intouch apr 2013

TOKYO

AM

ERICAN

CLUB

i

NT

OU

CH

Issue 576 • April 2013

毎月一回一日発行　

第四十七巻五七六号　

トウキョウアメリカンクラブ　

インタッチマガジン二〇一三年四月一日発行　

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 2013

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

The Club’s Lindsay Gray and Members Luca Fantin and Mario Frittoli talk cooking, cuisine and eating out in Japan

Kitchen Confidential

Beyond the NewsstandPublisher Tyler Brûlé explains his

model for media success

Spreading LiteracyRoom to Read founder John Wood

visits the Club

Ancient Road Trip Member Joe Peters walks the

Nakasendo through the Kiso Valley

Delving into DarknessBritish journalist Richard Lloyd Parry,

set to speak at the Club this month,

discusses his book about the murder

of a British woman in Japan in 2000,

People Who Eat Darkness.

14

Chefs’ TableThe Club’s executive sous chef,

Lindsay Gray, is joined by Club

Members and fellow culinary masters

Mario Frittoli and Luca Fantin in the

Decanter kitchen to discuss the joys

of cooking in Japan, dining trends and

whether Tokyo’s glut of Michelin stars

should be celebrated.

26

library

feature

Sky Pool StepsWhile many struggle to greet the

morning, one group of Sky Pool

enthusiasts enjoy kicking off the day

with a high-energy session of aqua

aerobics at the Club.

20recreation

Joining ForcesTwo years after a series of waves laid

waste to Japan’s Tohoku coastline,

Club Member Captain Justin Cooper

reflects on the relief efforts of

American forces in Japan.

32talking heads

iNTOUCHManagementTony CalaGeneral [email protected]

Lian ChangInformation Technology [email protected]

Darryl DudleyEngineering [email protected]

Brian MarcusFood & Beverage [email protected]

Shuji HirakawaHuman Resources [email protected]

Mutsuhiko KumanoFinance [email protected]

Scott YahiroRecreation [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

18 DVD Library

19 Committees

20 Recreation

24 Women’s Group

26 Feature

32 Talking Heads

34 Frederick Harris Gallery

36 Member Services

38 Cultural Insight

40 Inside Japan

42 Out & About

44 Event Roundup

48 Back Words

Editor Nick Jones [email protected]

DesignersRyan MundtAnna Ishizuka

Production AssistantYuko Shiroki

Assistant Editor Erika Woodward

Cover photo of Lindsay Gray, Luca Fantin and Mario Frittoli by Kayo Yamawaki

2 April 2013 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]

DVD Library (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 Desk (03) 4588-0670 [email protected]

Pool Office (03) [email protected]

Rainbow Café (03) [email protected]

Recreation Desk (03) [email protected]

Redevelopment Office (03) [email protected]

The Cellar (03) [email protected]

The Spa (03) [email protected]

Weddings (03) [email protected]

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

Getting in Touch

Nick Narigon is a Tokyo-based freelance writer. Originally from Cedar Falls, Iowa, he was the weeklies editor for the Des Moines Register for five years and spent two more years in New Jersey as the special sections editor for the Press of Atlantic City. His weekly travel column now runs in the Tampa Bay Current and he has contributed features to The Wall Street Journal Asia. An Eagle Scout and nature enthusiast, Narigon has worked as a mountain ranger and canoe guide. For this month’s cover story, “Chefs’ Table,” he sits down in the Club’s own Decanter kitchen with a trio of culinary maestros to glean their thoughts on food and dining in Japan.

Nick Narigon

contributors

Words from the editor 3

A longtime resident of Asia, including more than 22 years in Japan, Joe Peters is the managing director of a recruitment and executive search firm in Tokyo. In addition to his expertise in Japan’s business world, he is the chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan’s Direct Marketing Committee, a member of the Club’s Library Committee and has recently established a Toastmasters group at the Club. An avid traveler, blogger and writer, he has written for various publications in Japan, as well as the Japan Tourist and Majirox News websites. In this month’s Out & About, he explores the ancient Nakasendo route through the picturesque Kiso Valley in Nagano Prefecture.

JoePeters

The Club president, John Durkin, recently received an e-mail from a former president of the Club, Bill McGovern, who had read about Durkin’s efforts to rebalance the Club’s finances in the February issue of iNTOUCH:

It reminded me of when I was in Tokyo from 1970 to 1990. I served on the Finance Committee, as well as the Board, serving as treasurer and president.The reconstruction of the Club in 1970s was financed by a consortium of foreign banks and one Japanese bank. The “new” Club was also financed by the issuance of interest-bearing bonds to the construction company, as well as the mandatory purchase by new Members.

Almost at the same time, the Nixon Shock occurred, [when the government] said the US would no longer guarantee repayment of dollars in gold—something that wasn’t happening anyway, but it had an adverse effect on foreign business and, in turn, on foreigners coming to Japan.

The Club suffered from this turn of events since its cash lifeblood was based on turnover; foreigners stayed a few years and then were replaced, [and] the Club charged a transfer fee for these replacements.

Interest rates then declined in Japan and the Club looked into refinancing its debt to the foreign consortium of banks. We presented a revised plan, with a lower interest rate, to the banks and all of them, except the Japanese bank, refused to accept it. Your refinancing efforts reminded me of this.You may have heard of Jiro Matsumura. He was a longtime Club vice president and our go-to guy involving anything with Japanese culture or government relations. Through his intervention, we refinanced through Kowa Real Estate at a most favorable rate.

At the time, I was leery, since the Club’s land was worth more than the mortgage, and I could visualize a real estate company wanting to take it over if we defaulted. As it turned out, it was a great deal for TAC, as we borrowed enough to pay off the bonds, as well as have the opportunity (which we didn’t have to exercise) to borrow if we needed further funds.

I offer this to you just to thank you for your foresight. It sounds like history is repeating itself.

If you have any comments about anything you read in iNTOUCH, please e-mail them to [email protected], putting “Letter to the Editor” in the subject title of the mail.

from theeditor


Monday–Tuesday1–30

Spa Special Enjoy a discount on a range of massages and facials all this month. Find out more about this pampering deal by turning to page 23.

Monday1Rice CampaignMembers can help support Second Harvest Japan through this annual Women’s Group campaign. Donation forms are available at the Member Services Desk, Women’s Group Office and on the Club website. Runs through June 30.

Wednesday–Thursday10–11

Korean Night at Rainbow CaféFeast on an array of Korean buffet treats. 5–8:30 p.m. Adults (18 and above): ¥2,100; juniors (12–17 years): ¥1,650; children (7–11 years): ¥1,200; kids (4–6 years): ¥700; infants (3 and under): free. Continues April 17–18.

Monday1Academic Improvement Center Whether you’re tackling a history paper or science question, guidance and help is at hand in the form of a team of experienced mentors at the Club. Find out more by contacting Reina Collins at [email protected].

Wednesday3Toastmasters LuncheonOvercome stage fright while learning to speak and present with confidence at this engaging luncheon. 12 p.m. Learn more on page 16. Continues April 17.

Monday30Gallery ReceptionMother and daughter artists Shoko and Suiko Ohta launch their exhibition of paintings inspired by Japan’s landscapes at the Frederick Harris Gallery. 6:30 p.m. More on page 35.

Tuesday23Adult Hip-Hop DanceInstructor Takeshi Hirata turns dance novices into confident dance floor move merchants. 10 a.m. Flip to page 22 for the rundown.

Thursday11Body ArtThis relaxing form of exercise based on the five elements of traditional Chinese medicine starts with a trial class. 8:30 a.m. Page 22 has the lowdown.

Monday8Gallery Exhibition An exhibition of the stunning ceramic works of Kenichi Iwase begins at the Frederick Harris Gallery. Runs through April 28.

Monday8Camp Discovery RegistrationRegistration for the Club’s array of exciting summer camp programs kicks off. Find out more about what’s on offer on page 23.

Sunday28Roast Beef Grand BuffetSucculent roast beef takes center stage at this monthly feast. 11 a.m.–3 p.m./5–8:30 p.m. Adults (18 and above): ¥4,900; juniors (12–17 years): ¥2,800; children (7–11 years): ¥2,100; kids (4–6 years): ¥1,050; infants (3 and below): free. Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk.

Monday22Family Dining Terrace OpensWith the arrival of spring comes the chance to enjoy the weather on the dining terraces outside Rainbow Café and Café Med.

Monday22New Rainbow Café MenuThe Club’s popular family eatery launches its newly crafted menu for spring.

Saturday13Kids’ KabukiFollowing the success of the performance by young actors from the Association of Traditional Performing Arts of Japan in January, the Club launches a Kabuki class for youngsters. 5 p.m. For more, turn to page 23.

Monday8Unexpected Destinations: The Poignant Story of Japan’s First Female College GraduateAkiko Kuno talks about penning the biography of her great-grandmother, the first Japanese woman to graduate from an American university, at this Women’s Group event. 11:30 a.m. More on page 24.

Saturday27New Café Med MenuThe Club’s casual dining spot refreshes its menu with a selection of seasonal dishes.

Coming upin May

8

1115

17

Ashikaga Flower Park and Winery Tour Open Mic NightMeet the Author: Lucy Birmingham and David McNeillToastmasters Luncheon

What’s happening in April

Thursday11Monocle: A New Media Model with Tyler BrûléEntrepreneur, journalist and founder of Monocle magazine Tyler Brûlé explains what it takes to find success in today’s fast-developing media landscape. 6:30 p.m. Page 19 has more.

Sunday7Imi Krav Maga for KidsThe Club kicks off classes for youngsters in this Israeli form of self-defense. 2:45 p.m. To find out more, turn to page 23.

Noteworthy dates for the month 5

Thursday4Sokol Blosser Wine DinnerExperience the tantalizing tannins of this Oregon gem’s lauded Pinot Noir at a dinner hosted by the eco-friendly winery’s Alex Sokol Blosser. 7 p.m. Details on page 8.

Thursday4TAC Movie Night: Herb and Dorothy Former TV producer Megumi Sasaki presents her award-winning documentary about a New York librarian and postal clerk who amassed a collection of contemporary art worth millions. 6:30 p.m. Page 19 has more.

Sunday21TAC Amazing RaceIn this fun version of the hit American reality game show, young competitors race around the vicinity of the Club. 9 a.m. For details on this inaugural challenge, visit page 22.

Friday5Youth Bowling LeagueThe Club’s young bowlers continue their weekly sessions on the lanes. 4–6 p.m. Entry fee: ¥3,150; monthly game fee: ¥3,675. Sign up at the Bowling Center.

Saturday6Decanter and FLATiRON Brunch The Club’s home of steaks, chops and wine and sensory cuisine opens for spectacular brunch experiences. 11:30 a.m. Flip to page 8 for more.

Tuesday23Boutique California Wine TastingExplore the grapey goodness of lesser-known California wineries at this Wine Committee-led tour of the Golden State. 7 p.m. More on page 9.

Tuesday9Imi Krav Maga for Adults Classes in this Israeli form of self-defense that combines martial arts, grappling and wrestling techniques kick off at the Club. 7:30 p.m. Page 23 has the details.

Wednesday10Meet the Author: Richard Lloyd ParryBritish journalist Richard Lloyd Parry discusses his book, People

Who Eat Darkness, about the case of Lucie Blackman, a British hostess who was murdered in 2000. 7 p.m. Parry talks to iNTOUCH on page 14.

Tuesday9Youth Sports Spring Season KickoffThe Club’s budding young athletes take to the court or course for another season of sports fun. To learn more, flip to page 23.

Tuesday16Meet the Author: John WoodJohn Wood, the founder of a nonprofit that is helping millions of disadvantaged kids learn to read, discusses his latest book, Creating

Room to Read: A Story of Hope in the

Battle for Global Literacy. 7 p.m. Page 12 has more.

Tuesday9Kawagoe and Omiya Bonsai Village TourTake in this traditional castle town’s fascinating architecture then peruse the green masterpieces at the world’s first bonsai museum in Omiya. Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk.

Thursday18Kimono Obi Shopping TourThis annual Women’s Group trip ventures to a charming pocket of Tokyo known for its exquisite kimono obi sashes, handcrafted bamboo baskets, musical instruments and other traditional wares. Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk.

Monday22Coffee ConnectionsWhether you’re new to Tokyo or want to meet new people, drop by this relaxed Women's Group gathering. Beate Sirota Gordon Classroom.10:30 a.m. Free.

Saturday27 Splash! OpensUntil June, the Club’s outdoor café, near the Sky Pool, opens for alfresco eating on weekends and national holidays. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. From June 1, Splash! opens daily.

EVENTS

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

JTB Sunrise ToursEnjoy a 5 percent discount on all package tours and start making unforgettable memories. Tel: 03-5796-5454 (9:30 a.m.–8 p.m.)E-mail: [email protected]

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

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

Club Questions


by John Durkin

Board of GovernorsJohn Durkin (2014)—President

Gregory Lyon (2014)—Vice PresidentMary Saphin (2013)—Vice President

Deb Wenig (2013)—SecretaryHiroshi Miyamasu (2013)—Treasurer

Brenda Bohn (2014), Norman J Green (2013), Ginger Griggs (2014), Paul Hoff (2013), Per Knudsen (2014), Lance E Lee (2014), Jeff McNeill (2013), Machi Nemoto (2014), Jerry

Rosenberg (2014), Mark Saft (2014), Dan Stakoe (2013), Sadashi Suzuki (2014), Ira Wolf (2013), Kazuakira Nakajima—Statutory Auditor (2014)

F or this month’s column, I have taken inspiration from one of my favorite columnists, the Financial Times’ Tyler Brûlé, and answered some “mailbag” questions. Incidentally,

Brûlé will be speaking about Monocle, the magazine he founded, at the Club this month. You can read an interview with him on page 40.

The Club seems a lot busier lately, and I have noticed many new faces.

In December and January, we welcomed around 200 new Members and their families, so it’s natural to see new faces around the Club. Over the past few years, a number of events have affected Tokyo and the foreign community that the Club serves. Last year, after feedback from management and the Membership, the volunteer Members who serve on your Board and committees decided to introduce membership offers to the long-term foreign community to restore growth to the Club’s overall Membership, improve the Club’s Membership diversity profile and ensure financial sustainability.

Family dining is crowded and we sometimes have to wait on weekends. Is there anything being done to improve the situation?

We plan on installing a deli counter for some takeout food items and drinks. Also, management and the Food & Beverage Committee are looking at options to increase Rainbow Café’s seating capacity.

Can we get a restroom in the Fitness Center? Management and the Recreation and Fitness committees have

looked at options to install a restroom in the Fitness Center. At this point, a solution that ensures good sanitation while keeping construction costs to a minimum has not been found, but we continue to look for an acceptable solution. More to come.

I want to watch sports. Traders’ Bar recently introduced channels for Major League

Baseball, NBA, NFL and NHL. Members can also watch other sports there, including soccer, rugby and sumo. What’s more, the bar has

a new range of sports bar eats, craft brews and Tokyo’s best real American happy hour.

What are your favorite Club activities?I enjoy all of the Club’s food outlets, particularly American Bar

& Grill and Traders’. The Club’s fitness and locker room facilities are first-rate, including the massive whirlpool bath. I use the Library when I need some quiet and Café Med for the fixed-price breakfast and low-calorie salad bar lunch. I try to attend every wine event and other events when I can.

I have a friend who is interested in joining the Club. What should I do?

Just send an e-mail to the Club’s Membership Office ([email protected]) and propose your friend for membership. After your friend has been approved by the Membership Committee and Board and they have paid all the necessary fees, following a prospective Member interview, the introducing Member is entitled to a ¥40,000 voucher to use at the Club.

What is a Voting Member and how do I become one?The Club’s Articles of Association require any Member who

would like to participate in the Club’s decision-making process at general meetings (either extraordinary or annual) to register to vote at the Membership Office. Once registered, it’s important to vote in order to help the Club reach a quorum at any general meeting. Also, not voting will result in a suspension of voting privileges for 13 months. All Members are encouraged to vote and have their say. o

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

MANAGEMENT

Executive remarks 7

A Club for All by Tony Cala Tony Cala

General Manager

W riting in the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) handbook, Contemporary Club Management, Joe Perdue, academic adviser to the CMAA, contemplates

the raison d’être of a club: “A private club is a place where people with a common bond of some type—similar interests, experiences, backgrounds, professions, and so on—can congregate for social and recreational purposes. By definition, a private club is a place that is not open to the public; an individual must be accepted by the rest of the membership before he or she may join.”

Perdue then goes on to consider why people join a club in the first place: “Some desire an exclusive atmosphere and see club membership as a statement of social position. Others join clubs because of the recreational facilities, or because the club is convenient for them….Some people see club membership as a way to get ahead in business, because other people in their professions are also members of their clubs or because their clubs give them an impressive place to entertain business clients. Some people are given club memberships by their companies as an employment perk. Other people join clubs because club membership is a family tradition. And still others simply enjoy the personal recognition and service they receive at a private club.”

Regardless of the type of club or the reasons for joining, once an individual becomes a club member, he or she is expected to abide by the institution’s code of conduct, which is commonly defined as “principles, values, standards or rules of behavior that guide the decisions, procedures and systems of an organization in a way that

contributes to the welfare of its key stakeholders and respects the rights of all constituents affected by its operations.”

The Club’s mission is to provide an environment, in the American tradition, for the diverse Membership and their families to gather as a community for social, recreational, business and cultural activities. To ensure we can provide Members with quality experiences, we also have our own code of conduct. These rules are based on a set of ideals that define what constitutes proper behavior within our particular community and can be found under News & Info in the About the Club section of the Club website.

Members have a responsibility to be cognizant of the Club’s House Rules and observe them at all times. Members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner respectful of other Members and the staff and in accordance with generally accepted Club decorum. Simply, our code of conduct ensures a safe, friendly and comfortable environment in which Members, guests and staff can gather in the spirit of camaraderie, relaxation, good will and fun.

It’s this aim that is summed up in the website introduction to our Club: “Tokyo American Club has been fostering a sense of community among its Members and their families since it was established in 1928. With more than [3,400] Members from 50-plus nations, the Club offers a diverse range of cultural, business and recreational activities and amenities in the heart of Tokyo. Whether forging new friendships, exploring the local culture, enjoying a superb meal or seeking a calm respite from the bustling city, the Club strives to provide rich experiences for everyone.” o

A s green plans go, it’s certainly audacious. But then Oregon winery Sokol Blosser is known for

its eco-friendly initiatives. The producer’s program to eliminate wine bottles by filling and distributing reusable wine kegs kicked off two years ago across the state and is slowing gaining traction.

Started by Bill Blosser and Susan Sokol Blosser in 1971, the Willamette Valley label has long aimed to tread lightly on the planet while producing its reputed Pinot Noir and other stellar wines. “I think sustainability will become less a movement and more a reality of life,” says the founders’ son, Alex Sokol Blosser, who shares the title of winery president with his sister, Alison. “We are all finding that our lifestyle of the past is not going to be a bridge to the future and things will have to change.”

In 2002, Sokol Blosser’s underground barrel cellar earned the winery LEED green building certification, a first for a US winery. The family-run business has since accumulated a lengthy tally of environmental achievements. It generates a third of its energy from solar panels, grows a variety of flora to promote a harmoniously balanced ecosystem in its vineyards, prints wine labels on recycled paper, composts, recycles and

uses carbon-neutral barrels, among other initiatives.

Evolving technology has allowed the winery to hone its green practices over the years. Standard lightbulbs, for example, gave way to compact fluorescents a decade ago and more efficient LED lights today. Sokol Blosser says he is always on the lookout for opportunities to scale back the winery’s energy consumption.

The objective is to “be as good to the earth as possible,” says the 39-year-old, who will bring a stash of guilt-free wine to the Club this month. “We need to be good stewards of the planet, so my kids and their kids can make top-quality Pinot Noir in Oregon for many years to come. Sustainability is an investment in the future.”

The biggest challenge is to find affordable sustainable options, he says, but the winery’s commitment to the so-called “triple bottom line” (people, planet, profit) has not gone without recognition. The winery was voted the state’s No. 5 best green company to work for in 2012 by Oregon Business magazine.

Fans of the label drawn more to its palate-pleasing characteristics need not worry, though. “Our focus is making top-quality Pinot Noir, and that is why people come to Sokol Blosser” Sokol Blosser says. “I do not expect our customers to ‘hug the tree’ as much as me.”

But those who do count carbon points can rest assured that they are getting one of the greenest wines out there—whether by the bottle or the keg. o

Onuki is a Chicago-based freelance journalist.


Alex Sokol Blosser

winedinner Pinot for

the Planet

Sokol Blosser Wine Dinner with Alex Sokol BlosserThursday, April 47 p.m. American Bar & Grill¥9,000Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk

by Wendi Onuki

O ne of the fun things about wine is that just a few extra minutes in your local wine shop or even supermarket can yield something new and different. No doubt,

busy lives lead us to grab that familiar bottle of Chardonnay or Zinfandel, but with a little bit of effort and imagination, you may discover some less familiar but unique and interesting wines, often referred to as “boutique” wines.

While there is no single definition for a boutique wine, such words as “artisanal,” “family-owned,” “limited production” and “handcrafted” are often associated with these wines. The winery or vineyard owner or winemaker is often dedicated to expressing a particular style, location or grape varietal in limited quantities of exceptional wine, unencumbered by the need to produce large quantities for mass consumption.

Some of these wineries or vineyards have been around for years while others may be relatively new. In the United States alone, the total number of registered or bonded wineries increased by some 9 percent in 2010 and 5 percent in 2011. Currently, there are more than 7,000 wineries.

Just over half of these wineries in the United States are located in California, and this month the Wine Committee will present a collection of white and red boutique wines from throughout the Golden State. Many may associate California wine with the

Napa and Sonoma valleys (home to many well-known wineries), but California is also known for its variety of climates, from Mediterranean to subarctic, which makes the region suitable for growing a wide range of varietals and styles. This also allows the boutique winemaker to create one-of-a-kind wines from small vineyards, blessed with ideal conditions.

We will select the wines based on quality and availability, as we would hope that those enticed to join us will appreciate that it is easy and fun to explore beyond the more recognizable labels that surround us. Please join us for an evening of touring through California while tasting some exclusive and individual wines. o

Ozeki and Purcell are members of the Wine Committee.

bou·tique (n./adj.) boo tek

1. a small company that offers highly specialized services or products: boutique wineries; an independent wine boutique.

Club wining and dining 9

FOOD & BEVERAGE

winetasting

Boutique California Wine Tasting Wednesday, April 237 p.m.Washington and Lincoln rooms¥12,000Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk

Beyond Sidewaysby Arthur Ozeki and Joe Purcell

The Decanter experience doesn’t have to end when you leave.

Sets of four beautifully crafted Laguiole steak knives, originally produced in Aveyron in southern France, available at Decanter and The Cellar (B1). ¥15,000


bottletalk

2006 Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon, Dancing Bear Ranch, Napa Valley, CaliforniaDuring Bruce Cakebread’s recent visit to the Club, the winery president told Members a story of how Dancing Bear Ranch got its name and, in the process, started to dance. I expect this wine will have the same effect on anyone who tastes it. A blend of 79 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 17 percent Merlot and 4 percent Cabernet Franc, this wine is a balance of intensity and elegance, with perfumed aromas of black fruits, forest floor spice, rich fig and chocolate tones. The beautifully structured palate offers concentrated blackberry, blackcurrant, wild cherry and ripe fig, finishing with silky tannins. If Decanter featured only one wine on its list, this would be a great option.

¥17,300 a bottle at Decanter.

Kelley’s Cellar Selection

Personality Taste

educated choice that is able to deliver while young, it also packs aging potential and grace seldom seen in white wines. Crisp and refreshing, with oily viscosity to lubricate any social situation, it is still perceived by many to be sweet, and sweet I am not.

Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio are both worth considering. All screw caps and ice buckets, this fashionable pair must be doing something right. Popularity, though, breeds contempt (see Chardonnay), and neither of these wines has ever achieved the kind of greatness to which I aspire.

But time was running out. With my mind racing through grape varieties and regions, it suddenly dawned on me that I had overlooked the obvious choice—a wine that best reflects my personality and outlook on life. I am Champagne. o

Schaefer is the Club’s wine program manager.

I f you were a wine, what wine would you be? Not so long ago, I was posed that question during a certain high-stakes job interview. I wasn’t prepared for such an esoteric query;

questions on wine pairings, profit-and-loss reports, leadership skills and employment history, yes, but not abstractness. I had to think quickly…

Perhaps as Cabernet Sauvignon, I would be perceived as strong-minded, possibly opinionated, with a powerful and intense personality. While it might appear too bossy and brash, that kind of confidence could be considered an attribute, and, with balance intact, such qualities could be an asset to any team (or wine cellar).

I could be mature Bordeaux, wise and experienced but unyielding to new ideas, or a New World explosion of confidence, occasionally lacking balance and wisdom.

Maybe I could be Pinot Noir: talented, charming, somewhat mysterious and overwhelmingly captivating, but also thin-skinned, temperamental and only suited to the most specific of environments. This chameleon of sorts is unpredictable and risky, not to mention expensive.

Could I possess some of the characteristics of a mature Barolo? Old World charm, class, power, finesse and Italian flair. Or would that be misconstrued as overconfidence and stubbornness, with an acidity and tannin to make newcomers flinch. Meanwhile, Nebbiolo, despite its many stylish merits (think bespoke Italian suits), remains quite obscure.

Eliminating the obvious, I am certainly not Beaujolais (too fruity) or Gewürztraminer (too spicy), and I don’t qualify as White Zinfandel (insert witticism here), either.

There’s Chardonnay, with its versatility and crowd-pleasing qualities. But everyone knows Chardonnay, and it could be seen as lacking originality, with little room for a new discovery.

The so-called sommelier’s grape, Riesling, is tempting. An

by Kelley Michael Schaefer


Set to speak at the Club this month, the founder of the nonprofit Room to Read, John Wood, reflects on his mission to bring education to deprived children around the world.

for children in their chosen language, training educators and supporting girls’ education as well.

The results speak for themselves: 20 million bright, young women in our girls’ education program; 15,000 libraries and 1,600 schools established; and 850 original children’s titles in over 25 languages and 12 million books distributed.

Like any global organization that sets bold goals, we have had our ups and downs. The challenges along the way have included finding the right people for key positions, staffing our country offices, fundraising in an economic downturn, navigating the complexities of expanding into Africa and continuing with projects in a tsunami-hit Sri Lanka. We have had our share of adversity but the optimist in me focuses on the fact we have weathered these storms and are now more committed than ever in reaching our goal of 10 million children by the year 2015.

My life has changed in many ways since

A s Room to Read continues to scale, I am more optimistic than ever, but also more impatient. Optimistic

because we started with nothing but an idea and now, 13 years later, we have reached more than 7.5 million children in 10 countries in the developing world. But I am impatient because there are still millions of children who need access to education, teachers, classrooms and books, and who deserve to have the same chance of a better life.

I wrote my first book, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World, to tell the story of why I started a nonprofit from scratch. Creating Room to Read: A Story of Hope in the Battle for Global Literacy is the next chapter in our ongoing story. It’s the story about what happened when we began to grow beyond my wildest dreams and how we tackled the challenges of expansion while maintaining our original vision to include not just building libraries and classrooms, but publishing books

Man on a Mission

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Literary gems at the Library 13

starting Room to Read, but I am still the guy who walked away from an executive position at Microsoft in hopes of making a difference. I have had the privilege of meeting such amazing people as Nicholas Kristof, who included Room to Read in his documentary Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, and the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Katie Couric have invited me on their shows to talk about our work. And we have partnered with some of the world’s leading companies, such as Barclays, Credit Suisse, the Financial Times and Hilton.

I am now a full-time “ambassador,” traveling all over the world for a cause in which I strongly believe: providing access to quality education to children around the world. Whether it’s for a book signing, corporate presentation or chapter fundraising gala, I am on the road about 200 days a year, knocking on doors in hopes of cultivating new supporters and reinvigorating existing ones.

I have become even more passionate about our work and more determined to push forward because I know that the possibilities are endless. Since Room to Read’s founding in 2000, we have accomplished more than I ever imagined and, as a result, we have impacted the lives of millions of children.

I was recently asked if I ever get discouraged. “Of course,” I answered, but I only have to think of a girl or boy in a remote village in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos or Tanzania, who doesn’t have access to an education but dreams of going to school or university so that he or she can provide for his family or community. That is the thought that exhilarates me because I know what we do on a daily basis makes a difference, and there is still so much to do.

We really have just scratched the surface, and I hope to see in my lifetime a world in which every child is able to go to school and have the opportunity to pave their own path in life. o

An American, Wood is the founder of the nonprofit organization Room to Read.

Creating Room to Read: A Story of Hope in the Battle for Global Literacy (2013), Zak the Yak with Books on His Back (2010) and Leaving Microsoft to Change the World (2008) are available at the Library.

John Wood

Nan

cy F

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Room to Readwww.roomtoread.org

Meet the Author: John WoodTuesday, April 167–8 p.m.Yukiko Maki and Toko Shinoda classrooms¥1,575 (includes one drink)Adults only Sign up online or at the Library


parent’s ultimate nightmare: a child’s death at the hands of a bogeyman in a far-off land.

Parry: And it was a nightmare, and it was almost as if various elements conspired to make it as painful and difficult as possible from the beginning, because it was a far-off place, both physically and culturally, and there was the language barrier and the way the police operate, which is so different from the way we know [the British] police, and there was a long period of uncertainty. The news, when it came, that Lucie was dead was not unexpected to members of her family

and friends. But the circumstances were so ghastly, it would have been difficult to imagine anything worse—chopped up and buried in a cave. Even then, it wasn’t over. This case dragged on for years in an impenetrable manner. On top of all that, the family who seemed to have disintegrated as far as was possible, had this further, bitter falling-out over the so-called condolence money, which Tim Blackman [Lucie’s father] accepted from Joji Obara.

iNTOUCH: What did you want the book to do?Parry: I wanted it to tell the story in its entirety, in a way that didn’t leave people wondering what on earth was

going on here. Although it appears to be a story about straightforward good and evil, about innocence crushed by a destructive criminal, there was a lot of nuance, a lot of shades of gray, a lot of mysteries, and I wanted to have the space to explain them in their subtleties.

iNTOUCH: What were the biggest challenges in writing the book?

Parry: The most difficult thing was [reaching] the Japanese police, although I did eventually manage to speak at some length to several of the detectives who worked on the case after their retirements. The other thing that was very difficult was Joji Obara and finding out about him and his past. Not only him, but his family in general give the impression of having gone through life erasing traces of themselves and their past. And the other thing that was challenging was being sued for libel by Joji Obara, but in the end that had a happy ending because he lost and I won.

iNTOUCH: Were you disappointed not to have been able to interview Obara?

Parry: At first, I was a bit frustrated, and I worried that it would leave a hole in the story. But as time went on, I realized that actually it wouldn’t have made that much difference. It would have been a fascinating experience to sit opposite him and have a conversation with him and to get some sense of his presence and personality, but I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have told me anything and would have just trotted out the same kind of excuses that he presented in court and in the rather strange book about him that was published under the aegis of his lawyers. I came to realize that that task I had set myself of cracking somebody open like a nut is a wild goose chase; you can’t do that with human beings; there is no simple answer to the motivation of somebody like that.

iNTOUCH: How did your attitude toward the police and judicial system change over the course of researching and writing the book?

It was a mystery that filled British newspaper column inches and TV reports in the summer of 2000. A

young, British hostess, working in the entertainment district of Roppongi, had disappeared. One of the journalists covering the case was Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia correspondent for The Times.

In 2011, he published his account of the grisly murder case of Lucie Blackman and the trial of the man accused of killing her, Joji Obara. iNTOUCH’s Nick Jones spoke to Parry about his book. Excerpts:

iNTOUCH: What was the trigger for deciding to write this book?

Parry: I think it was when the trial got going that I realized how rich and dense and multilayered the whole story was, because you had the original mystery of what had happened to this girl who had gone missing; and you had a police drama about the struggle to solve a crime; then you had this villain, as he turned out to be, and his very unusual and mysterious background; but you also had the family story about Lucie Blackman’s parents and her sister and their search for the truth about what had happened to her. So it was really when those elements came together I realized that it would make a good book.

iNTOUCH: The story seemed to be every

Ahead of his appearance at the Club this month, writer and journalist Richard Lloyd Parry talks to iNTOUCH about his book, People Who Eat Darkness. by Nick Jones

Delving intoDarkness

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Jim H

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Parry: I’d always suspected that the Japanese police were perhaps not as gloriously effective as they presented themselves, but in covering this case, I realized how inadequate they are as a modern police force. I found it a bit tricky in writing about that and publishing my conclusions because the individuals whom I met and interviewed were, with a few exceptions, very charming people. I think it’s something you find with a lot of Japanese institutions that the individuals who function within them are very committed, very hard-working, very sincere and justifiably proud of their service, but that can be the case even when the institutions are inadequate, and the Japanese police in this case and in others were inadequate.

iNTOUCH: What was the reaction to the book from the people you wrote about?

Parry: Sophie, Lucie’s sister, was very positive about the book and helped me promote it when it first came out in the UK. And Tim and Jane [Lucie’s parents] both read it and both, for some extent, expressed reservations that it was biased towards the other person, which is probably the best I could have hoped for when writing a book that is partly about a failed marriage. But I remain in touch with both of them and remain on good terms. o

People Who Eat Darkness is available at the Library.

Meet the Author: Richard Lloyd ParryWednesday, April 10 7–8 p.m.Yukiko Maki and Toko Shinoda classrooms¥1,575 (includes one drink)Adults onlySign up online or at the Library

off theshelf

Winning Words


W riters in this year’s Get Creative! Young Author Writing Contest had to write about an inspiring

book they had read and explain why they had chosen that title.

The judges selected Kaitlyn Wu’s review (below) of Wendy Mass’ A Mango-Shaped Space, and the 12-year-old won an Apple Store gift card worth ¥5,000.

“A Mango-Shaped Space is about a girl named Mia Whinchell. Mia is a 13-year-old girl with synesthesia. She sees letters and numbers with a color and sometimes with a pattern. One day she meets a boy named Billy in the supermarket who sees the same things as her! Mia starts thinking that she might not be the only one.

During school she is failing math so she tells her parents about her problem. Once her parents find out, they take her to a neurologist. The neurologist tells Mia and her parents that she has grapheme color synesthesia.

Soon enough she is introduced to many people who are just like her and realizes that she is not alone. As a result Mia starts meeting people with a similar condition of synesthesia and she learns how to answer questions properly. This helps her to understand her condition better.

During school she thinks that people will make fun of her when she tells them about her synesthesia, but instead everybody wants to figure out what she sees and what other people don’t. She starts feeling normal and accepted in school and at home. She learns to have a good life even with her color synesthesia.

I enjoyed this book because it always kept you wondering what would happen next. The events drew me into the book and it was so detailed that sometimes it felt like I was part of the story! Wendy Mass described everything in a well-written format that was easy to understand.

The author brings out many emotions in the reader, like feeling sorry for Mia or supportive for her to achieve her goals. Some mixed emotions including worried, depressed or shocked made me wonder how I would react and think if I were Mia.

Since there was only one main character, the story really brought out Mia’s personality. It was easy to understand her character because everything happened in her point of view. I think this is one of the great qualities of storytelling. Also there was just the right amount of minor characters to back up the main character. For Mia to have conflicts with them, it showed the reader how she would resolve issues in different ways. This is one of many books by Wendy Mass that is fabulously detailed with a perfectly balanced plot, climax and character development.” o

Banishing the Public Speaking Butterflies

Toastmasters LuncheonApril 3 and 17

12–1:30 p.m.

Washington and Lincoln rooms

¥2,650

For ages 18 and above

Sign up online or at the Library or e-mail [email protected]

W hether you want to overcome stage fright for good or just want tips on public speaking or presenting, the Club’s regular Toastmasters lunches offer the perfect

place to build confidence at the podium. o

Kaitlyn Wu

new

Member: Arthur OzekiTitle: American Wine: The Ultimate Companion to Wines and Wineries of the United States by Jancis Robinson and Linda Murphy

What’s the book about?It’s a comprehensive overview of the wine regions and many of the wineries of the United States, with detailed maps, descriptions and beautiful photographs.

What did you like about it?Despite being somewhat of a reference material, it’s an engaging read for both wine connoisseurs and casual wine consumers. The focus is on California, Oregon and Washington, but it covers the entire country, with interesting facts and introductions to wineries.

Why did you choose it?An avid wine follower myself, I was looking to discover more about US wine production and producers. Discovery never ends.

What other books would you recommend?Hugh Johnson’s The Story of Wine is a good read for learning about the history of wine.

reads

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member’s choice

One Zentangle a Day: A 6-Week Course in Creative Drawing for Relaxation, Inspiration, and Fun by Beckah KrahulaAn interactive book on the principles of “zentangle” drawing that includes fun drawing exercises. Each of the 42 daily exercises illustrates how to create these abstract drawings of repetitive patterns while offering tips on related art conventions and rules.

Tohoku Comfort Food: Timeless Recipes from Northeast Japan by 5ive-Planets FoundationThis compilation of some of Tohoku residents’ favorite recipes is dedicated to the people of the region who survived so much and inspired so many. These recipes, in Japanese and English, are designed to remind us all of the natural beauty, richness of culture, history and generosity of Tohoku.

People’s Republic of China: Enchantment of the World by Wil MaraIt’s geography for a new generation, an invaluable resource for facts and figures and a fascinating, highly visual introduction to the world’s most populous country. This book includes full-color photographs, original maps, handy “fast facts,” and an authoritative selection of Internet resources.

The Master Puppeteer by Katherine PatersonWho is Saburo, the mysterious bandit who robs the rich and helps the poor? And what is his connection with Yoshida, the harsh and ill-tempered master of feudal Japan’s most famous puppet theater? Young Jiro (apprentice to Yoshida) is determined to find out, even at risk to his own life.

Vegan Eats World by Terry Hope RomeroThe award-winning chef and writer continues the vegan food revolution with more than 300 delicious recipes based on international favorites. Through chapters with such titles as Spice Blend, The Three Protein Amigos and Pickles, Chutneys, and Saucier Sauces, you can make everything from salads to curries, dumplings to desserts.

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

The Last Runaway by Tracy ChevalierNineteenth-century America is practical, precarious and scarred by the continuing injustice of slavery. For a modest English Quaker living in Ohio and stranded from her home, life is a trial. Chevalier masterfully intertwines historical figures and actual events into a compelling narrative.

Reviews compiled by the Library’s Jennifer Green.



DVD LIBRARY

flick

T hat first morning in April 1996, the National Historic Park in Philadelphia began fielding hundreds of angry calls, and they kept coming.

The American fast food chain Taco Bell had announced in all major newspapers that it had bought the naming rights of the park’s Liberty Bell, and the symbol of American democracy would now be known as the Taco Liberty Bell.

With the practical joke lost on some, citizen outrage reached all way to the White House, causing the press secretary to quip that also that day the Lincoln Memorial had been renamed the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial by its sponsoring automaker.

This April Fools’ Day, guaranteeing to deliver laughs without the blowback, the DVD Library stocks plenty of comedic fodder (all pranks and tomfoolery safely contained on film). Since everyone has their own comedic favorites or (warped) sense of humor, you may have to agree to disagree with your friends or family when selecting the “funniest” flick. Still, great comedies, regardless of their persuasion, let us be silly and remind us that we should sit back and laugh every once in a while.

From Abbot and Costello classics to Seth Rogan romps, the DVD Library has comedies for every generation. Here are a few of our favorites: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Animal House (1978), There’s Something About Mary (1998), American Pie (1999), Road Trip (2000), Zoolander (2001), The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005) and Borat (2006). o

Fujii is a member of the DVD Library Committee.

pick

DVD Library Daily: 9 a.m.–8 p.m. tel: 03-4588-0686 e-mail: [email protected] Reviews compiled by Erika Woodward.

Django UnchainedAfter a bounty hunter buys his freedom, former slave Django (Jamie Foxx) needs his help to rescue his wife from a merciless master. Set in antebellum Mississippi, this much-lauded Western is directed by Quentin Tarantino. Starring Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio.

The Guilt TripA genius on-screen pairing, Seth Rogen and Barbara Streisand deliver heartfelt laughs in this sweetly ironic comedy about an adult son who inadvertently embarks on a cross-country journey with his coddling mother.

Hyde Park on HudsonIt’s 1936 and American President Franklin D Roosevelt is receiving Britain’s king and queen at his estate while wrestling the weight of a budding romance and looming world war. Starring Bill Murray and Laura Linney.

Down the ShoreSet on the Jersey shore, this indie drama, starring James Gandolfini, follows the lives of three childhood friends as a secret from their past is exposed. Directed by veteran acting coach Harold Guskin.

Hemingway and GellhornWar correspondents Ernest Hemingway (Clive Owen) and Martha Gellhorn (Nicole Kidman) dodge bombs and bullets while pursuing a passionately messy love affair. An absorbing HBO film about the lovelorn American literary giants.

Any Day NowRaising an abandoned teenager with Down syndrome, Rudy (Alan Cumming) and Paul’s (Garret Dillahunt) parenting challenges pale in comparison to their fight to win legal custody as a gay couple in the 1970s. Based on a true story.

by David Fujii

Comedy Cuts

AC TION

COMEDY

DRAMA

newmovies

Cornerstone of the Club 19

COMMITTEES

Members interested in joining one of the committees listed should contact its chair or inquire at the Management Office. Names in parentheses denote Board liaisons.

Compensation Brian Nelson

Finance Gregory Davis (John Durkin)

Food & Beverage Michael Alfant (Mary Saphin)

Food & Beverage SubcommitteeWine Steve Romaine

House Jesse Green (Gregory Lyon) House SubcommitteeFacilities Management Group Elaine Williams

Human Resources Jon Sparks (Steve Romaine)

Membership Craig Saphin (Deb Wenig) Membership SubcommitteeBranding TBD

Nominating Roger Marshall

Programs & Events Barbara HancockPrograms & Events SubcommitteeFrederick Harris Gallery Yumiko Sai

Recreation Tim Griffen (Ira Wolf ) Recreation SubcommitteesBowling Crystal GoodflieshDVD Abby RadmilovichFitness Sam RoganGolf Steven Thomas Library Melanie ChetleyLogan Room Alaine Lee and Nancy Nussbaum Squash Martin FluckSwim Jesse Green & Alexander Jampel Youth Activities Narissara March

Joining a Committee

Media Moneymaker

Amid declining newspaper and magazine sales around the world and changing reading habits,

media organizations stand at a crossroads. Publications, in particular, are struggling to find a business model that allows them to deliver their product to readers while still making money.

One London-based magazine, though, appears to be bucking current trends. Monocle, a flourishing upmarket global affairs and lifestyle publication, is shunning such popular marketing tools as social media. This month, the founder of Monocle, Tyler Brûlé, will explain to Members the secret of his publishing success. o

Brûlé talks to iNTOUCH on page 40.

Monocle: A New Media Model with Tyler BrûléThursday, April 11

6:30–8:30 p.m.


¥1,500 (includes one drink)

Sign up online or at the Member Services Desk

Sponsored by the Programs and Events Committee

Boys and Toys

T he Club celebrates the annual holiday of Children’s Day, or Boys’ Day, with a traditional samurai

warrior display, provided by Yoshitoku, a centuries-old doll company in Tokyo, and carp streamers hung from the ceiling.

Marked on May 5, this national holiday is used as a time to celebrate children’s health and happiness. With Girls’ Day on March 3 and Boys’ Day two months later, the government renamed the May holiday Children’s Day in 1948.

In its previous incarnation, the day’s symbols of carp and samurai (or warrior helmets) were meant to represent strength and development. Red bean paste rice cakes wrapped in kashiwa oak leaves are typically served on this day. o

Boys’ Day Display April 9–May 7

Family Lobby (1F)


A Night atthe Movies

H erbert and Dorothy Vogel appeared like any other couple in the teeming metropolis of New

York. He was a postal worker, she was a librarian.

But behind the front door of their one-bedroom Manhattan apartment was one of the largest collections of contemporary art in the United States. That was until they donated it all to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

Intrigued by the Vogels’ extraordinary story, Japanese TV producer Megumi Sasaki decided to make a documentary about it. This month, she will screen the resulting 2008 film, Herb and Dorothy, and talk about the project at the Club. o

TAC Movie Night: Herb and DorothyThursday, April 4

6:30–9 p.m.


Free

Recommended for ages 16 and above



everything about the class exciting,” he says. “That’s the only way people will come back is if it’s fun.”

Pointing a finger to the ceiling, Harris admits he’s got one move, though, that stands the test of time. “I do the disco point,” says the former bodybuilder and social dance instructor, before letting out a laugh.

A three-year veteran of the course, Member Catherine Watters Sasanuma says the serious business of crunches and leg work get her “heart rate going,” but it’s Harris’ lighthearted moves that keep her coming back. “Exercising shouldn’t just be drudgery,” she says.

Fresh from a Wednesday morning session, the mother of four says every Member should, at least once, plunge into

It’s before 10 a.m. on a Monday, and Masayuki Kurahashi is in the Sky Pool, jumping, kicking and dancing himself

fit to a cover of Gloria Gaynor’s 1979 disco classic “I Will Survive.”

“[Aqua aerobics] is very enjoyable, good for your body, not too severe, just appropriate, especially for a person over 50 years old,” he says, sitting in the Winter Garden after the lively session.

Working up a sweat weekly in the pool

since joining the program about four years ago, Kurahashi says he appreciates instructor Ronny Harris’ enthusiasm. “Ronny is open, kind, very cheerful, so the atmosphere in the class is like that,” he says.

Harris, who is in his third year of leading the Sky Pool sessions for advanced and beginning students, says he thrives on constantly switching up his challenging yet free-spirited routines. “I want to make


Sky Pool Steps

With splashes and disco moves, one Sky Pool class offers the ultimate morning pick-me-up. by Erika Woodward

the Sky Pool for this fitness class. “Come, try it, be in the most beautiful place in the Club, and, you know, you’re just hanging out with some music and jumping around,” she says. “We’re like kids playing in the pool together.”

Sasanuma is also among a handful of water lovers who are taking advantage of the low-impact, high-resistance form of exercise to ease aches and pains. Running late for a wedding a few years ago, she charged upstairs, injuring her Achilles tendon. The condition has lingered. “That’s why I couldn’t run or play tennis,” she says.

Now reaping the benefits of exercise without “all the pounding,” she says aqua aerobics is as strengthening as it is easy on the joints. After each class, she says she

feels relaxed and rejuvenated. “That’s how I feel right now. I’ve had a good workout and [it’s like] I’ve had the best massage I’ve ever had,” she says. “So it’s kind of like this double whammy of benefit.”

Kurahashi agrees, crediting the class for helping him recover from an injury. While hitting line drives down the fairway late last December, he tweaked his knee. His doctor prescribed leg extensions on fitness machines. “I did it very seriously,” he says.

But after a few weeks of straining his muscles, the pain remained. Having resolved to ease himself fit in the water instead, Kurahashi says that the aching had nearly subsided by the middle of January. “I think it’s because of my workouts in the pool that my recovery picked up faster,”

he says. “Buoyancy is the advantage of exercising in the pool.”

But whatever a newcomer’s motivationfor joining in the fun in the water, Kurahashi says it’s a supportive environment. “It’s far better than walking in the pool alone,” he says.

When it comes down to it, Sasanuma says, there’s no better way to get energized in the morning than by waking up with friends and a few disco tunes. “I look forward to it,” she says. “I feel like whatever else I’ve done the whole day I’ve already had a good day by 10 o’clock.”

Time to ditch that cup of joe and take the plunge. o

To learn more about Aqua Aerobics, visit the Sky Pool Office or the Club website.

RECREATION

Fitness and well-being 21

Instructor Ronny Harris Irwin

Won

g

L ed by international dance and fitness instructor Jimmy Outlaw, this energizing mind-body workout is

inspired by traditional Chinese medicine and designed to relieve back pain and stress and tone muscles. o

Body ArtFree trial class: Thursday, April 11 8:30–9:30 a.m.Five sessions: ¥6,300Twenty sessions: ¥21,000Walk-in fee per class: ¥1,575For ages 16 and aboveSign up online or at the Recreation Desk


Racing for a CauseIn this Club version of the hit American reality TV show “The Amazing Race,” young teams of competitors hunt down clues around Azabudai to help raise money for Fukushima’s board of education and an array of exciting prizes.

TAC Amazing RaceSunday, April 219 a.m.–1 p.m. (followed by a reception and awards ceremony)¥10,000 per four-member team (each team must match its entry fee in raised/donated funds)High school students onlySign up online or by e-mailing [email protected] by the TAC Student Council

Pop ’n’ Lock Get started moving like your favorite pop stars during this (tasteful) music video-inspired dance class for grownups. Taught by talented dancer and instructor Takeshi Hirata.

Adult Hip-Hop Dance April 23–June 4Every Tuesday10–11 a.m.¥12,600For ages 16 and aboveSign up online or at the Recreation Desk

F ITNESS

Holistic Training

RECREATION

Fitness and well-being 23

Seasonal SportsThe Club kicks off this latest season of exciting youth sports: Badminton (April 9–June 4); Junior Golf (April 9–June 4); Basketball (April 10–June 9); Cheer Dance (April 11–June 6); Volleyball (April 12–June 9).

For more information, e-mail [email protected].

Summer of FunCamp Discovery and All-Star Sports registration kicks off on April 8. Don’t miss out on these one-week sessions of activity-packed entertainment at the Club over the summer.

June 17–August 16 (nine sessions)Camp Discovery Ages 6–12All-Star Sports (following Camp Discovery each day)Ages 6–12Camp Discovery for Preschoolers Ages 3–5

For more information, e-mail [email protected].

Making the GradeWith final exams and term papers looming, recruit the help of the Club’s Academic Improvement Center and its team of experienced tutors.

April 1–June 6Monday–Thursday4:30–7:30 p.m.¥21,000Family discount available

Getting Defensive Classes in Imi Krav Maga, an Israeli form of self-defense that combines martial arts, grappling and wrestling techniques, start this month at the Club.

Imi Krav MagaChildren: from April 7Adults: from April 9To learn more or to sign up, visit the Recreation Desk or the Club website.

April Spa Offer

The Spa proudly uses products by

YOUTH E VENTS

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

This month, if you book any 60- or 90-minute massage or facial pampering at least two days in advance, we’ll treat you to a 20 percent discount.

Offer valid: April 1–30 (except weekends and national holidays)

Taking Center Stage Following the success of the youth Kabuki performance earlier this year, the Club, together with the Association of Traditional Performing Arts of Japan, invites budding Kabuki fans to study and perform the art.

Kids’ KabukiApril 13–June 8Every Saturday5–6:15 p.m. and 6:15–7:30 p.m.Sign up online or at the Recreation Desk

Stage DebutRoyal Academy of Dance-certified instructor Eynat Evon-Tov leads fun, creative Ballet and Pre-Ballet classes for budding dancers, such as 4-year-old Belle Thomas: “I love Eynat’s class because she lets me dance like a butterfly.”

Besides learning the fundamentals of ballet, students develop confidence, agility, grace, balance, poise, musicality and a passion for dance.

To find out more, visit the Recreation Desk or the Club website.


Inspiring VenturesAbroad

More than a century after Sutematsu Oyama became the the first Japanese woman ever to receive a college degree and to graduate from an American university, her great-granddaughter continues to extol the benefits of studying abroad.

Akiko Kuno

Kayo

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by Erika Woodward

Extending her right hand, 72-year-old Akiko Kuno initiates a handshake with the ease of an American socialite.

But then it’s hardly surprising. As a former student in the United States

and the first female vice president of the America-Japan Society, she has been living out her family’s legacy of promoting cross-cultural exchange and women’s education for decades.

The great-granddaughter of Sutematsu Oyama, the first Japanese woman ever to receive a college degree and to graduate from an American university, Kuno, in many ways, embodies her great-grandmother’s vision. “I think she opened the door of Japanese society to the woman,” Kuno says of Oyama, who remains an inspirational icon more than 140 years after graduating from Vassar College top of her class.

Having penned Oyama’s biography, Unexpected Destinations: The Poignant Story of Japan's First Vassar Graduate, which was based on her great-grandmother’s letters to close friends, Kuno will speak about the book at the Club this month.

Sitting in the lobby of International House in Roppongi on a weekday afternoon in February, Kuno talks of the adventurousness of her great-grandmother, when, in December 1871, she boarded a ship in Yokohama bound for San Francisco.

As part of the Iwakura Mission (a diplomatic initiative to gather know-how in such areas as technology, education and economics), Oyama, along with a handful of government-sponsored students, traded her Meiji-era homeland for the country that had set Japan on its path to modernization. “I think she was so courageous to study in a different country that she had never seen before,”

says Kuno, who herself studied abroad at Stanford University while earning a degree in American history from Keio University.

“It’s a totally different story when you talk about studying abroad now because many people go to America or Europe or Asia to study and the life there is not much different,” she says. “But can you imagine 140 years ago?”

A decade after crossing the Pacific, the university graduate arrived back in Japan, with a dream of founding a school for women with a friend. “She tried to show the Japanese woman that women could be independent and self-dependent,” says Kuno.

Although Oyama believed she had a duty to use what she had learned abroad to help Japan, she discovered that society only expected her to become a wife and mother. “She was so disappointed,” Kuno says. “The real reason for the Japanese government to educate women in the US in 1871 was to have an intellectual mother because they believed that if you became an intellectual woman, then you would bear intelligent boys. So it was like a baby-producing machine.”

Kuno, who later studied at Hope College in Michigan, joined and ascended to the presidency of the College Women’s Association of Japan in the mid-1980s. She says she wishes her great-grandmother had had a similar opportunity.

“I always lament that if she were born more than 50 years later, she could have contributed a lot to society of what she learned from the United States, but I’m sorry to say that she was born too early for her time.”

Fortunately, says Kuno, Oyama married an influential imperial general, Iwao Oyama, who had himself studied abroad in Europe and embraced women’s rights. He provided an opportunity for Oyama to become a visible role model.

“Otherwise, she couldn’t find any better way,” says Kuno. “I think, even now, there are many women still struggling with a husband who doesn’t understand the situation of the working woman in the family. In that sense, she was a pioneer of Japanese women who become independent.”

Living out her great-grandmother’s legacy, Kuno has been paying it forward, helping to provide scholarships for America-bound Japanese students. Studying abroad, she says, is a valuable experience. “You learn a lot, the bad part, the good part. Then you will become very proud of your own country and identify yourself as Japanese. I think my great-grandmother felt the same way.”

According to government figures,

though, the number of Japanese students studying abroad has been declining almost steadily for the past five years. Kuno attributes this, in part, to fears of gun violence, especially in America, and the language barrier. “But, I think, the biggest reason is the young student doesn’t have any guts,” she says. “If you go to a good university and get a good job, you don’t have to challenge your life. That is one of the reasons we became inward-looking, not challenged by the unknown world. When your society is affluent, that will spoil the human being, I think.”

The number of applicants for a scholarship fund she helps oversee has increased significantly over the past few years, however, and she says she hopes this becomes a national trend.

Enumerating celebrities and recent news articles that have been encouraging young students to voyage beyond Japan’s shores, Kuno says she’s confident the message is

being heard. “So we will keep saying loudly, ‘You have to challenge yourself, get out of your country and then you can see your own country,’” she says.

The future of Japan, Kuno asserts, lies abroad. “Now Japan needs a young person who has a challenging spirit to become a national leader,” she says. o

WOMEN’S GROUP

An interactive community 25

Sutematsu Oyama

Unexpected Destinations: The Poignant

Story of Japan's First Female College

Graduate with Akiko Kuno

Monday, April 8

Doors open: 11:30 a.m.

Lunch: 12 p.m.

Manhattan I

Women’s Group members: ¥3,150

Non-Women’s Group members: ¥4,200

Adults only


Sponsored by the Women’s Group


Club chef Nobukazu Toyama

FEATURE

Chefs’ Table 27

Three culinary doyens take a break from their stoves to discuss food, dining and Michelin stars in Japan.

H igh on the must-do list of any tourist to Japan is the food. And while the country is renowned the world over for its culinary offerings (the government has even nominated

Japanese food for consideration as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage asset), it is also lauded for its interpretation of other nations’ cuisine.

Tokyo reaffirmed its position as the globe’s gastronomic capital last year, when Michelin bestowed another crop of much sought-after stars on the city’s restaurants. To discuss this and Japan’s love of food, iNTOUCH recently sat down with the Club’s own executive sous chef, Lindsay Gray, Italian chef Mario Frittoli, the owner of Mario i Sentieri in Nishi Azabu, and fellow Club Member and compatriot Luca Fantin, who is the executive chef at Bulgari Il Ristorante in Ginza. Excerpts:

Chefs’ Table

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iNTOUCH: What do you like about running a restaurant in Japan?

Frittoli: I have experience in Paris, in Lyons, in London, Los Angeles and then here in Tokyo. Japan is a spectacular island, and Japanese customers are the best customers. They have knowledge of cuisine from all over the world. I have customers from Italy who say the food is better here in Tokyo than in Italy. Of course, the ingredients here in Japan, they are unbelievable. Then the Japanese chefs that are working for you, they are fantastic. I have never seen an Italian come to Japan and learn Japanese food. But

there are a lot of Japanese that go to Italy to learn. They speak Italian, they know Italian culture.

Fantin: I have been in Tokyo for almost four years, and the ingredients are the most important aspect for a chef. We are able to work with the perfect ingredients. The Japanese people are actually the chefs. They pay very close attention to the plate and what we do.

Gray: Being here at the Club for the last eight years has been a good experience. As Mario said, the quality of the products and produce you can get here in Japan is really second to none, so it is really a joy just to use the ingredients.

iNTOUCH: Japanese chefs compete well internationally, don’t they?

Frittoli: French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Californian, you name it.

iNTOUCH: Why is that?

Frittoli: Because the Japanese people are so diligent with everything they do. Everything is about details: the details of food, the details of business. I was in Kyoto about two months ago. I did this TV show. This kaiseki [cuisine restaurant] was the best in Japan. You go there and you need a reservation three months in advance, and you spend ¥200,000 for two people. But still, wherever you go in Japan, from the cheapest Italian restaurant or ramen or tempura, it doesn’t matter the price, everybody puts in their heart and their feeling, and they’re proud of whatever they do.

iNTOUCH: How would you describe the restaurant scene in Japan today?

Gray: From what I have seen in the past 16 years, I’ve seen a lot of restaurants pop up

and close. So for me, I look at that and I see one of the good things of Japan is you have these new restaurants coming in. At the same time, something that is not so good is the customers love to change and they love the new fashion.

Fantin: In Japan, if you continue the high quality and the nice concept, the restaurant does well. I know the economy goes up and goes down, but if you look at most restaurants that have success in Tokyo, you have a lot of specialty Japanese cuisine or sushi or French restaurants. They maintain the same quality.

The Japanese people are actually the chefs. They pay very close attention to the plate and what we do.

Luca Fantin Kayo

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FEATURE

Chefs’ Table 29

Seven years ago, I came for three months to study Japanese cuisine at the three-star Michelin restaurant Ryugin in Roppongi. The restaurant was always full and now it is doing even better. He continues the same quality, the same concept.

Frittoli: There has been an evolvement in Japan from 23 years ago, you know. They thought Italian food was just pizza and pasta and French food was at the top. Now, the French and the Italian restaurants are equal. To keep the quality, it takes a lot of effort. When you have the customers, you can pay everybody. But now, the customers are fading [away] because there are no more bankers, the financial people. I am a little concerned about the future. There are a lot of places shutting down because the customers are in Singapore, they are in Hong Kong, they are back in Europe. I was in Singapore [recently] and every restaurant was packed, and it [was] just a Tuesday night. You go to Roppongi or you go to Akasaka on a Tuesday night and it is dead, and there [are] 20 million people here. Where does everybody go?

iNTOUCH: What does it take to make a restaurant successful in Japan?

Gray: I think it takes a lot of effort, a lot of guts, a lot of will and to have that niche market. You need to have that otherwise you are not going to survive. Obviously, the business atmosphere and the financial atmosphere is not the greatest. It was probably better 16 years ago when people had more expense accounts and people could dine out five times a week; whereas now, they can maybe dine out two times a week.

Frittoli: Somebody else used to pay.

Gray: Exactly, that’s right. Now, you have to pay.

iNTOUCH: Let’s talk about ingredients: local versus imported. Which do you prefer?

Frittoli: I tell you, the produce in Japan—vegetables, meat, fish—[is] top of the world. There are some vegetables that we don’t use in Italy that much, like daikon [radish]. I challenged myself to use gobo [root]. Gobo is amazing. Next time, I am going to use nanohana, you know, the...

Gray: Rape blossom.

Frittoli: Exactly. As a chef, the best thing is to have middle-class food and make it the best. If you buy the best produce, of course, you are the best. But you need to buy produce which can make a profit. Everything we have is imported from Italy: wine, cheese, extra virgin olive oil, salt, but then regarding the vegetables, which have a short life, fruits and meat, they are the best in the world here in Japan. Do you agree with that, Luca?

Fantin: Sure, sure. I mean, I try to use basic Italian ingredients, but made in Japan. We have the same season of carrots as in Italy, so we use Japanese carrots. We try to combine the same season with the same ingredients. The ingredients they don’t make here in Japan, like mozzarella, we import from Italy. I use

FLATiRON“One-of-a-kind welcome drinks, outstanding chefs, fantastic staff and excellent wine pairings make dining at FLATiRON a truly unique dining experience. Beyond the great food, it’s the staff that really makes FLATiRON a place that I like to dine at whenever I can. The chefs do a phenomenal job of besting themselves each time there is a menu change, Sam’s enthusiasm as the presenter during the meal is infectious and the wine parings that Kelly and his sommeliers come up with are as surprising as they are unique.” Matt Krcelic

Cafe Med“I am particularly fond of the salad bar’s variety, especially the cottage cheese. I especially enjoy being able to select my own ingredients to add to the many pizzas on offer.” Winston Jen

Traders’ Bar“I love Traders’ Bar because the staff is wonderful and they make superb cocktails. Traders’ is also a great place to go for a late lunch of a salad and a San Pellegrino after I finish my daily 2-kilometer swim.” Bob Melson


local fish, local meat and I try to use the same fish we have in Italy. In Italy, we have some vegetables that are very different, like radicchio. I am from north Italy, [where] we have typical ingredients like red chicory, and now they are making it here in Japan, in Akita.

Frittoli: The red tomato here in Japan is unbeatable.

Fantin: Yeah, much better than Italia! But I was surprised because I went to see how they make this tomato. They don’t use water; they depend on the weather. I went to see three farms like that, and they don’t use water, so the tomato doesn’t grow too big. It’s still small and still full of sugar, flavor and acidity.

Frittoli: Unbelievable, but everything has a price, eh? One tomato is, like, ¥300.

Fantin: I know. We still need to be really careful with the food cost.

Gray: Most definitely, without a doubt, Tokyo is the greatest city to be in as far as ingredients are concerned. There is probably not another city in the world that can offer the same large variety and quality.

Frittoli: The delivery time, it is immediate—amazing.

Gray: We talk about the food and Japanese people being very particular and articulate, but also the logistics are well designed. The imported products that we have available to us—from any one item, you can probably choose from 10 or 20 vendors. For example, mozzarella cheese in Tokyo: there are at least 20 vendors, minimum. That in of itself is amazing to me.

Frittoli: The world is expanding, so you have much more variety of ingredients. Twenty years ago, it was not possible to have an espresso or a fresh sandwich. You want a baguette, you want a ciabatta, you want a focaccia, now all the Japanese know everything about everywhere all over the world. Here in Japan, the food is important.

iNTOUCH: Tokyo has the most Michelin stars in the world. Why is this, and how much stock do you put in such ratings?

Frittoli: Zero. Tell me about [your] star, [Luca].

Fantin: I don’t have any perspective on the selection, but we started to work very hard when I came to the Bulgari three and a half years ago. We concentrated on improving the restaurant. Nothing we did was to earn Michelin stars….It’s good because for me it is my first Michelin star. I worked for 10 years at Michelin-star restaurants in Italia or in Spain. It is not something we expect[ed], but for us it is very good.

Frittoli: I have been in this business for many years, and I would love to have a Michelin [star] because it is something that is fantastic. To get [a] Michelin [star], they have certain standards, and I don’t always understand it. Sometimes I see a place that doesn’t even have a toilet inside; it is a Japanese three-star restaurant and there isn’t a

Rainbow Cafe“We like Rainbow Café because the food is good and the staff is terrific. The menu has a good variety of choices—there is something for everyone. They also do a great job with offering different themed buffets on the weekends to make it fun.” Yvette Hollingshead

American Bar & Grill“My wife and I have enjoyed brunch at American Bar & Grill on a couple occasions recently, and we were delighted with the variety and quality of the items on the brunch menu. Finally, huevos rancheros at TAC!” Mark Saft

“I enjoy the casual and bright ambience of American Bar & Grill, as well as the large selections of dishes, including daily specials.” Ernie Higa

Decanter“Decanter is not just another dining option at our Club. For Joe and me, it’s a sensory experience where gooseneck Riedel decanters filled with quality red wine draws your attention from the beautiful nightscape just outside the windows as the waitstaff top off your glass. Whether for a business dinner or just the two of us, the Decanter kitchen turns out delicious, simply prepared steaks and Joe’s favorite, the lamb chops, and unusual combinations of tastes that all are pleasing to the palate and beautifully presented as well.” Deb Wenig

FEATURE

Chefs’ Table 31

toilet in the building, so it doesn’t make any sense to me. I go to a little place—three Michelin stars—it’s just a counter with about 10 seats. How can these people give him three stars when he has, like, five personnel? In Europe, to be three-star [restaurant], how many people do you need, Luca? Five people or 50?

Fantin: Fifty: service staff [and] kitchen staff.

Frittoli: Yes, 50. In Tokyo, there are a lot of restaurants that should have a single star. They can’t put all of [those]…restaurants in the book, so it is just, like, random.

Gray: I know a lot of the [Michelin-starred] restaurants in the Japan book are Japanese cuisine. I think the standard that they have for Japanese restaurants, as compared to Europe or America, is on a different level. To be honest…I don’t really understand how it’s worked out. I’m sure it takes a lot of effort and a lot of detail to even

start to think about getting a Michelin star.

iNTOUCH: Finally, when you eat out, where do you prefer to go?

Frittoli: The American Club! After Tokyo American Club, I go to Mario i Sentieri.

Fantin: I like sushi. I like Japanese food. I don’t like too much Chinese food. I don’t like strong flavors. Plus, as a chef, we eat a lot in the restaurant. When we go out, we don’t try to eat too much—salad and fish and some rice. All the time we are very close to food. When we are off, we try to escape.

Frittoli: I just stay home. I try to be with my family. Of course, I can get some ideas, some ingredients, but after being in the business for so many years, I would rather go home and close my own door [and] have my own food, salad, very simple things.

Gray: Maybe I like to go to a little yakitori [chicken skewer] shop that is owned by an old Japanese lady and her husband—simple food and nice, local chicken and simple flavors and some beer. That’s what I like, just simple vegetables and some yakitori. That’s fabulous. o

Most definitely, without a doubt, Tokyo is the greatest city to be in as far as ingredients are concerned.

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Mario Frittoli and Lindsay Gray


Soon after the churning waters of the Pacific had receded from along the Tohoku coastline to reveal hundreds

of kilometers of destruction, American military personnel based in Japan began coordinating relief efforts with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.

Launched by the US Department of Defense on March 12, the day after the powerful earthquake and tsunami, Operation Tomodachi (Friend) ran until May 4. It involved thousands of US personnel, as well as ships and aircraft, at a cost of almost $90 million.

Despite ongoing tensions over the presence of US forces in Okinawa, Operation Tomodachi’s success was regarded as a reflection of the achievements of the security arrangement between the two countries. In fact, in a 2011 survey by the Washington, DC-based Pew Research Center, 85 percent of Japanese interviewed expressed a favorable opinion toward the US.

Captain Justin Cooper is the defense and naval attaché at the US Embassy in Tokyo. iNTOUCH’s Nick Jones put some questions to the Club Member about US relief efforts two years ago. Excerpts:

iNTOUCH: What challenges did US military personnel face during Operation Tomodachi?

Cooper: The response at Sendai Airport is a great example of overcoming an early challenge in this operation. The airport had been completely engulfed by the tsunami, leaving behind what appeared to be months’, if not years’ worth of debris to be cleared. Some Japanese and US experts worried that reopening the airport in a timely manner would be impossible, however, US and Japanese troops and Japanese civilian personnel on the ground proved that assessment wrong. By April 5, the airport was operational again and transferred back to civilian control. This was an incredible feat, and the before-and-after pictures, with thousands of cars scattered all over the airport and the terminal and runway flooded, are striking. However, the real challenge was just emerging, that being what was unfolding at Fukushima.

iNTOUCH: How much concern was there about the radiation spewing from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant?

Cooper: There was tremendous amount of

concern about the range of outcomes that were possible with the loss of control at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. What I found fascinating during this time, from a leadership perspective, was what do you do when experts disagree? For example, in the international nuclear power community, radiation safety standards differ from country to country, and the terminology and basic quantitative data is calculated differently. Also, our measuring of radiation is so precise that we can measure amounts so minute that they are several magnitudes below normal safety levels, but data about those levels can still alarm people when misrepresented in the media. I remember a headline in the paper that said something like radiation in Tokyo was 2,000 times above normal. That may have been true, but the level was still much lower than the daily level in Denver or London, for example; in other words, completely safe.

iNTOUCH: The Futenma base [in Okinawa] issue was ongoing at the time of the disaster, and tensions over personnel in Okinawa have existed for a long time. How did the humanitarian operation help the US military in its public image in Japan?

JoiningForces

TALKING HEADS

Member insights on Japan 33

Cooper: The US forces in Japan received some well-deserved coverage during this period from the national Japanese media, but, more importantly, Operation Tomodachi showed the entire Asia-Pacific region how well our forces operate on a joint basis in a very complex environment. However, we cannot rest on past success. So our experience has also encouraged greater complexity and new mission areas in our annual training. Based on this region’s history, these skills will, no doubt, be put to use in some other humanitarian crisis in the years ahead.

iNTOUCH: A report by the Asahi newspaper stated that Japan’s Self-Defense Forces were slow in coordinating relief efforts with their American counterparts in the initial days after the tsunami. Is this correct?

Cooper: I think the initial coordination was superb and almost immediate. Many of our bases support both US and Japanese forces, so there is daily cooperation across many important mission areas. While the self-defense forces immediately responded in Tohoku, our crisis action teams began the initial steps of coordination in order

to support the government of Japan as it faced this challenge. The ability to coordinate this quickly only comes from years of close cooperation among forward-deployed forces.

iNTOUCH: The same report said that a plan proposed by US military leaders to drop supplies from the air, as was done in 2004 [in Indonesia], was rejected by the Japanese because they said that assistance had to be carried out in an orderly fashion. Was this the case?

Cooper: The situation in Indonesia in 2004 and Japan in 2011 are completely different, including the relative capabilities and capacities of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Our supporting role was to complement the capabilities already resident in the self-defense forces, particularly in terms of airlift and sealift, and, in some cases, bring unique capabilities, such as airborne radiation-measuring aircraft into the operation. In all those cases, we worked together quite well.

iNTOUCH: In their report last year on the US-Japan alliance, former Deputy Secretary

of State Richard Armitage and [academic] Joseph Nye said, “In this period of drift, Operation Tomodachi bought the US-Japan alliance some time. It gave the alliance the meaning and value it urgently needed following the idiosyncratic political discord of the last three years.” Would you agree?

Cooper: I believe it is fair to say that in the United States and in Japan, our governments and our two peoples understand the benefits of this alliance. It is this commitment, in America and in Japan, to move forward together as allies, partners and friends, that was on display during the Operation Tomodachi joint humanitarian relief effort. Despite the tremendous loss of life and the damage in the Tohoku region, the Operation Tomodachi experience illustrated the strength of the alliance. Two years ago, I heard a remark that still resonates with me. The comment came from the former United States Forces in Japan commander, Lieutenant General Burton Field, who said, “Our help was not necessary, but it was necessary to help.” In short, that’s what friends do, and that is the true strength of our alliance with Japan. o

Justin Cooper


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

by Erika Woodward

Molding clay into elegantly effortless ceramics, Kenichi Iwase still aims for perfection when practicing a craft to which he has devoted 50 years of his life.

Having never given into the tempting lure of habit, Iwase says each graceful piece he creates is a fresh interpretation of his singular signature. “Learning from classic Japanese and Oriental ceramic works,” he says, “I aspire to create my own style of works.”

Whether he’s forging customary chinaware, classic flower vases or tea bowls for Japanese tea ceremony, he approaches the process anew. “It is a daily challenge,” he says.

Having trained under the late Housie Matsui, a national treasure, Iwase has been traveling the country on a quest to experiment with a variety of clay, kaolin and kilns. “Take the color of the glaze as an example,” he says, “it is [the] result of numerous trials and errors.”

He has exhibited his stunning creations in galleries from Ginza to Osaka, and this month the prolific artist brings his works to the Club for a third time. “In past exhibitions, he demonstrated his own new styles,” says Yumiko Sai, chair of the Frederick Harris Gallery Committee. “This time, he changed his work to more modern ceramics with a Japanese flavor. The committee was impressed by his ongoing efforts to create sophisticated artwork.”

Ever the pioneer, Iwase has recently begun exploring the creative possibilities of black porcelain. “[There] is still a long way to go to achieve what I have in mind,” he says, “and [it] will still be a long journey.”

ExhibitionApril 8–28

KenichiIwase

Exhibitions of Art 35

by Erika Woodward

Taking her inspiration from the changing of seasons, Shoko Ohta paints Japan’s awe-inspiring landscapes with the hope of inspiriting the next generation of Japanese artists and collectors, just as her father influenced her.

“The movements of the traditional brush allow me to realistically depict Japanese beauty in my paintings,” she says. “That art style has been passed on to my pupils and my daughter, Suiko, who has applied more bold design and colors and has been producing works emphasizing the grace of natural mineral pigments.”

Striving to foster intercultural communication through art, Shoko and her daughter create eye-catching works highlighting Japan’s iconic cherry blossoms and autumn foliage and capturing scenes of daily life.

“We have introduced to many foreigners nanboku and yamato paintings, brush paintings and other Japanese art,” she says.

Celebrating their culture through craft, mother and daughter also find inspiration in the legendary illustrations of The Tale of Genji, a 12th-century masterpiece by noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu.

Exhibiting their world-renowned works at the Frederick Harris Gallery this month, Shoko and Suiko say their paintings have a decidedly feminine mystique. “We hope [Members] will enjoy our various works that show female feelings of delicacy and colors,” says Shoko. After all, Mother Nature is their muse.

ExhibitionApril 29–May 19

Gallery ReceptionTuesday, April 306:30–8 p.m.Frederick Harris Gallery (B1 Formal Lobby)FreeOpen to invitees and Members only

Shoko and SuikoOhta

FREDERICK HARRIS GALLERY

Scott M KelleyUnited States—Aetos Capital Asia LLC

Paul RH DuerlooBelgium—The Boston Consulting Group K.K.

Philippe Fauchet & Keiko UkaiFrance—GlaxoSmithKline K.K.

Tim & Christine Acres United Kingdom—AIG Companies

John Dean & Satomi Lemkuil United States—Computec Engineering K.K.

Jerome & Tamao FinckFrance—Rothschild Japan

Hikaru & Yoshiko OkadaJapan—KPMG FAS Co., Ltd.

Leslie Fosbrook & Maria Luisa Hernando Caro United Kingdom—Biogen Idec Japan Ltd.

Mao HorikoshiJapan—Sachisuke Corporation

Nobuaki SakuraiJapan—Cosmetic Design

Parth JindalIndia—JSW Steel Ltd.

Shigeru & Fumie ShojiJapan—Volkswagen Group Japan K.K.

Takato & Tomoko HiraiJapan—KVH Co., Ltd.

Ramakrishna & Sowjanya ChavaliIndia—UBS Securities Japan Co., Ltd.

Gen & Chizuru KimuraJapan—Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co., Ltd.

Naomi & Naoto OguraJapan—Ogura Co., Ltd.

Rei & Grace TanakaJapan—PricewaterhouseCoopers Co., Ltd.

Atsumi YoshidaJapan—Healthcare Corporation Seishinkai

Minako & Masakazu EndoJapan—RBC Capital Markets (Japan) Ltd.

Shuichi & Yuki AdachiJapan—BlackRock Japan Co., Ltd.

Motoaki & Yuko AraiJapan—Shinwakai

Gen KatoJapan—Daktari Japan Co., Ltd.

Michio & Eiko OgimuraJapan—Sumitomo Corporation

Jodi PetersonUnited States—Alcon Japan Ltd.

Seisuke & Kaori FukuokaJapan—Medical Corporation Fukujukai

Minoru SaitoJapan—Shibuya Public Law Office

Siat Yoon Chin & Lee Moi WangSingapore—Embassy of Singapore

Hidehiro & Yumiko ImatsuJapan—Goldman Sachs (Japan) Holdings

Yoko HatanoJapan—Hatano Systems Co., Ltd.

Masayuki & Mami TsuchiyaJapan—Yacmo Co., Ltd.

Yukihiro Wada & Yuka HosokawaJapan—Kurt Salmon US, Inc.

Daitaro SugawaraJapan—Do-Best, Inc.

Yoshinobu & Yuki TakaharaJapan—Asia Pacific Land (Japan) Ltd.

Eric & Yuka FeigenbaumUnited States—Hewlett-Packard Japan

Shunsuke & Akane NakaiJapan—Nitto Medic Co., Ltd.

Minoru & Hazuki TsumuraUnited States—Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC

Gary CoxAustralia—Microsoft Co., Ltd.

Vincenzo Lufino & Risa KojimaItaly—Ecotech IT Solutions K.K.

Phil & Nancy Nichols United States—Johnson & Johnson K.K.

Masahiko Kon Japan—Sumitomo 3M Ltd.

Mark & Yumiko KobayashiJapan—Shinkamagayaekimae Clinic

Yusuke & Satoko NakanoJapan—Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

Nicholas & Yurie FawcettCanada—Herbert Smith Freehills GJBJ

Eiko & Mamoru ItoJapan

Kazuo & Mio MatsuiJapan—Rakuten Baseball, Inc.

Hiroki & Emiko EnokitohgeJapan—Triton Re Ltd.

Robert & Renee WaitkusUnited States—Caterpillar Japan Ltd.

Steve LewisUnited Kingdom—Bingham McCutchen Murase, Sakai Mimura

Yuji & Miho MatsumotoUnited States—Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.

Gavin RobinsonAustralia—Manulife Life Insurance Company

Thomas & Motoko TevendaleUnited States—KPMG BPA Co., Ltd.

Robert & Rebecca ParkerUnited States—World Family K.K.

Jiro & Chisato KashiwagiJapan—Morimoto Co., Ltd.

Belinda & Dylan GardnerUnited Kingdom—Pfizer Japan, Inc.

Ashok PatelUnited States—Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.

Daniel J McIntyre & Yumiko Nishimura-McIntyreUnited States—Creative Communications

Soichi & Akiko KariyazonoJapan—Globis Capital Partners & Co.

Timothy TynanUnited States—Citibank Japan Ltd.

Hyangsun Lee & Hirotsugu HorieSouth Korea—Riso Kyoiku Co., Ltd.

Kenneth HeiserUnited States—Totan Icap Co., Ltd.

Jeffrey & Miwa Annis United States—Biotronik Japan

Jacqueline & Michael StapleyUnited Kingdom—AIG Japan Holdings K K.

Yuichi & Sayaka UtsunomiyaJapan—Maruwa

Hironobu & Chie TakaharaSouth Korea—Iryo Houjin Hakushukai

Arne Johanson & Zofie VavraSweden—Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics Asia

Taichi & Miyako SatoJapan—Prudential Life Insurance Co., Ltd.

Shoichi & Reiko KobayashiJapan—Albion Co., Ltd.

Bruce Goodwin & Jackilyn HatfieldAustralia—Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K.

Melissa & Michael MorrisonAustralia—British American Tobacco Japan


sayonara

James & Inna AshleyBart & Valerie BroadmanMasaaki & Akiko FurukawaScot & Cheryl LachowiczHyuk (Nick) Lee & Jeehyun KimMichael McBride & Nattika KanjanarinJamie & Claudie MooreMitchell Neil Nadel & Beth BennettTatsuo & Kyoko TsudaChristopher Van OrdenRichard & Sarah Louise WarleyClifford & Kathryn Wright

yokoso

T aking into account Zoltan Jozsa’s itinerant history, it’s a wonder he has remained in Japan as long as

he has. In 2004, he landed at Narita for the first time. “I just came to travel,” Jozsa says. This expedition, though, was marked by a moment of early-morning subway serendipity that led to marriage.

Originally from Szeged, the third largest city in Hungary, Jozsa was intrigued by what lay beyond his homeland’s borders from a young age. Although he studied architecture at technical college, he wanted to explore. In 2000, he headed to Toronto to learn English.

“I really loved the place,” he says of the Canadian city. “It’s one of my favorite places on earth. It was a great time.” After two years, he returned home. But he didn’t stay long. The sun-drenched southern coast of Spain beckoned. Picking up the local language, he stayed for around a year.

The attraction of travel, Jozsa says, is the opportunity for immersion in a foreign culture. “I like to experience a new place and new people,” he says. “I never really organize my traveling and just try and find a hotel and meet local people.”

That’s exactly what he’s been doing since he arrived in Japan. Through chance

meetings and introductions, he started to learn judo and, later, jujitsu in Tokyo. A keen sportsman since his schooldays, he began passionately pursuing weight training from his teens. February’s Employee of the Month is now using that experience and his personal trainer qualifications to help Members at the Fitness Center.

“I’ve always wanted to train people and work with people,” says Jozsa, who turns 34 this month. “It’s really easy to talk to anyone here—that’s what I like about it.” His years of globe-trotting, no doubt, have helped him there. o

Services and benefits for Members 37

MEMBER SERVICES

Why did you decide to join the Club?“After being back in Canada for four years, we missed the excitement and opportunities of Tokyo and relocated back to Japan in 2011 to live here on a long-term basis. We have two young children and Tokyo American Club offers great activities both for them and for the whole family. It’s also a great place for us to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. We are looking forward to being active Members of the Club and to taking advantage of the great facilities and programs it offers.”

(l–r) Paul, Lucy, Lily and Jennifer Ford

Why did you decide to join the Club?“I’ve lived in Japan for over a decade and have been to the Club numerous times with Member friends over the years. Having a bicultural family, it’s important to me that we all benefit from the cultures and traditions of Japan, as well as my home country, and Tokyo American Club is a great way to balance the two lifestyles. I was raised in California as a swimmer, and having the chance to teach our daughter to swim in such an amazing facility is just one of the many reasons that joining was an easy choice for us.”

(l–r) Kevin, Yuriya and Mayako Quinn

New Member ProfilePaul & Jennifer FordCanada—KPMG FAS Co., Ltd.

New Member ProfileKevin & Mayako QuinnUnited States—SoftSource* K.K.

employeeof the month

Zoltan Jozsaby Nick Jones

T he mass exodus from Tokyo during the so-called Golden Week holidays is an annual ritual observed by

millions, and news reports are typically filled with scenes of crowded airports and train stations around Japan.

This period is made up of four national holidays within seven days: Showa Day (April 29), the birthday of former Emperor Hirohito; Constitution Memorial Day (May 3), which commemorates the 1947 implementation of the postwar constitution; Greenery Day (May 4), honoring the environment and nature; and Children’s Day (May 5), formerly known as Boys’ Day, which celebrates children’s health and success.

As one of the country’s three busiest holiday seasons, along with Obon (August) and New Year, Golden Week as a communal holiday is a manifestation of Japanese society’s emphasis on social cohesion. Since some manufacturers and smaller companies may close during Golden Week or peak holiday periods, employees are forced to take a vacation. “The only time some employees will take holiday is when their employer closes the door,” says Carolyn Gaskins, a leadership, learning and diversity specialist at media giant Bloomberg.

“Japanese employees do not want to inconvenience others,” explains Club Member Per Knudsen, vice president at a Tokyo-based executive search firm. As a result, he says, they often don’t use all their annual paid vacation. According to an online survey for the travel website Expedia last year, Japanese workers typically use around five of their median 13 paid vacation days.

The Japanese government has taken some measures to encourage people to take more time off. In 2000, for instance, it launched its “happy Monday” policy: several national holidays were shifted to Mondays, thereby creating three-day weekends. In addition, if a national holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the Monday. This year, for example, the national holiday for Children’s Day (May 5) is on May 6. In addition, one of the missions of the Japan Tourism Agency, launched in 2008, is to encourage Japanese to take vacations and travel.

Other factors are impelling employees to take more holidays as well. As part of their compliance procedures, for example, many financial institutions require their employees to take a holiday of between seven and 10 days each year.

Staff at multinational companies,

though, appear to more readily embrace these changes than their counterparts at local firms. “The media attention on karoshi [death by overwork], work-life balance and diversity is resulting in a subtle shift in employees’ unwillingness to sacrifice their private lives,” says Mari Sogano, a human resources principal at Amazon Japan.

This view is echoed by the head of human resources at one Tokyo-based multinational bank, who asked not to be named. “Traditionally, one’s job came first and family second, but the current generation has shifted their priorities,” she explains. “These young, single workers are also interested in giving back to society through volunteerism.”

Such examples, however, represent a fraction of companies in Japan. Most Japanese firms maintain a culture of seniority, rather than performance, and require a continuous display of employee dedication and willingness to clock the hours. “In such environments, the most time people will take off is three days,” Sogano says, “resulting in a five-day vacation, including the weekend.” o

Weiss is a Member of the Club.


CULTURAL INSIGHT

HolidayHurdles by Efrot Weiss

The approaching Golden Week holidays are one of the few times each year when many Japanese workers enjoy a few days away from the office.


Kayo

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A s the number of people reading magazines continues to dwindle and publications succumb one after

another to the digital age, global affairs magazine Monocle is defying industry trends and cultivating a devoted readership among savvy globetrotters and well-to-do executives. The sleekly packaged anomaly is equal parts status symbol, travel guide and dinner-party conversation fodder, marketed in such a way that subscribers happily pay a premium over the newsstand price.

The product of venerated design magazine Wallpaper* creator Tyler Brûlé, Monocle extends beyond the newsstand and across a groundbreaking plethora of channels, including its own online radio station, video reports and brick-and-mortar shops. “It’s a much bigger adventure than I’d envisioned when we were sort of looking into a business plan many years ago,” says Brûlé, speaking by phone from his London headquarters. “It’s about what our consumers are going to want. We’re driven by that focus.”

The monthly publication rolled out its inaugural issue in 2007 and has continued

The Conservative Pioneer

Ahead of his talk at the Club this month, publisher and journalist Tyler

Brûlé talks to iNTOUCH about the secret of his magazine success.

by Wendi Onuki

to win over readers and thwart critics with its profitable, contemporary business model and ultra-hip allure. Correspondents stationed around the world churn out articles on a range of subjects, from Danish hospitals and Australia’s defense spending to German gummy bears and the Japanese pet industry.

Japan, in fact, serves as a seemingly inexhaustible well of inspiration for the 44-year-old Canadian, who has been dubbed a Japanophile in the media. “I think what resonates is Japan is a country where there is still an enormous appreciation for details, for service, for civility, for being thorough, for doing things properly,” he explains. “Service [and] craftsmanship are things that Japan has in spades. The country is a constant reference point for those things.”

The sizable magazine also lifts a page or two from Japanese newsstands, using varied paper stocks and other tactile features to create “really dynamic objects” that beckon readers. “We made a magazine that feels much more bookish,” says Brûlé. “You really feel like you’re investing in

something that is tangible.” Brûlé bucked industry norms again

when it came to setting a subscription price for the magazine. An annual subscription costs $120 for 10 issues, far more than the $9 cover price and the bargain cost of many popular titles. But people place more value on a product if they pay a substantial amount for it, he says. The magazine, which has just a handful of investors, boasts a circulation of more than 150,000 around the world and is steadily growing, no small feat considering current industry trends.

Total US print magazine circulation fell 1 percent in 2011, with paid subscriptions remaining flat from a year earlier and single copies dropping almost 9 percent, according to a Pew Research Center report, which also said that tablets and smartphones could give publications a boost.

Monocle, however, is steering clear of high-tech trends—at least for now. Although the magazine has a sharp, interactive website, it has forgone a tablet version and it keeps a low social media profile. “I think we’re in such an early stage with social media, it makes people a bit

nervous right now,” Brûlé says. “We’re quite conservative. We’re quite cautious in our choices and how we want to represent our brand. Big media companies can take those risks if they want to.”

The company, however, is a pioneer in the way it carefully aligns itself with other brands. Slickly designed advertorials with such corporate giants as GE, Absolut Vodka and Lexus are abundant, Brûlé concedes, but clearly defined. “Our packages maybe look more beautiful than other people’s tie-ups,” he says. “We’ve been able to work with brands and present a message in a more sophisticated way.”

Shops operating under the Monocle banner sell a selection of specially designed goods, including Porter bags, Oyuna cashmere scarves and Revo radios, in Tokyo, London, New York, Toronto and Hong Kong. A café has been operating in the basement of the Hankyu Men’s department store in Tokyo since 2011 and another is slated to open soon in London. In addition, the company is publishing its first book, The Monocle Guide to Better Living, in August.

In spite of these innovative moneymaking enterprises, solid, compelling journalism remains the backbone of the brand. “Good content is always going to win out,” Brûlé says. “It comes down to the words and pictures on the page. Journalism is still at the core of what we do and what we stake our reputations on every day.”

Prior to becoming an entrepreneur and style savant, Brûlé worked as a reporter for the BBC and other news outlets. He was serving as a correspondent in Afghanistan when he was shot twice in a sniper attack in 1994. He left war reporting behind and launched Wallpaper* in 1996, at age 25. Six years later, he sold his stake in the magazine to focus his efforts on his advertising and branding agency.

Although satisfied with the measurable success of Monocle and the creative freedom it offers, not to mention the travel opportunities (he travels about 250 days of the year), the astute businessman, who also pens a column for the Financial Times, says he’s not ruling out new ventures.

“Tyler is able to suck you into his world because he lives the life,” hotelier Andre Balazs told The New York Times in a profile of Brûlé last year. “I’ve rarely met anyone who is more of an embodiment of the lifestyle that they espouse.” o

Onuki is a Chicago-based freelance journalist.

For details of Brûlé’s talk at the Club, see page 19.

INSIDE JAPAN

A look at culture and society 41

Tyler Brûlé


S tarting in Kyoto and ending in Tokyo, the Nakasendo (road through the mountains) is a 533-kilometer trail that dates from the 8th century. One of Japan’s ancient highways, it was

used by pilgrims, merchants and samurai for traversing between the imperial capital and old Edo through 69 post towns.

Guided walking tours for the entire road are led several times a year by the Walk Japan tour company. However, if you can’t spend 11 days hiking the trail, the next best bet is to head for the Kiso Valley in Nagano Prefecture, where it’s possible to visit three of the towns—Narai, Tsumago and Magome—in two days.

You can walk the trail from Narai to Tsumago, but that’s an all-day hike over a mountain. It’s better to take the train from Narai to Nagiso and then a bus or taxi from there to Tsumago. You can also drive between the villages.

There is a good variety of inns, with hot-spring onsen baths, at which to spend a night or two in any of the towns. If traveling by car, you can stay near Shiojiri (not on the Nakasendo, but near a nearby highway), at Koma no Yu, an onsen ryokan inn. The pure

water in this onsen used to contain so much iron that towels in the bath would turn red. The water is filtered now and is just the right temperature for a nice soak.

Like most inns in Japan, dinner and breakfast are included in the price at Koma no Yu. Since dinner tends to consist of several courses, you may want to enjoy several “courses” of sake, too. We tried four brands of the locally made sake and wound up stopping at the nearby sake brewery the next day to buy a couple of bottles to bring home. We enjoyed a typical Japanese breakfast the next morning, but the surprise at this ryokan was the quality of the coffee (maybe it was the local water, or perhaps it just tasted better with a sake-induced heavy head).

Narai lies about 20 kilometers north on Route 19. During the Edo period, Narai was the halfway point between Kyoto and Edo along the Nakasendo. It was the most wealthy post town of the Kiso Valley. Be sure to get there early, around 9:30 a.m., to avoid the crowds and enjoy a stroll through the long street.

Tsumago was another stop along the Nakasendo for weary

Walking through History Tucked away in the mountains of Nagano,

the Kiso Valley stretch of the ancient Nakasendo trail offers history and greenery in equal measure.

by Joe Peters

Take the JR Azusa limited express train from Shinjuku Station to Shiojiri Station, two and a half hours south of Matsumoto, and transfer to a local or limited express train into the Kiso Valley. The entire trip from Shinjuku to Narai takes about three hours.

Take the Chuo Expressway to Okaya Junction. From there, get on the Nagano Expressway to Shiojiri, before taking Route 20 then Route 19 to Narai.

Koma no Yuhttp://komanoyu.com

Matsumoto City http ://youkoso.c i ty.matsumoto.nagano.jp

Go! Nagano www.go-nagano.net

Edo-era travelers. In ancient times, all those passing through or stopping at Tsumago were checked before entering the town. They also had to read the town’s laws and promise to obey them. These laws are still posted on old wooden placards.

Today, Tsumago is regarded as one of the best preserved post towns in Japan. The town and its residents go to great lengths to recreate the ambience of the Edo period. Cars are prohibited on the main street during the day, and phone lines and power cables have been buried, allowing visitors to imagine that they have traveled back in time.

As we walked the street of Tsumago, we noticed that the swallows were busy with their babies in nests built under the eaves of the shop houses. We watched one momma fly back and forth with morsels for four hungry mouths. It was intriguing to see how she remembered where she had left off each trip. If she started with baby No. 1 on the right and ran out of food by baby No. 3, on the next trip she would start with baby No. 4 and work her way back across again.

If you choose to do the walk between Tsumago and Magome, the next town, plan on taking from two to four hours. In our case, we drove to Magome, where we walked down the town’s long hill, which meant a long walk back up. Magome has been beautifully restored with a broad stone walkway, lined with carefully tended foliage. Its embellished preservation contrasts sharply with the rugged authenticity of Tsumago.

If you can plan your trip to the Kiso Valley in the autumn, you can expect the foliage to be bright and beautiful, making the walk between the villages even more pleasant. o

Club Member Peters is a travel writer and blogger.

TOKYO

KISO VALLEY

OUT & ABOUT

Explorations beyond the Club 43

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


Meet the Author: Katie Van CampFebruary 16

Canadian children’s writer Katie Van Camp dropped by

the Club for a fun-packed morning with her adventure-

seeking creations, Harry and Horsie. Besides reading her

two books, Harry and Horsie and CookieBot!, she hosted

a video chat with the books’ illustrator, Lincoln Agnew,

and led a creative crafts session.

1. Katie Van Camp 2. Daniel Beifus and Katie Van Camp 3. Katie

Van Camp and Jarred Beifus

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Snapshots from Club occasions 45

EVENT ROUNDUP

Mudsharks Winter Sprinter Meet 2013

February 17

The Club’s swim team, the Mudsharks, hosted another

high-energy afternoon of friendly competition in the Sky

Pool for swimmers of all ages and levels. The aqua antics

were concluded with some eats and an awards ceremony.

Photos by Yuuki Ide

1. Waris Mills 2. (l–r) Caeden Couch, Gen Koito and Philipp Steck

3. (l–r) Hugh McGuire, Ken Onuma, Tanvi Rajeev, Amelie Steck, Diya

Asrani, Nicola Lindell and Moka Gagnon

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

Distinguished Achievement Award Presentation CeremonyFebruary 18

A scientist, public health expert and adviser, Dr Kiyoshi

Kurokawa most recently headed an independent

commission that examined the Fukushima nuclear

crisis. For his years of dedicated work in education and

healthcare, he was honored with the Club’s prestigious

Distinguished Achievement Award for 2013.

Photos by Yuuki Ide

1. Larry Greenberg (far left) and Elena Omura (far right) 2. Gregory

Lyon and Dr Kiyoshi Kurokawa 3. Rosanna Kubodera (center) and

Sarah Breen (right) 4. Kumiko and Minoru Makihara

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EVENT ROUNDUP

Snapshots from Club occasions 47

Okinawan Buffet ShowFebruary 24

As part of the Club’s Month in Paradise celebration of Japan’s

subtropical islands, Rainbow Café hosted a weekend of live

Okinawan music and a spread of traditional dishes from

the home of crystal-clear waters, awamori liquor and an

altogether slower pace of life.

Photos by Kayo Yamawaki

W ho are the world’s happiest people? Well, national stereotypes and good publicity can make the answers seem obvious. According to the nearly 10,000 people

across eight countries we surveyed at the beginning of the year, Brazilians are the happiest. In Brazil itself, some 65 percent of people agreed with that. All that carnival and caipirinha imagery certainly helps. In the United States, a third of those asked thought Americans were the happiest people in the world. Again, maybe no surprise.

In Japan, a third of interviewees thought that Bhutan was the happiest place. In fact, Japan rated Bhutan much higher than those questioned elsewhere, which probably reflects how well the 2011 state visit of the king and queen of Bhutan to Japan reinforced the Himalayan kingdom’s ranking in the global happiness index.

Meanwhile, 15 percent of Japanese rated their own country as the happiest. That number rose considerably among those over 60. Although that number seems low, less than 10 percent of people in the UK saw their country as the most contented. However, it’s probably in the nature of my British ancestors to be down on themselves.

I am guessing that most Members of the Club wouldn’t be surprised to know that, on average, Americans are more positive

about their nation than the Japanese are about theirs. At the same time, it wouldn’t be startling to learn that people everywhere think Japan has so much going for it.

Our study was an in-depth look at attitudes toward wellness—that slightly vague term that refers to a general sense of health and happiness. Interestingly, respondents in other countries considered Japan to be the place where wellness as a concept originated and where it is most often achieved.

A steady media diet of sushi, Zen, super-advanced toilets and table-topping longevity has contributed to a global myth of Japan as the world’s wellness capital. Although, when you really compare nations, that illusion might actually be true. Japanese, though, didn’t see themselves as “well.” In fact, less than 10 percent felt that Japan was “the most well” nation. And, again, that number was weighted by the late middle-aged.

There’s no doubt that pessimism has become something of a national trait in Japan. For the last eight years, in our annual survey of how Japanese see their country, words like “anxiety,” “recession,” “economy” and “downsizing” have continued to be prevalent.

One of the questions in the wellness study was “How much longer do you think the human race will survive?” I was a little worried to see that 32 percent of Japanese thought that we’d all be finished in less than 500 years. But then that turned out to be the global norm. People in countries as diverse as China, Turkey and South Africa said that if we didn’t smarten up, we would destroy ourselves. It seems that people in Japan aren’t really that much more pessimistic than elsewhere, but I’m sure they believe themselves to be so.

This all got me thinking. We all know the power of nation branding. Our image of countries is based on a mix of reality, myth, personal experience and media stories. We all think Brazilians are happy, and many people the world over think Japan is a land of old, healthy people. The problem is that Japanese don’t necessarily see themselves in as good a light as foreigners see them. Maybe we could do a better job of convincing the locals that there is plenty about which to be positive. o

McCaughan is director of strategic planning with the advertising agency McCann Worldgroup Asia-Pacific.


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].

The BrightSide

by Dave McCaughan

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Issue 576 • April 2013

毎月一回一日発行　

第四十七巻五七六号　

トウキョウアメリカンクラブ　

インタッチマガジン二〇一三年四月一日発行　

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 2013

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

The Club’s Lindsay Gray and Members Luca Fantin and Mario Frittoli talk cooking, cuisine and eating out in Japan

Kitchen Confidential

Beyond the NewsstandPublisher Tyler Brûlé explains his

model for media success

Spreading LiteracyRoom to Read founder John Wood

visits the Club

Ancient Road Trip Member Joe Peters walks the

Nakasendo through the Kiso Valley

intouch apr 2013

Documents