Tokyo Weekender January 2017

JANUARY 2017 

Japan’s number one English language magazine 

PLUS: 7 Places in Japan You Must Visit in 2017, Change the Way You Work Out, and Kotatsu Dining

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22 

14 

18 26 

radar 

THIS MONTH’S HEAD TURNERS 

8 AREA GUIDE: ASAKUSA 

Universally renowned for its sacred ground, 

Tokyo's original pleasure district comes 

alive when the sun goes down. 

10 STYLE 

January calls for keeping New Year's 

resolutions, and staying warm while 

staying chic. 

12 BEAUTY 

Get the year off to a fragrant beginning 

with our roundup of Japanese and Japaninspired 

scents. 

14 TRENDS 

Best way to warm up in winter: eat all your 

meals with legs curled up cozily under a traditional 

kotatsu – at home or a restaurant. 

in-depth 

COFFEE-BREAK READS 

18 COVER FEATURE: Q&A WITH 

JIMMY CARR 

We chat with the popular British comedian 

as he prepares for his first show in Tokyo 

next month. 

20 FINDING THE SILVER LINING 

IN A POST-TRUTH WORLD 

And other thoughts on how to get over 

2016, and get through 2017. 

21 MORE THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO 

Extra silver linings in the form of film, literature, 

sport, music, games and stage shows. 

22 SEVEN PLACES IN JAPAN YOU 

MUST VISIT IN 2017 

First on our list? The exquisite and 

fairytale-like Wisteria Flower Tunnel. 

26 FITNESS SPECIAL: CHANGE 

YOUR WORKOUT 

From martial arts to the so-hot-right-now 

Surfset Fitness trend, we've got 13 unique 

workout ideas and accessories for you to try. 

guide 

CULTURE ROUNDUP 

33 ART 

Remembering the brilliance of David Bowie, 

and a nostalgic look at Sony's past. 

36 AGENDA 

It's a musical month as the famed Harvard 

Glee Club comes to Japan, as do PJ Harvey 

and jazz legend Hermeto Pascoal. 

38 PEOPLE, PARTIES, PLACES 

Mingling with road racers, a princess, and 

the president of Ceremony. 

JANUARY 2017

JANUARY 2017 

Publisher 

President 

Executive Producers 

Editor in Chief 

Senior Editor 

Creative Director 

Features Writer 

Contributors 

Sales Director 

Sales Executives 

Media Strategist 

Media Consultant 

Media Relations 

Media Producers 

ENGAWA Co., Ltd. 

Takanobu Ushiyama 

Asi Rinestine 

Naoya Takahashi 

Annemarie Luck 

Alec Jordan 

Liam Ramshaw 

Matthew Hernon 

Vivian Morelli 

Luca Eandi 

Bill Hersey 

Dorothee Erle 

Bunny Bissoux 

Takaaki Murai 

Hirofumi Ohuchi 

Kahori Terakawa 

Nobu (Nick) Nakazawa 

Yu Suzuki 

Mandy Lynn 

Mary Rudow 

Junko Shimaya 

Yumi Idomoto 

Claudia Sun 

EST. Corky Alexander, 1970 

Published monthly at JPR Sendagaya Building 8F 

4-23-5 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0051 

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Opinions expressed by Weekender contributors 

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Published by ENGAWA Co., Ltd. 

4 | JANUARY 2017 | TOKYO WEEKENDER

@mizrama: Liam, thanks for stepping in to the Eds’ 

Chat while Alec is away on holiday. As Weekender’s 

creative director, what’s your favorite thing about 

our January issue? 

@liam_ramshaw: Thank you very much. I’m a little 

nervous because I have some very big shoes to fill 

(literally size 16), but I’ll try my best. Have to say I 

really enjoyed this month’s Fitness Special [page 26]. 

It’s going to help with my New Year’s resolutions. 

@mizrama: Are you going to try aerial yoga? I 

can picture you hanging upside down from a silk 

hammock. 

@liam_ramshaw: I think jiu jitsu is more my style. I 

don’t think a silk hammock would support my hefty 

frame. How about you? Any fitness resolutions? 

@mizrama: Well I did try the Surfset Fitness 

workout in Ginza. It’s a new trend from California 

that involves surfboards balanced on Bosu balls. It 

helped a little with my craving for the beach and the 

ocean. But mostly, I would like to laugh more in 2017 

– so I’m looking forward to Jimmy Carr’s show next 

month [page 18]. 

@liam_ramshaw: I would certainly agree with that. 

After a tough year, I think we all need more laughter 

in our lives. Anything else you’re particularly 

looking forward to this year? 

@mizrama: Actually, I just watched the trailer for 

Martin Scorsese’s new film, Silence [page 35]. Can’t 

wait for that. It’s got a great cast … speaking of 

which, I hear you used to hang out with Andrew 

Garfield? 

@liam_ramshaw: Indeed, he was the childhood 

friend of the guys I used to live with in London. 

He would often pop round for house parties. I can 

confirm he was handsome, talented, charming and 

an all-round good egg – but an absolute nightmare to 

have around if you wanted to hook up with any girls. 

After all, who would you want to speak to if Spider- 

Man was sitting in the lounge? 

@mizrama: Pity you weren’t into jiu jitsu back then. 

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WHAT’S ON OUR RADAR THIS MONTH... 

We're mingling with the 24-hour party people of Asakusa, lusting after a Moncler 

Grenoble après-ski jacket, and feeling toasty with a traditional kotatsu. 

8 AREA GUIDE 10 STYLE 12 TRENDS 

TOKYO WEEKENDER | DECEMBER | JANUARY 2017 2016 | 7

AREA GUIDE 

FLOAT THROUGH 

ASAKUSA 

UNIVERSALLY RENOWNED FOR ITS SACRED GROUND, TOKYO’S ORIGINAL 

PLEASURE DISTRICT COMES ALIVE WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN 

Words and photographs by Luca Eandi 

24 HOUR 

PARTY PEOPLE 

Even though Asakusa’s Rokku entertainment 

district saw its heyday a century 

ago, it still caters to nightlife with a host 

of rakugo (storytelling) theaters, cinemas 

showing classic films, and other adultoriented 

recreation. There are still a 

few dozen geisha offering their hosting 

services, giving Kyoto’s hanamachi a run 

for its money. Many bars are spread out 

through Rokku. Kamiya offers an electric 

concoction, Denkibran, which is a mix of 

brandy, gin and wine, while Samboa is 

the whiskey bar of choice. Post-drinks, you 

may want to take a jinrikisha (rickshaw) 

to Denbouin-dori for food at one of the 

numerous izakayas lining the street. And if 

you miss the last train, no worries, Bunka 

Hostel offers a more communal alternative 

to capsule hotels. 

SERENITY NOW 

The main draw in Asakusa is Senso-ji, a 

Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva 

Kannon. The first temple on this location 

dates back to 645 AD, making it the oldest 

in Tokyo. Following reconstruction after 

being leveled in World War II, the temple 

became a symbol of recovery and amity, 

and remains one of Tokyo’s holiest sites, 

hosting the popular Sanja Matsuri festival 

in late spring. Commanding the entrance 

to the temple, the imposing Kaminarimon 

(Thunder Gate) is a popular meeting spot 

and background to millions of tourist 

selfies. On the rare occasion that it’s open 

to the public, a visit to Demboin Garden, 

on the grounds of Senso-ji’s head priest’s 

residence, affords visitors a serene oasis 

away from the hordes of tourists. 


TAKE ME TO THE RIVER 

Positioned on the banks of the Sumida River, Asakusa has a great outlook on the water 

and the several bridges that cross it. A prime location for enjoying the view is from 

Kuritsu Sumida Park, right on the banks of the river. Every spring, the park’s cherry 

trees blossom to the delight of hanami partakers, who take up every square inch of park 

ground with tarps, or enjoy the sakura from traditional yakatabune houseboats on the 

water. Looming in the background across the Azuma Bridge, the Asahi Beer Tower 

can’t be mistaken – it’s the building that looks like a mug of golden 

beer, complete with frothy head. Tokyo Skytree is also 

omnipresent in the skyline to the East. 

SNACKS APLENTY 

There are many delights to sample as 

you trek around Asakusa. Traditional 

Japanese snack foods are found 

throughout, such as daigaku-imo 

(candied sweet potatoes) at Chibaya, 

dorayaki (red-bean pancakes) at 

Kamejyu, and kuzumochi (arrowroot 

mochi) at Funawa. The sweet 

bread melonpan is a specialty in the 

neighborhood, and Kagetsudo has 

been making them since 1945. You can 

view the process of making intricately 

shaped, filled pastries from start to 

finish behind the window at Ganso 

Kimuraya Ningyoyaki on Nakamisedori. 

For more savory treats, soba 

noodle shops are everywhere in 

Asakusa, with Namikiya, Benten, and 

Asada being some of the better spots, 

but really, you can’t go wrong with 

most of the neighborhood staples. 

ARCADE CLASSICS 

Over 90 souvenir shops and snack shacks 

make up Nakamise-dori, the stretch between 

Kaminarimon and Senso-ji’s Hozomon gate. 

This is Asakusa’s most popular pedestrian-only 

shopping lane, but it’s not the only one worth 

strolling down. For a calmer neighborhood 

atmosphere and a touch of nostalgia, head 

west of the temple for Hisago-dori, a covered 

shopping arcade made up of family-owned 

shops with lots of charm. While there, you can 

visit the Edo Shitamachi Traditional Crafts 

Museum and learn about sashimono furniture-making, 

antique tool design and copper 

crafts. Also nearby, and not to miss on a nice 

day, is Hanayashiki, the oldest amusement 

park in Japan, in operation since 1853. 


STYLE 

VALENTINO GLOVES 

Leopard print is a tricky one, and it should always be worn in 

moderation to avoid looking garish. However, if you include just the 

right amount of it to an outfit, it can add a touch of elegance. These 

supple leather Valentino gloves are a good example of that right 

amount; and we love the gold-studded and turquoise trim. Pair them 

with a black or camel coat, and enjoy the extra warmth from the 

sumptuous cashmere lining. valentino.com 

JANUARY CALLS FOR KEEPING NEW YEAR’S 

RESOLUTIONS, AND STAYING WARM WHILE STAYING CHIC 

Compiled by Vivian Morelli 

ADIDAS BY STELLA 

MCCARTNEY BACKPACK 

January means a new year, which means a 

new you, and this part usually includes a vow 

to exercise more regularly. While the chances 

of keeping this resolution throughout the 

year are generally rather slim, using beautiful 

workout gear can be a motivating factor. 

This Adidas by Stella McCartney backpack is 

designed for runners, with a reflective shell 

that ensures visibility during evening jogs. 

Use this lightweight bag to store a water 

bottle and some essentials, and head to 

Tokyo's Imperial Palace for a reinvigorating 

loop around the moat. adidas.com

BURBERRY HOODIE 

January is probably the coldest month in 

Japan, and thanks to the lack of insulation 

in homes, it's essential to layer as many 

clothes as possible in order to survive 

the freezing season. Stay toasty with this 

fleece-back cotton hoodie from Burberry, 

with a hood lined with the label's 

signature checked pattern. The polished 

gold zippers stand out against the rich 

burgundy hue. Wear yours around the 

house or layer it under your winter 

jacket. While it belongs to the loungewear 

category, we think it's also appropriate 

for the office. burberry.com 

SMYTHSON 

2017 DIARY 

These days, thanks to widely available 

technologies, people don't use paper 

agendas nearly as much. However, 

there is a certain old-school, traditional 

charm associated with jotting down 

notes on crisp paper that just doesn't 

exist with tablets and smartphones. For 

the new year, treat yourself to the best 

version possible of a diary, from UK 

brand Smythson. Virtually unchanged 

from its 1908 design, it boasts leather 

binding, gilded featherweight paper, 

and an internal silk pocket to stow 

important documents and business 

cards. smythson.com 

MONCLER 

GRENOBLE JACKET 

Moncler's Grenoble line is all about 

high-performance alpine gear and 

après-ski looks. Whether you're 

planning on hitting the slopes or 

staying in the city this winter, a warm 

and practical jacket is a must-have. 

While most sports jackets usually 

lack in the style department, this 

number from the French-Italian brand 

manages to combine both comfort 

and chic. Filled with insulating down 

and feathers, this quilted jacket has a 

flattering cinched waist and convenient 

zipped pockets to safely store 

essentials. moncler.com 

NIKE WAIST PACK 

Head out for an outdoor run or to the gym without worrying about where to put your 

phone and keys, or having them accidentally slip out of your pocket. This waist pack is 

a sleek and modern version of the infamous fanny pack. You can simply tie the bucklefastening, 

elasticized band around your waist and discreetly hide it under your workout 

clothes. This mini bag comes with two pouches, one of which is removable to provide 

flexible storage on the move. nike.com

TRENDS 

KOTATSU COMFORTS 

BEST WAY TO WARM UP IN WINTER: EAT ALL YOUR MEALS WITH LEGS CURLED UP 

Compiled by Annemarie Luck 

COZILY UNDER ONE OF THESE TRADITIONAL JAPANESE HEATER-AND-FUTON TABLES 

AT HOME 

THE STORY Although the kotatsu has 

been around for centuries in Japan, the modern 

form is somewhat different to the original 

sunken hearth and charcoal burner. Today, 

it consists of a low table that has an electric 

heater fixed underneath. The contraption is 

covered by a futon or quilt, which extends 

over your legs as you seat yourself on the 

ground around the table. It’s so cozy that pets 

are bound to join in, and no-one will judge 

if you fall asleep and stay put all night long. 

WHAT TO EAT Nabe (hotpot) on a portable 

stove. Also, if you arrive at a friend’s 

kotatsu dinner party with a bag of mikan 

(mandarin oranges), you’ll receive a round 

of applause. We’re not entirely sure why, 

but mandarins and kotatsu go together like 

popcorn and movies. 

WHERE TO BUY ONE We like the 

brand Nakamura (nakamura-jpn.co.jp). Their 

kotatsu kits are available from Rakuten for 

around ¥40,000, and you can even buy the 

quilts separately should you want to switch 

them up every now and then. To purchase 

the kit pictured above, visit tinyurl.com/ 

TWkotatsu-rakuten 


RYOGOKU TERRACE 

THE STORY With a strong focus on health, this tucked-away terrace restaurant offers 

nutritious, balanced dishes. It also encourages you to exercise by offering rental gear, 

and shower and locker facilities in the pleasant Runcube space just next door. Wondering 

where to run? The restaurant is situated alongside Sumida River, with a jogging or walking 

path easily accessible. 

WHAT TO EAT Go for the lunch set, which includes soup, rice, and your choice of three 

main dishes. They offer millet in place of white rice if you prefer, and you can look forward 

to plenty of healthy Japanese ingredients such as seaweed and daikon. For dinner, 

it’s nabe, naturally. 

THE KOTATSU During winter, the terrace is transformed into a comfy scene of blankets 

draped over heater tables, dotted around the raised wooden floor. Best of all, your view is 

of Kyu Yasuda Garden, where you can also take a stroll after lunch. 

1-12-21 Yokozuma, Sumida-ku. www.ryogokuterrace.jp 

YOYOGI CURRY 

SANRIKU 

KOTATSU TRAIN 

THE STORY How to revive the tradition of 

kotatsu and boost railway profits at the same 

time? Create a kotatsu train! For the past decade 

or so, Sanriku Railway has been offering 

a special two-car train boasting 12 kotatsu, 

giving travelers the chance to experience the 

ultimate winter wonder expedition. 

WHAT TO EAT Reserve a bento one day 

before boarding the train – your lunch box 

options include Sea Urchin and Abalone 

(¥1,600), Sea Urchin (¥1,700), and Scallop 

(¥1,200). To reserve the coffee and sweets set 

(¥700), make sure you ask for it when buying 

your ticket. 

WHEN TO GO Until March 26, on weekends 

and national holidays only, the train 

will run between Kuji and Miyako, with the 

roundtrip starting at 12.13pm and finishing 

at 4.46pm. A one-day pass costs ¥2,500 and 

reservations can be made between 9am and 

6pm by calling 0193 62 8900. For more info 

(in Japanese only), visit www.sanrikutetsudou.com 

THE STORY Opened in 2013, this 

terraced restaurant has a prime spot 

just near the entrance of Yoyogi Village, 

which is a trendy little space near 

Yoyogi Station featuring eateries, 

coffee shops, and plenty of greenery. 

WHAT TO EAT Curry, of course. 

They have a few different kinds to 

choose from – we’ve tried the Asian 

Chicken, and the Butter Lemon with 

Shrimp, and both were delicious, not 

very spicy, and reasonably priced at 

¥980. If you’re there for dinner and 

want to expand on the selection, they 

also offer a variety of starters (try the 

Stewed Octopus and Olive with Tomato), 

and meat dishes, along with a complete 

menu of drinks which are served 

from their cute bar at the back of the 

restaurant. 

HOW TO ORDER Until April, they 

have closed in their terrace, and added 

blankets and heaters to all the tables, 

making this the best curry experience 

we’ve yet to have. 

1-28-9 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku. 

yoyogi-curry.com 


BEAUTY 

NIGHTINGALE 

BY ZOOLOGIST 

A couple of years ago, Toomo 

Inaba left Tokyo for a quieter life 

in Kyushu’s countryside, where he 

continues his work as a fragrance 

reviewer, producer, and self-taught 

perfumer. Although Nightingale is his 

own official debut scent (launched 

in October), he has in fact created 

50-odd private blends over the past 

several years, and his company 

Zoologist features a range of deluxe 

fragrances by different perfumers. 

He describes his inspiration for the 

pink floral chypre as coming from 

an ancient Japanese poem, picking 

out one line in particular: “Soon you 

will be wearing a black robe and 

enter nunhood. You will not know 

each rosary bead has my tears on 

it.” The notes include plum blossom, 

agarwood, patchouli and moss. 

Nightingale Eau de Parfum ¥14,200, 

www.zoologistperfumes.com 

SCENTSATIONS 

GET THE YEAR OFF TO A FRAGRANT BEGINNING WITH OUR 

ROUNDUP OF JAPANESE AND JAPAN-INSPIRED SCENTS 

Compiled by Annemarie Luck and Mandy Lynn 

SCENT THREE: SUGI 

BY MONOCLE 

The third of a series of fragrance 

collaborations between Monocle 

and Comme des Garcons, Sugi 

(Japanese cedar) is described as 

a “delicate, clean and energising” 

fragrance. It’s a unisex scent with 

top notes of Meditarranean cypress 

and pepper from Madagascar, 

followed by iris from Florence 

and cedar from Virginia, and 

finished with pine and Haitian 

vetiver. 

Scent Three: Sugi Eau de Toilette 

¥10,800, available from The Monocle 

Shop in Tokyo or from monocle.com 


SAKURA 

BY MIYA SHINMA 

Born in Shizuoka, Miya Shinma now 

divides her time between France 

and Japan, but her perfume range 

is devoted to her country of birth. 

Inspired by the cherry blossom, 

Sakura has robust notes that meld into 

soft floral nuances. Its characteristic 

scent starts off strong (like a woman 

who knows exactly what she wants), 

wrapping one in its musky embrace, 

before fashioning into a scent of 

freshly cut peonies amid hints of 

blackcurrant. It ends with tones of 

citrus and rose. We've got one bottle 

to give away; follow us on Instagram 

(@tokyoweekender) for details. 

Sakura Eau de Parfum, ¥21,400, 

miyashinma.fr 

Le Labo 

GAIAC 10 TOKYO 

BY LE LABO 

Known for its niche perfumes, 

Le Labo created Gaiac 10 

exclusively for Tokyo. This means 

that its soft scent is tailored to suit 

Japanese tastes (or in this case, 

noses), and it’s only available 

from the store in Daikanyama. 

We popped by to take a whiff, and 

the salesperson led us outside into 

the fresh air for optimal smelling 

conditions (because that’s how 

gentle the scent is). It’s a beautiful 

woody and musky blend that 

develops into a powdery, 

romantic fragrance. 

Gaiac 10 Eau de Parfum ¥51,840, 

www.lelabofragrances.jp 

KYARA AND KAZEHIKARU 

BY DI SER 

We’ve chosen two different perfumes 

by this Japanese brand that’s based 

in Hokkaido and also sells herbs and 

medicines, organic cosmetics, and organic 

health foods. Their fragrances are made 

without any synthetic materials, and they 

favor high quality over mass production. 

Kyara is named after the fragrant wood 

that’s used in kodo (incense burning), and 

contains agarwood, cedarwood, rose otto, 

patchouli, and sandalwood. Kazehikaru 

represents “the wind that dances about 

the land,” and includes yuzu, neroli, shiso, 

Japanese rose, and vetiver. 

Kyara Parfum ¥120,000, Kazehikaru Eau de 

Parfum ¥10,000, www.diser-parfum.com 

HANA HIRAKU 

BY PARFUM SATORI 

Independent perfumer Satori Osawa mixes her 

pretty potions in a small Yoyogi studio, which 

has walls lined with tiny bottles of ingredients. 

When we visited, she showed us a collection of 

her perfumes, which are inspired by Japanese 

culture – her signature scent, Satori, even comes 

packaged in a porcelain bottle that’s shaped 

like a chatsubo (traditional tea jar). Her latest 

creation, Hana Hiraku, launched in October 

and is inspired by Japan’s blooming magnolia 

flowers. It’s a dry Oriental with top notes of 

creamy melon and bergamot; middle notes of 

magnolia, jasmine, and rose; and a unique finish 

of miso, bees wax, and wood. 

Hana Hiraku Eau de Parfum ¥16,000 (before tax), 

www.parfum-satori.com 


「masai balloon」2016 acrylic on canvas 53×53cm 

Hokkaien 

Gaien West St. 

Aoyama Cemetary 

Nogisaka Station 

The National 

Art Center, Tokyo 

National Graduate 

Institute for Policy Studies 

Gaien East St. 

Kensuke Miyazaki / Super happy ! 

Saturday 14th January - Sunday 29th January, 2017 

Opening Hours: 12:00 - 19:00 | Closed: Mondays 

Opening Reception: Friday January 13th from 18:00 onwards 

To Shibuya 

Gonpachi 

Roppongi Dori 

Roppongi Station 

Hiroo Station 

Nishi-Azabu Intersection 

Roppongi Hills 

Mori Art Museum 

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www.pethoteltokyo.com (Japanese) | http://adc.pipi.cc (English) 


ON THE EDGE OF A CLIFF? 

It's not always easy facing a brand-new year. But we've got plenty in store to keep you 

inspired: a good laugh with Jimmy Carr, 13 unique fitness trends and tips, and seven 

extraordinary Japan destinations – literal cliffs included. 


Interview by Matthew Hernon 

As Jimmy Carr prepares for his first show 

in Tokyo next month, we called him up 

and chatted about his brutal humor, losing 

religion, and why laughing at an old lady 

falling over doesn’t make you a bad person 

Japan will be welcoming one of the 

biggest names in British comedy 

this February with Jimmy Carr set 

to perform his stand-up routine 

for one night only at Yamano Hall in Yoyogi, 

Tokyo. Anyone who's seen the 8 Out of 10 Cats 

host perform live will know this is not a show 

for those easily offended. Expect a barrage of 

witty one-liners covering every taboo topic 

imaginable, all delivered with a deadpan 

expression. 

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO INCLUDE 

JAPAN ON YOUR TOUR? 

It's not a place on British or American 

comedians’ radar, but I think it should be. 

I’ve played all over the world and a close 

friend kept telling me I had to go. It’ll be 

my first time to visit and I imagine it’ll be 

as close as I’m going to get to actually being 

in Blade Runner. 

WILL YOU HAVE MUCH FREE TIME TO 

EXPLORE THE CITY? 

I’ve got five days with a long list of stuff to do. 

Everything from the cat petting cafés to the 

horror theme parks. I’m fairly obsessed by 

Japanese food and a huge sake drinker so I’m 

planning to go on a bit of a culinary tour as 

well as have a few nights out. Oh, and the Harajuku 

girls that I’ve seen in documentaries; 

I want to spend a day exploring that whole 

scene. I'm looking forward to all of those 

things as much as the show. 

SPEAKING OF THE SHOW, WHAT KIND 

OF CROWD ARE YOU EXPECTING? 

I guess it’ll mostly be British expats, but 

wherever you go there’s also the Anglophile 

thing with people who love comedy from the 

UK, so I hope there are Japanese people there 

who speak amazing English. The highest 

calling for linguistic ability is being able 

to understand a joke in a foreign language. 


Alberto E. Rodriguez/ Getty Images 

FOR THOSE WHO’VE NEVER SEEN 

YOU LIVE, HOW WOULD YOU 

DESCRIBE YOUR STAND-UP? 

It can be pretty brutal. My sense of humor 

is quite dark. There are certain jokes you’ll 

tell friends that you think maybe can’t be 

said in public, but I never want to have that 

barrier with the audience. I try to view 

them as friends, knowing that if I say something 

crude they’ll get that it’s just a joke. 

IS IT HARD TO KNOW WHERE TO 

DRAW THE LINE? 

The lovely thing is that I feel I don’t have 

to draw the line because the audience does 

that for me. Anyone can get a reaction by 

saying something controversial; the trick is 

to make people laugh before they gasp. It’s 

a kind of cognitive dissonance that I love. 

You don’t get to choose when you laugh; it’s 

a reflex that chooses you. When you see an 

old lady falling over in the street you laugh 

straight away, but that doesn’t make you a 

bad person. You call for help a second later. 

I did a program for the BBC about 

laughter and it really is a fascinating form 

of communication that predates language 

by more than a million years. It’s a social 

noise that people don’t really make when 

they’re on their own, even if they’ve seen 

something funny on YouTube. Apes used 

to try and make each other laugh by tickling, 

but for humans there’s a limit to the 

number of people you can do that to, so 

we try to elicit the same response through 

humor. You could say jokes are a remote 

form of tickling. That’s effectively what 

I’m doing when I’m on stage. It’s fun. 

DO YOU PREFER DOING STAND-UP 

TO TELEVISION WORK? 

I wouldn't say that. TV shows are a joy. For 

a program like QI, I turn up as a guest and 

have a laugh with friends. It’s a dream job. 

There’s more responsibility when presenting, 

but you’ve got 20 people behind the 

scenes working to make you look good. At 

the same time, I get to mess around with 

my favorite comedians. It feels like I’m 

standing on the shoulders of giants. With 

stand-up, whilst there’s more freedom, 

you feel extra pressure because you have 

to make it great by yourself. 

SO, YOU STILL GET NERVOUS? 

Yes. In Japan, I’ll be on my toes and nervy 

for the first couple of jokes. Then at some 

point you stand back on your heels and 

think, “I’ve got this.” 

WAS IT ALWAYS 

YOUR DREAM TO 

BE A COMEDIAN? 

Not at all. I was a 

marketing executive 

at an oil company 

until 26 and just got 

bored so I decided to 

do something more 

interesting. At that 

point in my life I’d 

stopped believing in 

God and subsequently 

felt freer. If you 

think there’s a life 

beyond this one, you 

tend to compromise 

more and not take 

risks. After reading 

The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, and 

God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens, 

I realized all we have is right here, so it 

was time to start living. 

YOU ALSO LOST YOUR VIRGINITY 

THEN. DO YOU GET TIRED OF 

PEOPLE ASKING YOU ABOUT THAT? 

No I don’t because I think it’s nice for 

someone in the public eye to say, “You 

know what, I didn’t have anything worked 

out when I was 25, but things still turned 

out all right.” When you’re a teenager you 

see life as a kind of race, and social media 

exacerbates the burden on youngsters 

to conform, and to outdo each other. On 

Instagram, there are constantly pictures of 

people having the best days of their lives 

or skinny girls posing with pancakes. The 

reality is skinny girls are hungry and many 

of us are just sat bored at home eating cornflakes. 

Life isn’t as wonderful as it appears 

on these sites, and during our youth we all 

have to go through embarrassing experiences; 

but when we get older we can look 

back and laugh. 

DO YOU DRAW ON THOSE 

EXPERIENCES FOR YOUR SHOWS? 

I get material from small things like conversations 

or watching the news. I guess 

I see the world through rose-tinted glasses 

that are always looking for jokes. It’s like 

a puzzle. You have a phrase or an idea that 

might be funny, then you work back to try 

and figure out why it’s a gag. 

BEST COMEDIANS EVER? 

Peter Cook or Spike Milligan. They are the 

Lennon and McCartney of comedy. Nobody 

in the industry has done anything 

they haven’t. Neither of them were 

stand-ups; they were just funny guys 

doing their thing. 

WHO’S THE MOST FAMOUS 

PERSON IN YOUR PHONEBOOK? 

That’d probably be … Stephen Hawking. 

He’s a huge fan of going out drinking and 

eating spicy food. Also, for a cosmologist 

he’s a bloody good laugh. 

YOU CAN INVITE THREE GUESTS, 

LIVING OR DEAD, FOR DINNER – 

WHO DO YOU CHOOSE? 

I’m going to go for three living because 

the smell from the corpses would be 

off-putting. Heston Blumenthal, Gordon 

Ramsay and Jamie Oliver. I mean, we’re 

having dinner, you just want the food to be 

good, right? If you’re talking about company, 

it’d have to be comedians, but I’d feel 

bad leaving people out. Who am I loving at 

the moment? Maybe three female comics: 

Michelle Wolf, Tina Fey and Sarah Millican. 

That’d be an entertaining evening. 

ANY JAPANESE PERSON YOU’D 

LOVE TO MEET? 

I’m a big fan of Beat Takeshi. He was a 

big comic back in the day, and then made 

these incredible films like Sonatine and 

Hanabi, which I thought were phenomenal. 

You need a lot of talent to be able to 

produce that kind of work while also acting 

brilliantly as a clown. Another person 

I’d love to meet is Sonny Chiba. Watching 

his martial arts movies, you get the feeling 

he’s just basically very cool. 

HOW ABOUT A GAG FOR THE ROAD? 

Hmm, it’s difficult because jokes are 

never as good on paper. Maybe one about 

dwarves as they usually get overlooked. I'll 

tell you what I know about dwarves: very 

little. I can say that as they look up to me. 

Thanks very much. 

Catch Jimmy Carr on February 27 at Yamano 

Hall. More info at tokyoweekender.com 


Finding the Silver 

Lining in a Post- 

Truth World 

And other thoughts on getting over 2016 – and making it 

through 2017 – by Brian Christian 

Well, that’s a relief! We’ve made 

it to January and that tinseltangled, 

sparkle-and-spangles 

Christmas thing is over for 

another year. It’s not so much the excess and 

over-indulgence that grates, nor the inescapable 

loop of syrupy festive pop (if I hear 

“Walking in a Winter Wonderland” one more 

time…). It’s not even the kawaii cuteness of it 

that I find irritating: all those woolly Rudolph 

hats with cartoon red noses and floppy antlers, 

or the strangely menacing green elves lined 

up to welcome you at department store doors. 

These I can cope with. It’s the peace and goodwill 

I can’t stand. 

Does anyone really buy into that stuff 

anymore? If the experience of 2016 has 

taught us anything at all, surely it has to be 

that the naïve notion of “goodwill to all men” 

is an old idea that has had its day. As every 

Twitter troll instinctively grasps, we now live 

in a not-so-brave new world where blinkered 

intolerance has found its voice and it’s the 

loudest in the room. And it’s not going to shut 

up any time soon. 

It came as no surprise when it was 

announced that the 2016 word of the year in 

both the USA and Great Britain, according to 

I THINK OF A 

PESSIMIST AS 

SOMEONE WHO IS 

WAITING FOR IT TO 

RAIN. AND I FEEL 

SOAKED TO THE SKIN 

– LEONARD COHEN 

the Oxford Dictionary, was “post-truth”. There 

were times when it felt like expertise and 

knowledge just didn’t count: Global warming 

is a China-inspired fiction, Brexit means Brexit, 

and Santa Claus is coming to town. Why stick to 

the truth when there are better stories to tell? 

When the twin refrains of a successful US 

presidential campaign are “lock her up” and 

“build that wall”, when a desperate clamour 

for shelter is drowned out by the hostile 

thunder of slamming of doors across Europe, 

when gunmen and bomb-makers target the 

ordinary and the innocent in the name of 

some one-eyed warped crusade then it’s hard 

to share in any rose-tinted concept of love and 

brotherhood, comfort and joy. In the words of 

the late and much lamented Leonard Cohen: 

“I don't consider myself a pessimist. I think 

of a pessimist as someone who is waiting for 

it to rain. And I feel soaked to the skin.” 

Or at least that’s the way I might feel if 

I didn’t spend most of my days working with 

children, the young men and women who will 

in time be the generation that will have to pick 

up the pieces of our fractured and far-fromperfect 

world and set about the task of bringing 

it together again. They may just be starting 

out on their adventures but I know they do 

so with an understanding that diversity is 

something to be celebrated; that the opinions 

of others, though they may be different from 

their own, are far from worthless; that listening 

quietly can often achieve as much and 

more than shouting out loud. 

Late in the old year, a new study from the 

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health 

found that having an optimistic outlook on 

life – a general expectation that good things 

will happen – may help people live longer. The 

study went as far as to suggest that healthy 

behaviours only partially explain the link 

between optimism and reduced mortality risk: 

it is apparently a distinct possibility that optimism 

might even have a direct positive impact 

on our biological systems. No more Mr Scrooge 

for me. From now on my glass is going to be 

half full and every cloud will have a silver tinsel 

lining. My New Year’s resolution for 2017 

is to put my faith in the potential of the next 

generation. Theirs is the authentic voice of 

the future. 

Who knows? By next December I might 

even feel able to hum along to “Winter Wonderland” 

again. “Sleigh bells ring, are you 

listening…” 

Brian Christian is the Principal of the British 

School in Tokyo. 


Words by Matthew Hernon 

NEED A FEW EXTRA SILVER LININGS TO TRULY EMBRACE THE NEW 

YEAR SPIRIT? BESIDES HAVING A LAUGH WITH JIMMY CARR, HERE'S 

OUR PICK OF UPCOMING EVENTS AND SHOWS TO MARK IN YOUR DIARY 

FILM 

Japan's best hope of an Academy Award 

this year unsurprisingly comes in the Best 

Animated Feature Film section, with Makoto 

Shinkai's Your Name (Kimi No Na Wa) 

expected to be nominated. In the Best Picture 

category, Martin Scorsese's religious epic 

Silence should be one of the favorites. Based 

on Shusaku Endo's novel of the same name, 

it comes out here on January 21. Other Japanrelated 

Hollywood films being released this 

year include Ghost in the Shell (above) and 

The Outsider. (See more on page 35.) 

MUSIC 

Guns N' Roses' (right) popular tour "Not in 

this Lifetime" is set to arrive in Japan this 

month. The reunited line-up will be performing 

in Osaka, Kobe and Yokohama, before 

finishing things off with two shows at Saitama 

Super Arena. It should be a great way to start 

the year, however, April could arguably be the 

best month for live music here with concerts 

from the likes of Coldplay, Norah Jones and 

The Stone Roses. 

SPORT 

The World Baseball Classic 

begins in March with all the 

games from Pool B – involving 

Japan, Cuba, China and 

Australia – taking place at 

Tokyo Dome. The player who 

will no doubt create the biggest 

buzz amongst home fans 

is all-rounder Shohei Otani. 

The 22-year-old is considered 

one of the most exciting 

baseball prospects this country 

has ever produced. In 

football, Samurai Blue are 

aiming to reach their sixth 

consecutive World Cup. 

They’re currently second in their qualifying 

group with just one point separating the top 

four teams. 

LITERATURE 

So far all we know about Haruki Murakami's 

next novel is that it is due out in February, it's 

going to be "a very strange story," and it'll be 

quite long. Regardless of whether it's 

well-received or not, the 67-yearold 

will undoubtedly be one of the 

favorites for the Nobel Literature 

prize come November. Is 2017 finally 

going to be his year? 

STAGE 

Two of Britain's best-known comedians 

will be doing their stand-up 

routines in Tokyo this February. 

Jimmy Carr is performing in Yoyogi 

on the 17th, while Eddie Izzard will 

be delivering his self-deferential 

pantomime style to guests at the 

Tamagawa Kumin Kaikan a week 

later. If a musical is more your 

thing, then a visit to one of Tokyo's five Shiki 

theaters (www.shiki.jp/en) is recommended. 

“The Hunchback of Notre-Dame”, “The Lion 

King” and “The Little Mermaid” are just some of 

the shows you can see in the first half of 2017. 

TRANSPORT 

A luxurious hotel within a train, Twilight Express 

Mizukaze will begin operating on June 

17 with prices ranging from ¥270,000 to ¥1.25 

million. The service offers five courses: One 

way trips lasting one night and two days (Sanyo 

Outbound/Inbound and Sanin Outbound/Inbound), 

and a circular tour around the Sanyo 

and Sanin areas lasting two nights and three 

days. twilightexpress-mizukaze.jp 

GAMES 

Following the disaster that was Wii U, Nintendo 

bosses are hoping their latest console will bring 

fans flocking back. March sees the launch of 

Nintendo Switch: A portable tablet with detachable 

controllers that you can dock with your TV. 

The one title that's got most people talking? "The 

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild." 


Words by Bunny Bissoux 

7 PLACES IN 

JAPAN YOU 

MUST VISIT 

IN 2017 

HOW TO AVOID THE POST-FESTIVE-SEASON 

ANTICLIMAX? START PLANNING YOUR 

NEXT HOLIDAY NOW WITH OUR ROUNDUP 

OF EXTRAORDINARY DESTINATIONS 

WISTERIA FLOWER TUNNEL AT KAWACHI 

FUJIEN, KITAKYUSHU 

Established in 1977, this private garden is only open to the public 

for a few weeks between late April and mid-May, and during maple 

leaf season in autumn. Located deep in the mountains of Kitakyushu, 

visitors can enjoy two beautiful wisteria tunnels and various other 

structures featuring more than 20 varieties of the flower including 

some blossoming trees which are over 100 years old. The admission 

price varies depending on the bloom of the flowers, but it's well 

worth the cost and the effort to reach the remote location in order 

to experience the spectacular violet canopies overhead. 

HOW TO GET THERE The most convenient way to visit is to rent a 

car from Fukuoka, with the drive from there taking just over an hour. 

However, considering traffic jams and parking problems, it might be 

a better idea to take public transport. Head to Yahata Station, then 

catch a bus to Kamishigeta, and walk for approximately 50 minutes to 

the garden. Make sure to thoroughly plan your route and check the 

opening times in advance, and if you want to avoid the crowds, then 

try to avoid a weekend trip. During peak season, tickets (¥500-¥1,500) 

must be bought in advance too. kawachi-fujien.com 


JIGOKUDANI 

“HELL VALLEY” 

IN NOBORIBETSU, 

HOKKAIDO 

The appropriately named Hell Valley is 

just a 20-minute walk from the Noboribetsu 

Onsen town, providing magnificent 

landscapes clouded in bursts of ominous 

steam. There are several walking 

trails around the hills and valley incorporating 

the various local sights and natural 

attractions. Nearby volcanic activity 

is the source of the area’s hot steam 

vents, spring waters, and Oyunuma, a 

sulfurous pond (with a temperature of 

around 50 degrees Celcius) that creates 

natural hot streams flowing through the 

forest – perfect for a mid-hike footbath to 

revive tired feet. The most popular time 

to visit is around mid-October when the 

autumn colors reach their peak, and just 

before the first snow fall arrives. Whilst 

the hot springs are open all year round, 

take into account that some of the higher 

trails might not be accessible during the 

winter months. 

HOW TO GET THERE If you’re arriving 

at New Chitose Airport you can take 

an Airport Limousine Bus directly to the 

Noboribetsu Onsen, or drive from Sapporo 

City in approximately 90 minutes. 

www.noboribetsu-spa.jp 

EDO TOWNS MAGOME AND 

TSUMAGO IN THE KISO VALLEY, 

NAGANO 

Magome and Tsumago are old post towns along 

Nakasendou, an ancient road connecting Tokyo and 

Kyoto during the Edo period. Both towns have preserved 

their historical charms, with electrical wires 

and modern conveniences mostly hidden from view, 

creating an almost authentic Edo atmosphere (don’t 

worry, the ryokan inns are up to speed with all mod 

cons). The high end of Magome offers panoramic 

views over the mountains, but while picturesque, it 

has a more touristy feel in comparison to Tsumago, 

which boasts a shrine, temple and castle amongst 

its assets. If trekking in the outdoors is your thing, 

then you can follow an eight-kilometer walking trail 

connecting the two towns, with a handy luggage 

forwarding service offered at each of the local 

tourist offices. Download an English hiking map 

at tinyurl.com/TWnakasendou-hike 

HOW TO GET THERE Despite the rural setting, 

there are multiple ways to access the area. Highway 

buses to Magome run from Nagoya (90 minutes) 

and Tokyo (around 4.5 hours), or you can take the 

shinkansen followed by local trains to Nagiso via Nakatsugawa. 

Local bus services and taxis also operate 

between the towns and nearby stations. 


HACHIJOJIMA, IZU ISLANDS 

Palm trees, a warm climate all year round, and a jungle habitat – and all 

just an hour’s flight from Tokyo. If you’re looking for an alternative to an 

Okinawan getaway, then Hachijojima, the southernmost of the Izu islands, 

can offer you a slice of paradise surprisingly close to Tokyo. This unique 

subtropical island has cinematic ocean views, lush green mountains, 

and volcanic terrain with incredible scenery surrounding you in every 

direction. You can enjoy a wide variety of activities from diving and 

snorkeling with tropical fish amongst the coral to relaxing in one of the 

many natural onsen baths. Cultural attractions include the Native History 

and Traditional Crafts Museum, and the Osato district, which preserves 

some of the island’s darker history as an exile for criminals. If you’re 

still wanting more, how about a botanical park exhibiting rare glowing 

bioluminescent mushrooms? 

HOW TO GET THERE The island has its own airport with three flights a 

day from Haneda Airport, but if you have time to spare and fancy relaxing 

on the water then you can take the 10.5-hour overnight Tokai Kisen ferry 

from Tokyo’s Takeshiba Terminal. www.tokaikisen.co.jp/english/ 

PALM TREES, 

A WARM CLIMATE 

ALL YEAR ROUND, 

AND A JUNGLE 

HABITAT 

SEIGANTOJI PAGODA AND 

NACHI FALLS, WAKAYAMA 

A UNESCO World Heritage location incorporating 

Japan’s tallest waterfall (133m) and a 

series of religious sites including Kumano Nachi 

Taisha Shrine and the majestic three-story 

Seigantoji Pagoda. The close proximity of the 

structures is a rare example of the harmonious 

amalgamation of Buddhism and Shinto 

(known as shinbutsu shugo), which was 

commonplace before the two religions were 

forcefully separated in 1868. The site’s earliest 

incarnation was most likely as a place for nature 

worship, and for most of their history the 

buildings have functioned as one combined 

religious institution. The temple is the first 

stop of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, which 

covers 33 Buddhist temples, and is undoubtedly 

a rewarding location for any visitor who 

cares to make the trip. 

HOW TO GET THERE The main shrine 

is a 30-minute bus ride from Kii-Katsuura 

Station, which is a 90-minute train journey 

from Shirahama Airport (direct flights from 

Haneda Airport), or about three to four hours 

if you’re traveling from Nagoya, Osaka or 

Kyoto. For a slightly more arduous pilgrimage, 

you could opt for a 10-hour bus ride from 

Shinjuku, straight to the Katsuura Onsen area. 

kumanonachitaisha.or.jp 


TOJINBO CLIFFS, FUKUI 

The rugged cliffs at Tojinbo are one 

of only three similar kinds of rock 

formations existing in the world. 

The columnar rocks were originally 

formed around 13 million years ago 

from volcanic activity, further shaped 

by coastal erosion, making this a 

unique and dynamic part of the Fukui 

coastline stretching over one kilometer. 

Various local legends tell some 

macabre tales about ghosts haunting 

the area, but thankfully these days a 

retired police officer and volunteers 

are working together to prevent 

possible suicides and keep it a happier 

tourist destination. The awe-inspiring 

spot provides impressive views from 

the top of the cliffs, or if you want to 

get a closer look you can take a short 

pleasure boat trip around the rocks. 

HOW TO GET THERE Traveling by 

train takes around four hours from 

Tokyo to Fukui Station, followed by 

another 45-minute journey to Mikuni 

Minato Station. From there, take a local 

bus arriving near the cliffs in about 

10 minutes, or walk there in just over 

half an hour. Alternatively, you could 

make a 6.5-hour road trip from Tokyo. 

www.toujinbou-yuransen.jp 

TOTTORI SAND DUNES, TOTTORI 

Spanning over 30 km², these spectacular sand dunes are 

the only example of this type of landscape in the country. 

Ash and sediment from the mountains were brought 

into the sea from the Sendai River where sea currents 

and winds bring it up the shore, forming the constantly 

reshaping and rippling dunes. Hills of sand can reach 

heights of up to 50m offering remarkable views of the 

surrounding sea and land. Ten years ago a Sand Museum 

(www.sand-museum.jp/en) was opened, heralding itself 

as Japan’s only open-air museum exhibiting “sand sculptures,” 

which due to their medium are always temporary. 

While the dunes have existed for over 100,000 years, 

recently their scale has noticeably decreased due to a 

various causes thought to include natural disasters as 

well as the high frequency of visitors to the area, so tread 

with caution. 

HOW TO GET THERE Fly from Haneda Airport to Tottori 

Airport (75 minutes), then take a bus from the airport 

to Tottori Station (20 minutes). From the station, take a 

local bus bound for Tottori Sakyu and get off at the last 

stop (20 minutes). To get around the sand dunes you can 

enjoy camel riding or a tour in a horse-drawn carriage, 

and you can even try paragliding and sandboarding. 

www.tottori-tour.jp/en 


Change Your 

Workout 

Need to burn some calories, but bored of your standard training sessions? Over the 

next five pages, we round up five Japanese martial arts to try, along with some new 

fitness trends, gadgets, and workshops to keep you fit and inspired 

Compiled by Dorothee Erle & Annemarie Luck 

MARTIAL ARTS 

Last year’s fitness trend was all about less 

is more, with many choosing to do weight 

training from home, or to count the number 

of steps taken each day in lieu of taking time 

out for a jog around the block. But there’s something 

to be said for turning your workout into 

a sociable occasion and joining a group class, 

especially if you’re new to the city, or simply feel 

like meeting new people. And since we’re in Japan, 

it makes sense to try something traditional. To that 

end, we’re recommending five martial arts to try, 

including a couple of classics as well as some more 

modern ones. Then, over the next few pages, we’ve 

collected a few fitness treats for those who love a 

good trend – or a good gadget. 

JIU JITSU 

If you prefer more action to meditation, Japanese jiu jitsu might be a 

good option for you. Developed by samurai warriors as a weaponless 

fighting technique to be used in times when they had no sword on 

hand, it’s considered to be one of the oldest Japanese martial arts. The 

jiu jitsu-ka learns to react quickly to an opponent’s attack, using their 

energy against them, and incapacitating them with techniques such 

as pins, joint locks and throws. In this sense, it’s a little like wrestling 

as it requires full body effort and contact, which also makes it ideal 

for strength and cardio training. The sport also focuses on breathing 

techniques, increases flexibility, and endurance. 

WHERE TO TRY IT Axis Jiu Jitsu Academy, www.axisjj.com 


AIKIDO 

Derived at least partly from jiu jitsu, aikido is among the youngest of the traditional 

Japanese sports. As the “ai” in “aikido” indicates, it focuses on peaceful 

resolution of a conflict. Another big aspect is self-development. While aikido 

is always practiced with a partner, there are generally no competitions, and 

the movements are almost like a choreography. Aikido is great for a full body 

workout – although beware there is a bit of throwing and falling involved, 

so you might end up with a few bruises. It is much more predictable than 

jiu jiutsu, though, so it allows the practitioner to reach a state of relaxation. 

In aikido, the opponent’s power is used against him or her, which makes 

it a good option for all ages and levels as superior strength is not required. 

WHERE TO TRY IT Aikikai Foundation, www.aikikai.or.jp/eng/index.html 

KENDO 

Although this modern Japanese martial art, 

which got its start in the 1800s but was only officially 

named kendo in 1920, is mostly associated 

with samurai-style sword fighting, kendoka 

(kendo practitioners) use wooden swords 

called bokken rather than sharp blades. As 

etiquette plays an important role, every fight 

begins and ends with an exchange of formal 

bows. A kendo bout is only five minutes 

long, and ends when one kendoka twice 

strikes the other on a designated strike 

zone (head, trunk, forearm, and the part 

of the throat just beneath the chin). 

A short yell, called kiai, is uttered each 

time a strike is made. Besides improved 

strength, endurance and overall 

fitness, kendo sharpens the mind 

and reactive abilities. 

WHERE TO TRY IT 

Tokyo Kyumeikan Kendo Dojo, 

kyumeikan.info 

KYUDO 

With origins dating back to the Yayoi period (300 BCE 

to 300 CE), Japanese archery was developed into the art 

form kyudo during the Edo period. For many, a sign of 

a good kyudoka is an aura of serenity, hence mental 

training comes first, followed later by attempting 

to hit the target, which stands 28m away from you, 

and is only 36cm in diameter. If you hit the target, 

everyone shouts “sha,” which means “arrow” or 

“shot.” Interestingly, in Japanese archery, the 

kyudoka always shoots two arrows in succession. 

They rotate in opposite directions and can be 

seen as a “female” and a “male” arrow. With its 

focus on mindset, kyudo can be viewed as a 

kind of moving meditation, and so is especially 

recommended for those seeking a spiritual 

way of training body and mind. 

WHERE TO TRY IT Koto-ku Kyudo 

Renmei, kokyuren.com/english.html, 

or Shinjuku-ku Archery Association, 

shinjuku-archery.com/index.html 

IAIDO 

This martial art got its start in the 1500s, 

and is performed with a Japanese long 

sword called katana. However, the focus 

is not on combat but rather on being 

present, aware, and being able to swiftly 

draw one’s sword in order to respond to 

a surprise attack. The iaidoka learns how 

to react to an endless set of situations, 

ending their motion with the re-sheathing 

of the sword. In a way, iaido is more 

about choreography and defense than 

attack, with the focus being on the development 

of a focused and clear mind, 

calm nerves, and balance of the body. 

WHERE TO TRY IT Isokai, 

www.mugairyu.jp/english/index.html 


TRENDS 

SURFSET FITNESS 

If you love surfing, this “so hot right 

now” workout might pale in comparison 

to the real thing. But for Tokyoites, 

who don’t have the luxury of living 

ten minutes from the beach, Surfset 

Fitness is the closest you’re going 

to get to feeling the freedom – and 

getting the kind of toned body – that 

comes with the water sport. Founded 

by Californian Mike Hartwick, this 

unique form of exercise has made, 

erm, waves around the world, and 

arrived in Tokyo just a few months 

ago in the form of a neat little studio 

in Ginza, complete with boards for 

decoration, a sun-filled workout space 

packed with elevated surfboards, and 

a temperature of 33 degrees Celsius. 

Climb onto the RipSurfer X – which is 

strapped to a metal frame and balances 

on Bosu balls to simulate the feeling 

of being on water – and prepare to 

squat, “paddle”, wobble, and jump 

into the surfing position. We tried the 

45-minute beginner class, which is 

enough to make your muscles feel stiff 

the next morning, but there are more 

advanced classes for those who really 

want to challenge their core stability. 


Book a trial class at Surf Fit Japan 

(sorry guys, but the classes are for 

women only), surffit.jp 

TRX SUSPENSION 

TRAINING 

This bodyweight system has already 

been around for a while, but it’s hit 

the spotlight lately thanks to the 

industry’s recent focus on “functional 

training.” TRX was developed by an 

American Navy Seal, Randy Hetrick, 

who created stretchy straps inspired 

by those used on parachutes. The key 

difference between TRX and your 

average gym machine is that you’re 

effectively using your own body as 

a machine. Your movements are not 

limited to one plane, and you can 

adjust the straps to make the moves 

more challenging. Best of all, if you 

buy your own set of straps, you can 

take them with you wherever you go. 


Maga Gym, www.magagym.com, 

and Club 360, www.club360.jp/fit-360 

AERIAL AND ACRO YOGA 

Take your yoga skills to the next level 

with two unique forms of the practice: 

aerial and acro. While the latter combines 

acrobatic elements with yoga and 

often requires a partner, aerial yoga 

is performed with a soft hammock 

and sees you holding asana poses in 

the air – hence it’s often referred to as 

anti-gravity yoga. We think acro yoga is 

ideal for couples’ bonding, but if you’ve 

ever dreamt of being a circus acrobat, 

it’s aerial yoga all the way. 


Acro Yoga Japan, acroyogajapan.tokyo, 

and Anti Gravity Fitness, 

antigravityfitness.jp 


ULTIMATE 

PILATES 

Although we don’t look quite as impressive 

as famed pilates instructor 

Kathi Ross-Nash on a Reformer 

(below), we went along to Maki 

Okazaki’s Pilates Aoyama studio to take 

a bash at mastering the mechanics of pilates 

apparatus. While we’ve tried a mat 

class in the past, taking a private lesson 

with Okazaki gave us exclusive access 

to the impressive equipment, orginally 

developed by Joseph H. Pilates himself. 

Our favorite machine? Definitely the 

Cadillac, a six-foot tall structure that has 

all sorts of bells and whistles. It can be 

used for anything from rehab work to 

acrobatic tricks. With gentle but precise 

guidance, Okazaki (right) took us through 

a series of controlled stretches, making 

sure we pinched our core muscles and 

properly rolled the spine with breathing 

techniques. Although we didn’t manage 

to try the “inverted hanging pike” (one 

day!), the session was enough to make 

us feel lengthened and strengthened. 

Besides the Cadillac, Okazaki’s studio 

boasts other equipment too, including 

the Reformer and the Ladder Barrel. 

Okazaki, who speaks English and is 

passionate about the work she does, will 

be sure to ask you about any injuries you 

may have, before tailoring the exercises 

to suit your needs and skill level. The 

machines provide a total body workout 

to help you stay flexible, improve your 

balance, and maintain a powerful core. 

They are also excellent for rehabilitation. 

Okazaki – who is a second-generation 

pilates master, and studied in New 

York with students of Joseph H. Pilates 

including Romana Kryzanowska, Kathy 

Grant, and Lolita San Miguel – founded 

Pilates Aoyama in 2005 and works with 

dancers, athletes, and businessmen. 

"Most of my clients are non-Japanese, 

and half of them are men," she tells us. 

"Pilates helps them with recovery after 

injuries, enhances sports performance, 

and strengthens the entire body, while 

also helping to correct alignment." The 

ultimate goal, however, is balancing 

body, mind, and spirit, and Okazaki's 

method goes beyond just putting your 

body in motion: "We offer a holistic 

experience, because it's not just your 

fitness; it's about your life." 

JOIN A WORKSHOP WITH 

LOLITA SAN MIGUEL 

In February, Okazaki will host a threeday 

workshop featuring Lolita San 

Miguel – who studied under Joseph H. 

Pilates. It will include lectures as well as 

mat and equipment exercises, and will 

run for six hours per day from February 

3-5 (one-day participation is possible). 

40 spots, ¥32,000 per day, apply by emailing 

info@pilatesaoyama.com. More info 

at pilatesaoyama.com 

A 60-minute private session at Pilates 

Aoyama costs ¥10,000 (no membership fee 

required). Book a slot between 6.30am and 

8pm by emailing info@pilatesaoyama.com 

or calling 03 5411 1147. The studio is five 

minutes from Omotesando Station; more 

information at pilatesaoyama.com 

Kathi Ross-Nash 


TRENDS 

TECH 

HYPERICE VYPER 

As warm-up and recovery are just as important as training, the 

Vyper by HyperIce focuses on just that. The vibrating foam roller 

relaxes muscles through a deep tissue massage. The device gets 

the circulation going pre-workout, but its main purpose is the 

release of knots, muscle pain and aches. hyperice.com/vyper.html 

CLUB 360 IS GENUINELY THE FIRST 

GYM THAT HAS LISTENED TO MY NEEDS 

AND TAKEN A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO 

MY BODY AND LIFESTYLE. I CAME IN 

WITH CHRONIC BACK AND HIP PAIN 

FROM YEARS OF SITTING IN OFFICES, 

BUT I AM NOW PAIN FREE 

– PAUL 

THE 360-DEGREE 

APPROACH 

When you log onto Club 360’s website, one of the 

first things you’ll notice is their focus not just on 

fitness classes but also on physiotherapy, sports 

massage, and healthy living. Their expert team is 

made up of personal trainers and therapists who are all 

dedicated to the 360 approach: ensuring you develop both a 

healthy body and mind. Whether you choose to join a group 

boxing class, an outdoor bootcamp session (begins at the 

picturesque Arisugawa Park in Hiroo), or you’d prefer more 

individualized, one-on-one training, you are guaranteed to 

leave feeling like a better version of yourself. We also love 

the fact that there are qualified physiotherapists on hand, 

so should you be recovering from an injury, your workout, 

treatment and rehabilitation can all happen in one spot. 

They even offer a 360 Wellness for Life Program, which 

helps cancer patients manage chemotherapy side effects 

through prescribed exercise and oncology massage. 

Cma3 Building B1, 3-1-35 Motoazabu, Minato-ku. 

www.club360.jp 

ZEPP 2 3D SWING ANALYZER 

For those who want to improve their 

golfing skills, the Zepp 2 3D Swing 

Analyzer is the way to go. The device is 

worn on a golf glove and analyzes your 

swings, giving an instant evaluation. 

It also helps you improve your future 

swings with the help of its Smart Coach 

training system. www.zepp.com 

MOOV NOW 

This gadget is more than just 

your ordinary fitness tracker. 

The water and dust proof 

device, which can be worn 

around your wrist or ankle, 

can be connected to your 

smartphone, where it not 

only measures your fitness 

level and counts your 

reps, it also acts as a real 

time personal coach. 

welcome.moov.cc 


You’re Going to Love Our New App 

The ultimate guide to Tokyo’s daily events, news, restaurants, personalities 

and opinions – by the people who know it best. 

Download the Tokyo Weekender app for free from iTunes or Google Play. 

More information at www.tokyoweekender.com

BE INSPIRED 

If you haven't yet met Sony's robot dog, Aibo, head to the Sony Building for 

an exhibition that looks back at the electronic giant's history. Plus, a David 

Bowie retrospective, and a Naked 3D projection mapping extravaganza. 

TOKYO WEEKENDER | | | DECEMBER JANUARY 2017 2016 | | 33

Courtesy the David Bowie Archive © Victoria & Albert Museum, London 

ART & FILM 

DAVID BOWIE IS 

Finally making its way to Tokyo after a very successful world tour, this retrospective on the career of David Bowie is a treasure trove of 

memorabilia for fans of the iconic artist. More than 300 objects, from handwritten lyrics, costumes, photographs, set designs, artwork 

and rare performance material make up the exhibit. Fifty years of work is collected here, eulogizing Bowie’s creative breadth and influence, 

one style at a time. Warehouse Terrada Until April 9 davidbowieis.jp 

THE ART WORLD 

OUR PICK OF THE CITY’S BEST EXHIBITIONS 

Compiled by Luca Eandi 

IT’S A SONY 

The Sony Building has been 

a familiar sight in Ginza for 

50 years, and before it is torn 

down to make way for Sony 

Park in 2018, the electronics 

giant is looking back at its 

own prolific history with “It’s 

a Sony.” The exhibit features 

hundreds of products, gadgets 

and marketing materials from 

Sony’s 70 years in operation, 

including the first color TV, the 

iconic Walkman, the robot dog 

Aibo, and many others. 

Sony Building Until March 31 

www.sonybuilding.jp/e/ginzasonypark/event 


“Amusement park made from robot arms” from “Robot City” © Tatsuya Tanaka 

FILM 

Three top Japan-related Hollywood 

movies set for release in 2017 

ROBOTIC ART IN GINZA 

Mitsubishi Electric shows off its latest creation at the Metoa exhibition space, and it’s 

sure to make you wonder what our future robot overlords will be like. Witness a robot 

dance performance, a robot mimicking a giraffe, and a live digital light painting crafted 

in real time, all courtesy of Mitsubishi’s manufacturing robot arms. If that’s not enough, 

enjoy the works of miniature master Tatsuya Tanaka, whose intricate dioramas are also 

on display. Metoa Ginza Until January 15, www.metoa.jp/event/roboticart-in-ginza 

SILENCE 

A film Martin Scorsese’s been trying to make for almost 

three decades. The renowned director was on 

the shinkansen heading towards Kyoto back in 1989 

when he first read Shusaku Endo’s novel Silence. 

The story follows two Jesuit priests sent to Nagasaki 

during the Edo period to investigate claims that 

their mentor has committed apostasy. Stars Andrew 

Garfield, Adam Driver and Liam Neeson. 

GHOST IN THE SHELL 

A tale about a cyborg counter-cyberterrorist unit 

based on Masamune Shirow’s manga of the same 

name. An international task force unit known as 

Public Security Section 9 must thwart a new enemy 

trying to sabotage Hanka Robotics’ artificial intelligence 

technology. Stars Scarlett Johansson, Michael 

Pitt and Beat Takeshi. 

TOKYO ART CITY BY NAKED 

Specializing in 3D projection mapping art, Naked is best known for light-up 

displays at Tokyo Station and Omotesando Hills. For this new show, the art 

group headed by Ryotaro Muramatsu will reprise its city-themed collage 

style and philosophy that “the city is art” with snapshots of projected Tokyo 

landmark buildings. Additionally, the artists’ “Tokyo Hikari Vision” work will 

be reproduced at a smaller scale on a model of Tokyo Station. 

Shibuya Hikarie Until January 21 tokyoartcity.tokyo 

THE OUTSIDER 

An action thriller set in post WWII Japan that 

tells the story of a former American GI who gets 

sucked into the criminal underworld after a cellmate 

from the yakuza helps with his release from 

prison. Stars Tadanobu Asano, Shiori Kutsuna 

and Jared Leto 


1 

3 

2 

4 

6 

7 

8 

5 

AGENDA: THE WEEKENDER ROUNDUP OF WHAT’S HAPPENING IN JANUARY 

1 

JAN 31 

2 

JAN 4-31 

3 

JAN 1-21 

4 

JAN 1-26 

PJ HARVEY 

Two-time Mercury Prize 

winner Polly Jean Harvey 

returns to Tokyo for her first, 

long-awaited performance in the 

metropolis since 1995. 

Where: Orchard Hall 

How much: ¥12,500 

More info: www.creativeman.co.jp 

and tokyoweekender.com 

THE PEOPLE BY 

KISHIN 

Renowned photographer 

Kishin Shinoyama exhibits stunning 

portraits of celebrities and common 

folk from his illustrious five-decade 

career. 

Where: Yokohama Museum of Art 

How much: ¥1,500 

More info: kishin-yokohama.com 

JB BLUNK 

EXHIBITION 

A rare chance to see 

more than 30 ceramics produced 

with natural materials by legendary 

Northern California artist, J.B. Blunk 

– his first show in Japan since 1954. 

Where: Blum & Poe 

How much: Free 

More info: www.blumandpoe.com 

KENJI MIZOGUCHI & 

YASUZO MASUMURA 

FILM FESTIVAL 

Classic films with women as 

protagonists are the focus of this 

festival featuring the work of two 

masterful Japanese directors. 

Where: Kadokawa Cinema Shinjuku 


More info: cinemakadokawa.jp 

JAN 7-15 

FURUSATO 

MATSURI TOKYO 

Taste specialties 

from Japan’s many prefectures 

all in one spot, with special 

consideration given to donburi, 

ramen, sake, and beer. 

Where: Tokyo Dome 


More info: www.tokyo-dome.co.jp 

6 JAN 1-15 

THE RETURN OF 

HOKUSAI 

This museum’s opening 

collection celebrates the life and 

works of legendary Japanese 

woodblock printing artist 

Katsushika Hokusai. 

Where: Sumida Hokusai Museum 


More info: hokusai-museum.jp 

5 7 

JAN 1-31 

JOMONESQUE 

JAPAN 2016 

5,000-year-old Jomon-era 

pottery is on display in this exhibition 

featuring flame-style pots, clay 

figures and stone rods. 

Where: Kokugakuin University 

Museum 


More info: museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp 

8 

JAN 7-8 

HERMETO 

PASCOAL 

80-year-old Brazilian 

jazz music legend Hermeto Pascoal 

brings his wildly creative and 

transgressive compositions to Tokyo. 

Two sets per night. 

Where: WWW X, Shibuya 


More info: frue.jp 

36 | AUGUST JANUARY 2016 2017 | | TOKYO WEEKENDER

11 

9 

10 

12 

9 

JAN 15-16 10 JAN 12-15 

SETAGAYA 

BOROICHI 

An intangible folk cultural 

asset, this flea market’s been going 

strong for over 400 years and 

features around 700 stalls hawking 

everything imaginable. 

Where: Boroichi-dori 


More info: tokyoweekender.com 

WIDE EYED THEATRE 

COMPANY: A FAERIE 

TALE 

Enjoy a tale of magic, deceit and 

betrayal with this interactive, 

promenade-style play performed 

in English. 

Where: Nakano F 


More info: www.wideeyedtc.com 

JAN 1-14 

AMANA PLATINUM 

PRINTS EXHIBITION 

The various benefits of 

durable platinum photographic 

prints are exulted in this exhibition 

by Amanasalto, Japan’s top 

practitioner of platinotypes. 

Where: Ima Concept Store 


More info: imaonline.jp 

11 12 JAN 16 

HARVARD GLEE 

CLUB 

For the first time in 24 

years and only the third time ever, 

America’s oldest collegiate men’s 

chorus club is set to make its longawaited 

return to Japan. 

Where: Kioi Hall 

How much: ¥3,500-¥5,000 

More info: tokyoweekender.com 

TOKYO WEEKENDER | | JANUARY 2017 | 37

People, 

Parties, Places 

TOKYO’S LONGEST RUNNING SOCIETY PAGE WITH BILL HERSEY 

Takako Vosman, Steve Haynes, & Reme Bosman 

It’s Sunday, December 3, and thanks to the holidays, we’re 

working ahead – way ahead this time – to make our January 

issue deadline. Where does the time go? Tokyo’s gone all out 

to look its best over the holidays. I do hope you were able to 

get together with family and friends and check out some of 

the beautiful decorations at churches, shopping malls, restaurants, 

parks, hotels, and more. Many were truly amazing. 

Looking ahead, it’s going to be a busy January with a full schedule 

of interesting things to see and do. These include good movies, plus a 

variety of music from pop to classic, several good stage plays, lots of 

art exhibitions, sports events, Japanese festivals, fashion shows, and 

I’m sure as always after the holidays, some great bargain sales. 

Many of my friends travel over the holidays and hopefully enjoyed 

wherever they went and whatever they did. I enjoy Christmas 

and New Year’s here, but will also try and head out for Guam, the 

Philippines, Thailand and/or Sri Lanka, and take advantage of the 

warm weather in a few of those places while it’s cold here. 

Some of the highlights of my end-of-year activities included 

working with the Weekender, Hilton Tokyo, Coca Cola, Mercedes 

Benz, Sony, Walt Disney, Toho-Towa, Lufthansa, Tohoku Shinsha, 

and 20th Century Fox, as well as all the wonderful warm, caring and 

giving friends who helped with setting up the 19th annual Christmas 

party for less fortunate kids from six different schools. This event 

took place at the Hilton Tokyo. Mike Williamson, GM at the Hilton, 

and the Hilton staff have all been super generous with food, gifts, 

services and attitude. The kids this year (six to 12) were fantastic. 

A big thanks as well to Steve Haynes (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer), 

Rene Boseman (Santa Claus), and Hiroshi Watabe (Michael 

Jackson). 

Talking about talent, the party closed with the ambassadors’ 

wives and the cream of Tokyo society joining the entertainers and 

children in singing and dancing to the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” 

A big and very sincere thanks to all who helped make the holiday 

season a very happy one for so many. God bless you all. 

TREK-SEGAFREDO EVENT – HIROO 

To celebrate the success of Trek-Segafredo in Japan, Segafredo 

Zanetti Japan paid homage to the cycling team and to the Rio gold 

medal winner, Fabian Cancellara, as he bid farewell to professional 

cycling. The event was a marvelous get together for cycling lovers 

at the newly decorated Trek-Segafredo Café in Hiroo. Guests included 

Fabian Cancellara, the new Swiss ambassador with his wife and 

daughter, Japanese professional road racer Fumiyuki Beppu, all the 

Trek-Segafredo members, members of the press, and fans of the racers. 

It was a colorful, exciting event with the sports superstars – a 

really special event. 

ILBS’S CHARITY CHRISTMAS BAZAAR 

Happy to report that the International Ladies Benevolent Society’s 

annual Christmas Bazaar at the Tokyo American Club was, as 


1 2 3 

4 

6 

5 

7 

8 9 

10 

11 

13 14 

12 

HILTON, WEEKENDER, 

HERSEY CHARITY PARTY 

1. Hilton Tokyo’s G.M. Mike Williamson 

2. Santa (Rene Boseman) his wife Takako and 

daughter Nana, and great kids 

3. Maali Siam (Palestine) 4. Itsumi Sano 

5. Lynn Lai 6. Katerina Karatsolis (Greece), 

Kyoko Fujisawa (Yodobashi Camera), Beatrice 

Correa du Lago (Brazil), Kumiko Meric 

(Turkey), Kyoko Spector 7. Guardian Angels 

Keiji Oda, Lilo Maruyama 8. (Yodobashi) 

Kyoko Fujisawa, Bill & Beatrice. 9. The Ireton 

family, Michael (Hiroshi Watabe) 10. Anna 

Shiga 11. Wahida Fatime (Afghanisan) 12. 

Rachadawan Lathapip, Yupadee Bunnag 

(Thailand) 13. Cristina Escala (Peru) 14. 

Steve Haynes 


ILBS CHRISTMAS 

BAZAAR 

1. Hisako Inayama, Mary Katayama 

2. Clara Nakasato, Fumiko Tottori, 

Candy Sato 3. Ana Maria Diaz 

(Colombia), Lolita, Irina Spassky, 

Barbara Allen 4. ILBS President 

Daniele Yoshikoshi, Kumiko Oshima, 

Beverly Nakamura 5. Princesses 

Noriko & Ayako 6. Tomoko Takada, 

Alifah Rahman Yamasaki 

1 

2 

SAUDI NATIONAL DAY 

7. Ceremony’s Tsukasa Shiga. 

UAE Amb. Khalid Al Ameri, Qatar 

Amb. Yousef Bilal, Bahrain Amb. 

Dr. Khalil Hassan, Ros Roman Ji 

8. Sara Matasie, Ms. Qari, Foreign 

Correspondents’ Club President 

Khaldon Azhari, Saudi Cultural 

Office Hakima Bathawi, Dr. Amani Al 

Hibshi (NEC) 9. Al Ain Restaurants’ 

Ziad D. Karam 10. Pakistan Defense 

Atache Shirez Khan, the host Saudi 

Amb. Ahmad Younos S. Al Barrak Dr. 

Muhammad Abdur Rahman Siddiqil 

(Int’l Muslim Center) 

4 

6 

3 

7 8 

5 

10 

9 

12 

13 

11 

AT THE MERICS’ TURKISH 

RECEPTION 

11. Irish Amb. Anne Barrington with Japan 

Maritime Self-Defense Force Petty Officer Yuko 

Naito and Rear Admiral Takehisa Nakao 12. The 

hosting couple Turkish Amb. A. Bulent Meric, his 

wife Kumiko and Akie Abe 13. Gonzato Gonzales 

(Venezuela), Bosnia Herzegovina Amb. Anesa 

Kundurović, Karen Muradell (Honduras) and David 

Villagomez (Ecuador) 14. Pakistan Amb. Farukh 

Amil, Kyoko Spector, Afrah and Hassan Sarwar 

17 

14 

15 

GOLD MEDAL 

CYCLISTS EVENT – 

SEGAFREDO 

15. Yulia Gusynina Paroz, Lydie- 

Line, their daughter Lydie-Line, 

Swiss Amb. Jean-Francois Paroz 

16. Segafredo CEO, Pascal Heritier 

and the company’s rep. Director 

and head of Asian Region Brian 

Mori 17. Olympic (Rio) gold 

medal winner Fabian Cancellara 

with Jean-Francois Paroz 

16 


always, a super success. The many charitable, hard-working ILBS 

ladies working at the busy bazaar got into the holiday fashion mood 

(lots of red!), and raised a considerable amount of money that, together 

with their many projects, goes to a variety of worthwhile 

causes. My dear friend Daniele Yoshikoshi, who is president of ILBS, 

was at the helm this year, and I was sure that she and the others who 

put so much time and effort into the project would make it one of the 

biggest and best bazaars ever. 

I appreciated Princess Takamado’s mother, Fumiko Tottori, introducing 

two of her three granddaughters, Princess Noriko and 

Princess Ayako. Like their late and great father, Prince and Princess 

Takamado are really cool, and very internationally minded. A big 

congratulations to them and the ILBS ladies for yet another charity 

project well done. 

THE MERICS’ TURKISH NATIONAL DAY 

Going back a bit, it was wall-to-wall people at Turkish Ambassador 

Ahmet Bulent Meric’s National Day party. Bulent and his wife Kumiko 

are a popular couple and guests included Akie Abe, the wife 

of Prime Minister Abe, who was super chic for the event. In addition 

to the bountiful buffet of Turkish food in the dining room, tents 

had been set up in the garden where they were serving the popular 

traditional Turkish kebab. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening in 

every way. 

SAUDI NATIONAL DAY – PALACE HOTEL 

Our Saudi friends celebrated their national day at a noon-time reception 

at the luxurious Palace Hotel. In addition to relaxing and 

chatting with long-time friends, I met several VIPs for the first time. 

These included UAE Ambassador Khalid Omran Al Ameri. Thanks 

to former Ambassador Al Mokarrab, I’ve had the privilege of visiting 

his country seven times – once for the UAE’s 20th anniversary, 

another time for their 25th anniversary, and the rest just to visit 

friends living there. On one trip, we drove to all seven of the Emirates. 

Thanks to another very capable diplomat and good friend, Saudi 

Ambassador Al-Shobokshi, and the Saudi national guard, I was a 

guest in their country for the annual Jenadriyah culture festival. I 

visited Riyadh and Jeddah, and a young officer of the National Guard 

took me to visit his “uncle’s” camp in the desert. After dinner under 

a big tent, half a dozen of his nephews sang and danced. They also 

surprised me by giving me some beautiful Arab clothes to wear. After 

joining in an unrehearsed dance, I went over to the “uncle” and 

said, “I feel like Lawrence of Arabia.” He laughed and said, “You look 

like Saddam Hussein.” The next night, my guide took me to meet 

two young singers whom he introduced as the Michael Jacksons of 

Saudi Arabia. 

The national day at the palace was very special. Our congratulations 

to Ambassador Al Barrak, his staff, and the Saudi 

people. It was also great getting to know Dr. Muhammad Abdur 

Rahman Siddiqi, the chairman of the International Muslim Center 

in Japan, and I appreciated his invitation to the 9th International 

Peace Seminar on Prophet Muhammad. The seminar was titled “Islamic 

Perspective on Terrorism” and featured guest speaker Rayyan 

Fawzi Arab. 

CEREMONY’S BIRTHDAY DINNER FOR SHIGA 

I hadn’t heard of Jisaku Tsukiji restaurant, but when I received an 

invitation to celebrate there with Ceremony’s president Tsukasa 

Shiga, I knew it would be something special. Tsukasa and his family 

always choose the best. It was his birthday, and the restaurant – 

which is on the river and has about 19 tatami rooms, interesting 

rock formations, goldfish-filled ponds, and many statues – is Japan 

at its best. The multicourse Japanese meal included their speciality 

chicken. I would definitely recommend you try it out while you’re 

in Tokyo: Jisaku Tsukiji, 14-19 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, 03-3541-2391. 

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS 

Tokyo does slow down a bit for Japanese New Year (Shogatsu), but if 

you live here, you know how busy it is the rest of the time. With all 

the happenings before the 2020 Olympics, we’re seeing all kinds of 

overnight changes. The “Roppongi clean up” campaign is working 

on the north side, with Midtown, museums, shops and restaurants 

all getting a facelift, and big new buildings going up everywhere. 

A perfect place to see what’s happening is around the popular 

Franciscan Chapel Center Catholic Church. Directly across from 

the chapel, a big new apartment building is being built, and a few 

minutes’ walk from there, a huge new building that will house a 

much-needed modern police station is under construction. I recently 

talked with one foreigner and one Japanese local who were each 

wearing fashionable uniforms with armbands that read “Minato-ku 

Safety and Security.” They told me their main job is helping tourists 

with directions, or helping people with any problems they might 

have in Roppongi. (Both, I might add, were big enough to handle 

any kind of trouble they might come up against.) 

On the south side of Roppongi (Tokyo Tower, Roppongi Hills), 

change seems to be a bit slower. However, thanks to the late great 

land developer Minoru Mori, they do have the Roppongi Hills mall 

with its theaters, shops, restaurants and super art museum. Morisan 

also bought the land down the hill behind dear Dr. Eugene Aksenoff’s 

famous clinic, and they seem to be working on plenty of 

new buildings in that area. I’m sure they’ll soon clear out or at least 

clean up the big old Roi Building across the street from Don Quixote. 

Just for your information, my club-going friends tell me that 

they don’t go to Roppongi that much any more; these days they prefer 

Shibuya for food, nightlife and fun. I plan to get out and check 

things out in the new year, and will keep you posted on many of 

the changes in our ever-evolving city. 

Team Trek, Olympic cyclists Gregory Rast, 

Jasper Stuyven, Bauke Mollema 

Segafredo CEO (center) Pascal Heritier with super 

Hiroo Segafredo staff 

Bill with team member Fumuyuki Beppu

Tokyo Weekender January 2017

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