第 四 十 七 巻 五 五 六 号
TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB
毎 月 一 回 一 日 発 行
August 2011
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 一 年 八 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 Making of a Maestro Concert pianist Harumi Hanafusa explains what it takes to make it on the international stage
本 体 七 七 七 円
Issue 556 • August 2011
A portion of the cost of this advertisement will go to Tokyo American Club’s Great East Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.
iNTOUCH TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB
Virtual Holes
The Club’s golf simulators offer more than just indoor drives
Relaxed Repatriation
One American offers tips to homeward-bound expats
On the Rise
Golf star Ryo Ishikawa talks about his hunger for success
A portion of the cost of this advertisement will go to Tokyo American Club’s Great East Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.
talking heads
Party Lines
28
With Japanese politicians struggling to offer the nation a vision for the future, one lawmaker and Club Member offers his assessment of government and party politics.
inside japan
34
Asian Tiger Golfer Ryo Ishikawa, the recipient of this year’s Sportsman of the Year award, reflects on his extraordinary achievements to date and his hopes for the future.
out & about
World’s End
36
Perched on the far edge of the Japanese archipelago, Hateruma and Yonaguni islands offer intrepid visitors mysterious monuments, turquoise waters and breathtaking scenery. feature
marketing@tac-club.org 03-4588-0976
For Membership information, contact Mari Hori:
4 Events
6 Board of Governors
7 Management
8 Food & Beverage
20 Women’s Group
22 Feature
28 Talking Heads
30 Frederick Harris Gallery
32 Member Services
34 Inside Japan
36 Out & About
Editor Nick Jones editor@tac-club.org
Designers Ryan Mundt Nagisa Mochizuki Production Assistant Yuko Shiroki Assistant Editor Erika Woodward
Tokyo American Club 2-1-2 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8649
Communications Manager Matthew Roberts
Cover photo by Kayo Yamawaki
16 Recreation
22
mari.hori@tac-club.org 03-4588-0687
www.tokyoamericanclub.org
2 Contacts
14 DVD Library
On the heels of her debut at the worldfamous Carnegie Hall in New York City, celebrated Japanese concert pianist Harumi Hanafusa explains why, at 18 years old, she chose to pursue her passion in France and why nowadays fewer talented musicians from Japan are opting to do the same.
To advertise in iNTOUCH, contact Miyuki Hagiwara:
10 Library
A Grand Life
iNTOUCH
contents
Management
38 Event Roundup
Michael Bumgardner General Manager gm@tac-club.org
Shuji Hirakawa Human Resources Director hum_res@tac-club.org
Bob Sexton Assistant General Manager agm@tac-club.org
Mutsuhiko Kumano Finance Director finance@tac-club.org
Lian Chang Information Technology Director itdir@tac-club.org
Scott Yahiro Recreation Director recdirector@tac-club.org
Darryl Dudley Engineering Director eng@tac-club.org
Getting in Touch Department/E-mail American Bar & Grill
Phone 4588-0676
american.bg@tac-club.org
Banquet Sales and Reservations
4588-0977
banquet@tac-club.org
Beauty Salon
4588-0685
Bowling Center
4588-0683
bowling@tac-club.org
Café Med
4588-0978
cafe.med@tac-club.org
Catering
4588-0307
banquet@tac-club.org
Childcare Center
4588-0701
childcare@tac-club.org
Communications
4588-0262
comms@tac-club.org
DVD Library
4588-0686
dvd.library@tac-club.org
Engineering
4588-0699
eng@tac-club.org
Finance
4588-0222
acct@tac-club.org
Fitness Center
4588-0266
fitness@tac-club.org
Food & Beverage Office
4588-0245
fboffice@tac-club.org
Foreign Traders’ Bar
4588-0677
traders.bar@tac-club.org
Guest Studios
4588-0734
guest.relations@tac-club.org
Human Resources
4588-0679
Information Technology
4588-0690
Library
4588-0678
library@tac-club.org
Management Office
4588-0674
gmoffice@tac-club.org
Membership Office
4588-0687
membership@tac-club.org
Member Services Desk
4588-0670
tac@tac-club.org
Pool Office
4588-0700
pool@tac-club.org
Rainbow Café
4588-0705
rainbow.cafe@tac-club.org
Recreation Desk
4588-0681
rec@tac-club.org
Redevelopment Office
4588-0223
redevelopment@tac-club.org
The Cellar
4588-0744
the.cellar@tac-club.org
The Spa
4588-0714
spa@tac-club.org
Weddings
4588-0671
banquet@tac-club.org
Women’s Group Office wg@tac-club.org A portion of the cost of this advertisement will go to Tokyo American Club’s Great East Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.
2 August 2011 iNTOUCH
4588-0691
from the
editor
Is Japan entering another period of self-imposed isolation, reminiscent of the “closure” imposed by the Tokugawa shogunate between the 17th and 19th centuries? During the country’s sakoku period, foreigners were restricted in their access to the country and Japanese were not allowed to leave. Recent trends in Japan have revealed a growing reluctance among the population to explore opportunities beyond the nation’s shores. Statistics released earlier this year by the Japanese Ministry of Education and Science show that the number of Japanese students heading overseas to study declined 11 percent from 2007 to 2008. Such figures have even prompted the United States ambassador, John Roos, to appeal for more Japanese to pursue their studies in the US. The government report followed a 2010 Sanno Institute of Management survey in which only around 16 percent of businesspeople in Japan indicated that they would like to work abroad. The main reasons for not wanting to relocate to a foreign country were language and culture. Similarly, almost 50 percent of graduates last year said that they had no interest in working outside Japan. Writing in the recently released book Reimagining Japan: The Quest for a Future That Works, Club Member Glen Fukushima expressed concern that such tendencies could seriously hamper Japan in the future: “By turning inward and not venturing abroad, Japanese professionals will find themselves increasingly bypassed and marginalized.” The world of music in Japan is experiencing a similar reluctance among its budding musicians. In this month’s cover story, “A Grand Life,” on pages 22 to 27, my colleague Erika Woodward talks to a number of virtuosos and accomplished instrumentalists, including concert pianist Harumi Hanafusa, the wife of Club governor Hiroyuki Kamano, and piano teacher Yuko Ninomiya, about the importance of developing musical talent overseas. 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.
contributors Tim Hornyak
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. Having traveled to all 47 of Japan’s prefectures, he contributes to Lonely Planet guidebooks. In this month’s Out & About, he explores Japan’s final frontier at the end of the Okinawan chain of islands. When not immersing himself in the sci-tech scene, he enjoys hiking and cross-country skiing.
Erika Woodward
Raised in the suburbs of Washington, DC, Erika Woodward arrived in Japan earlier this year with her husband. An assistant editor in the Club’s Communications Department, she graduated from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism in Maryland and has written on a variety of subjects, from the life of an overworked professional clown to the birth of a new political faction in Iceland. In this month’s cover story, “A Grand Life,” on pages 22 to 27, she finds out what it takes to be a professional concert pianist through conversations with those who have played to packed auditoriums. When Woodward isn’t searching for the next story, the former professional ballerina hits the studio then unravels her perfectly pinned bun for an unconstrained night out with her hubby and friends.
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
EVENTS
What’s happening in August 2
Tuesday
5
Friday
7
Sunday
Toddler Time A half-hour session of fun, engaging stories and activities awaits preschoolers at the Children’s Library. 4 p.m. Continues August 9, 16, 23 and 30.
Fall into Fun Browse the impressive lineup of recreational enrichment programs on offer at the Club this fall and begin a new hobby or health regimen. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. Details on page 19.
Grand Buffet: “Modern Japan” Feast on Japanese summertime treats in the New York Ballroom. Brunch: 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Dinner: 5–8 p.m. Adults: ¥4,900; juniors (7–17 years): ¥2,800; children (3–6 years): ¥1,800; infants (2 and under): free. All-you-can-drink package: ¥2,000. Reserve at 03-4588-0977.
9
10
17
Tuesday
Employee Recognition Day The Club closes for a day to allow the Membership to show its appreciation to the staff for their hard work over the year. The Club reopens on August 10.
22
Monday
Gallery Reception DansDans, an exciting collective of six Japanese artists launches its show of cutting-edge works with a casual reception. 6:30 p.m. Find out more about the innovative group on page 30.
Wednesday
Big Winners! Wrap-Up Party The Library’s Summer Reading Program, which focused on awardwinning children’s books this year, draws to a close with a fun-packed bash to honor those winners of the essay and picture contests. 2:30 p.m. Recommended for ages 6 to 12. Sign up at the Library.
Women’s Group Office After operating reduced hours for the summer, the Women’s Group Office resumes its regular hours and is now open each weekday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
22
29
Monday
Parents and Tots Two sessions of this popular program that introduces the fun of water to young children kick off this week in the Sky Pool. To learn more about what’s in store, flip to page 19.
27
Saturday
Open Mic Night Whether you’re a budding rock star or crooner or just want to cheer on the TAC talent, head to Traders’ Bar for an evening of homegrown entertainment. Club Member and drummer Jiro Makino and his band will provide musical accompaniment to those who want to raise the roof or who suffer from a little stage fright. Whatever your style or ability, now’s your chance to enjoy the spotlight. 7 p.m. Traders’ Bar Free Adults only Sponsored by the Entertainment Committee
4 August 2011 iNTOUCH
Wednesday
Monday
Coffee Connections Whether you’re new to Tokyo or want to meet new people, drop by this relaxed Women’s Group gathering in the Beate Sirota Gordon and Haru Reischauer classrooms. 10:30 a.m. Contact the Women’s Group Office to organize free childcare.
31
Wednesday
Holiday Reading Program Ends Today marks the final chance for young readers to redeem their stamp cards for fabulous prizes at the Library as the Club wraps up its summer adventure of reading for another year.
Coming up in September 7 Ladies’ Bowling League season starts 12 Women’s Group Monthly Luncheon 25 Educational Panel 26 Coffee Connections 30 Friday Book Group
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 Alok Rakyan Swim Jesse Green & Alexander Jampel DVD Jane Hunsaker Youth Activities Community Relations Stan Yukevich (Jeff McNeill) Community Relations Subcommittees Distinguished Achievement Award Jeff McNeill Independence Day Stan Yukevich Sportsman of the Year Jeff McNeill Compensation Brian Nelson Culture Miki Ohyama (Deborah Wenig) Culture Subcommittee Frederick Harris Gallery Yumiko Sai Entertainment Barbara Hancock (Ann Marie Skalecki) Finance Gregory Davis (Steve Romaine) Food & Beverage Craig Saphin (Amane Nakashima) Food & Beverage Subcommittee Wine Mark Baxter House Jesse Green (Charlotte Kennedy Takahashi) House Subcommittee Architectural Michael Miller Human Resources Peter Capizzi (Barbara Hancock) Membership Alok Rakyan (Mary Saphin) Membership Subcommittee Branding Mark Ferris Nominating Nick Masee
Names in parentheses denote Board liaisons.
Not numbered. Named. Who wants to be room 1501? That’s why we gave our seven Guest Studios personalities as distinct as the ones they welcome.
With spacious interiors that run from modern New York chic to traditional Japanese simplicity, our stylish overnight rooms are complemented by five exclusive summer packages for every occasion and desire. To book your unique Guest Studio today, visit the Club website or contact us at 03-4588-0734 or guest.relations@tac-club.org.
www.tokyoamericanclub.org
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
We Are Family by Deb Wenig
F
or many in Japan, August is about Obon. It’s a time when ancestors are believed to be reunited with their families. It’s also a time of celebration when family and friends come together. While the Club is not a traditional family, I think it’s a place to find the essence of family. Sitting around over a cup of coffee one afternoon with a group of ladies, some Club Members, some not, one friend threw out a question. “Would TAC be a good place to join if you were a 30-something single guy?” she asked. As a governor and Membership Committee member, I was all set to answer with a resounding “Yes!” But what happened next was even better. Every one of the ladies excitedly said, “Yes!” Without me having to say a word, the women passionately explained why this new-to-Tokyo fellow would find a home at the Club. Even the non-Member of the group lobbied in favor of exploring membership. As the ladies all itemized the various reasons why this potential Member would find good value in a TAC membership, I saw the obvious: we all join the Club for different reasons, but we all have our niches of participation. I tend to use the dining facilities a great deal. I’m an equal-opportunity user of all the restaurants, so I get to observe the TAC family. On any given morning, I might see swimmers gather for a post-workout meal or a group of guys grab a quick breakfast before heading off to work, gym bags slung over shoulders. A few hours later, young moms and their children appear for lunch, while later still a group of teens might straggle in from school looking for a snack and some downtime in Rainbow Café. In the
Board of Governors Lance E Lee (2012)—President Brian Nelson (2012)—Vice President Mary Saphin (2011)—Vice President Steve Romaine (2012)—Treasurer Deb Wenig (2011)—Secretary Kavin C Bloomer (2012), John Durkin (2012), Norman J Green (2011), Hiroyuki Kamano (2012), Charlotte Kennedy Takahashi (2012), Per Knudsen (2012), Jeff McNeill (2011), Amane Nakashima (2011), Jerry Rosenberg (2011), Ann Marie Skalecki (2012), Dan Stakoe (2011), Ira Wolf (2011), Shizuo Daigoh— Statutory Auditor (2012), Barbara Hancock—Women’s Group President
evening, I find couples and business diners in the American Bar & Grill or folks having a beer or glass of wine to wash down the yummy Traders’ Bar popcorn. So, I ask you to consider the reason you joined TAC and think what it may have to offer other people you meet. The Club’s programs and events might fit their interests or they may be interested in being part of our vibrant community. Then, just ask them to join. As schools closed for the summer break, many Members headed for other regions to find respite from the heat, be it to the cooler climes of Japan’s mountains or shores or places beyond. Inevitably, we also had to say goodbye to friends and families, knowing that some of those members of our extended TAC family would not be coming back. Yet, as sure as the sun rises and sets, when we return from summer vacations to visit families, friends and ancestral homes, we are bound to encounter new people in the orbit of our daily lives. I was once told that you were lucky if you had in your lifetime four close friends. The Club has allowed me to make many more than that. How about you? Have you forged lasting friendships through your activities at TAC? Will you be a good advocate for the Club and encourage others to join? I hope so. o
A portion of the cost of this advertisement will go to Tokyo American Club’s Great East Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.
6 August 2011 iNTOUCH
MANAGEMENT
Protecting the (Club) Environment by Michael Bumgardner
Michael Bumgardner General Manager
T
he end of the month will see many Members returning from summer vacations and getting ready for a new school year. Our younger Members are often full of energy and exuberance as they see old friends again. In this regard, we ask all Members to remind their children to be considerate of others. There are many spots in the Club where youngsters can be youngsters, but there are also areas where people would prefer a little peace and quiet. The behavior of children is the responsibility of parents. Your Club staff can only offer reminders to Members. Rules regarding children being accompanied by their parents are to ensure the safety of all Members. Everyone wants secure and peaceful surroundings in which to relax and enjoy the company of friends and family, and maintaining this environment is every Member’s responsibility. This is particularly true in our restaurants, where children are expected to remain seated unless escorted by a parent to one of the designated play areas, either inside or outside the restaurant. Running and loud voices are not conducive to enjoying the Club. Please help us to create a pleasant environment for everyone. A few of our friends, however, will not be returning to Tokyo at the end of the summer. While the number of Members has dropped somewhat during these trying economic times, we are pleased to announce that usage of the Club is back to pre-earthquake levels. We believe that the difficult climate has reemphasized the value of membership for many people. If you have any friends, colleagues or acquaintances who
would be suited to our community, please introduce them to us, especially those with families. Our Membership Office staff would be more than happy to give them a tour of the facility and talk about membership options. Our experience is when people see the Club, meet Members and learn about what’s on offer, they realize that membership is a necessity, not a luxury. August finds us thanking our staff through the annual Employee Recognition Day. This year, the Club will be closed all day on Tuesday, August 9, for the staff to be acknowledged for their efforts throughout the year. This date was chosen to minimize inconvenience to the Membership. Since the date is also Anti-Russia Day, there will be heightened security and road closures around the Russian Embassy next to the Club. As most Members are aware, tipping is not permitted in the Club, and one of the few times Members can show their appreciation for the staff is at this yearly party. Contributions to the employee fund can be made through your Membership account and are greatly appreciated by those who serve you throughout the year. On the subject of functions and parties, the Club’s New York Ballroom now allows the Club to host major events in a stunning setting. We have already received a number of bookings for largescale functions for the coming year, particularly since we launched our exciting new range of highly competitive packages. Whatever the gathering, contact our Banquet Sales and Reservations team at 03-4588-0977 or visit the Functions & Catering page of the Club website. o
A portion of the cost of this advertisement will go to Tokyo American Club’s Great East Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.
Executive remarks 7
food &
beverage
Terrace Time by Erika Woodward
P
erched on its Azabudai hill, the Club’s design features most recognizable from afar, aside from the glass-topped Sky Pool, are probably its abundant terraces and outdoor spaces. From the Library and Spa to the Sky Pool and restaurants, there are spots to relax in the sun’s rays throughout the day. In fact, it’s this element that makes the Club a standout in Tokyo, according to former Redevelopment Director Alistair Gough. “Unique to Tokyo, every [restaurant] has outdoor dining space,” he says, “[even] the Grand Hyatt doesn’t have that.”
8 August 2011 iNTOUCH
From the beginning, terracing was an integral part of the plans for the Club’s new home. Gough says every Club department wanted to maximize the verdant and cityscape views offered by the Azabudai site while offering Members ample opportunities to relax and socialize in an open-air and reasonably private setting. Terraces also satisfied Japan’s notoriously strict building codes, he says. “The terraces really have two objectives: one is to maximize the outside space and two is a result of the building codes. As the building increases in height, it has to step back,” says Gough, referring to the Japanese sunlight law, which restricts the amount of shadow a building can cast on its neighbors. The Club’s architects, Pelli Clarke Pelli, therefore, scaled the building back by adding open-air spaces. Gough says the architects wanted the terraces to feel “organic,” so they strategically designed areas on each of the Club’s aboveground levels. “There are terraces for everyone,” he says. “There are intimate terraces like the American Bar & Grill’s and playful family terraces.” Members of all ages can feast on
Southern-style barbecued fare at Big Mama’s on the wide patio outside Rainbow Café. Alternately, they can head to Splash! on the fifth floor, a daytime favorite of Club Member and mother of two Karen Okano. “I think it’s nice out there in the sun,” she says, “especially after swimming. [My family and I] can relax and warm up on the terrace.” What’s more, each Friday and Saturday evening, Splash! is transformed into the Sky Bar, the Club’s own alfresco watering hole. “I think the fifth floor is especially nice,” Gough says. “It looks north across the Russian Embassy and south across Tokyo.” Since Tokyo’s climate makes the city ideal for enjoying food and drinks outside for most of the year, the Club’s terraces are sure to become a dining magnet, starting with Big Mama’s. “If you don’t come and enjoy this,” says the Club’s restaurants manager, David Escalante, “Mama’s going to be mad!” You have been warned. o To find out more about the Club’s alfresco dining spots, visit the Wine & Dining section of the Club website.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
High Time for Fine Wine Wine connoisseurs and casual quaffers alike can now savor the sound of uncorking a bottle from the Club’s exclusive labels of superbly crafted California wine. Tokyo American Club North Coast Chardonnay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon ¥1,200 per bottle ¥13,500 per case (12 bottles)
The Cellar Sonoma Selection Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay Pinot Noir Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon ¥1,400 per bottle ¥15,500 per case (12 bottles)
The Cellar Premium Chardonnay Cabernet Sauvignon Proprietary
¥1,900 per bottle ¥21,000 per case (12 bottles)
Head to the Club website to order a case or two today.
The Cellar | Tel: 03-4588-0744 | E-mail: the.cellar@tac-club.org
Club wining and dining 9
Goodbye Guide After surviving a move back to the United States, Laura Pepper explains why she decided to pen an e-book, The Stress-Free Guide to Leaving Japan, to help other departing expats.
W
hen my husband and I decided to leave Tokyo in 2009, we listed all of the things we wanted to do before we said our goodbyes to Japan for good. I had lived there for four years by this point, he for three and, despite making the most of every spare weekend and vacation, we still produced an impressive collection of things we hadn’t yet experienced. From making soba noodles from scratch and climbing Mount Fuji to buying kimonos and partaking in a little hot-tub karaoke: all classic adventures that—even if we were never to return to the country—would make us feel as though we had had the complete Japanese experience. Since we wanted to leave by the end of the year to start new lives in California, we had only six months to complete our “bucket list.” Looking back now, I realize it was far too ambitious. We simply had no idea how much time and energy plotting the move to Los Angeles would take. Weekends that should have been spent hiking in the Japanese countryside and enjoying hot springs, appreciating regional foods and spending time with our Japanese friends were eaten up by the research and planning that accompanies any move, no less an international one. Evenings were much of the same: packing up our lives into boxes and wondering how on earth we had accumulated so much stuff. The Internet made our task easier, but only once we had sifted through all of the outdated information and conflicting advice of other expats. Which was the best removal company? How should we apply for the pension refund and how much yen could we expect back? What was the best way to get rid of
10 August 2011 iNTOUCH
unwanted furniture? While there were two of us sharing the planning load, it was still time-consuming. A total of five removal companies came to give us quotes. We posted our unwanted furniture on six different forums. We spent several hours at the post office, bank, cell phone store, municipal office and recycle shop, and the last few months were the biggest test of my Japanese skills in my entire time in Japan. After we arrived in California, I received several e-mails and calls from friends who were about to leave Japan and were as baffled as we had been with all the conflicting information. And the questions were always the same. Answering identical queries over and over, I shamefully admit to eventually copying and pasting my responses. I realized then that there was a need for something more comprehensive than the odd website to offer advice to those
LIBRARY
leaving Japan. So I wrote out all of the things that needed to be done and how best to go about them, aware that such a list would allow people to enjoy their last few weeks in Japan. I included useful Japanese phrases and vocabulary and even advice on attending farewell parties and procuring letters of recommendation from Japanese companies. I then divided up the tasks into a three-month checklist. The Stress-Free Guide to Leaving Japan was born. Besides the logistics of departing, I thought a section on the emotional aspects of a cross-cultural move was important. Most expats are aware of reverse culture shock, but it’s something more real than just the urge to take off your shoes at the door or accidentally bowing at the clerk in the supermarket. It’s a frustrating and, at times, upsetting experience that can reveal itself in unusual and unexpected ways. Since I had a background in psychology, I was interested in
understanding more about this phenomenon and included it in my research for the e-book. I learned that simply being aware of the strong possibility of reverse culture shock, as well as educating your immediate circle of friends and family about it, is the single-most important step in dealing with it. Our move to California went (almost) swimmingly in the end. The sleepless nights and hard work paid off. We didn’t have time to tackle most of our to-do list, however, so I suspect that we’ll be returning some day. In the meantime, you can find me in a Los Angeles izakaya restaurant or ramen shop, practicing my Japanese, recalling happy memories and dealing with that reverse culture shock the best way I know how. o
The Stress-Free Guide to Leaving Japan can be downloaded at www.sayonarajapan.com.
Literary gems at the Library 11
off the
shelf
Recycled Reads by Charles Morris
F
or voracious readers who aren’t in the know, finding quality Englishlanguage books can prove difficult in Japan. So here’s a tip: get familiar with the major online sellers. Some online retailers even ship books for free all the way from Britain. The latest e-book readers have also brought bibliophiles closer to literature Nirvana by making nearly every book ever printed accessible at the tap of a screen. But as anyone who has spent time in a library or bookstore knows, there’s little
12 August 2011 iNTOUCH
substitute for the joy of browsing books on stuffed shelves. So check out the major bookshops around Tokyo, including the Jimbocho district, with its numerous booksellers and publishers. Then, after you’ve bought and read your selection of books, donate them to the Library for others to enjoy. Once we have sifted through the publications we receive and augmented our collection where necessary, we place the remaining books in good condition on the Library’s book exchange and donation
shelf, a self-sustaining booklover’s ecosystem of great finds. There, Members may freely feed on as many hardbacks and paperbacks as they like or present a new provision to the Library staff who will evaluate its suitability. Just ask one of our staff to guide you to our special shelf, where you might well unearth a bestseller, nonfictional favorite, novella or kids’ picture book. Happy hunting. Morris is a librarian at the Library.
LIBRARY
new
reads How to Talk about Books You Haven’t Read by Pierre Bayard
The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo
Don’t turn another page of that seemingly endless novel recommended by a friend with a surplus of free time. Snag Bayard’s guide to book-bluffing and impress bibliophiles with your profound knowledge of Ulysses and other books you’ve never read.
Follow detective Harry Hole as he tracks down an assassin’s gun and is led to the body of a former World War II Nazi sympathizer, whose throat has been cut. But the more Harry tries to solve this mystery, the more he is drawn into the past.
Playing Cards in Cairo by Hugh Miles
Sissinghurst: An Unfinished History by Adam Nicolson
Get an inside look at the lives of today’s Egyptian women through the eyes of award-winning English journalist Miles. Sitting in on weekly card games at a house in Cairo, he hears the problems, hopes, fears and frustrations of the women who attend. This is Miles’ second book.
Nicolson is on a quest to restore the once-operational farm on the grounds of Sissinghurst Castle, where he spent his childhood gamboling through its famous flower gardens and Elizabethan buildings. Now, he solicits the help of Britain’s National Trust to use the farm to grow food for thousands of yearly tourists.
Mao’s Great Famine by Frank Dikötter
The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
An ambitious attempt by the Chinese government to overtake Britain in less than 15 years resulted in one of the deadliest mass killings in history. Dikötter’s Samuel Johnson Prize-winning chronicle of this tumultuous period is now available thanks to a new law permitting the release of thousands of Chinese documents.
After being chased from their home and separated from their family, siblings Kate, Michael and Emma find the answers they’re looking for in an enchanted atlas that transports them through time to a land ruled by a countess and her army of soulless Screeches.
Reviews compiled by Erica Kawamura.
member’s choice Member: Sara Sakamoto Title: Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
What’s the book about? Journalist Foer was coached for a year by world memory champion Ben Pridmore, and this is an account of what he learned. It traces the history of memory techniques used in ancient Greece through to the present. We get a glimpse of what is required to remember long sequences of digits, poems and other elements, and we learn that a memory champion can still forget where he parked his car.
What did you like about it? I was impressed by what is really required to remember something. Many rapidly created images are necessary to remember the sequence of a deck of cards, for example.
Why did you choose it? I was fascinated by the title, and I was curious about memory techniques.
What other books would you recommend? I would recommend Against All Enemies by Tom Clancy and Buried Prey by John Sandford.
Literary gems at the Library 13
critics’
corner
A
s the landing craft heaves and rolls on the swell, we see young, sea-soaked American soldiers nervously waiting in its belly. Some throw up. Others pray. A sergeant barks an order to get ready. The huge steel door drops down to reveal earsplitting and bloody chaos. The audience is transported to Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944: D-Day. The carnage is unleashed through a cacophony of booms, shouts, fizzes and pings as bullets from clattering German machine guns rip into the invading force, even underwater where men are lost silently in clouds of red. Amid the jerky camera shots, we watch a
disoriented, armless GI pick up his limb and wander off. Steven Spielberg’s shocking opening scene of Saving Private Ryan (1998) shows us war in all of its hellish turmoil and awfulness. We are transfixed. Much like an author, a director must engage his audience immediately. Whether it’s through a seemingly innocuous conversation, action sequence or scene of tension-building suspense, the tone of the movie is set in its first words, expressions and movements. So which opening sequence would our panel of Club critics vote as cinema’s best? o
“It’s 1925, and radio is a new invention. The Duke of York (who would later become King George VI) is closing the British Empire Exhibition. Wembley and the world wait. The prince approaches the microphone. A red light blinks. He speaks. “I have a message from His Majesty the King….” He can go no further. The “k” in “king” destroys him. Soon after, he acquires an Australian speech therapist by the name of Lionel Logue, slowly improves and then delivers a rousing speech when Britain enters World War II. I love the opening scene because it is so realistic. My own shyness occasionally pops up, even today. And an Australian teaches a British king to speak—priceless!”
“For action, Gladiator wins. It begins with the protagonist brushing his hand through stalks of wheat and smiling at a bird perched on a twig and ends with him striding up the ranks of troops as they prepare to do battle with barbarians in Germania. Ridley Scott places the viewer in the middle of the horror of battle and efficient Roman war machine. The English Patient, meanwhile, starts with the strokes of a brush on paper that becomes the rippled sand dunes of the desert. The camera slowly pulls out to reveal a biplane carrying two lovers away from the war. Anthony Minghella’s artful telling of this story, beginning with Herodotus’ Histories, weaves a timeless sense of love that reaches across the ages.”
“High-heeled shoes, dangling earrings and pencil skirts—The Devil Wears Prada begins with young women starting their day. Manhattan’s women of fashion focus on their appearance, putting on expensive clothes, shoes and accessories, while the main character, Andrea (Anne Hathaway), rushes absentmindedly to get ready for her job interview. Andrea’s choice to buy an onion bagel with cream cheese for breakfast (rather than five almonds like the beautiful girls) further distinguishes her as someone who doesn’t worry about being stick thin and modelesque. This opening scene, with its contrasting morning routines, beautiful women and fashions, keeps the viewer intrigued.”
Best opening sequence: The King’s Speech
Best opening sequence: Gladiator and The English Patient
Best opening sequence: The Devil Wears Prada
Club critic: Sara Sakamoto
Club critic: Roni Ohara
Club critic: Aya Tange
First Impressions
All titles mentioned are either available at the DVD Library or on order.
14 August 2011 iNTOUCH
DVD LIBRARY
HE SAYS, SHE SAYS He is Club President Lance E Lee. She is Yuko Akisato, manager of the DVD Library.
abort
Johnny Depp is still terrific as Captain Jack Sparrow, although the absence of Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom are noticeable. The storyline is lackluster compared to the other films in the series and sans any thrilling moments. Be sure to watch until after the end credits for an extra scene.
give it a go
smokin’
In this fourth installment of the popular series, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) and Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) set out to find the famed Fountain of Youth, crossing paths with Blackbeard and his daughter along the way. I’m pretty fed up with this series, but it seems as if another two films are in the works. Penélope Cruz is a fresh addition, though.
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The intriguing issue of whether our destinies are predetermined is well depicted in this sci-fi thriller, and the on-screen chemistry between Matt Damon and Emily Blunt makes their romance so sweetly believable. The fast-paced story’s blend of supernatural and real-life elements against a New York City backdrop is done perfectly.
Matt Damon and Emily Blunt produce superb performances in this quirky romantic thriller about a politician who meets a young ballerina and then notices the mysterious men of the Adjustment Bureau who are conspiring to keep the two lovers apart.
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This story about the friendship and eventual falling-out between Professor X (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) reenergizes the X-Men series. Although a prequel, X-Men: First Class establishes links and pays tribute to the other (somewhat weaker) three films in the series.
A prequel to the X-Men series of films, X-Men: First Class focuses on the origins of Charles Xavier’s school of humans with formidable powers in the Cold War era of the early 1960s. While not a fan of the original comic-book heroes, I enjoyed this film, which stands out as the best in the series.
The wonderful scenery, performances by the cast, led by Helen Mirren, and special effects make this Shakespearean tale interesting. Although a stage production would outdo this film, director Julie Taymor’s script and the volcanic setting create a magic of their own.
Director Julie Taymor’s fantastical cinematic version of Shakespeare’s play made me wish I had studied harder at school! Helen Mirren produces a great performance as Prospera (the Bard’s protagonist in female form) in this tale of sorcery, romance, vengeance and forgiveness.
COM E DY
Of Gods and Men This affecting, award-winning drama by French director Xavier Beauvois follows the true story of French Cistercian monks who, in 1996, were abducted from their monastery in northern Algeria by Islamic extremists.
The Lincoln Lawyer Fans of A Time to Kill will enjoy incessantly shirtless Matthew McConaughey’s return to a tailored suit in this whodunit about a Los Angeles lawyer who lands a rich-kid client accused of rape. Also stars Marisa Tomei and Ryan Phillippe.
Mao’s Last Dancer This film follows the riveting true story of the ascension of Li Cunxin from abject poverty in rural China to world-famous ballet dancer after he is selected to study ballet in Beijing and later Houston in the United States.
Brother’s Justice Chortle and hoot your way through this absurd blockbusting docu-comedy about Dax Shepard, a successful comedian who risks it all to chase his lifelong, far-fetched dream of becoming a worldfamous martial artist.
Take Me Home Tonight Dive into a plate of ’80s-inspired comfort food and indulge in this crude comedy about an MIT grad who shirks adulthood to work at a video store—until the girl of his dreams approaches his counter. Stars Topher Grace and Anna Faris.
AC TI ON
D RAMA
other new titles...
13 Assassins Suit up for this visceral remake of a 1963 Japanese classic about sword-swinging samurai warriors who aspire to dethrone a war-mongering lord. Expect bloody battle scenes typical of director Takashi Miike.
All movies reviewed are either available at the DVD Library or on order.
TV and film selections 15
G
etting out of Tokyo for a round of golf can be a challenge, especially during the week. And for some American players, used to a little more space back home, the driving ranges in the Kanto region are often too crowded for comfort. But the 19th Hole, the Club’s second-floor home of two stateof-the-art golf simulators, offers the ideal solution. “The simulators are fantastic, a great practice facility,” says Tom Quantrille, a Club Member and New Jersey native.
“The distances are good, and it gives you a lot of feedback on your swing. Plus, you have a good environment all the time [and] no rain.” Golfers, both novice and experienced, can work on their swing or any other part of their game with in-house golf pro Tom Fielding, who has worked as a coach in Japan and elsewhere since the early 1990s. Fielding, a AAA-ranked member of the Australian PGA and certified coach with the Australian Sports Commission, began teaching at
Stress-Free Swings Lessons at the 19th Hole have led to hours of golfing fun on Kanto courses for one Club family. by Brian Publicover
Tom Quantrille with Club pro Tom Fielding
16 August 2011 iNTOUCH
the Club in February. The following month, Quantrille, 48, who has been playing “bad golf ” for about 15 years, started taking lessons. “Tom is a great teacher,” he says. “I’ve taken lessons before and the teachers try to fix you up in a few hours. But Tom has taken the time to completely rebuild my swing.” Quantrille says Fielding’s methodical approach has dramatically improved his game. “He doesn’t throw too much at you; you build one step at a time, and
RECREATION
Pines in the United States, as well as different competitive options. “They give you a lot of statistical data,” says Quantrille. “So, with an instructor who can tell you what you’re looking at, the simulators are really valuable.” Fielding says the simulators are perfect for coaching. “It takes a lot less time and there is no stress about slow play,” he explains, adding that he generally prefers teaching with a simulator rather than on a real golf course. The Australian coach’s comprehensive
approach to teaching is something Quantrille appreciates. “I wouldn’t be able to work on my downswing, for instance, if I hadn’t started by building up my stance and grip first,” he says. “The rest is very much a result of that; it all builds, like a pyramid.” Quantrille, who works for an investment management firm, says Fielding’s skill as a coach lies in his ability to understand people. “We all learn differently, and some people— me, for example—are more challenged than others,” he says with a laugh. “[Fielding] is a bit of a shrink, he gets to understand you. Within those parameters, he has a method, but he adjusts based on how you learn.” Lessons are not limited to players with a few years’ experience, though. Fielding also teaches Quantrille’s wife, Yuka, and their two sons, ages 4 and 6. “[Fielding] has really gotten them to enjoy the game,” Quantrille says. “All three of them get lessons on the simulator, and now the four of us go out on the golf course together. It has been a great investment. [Fielding] understands what drives kids [and] he makes it fun. He has been much more of a teacher than just a golf instructor to the kids.” Fielding, who also teaches at a driving range in Setagaya Ward and organizes one-day golf camps throughout the Tokyo area, personalizes his sessions by targeting student needs. And the simulator provides him with a rich set of data on which to base his lessons. “It has the ability to measure the velocity and trajectory of the ball, as well as a number of other conditions that occur at impact, like ball spin, club head path and face angle,” Fielding says, adding that he monitors swing patterns with video cameras and motion-analysis software. But away from the detailed scrutiny of swings and grips, the benefits of the 19th Hole can be far-reaching, according to Quantrille. “Golf teaches you a lot of lessons in life, from patience to the social aspects and the physical development, and now we have wonderful times on the golf course as a family,” he says. “I really feel like I’m on a path to becoming a good golfer because of [Fielding]. It has been a fantastic experience.” o Publicover is a Tokyo-based freelance journalist.
Irwin Wong
it’s a natural progression,” he explains. “[Fielding] is very good at deleting old memory and starting the reprogramming process. And it really is a process; there absolutely is a method to what he is doing and he makes it very natural.” The 19th Hole’s simulators feature realistic, high-definition pictures, accurate ball- and club-tracking software and detailed shot analysis. Players can choose from a wide selection of international courses, including Pebble Beach and Torrey
To learn more about the 19th Hole and golf lessons, visit the Golf page of the Club website.
Fitness and well-being 17
class
focus Mudsharks Group Swim Lessons The Mudsharks group programs are for entry-level swimmers who want to join the swim team or learn in a structured program while developing water confidence and good swimming habits through short-distance swimming, repetition and drills, as well as camaraderie and team spirit. The Gummy Sharks program is for ages 4 to 5 and introduces body position and coordination, kicking and breathing for distances of up to 10 meters, while the Wobbegongs program, for ages 5 to 7, focuses on kicking, body position and technique for distances of up to 15 meters. Thirty-minute lessons are run twice a week in eight-week blocks. Find out more by visiting the Sky Pool pages of the Club website or the Pool Office.
Benni Edriansyah
The Instructor
Originally from Indonesia, Benni Edriansyah is an aqua-sports enthusiast who taught windsurfing, surfing, sailing and kayaking for many years at various beach resorts, including Club Med on Bintan Island. He is also an experienced lifeguard and has been teaching swimming at the Club since 2010.
Ian Oberhellman
The Student
“Before Ian joined the class, he was barely able to do one style of swimming. Now he can do all three styles well and has made it onto the Mudsharks swim team. Benni really delivers results and is passionate about teaching.” (Ian Oberhellman’s mother, Becky)
Alfresco Pampering Enjoy the great outdoors at the Club with a liberating open-air massage this month on The Spa’s exclusive terrace, where 20 minutes of relaxing reflexology meets sunshine and views for ¥6,300. Or lounge on the terrace while basking in a post-treatment glow. Sun-loving Members can also rest easy in the warm rays by asking our professional therapists to apply suntan lotion to those hard-to-reach places for just ¥525. Visit The Spa on the fourth floor or check The Spa page under the Health & Recreation section of the Club website for details. Enjoy this summer-inspired promotion all month long.
Tel: 03-4588-0714
18 August 2011 iNTOUCH
E-mail: spa@tac-club.org
The Spa is open daily from 10 a.m. Make an appointment or visit the fourth-floor haven of relaxation to discover more about the pampering possibilities in store.
RECREATION
what’s
on
Strikes and Spares
Sky Pool Pick-Me-Up
Summer Sweat
Join the Club’s group of enthusiastic female keglers as they hit the lanes every Wednesday for a morning of good-humored competition and conversation as part of the Ladies’ Bowling League.
Instructor Ronny Harris leads twice-weekly sessions of Aqua Fusion, a low-impact, rejuvenating water workout that increases strength, flexibility and endurance.
It’s always more fun to work out with others, so join one of the group exercise classes and take the drag out of exercise. All fitness levels welcome.
September 7–December 14 Wednesdays 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Monthly game fee: ¥3,500 Registration fee: ¥5,000 Sign up at the Bowling Center or by e-mailing bowling@tac-club.org
Next session: September 1–29 Tuesdays and Thursdays 10–11 a.m. Sky Pool Sign up online, at the Pool Office or by e-mailing pool@tac-club.org
Fall into Fun
Testing the Waters
Find inspiration and fun in the vibrant range of recreational activities and programs offered by the Club’s fall enrichment classes for youngsters and adults alike, including sports, music and crafts.
Designed to get children used to the water at a young age in a safe and enjoyable environment, Parents and Tots is a fun-packed program of interactive sessions of songs, games and simple swim drills in the Sky Pool.
Sign up online, by fax or at the Recreation Desk from 8:30 a.m. on Friday, August 5.
August 22–September 14 (Mondays and Wednesdays) August 23–September 15 (Tuesdays and Thursdays) 10–10:30 a.m. Eight lessons: ¥19,950 Sign up online, at the Pool Office or by e-mailing pool@tac-club.org
Zumba: Mondays, 9:30–10 a.m. Body Sculpt: Tuesdays, 8:30–9:30 a.m. Cardio Step: Tuesdays, 9:40–10:40 a.m. Zumba: Fridays, 9:30–10:30 a.m. Exercise tickets are available at the Recreation Desk; walk-in fee per class: ¥1,575
Learning to Tickle the Ivories Immerse yourself in music and creativity through private piano lessons with experienced instructor Junko Shaw. This program teaches rhythm, scales and technique while inspiring students to delve deeper into music. Tuesdays and Fridays 4:30–6:30 p.m. 30-minute lesson: ¥5,250 Sign up at the Recreation Desk, by fax to 034588-0662 or by e-mail to rec@tac-club.org
Fitness and well-being 19
Big-Hearted Help by Mark McNeill
Of the almost ¥16 million raised by the Club for the victims of the Tohoku disaster, ¥650,000 was donated to the relief work of former sumo wrestler Konishiki.
K
onishiki, the former ozeki sumo wrestler, is widely known for having a big heart. Throughout the years, he has been involved in numerous charity projects and has started many of his own, such as the Konishiki Kids Foundation, which helps underprivileged children in his native Hawaii. But, he says, his recent efforts to help the survivors of March’s devastating earthquake and tsunami 20 August 2011 iNTOUCH
are among the most important things he has ever done in his life. It was Konishiki’s natural passion for lending a hand that prompted him to visit the disaster-affected areas. After returning from a trip to the ravaged region in April, he learned that the Club had launched a relief fund and so, together with some Member friends, approached the Club’s disaster relief committee and
the Women’s Group. He was seeking support for his project to feed people who had lost their homes and were living at shelters in Iwate Prefecture. Konishiki’s idea was to serve Hawaiian barbecued food to some of the hundreds of people who had been left without basic services like electricity, water and gas. The Club was eager to do its part and agreed to help pay for the food and other supplies. On June 9, Konishiki headed up north with a group of friends and supporters and a caravan filled with supplies. Over the course of the next five days, Konishiki and his team visited seven shelters and community centers, feeding more than 2,500 people. For some, it was the first hot meal
WOMEN’S GROUP The Jammin’ for Japan Committee would like to give special thanks to the following event sponsors and apologizes for omitting their names from the July issue of iNTOUCH.
PATRONS
SUPPORTERS
they had eaten since the earthquake. Besides preparing food, Konishiki’s team entertained the evacuees with Hawaiian music, with Konishiki occasionally dressing up as his wellknown, orange-suited children’s TV character, “Koni-chan.” After returning to Tokyo, the 47-year-old commented how privileged he felt to be able to help the people at the shelters, especially the children and elderly. He said he enjoyed talking with so many people of different ages who, despite their plight, were still able to look with hope to the future. Konishiki says it’s important that relief efforts continue until people can rebuild their lives and regain a sense of normalcy. He plans to continue
his work in the coming months and hopes to visit schools on one of his next trips. His philosophy, he says, is if he’s able to make a difference in even one person’s life, he considers himself successful. In this case, the man with the giant heart has brought a ray of hope to a multitude of people who, after the events of that Friday afternoon in March, wondered if they would ever be able to smile again. In being able to help the people of Tohoku in their hour of need, Konishiki says he is grateful to everyone at Tokyo American Club for their support of his project. Mahalo. o McNeill is a Club Member and the son of Club governor Jeff McNeill.
An interactive community 21
A Grand Life by Erika Woodward
22 August 2011 iNTOUCH
FEATURE
W
hen concert pianist Harumi Hanafusa made her US debut at New York’s renowned Carnegie Hall in January, she realized a lifelong ambition. “I just thought this is everybody’s dream,” she says of the moment she stepped onto the stage that had previously hosted some of the world’s top
and play,” says Hanafusa, 58, who, as a young adult, won a scholarship from the French government to study at the esteemed Conservatoire National Superieure de Musique in Paris with renowned piano teacher Pierre Sancan. She left Japan in 1971 and remained in Europe for 13 years. “Many things are hard for outsiders to understand about French culture, including their films and art,” she says. “Their music is no different, but I put French music on the bill because I think now I understand it.” She chose to debut her mentor Ichiyanagi’s piece also for its sophistication. “It’s not simple, it’s really hard,” she says of the two-part composition. “Technically, you need strong skills. Not much of his music is easy for pianists to play.” But her job as a pianist, she says, is to draw the audience into a piece, even if it is unfamiliar to them. “If the audience is not involved or noisy, it’s the player’s fault,” she says. “Even kids who have never attended a symphony before will listen attentively if the concert is engaging.” In order to reach an audience, pianists must play with more than technique, Hanafusa stresses. This emotive method of playing she developed in Europe, where, she says, she discovered a different approach to music and one in which the best pianists expend as much energy practicing perfect execution as they do analyzing and learning how to demonstrate to an audience the meaning behind the notes. On stage, Hanafusa exerts so much physical and mental energy that she loses as much as 2 kilograms in an average two-hour performance and is keenly aware of even the smallest rustle of paper from the auditorium. At Carnegie Hall, however, the audience was practically motionless. “As I was playing, I could feel the audience was really getting it,” she recalls. “It’s not just one way. I feel how the audience reacts to the music and I react in turn. In the end, they stood up. I could feel their appreciation by the way they applauded.” The ovation represented a pinnacle in a career that had begun by accident. Frankly, Hanafusa’s mother thought she was giving her daughter a pleasant distraction when she started her in piano lessons at 3 years old. “I’ve been practicing every day since I was 3 years old to be good at my hobby,” says Hanafusa in the living room of her Roppongi home as she muses about her younger days when she danced and sang while her mother played the family piano. Now, in the lower-level of her three-story home, Hanafusa keeps four pianos of her own, three of which are grand. It’s here, in the sprawling former dance studio, where she practices for up to 10 hours a day.
With ever-decreasing numbers of young musicians heading overseas to develop their crafts, Harumi Hanafusa, the wife of Club governor Hiroyuki Kamano, explains how her years in France shaped her career as a concert pianist.
musical talent, including pianists like Sergei Rachmaninoff and China’s Lang Lang. In preparation for her performance, 34 years after her professional debut in Japan, Hanafusa says she agonized over what to play, before selecting works by French composers Ravel and Debussy and Japanese composer Toshi Ichiyanagi, whose contemporary piece, “Piano Scenery,” she introduced to the world that winter’s evening. She took a huge risk, uncertain if even New York’s cultured and notoriously critical audience would embrace the composers’ complex melodies over the easy-to-hum tunes of Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. But she owned her choice, even selecting for the performance a violet dress with draping that evoked the multilayered music, she says. “French music is infamous for being hard to understand
A Grand Life 23
“I always loved music,” she says of what drove her to defy her parents’ wishes. “My parents thought playing the piano was a unique
profession, a big gamble; they couldn’t fathom the lifestyle. My mother always wanted me to get married and have children.” Hanafusa did wed eventually (she’s been married to Club governor and lawyer Hiroyuki Kamano for 20 years), but only after returning to Japan after building a successful career in Europe, jumpstarted by BBC broadcasts of her London performances and wins at the Gyorgy Cziffra International Piano Competition and Queen Elizabeth International Music Competition.
Having played with some of Europe’s top orchestras, she continued to perform in Japan and is a regular soloist with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra of Osaka. While Hanafusa’s passion for her craft inspired her to venture to the traditional home of classical music, she is representative of a dying trend, according to Yuko Ninomiya, an accomplished pianist and vice chair of the Piano Teachers’ National Association of Japan (PTNA). “A bad thing is happening here. People don’t want to study abroad because it’s so easy in Japan,” says the Club Member, emphasizing the importance of understanding European culture when studying classical music. As an example, she says, her own student—teenage prodigy Aimi Kobayashi—who played Carnegie Hall three months after Hanafusa, has no desire to study abroad. Ninomiya says she’s intimidated by having to learn another language.
“The Japanese have excellent technique, but don’t understand the concept of expressing the thought behind the music.”
24 August 2011 iNTOUCH
Kayo Yamawaki
FEATURE
Harumi Hanafusa
A Grand Life 25
Kayo Yamawaki
“In the United States, [parents] help you to like music. In Japan, they help you learn music and then you like it.”
26 August 2011 iNTOUCH
FEATURE In the more austere musical days of the 1960s and ’70s, internationally trained piano teachers, auditions and competitions were few, so talents like Hanafusa and Ninomiya were encouraged to seek a richer musical life abroad, where well-known Japanese pianists like Mitsuko Uchida got their start. When Ninomiya left Japan in 1961 to study at New York’s famed Juilliard School, she shared the classroom with up to 20 Japanese piano majors. Only one Japanese freshman is registered in Juilliard’s piano course for the 2011 fall semester. While the PTNA and other prestigious music schools, such as the Toho Gakuen School, where Hanafusa studied before she moved to France, have contributed greatly to training and showcasing Japanese talent, Ninomiya says that even Japan’s best tutors can’t teach it all. Composer Ichiyanagi agrees. “The Japanese have excellent
technique,” he says, “but don’t understand the concept of expressing the thought behind the music.” T h e contrast with European musicians is evident
when those instrumentalists play a piece for the first time, Ichiyanagi says. “Some intentionally stop every 10 to 15 seconds to discuss how they should play it,” he says. “Then the next time they play the music becomes more intense, more communicative. It’s an approach to playing the Japanese don’t have.” Hanafusa says her studies abroad helped her discover her womanhood as much as music. “Things I felt there were so different from what I felt in Japan,” she says. “France had a big musical impact on my life. [Sancan] taught me how to be a pianist and a woman at the same time. He said, ‘Don’t get married until you build your career.’ So I started thinking. In good ways and bad ways, the Japanese try to be the same as the people around them, but the French cultivate individuality. There, I became more open.” She became fluent in French, too, and began to think about music in the way Ichiyanagi says inspires great playing. She stopped favoring the simpler melodies and grand finales of composers like Beethoven and Tchaikovsky and played more sophisticated French composers like Ravel. “To me, I can smell French music,” she says. “Even in the pianissimo, there’s a huge gradation or range of so many different sounds.” Hanafusa says that many young Japanese pianists have the potential, skill and discipline to play classical music well. She says they’re among the world’s top pianists, but only around one in 200 makes it to the level of concert pianist. “Japanese kids are really hard workers,” she says. “These kids playing at competitions average high scores and play at the top level in the world. So there are a lot of cases in Japan where kids should able to play well, but they don’t actually like the music,” says Hanafusa, echoing a criticism that has been repeated for decades. Since classical music was introduced to Japan in the Meiji period, Japanese musicians have garnered praise worldwide for their technical precision, but top stars have often been criticized for delivering mechanical performances. According to Hanafusa, one reason Western musicians may have an easier time playing emotively is because classical music is primarily introduced to them as a creative art or hobby, usually after they express an interest as children. Later, they may choose to
approach music as a discipline. In Asia, on the other hand, classical music is typically introduced to children as a discipline, which they may learn to enjoy later. “In the United States, [parents] help you to like music,” Hanafusa says. “In Japan, they help you learn music and then you like it.” An upside to Japan’s more stringent approach, however, aside from the fact that many Japanese musicians are well prepared to pass exams, can be found in the support of classical music by the government and public. “Ask any professor [of classical music] in Europe, Asia or America,” Ninomiya says. “If you didn’t have Asian students, you’d be broke.” Even in the late 1990s, when Japan struggled in a post-bubble recession, theaters and music halls still opened every week, contributing to the ¥3.8 trillion spent on arts construction in that decade, according to a Japanbased research group. In a recessionhit United States, meanwhile, theaters shutter doors and music halls struggle to stave off bankruptcy. But as Japan improves at training and promoting classical musicians, it becomes easier for young talents to shy away from studying abroad, making room for a string of rising stars from Korea and China like Joyce Yang, a Juilliard graduate and last year’s winner of the Arthur Rubinstein Prize, and Zhang Haochen, who two years ago at age 19 became the first Chinese and youngest-ever gold medal recipient at the renowned Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. “I don’t know what will happen for the Japanese pianists in the future,” Ninomiya says. For Hanafusa, the future seems limitless. “I feel fortunate to live like this,” she says. “I want to express that through my music. Singers, they can’t sing when they are 80. On the other hand, if you retain your memory, you can play the piano forever.” “When she plays the piano, she shines with kira kira, a passionate aurora,” says conductor Seiichi Mitsuishi, who will lead the Tokyo Universal Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance with Hanafusa next month at Suntory Hall. “In every aspect, she is the best.” But is her best enough to inspire the next generation of Japanese concert pianists to risk the sure life for the thrill of discovering classical music abroad? o
A Grand Life 27
Party Lines
28 August 2011 iNTOUCH
TALKING HEADS
Yoshimasa Hayashi
iNTOUCH: How well served is the Japanese public by the current political system? Hayashi: Especially after March 11, we are finding out that this government, led by Mr Kan, is doing too little, too late. And in that sense, the Japanese people are not well served. Now we are in the process of again not only seeing the campaign promises not being fulfilled, but also the bad management of government. iNTOUCH: Is this the inevitable result of having one party in power for almost the entire post-war period? Hayashi: Since we were in government for so many years, I think we should have had a change of power. If we could have changed from the LDP to the DPJ after [Prime Minister Yoshiro] Mori [and] before [Junichiro] Koizumi, maybe it could have been smoother now and the DPJ could have learned how to manage government. We’ve been always pitching the ball [and] they’ve been always hitting the ball. Now we’ve shifted [roles], we’re not accustomed to hitting the ball. This is the process we have to go through to become a real twoparty system. iNTOUCH: Would you like to see a strong two-party system? Hayashi: In the longer term, I would like to study the adoptability of the twoparty system in Japan, because unlike in Britain or the United States, we don’t have two schools of thought or two societal groups. Everybody thinks they are middle class here and the membership rate of trade unions is less than 20 percent [of the workforce], and the vast majority of people are non-political.
The Democratic Party of Japan’s (DPJ) landslide victory in the lower house election two years ago was a clear-cut message from the public. In post-election surveys, people voiced hope that the result would spell the end of the country’s notorious pork-barrel politics and high turnover of prime ministers. The win marked only the second time the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) had fallen from power since the party was founded in 1955. But it wasn’t long before approval ratings for the fledging government began to plummet and, within a year, Yukio Hatoyama had resigned as prime minister. The problems have continued with the current leader, Naoto Kan, who survived a no-confidence motion in June. That same month, American academic Michael Auslin, writing in the National Review, accused Japan’s politicians of continuing “to utterly fail their people.” Yoshimasa Hayashi is a member of the House of Councilors and the opposition LDP. iNTOUCH’s Nick Jones spoke to the Club Member about the state of Japanese politics. Excerpts:
iNTOUCH: In recent years, we’ve seen a rise in the number of splinter parties, such as the Sunrise Party of Japan and Your Party. What are your thoughts? Hayashi: Unlike the American system, our system is friendlier to third, fourth or even fifth parties. But this is not a new phenomenon. Parties always come and go. But if the two main parties, plus one for business and one for labor unions, could work together smoother than now, after we experience a change of power, then there wouldn’t be so many third or fourth parties. iNTOUCH: Japan is renowned for the rate at which it goes through leaders, and we’ve had 14 prime ministers in the last 20 years. How do these constant changes adversely affect government policy? Hayashi: Since we’re very good at manufacturing, maybe we’re good at manufacturing many prime ministers! Maybe we can change the process of choosing a new leader. When the LDP chooses a new leader, it has prefectural primaries over one month—like how Koizumi was chosen. [Shinzo] Abe was chosen by that system, but he abruptly resigned. After that, [Yasuo] Fukuda was chosen in about two weeks, then [Taro] Aso was chosen in two weeks. Then when Hatoyama stepped down, Kan was chosen in one week. We need at least two or three months to [evaluate] the candidates. iNTOUCH: What image do Japanese people have of politics here? Hayashi: Basically, if you ask [people], “Do you trust politicians?” about 10 to 20 percent, at the most, would agree. The same question about the bureaucracy used to be very high, but it’s getting lower and lower.
iNTOUCH: Why has trust been declining? Hayashi: I think things that went wrong or didn’t go well were treated as the fault of the LDP or politicians. But I think people realize now that it rains whichever party is in government. So the real difference should be whether it rains or not. iNTOUCH: The size and power of Japan’s bureaucracy has been at the center of much debate in recent years. But there are those who say it doesn’t matter which party is in power because the bureaucrats run everything anyway. Hayashi: The DPJ has talked about how it is controlling the bureaucracy, but it’s not controlling, it’s abusing the bureaucracy. Simply bashing the bureaucracy doesn’t give you any answers. Politicians have to utilize [bureaucrats’] abilities. iNTOUCH: What about the system of amakudari [the practice of giving retiring top bureaucrats positions in the private sector or quasi-government organizations]? Hayashi: We have to start with the definition of amakudari. If you are a young guy having worked for five years in a ministry and then you are headhunted by a foreign company, is that amakudari? Ten years: is that amakudari? Fifteen years: is that amakudari? Can you prohibit those people in the bureaucracy from working again after they retire? So the definition of amakudari should be legally decided. Then the problem is where can toplevel bureaucrats work after they retire? Before World War II, they used to be paid a very good pension, but that was changed with GHQ in the 1940s. o
Member insights on Japan 29
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.
DanDans
by Erika Woodward
Fed up with exorbitant gallery fees in Tokyo, where cash-strapped emerging artists often futilely vie with seasoned professionals for coveted exhibition space, an enthusiastic collective of around 90 new artists has taken matters into its own hands. DanDans uses elbow grease to transform donated restaurants, bars and even tailor shops into makeshift galleries, giving members, who often work several part-time jobs to pay for one traditional exhibit, multiple venues to showcase their art for gratis. The artists then sell their work though silent auctions, keeping most of the proceeds and providing a small percentage for future space makeovers. Established in 2005 by art lover Kazuko Aso and her once-struggling artist muse Aki Fueda, DanDans now has so many artists clamoring to join that it has created an arduous admissions process. Even fashion house Chanel recently commissioned the troupe for an audacious exhibit in Ginza, based on the history of the luxury brand. The DanDans exhibition at the Club this month promises to be just as daring. Six artists—Yuka Namekawa, Ryoichi Yamazaki, Ryota Unno, Kotaro Isobe, Keiki Yamada and Kazumasa Noguchi—will display cutting-edge and provocative works inspired by everything from fast food to traditional Japanese painting at the Fredrick Harris Gallery for three weeks. “I want people to think about their judgment process and their reactions, which are actually dependant on their prejudice,” says Namekawa of her work, “Traffic Light,” which uses transparent materials to “puzzle the viewer.” Namekawa has had solo shows in countries as far-flung as France and, like many of her fellow DanDans members, has exhibited in topnotch galleries in Tokyo, too. Not all artists would dare share the limelight by participating in group shows, but this knot, educated at such prestigious art schools as Tokyo University of the Arts and Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, has an appreciation for the benefits of camaraderie and diversity. “Around us are many creatures [that] coexist,” says member Isobe, who wants his painting of the meeting of a frog and a dragonfly to inspire happiness and unity, because life, like art, is better shared.
Exhibition
August 15–September 4
Gallery Reception Monday, August 22 6:30–8 p.m. Frederick Harris Gallery Free Open to all Members
30 August 2011 iNTOUCH
FREDERICK HARRIS GALLERY
Services and benefits for Members 31
yokoso Daniel & Carol Simon Sweden—Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi Jason & Tania Hayes Australia—PricewaterhouseCoopers Aarata Paul & Melissa Wetzel United States—Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. Hidenobu & Noriko Takagi Japan—Takagi and Associates, Inc. Masaru & Takako Morimoto Japan—Coca-Cola (Japan) Co., Ltd.
Francois-Xavier Pustoc’h France—Deutsche Bank AG
Yuzo Hashiya Japan—American Home Assurance Co.
Reed & Beth Mittelstaedt United States—PricewaterhouseCoopers Aarata
Peter & Janick Jenkins United Kingdom—RBS Securities Japan Ltd.
Paul & Tomoko Worthy United Kingdom—Tradeweb
Jay Wang & Vincy Chik China—Corning Holding Japan G.K.
Stephen & Lisa Taurima New Zealand—Chevron International Gas, Inc.
Matthew & Lisa Schmidt United States—Abbott Vascular Japan Co., Ltd.
Lecy Yap Malaysia—Philip Morris Japan K.K.
Albert & Julianne Bosch United States—Japan Tupperware Co., Ltd.
Simon & Ria Sinha United Kingdom—Merrill Lynch Securities Co., Ltd.
Kamalesh & Rita Dwivedi United States—Bellsystem24, Inc.
Kazuo & Kyoko Ichijo Japan—Hitotsubashi University
Patricia Anderson Canada—General Electric International, Inc. Michael King & Makiko Nishimura United States—King Enterprise LLC Scot & Cheryl Lachowicz United States—Corning Holding Japan G.K. David Cordova & Michelle Coe United States—Deloitte Tohmatsu Tax Co.
Emma Kratochvilova & Lukas Kratochvil United Kingdom—Herbert Smith Takeshi Maruyama Japan—SABIC Innovative Plastics Japan Ltd.
Conway Kosi & Nicole Berecry Australia—Fujitsu Ltd.
Clive & Julie Heath United Kingdom—Caterpillar Finance Corporation Japan
Kai Hielscher Germany—Ernst & Young Shinnihon James & Migdalia Chi Paton United Kingdom—MHD Moët Hennessy Diageo K.K. Xavier & Francoise Durand France—GE Capital Asia Pacific
Joydeep & Jennifer Goswami India—Life Technologies Japan
Juerg & Muriel Stoll Switzerland—Swiss Re International SE, Japan Branch
Patricia Compton & Charles Lord United States—Pfizer Japan, Inc.
Anthony & Susan Melchione United States—Prudential System Japan Ltd.
Michael Magdycz United States—Eli Lilly and Company
Patrick & Yumiko Hansen United States—Macquarie Capital Securities
Stephen & Mika Barker Australia—MF Global FXA Securities Ltd.
new member profile
Jim & Madoka O’Hanlon United States—Bank of America Merrill Lynch
new member profile Sherwin & Yukiko Faden United States—Cook Eat Share
Why did you decide to join the Club?
Why did you decide to join the Club?
“Madoka, Erin and I decided to join TAC now that our family is growing (baby No. 2 is due in October). The facility is beautiful and it provides a great outlet for the family to meet other families in the Tokyo area. We have many friends that have been Members for a long time, and now that the facility is back in the Roppongi area it makes it an incredibly convenient and fun place to spend our free time.”
“A friend took us on a tour of the Club. The architecture and facilities were impressive, and we bumped into other friends as we walked the halls. We saw TAC as not only a place for all of us to enjoy, but also as an environment to keep our girls (ages 6 and 11) bilingual and bicultural. Other reasons for joining include the Club’s central location, spaciousness, exercise facilities, great food, views of Tokyo Tower and relaxing atmosphere.”
(l–r) Madoka, Erin and Jim O’Hanlon
(l–r) Yukiko, Kiana, Sherwin and Sabia Faden
32 August 2011 iNTOUCH
MEMBER SERVICES
employee
of the month
Yukinobu Okazaki by Nick Jones
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ach day after school, the gang of boys would corner Yukinobu Okazaki outside the entrance of their elementary school to hurl punches and insults at him. Since the 8-year-old had just moved to the area from another part of Kyoto and was a good runner, he was an easy target for the bullies. Then one day, a passerby, who had witnessed Okazaki being harassed, approached him and asked if he would like to learn aikido, a Japanese martial art based on the idea of self-defense. The boy agreed and started attending the man’s dojo three times a week. “I enjoyed aikido from the start,” says Okazaki, who joined the Club’s
housekeeping team in 2006. “It felt good when I was first able to throw a high-school student and even an adult.” Once he started putting to use what he had learned, the bullying quickly stopped. But his hunger for studying aikido didn’t. Eventually reaching the senior rank of seventh dan, Okazaki grew interested in the roots of aikido. Moving to Tokyo for work and then college (he has a master’s degree in international politics and economics from Aoyama Gakuin University), Okazaki took up daitoryu aikijujutsu, a martial art that focuses primarily on throwing and jointlocking techniques, in 1991. But since he found the strict conventions and codes associated with
daitoryu aikijujutsu fairly stressful, he started practicing jeet kune do at the same time. “It was fun,” the 45-year-old says of the freer school of combat that was started by martial arts star Bruce Lee as an amalgamation of various fighting disciplines and methods. Although Okazaki has since given up his martial arts studies, the June Employee of the Month, who occasionally helps teach jeet kune do at a school in Tokyo, continues to benefit from the thousands of hours he has spent tirelessly practicing throws, kicks and punches. “I’m more relaxed,” he says, “when I need to take on a challenge or when I have to concentrate on something.” o
David & Marian Devine Joseph & Mieko Draper Laurent Dubois & Nicola Earley Christopher Duffy & Min Jin Lee Lachlan & Mariana East Christopher & Robin Gilbert Graham & Kyoko Harris Matthew Hodgson & Elisa Bortolato David & Heather Hoffmann PJ Huff
Seri & Akimi Inoue Jorgen & Marianna Kragh Francois & Aiko Marmion Simon & Samantha Masnick Robert & Andrea McTamaney Claude Mimaki Will Park & Suyoun Kim David & Kaitlin Richie Audrey Sokoloff & Tim Hosking Shigeru & Nobuko Tanaka
sayonara John & Sarah Barrett Brian & Cynthia Beglin Emmanuel Caeymaex & Quynh Anh Trinh Xuan Christian & Sevim Claussen Enrico & Flavia Corsalini Geoffrey Culbert & Emma Ward Bruce & Terri Daly David & Susan Daniel Timothy & Becki Davis
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)
Services and benefits for Members 33
Asian Tiger
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The Club’s 2011 Sportsman of the Year, Ryo Ishikawa, talks to iNTOUCH about his success so far and his desire to keep winning.
Mikiko Tago Andersen Ryo Ishikawa
34 August 2011 iNTOUCH
Yonex Co., Ltd.
by Nick Jones
s the golf world was being captivated by the prodigious talent and charm of a young Tiger Woods, on the other side of the Pacific, a Saitama schoolboy was dreaming of driving and putting his way to success, too. “I wrote in my elementary school yearbook, ‘I want to be a professional golfer after graduating from high school,’” explains Ryo Ishikawa, Japan’s 19-yearold golfing star, sitting in one of the fourth-floor Guest Studios, shortly before receiving the Club’s prestigious Sportsman of the Year award at a ceremony in June. By the time the daydreaming Ishikawa was penning his ambitious plan, in 2004, Woods had already won eight majors— and he wasn’t yet 30. Not surprisingly, Ishikawa idolized the American golfer. “When I was little, I wanted to be Tiger Woods rather than being a professional golfer,” he says. “Being like Tiger was my goal and becoming a professional golfer was just a stepping stone for me to become Tiger Woods.” In only his fourth year of professional golf, Ishikawa is already emulating his hero’s prowess on the course. In fact, he first came to worldwide attention at the age of 15 when he became the youngestever winner of a regular men’s tournament on the Japan Tour. He has continued to rack up the records since then. In 2008, he became the youngest golfer to break into the top 100 of the world rankings. The following year, he reached the top 50, completing his hat trick of firsts in May 2010 when he shot a 12-under-par 58, the lowest score ever on a major tour. “I didn’t do anything particularly special that day,” he says of his feat on the Nagoya course. “My concentration became keener as I progressed, and the flow of the round was good. If someone suddenly asked me to play like that now, I wouldn’t be able to do it. You can’t create concentration or rhythm, but if it happens, you can win.” With 10 tournament victories to date, Ishikawa’s most successful year was 2009 when he topped the Japan Tour’s money list. And although this year has not been as fruitful, Ishikawa continues to field questions about a possible move to the United States. Naturally, he has sought the advice of his fellow, more experienced countrymen, including Shigeki Maruyama, Ryuji Imada and Tsuneyuki Nakajima. “Each of them has a different opinion,” says Ishikawa, dressed in a crisp white
INSIDE JAPAN
he also recognizes his responsibilities as a professional golfer. “I need to be a role model to junior and amateur players, and I am not satisfied with what I am now,” he says. “My goal is to be a good golfer, not only a golfer who can play golf well.” Ishikawa finally teed off against his own role model at the British Open in Scotland in 2009. “I was nervous when I played with Tiger Woods because he’s my long-time hero,” he admits. “I felt a lot of pressure.” Despite the jitters, Ishikawa managed to beat Woods by three strokes in that first round. “People don’t have any idea how good this kid is,” Woods said of Ishikawa two years ago. “He’s got what it takes.” Just like his idol. o
For photos of Ishikawa at June’s Sportsman of the Year award ceremony, turn to page 42. Ryo Ishikawa http://ryo.panasonic.co.jp
Brian Scott Peterson
shirt and black pants. “Maruyama-san told me to move to the US as soon as I could. Imada-san advised me to keep playing in Japan and move in the future, and Nakajima-san told me to continue what I’m doing now, with Japan as my base. He said I could still win major tournaments, but that changing the environment if I wasn’t ready wasn’t a good idea.” For now, Ishikawa is staying put and traveling overseas to competitions, such as the majors, when the opportunities arise. “There are enough places for me to play golf here in Japan,” he says. “If a player is ambitious enough to get better or win a tournament, the location doesn’t matter. You only live once, and I don’t know whether it would turn out well if I moved to America or not. It all depends on my ambition and belief in myself.” Although he’s not yet officially an adult in Japan (he turns 20 next month), Ishikawa’s achievements so far have led many to ponder when he will capture his first major championship win. “If I’m in great condition, I can win,” he says. “I always think that there will be a chance that I can do it. Once you win [a tournament], you want to experience that feeling again and again, and that’s why everyone puts so much effort into trying to win.” Forever attracting the attention of the media and public, Ishikawa says he is never irritated by the constant scrutiny because he knows the importance of the press in helping to popularize the sport. He says
A look at culture and society 35
World’s End
by Tim Hornyak Photos by Minoru Shimogishi
Situated at the far reaches of Okinawa’s Yaeyama chain of islands, Hateruma and Yonaguni are remote specks of paradise in the vast Pacific Ocean.
A
fter exploring the pristine beaches of Ishigaki, the main island in the Yaeyama chain of islands in Okinawa Prefecture, I set my sights on the last two bits of inhabited Japan. Hopping on a ferry at Ishigaki City’s busy port, I set off for Hateruma. This small oval, with a population of 546, has the distinction of being the southernmost inhabited Japanese island. The only way to reach it is by one-hour ferry. That suited me fine, as I had learned that the best spots in the Southwest Islands were the less-visited and -developed outlying isles. Hateruma appeared low on the waves in the subtropical sunshine, not quite as pancake-flat as idyllic Taketomi off Ishigaki, but lacking any real hills. As I disembarked, a local bicycle shop owner offered me a lift to see his rentals and I was soon pedaling my way through broad fields of sugarcane. Located in the island’s center, the quaint, tree-lined village of Hateruma is surrounded by sugarcane fields and, farther
36 August 2011 iNTOUCH
out, pastures for goats and cattle. The island has a circumference of only 15 kilometers, so it didn’t take too long for me to reach the east coast. I paused to take a few photos of the goats meditatively munching their fodder, but I really wanted to reach Takanasaki, a long stretch of exposed limestone on the south coast. There, where the boundless Pacific smashes into the windy, black cliffs, can be found a small monument with the Japanese flag, an inscription of the longitude and latitude, and a collection of stones from every prefecture in the country. Having reached the most southern point in Japan, I immediately resolved to one day visit the most northern point, Cape Soya in Hokkaido. But before I could do that, I had to complete my tour of the Yaeyama Islands. I continued to cycle around Hateruma, stopping at the spectacular white-sand beach of Nishihama. The sea there was a delicious shade of turquoise, and it being December, I was the only one in the water,
which was cool but hardly uncomfortable. Returning my bicycle, the shop owner laughed a toothless grin and said he thought it was the funniest thing in the world that I’d taken a dip in winter. With its clear nighttime skies, Hateruma is a stargazer’s paradise, so it’s no surprise that there’s an astronomical observatory, which is open to tourists, on the island. On the return ferry, I made inquiries about the last island in the chain. Hateruma’s western neighbor, Yonaguni, also shares a unique geographic position as the westernmost point in Japan. The next morning, I was on a much larger ferry bound for Kubura port on Yonaguni, a sail of four and a half hours. The island is hilly and rugged, with sheer cliffs dropping into the surf, atop which a tall, white lighthouse welcomes visitors into the harbor. I checked into a local minshuku inn, jumped into a rental car and headed for nearby Cape Irizaki, the westernmost point. Climbing a small hill covered by palm trees
OUT & ABOUT Thirty minutes from Ishigaki Airport to Yonaguni Airport. Two ferry operators run services from Ishigaki to Hateruma: Anei Kanko (http://aneikankou.co.jp) and Hateruma Kaiun. Fukuyama Kaiun runs a ferry service between Ishigaki and Yonaguni. Minami Guesthouse (Hateruma) http://homepage2.nifty.com/minami85 (Japanese only)
OKINAWA
Ailand Resort (Yonaguni) www.ailand-resort.co.jp/yonaguni Yaeyama Islands www.city.ishigaki.okinawa.jp/International/tourist.html Yaeyama Travel Net www.hirata-group.co.jp Okinawa Information www.okinawa-information.com
YONAGUNI
ISHIGAKI HATERUMA
rocks discovered in the 1980s by Kihachiro Aratake and renowned among divers ever since. Some say the massive formation of sandstone and mudstone, which is 30 meters tall and more than 100 meters long, resembles the steps of a giant pyramid. Some divers who have seen the rocks up close swear that they’re an ancient structure from a forgotten civilization. As the little boat rolled on the choppy sea, we descended into the hull to look at the “undersea ruin,” as it’s known in Japanese. I craned my neck and strained my eyes, peering through the underwater bubbles for any sign that the rocks could be part of some lost Atlantis. While some of the stone shapes were surprisingly geometric, most of what I saw from the boat looked like the work of nature alone. It was a tad disappointing. But I didn’t want to let go of the possibility that a monument of some kind had been swallowed by the sea. I vowed to take a closer look someday. Six hours and three flights later, I was back in Tokyo. o
www.atelier-yaeyama.com
and a neatly trimmed lawn, I was greeted by a stone monument, informing me that I was 2,112 kilometers from Tokyo and only 111 kilometers from Taiwan, which is visible on clear days. Sliding behind the wheel again, I pointed the car east and continued exploring. Some of the most remarkable seaside cliffs in Japan are along Yonaguni’s south coast, particularly the Tachigami and Gunkan formations: giant stacks of rock that have eroded away from the island. Past these, at the extreme eastern end of the island, I came to Agarizaki, the site of another white cliff-top lighthouse. The surrounding pasture is grazing land for Yonaguni horses, a rare indigenous breed of pony height. Chewing the grass peacefully, they were extremely docile, letting me pet them without complaint. The next morning, I headed out to see Yonaguni’s most unusual attraction. A glass-bottomed boat took me and about 20 others along the south coast to the Yonaguni Monument, a collection of large underwater
Explorations beyond the Club 37
For more photos from some events displayed in these pages, visit the Event Image Gallery (under News & Info) on the Club website.
Mudsharks End-of-Year Awards Dinner May 29
The Club’s swim team held its annual dinner to recognize swimmers’ efforts throughout the year. Mudsharks coach Simon Hadlow says he hopes the awards “will encourage our younger swimmers to keep up the hard work.” Photos by Yuuki Ide 1. (l–r) Mattias Lindel, Kai McGuier, Mudsharks coach Simon Hadlow and Courtney Ishibashi 2. (l–r) Makayla Hyman, Mariko Lee, Oliver Cappieters, Naomi Schatz, Eddie Rogers and Caedon Couch 3. Maya Kushner and Moka Gagnon 4. (l–r) Sky Pool manager Henry Hadlane, Maddie Willen and Mudsharks coach Simon Hadlow 5. Friedrike Steck and Naomi Schatz 6. Samantha March and Carolyn Genty
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Fundraising Swimathon May 17–18
The Club’s young swimmers, the Mudsharks, dived into the Sky Pool to raise funds for the victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan’s Tohoku region. The two-day event raised more than ¥650,000, which will go to All Hands Volunteers, a US-based nonprofit organization working in the disaster-hit area.
38 August 2011 iNTOUCH
6
EVENT ROUNDUP
TAC Premier Classic Squash Tournament June 24–26
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The Club’s three squash courts played host to almost 170 top squash players, as well as 14 Members, at its second annual TAC Premier Classic. Shinnosuke Tsukue beat Yuuta Fukui in the final of the men’s open competition, while Chinatsu Matsui edged out Kozue Onizawa to take the women’s crown. Elsewhere, Russell Burns triumphed over fellow Club Member Tim Ely in the men’s friendship tournament and Yoko Koshibuchi defeated Mika Ishizawa in the women’s. Member Colin Bell, meanwhile, won the junior competition. Photos by Yuuki Ide 1. (l–r) Takanori Shimizu, Youko Koshibuchi, Yuta Fukui, Shinnosuke Tsukue, Misaki Kobayashi, Chinatsu Matsui, Miwa Maekawa, Kozue Onizawa and Ken Okada 2. Shinnosuke Tsukue and Squash Committee chair Alok Rakyan 3. Russell Burns and Tim Ely 4. Chinatsu Matsui and Martin Fluck 5. Mika Ishizawa and Petr Vyvial
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Snapshots from Club occasions 39
For more photos from some events displayed in these pages, visit the Event Image Gallery (under News & Info) on the Club website.
Father’s Day Buffet June 19
Scores of families headed to the Club’s New York Ballroom in June to help dads celebrate their special day with a mouthwatering spread of father-friendly food and drinks. Photos by Ken Katsurayama 1. (l–r) Karen and Thomas White with Angela and Jeremy Gamez 2. (l–r) Kyler, Howard Hee Jae, Karsten and Julie Yu 3. (l–r) Mika, Elina, Steve and Erica Greenberg with friends 4. (l–r) Tayler, Nicholas, Brad, Cohl, Maja and Patricia Bader-Johnston 5. (l–r) Takako Takahashi and Maika, Jonathan, Maya and Miyuki Kushner 6. (l–r) Mia Yamano, Stanley Nakagawa and Mike, Jane and Diane Yamano 7. (l–r) Mamiko, Maya, Will, Makiko and William Hall 8. (l–r) Avery, Lareina, Aaron, Taliya and Nolan Guiel 9. (l–r) Shima, Tai and David Abrams
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40 August 2011 iNTOUCH
EVENT ROUNDUP
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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.
Sportsman of the Year Award Ceremony June 7
More than 350 golf enthusiasts and fans of rising star Ryo Ishikawa congregated in the New York Ballroom to see the 19-year-old, record-breaking player receive the Club’s prestigious Sportsman of the Year award and answer questions about his career and life. Previous recipients of the award include baseball’s Ichiro Suzuki and swimmer Kousuke Kitajima. Turn to page 34 to find out Ishikawa’s thoughts on his golfing success and future in the sport. Photos by Yuuki Ide
1. (l–r) Club President Lance E Lee, Ryo Ishikawa and Golf Committee chair Steven Thomas 2. Ryo Ishikawa 3. Ryo Ishikawa and Sportsman of the Year Award Committee chair Jeff McNeill
42 August 2011 iNTOUCH
EVENT EVENTROUNDUP ROUNDUP
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Correction
In the Grand Opening Reception: Celebrating 83 Years photos in the Event Roundup section of the July issue of iNTOUCH, Hana Sakamoto was misidentified as Miyoshi Dove. iNTOUCH apologizes for the error. Snapshots from Club occasions 43
ADVERTORIAL
Experiencing Driving Excellence
J
ohn Antista is a self-confessed car nut. So when Cornes & Company launched its Ferrari test-drive campaign in May at the Club, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get behind the wheel of an iconic Italian sports car or two. “I am looking at purchasing a different car and wanted to see all of my options,” the Club member says. “I like to drive something fun and distinctive, and the Ferrari seemed to offer this.” Heading over to the Cornes showroom near Shiba Park, Antista test-drove a Ferrari 458 Italia, with its 4.5-liter V8 engine, and a Ferrari California, which packs a 4.3-liter V8 engine under the hood. He was impressed with both. “The California is a bit more practical: more storage space and some small seats behind the driver and passenger that could accommodate small children or an extra set of golf clubs. It was fast and smooth and very easy to handle, along the lines of a BMW
44 August 2011 iNTOUCH
on steroids,” he says. “The 458 was pure adrenaline: blindingly fast and ultra responsive.” The American was equally bowled over by the cars’ interior finishes. “They both offered top-notch luxury finishes—think Rolls-Royce, but in nimble packages that just hugged the road,” he says. Seventy members took this opportunity from Cornes, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, to take a Ferrari for a spin. Antista says the service at the showroom was excellent. “The sales agent was kind enough to check the traffic conditions and plot out a nice long course that offered me a chance to try the car in a variety of driving situations,” he explains. “He didn’t rush me; he let me take my time and enjoy the car while offering good advice on how to get the most out of my test-drive.” For those members who missed Cornes’ month-long campaign, the Cornes showroom is just a short stroll from the Club. There, they can peruse two more of the Ferrari stable: the 599, with its 6.0-liter V12 engine, and the FF, which has the largest-capacity engine ever produced by Ferrari: a 6.3-liter V12. Drop by the Cornes Ferrari showroom today to experience the pinnacle of driving. o
A portion of the cost of this advertisement will go to Tokyo American Club’s Great East Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.
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TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB
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The Making of a Maestro Concert pianist Harumi Hanafusa explains what it takes to make it on the international stage
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Issue 556 • August 2011
A portion of the cost of this advertisement will go to Tokyo American Club’s Great East Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.
iNTOUCH TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB
Virtual Holes
The Club’s golf simulators offer more than just indoor drives
Relaxed Repatriation
One American offers tips to homeward-bound expats
On the Rise
Golf star Ryo Ishikawa talks about his hunger for success