PARTYLINE WITH BILL HERSEY Segafredo Zanetti Espresso www.segafredo.jp www.segafredo.it
Peninsula Hotel General Manager Malcolm Thompson and his wife Roxanne.
In and Around
Hilton Tokyo General Manager Christian Baudat and ANA Intercontinental General Manager Fergus Stewart at the Hilton’s new Marble Lounge.
Asian Tigers Premier Worldwide Movers Sales Manager Sandra Von Gessel-Yoda and new coworker Seyla Peou.
Noriyuki and Junko and their daughter Azusa with Hiroo Segafredo General Manager Hiroyuki Komatsu.
The Striegl brothers—Frank and Mark—at The New Lex.
The Serbian national volleyball team celebrates their victory in Japan at The New Lex. Tall (one was seven feet) and fun.
Mexican Friendship Night
Spanish Ambassador Miquel Carriedo Mompin and Costa Rican Ambassador Mario Fernandez Silva.
Guatemalan Ambassador Byron Escobedo, Akira Miwa, Director General Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, Gaimusho, Panamanian Ambassador Alfredo Martiz Fuentes, and Peruvian Ambassador Hugo Palma.
Kirsten Palma, Jordanian Ambassador Sami Naouri, Philippino Ambassador Domingo Siazon Jr., Hatitian Ambassador Jean Claude Bordes, and JETRO Chariman and CEO Yasuo Hayashi.
Svanes Sayonara Outgoing Danish Ambassador Freddy Svane, his wife Lise, and their children made a lot of friends for themselves and for Denmark during their two-and-ahalf year posting here. Prior to their departure, they hosted an open house sayonara party for members of the Japan Denmark Society and for “close friends.” Their home was wall-to-wall with people who shared the sincere feeling that “It’s been so nice to know you and we’re so sorry to see you go.” Lise was the chairperson of the Ikebana International Fair this year and did a terrific job. She also helped at my 10th anniversary Orphans’ Christmas Party last year. In addition to that, she followed up with Momoko Gonohe, head of PR at the Hilton, and was responsible for donations to several orphanages. I have to mention the superb buffet at Freddy and Lise’s sayonara party. In addition to the delicious Danish dishes, there were huge trays of boneless tandori chicken. Kudos to the chefs Thilak Basnayaka and Frederik (from the Swedish Embassy). My thanks to the Svanes for many things and my sincerest wishes for a big success in their and their children’s future ventures back home in Copenhagen. Jamaca Festival In just a few years, the Jamaican Festival at Yoyogi Park has become one of the most colorful, fun, and popular events of its kind. Much of the success was the result
Powerful politician Yuriko Koike, Martha RuizCabanas (wife of the Mexican Ambassador), and Martha’s mother Elvia Cantellano, in front of Mexican cherry blossoms.
Hidenao Nakagawa, President of the Parliamentary Federation of Friendship between Japan and Mexico, Masayoshi Namiki, Member of the House of Representatives, Mexican Ambassador Miquel Ruiz Cabanas, his wife Martha, Kiyohiro Arai, Member of the House of Councillors, and Mrs. Arai.
of a lot of hard work on the part of Jamaican charge d’affaires Angella Rose-Howell and her dedicated staff. Yoyogi Park was full of love the day I went to the festival. There were long lines waiting at the booths selling Jamaican food that included a ‘Jerk Dog’ and a ‘Jerk Chicken!’ The weather was good and everyone was really enjoying the love your neighbor, laid-back picnic mood. The variety of handicrafts and fashions on sale was amazing, and from what I saw, sales were really good. The Jamaican entertainment that included a variety of song and dance with, of course, lots of reggae was awesome. It was pure enjoyment at Yoyogi Park watching the huge, all-age, all-nationality crowds enjoying themselves. My sincerest congratulations to all who contributed to making the Jamaican Festival a truly memorable experience for all who were fortunate enough to be there. Polish Ambassador Marcin Rybicki and his wife Adrianna do keep busy. Their recent cultural events included a piano concert of Chopin music by renowned Polish pianist and professor Kazimierz Gierzud. A few weeks later they held a photo exhibition titled Mutual Arising—a Case Study of Interdependence by Thomas Kuczynski at the Polish Embassy. Over at the Embassy of Bulgaria, Ambassador Blaqovest Sendov and his wife hosted an occasion on the day of Bulgarian Culture and Cyrilic Alphabet in their Yoyogi residence.
Jul 18–31 2008 Vol. 39 No. 14 29