not have an accident, but they were telling lies. LDP is in opposition. “It’s possible that Kono would one day become prime minister, but I don’t think that it is very likely,” says Sophia University political science professor Koichi Nakano. “He certainly has the family name, being a third-generation politician, but neither his grandfather nor his father ever made it to the premiership, so even the dynasty bonus doesn’t add up to what the likes of [prime ministers] Shinzo Abe, Yasuo Fukuda and Taro Aso enjoyed. Moreover,
is the best vehicle for him to bring about change in Japan. He wants to deregulate the economy, decentralize power to local governments and cut Tokyo’s mighty bureaucracy. His reformer stance would seem heretical as a member of the LDP, the epitome of modern Japanese conservatism in the eyes of many. “People may call me a maverick, but I think everyone else has gone the wrong way,” Kono says. “I’m not a socialist or communist, so I’m not going to be able
has been disastrous, he says, and that has rekindled his party’s hopes. “We need to present a clear policy that an LDP will lead Japan into economic growth,” Kono says. “We haven’t had economic growth in 20 years, and that’s what we need.” The country, undoubtedly, would agree. o Hornyak is a Montreal-based freelance journalist. Taro Kono www.konotaro.org
Taking on the Pillars of Power 29
Selling Japan
30 January 2012 iNTOUCH
TALKING HEADS For a long time, Japan seemed a little too expensive, distant and unknown for travelers. But former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, keenly aware of the economic benefits of tourism, set out to change that image. In 2003, he launched the Visit Japan campaign, which aimed to attract 10 million visitors to the country by 2010. Unfortunately, Japan’s Tourism Agency failed to reach its target (almost 9.5 million tourists visited Japan in 2010). Although the country didn’t draw as many vacationers as the likes of France (76 million), the United States (almost 60 million) or China (56 million), it was slowly becoming a destination of choice. Then, on March 11 last year, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the Tohoku coast. The number of foreign visitors to Japan plummeted. Philip Rosenfeld is co-founder and managing director of JapanQuest Journeys, a bespoke luxury travel firm. iNTOUCH’s Nick Jones spoke to the Club Member about efforts to bring back tourists to Japan. Excerpts:
Philip Rosenfeld
iNTOUCH: How likely is it that Japan will hit its target of attracting 25 million tourists a year by 2019? Rosenfeld: First of all, 2019 is a long way away, and people will ultimately forget about what’s happened over the past few months and come back to Japan again. In terms of meeting the 2019 target, it’s the Asian market that is going to drive that—mainly tourism from China. iNTOUCH: How would you assess Japan’s efforts so far? Rosenfeld: Our recommendation [to the Japan National Tourism Organization] has been to create a much more broad-based promotion campaign. For example, India has a wonderful campaign and so do other countries in the region. To my knowledge, Japan has never had a global television marketing advertising campaign. iNTOUCH: Why hasn’t the Japanese government ever launched a global campaign? Rosenfeld: The Japan National Tourism Organization [JNTO] is responsible for promoting Japan around the world and JNTO does an excellent job in many respects. JNTO, however, is a government organization and has bureaucratic issues and restrictions. Within JNTO, marketing campaigns are budgeted for and undertaken on a regional basis. There’s no one individual who is responsible for creating a unified global campaign. iNTOUCH: How much of an impact will the Fukushima nuclear plant situation have on tourism numbers over the coming months and years?
Rosenfeld: Education and clarity are extremely important in overcoming any lingering concerns about Fukushima and getting visitors to return. What the government needs to do is come out with a very clear explanation of the current situation in Fukushima, what is being done to monitor food supplies and if, for some reason, an issue is found, what the steps are to deal with that issue.
Rosenfeld: Not really. Japan can be expensive, but I think right now London and Paris are more expensive than Tokyo in general terms. Comparatively speaking, if someone wants to visit Japan, they can have a wonderful trip at a reasonable price.
iNTOUCH: What are your thoughts on the possible government initiative to give away 10,000 free flights to Japan?
Rosenfeld: Domestic travel in Japan can be very expensive. For instance, if you walk up to the ticket counter and want to buy a roundtrip ticket from Tokyo to Sapporo for that day, it’s going to cost you close to $1,000. With advanced planning—for example, there are package deals that combine [flights] and hotels—domestic travel can be reasonably priced.
Rosenfeld: Encouraging travel to Japan is a wonderful idea, but I’m not sure if this is the right way to go about it. I would focus more on some kind of well-constructed global advertising campaign. iNTOUCH: Japan’s pop culture, driven by manga, anime and music, has attracted an overseas following in recent years. What kind of potential does this have in terms of tourism? Rosenfeld: Limited. There has been a lot of interest in Japanese pop culture, but I think that the people who have that interest might not be large enough in terms of absolute numbers to provide a significant boost in tourism. iNTOUCH: What would you do to improve the tourism industry here? Rosenfeld: One of the primary barriers to tourism in Japan has been the English language. You can go to virtually any place in the world and communicate in English; in Japan, it’s very difficult to do. Not only in terms of tourism, but in terms of enhancing Japan’s overall relationship with the outside world, I think that promoting greater usage of the English language is critical. iNTOUCH: Japan has tended to have an image abroad of being an expensive place. Is this fair?
iNTOUCH: Is the cost of domestic travel here a stumbling block to tourism?
iNTOUCH: Tokyo’s Haneda Airport now handles more international flights. How will this affect Japan’s tourism market? Rosenfeld: Right now, the effect of Haneda on the tourism market is negligible. Part of that is simply because of the departure and arrival times of international flights, particularly the ones to North America or Europe; they leave either very early in the morning or very late at night. I think as time goes by and more slots open up at Haneda, it will become attractive in bringing foreign visitors over here. iNTOUCH: What’s your prediction for the tourism market this year? Rosenfeld: I think it’s going to bounce back as concerns about the earthquake and the Fukushima reactors dissipate. In 2012, it may not be the same as it was preearthquake in terms of numbers, but I think we’ll go a long way towards closing the gap. Hopefully by 2013, 2014, we’ll be back to where we were pre-earthquake and on the road to reaching the goals of 2019. o Member insights on Japan 31
All exhibits in the Frederick Harris Gallery are for sale and can be purchased by Membership card at the Member Services Desk. Sales of works begin at 6 p.m. on the first day of the exhibition.
Scott Silvey
by Erika Woodward Drawing on subjects as diverse as Dutch vanitas paintings, Korean mythology and herbal medicine, Scott Silvey’s numinous works examine questions that have plagued humankind for centuries. “Is there a unique spiritual essence in each individual? What human pursuits can we regard as truly important in the face of morality? And, in some ways, most importantly, how can we maintain the existence of the body itself?” asks the Americanborn artist, who showcases his work this month at the Frederick Harris Gallery. Having grown up amid the forests and wildlife of central Indiana, Silvey is intrigued by how people endeavor to control nature. “Archeologists have theorized that early cave paintings, such as those at Lascaux and Altamira, were a kind of shamanistic creative visualization,” says the 41-year-old graduate of psychology from Earlham College in Indiana. “In effect, [it’s] a supernatural attempt to gain some sort of control in an unpredictable world.” In that vein, as part of the exhibition, Silvey has included a special sampling from a series of herbal paintings, titled “Invocations,” which include written descriptions of each herb’s use as a remedy. “In these works, I have combined this return to the roots of painting with a love for the intersection of image and text,” he says. Also an installation artist (he earned his MFA in sculpture from Georgia State University in Atlanta), Silvey says his works are a nod to early Mexican retablo paintings, graffiti and even ancient Egyptian mythology. Ultimately, though, he says his art is about awakening the inner mystic. “At least since the time of ancient Egypt, the image of the bird has been used to symbolically represent the soul,” he says. “Many of the paintings in this exhibition draw upon that idea to position the spirit in a number of psycho-physical environments.”
Exhibition January 16–29
Gallery Reception
Monday, January 16 6:30–8 p.m. Frederick Harris Gallery (B1 Formal Lobby) Free Open to invitees and Members only
32 January 2012 iNTOUCH
FREDERICK HARRIS GALLERY
Diane Rakocy
by Erika Woodward Once captured by her camera, Diane Rakocy recreates the snapshots of daily life in Tokyo in acrylics to form a kind of painter’s diary. “I start with an image that inspires me,” says the American, whose engaging, multilayered paintings, inspired by her moments-intime photographs, will be on display this month at the Frederick Harris Gallery. A native Midwesterner, Rakocy, who turns 52 this month, has lived on four continents since she began traveling abroad as a teenager. A Tokyoite for the last seven years, she says she finds the capital to be one of the world’s most intriguing cities. “I love the juxtaposition of finding an ancient Shinto temple quietly tucked away amidst modern skyscrapers or the respite that the Nezu Museum’s iris fields provide in the middle of congested Omotesando,”she says. “I’m inspired by the outlandish ‘costumes’ of the Harajuku girls in Yoyogi, the madness of the Shibuya crossing and the magnificent view of the Tokyo Tower from my balcony on the 23rd floor.” The Michigan State University graduate, with master’s degrees in business and education from Northwestern University, records these sights and more with her lens. Then she paints, punching up her creative renderings with layers of pumice gel, molding paste or the like. When crafting a portrait of a traditionally dressed Japanese woman, for instance, she places washi paper on top of wet paint. “I wanted to use the texture to create a sense of tradition and mystery, which is how I feel whenever I spot one of these stunning women walking down the street,” says the artist, who seems never short of muses. “Just like there is seemingly no end to this city,” she says, “there is no end to the variety of inspiration it provides.”
Exhibition
January 30–February 12
Gallery Reception
Monday, January 30 6:30–8 p.m. Frederick Harris Gallery (B1 Formal Lobby) Free Open to invitees and Members only
Exhibitions of Art 33
yokoso Simon & Elenice Reeves United Kingdom—JP Morgan Chase Bank
Tyler Marthaler United States—Accenture Corporation
Steve & Takako Sombrero United States—Kirkwood Capital Advisors K.K.
Gosuke Nagashima Japan—Mitsubishi Corporation
Louis Vigden United States—Intercontinental Trading Corporation Mai Nagashima Japan—Mitsui Sumitomo Banking Corporation
Alan & Sharon Robinson United States—Dow Chemical Japan Ltd.
Masahiro & Kumi Masuko Japan—Village Co., Ltd.
Philippe Sommer Switzerland—Swiss Reinsurance Co., Ltd.
Ryuji Ohyama Japan—S&L Corporation
Thomas & Rosa Barbara Greer United States—PricewaterhouseCoopers Aarata
Noritaka & Fumiko Niwano Japan—Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Stanley & Keiko Mah United States—Coca-Cola Tokyo R&D Co., Ltd.
Nobuhiro & Setsuko Okada Japan—Yokohama Okadaya Co., Ltd.
Luca Fantin & Emi Ichimaru Italy—Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts Tokyo Restaurants
John & Rina Sproat United States—Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co., Ltd. Robert & Kristi Peterson United States—Verizon
James & Marsha Ann Moran United States—Convatec Japan K.K. Michael & Diana Bohm United States—Prudential Holdings of Japan, Inc.
James & Alicia Reynolds United States—State Street Trust & Banking Corporation
Bharat & Chikage Kannan United States—Aon Japan Ltd.
Tim & Sharon Fuller United States—SAP Japan Co., Ltd.
Hideaki Tsukuda Japan—Egon Zehnder International Olivier & Catherine Borgeaud Switzerland—Japan Tobacco, Inc.
Rohit & Priti Parwal United States—General Electric International, Inc.
Yuichiro & Yoko Wakatsuki United States—Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co., Ltd.
Yuji & Kyoko Yonezawa Japan—State Street Trust and Banking Co., Ltd.
Cesar & Ana Gracia Spain—Nike Japan Corporation
sayonara Gordon & Denise Bell Sam & Saori Bliss Jason & Morwenna Buckley Charles & Ellen Cerminara Andrew & Julie Eich John & Ali Gorman
Steven & Frances Hudson Koichi & Naoko Itoh Channa Wishantha Jayaweera Douglas & Emiko Kaplan Marc & Mihoko Kremer Akihiko & Chika Kubo
Okifumi Murata Per Olsson Allen Robinson Terence Wong & Cecilia Chow
stacks of services at the Club
JTB Sunrise Tours
Spica
Go Mobile Phone Rental
MyToyota.jp
André Bernard Beauty Salon
FedEx
Enjoy a 5 percent discount on all package tours and start making unforgettable memories. Tel: 03-5796-5454 (9:30 a.m.–8 p.m.) E-mail: sunrisetours@ web.jtb.jp www.jtb-sunrisetours.jp
The Club’s professional shoe repair and polishing service. Tel: 03-4588-0670 The Cellar (B1) Sat: 1–4:30 p.m. Sun: 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Weekday drop-off: Member Services Desk
Need a rental mobile phone or help with translation? Want to find useful English mobile sites? Go Mobile—more than just a phone. www.gomobile.co.jp
English support for all your Toyota and Lexus needs. Available services: Q&A by e-mail; dealer visit assistance; and translation of estimates, contracts and other related documents. www.mytoyota.jp/ english
Hair care for adults and kids, manicure, pedicure, waxing and more. Tel: 03-4588-0685 Family Area (B1) Tue–Sun 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
To find out more about the range of services and Member discounts, visit the FedEx counter. The Cellar (B1) Mon–Fri: 1–5 p.m. (closed Sun and national holidays) Sat: 12 p.m. (pickup only)
34 January 2012 iNTOUCH
MEMBER SERVICES
employee
of the month
Marie Kuroda by Nick Jones
A
s a carefree youngster, frolicking in the Club’s outdoor swimming pool, Marie Kuroda could never have imagined that she would one day be working there, albeit at an updated incarnation. Now, as a member of the Sky Pool team, she looks back on those days, when she would come to the Club with friends who were Members, with fondness. “It was a nice, cozy, fun atmosphere,” the 25-yearold says of the old Azabudai facility. As an alumna of Nishimachi International School in Tokyo, she says she feels comfortable in the Club’s multicultural environment. “It’s such a cool mix of people,” says the Employee of the Month for November, adding that she
learns a great deal from working with a broad range of nationalities. Spending a portion of her formative years in Hawaii has, no doubt, helped to mold Kuroda’s international outlook. From the age of 15, she boarded at Hawaii Preparatory Academy, situated in the foothills of the breathtakingly beautiful Kohala Mountains on Big Island. “It was definitely life-changing,” she says. “I liked the nature and hiking, and it opened me up to new things.” Moving on to the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, Kuroda studied theater, focusing on scenic design. While she immersed herself in the subject, she admits that she was ready for a change
by the end of the course. “I really burned myself out,” she says. “I liked it, but I was so tired of living in the theater.” After a stint as a sea kayak guide for tourists, she returned home in 2010. She wasn’t prepared for the frenetic pace of Tokyo life, though. “It took time to adjust,” she says. Besides being reunited with a childhood stomping ground, Kuroda has rediscovered her love for the theater. Last May, just a month before starting at the Club, she joined the Tokyo International Players theater group. Since then, she has been a part of two productions. “I really want to keep doing this theater stuff,” she says. “It takes a lot of time, but it’s always fun.” o
New Member Profile
New Member Profile
Why did you decide to join the Club?
Why did you decide to join the Club?
“Tokyo American Club seems like a great way to get involved in the community, as well meet new friends. While we truly enjoy the new cultural experience of living in Tokyo, it is nice to have some familiar comforts of home. We also look forward to enjoying the facilities as a family and having our children stay active by participating in the various programs. We are certain the Club will be a positive part of our expat experience.”
“We joined TAC for the state-of-the-art facilities, restaurants, bars and children’s activities and entertainment. We find it an excellent place to meet friends and relax on weekends.”
(l–r) Noah, Katie, Frank and Ella Ha
(l–r) Stephan, Danica, Jasmin and Nicki Titze
Frank & Katie Ha United States—Nike Japan Corporation
Stephan & Nicki Titze Switzerland—Syngenta Japan K.K.
Services and benefits for Members 35
Survival Test Irwin Wong
by Maria Bromley
36 January 2012 iNTOUCH
INSIDE JAPAN
As the number of geisha across Japan continues to fall, what is being done to ensure the survival of this cultural icon?
S
urfacing from Asakusa Station, the smell of dashi (Japanese soup stock) and tempura fills the air. As dusk falls, the glowing lanterns of the area’s tiny backstreet eateries beckon hungry diners. While separated by only a halfhour ride on the subway, the two ends of the Ginza Line—Shibuya and Asakusa—seem to represent two very different eras. Jumping in a waiting cab, Club Member Shigeru Nishimura tells the driver the destination. It’s a short ride away over the Sumida Bridge to Mukojima, but it’s like traveling further back in time. As one of only six geisha districts remaining in Tokyo, Mukojima, which translates as “the island over there,” offers a peek into a world that has largely disappeared in Japan. As Nishimura, 62, strolls through the quarter’s quiet streets, the owners of the local upscale ryotei, where geisha entertain, greet him by name. “I am a Tokyojin [Tokyoite],” he says. “Most people in Tokyo are not really from Tokyo. I grew up here and my father and uncle as well.” He heads to Mukojima’s geisha association center, where local geisha are about to put on a special annual dance performance. Accompanied by traditional shamisen instruments, the geisha move elegantly before an audience of more than 100 people who are seated on cushions on a tatami-mat floor. After the show, Nishimura mingles with the kimono-clad geisha, many of whom he has known since he, and they, were much younger. There are plenty of younger entertainers like Hazuki as well. She greets him warmly and poses for pictures. She explains that her ambition in junior high school had been to design kimono. “I wanted to make kimono, but I didn’t think I would be good enough, and I like to wear kimono, so I decided to become a geisha,” she
says. “My grandmother taught me how to wear a kimono.” Hazuki is a natural. Sincere and gracious, she immediately makes those she meets feel at ease—a crucial skill for any geisha. Traditionally, they were regarded as the social lubricant of high-level business and political meetings at ryotei. The number of geisha, however, is dwindling. Seventy years ago, there were around 1,000 geisha in Mukojima. There are now 120. The ryotei, meanwhile, have declined from 400 to just 55. Nishimura, who organized a Club tour to Mukojima last month, smiles as he recounts those “glory days” of the bubble era in the 1980s. “After a dinner party, the geisha would change and yen bills would be falling out of their kimonos,” he recalls. “Nowadays, the salarymen don’t know how to go to a ryotei, how to come to Mukojima. They need someone to teach them how to use [the area].” And there’s the rub. How do you pass on this particular culture and its traditions to a new generation? Like foreigners, many younger Japanese are not familiar with the customs and etiquette of this rarefied, seemingly impenetrable world. Sayuki, Japan’s first full-fledged foreign geisha, says that only eight percent of Japanese women know how to tie an obi sash on a kimono. “I get stopped in the street every day and women say to me, ‘I would love to wear a kimono, too, but I don’t know how to,’” she says. Walking through Asakusa, dressed in her autumn kimono, Sayuki attracts admiring looks and compliments from both men and women. “I am in the unique position of introducing the Japanese to the kimono. It’s the only country that has very expensive national clothing that they don’t know how to wear,” she says. “But there is a retro boom
going on, [with] younger women wanting to learn how to wear kimono. Many women in their 50s have piles of kimonos in their homes, passed on from their mothers and grandmothers that they cannot wear.” The Australian, who has been a geisha for four years, says she is always looking for innovative ideas to make her profession more accessible. Through her bilingual website, she offers non-traditional parties at people’s homes and offices. While she has taken out some of the mystery of the elusive “flower and willow world,” in doing so, she may have injected some much-needed life into a withering tradition. Sayuki says she finds inspiration in the centuriesold art form of Kabuki, which has faced similar problems of waning public interest. “But, because Kabuki has modernized, they’ve been able to stay traditional,” she says. With this in mind, Sayuki created a new kind of obi that can be tied in just three minutes. This time-saving device, she hopes, will help to turn around the fortunes of the kimono industry. Nishimura says that adaptations and changes are already taking place in places like Mukojima. “The geisha sometimes do not wear the shimada, or wig, because it is very expensive,” he explains. “They wear more natural cosmetics instead of the white face and their kimonos are shorter, so it is easier to move around in. But for festivals and special events, they will still wear the full traditional costume.” He says that the area needs a kind of ambassador to introduce its charms and traditions to the city’s legions of salarymen and those unfamiliar with this exclusive pocket of Japanese society. Reclining in his seat in the oldest ryotei in Mukojima, Nishimura chats with the geisha next to him. They catch up on one another’s news since his last visit. The food is placed gently in front of the guest and old dishes are removed without a sound. His glass is never empty. This is the essence of true Japanese hospitality. But for how much longer? o Bromley is a Tokyo-based freelance journalist. Sayuki www.sayuki.net
A look at culture and society 37
Winter Wonder
A majestic, snow-covered gem in Tochigi charms travelers with steak, safaris, ski slopes and more. by Wendi Hailey
N
ow that the holidays have come and gone, Tokyoites longing for a brief winter getaway might consider skipping the throngs of tourists cluttering the likes of Nikko and Hakone and instead venture up to Nasushiobara and its neighboring town of Nasu. The Tochigi Prefecture wonderland is home to an imperial family villa, enchanting landscapes and an endless bounty of coldweather activities. The northernmost city in the Kanto region, Nasushiobara was founded in 2005 when the towns of Kuroiso, Nishinasuno and Shiobara merged. Just an hour away by bullet train or a little more than two hours by car, the area is cradled by snow-capped mountains and blanketed in a pristine white powder for much of the colder months, when snow tires are a common sight to traverse the rural roads. The ski slopes are plentiful and impressive in their own right. The Hunter Mountain in Shiobara features 12 courses of varying difficulty for snowboarders and skiers to devour, including a regular half-pipe, poles and bumps, while the Mt. Jeans Ski Resort in Nasu offers 10 unique runs on which to while away the day. Those who prefer a soak in hot therapeutic waters over icy fields will find plenty of options to warm their bones. Nasu and Shiobara are renowned for their historic hot springs, such as the ambient Kokoronoyado Jizaisou ryokan inn, where a dip in the steamy onsen
38 January 2012 iNTOUCH
waters, indoors or out, costs ¥700 for adults and ¥500 for kids. Overnight stays run ¥11,000 per person and include a beautifully prepared breakfast and dinner. At the picturesque base of Mount Chausu—Tochigi’s answer to Mount Fuji—dwell the ancient Deer Hot Springs. The well-known resort has seven types of hot-spring baths for visitors to enjoy, each one varying in mineral content, effect and quality. Withstand the pungent sulfur smell of the nearby onsen and pay homage at the ancient Sesshoseki, or “Killing Stone,” whose legend goes that anyone who touches it is killed. The stone is said to be the morphed corpse of a beautiful woman who was actually a benevolent nine-tailed fox killed by a warrior over a conspiracy to kill the emperor and take his throne. The Sesshoseki was supposedly haunted by the fox’s spirit until a Buddhist priest performed a series of spiritual rituals to cast it out. A short distance from the stone, another legend persists, this one claiming that a mischievous boy brought by his parents to the sacred site one day in the 14th century kicked over a small altar table. A jizo (a guardian deity believed to protect children’s souls from harm) statue was immediately erected to right the bad behavior. The original statue has deteriorated over the centuries, and a
OUT & ABOUT About one hour, 15 minutes by bullet train from Tokyo Station to Nasushiobara Station. About two hours, 30 minutes by the Tohoku Expressway and Route 4. Kokoronooyado Jizaisou www.jizaiso.co.jp (Japanese only) Camp and Cabins Nasukogen www.camp-cabins.com (Japanese only) Steak House Jyuraku www.saikoro-steak.com (Japanese only) The Cheese Garden Gohoukan http://cheesegarden.jp (Japanese only) Schellen Baum www.e-baum.jp (Japanese only) 1988 Cafe Shozo www.shozo.co.jp
Hunter Mountain Shiobara www.hunter.co.jp (Japanese only) Mt. Jeans Ski Resort Nasu www.mtjeans.com (Japanese only) Motoyu Shikanoyu http://motoyu-shikanoyu.com (Japanese only) Shiobara Hot Springs Village www.siobara.or.jp Nasu Safari www.nasusafari.com (Japanese only) Monkey Park www.nasumonkey.com (Japanese only) Animal Kingdom www.nasu-oukoku.com (Japanese only) Nasu Garden Outlet www.nasu-gardenoutlet.com
mission to create a thousand new jizo began in 1975. The number currently stands at more than 700, with additional statues clothed in vibrant red bonnets and bibs being added each year. Nearby, visitors can watch as locals carve the meticulous stone figures. Dotted with waterfalls and streams in warmer months, the Nasushiobara area still features breathtaking bodies of water once the snow arrives. At the 320-meter-long Momijidani Suspension Bridge, onlookers can soak up vistas from the longest pedestrian bridge in Japan, which spans the crystal-clear waters of the Houki River near the entrance of the Shiobara onsen resort area. A short distance away, the country’s longest footbath, Yuppo no Sato, allows weary visitors to rejuvenate their lower limbs in its waters and stimulates acupressure points for a makeshift massage. While the area’s culinary options are vast, Nasu is famed for its steak, with the aroma of grilled meat wafting out onto Nasu Road from restaurants. One of the most popular destinations is the cozy Steak House Jyuraku, which boasts a tantalizing Nasu wagyu steak set meal for just ¥2,000. Just down the road, gourmands will delight in wandering through the smorgasbord of cheesecakes and other dairy products in the Cheese Garden Gohoukan. Plump, ruby-hued strawberries are another Tochigi delicacy, readily available at the roadside produce markets throughout
Nasushiobara www.city.nasushiobara.lg.jp
NASUSHIOBARA
TOKYO
the winter months. For a serious sweet tooth, the locally loved Schellen Baum bakery churns out freshly baked pastries certain to satiate cravings. Bargain seekers yearning for an afternoon of unadulterated shopping can slip into the toasty indoors at the Nasu Garden Outlet, a shoppers’ paradise featuring 110 stores, a farmers’ market, miniature farm and playground. Or spend the afternoon treasure hunting in the antique shops and craft stores of Kuroiso before hovering over a latte in Shozo Cafe, an eclectic coffee shop selling an array of treats that make wonderful souvenirs. For an unforgettable adventure, Nasu Safari Park boasts up-close glimpses of lions, tigers, giraffes, zebras and other exotic animals, while the World Monkey Park and Nasu Animal Kingdom offer tamer menageries for entertainment. The entry fees can be steep, though. As a fun, affordable alternative to the traditional ryokan, overnight visitors can rent a heated cabin for ¥9,000 a night at Camp and Cabins Nasukogen, which is open year-round and hosts seasonal activities. And in the early light of morning, the snowy splendors of Nasushiobara wait patiently to be explored all over again. o Hailey is a Chicago-based freelance journalist.
Explorations beyond the Club 39
For more photos from some events displayed in these pages, visit the Event Image Gallery (under News & Info) on the Club website.
Halloween at the Club October 29
A spookily decked-out Gymnasium and Teen Lounge played host to a frightfully fun day of face-painting, scary stories, creepy crafts and more, as legions of costumed Members and staff celebrated this ghoulish holiday in style. Photos by Ken Katsurayama
1. (l–r) Jonathan, Joshua and Lottie Rezneck
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40 January 2012 iNTOUCH
EVENT ROUNDUP
Snapshots from Club occasions 41
For more photos from some events displayed in these pages, visit the Event Image Gallery (under News & Info) on the Club website.
Show & Tell Club Introduction Party October 27
The Club threw open its doors for more than 50 prospective Members to enjoy an evening of cocktails, hors d’ oeuvres and banter with Members and management while learning about what Club life has to offer.
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Photos by Kayo Yamawaki
1. Koichiro Tsujino and Shizuo Daigoh 2. Club President Lance E Lee 3. (l–r) Food & Beverage Director Brian Marcus, Norman J Green and Ann Marie Skalecki 4. Recreation Director Scott Yahiro and Jesse Green
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Decanter Opening November 12
Before opening to anticipated premier welcomed Members stylish home for an
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the public, the Club’s muchAmerican steakhouse exclusively and their guests to its third-floor evening of exquisite cuisine and killer wines. Photos by Yuuki Ide
1. (l–r) Paul Hoff, Miki Marshall, Naomi Hoff and Roger Marshall 2. (l–r) Mary and Craig Saphin, Deb Wenig, Jill and Dennis Erb and Joe Wenig 3. John Charles Turner (center) and his guests 4. (l–r) Takehiro and Sachiko Taguchi, Kazumi Shoji and Chris O’Brien 2
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Snapshots from Club occasions 43
For more photos from some events displayed in these pages, visit the Event Image Gallery (under News & Info) on the Club website.
Classical Japanese Music Workshop November 13
Musical maestros in the making learned about the traditional Japanese instruments the shamisen and koto before performing an ensemble piece for parents and guests. Photos by Yuuki Ide
44 January 2012 iNTOUCH
Women’s Group Luncheon: Mix and Mingle November 14
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After absorbing the secrets of the cocktail shaker from the Club’s Food & Beverage director, Brian Marcus, emboldened attendees at this exuberant liquid lunch broke into teams for a cocktail challenge. Cathy Noyes and Lynn Cooper won first place with their island-inspired concoction they dubbed a “Coco Mango Mama.” Photos supplied by Miki Ohyama
1. (l–r) Madelyn Iannacone, Wendy Weiss, Kristi Peterson and Stephanie Mark 2. Lynn Cooper and Cathy Noyes 3. (l–r) Rita Dwivedi, Miki Ohyama, Isolda Perez and Shamim Daniels 4. (l–r) Linda Border, Heidi Sanford, Katherine Hall, Corine Thygeson, Lisa Jardine and Jessica Wallrapp 5. (l–r) Linda Singh, Kendra Lerner, Dina Glore-Borgers, Elaine Williams, Cathy Noyes and Maria Bromley 6. (l–r) Nicole Hudson, Polly Filson, Cheryl Lachowicz, Frauke Becker and Diane McGee 3
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Snapshots from Club occasions 45
For more photos from some events displayed in these pages, visit the Event Image Gallery (under News & Info) on the Club website.
Thanksgiving at the Club November 24
Nearly 800 Members and guests kicked off the holiday season by celebrating turkey day with a spread of traditional Thanksgiving eats in the New York Ballroom. Photos by Ken Katsurayama
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1. (l–r) Haruko, Enzo, David and Alonzo Estrada, Modesto Estrada IV, Modesto Estrada III, Eliana, Apolo and Theresa Estrada 2. (l–r) Lauren, Masao, Akio, Takeo and Tatsuo Kawasaki
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Tokyo Bay Lunch Cruise October 21
The Women’s Group set sail for an autumn afternoon of fabulous fare and good company while taking in picturesque views of the world’s largest city.
(l–r) Kayako Kojima, Ikuko Tanaka, Jennifer Goswani, Jayne Sedewitz, Maki Engen, Jessica Wallrapp, Christa Wallington, Kimberly Mac Gregor, Corinne Thygeson, Cheryl Lachowicz , Linda Border, Jill Kupeski, Alison Susser, Nicole Hudson, Polly Filson, Frauke Becker and Ratan Prabha Laul
Bench Press Challenge October 29
Congratulations to Club Members Tony Rizzo and Kazuko Takeuchi, who worked their well-defined pectorals, triceps and deltoids to victory in the Fitness Center’s first-ever Bench Press Challenge.
Gifts of Art Longtime Member John Delp presented the Women’s Group with nine pieces of art last year. The selection of prints, which are worth more than ¥2 million in total and include works by the likes of Hiroshige, Toko Shinoda and Daniel Kelly, can be seen in various spots around the Club. “The prints are among my favorites and each one has a special meaning for me,” Delp says. “They are not a commercial donation but from my private collection for Members of the Club to enjoy for generations to come.”
Snapshots from Club occasions 47
BACK WORDS
Whatever the story, anecdote, fictitious tale, rant, cultural observation or Club commentary, now’s your chance to take it to the world…well, Membership, anyway. E-mail your submission (no more than 700 words) to editor@tac-club.org.
You claim good Member growth. Yet, in the past three months [to October 2011], about 84 [Members] joined and 150 left. In the past 12 months, the Membership has increased by about 40 to 50 Members. And this is when the new Club should have had a honeymoon bounce. I suggest you take a look at the counterproductive Regular Term Membership plan and make it mirror the standard in Asia. TAC has shot itself in the foot here. You mention the unprecedented decline in Members due to the Lehman shock. Between 1990 and 1995, TAC lost 11 percent [of Members], when it declined to about 3,300 [Members], ironically, equaling the current Membership. TAC’s breakeven was estimated at 2,000 [Members] then. What is it now? Maybe 4,000 to 5,000? No one talks of the breakeven. Why? Your estimate of the new TAC’s cost at ¥270 oku [¥27 billion] is a bit shy of mine, which is over ¥300 oku—$400 million at today’s The Board of Governors understands Members may be exchange rate. That’s about $2,000 per square The cost is the same as the concerned about the Club’s financial condition, and it foot—extravagant. Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing. welcomes Members’ questions and comments. Member With a membership of over 8,000, the New York Athletic Club is exclusive (unlike TAC) Greg Carley raised a number of issues in an e-mail that he and offers good value in low entrance fees and originally sent to John Durkin, a member of the Board, and reasonable dues. It collects about $15 million in dues and fees, compared to TAC’s he asked that the letter be printed in iNTOUCH. (Letters to yearly $25 million. TAC’s dues are more than double those of comparable clubs in Asia and thus the editor may be edited for length, style and/or clarity.) its membership can be translated into 7,000 Members—a very big club. The job at hand is to outsource maintenance/ ear Mr Durkin, engineering, maybe Food & Beverage and reduce the payroll and Your article in the November issue of TAC’s magazine bloated management. Food & Beverage sales are lower than they paints a rosy picture of TAC’s financial situation. were in 1983, when TAC had 2,600 Members, but COGs [cost of Understandably, you wish to be a cheerleader. But, more important, goods] were 40 percent, not the current 27 percent. Voilà! is to not misrepresent the facts and to be informed. I hope you find some of these observations useful. The Club will lose ¥700 to ¥800 million in 2011. In four years, the payback debt load will be ¥700 million annually. TAC may Regards, never again make an operating profit. Yet you claim that TAC is Greg Carley in good shape.
Number Crunching
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t is not the Board’s intention to respond fully here, but below are some corrections and comments to clarify the Club’s true situation: • The net loss in FY11 was ¥240 million after a depreciation of ¥716 million. The FY12 budget is for a net loss of ¥213 million, with a depreciation of ¥710 million. • The principal and interest payments on the loan are ¥550 million annually. • From August to October 2011, 111 Members joined the Club and 83 left. From October 2010 to October 2011, the net number of Members increased by 69. • We saw a honeymoon bounce from March to June 2011, with 182 new Members, and we saw an earthquake-driven exodus of 84 Members in June after schools let out. • The actual construction cost of the new Club, which is 25,788.5
48 January 2012 iNTOUCH
square meters, was ¥16.2 billion, or ¥628,497 per square meter (¥57,713 per square foot). Including the cost of acquiring Azabu Towers, the cost of the Takanawa Club and pre-project costs, the total redevelopment cost was approximately ¥27.2 billion. • TAC currently outsources its laundry needs, and the House Committee supervised a thorough process to obtain competitive bids from facility management companies for cleaning and maintenance. Responses, however, showed that unless we lowered our cleaning and maintenance standards, which, in turn, could have costly long-term effects, we would actually pay between slightly less and significantly more than we currently do under in-house management. The Board has tabled this issue until June 2012, when it is expected that new management will be in place. o Board of Governors
TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB
第 四 十 七 巻 五 六 一 号
TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB
毎 月 一 回 一 日 発 行
January 2012
ト ウ キ ョ ウ ア メ リ カ ン ク ラ ブ
i N T O U C H
イ ン タ ッ チ マ ガ ジ ン 二 〇 一 二 年 一 月 一 日 発 行 平 成 三 年 十 二 月 二 十 日 第 三 種 郵 便 物 許 可 定 価 八 ０ ０ 円
The Face of Japan’s Future?
本 体 七 七 七 円
Club Member and political maverick Taro Kono talks nuclear energy, corruption and his designs on premiership
Issue 561 • January 2012
Sky Pool Strides
Preparing Club youngsters for lifetimes of pool pleasures
On the Map Enhancing the Experience
One Club Member offers tips on wooing visitors to Japan
A review of changes and tweaks to eating at the Club