iNTOUCH March 2014

March 2014

T O K Y O A M E R I C A N C L U B

Pretty in PinkAn insider’s guide to Japan’s sakura season

Tee TimeThe Club’s female

golfers hit the links

St Patrick’s DayIrish Members paint

the town green

Olympian Koji Murofushi and other sporting heroes are honored by the Club

Podium Prince

iNTOUCHManagementTony CalaGeneral [email protected]

Lian ChangInformation Technology [email protected]

Darryl DudleyEngineering [email protected]

Brian MarcusFood & Beverage [email protected]

To advertise in iNTOUCH, contact Rie Hibino: [email protected] 03-4588-0976

For membership information, contact Mari Hori:[email protected] 03-4588-0687

Tokyo American Club2-1-2 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8649

www.tokyoamericanclub.org

contents 2 Contacts

4 Events

6 Board of Governors

7 Management

8 Food & Beverage

12 Library

16 Video Library

18 Recreation

22 Women’s Group

24 Feature

30 Talking Heads

32 Frederick Harris Gallery

35 Cultural Insight

36 Member Services

38 Inside Japan

40 Out & About

42 Event Roundup

48 Back Words

Editor Nick Jones [email protected]

DesignersShane BusatoAnna Ishizuka

Production AssistantYuko Shiroki

Assistant Editor Nick Narigon

Shuji HirakawaHuman Resources [email protected]

Naoto OkutsuFinance [email protected]

Scott YahiroRecreation [email protected]

Aron Kremer Marketing & Communications Director [email protected]

FEAturE Hammer timeThe Club Sports Awards

recognize athletic achievement

on the international stage. This

year's recipients are Paralympic

long jumper Mami Sato, Tokyo

2020 bid committee chiefs

Masato Mizuno and Tsunekazu

Takeda, and Olympic hammer

thrower Koji Murofushi, who

explains his strategy for success.

8 FooD & BEvErAgE the Power of the PopWhile many gourmands

hold a strong affinity for

the cork, Washington

winemaker Rick Small uses

the venerated stopper to

help the environment.

38 InsIDE JAPAngoing greenJapan’s Irish population may

be small, but a few Club

Members from the Emerald

Isle will be sharing their

heritage loud and proud

this month.

18 rEcrEAtIoncourse camaraderie Ahead of a new season

on Kanto’s courses, two

members of the Ladies Golf

Group share their passion for

Japan’s greens, fairways and

even baths.

24

Cover photo of Koji Murofushi by Benjamin Parks

2 March 2014 iNTOUCH

Department/E-mail Phone

American Bar & Grill (03) [email protected]

Banquet Sales and Reservations (03) [email protected]

Beauty Salon (03) 4588-0685

Bowling Center (03) [email protected]

Café Med (03) [email protected]

Catering (03) [email protected]

Childcare Center (03) [email protected]

Communications (03) [email protected]

Decanter/FLATiRON (03) [email protected]

Engineering (03) [email protected]

Finance (03) 4588-0222 [email protected]

Fitness Center (03) 4588-0266 [email protected]

Food & Beverage Office (03) 4588-0245 [email protected]

Foreign Traders’ Bar (03) [email protected]

Guest Studios (03) [email protected]

Human Resources (03) 4588-0679

Information Technology (03) 4588-0690

Library (03) [email protected]

Management Office (03) [email protected]

Membership Office (03) [email protected]

Member Services (03) 4588-0670 [email protected]

Pool Office (03) [email protected]

Rainbow Café (03) [email protected]

Recreation Desk (03) [email protected]

The Cellar (03) [email protected]

The Spa (03) [email protected]

Video Library (03) [email protected]

Weddings (03) [email protected]

Women’s Group Office (03) [email protected]

Getting in Touch

Words from the editor 3

contributors

We expect a lot of our sporting heroes. Not only must they excel athletically, smashing records along the way, they should be paragons of virtue (and preferably UN goodwill ambassadors) away from the action.

Of course, when they do spectacularly fail to live up to our stratospheric expectations (see disgraced American cyclist Lance Armstrong), we smugly tut and shake our heads as the flawed hero’s downfall is tried through social media.

Japanese hammer thrower Koji Murofushi, therefore, seems a rare exemplar in the world of sport. An exponent of a discipline that has been mired in doping scandals for years, the 39-year-old’s image remains untarnished, and he even sits on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s athletes’ commission (although he was barred from running in the 2012 International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission election for unfair campaigning).

A gold medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Murofushi seems the ideal ambassador for the Tokyo 2020 Games, particularly after the somewhat awkward press conference at last month’s Sochi Winter Olympics, when Tokyo’s organizing committee chief, former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, was asked by a foreign journalist why he wasn’t addressing the media in English.

Set to receive the Club’s Sportsman of the Year award this month, along with other award recipients Paralympic long jumper Mami Sato and Tokyo 2020 bid committee chiefs Masato Mizuno and Tsunekazu Takeda, Murofushi talks to my colleague, Nick Narigon, about his longevity in the hammer and staying honest.

from theeditor

TimHornyak

Originally from Iowa, Nick Narigon arrived in Japan in May 2012. The assistant editor in the Club’s Communications Department, he was weeklies editor for the Des Moines Register for five years and had the opportunity to interview several presidential candidates, including Barack Obama, Joe Biden and John Edwards. In addition to two years in New Jersey as the special sections editor for the Press of Atlantic City, he has contributed features to The Wall Street Journal Asia, Time Out Tokyo and Tokyo Art Beat. In this month’s iNTOUCH, Narigon learns what it takes to be an Olympic champion from hammer thrower Koji Murofushi and chats with a couple of Members about their passion for golf.

NickNarigon

Rob Goss is a freelance writer specializing in Japan-related features on everything from business and sustainability to society and travel. His work has appeared in publications around the world, including Time, National Geographic, Eurobiz Japan and Lexus magazines and Fodor’s, Rough Guides and Insight Guides guidebooks. His most recent project has seen him write a pair of Japan guides for Tuttle Publishing. Originally from Dartmoor, in southwest England, Goss arrived in Japan in 1999 and lives in Tokyo with his wife and young, soccer-obsessed son. A frequent contributor to iNTOUCH, for this month’s Inside Japan he spoke to a few Irish Members to decipher the universal popularity of St Patrick’s Day.

RobGoss

Compensation Mark MillerCulture, Community & Entertainment Barbara Hancock (Lance Lee)

SubcommitteesFrederick Harris Gallery Yumiko SaiMen's Group Vincenzo Lufino

Finance Rodney Nussbaum(Hiroshi Miyamasu) Food & Beverage Michael Alfant (Jerome Rosenberg)

SubcommitteeWine Stephen Romaine

House Jesse Green (Gregory Lyon) SubcommitteeFacilities Management GroupTomio Fukuda

Human Resources Jon Sparks (Per Knudsen)Membership Alok Rakyan (Machi Nemoto)

Nominating Steven GreenbergRecreation Samuel Rogan(Mark Miller)

SubcommitteesBowling Crystal GoodflieshVideo Abigail RadmilovichFitness Samuel RoganGolf John BreenLibrary Alaine LeeLogan Room Christa Rutter

Squash Martin FluckSwim Alexander Jampel Youth Activities Narissara March

joining a committee


5–6Brazilian Churrasco NightFeast on an array of mouthwatering grilled meat at Café Med’s Brazilian blowout. 5–8:30 p.m. Continues March 12–13.

Wednesday 5Toastmasters ClubStart losing your fear of public speaking and improve your leadership skills at this monthly event. 12 p.m. ¥2,650. Sign up online or at the Library.Continues on March 19.

What’s on in March

Sunday

Monday –

Friday

9

17–28

Youth BaseballThe baseball season kicks off for children grades 1 to 8. Divided into three leagues, the program’s practices are held every Sunday at the American School in Japan. Learn more on page 20.

Camp Discovery: Spring Fun These weeklong sessions for ages 3 through 5 feature spring-themed arts and crafts, music, dance and fun. For more information, flip to page 20.

Monday Monday–

Monday10 10–17Cherry Blossom GuideLearn about the annual ritual of hanami from Mina Kanai Nishisaka of the cross-cultural support group WaNavi Japan. 11:30 a.m. More on this Women’s Group luncheon on page 22.

St Patrick’s WeekCelebrate Ireland’s patron saint with a week of Emerald Isle eats and drinks in Traders’ Bar.

Wednesday 5Meet the Author: Kumiko ShindoThe artist discusses the tragedy of the 2011 Tohoku disaster and her book of 15 catastrophe-inspired works created from torn paper. 6:30 p.m. More on page 12.

9Winter Sprinter Swim MeetThe Mudsharks host another meet of friendly competition for swimmers of all ages and skill level. 3 p.m. (awards presentation: 4:30 p.m.). ¥1,260. Sign up online or at the Sky Pool Office by March 2.

Sunday

1–31Spa Lucky DrawMembers who spend over ¥5,000 in The Spa this month have the chance to go home with a fabulous prize. Learn more on page 21.

2TAC Tri Club LaunchTriathlon novices and veterans train together and swap tips through this network of fitness enthusiasts. Contact the Sky Pool Office for details.

Sunday 2Lecture Series: SAT-ACT, AP and Subject TestsReceive direction on what college prep exams are the best option and a better understanding of the standardized testing process. 3 p.m. Sign up online or at Member Services.

Sunday

Monday 17Toastmasters Social Learn how Toastmasters can make you a better public speaker from fellow Members at a casual get-together, complete with food and drinks. 6:30–9 p.m. Washington and Lincoln rooms. Sign up online or at the Library.

Friday

Club Sports Awards Presentation CeremonyThe Club honors Olympian Koji Murofushi, Paralympian Mami Sato and Tokyo 2020 bid chiefs Masato Mizuno and Tsunekazu Takeda. 7 p.m. Read Murofushi’s interview on page 24.

Monday –

Friday24–28Intensive SAT and ACT Prep Course Students learn strategies to improve scores on the college-admissions tests. 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. For more information, flip to page 21.

3Swim Program RegistrationSign up for an array of programs available for swimmers of all ages and ability. Contact the Sky Pool for details.

MondaySaturday–

Monday

Monday24Gallery Reception: Ten-YouThe Japanese artist shares her unique calligraphic pieces at a reception. 6:30 p.m. Learn more about Ten-You and her art on page 33.

FridayWednesday 2826A Slice of ChicagoDecanter sommeliers head to Café Med to offer tips on matching great wines with slices of deep-dish pizza.

New Member OrientationThe Club’s newest Members learn about the Club and have a chance to mingle. 6:30 p.m. Washington and Lincoln rooms. Contact the Membership Office to reserve your spot at least one week in advance.

Wednesday–

Thursday

Friday7First Friday: St Patrick’s DayAhead of the globally celebrated Irish festival, Members paint the Winter Garden green with drinks, snacks and chat. 6 p.m. ¥2,000. No sign-up necessary.

17

Noteworthy dates for the month 5

EVENTS

GETUP GUIDELINES The Club has introduced a new, less-complicated dress code to enhance all Members’ enjoyment of the facilities. Visit the News & Info section of the Club website for details.

Tuesday 11Woodward Canyon Wine Dinner with Rick SmallWoodward Canyon’s owner and winemaker hosts a lively evening of bottles from his winery in Washington’s flourishing winegrowing region of Walla Walla. 7 p.m. Details on page 8.

Friday7Mommy and Toddler TimeMeet fellow moms and toddlers while building your own support network at a fun, weekly get-together. 2 p.m. Free. Continues March 14, 21 and 28.

Coming up in April

Monday–

Tuesday

Monday 3–4Tokyo: Here & NowNewcomers and not-so-new Tokyo residents alike are invited to learn essential information about life in Japan at this comprehensive seminar. Sign up online or at Member Services.

3Gallery Reception: Kazuhiro SatoThe Japanese artist kicks off an exhibition of his ethereal photography pieces with a reception. 6:30 p.m. Learn more about Sato and his art on page 32.

Wednesday 12Lecture Series: International School EducationLearn about the benefits of an international education in a globalized world from speaker Ed Ladd, headmaster of the American School in Japan. 7 p.m. Sign up online or at Member Services.

Thursday13Riedel Glassware SaleDon’t miss this warehouse sale of glassware from the famed Austrian producer, including limited-edition decanters, wineglasses and other discontinued items. 11 a.m. Find out more on page 11.

Tuesday 18Mito Plum Blossoms and Kasama Pottery TourTour Kairakuen Garden in Mito, sample home-brewed sake and umeshu plum wine and visit the quaint pottery town of Kasama. 7:50 a.m. Page 22 has the details.

Sunday 23Roast Beef Grand BuffetSucculent roast beef takes center stage at this carnivorous feast. 11 a.m.–2 p.m./5–7 p.m. Adults (18 and above): ¥7,500. Children (4–17 years): ¥2,800. Infants (3 and under): free. Sign up online or by calling 03-4588-0308.

8New Member OrientationThe Club’s newest Members learn about the Club and have a chance to mingle. 10 a.m. Washington and Lincoln rooms. Contact the Membership Office to reserve your spot at least one week in advance.

Saturday

Monday31Coffee ConnectionsWhether you’re new to Tokyo or want to meet new people, drop by this free Women’s Group gathering. Contact the Women’s Group Office to organize free childcare. 10:30 a.m.

Saturday8Birth Preparation for CouplesExpectant parents prepare for the arrival of their bundles of joy during this Women’s Group class. 10 a.m. Yukiko Maki Classroom. ¥7,000. Sign up at Member Services. Continues March 9 and 15.

Saturday8Hakkaisan Sake Brewery TourThe Niigata brewery opens its doors to Members for an exclusive tour. Participants will also visit the 480-year-old Saifuku Temple. 8:10 a.m. ¥17,500. Sign up online or at Member Services.

Tuesday 11Kappabashi Tour and Knife DemonstrationThis Women’s Group tour takes in the Tokyo quarter renowned for its kitchenware used in the city’s finest restaurants. 8:45 a.m. Flip to page 22 for the rundown.

Saturday 29Dine and Discover: The Best of Bordeaux and Beef Diners enjoy an evening of the finest cuts of Certified Angus Beef, enhanced by vintages of Château Palmer and other standout Bordeaux wines. 7 p.m. More on page 9.

Tuesday 4Spring Class RegistrationFrom karate to dance, check out the range of recreation programs available at the Club. 8:30 a.m. Details on page 21.

Tuesday 4Toddler TimeA fun, 30-minute session of engaging stories and activities awaits preschoolers at the Children’s Library. 4 p.m. Free. Continues March 11, 18 and 25.

5Spring Fun Craft Day7First Friday: Hanami Night13 Yamanashi Winery Tour14 Gallery Reception: Taizo Kuroda

Wednesday 19South American Wine TastingThe Wine Committee shines a light on some up-and-coming varietals from the winemaking powerhouse regions of Chile and Argentina. 7 p.m. Find out more on page 9.


W hat is it about Tokyo American Club that makes it unique? Having been to plenty of clubs

in the United States and Asia, I find our Club to be superior in many ways. Some clubs focus on fitness but don’t have much else. Others are mainly for dining and entertaining, so lack fitness facilities. Some try to incorporate both but don’t really make room for families. There are even clubs that try to make a place for everything but come out mediocre in many areas.

The Club, in contrast, has done it all. It’s a place where families can enjoy sports and recreation activities, as well as good restaurants, while the Club’s more formal side offers options for dining, entertaining

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

friends and doing business. And it’s all possible in a beautiful, clean, relaxing and well-managed facility.

This doesn’t mean that we can’t improve. We are constantly striving to make the Club the best club in Asia by enhancing such things as menus, locker room amenities and staff service and offering more relevant programs. We have come a long way since the crisis years of 2009 to 2011, and our future is bright.

When I became a Member, I knew the Club would be a place where I would always feel at home. I have lived in Japan since 1986, although not continuously. My first years in Japan were difficult at times, as I struggled to learn Japanese and decipher Japan’s unique culture. We weren’t Members at that time and lived in the commuter town of Musashi Koganei, in western Tokyo. Trying to fit in and not having a place where I could speak English was a little overwhelming.

When we decided to move back to Japan—this time with two young children in tow—the Club made us feel comfortable right away. It is a place where we always feel welcome and where my kids have grown up and have made friends.

We have used every part of the

Club and have found highly qualified recreational staff here. My daughter swam for the Mudsharks swim team for many years, my son has participated in the excellent basketball program and I continue to take a kickboxing class. My husband and I also take private karate lessons with a trainer each week. We love using the Library and find the staff there knowledgeable and helpful.

To help other Members have the kind of positive Club experiences I’ve appreciated over the years, I decided to run for the Board of Governors in 2012. During my term, I have really enjoyed working with and getting to know some wonderful Members. We are committed to making this a place where you feel at home, so, if you think there is something that needs improving at the Club, please let one of the governors know. o

Board of GovernorsJohn Durkin (2014)—Representative Governor, Gregory Lyon (2014)—First Vice President, Brenda Bohn (2014)—Second Vice President, Per Knudsen (2014)—Secretary, Hiroshi Miyamasu (2015)—Treasurer, Ginger Griggs (2015), Lance E Lee (2014), Mark Miller (2015), Machi Nemoto (2014), Betsy Rogers (2015), Jerome Rosenberg (2014), Mark Henry Saft (2014), Sadashi Suzuki (2014), Kazuakira Nakajima—Statutory Auditor (2014)

A SpecialHome

by Brenda Bohn

Executive remarks 7

MANAGEMENT

P an-fried, grilled, roasted or raw, food is the sustenance of life. Trends come and go

and exchange rates fluctuate in our Internet-driven world, but food will always be a necessity. So what’s “in” this year at the Club?

Chicken is no longer humble. And the days of rubber chicken and plastic peas are long gone. Some of the most upscale, chic New York and LA eateries are featuring chicken front and center (Rotisserie Georgette in Manhattan offers chicken with foie gras for two for $79). Chef Lindsay Gray and the rest of the Food & Beverage team are taking chicken seriously, and you can expect to

see creative dishes with super-premium birds from Iwate Prefecture, the United States and the Bresse area of France on our menus.

When butter is just not enough. Gone are the days of extra virgin olive oil and hoity-toity French butter from cows that only eat after midnight for the perfect fat level. Now it’s all about rosemary hummus, vanilla-fava spread, tomato jam, whipped Italian lardo and whipped beet butter with porcini oil. Breads have never been happier. Decanter and FLATiRON have already ditched the butter and feature a variety of gourmet sea salts and spreads that undergo molecular transformation. Expect more of these magical spreads creeping down to the first floor throughout the year.

Look again at the Middle East. If zaatar, harissa, schug and a great shakshuka excite you, you are not alone. Culinary trends have blown through Europe and landed in the Levant. From the souk to the plate, the fragrances and flavors are bold, and fashionable restaurants in the States can’t get enough. And nor can we. Throughout this year, the Club will

explode with flavors from the likes of Aleppo, Jerusalem, Tunis and Istanbul.

Seasonal, fresh and clean flavors. We’re kicking it up a notch this year. Our talented kitchen teams are reworking their spring menus, incorporating exciting ingredients like chard, fava beans, garlic chives, grapefruit, mint of all varieties, wild morels, parsley-peppery radishes and green pea tendrils from the land and Japanese amberjack, butterfish, pompano and cherry blossom sea bream from the oceans. We now consult our local “vegetable sommelier” when choosing our seasonal produce—welcome to 2014!

This is just a taste of what you can expect in our restaurants over the year. But dining at your Club is not just about the high-quality products we serve; it’s also about being able to have it your way. So whether it’s a vegetarian version of our Chinese Chicken Salad you want or a Caesar salad with steak, just ask. The biggest trend at the Club’s dining venues is being flexible and accommodating whenever we can. o

For more information about Club restaurants and food trends, visit the Club website.

Food,Glorious Food

by Brian Marcus

Combine the fun of tennis with a calorie-burning workout for a dynamic way to stay in shape.

Tennis pro Tracy John Fenelon leads 70-minute sessions of high-intensity exercises and ball-hitting drills for all ages and abilities.

Tuesdays: 9:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturdays: 12:10 p.m.

KAMIYOGA TENNIS CLUB

3-9-21 Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, TokyoTel: 03-6804-4456 (weekdays: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.)E-mail: [email protected]

GET TENNIS FIT!

www.kamiyoga-tc.com/cardio-tennis-lesson

If after ordering a bottle of pricey wine at an elegant restaurant, the sommelier produced the bottle and proceeded to unscrew its aluminum cap with a

deft flick of the wrist, would your dining experience be diminished?

Twist-off tops on bottles are growing in popularity due to their convenience, cost-effectiveness and perhaps unparalleled ability to preserve wine, but they remain lacking in one critical regard, according to one respected Washington State winemaker.

“The wine industry is steeped in tradition,” says Woodward Canyon’s Rick Small, who will revisit the Club this month to uncork a multitude of fine wines. “The screw cap closure might be a better way to seal wine, [but] it’s not as traditional and it’s not part of the ambience. We like cork better.”

winedinner

Woodward Canyon Wine Dinner with Rick SmallTuesday, March 117 p.m. American Bar & Grill¥11,000Sign up online or at Member Services

by Wendi Onuki The Power of the Pop

That resistance to pairing upscale wines with screw caps may be abating with younger, more experimental generations, but among longtime wine consumers there remains a strong preference for the venerable cork, admits 66-year-old Small.

According to a recent survey, 61 percent of US consumers are partial to natural cork closures, compared with 3 percent who prefer screw caps. By comparison, almost three times more Australians prefer screw caps over corks.

Woodward Canyon, situated in Washington’s flourishing winegrowing region of Walla Walla, currently uses twist-off tops on an estimated 25 percent of its bottles, namely red table wines and its more affordable second label, Nelms Road. The cost savings are significant, says Small, with

the initial investment in machinery on pace to pay for itself in about two years.

“As our winemaker Kevin [Mott] likes to say, if it’s really that good of a wine, you ought to be using that container for your best wines,” says Small, whose winery recently picked up an award for its 2012 Chardonnay at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. “The public is not quite ready to go [to screw caps] yet.”

In addition to its romantic appeal, cork may have a slight sustainable edge over screw caps. In fact, Woodward and other area wineries have partnered with ReCORK, based in Portugal, the world’s largest cork producer, to recycle their spent corks into sandal soles and other products. Started in 2008, the project has recycled and repurposed more than 47 million corks to date, though Small says it has yet to reach its full potential.

Whether you prefer the ease of aluminum or the ritual of its centuries-old counterpart, relish the rich, complex contents of the bottle—and help recycle a cork or two—during what promises to be a lively evening of sumptuous wine and food. o

Onuki is a Michigan-based freelance journalist.

From the hottest concerts to sumo tournaments, the Club’s TAC-tix service is your gateway to Tokyo’s exciting entertainment scene.

Check out the latest event tickets and deals by visiting the TAC-tix page of the Club website or Member Services.

Member Services Daily: 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m. | Tel: 03-4588-0670 | E-mail: [email protected]

Rick Small


South American Wine TastingWednesday, March 19 7 p.m. Washington and Lincoln rooms¥10,000Sign up online or at Member Services

The plethora of OK-for-the-price Chilean and Argentine wine (not to mention Uruguayan and Brazilian examples) has always hidden a few

gems but never the range of top-quality wines being produced now.

In Chile, the blame for mediocrity fell on its heavily export-oriented market, which competed on price. In Argentina, it was domestic drinkers who didn’t demand anything better. And since harvesting healthy grapes is so easy in South America, there was no ambitious culture of experimentation. All too often the good pushed out the great.

Change was set in motion by pioneers like Nicolas Catena in Argentina and Álvaro Espinoza, Chile’s first “garage winemaker.” Joint ventures like Almaviva, between Bordeaux’s Château Mouton Rothschild and the largest wine producer in Latin America, Chile’s Concha y Toro,

FOOD & BEVERAGE

South American Resurgence

by Jon Sparks

winetasting

added to the momentum, which has continued to build.

Identity is also a key element in the current success. If you are selling yet another Chardonnay or Cabernet in an overcrowded global wine market, it is tempting—and maybe even a matter of survival—to keep prices low.

But the visionary winemakers took a risk and decided it was better to gain recognition through bottling something distinctive or at least marketable as their own (think what Shiraz has done for Australia). Chilean Carménère, Argentine Malbec, Torrontes and Bonarda and even Tannat from Uruguay have become just that.

Chile may be the only place to produce fine, smoky, spicy reds from the Carménère grape, but no one in the country had any idea about these wines until 1994. What we now recognize as Carménère was thought

D I N E A N D D I S C O V E RMarch: The Bes t o f Bo rdeaux and Beef

Experience the kings of Bordeaux,

featuring three side-by-side vintages

of Château Palmer, Alter Ego and

other French treasures, with the

highest quality American prime and

Certified Angus Beef.

Saturday, March 29 • 7 p.m.New York Bridge, Decanter • ¥26,000A d u l t s o n l y · R e s e r v e y o u r s e a t a t0 3 - 4 5 8 8 - 0 6 7 5 o r d e c a n t e r @ t a c - c l u b . o r g

to be an irritating type of Merlot. It turns out that if you don’t treat it like Merlot by exposing the grape clusters to more sun and letting them hang for a few extra weeks, you wind up with Carménère just how we like it.

This month’s intimate tasting (just two tables of 10) will feature a range of newer South American wines and even one or two groundbreaking styles, enhanced by a full, flavor-packed dinner. o

Sparks is a member of the Wine Committee.

Club wining and dining 9

bottletalk

2009 Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs, Napa Valley, CaliforniaFrom California’s leader in sparkling wine comes the Club’s new house bubbly. A blend of 87 percent Pinot Noir and 13 percent Chardonnay, this wine offers immense richness and mouthfeel, courtesy of oak-barrel aging and extended lees contact. Aromas of apple and orange marmalade, with nuances of tropical guava and Meyer lemon tart, lead to flavors of orange, cherry, raspberry and peach. By the glass or bottle, there’s no better way to start a meal. If I were from Champagne, I would be concerned.

¥7,200 a bottle or ¥1,200 a glass at all Club restaurants.

Kelley’s Cellar Selection

by Kelley Michael Schaefer

Ducks, Swans and Snakes

Sommeliers love a captive audience when decanting wine. And while decanting, on

the surface, may seem a little pompous and showy, there are two reasons why it will enhance your enjoyment of the wine.

Many older red wines “throw” sediment (don’t be alarmed, this is completely natural) and require a process to remove the clear liquid from the gritty deposit. First, leave the wine to stand for up to 24 hours to allow the sediment to settle. Then carefully pour off the clear wine. If you hold the foil-free neck of the bottle over a candle flame, you’ll be able to see the first grains of sediment arrive and ensure you don’t end up with sediment in your smile.

Decanting also helps to aerate younger wines, allowing them to “open up” and better show their character. Simply pulling the cork and leaving the wine to “breathe” only

exposes a coin-sized surface area of the wine to the air. A decanter, on the other hand, gives the wine adequate exposure to oxygen.

There are some cautionary measures to heed, however. Too much air can quickly kill older wines, and the length of time in advance to decant a wine depends on the age and pedigree of the wine, so doing your research is important.

Decanters come in an array of shapes and sizes, from formal to funky, and the unrivalled leader in the world of decanters and stemware is Austrian glass specialist Riedel (Georg Riedel hosted a sellout tasting at the Club two years ago). Many Members will recognize the famous Riedel duck- and swan-shaped decanters from around the Club, and the company has recently unveiled an exotic snake-shaped vessel.

To help you in your enjoyment of wine, the

Club is hosting a warehouse sale of Riedel glassware, including limited-edition decanters, wineglasses and other discontinued items at incredibly low prices. The event will also feature wine vendors to get you started in your decanting adventures. o

Riedel Glassware SaleThursday, March 1311 a.m.–8 p.m. Manhattan I

Riedel Boa decanter

Schaefer is the Club’s wine program manager.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Club wining and dining 11

Journey NorthAhead of her talk at the Club this month, artist Kumiko Shindo, who produced the book An Artist’s Soulful Heart: Aftermath of a Catastrophe: 3.11.2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, describes a recent journey to Fukushima.

It was the events and stories from the immediate aftermath of the 3/11 disaster that precipitated my desire to share my complicated emotions through art. And just recently, I

took a trip north to visit the devastated area that has been in my thoughts—and the thoughts of many people around the world—for so long.

From my hometown of Yokohama, I made my way to Iwaki City, in Fukushima Prefecture. Prior to the March 11 catastrophe, Iwaki was known as the Hawaii of Tohoku. It has the longest hours of sunlight in the region and is renowned for its heavenly hot springs. Tourists used to flock to Iwaki, with its moderate climate and charming Pacific Ocean beaches. People from Tokyo moved to Iwaki for its friendliness, pleasant atmosphere and delicious food.

Following concerns about safety and radiation levels (the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is less than 50 kilometers to the north), the number of

visitors to Iwaki has dropped since 2011. The city, though, has been rigorously addressing these worries and officials believe that tourists and former residents will soon return.

There has also been concern about buying produce and fish from Tohoku. Admittedly, I hesitated to buy food from the area before, but with strict testing in place, I am willing to support the people and buy the local produce, particularly after visiting Iwaki.

During my trip, I toured Tomato Land Iwaki, a typical Tohoku company. Despite a drop in sales, they have managed to import greenhouses from the Netherlands. The innovative cultivation system allows the workers to grow tomatoes all year-round, and the “sunshine tomato” is their most popular. I tasted several varieties of this juicy fruit.

Hiroshi Motoki, Tomato Land Iwaki’s executive director, explained the level to which their produce is inspected. Besides

conducting their own tests, the company’s tomatoes are inspected every three months by the city and the prefectural government makes frequent surprise visits to the site.

The local farms’ own safety standards are often stricter than the official ones. Fukushima farmers are determined to regain their customers’ trust. Hopefully, their sales will come back stronger than ever before.

I was excited to see the ocean during my time in Iwaki and visited the port of Yotsukura. While viewing the calm, deep-blue ocean, I thought of that momentous March day. There, I met Kenji Shirato, the general director of the Yotsu Club, which runs the port. Within a year of the disaster, they had built a completely new complex next to the beach.

He shared his stories of that fateful day on which so much was lost, including his home. While heading away from the sea with customers and employees after the first tsunami, a second, bigger wave struck. He ran for his life, but can’t remember how he made it to safety.

If it hadn’t been for the encouragement of his staff and hundreds of volunteers, Mr Shirato said he would never have been able to realize his dream of building the portside complex, which is now a symbol of hope in the area.

The stigma and misunderstandings about the plight of Fukushima continue, but I’m delighted to have traveled to Iwaki. I feel I have a much better grasp of the circumstances and of the challenges the prefecture’s resilient people face. o

Shindo is a Yokohama-based artist.

Kumiko Shindo (right)


LIBRARY

Meet the Author: Kumiko Shindo Wednesday, March 5

6:30 p.m. Toko Shinoda Classroom

¥1,575Sign up online or at the Library

Literary gems at the Library 13

off theshelf

Japan Explained

Sandwiched between the Library’s fiction and nonfiction shelves is a hidden treasure. Divided into

three sections (fiction, nonfiction and biography), the Japan collection is well worth exploring.

The fiction shelves include novels and collections of legends and short stories. Many of the books are translations of works by such renowned authors as Shusaku Endo, Yukio Mishima and Haruki Murakami. There’s even a copy of the world’s first novel, The Tale of Genji, written in the 11th century by Murasaki Shikibu. There are also novels by English-speaking authors that have

by Alaine Lee

Japanese settings, themes or characters. From samurai warriors and royalty

to kamikaze pilots and the first expat families in Japan, the figures portrayed in the books in the collection’s biography section played roles of varying importance and impact in Japan’s history.

The largest section in the Japan collection is nonfiction, which begins with tomes on the country’s religions and philosophical works like Yuzan Daidoji’s The Code of the Samurai. The collection also covers politics, economics, business, history and even modern pop culture in The Otaku Encyclopedia by Patrick Galbraith.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Japan’s traditional culture is well represented on the Library shelves, with books on everything from Japanese hot-spring baths and kimono to cooking and ikebana. Nature lovers can delve into titles about the country’s flora and fauna, while there are plenty of books to keep martial artists and sports enthusiasts engaged. For a combination of the two, the Library features guides to hiking, cycling and skiing in Japan, as well as numerous travel guides for Tokyo and beyond.

Those looking to deepen their understanding of the world of Japanese arts will find a trove of titles on a range of topics, including art, architecture, design, Kabuki, Noh and haiku poetry.

There is also a small area to help Members tackle the language. You may want to start with a humorous guide to Japan’s nonverbal communication in 70 Japanese Gestures: No Language Communication by artist Hamiru-aqui.

Whatever your interest in Japan, the Library is an excellent tool for discovering all that the country has to offer. o

Lee is chair of the Library Committee.


new

Member: Mana KitazawaTitle: Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

What’s the book about?It is about a girl named Melody who can’t talk or move. She can’t do many things on her own. She has so many words stuck in her mind, but then she finds a voice to help her communicate with other people.

What did you like about it?That Melody finally could have a voice to communicate.

Why did you choose it?I thought that it is a book that all children and adults should read.

What other books would you recommend?Kathryn Lasky’s Guardians of Ga’Hoole fantasy series, Sarah Mlynowski’s Whatever After series and the Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley.

reads

LIBRARY

member’s choice

My First Book of Japanese Words: An ABC Rhyming Book by Michelle Haney BrownPresented in a simple, fun format, children will quickly learn the rhymes and be able recite the book along with you. The words are written in kanji, hiragana and romanized characters—an educational benefit for young readers.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Tokyo by DK PublishingWith the most current maps and information, this Tokyo guide, which divides the city into three main areas, is full of weekend adventure ideas, including walks and inspiring day trips beyond the capital to places like Kamakura, Nikko and Hakone.

My Awesome Japan Adventure: A Diary about the Best 4 Months Ever! by Rebecca OtowaFifth-grader Dan travels to Japan for a homestay with the Murata family. Documenting his adventure at every turn, he discovers the country’s customs, food and culture. With fun, manga-style illustrations, this book is visually enjoyable and ideal for children of all ages.

Japanese Country Style: Putting New Life into Old Houses by Yoshihiro TakishitaThe author, who spoke at the Club last year, explains the architecture, history and decoration of traditional Japanese farmhouses through his exquisitely photographed renovation projects. Be inspired to start on that dream home.

The Just Bento Cookbook: Everyday Lunches to Go by Makiko ItohFrom Makiko’s top 10 bento rules and instructions on preparing a bento to explaining the various accessories available, this book covers the art of the lunchbox. Rather than being “cutesy,” it is packed with practical Japanese and non-Japanese recipes.

Japanese Soul Cooking: Ramen, Tonkatsu, Tempura, and More from the Streets of Tokyo and Beyond by Tadashi OnoThis is the ultimate collection of Japanese comfort food recipes, from gyoza dumplings and ramen noodles, to tempura and okonomiyaki. An excellent introduction to everyday home cooking, Japanese style.

Library & Children’s Library Daily: 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Tel: 03-4588-0678 E-mail: [email protected] compiled by Library Committee chair Alaine Lee.

Literary gems at the Library 15

VIDEO LIBRARY

flick

For moviegoers, March 3—the day after the Academy Awards—symbolizes the start of a new

cinematic year. By then, the Golden Globes parties, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the snubs, triumphs and fashion faux pas of the Oscars are all old news.

The likes of Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle), Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club), Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street), newcomer Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave) and Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine) all featured in this latest awards season of nominations, snubs and teary acceptance speeches.

But by the end of the Monday after the Oscars, nobody cares about any of it. The months of anticipation and surprise are over, and trophies are already collecting dust on mantels. The movie business slate is clean once more.

What has always been a mystery to me is what happens to the movies that everyone talks about all summer. The

phrase “Oscar buzz” gets thrown around in June and July but come December, these can’t-miss films are forgotten and overtaken by the latest critical darling.

I don’t envy the decision-makers who have to determine which movies to release in the summer when the box office gets its best traffic or which ones should debut closer to the awards season. I just have to worry about finding the time to see as many award-winning movies as possible.

Thankfully, the Video Library already has this year’s award winners in stock, including the pictures above, as well as Golden Globes best-picture nominees Captain Phillips, Philomena and Rush. You can also find this year’s dark horse, Nebraska, which earned Oscar nominations for both best picture and best actor (Bruce Dern).

The awards season may be over across the Pacific, but here at the Club it lasts all year long. o

Radmilovich is chair of the Video Library Committee.

pick

Video Library Daily: 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Tel: 03-4588-0686 E-mail: [email protected] Reviews compiled by Nick Narigon.

by Abby Radmilovich

newmovies

AC TIONThe Hunger Games: Catching FireIn this second installment of the hugely popular Hunger Games trilogy, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) become targets after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks rebellion.

PhilomenaBased on a true story, the film is about a jaded journalist (Steve Coogan) who helps an Irish woman (Judi Dench) search for her son after she was forced to give him up 50 years before.

DOCUMENTARYGirl RisingNine girls from different parts of the world overcome their heartbreaking circumstances to offer stories of hope and inspiration for girls and women everywhere.

The Book ThiefIn Nazi Germany, young Liesel (Sophie Nélisse) finds solace in books after her foster parents and a secret Jewish “guest” under the stairs (Ben Schnetzer) teach her to read.

THRILLEROut of the FurnaceAn ex-convict (Christian Bale) takes justice into his own hands when the police fail to investigate the disappearance of his war veteran brother (Casey Affleck). Also starring Woody Harrelson and Willem Dafoe.

DRAMA12 Years a SlaveNominated for nine Academy Awards, this historical drama follows the travails of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from New York who is abducted and sold into slavery.

Did you know? If you don’t watch enough DVDs to commit to a monthly fee, à la carte membership allows you to rent movies for ¥400 a movie, or ¥200 for a short feature.

And the Award Goes To…


Monday–Wednesday and Friday–Saturday: 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Thursday: 5:30–8 p.m. The Cellar (B1)

Tel: 03-4588-0516/076-221-1586 • E-mail: [email protected] w w. t h e a r t o f t r a v e l . n e t

Image courtesy of Hoshinoya Karuizawa

The Art of Travel, the Club’s new travel service, is your personalized portal to the wonders of Japan and beyond.

Visit the travel desk for advice on trips and tours or to book tickets and make reservations. The world awaits.

Countless destinations.

Infinite possibilities.

Benjamin Parks(l–r) Jan McDade, Nancy Nussbaum, Nicki Titze and Yumna Alawdeen


RECREATION

Nicki Titze swung strong and solid with her 3-wood, hooking her shot around a crop of trees. Although the

green was on an out-of-view island, the ball rolled within feet of the pin, allowing Titze to birdie the par-4 hole at Chiba Prefecture’s Morinaga Takataki Country Club. “PGA!” yelled her caddie.

That shot is just one of the memories Titze has accumulated since joining the Club’s Ladies Golf Group two years ago. “Golf courses are some of the most beautiful places in the world,” says Titze, who is the group’s treasurer. “The group is a nice bunch of people who enjoy a great Japanese tradition.”

An 18-handicapper, Titze, 49, started playing golf with her husband about 25 years ago when she lived in Australia. While residing in Britain and Singapore, she continued to improve her game and today she tries to play at least twice a week.

“I played tennis and if you have played other hand-ball coordination sports before, golf is not too difficult. But the reason people love the sport is because it’s so challenging. There are so many ways you can hit a ball wrong,” she says. “It takes a lifetime to get really good, so you have to be patient. So many times I threatened to quit because it is a difficult

game. But now I can play with anybody and not feel nervous.”

Soon after moving to Tokyo, Titze began to scout out opportunities to play, discovering the Ladies Golf Group in the process. “When we play with the ladies, we play with all abilities. We do have fun competitions every week [in which] everybody has a chance to win. We always joke. We’re not such serious golfers where we never have a laugh,” she says. “Great friendships have formed with different girls and different nationalities. And it’s just a great way to see these wonderful golf courses I would never get the chance to normally play.”

With 80 members and a hardcore contingent of around two dozen regular players, the group kicks off the 2014 season on March 27 at Tako Country Club, in Chiba, the area east of Tokyo where the group plays most of its golf.

“It’s a nice day and if the club facilities have an onsen [hot-spring bath], we go to the onsen. Usually lunch is included in the middle. We usually come back around 5 or 6 in the evening,” she says. “It’s a lovely day and we are a friendly group of ladies who just enjoy golf.”

Fellow group member Jan McDade says she was surprised at how much she enjoyed Japan’s unique post-round tradition of taking a dip in a steaming

bath. Coming from Britain, she says it’s rare there to shower after a game, unless it’s a sweltering day.

When McDade was last back home, she says she couldn’t leave the clubhouse without showering first. “It was really odd,” says the 61-year-old, who has been playing golf for about 15 years.

At one time, McDade played golf four times a week and had a handicap of 16. Although she joined a country club (where she hit a hole-in-one on a par-3, 162-yard hole) after she moved to Japan, she found it more difficult to play regularly. The Ladies Golf Group helped change that.

“It’s nice to have the Ladies Golf Group to give you those opportunities that aren’t so readily available. Some ladies say, ‘Well I’m not very good.’ Well, we’d all be on the [professional] tour if we were that good,” she says. “Being a part of this sort of group, you can get a bit relaxed and laid back about it. It’s much better to come back and say I didn’t have my best game of golf, but I had a nice time, the weather was good [and] I had a bit of fun. It’s all about getting out, enjoying the scenery, enjoying the vibe.” o

To find out more about the Ladies Golf Group and how to join, visit the Golf page of the Club website or the Recreation Desk.

Ahead of the start of the Ladies Golf Group season, two Members explain what they enjoy about playing with the Club’s band of female golfers.by Nick Narigon

Course Camaraderie

Fitness and well-being 19

Holiday FunYoungsters stay busy and make new friends during fun-packed sessions of games, crafts, music, dance and more.

Camp Discovery: Spring Fun Session 1: March 17–21Session 2: March 24–289 a.m.–3 p.m.¥37,800Ages 3–5Sign up at the Recreation Office or e-mail [email protected]

Another thrilling season of homeruns and no-hitters kicks off for the Club’s young fans of the bat and ball.

The program is divided into three coed leagues: Cadet (grades 1–2), Junior (grades 3–5) and Senior (grades 6–8). o

Batter Up!

Sugiyama Ski & Snowsports School

The mountain speaks one language. We speak two.Learn to ski or snowboard with confidence from our experienced team of English-speaking instructors at the top Nagano ski resort of Shiga Kogen.

Tel: 0269-34-2551 Fax: 0269-34-2553 | E-mail: [email protected] | www.sugiyamaskischool.com Private and group lessons | Guided tours | Kids’ ski school and parkSugiyama Ski & Snowsports School

Youth BaseballEvery Sunday (except April 20)March 9–June 8Practice: March 9 and 16 (inclement weather alternative: March 23)American School in JapanCadets: ¥10,500 (non-Members: ¥12,600)Juniors and Seniors: ¥23,625 (non-Members: ¥26,250)For more information or to sign up, contact Marc Tibbs at [email protected].


RECREATION

Prepping for SuccessStudents learn strategies to improve scores on the SAT and ACT admission exams for college from experienced tutors.

SAT Intensive CourseMarch 24–2810 a.m.–1 p.m.Beate Sirota Gordon Classroom¥70,000Sign up online or at the Recreation Desk

ACT Intensive CourseMarch 24–284–7 p.m.Beate Sirota Gordon Classroom¥70,000Sign up online or at the Recreation Desk

Endless PossibilitiesFrom karate to dance to yoga, the range of pursuits on offer should satisfy any interest, fitness level or schedule. Whether you’re looking for a social fitness group or a hobby, visit the Club website to learn more about the classes available.

Spring Class Registration Tuesday, March 48:30 a.m.Sign up online or at the Recreation Desk

Unwindand Win

The Spa proudly uses products by

e d u c at i o nYo u t H e V e n t S F i t n e S S

To book your next pampering session, contact The Spa at 03-4588-0714 or [email protected].

Spend more than ¥5,000 at The Spa during the month of March and earn a chance to take home a fantastic prize in our early-spring lucky draw.

Welcoming SpringTo welcome the arrival of spring, the Club hosts a morning of seasonal fun for youngsters ages 4 and above (children under 6 should be accompanied by a parent).

Spring Fun Craft Day Saturday, April 5Activity Room10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. ¥3,675 Sign up online or at the Recreation Desk

Fitness and well-being 21

Kayo Yamaw

aki

CulturalCodebreakerby Erika Woodward

Mina Kanai Nishisaka

Ahead of the ephemeral tide of pink that sweeps northward through Japan each year, luncheon speaker Mina Kanai Nishisaka explains the country’s sakura obsession.


For homework one spring in Connecticut, Mina Kanai Nishisaka was assigned to introduce Japanese

culture to a friend. “I really didn’t know what to do,” she recalls. “I was 5. I had grown up in the States, and I kind of grew up feeling more American than Japanese.”

Then, while walking in the park with her mother, she stumbled on a tree covered with blossoms that resembled sakura. Together, the pair hatched a plan.

Days on, under those flowering branches, Nishisaka watched with delight as her American bestie noshed on a full bento lunchbox and more traditional Japanese eats at a hanami-style picnic with her family.

"She just loved it,” Nishisaka says. “She ate everything. That was when I really felt proud of my own culture…that was the first time I really felt like introducing that was a fun thing to do. I think it’s my fondest memory of ohanami. ”

Now all grown up, Nishisaka is looking forward to reliving that childhood reverie at a presentation on Japan’s ancient tradition of cherry blossom viewing during this month’s Women’s Group luncheon.

“If you don’t have the information, you see the surface,” she says. “You see people enjoying food and liquor under a tree, but you don’t go beyond that. Through this luncheon, we want people to take a deeper dive into Japanese culture.”

Sitting in a Women’s Group classroom one weekday last month, Nishisaka says she enjoys fielding questions on hanami customs from unseasoned celebrants. “What are those blue tarps? How many types of sakura trees are there? That foreign perspective is very useful,” says Nishisaka, as she snuggles her 1-month-old daughter who will experience her first hanami this spring.

Like July Fourth for Americans, hanami for Japanese is an occasion that’s celebrated with friends, family and often coworkers. Sometimes, Nishisaka says, people don’t examine the roots of the tradition, so she hopes Japanese luncheon attendees will gain an even greater appreciation for hanami.

With her passion for cultural exchange rooted in her childhood in the United States, Nishisaka has been serving as an executive director of the nonprofit

WOMEN’S GROUP

outreach organization WaNavi since 2011. Founded by her friend, Motoko Kimura, in the aftermath of the March 11 triple disasters, WaNavi works to help Japan’s foreign residents thrive in their adopted home.

“You know, 3/11 was devastating,” Nishisaka says, “and I think a lot of Japanese, including myself, felt really sad to see a lot of foreigners go back because of the lack of information and everything.”

Since leaving a successful career in corporate communications, she is focused on her family and WaNavi. She leads earthquake preparedness programs and presentations on everything from food safety to hina dolls. “We want to get the message out that once you’re prepared, then you can enjoy Japan,” she says.

Sitting next to Nishisaka is Women’s Group and WaNavi member Sibyl Kane. She urges Members not to be shy about heading out into the throngs of people and joining in with the often boisterous festivities under the canopies of sakura.

“Japan is a very formal society and people have very set manners and ways of behaving, and then you see hanami and you’re like, ‘What just happened?’” says Kane, breaking into laugher with Nishisaka. “It’s like some combination of ancient Japanese court culture meets spring break.”

Fun aside, Nishisaka says she hopes her upcoming talk proves to be a catalyst for fostering international friendships and affection for her country. “You know,” she says, “a month after 3/11, these sakura started blooming and you’re kind of like, ‘Well, Japan isn’t just the earthquake.’ There’s so much beauty in Japan and I think sakura represents that.” o

Woodward is the Club’s former assistant editor.

Participants on the first of this month’s tours will explore Tokyo’s fascinating kitchenware

quarter of Kappabashi, where chefs and restaurateurs shop for everything from ceramic dishes and pots to utensils and plastic food samples.

Day-trippers will then learn how Japanese cooking knives are intricately crafted and about proper knife handling and care during a seminar at the century-old ironware and knife store Kama Asa.

A week later, one of Japan’s top three gardens beckons. Kairakuen, in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, is famous for its abundance of gorgeous blossoming plum trees. Attendees will also sample local sake and plum wine and watch artisans at work in the quaint pottery town of Kasama. o

Cherry Blossom Guide with Mina Kanai Nishisaka Monday, March 1011:30 a.m.Manhattan IWomen’s Group members: ¥3,150Non-Women’s Group members: ¥4,200Adults onlySign up online or at Members Services

Kappabashi Knife Seminar and Shopping TourTuesday, March 118:45 a.m.–3 p.m.Women’s Group members: ¥1,650Non-Women’s Group members: ¥2,000Adults onlySign up at Member Services

Mito Plum Blossoms and Kasama Pottery TourTuesday, March 187:50 a.m.–6 p.m.Women’s Group members: ¥9,500Non-Women’s Group members: ¥10,500Adults onlySign up at Member Services

Cultural Excursions

An interactive community 23

HammerTime Set to receive the Club’s

Sportsman of the Year award this month,

Olympic hammer thrower Koji Murofushi talks

to iNTOUCH about his longevity in the sport.

by Nick Narigon


FEATURE

Hammer Time 25

K

“When you Win, you knoW the taste of

Winning. you Want it more. you Want

to Win more.”

Benjamin Parks


FEATURE

Koji Murofushi stood at the starting line of the 2004 Olympic marathon in Athens, bewildered to find himself among the pack for a race for which he hadn’t trained and for which he had no particular skill. Despite the unnerving circumstances, he gave himself a pep talk: “Just keep your pace. Don’t worry about everyone else. Just keep your own pace.”

With 2 kilometers to go, he was in third place. Then, as he entered the Olympic Stadium for the final stretch, he was in front. The next thing he knew he was standing on the podium accepting the gold medal.

“I had the dream February 28, 2004—I remember the date. I saw in the dream that I got the gold,” says Murofushi, sitting in one of the Club’s meeting rooms recently. “I was wearing the Japanese jersey and the race started and I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to run. I don’t like marathons, but now I’ve got to deal with it.’”

Nearly six months later in Athens, Murofushi did win a gold medal, but not for running 42 kilometers. Emerging victorious in the hammer, he became the first Japanese track and field athlete to secure gold in anything but the marathon since World War II.

But Murofushi actually received a silver medal on the podium. Since Hungarian Adrián Annus was later stripped of his gold medal for failing to take a follow-up drugs test, Murofushi was awarded gold. Unfortunately, there were few media at the subsequent press conference. Most reporters were covering the start of the marathon.

“In my dream, I realized I need to keep my own pace,” Murofushi, 39, says of his somewhat prophetic vision. “If a rival throws further than me, don’t panic. Just keep your pace. Do what you have to do.”

Gesturing with his football-sized hands, Murofushi talks animatedly about his chosen sport (it originated in 600 BC at the Tailteann Games in Ireland, a contemporary of the ancient Olympics in Greece) and his family’s connection to it

(his grandfather was a judo master and his father was about to join a sumo stable when his grandmother made him put academics first, leading the way to a career as an Olympian).

Murofushi’s father, Shigenobu Murofushi, held the Japanese record in the hammer throw for 23 years, before it was broken by his son, who attended school in the United States while his father prepared for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

During that time, Murofushi met his idol, hammer thrower Ed Burke, who carried the flag for the American Olympic squad at the age of 44. He even appeared in a youth training video with another hammer legend, Harold Connolly, a gold medalist at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne.

With a PhD in physical education from Nagoya’s Chukyo University, where he is an associate professor, Murofushi says the “golden age” for athletes is between the ages of 9 and 13. He says it’s critical during this period to learn proper technique to “program” the body, in the same way people master riding a bicycle.

“I am very fortunate,” he says. “This is a very technical event and you have to develop technique over time. When I entered high school, I had a huge advantage over the other athletes. In the [previous] few years, I had been learning from the best.” That was clear in his first throw at Narita High School, when Murofushi outdistanced the Chiba Prefecture champion.

Raised in a family of sporting achievers (his mother, Serafina Moritz, was a javelin thrower for Romania and his sister, Yuka Murofushi, throws hammer and discus), Murofushi spent most of his time under the tutelage of his father, who coached him when he was an undergraduate at Chukyo.

“My father never pushed me. Maybe to go study, but he never forced me to throw farther. He waited until I reached a point on my own, where I needed extra assistance, and then he started coaching,” says Murofushi. “Some of the golf pros, they give you all of the instructions right away: ‘Do this, do that.’ But after that, do you learn something? Sometimes it messes around with your head. My father waits for the right teaching moment. He is a very patient guy.”

As he progressed through college, Murofushi regularly medaled at regional competitions, such as the Asian Games. While it was his goal to be an Olympian, his father made sure Murofushi improved steadily and properly.

sportsWoman of the year: mami satoby Nick Jones

The first words of Tokyo’s final bid presentation for the 2020 Olympics were powerful

ones: “I am Mami Sato. And I am here because I was saved by sport.”

The national long jump champion, who represented Japan at the last three Paralympics, went on to explain how she lost her leg to cancer while a 19-year-old Waseda University student, but later discovered a new focus in life through sports.

She also talked about the destruction of her Miyagi Prefecture hometown of Kesennuma in the 2011 tsunami. “For six days I did not know if my family were still alive,” she said. “And, when I did find them, my personal happiness was nothing compared to the sadness of the nation.”

Not only did her inspiring speech help Tokyo secure the Olympics, it resonated around the world.

K

Hammer Time 27

“When you win, you know the taste of winning. You want it more. You want to win more,” says Murofushi. “At this point, I never thought of becoming a gold medalist. I watched my father compete. I know how hard he practiced and never won a medal. So I know how difficult it is. I couldn’t imagine doing it myself.”

In his first Olympics, at the 2000 Games in Sydney, he placed ninth but then won gold at the 2001 Goodwill Games. Two years after that, he threw the hammer 84.86 meters—the fifth-best throw of all time.

Confident and focused, Murofushi was primed for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. “Everybody wants to get the gold medal. Of course, I want to get a gold medal, but I know the reality,” he says. “I have to go step by step. I never jumped up by like five meters. Every year, I increased by one or two meters. It was always step by step. No cutting. No skipping.”

On his final throw in the Athens Olympic Stadium, Murofushi tossed the 7-kilogram metal ball 82.91 meters, just behind Annus’ 83.19 meters.

Murofushi says he regularly hears rumors about fellow hammer throwers using performance-enhancing drugs, but he has never witnessed it. He says it is unfortunate that it has become prevalent in his event. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, in which Murofushi finished fifth, two athletes ahead of him were disqualified for doping, only to be reinstated after an appeal. Then, shortly before the London Games, Belarus withdrew its hammer thrower Ivan Tsikhan after his samples from the Athens Olympics tested positive for banned substances.

Murofushi now sits on the athlete committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the athletes’ commission of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). He says it’s important that young athletes learn about the dangers of doping.

“I don’t call it cheating, I call it skipping. Doping is skipping,” says Murofushi. “True satisfaction comes from yourself. It means if you are silver or bronze, you can feel satisfaction, as long as you didn’t skip. Unfortunately, some gold medalists in some events, they don’t have that satisfaction. Or they have a hard time afterwards. They lose their reputation and their career. They lose trust. I believe trust is one of the most important things in society. If you lose trust, ultimately, you are losing your life.”

Always on the small size for a hammer thrower, the 1.87-meter-tall Murofushi has focused on innovative training methods and strategy to remain competitive.

“I never think about throwing 82 or 83 meters, as hard as I can. I am thinking to throw 80 meters,” he says. “Under the pressure, if you throw 80 meters on the first throw, people say, ‘Oh, Koji’s in good shape.’ Then the second throw is 81 meters, which is a medal or gold medal. Psychologically, you are putting pressure on your opponent. Even if he is able to throw 82 or 83, under the pressure he can’t. I can’t throw 82 or 83, but I can put pressure on them, and that’s how I win.”

It was with this approach that Murofushi took gold at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. In the final, Murofushi threw 81.24 meters, fending off his nearest competitor, Hungary’s Krisztian Pars, and becoming the oldest person (36) to take gold in an international event. The following year, he finished third at the London Olympics.

Murofushi is still training and hasn’t counted himself out of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. In fact, he has found inspiration in babies for his latest approach.

“A baby takes one year to stand on his own and walk. In one year, how do we practice that?” Murofushi says of the method he learned from Czech doctor Pavel Kolár. “They start supine and then build up the core. Go from supine to roll, and then to prone, and then crawling. You build your core muscles, activating primal reflex. When you get older, you lose the reflexes, not the muscle. That’s why there is pain and our posture isn’t right.”

Having never had surgery for an injury, Murofushi says he started doing injury-prevention exercises 10 years ago, when the idea wasn’t particularly developed. In 2010, he began working with Chicago-

asports Lifetime achievement aWard: tsunekazu takeda and masato mizunoby Nick Jones

after months of meetings, presentations and lobbying, Tokyo was awarded the right

to host the 2020 Olympic Games at an International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote in Argentina last year.

Club Member Masato Mizuno (pictured left) was CEO of the city’s bid committee. “I was worried and tense, but when [former IOC President] Jacques Rogge said Tokyo, I was happy, glad and also relieved because I had so much responsibility,” the former chairman of the sporting goods giant Mizuno told iNTOUCH not long after the decision.

The other key figure in Tokyo’s bid effort was the president of the committee, Tsunekazu Takeda. With his sporting experience as head of the Japanese Olympic Committee, he helped the capital, which last hosted the Olympics in 1964, become one of only five cities in the world to stage the Summer Games more than once.


FEATURE

based physical therapist Robbie Ohashi. Together, they work on identifying where and when injuries will occur.

Ohashi explains that the prolonged postures and repetitive movements that Murofushi subjected his body to over years of competition led to problems.

“On a sports car with poor alignment, tires will eventually take uneven stress and wear down unevenly. The human body is no different,” he says. “Koji is a unique athlete for many reasons, but a big one is that he is truly a student of his sport. He has made a commitment to train in a way that focuses on enhancing the quality of his movement, as opposed to simply getting stronger or throwing farther.”

Based on his longevity and sustained level of excellence, Murofushi has become one of Japan’s most noted athletes and he has brought a “cool factor” to track and field sports, according to Japan Times sportswriter Edward Odeven. Through

Club Sports Awards Presentation Ceremony Friday, March 147–8:30 p.m.Washington and Lincoln roomsAdults: ¥1,500 (includes one drink) Children (19 and under): ¥500 (includes one drink)Sign up online or at Member Services

2013, Murofushi has won 19 consecutive national titles, a record Odeven predicts will not be broken in this lifetime.

Through his work with the IAAF and WADA, Murofushi serves as a role model for other Japanese and Asian athletes, Odeven says.

“The fact that he was chosen for these roles underscores his commitment to the sport and to other athletes as well,” he says. “His anti-doping publicity campaign illustrates the seriousness and responsibility with which Murofushi has assigned to anti-doping as a public figure. I do think people take him seriously when he speaks out against drug use, especially since he has accomplished so much without failing drug tests or being labeled a doper.”

It’s for these achievements and those in the hammer cage that Murofushi has been named as the Club’s Sportsman of the Year. He says the award symbolizes all the

professional help he has received in both Japan and the US.

“I practice so much in the US and I receive so much support from the United States. Always they welcome me as a good guest and treat me well, everybody,” he says. “I am looking forward to having strong connections and relations in the future. I am very happy to do anything I can for positive relations between Japan and the US, especially in the category of sports or general health.” o

aKoji Murofushi with physical therapist Robbie Ohashi

Hammer Time 29

T he Japanese are becoming more generous. That’s at least what can be concluded from the World Giving Index, an annual

survey of worldwide charitable behavior by the Charities Aid Foundation.

In the organization’s 2012 report, Japan was ranked 85th, up 34 places from two years before. Meanwhile, countries like the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland dominate the top spots each year.

In December, Nick Masee (pictured) became the first non-Japanese recipient of the Machikado Philanthropist Award. The Canadian received the honor from the Japan Philanthropic Association for

Growing a Giving Culture

his more than 10 years of fundraising for children with developmental and physical disabilities.

In that time, he has helped to raise around $250,000, mostly for the YMCA Challenged Children Programs. iNTOUCH’s Nick Jones sat down with the Club Member to discuss the challenges for charities in Japan. Excerpts:

iNTOUCH: How did you get started in philanthropy?

Masee: It started as a side aspect of getting a bunch of friends together. In the months following the aftermath of

9/11 and everyone feeling quite nervous about the state of affairs in the world, we saw that all of us living quite far away from home [and] having a connection to each other was a really good thing. So we started a group to play golf and have a dinner once a month, and it was my idea to have a charity-fundraising angle. We used our monthly dinners to do that and have had almost 150 consecutive dinners. And since we were all living and working in Japan, we decided that the money we


TALKING HEADS

were going to raise would support a Japan-based charitable cause.

iNTOUCH: What is it that drives you on a personal level?

Masee: At its root level, I have a deep appreciation for the fact I have a good life. And I think a problem with regard to philanthropy is it’s a mindset. People don’t stop and think that they could help, or they make themselves think it’s too complicated. It comes down to simply making that first step. The biggest thing I’ve had to come to terms with over the years is that many people I meet are not going to feel as passionate about charitable giving as I do, and I have no control over that. The only thing I can do is to try to talk to people. Also, one thing I should underscore is that I don’t think I would have had the passion to continue this for all these years if it wasn’t for the guys who are part of my golf group. Being part of a community helps a lot.

iNTOUCH: What is the philanthropic environment like in Japan?

Masee: A lot of people are raised in an environment where you take care of yourself and it’s not that you should be hoping or expecting help. While on the individual side Japan doesn’t give out a particularly high amount of money, on the corporate side it actually does. The other thing that is quite different between Japan and the United States, Canada and a lot of Western European countries is that there are tax provisions [in the West] that make it more [attractive to donate]. A lot [donating] has to do with the community you live in and having a personal connection.

iNTOUCH: According to the Japan Fundraising Association, ¥591 billion was donated in Japan in 2007, while around ¥600 billion was collected after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami alone. In comparison, the equivalent of more than ¥36 trillion was donated in the US in 2008 and the British donated ¥1.8 trillion in 2007. Are you surprised by these numbers?

Masee: Yes and no. The American statistic is staggering, but they have a lot more public awareness about philanthropy there. It would be interesting to see where the core of that money comes from because I’ll bet that a lot of it comes from companies and then high-wealth individuals.

iNTOUCH: Japan was ranked 85th in the 2012 World Giving Index. Specifically, it was ranked 40th for “giving money,” 53rd for “volunteering time” and 138th for “helping a stranger.” What are your thoughts?

Masee: Volunteering is another thing that is not particularly well structured here. Since philanthropy is much more mature and developed in the West, the whole process is covered [and] the mindset of the people is more tilted that way. [Japan’s] “helping a stranger” [ranking] is more about timidity on the part of people [and] privacy. I think there are ultimately things that revolve around society and the culture of the community, and those things are often more powerful than the underlying feelings of the people. Time changes many things.

iNTOUCH: What was the impact of the Tohoku disaster on volunteerism and philanthropy in Japan?

Masee: I think it’s too early to tell. There were actually a lot of charitable groups that got heavily impacted on a negative front because of Tohoku, an unfortunate side effect. What ended up happening is that people who were making regular charitable donations to this cause and that cause diverted money to Tohoku, and understandably. I think that even though [the disaster] has made a push in the right direction,

I think it had the potential to do much more. The money side will be the bigger test, I think. The volunteerism one is something that will probably continue. I think both will probably recede at some point. But if so much giving is associated with one event, then once that memory fades…people switch back to their old way of thinking and say, “Well, that’s the government that will take care of that now.”

iNTOUCH: Before the nonprofit organization law was changed in 2011, there were only 223 charities in Japan with a special tax status, according to The Economist magazine. This number compares to 1.8 million in the US.

Masee: When I first got involved with the YMCA, that number of 223 would have seemed like a massive target because at the time, about 10 years ago, the figure was something like 20. The rules at that time meant that you had to be a national charity to get a

special tax status.

iNTOUCH: How do you see the philanthropic landscape changing over the coming years?

Masee: I think it starts with awareness, and I think that probably cannot come only from the NPO side because so many of them lack the resources to do that. And if we’re going to talk about things that will ultimately benefit Japanese society, then I think it’s in the government’s best interest to do that. o

Member insights on Japan 31


All exhibits in the Frederick Harris Gallery are for sale and can be purchased by Membership card at the Member Services Desk. Sales of works begin at 6 p.m. on the first day of the exhibition.

by Nick Narigon

Through his stylized portraits of objets d’art and flowers, artist Kazuhiro Sato says he strives to create poetry rather than merely still-life photographs.

Inspired by the vivid colors of the “Flowers” series by American photographer Irving Penn and moved by Imogen Cunningham’s early 20th-century monotone works, Sato zeroes in on his subjects, producing highly detailed, introspective pieces.

At one time, his images of flowers were set against dark, stark backgrounds, but today his photographs take on a more ethereal feel, with subdued browns, grays and blues highlighting the flowers’ natural tones.

“I was greatly moved by one flower I saw at a mountain temple on one of my travels and since then I have strived to put flowers in a serene world,” he says. “My works on display now put the flowers on a sumi-e [ink-wash painting] background, expressing the change in my vision of flowers.”

Born in 1956, Sato graduated from Kyushu Zokei Art College, in Fukuoka, with a major in photography science. After working in the photo industry for several years, he decided that his work would be best shown on its own and so opened his own studio. He now devotes all of his efforts to creative work, exhibiting in galleries throughout Japan.

ExhibitionMarch 3–23

Gallery ReceptionMonday, March 36:30–8 p.m.Frederick Harris Gallery (B1 Formal Lobby)FreeOpen to invitees and Members only

KazuhiroSato

Exhibitions of Art 33

by Nick Narigon

To express her vision that humans and their creations exist in harmony with nature, sho calligraphy artist Ten-You immersed herself in the works of masters of such traditional elements as shikkui (lime plaster), sunago (powdered silver), urushi (lacquer) and sensu (Japanese folding fans).

“In this exhibition, my works are the cross-pollination of ancient Chinese characters and of the industrial arts and crafts born in the unique climate of Japan,” says Ten-You, whose real name is Mariko Yamada. “In order to realize this idea, I wanted to collaborate with several traditional skillful craftsmen who are acquainted well with the local climate in Japan and [who] have inherited the Japanese tradition directly.”

Working with a sunago artisan, she used silver and gold powder to create a unique piece of art. “I wanted the characters to be emerging and ebbing in the flow on the black ink,” she says. “I could not produce these works without my encounter with the sunago craftsman.”

Last year, she applied the techniques gleaned from a skilled plasterer to produce an engaging work of stucco calligraphy—a first of its kind.

Ten-You apprenticed with leading kodai moji (ancient character) calligrapher Koho Kato, starting in 2000, and became an independent calligrapher in 2007. Since then, she has exhibited her work across the world and has held workshops for children in Tokyo and Paris.

ExhibitionMarch 24–April 13

Gallery ReceptionMonday, March 246:30–8 p.m.Frederick Harris Gallery (B1 Formal Lobby)FreeOpen to invitees and Members only

Ten-You

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CULTURAL INSIGHT

W ith the new school year commencing in early April, Tokyo’s streets will once again be filled with

the iconic Japanese school uniforms of middle and high school children.

These identifiable uniforms were introduced during the Meiji era, in the late 19th century, when comprehensive education was one of the major reforms. Initially, teenagers wore formal, kimono-type uniforms, which evolved into the Western style seen today.

The sartorial heritage of the uniforms is military Europe. The boys’ outfit is a direct descendant of the uniforms worn by 19th-century Prussian military cadets. Usually black, but sometimes navy or dark blue, it consists of straight-leg trousers and a jacket with a high standup collar and brass buttons.

The “sailor suit” worn by girls—a white blouse with a sailor-style collar, colored kerchief and navy blue pleated skirt, complete with knee-high socks and penny loafers—was derived from the uniforms of the British Royal Navy. The attire was introduced in 1921 by Elizabeth Lee, an Anglophile headmistress of a Fukuoka girls’ school, who had seen the uniforms while a student in Britain.

Western WardrobeHow did 19th-century Europe leave its mark on Japanese schools? by Efrot Weiss

Today, some schools have opted for uniforms that recall Western parochial schools, characterized by a standard blazer and tartan skirt. Seasonal variations, however, such as sleeve length and fabric, are observed by all schools. Regardless of the actual temperature, June 1 marks the first day for summer uniforms and October 1 for winter dress.

Private elementary school students are identified by their white shirt or blouse and short pants or pleated skirt, which are worn year-round. Having spent the bulk of his primary school education in Japanese schools, Member Kimi Hotta was used to always wearing shorts.

“It was great for my mom and easy for me, not having to decide what to wear every morning. But I took the same train to my [private Japanese elementary]

school that my ASIJ [American School in Japan] friends took, and there I was in my dorky-looking uniform. And the hat I had to wear was really embarrassing,” Hotta says with a laugh.

Also de rigueur for elementary school students is the randoseru backpack. Derived from the Dutch word for a rucksack once used by soldiers, these costly schoolbags are made of genuine or synthetic leather and are guaranteed to last the entire six years of elementary school.

Once available only in black for boys and red for girls, there is now a plethora of colors from which to choose. Public schools often distribute bright yellow plastic covers for first graders’ satchels. Come April, you can’t miss them. o

Weiss is a Member of the Club.

Services and benefits for Members 35

Stacks of Services at the Club

André Bernard Beauty SalonHair care for adults and kids, manicure, pedicure, waxing and more.Tel: 03-4588-0685 Family Area (B1)Tue–Sun9 a.m.–6 p.m.

Spica The Club’s professional shoe repair and polishing service. Tel: 03-4588-0670The Cellar (B1)Sat: 1–4:30 p.m. Sun: 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.Weekday drop-off: Member Services Desk

My Tokyo Guide Tour and Travel DeskMy Tokyo Guide consultants are ready to answer all your domestic travel questions.Family Lobby (1F)Sat: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.Sun: 12–5 p.m.E-mail: [email protected]

FedExTo find out more about the range of services and Member discounts, visit the FedEx counter. The Cellar (B1)Mon–Fri: 1–5 p.m. (closed Sun and national holidays)Sat: 12 p.m. (pickup only)

Philip & Betsy PrattUnited States—Corning Holding Japan G.K.

Brady & Miyuki HansenUnited States—Citi Cards Japan, Inc.

Clifford & Elena FickeUnited States—Qualcomm Japan, Inc.

Juergen & Gundi BohnGermany—Amgen Astellas BioPharma K.K.

Emi HayashiUnited States—EMI Group

Andreas & Patricia MoselGermany—Philip Morris Japan K.K.

Mark GoddardAustralia—Toys ’ R’ Us-Japan Ltd.

Christopher & Kimberly Wilkens United States—Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd.

David & Judy Bromley United Kingdom—Deutsche Bank A.G.

William SeccombeUnited Kingdom—JLT Risk Services Japan Ltd.

James SleemanAustralia—Shin-ei Real Estate Business Co., Ltd.

Yusuke YokotaJapan—Patria Co., Ltd.

Tsuyoshi OhmuraSouth Korea—Yokohama Nittai Lease Co., Ltd.

Michael Takada & Sandra JunUnited States—General Electric Japan Ltd.

Shuichi HigakiJapan—Elekta K.K.

Nobutaka & Mayumi KanekoJapan—Balenciaga

Mark & Emma HamiltonUnited Kingdom—State Street Trust and Banking Co., Ltd.

Rei & Rumi AibaUnited States—Simplex Asset Management Co., Ltd.

Jack & Mary BlakeyAustralia—McCann Healthcare Worldwide Japan, Inc.

Vinay & Monika SuranaIndia—AIG Japan Holdings K.K.

Paulo Debenest & Min ChenBrazil—HiBot

Kevin & Anna PrillamanUnited States—Coca-Cola East Japan Co., Ltd.

Kailash & Miki SharmaIndia—Abbott Japan Co., Ltd.

Thomas SailerGermany—Adidas Japan K.K.

Dennis Muldowney & Ai Lynn GanUnited States—Crown Worldwide K.K.

Shinji & Mizuko MiyabeAsya KoganAkihiro SumitomoSean & Ann McHughRaymond & Robin MayerAlbert JonesRyuichi & Ayako ShinoharaPhilip HydeAziz Dean & Leonie BurgessChristophe & Alicia Lorvo

Gary & Hiroko LePonYoji & Reiko MorishitaTim Rooney & Elaine WilliamsTodd & Wendy GriceJustin & Lynn CooperGregg & Jayne SedewitzJoydeep & Jennifer GoswamiVikram SubrahmanyamRohit & Priti ParwalBhupesh & Kamini Gupta

Bernard & Lily van BunnikAlex & Rachel YoungNeil & Emma SheppardRene MeheraDave Thomas & Tiffany ThorpGary HutchersonPierre ArsèneMark & Cicilia LettenbichlerHrishikesh & Aiko Srinivasan

sayonara

yokoso


A tsuko Maruyama was taking in the classical sculptures and monuments of the Buen Retiro Park on her first

day in Madrid. She was just emerging from one of the former royal park’s public toilets when a mugger struck and ripped her purse out of her hands.

“It was so quick. He pushed me and I fell. I think I was screaming and tried to ask for help,” she says. Rather than relaxing at the start of her vacation, she spent the time with city police and a representative from the Japanese Embassy.

Despite that early distress, Maruyama stayed on to enjoy her holiday. Having studied Spanish for about 10 years, she has

returned to explore the country a couple more times. “I like linguistics,” she says. “It’s interesting to learn new words and how to use them. I’m also interested in different cultures.”

After working in a Japanese company, she was drawn to the Club’s international environment. “I was in a very traditional Japanese company. There was not much talking, so my communication skills got very low,” she says. “Before that, I was using English in American companies. I missed that multicultural environment and the chance to interact with different people.”

She joined the Club’s IT section at the end of 2010, shortly before the new

Azabudai facility opened its doors. In her administrative role, she is part of the team that keeps the Club’s extensive computer network running. “I learn a lot from my coworkers,” Maruyama says. “They are very positive and try to solve problems and be creative. They are a good influence on me.”

Maruyama, who lives in Kanagawa Prefecture, was named January’s Employee of the Month. “I’m quite shy, so I didn’t want to be in front of people, but I appreciate that somebody nominated me,” she says of the award. “I’m happy that people think I’m doing well. I want to be much better to deserve this.” o

MEMBER SERVICES

Why did you decide to join the Club? “We very much look forward to spending time here not only with our family and guests, but also with new friends from around the world. Furthermore, we will take advantage of the great facilities, as well as the social activities and programs. We are very happy with the great staff and quality of the services. I am sure that our family and friends will enjoy themselves here.”

(l–r) Yoshikazu, Yushin, Kenshin and Toshiko Ohta

Why did you decide to join the Club?“This is our family’s first foreign assignment and the Club has helped make the transition easier on the whole family. The amenities at TAC are wonderful. We have two athletic boys who are thrilled to have access to a first-class swimming pool, squash courts and gymnasium. We are all anxious to explore the many classes, tours and events on offer.”

(l–r) Amy, Maddux, Jason and Dane Heath

New Member ProfileToshiko Ohta Kim & Yoshikazu OhtaSouth Korea—Heart International Co., Ltd.

New Member ProfileJason & Amy HeathUnited States—Hartford Investment Management K.K.

employeeof the month

Atsuko Maruyama

by Nick Jones

Services and benefits for Members 37


(l–r) Clare Byrne, Philip Greenan and David Morris

Irwin W

ong

A look at culture and society 39

INSIDE JAPAN

J ust before the cherry blossoms briefly turn Tokyo pink each year, another, more global, fixture on the calendar brings a splash of

emerald green to parts of the city. The annual St Patrick’s Day parade through Omotesando on the Sunday closest to March 17 is arguably the most visible celebration of Tokyo’s Irish community.

Given the relatively small population of Ireland (about 4.6 million in the Republic of Ireland and 1.8 million in the British province of Northern Ireland), Irish culture seems to punch well above its weight overseas. Japan alone, with an Irish population of around 1,000, has some 15 St Patrick’s Day parades across the country, as well as lively Irish music scenes in Tokyo and Kyoto. Then, of course, there are the Irish watering holes. If you’ve traveled much around Japan, you might have supped a Guinness at an Irish pub as far afield as Kochi or Sapporo.

Club Member and longtime Japan resident Philip Greenan, who is originally from Monaghan in the Eire part of Ulster, says it’s not hard to explain Ireland’s popularity in Japan.

“We are fairly friendly and chatty, which helps breaks down the barriers that might otherwise stop some Japanese from speaking English. We also have a shared love of music,” Greenan says. “Another thing is that compared to other communities, Irish in Japan seem to be disproportionately young, because the two main ways Irish come to Japan are teaching through the JET [Japan Exchange and Teaching] Program and through an Irish government program for young people. I think it’s easier for young Irish and young Japanese to bond.”

Fellow Member Clare Byrne, who has lived in Tokyo for 18 months after spells

This month sees Japan’s Irish residents, including a number of Club Members, don green and celebrate the holiday named after the patron saint of their homeland.by Rob Goss

Going Green

in France, China, Britain and Singapore, says interest in Ireland exploded after the worldwide success of shows like “Riverdance” and “Lord of the Dance.” Irish expats are enthusiastic cultural ambassadors as well, she says.

“The farther you get from home, I think the more patriotic you become and the more important it is to celebrate your traditions,” the Dublin native says. “Around the world, one thing Ireland is definitely known for is celebrating its culture. Any chance we have to celebrate, we do, and we are happy to have anybody else join us.”

Many of the Club’s Irish Members will be doing just that on March 15 at the annual Emerald Ball, which this year, for the first time, will be held at the Club. “Last year, we had a brand-new committee, yet the ball was a great success. Although we were limited in numbers by the size of last year’s venue, we learned a lot about how to put on a great event. This year, coming to TAC

will allow us to build on that and attract more people—not just Irish, but anyone who wants to come and enjoy Irish music, dancing and food,” Byrne says.

Member and ball committee chair David Morris says the event has another purpose. “The focus is to be a community event to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, but also to raise money for charities and projects with a Japan-Ireland connection,” says the native of County Cork. “Last year, for example, we raised money for a charity called Support Our Kids, and with that were able to pay for nine children from Tohoku to go to Ireland for a homestay visit. We will be donating proceeds from the Emerald Ball’s charity raff le to Support Our Kids again this year.”

This year’s Omotesando parade is on March 16. “I’ve been to six or seven parades in Omotesando with my family and there’s an amazing variety of sights and sounds there, from tin whistle players to people proudly showing off their Irish Red Setters. I’ve even seen an Irish Wolfhound or two before, which certainly sticks out in Tokyo,” says Greenan, who, dressed in the top hat and tails of the grand marshal, led the parade one year.

Although there are a few small groups in Japan for bringing Irish expats together, such as the Gaelic Athletic Association, Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce and Kanto Celts soccer team, Greenan says the parade is the highlight of the social calendar, even more so this year with an Irish festival to be held in nearby Yoyogi Park on the same day.

“It’s an important event for Irish in Tokyo. You have some guys, like me, who are married to Japanese, who come in from Saitama and Chiba with their kids and dress up. Japanese culture is so different, it’s important to meet other Irish so as to not feel disconnected at times,” he says. “This year, though, with the Emerald Ball on Saturday and the parade and festival all day on the Sunday, plus, of course, St Patrick’s Day itself on the Monday, you’ll need some stamina to get through it all!” o

Goss is a Tokyo-based freelance journalist.

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day at this month’s First Friday event on March 7 and with Emerald Isle eats and drinks at Traders’ Bar between March 10 and 17.

IrIsh TIes

♣ The first St Patrick’s Day parade in Japan took place in Roppongi in 1992. It featured one piper and 60 people.

♣ The first Irishman in Japan was Robert Jansen, whose boat was seized off the coast of Kyushu in 1704.

♣ Irishman John W Fenton composed the first version of Japan’s national anthem, “Kimigayo,” in 1869.

♣ Ireland’s Reverend William T Grey introduced ice hockey to Japan in 1906.

♣ Japan’s first Irish pub opened in Osaka in 1991.

Source: Irish Network Japan

Idyllic IshikawaTucked away in the Chubu region of Japan, Ishikawa Prefecture is bursting with impressive sights and scenery. by Lauren Scharf

Perhaps no other prefecture in Japan encompasses such an abundance of attractions as Ishikawa. Rising from Honshu’s west coast out

into the Sea of Japan like a fire-breathing dragon, the Noto Peninsula gives way to Kanazawa City and the Kaga Plains, before Mount Hakusan magnificently punctuates the southeast border. With natural beauty, urban culture and fabulous cuisine, Ishikawa offers unlimited opportunities to explore authentic Japan.

The magic begins with Kanazawa, prefectural capital and a center of traditional art, culture and history. Founded in 1546 by the Ikko sect of Buddhism, the city fell to one of the Tokugawa shogun’s top retainers, Maeda Toshiie, less than 40 years later, ushering in 300 years of Maeda rule.

In a clever ruse to convince the Edo government that there was nothing to fear militarily from this wealthy region, several

generations of Maedas made a public display of importing artists and craftsmen from around Japan. The shogunate was appeased, and Ishikawa’s reputation as an epicenter of the arts was secured.

Among the greatest supporters of the arts was the samurai class: erstwhile students of chado tea ceremony, whose specialized accoutrements kept countless artisans in work. Just below Kanazawa Castle, the Nagamachi Buke Yashiki samurai district is a series of narrow, winding streets with several homes and shops preserved from the Edo period.

Where there were samurai, there were geisha. Today, Kanazawa rivals Kyoto with its three active geisha districts (including the Higashi Chaya district), providing ample opportunities to visit teahouses, learn about geisha history and enjoy an evening of entertainment by these masters of dance, traditional

instruments and the art of repartee.Recognizing that the arts continued

to evolve in modern times, the city commissioned the 21st-Century Museum of Contemporary Art, home to an impressive collection of international works. The DT Suzuki and Nishida Kitaro museums are also fine examples of contemporary architecture and will be of particular interest to students of Zen Buddhism.

For a break from Kanazawa’s cultural treasures, the Noto Peninsula awaits. Extending 100 kilometers out into the Sea of Japan, Noto affords visitors gorgeous scenery, particularly along the Noto Kongo coastline. Violent seas and high winds have formed dramatically rugged cliffs, including the Hatago Iwa sacred rocks, which are joined by a Shinto shimenawa rope.

Farther up the coast, the fishing and lacquerware town of Wajima has much to recommend it, not least of all its bustling

TOKYO

ishiKawa

Kanazawa Castle


Senmaida

OUT & ABOUT

Higashi Chaya District

☛ Kanazawa City Tourism Associationwww.kanazawa-tourism.com

☛ Experience Kanazawa http://experience-kanazawa.com

☛ Tourism Ishikawa www.hot-ishikawa.jp

☛ Wajima Citywww.city.wajima.ishikawa.jp

☛ Kaga and Hakusanwww.ishikawa-kaga-hakusan.jp

☛ Shirakawa-Go Villagehttp://shirakawa-go.org

☛ Hakusan Super Rindo Forest Roadwww.hakusan-rindo.jp

asaichi morning market. Wajima supports a substantial fishing fleet, so be prepared to find some species of sea life not commonly seen and often floating in a rich brine. Noto is home to ishiri, a sauce made from fermented squid or sardine intestines—just one example of the region’s love affair with creatively preserved foods.

As the road begins to curve east, the remarkable rice terraces of Senmaida come into view. Best visited in the spring or summer, the fields were designated an official place of scenic beauty in 2001, making them fitting neighbors to the national intangible folk cultural asset of Okunoto Endenmura Salt Farm, just outside Suzu. The farm includes a small but informative museum and the chance to experience the rigors of making salt the agehama way.

To the south of Kanazawa lie Mount Hakusan and Kaga, each with its own

unique attractions. Hakusan, one of Japan’s three sacred mountains along with Fuji and Tateyama, has recently been nominated for inclusion in the World Heritage list. Hakusan Park covers 184 square kilometers and includes forests, extensive hiking trails, rare flora and rarely seen fauna. Recent years have seen an increase in good trails and accommodations, allowing even inexperienced hikers to climb safely to the peak for the incomparable views.

One point of access from June through November is the Hakusan Super Rindo, a road that runs from the thatched roof village and World Heritage site of Shirakawa-go to Hakusan City. The road winds for 32 kilometers through the mountains and is especially popular during the late fall.

Kaga is perhaps best known for its

☛ 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawawww.kanazawa21.jp

☛ DT Suzuki Museumwww.kanazawa-museum.jp/daisetz

☛ Nishida Kirao Museum of Philosophywww.nishidatetsugakukan.org (Japanese only)

☛ Okunoto Endenmura Salt Farmwww.okunoto-endenmura.jp

☛ Kutani Ceramics Museumwww.kutaniyaki.or.jp

hot-spring onsen resorts of Yamanaka, Yamashiro and Awazu. In addition to their restorative waters and sublime cuisine, these towns are home to many artisans, including several living national treasures, who work mainly in lacquer and wood. Kutani porcelain, one of Japan’s leading ceramic styles, is on display at the Kutani Ceramics Museum in Ko Kutani no Mori Park.

Considering how much there is to experience in each of Ishikawa’s three distinctive regions, it might take a few visits to see it all. But regardless of how often you come or how long you stay, there will always be something new to encounter. o

Scharf is editorial director with the Club’s travel

service, The Art of Travel (turn to page 17 for details).

Explorations beyond the Club 41

☛ Almost 4 hours by bullet train and Hakutaka limited express from Tokyo Station to Kanazawa Station, transferring at Echigo Yuzawa Station.

For more photos from some events displayed in these pages,visit the Event Image Gallery (under News & Info) on the Club website.

Fitness FairJanuary 18

The Club kicked off the year with a festival of fitness

to help Members meet their New Year’s resolutions.

Besides learning about the revamped group fitness class

program, attendees picked up exercise and weight-loss

tips and enjoyed a combined yoga and Zumba class.

Photos by Kayo Yamawaki


EVENT ROUNDUP

Sake DinnerJanuary 29

The Wine Committee switched libation in January and

dedicated an evening to the flavors of Japan’s national

drink. During the dinner, Members sampled a variety of

premium sake paired with exquisite Japanese dishes.

Photos by Yuuki Ide

1. (l–r) David Tropp and Mark and Margaret Baxter 2. David Tropp

1

1

2

Snapshots from Club occasions 43


Super Bowl XLVIII at the ClubFebruary 3

Members and their guests packed the New York

Ballroom to watch the Seattle Seahawks win their first

Super Bowl after destroying the Denver Broncos 43-8. In

between trips to the breakfast buffet, football fans also

enjoyed lucky draws, betting pools and cheerleader

entertainment.

Photos by Yuuki Ide

1. (l–r) Simmi Mehra, Jamie Burger, Linda Border, Abigail Radmilovich

and Jill Joroff 2. Samuel Gordon (center)

2

1


EVENT ROUNDUP



First Friday:An Evening in OkinawaFebruary 7

At the inaugural First Friday event of the year, Members

escaped the approaching snowstorm by retreating to

the Winter Garden for a lively evening of food, drinks

and music from Japan’s southern paradise islands.

Photos by Yuuki Ide

1. Masamune Fukuchi and Ikuma Matayoshi 2. (l–r) Per Knudsen,

John Suzuki and Brendan Morris

2

1


EVENT ROUNDUP

Father-Daughter Dinner DanceFebruary 10

At this popular annual affair, dads and their little

princesses descended on the New York Ballroom for a

fun-filled party, complete with mouthwatering food,

music, dancing, gifts and photo keepsakes.

Photos by Ken Katsurayama



Since Japan won the right to host the 2020 Olympics, the Japanese word omotenashi has received plenty of attention. During the city’s final presentation to the International

Olympic Committee, TV presenter Christel Takigawa highlighted omotenashi—a vague term often translated as “hospitality”—out of any number of aspects of Japanese culture. But what exactly does omotenashi mean?

You’ve likely been on the receiving end of omotenashi, even if you didn’t realize it. Do you remember the first time you sat down on a public toilet in Japan and were welcomed by the warming comfort of one of this country’s wonderful heated toilet seats? It was the spirit of omotenashi that inspired us to install them in public restrooms.

If you’ve stayed in the home of a Japanese friend, you’ve almost certainly experienced omotenashi. It began when you entered their abode, stepping out of your shoes and into a waiting pair of comfortable slippers. It continued through dinner, when your glass was never empty, and right up until bedtime, when you opened the door to your room to find your futon already laid out on the floor.

BACK WORDSWhatever the story, anecdote, fictitious tale, rant, cultural observation or Club commentary, now’s your chance to take it to the world…well, Membership, anyway. E-mail your submission (no more than 700 words) to [email protected].

Clover Bldg. 2F,

7-15-10 Roppongi,

Minato-ku, Tokyo

Tel: 03-5414-1700

www . g a b r i e l a . j p

Agave, Roppongi’s only tequila and cigar bar, presents La Cocina Gabriela Mexicana, a haven of authentic Mexican cuisine and a wood-�red grill.

Flavors from south of the border

WeekdaysLunch: 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.Dinner: 5 p.m.–midnight

WeekendsBrunch: 12–5 p.m.Dinner: 5–11 p.m.

by Akihiko Kubo

A Special Brand of Welcome

Omotenashi recognizes the relationship between host and guest as a delicate dance, and its meaning goes beyond simply providing excellent service. In Japan, the proper host’s role is to anticipate their guest’s needs before they are even aware of them. Hence the taxi door that opens as you reach for the handle and the soothing voice on the train that announces which side the doors will open at the next station.

There’s an important aspect of selflessness to it, too. You’ve likely received great service at a restaurant or hotel in another country before. But you probably rewarded that service with a tip. Since the promise of a tip motivated the waiter or bellhop, that service wouldn’t qualify as omotenashi. Japanese shops are an excellent environment in which to observe this feature of omotenashi. Ever ask a store attendant a question, then watch them run (not walk) to find the answer?

There’s a tendency to romanticize omotenashi and suggest that it’s a fundamental feature of the Japanese character that emerges when we’re pressed into a service role. This simply isn’t the case. You won’t find omotenashi in one of Japan’s myriad cheap izakaya restaurants, where the waiters are impatient and the edamame beans are room temperature.

But I do feel that there’s a notion of service here that’s grounded in a desire to not just meet expectations, but exceed them in a way that leaves the guest feeling pleasantly surprised. The next time you’re lost in this great city, stop a passerby and ask them for directions. You may find yourself being graciously led to your destination. That’s omotenashi. o

Club Member Kubo is president of the advertising agency Ogilvy &

Mather Japan Group.

毎月一回一日発行　

第四十七巻五八七号　

トウキョウアメリカンクラブ

インタッチマガジン二〇一四年三月一日発行　

平成三年十二月二十日第三種郵便物許可定価八００円

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iNTOUCH March 2014