iNTOUCH Oct 2009

毎 月 一 回 一 日 発 行

TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB

第 四 十 三 巻 二 十 四 号

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iNTOUCH October 2009

i N T O U C H

イ ン タ ッ チ マ ガ ジ ン 二 〇 〇 九 十 月 一 日 発 行

TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB

平 成 三 年 十 二 月 二 十 日 第 三 種 郵 便 物 許 可 定 価 八 ０ ０ 円 本 体 七 七 七 円

Club Members discuss the challenges and rewards of nurturing children to master more than one language Issue 535 • October 2009

Regal Sounds

Strokes of Genius

Vintage Invasion

The Club enjoys a dose of imperial culture

The 54th CWAJ Print Show lands at the Club

Worldwide winemakers pour their passion for Members

18

recreation

Courting Competition

recreation Friendly rivalry and a slew of health benefits have kept Club Member Santiago Bargagna steadily pounding the squash courts across three continents and nearly two decades. women’s group

22

Fashioning Finery

Row after row of trinkets, textiles, antiques and myriad, one-of-a-kind treasures turn the Club into a holiday shopping wonderland during the annual Women’s Group International Bazaar fundraiser.

2 Contacts

talking heads

contents 4 Events

6 Board of Governors 7 Management

34

8 Food & Beverage

Language Lessons

12 Library

The daughter of a Japanese mother and Canadian father, 22-year-old pop singer Seira Kagami recounts her efforts to overcome linguistic hurdles after ultimately embracing her bicultural heritage. feature

14 Video Library

16 Committees 18 Recreation

22 Women's Group 26 Feature

26

32 Genkan Gallery

Mastering Multiple Tongues

34 Talking Heads

As the number of multicultural families in Japan grows, more and more parents are grappling with the issue of how best to expose their children to two different backgrounds and languages. iNTOUCH examines the challenges of raising bilingual children through the differing experiences of two Club families and advice of language specialists.

36 CWAJ

38 Member Services 44 Inside Japan 46 Out & About 48 Event Roundup 52 Tokyo Moments

iNTOUCH

Editor Nick Jones

To advertise in iNTOUCH, contact Miyuki Hagiwara: marketing@tac-club.org 03-4588-0976

Designers Ryan Mundt Jasmine Lai

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

editor@tac-club.org

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

Shuji Hirakawa Human Resources Director hum_res@tac-club.org

Bob Sexton Assistant General Manager agm@tac-club.org

Linda Joseph Administrative Services Director gmoffice@tac-club.org

Lian Chang Information Technology Director itdir@tac-club.org

Mutsuhiko Kumano Finance Director finance@tac-club.org

Darryl Dudley Engineering Director eng@tac-club.org

Michael Marlay Food & Beverage Director fboffice@tac-club.org

Alistair Gough Redevelopment Director projdir@tac-club.org

Scott Yahiro Recreation Director recdirector@tac-club.org

Getting in Touch Department/E-mail American Room

Phone 4588-0675

americanroom@tac-club.org

Banquet Sales and Reservations

4588-0977

banquet@tac-club.org

Beauty/Hair Salon

4588-0685

Catering

4588-0307

banquet@tac-club.org

Childcare Center

4588-0701

child-care@tac-club.org

Communications

4588-0262

comms@tac-club.org

Engineering

4588-0699

eng@tac-club.org

Finance

4588-0222

acct@tac-club.org

Fitness Center

4588-0266

fitness@tac-club.org

Food & Beverage Office

4588-0245

fboffice@tac-club.org

Foreign Traders’ Bar

4588-0677

fb_bar@tac-club.org

Garden Café

4588-0705

gardencafe@tac-club.org

General Manager’s Office

4588-0674

gmoffice@tac-club.org

Library

4588-0678

library@tac-club.org

Logan Room

–

rec@tac-club.org

Membership Office

4588-0687

membership@tac-club.org

Member Services Desk

4588-0670

tac@tac-club.org

Mixed Grille

4588-0676

mixed.grille@tac-club.org

Pool Office

4588-0700

pool@tac-club.org

Recreation Services Desk

4588-0681

recdesk@tac-club.org

Recreation Office

4588-0240

rec@tac-club.org

Redevelopment Office

4588-0223

redevelopment@tac-club.org

Special Events

4588-0204

specialevents@tac-club.org

The Spa

4588-0714

spa@tac-club.org

Video Library

4588-0686

video@tac-club.org

Vineyards

4588-0978

vineyards@tac-club.org

Weddings

4588-0671

banquet@tac-club.org

Women’s Group Office

4588-0691

wg@tac-club.org

Youth Activities ya@tac-club.org

2 October 2009 iNTOUCH

4588-0250

from the

editor

One of my enduring memories of traveling around India many years ago is, perhaps peculiarly, not of the breathtaking architectural magnificence of the Taj Mahal. It’s not of the throngs of worshippers bathing in the holy Ganges at sunset in Varanasi, either. Whenever I think back to those post-university, carefree days, MTV India pops into my head.

On possibly the only occasion I checked into a hotel with air-conditioned rooms, I was afforded access to a wholly different side to the ancient culture I was spending my days exploring. Flicking through the channels of the TV, I instinctively stopped when I saw two T-shirt- and jeans-clad Indian veejays chatting away in front of a psychedelic-patterned backdrop.

Bizarrely, I could follow a good 10 percent of their conversation. In an obvious effort to appear hip, they peppered their Hindi with snippets of English.

Phrases like “excellent,” “totally awesome” and “makes me want to hit the dance floor” were seamlessly inserted into the flow of incomprehensible chatter. I was mesmerized by this seemingly effortless display of bilingualism.

Since English is an official language in India, many educated Indians learn it as they grow up. Bilingualism, therefore, seems as natural as the annual monsoon. This is not necessarily the case for many Club Members raising children in multicultural marriages.

As Rob Goss discovers in this month’s cover story, “Mastering Multiple Tongues,” bilingualism is far from innate. Parents have to plan and work hard at ensuring that their children’s two—or more—languages are developed in equal measure. Much is also dependent on the motivation of the kids. Pop singer Seira Kagami talks about finding the willpower to become fluent in the mother tongues of her parents in Talking Heads.

There’s little doubt, though, that the benefits of being able to speak more than one language are multitudinous. And that includes a career introducing music videos in a cool, hybrid patter.

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, “Mastering Multiple Tongues,” on pages 26 to 31, he talks to some parents in international marriages about what it takes to raise bilingual children. A terrible footballer and a woeful cook, Goss says he loves doing both anyway.

Kimberly Fiorello

Born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in suburban Washington, DC, Kimberly Fiorello has lived in Boston, New York and Hong Kong before moving to Tokyo last year with her husband and two children. A former reporter with the Far Eastern Economic Review and The Wall Street Journal, she is currently a freelance writer and working on a novel that she hopes to complete by year-end. In this month’s iNTOUCH, the Club Member previews the annual CWAJ Print Show at the Club by exploring the art show’s roots on pages 36 to 37.

When not writing or playing with her children, Fiorello indulges in her fascination for her new home, learning Japanese and exploring Tokyo.

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

October

6

Tuesday

Thursday

1

Thursday

1–31

Thursday– Saturday

Meet the Author: Hans Brinckmann The author discusses his book, Showa Japan, about his experiences living in Japan in the Showa era and shares his unique collection of photos from the period. 7 p.m. Get the evening’s details on page 12.

Classic Carving Returns Mouthwatering slices of roast beef served straight from the classic Prime Rib Wagon become a permanent fixture of weekday dinners at the American Room. Flip to page 11 for the lowdown.

Lucky 7 at The Spa Feel like you’ve hit the jackpot with this month-long offer from The Spa. Choose any two treatments from the 30-Minute Express menu for only ¥7,777.

More on page 21.

6–8

8

8

Tuesday– Thursday

Thursday

Thursday

Toddler Time Preschoolers are invited to join in a fun-packed session of arts, crafts and storytelling. 10:30 a.m.

Every Tuesday this month.

Tokyo: Here & Now This orientation program from the Women’s Group goes beyond the basics to give newcomers to Japan valuable insight and information to ease the transition to living abroad. Contact the Women’s Group Office for details.

Road to the Boardroom Nominations for November’s election of the Board of Governors will be accepted until 5 p.m. Candidates must submit a policy statement by 5 p.m. on Friday, October 9.

Learn more on page 16.

Father-Son Dinner Registration Secure your spot at this entertaining annual event filled with contests, prizes and lip-smacking cuisine for the guys only. More on page 21.

11

11

13

14–18

Sunday

Sunday

Tuesday

Wednesday– Sunday

Little Ladies’ Posh Party A whimsical, delightfully girly afternoon of stories and crafts, plus a special fashion show and tea party à la popular children’s book series Fancy Nancy. 2 p.m.

Flip to page 12 for more.

Canadian Thanksgiving Brunch and Dinner Enjoy a traditional holiday feast with a succulent carved turkey and all the trimmings. New York Suite. Brunch: 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Dinner: 5–9 p.m. Reserve at 03-4588-0977.

Artist’s Reception The CWAJ Associate Show brings the renowned lithography works of 96-year-old Toko Shinoda, a pioneer of abstract expressionism, to the Genkan Gallery. Read more about the “Picasso of Japan” on page 32.

American Room Closure While the Club’s signature restaurant shutters its doors for a few days, be sure to check out the delectable offerings at the other outlets, including Mixed Grille’s Prime Rib Wagon.

22

23

24

25

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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.

Meiji Shrine “Behind the Scenes” Tour Get a look at the rarely visited spots of one of Japan’s most recognized shrines during this exclusive tour that includes a private performance of traditional gagaku music. Sign up at the Member Services Desk.

Ja-Pun Comedy Night Head to Traders’ Bar for a night of giggles and guffaws as classic gaijin experiences are retold in hilarious show tune spoofs.

7:30 p.m. Get the full scoop on page 17.

Disaster Awareness Day Practice crawling through smoke to safety and making an emergency call during this free, family-oriented event that will leave participants equipped to deal with disaster. 3 p.m. See page 25 for more.

29–31

30

30

31

Thursday– Saturday

World Series at Traders’ Bar Catch all the exhilarating autumn action as the MLB playoffs climax with a spectacular clash for the 2009 championship title.

4 October 2009 iNTOUCH

Friday

Dog Point and Quartz Reef Decadent Dinner Find out what the wine world is raving about when the winemakers of two New Zealand labels bring their supreme vintages to the Club for an unforgettable evening. See page 10 for details.

Friday

Pink Ball Tokyo’s Westin Hotel hosts this year’s decadent ball in support of breast cancer awareness.

Sign up for this Community Relations Committee-approved event online or at the Member Services Desk.

Saturday

Monster Makeup Mash Ahead of your big Halloween bash, get help creating the most stunningly spooky hair and makeup from The Spa’s pros.

More on page 21.

EVENTS

3–4

Saturday– Sunday

4

Sunday

4

Sunday

4

Sunday

Family Photos Snap your annual family portrait at the Club in time to send out this year’s holiday cards. Get the full scoop on page 16.

Kamakura Samurai Archery Ceremony Tour Yabusame equestrian archery is a traditional test of martial skills and has been performed annually in Kamakura since 1187. Sign up for this Women’s Group tour at the Member Services Desk.

Educational Resources Panel Discussion Uncover a wealth of schooling options and helpful resources in Tokyo at this free Women’s Group gathering. 3 p.m. For more on bilingual education, check out this month’s cover story on page 26.

Indoor Rowing Challenge Join in this inaugural competition at the Fitness Center and see how you stack up against other rowers.

10 a.m. Turn to page 21 for the details.

9

9

9–12

10

Friday

Tai Chi Chuan Ancient Chinese philosophy is the basis of this gentle workout that leaves participants feeling restored inside and out. Details are on page 21.

15

Thursday

Friday

Darioush Decadent Dinner Be the first to sample wines from this Napa Valley label, soon to be featured in the Japanese remake of the wine flick Sideways. Learn more about the ornate, Persianinspired winery on page 8.

16–18

Friday– Sunday

Friday– Monday

Saturday

Canadian Thanksgiving Catering Celebrate the holiday with family and friends and don’t worry about lifting a finger in the kitchen this year. Let us whip up a mouthwatering meal. Contact 03-4588-0307 for details.

Tokyo: Here & Now Cocktail Party Mingle with newfound friends and swap tips for living in Japan at this wrap-up party for the Women’s Group’s orientation program. 7 p.m. American Room.

17

19

Saturday

Monday

Shinagawa Walking Tour Explore the lively area surrounding the Club, packed with charming shopping streets, tiny, tucked-away temples and floating restaurants. Sign up at the Member Services Desk.

CWAJ Print Show Held each autumn at the Club, this three-day exhibition brings together a must-see selection of the world’s most dazzling print artwork. Read about the show’s influential founder, Oliver Statler, on page 36.

Run for the Cure/Walk for Life Do your part for breast cancer awareness by walking five kilometers or running five or 10 kilometers at this Community Relations Committee-approved event. Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk.

Women’s Group Monthly Program An insightful glimpse into the colorful world of contemporary Japanese ceramics with pottery collector and author Robert Yellin.

11 a.m. For a taste of Yellin’s art talk, turn to page 24.

26

26

27

28

Monday

Get Acquainted Coffee Meet new people and learn about the Women’s Group at this relaxed summer gathering.

10 a.m. Banquet Rooms. Contact the Women’s Group Office to arrange for free childcare.

31

Saturday

Fright Fest Terrifying tricks, tasty treats and “spook”tacular fun and games await youngsters this Halloween at the Club. Flip to page 16 for all the spine-chilling details.

Monday

Hoop Tips Sign-up gets underway for the Club’s fun-filled Youth Basketball Program for grades one to eight. 10 a.m. To find out more, flip to page 21.

Tuesday

An Evening of Gagaku Former gagaku performer Hideaki Bunno brings the ancient music of Japan’s imperial court to the Club for a rare talk and demonstration. Check out pages 17 and 44 for details.

Wednesday

Bordeaux Vertical Tasting Gain a deeper understanding of this outstanding French wine region at this unique tasting featuring three châteaux. Find out more on page 9.

Coming up in

November 5 International Bazaar 8 Father-Son Dinner

12 & 16 Meet the

Candidates Night

Bad Parking Day

Noteworthy dates for the month 5

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Returning Home Board of Governors

by Jerry McAlinn

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

I

returned to my hometown of Philadelphia this summer. It is always nice to go “home” for a visit. It has been more than 30 years since I left, yet it’s amazing how little the city has changed.

Tokyo, in contrast, seems to transform itself on an almost daily basis. I remember walking to my office soon after arriving in the capital and enjoying the small streets and hodgepodge mix of old and new architecture.

One day as I was returning home, I noticed a cleared lot that hadn’t been vacant that morning. I could not remember what had been on the lot and only later did I recollect the old Japanese wooden house that had stood there. Gone and forgotten in a day!

It certainly took longer than a day to tear down our old Club buildings in Azabudai, and they will not soon be forgotten. Still, one cannot help but be impressed by the speed and quality with which the temporary Club in Takanawa was built.

Even more impressive is the fact that the Redevelopment Project remains on schedule and on budget. This is no mean feat given the size and complexity of the project. We all owe a great debt of gratitude to our management team led by Alistair Gough, the Club’s Redevelopment director, and to our partners, Mitsubishi Estate Corporation and Takenaka Komuten, as well as outside experts who have guided us steadily through this process.

Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects presented the final plans for the new Club earlier this year and it promises to be spectacular by any measure. When the Long Range Planning Committee started the redevelopment process more than 10 years ago, we made a

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

collective commitment not to build a Club that would amount to “old wine in a new bottle.” We consciously sought to include elements that gave the Club its essential character at the same time as jettisoning others that were offered only because they were the best we could manage given our aging infrastructure. We have incorporated state-of-the-art facilities and operational concepts to meet the needs of the changing demographics of our Membership.

In a little more than one year, we should be ready to move back to Azabudai. I am confident that the management and staff will do their best to ensure a near-seamless transition, as they did with the move to Takanawa. Planning is already underway to ensure this.

As Members, we can also contribute to a successful transition by remaining positive and working together to make the new Club our “home away from home.”

We have been lucky so far in terms of timing. We would not have been able to undertake the Redevelopment Project if we had delayed starting by even a month given the financial crisis that struck soon after we signed the final agreements. I am keeping my fingers crossed that our luck will hold and we will see a major uptick in the economy just around the time we are ready to reopen in Azabudai. o

azabudai

Ayano Sato

update

6 October 2009 iNTOUCH

by Wendi Hailey

In August, the first stage of the Club’s structural steel installation wrapped up and construction on the basements shuffled forward through September. “It is very simple because we are doing only forming, reinforcing steel installation and pouring concrete all over the place,” says site manager Ryota Sekiguchi.

At the end of the month, the vice president of construction firm Takenaka visited the Club site to view the progress and conditions and listen to a presentation delivered by the local team. “It took two weeks to prepare, working day and night,” Sekiguchi says. “It went pretty well.”

Steel and concrete work advances into the fall before the more “exciting” phases can begin—right on track. “My favorite thing is to see progress as I scheduled going nice and smoothly,” Sekiguchi says.

“I do not like to hear the word ‘behind’!”

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

MANAGEMENT

Season

of Change

by Michael Bumgardner Michael Bumgardner General Manager

O

ctober means the start of a new fiscal year for your Club. This period is spent auditing the results of the last financial year in preparation for next month’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). This important event for the Membership includes the announcement of the newly elected governors following the annual election for the Board of Governors.

You may have noticed the slate of election candidates posted at the entrance to the Club. This list was put together by the Club’s Nominating Committee and approved by the Board, but now you have the opportunity to nominate your fellow Members. To find out more about this, please turn to page 16 or contact the General Manager’s Office.

As we drew the last fiscal year to a close, we held our annual Employee Recognition Day party. This year’s event on August 5 saw 230 staff in attendance. Long-service awards were presented, while Thomas Shirota was named the Employee of the Year (read more on 41).

In light of the current economic environment, this year’s party was held at the Club as opposed to a Tokyo hotel, thereby saving a considerable amount of money. And while we didn’t solicit donations from Members this year, some thoughtful Members still made contributions. Turn to page 50 for a full list of donors and photos from the day.

Just a few days later, the gates to the Club were thrown open

to the public for our popular Bon Odori. This year’s bicultural festival attracted more than 2,500 people from the Club and local community. This event reflects our mission as an active member of the community to build cross-cultural relations between Japan and the United States. Photos from the lively matsuri can be found on pages 48 to 49.

Events of note this month at the Club include the Women’s Group biannual, three-day orientation program. Held from October 6, Tokyo: Here & Now is a “survival guide” to Japan for those newcomers to Tokyo. This event is open to non-Members as well. Contact the Women’s Group Office to find out more.

The CWAJ Print Show is an annual exhibition of stunning contemporary print artwork. The three-day show has been held at the Club since the mid-1970s and proceeds from the event go toward educational scholarships. You can read more about this year’s Print Show, from October 16, and the CWAJ by flipping to page 36. For a full rundown of what’s on around the Club in October, take a look at pages 4 and 5.

As I have mentioned a number of times in this column, Member recruitment is a particularly important issue for your Club right now, and we look to you to help us in this endeavor.

Since monthly dues for new Members will go up from January 1, 2010, this could be a reason to recommend friends and acquaintances to join the Club now. A lot more incentives lie in the pages of this magazine. o

Executive remarks 7

decadent

dinner

Celebrity

Cabs

by Wendi Hailey

I

n the new Japanese adaptation of Sideways, the Hollywood film that gave Merlot a bad rep and drove up bottle sales across California vineyards, two quirky, mismatched friends embark on a stag party road trip across Napa Valley. Their quest, aside from pre-wedding camaraderie and a series of tasting rooms, is to recover a wayward case of Darioush wine for the impetuous groom’s future father-in-law.

Just ahead of Darioush’s silver-screen debut, Members can catch a sneak peek of its finest vintages when winery president Daniel de Polo hosts a dinner at the Club this month.

While the label has been heavily praised for its graceful, complex Bordeaux-style wines, it is the extravagant, Persian-inspired architecture that most captivates wine lovers making the Napa tasting rounds. The illustrious winery, with its stately columns, outdoor fountains, lush gardens and swank tasting bar, was designed as a tribute to the grape, hospitality and founder Darioush Khaledi’s Iranian roots.

“It’s an authentic part of who Darioush is, both the winery and the man,” says de

Darioush Khaledi and Daniel de Polo Darioush Decadent Dinner Friday, October 9 7 p.m.

American Room ¥18,000 Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk

8 October 2009 iNTOUCH

Polo, 42. “But it’s really all about the wine.

The wine has to be distinctive and superb.”

Growing up in Shiraz, the heart of Iran’s ancient viniculture, Khaledi developed a partiality for wine at a tender age thanks to his father, a hobbyist winemaker. As a boy, he would often steal nips from the barrels of homemade red wine in the basement. He later cultivated a career as a civil engineer, but also became a dedicated collector of Bordeaux wines.

Khaledi immigrated to California in the late 1970s, building a thriving supermarket business and eventually eliciting a new dream with a sip of Napa Cabernet.

Impressed with what he tasted, he began augmenting his cellar collection with California’s best and resolved to one day produce his own.

In 1997, after searching worldwide for the ideal climate and parcel of land, he founded Darioush in Napa’s southern Silverado Trail. With the help of winemaker Steve Devitt, he mixes contemporary technology with Old World methods to “create a bridge stylistically for wine between Napa and

Bordeaux” while reflecting his heritage.

“Everyone thinks that this is a temple to him, but really it’s not,” de Polo says of the estate’s well-noted grandeur. “The Persian philosophy of being very hospitable, that’s basically what drives him.”

Employing the luxurious Four Seasons hotel chain as his model for unparalleled service and hospitality, Khaledi has concocted a choice of memorable wine experiences at the 2,000-square-meter winery. Perhaps the most gracious is a small-scale tasting that invites guests into Khaledi’s private cellar, where they can choose a bottle from his vast Bordeaux collection to be uncorked along with his own label and paired with tantalizing morsels of food. “That’s like every wine drinker’s fantasy,” de Polo says. “It’s not a competition, it’s a celebration.”

De Polo, who spent seven years at various Napa wineries, including Beringer, after earning his MBA, will be attending the première of Sideways on his first trip to Japan. But he will be unveiling the real stars of the film at the Club. ®

FOOD & BEVERAGE

wine

tasting

Tasting

© Château Haut-Bailly

the Best

A

rguably the most famous winegrowing region in the world, Bordeaux’s relationship with the grape spans centuries. This picturesque pocket of southwestern France, which is home to some of the finest and most expensive vintages, now boasts around 10,000 wine-producing châteaux and 13,000 grape growers in an area roughly the size of Hong Kong.

It’s in this densely packed area of vineyards that the idea of terroir is deeply rooted as soil and microclimate combine to produce a particular château’s “personality,” which is reflected in each vintage. Members will have the opportunity to taste this concept this month at a special vertical tasting featuring six vintages from three Bordeaux châteaux.

“During a vertical tasting, you get to understand better the style of the wines

from a château,” says Veronique Sanders, 41, general manager of Château HautBailly, a Cru Classé producer in PessacLéognan in Graves. “To make a great wine in Bordeaux is to be able to adapt yourself to the climatic conditions that are different every year.”

Sanders will be joined by Alexander Van Beek, general manager of Château Giscours and Château du Tertre, two Grand Cru Classé properties that border each other in Margaux. The 38-year-old Dutchman says that attendees at the tasting will be afforded the chance to sample and compare red wines of two different appellations that have “balance and elegance” in common.

Both Van Beek and Sanders agree that the châteaux of Bordeaux have to work hard in an increasingly competitive wine world, but Sanders stresses that those who want to taste the best “eventually arrive in Bordeaux.” ®

by Nick Jones

Alexander Van Beek

Veronique Sanders

Bordeaux Vertical Tasting Wednesday, October 28 7 p.m.

Banquet Rooms ¥9,000 Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk

Wines of the Month Red Château de Reignac 2006, AC Bordeaux Supérieur, Bordeaux, France A blend of 75 percent Merlot and 25 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, this hugely impressive wine from an outstanding estate boasts a dense purple color as well as a bouquet of sweet crème de cassis, spring flowers, toasty oak and background forest floor. Medium- to full-bodied, richly fruity and pure, with an alluring texture and length, wine guru Robert Parker awarded it 91 points.

White Château Charron “Acacia” 2006, Premières Côtes de Blaye, Bordeaux, France Bright gold with fragrant aromas of honey, lime cordial and creamy vanilla, this white is from a winery that has been quietly handcrafting vintages since the 18th century. The palate is full and concentrated with flavors of beeswax and mango surrounding a solid citric core. Excellent as an aperitif, this will pair superbly with seafood or plainly grilled fish.

Bottle: ¥4,000 Glass: ¥800

Club wining and dining

decadent

dinner

Island Exploration

by Wendi Hailey

A

t the foot of New Zealand’s South Island, Central Otago has earned worldwide kudos for the robust, velvety Pinot Noirs produced in its elevated, alpine vineyards. On the island’s northern tip, in sunny, dry Marlborough, grows an equally reputed Sauvignon Blanc grape, full of crisp, aromatic fruit and

herbaceous character.

Both regional jewels, among other palate-pleasing varietals, will be showcased during a well-matched wine dinner at the Club this month. James Healy and Ivan Sutherland of Dog Point Vineyard will present the offerings of Marlborough’s Wairau Valley, while Quartz Reef founder and head winemaker Rudi Bauer will show off the best of the south.

Located on a sun-doused slope in Central Otago, Quartz Reef, named after New Zealand’s biggest quartz deposit, which lies underneath its main vineyards, produces trademark Pinot Noir, sparkling wine and Pinot Gris. “Our wines are structural based, not fruit based,” says Bauer, 49. “To have more distinctive flavor, more expression from the vineyards, that’s the most important thing. The quality is made in the vineyards.”

Bauer, who studied winemaking and

viticulture in Austria and Germany for years, moved to New Zealand to work as an assistant winemaker at Hawkes Bay in 1985. Eleven years later, he and two partners established their own vineyards.

“My challenge was to translate what I learned from the Old World and apply it to the New World and, ideally, get the best out of both worlds,” he says.

While Central Otago is undergoing a vinticultural boom, Marlborough remains the country’s largest winemaking region with its ideal climate and an estimated 65 wineries. Among those is Dog Point, launched in 2002 by Healy and Sutherland, former Cloudy Bay Wines winemakers, and their wives, Wendy and Margaret (pictured).

The winemaking duo used their familiarity with the vineyards and local conditions to create wines that were “varietally expressive and regionally distinctive with good fruit concentration and depth,” says Margaret.

Whether partial to Pinots, Sauvignon Blancs or otherwise, this sensational double-headliner dinner allows wine lovers of all lots to dabble in the rich bottled bounty of South Island. ®

Dog Point and Quartz Reef Decadent Dinner Friday, October 30 7 p.m.

American Room ¥16,000 Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk

10 October 2009 iNTOUCH

FOOD & BEVERAGE

The Beef is Back!

The Prime Rib Wagon makes a welcome return to the American Room for dinner or year-end celebrations. Enjoy succulent beef, carved at your table, as part of a delectable set menu or from the à la carte offerings.

Weekdays 6–10 p.m.

American Room Classic set: ¥7,500 À la carte: from ¥3,400 Reserve your table at 03-5488-0675

Seasonal Celebrations Make sure that your year-end festive bash or New Year shindig is a resounding success by hosting it at the Club. Call our team of party-planning professionals to find out about our superior range of all-inclusive offers and how we can help you to put on a celebration to remember.

November 1–February 28 Call Banquet Sales and Reservations at 03-4588-0306

Vineyards Parties Whether it’s an intimate birthday get-together with family or a larger, livelier soirée with friends or colleagues, the Club’s signature wine and coffee bar, Vineyards, is the place to be.

Accommodating parties of between six and 40, Vineyards boasts an exciting selection of party package possibilities.

Discover more by calling Vineyards at 03-4588-0978.

did you know... that non-Members are allowed to attend selected Club wine dinners and previews? Contact Makiko Hosokawa at 03-4588-0744 for details.

Club wining and dining 11

writer’s

block

Colm Tóibín

by Tracy Flannery

Perry Ogden

B

orn in Enniscorthy, Ireland, in 1955, Colm Tóibín is the accomplished product of a family of teachers and political activists. Having received his degree in English and history from University College Dublin in 1975, he immediately set off for Barcelona, where he taught English for three years.

His time in Spain later provided the fodder for two novels, The South (1990), which was short-listed for the Whitbread First Novel Prize, and Homage to Barcelona (1990). After starting a career in journalism following his return to Dublin, Tóibín traveled extensively in the 1980s. The Trial of the Generals (1990) provides a memorable reflection of that period.

The Heather Blazing (1992) was published while he was writing for The Sunday Independent newspaper as a TV critic and political commentator. Two novels, The Story of the Night (1996) and Blackwater Lightship (1999), which was short-listed for the Booker Prize, and a travel book, The Sign of the Cross: Travels in Catholic Europe (1994), followed.

His fifth novel, The Master (2004), is a portrait of novelist Henry James and received both critical and popular acclaim. It, too, was short-listed for the Booker Prize.

Tóibín’s latest novel, Brooklyn (2009), leverages his personal “immigrant” experience. Set in the 1950s, the book’s Irish protagonist reluctantly agrees to leave the security of her rural hometown for an improved life in America. She meets with

success until a family tragedy beckons her return home. The author’s depiction of her internal struggle is flawless.

Having been a visiting professor at Stanford University, the University of Texas at Austin and Princeton, Tóibín currently lives in Ireland. ® The Library stocks The Heather Blazing, The Story of the Night, The Master and Mothers and Sons (2006).

kid s' co rn e r

events

Ysbrand Rogge

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

Little Ladies’ Posh Party

Meet the Author: Hans Brinckmann

Based on the popular Fancy Nancy series of books by Jane O’Connor, this classy affair features snacks, stories, crafts and a fashion show to find the Club’s “fanciest girl.” So dig out that posh frock and prepare to have fun!

Long-time Japan resident Hans Brinckmann discusses his book, Showa Japan: The Post-War Golden Age and Its Troubled Legacy, and presents a slideshow of his photos from the fascinating era while talking about his own experiences of living in Japan at the time.

Sunday, October 11 2–3 p.m.

Women’s Group Classroom 3 ¥3,675 (includes a copy of Fancy Nancy: Let’s Get Fancy Together!)

Ages 3 and above Sign up at the Library

Thursday, October 1 7 p.m.

Women’s Group Classroom 3 ¥1,050 Sign up at the Library

12 October 2009 iNTOUCH

LIBRARY

new

reads Cutting for Stone

by Abraham Verghese

The Best Skillet Recipes

by Cook’s Illustrated

Verghese’s novel begins with the birth of twins—the result of an unlikely liaison between a surgeon and nun in 1954 Ethiopia. Inseparable from birth, love of the same woman eventually destroys the boys’ relationship.

Familial conflict, political turmoil and medical practice in suboptimal conditions make this saga a worthy read. (TF)

Your sturdy skillet becomes a vehicle for hundreds of new dishes, from stove to oven main dishes to innovative desserts and side dishes. In true Cook’s Illustrated style, recipe variation suggestions are plentiful and detailed instructions informative and practical. Happy cooking! (TF)

Sarah’s Key

by Tatiana de Rosnay

The Otaku Encyclopedia

by Patrick W Galbraith

The 1942 roundup and deportation of thousands of Jewish families in Paris provides the setting for this work of historical fiction. A contemporary American journalist uncovers heart-wrenching details surrounding the tragic event, learning a great deal about her own family and herself in the process. (TF)

A thoroughly researched guide to manga, anime and the modern Japanese subculture surrounding both, this surprising little book covers everything from Astro Boy to maid cafés to the dark underbelly of Akihabara.

Guaranteed to inform and entertain. (CM)

The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt

by TJ Stiles

Swann’s Way: In Search of Lost Time, Vol .1

by Marcel Proust

This American legend was born during George Washington’s presidency. Builder of the nation’s largest fleet of steamships, head of a vast railroad empire and responsible for the construction of New York’s Grand Central Station, Cornelius Vanderbilt launched a transportation revolution, permanently defining America’s economic structure. (TF)

This is the first part of Proust’s 3,000-page novel, In Search of Lost Time, an epic work of fiction. In 2004, The New York Times called it “the crucial modernist work, overtopping the books of even such giants as Joyce and Mann. Proust has moved from avant-garde to mainstream….” (CM)

Reviews compiled by Library Committee member Tracy Flannery and librarian Charles Morris.

member’s choice Member: Lucy Prout Title: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

What’s the book about?

Thirteen-year-old Brian is sent to visit his father in Canada when the pilot of the private plane he is on unexpectedly has a heart attack and they crash in the North American wilderness. The novel tracks Brian’s struggle to survive as he discovers a new, important part of himself.

What did you like about it?

It was interesting reading about a boy—about the same age as me—and what he does in such a dire situation.

Why did you choose it?

I actually read a segment from this book in another book and wanted to find out what happens.

What other books would you recommend?

I recommend Jerry Spinelli’s Love, Stargirl and 33 Things Every Girl Should Know by Tonya Bolden.

Literary gems at the Library 13

More Divine Than Disco

by Gayle Olsen

T

he 1970s were a remarkable decade for cinema. Across all genres, directors like George Lucas, Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen orchestrated films with creative and memorable subject matter that reflected the questioning spirit and truth of the times. The collective output was such cultural touchstones as Star Wars, The Godfather, Rocky, Jaws and American Graffiti.

One notable segment that delivered an abundance of theatrical gems was crime, with clever, nail-biting tales of cops versus criminals spun from every angle.

In Dirty Harry (1971), Clint Eastwood delivers an iconic performance and an onslaught of famous one-liners as a nononsense cop hunting down a serial sniper in San Francisco. With no romantic subplot to deter from the action, Inspector Harry Callahan wields his own brand of justice in this entertaining crime story.

The take on law enforcement is spun 180 degrees in The French Connection (1971), winner of five Academy Awards. The artfully weaved story unfolds as a reckless New York City narcotics cop and his partner (played by Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider) uncover an international drug smuggling job and go after the elusive, sophisticated mastermind.

With its twisting plot, charming leads and crisp humor, The Sting (1973) garnered seven Oscars of its own. Robert Redford and Paul Newman shine as two clever con artists planning an elaborate heist against a murderous mob boss in gritty but glamorous 1930s Chicago.

Dog Day Afternoon (1975) is a somber film, yet one worth watching. Based on real events, a botched bank robbery leads to a 12hour hostage standoff between Sonny Wortzik (Al Pacino) and 250 police officers, thousands of bystanders and rolling TV cameras. ® Check the Video Library section of the Club website for a list of recommended ’70s films.

t v

s e r i e s

Two and a Half Men

by Gayle Olsen

One of the most consistently watched shows on American television, “Two and a Half Men” is an old-fashioned, nofrills family sitcom with mass appeal. Charlie Sheen stars as Charlie Harper, a rich, carefree bachelor who shares his Malibu beach house with his anxiety-riddled brother, Alan, and impish nephew, Jake. The men contend with the influential women in their lives, including their narcissistic mother, Alan’s ex-wife and an overbearing housekeeper, as they endeavor to be strong role models for Jake.

The award-winning show, now in its seventh season, largely forgoes the flashy formats and ironic wit of modern-day TV comedies to offer a relevant take on complicated relationships of all types, unfolded with simplicity and comic timing that never grow stale. Raking in laughter week after week alongside a talented supporting cast, Sheen earns his keep as one of TV’s highest-paid actors, alongside the likes of “24” megastar Keifer Sutherland. ® The Video Library stocks the first six seasons of “Two and a Half Men.”

14 October 2009 iNTOUCH

give it a go

A Las Vegas cabbie and ex-con (Dwayne Johnson) teams up with a UFO expert to protect two alien siblings from a strange villain in a hightech suit of armor. This family film from Disney features great performances from Johnson and the two kids.

This tender comedy-drama is about two sisters, Rose (Amy Adams), a single mom, and Norah Lorkowski (Emily Blunt), who start a crime scene cleanup business. Alan Arkin adds another dimension to the story with his performance as the sisters’ get-rich-quick-scheme-obsessed father, Joe.

To help pay for her son’s private school tuition, a single mom, played by Amy Adams (Enchanted, Doubt), starts a crime scene cleanup service with her unreliable sister (Emily Blunt of The Devil Wears Prada and The Jane Austen Book Club fame). The onscreen chemistry of the pair makes for a wonderful film.

The protagonists of this popular series of movies seem more concerned with winning the girl or guy in this particular teen flick. The adventure/ fantasy element is absent and the title seems rather misleading since the half-blood prince only appears for about 10 seconds!

In his sixth year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter discovers a mysterious, old book and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort’s dark past.

While a little long for me, this movie is a mustsee for all Harry Potter fans.

This wonderful family movie based on a Japanese true story (see the statue in front of Shibuya Station for details) is a real tearjerker.

Starring Richard Gere and Joan Allen, the simple tale is about a dog by the name of Hachiko and the lives he touches.

This adaptation of a Japanese story is about a faithful dog who walks his master to and from the train station each day, and continues his daily routine even after his owner unexpectedly dies. Hachiko, played by Forest, simply steals the movie with an outstanding performance.

abort

smokin' give it a go abort

She is Yuko Akisato, manager of the Video Library.

smokin'

Even fans of the original Witch Mountain films should be entertained by this updated adaptation. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and the rest of the cast give good performances, while the special effects, modern twist and nice, flowing story combine for a delightful flick for adults and teens alike.

SHE SAYS

He is Club President Lance Lee.

HE SAYS

VIDEO LIBRARY

new titles Action X-Men Origins: Wolverine A keyed-up prequel of the comicbook movie franchise reveals the tragic past and extraordinary transformation of pulp superhero Wolverine (Hugh Jackman).

Comedy I’ll Believe You A frantic, indecipherable call into radio host Dale Sweeney’s late-night show catering to madcap conspiracy theorists triggers a search to uncover the mystery caller.

Easy Virtue The effervescent musical score jazzes up this period tale of a luminous, unconventional American woman who ruffles the stuffy, uptight family of her new English husband.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past A notorious playboy and romantic Scrooge (Matthew McConaughey) is revisited by the apparitions of three ex-girlfriends on the eve of his brother’s wedding in this romcom take on A Christmas Carol.

Away We Go An uprooted couple treks across the United States in search of “home” before the birth of their first child.

The Brothers Bloom One final job could spell catastrophe for two of the world’s slickest swindlers as they jet around the globe with a beautiful but peculiar heiress.

Drama Shrink As his patients grapple for sanity and happiness, a Hollywood therapist (Kevin Spacey) suffers a colossal meltdown of his own.

Family Battle for Terra The inhabitants of the harmonious, picturesque planet Terra defend themselves from an invasion by hostile Earthlings in this entertaining, computer-animated flick.

TV and film selections 15

Nightmare at Takanawa

B

e prepared for a day of terrifyingly good fun as Fright Fest comes to the Club for Halloween. Those brave enough to attend will enjoy a host of spinechillingly exciting activities, including games, face-painting, cartoons, candy, goodie bags, photo opportunities and crafts.

Don’t miss this chance to experience a hair-raising Halloween at the Club. ® Fright Fest Saturday, October 31 10 a.m.–3 p.m. (45-minute sessions) Gym and Recreation Room Children (2–14 years): ¥2,300 Infants (1 and under): free Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk

Picture-Perfect Portraits

W

hether you’re looking for a lasting memento or merely want to keep up a family tradition, professional photographer Ken Katsurayama will be at the Club ahead of the holiday season to take family portraits.

Sit or stand for five or six poses and a total of about 30 shots (a DVD of all shots will be available). A Christmas tree will be on hand to use as a backdrop. ®

Family Photos Saturday, October 3 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

Sunday, October 4 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Women’s Group Classroom 3 ¥25,000 Sign up at the Member Services Desk

Road to the Board Room

N

ominations from the floor for next month’s election of the Board of Governors will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 8.

To run for a governor’s position requires the signatures of 30 voting Members or designated spouses, along with a statement from the person being nominated that indicates that he or she

16 October 2009 iNTOUCH

has been a Regular Member or designated spouse in good standing for at least one year and is willing to run and serve a full two-year term. These documents must be submitted to the General Manager’s Office by 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 8. Candidates will also be required to submit a policy statement by 5 p.m. on Friday, October 9.

The Board will approve the slate

and post it at the Club entrance. For more information, contact the General Manager’s Office. ® Meet the Candidates Night November 12 and 16 6:30 p.m.

Adult Lobby Open to all Members

COMMITTEES

Cross-Cultural Comedy of Errors

D

aniel and Alice Owen were on a ski trip with friends in Nagano in February 1986 when comedic inspiration struck. Snatching up a pencil and napkin, the couple began, along with Walter Fritz, to scribble down the unusual, amusing experiences of expat life in Japan that popped into their minds. Over the next six months, those and other ideas would be molded into imaginative, chuckle-worthy lyrics for comedy troupe High Energy Unlimited’s musical revue, “Ja-Pun.” The long-running show has toured across Japan, recounting for audiences through quirky song parodies, physical comedy and jokes a range of first encounters with Japanese culture. Everything from learning to drive to taking in the annual Sapporo Snow Festival is creative fodder for this sidesplitting, two-part routine.

“We want to share with our fellow gaijin the memories of those first days in Japan, and to relate to our Japanese hosts just how much we love and appreciate the customs and people of this marvelous country,” says

Winton “Winky” White, one of the show’s original members.

The rotating cast of performers features veteran actors frequently seen on stages across Tokyo as well as newcomers. “Everyone brings something new to the show, whether it’s their interpretation of the script or a funny rendition of their own experience in Japan,” says longtime cast member Bill Spearman. “A lot of stories come out.”

Revisit your first impressions of Japan—both the comical and bewildering—and share in the entertaining empathy when “Ja-Pun” drops by Traders’ Bar later this month. ® Ja-Pun Comedy Show Saturday, October 24 7:30 p.m.

Traders’ Bar ¥2,600 Adults only Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk Sponsored by the Entertainment Committee

Joining a Committee Members interested in joining one of the committees listed should contact its chair or inquire at the General Manager’s Office.

Recreation Tim Griffen (Tim Griffen) Recreation Subcommittees Bowling Pam Jenkinson Fitness Jerry Rosenberg Golf Steven Thomas Library Michelle Arnot Brown Logan Room Diane Dooley & Susan Higgins Squash Nelson Graves & Alok Rakyan Swim Jesse Green & Stewart Homler Video Lisbeth Pentelius Youth Activities Jane Hunsaker Community Relations Scott Hancock (Jeff McNeill) Community Relations Subcommittees Distinguished Achievement Award Jeff McNeill Independence Day Dan Stakoe Sportsman of the Year Jeff McNeill Culture Eiji Arai (Per Knudsen) Culture Subcommittee Genkan Gallery Fred Harris Entertainment Per Knudsen (Per Knudsen) Finance Akihiko Mizuno (Thomas Brown) Food & Beverage Craig Saphin (Amane Nakashima) Food & Beverage Subcommittee Wine Mark Baxter

Majestic Music

F

ormer gagaku musician Hideaki Bunno brings the sounds of the imperial court to the Club for a rare and exclusive performance this month.

Bunno will explain the history of gagaku before demonstrating the ancient musical form. To find out more about Bunno’s life in the rarefied world of the Music Department of the Imperial Household Agency, turn to page 44. ®

An Evening of Gagaku Tuesday, October 27 7 p.m.

Banquet Rooms Members: ¥1,500 Non-Members: ¥2,000 Adults only Open to the public Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk Sponsored by the Culture Committee

House Mary Saphin (Ira Wolf) House Subcommittee Architectural Peter Jay & Michael Miller Human Resources Victoria Muir (Barbara Hancock) Membership Mark Saft (Mary Saphin) Nominating Nick Masee

Names in parentheses denote Board liaisons.

Cornerstones of the Club 17

W

hile employees of a downtown office in Buenos Aires headed to their favorite restaurants for lunch or idled away the hour at their desks, an energetic, twentysomething Santiago Bargagna and four coworkers grabbed their racquets and headed to the squash courts of an athletic club two blocks away.

“It is funny, but I first became interested in squash through work,” the Club Member says. “We started to play at noon three times a week, and it became a routine for years.”

The small group would play in a type of convivial “mini-tournament” every day during their 90-minute lunch period.

Elevating his heart rate and releasing stress and toxins from his body, Bargagna says, led to more productive, effective work in the afternoons, as well as a toned body.

Santiago Bargagna “I do and I have done many sports, but squash uniquely combines high intensity in a very short period of time, a very simple mathematical logic and, most importantly, squash has great camaraderie,” he says.

In fact, squash was named the No. 1 healthiest sport by Forbes

magazine in 2003. Players in constant motion make for a highimpact cardiorespiratory and full-body workout, burning as many as 1,000 calories in just an hour. It is also a game that all ages and levels can excel at with practice.

“The rules are very simple,” Bargagna says. “It’s very easy to learn and easy to play. You will sweat very soon—in about 10 minutes. I think sweat is the physical evidence that you’re doing something good for your body.”

Leaving Argentina a decade ago did nothing to temper his enthusiasm for the vigorous sport. He regularly worked up a sweat on the courts of Atlanta, Georgia, before moving to Tokyo three years ago for his career as a marketing executive for Coca-Cola.

But, Bargagna admits, it took him several months after joining the Club to discover the squash courts on the second floor. Now he plays in the Club league or with friends an average of three times a week. “It’s 50 percent social, 50 percent competitive,” he explains. “Once you start playing at a certain level, you want to keep going.”

Courting Competition One Club Member and keen squash player explains the attraction of running around a white-walled court in pursuit of a small, rubber ball.

by Wendi Hailey

18 October 2009 iNTOUCH

RECREATION

Even after nearly two decades of play, Bargagna takes lessons on occasion with the Club’s full-time professional, Hiro Horie, to correct repetitive weak points and sharpen his technique and precision. In May, his game was in top form when he beat out 26 other players to nab the top honors in the Club squash handicap tournament.

Vying mostly against familiar faces, the long format of the competition and rallies that lasted for one minute or longer proved testing to the veteran athlete.

“I try to keep physically active as much as I can, as long as I can,” he says. “You need to stay in shape to really play a good level of squash.”

While his wife prefers the tennis courts, his sons, ages 5 and 6, have taken to the high-octane game. They often come to the Club on the weekends to hit a few balls, in addition to playing basketball, soccer and other sports.

Started in France in the 12th century as a rudimentary mishmash of several ball-and-racquet sports and established in its classic form in 1830s Britain, squash is presently played in various renderings on nearly 50,000 courts in more than 185 countries, according to the World Squash Federation. Unfortunately, the sport narrowly missed out on inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Games.

Although Bargagna no longer plays on his lunch hour, he still feels that initial sense of exuberance and kinship every time he steps onto the wooden-floored, glass-backed court for a friendly game.

“There’s a special bond among those who play squash,” he says. ®

For more information about playing squash or taking lessons from the Club pro, check the Club website or contact the Recreation Services Desk.

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

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Fitness and well-being 19

class focus Circuit Training Circuit Training is a workout program that combines between 10 and 15 resistance exercises in a circuit. Participants move around the circuit, spending up to 45 seconds at each exercise “station.” The 30-second breather between stations allows for some recovery and preparation for the next exercise.

Incorporating stability balls, resistance bands, dumbbells, medicine balls, steps and sandbags, this class is specifically designed to give all exercisers a full body workout. The short recovery time between exercises makes for a more intense cardio session, while the ground-based nature of the class means that participiants can focus on strengthening their core muscles.

Circuit Training runs every Monday (11 a.m.–12 p.m.), Thursday (8:15–9:15 a.m. and 7–8 p.m.) and Friday (11 a.m.–12 p.m.). Ask at the Recreation Services Desk for details.

Steve Terada

The Instructor

A highly experienced former college athlete and high school and college sports coach with a passion for kinesiology, Steve Terada specializes in resistance band and circuit training, indoor cycling, sports performance training, weight management and lifestyle coaching.

The Seattle native joined the Club in 1980 and currently teaches a number of different classes. With a degree in physical education and kinesiology, he is an American Council on Exercise-certified trainer and Lemond Fitness Cycling Academy-certified master trainer.

Lily Nguyen and Susan Lin

The Students

“We highly recommend Steve Terada’s Circuit Training class as it provides the perfect combination of strength training and cardiovascular exercise. Regardless of your fitness level, Steve manages to challenge you during each class, tailoring the difficulty and intensity to the individual, leaving everyone content and completely soaked in sweat. After numerous sessions with Steve, we’ve noticed a remarkable improvement in our energy levels and strength. Above all, it’s fun!”

around the

pool

Kenichiro Hiramoto Lifeguard

How long have you worked at the Club?

I have worked at the Club for five years. I was working for a Japanese lifesaving company and then came to the Club to take the American Red Cross lifeguard course. Before that, I was a self-employed music agent and taught Japanese.

20 October 2009 iNTOUCH

What do you like about working at the Pool?

I love exercising and helping people. It makes me happy to make someone else smile. And I like being able to travel during the Pool’s off-season. To date, I have been to America, Europe and around different parts of Asia.

What are your plans for the future?

I am currently working on becoming a personal trainer. I would like to create some programs that combine water workouts and land-based training. I was born and raised in Yokohama and can’t see myself living anywhere else.

RECREATION

what’s on Relaxing Moves Learn to unwind and feel rejuvenated at the Club’s fall sessions of Tai Chi Chuan. Explore the philosophy and physical benefits of this traditional Chinese martial art through 24 simplified postures.

October 9–November 13. Every Friday (8:45–10 a.m.). ¥13,860 (six sessions). Sign up online or at the Recreation Services Desk.

Hit the Jackpot Enjoy some good fortune in the form of two revitalizing treatments for just ¥7,777 at The Spa until October 31. Choose from the 30Minute Express menu (see the Spa section of the Club website), then contact The Spa to make an appointment.

Ready, Steady, Row! Sign up now for the Club’s inaugural Indoor Rowing Challenge on Sunday, October 4. This sweat-inducing competition promises to be a fun cardio workout. 10 a.m. ¥1,050. Sign up online or at the Recreation Services Desk.

youth spot Father-Son Dinner This popular event for all dads and their boys returns for another funpacked evening of contests, prizes and mouthwatering food on Sunday, November 8, from 5 p.m. Sign up online or at the Recreation Services Desk from 10 a.m. on October 8.

Monster Makeup Mash Let The Spa professionals help to make this October 31 a Halloween to remember. Grab some friends and head to The Studio to receive help creating some spectacularly scary hair and makeup. Saturday, October 31 (9:30 a.m.–2 p.m.). ¥2,100 (additional Halloween nail art: ¥1,050). Sign up at The Spa or e-mail spa@tac-club.org.

Hoop Tips Registration for the Club’s Youth Basketball Program kicks off at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 26. Taught by highly experienced coaches, these sessions for boys and girls in grades one to eight teach basic basketball skills and tactics in a fun and friendly environment. Sign up online or at the Recreation Services Desk.

Fitness and well-being 21

Fashioning Finery This year’s Women’s Group shopping fundraiser promises to be an exciting blend of new and established vendors offering a vast selection of goods and gift ideas.

by Divya Krishnan

P

22 October 2009 iNTOUCH

© Seisuke88

erusing the dusty contents of a traditional kura warehouse in Kyoto’s Nishijin area one day, Seisuke Takahashi, 43, made a remarkable discovery. He stumbled upon a book of old designs that had been carefully preserved inside a wooden box amid fragments of kimono fabrics. These motifs, created by talented Japanese painters in the Edo period, were used to make kimono obi sashes in Japan’s ancient capital city.

Takahashi was the young owner of a 60-year-old textile and fabric factory in Kyoto at the time. Captivated by the colors and patterns of the old designs, he decided Mami Ariga to launch a new processing method that would incorporate them into various products under a new brand.

Seisuke88 is one of 17 exciting new vendors that will be joining 38 returning favorites from across Japan at this year’s International Bazaar. Vendors will bring a wide variety of products, including bags, umbrellas and clothing, to the Club for the Women’s Group’s annual fundraiser and one-stop holiday shopping extravaganza.

Seisuke88’s own line of diversified products encompasses men’s casual shirts, women’s apparel, home and hotel furnishings, cosmetic bags, shoes and other accessories. “We use some new motifs every year on our products but also stay with what looks beautiful,” says Yuko Kawakita of Seisuke88. “Some patterns already have a very strong association in our customers’ minds, and they prefer those patterns.”

The company’s bestselling patterns include cherry blossoms, the auspicious Chinese phoenix and the traditional dragon.

Besides having two stores in Kyoto, Seisuke88 collaborates with the likes of Japan Airlines and cosmetics giant Shiseido to sell its goods, in addition to holding weeklong seasonal events in major Tokyo department stores. And this year, attendees at a New York gift fair were given an opportunity to see Seisuke88’s intriguing range of goods.

Also making her International Bazaar debut next month is 39-year-old cloisonné jewelry designer Mami Ariga. The talented artist, who attended college in Toyama

WOMEN’S GROUP

Prefecture after growing up in Tokyo and Chiba, has been fashioning her enameled decorative pieces for more than a decade after learning the technique under cloisonné artist Kyoko lio.

“I was first attracted to the art of cloisonné when working for a jewelry artist in Asagaya, Tokyo, after graduation,” she says. “This was when I found that the regular cut stones did not have the same effect as those used in cloisonné.”

Ariga’s designs and color palette remain in constant flux and every piece of her jewelry is handmade and unique. She also fills a hefty number of customized orders for wedding rings and beautified necklaces.

“My designs are a reflection of my personality and have a good combination of autumn and winter colors,” she says.

Her work is on permanent display in a number of jewelry shops and galleries, including Ando Cloisonné in Nagoya and Tokyo, the gift shop of Takaoka City

Museum and Shinagawa’s Gallery Ren. Alongside colorful bobbles and traditional textiles, shoppers can pick up a myriad of other goodies just in time for the gift-giving season, with oneof-a-kind items ranging from Japanese woodblock prints and ceramics to tea boxes and lacquerware.

Don’t miss your chance to fill your shopping bags—all for a good cause— during this heady, perennial shopping experience at the Club. ®

International Bazaar Thursday, November 5 10 a.m.–6 p.m. (volunteer presale: 9–9:45 a.m.)

Friday, November 6 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (volunteer presale: 9–9:45 a.m.)

Free Open to the public

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)

An interactive community 23

monthly

program

Elemental Art

by Robert Yellin

Robert Yellin

L

iving with Japanese pottery has opened my eyes to a world of beauty and thought. It has guided my senses and spirit to an understanding of daily living as an opportunity to experience the divine in the routine motions of life. Using Japanese pottery has allowed me to appreciate everyday crafts that, when properly arranged and balanced, enter into the realm of art and into one’s life and personality. It has been this way for centuries in Japan and continues today.

There are forms of pottery in Japan that have changed little for hundreds of years. However, the works I pursue are by potters who infuse into the flowing tradition an expression of the present

age. They carry on a dialogue with the ancient masters. In this way, pottery of eternal beauty is born. I can use these pieces in my everyday life, allowing their simple and profound beauty to seep into my soul.

Japan is a ceramics paradise, offering the highest and most diverse quality of anywhere in the world. Contemporary Japanese ceramic art is now highly sought after by collectors and has caught the attention of major museums worldwide within the last decade or so.

During this month’s talk, I will introduce a number of today’s socalled “hot” ceramic artists working in various styles, such as Bizen, Hagi and Shino, and show not only functional

pieces, but also non-functional works of sculptural beauty. ® An authority on Japanese ceramics, Yellin writes widely on the subject and owns a pottery gallery in Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture.

Monthly Program: Robert Yellin Monday, October 19 11 a.m.

Banquet Rooms WG members: ¥3,150 Non-WG members: ¥4,200 Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk

october

4

5

6–8

10

15

19

22

23

25

26

Educational Resources Panel Discussion

WG Board Meeting

Tokyo: Here & Now

Tokyo: Here & Now Cocktail Party

Shinagawa Walking Tour

Monthly Program: Robert Yellin

New Moms and Babies Get-Together

Meiji Shrine “Behind the Scenes” Tour

Disaster Awareness Day

Get Acquainted Coffee

Kamakura Samurai Archery Ceremony Tour

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 October 2009 iNTOUCH

WOMEN’S GROUP

A

s soon as the earthquake started, my wife, Kelly, and I rushed to the room where our three daughters were sleeping, scooped them up and ran outside. Although I had grown up in Southern California and had experienced quite a few earthquakes, neither I nor Kelly were prepared for the earthquake that struck Kobe, where we lived at the time, on January 17, 1995.

Not only were we unprepared, but we hadn’t thought through what we would do in the event of such a catastrophe. As the hours turned into days, we became aware of the extent of the quake damage. Our home fared better than many and within 24 hours it was transformed into a refugee camp of sorts. Around 30 people lived—without running water—in our home for about a month.

The stores were emptied in a couple of days, there was no gas or money at the ATM machines and the roads were completely blocked by debris or rescue vehicles. It was a real mess but reinforced the importance of being prepared.

While we didn’t have any earthquake kits, we did have a full pantry of regular food and drinks, as well as a well-stocked medicine cabinet. Some people ask me what I think about those long-life food products, but, frankly, I would have been even more miserable if that was all I had had to eat!

Should you ever experience a serious earthquake, you will likely be focused on living through the first few days after the quake while planning how and when to get out of the city. Therefore, I suggest you always keep a full pantry, stocked with plenty of tasty, easily consumed items. Such items as protein and granola bars, juice boxes and puddings are all good. Be sure to store plenty of bottled water, too.

Aside from survival kits, plan how your family will meet up if you are separated when the earthquake hits. Figure out how you’ll walk home from work and what routes might be blocked. Leave slippers by the bed (imagine broken glass all over the floor and no lights), secure heavy furniture to the walls and constantly restock your emergency backpacks by the entrance and in the car. ®

programs

Preparing for the Worst

by Chuck Grafft

Disaster Awareness Day Sunday, October 25 3–5 p.m.

Free American Room, Women’s Group

Yuuki Ide

Grafft is one of the speakers at this month’s Disaster Awareness Day, which also features a smoke house, guidance on using fire extinguishers and tips on surviving an earthquake.

community

Classrooms and Parking Lot Open to the public

november

2

4

5–6

7

9

11–12 14 14–15 19

21

24

WG Board Meeting

Pottery Festival of Mashiko Tour

International Bazaar

Early Pregnancy and Birth Planning

Monthly Program

Mikimoto Pearl Island Tour

WG Joint Board Dinner

Get Acquainted Coffee

Dinner Cruise Tour

Birth Preparation for Couples

New Moms and Babies Get-Together

An interactive community 25

Mika Greenberg and her daughter, Erica

26 October 2009 iNTOUCH

FEATURE

Mastering Multiple Tongues With international marriages on the rise in Japan, more and more couples, including many Members of the Club, are wrestling with how best to raise bilingual children.

by Rob Goss Photos by Kayo Yamawaki

E

ducation is a concern for every parent of young children.

But when the mother and father are of different nationalities and mother tongues, the worries can be magnified. What kind of school should their child attend and how will that affect their language ability? What approach should they take to best raise their child to become both bilingual and bicultural?

For many parents, the process begins by establishing exactly what it means to be bilingual. According to the California-based Multilingual Children’s Association, there is no clear-cut definition for bilingualism, only degrees of language proficiency ranging from rudimentary to native level.

American Marsha Rosenberg, a speech and language pathologist based in Tokyo, advises parents to first clarify exactly what bilingualism means to them. That involves parents defining how well they want their child to be able to speak, listen, read, write and even reason in each language; deciding whether they want their child to speak fluently and be fully literate in two languages or whether it is enough to have fluency and literacy in one language, with some element of nonnative-level ability in a second.

“It’s most useful to define for yourself what type of bilingualism is important and necessary in your family, within your community and culture, in order to plan a strategy for raising kids with the ability to use more than one language,” says Rosenberg, who

is one of the speakers at the Women’s Group’s Educational Resources Panel Discussion at the Club on October 4.

Strategy, Rosenberg says, is also crucial. “Whatever the goals for developing bilingualism in each family may be, success appears to depend on whether a language plan has been worked out in advance,” says the Club Member. “It’s a dangerous assumption to believe that bilingualism will happen. I always tell parents that they have to plan for it.”

One of the first steps in that plan, Rosenberg points out, should be for parents to decide on who will speak what language to their child and when.

Many people opt to each speak their native language, while others choose to have one language for the home and another for school or in the community. In some cases, the parents can speak both languages but lay down rules for when and where they will use them. While all are viable options, the key, according to Rosenberg, is to somehow separate the languages and emphasize the boundaries between them to make acquisition easier for the child.

In turn, says Christina Bosemark, the founder of the Multilingual Children’s Association, a fixed language system in the home should greatly reduce the tendency for children to mix the languages or, worse, flat-out refuse to speak the second language.

The preparations, of course, don’t end there. At some point parents will have to turn their attention to formal education and

Mastering Multiple Tongues 27

Luke Rogan

the language the child will be schooled in, which for multicultural parents in Japan means choosing between the Japanese education system and an international school, or finding a way to give their child an experience of both.

American Steve Greenberg and his Japanese wife, Mika, are one couple who are aiming to expose their children, 5-yearold Erica and 3-year-old Elina, to both worlds. “Our approach has been to start them off in Japanese school,” says Steve as he sits with Mika and the girls in Garden Café, “so they go to a private Japanese school [in Setagaya Ward] and then ultimately some time in the future our plan will be to transition them to an international school. We want them to be bilingual and bicultural and it’s important that they grow up with a deep

28 October 2009 iNTOUCH

connection to Japan while at the same time identifying with and having a connection to the United States. But right now is the Japan and Japanese development time.”

Factored into the Greenbergs’ decision was a concern about how their daughters would adapt to a Japanese school later in their education. “I can see them making the transition from Japanese school to international school, but I don’t think we could start with international school and then try and put them in Japanese school in, say, junior high or high school,” Mika says. “Given the school culture, I think it would be much more difficult to go that way and, frankly, we are more keen on Japanese school in the earlier years than in the later years. It’s comfortably strict at an early age.”

FEATURE

(l–r) Steve, Erica, Elina and Mika Greenberg

Patrick Newell, the founder of Tokyo International School in Minato Ward, says there is no prescribed right age for such a switch to international school, but there are issues to be considered by parents. “The key question is if their child has developed their English skills throughout their childhood,” he says. “Where parents get stuck is when their children have limited English and want to enter an international school from junior high or high school. Most international schools will accept students if they are fairly close to grade level; however, they don’t have a language support program for students beyond primary school.”

Unlike the Greenbergs, American and Japanese husband and wife Sam and Keiko Rogan opted not to take the Japanese route, instead choosing to send their sons, 14-year-old Eric and 10-year-old Luke, to international school from the get-go. “The boys were born in Japan and the thing we had in mind was how to make them both bilingual and bicultural,” Sam says. “We were looking to the future and wanted the boys to be more mainstream, so we chose for them to study in a language spoken by billions rather than 120-something million people. They have a lot of environmental stimulus by living in Japan for them to be able to develop an understanding of Japanese culture and language without attending Japanese school.”

Both the Greenbergs and the Rogans have put a great deal of consideration into the way in which their children are educated, but is one particular method better than the other? Rosenberg says neither educational approach is wrong as long as parents provide balance and ample exposure to the minority language.

“The language you choose for your children to be educated in will be their strong one and you will have to balance that,” she says. “If, say, you opt for Japanese, you’ll need to give them extra

opportunities in English—something like dance class, sports, Sunday school—and those activities will have to be meaningful and enjoyable.”

One way the Greenbergs try to find that balance is through the Club. “When we are at the American Club we tell them this is America so you have to speak in English,” explains Mika.

“TAC gives us the balance we need here in Tokyo, so we can send them to Japanese school while feeling comfortable that they have access to the international community, that they can meet internationally minded people and speak in English.”

A system the Rogans employ is for Keiko to speak only Japanese to Eric and Luke, regardless of the situation, while both families make sure the kids get plenty of opportunities to read and watch DVDs in their minority language at home. All are good techniques according to the Multilingual Children’s Association’s Bosemark, who adds that parents can work on the non-school language in a host of different and fun ways.

Bosemark advises parents to enroll their children in playgroups in their second language, read to them from birth and get them reading in their second language as early as possible, as well as incorporating language learning into fun, engaging word games at home or song and dance. Other ideas she proposes include hiring a babysitter who speaks the second language or arranging family vacations to countries where the child’s second language is spoken.

“There is a myriad of ways to ensure that foreign language time is ‘quality time,’ but like any other aspect of parenting, trust your judgment, employ your imagination and listen very, very well,” she says.

Rosenberg encourages parents to be ready to adapt to evolving situations. “Be on top of what’s happening and feel

It’s a dangerous assumption to believe that bilingualism will happen. I always tell parents that they have to plan for it.

Mastering Multiple Tongues 29

Eric Rogan and his father, Sam

free to revise your plan. You have to plan, but you can revise your plan as you go to make sure they have the language skills they need for the next stage in their education. Be aware of whether they are doing OK academically, what their language development is like, whether they are happy at school or fit in socially at school. Don’t be afraid to change your plan.”

The Rogans certainly weren’t worried about making educational adjustments when their sons started developing unnatural English usage at school. “My boys were at an international school with many non-native English speakers and they started to pick up strange speech patterns, and I became concerned that they might become part of that category of people who don’t speak either language perfectly, so we moved them to the American School,” Sam explains.

Four years on and Eric and Luke have the same level of English as monolingual speakers their age. Their Japanese, though, isn’t quite as developed. “The boys probably fall into the category of speaking one language perfectly and the other a little less,” Sam says. “It’s not perfect bilingualism, but I’d still class it as bilingual.”

Rosenberg would call that bilingual, too. “One language is almost always stronger than the other,” she says. “There are very few balanced bilinguals and these tend to have gone through higher education in both countries.”

Even with a good plan for developing a child’s skills in two (or possibly more) languages, parents will always experience moments of uncertainty. “There are going to be times when doubt sneaks in,” Bosemark says. “As with most aspects of parenting, it’s a long-term commitment

30 October 2009 iNTOUCH

ADVERTORIAL

Preparing Young Minds for Great Things

by Yvonne Hayes, Headmistress of the International School of the Sacred Heart

S and there will be ups and downs. But remember, that’s happening to the parents of monolingual children, too. Don’t worry if your child doesn’t speak multiple languages as quickly or as adeptly as his peers. Instead, focus upon the successes and marvel at the development of their little brain.”

While far from an easy commitment, raising bilingual children can give them incredible advantages, including an understanding of two cultures and the ability to communicate with and express themselves to a wider range of people, not to mention the potential economic benefits that come with greater academic and employment opportunities. As Rosenberg says, “bilingualism is a special gift parents can offer their children, but the gift must be planned and presented with care for it to be well used and appreciated.” ®

ince 1908, the International School of the Sacred Heart (ISSH) has provided students of many cultures with the necessary skills to enable them to become critical thinkers and effective leaders. We are an English-speaking Catholic school that warmly welcomes families from many faiths.

We offer a core curriculum that provides the basis of a sound liberal education designed to develop the whole person. We teach to an international curriculum that includes programs from IPC at kindergarten/junior school level, Advanced Placement at high school and English as a Second Language.

Students have an abundance of extracurricular options available to them, such as art clubs, choral festivals, speech competitions and sporting activities. For high school students, we have Australia, Canada, Japan, UK and US college preparation and guidance, and all of our students are accepted into universities worldwide.

Our student population totals approximately 550 students and represents more than 50 countries. Students enjoy the use of libraries, computer labs, science labs, food labs, playgrounds, tennis courts, art and music rooms, a pottery studio, drama studio, gymnasiums, open-grassed areas and a dining room that offers a daily hot lunch program to all students. The K3 to 5 classes are coeducational, while grades 1 to 12 are girls only.

ISSH is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and is a member of the global Sacred Heart Network of Schools. ® International School of the Sacred Heart 4-3-1 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Educational Resources Panel Discussion Sunday, October 4

tel: 03-3400-3951

fax: 03-3400-3496

e-mail: info@issh.ac.jp

www.issh.ac.jp

3–5 p.m.

Women’s Group Classroom 2 Free Open to the public Sign up at the Member Services Desk

For one bicultural pop singer’s take on growing up to speak fluent English and Japanese, check out the Talking Heads section on pages 34 to 35.

Mastering Multiple Tongues 31

GENKAN GALLERY

CWAJ Associate Show:

The Lithography of

Toko Shinoda

by Michelle Arnot

As she approaches her centenary, Japanese artist Toko Shinoda appears to have no shortage of stamina. Elegant and productive, the 96-year-old pioneer of abstract expressionism for 70 years continues to create muralsized works in her Tokyo studio. From mid-October, the College Women’s Association of Japan (CWAJ) presents her remarkable lithographs in the Genkan Gallery as part of the annual Print Show.

Her work effortlessly marries the traditional images of calligraphy with modern technology. Born in Manchuria, China, Shinoda began learning shodo at age 6 from her businessman father. Following a two-year stay in New York in the late 1950s, she embraced the printing process of lithography. The method provided more artistic spontaneity and allowed her pieces to stay accessible to international collectors.

Shinoda, whose achievements were likened to those of Picasso by Time magazine in 1983, first draws brushstrokes directly on the litho stone in shades of dark sumi ink, creating bold images that capture the ephemeral essence of air in motion. After these compositions of asymmetrical shapes are transferred to paper by an expert printer, she adds a brushstroke utilizing sumi’s full color spectrum, often in brilliant tones of gold, silver, green or indigo. Print editions of her works are limited to small batches of no more than 55.

Shinoda’s abstract paintings and lithographs hang in museums worldwide, from the Guggenheim in New York to the British Museum. One of her works, “Soumon,” currently hangs in the Club’s Adult Lobby.

Exhibition

October 12–November 9

Wine and Cheese Reception Tuesday, October 13 6:30–8 p.m.

Adult Lobby Open to all Members Free

32 October 2009 iNTOUCH

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

Language

Lessons

34 October 2009 iNTOUCH

TALKING HEADS Mastering a second language is never easy. It takes dedicated practice, study and, perhaps most importantly, some kind of incentive. Seira Kagami certainly had a reason to learn English: her nationality. Growing up in Tokyo as the daughter of a Canadian father and Japanese mother, Kagami spoke only Japanese for the majority of her childhood.

Returning to Japan in 2006 after cutting short her university studies in Canada, she is now pursuing a music career, having released her debut album earlier this year. iNTOUCH’s Nick Jones spoke to the eldest daughter of Club Members Kenneth and Noriko Arbour about the linguistic challenges of becoming bilingual. Excerpts:

Seira Kagami

iNTOUCH: I presume you took English at junior high school as part of the curriculum.

at work every day. But three years ago, before I came back, I think I was better in English.

iNTOUCH: How was your English when you were growing up?

Kagami: Yes, and my dad would make me take English lessons, so I would have an English teacher at home once a week.

iNTOUCH: Since you didn’t attend Japanese high school, how is your kanji ability?

Kagami: I was only able to introduce myself and talk a little bit with my uncles and cousins. Every summer I would go to Canada, so I was listening and picking up the accent. iNTOUCH: Was it tough to go there and try to communicate?

Kagami: No, it wasn’t. I would use gestures and they would know what I was trying to say. My dad would say something; he was the translator. iNTOUCH: Did you wish, though, that you could speak to them more?

Kagami: No, I never thought about it because I thought I was good at English. But when I went to high school I found out that I was horrible at English! iNTOUCH: So what schooling arrangements?

were

your

Kagami: I went to Japanese school up to eighth or ninth grade, then I went to Sacred Heart [international school in Tokyo]. i NTOUCH: How t hat transition?

difficult

w as

Kagami: It was very difficult. I didn’t understand a word of what the teachers were saying. And I couldn’t take notes because I wasn’t really used to taking notes. In Japanese school, the teachers would write all the notes on the blackboard and everybody just copied.

It was totally different. I was taking ESL [English as a second language] classes at school and because I wasn’t perfect at English they put me in a lower grade.

iNTOUCH: Did you enjoy that?

Kagami: Back then, no, because I was speaking Japanese every day and I didn’t see the importance of learning English.

But after going into high school, I was old enough to know that I needed English.

I’m half-Canadian and there were a lot of students at school who were half-foreign and couldn’t speak any Japanese. It struck me that they had the chance to learn two languages but could only speak one. I would have been embarrassed if I had been them. So then I thought I had to speak perfect English, because I couldn’t say I was Canadian if I couldn’t speak English. iNTOUCH: At what point did you feel that your English was getting better?

Kagami: In the third year when I was able to listen to a conversation in a group of friends and say what I thought. iNTOUCH: How difficult was it in the early days at international school?

Kagami: It was very difficult because I really wanted to make friends, but if you can’t really communicate, you can’t say what you feel. Then they would get confused and upset and I would get upset.

Those things happened a lot, but I forced myself to be with the people who could only speak English. iNTOUCH: How is your English now compared with your Japanese?

Kagami: I think my Japanese is dominant now because I’ve already been back here for two or three years, and I’ve been speaking Japanese with my friends and

Kagami: I read Japanese books [now], and also I was taking Japanese at Sacred Heart. iNTOUCH: How was the transition to studying at the University of Toronto?

Kagami: I was scared to go because I never felt perfect with my English. I was able to speak to my friends. With writing essays and stuff like that my dad would always check my English. So it was OK. iNTOUCH: After that year studying in Canada, do you feel more Canadian now?

Kagami: Yes. And I really wanted to be perfect in English, so I was always trying to speak with the kids who spoke good English. iNTOUCH: How has being bilingual affected your career?

Kagami: After speaking English for five years, when I started singing in Japanese I wasn’t very good. I had this English accent in my Japanese. iNTOUCH: I notice that some of your songs have both English and Japanese lyrics.

Kagami: I wanted to write my own lyrics and because I’m bilingual I wanted to use that skill that not many people have. iNTOUCH: Do you ever wish that you had been able to speak English earlier?

Kagami: The English ability I had after three years of high school, I wish I had had that ability from the start of high school.

Because then I would have been able to better communicate with my uncles, aunts, cousins and friends from [summer] camp. ®

Member insights on Japan 35

Print Show Pioneer The CWAJ Print Show, which comes to the Club this month, owes its existence to the work of a relatively inconspicuous but enthusiastic patron of the print.

by Kimberly Fiorello Artwork by Hiromitsu Takahashi

CWAJ Print Show Friday, October 16, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. (Members only: 6–8 p.m.)

Saturday, October 17, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Sunday, October 18, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Open to the public

36 October 2009 iNTOUCH

T

he origins of the CWAJ Print Show can be traced back to the shattered and bombed-out remains of a post-war nation and a reserved, cultured American. Arriving in Japan in 1947 as a civilian budget administrator during the Allied Occupation, Oliver Statler chanced upon a small exhibition of modern Japanese woodblock prints at the US Army Education Center.

That early encounter changed his life and, in turn, the world of sosaku hanga, or creative prints. Statler, a native of Huntley, Illinois, and University of Chicago graduate, went on to become a collector, researcher and writer of the little-known art form.

“He loved to take a Jeep out of Tokyo and just drive around Japan while the other GIs were doing I don’t know what,” says Amy Flint, a longtime friend of Statler and Print Show committee member from 1966 to 1992. “In those early days during the Occupation, by and large, people were not interested in contemporary Japanese prints. It was avant-garde. But Oliver just loved these prints.”

Creative prints were a departure from the collaborative way that traditional ukiyo-e were produced because in the modern form the artist was involved in the entire process, from drawing the image to carving the wood to printing.

Statler’s influential 1956 book, Modern Japanese Prints: An Art Reborn, introduced Americans to the art movement and is today considered one of the most authoritative works on the subject. He also organized the first Print Show for the College Women’s Association of Japan (CWAJ) the same year his book was published. Yet, despite his contributions to elevating modern Japanese prints from tourist kitsch to timeless art, his name is still relatively unknown.

During his time in Japan, Statler, who died in Hawaii in 2002 at the age of 87, got to know many of the artists now recognized as print masters, including Koshiro Onchi, Kiyoshi Saito and Shiko Munakata. Print Show committee member Noriko Yagi met Statler on several occasions. “He was a soft-spoken, modest, very gentle person,” she says. “That was probably what made it possible for him to contact the artists; they felt he was genuine.”

A mutual appreciation for Japanese prints spawned a friendship between Statler and American author James Michener, who encouraged his friend to write his book and helped to secure a publisher, the Charles E Tuttle Company. It was at Tuttle’s instigation that the College Women’s Club, as CWAJ was then known, agreed to work with Statler to hold an exhibition of modern Japanese prints to help raise funds for its scholarship programs.

Statler, together with Yuji Abe of the Yoseido Gallery in Ginza and Ansei Uchima, a Japanese-American print artist, enlisted the artists and gathered 91 of their prints. The first Print Show was held at the International House in Roppongi in October 1956. The annual show moved to the Club in 1974.

Along with CWAJ members, Kiyoko Sawatari, director of the Yokohama Civic Gallery and curator at the Yokohama Museum of Art, is currently overseeing the translation of Statler’s Modern Japanese Prints into Japanese. It is set to be published this month to coincide with the 54th Print Show.

“Statler’s importance to print art is not only because of his book, but for his further activities as a writer, a promoter and a benevolent

CWAJ PRINT SHOW

leader of sosaku hanga in Japan as well as in the US,” says Sawatari.

“Unfortunately and regretfully, the name of Oliver Statler and his contributions are not well known in today’s print world.”

Those who are acquainted with Statler’s work, however, often ask for prints featured in the man’s book or from his private collection, according to Sue Abe of the Yoseido Gallery, which purchased 1,045 prints from Statler’s collection in 1991. Another portion of the collection resides with the Chicago Institute of Art. Since Statler’s pioneering efforts, the CWAJ Print Show has grown into a highly respected art event, and prints from the show are held in the permanent collections of a number of institutions, including the United States Library of Congress and British Museum.

In the introduction to Modern Japanese Prints, Statler’s friend Michener wrote, “This book is a work of love.” A love whose legacy is an annual celebration of modern prints. ®

Decades of Supporting Scholars

by Kimberly Fiorello The College Women’s Association of Japan (CWAJ) quietly celebrated its 60th anniversary at the Tsunamachi Mitsui Club in May. While the Japanese empress and ambassadors attended the gala for its 50th birthday, “this time it was a celebration with the members for the members,” says CWAJ President Ingrid

Oliver Statler

Toyoda. “We have accomplished a lot, but we are thinking about the future. What can the CWAJ do next that is relevant?

Maybe support more women empowerment in Japan?”

Started in 1949 by a group of Mount Holyoke and Wellesley alumnae to organize grants for Japanese students with scholarships to US schools but no means to travel, CWAJ is now a nonprofit organization with around 550 Japanese and foreign volunteer members. The group raises an estimated ¥25 million annually to help educate around 25 women a year. The Print Show, which promotes the works of some of the best contemporary print artists, is CWAJ’s main fundraising event. ®

An exhibition of contemporary prints 37

Get more for your Membership

I N T RO

rewards

rewards of the month

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Mohan’s Custom Tailors, Kobe A top-notch business in Japan since 1950.

Suits made to order from ¥31,200 and shirts from ¥6,900. Stop by a special sale at Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Hotel, East Tower, on October 30 to 31. Contact us for an appointment.

Tel: 078-221-0783/Cell: 090-7097-4282 E-mail: motwanis@alles.or.jp Reward: 10% off suit orders of ¥39,800 apiece or more

Founded in 1962 as Japan’s first security company, SECOM now provides security to more than 780,000 commercial customers and almost 450,000 private residences. The SECOM Home Security System provides peace of mind by constantly monitoring customers’ residences for intruders, fires, gas leaks and other emergencies. Once the system detects an irregularity, the alarm is raised and the control center dispatches security personnel and notifies the emergency services if necessary.

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

Nakashima Dental Office Cosmetic dentistry, cleaning, whitening, porcelain work, dentures, gum work, root canals and Biolase treatments. US-specialist level.

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

D E NT A L

The Meat Guy Meat pies! We’ve got Vili’s meat pies from Australia—the best meat pies in the world!

Tel: 052-618-3705 www.TheMeatGuy.jp Reward: A baker’s dozen—order 12 pies, get one free!

Primary Care Tokyo 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

38 October 2009 iNTOUCH

Primary Care Tokyo is a private medical practice for adults and children in Shimokitazawa. American Dr Joe Kurosu, who is licensed in both the US and Japan, provides consultations in either English or Japanese. Acute and chronic conditions, STDs and minor injuries treated. Other services include immunizations, contraception and school/employment physicals. Japanese national health insurance is accepted. Appointments available.

Tel: 03-5432-7177 www.pctclinic.com Reward: 10% discount on all vaccinations

MEMBER SERVICES

BODY

yokoso 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

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

new member profile

Gavin and Crista Lindberg United States—Nike Japan

Why did you decide to join the Club?

“The Club is a great place for our busy 4-year-old boy and 1-year-old girl to burn off some energy. They enjoy the swimming pool, various play areas and we plan on getting them involved with some of the extracurricular team sports. For my wife and I, the Club serves as a place for us to exercise, as well as expand our social network here in Tokyo. It is a great place to make new friends and make our life in Tokyo more enjoyable and memorable.”

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)

INTERIOR

(l–r) Gavin, Jackson, Crista and Addison Lindberg

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

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

new member profile

Why did you decide to join the Club?

“We decided to join the Club in order to meet other families that have journeyed from ‘home’ to explore and celebrate the opportunities of living abroad. This is our second round in Tokyo after almost 20 years and it’s amazing and wonderful to be back.” (l–r) Jake, Nate, Bruce, Alex, Noah and Rebecca Pflaum

HOME

Bruce and Rebecca Pflaum United States—Russell Investment Japan Co., Ltd. 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

Services and benefits for Members 39

Oakwood Serviced Apartments Oakwood is the most trusted name in serviced apartments worldwide. We offer three different styles of living to make you feel at home: Premier, Residence and Apartments.

Tel: 0120-313113 (toll-free)/03-5412-3131 www.oakwoodasia.com/en/japan/default.aspx Reward: Preferred rental rates with free Internet connection

yokoso

HOM E

rewards

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

Thomas & Chantelle Tynan Ireland—Deutsche Securities, Inc.

Charles Postles United Kingdom—BP Japan K.K. Joseph Kim & Harue Yamamoto United States—Paul Hastings Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo

Tatsuhiko Watanabe & Sachiko Mori Japan—Dr. Watanabe’s Clinic

Russell & Sheryl LaScala United States—Deutsche Securities, Inc.

William Junius & Rosemary Hyson United States—AIG Companies

Kyle & Yoshiko Cheriton Canada—United Airlines, Inc.

Frederico & Claudia Monteiro Brazil—British American Tobacco Japan Ltd.

Hiroyuki Ota & Kumiko Yasuki Japan—Carlton Oaks Country Club Jean-Marc & Laure Serayssol France—Dell Japan, Inc.

Keiko Kaburagi Japan—Hearty Potluck

Martin Seol & June Bae United States—Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co., Ltd.

Yasuhiko Amano Japan—Amano Dental Office

Tsukasa Shiga Japan—Ceremony Corporation

Patrick Kim & Hyunjin Lee South Korea—Chevron International Gas, Inc.

Christopher & Robin Gilbert United States—GE Capital Asia Pacific

Elizabeth & Fukuya Iino United States—Tokyo English Life Line Michael & Karen Schaffer United States—Goldman Sachs Realty Japan Ltd.

AUTOMOTIVE

Yoshiyasu & Kumiko Asami Japan—Asami Cosmetic Surgery

Christopher Cecere & Megan Northway United States—Nikko Citigroup Ltd.

Marc & Lotta Merlino United States—Citibank Japan Ltd.

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

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

Tarun Jotwani & Anne-Lindsay Makepeace United States—Nomura Group

Erik & Tamara Ahlberg United States—Abbott Vascular Japan Co., Ltd.

Toyohiko & Yoko Saida Japan—Saida Skin Clinic Yoshihiko & Kumiko Shimazu Japan—Sumitomo Corporation Neil Cooper & Katie Gordon United Kingdom—Accenture Corporation Gaetan & Dina Borgers Belgium—Dow Corning Toray Co., Ltd.

Vikas Tiku & Navneet Kaur United States—Coca-Cola (Japan) Co., Ltd.

sayonara 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

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

40 October 2009 iNTOUCH

Erik Addington & Rebecca Burrows Michael & Alicia Bollesen Jason & Rebecca Bond Mark Bradbury Drew & Alison Bradford Tim & Alex Braswell Peter & Susanne Coenen Martin & Kristin Conneen Matthew & Nicole Cribbins Steven & Marie Devine Michael & Catherine Farley Timothy & Anna Feige Thomas & Jillann Grooms Norman Hadley Stewart & Louise Harding Koichi & Michiko Inouye Richard & Marite Irvine Hari & Shubha Iyer Patrick Javier & Yurie Nishimura Christopher & Andriene Johnson Dilbagh & Marie Kalsi Mark & Anina Luiz

Mark & Val Mallia James & Yumiko McDonald John & Paula McLaughlin Stephen & Samantha Milner Junshichi & Mariko Mizusaki Jorge & Graciela Osella Raj Pande Stuart Peskin & Deva Hirsch Barry & Jan Petersen Andrew & Anne Purdue Benjamin & Sandra Quinlan Katherine & David Ray Dennis & Nancy Schmatz David & Julie Sharpe Johan & Martelle Slabbert Jason & Melanie Smith Harrison & Rachel Smookler Gary & Sally Sumihiro Frederic & Jennifer Surleau Chad Svihel Minoru & Naomi Takeda Ahmet Yetis & Barcin Yilmaz-Yetis

MEMBER SERVICES

employee

of the month

Aya Mitsui

by Nick Jones

by Nick Jones

It’s been an exciting 12 months for Thomas Shirota of the Club’s parking team.

Last October, he was voted Employee of the Month and followed that up with the Employee of the Quarter award at the start of this year. Then in August, at the annual Employee Recognition Day party, Shirota picked up the Club’s most prestigious honor: the Employee of the Year award.

“On top of the world” is how the keen fisherman describes his feeling at being named the Club’s standout staff member of the past year. Having lived in California and Hawaii, he moved to Japan in 1997. He joined the Club more than two years ago.

For his achievement, Shirota was awarded round-trip tickets for two to the United States, a three-night stay at a reciprocal club and a ¥50,000 gift certificate. ®

PH O T O G R A P H Y

Thomas Shirota

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

EDUCATION

Employee of the Year

Finding Tokyo American Club on the Internet, she applied for a position in Traders’ Bar. She joined the Club in June 2007.

“I enjoy working at the Club because I get to meet people from different countries,” says the 29-year-old. “I have a lot of chances to talk to Members and get to know them.” She displayed her commitment to providing the best possible service to Members in July when she kept Traders’ open to allow two rugby fans to watch the end of a live game.

That action was rewarded with an on-the-spot award.

Then, just a month later, Mitsui was presented with the Employee of the Month award for August. “I think [the award] helps to raise my motivation,” she says. “I always think I should do my best, but now I feel more motivated.”

Meanwhile, her interest in psychology hasn’t abated. She continues to read books on the subject, which, she says, comes in useful working in such a multicultural environment. “I think I’ve learned how to respect different cultures,” she says. ®

K.K. Business Leaders & Communication (BL&C) Enhance your time in Japan by acquiring effective communication skills. Talk to us about our customized courses for adapting to life in Japan and cross-cultural seminars.

Tel: 03-5791-2546 E-mail: info@kk-blc.co.jp www.kk-blc.co.jp Reward: 10% discount on all programs

L E GA L

I

t was a proud day for Aya Mitsui as she climbed the stage in 2004 to pick up her degree in psychology. Her mother and two brothers looked on from the audience at Valdosta State University in Georgia.

The commencement ceremony marked the culmination of years of hard work for Mitsui. Those efforts certainly paid off as she graduated magna cum laude. “I just felt like, ‘I’ve done it!’” she says.

“I felt really good and had a feeling of accomplishment.”

Considering Mitsui had first arrived in the United States barely able to speak a word of English, her achievement seems even more extraordinary. “Awful!” she says of her linguistic skills at the time she enrolled herself in language school in Americus, Georgia. “I couldn’t understand a thing my teacher said, it was that bad.”

Returning to her hometown of Kumamoto, she set about using her hard-won language ability and decided to teach English to children.

But after a year or so, she began to look for other opportunities.

Nakai Immigration Services LPC Serving the foreign community since 1992, we offer multilingual support in a range of areas, from the setting up of companies to the filing of applications.

Tel: 03-6402-7654 (weekdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.)

E-mail: info@tokyovisa.co.jp Reward: 25% discount on our handling charges (per person/per application) or ¥10,000 for each new client introduced

Services and benefits for Members 41

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.

Cosmos Club

Location: Washington, DC Founded: 1878 Members: 3,600

This elegant four-story institution comprises spacious dining rooms, cozy lounges, bedrooms, a library, baroque-style ballroom and cocktail bar. Its membership has included a brilliant selection of America’s most distinguished minds over the years, including three presidents, 12 Supreme Court justices, 31 Nobel Prize recipients and 56 Pulitzer Prize winners. Modern-day intellectuals frequently convene at the club to conduct business, discuss science, literature and the arts and enjoy a wealth of social events, from music concerts to wine tastings to lectures.

www.cosmosclub.org

The Plaza Club

Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Founded: 1979 Members: 1,050 Occupying the top two floors of the Pioneer Plaza Building in downtown Honolulu, the club boasts spectacular views of the island’s famed harbor, ocean and verdant mountains. Designed to reflect the rich tropical hues and textures of the land and provide a homelike ambience for its members, the club is the foremost gathering place for Hawaii’s business, cultural and financial leaders. In addition to fine dining and business amenities, privileges include financial luncheons, cooking classes and happy hours, as well as access to nearby golf courses, a yacht club, swimming pools and spas.

www.plazahawaii.com

stacks of services at the Club

André Bernard Beauty Salon

Spica

Go Mobile Phone Rental

MyToyota.jp

UPS

Hair care for adults and kids, manicure, pedicure, waxing and more.

Tel: 03-4588-0685 Family Area (2F) Tue–Sun: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

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

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 October 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

Imperial Sounds

by Nick Jones

Hideaki Bunno

W

hen Hideaki Bunno starts up the engine of his beloved Mini Cooper, more often than not it’s the music of pop legend Michael Jackson that comes blaring through the speakers.

But the 65-year-old doesn’t restrict himself to the obvious classics of the late American singer. He’s a big fan of the Jackson 5, too.

While Bunno undoubtably shares his choice of in-car tunes with thousands of other drivers around the world, there probably aren’t too many other motorists who have recently retired from the Music Department of the Imperial Household.

Until March this year, Bunno would travel each weekday morning to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, where he worked as a musician to Japan’s imperial family.

As a member of this rarefied world open to only men, Bunno’s job was to perform ancient gagaku music and dance, as well as Western musical styles, at ceremonial occasions, state banquets for visiting 44 October 2009 iNTOUCH

foreign dignitaries and occasionally for the public. Tracing his lineage directly to Prince Otsu, the son of the seventhcentury Japanese emperor, Temmu, Bunno’s ancestors have been imperial court musicians for 1,300 years.

Although at one time all positions in the imperial orchestra were hereditary, only around a third of today’s musicians are following in the footsteps of their forebears. “After the war, the education system changed, so I think schoolchildren now have more choice in what they want to do with their lives,” says Bunno, sitting in a simply furnished room in the rather unexceptional-looking concrete building of the Music Department in the grounds of the Imperial Palace. “But when I was a child, it was understood that I would follow in the family tradition.”

Bunno, who will be at the Club later this month to explain and perform gagaku, began his formal training at the age of

12 while at junior high school. His first official performance came not long after in November 1956. Bunno, together with three other boys, had to perform a 20minute traditional dance for Emperor Hirohito and Ethiopia’s Haile Selassie, the first head of state to visit Japan after the end of World War II. “I don’t really remember if I was nervous or not,” Bunno says, “but I do vividly remember all the incredible regalia everybody was wearing.” Such occasions were to become routine for Bunno as the imperial orchestra is often called upon to perform at the Imperial Palace when the emperor and empress host leaders from abroad.

During these formal dinners, the orchestra typically plays Western classical music or even renditions of Beatles songs, Bunno says. Musicians also perform music from the country of the visiting foreign guest. “But we are always concerned

© Youichi Hayashi

INSIDE JAPAN

about making mistakes,” he explains, “so we check with the embassy for advice on what to play to avoid any cultural faux pas.” Occasionally, the orchestra puts on a concert of gagaku, a fusion of music and dance styles from Korea and China.

In particular, Bunno recalls performing gagaku during the coronation of Emperor Akihito in 1990. Representatives of more

than 150 countries attended the elaborate ritual. Some of the 3,400 guests were entertained at the Imperial Palace, where the orchestra played in a separate room.

“Around 250 people crowded into the room at the same time,” Bunno says. “But when I looked out into the audience all I could see were the faces of famous leaders, presidents and monarchs. I was wondering,

‘Am I in the right place?’ It was a very unusual experience.”

Bunno’s full-time tutoring began at the age of 16 when he would arrive at the Music Department at 5:30 a.m. to practice before the start of lessons. Besides having to study a range of gagaku instruments, bugaku dance and kayo (songs and chanted poetry), musicians are required to learn Western classical music, including the piano and one other instrument. Bunno, whose son will graduate next year after the mandatory seven years of study, chose to master the violin.

Although officially retired from the Music Department, Bunno remains a part-time instructor and adviser, meaning he can stay close to his passion of more than half a century. “I love music, so I love practicing and performing,” he says.

“And even though I might get nervous before formal concerts, I love that feeling of performing.” The King of Pop would certainly have agreed. ®

See page 17 for details of An Evening of Gagaku at the Club on October 27.

A look at culture and society 45

Kid-Friendly Culture

T

raditional Japanese inns and young children can be a recipe for disaster.

Inquisitive little fingers can quickly wreak havoc on delicate shoji paper screens, not to mention the centuries-old antiques and furniture used to decorate many ryokan.

However, it’s a great pity that families often miss out on the ryokan experience and the hospitality associated with them.

A stay at a ryokan combines all that is good about Japan in one setting: beautiful architecture and interior décor, impeccable service, local, seasonal food and, if a hotspring onsen bath is at hand, deep relaxation in mineral-rich waters.

It is no surprise, therefore, that the few establishments catering to families are so popular. Komaki Onsen Aomoriya is one such place. It is located near Misawa in Aomori, the northernmost prefecture on 46 October 2009 iNTOUCH

Honshu that is fiercely proud of its own distinctive local culture and dialect. In fact, residents claim that Japanese visitors from outside the prefecture feel as if they have arrived in a foreign country.

Aomoriya is a vast complex of hotel-like accommodation, restaurants, entertainment areas, a museum and indoor and outdoor onsen. Although my personal preference is usually for small, family-run ryokan, I was impressed by how decorative touches infuse an intimate charm into the sprawling ryokan. Wooden floors, shoji screens, tasteful ornaments, traditional textiles and warm, muted colors all help create a comfortable atmosphere.

Even the deep snows and freezing temperatures of an Aomori winter don’t put off visitors. During our trip to Aomoriya last year, I noticed guests from all over Japan, as well as from South Korea, China and

by Catherine Shaw

Taiwan. While it’s not the place to go for a romantic get-away, it is nirvana for parents of young children who will enjoy the Edothemed, indoor entertainment “village,” frequent cultural shows, game area and family-friendly onsen.

Since Aomoriya’s rates start from about ¥10,000 per person, it’s also an affordable option for those keeping an eye on the family budget. Both Japanese- and Western-style rooms are available. Although the décor of our room was a little old-fashioned, the comfortable beds and clean bathrooms are probably more important than style when children are involved. English is limited, but the staff are eager to please and the service is unpretentious and friendly.

A not-to-be-missed feature is the dinner show in the main dining hall, which is lined with huge, brightly colored papier-mâché and bamboo lanterns

OUT & ABOUT

Eighty minutes from Haneda Airport to Misawa Airport. Komaki Onsen Aomoriya is 15 minutes by car from the airport.

Around three hours by bullet train from Tokyo Station to Hachinohe Station. Transfer to the Tohoku Line for the 12-minute journey to Misawa Station.

www

Apti Net Aomori http://apti.net.pref.aomori.jp Aomori Prefectural Government www.pref.aomori.lg.jp

HOKKAIDO

Aomori Tourism www.aomori-tourism.jp

Komaki Onsen Aomoriya Tel: 0176-51-1111 www.komaki-onsen.co.jp (Japanese only) AOMORI MISAWA

from the famous Nebuta Festival, held in Aomori each August. As the food is served, diners are entertained with demonstrations of local music and dance.

Guests are even encouraged to join in, which is exactly what my daughters did, donning Aomori costumes before performing a local folk dance.

The numerous Japanese cypress wood baths and outdoor rotenburo are another big draw. Set amid a tree-lined pond, the large outdoor pools, which are illuminated at night, are an ideal spot in which to relax while taking in the natural splendor. And children are welcomed in all the baths, their excited splashes met with smiles rather than sighs. Those looking to unwind further can head for a reasonably priced

foot massage at the Edo village.

An Aomoriya highlight is the horsedrawn carriage that takes guests on a slow meander around the ryokan’s verdant environs. This is an excellent way to enjoy the stunning fall colors from October.

Another excellent spot to appreciate the oak, Judas and beech trees as they turn a fiery autumnal red is around Lake Towada and the Oirase Stream (at the eastern end of the lake) in TowadaHachimantai National Park on the border of Aomori and Akita prefectures.

While the outstanding scenic beauty of the lake—the third deepest in Japan— makes it worth a visit, there are enough activities on offer at the ryokan to easily fill a weekend. ®

Explorations beyond the Club 47

1

Bon Odori August 8

A record crowd of more than 2,500 Members, guests and the public reveled in the warm summer air as traditional Japanese festivities and American amusements melded for a spectacular evening of matsuri fun and games in front of the Club.

Entertainment included traditional Japanese dancers, a yukata contest, karaoke competition, line dancing, carnival booths and a taiko drum performance.

Photos by Ken Katsurayama

1. Club General Manager Michael Bumgardner 2. Joyce Mensah 3. Natalie Bere

2

48 October 2009 iNTOUCH

EVENT EVENT ROUNDUP ROUNDUP

3

Snapshots from Club occasions 49

1

2

3

Employee Recognition Day August 5

The Club was transformed into a tropical island escape for 230 staff attending the annual Employee Recognition Day bash. Members of the Board of Governors donned colorful leis and joined in the beach-themed merriment. Festivities included hula and flamenco dancing, live music, contests and the presentation of long-service honors and the Employee of the Year award.

4

Photos by Ken Katsurayama 1. Club President Lance Lee and Chika Matsumoto 2. Employee of the Year Thomas Shirota and Club General Manager Michael Bumgardner 3. Yukiko Todo and Ryang-sil Han 4. Lance Lee and Miyako Nakamura 5. Thomas Shirota, Darryl Dudley, Masayasu Ito and Jun Amemiya 6.

Chika Matsumoto 7. (l–r) Masumi Sato, Ai Ikeshima, Kasumi Hatori, Yuko Yanagiya and Yumiko Morikawa 8. Allan Roque and Jason Abellon The Club would like to thank the following donors for their generous support of the event: Lance Lee, Tim Griffen, Jerry Rosenberg, Jerry McAlinn, Amane Nakashima, Mary Saphin, Thomas Brown, Barbara and Scott Hancock, Thomas Jordan, Hiroyuki Kamano, Jeffrey McNeill, Ira Wolf, Mark Schwab and the Women’s Group.

5

6

7

50 October 2009 iNTOUCH

8

EVENT ROUNDUP

Taste New Zealand Preview August 28

A tantalizing lineup of New Zealand wines were sampled at this unique precursor to the Club’s weekend celebration of Kiwi cuisine. One hundred thirty Members tippled glasses of first-rate varietals from across New Zealand and discovered a number of stunning vintages presented by eight guest vendors.

Photos by Yuuki Ide 1

1. Jon and Jennifer Sparks 2. Rebecca and Michael Evans 3. Helen Bogaty and Terri Daly 4. Masako Uehara and Julie Dixon

2

4

3

Rice Campaign

August 18

Following a three-month fundraising campaign at the Club that ended in April, the Women’s Group presented rice coupons exceeding ¥500,000 to Second Harvest Japan, a charity that distributes food to those in need across the country. Charles McJilton, the executive director of Second Harvest Japan, and Ruby Sakuma of Harvest Pantry visited the Club to accept the donation from the Women’s Group’s Monita Griffiths and Nobue Shiozawa. (l–r) Ruby Sakuma, Charles McJilton, Monita Griffiths and Nobue Shiozawa

Snapshots from Club occasions 51

TOKYO MOMENTS

Pasmo Passion

by Karen Pond Illustration by Akiko Saito

T

he object of my affection is cute.

Other admirable qualities include punctuality, honesty and reliability.

The object of my affection is a smooth operator, yet I don’t have to worry about any guessing games.

The object of my affection is also quiet about my cooking skills.

“I love it!” I said to my husband. “I just love my smart card.”

With Pasmo, or any other transit fare card for that matter, I am going places. BP (before Pasmo), I went nowhere. Actually, I did make it to my local train station, but the intimidating and overwhelming transit map stopped me in my tracks.

It was a tangle of thick lines, thin lines, dotted lines, loopy lines, JR lines, Metro lines and private lines, all in a spectrum of bright and pale colors. Then there was the range of adult and child fares. I was perpetually confused.

“Mommy, are we there yet?” my son asked. “No, sweetie,” I answered as I continued to study the map above the ticket machine. “At this point, I think I need some professional navigation tools to help me figure out the fare and plot our course. Let’s go home and come back later

52 October 2009 iNTOUCH

with a sextant and compass.”

But now I can focus on the day’s adventure because my Pasmo automatically debits the correct fare, which means no more embarrassing ticket wicket incidents.

Before I got my hands on a smart card, my family was always setting off the ticket wicket alarm, the flashing red light signaling our obvious inability to figure out the correct fare.

“Just us again,” I would say to the white-gloved attendant as I handed him the outstanding fare in small change. “See you tomorrow.”

But then the smart card entered my life and I could bid farewell to fare guessing, destination frustration, compasses and pocketfuls of coins. And no more apologizing to white-gloved attendants.

Well, almost. At least now I can quickly top up my card and be on my way. Let the Tokyo adventures begin!

“Mommy, are we there yet?” my son asked. “No, sweetie,” I said as I checked the balance on his Pasmo. “I need to put more money on your card. Where did all your train money go, by the way? And where did you get all that food?”

“Oh,” he said with a mouthful of potato wedges. “Didn’t you know that you can buy stuff at the convenience store with your Pasmo? All you do is tap. It’s awesome! Who wants a corn dog?”

The object of my affection is cute. Other admirable qualities include punctuality, honesty and reliability.

The object of my affection is also full of surprises. ®

毎 月 一 回 一 日 発 行

TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB

第 四 十 三 巻 二 十 四 号

ト ウ キ ョ ウ ア メ リ カ ン ク ラ ブ

iNTOUCH October 2009

i N T O U C H

イ ン タ ッ チ マ ガ ジ ン 二 〇 〇 九 十 月 一 日 発 行

TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB

平 成 三 年 十 二 月 二 十 日 第 三 種 郵 便 物 許 可 定 価 八 ０ ０ 円 本 体 七 七 七 円

Club Members discuss the challenges and rewards of nurturing children to master more than one language Issue 535 • October 2009

Regal Sounds

Strokes of Genius

Vintage Invasion

The Club enjoys a dose of imperial culture

The 54th CWAJ Print Show lands at the Club

Worldwide winemakers pour their passion for Members