Tokyo Weekender - April 2016

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32 | SOCIETY | PEOPLE, PARTIES, PLACES Stanley Nakagawa, his wife Jane Yamano who runs Yamano Beauty, Oakwood’s Amy Kanashiro and Martin Fluck Oakwood’s Eric Ishimaru, Makiko Mori, Tetsuo Isono, Oakwood’s Miyako and Mika Tekko Bldg. COO Soichiro Masuoka, Tekko GM Tetsuo Isono, Tokyo Midtown’s Yasuhiro Nakamura, Martin Fluck, Makiko Mori, Tekko Pres./CEO Yoshifumi Masuoka, Mitsui Fudosan’s Yasuhiro Tanaka Asian Tigers Nick Masse Konishiki, fashion designer Shizuka Miura, Chie (Konishiki’s wife), textile designer Masumi Kawahara Oakwood Premier Tokyo Opening Martin, Oakwood Asia Pacific’s Dean Schreiber, Michael Mrolzek (Okuno & Partners) Nick Coyle (MSX Intl.), Mika Kume, Keren Meirs In and Around Dancers at last year’s Super Yosakoi One of the entertainers at the Oakwood Premier opening Producer Raymond Johnson and his daughter Liili Super pop star Yoshiki of the band X-Japan after his recent concert and Bill Koichiro and Daniele Yoshikoshi and friends Eduardo and Senora Cardena visiting from Colombia at Nat’l Azabu APRIL 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com
PEOPLE, PARTIES, PLACES | SOCIETY | 33 we just see and hear about so much more than we used to. I’ve never been all that interested in politics but have really gotten hooked on CNN’s coverage of what’s happening on the American political scene now. Like so-o-o many, I’m not happy about Trump and find it difficult to understand how anyone could vote for him after all the things he says, his behavior, and his attitude in general. Many people I know from just about everywhere feel the same way. The German magazine Der Speigel has labeled him “The Most Dangerous Man in the World.” Former US Secretary of State Madeline Albright said the same thing when she was interviewed by Christiane Amanpour on CNN. We all have heard “What we’ll do if he wins—we’ll put up a wall,” “Don’t let Muslims in,” and more. A short time later, it’s “I love the Mexicans” “I love Texas.” “I love women and a real long list of other things” he loves. With his hair, his tons of makeup, and his attitude he does look a bit mental. In many of his appearances he reminds me of North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, and looks like an ageing, pouting 10 year-old spoiled kid. I haven’t lived in the US for a long time, but have many great memories of growing up there and do love my country. I really hope and pray that things get better and my country finds solutions for the many problems many Americans are facing, and of course, I also really wish people of the world could learn to live with each other peacefully. PEOPLE Had a long telephone conversation with former Tokyoite Maria Anderson who with her husband Ron, lives in New York now. Really happy to hear they’re making their annual trip here for the cherry blossoms and the Cherry Blossom Ball. They’ll arrive April 1 and stay until April 10, and are looking forward to seeing old friends. Happy to see Mick Jagger’s ex-wife, Texas model Jerry Hall just married Rupert Murdock. I spent considerable time with Jerry when she was in Tokyo for modeling. One of my favorite photos is a black and white one I took of Jerry in a tight black dress, her long blonde hair flying when she was doing some lesbian looking dancing at the popular Lez club. She’s a fun and sharp lady. Hope she’s happy with her new man. MARUYAMA CHINESE DINNER – HILTON’S DYNASTY Mitsuo Maruyama, his wife Lilo and their son Helge always go all out to make anything they do really special. It seems they’re always traveling, and have been named the most traveled family in the world by several travel organizations. When they’re in Japan their annual garden party at their beautiful home in Tochigi is one of the most legendary parties on the Tokyo social scene. In addition to that Lilo often hosts luncheons for her many int’l and Japanese friends. This year their annual Chinese dinner at Hilton Tokyo’s Dynasty restaurant was bigger and better than ever. Special guests included Prime Minister Abe’s mother, Yoko Abe as well as his in-laws, Akio and Emiko Matsuzaki (He’s with Morinaga Chocolate). Other members of the Tokyo glitterati included Hisako Uemura, whose husband Banjiro is the founder of the huge Tohokushinsha Company on Aoyama Dori and also owner of the popular National Azabu Supermarkets. These are well worth checking out. The variety of health foods that store manager Dale Toriumi has brought in from all over the world is really impressive. As always, the Maruyamas’ get together was laid-back and fun. Good friends at my table included Moroccan Ambassador Samir Arrour and Kuwaiti Ambassador Rahman Al-Otaibi. I was sitting between two really outgoing interesting ladies, Marlise Vahekeni, wife of Angola Ambassador Vahekeni and Luxembourg Ambassador Beatrice Kirsch. I knew Marlise through her help at my annual Children’s Christmas party, which we’ve been doing at the Hilton for 18 years. This was my first time to meet Beatrice and really enjoyed getting to know her. The ten-course dinner was excellent and it was, as always, a great, laid-back evening with a full house of good friends and good people. CEREMONY BIRTHDAY FOR ANNA Ceremony President Tsukasa Shiga (who many of you know) hosted a birthday party in Roppongi Hills Club for his super Russian wife Anna recently. Guests were mostly former Russian and Ukrainian models and their very international Japanese husbands and many of their beautiful, energetic kids. The food at Roppongi Hills was excellent and it was a relaxing and interesting evening with a really nice guest list. Happy birthday Anna—and many more to come. GRAND OPENING OF OAKWOOD PREMIERE TOKYO As a longtime fan of and frequent guest of many of their special events, I was sure that the opening of Oakwood Premier’s luxurious new serviced apartments, the 123-room Oakwood Premier Tokyo in Marunouchi would be very special. Located on the 6th to the 19th floor of the ultra modern Tekko Building, the serviced apartments offer all the amenities, services and facilities we have come to expect from Oakwood. As their brochure reads, it’s a sanctuary in a pulsating city. Guests at the cocktail reception were an interesting mix of Japanese and foreign VIPs. After a short welcome speech by Oakwood Asia Pacific Ltd’s managing director Dean Schreiber, people there enjoyed the gourmet buffet, mixing with old friends, making new friends and enjoying the fun entertainment. The New Oakwood Premier is just steps away from Tokyo Station. You should drop by and check it out. The panoramic view of Ginza from the reception area is really awesome. The invitation was unique and cool—a gold silhouette on a black card of Tokyo’s ever growing skyline. It’s one you want to keep or copy. Male models Jeoren Teerlinch (Amsterdam) and Jack Mather (England) at Hiroo Segafredo Segafredo Hiroo’s always helpful staffers Alessio Bonelli, Hiroyuki Watanabe, and Marco Anacleria www.tokyoweekender.com APRIL 2016
Page 1 and 2: APRIL 2016 Japan’s number one Eng
Page 3 and 4: APRIL 2016 CONTENTS 20 NATSUMI HOSH
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Page 8 and 9: GALLERY GUIDE TOKYO GALLERY GUIDE O
Page 10 and 11: THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME Returni
Page 12 and 13: 12 | WEEKENDER | AREA GUIDE THE RIG
Page 14 and 15: APRIL 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com
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Page 18 and 19: By Matthew Hernon In Japan, tens of
Page 20 and 21: By Matthew Hernon Champion Natsumi
Page 22 and 23: Golden Week Getaways The weather is
Page 24 and 25: By Greg Afman Don’t be put off by
Page 26 and 27: By Natalie Jacobsen “Totem,” th
Page 28 and 29: 28 | WEEKENDER | EXPAT LIFE We Buil
Page 30 and 31: Martin Fluck, Kyoko Spector, Entert
Page 34 and 35: COMING TO A CINEMA NEAR YOU IN APRI
Page 36 and 37: AGENDA 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 5 AGENDA: THE
Page 38: BACK IN THE DAY: APRIL 1974 Check o

Tokyo Weekender - April 2016

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