february 2016 intouch magazine

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HIssue 610 • February 2016

February 2016

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

毎月一回一日発行　

第四十七巻六一〇号　トウキョウアメリカンクラブ　

インタッチマガジン二〇一六年二月一日発行　

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

TODD MOSES AND OTHER MEMBERS ON THE THRILL OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL

MUSIC AND MARDI GRAS | SUPER BOWL SHINDIGJANCIS ROBINSON AT THE CLUB

TOKYO

AM

ERICAN

CLUB

i

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OU

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Issue 610 • February 2016

February 2016




Find financial peace of mind

[email protected] | 03-5549-9099

Offshore tax planning International investment accounts Estate planning and asset protection Retirement and education fees solutions Properties in Japan and abroad Contact us, a fellow Club member, for a free consultation at your place, ours or the Club.

Investment advice for expats and Japanese nationals

Club Committees

Compensation Mark MillerCulture, Community & Entertainment Dan Smith (Ginger Griggs) Subcommittee

Culture & Community TBC Entertainment TBC Frederick Harris Gallery Yumiko Sai Video Library Diane HarrisFinance Rodney Nussbaum (Hiroshi Miyamasu)

Food & Beverage Matt Krcelic(Jerry Rosenberg) Subcommittee

Wine Stephen RomaineHouse Tomio Fukuda (Gregory Lyon) Subcommittee

Facilities Management Group Matt KrcelicHuman Resources Per Knudsen (Lance E Lee)Membership Steven Greenberg(Alok Rakyan)Nominating Dieter Haberl

Recreation Samuel Rogan (Michael Alfant) Subcommittee

Bowling TBC Fitness Samuel Rogan Golf John Patrick Vaughan Library Judith Ann Herd Logan Room Christa Rutter Squash Pete Juds Swim Alexander Jampel Youth Activities TBCTokyo 2020 Olympic Dean Rogers (Machi Nemoto)

Board of GovernorsJohn Durkin (2016)—Representative

Governor, Mary Saphin (2016)—First

Vice President, Jesse Green (2016)—Second Vice President, Michael Benner (2016)—Hiroshi Miyamasu (2017)—Treasurer, Michael Alfant (2017), Betty Butler (2017), Ginger Griggs (2017), Lance E Lee (2017), Gregory Lyon (2016), Mark Miller (2017), Machi Nemoto (2016), Alok Rakyan (2017), Jerry Rosenberg (2016), Kazuakira Nakajima (2016)—Statutory Auditor

contents 2 Contacts

4 Board of Governors

5 Management

6 Events

8 The Selection

10 Wine & Dining

14 Arts & Entertainment

18 Recreation & Fitness

22 Feature

26 Six Degrees

27 Cultural Insight

28 Event Roundup

34 Club People

36 Back Words

FEATURE Football FrenzyAs the NFL’s top two teams

prepare to do battle for the

Vince Lombardi Trophy,

iNTOUCH examines the

popularity of college football

in the United States through

interviews with Members

who played and those who

tailgated.

10 WINE & DINING Gourmet Couple Connoisseurs of food and

wine Jancis Robinson and Nick

Lander share their passion

with Members at two events

in March.

26 SIX DEGREES The Pull of the DeepIn learning to freedive to

lung-bursting ocean depths,

Member Quinn Riordan

discovered a lot about himself.

20 RECREATION & FITNESSAcoustic Adventurer Talented guitarist Kai Petite was

on the fast track to Japanese

idoldom before an album flop

saved his musical career.

22

Cover photo of Todd Moses by Benjamin Parks

Find financial peace of mind

[email protected] | 03-5549-9099

Offshore tax planning International investment accounts Estate planning and asset protection Retirement and education fees solutions Properties in Japan and abroad Contact us, a fellow Club member, for a free consultation at your place, ours or the Club.

Investment advice for expats and Japanese nationals

Follow the Club Online

Getting in TouchDepartment/E-mail PhoneAmerican Bar & Grill (03) [email protected]

Banquet Sales and Reservations (03) [email protected]

Beauty Salon (03) 4588-0685Bowling Center (03) [email protected]

Café Med (03) [email protected]

Catering (03) [email protected]

Childcare Center (03) [email protected]

Communications (03) [email protected]

CHOP Steakhouse/220° (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) 4588-0679Information Technology (03) 4588-0690Library (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]

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2 February 2016 iNTOUCH

To advertise in iNTOUCH, contact:[email protected]

For membership information,contact Mari Hori:[email protected]

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

www.tokyoamericanclub.org

Editor Nick Jones [email protected]

Assistant Editor Nick Narigon

DesignersEnrique BalducciAnna Ishizuka

Production AssistantYuko Shiroki

ManagementAnthony L CalaGeneral Manager

Wayne Hunter, DirectorGMO & Membership

Business OperationsBrian Marcus, Asst GM Business Operations

Scott Yahiro, DirectorRecreation

Nori Yamazaki, DirectorFood & Beverage

Jonathan Allen, DirectorMember Services & Guest Studios

Suranga Hettige Don, DirectorRevenue Management

Business SupportLian Chang, Asst GM Business Support

Darryl Dudley, DirectorEngineering

Shuji Hirakawa, DirectorHuman Resources

Naoto Okutsu, DirectorFinance

Toby Lauer, DirectorInformation Technology

Shane Busato, DirectorCommunications

Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Benjamin Parks has been living in Tokyo for more than 10 years. At home in the studio or on location, he counts the likes of Facebook, Ferrari, Casio and DHL among his clients. As a regular photographer for iNTOUCH, he has worked on both editorial projects and advertising assignments. Ahead of the Club’s Super Bowl bash this month, he turned his lens on former college football player Todd Moses for this issue’s cover.

The numbers are eye-watering. In April last year, for example, more than 99,000 spectators packed a stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The occasion? Ohio State’s annual Scarlet-Gray spring game. That’s not even during the regular college football season.

The next largest Big Ten Conference attendance last year was 76,900 for a Nebraska game. Penn State was in third spot with 68,000.

By way of comparison, at soccer’s World Cup final in 2014, around 74,700 fans watched Germany beat Argentina 1-0. That was at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã Stadium, in soccer-mad Brazil.

And at last year’s rugby World Cup final at Wembley Stadium in London, 89,000 spectators witnessed New Zealand triumph over archrivals Australia, setting a new World Cup attendance record.

In this month’s cover story, “Football Frenzy,” my colleague Nick Narigon examines the incredible phenomenon of college football in the United States.

Member Matt Krcelic attended Pennsylvania State University and was a regular at Beaver Stadium. “The atmosphere on football weekends: it’s hard to describe that many people in one place just having a good time,” he says. “The crowd that we get every weekend is probably bigger than they will get in the Olympic Stadium.”

When the main stadium for the Tokyo Olympics is finally unveiled in 2019, the Kengo Kuma-designed sports venue will have a capacity of 68,000. But don’t expect any tailgate parties in the parking lot.

If you have any comments about anything you read in iNTOUCH, please e-mail them to editor@tac-club.

org, putting “Letter to the Editor” in the subject title of the mail.

Benjamin Parks

Magazine editor by day and writer of literary fiction at all other hours, Annemarie Luck moved from Cape Town to Tokyo in 2013 after working at Men’s Health, Marie Claire and Rolling Stone magazines. When she’s not nurturing her debut novel, she edits Time Out Tokyo magazine. In this issue of iNTOUCH, the island and beach enthusiast rummages around in the musical mind of guitarist Kai Petite, who will perform at the Club this month (page 20). Annemarie Luck

from the editor

contributors

3

Japanese folding screens & woodblock printsJapanese folding screens & woodblock prints

Inquiries o� [email protected] | www.japanesescreens.net

Good governance” is a term we hear a lot these days. But what does it actually mean for an

organization like the Club?Wikipedia defines good governance as

“an indeterminate term used in international development literature to describe how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources.” But an “indeterminate term” is hardly an auspicious starting point for a discussion of such a critical part of institutional decision making.

Having served as the chair of the Club’s Food & Beverage Committee for three years, I can verify that there is a great “tone at the top,” in terms of governance. Open dialogue is encouraged and important points are examined from multiple perspectives. There’s also a strong culture of adherence to Club rules. Shortcuts are not taken. My experiences with our governance process encouraged me to become more involved in the Club and eventually stand as a candidate in last year’s election.

As a newly elected governor, I know Members expect the Club to be properly governed. Rules and regulations are all well and good, but it’s not feasible for every Member to be conversant with the minutiae of these documents. What attributes, therefore, can we expect from a well-governed organization?

I have been a director at multiple listed firms in the United States and Japan and I have served on the boards of several nonprofits, including as president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan.

The Essenceof GoodGovernanceby Michael AlfantGovernor

Through these many roles, I’ve found that exemplary organizations strive for great rather than just good governance.

In terms of Club governance, there are a few key areas to consider:Transparency. Members should be able to clearly see how and why a decision was made. What information was considered? What alternatives were presented? Was the final decision preceded by a frank discussion?Responsiveness. Our governance process must always consider the needs of our entire community. Competing interests are inevitable in an organization as diverse as ours. These interests must be balanced and addressed in a timely, appropriate and responsive manner.Accountability. Our elected leaders must be accountable for the decisions they make on behalf of the Membership, and they have an obligation to explain those decisions.Inclusiveness. Our Club’s sense of community is largely based on the perception that all Members’ interests have been considered and taken seriously in the decision-making process.

I’m excited to serve on the Board. Interacting with my fellow Members is educational and inspiring, and I take my responsibilities as a Board member seriously.

Should you wish to discuss anything with me, please don’t hesitate to contact me or just grab me when you see me around the Club. I’m looking forward to my tenure on the Board and will aim to be a constructive, forward-looking governor. o


BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Members often tell me how much they love the atmosphere of the Club. I’m always delighted to

hear that because it reassures me that our brand pillars of “relax, bond and exceed” are working.

In 2012, we set out to establish exactly what the Club means to Members. We surveyed a large number of Members and discovered that the majority of people see the Club as a place of relaxation, whether it’s enjoying a drink with friends, having dinner with the family or unwinding at The Spa.

Being part of a community and having somewhere to meet and befriend like-minded people is also important to Members. For them, the Club represents a family of sorts. It’s a place of familiarity and support, where they can enjoy a full range of life-enhancing opportunities, all under one roof.

For our part, we constantly strive to exceed Members’ expectations in our efforts to provide a welcoming home where they can relax, bond and enjoy the wealth of services and programs on offer. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of quality and service.

Using these three principles as a guide, our energetic management team, dedicated Board of Governors and loyal committee members have accomplished great things, and 2015 was a momentous year for the Club, both financially and in terms of Member satisfaction.

I am extremely proud of what we have achieved to date, and I’m even more excited about the Club’s promising future. After successfully pulling the Club out of a downward spiral just a few years ago, we have built a vibrant, financially healthy organization. It is critical that we capitalize on this momentum and energy in 2016.

In collaboration with the Board and Finance Committee, we are refreshing our TAC 20/20 financial plan, which serves as the Club’s strategic roadmap. We are doing this to meet the needs of our growing membership and to ensure the continued financial stability of the Club.

This year will be one of improvement around your Club. Last month, after listening to feedback from Members, we extended the hours of the Fitness Center and Sky Pool to give people more opportunity to work out. In the spring, we will be expanding the Fitness Center and updating exercise machines, and renovation and upgrading projects in The Cellar, Member Services, Rainbow Café, CHOP Bar and one of the Guest Studios will gather pace.

In 2016, we will continue to focus on the evolving needs of our Members while remaining committed to delivering quality products, programs, facilities and service. By applying ourselves to our three brand pillars, we can accomplish even more this year. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work. o

Striving forQualityby Tony CalaGeneral Manager

5

MANAGEMENT

What’s on in February

Monday8Gallery Reception: Seiko AsadaThe Tokyo native and accomplished calligrapher launches a collection of compositions at the Frederick Harris Gallery. 6:30 p.m. Find out more on page 16.

1–29Pamper that special someone with one of the discounted treatments available this month at The Spa. Learn more about the range of treatments available on page 18.

1–29Tokyo Bay SwimSwim the length of Tokyo Bay—from the comfort of the Sky Pool—for the chance to win a prize and Club bragging rights. ¥2,500. Sign up online.

Monday–

Monday 1–29Teen Bowling BonanzaBowl two games, register your total score and you could walk away with an array of goodies. Ages 13–18. ¥2,040.

Monday–

Monday

Sunday28Taste of Winter Grand BuffetThe Club invites Members in from the cold to enjoy a warming spread of seasonal eats. 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. New York Ballroom and Brooklyn rooms. Sign up online.

3Setsubun Zojo Temple Walking TourJoin the throngs tossing soybeans to drive out evil as part of the Setsubun festivities at Zojo Temple near Tokyo Tower. 10:20 a.m. Sign up online.

WednesdayMonday–

Monday

Friday–

Monday26–29Leap Beer WeekendCelebrate the quadrennial day with a long weekend of 29 percent off all pints of beer at Traders’ Bar.

MondayMonday 2929Coffee ConnectionsWhether you’re new to the city or you just want to expand your social circle, drop by this free Women’s Group gathering. Contact the Women’s Group Office to organize free childcare. 10:30 a.m.

Private Swim Lessons RegistrationSign up for the next session of kids’ private lessons at the Sky Pool. Visit the Club website or Sky Pool Office for details.

Prices exclude 8 percent consumption tax.

4Casual California Wine DinnerClub wine guru Sera Goto hosts a relaxed evening of easy-to-drink wines from rising-star California wineries. 7 p.m. Find out more on page 13.

Thursday 5Mommy and Toddler TimeMeet fellow moms and toddlers while building your own support network at a fun, weekly get-together at the Childcare Center. 2 p.m. Free. Continues every Friday.

Friday Friday Saturday5 6First Friday: Mardi GrasAhead of this evening of New Orleans-inspired drinks, Cajun eats and live Louisiana blues and jazz, Member and Big Easy native Joseph Bodenheimer recalls the magic of New Orleans as a child on page 21. 6 p.m.

New Member OrientationThe Club’s newest Members learn about the Club while forging new friendships. 10 a.m. Washington and Lincoln rooms. Contact the Membership Office to reserve your spot at least one week in advance. Also on February 24.

Sunday14iOS ProgrammingStudents ages 10 and above gain the necessary skills to develop a working app for iOS devices. Through March 20. 4:30 p.m. Sundays. The Studio. ¥88,500. Sign up online.

Monday–

Sunday15–28New England Cuisine ExperienceAmerican Bar & Grill and Traders’ Bar serve classic dishes from America’s Atlantic coast for lunch and dinner.

Tuesday16Cocktail ConnectionsThe Women’s Group hosts a fun, informal evening of drinks and chat at CHOP Bar. All welcome. 5–8 p.m.

Wednesday17NZ vs Oz Wine ChallengeDefending champion New Zealand takes on neighboring rival Australia at this popular, annual blind tasting. 7 p.m. Find out more about this epic battle on page 12.

Monday8Super Bowl 50 at the ClubWith the Club set to host its annual Super Bowl party in the New York Ballroom, Members discuss the thrill of college football on page 22. 7:30 a.m.

Monday8Language Exchange CoffeePractice your language skills in a welcoming environment. 10 a.m. CHOP Steakhouse. Free. Sign up online.


Saturday6Be My Valentine CraftsCreative kids celebrate Valentine’s Day early with a fun craft-making session. 12:30 p.m. Beate Sirota Gordon Classroom. Ages 4–12. ¥3,500. Sign up online.

Coming up in March

Wednesday–

Thursday17–18Greek NightSuch mouthwatering Greek staples as taramasalata, moussaka and lamb take center stage at Rainbow Café. 5 p.m.

Wednesday3Toastmasters LuncheonStart losing your fear of public speaking and improve your leadership skills. 12 p.m. Members: ¥2,200; non-Members: ¥2,560. Sign up online or at the Library. Also on February 17.

Friday26All-American Friday Feast Hook up with friends at Café Med for an all-you-can-eat spread of New England favorites like clam chowder. 5 p.m.

8Super Bowl 50 at Traders’ BarThose pining for their local sports bar this Super Bowl can watch the game live in the friendly confines of the Club’s watering hole. 8 a.m. Breakfast buffet: ¥2,750.

Monday

Saturday13Daddy’s Little Girl Makeover Ahead of the Father-Daughter Dinner Dance, girls can receive a professional manicure, hair styling and more. 1 p.m. Annex I and II. Prices vary. Sign up at the Recreation Desk.

1–2 Tokyo: Here & Now

4 First Friday: CHOP First-Year Anniversary

6 Global Trends in Food and Wine with Jancis Robinson and Nick Lander

6 Winter Sprinter

Thursday25Warabi Naked Festival TourTake in this exhilarating festival in Chiba after stopping off at the Shisui Premium Outlets shopping mall. 8:45 a.m. Women’s Group members: ¥5,600; non-Women’s Group members: ¥6,160. Sign up online.

Thursday11Squash Social NightSquash players enjoy an evening of casual play and a chance to put their skills to the test against former national champion Hitoshi Ushiogi. 6:15 p.m. Also on February 23.

14Valentine’s BowlingBowl a strike or spare in your third, sixth or ninth frame and receive a special Valentine’s gift at the Bowling Center.

SundaySaturday13Father-Daughter Dinner DanceDads and their little princesses, ages 5 to 13, enjoy a magical evening of dancing, food and fun. 5 p.m. New York Ballroom. Members: ¥8,500; non-Members: ¥10,200. Sign up at the Recreation Desk.

Wednesday–

Wednesday3–24 Moules Frites WednesdaysPair Belgium’s comfort food export of mussels and fries with Belgian beer and sommelier-selected wines every Wednesday this month at American Bar & Grill. 6 p.m.

Thursday4Monthly Program: Mardi Gras FeteGuitarist Kai Petite will perform at this Women’s Group celebration of the annual New Orleans party. Learn more about the musician on page 20. 11:30 a.m.

Thursday4Meet the Author: Leza LowitzThe Tokyo-based American writer and yoga instructor discusses her latest book, Up from the Sea. 7 p.m. Toko Shinoda Classroom. ¥1,500. Sign up online.

Saturday6Carpet AuctionThe Women’s Group hosts a lively evening of bidding for exquisite carpets and rugs to support one luminous scholar in Japan. 5 p.m. New York Ballroom. Free. Sign up online.

Saturday6CHOP Family NightCHOP Steakhouse, the Club’s home of steaks and other classic American steakhouse favorites, hosts a memorable evening of signature food for families of all ages. 6 p.m.

Thursday18Library Book GroupThe Club’s band of book lovers meets at Café Med to discuss The

Presidents Club: Inside the World’s

Most Exclusive Fraternity by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy. 11 a.m. For details, contact the Library.

Monday29Gallery Reception: Michiru YanoThe Frederick Harris Gallery hosts an exhibition of the works of this talented Japanese painter. 6:30 p.m. More on page 17.

7 Wine Dinner with Jancis Robinson and Nick Lander

8 Classical Japanese Dance Performance

9 Exploring Historic Kanazawa and Shirakawago

16–17 Greek Night

18 Woodward Canyon Wine Dinner

26–27 Sakura Buffet

27 Easter Grand Buffet

27 Easter Bowling

7

EVENTS

The Films

Why not forgo the schmaltzy rom-com this Valentine’s Day and rent something good from the Video Library? New titles this month include The Intern, a classic fish-out-of-water tale, starring Robert De Niro as an intern at Ann Hathaway’s e-commerce fashion company. Meanwhile, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks team up for the gritty Cold War drama Bridge of Spies, in which Hanks plays an American lawyer recruited to negotiate a spy exchange with the Soviet Union. Movie lovers can rent any number of DVDs for just ¥2,500 a month.

The Flowers

Thanks to The Cellar’s exclusive partnership with Bloom & Stripes florist in Jiyugaoka for Valentine’s, Members can bring a smile to the face of that special someone with a beautifully arranged bouquet of fresh flowers. Junko Imai started Bloom & Stripes in 2010 after studying at the renowned Paula Pryke Flower School in London. The Gakushuin University graduate says she believes that a gift of flowers should have a special significance for both the person sending it and the person receiving it. ¥5,000/¥13,000 (with wine and Riedel Swirl glasses)

The Romance

In celebration of the international day of love on February 14, The Cellar is offering a gift package to help couples mark Valentine’s. The set consists of a bottle of 2013 Evening Land Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, to be enjoyed with a pair of exquisitely designed Riedel Swirl red wine glasses. The Oregon wine garnered a 90-point rating from Wine Spectator magazine, which described it as “sleek and inviting”—words that could just as easily be applied to the non-leaded crystal vessels from the famed Austrian glassware company. ¥9,000

The SelectionExplore a world of gift ideas, keepsakes and distinctive paraphernalia for Valentine’s at The Cellar (B1).


Compiled by Nick Jones and Nick Narigon

THE SELECTION


Setsubun Zojo Temple Walking TourFEBRUARY 3

Warabi Naked Festival TourFEBRUARY 25

START YOUR ADVENTURE BY VISITING THE TOURS & EXCURSIONS PAGE OF THE CLUB WEBSITE.

Exploring Historic Kanazawa and ShirakawagoMARCH 9–10

Best of Seoul International TourAPRIL 15–17

UPCOMING TOURS

EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS Explore Japan and beyond with likeminded people through the myriad regular Women’s Group-organized tours.

Jancis Robinson

Decanter magazine described Jancis Robinson as “the most respected wine critic and journalist in the world.” And

The Economist voted her husband Nick Lander’s The Art of the Restaurateur the publication’s 2012 book of the year.

On the surface, they might be the last people you would invite over for dinner. With the well-traveled, Oxbridge-educated gourmands at the table, any meal could

by Nick Jones

feel like one of the culinary TV shows on which they’ve appeared as judges.

But while their impressive credentials, media profiles and encyclopedic knowledge of wine and food might appear intimidating, the British couple would probably prefer to be seen as helping to demystify a notoriously inscrutable world.

That’s the thinking behind Robinson’s latest book, The 24-Hour Wine Expert, an easy-to-digest, introductory guide to wine. “The inspiration was our 24-year-old daughter, Rose,” Robinson, 65, tells iNTOUCH. “Her friends are big wine drinkers, but they have lots of questions and kept asking her to ask me for the answers.”

Using her authority to educate others is exactly what she will be doing this month when she and Lander host two events at the Club, including a seminar on global trends in wine and food that will feature a

Gourmet Couple

wine tasting and book-signing session.“Wines are becoming lighter—

less alcoholic, less oaky—and more geographically expressive, with the emphasis increasingly on vineyard rather than cellar,” Robinson says of current wine tendencies. “There is also a move from the well-known international grape varieties to indigenous and less well-known ones.”

Lander, 63, who is a restaurant critic for the Financial Times, has visited Tokyo twice before. As cities around the world are becoming increasingly crowded, he says that many restaurateurs and entrepreneurs are following the Japanese capital’s lead and opening pop-up restaurants and small, interesting cafés, bars and eateries wherever space allows.

“Food is one of the only two things that you cannot experience online. The other is health and beauty. As long as this lasts, those in the property world will have to focus on food as the magnet for all their redevelopments—something that has been happening in Japan for several years,” he says.

Lander says he is heartened to see more people showing an interest in food, reflected in the popularity of TV cooking shows.

“After years of neglect, food in the West is now considered one of the staples of modern life and, as [world] events turn even more depressing,” he says, “we all seek solace in something that we can all share in that is nourishing and delicious and that ends on a sweet note.”

Members can experience just that next month at the Club. o

Global Trends in Food and Wine with Jancis Robinson and Nick LanderSunday, March 65–7 p.m.Manhattan I and II¥6,000Sign up online or at Member Services

Wine Dinner with Jancis Robinson and Nick LanderMonday, March 76 p.m. CHOP Steakhouse¥30,000Sign up online or at Member ServicesPrices exclude 8 percent consumption tax.


The smooth indulgence of the Club’s rich chocolate layer cake is sure to melt hearts (and satisfy sweet tooths) this Valentine’s Day.

Exclusive to Rainbow Café and Café Med, the dessert’s layers of rich cocoa sponge cake are topped with Belgium dark chocolate cream frosting, whipped with a special ingredient: Golden syrup.

Bakery chef Sayaka Nakamoto says the combination of milk chocolate in the sponge cake and bitter chocolate in the frosting is what makes for a sweet treat.

“The frosting is what makes it special,” she says. “It may seem like the frosting is thick, but there really is a nice balance of flavors.”

It’s also perfect for the season. “This is a wonderful winter food,” Nakamoto says. “That makes people happy.” o

Rich Chocolate Layer CakeDailyRainbow Café and Café Med

by Nick Narigon

Valentine’sDelight

Pleasureby the Glass

2013 Collecapretta “Vigna Vecchia,” Umbria, Italy

The Mattioli family has cultivated the Collecapretta area since the 12th century. Besides indigenous old vines, they farm olives, farro and grains using natural techniques. Trebbiano, the grape of this white wine, is regarded by some as a blending or distillation grape. But wine-savvy consumers increasingly seek out under-appreciated, native varietals, and this example is a refined expression of Collecapretta’s pure soils.

Perfect partner: shrimp, white fish, risotto, calamari, carpaccio.

Available by the glass through the Enomatic wine dispenser in the Winter Garden. Prepaid Enomatic cards can be purchased at American Bar & Grill or The Cellar.

Sayaka Nakamoto

Enrique Balducci

WINE & DINING

11

DownUnderWine

Rumble

The Wine Committee’s annual blind tasting battle returns this month in a rematch of last year’s showdown.

Defending champ New Zealand takes on Tasman Sea rival Australia in a tasting that will feature seven wine flights, paired with a selection of dishes by the Club’s executive chef (and Kiwi), Lindsay Gray.

Richard Cohen, founder of wine importer Village Cellars, returns with his NZ varietals, while Carl Robinson, of wine importer Jeroboam, will be hoping his Aussie bottles can triumph. o

by Nick Jones

NZ vs Oz Wine ChallengeWednesday, February 177–10 p.m. Washington and Lincoln rooms¥12,000*Sign up online or at Member Services *Excludes 8 percent consumption tax.

Value of exports

$1.4billion

Vineyard area

148,000hectares

Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon,

MerlotMain varietals

Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, Hunter

Valley, Margaret River, McLaren Vale

Key winemaking regions

UK, USA, Canada, Netherlands

Key markets

C A R L R O B I N S O N“Gone are the days of Robert

Parker-inspired 16 percent alcohol fruit bombs. New

Australia is all about freshness, elegance and drinkability. On top

of this, organic and sustainable are increasingly becoming key terms to seek on an Australian wine label, as the world market moves towards accountability

and truth in food and drink labeling. So come and find out what all the bearded hipsters of Melbourne and Sydney are

getting so excited about. Those poor Kiwis don’t stand a chance.”

OzValue of exports

$94million

Vineyard area

35,000hectares

Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir,

Pinot GrisMain varietals

Marlborough, Central Otago, Auckland,

Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Canterbury/Waipara

Key winemaking regions

USA, Australia, UK, CanadaKey markets

R I C H A R D CO H E N“Once more, the wines of New

Zealand line up to defend their island nation against a

challenge from Australia. Our islands are heavy on people who make wine and light on

people who market it. We don’t use buzzwords like ‘natural’ and ‘minimal intervention,’ and we

seek to show that wine is about the contents of the bottle, not its livery or the marketing hype

that surrounds it. But in the long run, it’s the audience who

decides whether our approach to winemaking is still acceptable.”

NZ


California is home to more than 4,000 wine labels and over 5,000 grape growers. Sadly, the vast majority of these are difficult to

find on any regular restaurant wine list. In truth, with more than 130 American

Viticultural Areas (AVA), the Golden State produces a wealth of unique, affordable wines that are gathering well-deserved recognition. In addition, the winemaking is focused on elegant, approachable wines for everyday drinking.

While not entirely new, this trend is becoming more pronounced. As demand for exclusivity and quality increases, the larger AVAs are introducing subdivisions for a chance to enjoy the associated small appellation prestige.

For example, the Santa Lucia Highlands, known for its quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, is part of the greater Monterey appellation, while Santa Ynez Valley, which produces premium Rhône varietals, forms part of the larger Central Coast appellation. The majority of these smaller, reputed AVAs still offer affordably priced wines that represent

Casual California Wine DinnerThursday, February 47–10 p.m.American Bar & Grill¥9,500*Sign up online or at Member Services*Price excludes 8 percent consumption tax.

by Sera Goto

some of the best-value deals in California. These new appellations are nurturing

a younger generation of winemaker, too. These rising stars are crafting terroir-driven, drink-now wines. And reflecting the vogue of today, the wineries are shunning the traditional for splashy, eye-catching contemporary designs on their labels.

California is producing a new crop of sommeliers as well. In their rock

Golden State Pioneers

Sera Goto

band T-shirts and casual duds, they are Internet-savvy and eschew tradition and snobbery. They’re developing well-researched, edgy lists that reflect the changing face of the wine world. As a result, adventurous wine lovers are diving into uncharted waters.

It’s increasingly difficult to ignore these luminous wines and the appellations that gave birth to them, and this month’s dinner promises to be a fun and fascinating introduction to both American Bar & Grill’s new dinner menu and these exciting California trendsetters. o

Goto is the Club’s wine program director.

WINE & DINING

13

Back among the Stacks

W hen I moved to Tokyo more than three and a half years ago, I was unprepared for the shock of being plunged into total illiteracy. As a lifelong bookworm,

professional English teacher and public librarian, I have a serious love for words. Suddenly, not being able to read made me realize just how much pleasure I take, not only in devouring books, but in reading everything: street signs, shampoo bottles and even metro ads.

One of the first—and most important—tasks of my expat adventure was finding my way to my local library. I feel at home in libraries. Being surrounded by familiar and well-loved books is the perfect antidote to the angst of getting settled in a new place.

Reading a cross section of Japanese fiction, guide books and cultural texts was a delightful experience and I discovered many amazing writers. For Haruki Murakami lovers, I highly recommend adding Yoko Ogawa and Banana Yoshimoto to any to-read list.

I first visited the Club last year as a guest and I was thrilled to peruse the Library’s collection. It is such a haven for Members looking for a new read, children’s materials, audiobooks, magazines for an upcoming flight or perhaps just a quiet spot to work on a project.

The Japan collection, in particular, is a wonderful, robust source of knowledge for anyone seeking Japan-related literature. Browsing the shelves on that first visit, I was immediately struck by the level of care and thought that had gone into the curation

by Jennifer Diaz

of these resources. I had little idea then that I would soon be working among all those titles.

It’s been a whirlwind first few weeks, but I’m happy to be back among the stacks. My passion is helping others find what they need and sharing that friendly home-away-from-home feeling that I associate with books. I’m looking forward to connecting with more Members and I encourage everyone to come by and check out their Library. o

Diaz is the Library’s senior librarian.

off the shelf

Riviera Country Club and Tennis ClubLocated in the Los Angeles suburb of Pacific Palisades, the Riviera was founded in 1926 and features one of the oldest and largest tennis clubs in the western United States. Besides its 22 hard courts and two clay courts, the club boasts a world-class golf course, 26 guest suites, multiple ballrooms and an award-winning culinary team.

www.therivieracountryclub.com

Reciprocal Club Spotlight

Worldwide NetworkThe Club is a member of a network of more than 150 private membership clubs across the world. Members can take advantage of this network when traveling abroad on business or for a vacation.

Check the Reciprocal Clubs page of the Club website for details.

Enrique BalducciJennifer Diaz


The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

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

Odd, Weird & Little by Patrick Jennings

Toulouse is the new kid in school, but everyone

seems to think he’s weird. He gets bullied for wearing

a suit, carrying a briefcase and saying nothing but

“Who?” The only kid who stands up for him is fellow

outsider Woodrow, and together they learn what true

friendship means.

Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin

Award-winning nonfiction writer Sheinkin details

how US government whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg

revealed the secret history of the Vietnam War and a

slew of government lies in a 7,000-page collection of

documents, known as the Pentagon Papers.

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

In this third installment of Galbraith’s acclaimed series,

private detective Robin Ellacott receives a gruesome

package, alarming both her and her superior, Cormoran

Strike. They soon realize that the world into which they

have stumbled is much darker than they ever expected.

Nasreddine by Odile Weulersse

Accompanied by beautiful illustrations, Weulersse retells

the legendary Middle Eastern folktale of Nasreddine, a

young boy who goes about his daily chores with his

father. Injected with humor, this clever fable is a tale

suitable for all ages.

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman

Caden Bosch is absorbed by the thoughts in his head,

caught between reality and his imaginary world where

he is a ship’s captain in search of the ocean’s deepest

trench: Challenger Deep. Shusterman’s powerful and

haunting novel reveals a great compassion for those

struggling with mental illness.

My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem

The famed activist, writer and leader chronicles her

itinerant life, from traveling across the United States

with her family as a child to her first social activism

experience in India and the historic 1977 National

Women’s Conference in Houston.

Reviews compiled by librarian Alison Kanegae.

Compiled by senior librarian Jennifer Diaz.

Aravind Adiga photo by Mark Pringle.

new readsburied treasures

In his thrilling and provocative debut novel,

Aravind Adiga enthralls readers with one of

the most unique and unreliable narrators in

modern fiction. In the form of a letter to the

Chinese premier ahead of his trip to Bangalore,

Balram Halwai shares his savage rags-to-riches

tale over the course of seven days.

Through Halwai’s dark perspective and biting

vernacular, Adiga cuts into contemporary

India’s economic and social hierarchies with

vicious wit.

This fantastically readable winner of the 2008

Man Booker Prize was described by USA

Today newspaper as “a kick to the head.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

15

by Nick Narigon

Seiko Asada first picked up a calligraphy brush at the tender age of 4. Studying under her calligrapher mother, Shunso Asada, she eventually became an apprentice of prominent calligrapher and historian Gasei Komei in her early 20s.

Winning her first major calligraphy award in 1976, at the age of 27, Asada continued to garner accolades over the years, most recently picking up the grand prix award at the 59th Mainichi Shodo Exhibition. She has exhibited her works at Tokyo’s top galleries and in China.

Asada’s enduring success can be attributed to her constant exploration of the traditional Japanese art form.

“For the past two years, I have been experimenting in my works,” she says. “I am attracted to the Chinese bronze inscriptions from the Zhou dynasty era. This is a very design-like calligraphy, with a modern feel.”

Inspired by the ideograms of Bronze Age China, Asada pens modern expressions or words to create works with an intriguing sense of incongruity.

“The second aspect is to write words that resonate with my heart,” she says. “In everyday life, when listening to the radio or watching the television, whenever I come across a good phrase, I will write it down and use it for my work. In other words, I am seeking out phrases that move my heart.”

ExhibitionFebruary 8–28

Gallery ReceptionMonday, February 86:30–8 p.m.Frederick Harris Gallery (B1 Formal Lobby)Free Adults onlyOpen to invitees and Members only

Frederick Harris Gallery | Seiko Asada


by Nick Narigon

American writer Jack Kerouac’s spontaneous prose began with an observation or memory of an object or sketch. He then let the words flow from his subconscious.

Japanese artist Michiru Yano, who will bring a cache of his paintings to the Frederick Harris Gallery this month, takes a similar approach to his art, which he has dubbed gyaku nurie, or “reverse painting.”

First dripping watercolor paint over paper, cloth or collections of magazine advertisements, he then uses black ink to draw imagined creations over the top of the smatterings and splotches like a Rorschach inkblot test.

“By drawing without thinking, these undefined creatures, such as people of [an] unknown nationality or exotic animals, appear before me, which is most likely not possible if I try to do the same intentionally,” says Yano.

The Kanagawa native originally wanted to be a cartoonist, but his passion for painting grew. He has created more than 1,000 paintings using his unique technique and has leant his talents to book illustrations, animation, costume design and album artwork.

Like Kerouac, who compared his writing style to jazz, Yano says the rhythms and beats of rock and roll music inspire his work.

“I want my artworks to remain unchanged,” says Yano. “By time or language.”

ExhibitionFebruary 29–March 20

Gallery ReceptionMonday, February 296:30–8 p.m.Frederick Harris Gallery (B1 Formal Lobby)Free Adults onlyOpen to invitees and Members only

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

Michiru Yano

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

17

Refuge of Relaxation


by Nick Narigon

Therapeutic MassageClub Members leading a jet-setting lifestyle often suffer from muscle aches, chronic pain or even serious injuries. The Spa’s customized therapeutic massage treatment alleviates pain, corrects muscle imbalance and optimizes athletic performance. “I had been suffering from strong stiffness in my back and was constantly searching for the right treatment to relieve it. Then I received Wakako Ogawa’s therapeutic massage at The Spa. She studied at the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences in the US, and mastered Ortho-Bionomy, a noninvasive system of healing. Analyzing muscles by hand, she discovered the cause of my back stiffness within moments. By the time my session was over, it was almost gone. Since I receive the therapeutic massage regularly, my back stiffness has improved. The cause of it comes from my lifestyle, which is hard to change. I go to the Fitness Center to adjust muscle condition a few times a week, though it is the once-a-week session with Waka’s therapeutic massage that ultimately improves the condition of my back.” Toshiaki Yokozawa

The Spa has treatments for Members looking to unwind, rejuvenate or just look their best.

Dermalogica FacialUsing Dermalogica skincare products, The Spa’s therapists administer skin treatments that alleviate skin issues, hydrate and cleanse pores. All facial treatments start with Dermalogica’s face-mapping skin analysis, which designs a unique treatment for every visit.“For over 10 years, I have used the wide range of Dermalogica products as part of my skincare regimen. Naturally, I was thrilled when TAC introduced Dermalogica products in The Spa late last year. Signing up for a facial was something I did right away, as I was well aware of the high quality of both the products and the training of their professionals. I love the fact that a Dermalogica facial is customized to your skin type. The trained professional will first check your skin and face-map it to analyze the different areas carefully. The exfoliation, cleanser, moisturizer and customized masks are chosen accordingly. All the products I have used are light, non-greasy, odor-free and have been very nourishing for my skin. The end result is always a glowing and luminous feeling when the facial is completed.” Nargis Pasricha

Prenatal MassageStudies show that massage therapy received during pregnancy reduces anxiety, decreases symptoms of depression and eases the process of childbirth. The Spa’s prenatal-focused massage, performed by a certified therapist, is tailored to the needs of pregnant women and their changing bodies.“I have regularly received a deep-tissue massage at The Spa and, at 15 weeks pregnant, I was advised that I should begin having prenatal massages instead, as I would be unable to lie on my stomach for a long period of time. This is my first pregnancy and therefore it was my first prenatal massage. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the masseuse was able to still give a deep massage that relieved tension, particularly in my shoulders, as well as the fact it is a relaxing treatment which leaves me feeling rejuvenated.” Emma Murney

For Members seeking balance to a tumultuous lifestyle of long hours, incessant travel and pressing engagements, The Spa, with its five private treatment rooms, is an intimate sanctuary of relaxation and tranquility.

The menu of treatments runs from massages and facials to manicures and pedicures, and each session is customized to meet the needs of the Member. The highly qualified therapists, aware of previous individual aches and pains, ensure a rejuvenating and refreshing experience on every visit.

“Our treatments not only provide relaxation,” says Spa manager Joy Tolentino, “they improve quality of life.”

Cupid Spa Specials Through February 29, pamper that special someone with one of the discounted treatments below. And until February 14, enjoy 15 percent off gift certificates for regular treatments and skincare products.

Detox and Slimming Wrap: ¥18,900 (original price: ¥27,000)

Age Smart Facial: ¥13,500 (original price: ¥15,000)90-minute Hot-Stone Massage: ¥14,400

(original price: ¥16,000)


RECREATION & FITNESS

19

Yuuk

i Ide

Acoustic AdventurerAhead of performing at a Mardi Gras event at the Club this month, guitarist Kai Petite explains his passion for making complicated music sound simple and his brush with stardom.

I’m not interested in being a rock star,” says Kai Petite. As a musician who spent four years studying at the prestigious Berklee College of Music

in Boston and then several more years being groomed for stardom as a Japanese pop singer, he knows what he wants.

“Being yourself is a big part of playing music,” he says. “It’s OK to create an image and play that role, there is a beauty in that, too, but I prefer it when it’s just me and the music. Hopefully, the audience feels that, too.”

This month, attendees at the Women’s Group’s lunchtime Mardi Gras Fete will have the opportunity to experience just what he means. Petite, 33, who describes his style of guitar playing as “comfortable but exciting,” is heavily influenced by jazz. And while he admits to enjoying improvisation and complicated arrangements, he says he believes in keeping things simple.

“I like using few instruments but still making sounds that are as big as an orchestra or ensemble,” he explains. One of the ways he achieves this is by adding two bass strings to his guitar, an ingenious approach that allows him to play bass, melody and harmony on one instrument.

“I listened to an album by [American jazz guitarist] Pat Metheny and I was blown away by how it sounded like acoustic guitar alongside an upright bass, yet it was just him playing solo. Essentially I tried to mimic that on my regular-sized guitar, which is smaller than Metheny’s. Most people told me it couldn’t be done, but I went for it and it works,” he says.

Aside from artists like Metheny, Tuck Andress and Joni Mitchell, Petite identifies his late father as a musical inspiration. His dad, who passed away in 2011, was an American soldier who relocated to Japan after serving in the Vietnam War. His mother is Japanese and the family settled in Kamakura, where Petite enjoyed a quiet rural upbringing.

“My father played 12-string acoustic guitar as a hobby,” he says. “He also had many records, lots of Irish and Scottish blues folk music. So that’s really where my interest began.”

When he was 17, Petite played backup guitar in a band with one of his father’s coworkers at What the Dickens pub in Ebisu. It was his first taste of performing

Kai Petite

by Annemarie Luck


New

OrleansO

nline.com

Member and New Orleans native Joseph Bodenheimer recalls the excitement of the Big Easy’s annual Mardi Gras.

Monthly Program: Mardi Gras FeteThursday, February 411:30 a.m. (doors open: 11 a.m.)Manhattan IWomen’s Group members: ¥3,000Non-Women’s Group members: ¥4,000Adults onlySign up online or Member ServicesPrices exclude 8 percent consumption tax.

First Friday: Mardi GrasFriday, February 5 | 6–8 p.m. Winter Garden | ¥2,000*Adults onlyDress code: CasualNo sign-up necessary*Exclusive of 8 percent consumption tax.

on stage. A few years later, he headed to Massachusetts after receiving a small scholarship to study at Berklee. “I was at school with all these insane jazz musicians…Hiromi Uehara, Esparanza Spalding. …It was crazy.”

Soon after completing his studies, Petite returned to Kamakura and was introduced to a local talent agency. The following few years of his career he looks back on with some amusement.

“Up until then, I had only wanted to be a backup guitarist. But the company wanted me to sing, even though I couldn’t hold a note,” he says with a laugh. “They sent me to three different voice trainers. I hated singing and, on top of it, they forced me to sing in Japanese, which didn’t come naturally to me since the music I had grown up listening to had been in English.”

Petite’s appearance was vastly different then as well. Instead of the long hair and relaxed style he sports today, the company execs primped and preened him to appeal to the 40-something, Japanese female market.

“The idea was this foreign-looking guy, singing fluently in Japanese. So my first album sounds like an acoustic version of Japanese ’80s pop,” he says. “Luckily, it wasn’t that successful, because if I had made it, that’s what I would have become.”

It’s fortunate for music lovers as well. If Japan’s pop music machine had kept hold of Petite, he would never have released works like his latest (and fourth) album, “Busk Till Dawn,” a creative collaboration with harmonica virtuoso Natsuki Kurai. Audiences, too, would have been denied the chance to hear a musician with more concern for “exploring who I am” than making a quick buck. o

Luck is a Tokyo-based writer and editor.

Growing up in New Orleans’ famous French Quarter gives kids a false sense of normal,

especially during Mardi Gras season. Thousands of people move slowly through the area, plastic “go cups” for drinks in hand, dressed in every costume imaginable, from movie characters to historical figures.

As an 8-year-old, I remember comparing my bag of “throws” (the colored doubloons, trinkets and beads thrown to paradegoers by “krewe” members on floats) with family members and friends while the adults had dinner at a local restaurant or family home.

This was usually on one of the parade days before Fat Tuesday, the main Mardi Gras day. It was amazing how kids could remember exactly how they secured each hard-earned treasure.

But it wasn’t until fifth grade, when we learned about the history of the city and Louisiana, that I paid more attention to the significance of the doubloons, parade kings and queens

Mardi Gras Magic

and the Mardi Gras colors of purple (justice), green (faith) and gold (power).

One year, a family member was part of one of the organizing krewes of the parade. Since they knew where I and my friends would be standing, we were showered with throws. It was one of my happiest Mardi Gras moments.

Some krewes are supported by “Shriners,” who raise money for charity. As kids, we loved to see and touch their Harley-Davidson motorcycles. On one occasion, one of my uncles told me to wait at a particular corner with my friends.

We heard a rumble and then a procession of massive bikes appeared from around a corner. We took home some of the coolest doubloons ever bagged. Their masked friends on horseback and on other floats also made sure our bags were stuffed with doubloons, beads and trinkets.

The four of us were convinced it was the greatest haul of Mardi Gras throws in New Orleans history. More than four decades later, I’m sure the record still stands. o

Bodenheimer’s family owns a 19th-century bed-and-breakfast in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

RECREATION & FITNESS

21

NFL’S ANNUAL SUPER BOWL EXTRAVAGANZA MIGHT RECEIVE THE MEDIA ATTENTION AND MONEY, BUT FOR MANY SPORTS FANS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, NOTHING CAN TOP THE THRILLS AND SPILLS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

FOOTBALL FRENZY

SUPER BOWL 50 AT THE CLUBMONDAY, FEBRUARY 87:30 A.M.–12 P.M.NEW YORK BALLROOMMEMBERS: ¥5,000 (VIP AREA ¥8,000)NON-MEMBERS: ¥7,000 (VIP AREA ¥10,000)ADULTS ONLYSIGN UP ONLINE

SUPER BOWL 50 AT TRADERS’ BARMONDAY, FEBRUARY 88 A.M.–12 P.M.TRADERS’ BARBUFFET BREAKFAST: ¥2,750ADULTS ONLY

BY NICK NARIGON PRICES EXCLUDE 8 PERCENT CONSUMPTION TAX.


hey call it the Hawk Walk. Two hours before kicko�, the promenade leading to the players’ entrance of the University of Iowa’s

Kinnick Stadium becomes a river of black and gold. Fans, clad in the colors of the Hawkeye football team, welcome the players as they step down from the team bus.

“You walk through a gauntlet of people. It’s a thrill, and for lack of a more elegant saying, you get really jacked up,” says Club Member Todd Moses, who played for Iowa from 1989 to 1991. “The special thing about Iowa football is there are no professional

sports in the state. Iowa football is the only show in the state. The fans drive in from everywhere.”

Member John Lemkuil, who graduated from the University of Iowa the year before Moses arrived on campus, attended every football game during his four years as an undergrad.

“It was more than just a game, it was a full event,” says Lemkuil, 51, who watches college football at Traders’ Bar with fellow Members every Sunday during the season. “To have 100,000 people get there at 6 a.m. to start tailgating, there is nothing else like it. �ere are people who have been tailgating for three generations. It is part of their family history.”

Football game days in a college town like Iowa City, College Station, Texas, or Ann Arbor, Michigan (places where the university is the center of the local economy) are raucous a�airs. Hordes of fans, decked out in the team uniform or costumes, sing �ght songs and religiously enact decades-old traditions.

Member Matt Krcelic, who graduated from Penn State University in 1989, remembers tossing marshmallows at the �eld during football games and getting knocked on the side of the head with airborne confectioneries.

Beaver Stadium, home to the Penn State Nittany Lions, is the third-largest stadium in the world. In fact, eight of the

FOOTBALL FRENZY

Matthew

Holst

FEATURE

23

nine largest stadiums are home to college football teams. On game day Saturdays, Beaver Stadium boasts the fourth-highest population in Pennsylvania.

“Just walking through all the tailgating to get to the stadium, it takes you forever,” says Krcelic, 49. “You don’t realize the massive number of people who are spread all over, and then you come into the stadium and you are looking around, going, ‘Wow, this is crazy.’”

A�er his playing days were over, Moses held a tailgating party every Iowa homecoming game, inviting 30 to 40 friends and clients for a daylong barbecue, complete with beef brisket, bratwurst and spare ribs.

A Connecticut all-state high school player, Moses, 48, originally enrolled at Colgate University, where he started at defensive end for two years.

His grandfather, Warren Junge, played for the University of Iowa’s 1939 Ironman football team, led by Heisman Trophy winner and World War II aviator Nile Kinnick. Junge played in the same football stadium (now named a�er his teammate) as his grandson.

Moses’ father, James “Mickey” Moses, was a backup quarterback and punter for the Hawkeyes from 1962 to 1966, as well as a �rst team All-Big Ten baseball player.

“I had an itch to play in front of 100,000 people, as opposed to 15,000 to 25,000 people at Andy Kerr Stadium in Colgate,” says Moses. “Iowa was a natural choice for me. My grandfather played there. My father played there.”

Moses arrived in Iowa City in the spring of 1988 and switched positions to tight end. He played sparingly on special teams and as a blocking tight end. �e last game of his senior season was Iowa’s loss to the University of Washington in the 1991 Rose Bowl.

“It was less exciting than being in Kinnick, if you know the truth,” says Moses. “It wasn’t as loud as Kinnick.”

Last November, Moses surprised his father by �ying him to Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship between Iowa and Michigan State. At the pep rally, fans were entertained by the pep squad, cheerleaders and mascots.

Most of college football’s rules and traditions emerged from the Harvard and

Yale rivalry, which began in 1875. �e two teams play each other every year in an annual rite, referred to as “�e Game.”

From 1890 to 1920, Harvard was the juggernaut of college football, winning nine national championships. Harvard Stadium, built in 1903 and a historical landmark, was the nation’s �rst athletic stadium.

When Club Member Andy Fried arrived on campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1998, the school hadn’t achieved an undefeated season since 1913.

Growing up in the shadow of the Buffalo Bills’ stadium, Fried collected cans after NFL games for extra cash. He was offered a scholarship to play lacrosse, but when Ivy League schools began recruiting him to play football, he switched his focus.

“Harvard was my �rst plane �ight from Bu�alo,” says Fried, 35, who looks like he could still step on the �eld. “Harvard had won an Ivy League title in 1997. �ey had come o� a great season. Of course, Harvard has a great reputation as an educational school, but as a competitor you want to play for a contender.”

As a sophomore, Fried was named as an honorable mention All-Ivy League wide receiver. His junior year, he switched to defense, and he was second-team All-Ivy League as a cornerback.

�e Game between Harvard and Yale is the last showdown of the season. Harvard lost to Yale Fried’s �rst three years, and as a junior he conceded 21 receptions to future NFL tight end Eric Johnson.

ANDY FRIED

PENN STATE BEAVER STADIUM

“FOR ALL THE ALUMNI, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, IF YOU LOSE THE HARVARD-YALE GAME, IT’S NOT A SUCCESSFUL SEASON.”

Tim W

eight


“For all the alumni, for all intents and purposes, if you lose the Harvard-Yale game, it’s not a successful season,” says Fried. “A coach will only be remembered based on his win-loss ratio in the Harvard-Yale game.”

In 2001, on the � nal play of Fried’s career, he intercepted the Yale quarterback, sealing Harvard’s victory and completing an undefeated season in front of a crowd of 53,000. Fried was named � rst-team All-Ivy as a strong safety.

“It’s hard to describe. College football has that certain element of loyalty from the alumni. � ey are a very passionate fan base, especially for the Harvard-Yale game,” says Fried. “It is a unique situation where this is the only game that people watch. Most of the student body does not know the record of the team. � ey probably don’t know that the Ivy League championship has been won.”

Fried, who played football for two years for the Osaka Iwatani Sidewinders in the Japan X League, says Harvard’s championship season was down to the leadership of the senior players.

“I always felt special running through that tunnel at [Harvard’s] Soldiers Field, knowing so many other great players ran through that same tunnel,” says Fried. “Even though Harvard isn’t competing for national championships anymore, I feel like it’s the same sort of student that played back in the 1920s and 1930s. It’s a similar fan base and the guys are playing football just because they love playing football.”

Jeff Shimamoto’s Pasadena home is around the corner from Rose Bowl Stadium,

home of the UCLA Bruins football team. It also hosts the annual Rose Bowl game, which pits college football’s Big Ten Conference champion against the Pacific-12 Conference champ.

The Tournament of Roses parade, held every January ahead of the country’s oldest bowl game, is a showcase of pomp and circumstance, and the marching band of each competing team promenades through town. The drum majors, dressed in military-style uniforms and tall, plumed hats, lead the procession.

Every year, Club Member Shimamoto reminisces about New Year’s Day in 1994, when as a senior he led 250 members of the UCLA Bruin Marching Band down the same street in his third year as a drum major.

“Call time was at 2 a.m. at the UCLA campus,” says Shimamoto,

MARCHING IN STEPTODD MOSES

JEFF SHIMAMOTO

43. “This was no small feat, given that New Year’s Eve was just two hours prior.”

Professor Gordon Henderson says Shimamoto was one of the best drum majors he’s taught in his 33 years as director of UCLA’s marching band.

“Leadership is the key quality to be a drum major,” says Henderson. “He was great at motivating the band through tough rehearsals.”

In 1993, the marching band received the Sudler Trophy, awarded to the top unit in the country. The following year, the band’s Rose Bowl halftime performance was broadcast live on ABC.

“Every person in the stands stayed in their seats for the halftime show,” recalls Shimamoto. “To this day, 20 years later, my best friends are those that marched with me up and down the Rose Bowl field in Pasadena.”

BY NICK NARIGON

FEATURE

25

The Pull of the Deep

I read a book called Deep by a guy called James Nestor. It’s a book about the ocean and it discusses everything from sharks to submarines, and

freediving is a big part of that book, and it just sounded really interesting to me. So I went online and the next day I was in a class here on Oahu. I kind of knew instantly that I really liked it.

It’s the only sport that I can think of that you have to relax to do well in. Most other sport is about getting pumped up and trying your hardest. In that sense, freediving is a little like Zen: you have to empty your mind and relax your body as completely as possible to do it well. I also like diving down deep and essentially going into a different world.

You have to really know yourself and know what your capabilities are and trust yourself, because if you’re down 135 feet [41 meters], you can’t really have a lot of self-doubt and panic and get back to the surface safely.

Then when you come up after holding your breath for a couple of minutes, it

really is the most relaxing feeling I know to take that big breath of fresh air and get oxygen into your body.

I took my first class in August of 2014 then the next class a few months later. I only really did it intensively [last] October when I went to a freediving camp on the Big Island, so I’m still very much a novice.

You first go down 5 meters, then 10 meters, 15 meters, 20 meters. And also there are different categories, so there’s a line you can pull yourself down on, without kicking, to conserve your oxygen and get more proficient at clearing your ears because that’s a big part of being able to dive deeply.

It’s becoming a popular sport for other athletes. Tiger Woods took the same class, and the thinking is if you can control your urge to panic and nerves at 130 feet below the surface, then a 3-foot putt is nothing.

It has changed my outlook. I’m a more relaxed person since I started freediving. But to get to that point

requires practicing holding your breath and your diving technique because a lot of it is efficiency: you don’t want to have a lot of drag when you’re going down.

I think a big component to the sport is the psychological knowledge that you’re going to be OK if you hold your breath for three minutes or more. In the pool now, I got up to four and a half minutes, of which three and a half minutes are pretty pleasant. So you do have these involuntary contractions in your abdomen, as your body tries to suck in some air. It’s not painful, it’s just an uncomfortable feeling.

It was really fulfilling to reach 41.5 meters because earlier in the camp I was constantly stuck at 35 meters. Now that my son and my brother have their licenses, I just want to go freediving with them and explore the ocean, look at fish and enjoy ourselves underwater. o

As told to iNTOUCH’s Nick Jones.

March’s connection: Chris Kimber

Member and freediving enthusiast Quinn Riordan discusses finding tranquility in the depths of the ocean.

Daniel Koval

Quinn Riordan


SIX DEGREES

Artist Gwen Anderson takes an enterprising approach to surmounting potential obstacles. Confronted with a

highly competitive market for New York City lofts, she obtained her real estate license in order to be among the first to learn about available properties. Once she obtained the spacious apartment, she refocused her energy to decorating.

“We needed something to cover the walls, and artwork in New York City is so expensive,” says Anderson, 54. “So I went to the Art Students League [of New York] and started taking classes. I worked with mixed media, using paint and photographs. I used the colors of the curtains, carpets and furniture in our apartment.”

After relocating to London, she

continued her studies, with classes in photography and mixed media at Kensington Chelsea College, and later obtained both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fine arts at London Metropolitan University.

“I love the technical stuff,” says Anderson. “I use a technique to transfer images onto silver leaf. The light bounces back through the image to you, the viewer. This is why I call my paintings living paintings.”

Surviving a terrifying storm at sea that took her father’s life when she was just 17 is manifested in both her work and philosophy, and her paintings are filled with references to the ocean.

“This event had a huge impact on my life,” she says. “I am very grateful for life and I want to share it, put the best that

Currently exhibiting her artworks at the Club, Member Gwen Anderson explains her passion for life and learning. by Efrot Weiss

A Lust for LifeI can on the canvas. I can’t express it in words, but I can show you what it looks like in my paintings.”

Having recently completed a series of 20 paintings, inspired by tall ships and other harbor motifs, for a boutique hotel in the coastal town of Harlingen, in her native Netherlands, her current exhibit at the Club reflects her brief time in Tokyo.

Anderson is also learning the fundamental skill of drawing through a Women’s Group class. “I have always done mixed media, so drawing was not required,” she says. “[The instructor] Caroline Dong really pushes you. Sometimes we look but don’t see. Drawing helps with seeing.”

Besides developing her own artistic proficiency, Anderson says she wants to embolden people to tackle something new. “Inspire people to do the things they love to do, that gives them butterflies. …Tomorrow you might not be here. We don’t have forever. Make your life exciting and exuberant. Why not? Before you know it, it is over.” o

Weiss has been a Club Member since 2002.

Anderson’s artwork is on display outside the Women’s Group Office through March 15. Gwen Anderson: www.gwenchi.com

Kayo Yamaw

akiGwen Anderson

27

CULTURAL INSIGHT

Family Christmas Show and Gingerbread FactoryDecember 5–6

Families kicked off the yuletide season with a weekend

of festive fun, complete with a free musical show and

holiday buffet and some deliciously messy gingerbread

house construction.

Photos by Ken Katsurayama

Make the most of your new life in Japan.Pick up invaluable tips from experts, expats and locals—while making new friends—at this biannual, two-day seminar.

Tokyo: Here & Now | March 1–2¥19,000 (non-Members: ¥22,000)Visit the Club website for details



Monthly Program: Holiday Cheer and Champagne

December 7

The Women’s Group wrapped up the year with an

entertaining luncheon that featured bubbly and carols

from the Tokyo Embassy Choir and recognized the

organization’s longtime members.

Photos by Yuuki Ide

EVENT ROUNDUP

29

Visit with SantaDecember 12

As part of his annual routine, Santa Claus took time out from

his hectic holiday schedule to drop by the Club to hear

children’s whispered wish lists.


Jiro Matsumura Fund Donation December 17

Longtime Member Shizuko Tani, of Homat

Homes, presented a check for ¥1 million

to Club General Manager Tony Cala for

the Club’s 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. In September, CHOP

Steakhouse’s Kevin Nishino and Michiko

Suzuki (both pictured) interned at the

Jonathan Club in Los Angeles.


Mudsharks Christmas Party December 19

The Club’s youth swim team and their parents swapped

the Sky Pool for the Bowling Center for a year-end

evening of strikes, food and awards.

Photos by Yuuki Ide

1. (l–r) Aren and Leo Mizuno and Joseph Reilly 2. Matthew and Jayden

Tappenden 3. (l–r) Ellie Reilly, Ciara Vogler and Wesley Maa

1

2 3

EVENT ROUNDUP

31

Christmas Eve Grand Buffet and Christmas Grand Buffet December 24 and 25

Members descended on the New York Ballroom for extra

servings of festive food and yuletide spirit and a surprise

appearance by Santa.



EVENT ROUNDUP

I t is a dream job,” Michiko Suzuki says of her position as CHOP Steakhouse pastry chef. Those with an indulgent

soft spot for desserts would likely agree with her.

A self-confessed perfectionist, Suzuki, 28, says she revels in the creative freedom of the job. Seeking out dessert ideas online, in cookery books or at cafés and restaurants, she experiments with ingredients and flavors in the CHOP “laboratory.”

“I come up with the ideas,” she says. “Everything is homemade, even the ice cream, sorbets and toppings.”

Growing up in the Philippines, Suzuki says she spent much of her childhood helping her mother in the kitchen. By the age of 10, she knew what she wanted to do as a career. In 2004, she began her four-year course at the Center for Culinary Arts in Manila.

Michiko Suzukiby Nick Jones

While studying there, she was selected to represent the school at an international culinary competition in Singapore. In the “Iron Chef ”-style format, Suzuki had to prepare a dish for four in just one hour. Her creation, which included duck confit and lamb loin, took top prize.

“It was a bit nerve-racking, but it was one of the best experiences ever,” she says.

Constantly in search of fresh challenges (and recipes), Suzuki relocated to Japan after a stint at the five-star Sofitel Hotel in Manila. She joined the Club in November 2013.

Last year, as part of the Club’s staff overseas internship program, she worked at the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles. Shadowing the club’s talented pastry chef, Quentin Collignon, December’s Employee of the Month decided to stay on for an additional two weeks at the end of the month-long internship to continue learning about French pastries and chocolates.

As Suzuki sets about planning CHOP’s selection of sweet treats for spring, she’ll be following her own kitchen mantra: “I try and make sure the diner finishes with a smile on their face.” o

Why did you decide to join the Club?“Since my parents were Members, I enjoyed Club life as a child. On weekends, we swam in the outdoor pool and enjoyed family dinners in the gorgeous ballroom. As a father of three children, it is my strong desire to share wonderful Club memories with them, just as I experienced as a child. I’m looking forward to joining various Club activities with my children on weekends.”

(l–r) Shohei, Maho, Shiho, Miho and Shota Sasakawa

Why did you decide to join the Club?“We are thrilled to be returning to TAC after two years in Hong Kong. This time around, we have two little people and know that the Club’s various activities and programs will help us to keep the children busy. The Club is an excellent place to catch up with old friends and make new connections while taking advantage of the amazing facilities and excellent dining options.”

(l–r) Jack, Jennifer, David and Grace Peacock

Shohei & Miho Sasakawa Japan—Fuji Television Network, Inc.

David & Jennifer PeacockUnited Kingdom—MSD K.K

employee of the month

new members


Daiki & Miwako KoshibaJapan—Ko Design ConceptJoseph Hall & Annette Grupen-HallNew Zealand—BMW Japan Finance Corp.Jesse Stuart & Yuki Gillespie United States—Sullivan & Cromwell LLPAndrew Chi Wan WongUnited Kingdom—Venusian Artistry K.K.Magnus Raberg & Asako Matsuoka Raberg Sweden—Mycronic Technologies CorporationJeffrey & Yoshimi Bernstein United States—Accenture Japan Ltd.

Akikazu IzumiyaJapan—Dentsu Aegis Japan, Inc.Nick Pilbeam & Takako ShirahataUnited Kingdom—PricewaterhouseCoopers Co., Ltd.Takao KiyotaJapan—One Century Co., Ltd.Michael & Yumi Ward Australia—T. Rowe Price InternationalJerome Bruhat & Fabienne ToussaintFrance—Nihon L’Oreal K.K.Akinori & Nami OgawaJapan—Japan Kenzai Co., Ltd.

Hirokazu KikuchiTakayuki & Hisako ItoTakashi & Kazue KoyamaLandis Haugen Yog KapoorSteven & Jennifer Bernstein

Masayoshi & Fumiko FuruhataEmmanuel & Delphine RamambasonHiroyuki & Toshie TezukaTim ShanagherClifford & Marie ShuartHiroyuki & Sakuko Ota

Makiko & Kazutoyo YamamotoRobert & Vickie L BenekeDominique & Sandra Jung Michael & Margret LindenbauerGiulia Biasin & Andrea Moroni

Yasuhiro & Yumiko Kubota Japan—Nihon Sekizai Ltd. Kohzo & Masako SohmaJapan—Tokyo Urban Consulting Co., Ltd.Stephen & Sheila Perun United States—IBM Japan Ltd.Andreas & Louise GunnestrandSweden—Tesa Tape K.K.Kevin Chandler & Meredith Felz United States—Hunton & Williams LLP

yokoso

sayonara

CLUB PEOPLE

35

by Akihiko Kubo

Living More by Keeping Less

When you commit to dan, you protect yourself from impulse purchases and items that won’t fundamentally enhance your life. Dan isn’t exclusively applied to physical items, either. It could relate to a promotion at work, which carries with it a small pay rise but a lot more hassle at the office.

The second character, sha, means disposal or removal and is the starting point for most new danshari adherents, simply because most of us have too much stuff in our lives. It is also the central idea of Japanese best-selling writer Marie Kondo’s 2014 book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.

This hugely popular guide to removing excess from our homes struck a chord with a generation struggling to free themselves from their accumulated clutter. Like dan, sha has other applications. So if, for example, you realize that an acquaintance is no longer a Facebook friend, you may have been the victim of a sha-fueled friend purge. Or the person may have removed Facebook from their life entirely.

Finally, there is ri. This concept is a little more complicated but is the aspect of danshari I find the most interesting. Meaning separation, ri is about developing a sense of disassociation from the things in our lives while espousing the idea that we are not defined by what we possess.

Danshari followers often find this the most difficult aspect to practice. People

with a healthy sense of ri discover that the impulse to buy gradually becomes easier to avoid, and when it comes time to part with an item—or even a friend—it’s an easy decision to make.

The voices of cultural commentators in Japan who feel that ours is now a nation of excess have grown louder in recent years, and for these folks, danshari has arrived right on time. Is your own country one where people are ready to adopt a simpler lifestyle? If the answer is yes, don’t be surprised to see danshari as readily embraced as J-pop and anime. o

Club Member Kubo is chairman of Ogilvy & Mather Japan Group advertising agency.

Japan’s cultural exports run from karaoke and sushi to architecture and ramen. But one concept I predict will soon have a global

impact is a little less tangible. The life philosophy of danshari

is rooted in the idea of minimalism and encourages us to eliminate the nonessential. While it’s true that leading a clutter-free life has influenced a line of thinkers stretching all the way back to the ancient world, danshari is a product of modern lifestyles in wealthy countries. People in nations like Japan enjoy access to a mind-boggling array of objects and experiences on an unprecedented scale.

The word danshari is made up of three Chinese characters. The first, dan, means denial or refusal and is your first line of defense against a cluttered life.


BACK WORDS


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HIssue 610 • February 2016

February 2016


毎月一回一日発行　

第四十七巻六一〇号　トウキョウアメリカンクラブ　

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Issue 610 • February 2016

February 2016




february 2016 intouch magazine

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