may 2016 intouch magazine

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Game Set and Match Member Ai Sugiyama reflects on a career on the tennis court SUMO MANIA + MAKING WOMENOMICS WORK + GOLDEN STATE SUPPERS INTOUCH MAY 2016 TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB

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Tokyo American Club's Monthly Member Magazine

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Page 1: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

毎月一回一日発行 

第四十七巻六一三号 トウキョウアメリカンクラブ 

インタッチマガジン二〇一六年四月一日発行 

平成三年十二月二十日第三種郵便物許可定価八00円

本体七三六円

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Game Set and

MatchMember Ai Sugiyama reflects on a career on the tennis court

SUMO MANIA + MAKING WOMENOMICS WORK + GOLDEN STATE SUPPERS

INTOUCHMAY 2016

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

Page 2: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

Enjoy the season at Azabu Gardens

www.azabugardens.com

With warm spring days, it is a great time to explore and embrace the outdoors. Azabu Gardens, in Tokyo’s most sophisticated neighborhood Moto-Azabu, is an oasis of green and peace. Nestled on a quiet tree-lined street, the property offers exclusive homes and amenities, including a spacious rooftop terrace with sweeping views of the city.

Azabu Gardens offers premium family living, and is available exclusively for lease. Come and view the property on a private tour.

For leasing inquiries: 03-3201-0033Pacific Development & Management Co., Ltd.

For general inquiries: 03-6434-7031Azabu Gardens, 3-7-5 Moto-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0046

in touch with nature

An Open House is scheduled for May 14.

iNTOUCH-ad.04.2016_v3.indd 1 4/15/16 2:35 PM

Page 3: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

Enjoy the season at Azabu Gardens

www.azabugardens.com

With warm spring days, it is a great time to explore and embrace the outdoors. Azabu Gardens, in Tokyo’s most sophisticated neighborhood Moto-Azabu, is an oasis of green and peace. Nestled on a quiet tree-lined street, the property offers exclusive homes and amenities, including a spacious rooftop terrace with sweeping views of the city.

Azabu Gardens offers premium family living, and is available exclusively for lease. Come and view the property on a private tour.

For leasing inquiries: 03-3201-0033Pacific Development & Management Co., Ltd.

For general inquiries: 03-6434-7031Azabu Gardens, 3-7-5 Moto-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0046

in touch with nature

An Open House is scheduled for May 14.

iNTOUCH-ad.04.2016_v3.indd 1 4/15/16 2:35 PM

contents

22

QUEEN OF THE COURTClub Member and former tennis champ Ai Sugiyama discusses ca-reer highs and lows and life away

from the court.

19

DOHYO DISCIPLEAhead of this month’s grand sumo

tournament, Member Ryan Goldstein talks stables, sweat and chankonabe.

17

COURTROOM TO VINEYARDLindsay Hoopes explains why she swapped lawyering for the magic

of winemaking.

5 LEADERSHIP

6 DIGEST

10 AGENDA

I N D E P T H

17 WINE

19 CULTURE

21 AUTHOR

22 FOCUS

C O M M U N I T Y

26 SIX DEGREES

27 REGISTER

29 VOICE

31 HIGHLIGHTS

36 ESCAPE COVER IMAGE BY KOHJI SHIIKI

MAY | 1

Page 4: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

[email protected]

03-4588-0687 | www.tokyoamericanclub.org

ADVERTISING IN INTOUCHExplore the Club’s range of advertising possibilities by talking to

the Club’s exclusive advertising agency, Custom Media.

Custom Media President Robert Heldt

Custom Media Publisher Simon Farrell

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

INTOUCHEditor Nick Jones

[email protected]

Assistant Editor Nick Narigon

Designer Enrique Balducci

Designer Anna Ishizuka

Production Assistant Yuko Shiroki

GENERAL MANAGERAnthony L Cala

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGERSBusiness Support Lian Chang

Business Operations Brian Marcus

DIRECTORSMember Services & Guest Relations Jonathan Allen

Communications Shane Busato

Engineering Darryl Dudley

Revenue Management Suranga Hettige Don

Human Resources Shuji Hirakawa

Management Office and Membership Wayne Hunter

Information Technology Toby Lauer

Finance Naoto Okutsu

Recreation Scott Yahiro

Food & Beverage Nori Yamazaki

CONTRIBUTORSWriters

Lance E Lee

Dave McCaughan

Wendi Onuki

Tracy Slater

Photographers

Yuuki Ide

Kohji Shiiki

Kayo Yamawaki

Illustrator

Alison Kanegae

BOARD OF GOVERNORSRepresentative Governor John Durkin (2016)

First Vice President Mary Saphin (2016)

Second Vice President Jesse Green (2016)

Treasurer Michael Benner (2016), Hiroshi Miyamasu (2017)

Statutory Auditor Kazuakira Nakajima (2016)

Governors Michael Alfant (2017), Betty Butler (2017),

Ginger Griggs (2017), Lance E Lee (2017), Gregory Lyon (2016),

Mark Miller (2017), Machi Nemoto (2016),

Alok Rakyan (2017), Jerry Rosenberg (2016)

CLUB COMMITTEESCompensation Mark Miller

Culture, Community & Entertainment Dan Smith (Ginger Griggs)

Finance Rodney Nussbaum (Hiroshi Miyamasu)

Food & Beverage Matt Krcelic (Jerry Rosenberg)

House Tomio Fukuda (Gregory Lyon)

Human Resources Per Knudsen (Lance E Lee)

Membership Steven Greenberg (Alok Rakyan)

Nominating Dieter Haberl

Recreation Samuel Rogan (Michael Alfant)

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Dean Rogers (Machi Nemoto)

SUBCOMMITTEESFrederick Harris Gallery Yumiko Sai

Video Library Diane Harris

Wine Stephen Romaine

Facilities Management Group Douglas Schafer

Fitness Samuel Rogan

Golf John Patrick Vaughan

Library Judith Ann Herd

Logan Room Christa Rutter

Squash Pete Juds

Swim Alexander Jampel

Youth Activities TBC

Parentheses denotes Board liaison.

[email protected]

03-4540-7730 | www.custom-media.com

JOINING TOKYO AMERICAN CLUBTo arrange a tour of the facilities, contact the

Membership Office.

Tokyo American Club

2-1-2 Azabudai, Minato-ku,

Tokyo 106-8649

All prices referenced in INTOUCH exclude 8 percent consumption tax.

2 | INTOUCH

Page 5: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

THINKING RELOCATION?THINK SANTA FE.We make it easy

Santa Fe Relocation Services Japan K.K. T: 03 3589 6666 E: [email protected]

www.santaferelo.com

Relocation | Moving | Immigration | Real Estate

Page 6: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

TAILOR-MADESTYLESTYLE Bespoke men’s and ladies’

fashion at Hong Kong prices.

Schedule a fitting with tailorVinod Bahrunani during

his Tokyo visits(May 16–19 and June 14–17)

[email protected] (on visit dates)

Appointments at theANA InterContinental Hotel

or your home or office

Prices in US dollars(excluding shipping);

delivery within two weeks

www.euromerican.com

suits from $395blazers from $275tuxedos from $595trousers from $135

shirts from $69(minimum of four shirts)

other quality suits from $550 to $2,600

Page 7: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

Timeless Club Principles

R ejoining the Club leadership after a one-year break feels natural to me and marks a return to seeing the Club from a point of scrutiny. It is

an honor to serve as a governor and a conduit between our Members and the Board. There have been certain striking changes at the Club since I last served on the Board of Governors, with many new features, both facility- and ser-vice-wise. In my opinion, most have been posi-tive, increasing Member satisfaction.

As a longtime Member, however, there are some subtleties in the Club ambience that take getting used to. When I became a Member in 1988, TAC was at its prime, thriving in Japan’s bubble economy and earning itself the reputa-tion as the most prestigious private member-ship club in Asia. Membership of the Club was the mark of financial and social success for any expat in Tokyo. The premises welcomed visitors with a distinctive air of regality, and Members presented themselves worthy of such renowned elegance and prestige.

The dynamics of our Club community are shifting and, as much as I embrace the evolu-tion of Club culture, I think that certain prin-ciples remain timeless and true. I have always believed that the foundation of TAC is its peo-ple. The diverse Membership, assisted by the talented, devoted staff, has so much potential, and we must act like those who can handle the weight of responsibility that comes with membership of the Club. Presenting ourselves in a way that befits an exclusive establishment is important.

Also, by investing our time and energy in the Club, instead of expecting everything to be handled by others, including our staff, we are more likely to get things done. By offering the best of ourselves, we can do the Club and our fellow Members a great service. This is our Club and our passion for change and improve-ment is key.

TAC has been and should remain a first-class club in Asia. As an institution that was created by Members, for Members, the Club is a “sec-ond home” for many. It is a state-of-the-art oasis where we gather to interact, relax, be inspired and pursue the quality of life we so deserve. Be-ing a Member means acting the part, becoming involved in the Club and helping to shape it into the place we wish it to be.

Inspired by the determination of its Ameri-can founders almost 90 years ago to build a first-class social and recreational club in Asia, the Club thrives as a place governed by Members who continue to preserve its great traditions.

Lance E Lee is a Club governor.

LEADERSHIP

WORDS LANCE E LEE

IMAGE ENRIQUE BALDUCCI

TAILOR-MADESTYLESTYLE Bespoke men’s and ladies’

fashion at Hong Kong prices.

Schedule a fitting with tailorVinod Bahrunani during

his Tokyo visits(May 16–19 and June 14–17)

[email protected] (on visit dates)

Appointments at theANA InterContinental Hotel

or your home or office

Prices in US dollars(excluding shipping);

delivery within two weeks

www.euromerican.com

suits from $395blazers from $275tuxedos from $595trousers from $135

shirts from $69(minimum of four shirts)

other quality suits from $550 to $2,600

“TAC HAS BEEN AND SHOULD REMAIN A FIRST-CLASS CLUB IN ASIA.”

MAY | 5

Page 8: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

Thirteen years is a long time. Be-tween magazine redesigns, it’s an age. Even the most iconic brand logos need updating now and then. After many years of incre-mental tweaks to the design and content of individual sections, the Club’s monthly publication was lacking a cohesive, modern feel and distinct identity.

Following the launch of the (well-received) redeveloped Club website in January 2015, it seemed natural to give this other important communication tool an overhaul.

We had two main considera-tions: design and content. Last year’s communications survey gave us a useful insight into what Mem-bers enjoyed reading. In particular, we discovered that a majority of readers used the magazine to learn about the Club’s monthly lineup of events and programs. With this in mind, we decided to give a great-er prominence to the rundown of goings-on while introducing a new section for Club news, offers and recommendations.

INTOUCH has always been about the Club community. That remains, but now many of those stories are presented as shorter, easier-to-digest reads.

On the design side, almost everything has changed, from fonts to use of white space to paper stock. After some exhaustive mag-azine design research, I think we have created a modern, stylish look that reflects the essence of a storied Tokyo institution and its dynamic community.

I hope you enjoy this issue and the many more to come.

Workout Boost

Ocean View In with the New

STAY

FITNESS

EDITOR

The Club’s newly refurbished Guest Studio welcomes guests from May 6. With its marine interior touches, Surf replaces Fitness in the lineup of seven overnight rooms.

“With all the activity in the Club, it’s important to be able to relax, and that’s exactly what this studio offers,” says Jonathan Allen, the Club’s director of Mem-ber Services.

Surf becomes the first Guest Studio to feature two queen-size beds, an increas-ingly common request by guests, particularly those with children.

Visit the Guest Studios page of the website to learn more. NJ

If January’s well-meaning pledge to live a healthier life barely made it into Febru-ary, maybe the new-look Fitness Center can help you reinvigorate that resolution.

The expanded space now boasts a complete set of new exercise equipment and a larger stretching area. Among the approximately 40 cardio and strength-train-ing machines are such firsts as an escalator-like PowerMill Climber and Iso-Lat-eral Rowing and V-Squat machines for muscle-strengthening workouts.

And the presence of more touch screens and Internet connectivity on machines makes for a more rewarding workout. NJ

DIGEST

6 | INTOUCH

Page 9: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

A 94-pointer from Robert Parker, Al-heit Vineyards’ 2014 Cartology Chenin Blanc is a perfect summer sipper with its orange zest and honeysuckle nose and lightly honeyed, balanced pal-ate. This feisty Swartland wine from a South African rising star is availa-ble by the glass at the Winter Garden’s Enomatic wine dispenser. NJ

A Japanese diet staple and the base ingredient of sake, rice also boasts skin-nourishing properties. Rice Force’s array of skincare products, including its deep moisture lotion (¥8,000) and deep moisture essence (¥10,000), all contain a rice extract that moisturizes the skin and heals any blemishes. Discover the power of rice at The Cellar, opposite Member Ser-vices (B1). NJ

Western Cape Winner

Rice Power

Teen Read

Take It Outdoors Skin Pampering

Man vs Wild

In Laughing at My Nightmare, author Shane Burcaw uses his razor-sharp wit to share touching and insightful sto-ries of life as a 21-year-old with a rare neuromuscular disease. Other new Library arrivals include The Battle forRoom 314 by Ed Boland, Ruth Warin-er’s The Sound of Gravel and The Sell-out by Paul Beatty. NJ

Through May 8, Members can kick back in the perfect Tokyo tem-peratures for an alfresco snack or post-workout drink at the Club’s rooftop café, Splash! The breezy pa-tio space near the Sky Pool is open from 11am to 5pm during the Gold-en Week break. Splash! opens daily from June 13. NJ

Treat your skin to a luxurious, 90-min-ute back polish (cleansing and mas-sage) and customized facial for just ¥13,800 for all of May. For Mother’sDay, The Spa is offering 15 percent offgift certificates for regular treatmentsand 10 percent off all Dermalogicaskincare products until May 15. Re-serve at 03-4588-0714 or [email protected]. NJ

Two centuries after American fron-tiersman Hugh Glass was mauled by a grizzly and left for dead, Leonardo DiCaprio won his first Oscar portray-ing him in The Revenant, now available at the Video Library. Other new titles include The Hateful Eight, The Lady in the Van, Jane Got a Gun and Son of Saul. NN

FILMBOOK

CAFÉ REL AXATIONBEAUT Y

WINE

MAY | 7

Page 10: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

For 50+ years, we’ve provided expats

exclusive Homat apartments and houses

for rent or sale.

Call us today: 03-3584-6171 | [email protected] | http://sunrealty.jp

HOMAT APARTMENTS

•www.pearls. jp

ISO Bldg. 5F, 4-9-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (next to SoftBank at Roppongi Crossing)03-3404-3853 | [email protected] | Mon–Fri, 9:30–17:30 (except national holidays)

In celebration of 45 years of wholesale prices in the pearl and diamond business, Tokyo’s leading pearl exporter will add a pair of

Akoya pearl earrings to any purchase over ¥50,000.

AMIT Trading’s 45th Anniversary Sale

•May 30–June 17

Up to 55% OFF+ Free Akoya pearl earrings

Scan for map

Page 11: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

The subject of cultural identity is rid-dled with ambiguities for Ayana Fuku-da. After spending her formative years in the United States, the idea of na-tionality seems a little meaningless.

“I’m Japanese by blood, but culture-wise, because I was in the States in my teenage years, I’m more American in that sense,” she says.

Arriving in a small West Virginian community from Yokohama for a year of school and adventure as a 12-year-old, Fukuda finally left the US, armed with a degree in linguistics from the University of Kentucky, around 11 years later.

“I feel like it was a college experi-ence that you see in the movies. I really enjoyed going to football games and basketball games and being with my friends,” she says of her time in Lexing-ton, Kentucky.

Joining the Club’s central reserva-tions team in September 2014, Fuku-da, 28, says she “felt at home” at the Azabudai facility when she first visit-ed. The Club’s hybrid nature, no doubt, resonates with March’s Employee of the Month.

While admitting to sometimes feel-ing “incomplete” in both Japan and the US, she says she is thankful for her time in the US.

“I feel like I have two homes,” she says with a smile. NJ

Lords of the Ring

Sumo’s grand champion Hakuho (pictured right) looks to extend his record to 37 tournament wins at this month’s summer basho at Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena in Tokyo. But young upstarts like fellow Mongolian Terunofuji and Japan’s Kotoyuki hope to add their names to sumo’s pantheon of legends. Tournament tickets are available at Member Services through the Club’s TAC-tix service. On page 19, meanwhile, Member Ryan Goldstein shares his passion for Japan’s na-tional sport. NN

TICKETS

Maui Country Club Ayana Fukuda

AWARDRECIPROCAL CLUB

This piece of paradise is tucked away on the north shore of the breathtaking Ha-waiian island of Maui. Founded in 1925, the club features a golf course, six tennis courts, a private beach and open-air dining. Since the club is part of the reciprocal club network, Members can enjoy its laid-back aloha vibe, as well as the facilities of more than 150 other membership clubs across the world. Learn more on the Club website. NJ

mauicountryclub.org

DIGEST

MAY | 9

Page 12: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

1–31Youth Bowling BonanzaYoungsters, ages 8 to 12, hit the lanes for a chance to win fabulous prizes. Daily Bowling Center

3–5Golden Week BuffetTake a break from the kitchen during the three-day holiday with a sumptuous family buffet. 11am–8:30pm Rainbow Café Adults: ¥2,980; juniors (12–17 years): ¥1,900; children (7–11 years): ¥1,390; kids (4–6 years): ¥950; infants (3 & under): free Reservations not required

4 & 18Toastmasters LuncheonMembers pick up tips from their peers to improve public speaking and leadership skills. 12pm CHOP Steakhouse Members: ¥2,200; guests: ¥2,560 Sign up online or at the Library

6Mommy and Toddler TimeMeet fellow moms and toddlers at a fun, weekly get-together. Continues every Friday. 2pm Childcare Center Free

7New Member OrientationLearn about the Club and forge new friendships. Also on May 25 at 6:30pm. 10am Washington and Lincoln rooms Contact the Membership Office to reserve spot at least one week in advance

7CHOP Family NightThe Club’s home of steaks hosts a memorable evening of signature food for families of all ages. 5pm CHOP Steakhouse Reservations recommended

Events in May

7–8Mother’s Day Family BuffetTreat Mom to a mouthwatering spread of cuisine over the Mother’s Day weekend. 11am–8:30pm Rainbow Café Adults: ¥2,980; juniors (12–17 years): ¥1,900; children (7–11 years): ¥1,390; kids (4–6 years): ¥950; infants (3 & under): free

8Mother’s Day Field TripMembers take in the great outdoors by strawberry picking in Chiba and interacting with animals at Narita Yume Farm. 9–5pm Adults: ¥7,000; children: ¥6,500 Sign up online

12Summer Sippin’Multitalented entertainer and Club Member Donna Burke delivers a comedic performance at this month’s Women’s Group Summer Sippin’ luncheon.

“I share my own journey,” says Burke, “and the one [stage] exercise that changed my life.”

The Australian entrepreneur, actress and recording artist’s voice can be heard on NHK television news, popular video games, Tokaido bullet train announce-ments and even in some business lounges across Asia.

The Club’s beverage guru, Nathan Baggs, will complete this fun, early-summer event with a guide to making refreshing seasonal cocktails. NN

11:30am–2pm Manhattan I Women’s Group members: ¥3,000; non-Women’s Group members: ¥4,000 Sign up online

8Mother’s Day BowlingGive Mom the gift of two free games of bowling on this special day. 10am–9pm Bowling Center Adults: ¥620; children (5–17 years): ¥520 No sign-up necessary

8Mother’s Day Grand BuffetThe Club honors moms with its annual spread of delicious dishes and drinks. 11am & 4:30pm New York Ballroom & Brooklyn rooms Adults: ¥5,955; juniors (4–17 years) ¥2,900; infants (3 & under): free Sign up online or at Member Services

Donna Burke

AGENDA

10 | INTOUCH

Page 13: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

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21–22World Cuisine ShowcaseRainbow Café enhances each weekend buffet with a variety of dishes from a different culinary-rich region of the world.

This month’s Continental Buffet features an array of Euro-pean cuisine, including Portuguese-style clams, a popular first course in many of Portugal’s local eateries.

Adults: ¥2,980; juniors (12–17 years): ¥1,900; children (7–11): ¥1,390; kids (4–6 years): ¥950; infants (3 & under): free

MAY | 11

Page 14: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

Japan. Slater explains the genesis of her book on page 21. 7–8pm Toko Shinoda Classroom ¥1,500 (includes one drink) Sign up online or at the Library

12 & 31Squash Social NightEnjoy casual play and test the skills of former national squash champ Hitoshi Ushiogi. 6:15pm Squash Courts

13First Friday: Cinco de MayoCelebrate Mexico’s heritage with food, drinks and entertainment from south of the border. 6–8pm Winter Garden Members: ¥2,000; guests: ¥3,500 No sign-up necessary

14Soccer Fun for KidsKids, ages 6 to 9, are introduced to the basics of the world’s most popular sport. 2–3:30pm Gymnasium ¥1,700 Sign up online

14–15Birth Preparation for CouplesExpectant parents prepare for the big day during this Women’s Group class with experienced nurse Ann Tanaka. 10am–4pm Beate Sirota Gordon & Haru Reischauer classrooms ¥34,300 Sign up at Member Services

15Club RecitalTalents of the voice, piano, violin and more take to the stage for an entertaining morning of music. 10am–12pm Washington, Lincoln & Logan rooms Adults: ¥1,800; children (4–12 years): ¥700; infants (3 & under): free Sign up online

16–17Support Fukushima TourThe Women’s Group hosts an all-inclusive, overnight trip to take in the history, culture and cuisine of Tohoku. 8:35am Women’s Group members & guests: ¥46,000 Sign up online

24 & 27Nearly New Sale

& Salvation Army Charity Drive

With Japan’s superstar “organiz-ing consultant” Marie Kondo urg-ing the globe to give their closets a life-changing tidy and to fold their socks properly, the Women’s Group has two events this month to help motivate Members in their spring cleaning.

The Nearly New Sale is a popu-lar, annual market of secondhand items, while Members can donate new or gently worn clothing, lin-ens and household goods during the one-day Salvation Army Char-ity Drive.

New York-based organizational expert and author of Unstuff Your Life! Andrew Mellen (pictured) says such collections and sales pro-vide “an easy solution to the prob-lem of what to do with all this stuff now that you’re ready to let it go.”

“The combined benefit of light-ening your load while…providing something useful for someone else can’t help but increase your sense of satisfaction and happiness,” he says. NJ

Nearly New Sale May 24 10am–1:30pm Manhattan II & III Open to the public | Salvation Army Charity Drive May 27 9–11:30am & 2–3:30pm B1 Parking Lot

9Language Exchange CoffeePractice your language skills in a welcoming environment. 10am CHOP Steakhouse Free Sign up online

9Toastmasters Social EventLearn how Toastmasters can make you a better public speaker at a casual get-together, complete with food and drinks. 6:30–9pm Washington, Lincoln & Logan rooms TAC Toastmasters members: ¥4,500; guests: ¥6,500 Sign up online

9Gallery Reception: Kosen KanamoriThe award-winning contemporary calligrapher, whose studio sits at the foot of the sacred Mount Koya, holds an exhibition of her works from May 9 to 29. 6:30–8pm Frederick Harris Gallery (B1 Formal Lobby) Free Adults only Open to invitees and Members only

11 Fuji Shibazakura Festival TourYamanashi’s vast fields of pink phlox moss, with Mount Fuji as a backdrop, are the destination for this Women’s Group trip to the prefecture’s Fuji Five Lakes area. 7:30am Women’s Group members: ¥8,500; non-Women’s Group members: ¥9,350 Sign up online

11Youthful Skin Secrets Jodi Ayre of skincare brand Dermalogica offers advice on attaining healthy skin at an informative seminar. 10–11:30am Yukiko Maki & Toko Shinoda classrooms ¥3,000 (includes snacks and drinks) Sign up online or at The Spa

11 Meet the Author: Tracy SlaterThe American author’s biographical tale, The Good Shufu, is a warts-and-all account of her life as a housewife in

AGENDA

12 | INTOUCH

Page 15: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

18Silver Oak Wine Dinner Vivien Gay of the family-owned California winery hosts an evening of Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon and other varietals from the winery’s Twomey Cellars. 7–10pm Manhattan I ¥16,000 Sign up online or at Member Services

18–19Stuffed Animal SleepoverKids, ages 2 to 6, enjoy a pajama party and prepare their favorite stuffed animal to spend the night at the Club. 3–4pm Jean Pearce Classroom ¥2,000 Sign up online or at the Library

18–19Mexican NightEnjoy a family-favorite spread of zesty staples, such as seafood seviche,

Veracruz-style fish and pork carnitas. 5pm Rainbow Café Adults: ¥2,980; juniors (12–17 years): ¥1,900; children (7–11 years): ¥1,390; kids (4–6 years): ¥950; infants (3 and under): free Reservations not required

19Library Book GroupThe Club’s band of book lovers discusses Unaccustomed Earth by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri. 12:30pm Café Med Details at the Library

22Academic Presentation: US College PlanningExperts explain how to achieve the most from your four years in high school. For grades eight to 12 and parents. 6:30–7:30pm Beate Sirota Gordon & Haru Reischauer classrooms Free Sign up online

26Hoopes Wine Dinner with Lindsay HoopesThe former lawyer hosts a dinner of wines from her family’s Napa winery. Hoopes explains her passion for the vineyard on page 17. 7–10pm American Bar & Grill ¥12,000 Sign up online or at Member Services

27All-American Friday FeastHook up with friends for an all-you-can-eat Tex-Mex feast. 5pm Café Med Adults: ¥2,670; juniors (12–17 years): ¥1,810; children (7–11 years): ¥1,330; kids (4–6 years): ¥860; infants (3 & under): free Reservations not required

28Early Pregnancy and Birth PlanningRegistered nurse Ann Tanaka prepares moms and dads for the big day during this Women’s Group class. 10am–12pm Jean Pearce Classroom ¥6,700 Sign up at Member Services

16–22American Craft Beer WeekWith artisanal beer taking the world by storm, the Club’s watering hole hosts a week of distinctive US craft beers at happy hour prices. Daily Traders’ Bar

16–29Fiesta MexicanaCelebrate Cinco de Mayo this month with flavorful Mexican dishes, a Friday night taco bar and signature margaritas. Daily American Bar & Grill and Traders’ Bar

17Cocktail ConnectionsThe Women’s Group hosts a fun, informal evening of drinks and chat. All are welcome. 5–8pm CHOP Bar

30Gallery Reception: Osamu SugiyamaOsamu Sugiyama trekked among Nepal’s soaring Himalayan peaks and the mountains of Switzerland and Japan in search of inspiration for his traditional woodblock prints.

“I try to represent the glisten in the sunlight, the [tempestuousness] of [the] wind and the life of people in nature,” says Sugiyama, who will exhibit his vibrant works at the Club from May 30 through June 19.

The Tokyo native studied under woodblock master Toshi Yoshida and has ex-hibited widely, including at the 50th anniversary of the CWAJ Print Show, held at the Club in 2005. NN

6:30–8pm Frederick Harris Gallery (B1 Formal Lobby) Free Adults only Open to invitees and Members only

MAY | 13

Page 16: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

With this issue of INTOUCH, The Tolman Collection embarks on a one-year campaign

to gain the attention of art-loving Tokyo American Club members, who may not be aware of our artists and the business we conduct. Each month, we will provide educational and cul-tural pleasure while informing readers of our activities and exhibitions.

Based in Shiba Daimon, in front of Tokyo Tower, our gallery features artists who we feel meet the needs of those who want to acquire outstanding exam-ples of contemporary Japanese prints, of which we are leading publishers.

We have been publishing con-temporary Japanese prints—wood-blocks, lithographs, etchings and silk screens—for more than 40 years. Original paintings by a few artists are also for sale. We are the place from where the art you have admired at your friends’ homes and offices all around Tokyo may have originated.

In addition to selling stunning prints and paintings, we arrange framing and are willing to install what you buy from us at no charge. We take care of all aspects of this business, including mailing your gifts abroad.

A longtime Japan resident and

PROMOTION

THE TOLMAN COLLECTION, TOKYO2-2-18 Shiba Daimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo03-3434-1300 | tc@tolmantokyo | closed: Mon–Tuewww.tolmantokyo.com

Purveyors of Contemporary Japanese Prints

former American diplomat, I have five Japanese staff at the Tolman Collection. Eiji, Daisuke, Nori, Kiyo and Shin are bilingual and fully familiar with all aspects of our gal-lery. Their positive, cheerful attitude ensures a pleasurable experience for collectors and browsers.

First-time visitors to our gallery will receive a book on the Ameri-can woodblock artist Clifton Karhu (1927–2007), which is a good way to begin learning about the wonderful world of Japanese prints. We look forward to welcoming you to the Tolman Collection.

Norman Tolman

Shinoda Toko

Hasegawa Yuichi

Wako Shuji

14 | INTOUCH

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30Coffee ConnectionsExpand your horizons and your social circle at this monthly gathering. Contact the Women’s Group O∞ce to organize free childcare. 10:30am CHOP Steakhouse Free

30 & 31 Summer Swim Program RegistrationSign-up begins for summer private lessons (May 30) and kids’ group and Parents & Tots programs (May 31) at the Sky Pool. Programs begin June 20. Details online

Coming UpJune 3First Friday: Hawaiian Luau NightBreak out your best floral shirt and celebrate the spirit of aloha with eats, drink and live music. 6–8pm Winter Garden Members: ¥2,000; guests: ¥3,500 No sign-up necessary

June 9Northern RhôneWine TastingAn evening of superior wines from a region that boasts some of France’s oldest vines. 7pm Washington & Lincoln rooms

June 13Summer Camp DiscoveryThe Club kicks off weeklong sessions of games, crafts, music, dance and fun for youngsters.

June 13Summer All-Star SportsSessions of sports and fun activities for high-energy kids start at the Club.

July 2Independence Day at the ClubThe Club celebrates America’s 240th birthday with a spectacular day of food, family fun and entertainment.

AGENDA ONLINE

TOKYOAMERICANCLUB.ORG/EVENT-CALENDAR

June 2Joseph Phelps Wine Dinner More than 40 years after Joseph Phelps produced his first batch of Insignia, Cal-ifornia’s first proprietary Bordeaux-style blend, it is still regarded as one of the world’s great wines.

Wine Spectator magazine twice named Insignia’s 2002 vintage its wine of the year, and celebrated wine critic Robert Parker awarded perfect 100-point ratings to the 1991, 1997 and 2002 vintages. Not bad for a builder from Colorado.

Next month, Members have the opportunity to sample the famed Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine, as well as other varietals from the winery’s Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast estates, at a dinner with Joseph Phelps Vineyards’ Mike McEvoy. NJ

7pm CHOP Steakhouse ¥14,500 Sign up online or at Member Services

AGENDA

MAY | 15

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and structure. But the Latour was just the most incredible wine in terms of flavor and mouthfeel.DREAM DRINK PARTNER.I would have to either say my father or Tim Gaiser, master sommelier. My father because he taught me most of what I know about wine and has a true, innate passion and palate. He was the first person I drank with and the first person who helped me think about wine as an art and dynamic prod-uct, not just a beverage. I would say Tim Gaiser, a great friend, because he thinks so differently about wine and is an endless resource about every prod-uct, region or item on the market. FAVORITE SPOT ON THE PLANET TO DRINK WINE.Napa is pretty hard to beat, but since it is my backyard, I think I would have to say Italy. Each area has its own romance and unique series of grapes. Explora-tion throughout Italy is never-ending and, of course, the food makes the ex-perience even more magical. WINE THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.Probably our first family vintage in 1999. That paved the way for creating a legacy of winemaking, not just farm-ing, and cemented the fact that, as an only child, I was destined to carry on the torch.

Wendi Onuki is a Michigan-based freelance journalist.

most important moments of life with wine. I also cannot think of any luxury product that is truly as farm to table. DREAM “OTHER” JOB.Prior to coming back to run the vine-yard, I was a homicide prosecutor in the San Francisco District Attorney’s O∞ce. Although quite a departure from the vineyard, I can honestly say that it is one of the best jobs I can im-agine, and if I were not working in the family business, there is no question that I would return to that vocation. BEST WINE EVER TASTED.It would be a toss-up between a 1947 López de Heredia and a 1982 Château Latour. I think the López de Heredia shocked me in that it was older than everyone at the table, the cork was per-fect and there was absolutely no sed-iment. It also still had amazing body

Courtroom to VineyardOne California lawyer turned wine producer shares her passion for the vineyard.WORDS WENDI ONUKI

Lindsay Hoopes

INDEPTH | WINE

Untitled-1 1 4/14/16 3:18 PM

G rowing up on a farm, Lind-say Hoopes knew early on that she would continue the legacy her father had

established at Napa Valley’s Hoopes Vineyard. “There is something magi-cal about working on a farm,” she says.

At her father’s behest, she took a job with another winery after college (fol-lowed by an intriguing career detour), before returning to the Oakville-based winery in 2012 to help out.

Ahead of her appearance at the Club this month, the 35-year-old discusses the “artistry, chemistry and magic” of the family business. BEST THING ABOUT BEING A WINEMAKER.Creating a product that has…an emo-tional connection to the people who consume it. People…celebrate the

HOOPES WINE DINNER WITH LINDSAY HOOPES May 26 7–10pm American Bar & Grill ¥12,000 Sign up online or at Member Services

MAY | 17

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Page 21: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

no off-season. Practice is year-round.”The teenage wrestlers practicing this

rainy, spring morning in Matsudo, Chi-ba, sleep 10 to a room. After practice, they sweep the ring with straw brooms, wax and comb their elders’ topknots and wait by their side during lunch, making sure their bowls never empty.

These apprentices of the ring will not attend college. Instead, they hope to emulate stablemate Kotoshogiku, who in January became the first Japanese wrestler to win a grand tournament, or basho, in more than 10 years in a sport dominated by Mongolian-born athletes.

“[Kotoshogiku’s achievement] is an inspiration to other Japanese wrestlers,” says Sadogatake stable master Koto-nowaka Terumasa. “They can be next.”

Goldstein, 44, who celebrated the traditional banzai three cheers with Kotoshogiku after his victory, was once watching tournaments from the cheap seats at Tokyo’s Ryogoku sumo arena.

While studying at Waseda Univer-sity on a research scholarship in the early 1990s, Goldstein would line up at 6am to buy ¥1,500 same-day tickets. When he couldn’t make it to Ryogo-ku, he watched the action on TV at the nearest electronics store.

“The more you learn, the more you realize the strategy involved,” says the Chicago native, who also sponsors

professional boxers and co-owns a Japanese basketball team. “In a short period of time, there is a chess match going on. When you know the guys and you know the strategy, it’s much more interesting.”

As the likes of sumo legends—and rivals—Akebono and Takanohana helped inspire a sumo boom in the ear-ly ’90s, Goldstein was drawn to Kot-onowaka, an underdog from Sadoga-take stable.

When Goldstein returned to Japan seven years ago, the lawyer became a patron of the Sadogatake stable, even-tually celebrating sake toasts with wrestlers and treating them to steak dinners at CHOP Steakhouse.

After the morning practice, Gold-stein kneels next to Kotonowaka, the wrestler he used to cheer on from the back rows of Ryogoku, and shares a traditional sumo lunch of the pro-tein-rich chankonabe stew.

“I like the dignity of the sport. [Sumo wrestlers] show humility in all aspects of their life,” says Goldstein. “And the sport hasn’t changed in 400 years. It’s like stepping back into Jap-anese history.”

For details on tickets for May’s summer grand sumo tournament, check page 9.

INDEPTH | CULTURE

Dohyo DiscipleOnce an everyday sumo fan, Member Ryan Goldstein is now a patron of a wrestlers’ stable. WORDS NICK NARIGON

IMAGE YUUKI IDE

Ryan Goldstein at the Sadogatake sumo stable

T he young sumo wrestler braces himself as his enor-mous stablemate barrels into his chest, driving him

across the dirt floor of the dohyo prac-tice ring like a football tackling sled.

After four hours of practice, the behemoth of a man grimaces in pain, his mawashi belt and legs caked in soil, steam swirling off his heaving, sweaty shoulders.

“You literally dedicate your life [to sumo] at a young age,” says Club Mem-ber Ryan Goldstein, a sponsor of the Sadogatake sumo stable. “And there is

MAY | 19

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Spectacular entertainment for all the family.

www.shinjuku-robot.com

¥2,000 Discount Ticket Coupon#

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SCREENS & PRINTS SUMMER SALE

Page 23: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

I never thought I’d marry a man with whom I don’t share a flu-ent language, nor that I would come to appreciate this part of

my relationship so much.But being with Toru has taught me

that there are surprising benefits to lacking a shared fluency in a roman-tic relationship. For one, when you are forced to keep communication to a simpler level, sometimes the bond becomes more pure, less complicated.

It wasn’t the relationship itself that inspired me to write the book, but what I learned from it that I think relates to many people’s lives. I’d love it if the book ends up providing some level of comfort or reassurance to people who are facing paths very different from the ones they planned.

Marrying a Japanese salaryman, moving to his country, giving up much of my life as a fiercely independent Boston academic and becoming, es-sentially, an illiterate housewife—these were all pretty much diametri-cally opposed to what I’d planned and

Finding Domestic PeaceFormer academic and author of The Good Shufu reveals the challenges of housewifedom in Japan.WORDS TRACY SLATER

IMAGE ANATOLE PAPAFILIPPOU

even hoped for myself. But this is the path where I found the greatest love, security and even sense of rootedness I’ve ever known.

As I write in the book, I learned that you can’t properly find yourself until you let yourself get lost in the first place. I spent much of my adult life be-fore Toru doing everything I could not to get lost. In the end, getting lost was what I needed to find the life that fit me the best.

I still have mixed emotions about living in Japan and so far away from home. The truth is sometimes people have a romanticized image of expa-triatism and see it as only an exciting thing. Overall, Japan has been really positive for me, and it’s an interesting and fascinating and nuanced life. Yet it’s not home and will never be home, and it’s not easy.

One way I was able to make life here work for me was to make Japan part of my own goals, not just part of my hus-band’s. I did that by writing this book, and it has made a big difference to how

MEET THE AUTHOR: TRACY SLATER May 11 7–8pm Toko Shinoda Classroom ¥1,500 (includes one drink) Sign up online or at Member Services

I feel about Japan. Now I can say I’m not just here for him.

You don’t have to love the country you’re in to have a worthwhile life. I kept waiting and asking, “When am I going to fall in love with Japan?” That was a mistake. Being fascinated by Japan and always learning from it is enough. That’s a life to be thankful for, even if it’s not necessarily an easy life.

American Tracy Slater is a Tokyo-based writer.

INDEPTH | AUTHOR

Tracy Slater

MAY | 21

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W hat an amazing story this has been,” declared the television commentator. “A semifinal in the morn-

ing, saving three match points to take her through to the final and to beat the No. 3 player in the world from a set down. Take your hat off to Ai Sugiyama.”

It was indeed a remarkable win for the Japanese tennis player at the 2003 State Farm Women’s Classic in Scottsdale, Ar-izona. But it didn’t end there. Because of rain delays the previous day, Sugiyama still had to play a doubles semifinal with her partner, Belgium’s Kim Clijsters, whom she had just beaten in the singles final.

Winning their semi, the pair went on to defeat Americans Lisa Raymond and Lind-say Davenport in the final and wrap up an epic day for Sugiyama. She had played 10 sets in six hours and 18 minutes to com-plete a quadruple sweep.

“I felt really great. It was probably the best day of my career,” Sugiyama, 40, says one midweek evening in March at the Club. “That day gave me so much confi-dence that I could make it into the top 10.”

That year turned out to be her most successful ever, as she racked up another singles title and a total of eight doubles titles, including at the French Open and Wimbledon. A season-ending win over world No. 1 Justine Henin elevated her in the singles rankings to 10.

INDEPTH | FO CUS

Queenof the

CourtAfter wrapping up a hugely successful tennis career in 2009, Club Member Ai Sugiyama is

still searching for her next calling.

With so much going right, it’s hard to believe that she had come close to quitting the sport entirely just three years before. Prior to Scottsdale, she had won only two singles titles, most recently in 1998. By the end of 2000, she was ranked 33.

“At that time, I had zero confidence,” Sugiyama says. “I was kind of scared to hit the ball. I just didn’t know how to hit it. I didn’t have a feel for ground strokes. I had no clue what to do on the court. I just wanted to escape.”

Behind her trademark smile, Sugiyama was at an all-time low and feeling the strain of the hectic WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) professional tour. In 2000, contemplating retirement, she turned to her manager, mentor and mother, Fusako Sugiyama, for advice.

Her “calm, scientific” mother told her she should only walk away from the game if she believed she had achieved everything she could. Sugiyama decided to continue. Although not a qualified tennis coach, her mother would take over those duties.

“We started with the grip and then [all the basics]. I started from zero like a be-ginner,” Sugiyama says. “It took time to get me back on the right rail because I was lost and had no confidence. At the same time, working with my mother was not easy.”

Besides rebuilding her game, Sugi-yama’s mother encouraged her daughter to develop a more mature mindset and to

WORDS NICK JONES

22 | INTOUCH

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Ai Sugiyama

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communicate better. “When I won a match, I was really happy, but when I lost, I was really depressed—just up and down,” says Sugiyama, admitting that she had had a rather superficial attitude towards her career.

Working with an Australian trainer, Sugiyama focused increasingly on core muscle and breathing exercises and ef-ficient body movement. It marked an overhaul in her approach to her game preparation. She even adopted a spe-cific routine for tournament days and another set of habits for those when she wasn’t competing.

The new methods slowly bore fruit and, in 2004, Sugiyama reached a career-high world ranking of eight. “When I think of that time it was re-ally horrible and tough, but now I’m thankful for that time. It made me who I am now. It completely changed the way I think,” she says of her recovery.

Born in Yokohama, Sugiyama grew up in the Chigasaki area, on Kanagawa Prefecture’s Shonan coast. As a child, her interests were wide, and she took lessons in swimming, figure skating, ballet, gymnastics and the piano. But it was tennis that really appealed to the young Sugiyama, who first picked up a racket at 4 years old. “I liked the feeling of hitting the ball and the sweet spot when I hit the ball nicely,” she says. “That was really fun.”

Investing more and more time in the sport, she found success at regional, na-tional and, eventually, international lev-el. When, at 15, she became the world junior no. 1, she says she knew that a career was possible. Two years later, in

INDEPTH | FO CUS

“I HAD NO CLUE WHAT TO DO ON THE COURT. I JUST WANTED TO ESCAPE.”

1992, she turned professional. The fol-lowing year, she qualified for her first grand slam, at Wimbledon.

While Sugiyama returned to the grass game’s illustrious home in Lon-don many times in her career, she says she was never completely comfortable on the sport’s main stages. Neverthe-less, her 62 consecutive grand slam main draw appearances remains a re-cord in women’s tennis.

“I always dreamed of Center Court [at Wimbledon] and wanted to play there, but when I played there I was really super nervous. It’s funny, it was a dream place but I got nervous and couldn’t really enjoy it. But I wanted to be able to enjoy it,” she says. “My expec-tations were high and I wanted to do well. That’s why I was nervous. With all those people watching, I wanted to live up to their expectations as well.”

Although Sugiyama was, first and foremost, a singles player, she was far more successful in the doubles form of the game. In contrast to her six sin-gles titles, she won 38 doubles tourna-ments, including three grand slams, and one mixed doubles grand slam. She became world No. 1 in 2000.

“The reason I played doubles was to enjoy [the tennis] and share a great time with my partner. That was really key for me. It was easier for me to en-joy with a person I liked. I only played with good friends,” she says.

Veteran tennis reporter Chris Bow-ers says that Sugiyama’s affable char-acter meant that she was never short of a doubles partner. “The thing that stands out most was the immense

A 10-year-old Ai Sugiyama with her mother, Fusako

Sugiyama with friends at the Shonan International Marathon in 2011

Sugiyama on Mount Fuji in 2010

24 | INTOUCH

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sense of fun she had during the couple of years she played doubles with Kim Clijsters,” he says. “I remember com-mentating on her women’s doubles fi-nal at Wimbledon [in 2003] and just reveling in the smiles.”

What turned out to be her final doubles title came in Eastbourne, in Britain, in June 2009. A few months later, she announced her retirement from the sport. She was 34.

“When I made that decision, I real-ly felt relief,” she says. “I did everything that I could and I was really happy. I feel I retired at the right time and the way I wanted.”

After a life dominated by tennis, Sugiyama was uncertain about what retirement would hold. “Tennis was my dream job and I enjoyed it so much. Even with the ups and downs, I really loved it. When I look back, it was the best job for me. I was busy right after retirement, but at the same time empty,” she says.

As part of her quest to discover what she wanted to do in the next stage of her life, she produced a kind of bucket list. With such milestones as getting married and having a child at the top, the 100-item list also in-cluded more ordinary goals like running a marathon and climbing Mount Fuji.

Sugiyama reached the summit of Japan’s highest mountain in 2010. The following year, on the day she and her fiancé filled out their marriage paperwork at the local government of-fice, she finished her first marathon. Last year, she became a mother.

Court Career Professional career1992–2009

Highest singles ranking8 (2004)

Highest doubles ranking 1 (2000)

Singles titles 6

Doubles titles38

Doubles grand slam winsUS Open (2000), French Open (2003), Wimbledon (2003)

Mixed doubles grand slam winUS Open (1999)

Olympic team Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000), Athens (2004), Beijing (2008)

Fed Cup team1995–2000, 2003–04, 2006–09

“I FEEL I RETIRED AT THE RIGHT TIME AND THE WAY I WANTED.”

While she has completed her list and is enjoying a career as a commen-tator on various Japanese TV pro-grams, she says she has not yet found her next calling.

But sport is never far from her mind. Having represented Japan at four Olympic Games, from Atlanta in 1996 to Beijing in 2008, Sugiyama says she would like to be involved in the 2020 Games in Tokyo. “It is so special because it’s only once every four years and you never know how many you can play in,” she says. “To me, the Olympics were like a fifth major.”

With her own playing career over, she admits the idea of coaching is an appealing one. “I still love tennis,” she says. “I want to give something back.”

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COMMUNIT Y | SIX DEGREES

Diversity in ActionMember and president of investment firm

Fidelity Japan Judy Marlinski explains why Japan needs to embrace office change.

perative that this agenda stay on track. I think there will be some industries

that move faster and better than oth-ers, like consumer goods companies. If these kinds of companies cannot im-agine a diverse workforce against a di-verse consumer base, they’re going to miss a trick [and] they won’t exist in 10 years. I think financial services [needs to change] for a similar reason, in terms of wealth transfer and needing to ap-peal to women.

I try not to keep this such a wom-en-focused agenda because men need to participate and support it. It affects the viability of the companies they’re working in. If companies start to fail, men are losing jobs. We should always be mindful to be balanced in this con-versation, so it doesn’t become a femi-nist statement. It’s about productivity, progression, the future.

As told to INTOUCH’s Nick Jones.

June’s connection: Alex Treves

I became president five years ago, and it was almost unheard of for a woman to run a large financial services company in

Japan. Little did I know that I would also take on a role model role. Pret-ty early on there was an annual sales event and I had this unbelievable ex-perience where women were meeting me as if I were a celebrity. Suddenly, I realized I had an obligation to encour-age this person.

But I embraced it. I just thought, “If you can leave any legacy in a country that so desperately needs to recognize that women can ascend to these kinds of roles, do what you can.” It’s been pro-found, and I really had to think careful-ly about how you manage organizations to allow it to actually happen.

When I arrived in 2003, the ex-ecutive team of around 10 members had one or two Japanese and the rest foreigners and one woman. Today, 80 percent of the executive team is Japa-nese…and 40 percent of the executive

team is now women, so we’ve really made great progress and we’re a role model in the industry.

It’s the most educated, literate na-tion in the world. Women are capable and need to be given the confidence that they’re empowered to believe that they can break glass ceilings. But it’s also that they can be empowered to be-lieve that if they want to have a family and/or be married, there are organi-zations that are going to support the ability to have it all, because I think today women feel the choices are being made for them.

There are definitely signs of pro-gress, not material change in the sta-tistics, but the fact that the dialogue is happening at the level of boards is light years different from five years ago. We need to keep working on the infra-structure to facilitate women coming into the workforce. We have to imagine that if that declining [population] rate goes through and if [lawmakers] don’t change the immigration laws, it is im-

Judy Marlinski

26 | INTOUCH

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Harue Oki

Yoshio Asakura

Yumio & Natsue Ishii

Masahiro & Mitsuyo Nishi

June T Cole

Munehisa & Keiko Sawada

Yutaka & Sugako Yamanouchi

Hiro & Keiko Tsuneyoshi

Yuji Takemoto

Shuichi Higaki

Kazunari & Hiroko Watanabe

Peter & Dinah Davis

Elizabeth & William Cottam

Anthony Costa & Aimi Kuroda

James & Katsumi Arthur

Shigeru & Noriko Shiina

Koji Inagaki

Adam Francis & Claire Jin Tang

Marybeth Boller

Nicholas Brown

Julian Capomassi & Claudia Veiga

USA

Ben & Sherri Bailey Hewlett Packard Japan

Joseph Ragg & Mary Driscoll PricewaterhouseCoopers

Eric & Keiko Wilson Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Ryan & Rieko Armstrong Aflac International

Amy Jackson & John Loftus Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

Harold & Naoko Kobrak Caterpillar Japan Ltd.

JAPAN

Hidehiko Takeda & Mayumi Okamoto McCann Worldgroup Holdings Japan, Inc.

Tsuyoshi & Maki Takebe Lifelong Co., Ltd.

Rie & Junichi Hidaka Realm, Inc.

Shiro Suzuki Sanko Seiko Co., Ltd.

Toshiyuki & Kaori Arai Paul Hastings LLP

Asako & Yukihiro Oku Life Design Office A

Masahiro & Mie Morimoto UBIC, Inc.

Akiko & Yuzaburo Uetake Izumi Ladies Clinic

UK

Stuart & Elizabeth Sweet Hitachi-Johnson Controls Air Conditioning, Inc.

John McPhee & Melissa Sauer AIG Japan Holdings K.K.

Jacqueline Andall & Hari Nada University of Tokyo

AUSTRALIA

Sonja Vodusek The Peninsula Tokyo

Matthew & Sarah Gold HSBC Securities (Japan) Ltd., Tokyo Branch

FRANCE

Louis-François Gombert & Pascal Durand Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd.

INDIA

Siddhartha & Kaori Kar Deutsche Bank

ITALY

Giorgio Sarne & Silvia Poggi Coach Japan, Inc.

MALAYSIA

Pue Yen Lee & Franklin Lin AIG Japan Holdings K.K.

NETHERLANDS

Hans & Vera Heijligers IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan

USA | Fabio & Mireya BenedettiTaiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.“Friends told us about the Club. Our initial thought was to join primarily so we could take our son swimming. Once we visited, we were so impressed with all the other things the Club has to offer like children’s activities, enrichment opportunities and family-oriented events and celebrations. The people at TAC have been so warm and welcoming that it really does feel like a home away from home.”(l–r) Fabio, Lorenzo and Mireya Benedetti

AUSTR ALIA | Ben Howard & Amanda SchofieldAIG Japan Holdings K.K.“We joined the Club to help us build a community in Tokyo by taking part in the numerous social and cultural events. It’s also a terrific place to learn a new skill like photography or painting. And we know our daughters will make good use of the Sky Pool and Library and enjoy having pizza and a milk-shake with their friends at the family-friendly restaurants.”(l–r) Ben and Holly Howard, Amanda Schofield and Ruby Howard

COMMUNIT Y | REGISTER

Arrivals Up Close

Departures

Connections

tokyoamericanclub TokyoAmericanClubTVTACtokyo tokyoamericanclub

MAY | 27

Page 30: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

Daniel Kelly “Golden Touch”

An exhibition of sensational new works by the Kyoto-based

American artist.

Until May 8 at the Conrad Tokyo

Free admission

The Tolman Collection, Tokyo2-2-18 Shiba Daimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo

03-3434-1300 | tc@tolmantokyoclosed: Mon–Tue

www.tolmantokyo.com

TAC member Dr Hitomi Hayashi

Page 31: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

Mascots and MessagesWORDS DAVE MCCAUGHAN

ILLUSTRATION ALISON KANEGAE

COMMUNIT Y | VOICE

A s we ready ourselves for two weeks of late nights and early mornings in August, watching athletes

battle for Olympic glory in Rio de Ja-neiro, it is hard to believe that the next Tokyo Games are only four years away. Only because in Olympic preparation time four years is real soon and next because it is natural to compare 2020 with Tokyo’s 1964 Olympics, perhaps the benchmark for Olympic messag-ing e∞cacy.

It is unfortunate that preparations for 2020 have been dominated by con-troversy, from a stalled stadium pro-ject to an abandoned logo. So far, there seems to be no distinct message or vi-sion for the Games and how they will reflect Tokyo and Japan. This seems odd, considering this is exactly what any modern Olympics are about.

Of course, most Olympic cities have had their fair share of contro-

versy. A designer friend of mine who worked for the 2012 London Olym-pics told me how all the various logo and mascot ideas were met with vary-ing degrees of criticism.

Olympic iconography debates are re-ally a time for national introspection. After all, it’s not often that a city has to choose a set of symbols to reflect its his-tory, outlook and ambition. The recent public competition and referendum in New Zealand on a possible new flag was a rare exception.

Ever since the Japanese govern-ment used the 1964 Olympics to unveil a modern, postwar Japan, the quad-rennial sporting event has become a giant PR exercise for each subsequent hosting nation.

While some Olympic mascots can be overly cutesy and logos a touch pre-tentious, it’s all part of the challenge to find a serious yet approachable way to project your message. Beijing’s

message was about the emergence of a new world power, while Sydney, in 2000, wanted to showcase the energy and creativity of a country on the oth-er side of the world. The key is to cre-ate a message that outlives the Games themselves and motivates people to visit the city.

To an 8-year-old like me at the time, the 1964 Olympics unexpectedly re-vealed a changed, dynamic Tokyo and a glimpse of the future, with its auto-mated factories, bullet trains and As-tro Boy manga character.

Decades later, the Japanese cap-ital is a hugely different landscape. But with only four years to go before Tokyo welcomes the world, we’re still waiting for the city’s Olympic mes-sage, which should endure beyond 2020, to take shape.

Club Member Dave McCaughan is a Bangkok-based marketing consultant.

MAY | 29

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#MakeTime

Photography by Brigitte Lacombe

Zhang Xin. CEO, entrepreneur, philanthropist and Wall Street Journal reader.

©2016 Dow Jones & Co. Inc. All rights reserved.

See what Zhang Xin makes time to read at WSJ.com/Zhang

PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE TIME MAKE TIME TO READ THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

Page 33: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

March 4First Friday: CHOP First-Year Anniversary A few hundred Members and guests celebrated CHOP Steakhouse’s first year with a lively evening of drinks, the third-floor restaurant’s signature Certified Angus Beef cuts and entertainment.

IMAGES YUUKI IDE

HIGHLIGHTS ONLINE

TOKYOAMERICANCLUB.ORG/EVENT-GALLERY

COMMUNIT Y | HIGHLIGHTS

MAY | 31

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COMMUNIT Y | HIGHLIGHTS

March 6Global Trends in Food and Wine with Jancis Robinson and Nick Lander British wine guru Jancis Robinson and her husband, food critic Nick Lander, mingled with Members, shared their knowledge and signed books at a seminar-style event in the New York Ballroom. IMAGES KAYO YAMAWAKI

32 | INTOUCH

Page 35: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

March 6Mudsharks Winter Sprinter The Sky Pool was the setting for the Club youth swim team’s annual meet of friendly competition for swimmers of all ages and ability levels.

IMAGES YUUKI IDE

MAY | 33

Page 36: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

To be featured on BIJ.TV, please contact:

Joy Fajardo • [email protected] • 03-4540-7730

www.bij.tv

the first and only bilingual video channel on Business in Japan

See. Hear. Learn.

Custom Media has been chosen as the B2B

partner of customised Moleskine notebooks,

which can be ordered and designed in Japan.

Instead of showing your appreciation to clients

or colleagues with edible treats, why not give

a gift that is more than a commodity—an

object that finds its way into bags, desks, hearts

and minds?

Classic, sleek and innovative, a customised

notebook can enhance your brand identity

and make events memorable. With a growing

presence in 92 countries and 24,000 points

of sale, Moleskine is an aspirational global brand.

Large-size (13cm x 21cm) customised

notebooks are available at competitive retail

prices, with no minimum or maximum order.

Have a notebook made for:

• Special events, such as product launches

• Training and development tools

• Corporate and holiday gifts

• Loyalty and incentive programmes

Contact Megumi Okazaki: [email protected]

03-4540-7730

SHARE YOUR STORY, ENHANCE YOUR BRAND

Now accepting orders for less than 100 units!

Page 37: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

March 8Classical Japanese Dance with the Nishikawa Company Members received an insight into traditional Japanese dance at an interactive luncheon with Kazumasa Nishikawa and his sister, Masako, of the Nishikawa classical dance company in Nagoya.

IMAGES KAYO YAMAWAKI

COMMUNIT Y | HIGHLIGHTS

MAY | 35

Page 38: May 2016 INTOUCH Magazine

Riya RappLibrary

IMAGE ENRIQUE BALDUCCI

“Generally, I am there at least once a week. We take out books, read the magazines and use the Library to catch up on e-mails and work, as it is a quiet space. I enjoy it because it’s a peaceful setting and, most importantly, comfy.”

Daily, 9am–8pm 03-4588-0678 [email protected]

COMMUNIT Y | ESCAPE

Final Figures

9,240adult titles

7,277children’s titles

96magazine titles

36 | INTOUCH

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MatchMember Ai Sugiyama reflects on a career on the tennis court

SUMO MANIA + MAKING WOMENOMICS WORK + GOLDEN STATE SUPPERS

INTOUCHMAY 2016

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