iNTOUCH June 2009

毎 月 一 回 一 日 発 行

TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB

第 四 十 三 巻 二 十 号

ト ウ キ ョ ウ ア メ リ カ ン ク ラ ブ

June 2009

N T O U C H

平 成 三 年 十 二 月 二 十 日 第 三 種 郵 便 物 許 可 定 価 八 ０ ０ 円

iNTOUCH

i

イ ン タ ッ チ マ ガ ジ ン 二 〇 〇 九 六 月 一 日 発 行

TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB

Cleared for Landing

本 体 七 七 七 円

What will the Kanto region’s new airports and runways mean for Tokyo travelers?

Issue 531 • June 2009

Mythical Monsters

Deutschland’s Delights

Business Remodel

One Tokyo couple pens a guide to Japan’s imaginary critters

The Club celebrates the revival of German wine

Contemplating the future of Japanese-style management

18

recreation

Health and Harmony

recreation Member and mother of two Sue Mayuzumi stays on her toes and satisfies her soul with a diverse range of recreational pursuits at the Club.

women’s group

22

Champions of Compassion The diligent women behind a quintet of local charities that benefited from the Women’s Group’s 60th Anniversary Gala shed light on their deep-rooted philanthropies. inside japan

46

Mouthwatering Mimicry iNTOUCH uncovers the painstaking process behind the tasty-looking plastic food facsimiles that have long piqued the curiosity of foreign diners across Japan.

contents

4 Events 6 Board of Governors 7 Management 8 Food & Beverage 12 Library 16 Video Library

18 Recreation 22 Women's Group 26 Feature 32 Genkan Gallery

feature

26

34 Talking Heads

Destination Tokyo

36 Redevelopment

Designs to beef up the Kanto area’s fly zones with expansions to both Haneda and Narita, as well as two brand-new airports, have been met with mixed reactions. In this month’s cover story, iNTOUCH delves into what busier skies could mean for taxpayers, airlines and travelers in the region.

38 Member Services 45 Contacts 46 Inside Japan 48 Out & About 50 Event Roundup 56 Tokyo Moments

Car Care with Heart

Select the exceptional range of auto services from Mick Lay and help make a difference in the lives of children with cancer and their families. A portion of the cost of all door-to-door car maintenance and mechanical and body repairs will go to the Tyler Foundation.

To learn more about this special partnership, please visit http://www.micklay.com/cars4kids.html or http://www.tylershineon.org/index.php/whatcanyoudo/cars_for_kids.

For market-priced car sales, short-term leasing, support in English and more, contact Mick Lay for top-notch service, the best deals in Tokyo—and the potential to bring joy to a child.

iNTOUCH Magazine 006. 2009 � W : 118 mm x H : 257 mm

iNTOUCH Editor Nick Jones editor@tac-club.org

Designers Ryan Mundt Jasmine Lai Production Assistant Yuko Shiroki Assistant Editor Wendi Hailey Design Assistant Miki Amano Communications Manager Matthew Roberts Management Michael Bumgardner General Manager gm@tac-club.org Bob Sexton Assistant General Manager agm@tac-club.org Lian Chang Information Technology Director itdir@tac-club.org Darryl Dudley Engineering Director eng@tac-club.org Alistair Gough Redevelopment Director projdir@tac-club.org Shuji Hirakawa Human Resources Director hum_res@tac-club.org Linda Joseph Administrative Services Director gmoffice@tac-club.org Mutsuhiko Kumano Finance Director finance@tac-club.org Michael Marlay Food & Beverage Director fboffice@tac-club.org Scott Yahiro Recreation Director recdirector@tac-club.org

To advertise in iNTOUCH, contact: marketing@tac-club.org 03-4588-0976 For Membership information, contact Mari Hori: mari.hori@tac-club.org 03-4588-0687 Tokyo American Club 4–25–46 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108–0074 www.tokyoamericanclub.org

2 June 2009 iNTOUCH

from the

editor

Japan has long struggled with its addiction to meaningless construction projects to drive the economy, particularly in rural and remote areas represented by enthusiastic politicians. Thousands of kilometers of roads have been built in the naïve belief that they would revive local economies. In fact, they have often become nothing more than barren stretches of tarmac linking dying communities.

But when the country was forced to curtail its craving for “roads to nowhere,” it looked for its pork-barrel fix elsewhere. It found the answer in the skies: airports. Despite a speedy and highly integrated rail network, Japan is littered with regional airports, and some people have been questioning their existence for many years.

In 1989, for example, the country’s three domestic airlines at the time asked the government to stop construction of regional airports for fear that new airports would take away the limited business from existing ones and increase the financial burden on passengers. The airlines’ pleas were ignored and construction continued. A 2000 report by the Board of Audit estimated that 19 of the 21 regional airports it inspected were losing money.

The last few years have seen even more airports open, including Saga in 2000, Centrair, near Nagoya, in 2005 and Kobe and Kitakyushu a year later.

Meanwhile, as the recession drags on, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) continue to slash domestic and international routes, with the likes of Kansai International Airport hemorrhaging flights.

Despite such industry gloom, the Kanto region is set to witness a shakeup in its airport infrastructure with the opening of Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport this month and Ibaraki Airport next spring. In addition, large-scale changes are planned for both Haneda and Narita airports over the next 18 months. In this issue’s cover story, “Destination Tokyo,” Rob Goss finds out what it all means for those travelers living in Tokyo and the surrounding areas.

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 Rob Goss

Originally from Dartmoor in southwest England, Rob Goss is a freelance journalist and editor. His work has appeared in more than 30 publications around the world and, more recently, on the Internet. He writes on a range of subjects, but has a special interest in travel and Japanese society. He arrived in Japan in 1999 after a spell in Oslo and now lives in Tokyo with his wife and young son. In this month’s cover story, “Destination Tokyo,” he takes a look at the changes slated for the Kanto region’s airport landscape and examines what would-be fliers can expect. A terrible footballer and a woeful cook, Goss says he loves doing both anyway.

Ulrica Marshall

Born in Sweden, Ulrica Marshall spent her college years in Britain. After earning a degree in business studies and French, she spent eight years in investment banking in London.

Feeling the pull of the pen, Marshall studied journalism at City University, London, before working as a freelance writer for such publications as the Financial Times and International Financing Review. Having moved to Tokyo with her husband and two children in December 2006, she continues to freelance for local Tokyo publications. As an active member of the Women’s Group charities committee, Marshall profiles the five Women’s Group members whose charities benefited from April’s 60th Anniversary Gala on pages 22 and 23.

www.tokyoamericanclub.org For the latest Club news, schedule of events, class registration and more, check out the Tokyo American Club website. And remember, you can read this month’s iNTOUCH there, as well as previous issues, too.

Words from the editor 3

1 What’s happening in

June

11

Thursday

New Moms and Babies Get-Together Qualified nurse Ann Tanaka explains the ins and outs of the first years of motherhood at this lively Women’s Group meet and greet. 3:45–5:15 p.m. ¥2,000. Sign up at the Member Services Desk.

4 June 2009 iNTOUCH

Monday

1

Monday

1

Monday

Party Packages A tantalizing array of allinclusive banquet packages will make your summertime party or business function a roaring success. Contact the Banquet Sales and Reservations team at 03-4588-0581 for details.

Birthday Bashes for Kids Let the Club take the strain out of planning that next children’s birthday party. Our catering experts can organize everything, from food and drinks to decorations and clowns.

For more, see page 11.

Food & Beverage Feedback The Food & Beverage team launches yet another way for Members to have their say about the Club restaurants.

Flip to page 10 for more.

1

1

2

Monday

Monday

Smoothie Summer Design your own healthy smoothie from a selection of tasty ingredients. Check out the options in Vineyards.

Pampering Dad Help Dad relax this Father’s Day with a gift certificate for a special spa treatment. Turn to page 21 to find out more about the revitalizing packages on offer.

16

17

Tuesday

Summertime Sweat Stay in shape this summer with an array of morning group exercise programs. Flip to page 21 for details.

Wednesday

German Wine Tasting Billed as one of the most unique and educational tastings of the year, this month’s German Wine Tasting offers an insight into this underrated wine-growing region.

See page 9 for details.

Tuesday

Toddler Time The Library’s Erica Kawamura hosts a fun session of arts, crafts and storytelling every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 4 p.m. Page 14 has the details.

21

Sunday

Father’s Day Brunch Mark the occasion with a buffet brunch. 1st seating: 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

2nd seating: 1:30–3 p.m. New York Suite. Adults: ¥6,500. Juniors (7–19 years): ¥3,000. Children (3–6 years): ¥1,500. Infants (2 years and under): free. Reserve at 03-4588-0977.

EVENTS

1

Monday

1

Monday

Feeling Lucky?

Score a limited-time Lucky Envelope during your meal and savor your special earnings next time. Runs through July 31. Flip to page 11 for more.

The Bigger the Better Dine with a party of 10 people or more at the American Room and get ¥10,000 off your next meal at the restaurant. Runs through August 31. Page 11 has the lowdown.

3

4

Wednesday

ABCs and 123s Learning English is a blast with this weekly half-hour of games, songs and crafts for children with English as their second language.

4 p.m. Flip to page 14 for more.

22

Monday

Artist’s Reception Woodcraftsman-cum-artist Hideo Azuma offers a contemporary spin on Japan’s 6,000-year-old urushi lacquer art. Discover more about the much-admired artist on page 32.

Thursday

Toddler Time The Library’s Erica Kawamura hosts a fun session of arts, crafts and storytelling every Thursday at 4 p.m. and Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. To find out more, turn to page 14.

29

Monday

Get Acquainted Coffee Meet new people and learn about the Women’s Group at this relaxed gathering. 10 a.m. Banquet Rooms. Contact the Women’s Group Office to arrange for free childcare.

1

Monday

Dinner Done Right Through August 31, Members can enjoy the American Room’s classic roast beef carved right at their table. Reserve at 03-4588-0675.

6

Saturday

Yakult Swallows Baseball Game Trip The Club has organized special ticket packages for kids to see the Tokyo baseball team in action. Turn to page 21 to learn how to book your seat.

7

Sunday

Handmade for Dad Use your creative flair to make Dad something he’ll treasure— and wear—for years to come at one of two tie-making sessions for Father’s Day on June 21.

Page 21 has more.

Coming up on

July 4

Independence Day at the Club Celebrate the “Spirit of ’76” with this annual Club tradition, featuring a festive day of kids’ activities, a cocktail reception, succulent dinner and more. For details, check the Club website.

Noteworthy dates for the month 5

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Growing Up at the Club Board of Governors

by William Ireton

Lance Lee — President (2010) Tim Griffen — Vice President (2010) Jerry Rosenberg — Vice President (2009) Thomas Brown — Treasurer (2009) Monica Hobbs — Secretary (2010)

A

s the son of an American father and Japanese mother—a so-called “third culture kid”—growing up in Japan in the 1950s and ’60s, the Club for me represented America, even though I had never actually lived there.

We resided in a rambling house with a Japanese garden in the Kamiyamacho district of Shibuya Ward, and it was a ¥300 taxi ride to the Club in Azabudai, located behind the Soviet Embassy. I remember the two black sedans that were constantly parked across the street from the embassy. Their telltale “88” license plates meant that they were “special purpose vehicles” and doubtless contained Japanese government “watchers.”

The original Club building in Azadudai was a low structure that housed the main dining room and cocktail bar, with its stern reminder that entry was restricted to those 20 and older. There were three private dining rooms (efficiently named A, B and C) looking out onto a garden. My parents entertained guests quite frequently at the Club and I was invited occasionally and enjoyed the culinary fare that featured such treats as shrimp cocktail, cold vichyssoise and juicy roast beef. This was my Introduction to America 101.

The recreation building was located on the side of the main building, and the swimming pool in those days was constructed perpendicular to the pool that most Members remember from the previous Club. On Saturday evenings during the summer, a large white screen was hung on the wall at one end of the pool

William Ireton (2010), Thomas Jordan (2009), Hiroyuki Kamano (2010), Per Knudsen (2010), Gerald McAlinn (2009), Jeffrey McNeill (2009), Amane Nakashima (2009), Brian Nelson (2010), Mary Saphin (2009), Mark Schwab (2010), Dan Thomas (2010), Ira Wolf (2009), Shizuo Daigoh — Statutory Auditor (2010), Barbara Hancock — Women’s Group President

and a movie projector was set up at the opposite end for everyone to enjoy alfresco (although no such word existed in those days) movie and dinner nights.

The first movie I ever saw at the Club was Dr. No, starring Sean Connery, and my parents were somewhat concerned that I would be corrupted by the antics of James Bond. Needless to say, I was completely hooked, and couldn’t wait to see the next installment of 007, From Russia With Love.

My sister and I were members of the Club’s Mudsharks swim team (which is still going strong), as well as the junior bowling league. Since we had swim and bowling practice every Saturday, we were relieved of morning bed-making duty—although we had to do it after we returned home later, fortified by a lunch of hamburgers, french fries and thick chocolate milkshakes. I used to think the burgers were the best in the world, and still do (and please be sure to keep those Hamilton blenders for the shakes!).

Such is my pastiche of memories of the Club, and it is my pleasure to be able to fast-forward almost 50 years to Takanawa today during our brief interlude before returning to Azabudai.

Tokyo American Club will always remain dear to my heart and an integral part of my memories of growing up in Tokyo. o

azabudai

Ayano Sato

update

6 June 2009 iNTOUCH

by Wendi Hailey

As the summer holidays approach, construction work on the Azabudai site continues unabated, with preparations in place for the building foundations. In mid-May, Bill Butler of architectural firm Pelli Clarke Pelli paid a visit to Tokyo to inspect the mockup of the Club’s new building façade and casual bar and to discuss some of the finer details of the design with the local team.

As attention now turns to the interior elements, excavation on the site has reached new levels. “We have excavated down to 28 meters from the original ground level to meet solid ground,” says site manager Ryota Sekiguchi.

The digging has hit various layers of rock and soil not commonly uncovered in the metropolitan area. “You rarely see this kind of situation in the middle of Tokyo,” Sekiguchi says.

For more on the ongoing Redevelopment Project, visit www.tokyoamericanclubredevelopment.org.

MANAGEMENT

Here Comes the Sun

by Michael Bumgardner

T

he current economic climate continues to present challenges for all our Members and their companies. This is no less so for the Club. Therefore, your Board, committees and management have been working hard at controlling costs and seeking new ways to improve the value of your Membership.

There is, however, a degree of responsibility on every Member to assist with this effort. Whether it’s booking the Club’s banquet rooms for your next company function, attending one of the many events put on each month or introducing a new Member, everyone can help to ensure the Club remains successful and is able to weather this economic storm. From dining out to working out, the Club should be your first choice.

With the end of the school year, many Members will be headed home for the summer holidays soon. Those staying in Tokyo, however, will have plenty to keep them occupied at the Club. The Pool season, with its packed schedule of programs, is in full swing, while the Library’s exciting lineup of activities for this year’s Summer Reading Program is set to draw plenty of young book lovers. In addition, the Club’s annual Camp Adventure sessions kick off this month and run through August. Ask at the Library or Recreation Services Desk for details.

With the weather heating up, please be aware of the relevant dress codes around the Club. You may have noticed reminders around the facility concerning what is acceptable to wear and what isn’t. Enforcement of the codes always becomes more difficult in summer, especially on days when lots of Members are using the Pool. Dress codes are never easy to explain or enforce due to both the diversity of our Membership and the multiuse nature of our facilities. The House Committee, made

Michael Bumgardner General Manager

up of your fellow Members, however, has spent many long hours developing these codes, and it sincerely believes it has considered the range of cultures and dress represented by our multinational Membership.

To illustrate the increasing liberalization of our dress codes, one has to look no further than our annual American Independence Day Reception. Traditionally, this has been a somewhat formal, adults-only occasion. Changes in Club demographics and society in general, however, have seen this event evolve into a much more casual affair with many children in attendance. Incidentally, remember to mark your calendars for this year’s Independence Day events at the Club on Saturday, July 4. Find out more on the Club website or in next month’s issue of iNTOUCH. Finally, a word about safety. Since more youngsters use the Club during the summer, we should all be more vigilant. Please familiarize yourself with the Pool rules, particularly concerning children and beginner swimmers, and remember that the role of the lifeguards is to watch the entire Pool and deck, not individual children in the water. We have been fortunate that no serious injuries have occurred in the Pool area, but we have witnessed many close calls. It becomes the responsibility of all of us to keep an eye out for our younger Members. Whether it’s at the Pool, Family Lobby or Parking Lot, please be a little extra cautious.

Enjoy the summer. o

Executive remarks 7

the cellar

club

Cellar Mates

by Wendi Hailey

W

hether your affinity for wine extends to pouring a glass of Pinot on special occasions or faithfully attending every wine tasting, the new Cellar Club will enhance all wine-tippling experiences with a host of beneficial offerings and personalized services.

“Wine lovers and non-wine lovers are quite different,” says Makiko Hosokawa, captain of The Cellar and the architect behind the newly launched program. “I thought maybe we could make a club for wine lovers to get them more involved in the Club’s wine program. It’s more of a community for people who like drinking wine.”

As its chief allure, the Cellar Club offers two package options for the monthly home delivery of six bottles hand-selected by the Club’s sommeliers. Members can sign up for either the World Tour or Napa Club program to receive half a case of premium labels from a different winemaking region each month or strictly Napa Valley’s finest.

The packages run from ¥60,000 for three months to ¥220,000 for a full year.

Those who enroll in the packages will be privy to a smattering of benefits, including waived corkage fees (typically ¥2,100 a bottle) when bringing wines purchased from The Cellar to the Club’s restaurants, complimentary gift wrapping, 25 percent off the retail price of Riedel stemware, preferential seating at wine

June 2009 iNTOUCH

tastings and exclusive discount rates on select wine events. They will also have the opportunity to choose an upcoming theme for the wines of the month.

One of the main goals of the program is to boost Members’ familiarity with the myriad services of The Cellar. “The Cellar is getting more popular,” Hosokawa says, but “many people still don’t know or understand the system now. Our service is more personal [than outside vendors].

For example, if a Member is having a party, we can recommend wines that might be good.”

The Cellar’s standard wine list includes about 30 bottles that have received at least a 90-point rating by Wine Spectator or Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, in addition to seasonal offerings and labels from special Club events. Services even extend to tracking down elusive vintages for Members.

No matter your level of enological expertise, join this tantalizing new “club within the Club” and dial up your pleasure from the bottle to the next intensity alongside the Club’s other wine lovers. ®

For more information about the Cellar Club, visit the Wine section of the Club website.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

T

he headline in the September 2008 issue of Decanter magazine seemed fairly innocuous. “Germany astonishes at Decanter World Wine Awards,” it proclaimed. Nothing out of the ordinary about that, you might think. Until you read the first line of the accompanying article: “There were astonished gasps at last night’s Decanter World Wine Awards as a German producer took the top International Trophy for Pinot Noir.”

This German challenger had beaten contenders from New Zealand, South America and Burgundy—all regional award winners in the same competition.

Award-winning red wines from Germany?

What on earth is going on here? In fact, German wine is undergoing somewhat of a renaissance, and the Decanter report is but a small piece of the whole.

Fine German Rieslings, often known generically as “Hock” (from Hockamore, a corruption of Hochheimer), were once highly prized and often sold for more than first-growth Bordeaux or Grand Cru Burgundy. They were generally vinified dry and expressed terroir as much as any fine wine emanating from France.

Two world wars, however, had a devastating effect on the German wine industry, and recovery was focused largely on export markets. A relatively simple formula was the insipid, sweet, occasionally fizzy wine known as Liebfraumilch.

Germany’s wine laws, enacted in 1971, did little to help the situation. Wine labels were incomprehensible to an international audience, and quality standards emphasized sugar ripeness at the expense of regional or local character. This has influenced

perceptions of German wine quality abroad.

But impressions can be wrong. In the Riesling grape, Germany has some of the world’s best raw material. This was acknowledged by wine critic Jancis Robinson when she wrote, “I think that Riesling is indisputably the greatest white wine grape in the world, but many people think I am mad.”

In recent years, a growing number of dedicated producers, led by the VDP association of premium growers, have returned to Germany’s roots. They are producing dry wines of great distinctiveness and character, along with a distinctive German brand identity similar in scope to the Burgundy Grand Cru system. The intent is to reclaim Germany’s heritage as producer of some of the world’s finest dry white wines.

At the same time, Germany’s tradition of late-harvest noble sweet wines continues unabated. And the pockets of red wine viticulture, perhaps with a wind assist from global warming, are attracting new headlines as well.

Don’t miss this chance to savor the best that Germany has to offer. Perhaps a few astonished gasps later, you will be mad about Riesling, too. ®

wine

tasting

German Gems

by David Tropp

German Wine Tasting Wednesday, June 17 7 p.m.

Banquet Rooms ¥10,000 Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk

Wines of the Month Red Domaine Michel Fonné Pinot Noir Cuvée à l’Ancienne 2005, Alsace, France Redolent of cassis and blackberry and with smoky, spicy cocoa powder and toasted praline accents, this Pinot from one of Alsace’s finest small estates exhibits formidable concentration, fine tannins, a seamless ripeness of flavor and a sappy, juicy finish.

White Dr Pauly-Bergweiler Piesporter Michelsberg Riesling Kabinett 2005, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany Produced in Germany’s oldest wine-growing region by one of Moselle’s most esteemed winemaking families, this Riesling is tropical and musky with rich aromas of peach and wild honey. The palate is rich and sweet but with balanced acidity.

Bottle: ¥4,000 Glass: ¥800

Club wining and dining

behind the

scenes

Upfront and Online

by Nick Jones

O

n June 1, the Food & Beverage Department launches an online feedback and information forum for Members and employees. Hosted by Food & Beverage’s consultant, Challenges Five, this venture marks the latest in a series of ongoing projects to continually improve the Club’s dining services.

The online arena will allow Members an insight into the workings of the restaurants and provide them with a direct, open way to offer comments, exchange ideas and ask questions to those in charge. According to Bill Hurley, 58, of Challenges Five, the idea for the program was born out of the many focus group sessions he has conducted with Members since the Club moved to Takanawa at the start of 2008.

“Over the past several years, we have collected much data relating to Member satisfaction and employee engagement and, as we continued to see this base of knowledge grow, it seemed most appropriate to find ways to share it with others,” Hurley says.

“In this case, the others are the Members and the employees.”

Since Member satisfaction dipped to an all-time low of 61 percent last year, Food & Beverage Director Michael Marlay and his team have been busy seeking the thoughts of Members and revamping menus and service. Marlay says the goal is

to increase satisfaction to 75 percent this year, nearer to the record-high of 78 percent in the final months before the Club’s move from Azabudai.

It’s hoped that this month’s rollout will help the department to edge closer to that target. “We will use the site to solicit feedback on an ongoing basis, and we know that honest feedback is the most important factor in adjusting the operation for the better,” Hurley says. “We will share responses to Member comments on the site, as well as actions taken by the team as a result of Member comments.”

Besides showing Member reaction to all aspects of dining and banqueting at the Club, the site will feature the results of the biannual employee satisfaction survey, as well as details of staff training and development. The aim is nothing short of total transparency. “Through the acquisition of feedback and the sharing of information, we will bring the Members, the employees and the Club ever closer together,” says Hurley, “and that can only be a positive for everyone involved.” ® To access the feedback pages and provide your own comments, look for the link in the Wine & Dining section of the Club website.

Robert Sweeney

10 June 2009 iNTOUCH

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Feeling Lucky?

The menus at the American Room, Mixed Grille and Vineyards just got a little more tantalizing with the limited-time Lucky Envelopes. Until July 31, the Club is giving away 1,000 Lucky Envelopes a month to Members.

Spend ¥2,500 or more in one of these three outlets and you could win anywhere from ¥500 to ¥10,000 per person off your next weekday dinner bill. See the Club website for details.

Kids’ Parties Made Perfect Don’t sweat your child’s next birthday party—let the Club’s catering professionals organize a day to remember. From arranging the food and decorations to finding a magician, the Food & Beverage team can help. For details, check out the Club website or call Mutsumi Sekiai at 03-4588-0307.

The Bigger the Better Dine with a party of 10 people or more at the American Room and we’ll give you ¥10,000 off your next meal at the restaurant.

What’s more, between June 1 and August 31, you can enjoy the American Room’s classic roast beef carved at your table.

Reserve at 03-4588-0675.

did you know... that Members can enjoy a worry-free evening of cocktails at the Club with a convenient new designated driver service called Tokyo City Daiko?

Club wining and dining 11

T

oho film veterans Godzilla and Mothra are well known to followers of Japanese pop culture. Less famous—but equally fearsome—are the yokai, a group of Japanese mythic monsters and humanoids.

Certainly they were less widely known until last year’s publication of Yokai Attack! The Japanese Monster Survival Guide, a tongue-in-cheek field guide to some of these imaginary beasts, which roamed Japan’s forests, canyons and villages centuries ago—at least via fables and lore—and have found their way into aspects of modern society.

“Each character has a basis in a Japanese folktale,” says American co-author Matt Ault, 35, who, along with his Japanese wife, Hiroko Yoda, 37, assembled the list of 42 yokai, including the Kappa, a green, reptile-like amphibian with a sizeable beak found in rivers, and Onibaba, an elderly hag who preys on pregnant women in order to collect the livers of their unborn children, In all, the illustrated 191-page book reads like a who’s who of nightmarish characters.

According to Ault, however, the few dozen yokai featured in the book are merely a sampling. “Given the vastness,” he says, “it was important for us to not only represent the breadth of yokai out there, but also to ensure that they weren’t too obscure.”

12 June 2009 iNTOUCH

Ghoulish Guide

by Brett Bull Illustrations by Tatsuya Morino

A husband-and-wife team delves into Japanese folklore and legend to produce a lighthearted handbook to ancient critters and mythical beasts.

Beyond the myth, Yokai Attack! explores the origins of these beings, which were often created as a means to explain inscrutable natural phenomena. Azuki Arai, for example, which means “bean washer,” is a short, balding creature that utters an onomatopoeic tune as it goes about its rinsing along riverbanks. Apparently, locals invented it as an explanation for “the disorienting acoustics of river canyons, which tend to amplify ambient sounds.”

While it is true that these beasts are not fact, they are not entirely fiction, either.

“The impact upon Japanese culture, both popular and traditional, is very real,” Ault explains. The aforementioned Kappa, which enjoys cucumbers, lends its name to kappa maki, a sushi roll stuffed with that vegetable. Similarly, kitsune udon (noodles covered with tofu) is named after

the wily, fox-like Kitsune and its proclivity for such a topping.

Japanese literature, anime and films are filled with yokai, too. Toei Animation’s anime series “Mononoke” features a Nue, a creature with the legs of a tiger, body of a raccoon

LIBRARY

Matt Ault and Hiroko Yoda

dog, a monkey’s head and snake’s tail, while director Takashi Miike’s 2005 fantasy film The Great Yokai War sees actress Chiaki Kuriyama star alongside numerous scampering critters.

Yokai Attack! is organized like a scrapbook. Split into chapters with titles like “Annoying Neighbors” and “Gruesome Gourmets,” the book details the basic characteristics of each entry, as well as a spot of advice should the reader meet one.

For Hashi Hime, a scowling, longhaired female with a penchant for breaking up happy couples, for example, the book believes “your only chance is to swear to break up with your significant other. Don’t have one? Uh….”

Accompanying the profiles are reproductions of woodblock prints and colorful illustrations by Tatsuya Morino, an assistant to famed horror manga artist Shigeru Mizuki, whose friendship with

Ault was sparked by a mutual interest in antique, die-cast metal robot toys from the 1970s.

To research the project, Ault and Yoda spent many hours at the National Diet Library digging through microfilm. The 1776 book by Sekien Toriyama, Gazu Hyakki Yako, a kind of satirized yokai encyclopedia, provided the basis for the couple’s work.

The guide is dedicated to Setsu Koizumi, who, a century ago, assisted her husband, the Irish-Greek writer Lafcadio Hearn, in penning numerous yokai-inspired ghost stories for foreign readers. Their partnership proved inspirational for Ault and Yoda, who met while at the University of Maryland in the United States.

“Cross-cultural communication can’t be a one-man show,” explains Yoda. “I really feel that Lafcadio and Setsu’s example sets the standard for when it comes to dealing

with multicultural material. When we first heard about them, Matt and I saw a lot of ourselves in the way they worked.”

The authors, who run a Tokyo-based translation company that produces Englishlanguage versions of Japanese video games, animation and comic books, say that the book’s content reflects a theme common in many different cultures and evident in such literature as the old Grimm’s collection of fairytales from 19th-century Germany.

“Japanese people like scary stories just like many people around the world,” Yoda says. “I don’t think most people in Japan generally think of yokai as gruesome. Some of them definitely are, but many others are cute or weird rather than disgusting.” ® The Library stocks Yokai Attack!

Yokai Attack! www.yokaiattack.com

Literary gems at the Library 13

© Denis Vautravers

writer’s

block

Amélie Nothomb

by Sophie Narayan

B

orn in Kobe in 1967 to Belgian diplomat parents, Amélie Nothomb stayed in Japan until she was 5. Her family subsequently moved to China, New York, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Laos.

For Nothomb, the move from Japan was a “wrenching separation.”

After having published eight books— and still only in her early twenties— Nothomb decided to move back to the country of her birth. The experience inspired two more novels: Fear and Trembling (1999) and Tokyo Fiancée (2007).

The former title, which sold more than half a million copies in France alone and won the prestigious Grand Prix de l’Académie Française, is largely autobiographical; the book’s main character, Amélie, decides to spend a year working at a Japanese company in Tokyo. Misunderstanding the intricate

codes that govern relationships between employees and their superiors, Amélie’s time at the company quickly turns into a period of humiliation.

In Tokyo Fiancée, the author describes her life outside of work, and the novel warmly and humorously explores her romantic relationship with Rinri, a 20-yearold Japanese student whom she meets while giving private French lessons. Romance, faux pas and funny insights ensue. While Tokyo Fiancée is a swift and entertaining read, it also examines how well we can

kid s' co rn e r

a preview of what’s on for the Club’s young, inquiring minds

ABCs and 123s

by Erica Kawamura

Learning English is so much fun at the Library’s weekly sessions of games, songs and crafts for children with English as their second language. Numbers, letters, shapes and colors are just some of the exciting elements of this entertaining curriculum.

Wednesdays (June 3, 10, 17 and 24) 4–4:30 p.m.

Children’s Library Free No sign-up necessary

14 June 2009 iNTOUCH

know ourselves and other cultures.

With her sharp prose, Nothomb’s short works are an uncommon delight. And for those of us fortunate enough to have experienced Japan, they should inspire plenty of recognition, too.

Nothomb now lives in Paris. Since 1992, she has published a novel every year. Her books have been translated into 37 languages. ® The Library currently stocks Fear and Trembling, The Life of Hunger (2004) and Tokyo Fiancée.

events

Toddler Time The Library’s Erica Kawamura hosts an exciting session of arts, crafts and storytelling every Tuesday and Thursday for preschoolers and their moms.

Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. (June 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30) Thursday, 4 p.m. (June 4, 11, 18 and 25) Children’s Library Free No sign-up necessary

Summer Reading Program The Club’s popular program for young book lovers returns for another summer of themed fun. Find out more in next month’s iNTOUCH.

LIBRARY

new

reads A Platter of Figs and Other Recipes

by David Tanis Written by the head chef of renowned Berkeley restaurant Chez Panisse, this book is a collection of 24 seasonal menus. From a simple summer platter of ripened tomatoes with sea salt to a more complex lobster risotto for cooler evenings, Tanis provides scintillating ideas for cooks of all levels. (TF)

Sunday Times of London Along with The New York Times Sunday edition, the Library now stocks The Sunday Times of London.

The broadsheet, which was launched in 1864, is available in photocopy format along with The Mail on Sunday. Indulge your taste for England in the Reading Room. (MA)

House of Cards

by William D Cohan

Survival of the Sickest

by Dr Sharon Moalem

The award-winning author of The Last Tycoons treats his audience to yet another account of financial greed and doom. The offices of Bear Stearns provide the setting for this revelation of corporate excess, risky bets and infighting, shedding light on the reason behind Wall Street’s most recent financial meltdown. (TF)

A new spin on Darwin’s observation from a researcher at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital argues that today’s diseases gave our ancestors an edge in survival.

Moalem exposes the limitations of modern medicine and offers a new approach to longevity. (MA)

The Good Neighbors

by Holly Black and Ted Naifeh

Eat Sleep Sit

by Kaoru Nomomura

Rue Silver’s life is in disarray. Her mother has disappeared and her father is being blamed for her murder. In this first book of the Kin series, Rue starts to learn that fairies are not just found in fairytales, but in her family tree as well. (EK)

At the age of 30, Nomomura embarked on a year-long journey to seek spiritual fulfillment. A bestseller in Japan, this, at times, shocking book offers an insight into the daily life of a Zen Buddhist monk. (CM)

Reviews compiled by Library Committee members Tracy Flannery and Michelle Arnot and Club librarians Erica Kawamura and Charles Morris.

member’s choice Member: Terri Bloshuk Title: Cross Country by James Patterson

What’s the book about?

Cross Country is the latest installment in James Patterson’s series of novels starring protagonist Alex Cross. The psychiatrist and detective with the Washington, DC, police force must track a brutal serial killer all the way to Africa. Not for the fainthearted.

What did you like about it?

The book is very suspenseful, thrilling and fast-paced, while Patterson’s portrayal of Alex Cross’s relationships with his family and friends provides a softer side to the story.

Why did you choose it?

I have been a fan of James Patterson for a long time and have found the Alex Cross series to be very satisfying over the years. I’m never disappointed.

What other books would you recommend?

I recommend all the Alex Cross series of thrillers, starting with the first. Other Patterson books I enjoyed include Judge and Jury, You’ve Been Warned, Honeymoon and Beach Road.

Literary gems at the Library 15

The Rom-Com Queen

by Geri Carden

B

orn in Sherman Oaks, California, in 1969, Jennifer Aniston was the first child of the acting couple Nancy Dow and John Aniston. Forty years later, she is one of the world’s most loved TV actresses, largely for her role as Rachel Green, the beautiful but somewhat shallow Long Island princess and roommate in “Friends,” which ran for 10 hilarious seasons.

She is also a tabloid darling. In 1999, she was named one of People magazine’s most beautiful people. A year later, as if to reinforce her glamorous status, she married Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt. They quickly became one of Tinseltown’s most photographed couples. The circumstances surrounding their subsequent divorce ensured that Aniston’s private life was rarely out of the nation’s glossy magazines.

With the end of “Friends” in 2004, Aniston’s career blossomed into that of a highly paid (she pulled in around $8 million a movie), A-list actress. In some of Hollywood’s most memorable romantic comedies, Aniston shone as a master of the genre.

Along Came Polly (2004) is a lighthearted comedy in which the quirky Polly (Aniston) begins a less-than-perfect relationship with newly divorced Reuben, played by Ben Stiller. The same year, she played alongside Jim Carrey in Bruce Almighty. Her performance established her as much more than a sitcom starlet.

Aniston’s most recent release, Marley & Me (2008), is a heartwarming comedy about the challenges faced by a maturing family and their relationship with their troublesome dog, Marley. Acting alongside Owen Wilson, Aniston delivers a fine performance in this movie perfect for animal lovers and romcom addicts. ® Besides all the titles mentioned above, the Video Library stocks the following movies starring Aniston: She’s the One (1996); Picture Perfect (1997); The Object of My Affection (1998); Rock Star (2001); The Good Girl (2002); and The Break-Up (2006).

t v

s e r i e s

Lipstick Jungle

by Geri Carden

For anybody missing the fashion stores of Manhattan, “Lipstick Jungle” is a must-see. Based on the book of the same name by Candice Bushnell (Sex in the City), “Lipstick Jungle” traces the lives of three highly successful New York women.

Impeccably dressed in every scene, the three characters, Wendy Healy (Brook Shields), Nico Reilly (Kim Raver from “Third Watch” and “24”) and Victory Ford (Lindsay Price from “Beverly Hills, 90210”), stylishly weather life’s storms in this comedy-drama. This time, Bushnell’s protagonists are older, savvier and more in control, juggling relationships, family and, most importantly, high-powered careers.

After two seasons, there were conflicting reports over whether the show had actually been canceled. In March this year, however, Entertainment Weekly magazine reported that “Lipstick Jungle” had, indeed, been dropped by the NBC television network. ® The Video Library stocks season one of “Lipstick Jungle.”

16 June 2009 iNTOUCH

give it a go

Set in the Bronx in 1964, Doubt centers on the battle between a nun (Meryl Streep) and a charismatic priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who she believes is abusing a black student.

The performances by the two protagonists are stunning. A spellbinding movie.

A touching movie with intense scenes and superb acting that is highly recommended for lovers of drama and intrigue. The performances of Anne Hathaway and Patrick Wilson, together with the rest of the fabulous cast, make this not completely original story a gem to watch.

A young therapist (Anne Hathaway) is assigned to work with a group of survivors of a plane crash.

But after her clients begin to disappear one at a time, she finds herself embroiled in a mystery to which one of the survivors may hold the key. The ending reminds me of The Sixth Sense.

As a devoted fan of the “Dragonball” series of comics and cartoons, I am truly disappointed that the film doesn’t stick to the original story. While it does reproduce some of the more clichéd elements of the original, they are done poorly.

A huge disappointment.

This unappealing version of the popular Japanese manga by Akira Toriyama follows young warrior Son Goku (Justin Chatwin) as he sets out to collect a set of seven magical orbs and do battle with the evil King Piccolo.

This is an exceptional film (even knowing how it ends) about a plot by senior German officers to assassinate Hitler. The first-class acting of the star cast, led by Tom Cruise as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, and the direction of Bryan Singer make this film a must-see.

Based on the true story of a group of disillusioned Nazi officers that hatches a plan to kill Hitler during the height of World War II, this politically charged war film features a star-studded cast.

Tom Cruise produces a compelling performance as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg.

abort

smokin' give it a go abort

She is Yuko Akisato, manager of the Video Library.

smokin'

With a seriously outstanding cast, director John Patrick Shanley delivers an excellent film that keeps your mind engaged and eyes glued to the screen. The film will have you thinking and rethinking the layers of the storyline and profound theme. Definitely worth watching.

SHE SAYS

He is Club President Lance Lee.

HE SAYS

VIDEO LIBRARY

new titles Drama

Enchanted April Four London women explore romance and reexamine life’s possibilities during a month-long holiday in a seaside Italian villa in this beautiful, sleepy 1992 film.

Brideshead Revisited A moving tale of forbidden love and the loss of innocence set in pre-World War II England, based on Evelyn Waugh’s classic 1945 novel. Starring Emma Thompson.

Action Taken A retired CIA officer (Liam Neeson) heads on a fastpaced quest for his abducted teenage daughter and her underworld captors in this adrenaline-injected thriller.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans The third installment of the shadowy vampire flick franchise, this prequel shines a light on the origins of the feud between the Death Dealer bloodsuckers and werewolf Lycans.

Comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop Rotund-bellied comic Kevin James (TV’s “The King of Queens”) is a single dad forced to relinquish his dream of donning a New Jersey state trooper badge and earn a paycheck instead as a shopping mall security guard.

Documentary NBC News Presents Yes We Can! The Barack Obama Story A look back at US President Barack Obama’s life and the unprecedented 2008 election, narrated by “NBC Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams.

Family A Plumm Summer The most popular resident of one small American town in the 1960s, a beloved TV puppet named Froggy Doo, goes missing and two young brothers, Elliott and Rocky Plumm, take on the FBI in trying to crack the case. Based on a true story.

TV and film selections 17

T

Sue Mayuzumi

Health and Harmony One Member finds physical and mental well-being in an eclectic mix of recreational classes at the Club.

by Nick Jones

18 June 2009 iNTOUCH

he world of finance in New York could never be described as unhurried or predictable. And it was while working in this environment of multimillion-dollar deals and long, stress-inducing hours that Sue Mayuzumi began to feel that something was missing from her life.

“The lifestyle in New York in the financial industry is so fast-paced and a lot of things are superficial,” she says, sitting in the Adult Lobby one weekday morning after a workout with personal trainer Koichi Uesaka.

“I started not wanting to answer the phone in my own apartment. I’m a very friendly and outgoing person, but not wanting to answer the phone and screening calls, I just thought, ‘I must be really, really tired psychologically for not wanting to take my friends’ calls. My soul must be craving for something.’”

Finding salvation just a few doors down at a martial arts dojo, Mayuzumi began studying Shorinryu karate and was immediately hooked. “I just felt I needed some inner peace,” the 45-year-old says, “and I really like the culture of martial arts where you have to respect certain things and they uphold discipline.”

It wasn’t a realm completely unknown to her, though. Her father was an accomplished kendo exponent and Mayuzumi tried her hand at the highly disciplined sport as a youngster. But since she disliked having to lug around the heavy protective gear and bamboo stick, she eventually opted for tennis— another popular pastime of her family.

Practicing karate for two years, Mayuzumi stopped when she moved to California. Joining the Club, however, has allowed her once again to indulge in her passion for the Japanese art of kicks and punches. She now takes the Recreation Department’s Gojuryu karate class once a week with her 5-year-old daughter. Although a different style of karate, she says Gojuryu’s fundamentals are similar to those of Shorinryu karate.

Her American husband, Robert Shiroishi, meanwhile, prefers aikido, an enthusiasm not shared

by Mayuzumi, who regards the relatively modern martial art as too “passive.” So when she heard about the Club’s kickboxing classes, she wasted no time in signing up. “I wanted to do something that was close to karate,” she explains. “It was fantastic, so much fun!” She completed a semester of classes. “I would like to do it again,” the fan of the fighting sport K-1 adds, “but it doesn’t really match with my schedule and the classes fill up very quickly.”

But the gregarious mother of two’s interests don’t lie entirely with how best to beat an opponent. For the past few months, she has been putting aside thoughts of elbow strikes and side kicks for two weekly sessions of Zumba—the Latin dance-infused fitness craze. “I was reading the TAC magazine and I read about it, and I love it, I love it,” she enthuses, “and you get a great workout.”

The high-energy aerobics-like fad, which has its origins in Miami, Florida, helps satisfy Mayuzumi’s passion for dance. She also takes hula lessons with her daughter in Tokyo. Although performed at a

RECREATION much gentler pace than Zumba, the native Hawaiian dance serves another purpose. “Hula makes you feel like a woman,” Mayuzumi says with a playful laugh, “because the dance is so feminine and so elegant.”

Born in Tokyo, Mayuzumi spent much of her childhood abroad (the United States and India) as her father moved around for his job. Wherever they lived, sports were an integral part of family life.

“Once a month, my parents and I would go play golf and every Sunday was our family tennis day,” Mayuzumi recalls.

“I realize that that’s probably one of the reasons why I do a lot of sports together with my daughter and my husband.”

Her daughter proved the inspiration for starting swimming lessons at the Club, much as she had done with karate and hula. “I was waiting for my daughter but I thought, ‘I don’t want to sit down, I want to do it!’” she says. According to Mayuzumi, the weekly sessions in the Pool with instructor Miyako Nakamura have not only honed her stroke and breathing technique, but also helped her overcome the apprehension she had

always felt about swimming.

Likewise, the gym is no longer a place she reluctantly visits. “I believe exercise and fun should be together,” she says. “But just lifting weights, I couldn’t think of that as a fun thing.” Recruiting Uesaka, one of the Club’s personal trainers, changed everything. “It’s hard, but I enjoy it so much,” she says of her Monday morning workouts in the Fitness Center. “At the end of the session, I’m beaming.”

Since restarting her fitness regimen after giving birth to her second daughter last year, Mayuzumi says she has lost seven kilograms and gained much more energy, adding that the different characteristics of the diverse programs and classes she takes combine for an overall feeling of physical and mental harmony. “Some people can find one thing to satisfy all things,” she says, “but I must be greedy!” ® To find out more about the Recreation Department’s range of classes and programs, ask at the Recreation Services Desk or check out the Club website.

Fitness and well-being 19

Cello for Juniors The Class Children ages 6 to 14 of all musical abilities can discover the beauty and harmony of the cello in this new program. Under the instruction of a world-renowned cellist, budding musicians learn the basics of the classical instrument.

The class focuses on playing and enjoying the cello, rather than teaching complicated music concepts. Two sessions are divided by age for younger and older players. Cellos and music scores are provided.

Cello for Juniors runs every Tuesday through June 9. 6–10 years: 4:30–5 p.m. 11–14 years: 5:15–5:45 p.m.

The Instructor Katsuhisa Nakajima is an accomplished cellist and instructor of chamber music at Musashino Music College, as well as a lecturer and children’s cello teacher at its affiliate, Musashino Music Academy. He performs in the biannual Ogikubo Music Festival, along with numerous other recitals and musical activities, and has played throughout Japan, Australia and Canada as both a solo cellist and as part of a chamber orchestra.

The Student “Though there are many opportunities to learn piano or violin, the cello is quite rare and Toranosuke’s father thought it would be a great opportunity. It was a completely new experience for Toranosuke, but he enjoyed the class right away. Nakajima-sensei teaches him how to hold the strings and bow in a gentle and fun manner and the 30-minute classes pass so quickly. The cello is great in that even beginners can make sounds and feel some sense of achievement.” (Minako Kuramoto, mother of Toranosuke)

fitness

tip

by Jackie Wright

Get on the ball for a great upper arm and core workout.

• Select a 65-centimeter stability ball and a set of dumbbells that will fatigue the triceps within eight to 12 repetitions.

• Holding a dumbbell in each hand, sit on

20 June 2009 iNTOUCH

the ball and roll out until your head and shoulders are resting on top of the ball.

• With your feet flat on the floor and your knees bent at a 90-degree angle, form a “glute” bridge with your lower body.

• With your shoulders relaxed, lift the rib cage, clench the buttocks and pull the navel toward the spine.

• Flex your arms 90 degrees at the elbow joint, keeping your elbows pointing toward the ceiling and upper arms next to your ears.

• Extend your arms toward the ceiling for two slow counts up and then two slow counts back down.

• Perform two to three sets of eight to 12 repetitions, two to three times a week.

class

focus

RECREATION

what’s

Pool Rules Enjoy your summertime swims with these simple guidelines: • No food or drink (except for water) is allowed on the Pool deck.

on

• Children who have passed the Super Swimmer test may swim without an adult in the water. All other children under age 10 must have a responsible adult in the Pool with them at all times.

Contact the Pool staff for Super Swimmer designation details.

• Lifeguards are responsible for the safety of all Pool users. Swimmers are asked not to distract them with unrelated requests.

• Bathroom incidents in the water cause numerous Pool closures each summer. Please ensure that infants and toddlers wear Club-approved diapers (available for purchase at the Pool Office) in the Pool and that children who are not toilet trained take frequent bathroom breaks.

Pampering Dad Help Dad unwind this Father’s Day with a gift certificate for a special treatment at The Spa. Choose from three revitalizing options, ranging from a refreshing, one-hour facial and massage to a two-hour, head-to-toe makeover. Talk to one of the professional therapists at The Spa for details.

Group Workout From June 16 to August 29, a handful of exciting morning programs will help Members keep fit throughout the summer.

Body Sculpting with Kristina Shuellermann: Tuesdays, 9:30–10:30 a.m.

Step and Sculpt with Motoko Nakamura: Wednesdays, 9:30–10:30 a.m.

Step Circuit with Taichi Sekikawa: Thursdays, 9:30–10:30 a.m.

Step Circuit with Mika Takemura: Saturdays, 9:30–10:45 a.m.

youth

spot

Handmade for Dad Use your creative flair to make Dad something he’ll treasure—and wear—for years to come. Sign up now for one of two tie-making sessions on Sunday, June 7, ahead of Father’s Day on Sunday, June 21. Session 1 (3–8 years): 1–2 p.m. Session 2 (9–12 years): 2:30–3:30 p.m. The Studio. ¥3,300 (includes materials). Sign up online or at the Recreation Services Desk.

Baseball Fever After Japan’s thrilling victory in the World Baseball Classic, take in a local game in Tokyo. The Club has organized special ticket packages for children to see the Yakult Swallows play on Saturday, June 6.

Children: ¥4,200 (includes special souvenir). Adults: ¥6,300. Sign up online or at the Recreation Services Desk.

Summer Fun at the Club There are stacks of reasons to hang out at the Club this summer.

Check out the array of exciting programs for kids on offer: Camp Adventure (ages 6–12) Summer Pee Wee Camp (ages 3–5) Summer Soccer Clinic (ages 5–11) Summer Intensive Aikido (ages 5 and above) Summer Basketball Camp (ages 6–11)

Sign up online or at the Recreation Services Desk.

Fitness and well-being 21

Ken Katsurayama (l–r) Barbara Rosasco (Kasumisou Foundation), Kim Forsythe-Ferris (Tyler Foundation), Yumiko Tategami and Marjorie Chiba (Hands On Tokyo), and Vickie Paradise Green (Run for the Cure)

Champions of Compassion

by Ulrica Marshall

Five Women’s Group members talk about the challenges and rewards of setting up and running charities in Japan.

by Ulrica Marshall

T

he late Mother Teresa once said, “Yesterday is gone.

Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today.

Let us begin.” It is this spirit that personifies the women behind the five charities that benefited from the Women’s Group’s 60th Anniversary Gala in April. Often with little more than a deep-rooted desire to help others and sometimes still reeling from personal tragedy, each of them had to first navigate Japan’s baffling bureaucratic maze to register the organization. ®

Deva Hirsch

Modeled on the HandsOn Network, an organization that promotes volunteering in the United States, Hands On Tokyo was established by American Deva Hirsch in December 2006 to give people an opportunity to contribute to Japanese society. “We felt so fortunate to be here,” she explains. “I discovered that [volunteering] was not only a difficulty for our family, but also for others, both foreign and Japanese.”

More than two years on and Hands On Tokyo connects hundreds of volunteers each week to a host of activities, from restoring children’s playgrounds to playing basketball with mentally disabled young people.

The organization was recently granted nonprofit status, but Hirsch says that the process was far from easy. “Currently, the questions that [the government] asks and the process that is followed do not follow best practice and is not set up to encourage sustainable organizations.”

Although the work to keep Hands On Tokyo running is demanding, Hirsch says there are often moments when her reasons for starting the organization are reaffirmed, such as the 80-year-old woman in a nursing home who was “so happy” after receiving her first-ever manicure.

www.handsontokyo.org 22 June 2009 iNTOUCH

HANDS ON TOKYO

WOMEN’S GROUP

Barbara Rosasco

KASUMISOU FOUNDATION

“Help never comes for people who are in urgent need,” says Barbara Rosasco of those her charity supports. Providing financial and educational support for some of Southeast Asia’s most deprived people, the Kasumisou Foundation is currently focusing its efforts on sick and homeless women and children in Cambodia.

“This is a serious personal responsibility,” Rosasco says of the demands of running the foundation. “Failure is simply not an option when results can mean life or death or homelessness for vulnerable families and children.”

As a result, the American says, balancing her work and home lives presents challenges. “Friends and family are a lifeline, but the reality is that our rather consuming passion may not be theirs,” explains Rosasco, who often finds her workweek stretching beyond 80 hours.

However, she adds, the sacrifice is entirely worthwhile in the “sure knowledge that our programs have rescued thousands of distressed children and their families and have allowed them a second chance at life.”

http://kasumisou.org

Vickie Paradise Green

RUN FOR THE CURE

When faced with a life-threatening disease, many people would be excused for being a little self-indulgent. Not Vickie Paradise Green. In remission from breast cancer after being diagnosed in 2002, she was shocked at the lack of support and awareness about the disease in Japan. The Philadelphia native decided to set up Run for the Cure in 2004.

“The one test that can save a woman’s life—mammography— is not covered by Japanese health insurance,” she says. Run for the Cure now donates mammography machines to rural hospitals and sponsors free mammograms. In addition, it publishes a free Japanese-language magazine and has started an English-speaking support group for breast cancer survivors in Tokyo.

Although Paradise Green says she encountered numerous obstacles to starting the nonprofit organization, she is made aware of the palpable impact of her efforts every day. “I [recently] met a young Japanese woman who had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer at a clinic where the foundation had donated a mammography machine and provided free screenings,” she says. “She survived.”

www.runforthecure.org

Kim Forsythe-Ferris

TYLER FOUNDATION

There can surely be no grief greater than that of losing a child.

Yet when Kim Forsythe-Ferris’ “inspirational son,” Tyler, passed away in 2005 after a two-year battle with infant leukemia, she and her husband, Mark, decided to set up a charity to provide support for child patients and their families—something they found was sadly lacking during their ordeal.

More than three years later, the American says the Tyler Foundation has come a long way with “the support of our friends and the expat community.” The organization’s latest project is the Shine On! House, which partly opened in April this year. It provides long-term, lowcost accommodation for families of hospitalized children, as well as counseling and support workshops.

If ever Forsythe-Ferris needs validation for her work, it is tangible whenever she visits hospitals. “We receive hugs and tears of gratitude from moms and handmade thank-yous from patients all the time,” she says. “But it’s the smiles of children in the hospital that are the constant affirmation that we are absolutely doing the right thing and making a difference.”

www.tylershineon.org

Geeta Mehta

ASIA INITIATIVES

Geeta Mehta, who founded Asia Initiatives together with her husband, Krishen, prefers the term empowerment to charity when talking about her organization’s work to support projects aimed at sustainable development, alleviating poverty and environmental protection. “[We] were deeply troubled by the poverty [in India] and in many other…Southeast Asian countries,” she says. “We believed that the inequity and lack of opportunity for poor people is unforgivable given the growing wealth of these countries, and wanted to do something about it.”

First, however, there were local challenges to surmount. “Japanese companies do not seem to have a tradition of supporting charities, perhaps due to lack of tax deductions available,” Mehta says. Depending largely on individual donations, Asia Initiatives is able to fund rural entrepreneurs through microcredit loans.

“Every time I go to visit the women’s self-help groups, who have doubled or tripled their incomes using microcredit, I am strengthened in my belief to keep going,” Mehta says. “[They] are the most vulnerable members of poor societies in Asia, so when their education and healthcare needs are met, the cycle of poverty can surely be broken.”

www.asiainitiatives.org An interactive community 23

class

review

Pottery Pals

by Beth Cohen

Beth Cohen

I

n the fall of 2007, I was attending the Women’s Group classes registration when I started chatting with a fellow member. The two of us hit it off immediately and, inspired by the vast selection of cultural class offerings, decided to get to know each other better over clay rather than the typical cup of coffee.

We signed up that day for a trio of Keiko Fujishita’s pottery classes at her studio near Jiyugaoka. During each of the four-hour sessions, we were handed a ball of clay from which to create whatever we desired, from platters to bowls to vases. Experience was not a requirement, just an artistic passion, and as a former graphic designer with no job at the time I found the classes to be just the creative outlet I needed.

I took to the sessions immediately and enjoyed immensely the company of my fellow Women’s Group members

as we worked on our various pieces to the relaxing lull of jazz music in the background. Keiko and her assistant offered plenty of help and fun conversation along the way. Keiko, a vivacious former Japanese teacher, taught us Japanese during the classes and in turn we educated her on American slang, turning each visit into even more of a cultural exchange.

Once we finished molding our objects, Keiko finished, fired and glazed them.

Aspiring artists who become members of her Kyusai Pottery Studio and Gallery (which I did) can do those stages for themselves.

I now go to the studio once or twice a month and feel a wonderful sense of accomplishment when I have completed a work. Most of the time, I’m pretty happy with the results, and on occasion I’m pleasantly surprised by what comes out of the kiln. Once, I started to make a container for my kitchen utensils and it

june

ended up being a vase. The possibilities of what to make are endless.

My apartment is filled with pottery, with about a dozen pieces proudly on display. I’ve started to make gifts for people back home in the United States, including welcome signs and appetizer trays. Every design has a distinctive Japanese flair to it due to Keiko’s influence.

Like many of the Women’s Group classes, students can discover new aspects of Japanese culture through Keiko’s pottery classes. But for me, they remain, most importantly, a way to meet new people through an unusual, shared experience. ®

Registration for the Women’s Group fall classes is on Thursday, September 17.

Check for details on available classes on the Women’s Group website from late August at www.tokyoamericanclubwomensgroup.org.

july

1

11

29

9

11–12

18

27

WG Extended Board Meeting

New Moms and Babies Get-Together

Get Acquainted Coffee

New Moms and Babies Get-Together

Birth Preparation for Couples

Early Pregnancy and Birth Planning

Get Acquainted Coffee

For more details, check out the events on pages 4 and 5, the Women’s Group page at www.tokyoamericanclub.org or the Women’s Group website at www.tokyoamericanclubwomensgroup.org.

24 June 2009 iNTOUCH

WOMEN’S GROUP

up close

and personal

Behind the Scenes

by Gaby Sheldon Bianca Russell

B

ianca Russell’s enthusiasm for the Women’s Group events she runs is palpable. Her understanding of the workings of the Women’s Group is equally impressive and belies the fact that she only joined the organization less than three years ago after moving to Tokyo with her husband.

Since that time, Russell, 46, has taken on a number of different roles, including as director of the charities committee and, later, fundraising. Now vice president of fundraising and charities, she most recently helped to organize the 60th Anniversary Gala in April (see page 54 for photos from the event).

“I always promised myself that if ever the opportunity arose and I was able to do voluntary work within the community and for a charity, that I would,” she says. “Coming to Japan meant I could fulfill this dream and promise to myself as I became ‘jobless’ and had the time on my hands. I have also made some wonderful, wonderful friends who have touched my life in so many different ways and whom I shall never forget.”

Having also led the organizing teams of two of the Women’s Group biggest fundraisers— the International Bazaar and the Asian Home Furnishings Sale—the native South African says the voluntary work has provided her with “a wonderful sense of achievement, especially when the time arrives to allocate the funds raised to the various charity applicants—all the hours spent in organizing and assisting with the fundraisers finally pays off.”

A trained actress, Russell made her debut with the Tokyo International Players as the Duchess of York in Shakespeare’s “Richard III” in April. Although it was her first Shakespearean role, she had previously acted in a number of plays while living in Britain, a country that she regards as home.

Sponsors of the Women’s Group 60th Anniversary Gala The organizers of April’s 60th Anniversary Gala sincerely thank the following sponsors for their generous support of the event and in helping to make the evening a successful one.

Platinum Donor Interior Collection Diamond Donors Leading Hotels of the World The Kahala The Nam Hai Palazzo Versace The Sukhothai United Airlines Gold Donors Amit Trading André Bernard Hair Salon (Tokyo American Club) Blue & White

Coca-Cola Japan Co., Ltd. De’Longhi Japan Eastern Carpets Forever Mark Japan Global Dining Restaurants Hakkaisan Sake Brewery Hilton Hotels Hilton—Conrad Tokyo Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa Hilton Tokyo Hilton Niseko Village I CAN Gymnastics (IGC Japan) Infinity Diamonds Jaguar Land Rover Japan

“Possibly my most memorable play was a two-hander where I played Grace in ‘Suddenly, Last Summer’ by Tennessee Williams,” she says. “The greatest challenge was ensuring I had a convincing Southern drawl. Later, I was introduced to the world of pantomime and played the roles of principal boy and girl, amongst others. [It was] hilariously good fun, but admittedly my dancing skills are not the best, so I was the choreographer’s nightmare!”

With one of her sons living in Tokyo and the other visiting from university during the holidays, Russell says her favorite way to spend time when she’s not fundraising or acting is “exploring the many wonderful, quaint areas in Tokyo” with her family.

For now, she can enjoy a well-earned rest before throwing herself back into her Women’s Group duties after the summer break. ®

Kayoh Nakamura Ken Management Renaissance Sapporo Hotel Ken Sendai Hotel Management Lush Japan Co., Ltd. Mami Takahashi Marc Jacobs Japan K.K. Musubi, Kyoto Japanese Cultural Institute Nissin World Delicatessen Oakwood Properties Oakwood Residence Aoyama Oakwood Residence Azabu Juban Oakwood Residence Roppongi T-Cube Oakwood Apartments Roppongi Central Oakwood Apartments Shinjuku Ombuk Indonesian Cruise Shoko Ohta & Suiko Ohta The Niseko Company Tokyo American Club Toriizaka Art Reebok Riedel Ritz-Carlton Tokyo

W. Yonamine Pearl Company Silver Donors Asian Tigers Beaute Absolue Bobby Valentine Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel DIDDI Foreign Buyers’ Club Fujimama’s Hilton Niseko Village JTB Kasumisou Gallery Kato Gallery Ken Management Ken Premier Sapporo Management Ken Kanazawa Hotel Management Ken Yamagata Hotel Management Ken Photography Lisa Jardine Lori Cucinotta Roni Ohara Starbucks

An interactive community 25

Destination TOKY The Kanto region will see a huge transformation to its airport landscape this year and next, but are all the changes necessarily for the better?

by Rob Goss

26 June 2009 iNTOUCH

FEATURE

T

he skies above Tokyo and the surrounding area are about to get a lot busier. Over the next year or so, a combination of new airports and upgraded facilities at existing airports could change the way Kanto residents travel to and from the region.

For starters, Tokyo’s Haneda Airport is on course to open a fourth runway in the fall of 2010. This addition is expected to increase the airport’s operational capacity from just under 300,000 landings and takeoffs a year to 407,000 by 2017 and, along with a new international terminal slated to open this December, help Haneda in its continuing internationalization.

At the same time, Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture, the nation’s rather inconveniently located main international airport, which opened in 1978, is not only in the process of having its second runway extended to accommodate larger aircraft and increase the airport’s capacity, but also about to get a new high-speed rail link that promises to shave 15 minutes off the travel time into Tokyo.

Approximately 230 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, in Shizuoka Prefecture, the Kanto region’s makeover will begin with the opening of Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport this June, and will continue to the north, in Ibaraki Prefecture, in the shape of Ibaraki Airport, which is scheduled to open for domestic and international service in March 2010 after being converted from a Self-Defense Force airfield.

Substantial changes like these, though, don’t come cheap. The total cost of redeveloping Ibaraki and adding associated facilities will run to ¥50 billion, a sum that pales against the ¥190 billion being spent on Shizuoka, the ¥126 billion for the Narita Rapid Railway and the staggering ¥598 billion the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) originally allotted for Haneda’s fourth runway.

The investment is heavy, but is the money being well spent?

The governments of Shizuoka and Ibaraki’s prefectures, which are sharing the costs of their projects with MLIT, seem to think so. Tomohisa Iwase of Shizuoka Prefecture’s Airport

Destination Tokyo 27

Promotion Office says that the airport will bring multiple benefits. Although he doesn’t specify what these advantages will be, the local government has stated elsewhere that it expects the new airport to serve as a hub for visitors to the area and “greatly facilitate domestic and international exchange with Shizuoka Prefecture,” especially for the approximately 400 Shizuokabased companies with offices overseas. In support of Shizuoka, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) says the airport should improve the region’s accessibility and connect the

further away than Narita, less accessible than Narita and the population is very thin. It’s hard to imagine who will use it.”

Schwab is not alone in his opinion. Another Club Member, Jeffrey Bernier, Delta Air Lines’ managing director for Japan, says that although Japan is an important market for Delta, setting up in either Shizuoka or Ibaraki is just not economically feasible. Yet it isn’t just the overseas carriers that are lukewarm on Shizuoka and Ibaraki. Local pressure groups campaigning against the projects have decried them as a misuse of taxpayers’ money that will bring no credible benefit to the prefectures, and even the Japanese airlines’ response has been indifferent.

In December last year, the president of Japan Airlines (JAL), Haruka Nishimatsu, told reporters that it was “out of the question” that JAL would be using Ibaraki. All Nippon Airways (ANA), which, together with JAL, operates approximately 90 percent of flights in the country, also has no plans to add Ibaraki to its services at the moment. In fact, to date, only a few carriers have signed up to use the new airports. JAL and ANA will operate a total of just six domestic flights a day from Shizuoka, where the international routes will be limited to a flight a day to Seoul for both Asiana Airlines and Korean Airlines, plus four flights a week to Shanghai operated by China Eastern Airlines.

Ibaraki is faring even worse. The only route to have been confirmed so far is a daily Asiana Airlines flight to Seoul’s Incheon Airport. Despite the slow uptake, a local government spokesperson says the prefecture is currently in talks with AirAsia X in Malaysia and other airlines from the Philippines, Hong Kong and Macau. “In addition, the current recession is making airlines cautious [and] the domestic airlines are not making any decisions right now on Ibaraki,” he says. When they do get around to

Splitting operations between two airports is much less efficient and will drive up costs in the long run...From our standpoint, Tokyo and Japan run the risk of creating two less-than-optimal airports serving the region. prefecture to global markets.

JETRO is also throwing its support behind Ibaraki. On its website, the organization predicts that once the airport opens, “access to Hokkaido, Osaka, Fukuoka, Okinawa and all of Japan’s major cities will dramatically improve, and it will allow for rapid business development by serving as the ‘northern gate to the Tokyo Metropolitan Area.’” Officials in Ibaraki have expressed hopes that the airport’s landing fees, which will be 30 percent lower than Narita’s, coupled with Narita and Haneda’s inability to satisfy charter and low-cost demand, will attract enough airlines to make it the budget carrier gateway for the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Not everyone, however, is as enthusiastic about the two new airports. Club Member Mark Schwab, United Airlines’ vice president for the Pacific region, says he has no idea why the Shizuoka airport is being built. “In my opinion, from an airline perspective, it makes no economic sense,” says Schwab, sitting in the airline’s Ebisu office. “Ibaraki makes even less sense. It’s

28 June 2009 iNTOUCH

FEATURE

Kanto’s Regional

AIRPORTS

N

AR I

TA

I AK AR

IB

SH

IZ

U

O

KA

A

ED

AN

H

making their decisions, however, the lack of rail access to the airport certainly won’t help Ibaraki’s case.

But what about the developments taking place in Tokyo and Chiba? While Bernier and Schwab are both quick to praise Narita Airport Authority (NAA), the company that runs Narita, for having made great improvements to the facility in recent years, they have concerns about the negative impact that Haneda’s changing role may have on Narita’s goal of becoming Asia’s premier hub, as well as the seeming lack of a centralized airport infrastructure plan.

“If there is a plan, it is a very unclear one,” says Schwab. “The rules change every 12 to 18 months. The original premise of the Haneda-Korea flights, for example, was that they would be for two weeks only during the 2002 World Cup.” Today, Haneda handles 16 flights daily to and from Seoul-Gimpo, eight to and from Shanghai-Hongqiao and four to and from Hong Kong, with more on the horizon. In recent months, the government has completed bilateral negotiations to allow flights between Haneda and Amsterdam, Bangkok, London and Paris. Those moves have been welcomed by JAL and ANA and have received support from many in Japan’s ruling party, but it’s not the direction the overseas carriers believe should be taken.

“A lot of people think because Haneda is close, why not just open up Haneda? But really that’s not feasible because there aren’t enough gates and there’s not enough counter space for international carriers to move their operations there. Haneda is really meant to be a domestic airport, not an international airport,” says Bernier, who adds that it is not cost-effective for an international carrier to operate out of both Haneda and Narita.

“Splitting operations between two airports is much less efficient and will drive up costs in the long run,” says Schwab. “If you think of successful major metropolitan airports like Chicago, San Francisco or Seattle, the operations are all together. Less efficient is New York with Kennedy, Newark and LaGuardia. You end up splitting up traffic and connecting facilities and it’s less efficient.

Destination Tokyo 29

From our standpoint, Tokyo and Japan run the risk of creating two less-than-optimal airports serving the region.”

To ensure that Kanto doesn’t end up with a pair of underachieving airports, overseas carriers argue that Haneda should remain a domestic hub while Narita focuses on becoming a world-class international airport. Most in the industry agree

minutes by rail from Hong Kong International to Hong Kong Station and 27 minutes from Changi Airport to downtown Singapore, while Haneda can be reached in 17 minutes from Shinagawa.

Narita’s remote location is what prompted urban developer Mori Building to launch a helicopter service from the airport to downtown Tokyo for globetrotting VIPs and busy executives.

At ¥525,000 for up to four passengers, the 20-minute flight to the Ark Mori Building in the Akasaka district of Minato Ward doesn’t come cheap.

But according to Yuko Yoshioka of Mori Building City Air Services, the new venture, which started in April, offers “a solution to the poor transport links to and from Narita Airport and contributes to Tokyo’s growth and appeal as a truly global city.”

“A high-speed train from downtown Tokyo, not Nippori, but truly downtown Tokyo, would truly make Narita competitive with Haneda and other Asian gateways,” says Bernier. “If you could get from Narita to downtown Tokyo within 30 minutes, and to your final destination in under an hour, that’s no different to most major airports throughout the world.”

That kind of accessibility would be a major step forward, but it isn’t the only improvement needed. Bernier says Narita is going to have to become more cost-competitive, too. “If they want more carriers to do business and provide more services, Narita needs

If you could get from Narita to downtown Tokyo within 30 minutes, and to your final destination in under an hour, that’s no different to most major airports throughout the world. that Narita’s first hurdle is to improve its accessibility.

For someone like Roberto De Vido, a corporate communications strategist who has been regularly using Narita for the past 20 years, Narita is in need of a high-speed rail link to Tokyo and Yokohama. “I use the Narita Express, and it’s a nice train, but due, I guess, to track congestion, it just crawls along on most of its journey. I’d love to see a proper high-speed link,” he says.

To help fix the problem, the Narita Rapid Railway’s 160 kilometerper-hour Skyliner trains will start ferrying passengers between Terminal 2 and Nippori Station in Tokyo next year. The 36-minute journey will be a definite improvement on the current 51 minutes on the Keisei Line. Yet while the new line has been well received, Nippori is at least one more train ride away from the financial, business and tourism centers of Tokyo, and rail access to Narita still won’t compare favorably with rival airports in the region. It takes just 24 30 June 2009 iNTOUCH

FEATURE

to be more economically feasible for them,” he says. “Basically, Narita has some of the highest landing charges and facility charges in the world.”

According to a study by Jacob’s Consultancy, NAA’s aeronautical revenue—the money it collects from passengers and airlines—was $22.78 per passenger in 2008, more than twice the global average of $10.26. In the same year, NAA’s costs for providing terminal, runway and other operational services came to $37.09 per passenger, almost treble the $12.91 global average.

When it comes to landing charges paid by airlines, results from the Air Transport Research Society’s 2008 Global Airport Benchmarking Project show Narita’s fees of $6,446 for Boeing 747s and $1,132 for Airbus 320s are the second highest in Asia after Kansai International Airport. The expected additional 20,000 takeoff and landing slots that will result from the extension of the second runway should to some extent help to spread these costs, but that alone is unlikely to bring Narita in line with its international competition.

There are areas, of course, where Narita does compete. Schwab points to the state-of-the-art south wing built in 2006 and to ongoing renovations in Terminal 2 as examples of steps the NAA has taken to make the facility itself “among the best in the world.”

Passengers have noticed some improvements, too. De Vido says that despite it still being a little worn in places, Narita has gotten better over the past five years and now compares well with most other airports he has used around the world.

Those upgrades aside, there are clearly worries that without a centralized policy and reexamination of how and where the

government is investing in the nation’s air infrastructure, Narita and Japan might miss out to their Asian neighbors. “At the end of day, I do think that for NAA and Narita to become a worldclass airport, a governing body does need to take a look at the use of funds and how many airports are really needed,” says Bernier. “To be truly successful, you really need to have the same objectives and you need to get people aligned, and clearly on the overall airport and infrastructure policy in Japan there isn’t alignment and there isn’t one objective and that is probably the biggest challenge or problem.” ®

AIRPORT

Information Narita Airport www.narita-airport.jp

Haneda Airport www.tokyo-airport-bldg.co.jp Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport www.pref.shizuoka.jp/kuukou/contents/index.html Ibaraki Airport www.city.omitama.lg.jp/hyakuri/top.html

Destination Tokyo 31

GENKAN GALLERY All exhibits in the Genkan Gallery are for sale and can be purchased by Membership card at the Member Services Desk.

Hideo

Azuma

by Wendi Hailey

For an art form that has been around Japan for the past 6,000 years, urushi lacquer art maintains an appealing vitality, along with the rich essence of tradition, through the innovations of such contemporary artists as Hideo Azuma.

With a mingling of time-honored techniques and his own creative sensibilities, Azuma crafts a range of original lacquerware using traditional Kamakura bori carving. A number of the Fukagawa native’s works, which include a modernized style of goroku bowls and unique rust coating, will be on display at the Genkan Gallery later this month in the artist’s first exhibition at the Club.

“I get inspired by primitive art,” says the acclaimed 59-year-old woodworker. “Another aspect that inspires me is classic Buddhist altar fittings.” Those influences can be seen in the elaborate carvings and primordial flourishes that adorn his objects in rainbow hues and metallic tones, creating expressive and, at times, fanciful works.

The genre uses a viscous sap tapped from urushi trees that grow in abundance in Japan. The raw material is durable and resilient, producing an array of brilliant textural, light and color effects that tend to intensify with time once applied to wooden objects. Maki-e, or sprinkled picture decoration, is the best-known urushi technique developed in Japan, used on items that range from Buddhist altar fittings to tableware to armor.

Exhibition June 22–July 19

Wine and Cheese Reception Monday, June 22 6:30–8 p.m.

Adult Lobby Open to all Members Free

32 June 2009 iNTOUCH

Management

Mire

34 June 2009 iNTOUCH

TALKING HEADS

Besides laying waste to businesses and industries across the world, the ongoing economic crisis has prompted business leaders, consultants and academics everywhere to question long-established corporate systems and management styles.

During Japan’s economic bubble years, the country’s corporate giants and their approach to management were lauded by students of international business. But during the economic stagnation of the 1990s, there was enormous pressure on Japanese companies to reform their traditional business practices and abandon such ideals as lifetime employment and the seniority wage and promotion system.

Noritake Kobayashi is a professor emeritus at Keio University and the former dean of Keio Business School. iNTOUCH’s Nick Jones spoke to the Club Member about Japan’s style of corporate management and the challenges ahead. Excerpts:

Noritake Kobayashi

iNTOUCH: In a 2005 piece, the business commentator Robert Heller wrote, “For all the genuine advances made by Western manufacturers, many have failed to match the best Japanese, not through technical inadequacy, but because their people management is inferior. As shown by the obscene rewards paid to CEOs, in America above all, Western management is still heavily top-down—though that’s changing.” Is this still the case?

Kobayashi: Everyone thinks that Japanese companies have the best practices for managing people. It may be so as a result in a given situation, but there is nothing special about them; they are too glorified.

I have been trying to demythicize what has been written in these books. iNTOUCH: So to what would you attribute the past success of Japanese companies?

Kobayashi: The timing was good, the economy was growing [and] whatever we did was appropriate to the situation.

In a time of globalization, if you can’t use people from different cultures and with different values, you can go nowhere. For Western companies, what matters is what one can do. For Japanese, it was about who you are. iNTOUCH: Is that still the case in Japan?

Kobayashi: Without exaggerating, it’s still the case. iNTOUCH: Given the changes in the economy, are Japanese companies now more willing to cut staff?

Kobayashi: They are not willing, but they have to otherwise they will collapse—they realize that.

Kobayashi: No, I don’t think so. There is less interest to utilize this potential. In a way, men are scared.

iNTOUCH: Heller talks about the “obscene rewards paid to CEOs,” which is a hot-button issue right now. How do compensation packages differ between the United States and Japan?

iNTOUCH: How important was kaizen, or continuous improvement, to the success of Japanese companies?

Kobayashi: Top managers in Japan may receive salaries at least 20 times or 30 times greater than new graduates from college.

But the gap in America may be 500 times in extreme cases. They are paying for talent. In Japan, we are not paying for talent but for experience and length of time of employment. iNTOUCH: Japanese companies are known for their seniority systems. Are businesses now starting to adopt a meritocratic system?

Kobayashi: Not yet. They are talking about whether they should adopt that kind of promotion system. I am in favor of a meritocracy, but if we follow it too much, there will be an excess of unmotivated people. So a balance is quite important. iNTOUCH: In a recent survey of women in senior management positions, Japan was ranked last with just 7 percent of positions filled by females. Do you think Japanese business is suffering because not enough women are being utilized in management roles?

Kobayashi: So everybody says, but if she is really bright and able, there is no glass ceiling. iNTOUCH: But does the corporate environment encourage women managers?

Kobayashi: In the Western environment, a career can be made by inventing one earthshaking invention. If every year that happens, it’s OK. But it only happens every five or 10 years. But the invention also deteriorates in value unless improvements are made. In our own theory, since we are piling up these improvements every year, we can maintain a higher level of quality.

But the pace of change in technology is so fast compared with the pace of kaizen.

So what we now need is innovation with kaizen on a continuous basis. iNTOUCH: What needs to change in Japanese management practices to ensure success in the future?

Kobayashi: By importing a lot of new ideas and practices, we can improve efficiency and create new ideas. To speed up our business recovery, we need visionary leaders with a capacity to adapt effectively to a new environment, which is a very rare quality.

A visionary leader must establish and show to the public the mission of the company and exercise strong leadership. Also, we need to use diversity as a source of strength of management. For this, managers should assume cultural difference until similarity is proven. So far, we have assumed similarity until cultural difference was proven. That leads to ethnocentrism, and we’ll never get anywhere. But it’ll take at least five years to wholeheartedly adopt this kind of approach. Taking all this into account, the recovery will be slow. ®

Member insights on Japan 35

Azabudai Evolution Photos by Ayano Sato

Just 18 months out from the Redevelopment Project’s slated completion, the action in Azabudai kicks into high gear as the framework for the Club’s new home slowly rises from the ground. As surveyors measure the site’s lines and levels, other workers continue the job of excavation, pour concrete and soil and assemble a network of steel beams and columns.

36 June 2009 iNTOUCH

REDEVELOPMENT

Ryota Sekiguchi

The journey back to Azabudai 37

The Rewards program gives Members access to exclusive discounts and great deals. Simply present your Membership card before you receive the service from any of the vendors listed. All offers are valid for the

A Cut Above Cut, color, perm, etc. for the entire family.

English-speaking stylists. Find us in Hiroo, up the hill from Segafredo and National Azabu.

Tel: 03-3441-7218 www.above.co.jp Reward: 10% off introductory services

adidas PERFORMANCE CENTRE Check out adidas Premiumstyle, Porsche Design Sport, adidas by Stella McCartney and mi adidas, our unique shoe-customizing service, at our Roppongi Hills Metro Hat/Hollywood Plaza B1F store.

Tel: 03-5771-1020 www.adidas.co.jp/shopnews Reward: 10% discount on cash payment

EGBOK Azabu Oriental Clinic Acupuncture, massage, oil massage and aromatherapy by bilingual professional staff. In the studio or at your home.

Tel: 0120-05-8909 (toll-free) www.egbok-massage.com Reward: 10% discount on cash payment

Bhanu Tailors Quality custom-made garments. 27 years of experience in the fashion industry. Choose fabrics from Valentino, Boss, Reda and more.

Visiting Tokyo every month.

E-mail: bhanutailors@gmail.com Reward: Free shirt with every suit

Malibu Pilates (Guthy-Renker Japan) Get yourself a perfect Malibu Beach body with our specially priced fat-burning Pilates Chair and three workout DVDs. Only while limited stocks last.

E-mail: malibu@guthy-renker.co.jp Reward: 40% off regular price (¥33,000)

Le Connaisseur Takanawa Enjoy a selection of premium cigars and cigarillos, complemented by a wide range of food and drinks, at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa’s luxury cigar shop and bar.

Tel: 03-5423-7474 www.leconnaisseur.jp Reward: Free entry

Tokyo Lease Corporation Large collection of Asian, European and American furniture for sale and lease.

Tel: 03-3585-5801 www.furniture-rental-tokyo.com Reward: 5% discount on items bought in the shop

The Meat Guy Spin summer on its head with one of our new gas grills, perfect for the sizzling barbecue season.

Tel: 052-618-3705 www.TheMeatGuy.jp Reward: ¥2,500 worth of free meat with every grill

Carpet Doctor Carpets, oriental rugs, upholstery, mattresses or car seats—Tokyo’s licensed, English-speaking cleaning professionals can get the job done.

Tel: 0120-520-225 E-mail: info@e-carpetdoctor.com www.e-carpetdoctor.com Reward: Free Biokleen natural cleaning products

D EN T A L

S HOP P I N G

month they appear in iNTOUCH.

AUTOMOTIVE

INTERIOR

BODY

rewards

BMW Tokyo Takanawa Authorized BMW dealer with a premium showroom in Takanawa.

Tel: 03-3443-2291 www.bmw-tokyo.co.jp Reward: ¥50,000 travel coupon with every BMW purchase

Nakashima Dental Office Cosmetic dentistry, cleaning, whitening, porcelain work, dentures, gum work, root canals.

US-specialist level.

Tel: 03-3479-2726 www.dentist-nakashima.jp Reward: 10% discount on cash payment

DAD Narita Parking Heading overseas? DAD Narita Parking will pick up your vehicle at Narita Airport and keep it in a closely monitored, secure lot while you’re away.

Tel: 0120-35-1462/0476-32-1955 www.dadparking.com/index-e.html Reward: 20% off basic charge

United Dental Office Restorative, implant and cosmetic dentistry

by US-trained and -licensed dentists. We treat adults and children.

Tel: 03-5570-4334 www.uniteddentaloffice.com Reward: 40% discount on home bleaching

Jaguar Land Rover Japan Ltd. Visit our website for details on vehicles or call English-speaking sales adviser, Masanao Hariu. www.landrover.co.jp Tel: 03-5470-4211 E-mail: mhariu1@jaguarlandrover.com Reward: Original lacquer plate and Arita porcelain plate with every new Land Rover

38 June 2009 iNTOUCH

PHOTOGRAPHY

M E D I C AL

Kool Co., Inc. From selling your car to buying a new or used one, we can guide you through the entire process—in English.

Tel: 048-451-8888/Fax: 048-451-8889 E-mail: kool-inc@glim.jp Reward: 10% discount on repairs and maintenance

HOM E

AUT OM OT I V E

MEMBER SERVICES

Ken Corporation Ltd. Being a resident of a Ken Corporation apartment gives you exclusive membership to the KEN Green Golf Club.

Tel: 03-5413-5666 www.kencorp.com Reward: Special packages for Club Members

Nissan Prince Tokyo Mita-Takanawa We have a range of Nissan cars for every taste. Stop by for a test drive (ask for Junko Fujita).

Tel: 0120-42-8123 (toll-free) E-mail: info_en@npt.co.jp Reward: iPod® shuffle with every new Nissan

SECOM Co., Ltd. Your peace of mind is our priority. Japan's top security company provides home security 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Contact us today.

Tel: 03-5775-8705 http://ad.secom.co.jp/tokyo-american-c Reward: SECOM goods for every new customer

Roppongi Hills Clinic We offer full medical checkups, using the latest medical equipment.

Tel: 03-3796-6006 www.66clinic.com Reward: 5% discount on Super Medical Checkup

Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd. Luxury apartment brand La Tour promises you prime comfort and security. Good locations and beautiful views in the heart of Tokyo.

Tel: 0120-770-507 www.sumitomo-latour.jp Reward: No agent's fee

Keyshots-East West Photography We can bring our studio to your home. Start taking better photos now using your own camera! Private photography lessons available. www.keyshots.com Reward: Free 10 x 8 enlargement

Tokyu Stay Residence Spacious and comfortable fully furnished apartments in Yotsuya and Aoyama, complete with 24-hour front desk and security.

Tel: 03-3476-1008 www.tokyustayresidence.com Reward: 12% discount on basic rent

Services and benefits for Members 39

sayonara James & Susan Allhusen Matthew Burgess & Renee Tate Barry Clark & Rheda Donnelly Peter Conroy Kenneth & Pamela Drinkard Stanley & Judith Farrar Richard Fu & Jian Zheng William & Yuki Hooper Kaoru Ishida Bruce Kramer & Ellen Grogan Danny Lee & Mariko Saito

Gregory Lew & Serena M Smith Tony Lim Alex Martin Lopez & Johanna Metzger Demetrios Louziotis, Jr & Jennifer Bigham Louziotis Sharon Lundstrom & William Traylor Noriko Matsudaira Thomas & Ikuko Miller Jean-Francois & Satomi Minier Thomas & Audry Morrow James Muldoon

Yutaka & Tomiko Nabeshima Robert & Hiroko Nakamura Shoichi & Etsuko Okinaga Kenneth & Yuko Reed Carl & Stephanie Schachter Jorge & Barbara Serrano Christopher Simms & Arlene Veitch Clay & Amy Thompson Neale Wilson & Sally Newton Di Zengxian

Mark & Amanda Wheatley

United Kingdom—Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co., Ltd.

Matthew & Bindi Codrington Australia—Lenovo Japan Ltd.

yokoso Kazumasa & Akari Otsuka Japan—Mitsui Company

Jonathan & Lottie Rezneck

United States—Greenhill Japan & Co., Ltd. Kathleen & Robert Dyer United States—NCR Japan Ltd.

Frederique & Jean Thomas France—Nihon Tetra Pak K.K.

Luc & Amy Grenon Canada—IBM Japan

David & Lynn Nicol Australia—Lenovo Japan Ltd.

Nicholas & Suzanne Lewis

United Kingdom—Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co., Ltd.

Mark Hart

United States—Citibank Japan Ltd. Derrick Miu & Alice Wong

United States—Banyu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Stephen Bettencourt United States—Fresh Pacific Fruit and Vegetable, Inc.

Hideki & Mika Katayama Japan—SBS Dental Clinic

Marc-Oliver Nandy & Soo Young Kim Germany—Mercedes-Benz Japan Co., Ltd.

Shigeru Yasumi Japan—Lacto Japan Co., Ltd.

Samuel Gordon

United States—Ernst & Young Shinnihon Tax

Vaughn & Shonda Hall

United States—Corning Holding Japan G.K.

Rebecca Dooley

United States—Abbott Vascular Japan Co., Ltd.

Aaron Nutsford & Carol Beaudin New Zealand—Nihon Tetra Pak K.K.

Masahiro & Yuki Washizu Japan—Johnson Co., Ltd.

new member profile

Elio & Minako Orsara Italy—Kioi Corporation Why did you decide to join the Club?

“We think that Tokyo American Club is the perfect place for our family to spend time together.

Its facilities and recreational activities make it the ideal location for our children to grow up and make new friends in an international environment. We are also looking forward to further expanding our social and professional networks in the Tokyo international community through the Club’s various activities and events.”

Pictured (l–r): Minako, Andrea, Elio and Alberto Orsara

new member profile

Toshizumi & Junko Mizuno Japan—Mikoya Kosho Co., Ltd. Why did you decide to join the Club?

“We decided to join the Club for the range of experiences available within the Club’s international environment. My husband, Toshizumi, and I gained a great deal from studying in the United States and working at American companies. He is now running his own business, importing products from Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia, while our sons attend international schools in Tokyo.”

Pictured (l–r): Junko, Leo, Aren and Toshizumi Mizuno

40 June 2009 iNTOUCH

New & Used car purchase Lease and finance Insurance Used cars bought Maintenance

Your Car-Life Concierge

English Line

03-5573-8776

www.autodirect.jp info@autodirect.jp

Open: 10 a.m.–7 p.m Closed: Mondays #101 1-13-2 Higashi-Azabu Minato-ku, TOKYO

Future TAC

Are you as well covered as you could be?

Find peace of mind with Ace Insurance.

International Personal Insurance

Safe Driver Automobile Policy

Comprehensive package for foreign executives in Japan:

We take the worry out of driving, providing:

• Home contents • Jewelry and other valuables • Personal liability

• Tailored insurance plans • Free roadside service • 24-hour English helpline

www.autodirect.jp 03-5573-8776

reciprocal

clubs

Being a Member of Tokyo American Club allows you access to a network of more than 200 reciprocal clubs across the globe.

For a full listing of reciprocal clubs worldwide, check out www.tokyoamericanclub.org.

Hotel Saint James Paris Location: Paris, France Founded: 1987 Members: 950

Just steps from the Arc de Triomphe, Trocadéro Gardens and other treasured landmarks, the château-style private club and hotel combines traditional sophistication and modern amenities, with the stylish interior created by prominent designer Andrée Putman. Members and guests can indulge in mouthwatering local cuisine while soaking up spectacular views from the private dining terrace before unwinding in the library bar and retiring to one of the 48 refined guest rooms and suites.

www.saint-james-paris.com

The Arbutus Club

Location: Vancouver, Canada Founded: 1964 Members: 1,500 This modern sports complex is one of Canada’s finest family-focused private institutes, promoting well-being through athletics, art, social activities and more. Located in a serene neighborhood mere minutes from downtown, the state-of-the-art facilities encompass two arenas for skating, hockey and curling, a full-size swimming pool, tennis, squash and racquetball courts, music studios, a weight room, an array of professional physiotherapy and massage services and three dining venues.

www.arbutusclub.com

stacks of services at the Club

Spica

Go Mobile Phone Rental

JTB Sunrise Tours

MyToyota.jp

UPS

The Club’s professional shoe repair and polishing service.

Tel: 03-4588-0670 Family Area (1F) Sundays: 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

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

Five percent discount on all package tours.

Available at the Member Services Desk.

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

For all your delivery needs, the express counter offers discounts to Members.

Family Area (1F) Weekdays: 2–6 p.m.

42 June 2009 iNTOUCH

box

seat

Best Tickets in Town

by Wendi Hailey

F

rom Broadway musicals to European ballets, Tokyo draws some of the biggest acts in entertainment. But securing a ticket can require a profusion of legwork and solid Japanese language skills to navigate websites or kiosks. With the Club’s BoxSeat service, however, Members can forgo that exasperating process completely and find themselves at the stage performance, concert or sporting event of their choice with ease.

“The most convenient part is that

they don’t have to do any translation,” says the Member Services Desk’s Atsushi Kenmochi, who oversees the service. In addition, the Club regularly offers tickets at discounted prices, individual seating choice and a map to the venue.

Throughout the year, Kenmochi typically works to obtain seats to rare events that have sold out to the public, such as Cirque du Soleil, Kabuki and the recent Madonna and U2 concerts. Selection is based on Members’ preferences and encompasses

many overseas acts, with ticket numbers ranging anywhere from five to 200. “We try to provide a variety of events, from the Chicago Symphony to Disney on Ice,” he says. “We try to get interesting acts, especially for our foreign Members.”

For more information on tickets to various events available at the Club, check out the weekly BoxSeat guide (updated every Friday) in the Member Services’ Concierge section of the Club website or inquire at the Member Services Desk. ®

Some restrictions apply. Ask for details.

• Laser hair removal • Botox • Restylane • Retin-A • Liposuction, Eye, Nose, Breast, Facelift, Tummy Tuck • Laser (Titan, Genesis, Hair Removal, Tattoo, IPL) • Men’s (ED, AGA)

Services and benefits for Members 43

employee of the

month

Miyuki Hagiwara

by Nick Jones

R

emarkably, when Miyuki Hagiwara took to the stage for her first public belly dance performance in February, she felt none of the nerves her fellow performers were experiencing. “It was exciting,” she says of her debut show in Shimokitazawa. “I felt very natural on stage.”

Having studied the Romani gypsy form of belly dancing for more than a year now, Hagiwara, 37, says she always feels energized after her two weekly classes. Although she admits that she has yet to fully master some of the techniques, including the hip shimmy, she says she enjoys practicing the movements each morning at home as part of a five-minute workout before heading to work.

According to Hagiwara, who joined the Club as an account executive two years ago, learning the gypsy style of dance seems particularly appropriate given her rather nomadic background. Born in Ibaraki Prefecture, she spent a childhood forever on the move as her father was transferred around Japan with his company.

While many children would be unsettled by a series of temporary

Employee of the Quarter

Toshiyuki Sugawara

by Nick Jones

Club chef Toshiyuki Sugawara picked up the latest Employee of the Quarter award in April. “When the award was announced, I thought, ‘Could it really be me?’” he says.

“I’m very pleased, but embarrassed at the same time.”

The 47-year-old native of Yamagata Prefecture has worked at the Club for 20 years, including 17 years in Mixed Grille.

He now puts his culinary skills to good use in the Club cafeteria where he prepares meals for the staff. A keen traveler, he plans to visit Singapore and Malaysia with his wife on his next trip. ®

44 June 2009 iNTOUCH

homes and upheavals (she attended three junior high schools in as many years), Hagiwara says she reveled in the attention and chance to make friends at each new location. “It was fun,” she says of that unpredictable time. Her wanderings continued in 1997 when she spent a year working and traveling in Australia.

Now settled at the Club where she works in the Communications Department, Hagiwara handles the advertising for iNTOUCH magazine and sponsorship of Club events, such as the annual Bon Odori festival. “I have learned a lot about magazines and advertising from [my predecessor] Ken [Nishimura] and my clients,” she says.

The recipient of April’s Employee of the Month award, Hagiwara says she never expected to win the honor. “I feel very happy,” she says, “because these days business is very difficult. But this award motivates me.”

As she prepares for Bon Odori in August, there will plenty of her clients and colleagues hoping that she isn’t struck by another urge to roam anytime soon. ®

CONTACTS

Getting in Touch Department

Phone

E-mail

Operation Hours

American Room

4588-0675

americanroom@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri

6–10 p.m.

Banquet Sales and Reservations

4588-0977

banquet@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri

9 a.m.–7 p.m.

Beauty/Hair Salon

4588-0685

Tue–Sun

9 a.m–6 p.m.

Catering

4588-0307

banquet@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri

9 a.m.–7 p.m.

Childcare Center

4588-0701

child-care@tac-club.org

Mon–Thu Fri Sat Sun NH

9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

9 a.m.–9 p.m.

9 a.m.–9 p.m.

9 a.m.–5 p.m.

9 a.m.–3 p.m.

Communications

4588-0262

comms@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri

9 a.m.–6 p.m.

Engineering

4588-0699

eng@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri

9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Finance

4588-0222

acct@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri

9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Fitness Center

4588-0266

fitness@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri Weekend/NH

6:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

7:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

Food & Beverage Office

4588-0245

fboffice@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri

9:30 a.m.–6 p.m.

Foreign Traders’ Bar

4588-0677

fb_bar@tac-club.org

Mon–Thu/Eve of NH 12–11 p.m.

Fri 12 p.m.–12 a.m.

Weekend/NH 12–10 p.m.

Garden Café

4588-0705

gardencafe@tac-club.org

Daily

7:30 a.m.–8 p.m.

gmoffice@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri

9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

library@tac-club.org

Daily

9 a.m.–9 p.m.

rec@tac-club.org

Daily

10 a.m.–9 p.m.

General Manager's Office 4588-0674 Library Logan Room

4588-0678 —

—

Membership Office

4588-0687

membership@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri Sat

9 a.m.–6 p.m.

9:30 a.m.–6 p.m.

Member Services Desk

4588-0670

tac@tac-club.org

Daily

7:30 a.m.–11 p.m.

Mixed Grille

4588-0676

mixed.grille@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri

Weekend/NH

11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

6–10 p.m.

11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

Pool Office

4588-0700

pool@tac-club.org

Daily

9 a.m.–5 p.m.

recdesk@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri Weekend/NH

6:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

7:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

Recreation Services Desk 4588-0681 Recreation Office

4588-0240

rec@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri

8:30 a.m.–6 p.m.

Redevelopment Office

4588-0223

redevelopment@tac-club.org Mon–Fri

9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Special Events

4588-0204

specialevents@tac-club.org Mon–Fri

9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

The Spa

4588-0714

dayspa@tac-club.org

Mon–Sat Sun/NH

10 a.m.–8 p.m.

10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Video Library

4588-0686

video@tac-club.org

Daily

9 a.m.–9 p.m.

Vineyards

4588-0978

vineyards@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri Sat Sun/NH

9 a.m.–10 p.m.

10 a.m.–10 p.m.

10 a.m.–9 p.m.

Weddings

4588-0671

banquet@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri

9 a.m.–7 p.m.

Women's Group Office

4588-0691

wg@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri

9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Youth Activities

4588-0250

ya@tac-club.org

Mon–Fri

8:30 a.m.–6 p.m.

APARTMENT or HOUSE? Overseas Corporation believes that a comfortable home is essential for a fulfilling family life in Tokyo. Since our founding in 1953, we have met the housing needs of thousands of expats. With more than 14,000 residences in our database and years of know-how, our highly professional, bilingual team is well trained in locating the ideal home for our clients.

As a leading international agent of high-end rental properties, including high-, mid- and low-rise luxury apartments and modern, spacious houses with gardens, we use our strong links with Tokyo’s major realtors and construction companies—some of which we are the sole agent for—to provide quality service to those in search of a haven of expression and comfort.

If you’re moving to Tokyo, thinking about relocating in the city or are a human resources executive, call Overseas Corporation today.

OUR PREMISES FOR LEASE • From one- to six-bedroom properties in Akasaka, Roppongi, Azabu, Hiroo, Aoyama, Omotesando, Shibuya and many other expat residential areas for a range of budgets, from ¥200,000 to more than ¥3 million a month • Brand-new tower apartments with stunning city views • Luxury, high-rise apartment complexes, complete with swimming pool, gym, sauna, shops and restaurants • Superior quality high-, midand low-rise apartments • Exclusive designer apartments • Large, well laid-out residential houses with large gardens as well as moderate-sized and cozy houses in quiet areas • Fully furnished serviced apartments

Overseas Corporation Tel: 03-3562-2061 Fax: 03-3564-6596 E-mail: info@overseas.co.jp Tatsu Bldg. 18-2 Ginza 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Check out the wide range of residences available at www.overseas.co.jp.

Club numbers to know 45

Mouthwatering

Mimicry Words and photos by Kayo Yamawaki Additional reporting by Jim Hand-Cukierman

T

he area around the Maiduru factory in Tokyo’s Kita Ayase district isn’t exactly a leafy suburb, but it’s no industrial park, either. Nestled among apartment buildings and an elementary school, it’s easy to miss. From the outside, there is little to indicate it’s a factory at all. But when it comes to Maiduru and the replica foods it has been cooking up since 1967, there is much more than meets the eye.

The smorgasbords of imitation edibles in restaurant display cases have long been a source of curiosity and amusement for foreign visitors to Japan. Ironically, the plastic phenomenon was born out of a need by Japanese restaurateurs in the early 20th century to help their customers to visualize the strange, new food offerings from the West that were beginning to appear on menus.

Nowadays, eateries across the country still use the deliciouslooking doubles to whet diners’ appetites. They have also become popular souvenirs for tourists. But just like a deceptively simple painting in a museum, it’s easy to overlook the effort and hidden techniques that go into making a piece of fake lettuce look exactly like, well, lettuce.

“People wonder why it costs so much,” says Maiduru General Manager Etsuji Isozaki, pointing to custom-made bowls of succulent sashimi and rice that cost ¥14,000 each. “Our clients only get to see the finished work, but backstage, we put a lot of time and energy into every product.”

When placing an order, the client provides the recipe, photos

46 June 2009 iNTOUCH

INSIDE JAPAN

Etsuji Isozaki

and a sample of the actual food, he explains. “If it’s sweet and sour pork, for example, we put a piece of [real] pork in a container and pour silicon into it to make a mold,” says Isozaki, 65, who has been with Maiduru since he was 28. “Once the silicon sets after 24 hours, we take out the meat, wash the mold and dry it.

Then we pour plastic into the mold, creating the basis for a piece of pork.”

But to ensure that the dish looks authentic, each piece of pork must differ slightly. This requires more than one mold, as well as some personal touches. Illustrating this point, Isozaki holds out three little orange strips—carrots—in his hand. “They’re each slightly different,” he says. “The coloring depends on the individual, so each worker’s sense shows up in our products.”

There are about 45 foodmakers at Maiduru and a majority of them are women. According to Isozaki, women seem to have a better knack for the work than men. One of these female workers is area resident Masako Mizuhashi. “I started about 30 years ago when a position in this department opened up,” the 63-year-old says, carefully spraying a horned melon at a workstation cluttered with tools, brushes and paint jars. “So since that day, I’ve been working here. I have enjoyed drawing and painting since I was little, so I guess it suits me.”

When she started, she says, it was hard to control the paint nozzle, and even now it requires a little trial and error to find just the right color. Nowadays, however, she thrives on tough assignments. “I listen to my boss and the clients’ requests and try

to make it as close as possible to the real thing,” she says.

For 30-year-old Mari Iwase, her task of putting the final touches on Maiduru’s products represents the fulfillment of a childhood dream. “I was always curious about the samples sitting outside restaurants,” she says. “Then I happened to see a TV show about it and I thought, ‘Wow, there’s actually a job for that!’”

After graduating from art school, Iwase considered working in another field but soon returned to her original ambition. To this day, she still takes an interest in the samples whenever she passes a restaurant, though now with a much more critical eye.

“Most of the time when I look at other samples I think, ‘That’s awful,’” she admits, sprinkling cornflakes on top of tiny key chain parfaits. “The coloring is often pretty bad. I’m really proud of the products we create, and after 10 years, I still really enjoy doing this.”

Much like the art of real cooking, making good fake food requires passion and precision. No detail is too small, be it the curve of a leaf of lettuce, the color of a piece of dried seaweed or even the fuzz on a peach. But it is these realistic elements that are the hallmark of Maiduru, according to Isozaki. “This fastidiousness makes the difference.” ®

Sample Shop Maizuru 1-5-17 Nishi Asakusa, Taito Ward, Tokyo www.maiduru.co.jp (in Japanese only)

A look at culture and society 47

Lost Islands Words and photos

by Tim Hornyak

Hachijojima

A

familiar conical shape greets overnight ferry passengers arriving in Hachijojima from Tokyo. The volcano dominates the island and looks like a perfect miniature of Japan’s icon, Mount Fuji, complete with the signature cloud cap.

Hachijojima, a former destination for political exiles 290 kilometers south of the capital, initially conjures other breathtaking spots in the Pacific, such as Maui. This unlikely corner of the metropolis (the island, as part of the Izu chain, is administered by the Tokyo government) shines with jade pastureland and aloe vera groves.

Hachijo-Fuji, as the mountain is known, is a mere 854 meters tall, less than a third of its eponym, yet it offers some of the most rewarding hiking in all of Tokyo. I was soon scootering up grassy flanks overlooking an airstrip that serves 40-minute flights from Chofu. I parked near a cattle ranch and continued up on foot, surprising iridescent skinks and a snake before arriving at the crater trail.

The hour-long trek along its rim offers dizzying vistas of Hachijo-Koshima, a neighboring isle, and Mount Mihara, Hachijo’s other peak. The shadowy crater teems with dragonflies and jungle vegetation, a Japanese Lost World. Although footing along the volcano’s edge requires caution, I found the low bushes full of magnificent green-gold beetles. But as soon as the moist clouds set in, I headed down the mountain.

The following day I was exploring the shallows at Nambara,

48 June 2009 iNTOUCH

which are full of rainbow-colored fish and sheltered from the ocean waves. The warm waters here are fed by the Kuroshio Current, home to sea turtles and hammerhead sharks, and Nazumado Point in the northwest is one of Japan’s top diving spots.

But one of Hachijojima’s most exquisite water experiences is the inland Uramigataki onsen. The free, single public bath, tucked away in foliage below a road in the island’s southern Nakanogo district, overlooks a waterfall cascading into a semitropical forest. I almost expected Ricardo Montalban from the 1970s TV series “Fantasy Island” to appear with margaritas.

My stay ended with a drive around the southern Sueyoshi district, pausing at Noboryutoge (Climbing Dragon Pass) for a stunning crepuscular outlook on Hachijo-Fuji. A tangy dish of shima-zushi (island sushi, with mustard instead of wasabi) was the perfect finish to my stay.

A ferry the following morning took me north, past Mikurajima (population 270), its sheer cliffs jutting from the crashing sea, to the foreboding island of Miyakejima. As the boat approached Sabigahama port, I was struck by the surrounding landscape.

Many of the bare trees stood dead like frozen ghosts on the slopes of Mount Oyama.

The island has seen few visitors since it erupted in 2000, forcing an evacuation that lasted five years. I soon discovered that Oyama hasn’t quite settled down. The peak itself remains off-limits, and it’s still dangerous to linger in parts of the island

OUT & ABOUT

Tokai Kisen (www.tokaikisen.co.jp) operates a ferry and hydrofoil service to the Izu islands from Takeshiba Terminal in Tokyo.

Fifty minutes from Haneda Airport to Hachijojima Airport or 40 minutes from Chofu Airfield to Kozushima Airport with New Central Air Services (www.central-air.co.jp).

www

The Anchor Pub, Hachijojima www.hachijo.net Hachijo Town www.town.hachijo.tokyo.jp (Japanese language only) Miyake Village www.miyakemura.com (Japanese language only)

Toho Air Service (www.tohoair.co.jp) runs a helicopter service between islands.

Kozushima Village http://vill.kouzushima.tokyo.jp (Japanese language only)

Hachijojima Guide www.hachijo.info

Islands of Tokyo www.tokyo-islands.com Izu Seven Islands Tourist Federation Tel: 03-3436-6955

due to toxic gases. After booking a room at one of the few inns, curiosity got the better of me and I was soon astride a scooter to the eastern side of the island.

Past the little-used airport, I found the apocalyptic hamlet of Miike. Having the misfortune of being in the gases’ path, Miike was abandoned years ago. Its streets are choked with weeds, its houses sadly falling to pieces. On the side of one house was spray-painted a message in Japanese: “We did our best, but we just can’t take it here anymore.” While Miyakejima has a fantastic bird sanctuary and good snorkeling, I can’t help but think of it as one of the spookiest places in Japan.

Kozushima, the final destination on my island-hopping journey, exorcized Miyake’s spirits. Few foreigners visit this craggy island south of Shimoda, despite its many natural attractions. I was soon climbing its flattened peak—the 572-meter-high Mount Tenjo— and exploring a sandy “desert” on the plateau that forms the roof of the island. Small lakes and pink azaleas dot this lunar landscape that is truly unusual scenery for Japan. The weather at the top is variable, though, so I hopped on my scooter and motored over to an isolated café called Daijinko, perched on a cliff and with views of the harbor below.

After a spot of tea and cheese on toast, I drove along the western shore, passing fishing boats under repair and meticulously kept campgrounds. Near the northern tip is Akazaki Yuhodo, a delightful collection of wooden walkways, bridges and diving platforms poised over a shallow inlet for snorkeling. It’s a natural aquarium of tropical fish, perfect for kids and a great place to take diving lessons. Waterlogged from pursuing schools of neoncolored fish, I ended the day at the windswept, outdoor Kozushima onsen, tracking the sun as it sank into the sea.

With only one hotel, several inns and a few restaurants, Kozushima has limited tourist facilities. It does have an exciting little airstrip, though, and the small turboprop plane I boarded the following morning for Chofu made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. The plane leapt off the runway seconds before the tarmac ended in a cliff hundreds of feet over the surf.

A colleague had warned me it would feel like taking off from an aircraft carrier, and he wasn’t kidding.

Mount Tenjo’s sands were soon receding in the mist and before I knew it I was peering down on endless rows of identical apartment blocks—the sprawl of Tokyo. I had never left the city, but was returning from a place that felt worlds away. ®

Hachijo statues

Miyakejima fishermen

Explorations beyond the Club 49

1

Pulling the Strings April 11

More than 30 Members enjoyed a slice of traditional Japanese culture in April when master puppet carver Kenji Tada, known professionally as “Ningyo Ken,” visited the Club to introduce his craft. Using full-sized puppets and heads, he explained the history of Awa puppet theater, which is native to Shikoku’s Tokushima Prefecture, and the process of making the intricately whittled deko figures.

Photos by Ayano Sato 1. Kenji “Ningyo Ken” Tada and Kazuko Ishihara

50 June 2009 iNTOUCH

EVENT EVENT ROUNDUP ROUNDUP

Springtime Fun April 12

More than 250 children celebrated the arrival of spring with seasonal fun and games in the Gym. Besides hunting for eggs and golden balls, participants had the opportunity to pick up and stroke a range of animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and chicks, at the petting zoo in the Recreation Room. The Spring Bunny was also on hand for kids to mark the occasion with a photo.

Photos by Ken Katsurayama 1. Nicola Kirkwood

1

Snapshots from Club occasions 51

1

Meet the Author: Barry Eisler April 17

Best-selling thriller writer Barry Eisler dropped by the Club to talk to Members about his career as an author, his books and the recent film adaptation of his first novel, Rain Fall. The American, who previously had careers in law and the CIA, spoke to more than 40 people before answering questions and signing books.

Photos by Yuuki Ide 1. Barry Eisler and Hiroaki Yokoyama 2. (l–r) Curtis and Virginia Orchard and Laura Eisler 3. Barry Eisler and Prem Samtani 2

3

52 June 2009 iNTOUCH

EVENT ROUNDUP

Easter Splash at the Pool April 18

The Pool was a hub of aqua fun in April as more than 40 children and their parents belatedly celebrated Easter with two hours of egg-themed games and prizes of swim goggles, T-shirts and chocolates.

Photos by Atsuko Goto 1. Olivia (front) and Megan Kong

1

Snapshots from Club occasions 53

1

Women’s Group 60th Anniversary Gala April 24

One hundred and sixty people celebrated the diamond anniversary of the Women’s Group with a lavish party at Happo-en in Shirokanedai. The evening kicked off with cocktails in the verdant splendor of a Japanese garden, complete with geisha and koto music. After dining on an exquisite full-course meal, partygoers enjoyed music, dancing, raffles and auctions, the proceeds from which went to five local charities started by Women’s Group members (read more on page 22).

Photos by Ken Katsurayama 1. (l–r) Kanae (Asakusa geisha), Bianca Russell, Andrew Russell, Kazu Ohyama, Raghunathan Ranganathan, Steve Norrell, Scott Hancock, Shurah Norrell, Barbara Hancock, Sinduja Raghunathan, Miki Ohyama and Norie (Asakusa geisha) 2. Barbara Hancock and John Owens 3. (l–r) Deborah Wenig, Lisa Jardine, Betty Noguchi, Betsy Rogers, Yoko Obora, Barbara Hancock, Sinduja Raghunathan, Miki Ohyama, Ellen Ryan, Nobuko Hirata, Bianca Russell, Beth Bay and Shurah Norrell 4. (l–r) Norie, Kazuko and Fred Harris and Kanae 2

3

4

54 June 2009 iNTOUCH

EVENT ROUNDUP

Women’s Group Program: Sumo Stable Secrets April 13

The lucky 38 attendees at April’s Women’s Group Monthly Program were afforded a peek behind sumo wrestling’s stable doors through the experiences of the two speakers. Former ozeki Konishiki talked about his roots in Hawaii and life as a wrestler before American Lora Sharnoff, the author of Grand Sumo: The Living Sport and Tradition, offered her thoughts on the current state of sumo, its recent controversies and the future of the sport.

1

1. (l–r) Beth Bay, Konishiki and Sandy Isaka 2. Konishiki and Yuriko Hirayama 2

Men’s Golf Group Spring Stag March 19–22

Twenty-four golfers from the Club headed to Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China, for the Men’s Golf Group’s annual Spring Stag. The group enjoyed five rounds over three days at the 216-hole complex. Steve Saruwatari won the green jacket, with John Vaughan finishing runner-up and last year’s champion, Roger Finnie, in third place.

1

1. (l–r) Peter Henrie, Katsuhiro Komatsu, Bruce Wade and Sung Lee 2. (l–r) David Pulido, Phil Feil, Bret Dandoy, George Hoshino, Sung Lee, Bruce Wade and Jack Sakazaki

2

Snapshots from Club occasions 55

TOKYO MOMENTS

Chew On This

by Karen Pond Illustration by Akiko Saito

K

aren-san,” a Japanese colleague of my husband said to me.

“Hmmm,” I answered, having just put a forkful of peapods into my mouth.

Chew. Chew. Chew. Chew. Chew.

It’s true that I was chewing so intensely because I was nervous.

Very nervous. I was the only spouse to have turned up at the company dinner. The only spouse.

Chew. Chew. Chew. Chew. Chew.

I was also chewing so hard because I was hungry. In the dim light of the restaurant, I couldn’t identify anything on the table to which I was immediately drawn or could successfully eat with chopsticks—except for the peapods.

Chew. Chew. Chew. Chew. Chew.

Plus, the excessive chewing allowed me to hide my lack of Japanese language skills. Instead of speaking, I smiled. Or nodded.

Or arched my eyebrows. Or winked. All while chewing. And chewing. And chewing.

Chew. Chew. Chew. Chew. Chew.

I was also giving my jawbone such a workout because I had obviously found the world’s toughest peapods.

Chew. Chew. Chew. Chew. Chew.

“Karen-san,” the colleague said to me again. “We were noticing

56 June 2009 iNTOUCH

how you eat edamame. We are curious. In Japan, we squeeze the beans into the mouth like this. We would never eat the pods.”

Chew. Chew. Chew. Chew. Chew.

Gulp.

Eda what? Squeeze the beans out? Don’t eat the pod? No wonder I’d been chewing the things for hours. I was beginning to think something was terribly wrong with my teeth.

“Hmmm,” I answered, quickly running through in my head what I should do in this embarrassing situation. I came to the conclusion that I could laugh at my mistake, head to the restroom, wash out my mouth and escape out the window; tell my husband’s coworkers I was on a unique and strict edamame diet; or panic.

But I had my integrity, my pride and my strong bicuspids. I wasn’t about to be humiliated by a legume. “Oh, really,” I said.

“That is very interesting because in my part of America, we chew the dickens out of these beauties. Itadakimasu!”

Chew. Chew. Chew. Chew. Chew.

Swallow. Swallow.

Just for the record, I later realized that edamame really is a tasty treat—if eaten correctly. But for the next company get-together, I’ll be staying home. ®

毎 月 一 回 一 日 発 行

TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB

第 四 十 三 巻 二 十 号

ト ウ キ ョ ウ ア メ リ カ ン ク ラ ブ

June 2009

N T O U C H

平 成 三 年 十 二 月 二 十 日 第 三 種 郵 便 物 許 可 定 価 八 ０ ０ 円

iNTOUCH

i

イ ン タ ッ チ マ ガ ジ ン 二 〇 〇 九 六 月 一 日 発 行

TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB

Cleared for Landing

本 体 七 七 七 円

What will the Kanto region’s new airports and runways mean for Tokyo travelers?

Issue 531 • June 2009

Mythical Monsters

Deutschland’s Delights

Business Remodel

One Tokyo couple pens a guide to Japan’s imaginary critters

The Club celebrates the revival of German wine

Contemplating the future of Japanese-style management