april 2014 intouch

Issue 588 • April 2014

April 2014

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

Rocket WomanOne Japanese astronaut offers a glimpse of life in space

Pure and Simple Ceramist Taizo Kuroda on his quest for beauty

Cellar Picks The Club’s wine pros uncork their favorite bottles

Club Member Kazuo Matsui reflects on seven years in the majors and a winning return to Japan

A TAle of Two leAgues

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

17 Committees

18 Recreation

20 Women’s Group

22 Feature

28 Talking Heads

30 Frederick Harris Gallery

33 Cultural Insight

34 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 Diamond LifeFrom the pride of the Lions to

the doghouse in New York to

redemption with the Rakuten

Golden Eagles, Club Member

and 20-year professional

baseball veteran Kazuo Matsui

hopes to share his accumulated

wisdom with the next

generation of ball players.

10 LibrAryrural recipesNancy Singleton Hachisu

offers an insight into how

she endured the laborious

publishing process to take her

passion for Japanese country

cooking to a wider audience.

30 FrEDErick HArris GALLEryin search of simplicityWith his belief that “pureness

of expression can be found

everywhere,” acclaimed ceramist

Taizo Kuroda explains how leaving

Japan unleashed his creativity.

20 WoMEn’s GrouPLearning the World’s Lingua FrancaThe students of one Women’s

Group English class are

immersing themselves in

stimulating discussion

and debate.

22

Cover photo of Kazuo Matsui by Benjamin Parks

2 April 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

Exactly 50 years ago this month, a group of 23 Japanese tourists boarded a Pan American flight for Hawaii. Most of them had been saving for the trip for up to three years and were traveling as part of the so-called “Save now, go later” scheme, set up by a number of Japanese banks and travel agencies.

After years of curbs on overseas travel for ordinary Japanese while the country focused on rebuilding its war-torn cities and economy, the government finally lifted all restrictions on April 1, 1964. With breakneck construction taking place across the nation and Tokyo set to host the Olympics later in the year, Japanese were keen to explore the world once again.

But some of those heading abroad were in search of something more than the tourist sights of well-thumbed travel brochures. For young Japanese like Taizo Kuroda, the world was brimming with opportunity. Ahead of his exhibition at the Club this month, the lauded ceramist tells iNTOUCH how his years overseas helped to shape his outlook and, ultimately, his art.

Those eager excursionists and restless wanderers of the 1960s paved the way for legions of Japanese to leave behind the familiar. From sightseeing and education to work and self-discovery, the reasons for travel have been as numerous as the destinations.

In more recent years, members of the country’s professional sporting fraternity have chosen to test themselves in leagues and tours beyond Japan’s shores. Baseball player Kazuo Matsui did just that, and in this month’s cover story, “Diamond Life,” the Club Member talks to my colleague, Nick Narigon, about his transformative years in the United States.

Matsui would, no doubt, agree with the words of former US Ambassador John Roos to students of Tokyo’s Chuo University on the merits of venturing abroad: “Your professional depth will be expanded by interacting with many different people and having various experiences.”

from theeditor

TimHornyak

Originally from a small town in Iowa, Nick Narigon arrived in Japan in May 2012. The assistant editor in the Club’s Communications Department, he was the 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. For this month’s iNTOUCH, Narigon teamed up with Japanese baseball legend "Kaz" Matsui to discuss what it takes to reach the pinnacle of the game.

NickNarigon

Raised in the suburbs of Washington, DC, Erika Woodward arrived in Japan in early 2011. A former assistant editor in the Club’s Communications Department, she graduated from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism in Maryland and has written on a variety of subjects, from the life of an overworked clown to the birth of an Icelandic political faction. For “Learning the World’s Lingua Franca,” she spent time with one Women’s Group class to find out how the instructor helps her students learn English in an engaging, interactive environment. Woodward and her husband head back across the Pacific later this month.

ErikaWoodward


9–10Sushi Night Café Med celebrates Japan’s iconic cuisine with a smorgasbord of fishy treats. 5 p.m. Continues April 16 and 17.

Saturday19Dine & Discover: Spring ExtravaganzaCelebrate hanami season in contemporary fashion on Decanter’s Tokyo Tower Terrace. Discover a collection of Japan’s best wines, paired with a Decanter-FLATiRON “lunchbox.” 7 p.m. More on page 10.

Wednesday 9Boys’ Day DisplayIn celebration of Children’s Day on May 5, the Club unfurls its colorful carp streamers and assembles a traditional samurai warrior display. Display runs through May 7.

Friday18Friday Adult Book ClubThe Club’s book group meets at Café Med the fourth Friday of every month to discuss contemporary reads and classics. This month’s book is The Blood

of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani. 11:30 a.m. No sign-up necessary.

Sunday6Glee Yoga with Will BlunderfieldDance, sing and celebrate life at this energetic class, led by singer and yoga innovator Will Blunderfield. 2 p.m. For more information, check out page 19.

Coming up in May 2First Friday: Cinco de Mayo

What’s on in April

3Kids’ Water Park opens

Monday14Summer Camp RegistrationSign-up begins for the Club’s action-packed, weeklong sessions of crafts, music, sports, field trips and fun by the truckload. Get the details on page 19.

Thursday17L’Ecole No 41 Wine Dinner with Marty ClubbOwner and winemaker of Walla Walla’s L’Ecole No 41 Marty Clubb uncorks some of his lauded varietals. 7 p.m. Page 8 has more.

Saturday5New 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.

Wednesday–

Thursday

1–30Therapeutic Massage SpecialThe Spa is offering a 15 percent discount on its new therapeutic massage. Learn more on page 18.

Tuesday–

Wednesday1Toddler TimeA fun, 30-minute session of engaging stories and activities awaits preschoolers at the Children’s Library. 4 p.m. Free. Continues April 8, 15, 22 and 29.

Tuesday 1Youth and Teen Bowling TournamentYoung keglers ages 8 to 18 are invited to complete three consecutive games between now and June 1 to compete for bragging rights as Club champ. Sign up at the Bowling Center.

Tuesday

Thursday24Nagatoro and Shibazakura Blossoms TourOn this day trip to the sleepy Arakawa River town of Nagatoro, take a boat through a scenic gorge and marvel at the pink moss in Chichibu Hitsujiyama Park. 8 a.m. Sign up at Member Services or e-mail [email protected].

2Toastmasters ClubStart losing your fear of public speaking and improve your leadership skills at this monthly event. 12 p.m. ¥2,200 (exclusive of 8 percent consumption tax). Sign up online or at the Library. Continues April 16.

Wednesday

Wednesday 23Women of WineAt this special tasting, the Club’s sommeliers present their favorite wines and recommended labels. 7 p.m. Page 11 has the details.

Thursday24Masala Bhangra Introductory WorkoutLearn about this Bollywood-themed dance exercise at an introductory session for all ages and fitness levels. 11:15 a.m. Check out page 19 for more.

Noteworthy dates for the month 5

EVENTS

7Toastmasters Club

ThursdayWednesday 3TAC Eagles TryoutBudding NBA stars are invited to lace up their kicks for a chance to play on one of the Club basketball teams. Details on page 19. Continues April 5.

2Ladies Bowling LeagueThe Club’s female keglers take to the lanes for a new season of Wednesday morning competition. 10 a.m. Sign up at the Bowling Center.

13 14Gallery Reception: Taizo KurodaWorld-renowned ceramic artist Taizo Kuroda launches an exhibition of his exquisite works with a reception. 6:30 p.m. Learn more about Kuroda and his porcelain on page 30.

Monday

Yamanashi Winery TourExplore the birthplace of wine in Japan and tour Grace Winery, one of the area’s viticultural pioneers. 8:45 a.m. Find out more about this fun day trip on page 17.

Friday4Mommy and Toddler TimeMeet fellow moms and toddlers while building your own support network at a fun, weekly get-together. 2 p.m. Free. Continues April 11, 18 and 25.

Saturday5Spring Fun Craft DayThe Club welcomes the arrival of spring with a morning of fun for youngsters ages 4 and above. 10:30 a.m. Learn more about this seasonal session on page 19.

Sunday20Easter Grand BuffetCelebrate the holiday with a spread of traditional dishes. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5–7 p.m. Adults (18 and above): ¥5,555; juniors (4–17 years): ¥2,700; infants (3 and under): free. Sign up online or at 03-4588-0977. (Prices do not include 8 percent consumption tax.)

Sunday20Family Spring FestivalThe Club’s spring bash features an exciting egg hunt, Easter Bunny meet and greet, petting zoo, treats, storytelling and numerous photo ops. 10 a.m. Read the rundown on page 19.

Sunday20Easter BowlingThe Bowling Center celebrates Easter by giving chocolate eggs to every player who bowls a strike.

Wednesday23Meet the Author: Nancy Singleton HachisuThe author of Japanese Farm Food

talks about how she turned her passion for country kitchen recipes into a book. 7 p.m. She explains more on page 12.

Friday25 A Slice of ChicagoMeet up with friends at a Café Med booth and mow down on slices of Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. 5–8:30 p.m.

Saturday26Splash! OpensUntil June, the Club’s rooftop café opens for alfresco eats and drinks on weekends and national holidays. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. From June 1, Splash! opens daily.

Monday28Coffee 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.

Wednesday 30New 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.

Sunday 14Cultural Insights with Karen Hill AntonJapan-based American writer Karen Hill Anton shares her experiences of raising a family in rural Japan and adjusting to a new way of life. 11:30 a.m. Find out more on page 21.

Monday

21Meet the Author: Dr Shuichi Tsuji

11First Friday: Hanami NightJapan’s annual spring party season isn’t confined to parks and gardens. Enjoy a cherry blossom-inspired evening of food and drinks in the Winter Garden. 6 p.m. ¥2,000 (exclusive of 8 percent consumption tax). No sign-up necessary.

Friday

25Mudsharks Championships

29Extraordinary General Meeting


Ifondly recall the period leading up to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. While not yet fully considered a developed

country, Japan was well on its way to such recognition when it overcame bids from rival cities Detroit, Brussels and Vienna at the International Olympic Committee vote in Munich in 1959.

In addition to the official fervor and excitement, many companies shared the nation’s Olympic passion and encouraged their employees to take time off and welcome the throngs of athletes and spectators from across the world.

With Tokyo set to once again host the Summer Games, I believe there is a lot of potential for the Club to throw its support behind the sporting spectacle in 2020,

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

and I look forward to welcoming back the world to Japan with the same cross-cultural spirit that prevailed in the lead-up to the Olympics 50 years ago.

I joined the Club in the late 1970s. Having bowled during my university days, I was a reasonably accomplished bowler and I enjoyed taking part in the Club’s bowling leagues. To my surprise, there were only two Japanese in the Monday night mixed league of 50 bowlers.

My initial impression of the Club was the lack of participation by Japanese Members in Club activities. Since many of them had lived abroad and spoke perfectly acceptable English, I was puzzled by this. At the time, I assumed they were perhaps too shy or uncomfortable with meeting and mingling with people from other cultures.

But even today there are remnants of that era that seem to impede Japanese Members from getting involved at the Club. I have always been optimistic about this situation, and I continue to hope that we’ll see greater cross-cultural integration and more Japanese mixing with other nationalities in the future.

Japan and specifically Tokyo appear ready to revive the multicultural spirit of the early 1960s. I am hopeful that we will

see similar moves in the Club. There is plenty of opportunity for members of the Club’s sizeable Japanese community to play a greater role, and I will do my best to encourage them to take part in Club activities, mix with other Members and volunteer on Club committees and the Board of Governors.

The Olympics is a wonderful opportunity for the Club to highlight its history as one of Tokyo’s most multicultural institutions. With so much work to do before 2020, the more the Club’s Japanese contingent participates, the more the Club can contribute to this special city during this extraordinary time. 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)

The Spirit of ’64

by Machi Nemoto

Executive remarks 7

MANAGEMENT

Boys, be ambitious!” William Smith Clark’s parting words of encouragement to his students were

pervasive in Japan prior to the economic bubble, and expats who arrived during that time may find them familiar.

Clark, a stern-faced US Civil War colonel and accomplished professor of agriculture, was hired in 1876 by the Meiji government to help establish the Sapporo Agricultural College in Hokkaido, as part of the government’s ambitious modernization plan.

While I’ll leave the discussions about Japan’s history and modernization to Members in Traders’ Bar, Clark’s words can easily be applied to the Club’s current state of affairs. Ambitious activities, plans

and proceedings are ongoing and every department is in the process of rolling out new programs to enhance Members’ experiences at the Club.

The Membership Office and Membership Committee have introduced revamped initiatives of their own. There are now more than 3,700 Members (up around 230 from last year), and we are targeting 3,800 by year-end. The last time the Club had 3,700 Members was in November 2008.

The Membership Committee is meticulously reviewing the membership-related segments of the Club’s governance documents and recommending improvements to the application and Member-approval process. These changes will be presented to the Board of Governors, with an eye on increasing membership integrity and value.

Several resolutions were already approved by the Board earlier this year. Most recently, the Club usage system for Life Members was upgraded from a cumbersome, weekly pro-rated system to a simple, per-day system, helping visiting Members from overseas use the Club more flexibly.

The prospective Member interview process, hosted by the Membership

Committee, and the New Member Orientation program, hosted by the general manager, which were established last year, are both proving to be effective. Incidentally, you don’t need to be a new Member to attend an orientation session. Just e-mail the Membership Office at [email protected] for details.

On the marketing and communications side, the Club’s social media presence is continuing to grow. The Club’s Facebook page has surpassed 5,000 “likes” and has become a vibrant platform of comment and exchange. Our photography-based Instagram platform, targeting a younger audience, is also gathering momentum. Please follow us on any of our social media, including Twitter, and share our events, activities and photos with your friends.

Most importantly, the Club is set to roll out a new website, with a fresh look and easier-to-navigate interface, as well as improved sign-up and resource-booking capabilities, greater personalization settings, member-to-member connectivity options, including an optional industry index, and a function for viewing your monthly statements.

It’s all about passion and taking action: TAC, be ambitious! o

BeingAmbitious

by Aron Kremer

I t seems that the old adage “never judge a book by its cover” is routinely ignored by wine buyers. According to one estimate, about

40 percent of consumers purchase wine based on the label. An Academy of Wine Business report revealed that 88 percent of drinkers considered the label to be of some importance when purchasing a bottle to drink at home or at a party.

“A carefully crafted label can make us think the bottle is way more expensive than it is, and it can boost our enjoyment of the wine itself,” wine packaging designer David Schuemann recently told NPR. “More expensive labels tend to have a cream or white background with a simple logo. Maybe a splash of gold or metal. But they don’t have critters on them. Otherwise, experienced wine drinkers think it looks cheap.”

Wine Spectator magazine contributor Tim Fish’s take: “For those of us who are serious about wine, the label design is insignificant. But for occasional drinkers, the label can be a significant part of the buying decision.”

Washington-based L’Ecole No 41 reworked its iconic label, featuring artwork by an 8-year-old family member, with an elegant, two-tone image. “The old label [was] this really fun, colorful, whimsical, unique label. It stood out on the shelf,” says winery owner Marty Clubb, who will share L’Ecole’s lauded varietals at the Club this month. “But we picked that label 25 years ago, and at that time there were no other labels like that.”

A few years ago, however, a crop of so-called “critter” labels and other inexpensive, mass-produced wines, with eye-catching typography and rainbow-hued designs, began to flood shelves. At the same time, L’Ecole No 41, which took its name from the old Frenchtown schoolhouse where the winery has been housed since 1983, was honing its craft and collecting accolades.

The need to better match the winery’s

winedinner

L’Ecole No 41 Wine Dinner with Marty Clubb Thursday, April 177 p.m.American Bar & Grill¥10,190* Sign up online or at Member Services(* Exclusive of 8 percent consumption tax.)

by Wendi Onuki

Bottle Branding

sophisticated image became evident after Clubb took an informal survey of his distributors. Some restaurants, he says, were keeping L’Ecole off their wine lists “because it seemed expensive relative to the image and the packaging of the bottle.”

The family-owned winery, located in Walla Walla, rolled out the new label with its 2008 vintage three years ago. “You need your packaging to speak to who you are,” says Clubb. “Our track record has been really quite unbelievable and successful, and somehow [we] need to capture just a little tone of that in our packaging.”

The evolution was imperceptible to some L’Ecole fans while others continue to bemoan the loss of the old label. Distributors didn’t entirely support the

FOOD & BEVERAGE

move, either—until sales began to soar.Although the relabeling strategy has

paid off, Clubb’s focus remains on the bottle contents. “That’s just one element of business,” he says of the label. “First and foremost, it’s about making great wine.” o

Onuki is a Michigan-based freelance journalist.

Before After


To join the Wine Club, e-mail [email protected].

Full-Bodied Care PackageEXPLORE THE WORLD OF WINE WHILE REPLENISHING YOUR CELLAR.

Select a Wine Club package and receive six specially selected fine wines delivered to your door each month.

Wine Club benefits • Personalized mix of wines each month.

• Free delivery on any wine purchase fromthe Club.

• Detailed information about eachmonthly wine.

• Complimentary corkscrew.

• Seat at a Club wine event.(Premium package: any event/Value package: to the value of ¥10,000)

Premium package (six months):

¥186,000(Prices do not include 8 percent consumption tax)

Value package (six months):

¥90,000(Prices do not include 8 percent consumption tax)

The hanami party…modernized! A collection of Japan’s best wines, a hybrid Decanter-FLATiRON bento and the view from our terrace of Tokyo Tower—this is not your obaachan’s normal spring fling. Each month, Decanter hosts a dinner of exploration for Members to delve into the restaurant’s extensive collection of fine wines and rare vintages.

Saturday, Apri l 19 • 7 p.m. • Decanter Terrace • ¥11,000A 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 t 0 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

D I N E A N D D I S C O V E RA p r i l : S p r i n g E x t r a v a g a n z a

(* Exclusive of 8 percent consumption tax.)

bottletalk

2010 Domaine des Aubuisières Vouvray Demi-Sec Les Girardières, Loire Valley, France The world doesn’t drink enough Vouvray. This off-dry, 100 percent Chenin Blanc offers just enough residual sugar to balance the crisp acidity, making it food friendly and versatile at the dinner table, which is why it’s a popular by-the-glass fixture at FLATiRON. Aromas of dried apricot, peaches, honey, nuts, ginger fig and apples make this an irresistible change of pace.

¥7,900* (exclusive of 8 percent consumption tax) a bottle at Decanter.

Kelley’s Cellar Selection

by Kelley Michael Schaefer

Womenof Wine

When you’re faced with a wine collection as extensive and as impressive as the Club’s, choosing just one

bottle for dinner from a list of more than 750 world-class wines can be a daunting task. This is where the true stars of the Club’s wine cellar shine.

The Club’s team of knowledgeable sommeliers are there to guide Members through the various restaurant wine lists, offer recommendations and generally make the language of wine less intimidating. Since sommeliers are often accused of knowing their wine lists better than their own spouse, you’re in safe hands.

I am lucky to work with a group of wine professionals with decades of

experience in the wine industry and at the Club. These four ladies are an indispensible asset to the Club and they have been integral to the development of the wine program.

Decanter sommeliers Kanako Ichiji and Ayumi Kawai, American Bar & Grill’s Michiyo Yamada and Makiko Hosokawa, who helps organize wine events and promotions and the Club’s wine shop, are the Club’s wine “dream team.”

Most Members know them by name and, in turn, the sommeliers are often acquainted with Members’ individual wine tastes and preferences. Later this month, Members will have the opportunity to learn a little more about them, as the sommeliers reveal their own favorites

Cellar Stars Wine TastingWednesday, April 237 p.m.Venue TBA¥12,000*Sign up online or at Member Services(* Exclusive of 8 percent consumption tax.)

from the Club’s collection at a special tasting and dinner.

Whether you’re a wine expert or novice, you won’t want to miss this enlightening evening with the keepers of the Club’s bottles. o

Schaefer is the Club’s wine program manager.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Ayumi Kawai, Michiyo Yamada, Kanako Ichiji and Makiko Hosokawa

Kayo

Yam

awak

iKa

yo Y

amaw

aki

Club wining and dining 11

Rural RecipesFood lover and farmer’s wife Nancy Singleton Hachisu explains how she turned her passion for country kitchen cooking into a book, Japanese Farm Food.

The one thing people don’t tell you when you say you want to write a book is how many steps there are in the process and how long it will take if you are serious about sustaining

sales. “Don’t do it for the money” is the oft-repeated warning. And that most certainly is true. I had just not anticipated how much of my life Japanese Farm Food would monopolize:

Photo shoots: more than two years (started before I wrote the proposal). Creating proposal and working with agent: three months. Pitching proposal and securing book contract: three months. Futzing around: six months. Post-earthquake doldrums: three months. Madly writing: four months. Retesting and editing: six months. Book tour planning: four months. Touring US: 19 weeks (reason enough to explain why my long-suffering farmer husband, Tadaaki, didn’t share my enthusiasm)For me, Japanese Farm Food is a living thing, and every time

I go to the States I feel compelled to put events on the docket to open a door to the Japanese countryside and introduce this simple style of food.

These days, it seems easier to get a book contract, but you

need to pour much more of yourself into the project than in the golden years of publishing. I can live with that. Who cares about the project more than I do? So it’s up to me to get out and present my book to people who love food. And that is why I keep doing it again and again. Since I’ve been lucky to secure the holy grail of writers—a book contract—I won’t whine about not having support (I do) or not having enough money to travel (I don’t).

Writing a book about a way of life that is mostly unknown by modern, urban Japanese has catapulted me into the public eye (Fuji TV is documenting my pickling and farm food methods for periodic 20-minute, Sunday morning segments) and various government offices. The book has given me a big voice in Japan at a time when traditional foods and ways of life are in crisis. And for that I am deeply grateful.

I’ve been writing about our life here in Japan since right after my first son was born 19 years ago. As the years wore on, my almost annual New Year letter grew to 20 pages and about 100 recipients, until I finally turned it into a (currently neglected) blog, Indigo Days.

In the back of my mind, I always thought that perhaps those letters and blog stories could be made into a book someday. The catalyst was a soba dinner I helped organize at the Berkeley


LIBRARY

restaurant Chez Panisse in 2008. Slow Food Japan later asked me to write a series of articles about the dinner, Chez Panisse and the Edible Schoolyard Project for its magazine. That’s where it began.

Becoming part of a community of writers through the blog and my alma mater, Stanford, further empowered me and gave me the tools to formulate a plan and execute it. And thanks to the guidance and encouragement, I now have a publisher that I respect enormously and who shared my vision for the book (old cloth in the design, my husband’s calligraphy, gobs of photos and memoir stories, along with the recipes). I also have an editor with whom I can talk easily and who, coincidentally, lived not far from me in Japan for several years. It was that easy and that hard.

“There are ‘can do’ and ‘can’t do’ people in the world, and it seems like you don’t let anything stop you,” a friend recently wrote in a letter to me. I guess that’s true. o

American Hachisu is a Saitama-based cooking instructor and writer.

Japanese Farm Food is available at the Library.

Nancy Singleton Hachisu

Meet the Author: Nancy Singleton HachisuWednesday, April 237–8 p.m. Toko Shinoda Classroom¥1,500* (includes one drink)Adults onlySign up online or at the Library(* Excludes 8 percent consumption tax.)

Literary gems at the Library 13

off theshelf

Graphic Reads

An everyday part of modern Japan, manga cartoons or comics have been around since the 18th century.

Although the style of art originated before then, it was print artist Hokusai Katsushika who first introduced what we now recognize as manga.

Caricatures dating back to the early seventh century were found in Nara’s Horyu Temple, and in the 12th century, the artist monk Toba Sojo is rumored to have created the famous picture scroll Chojugiga, a light-hearted look at Buddhism through a series of anthropomorphized animals.

Manga became popular in the Edo period, when developments in woodblock printing allowed for mass production. In common with its modern counterpart, manga depicted aspects of popular culture in a lively and humorous fashion. Early precursors of the comic book were also produced during this period. Twenty or

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]

by Sarah Takahashi

more pages were bound with thread or opened out like an accordion.

In the United States, comic books first appeared in 1896, with the publishing of collections of popular newspaper comic strips. Arguably, the most famous of these was Peanuts. Its run lasted from 1950 until 2000, with creator Charles M Schulz producing almost 18,000 strips. Reruns of this much-loved comic are syndicated in newspapers today.

The comic book genre changed significantly in 1938, when Action Comics #1 introduced Superman to the world. Soon Batman, Wonder Woman and Spiderman took their places in the pantheon of superheroes, alongside other fantastical creatures.

Artists and writers continue to push the boundaries of this art form, following the arrival of the graphic novel during the late 1960s. Although essentially still a comic book, the extended length of the graphic novel allows writers and illustrators to tell complex stories that embrace a myriad of subjects and appeal to an increasingly diverse audience.

The Library’s growing collection of manga encompasses lots of familiar favorites, including Naruto, Astro Boy, One Piece, Asterix, Batman and Garfield, alongside such graphic novels as Palestine and Persepolis that explore history, politics and memoir in innovative ways. o

Takahashi is the Library’s senior librarian.


new

Member: Ilar Sadeghzadeh Title: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

What’s the book about?A 10-year-old girl named Opal and her father have just moved to Naomi. Opal goes to the supermarket called Winn-Dixie then meets a dog. She decides to call it Winn-Dixie. Opal’s life totally changes because of Winn-Dixie.

What did you like about it?The author made the story so easy to imagine while reading it. I also liked the setting of the story in Naomi.

Why did you choose it?We were reading it as a class in fourth grade. I am in the sixth grade, so I decided to read it again and I enjoyed it much more.

What other books would you recommend?I recommend Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.

reads

LIBRARY

member’s choice

Detroit: An American Autopsy by Charlie LeDuff

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist LeDuff returns to his

hometown of Detroit to write a harrowing book of the

once prosperous American city. His visit uncovers the

corruption and decay of what led to Detroit’s downfall

and what its decline means for other cities.

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

In this World War II thriller, an American teenager

is captured by the Nazis and sent to a notorious

women’s concentration camp. Amid the horror of

prison, Rose Justice finds loyalty and friendship

among her fellow prisoners.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

One of The New York Times’ top 10 books of the year,

Americanah is an epic tale that contrasts the lives of

two lovers torn apart in America and Nigeria. They

take divergent paths in life but reunite in Lagos, where

they face a series of tough decisions.

Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea

by Steve Jenkins

Children intrigued by sea creatures will love Jenkins’

book of underwater exploration. Illustrated with his

signature paper cutouts, this beautifully presented

book is informative and a joy to peruse. For older and

younger readers alike.

Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala

Named one of The New York Times’ best books of the

year, Wave chronicles the author’s experience during

the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka. Written with care and

elegance, the book is a must-read tale of survival

following a horrific and tragic event.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

This graphic novel offers a twist on the Newbery

Award-winning classic of the same name. Illustrator

Hope Larson brings the story’s characters and settings

to life with her imaginative artwork. For fans of the

original, this fresh take is worth a look.

Library & Children’s Library Daily: 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Tel: 03-4588-0678 E-mail: [email protected] compiled by librarian Finn Kanegae.

Literary gems at the Library 15

video LiBRARY

flick

According to the Chinese Zodiac, people born in the year of the horse are energetic, bright and

warmhearted. From Black Beauty to Seabiscuit, many films featuring the noble beast seem to reflect those characteristics.

Based on the classic children’s novel by Anna Sewell, Black Beauty was first adapted for the big screen in 1921. Since then, no fewer than five adaptations have been made, most notably the 1994 version, starring British actors Alan Cumming and Sean Bean. Always a great pick for family movie night, the story chronicles Black Beauty’s life while sharing a horse’s view of the world.

Another movie based on a literary classic, The Black Stallion (1979) is about a shipwrecked boy and his newfound friendship with a wild Arabian stallion. The film’s musical score and beautiful cinematography set it apart.

For a rollicking good time, Racing Stripes (2005), starring Frankie Muniz and Hayden Panettiere, tells the ultimate fish-out-of-water tale of a talking zebra that dreams of racing with the thoroughbreds.

Not all equine flicks are just for kids, though. Academy Award-nominated Seabiscuit (2003) is the Depression-era underdog story of an undersized horse that achieves unexpected success, and The Horse Whisperer (1998), directed by and starring Robert Redford, is about a talented trainer with a remarkable gift.

Steven Spielberg’s epic War Horse (2011) tells the tale of a thoroughbred sold to the British cavalry during World War I. For sports fans, the story of the legendary triple-crown winner and his owner comes alive in Secretariat (2010).

Both Dreamer (2005) and Moondance Alexander (2007) are based on true-life events. In the former, a horse with a broken leg is rehabilitated by a father and daughter, while Don Johnson stars in the story of a lonely girl who trains a pinto pony over a summer holiday.

Like most movies with an animal protagonist, horse films can inspire, delight and move. Celebrate this year of the horse with a movie from the Video Library’s thoroughbred collection. o

Lee is a member 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 Alaine Lee

newmovies

DRAMAThe Wolf of Wall Street This Academy Award-nominated film from director Martin Scorsese is based on the true story of American stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his orgy of crime and corruption.

The GrandmasterA highly stylized martial-arts drama about kung fu master and Bruce Lee mentor Ip Man, who survived the turmoil of 1930s China to change the world of martial arts.

ANIMATIONFrozenA fearless princess (voiced by Kristen Bell) embarks on an epic journey with three offbeat compadres to find her sister, whose icy powers have placed the kingdom in a deep freeze.

Saving Mr. BanksAs author PL Travers (Emma Thompson) and Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) undergo terse negotiations to bring Mary Poppins to the big screen, the Australian reflects on her inspirational childhood.

COMEDYDelivery ManA likeable underachiever’s (Vince Vaughn) donations to a fertility clinic 20 years ago lead to 142 lawsuits from 533 offspring and a dilemma about whether to reveal his identity or not.

B IOGRAPHYMandela: Long Walk to FreedomAn epic chronicle of the legendary leader and former political prisoner Nelson Mandela (Idris Elba), from a childhood in a rural South African village to the country’s first democratically elected president.

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.

Four-Legged Flicks


Touring Japan’s Wine Country

T he winemakers of Yamanashi Prefecture are quietly garnering the attention of wine lovers and critics for their inventive approaches to producing high-quality wines. In

particular, the family-run Grace Winery has been a winemaking pioneer in the region and has received global recognition for its well-crafted vintages.

Relying on local farmers for quality grapes, Grace produces, among other wines, a crisp, refreshing Koshu varietal that is a perfect summer sipper. Established in 1923 in Katsunuma—the birthplace of Japan’s wine industry—Grace Winery now boasts two sites.

Members will have the chance to tour the Akeno winery and find out more about winemaking in Japan from Ayana Misawa (daughter of Grace Winery president Shigekazu Misawa), who has studied winemaking on three continents.

Following a tasting of bottled Yamanashi flavors, participants will take in the peach blossoms of Fuefuki, which produces the largest amount of peaches in Japan, and the picturesque Erin Temple. o

Compensation Mark MillerCulture, Community & entertainment Daniel Smith (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

CoMMiTTeeS

Yamanashi Winery TourSunday, April 13

8:45 a.m.–7:10 p.m.

¥15,740* (includes transportation, lunch and temple admission)

Adults only

Sign up online or at Member Services

Sponsored by the Culture, Community and Entertainment Committee

(* Exclusive of 8 percent consumption tax.)

Akeno Misawa Winery

Ayana Misawa

Cornerstone of the Club 17

The Spa’s new therapeutic massage treatment is helping Members quickly return to a normal life after bouts of pain or injury. by Nick Narigon

Healing Hands

Hirosuke UsuiAilment: stiff neck“I spend hours at work in front of the computer and my neck is in permanent pain. Waka always gives me tips, like the way the computer display is set up can have an effect. With her diagnostic explanations, she provides a three-dimensional view of how my body works.”

Massage therapist Wakako Ogawa is a self-proclaimed “massage geek.” Passionate about her profession and staying abreast of the latest methods, the 31-year-old is

offering a new therapeutic massage treatment at The Spa.Her clients are athletes, including many Club squash players,

travel-weary execs and even young mothers with muscle aches, chronic pain or even serious injuries. Ogawa, who earned a degree from the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences before working as a licensed massage therapist at New York City’s top sports clubs, fully assesses a client’s ailments before fixing the problem.

“Massage therapy can help break the negative pain cycle,” says Ogawa. “It is up to me to work with my clients to find the right tools to unravel their current injury situation or assist them with their training program.” o

Henriette KokenyAilment: chronic back pain“Wakako had me describe my problem in detail and recommended that we combine a deep-tissue massage and sports massage. This combination works like a magic pill. Moreover, she suggested stretching exercises at home, which became part of my daily routine.”

Steve GreenbergAilment: hip flexor pain“Waka doesn’t just give a massage. She knows her stuff about sports injuries, muscles and how everything works. I do a lot of cycling and was in pain for two days after a long ride. Now I am back on the road, training hard and the pain has been gone for weeks.”

Roni OharaAilment: torn Achilles tendon“After the tendon healed, Waka implemented a myofascial-release massage that broke up the multiple adhesions that were bunched up around my muscles and tendons, preventing circulation. As a result, my muscles and tendons are more pliant and stronger because blood can flow through the tissue.”


RECREATION

As Seen on TVDance, sing and celebrate life at this energetic class, led by Canadian singer-songwriter and yoga innovator Will Blunderfield.

Glee Yoga with Will BlunderfieldSunday, April 62–3 p.m.The Studio¥2,500* (or one yellow exercise ticket)Ages 16 and aboveSign up online or at the Recreation Desk(* Exclusive of 8 percent consumption tax.)

Planet BollywoodTry this high-energy, Bollywood-themed dance exercise at an introductory session for all ages and fitness levels.

Masala Bhangra Introductory WorkoutThursday, April 2411:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.¥1,500* (or one blue exercise ticket) Sign up online or at the Recreation Desk(* Exclusive of 8 percent consumption tax.)

Alley-OopLace up your kicks for the Club’s basketball team tryouts. First to sixth graders are eligible to compete for a spot on the boys’, girls’ or coed team.

TAC Eagles TryoutThursday, April 36:15–7:45 p.m.Saturday, April 511:30 a.m.–2 p.m.GymnasiumFreeSign up online or at the Recreation Desk

Summer of FunRegistration for another season of the Club’s activity-packed Summer Camp sessions kicks off on Monday, April 14, from 12 p.m.

Summer CampJune 16–August 22 (10 sessions)Big Kid (6–12 years) | Preschool A (4–5 years) Preschool B (3–4 years)Big Kid Camp: ¥40,000* for Members (¥46,000* for non-Members)Preschool Camp: ¥37,000* for Members (¥45,954* for non-Members)Sign up at the Recreation Desk or e-mail [email protected](* Exclusive of 8 percent consumption tax.)

Therapeutic Massage Special

The Spa proudly uses products by

YO U T H E V E N T S F i T N E S S

Book an appointment at The Spa at 03-4588-0714 or [email protected]. Monday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–8 p.m. | Sunday and national holidays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

For the month of April, receive 15 percent off a 60- or 90-minute therapeutic massage treatment.

30 minutes: ¥6,300* | 60 minutes: ¥12,600* | 90 minutes: ¥16,800*(* Exclusive of 8 percent consumption tax.)

Batter Up!Another thrilling season of homeruns and no-hitters is underway 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).

Spring Practice DaysEvery Sunday through June 1 (except April 20)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](* Exclusive of 8 percent consumption tax.)

Welcoming SpringIn celebration 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 510:30 a.m.–12 p.m. Toko Shinoda Classroom¥3,500*Sign up online or at the Recreation Desk(* Exclusive of 8 percent consumption tax.)

Fitness and well-being 19

Justine Jonas sits among her students, resting her elbows on the table. Her whiteboard, covered in notes and examples, stands idly at the front of the classroom.

Asking pointed questions, she kicks off an animated debate about a murderous passage from Roald Dahl’s

well-known short story Lamb to the Slaughter. Then, leaning back, the Club Member takes on the role of mediator in what sounds like a freshman literature class.

Learning the World’s Lingua Franca

by Erika WoodwardPhotos by Kayo Yamawaki

But this Wednesday morning class in the Haru Reischauer Classroom is actually a session of the Women’s Group’s reinvented intermediate English-language course.

“These are not lessons you would see in any textbook,” says Jonas, 44. “[The students] are asked their opinion. They take on a role sometimes. I am asking them to dig deep, analyze the language and think critically about issues or relationships that affect them.”

In a departure from typical Japanese education, students in one Women’s Group English class are learning to discuss and debate with confidence.

Nobuko Kosaka and Kaori Kono

Justine Jonas and students


Benjamin Parks

WOMEN’S GROUP

Aiming to improve her students’ English ability and confidence to speak in a myriad of social situations, the former university professor introduces everything from classic short stories to articles from The Economist magazine.

“One student has said she would like to talk about Fukushima,” Jonas says. “They get a buzz when they are reading what native English speakers are reading. They’re not being dumbed down.”

Having taken on the course—at the encouragement of a friend—three years ago, the Aussie says many of her Japanese students read and write English “beautifully” but often struggle to express themselves.

Japan’s education minister, Hakubun Shimomura, expressed the same sentiment in an interview last year. “I think many foreigners also wonder why Japanese are unable to speak English well despite studying English for as long as 10 years through university,” he said. “Including middle and high school-level English education, I want to implement reforms so [students] can acquire practical skills.”

English is, after all, the international language of business. This is clearly understood by companies like Bridgestone, Rakuten and Fast Retailing, which have introduced English classes and all-English work environments.

Shimomura also said he would like English taught from the third year of elementary school by 2017, as is typical in China and Korea, and more native English-speaking assistant language teachers in classrooms to help with pronunciation.

Through her lively course, Jonas is doing her part to help the Club’s English learners and expects them to challenge themselves at every opportunity.

Nobuko Kosaka, a class veteran, peers over the top of her fashionably square, smoky glasses to say it’s refreshing that Jonas asks more than “What did you do last week?”

“[Justine] associates with us on equal terms. She is very special because [it] seems she is quite enjoying herself,” says Kosaka, 73. “This class is very stimulating, and also I look up words in the dictionary much more frequently.”

Sitting opposite is homemaker Kaori Kono, 49. She says she is continuing to improve the language skills she honed while working in international banking.

“If you’re living in Japan, you don’t have the chance to speak [English],” she says. “Being a Member of the American Club, I thought I would have a chance, but I think I was too busy or I didn’t attend the Club activities enough to make friends to chat to.”

Now she lunches weekly with her classmates, sometimes chatting in English.

For Jonas, her students’ gung-ho attitude inspires her to expand the range of discussion topics. “Their keenness motivates me,” she says.

Packing up her materials after class, she stresses that the class is open to anyone with English as a second language, not just Japanese students. “The more viewpoints,” she says, “the better.” o

Woodward is the Club’s former assistant editor.

To find out more about Women’s Group language classes and other programs, visit the Women’s Group Office or the Women’s Group page of the Club website.

Karen Hill Anton’s experience raising her family in rural Shizuoka for the last 40 years developed into the popular column “Crossing Cultures” in The

Japan Times and a number of collections and anthologies of her writing.

Also a cross-cultural trainer, the native New Yorker helps multinational and Japanese companies improve their workforce diversity, empower female staff and prevent harassment. She stresses that communication is essential to operating successfully in a global environment.

“There are different ways of living, interacting and communicating with each other,” she says. “Let’s do what is effective.”

During this month’s Women’s Group luncheon, she will explain what lessons she has learned living in bucolic Japan and how communication is essential to adapting to new surroundings. o

by Nick Narigon

Countryside Livingand Learning

Cultural Insights with Karen Hill AntonMonday, April 1411:30 a.m.Manhattan IWomen’s Group members: ¥3,000*Non-Women’s Group members: ¥4,000*Adults onlySign up online or at Member Services (the first 20 Women’s Group members to sign up will be entitled to bring a non-Women’s Group member—but Club Member—for free)(* Exclusive of 8 percent consumption tax.)

Karen Hill Anton

An interactive community 21

At the tail end of an outstanding baseball career, Club Member Kazuo Matsui reflects on his stints in leagues on both sides of the Pacific.by Nick Narigon


FEATURE

Diamond Life 23

Benj

amin

Par

ks

Kazuo Matsui’s on-the-verge-of-victory moment came last November in the final game of baseball’s Japan Series. The home fans at Sendai’s Kleenex Stadium roared with applause and clapped their thundersticks as the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles’ Masahiro Tanaka wiped sweat from his brow. With two players already out, the spaghetti-elbowed star pitcher stared down Yomiuri Giants pinch hitter Kenji Yano.

Matsui, the Eagles’ captain, manned his usual spot at shortstop. There were two runners on and the tying run was at the plate. Despite having thrown 160 pitches the night before in his first loss of the year, Tanaka was handed the task of closing out the game.

The Eagles were one out away from securing their first championship.

Sitting in a meeting room at the Club recently, Matsui says he had goose bumps.

He could also smell victory. “Tanaka had already faced a lot of these high-pressure situations during the season, so we trusted him,” he says.

There was an automatic out at second base, and Matsui, the team’s seasoned veteran, was willing the batter to hit the ball to him.

“That’s what great players do. They want the ball hit to them in that situation,” says Jim Small, Major League Baseball’s (MLB) vice president for Asia.

Instead, Yano swung at a ball in the dirt and struck out. The stadium erupted. The league’s youngest team (it was formed in 2004) had won the championship, less than three years after tsunami waves wrought destruction on the region.

In a 20-year career studded with highs and lows, including seven challenging years in the United States, it was an emotional win for the 38-year-old Matsui.

Having picked up his first baseball at the age of 2, Osaka-born Matsui played his first game of organized ball at 9. Since Yomiuri Giants games dominated televised baseball, his idol was Tokyo slugger—and current Giants manager—Tatsunori Hara.

A standout pitcher, Matsui was part of the renowned Osaka baseball program at PL Academy Senior High School and, in his junior year, played in Japan’s famous career-making national high school tournament.

But an elbow injury put an end to Matsui’s career on the mound, and he was drafted by the Seibu Lions in 1994 to play the infield, where he had never played before. His apparent lack of experience didn’t prevent him from going on to win four Golden Gloves for outstanding fielding. For five years the player who drove a different route home after a loss put up better offensive numbers than any


It’s every athlete’s dream. And it’s shared by every child who imagines a walk-off grand slam in their backyard or who heaves a game-winning three-pointer in the driveway while counting down the shot clock.

FEATURE

other shortstop in Japanese history and was named the 1998 League MVP.

Dubbed “Little Matsui” to differentiate him from Giants slugger Hideki Matsui, the Seibu player soon attracted the attention of major-league teams. In 2004, he followed his namesake to New York after the Mets offered him an unprecedented deal to become the first Japanese infielder to play in the MLB.

“There was a journalist here that called him the A-Rod [Alex Rodriguez] of Japan, which back in 2004 was a good thing,” says Club Member Small. “Then he goes of all places to the New York Mets, whose crosstown rival [the New York Yankees] had the other Matsui come over the year before. You could make the argument at that point that ‘Kaz’ Matsui was a more talented player than Hideki Matsui—not just his offensive numbers, but his defense was so outstanding. The expectations were so high, it was hard for anyone to live up to that.”

Matsui says he didn’t perform well in his first spring training, but Mets manager Art Howe put him in the starting lineup anyway. During his first regular season at-bat, Matsui says he was focused solely on not letting down his manager.

Facing the Atlanta Braves in his inaugural major-league game, he hit a home run off his first pitch. He still owns the bat from that day, and he repeated the feat at the start of the next two seasons.

Despite the opening day heroics and another memorable blast off the pitching of Randy Johnson, Matsui’s career with the Mets didn’t run according to plan. A lower-back strain limited his time on the field and adjusting to a new style of play proved difficult: the ball was a different size, the turf was unfamiliar and base runners were more aggressive.

Only one other shortstop committed more errors that season. “The whole environment is different,” Matsui says. “The culture, the language, the techniques. You want to get positive results, but you also don’t want to try to do too much.”

He admits that his biggest mistake was trying to be the same player he was in Japan. “It is difficult to be a perfect player,” he says. “It is no different for foreign players who come to play in Japan. Not all of them are successful. If you have one great skill, perhaps you can

carry that on. But if that doesn’t work, you can get confused, and it makes a big difference if you don’t adapt.”

He was moved to second base and, in 2006, Matsui was traded to the Colorado Rockies. Despite the vitriol he faced at times from the New York press and fans, Matsui doesn’t regret his stint with the Mets. “They offered me a great opportunity,” he says. “Every team I played for treated me well and I was fortunate to have really good teammates.”

In Denver, he teamed up with star first baseman Todd Helton, whom he had

played with in a winter league in Hawaii. Matsui finished the season batting .345.

Then, in 2007, the Rockies made an improbable run to the World Series. In one memorable game in the first round of the playoffs against the Philadelphia Phillies, Matsui recorded a grand slam, a triple and a double—a single shy of hitting for the cycle.

In the lead-up to the series, the team strung together nine straight wins. Matsui says the players’ confidence was soaring. But it didn’t last long. The Boston Red Sox swept the Rockies in four games. “Boston had great pitchers, great hitters,” says Matsui. “Once they caught on fire, they were unbeatable.”

Matsui later signed a three-year contract to start at second base for the Houston Astros. He put up solid numbers, but he was plagued by injury. At the end of the 2010 season, Matsui’s MLB dream came to an end.

“Seven years is a long time for any major-league career,” Small says. “Despite what some people might think in New York, people will always look at him as a good, solid major-league player, and that’s a huge accomplishment. It’s something that 99 percent of the people playing baseball strive for.”

Returning home, Matsui says he chose to play for Rakuten for the same reason he opted for the Mets: the team showed the most interest.

Diamond Life 25

Opposite: Matsui with the Houston Astros in 2010; above: running the bases with the Rakuten Golden Eagles


Benjamin Parks

FEATURE

Diamond Life 27

Training camp for the 2011 season started in February. On March 11, he was playing an exhibition game in Hyogo Prefecture when the earthquake struck. While his family was safe, he says he was concerned for some of his teammates who had no way of contacting family members in Sendai.

Matsui later traveled to the tsunami-ravaged area and says he was stunned at the devastation. His first season back in Japan was dedicated to helping those in the disaster-hit region, and he and his teammates visited with families who had lost homes and loved ones. The Sendai stadium proved to be a haven for people to escape their troubles, at least temporarily.

“My teammates were always talking about what Rakuten could do to contribute to the entire area of Tohoku, not just Sendai,” he says. “But all of these fans in 2011, even though they were in such a bad condition, they always came to cheer for the Eagles. They provided more encouragement for us than we did for them. We felt like we really wanted to become as one and celebrate a championship together.”

Matsui says that a consistent lineup was instrumental in the team’s success in 2013. Former MLB players Andruw Jones and Casey McGehee solidified the fourth and fifth spots in the batting order, while Tanaka—now in his rookie year with the Yankees—pitched his way to a 24-0 record.

During the playoffs, Matsui says the support of the fans helped propel the team to victory. “We are just so happy to be able to provide a championship,” he says. “[Coach Senichi] Hoshino said he wanted to start a new legacy. The team started 10 years ago and won its first championship in its ninth year. I am so proud to be a part of that team.”

As long as a team is willing to offer him a contract, Matsui says he will continue to play. But when the time arrives to retire his bat and glove, he says he hopes to coach, possibly in the States, where he’d like to learn more about the country’s approach to the sport and pass it on to Japanese players.

Keen to retain a link with American culture, Matsui and his family joined the Club last year. Both of his children grew up in the US and are heavily involved in sports (Matsui’s 13-year-old daughter frequently plays basketball at the Club).

“TAC provides a real American atmosphere for my family,” he says. “It is a good place to experience America and it is helping my kids adjust to Japan.”

Tokyo-based sportswriter John E Gibson says that while Matsui is no longer the best player on the field, he brings years of experience to the dugout.

“He is a guy who works really hard at his craft. He puts in all of the work and leads by example for the younger players,” he says. “His experience in the United States dealing with adversity helped him guide the team, in a sense. In the Japan Series, they went up against the team with the richest history and the most prestige in the country. That is intimidating before you even step on the field. I think he kept them steady.”

With a new season having just gotten underway, Matsui and his teammates will be looking for another championship win.

“It is a really important year for us,” he says. “Winning in consecutive years is really difficult, but that is the chance we have now. If we win this year, we have a chance to be a part of something truly great.” o

Traders’ Bar screens live and recorded MLB games. Check the Traders’ Bar page of the Club website for the weekly schedule.

By the NumBers

2Players picked by the Seibu Lions ahead of Matsui in the 1994 draft.

4Bases stolen in Japan’s 1997 All-Star Game.

32Bases stolen in 2007 with the Colorado Rockies.

.991Fielding percentage recorded in 2009 with the Houston Astros.

.267Career batting average attained in the MLB.

.309Career batting average registered in Japan.

111Hits tallied in 2013.

$38.1MAmount earned in the MLB.

Matsui with wife, Mio, and daughter, Haruna, in Colorado

Source: Baseball-Reference.com

Most people around the world don’t particularly like their jobs. According to a workplace study

by the US-based polling organization Gallup last year, 63 percent of workers across 142 countries are “not engaged,” meaning they have little passion for their jobs or helping their employers to flourish.

In addition, there were found to be almost twice as many “actively disengaged” employees (24 percent) as “engaged” ones (13 percent).

The numbers, though, were worse in Japan, where only 7 percent of workers enjoy what they do. In contrast, the majority of employees (69 percent) are sleepwalking through their days at the office and 24 percent are overtly negative and hostile to their organizations.

The results, according to Gallup, show that most companies don’t effectively manage their workers or properly make use of their skills. “In East Asian societies, the cultural value of deference

Workplace Woesto authority may make businesses less likely to focus on management structures that allow employees to feel capable of taking initiative,” the report highlighted. “Only about one in six employees in East Asia strongly agree that their opinions count, the lowest proportion of any global region.”

Greg Story is president of Dale Carnegie Training Japan. iNTOUCH’s Nick Jones met the Club Member at his Akasaka office to talk about Japan’s office hurdles. Excerpts:

iNTOUCH: Last year’s Gallup survey on employee engagement revealed that only 7 percent of Japanese workers are engaged. Are you surprised by that number?

Story: Whether our own research in 2012-13, which only showed 2 percent engagement, was a consequence of the full power of the Lehman Shock, the triple whammy of radiation, earthquake

and tsunami and the effect it had on the economy, and the change in people’s thinking around lifetime employment, I don’t know. Whether it’s 2 percent or 7 percent, it’s not a great percentage, anyway. Was I surprised? The 2 percent surprised me. Japan is always the outlier [in engagement surveys]. One of the factors, I think, is cultural in that Japanese tend to be very conservative when scoring. Also, I think, Japan is changing and people are becoming a little more demanding around their employer, the younger generation, particularly. Their thoughts on what constitutes employment and the benefits of that to them are quite different. The self-sacrifice element is not there.

iNTOUCH: Are you inferring that if similar surveys had been done before in Japan, the results would have been higher?

Story: No, I don’t think so. If anything, they probably would have been worse


TALKING HEADS

because the management mentality was very top-down [and] dictatorial. But, you know, people came out of the war in every country around the world into leadership positions because they had been the officer corps. But their leadership model was very much [a] military [one]. I think in the West, we dropped that in the ’60s with the Vietnam War, particularly. I think people moved on from that and started to investigate how to get people motivated, energetic and enthused, without this harsh, military-style model. Japan, I think, hasn’t quite made that break yet. It is changing slowly, but it’s a ways behind.

iNTOUCH: How much of an effect do such Confucian ideals of humility and deference to seniority have on these kinds of engagement surveys?

Story: I do think there is that respect for age, respect for seniority, respect for authority, knowing one’s place [and] safety in the middle of the herd, so I do think we get a difference culturally [in Asia] when we do these surveys. Having said that, what you tend to get as a consequence of that is compliance but a lack of innovation.

So, at a certain level of service, you get a consistent level of attention to detail, which is good. What you don’t get is that little bit of innovation and pizzazz. What we’re looking for is discretionary effort, and that discretionary effort is the seedbed for getting innovation. Because if you don’t care, why would you worry about making it better?

iNTOUCH: What is it then that motivates Japanese workers?

Story: I think it’s that base loyalty in the culture. But I think there is some paternalism in smaller companies, which has a kind of reciprocal loyalty, which works. The problem is you’re just not getting enough out of that system anymore. So you have to get people interested in being innovative about things and thinking about the company, how it could be more competitive [and] have better customer service. Getting Japanese to think like that is not so easy, I think, because they’ve been taught to think in very micro terms.

iNTOUCH: How difficult is it to change this way of thinking?

Story: The real trigger for change is middle management. They absorb direction from above, the “why,” and their job is to build people and manage processes. Often, though, the why stops with them and those below only get told the “what” and possibly the “how.” And also mistakes are viewed very negatively here. As long as the mistakes are not allowed to grow to a disastrous proportion, they can be an important part of the learning process. The problem for Japan is the infamous on-the-job training is a toxic cocktail of generation upon generation of worst practices because there hasn’t been a lot of intervention around teaching middle management how to be effective middle managers.

iNTOUCH: Japanese managers might well say, though, that their system helped them become the second-largest, now third-largest, economy in the world.

Story: I don’t know that too many Japanese people are all that confident about Japan’s future because they know that the model of bringing to bear the political, economic and governmental worlds for Japan’s benefit and having high tariff walls and exclusionary policies around regulatory barriers doesn’t work anymore. Japan has a disciplined, loyal workforce and people who take their work seriously and can be relied upon, but that’s just not enough anymore to be competitive. They have to be global, which requires another level of sophistication.

iNTOUCH: Is there a realization among Japanese senior managers that practices have to change?

Story: It’s not moving as fast as I think Japan needs it to move. When we do our own nine-step innovation process training, Japanese come up with great ideas because they’re given two things: a tool that allows them to plumb the depths of their own creativity and thinking and, secondly, they’re given the freedom to come up with ideas, without critique in the first instance. This is where, I think, the Japanese system is not particularly good from a managerial point of view to allow that freedom. In my experience, the Japanese are no less creative than anybody else. It’s just a matter of tapping into that reservoir of ideas. o

Greg Story

Member insights on Japan 29

In Search of Simplicity

Ahead of his exhibition at the Frederick Harris Gallery this month, ceramist Taizo Kuroda explains the inspiration for his iconic, white porcelain. by Gianni Simone


FREDERICK HARRIS GALLERY

ExhibitionApril 14–28

Gallery ReceptionMonday, April 146:30–8 p.m.Frederick Harris Gallery (B1 Formal Lobby)FreeOpen to invitees and Members only

T odai moto kurashi (It’s dark at the base of a lighthouse) is a popular Japanese proverb that means it’s often difficult to

see what’s right in front of your eyes. It’s an adage that likely resonates with ceramicist Taizo Kuroda, who, like many other Japanese artists, left his homeland in search of fortune and inspiration.

Now 67 and reaping the fruits of his journey of self-discovery abroad, Kuroda’s love affair with pottery was somewhat serendipitous. “I had long been attracted to the West through all the movies I had been watching during my youth,” says Kuroda. “Going to Paris, in particular, had been a dream of mine, and when, in [1964], the government finally allowed common people to freely travel abroad, I decided to take advantage of the new law. Plane tickets at the time were extraordinarily expensive [the equivalent of ¥3 million today] and my mother was very worried, but for me it was a great adventure.”

While waiting tables at a Paris restaurant, the 20-year-old Kuroda met famous ceramist and future living national treasure Tatsuzo Shimaoka. “He introduced me to Canadian potter Gaetan Beaudin, now recognized as the father of the modern Quebec ceramic movement. That was when I began to take an interest in ceramics,” Kuroda says.

About a year later, Kuroda visited Beaudin in Canada. There, he touched a potter’s wheel for the first time. “Somehow I felt that working at a wheel would become my lifetime work,” he says.

Kuroda spent 15 years abroad, 13 of them in Quebec. After studying under the Canadian master, he worked as a designer for Sial, Beaudin’s company that produced functional dinnerware. During this period, he twice returned to Japan to learn from Shimaoka in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture’s pottery hub.

Shoji Hamada, who helped to establish Mashiko as a recognized center of pottery, is among Kuroda’s strongest influences. “People usually find in my works a distant resemblance to his art,” he says, “and I must say I love his style. Mashikoyaki is a very traditional style, but Hamada brought about a great creative freedom.”

Kuroda’s return to Japan in 1981 launched a new phase in his quest for artistic expression. “I was still exploring different paths, trying out different materials and decorative styles, but every time I was unsure about what to do,” he says.

It was after moving his house-cum-studio to the Izu Peninsula in 1991 that Kuroda realized that absolute freedom was actually a hindrance to his art. He needed to establish some limits. “So I stripped my art of whatever I thought unnecessary and returned to the basics,” he explains. “It felt liberating.”

He has remained faithful to this approach for more than two decades. “The only way to attain expressive freedom for me is to restrict myself,” he says. “Only by narrowing down my color choice to white can I focus on my real objective, which is to establish a connection with people.”

Even though Kuroda makes only functional pieces, his tableware and flower pots are more revered for their artistic quality. “I only concentrate on beauty,” he says. “For example, many of the objects collected by the Japan Folk Crafts Museum in Tokyo were made as simple tools, but for me they have outgrown their origin; they are just beautiful things. That’s the only thing that really counts.”

Kuroda might well have mentored under Beaudin and Shimaoka, but his

works have a closer resemblance to Korean Joseon white porcelain (one of his favorite styles) and, critics say, a hint of Western minimalism. “I confess I don’t know what the definition of minimalism is,” he says. “The only thing I can say is that I’ve always been attracted to simple things. This pureness of expression can be found everywhere in the world, regardless of definitions. Hopefully, you will find this purity in my objects as well.”

With their stripped-down forms and lack of glaze, Kuroda’s pieces seem quintessentially Japanese. Yet their ragged edges add character. “I like to work with my hands, they are my favorite tools,” he says. Without using any specialist tools, he forms those impossibly thin edges (just 1 millimeter, at times).

Stylistic considerations aside, Kuroda’s reason for doing what he does is as uncomplicated as his art. “Each one of us is a tiny particle, seemingly lost in the universe,” he says. “My aim is to create something that hopefully is going to touch other people’s lives.” o

Simone is a Yokohama-based freelance journalist.

Exhibitions of Art 31

CULTURAL INSIGHT

During the initiation ceremony, or nyushashiki, of the Japanese supermarket chain Seiyu each

spring, fresh-faced associates, clad in near identical black suits, spend several hours chatting with company leaders about the firm and hearing about their experiences.

The formal reception, which is a rite held at companies across Japan, is a chance for new employees to find out what is expected of them and, in turn, learn what they should expect from the company and their managers.

“The nyushashiki is a special opportunity to welcome new graduates, as they start out on a new adventure; one they will be on for many years,” Seiyu CEO and Club Member Steve Dacus explains. “I speak with every intake and it’s always a wonderful experience. Every time I do, I can’t help thinking about how I felt when I graduated from college and started my first ‘real’ job.”

The nyushashiki is one example of the many well-scripted ceremonies that

denote major life stages, particularly those involving education and work, and help to foster a sense of group identity.

Each April, against a backdrop of blossoming cherry trees, students at every level of education take part in a ceremony to mark the commencement of the next step of their academic life.

Children as young as 3 or 4 may experience their first entrance ceremony, or nyuenshiki, at yochien (preschool), which heralds their acceptance into the school community.

At the age of 6, first-grade elementary school students participate in a nyugakushiki, signifying the beginning of authentic academic learning and increasing independence. For instance, students are expected to commute to school on their own.

The parade of speakers includes school principals, PTA representatives and student ambassadors, who impart their congratulations and the occasional nugget

April is the month of ceremonies in Japan, as institutions and organizations welcome newcomers to the next stage of their lives. by Efrot Weiss

of wisdom. School songs and possibly the national anthem are also sung.

The students, dressed in school uniform or formal attire, tend to have a different perception of the event. My 12-year-old daughter, Mckayla, recalls her own nyugakushiki: “My goal for the day was to stay awake. And my favorite part was when it was over.”

Similar rituals continue through each level of education to college and university. Masayoshi Yamano, president of Yamano College of Aesthetics, says he tries to inspire during his speech.

“I tell each new class of students that by the time they graduate, they will have many tools to meet their customers’ needs,” says the Club Member. “Just like a traditional Chinese medicine chest, with its many drawers, they will have a vast set of skills to use.”

Once the pomp of university graduation has passed, Japan’s new workers prepare for their final initiation ceremony. Their company induction includes lessons on the firm’s core values and mission. At some corporations, they sing the company song, which is memorized during a rehearsal.

“We try to celebrate their new start while alleviating some of their anxiety with information they will need to get started and fit into their new environment,” says Seiyu’s Dacus. “The nyushashiki is a really unique event.” o

Weiss is a Member of the Club.

Standing on Ceremony

Japanese traditions and customs 33

Stanley & Myrtle Zelek United States—Corning Holding Japan G.K.

Shirish Chandrakar & Megumi Iwasaki India—Right Click K.K.

Hideki & Kayoko Yashiro Japan—Yashiro & Associates International

John King & Kaori Kawatake United Kingdom—Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.

Marius Vaarkamp & Dawn McGrew Netherlands—NE Chemcat Corporation

Satish & Sujata BapatNetherlands—ING Life Insurance Co., Ltd.

Tetsuya & Miwako Suzuki Japan—We’ve, Inc.

Takayuki Katashiba United States—Adobe Systems Co., Ltd.

Chris & Keiko Mizumoto United States—Bingham Sakai Mimura Aizawa

Tokuyuki Sato Japan—Marsh Broker Japan, Inc.

Antonio Alvarez & Ines Perisse Spain—Grand Hyatt Tokyo

Paul Amos II & Courtney Amos United States—AFLAC Japan

Toshihiro KobayashiJapan—Global Knowledge Management Center Ltd.

Simon FarrellUnited Kingdom—Custom Media K.K.

Edward Thompson United States—Concept Design K.K.

Kazuharu Ishida Japan—Taisho Sky Building, Inc.

Cameron & Yuka BrettCanada—Randstad K.K.

Morne & Eunice Grobler United States—Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC

Shannon Murphy & Thi Hanh HoangUnited States—AIG Japan Holdings K.K.

Tom Lovell & Meha ThindAustralia—Yamane Tullett Prebon (Japan) Ltd.

Neal Taylor United States—FutureHire Group

Tomoyoshi Sen & Olga ShelekhovaSouth Korea—Productoftime, Inc.

Christopher & Naomi Richter United States—CLSA Securities Japan Co., Ltd.

Roberto & Chiharu LorenzoniItaly—TUV Rheinland Japan Ltd.

Andre & Kathleen SchwesingerGermany—Corning Holding Japan G.K.

Maxwell & Chiharu Key United States—Kenden Corporation

Noboru MatsuokaJapan—DHL Supply Chain Ltd.

Koichiro & Sayaka TanakaJapan—Tanaka Holdings Co., Ltd.

Kenta & Kumiko Motogami United States—Celes Medical Corporation

Reid & Yoko Matsumoto United States—Credit Suisse Securities (Japan) Ltd.

David Rylett & Stephanie MacleanCanada—Novartis Pharma K.K.

Taizo Son & Seia Lee South Korea—Movida Japan, Inc.

Taro & Chikako Okayama United Kingdom—Odenwa Center

Tomonori & Kanako Okitsu Japan—SHF Japan Corporation

Anthony Byrne & Miki TakedaAustralia—Deutsche Securities, Inc.

Avi & Maia BenShoshanIsrael—MSD K.K.

Kenta Horng & Ayako YoshidaUnited States—Enrapt, Inc.

Hiromasa & Chikako MizushimaJapan—Simplex Asset Management Co., Ltd.

Masahiro & Yuki WashizuRobert & Theresa ArguellesKozo HamaguchiSadayuki & Kuniko HamaguchiJoseph & Nancy YouMarjet Andriesse & Owen van der ZalmMidori ArashidaSara Harriger & Roshni Nirody

Akihiko HaruyamaTsunehiko & Sumiko IkedaReece JenkinsMark & Anita MatthewsMark & Joan NorbomParis & Marie-Claire PanayiotopoulosJiro SeguchiAndrei & Tatiana Soroka

Tetsuo & Nobuko HirataNobuo InoueKlaus-Albert & Kaisa BauerFrank & Katie HaToshio OhnishiThomas & Kaori LoganYukie KozaiTadashi & Rumi Nakauchi

sayonara

yokoso

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

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)

The Art of TravelDiscover Japan and beyond with help from the Club’s travel desk consultants. The Cellar (B1)Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.Tel: 076-221-1586E-mail: [email protected]


Here’s one,” Amon Ogasahara announces. On the screen of his smartphone is displayed a

photograph of an exquisitely crafted gold brooch. The design is of a bearded Moses, stone tablet in hand, flanked on both sides by a parted Red Sea.

The website shows a six-figure yen price tag. “It’s not about the value,” Ogasahara, 25, says. “It’s about the time [invested] and the craftsmanship.” The prophet-themed breastpin and other intricate pieces for sale in the online store were all designed by Ogasahara’s father.

“I always had a feeling that my father was

cool,” he says. As a captivated young boy, Ogasahara made up his mind to become a jewelry designer and join the family business. After graduating from high school in Bremen, Germany, where he lived with his German mother (also a jewelry designer) and his brother, he moved to his father’s hometown of Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture.

“It was hard because he is also the owner. I had to prove myself,” he says of his apprenticeship under his father. “He’s a very talented person. I’m not even close.”

After four years of intense training and work, as well as sessions with his local capoeira (a Brazilian martial art) group,

Ogasahara began to look beyond the mountains of Yamanashi. “I felt I should do something else,” he says. Arriving in Tokyo last April, he began his “journey” at the Club the same month.

A member of the parking team, he was named February’s Employee of the Month. “I still don’t know why I won. I’m just doing my job,” he says.

The last 12 months for Ogasahara have been punctuated with events worthy of celebration. He got married and is set to become a father in the summer. “It’s been a crazy year,” he says. And he probably wouldn’t have had it any other way. o

MEMBER SERVICES

Why did you decide to join the Club?“We decided to join TAC after two years in Tokyo because we couldn’t resist the multiple forces attracting us to the Club. From the various necessities that TAC provides and the expectations of the American prodigal status that has become part of a natural pattern of existence for an American in Tokyo to the multiple friends who are already Members, we simply found the draw too enticing to resist. Oh, and the basketball court, we really like the basketball court.”

(l–r) Joe, Mari, Cole, Abigail and Vince Strain

Why did you decide to join the Club?“I lived in Tokyo as a child and TAC was a huge part of why I loved living in Tokyo. When we found out we were moving to Tokyo for my husband’s job, we knew that we wanted to be Members of TAC, so we could provide the same community experience for our children. The new facilities are amazing, and our children particularly enjoy the Sky Pool, Library and Bowling Center, while my husband and I enjoy the fitness facilities and lectures. We look forward to meeting other Members.”

(l–r) Gerry, Hadley, Elise, Tracy and Serena Keefe

New Member ProfileJoe & Mari StrainUnited States—PricewaterhouseCoopers Aarata

New Member ProfileGerry & Tracy KeefeUnited States—Citibank Japan Ltd.

employeeof the month

Amon Ogasahara

by Nick Jones

Services and benefits for Members 35

Club Comforts AbroadThe Club’s reciprocal club network offers a convenient portal to dozens of cities around the world. by Nick Jones

P aul Hoff isn’t lured by luxury hotels’ hackneyed promises of “elegant comfort” in “sumptuous suites,”

served by “attentive staff ” when he travels. He prefers staying in a setting that is closer to what he enjoys back home in Tokyo.

“I use reciprocal clubs often on my travels to Europe, Australia and the USA,” says the longtime Member. “Reciprocal clubs are nicer than hotels because the rooms are usually quieter and better appointed than hotels.”

Citing London’s Lansdowne Club, the New York Athletic Club and the RACV (Royal Automobile Club of Victoria) Club in Melbourne as particular favorites, the 63-year-old American says that the clubs he visits usually have good spa facilities and serve impressive local cuisine.

Since the Club is part of a network of around 200 clubs around the world, Members automatically have access to a range of facilities when traveling overseas. All a Member has to do is pick up an introductory letter from Member Services and present it at the reciprocal club’s reception desk.

Member Ed Rogers, 49, is another enthusiastic user of reciprocal clubs when flying to the United States, Europe

or other parts of Asia for work. “The reciprocal clubs have provided very cost-effective lodgings in the cities I frequent,” he says. “The clubs are almost always located very close to [central business district] areas where most of my meetings take place. Also, the clubs themselves are very good meeting spots for certain types of business meetings.”

The American recommends the 123-year-old University Club of San Francisco, in the historic neighborhood

of Nob Hill, as a perfect spot to unwind in the Californian city. “The rooms were recently renovated, and I love the view and ambience on the balcony off the upstairs library—great place to meet someone for a cigar and a drink,” he says. “Rooms at the five-star hotel across the street start at literally three times the price.” o

Visit the Reciprocal Clubs page in the Activities

& Amenities section of the Club website to

learn more.

Reciprocal Club SurveyThe Club is reviewing its network of reciprocal

clubs and would like Members to review a list of

some of those clubs on the Reciprocal Clubs page

of the Club website.

University Club of San Francisco

The Lansdowne Club

The New York Athletic Club

MEMBER SERVICES


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Naoko Yamazaki

To the Stars and Back

Former Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki reflects

on her out-of-this-world career and the future of

space travel.by Tim Hornyak

Benjamin Parks


A look at culture and society 39

F or a former astronaut, Naoko Yamazaki blends in well with the crowd. She seems like any other mother of two living in

Kamakura, but there’s a distinct sparkle in her eye. It seems like the kind of star-struck twinkle one gets from gazing at the Earth from 400 kilometers above the surface in the International Space Station (ISS).

Yamazaki, 43, is only the second Japanese woman to have ventured into space, after the pioneering Chiaki Mukai. Blasting off from the Kennedy Space Center in April 2010 aboard Discovery, one of the final flights of the United States space shuttle program, Yamazaki and six others were to resupply the space station, carry out experiments and fix an ammonia tank on the gargantuan facility.

At more than 15 days, mission STS-131 was the longest ever for Discovery, which was decommissioned 11 months later. But Yamazaki had been preparing for the ride of her life for 11 years.

“When I started out as an astronaut candidate in the late 1990s, I thought it might take three or four years to train,” she recalls. “But then Columbia happened.”

Following the disintegration of the Columbia orbiter on reentering the Earth’s atmosphere in 2003, an uncertainty descended on Yamazaki’s training with NASA and Japan’s space agency, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). The disaster also evoked memories of the loss of Challenger in 1986.

At the time, Yamazaki was a middle-school student in Chiba Prefecture and had already been bitten by the space bug. “When I was 7 years old, I looked through a telescope and could clearly see the moon and the rings of Saturn,” she says. “I was so impressed with this naked-eye view and became fascinated with space and stars.”

A steady diet of science-fiction classics like Star Wars and Space Battleship Yamato fueled her interest. Keen to develop space rockets, she studied engineering at the University of Tokyo. Three years after graduating, she was selected as an astronaut candidate by JAXA’s precursor. The journey into space had begun.

Much of her training was overseas. While the shuttle program was suspended, she became certified as a Soyuz spacecraft engineer in Russia, a rigorous program that included three days of wilderness survival training in temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius.

“That was the most difficult part of my

INSIDE JAPAN

entire training,” she says. “We had to build a tent with a parachute and survive using only the equipment in a Soyuz capsule.”

In 2008, Yamazaki was finally tipped to head into orbit. When she was strapped into Discovery two years later, she says she felt a mix of strong emotions, but fear wasn’t among them. It was mostly excitement, tempered by years of training, as well as gratitude for all those who had supported her.

The International Space Station looked like a distant, beautiful star as the shuttle approached it. But the most striking view, Yamazaki says, was that of our own planet. “It was breathtaking. Of course, I had seen many images of the Earth, but the real view was more fantastic,” she says. “Being in microgravity, sometimes it would shine above my head, and that was surprising. From space, the Earth itself looks like a spaceship.”

Yamazaki acclimatized to zero gravity quickly, carrying out her assigned experiments, operating the robotic arm to bring the Italian cargo module aboard the ISS and working out for hours on a stationary bike to maintain muscle

tone. Showers are a luxury not afforded ISS crew, and astronauts have to wipe themselves down each day.

Back on Earth, Yamazaki’s 7-year-old daughter was cheering on her mom. Balancing motherhood with a career as an astronaut was “very challenging but not impossible,” according to Yamazaki.

Reflecting on her time in space, Yamazaki says she was particularly impressed with how so many countries had come together to build something as large, complex and distant as the ISS. Working with 13 people of various nationalities on the station filled her with a sense of international collaboration, she says.

Retiring from JAXA in 2011, Yamazaki pursued microsatellite research at the University of Tokyo and is currently preparing for a PhD.

In 2012, Yamazaki was appointed to the Japanese government’s space policy committee, which advises the prime minister on the direction of the country’s space program, which has been focusing on the next-generation H-III liquid-fuel rocket for satellite launches. Tests are due to start in 2020.

While the shuttle fleet has been retired, Yamazaki says she is watching with interest the rapid development of private-sector space companies like British entrepreneur Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, which hopes to launch suborbital space tourism flights.

“SpaceShipTwo will start operation later this year or next,” she says. “It’s coming soon and I’m so excited. In Japan, lots of people are interested in space tourism and some of them already have tickets to ride on spaceships. I think it’s a good thing for more people to go to space. It will create lots of cultures and lots of possibilities.” o

Hornyak is a Tokyo-based freelance journalist.

Yamazaki in the ISS΄s Leonard Logistic Module

Earth from the ISS

Japan’s Ancient HeartFrom centuries-old temples and castles to snow monkeys and hot springs, Nagano is packed with springtime attractions. by Tyler Parr

I t’s difficult to say goodbye to the precious pink and white cherry-blossom petals. So don’t. As the weather warms and the sakura

migrate northwards through the Japanese archipelago, an excursion to Nagano Prefecture provides another chance to experience the fleeting, fragrant flowers.

Easily reached by bullet train, Nagano City’s pleasant streets around the famed Zenko Temple are home to a number of different types of sakura tree and other lush flora. As you head to the seventh-century temple from the city center, it’s worth stopping off for some steamed soba-flour buns, or oyaki, along the way.

Available with a variety of fillings, including pork, beef, eggplant, mushroom, sweet red-bean paste and pickled greens, these treats are a popular local snack. Soba noodles are also a specialty in Nagano, and some of the soba restaurants feature windows into

the kitchen for visitors to watch chefs prepare, measure and cut fresh noodles, before they are cooked in a steaming broth and topped with spring onions.

The main hall at Zenko Temple is one of the largest wooden buildings in Japan and features exquisitely crafted statues and drums. The temple also houses the so-called “secret Buddha,” or hibutsu, which is reportedly the oldest statue of Buddha in Japan and not shown to the public. Despite this, the temple attracts more than 7 million visitors a year.

Those who wish to explore the grounds further can do so for a small fee. After descending a staircase into total darkness, visitors must feel their way along the walls of a corridor in search of an iron handle, which represents salvation. The ticket also allows you access to a museum in the basement of the memorial building nearby.

Zenko Temple can become crowded,

so if you’d prefer to wander around the site in relative tranquility, it’s better to visit in the evening when the moon casts a mysterious glow over the area. There are many souvenir shops around the entrance to the temple, including Yawataya Isogoro, which specializes in shichimi togarashi, a seasoning of seven spices. Customers can even create their own personalized combination of ingredients.

Also along the main approach to the temple is the 1923 building of Gohonjin Fujiya, the former venerable Hotel Fujiya and now a high-end Western restaurant and function center.

After a day of strolling around Nagano, a hot-spring onsen is the perfect way to unwind, and there are many options nearby. Well-known Nozawa Onsen, about an hour’s drive from the city, offers the chance for some end-of-season skiing or snowboarding, while the area of Yamanouchi boasts

Nakamachi Street


OUT & ABOUT

☛ Nagano City www.city.nagano.nagano.jp

☛ Matsumoto City http://welcome.city.matsumoto.

nagano.jp

☛ Go! Nagano www.go-nagano.net

as “Crow Castle.” From the outside, the castle appears to have five floors, but it actually has six. The secret third floor has windows on the south side only and was where sword-wielding warriors would hide. With its original keep, the 16th-century castle’s floors now feature exhibits on early weaponry and art, castle construction methods and life inside its walls. The surrounding grounds are ideal for a picnic.

A trip to Matsumoto doesn’t mean forgoing the requisite onsen, either. Just half an hour from the castle, Gake no Yu offers stunning views of the city and the surrounding peaks of the Japan Alps from its outdoor Japanese cypress tree baths. This onsen also has a restaurant and overnight rooms for those looking for a haven in which to relax while contemplating Nagano’s magnificent natural beauty and history. o

Parr is a Kanagawa-based freelance journalist.

TOKYO

NAGANO

onsen towns (Shibu and Yudanaka) and the chance to see Japanese macaques take a dip at the popular Jigokudani Monkey Park.

Nagano’s second-largest city to the south, Matsumoto, is well worth exploring. Those with energy to burn should head to Shinshu Sky Park, which offers an array of activities, including climbing (the park has three practice walls), tennis, basketball and cycling.

Located in downtown Matsumoto, the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, with its vast private collection, is an inspiring spot of peace and creativity. The culture continues along Nakamachi Street, a former merchant district of restored buildings and shops selling crafts and kimono. The storied area is a great place to wander while munching on senbei rice crackers.

One spot not to be missed is the black-walled Matsumoto Castle, a national treasure sometimes referred to

☛ Zenko Temple www.zenkoji.jp

☛ Yawataya Isogoro www.yawataya.co.jp

☛ Gohonjin Fujiya www.thefujiyagohonjin.com

☛ Nozawa Onsen http://nozawakanko.jp

☛ Shibu Onsen www.shibuonsen.net

☛ Yudanaka Onsen http://yudanaka-onsen.info

☛ Jigokudani Monkey Park www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp

☛ Shinshu Sky Park http://shinshu-skypark.net

(Japanese only)

☛ Japan Ukiyo-e Museum www.japan-ukiyoe-museum.com

☛ Gake no Yu Onsen Tel: 0263-58-2162

Matsumoto Castle

Zenko Temple

☛ Around 100 minutes by bullet train from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station.

Explorations beyond the Club 41

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

Show & Tell Introduction PartyFebruary 24

A number of potential Club Members enjoyed an

evening of drinks, canapés and learning about the

benefits of membership and the Club as a spot for

hosting meetings, parties and events.

Photos by Kayo Yamawaki

1. Andrea Simonini and Masayo Tamaoka 2. FLATiRON's Teruyuki

Nakajima and Nobuhiro Fujiwara 3. Kim and Gary Stollar

2 3

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EVENT ROUNDUP

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TAC vs Wako Badminton ClubFebruary 25

Players from Wako Badminton Club returned to Azabudai

for a second year for a series of friendly matches in the

Gymnasium against the Club’s devoted shuttlers.

Photos by Yuuki Ide

Jiro Matsumura Memorial Fund Donation

December 9

Longtime Member Shizuko Tani presented the Club’s

general manager, Tony Cala, with a check for ¥1 million for

the Jiro Matsumura Memorial Fund. The late Matsumura

was a Member for nearly 30 years and the fund in his name

is used for a staff overseas internship program.

1. Mayumi Sakazaki and Akio Matsui

Snapshots from Club occasions 43

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

Caymus Vineyards Wine Dinner with Chuck WagnerFebruary 27

On his first trip to Japan, revered winemaker Chuck

Wagner of Napa Valley’s Caymus Vineyards uncorked a

number of his stunning wines, including his acclaimed

Cabernet Sauvignon, at a sold-out dinner.

Photos by Yuuki Ide

1. Chuck Wagner

1


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

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

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

Flavors from southof the border

Agave, Roppongi’s only tequila and

cigar bar, presents La Cocina Gabriela

Mexicana, a haven of authentic Mexican

cuisine and a wood-�red grill.

EVENT ROUNDUP

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5

Distinguished Achievement Award Presentation Ceremony

February 27

The Club honored pioneering alpinist Junko Tabei, actress

and goodwill ambassador Norika Fujiwara and fashion

designer Junko Koshino with its Distinguished Achievement

Award at a ceremony in a packed Winter Garden.

Photos by Benjamin Parks

1. (l–r) Kazuakira Nakajima, Junko Tabei and Makiko Durkin 2. (l–r)

Dan Smith, Makiko Durkin, Brenda Bohn, Mark Saft, Norika Fujiwara,

Jeff McNeill, Junko Tabei, Club President John Durkin, Junko Koshino,

Ginger Griggs, Miki Ohyama, JoAnn Yoneyama, Reiko Saito and Lance

E Lee 3. Ginger Griggs and Junko Koshino 4. (l–r) Norika Fujiwara,

Junko Tabei and Junko Koshino 5. (l–r) Club President John Durkin,

Norika Fujiwara, Junko Tabei, Junko Koshino and Makiko Durkin

Snapshots from Club occasions 47


T he wife of a senior Hong Kong colleague explained to me that her husband’s dream was to take a sabbatical for a year and live in Japan “as a normal person and study everyday

life.” With no interest in learning some ancient Japanese art form, he wants to experience regular life in a country that he believes represents the height of perfection.

A little more than three years after the triple disasters of Tohoku, and despite the ongoing tensions between Japan and China, my Hong Kong friends are forever talking about visiting Japan. They want to experience the food and the fashion, naturally, but the main attraction is Japan’s trend-setting culture.

Just two months after March 2011, we surveyed people in a dozen countries around the world. We asked them their thoughts on the future of Japan. While many were concerned about the ongoing Fukushima crisis, they also expressed belief that if any country could recover, it was Japan.

BACK WORDS Whatever 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].

by Dave McCaughan

Countless destinations.

Infinite possibilities.

Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–12:30 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

UnconventionallyCool

Three years later, Japan is back as a place to visit to catch a glimpse of possible future fads. Sure, Korea has its K-pop and booming cosmetic surgery industry, and the United States remains one of the world’s great shopping destinations. But what’s special about Japan is that it’s not conventional.

While Hong Kong tourists will happily indulge in “eating weekends” in all sorts of places in Japan, they particularly enjoy wandering city backstreets and exploring niche shops for the curious and cool in electronics, games, shoes, hairstyles or manga. This is the substance of Japan’s soft power that makes the inquisitive visitor feel like they are venturing just “over the edge of normal culture,” as one friend put it. And it can be something as banal as spending time in convenience stores in Japan, as one guy told me he does twice a year.

Unfortunately, the misinformation continues. Another Hong Kong friend said she was nervous about becoming “radiated” during an upcoming trip. I tried to reassure her that her destination, Fukuoka, was a long way from Fukushima. A week later, she told me that she had had a wonderful time and was overwhelmed by the food, service and sense of calm—all reasons why people keep returning.

When you’re living at the center of the ever-evolving “new,” it’s easy to take it all for granted and miss just how far ahead people see Japan. o

Club Member McCaughan is managing director with the advertising

agency McCann Worldgroup Hong Kong.

TOKYO

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ERICAN

CLUB

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Issue 588 • April 2014

April 2014

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

Rocket WomanOne Japanese astronaut offers a glimpse of life in space

Pure and Simple Ceramist Taizo Kuroda on his quest for beauty

Cellar Picks The Club’s wine pros uncork their favorite bottles

Club Member Kazuo Matsui reflects on seven years in the majors and a winning return to Japan

A TALE Of TwO LEAgUEs

毎月一回一日発行　

第四十七巻五八八号　

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四月一日発行　

平成三年十二月二十日第三種郵便物許可定価八００円

本体七七七円

april 2014 intouch

Documents

member services

womens grouplearning

cover photo of kazuo

video library

marcusfood beverage

beverage office

bowling center

simple ceramist taizo