AGENDA

Events in October

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

1

Gallery Exhibition: Tomoo Hamada & Fujiya Sakuma

The grandsons of two pioneering ceramic artists, who helped put the Tochigi town of Mashiko on the pottery map, display their exquisite works at the Club.  Through October 18  Frederick Harris Gallery  Artworks available for purchase through The Cellar  Details online

1

Friday Night Live: Oktoberfest

At this Bavarian-themed Friday Night Live, pack in all the bier and bratwurst you can handle as a traditional German oompah duo provides the rhythmic soundtrack to the evening’s celebrations.  6–9pm  Winter Garden  ¥2,200 (walk-ins: ¥3,300)  Adult Members only  Details online

2

Mashiko Market

Stock up on much more than ceramics from the world-famous folk art mecca. Shop for fresh fruit, vegetables, honey, jam, coffee, juice, senbei crackers and more for a chance to win a Mashiko hotel stay or sake set.  11am–6pm  Beate Sirota Gordon & Haru Reischauer classrooms  Details online

2

Youth Toastmasters Club: Self-Empowerment

Youngsters pick up tips on public speaking, debating and how to hold an audience’s attention from members of the Club’s own Toastmasters group.  2–4pm  Washington & Lincoln rooms  ¥1,100  Ages 10–18  Details online

KAYO YAMAWAKI

1

Gourmet New Year Feast

Whether you ring in the New Year with a popping of champagne corks or the bong of a temple bell, the Club’s osechi selection will ensure an exceptional start to 2022.

In a contemporary twist on the centuries-old Japanese tradition of feasting on specially prepared dishes for the first meal of the year, Club chefs have crafted a breakfast of gourmands.

Presented in stacked jubako boxes, the osechi comprises Club signatures and delicacies, from Snake River Farms American wagyu tenderloin and local soy-glazed duck to Irish blue lobster and smoked Hiroshima oysters.

“Each year, we look at how we can provide a memorable culinary experience for New Year’s Day, and this osechi does just that,” says Lindsay Gray, the Club’s executive chef. “All these ingredients are the best of the best.”

This luxury feast—limited to just 100 sets—is complemented by a bottle of Pommery Brut Royal champagne, providing a regal touch to a custom that emerged from Japan’s imperial court. NJ

 Order by December 20  ¥48,000  Pickup from The Cellar: December 31 (8am–4pm)  Details online

3

Social Squash Partner

Up your squash game with 20-minute practice sessions alongside Club pro Rico Cheung. Perfect for beginners and intermediate-level players alike.  4:30–6:30pm  Squash Court 3  Free  Ages 16 & above  Members only  Sign up online

4

Culture Connections

Kazuko Morio, Connections’ director of tours, offers tips on the best spots for taking in Japan’s breathtaking autumn colors. Read more about Morio’s passion for sharing Japanese culture on page 19.  10am  Connections members only  Details online

5

T-Bone Tuesday

Not only is Tuesday the only day you can order a Snake River Farms American wagyu T-bone steak for just ¥16,500, but when you do, American Bar & Grill will add a 5oz (140g) rib eye filet on the house.  American Bar & Grill  Details online

6

Wednesday Storytime

Youngsters pick up a lifelong love of reading at this weekly session of children’s tales from the shelves of the Children’s Library.  4–4:30pm  Children’s Library  Free  Ages 2–6  Details online

6

Toastmasters Luncheon

Pick up public speaking tips while building podium confidence at these regular, peer-supported meetups of the Club’s cohort of Toastmasters.  12–1:30pm  ¥2,420 (online: ¥550)  Sign up online

8

Board Together

Test your wits at the Library’s (tech-free) tabletop game club while learning the finer points of old-school boardgames like Risk, Catan, D&D, chess and more. Continues every second Friday.  5–6:30pm  Teen Connection  ¥1,100  Recommended for ages 12–18  Sign up online

8

Cub Scout Meeting

Elementary school kids explore the world of Scouting through meetings of the Club-sponsored Pack 51.  6:30–8:30pm  Toko Shinoda & Yukiko Maki classrooms  Details online

8–10

Winter Sports Sale

Whether you’re in the market for skis, boots or winter wear to turn heads, this sale of top-shelf Salomon equipment has what you need for a season of thrills on Japan’s slopes.  10:30am–7pm  Beate Sirota Gordon & Haru Reischauer classrooms  Details online

GEORGE NOBECHI

15

Karuizawa Photography Trip

Autumn means Instagram feeds bursting with hastily snapped shots of fall foliage that soon blend into one another. This month, learn how to shoot landscapes of blazing hues from an award-winning photographer.

During this inaugural enrichment program from Connections, professional lensman George Nobechi leads a tour of Karuizawa’s off-the-beaten-track gems. Members will have the chance to visit and photograph hidden waterfalls, spectacular volcanic rock formations, a shrine’s millennium-old Linden tree and a charming, centuries-old village.

“If we’re lucky, we may also see animals busy preparing for the arrival of winter,” Nobechi says. “Best of all, the cooler temperatures mean that fewer people come from Tokyo at this time of year, making it one of the best times to be in Karuizawa.”

But you don’t necessarily need to know your ISO from your DOF to join this one-day journey to the mountains of Nagano.

“With a few pointers and proper feedback on what makes certain photos work, you can start on the path to becoming a good photographer,” says Nobechi, who will also lead a photography tour to Nikko on October 8. “Or perhaps you are already a good photographer hoping to become a great photographer. Regardless of where you are in terms of skill level, there is no doubt that bringing photography into your life and into your travels will change the way you see the world—for good.” NJ

 9am–5pm  Meeting point: Karuizawa Station  ¥17,200 (plus admission fees, lunch and local transportation)  Sign up online

9

DIY Comic Book Club

Creative kids craft their own comic book with Library manager Drew Damron. The fun and stories continue every second Saturday of the month.  11:30am–1:30pm  Teen Connection  ¥2,200  Ages 6–14  Sign up online

12

Cocktail Connections

Mask up and mingle with friends over happy-hour drinks during this monthly mixer.  5–7pm  Connections members only  Details online

13

TAC Talk: Justin McCurry

The Tokyo correspondent for The Guardian newspaper discusses his recently published book War on Wheels and the intriguing culture of competitive keirin cycling in Japan.  7–8pm  Washington & Lincoln rooms  ¥1,650 (online: ¥550); guests: ¥1,980 (online: ¥660)  Sign up online

14

Exploring Chinatown

Immerse yourself in the culture and flavors of Japan’s largest Chinatown during this half-day tour to the Yokohama quarter of Motomachi.  9am–2pm  Connections members: ¥4,500 (non-Connections members & guests: ¥5,000)  Adults only  Details online

15

Gaja Wine Dinner

Giovanni Gaja, the fifth-generation scion of the famed Italian winemaking dynasty, virtually hosts this dinner of stellar Piedmont wines and Club cuisine.  5–10pm  New York Ballroom  ¥24,200 (guests: ¥29,040)  Limit: two guests per membership  Details online

17

Boy Scout Meeting

Youngsters discover adventure, friendships and lifelong skills through the Club-sponsored Troop 51.  5–7pm  Activity Room  Details online

21

Book Lovers’ Group

Join fellow bibliophiles for moderated discussions on recent reads held on the third Thursday of the month. Contact the Library for more details on works to be discussed.  11am–12:30pm  Washington & Lincoln rooms  Free  Details online

23

Geisha Experience

Experience the skill and charm of classical geisha entertainers during this exclusive event. Details on page 15.  3–4:30pm  ¥3,300 (guests: ¥4,400)  Ages 15 & above  Sign up online

19

Gallery Exhibition: Yoko Otsuki

A Kansai native and graduate of the Kyoto City University of Arts, Yoko Otsuki is a distinctly Japanese painter with a decidedly Western eye.

Whether it’s her scenes of kimono-clad children playing with summer fireworks, festivalgoers flocking around a portable mikoshi shrine or lantern-illuminated cherry blossom trees, the soft lines and blended hues lend a nostalgic quality to Otsuki’s works.

Through November 8, this contemplative exhibition at the Frederick Harris Gallery should please Western and Japanese art lovers alike. OZ

Moment I realized I wanted to become an artist.

When I was a high school student, I was crazy about rhythmic gymnastics. However, I injured my Achilles tendon and had to stop. Then, one of my paintings won the grand prize at a major local art festival. That led me to believe that I might be able to paint for a living.

What I would tell my 20-year-old self.

Having a family may make it difficult to paint, but there’s also a sense of joy and fulfillment that comes with it. Your emotional depth will grow, which will open up many possibilities.

My perfect creative environment.

A quiet place with enough space, time to myself and an environment free of constraints.

Artist, living or dead, I’d most like to share a meal with.

Shoen Uemura [Meiji-era nihonga painter]. I would like to ask her about her strength and perseverance in such a severely male-dominated society.

 Through November 8  Frederick Harris Gallery  Artworks available for purchase through The Cellar  Details online

25

Coffee Connections

Set yourself up for a fall of new friendships at this monthly gettogether of Connections members.  10am  Connections members only  Details online

27

Outlet Shopping and Horse Riding Tour

Giddyup in the shadow of Mount Fuji or spend the day browsing the bargains of Gotemba Outlet Mall, with an optional trip to a nearby garden and sweets factory.  8am–6pm  Adults only  Details online

27

TAC Talk: Hans Greimel & William Sposato

The authors of Collision Course detail the stunning twists and turns that took one-time auto titan Carlos Ghosn from Japanese boardrooms to a life in exile. Read more on page 18.  7–8pm  ¥1,650 (online: ¥550); guests: ¥1,980 (online: ¥660)  Copies of Collision Course available for ¥3,600  Sign up online

29

Trail Running Clinic

Head to the hills for an invigorating autumn day of trail running with professional ultrarunner Tomo Ihara. Aimed at runners who can comfortably run 5 kilometers.  9–2pm  ¥4,400 (guests: ¥5,280)  Details online

30

Men’s Golf Group: Hodogaya Country Club

Club players embrace Japan’s best golf season with an early-morning tee time at a century-old course in Yokohama.  Details online

30

Saturday Storytime

Kids jump into the weekend with tales of magic and adventure from the shelves of the Children’s Library.  11:30am–12pm  Children’s Library  Free  Details online

YUUKI IDE

Halloween at the Club

Double, double, toil and trouble! From scary-good family games and crafts to skills-building workshops for adults, there’s some hocus-pocus for everyone to enjoy this Halloween month. OZ

1–31

Lindt Chocolate Treats

Skip the candy corn and licorice and stock up on premium gift boxes and trick-or-treat packs from the world-famous Swiss chocolatier.  The Cellar  Details online

16

Show & Tell Jamboree: Ghoulish Gossip

Young orators wax poetic on their scariest costumes, sweetest treats and more at this public speaking workshop.  2–3:30pm  Toko Shinoda & Yukiko Maki classrooms  ¥1,000 (guests: ¥1,200)  Ages 6–9  Sign up online

20

Toastmasters Luncheon: Halloween Haunt

Share your favorite ghost story or creepy campfire yarn at this meeting of the Club’s public speaking troop.  12–1:30pm  Washington & Lincoln rooms  ¥2,420 (online: ¥550)  Details online

24 & 31

Pumpkin Carving

Craft your own jack-o’-lantern at a family-friendly session guaranteed to put a crooked smile on your face.  10am–5:30pm  Gymnasium  ¥3,300  Ages 6 & above  Members only  Sign up online

30

Halloween Spooktacular

Spine-tingling storytelling, creepy arts and crafts, a heebie-jeebie-filled haunted house and much more.  9am–3:45pm  Gymnasium  Ages 2–14: ¥2,750; ages 15 & above: free; walk-ins: ¥3,300  Details online

31

Halloween Splash-A-Round

Bust some sweet tricks off an inflatable trampoline or dive for sunken treats at this aquatic extravaganza.  3–4pm & 4:30–5:30pm  Sky Pool  ¥2,200  Ages 5–12  Details online

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