Tokyo Weekender - January 2016

JANUARY 2016
Japan’s number one English language magazine
HIT 2016 IN
FULL SWING
How to Stay True to
Your Resolutions
LOOKING
BACK AT THE
YEAR THAT WAS
The Stories of 2015
GET OUT OF
BED AND GET
ON THE SLOPES
Snowboarding & Skiing in Honshu
ALSO: Hand-Crafted Elegance at Wabist Gift Shop, People, Parties, and Places, Movies, Agenda, www.tokyoweekender.com and MoreJANUARY 2016

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JANUARY 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com

JANUARY 2016
CONTENTS
13
16
22
POWDER QUEST
No need to head all the way up to Hokkaido:
our guide to riding Kanto’s slopes
25
FITNESS TRENDS
Some of the newish ways you’ll be getting
fit in the year to come
2015: THE YEAR IN SPORTS
Highlights and lowlights from the
Japanese sporting world
HANZAI JAPAN
A collection of sci-fi tales from the seedy
underbelly of Japan’s future
6 The Guide
Sharp looks for 2016 and a cocktail to help
you back on your feet
8 Gallery Guide
Architectural wonders, Tokyo’s cultural
magma, and Tie Fighters hit the big city
10 2015 in Review
A look back at the news that was in The Year
of the Sheep
17 Fitness Products
A quartet of gear to help you get motivated
and stay healthy
18 New Year’s Resolutions
Some tips for creating some resolutions that
you’ll be likely to keep
20 Learning Japanese
もしこの 文 章 が 読 めるのであれば、この 記 事
は 読 まなくて 大 丈 夫 です
21 Wabist
A gift shop specializing in elegant
craftsmanship, made in Japan
26 People, Parties, Places
Dewi Sukarno’s annual charity bash and
Toko Shinoda celebrates her 103th
30 Movies
Tom Hanks’s espionage thriller, a high-wire
tour de force, and Johnny Depp gets gritty
www.tokyoweekender.com JANUARY 2016

THIS MONTH IN THE WEEKENDER
JANUARY 2016
Publisher
Executive Producer
Editor
Art Director
Designer
Account Executives
Media Consultants
Marketing
Society
Lead Writer
Editorial Associates
Film
IT Manager
BC Media Group
Asi Rinestine
Alec Jordan
Liam Ramshaw
Tohko Kanzaki
Nobu (Nick) Nakazawa
Mary Rudow
Sophia Bai
Chris Zajko
Yumi Idomoto
Bill Hersey
Matthew Hernon
Vivian Morelli
Luca Eandi
Kyle Mullin
Natalie Jacobsen
Christopher O’Keeffe
Nick Adams
EST. Corky Alexander, 1970
Published monthly at the Regency Shinsaka
Building, 5th floor
8-5-8 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052
(03) 6666-4924 / (03) 6432-9229 (fax)
editor@tokyoweekender.com
Japan’s number one English language magazine
HIT 2016 IN
FULL SWING
How to Stay True to
Your Resolutions
LOOKING
BACK AT THE
YEAR THAT WAS
The Stories of 2015
GET OUT OF
BED AND GET
ON THE SLOPES
Snowboarding & Skiing in Honshu
JANUARY 2016
ALSO: Hand-Crafted Elegance at Wabist Gift Shop, People, Parties, and Places, Movies, Agenda, www.tokyoweekender.com and MoreJANUARY 2016
espite our somewhat
D
cynical leanings—and, to
be quite honest, the often
disappointing show we
humans put on the world’s stage—it’s
hard not to take in the dawn of a new
year without a touch of optimism.
Of course, to look ahead without
remembering back is the worst kind of
blindness, so we’ve decided to take a
look at some of the events that shaped
our lives in this biggest of cities, as well
as the sports stories that lifted Japan’s
spirits (and occasionally broke its
heart). Our reminiscences in the world
of athletics finishes up with a preview
of our Road to Rio series. In the months
to come, we’ll be running an interview
with members of the Japanese Olympic
team as the countdown to the 2016
Games carries on.
While we imagine that you didn’t
wake up next to as streamlined a
companion as our mysterious cover girl
did on January 1, but if you have been
dreaming of mountains of white powder
for the riding, we’ve compiled a guide
for some of the best places in Honshu
to get your snow fix in 2016. Whether
you’re a veteran skier or snowboarder
or still working on staying vertical, you
should find yourself an apt spot.
Then it’s on to those promises we
make to ourselves every year. It might
be a commitment to being a bit fitter or
a renewed dedication to improving your
Japanese, and we’ve got some advice
for you if your ambitions tend in that
direction. But perhaps most important
of all is the advice we get from
Healthy Tokyo CEO Michael Bobrove,
who reminds us of the importance of
being realistic when we set our new
standards in the year to come. Here’s
to stepping up your game in The Year of
the Monkey—even if you’re just taking
baby steps.
Thanks again as always for reading,
and the very best to you and your loved
ones in the new year.
Editor
To subscribe to the Tokyo Weekender, please call
(03) 6666-4924 or email:
customer-support@tokyoweekender.com
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(03) 6666-4924 or email:
sales@tokyoweekender.com
広 告 に 関 するお 問 い 合 わせ 先
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メール:sales@tokyoweekender.com
担 当 : 井 戸 本
www.tokyoweekender.com
Opinions expressed by Weekender contributors
are not necessarily those of the publisher
WRITERS WANTED
Tokyo Weekender is looking for a few good writers. If
you’ve got a travel story you want to share, a gift for the
written word, or have a unique take on life in Tokyo, we’d
like to hear from you. To join our team of freelancers,
please send us an email at
editor@tokyoweekender.com
Published by BC
Media Group
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January 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com

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the guide
ILLESTEVA SUNGLASSES
It is easy to gloss over the myriad of sunglasses trends each season but the colored lens
style is one that we are excited to get on board with. This blue mirrored pair from Illesteva
takes a contemporary approach to traditional Italian craftsmanship, a style which has
built the brand a celebrity and fashion industry following. The combination of gold-tone
metal, tortoiseshell acetate, straight brow bar and the absence of a nose bridge create
such a contemporary shape that they stand out from the crowd. They will certainly
remain current right through to the blazing sun of the summer months. illesteva.com
EUGENIA KIM
WOOL BEANIE
STELLA MCCARTNEY FOR
ADIDAS LEGGINGS
Feel like you need to dust off the cobwebs after
the festive period? Looking and feeling confident
in your form-fitting leggings is always the first
hurdle to tackle when building the motivation to
get active. These colorful leggings will make you
want to get up and get moving for a great workout
or a loop of the Imperial Palace. Boring, dowdy
sportswear became a thing of the past when Stella
McCartney’s partnership with Adidas launched
stylish, flattering performance pieces. Each
collection gets better and better and this season’s
printed designs and color tone combinations are a
winner. stellamccartney.com
Step up your basic beanie a
notch with this super soft and
on-trend number from New
York designer Eugenia Kim to
add a spot of Manhattan cool to
your look. We found a beanie
that has a chic take on the animal
ear trend, steering clear of
the cutesy and kitsch variations
that have come before. The
chunky knit design has an element
of fun with its animal ear
fur pompoms simply adorning
the top. There is no better way
to simultaneously stay warm
and conceal a bad hair day on
your weekend morning coffee
run than pulling on this wool
beanie.
eugeniakim.com
MOJA – SHIBUYA
The warm and laid-back atmosphere, straddled with strings of lights,
and wafting smells of fried chicken and waffles lures in diners on a
daily basis. Giant comfy couches, dim lamps, and the exquisite house
cocktails keep customers coming back. With three floors of dining
options, from the French-style basement with seafood, a coffee cafe
and live bar on the first, to the American-style chicken and waffle
focal point on the second, MOJA can be enjoyed again and again.
Weekly events, live shows, and changing menu keep MOJA ahead
of the other Shibuya hotspots, and will make you a regular after the
first meal. Come for the taste of home, stay for the music and the
new friends.
Prices: ¥1000-5000
Address: 1-11-1 Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0002 B1, 1, 2F
JANUARY 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com

DENTS LEATHER
GLOVES
Hate taking your gloves off and risking
frostbite when using your phone
in the city? Luckily, Dents have
managed to remove the impracticalities
of wearing gloves by specially
engineering this pair for use with
touch-screens. That means your
leather gloves stay on your hands
when texting or choosing your music
and your fingers stay snug. In addition
to being tech-savvy, this pair
also looks very dapper with plush
black leather and a simple stitching
detail for embellishment. For an
added opulent feeling, the inside
is lined with cashmere for warmth
and softness on your skin. A blend of
comfort, style and convenience.
dents.jp
UNIQLO ULTRA
LIGHT VEST
You may be surprised to see this unique
V-neck cut gilet with down feather
lining is from high street chain Uniqlo
(we were!). There is no compromise of
quality or style with this piece so, at less
than ¥5000(!), this vest is a real bargain.
This super thin vest is perfect to slip under
your coat or suit jacket for an added
layer of warmth and resistance against
the winter winds. The luxurious down
feather padding insulates your body and
retains heat without adding bulk to your
frame, thanks to the composition of the
lining. Staying true to its Ultra Light
name, the vest is almost weightless.
uniqlo.jp
EDWARD GREEN
CHELSEA BOOTS
Worn by the most stylish men across the decades
from the Beatles to David Beckham, Chelsea
boots are an essential wardrobe staple. If you
don’t own a set yet then you need not look
further than Edward Green. Although they are a
little pricey, the boots are definitely an investment
piece as they are a timeless classic and you
will be pulling them on for years to come. The
almond-shaped toe and subtle suede of these
Chelsea boots are so adaptable that they can
be coupled with a woolen suit for smart
occasions or paired with jeans and
a shirt for a more informal
atmosphere.
edwardgreen.com
Something for the weekend...A
cocktail guide for the most
discerning of drinkers
A
very Happy New Year to one and all. I do
hope that everybody enjoyed the festive
season and managed to stay on the right
side of merry. For the most part I spent a very
jolly Christmas and New Year; however I fear
the years may be catching up with me: unfortunately,
on more than one occasion I managed to
wake up feeling ever so slightly delicate.
Salvation, however, is only a quick shake
away. This month’s cocktail is the Bloody Mary,
the saviour of hungover ladies and gents the
world over, and the only cocktail that is socially
acceptable to drink before midday.
It seems that every establishment that you
go to these days has a slightly different take on
the classic tomato/vodka recipe. An American
acquaintance of mine tells me that his local
bar serves their Bloody Mary with bacon bits
(honestly is the anything that Americans won’t
serve bacon with?). As much as I’m partial to a
bit of bacon, some things should remain sacred.
My rule of thumb for Bloody Marys is to
keep it simple and keep it spicy. The ideal Bloody
Mary should be spicy enough to bring even the
most hungover reveller back from the dead, but
not so spicy that you need to keep the toilet roll
in the fridge. And on that note, bottoms up chaps,
and I’ll see you next month!
Method:
Pour the vodka and tomato juice into a cocktail
shaker filled with ice, shake thoroughly and
strain into a tall glass filled with ice. Add Tabasco,
Worcestershire sauce to taste and a pinch of celery
salt and pepper. Finally add a teaspoon of horseradish
sauce, stir thoroughly and garnish with a
stick of celery.
Ingredients:
– 2 Absolut Pepper Vodka
– 4 shots of tomato juice
– 1 tsp horseradish
– Squeeze of lemon juice
– Splash of Tabasco
– Splash of Worcestershire sauce
– Pinch of celery salt and
black pepper
www.tokyoweekender.com JANUARY 2016

GALLERY GUIDE
TOKYO GALLERY GUIDE
OUR PICKS FROM THE EXHIBITIONS AROUND TOWN
by Luca Eandi
TOKYO ART MEETING VI: “TOKYO” – Sensing the Cultural Magma of the Metropolis
In the build up to the Tokyo
2020 Olympic Games, the
public focus has been largely
on questions around the
skyrocketing cost of hosting
(recently quoted at an estimated
¥1.8 trillion) and controversial
issues such as logo plagiarism,
outlandish stadium designs and
increased security from possible
terrorist threats. The latest
installment of the “Tokyo Art
Meeting” series seeks to answer
a different question: what is
Tokyo’s cultural identity and how
does it differentiate itself among
other enlightened world capitals?
Acknowledging Tokyo’s initial
impact onto the global artistic
scene in the 1980s, the exhibition
is framed by two elements that allow
people to sense Tokyo anew.
One presents images curated by
Tokyo-based, internationally
known creative figures and the
other consists of new works by
artists who work both in Japan
and abroad, all proposing their
own concept of the city.
Not restricted to conventional
art, the exhibition covers
a wide range of media including
music, video and design,
giving the viewer a sense of the
possibilities that are present
in the city today and putting
its current identity into relief.
Some of the featured artists
include YMO + Akio Miyazawa,
Mika Ninagawa, SUPERFLEX,
Takashi Homma, Saâdane Afif,
Toshiki Okada, [Mé], EBM(T),
Lin Ke and Tetsuaki Matsue,
along with works from the collection
of Museum of Contemporary
Art Tokyo.
Tabor Robak 20XX, 2013, Courtesy: the artist and Team Gallery
Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Dates: November 7, 2015–February 14, 2016
Open: 10:00 am–6:00 pm, closed on Mondays (except Jan 11) and Jan 12
Web: www.mot-art-museum.jp/eng/exhibition/TAM6-tokyo.html
CEDRIC DELSAUX: Dark Lens
Dark Lens, The Falcon’s Flight, Dubai, 2009 © Cédric Delsaux
As we get used to them,
the shapes and contours
of fictional characters
become as fully integrated
into our culture as our actual
surroundings. Shaking up the
boundaries between fiction and reality,
French photographer Cedric
Delsaux pairs familiar images of
modern cityscapes with equally
familiar characters and vehicles
from the “Star Wars” universe, to
create scenes that induce a sort of
“double déjà vu.” The postmodern
world meets “a long time ago, in a
galaxy far, far away.”
Serving as the artist’s first-ev-
er exhibition in Japan, and
coinciding with the release of the
much-awaited film, “Star Wars:
The Force Awakens,” “Dark Lens”
features photographs of surreal
scenes such as an AT-AT Walker
wandering through a thick fog
by interstate overpasses, the Millennium
Falcon parked amidst a
Dubai construction site and two
Speeder Bikes zooming under
power lines. The fourteen pieces
that make up the exhibit have
received high praise from George
Lucas himself and were released
as part of a book, also titled
“Dark Lens,” back in November.
Diesel Art Gallery
Dates: November 20, 2015–February 11, 2016 | Open: 11:30 am–9:00 pm
Web: www.diesel.co.jp/art/en/cedric_delsaux
JANUARY 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com

GALLERY GUIDE | WEEKENDER | 9
18th DOMANI: The Art of Tomorrow
Since antiquity, patronage and support has been vital to
young artists’ development and ability to afford training
in their specialties. Since 1967, the Japanese Agency for
Cultural Affairs has been doing their part to help promising
artists make their way overseas to learn from masters of their
respective disciplines. Since the late 1990s, the annual Domani exhibition
has been a showcase of the achievements of the program.
Now in their eighteenth edition, the theme for the exhibition
is “the intersection between expression and material: matter,
action and data.” The conceit is that today’s artists are not limited
to matter as a material for expression—actions and data are also
materials with which art can be created, and perhaps are even best
suited to convey modern society’s shift into expressive media. The
artists featured have been pursuing their development in places
such as Brazil, the US, Indonesia, Estonia, the UK, Italy, Belgium,
France and more.
Making use of the rich space of the National Art Center
and unrestricted by medium requirements, the twelve diverse
exhibits range from painting to sculpture, textiles, mosaics,
animation, video and installation. The wood engravings of guest
artist Sachiko Kazama are also featured for the first time in this
exhibition. Additionally, the works of trainees in the conservation
and restoration field are presented.
The National Art Center, Tokyo
Dates: December 12, 2015–January 26, 2016
Open: 10:00 am–6:00 pm, 10:00 am–8:00 pm on Friday, closed Tuesday
Web: domani-ten.com
FOSTER + PARTNERS: Architecture, Urbanism, Innovation
The Gherkin in London, the Reichstag in Berlin and
Cupertino’s Apple Campus 2 are some of the contemporary
architectural masterpieces created by international
design studio Foster + Partners. The first exhibition to
comprehensively survey the studio’s last half-century of activity,
“Architecture, Urbanism, Innovation” includes models, videos,
furniture, graphics, products and plans focusing on around 50
representative projects.
Founded in 1967 by architect Norman Foster, the studio has
completed more than 300 projects in 45 countries. Lord Foster, also
the subject of the 2010 documentary film, “How Much Does Your
Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?,” is a protégé of architect/system theorist
R. Buckminster Fuller, and has been awarded the prestigious
Pritzker Prize, regarded as the Nobel Prize of architecture.
The exhibition, which is organized by the Mori Art Museum,
highlights Foster + Partners’ organizational pursuit of themes such
as “tradition and the future” as well as “humans and the environment.”
Showcased are projects that have outfitted traditional structures
with state-of-the-art technology, such as the Reichstag, and in
the case of the under-construction Apple Campus 2, the image of
sustainable architecture of the near-future is represented. The setting
of the exhibition at the Sky Gallery, inside the Roppongi Hills
observation deck, affords visitors panoramic views of Tokyo while
stimulating curiosity about the future of the city’s own landscape.
Foster + Partners, 30 St. Mary Axe, 1997-2004, London, Photo: Nigel Young, Foster + Partners
Top: Aika Furukawa, Interlinking Moments, 2013, Private Collection
Bottom: Mutsumi Noda, Namu fukashigi nyorai, 2007
Sky Gallery, Tokyo City View (52F, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower)
Dates: January 1–February 14, 2016
Open: 10:00 am–10:00 pm, last admission 9:30 pm
Web: www.mori.art.museum/english/contents/foster_partners
www.tokyoweekender.com JANUARY 2016

If a look back at the
events of the previous
year teach us anything,
it’s that you can always
count on Tokyo to keep
us guessing—and give
us something to discuss.
From architectural ups
and downs and debates
of war to rough-housing
dignitaries and movie
monster ambassadors,
here are some of the
stories that shaped 2015
JANUARY DECEMBER 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com
by Alec Jordan
JANUARY
Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa—one man
an independent journalist and the other a
would-be “mercenary”—are killed by the
terrorists of ISIS, after being held hostage
for several months. Prior to their murders,
a ransom video, which showed the two men
in orange jumpsuits kneeling on either side
of the London-born terrorist known as “Jihadi
John,” grips the world. Kiyoshi Kimura,
the owner of the Sushi-Zanmai chain of
sushi restaurants, keeps his four-year streak
of winning the first auction of the year at
Tsukiji market going with a ¥4.51 million
($37,500) bid on a bluefin tuna.
FEBRUARY
The Ethiopian runners Endesha Negesse
and Berhane Dibaba win the Men and Women’s
sections of the 2015 Tokyo Marathon.
Security was significantly stepped up for the
race in the wake of the ISIS murders: anti-terror
police run alongside competitors on
the cold, rainy day. The UK’s Prince William
makes a four-day trip to Japan; it is the first
visit of a British royal to the country since
2008. The novelist, and some-time advisor to
Prime Minister Abe, Ayako Sono writes an
opinion piece in which she supports allowing
more immigrants in Japan, but suggest
that those immigrants live separately from
Japanese people.
MARCH
Michelle Obama arrives in Japan wearing
a dress by the Japanese designer Kenzo.
Meanwhile, Angela Merkel urges Japan to
come to grips with its wartime past. Tokyo
marks the 20th anniversary of the Aum
Shinrikyo gas attacks on the Tokyo subway
lines. Shibuya Ward becomes the first location
in Japan to recognize same-sex partnerships.
Service between Tokyo and Kanazawa
begins on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line.
Ariana Miyamoto, a Japanese national
whose mother is Japanese and whose father
is African American, is selected as Miss Universe
Japan. A statue reuniting the faithful
Hachiko and his master Hidesaburo Ueno is
unveiled.
APRIL
A Japanese man is arrested for using a
drone to carry radioactive sand to the top
of Prime Minister Abe’s office, in protest of
Abe’s nuclear energy policy. Next month,
laws go into place limiting the use of drones
in public parks and near governmental
buildings. Godzilla is recruited as the tourism
ambassador for the ward of Shinjuku,
and his giant likeness was erected to loom
over the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku. The final
Rugby Sevens World Series matches are
held in Tokyo. Taco Bell makes a popular
return to Tokyo after 20 years.

MAY
Demolition of Tokyo’s old Olympic
Stadium, the centerpiece of
the 1964 Olympics, is completed.
A pair of Japanese melons from
Sapporo sell for $12,400. Butter
shortages increase as the government
weighs the idea of carrying
foreign imports. Japanese ad
giant Dentsu announces that, for
the first time in its 114-year history,
it has generated more profit
outside of Japan than inside. Notwithstanding
the continuing stories
about Japan’s supremely low
birth rates, Germany manages
to take the inauspicious crown,
with a tally of 8.2 children per
1,000 people, compared with 8.4
per 1,000 from Japan, according
to BDO and the Hamburg Institute
of International Economics.
JULY
After months of criticism, budget
cuts, and rising building costs,
architect Zaha Hadid’s design for
the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Stadium
is taken off the drawing board.
Following suit with Shibuya
Ward, Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward
announces that it will begin issuing
certificates that recognize the
marriage of same-sex couples.
Amid strong protests (a rarity for
Tokyo), the Lower House of Parliament
approves a controversial
set of bills that would expand the
capability of the Japanese military.
After a gutsy performance
that got them into the Finals of
the FIFA Women’s World Cup,
Nadeshiko go down 5–2 against
the US Women’s team. It’s the
final game for superstar Homare
Sawa, who has the most caps of
any player.
SEPTEMBER
Deluges from heavy rains lead
to flooding throughout Japan,
with the worst in Tochigi and
Ibaraki Prefectures. Parts of the
Ibaraki city of Joso is flooded
after the bordering Kinu River
washes over its banks. The new
logo for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,
first unveiled in July, is scrapped
following plagiarism complaints,
and an eventual lawsuit, due to
its similarity to the mark used by
Belgium’s Théâtre de Liège. PR
firm Sunny Side Up purchases
Bulbous Cell Media Group, the
publisher of Tokyo Weekender.
Massive protests continue against
the controversial security bills
as they are debated in the Upper
House of Parliament; they are
finally passed on September 19.
NOVEMBER
A small bomb is detonated in a
bathroom at the controversial
Yasukuni Shrine. No injuries
were caused, and a South Korean
suspect is arrested the following
month. In the first tranche of
what might be one of the largest
IPOs in the world, the first shares
of Japan Post Holdings and its
two financial units go onto the
market. The privatization of the
institution was a major political
coup pushed forward by former
Prime Minister Koizumi. An artificial
intelligence called the Todai
Robot Project passes a standardized
university exam with higher
than average marks. It scores
10 percent higher than human
examinees on a test that included
questions in math, physics, English,
and history.
JUNE
Haruo Hayashizaki, a 71-year-old
pensioner, sets himself on fire
on a southbound Shinkansen. He
kills himself, 52-year-old Yoshiko
Kuwahara, and wounds 26. He
had complained to a neighbor
about the difficulties of living on
what he called a meager pension.
The Managing Officer and Chief
Communications Officer of
Toyota, American Julie Hamp, is
arrested for having Oxycodone
mailed to her without a prescription.
She had been appointed in
April. Volcanic eruptions in Hakone
close some areas of the popular
vacation spot near Tokyo.
An old law that made it illegal to
dance in clubs after midnight is
officially taken off the books.
AUGUST
After 53 years in business,
during which it played host to
world leaders and even found
its way into a James Bond novel,
the Hotel Okura Tokyo closes
its doors. A new 41-story Okura
Tokyo will be rebuilt in 2019. The
Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan’s largest
organized crime syndicate,
fractures into several different
gangs. Protests against the security
bills continue to rage while
the country recognizes the 70th
anniversary of the end of World
War II. In the “good luck with
that” department, a group of railway
companies, the operators of
Haneda and Narita airports, and
the Japan Elevator Association
declare an unofficial rule that all
escalator riders should simply
stand, hold onto the handrails,
and not try to pass or the right—
or the left.
OCTOBER
London mayor Boris Johnson
catches a fair amount of flak for
bowling over a 10-year-old boy
during a casual rugby match. Organizers
of the Tokyo Olympics
announce an open competition
for the design of the new Olympics
logo. In a questionable bid
to appeal to foreign tourists, the
district of Ebisu promotes a food
festival centered on whale meat.
In a news conference, UN envoy
Maud de Boer-Buquicchio makes
the controversial statement that
13 percent of all schoolgirls in
Japan engage in enjo kosai (“compensated
dating,” a practice that
can range from casual conversation
to paid sex). The following
month, de Boer-Buquicchio retracts
her statement under pressure
from Japanese government
officials and complaints that her
figure could not be corroborated
with any “official” reports. After
years of private deliberations,
the Trans-Pacific Partnership is
passed.
DECEMBER
The Tokyo 2020 Organizing
Committee selects a new design
for the Olympic stadium. Created
by architect Kengo Kuma,
the environmentally friendly
concept is already raising some
hackles for its similarity to Zaha
Hadid’s design. Somewhat slow
on the heels of the drone scare
in April, Tokyo police announce
the launch of a drone squad:
its unmanned aerial vehicles
are tasked with taking down
nuisance drones and equipped
with nets. The restaurant Tsuta
becomes the first ramen establishment
to earn a star in the
Michelin Guide.
www.tokyoweekender.com
www.tokyoweekender.com
DECEMBER
JANUARY 2016
2016

12 | WEEKENDER | EXPAT LIFE
We Build Dream Homes
Kagami Crystal Shop offers a dazzling selection
of cut glass for connoisseurs and amateurs alike
Established in Tokyo in 1934, Kagami Crystal is Japan’s first
crystal glass factory, and after a visit to their shop in Ginza, you
may be inclined to say that it is the country’s finest.
Kagami crystalware has been receiving accolades since the
company was founded, and has received commissions from
the Imperial Family, the Japanese government, and Japanese
embassies and consulates around the world. Kagami Crystal
glassware can be found in embassies and consulates in more than
250 countries around the world.
If you’re looking for an artfully cut whisky or wine glass, you
can find a wide array of exquisitely crafted pieces that will
bring elegance to the table or anywhere else you enjoy your
favorite beverages.
The Kagami Crystal Shop also has an impressive selection of
“Edo Kiriko” cut glasses, which are available in a variety of
shapes, colors, and patterns. You can find decanters, perfume
containers, vases and other vessels, which are decorated in a
variety of traditional Japanese patterns and designs. Custom
engraving, featuring a name, a family emblem, or another design
can be performed.
More than 150 projects in 19 years
If you're ready to open the door to the living space you've always
wanted, West Canada Homes will help you find the perfect piece
of land, design your home, and manage your building project to
completion. Contact us for a free consultation.
Custom Home Design • Project Management
Tel: 0136-21-3838
Email: info@westcanadahomes.com
www.westcanadahomes.com
With the holiday seasons rapidly approaching, a fine piece of
Japanese craftsmanship just might be the perfect gift. Come see
for yourself at Kagami Crystal Shop.
Ginza Store
Daiwa Building, 2-1, Ginza 6-Chome,
Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061
Tel: 03-3569-0081
Open: From Mon, Fri (11:00~19:30)
Sat, Sun and holiday (11:00~18:30)
Closed: Thursday
WWW.KAGAMI.JP/ENGLISH/
JANUARY 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com

POWDER QUEST | FEATURE | 13
by Phil Luza
While many hardcore snow fiends head all the way up to
Hokkaido to get their fix, there’s plenty of the white stuff to go
around in Kanto. Here’s our guide to getting your ride on
I
t’s no secret that Japan has some of
the greatest skiing and snowboarding
on the planet. With some of the
world’s highest annual snowfall, the
country has long been on the radar for powder
hunters. Thanks to a myriad of resorts to choose
from—ranging from tiny bubble-era destinations
with a few runs to high-tech mega resorts
that offer a great experience for everyone from
beginners to seasoned pros—it belongs on every
winter sports enthusiast’s bucket list.
Living and exploring northern Honshu has
left a soft spot in my heart for its snowy winters
and huge variety of mountains. The broad range
of course difficulties and the combination of
modern convenience and traditional Japanese
culture makes each trip a memorable experience.
Winter in Japan offers a unique opportunity
to explore a wide range of mountain ranges
and embrace seasonal cuisine, spectacular
festivals, and a relaxing soak in an onsen.
Tokyo offers great access to resort destinations
in the Honshu area for hardcore powder
hunters and weekend warriors in addition to
weekend getaways and family vacations.
WEEKEND GETAWAY
One of the most popular getaways is Gala Yuzawa in
Niigata Prefecture. It’s only 80 minutes from Tokyo
on the Joetsu Shinkansen and the station connects
directly to the gondola. Gala is one of the most hassle-free
day trips from Tokyo and resort tickets are
often packaged by JR East with the purchase of your
Shinkansen ticket.
If you are looking to get a break from the crowds,
explore, or have a unique experience, a trip to Zao
Onsen Ski Resort is a great choice. Zao has less of
www.tokyoweekender.com JANUARY 2016

14 | FEATURE | POWDER QUEST
a bubble-era feel and provides a more
traditional Japanese setting, with ryokans
and local onsen for a nice soak after a day
on the mountain. Cold Siberian winds and
an ample snowfall create the famous “snow
monsters” (known as juhyo in Japanese) that
attract visitors and skiers alike. Clumped ice
and snow stick to the tall fir trees to create
bizarre shapes that are more spectacular
than spooky. The awe-inspiring setting and
steep terrain offer an unforgettable getaway.
Nagano’s Shiga Kogen is by far Japan’s
biggest ski resort area and is also home to
the famous onsen-loving snow monkeys.
The snow monkeys have lived in the Shiga
Kogen area for several generations and
visit the natural hot springs near the base
of the mountain daily for a hot soak. The
area is also a center of the Japanese craft
beer renaissance and is home to some of
the finest brews in the country.
The high altitude means Shiga Kogen
consistently has great snow conditions,
and with more than 20 interconnected ski
resorts all accessible with one lift pass,
there is a huge area to explore. The 1998
HOW TO GET THERE
Myoko Kogen - Shinkansen from
Tokyo Station to Nagano, then the JR
Shinetsu Line to Myoko Kogen
(3.5-4 hrs)
Gala Yuzawa - Some direct trains
available in winter between Tokyo
Station and Gala Yuzawa; otherwise
Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa
and bus to Gala Yuzawa (1.5-2 hrs)
Zao Onsen - Shinkansen from Tokyo
Station to Yamagata Station, then bus
to Zao (~3.5 hrs)
Shiga Kogen - Shinkansen to Nagano,
then bus to Shiga Kogen resorts
(~3 hrs)
Hakuba - Shinkansen to Nagano,
then bus to Hakuba (~3 hrs)
Tenjindaira - Joetsu Shinkansen from
Tokyo Station to Echigo-Yuzawa, then
JR Joetsu Line to Doai (~2 hrs)
Winter in Japan offers a unique opportunity to
explore a wide range of mountain ranges and
embrace seasonal cuisine, spectacular festivals, and
a relaxing soak in an onsen.
Nagano Winter Olympics women’s downhill,
slalom, super-G and snowboarding
events were held here. With more than
80 kilometers of trails there is terrain
for every level of rider. For solo riders
or those looking to explore these resorts
and more the Tokyo Snow Club offers
tours all winter. Trips often include tickets
to local events, sightseeing, and are a
guaranteed good time.
(www.tokyosnowclub.com)
GETTING DEEP AND STEEP
If you are looking to beat the crowds and
score some famous “Ja-pow” there are
several ways to get off the groomed trails
and go off-piste.
Nagano boasts some of the best snow
in Japan: locals as well as international
skiers and snowboarders flock there for
the steep terrain, variety of resorts, and
nearly endless powder.
Meanwhile, Hakuba is one of the
largest snow resort areas in Japan—with
over 12 meters of powder annually it’s
easy to see why. Resorts like Cortina and
Tsugaike offer great access to lift-accessed
sidecountry and relatively mellow backcountry.
There are also a large number of
beginner and intermediate runs available.
Myoko Kogen, near the border of Niigata,
is a freeriders’ playground and also a
great cultural setting. Created in the 1930s,
Myoko derives its name from a Buddhist
phrase that speaks about a “holy mountain
standing in the center of the universe.”
With off-piste and tree skiing permitted,
and some of the longest and closest to vertical
runs in Japan, it can be easy for any
skiing devotee to find their own Nirvana.
Closer to Tokyo is Tenjindaira in
Gunma Prefecture. Tenjindaira is regularly
ranked in the top five Japanese
resorts for snow depth and is one of
Japan’s 100 “Famous Mountains.” Despite
its proximity to Tokyo it’s often less
crowded than farther-flung locations. It
is not uncommon to be graced with 2–3
meters of fresh powder overnight and
long untracked lines in the morning from
the top of the mountain to the base of
the gondola. To access some of the more
extreme and remote lines using a guide
is recommended. In Nagano the Tao of
Pow (www.taoofpow.com) and Hakuba
Mountainlife (www.mountainlife.jp)
provide bilingual and experienced guides
with local knowledge. For adventuring in
Tenjindaira check out Tenjin Lodge for
backcountry tours and accommodation.
(www.tenjinlodge.com)
JANUARY 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com

POWDER QUEST | FEATURE | 15
Skiers David Enright & Julie Nieuwenhuys
Photo by Caroline Vanthoff
WINTERLAND RETREAT
For those looking for a relaxing day on the mountain
and a deep soak in a hot spring, Nozawa Onsen offers
a beautiful setting and selection. With traditional Japanese
architecture lining the small cobblestone streets,
the Edo-era town is renowned for its onsen and happens
to have a great ski resort above it. Nozawa Onsen
offers a great variety of beginner and intermediate runs
in addition to off-piste riding. The ski resort is a short
walk or ride on the covered escalator from the village.
Nozawa Onsen also offers a great variety of accommodations,
including the modern traditional Japanese
hotel Sayaka. The Michelin Guide recently granted the
Sayaka a coveted 2-star rating. The Sakaya Ryokan is
ideal for small families or groups and is located in the
heart of the village.
Nozawa also hosts one of the most spectacular
fire festivals in Japan every January 15th. The 42 and
25-year-old men (so called unlucky ages) of the village
take on special roles of protecting a massive tower constructed
from trees chopped down from the mountain
in October. The festival is focused on celebrating the
birth of a family’s first child, dispelling evil spirits, and
on praying for a happy marriage. At night, villagers
charge at the tower with torches. The 25-year-olds
fight them off at the base and the 42-year-olds defend
the top. The event climaxes in a massive bonfire as the
tower is engulfed in the flames.
If you’re traveling with a group that enjoys après
style skiing, consider the Bluebird Chalets in Hakuba.
They’re modern, elegantly designed, and conveniently
located a short stroll from the restaurants, cafés and
bars in the heart of the town. Surrounding the chalets
are Hakuba 47 and Happo ski areas, two of the largest
and most popular resorts in Nagano.
Hakuba Valley is a skiier
and snowboarder’s paradise
Ski runs for everyone from complete
beginners to experienced downhill riders
Stay at a traditional ryokan, a luxury resort
hotel, or a private cabin
Après ski, soak in an onsen or dance the
night away
www.tokyoweekender.com JANUARY 2016

If you find the whole idea of getting fit to be too much of a hassle, you may not be alone. That’s one of the
common ideas that we noticed while checking in on some of the latest trends in the fitness world. The upside
of this is that there are more and more ways to get your exercise in without having to spend hours (or yen)
at a gym. Here’s a bit of the state of the art for improving your condition in 2016
KEEP IT SHORT
It might be a sign of just how busy our lives have gotten, but the
“short workout” trend certainly isn’t just a fast flash in the pan. The
7-Minute Workout was the first brief, high-intensity exercise routine
to make it into the mainstream, but workouts based around short
bursts of activity have been popular in some fitness circles for a
while. The best thing about these bite-sized workouts is that they’re
much easier to say “yes” to than a full-length gym session, and easier
to fit into a tight schedule. All of the fitness apps below can provide
these quick hits of fitness, but if you haven’t been working at all, you
should let yourself get up to speed gradually with these workouts.
WEARABLES EVERYWHERE
Wearable products that measure fitness activity are nothing new,
but they have truly come into their own this year in both form
and function. The Apple Watch is a multifunction product, but a
strong contender in this new space, which also features the reliable
standbys from Jawbone and Fitbit. If you’re on the fence about the
wearable fitness tracker trend, you can dip your toes in with the
easy-on-the wallet Misfit Flash, which should only set you back
about the cost of a night at the movies. Sleep tracking is a common
feature on most of these products, and it’s a good reminder to pay as
much attention to that precious downtime as you do your workouts.
Paired with the many apps that can connect with your wearable
of choice and you can get a detailed understanding of your fitness
progress, and set achievable goals. Of course, this also means that
your devices know when you’ve been slacking...
APPED UP
You may not be able to beat a personal trainer for the kind of dialed in advice and “get in your
head” coaching that a live human being can provide, but a smartphone app will always be
around, and you’re even less likely to leave your phone behind than skip an appointment with
the trainer. We mentioned the Sworkit Pro app last year in our fitness guide last year, and a
few updates have increased the number of exercises that you can use in premade or custom
workout sessions. The Runtastic series got its start, obviously enough, as an app that would get
users ready for running 10Ks and similar distances, but has branched out to everything from
pushups and pullups to collections of weightlifting exercises that you can do at the gym. Zova is
a relatively new product that kicked off in 2014, and
with a monthly subscription, it is one of the pricier
apps, but features a good-looking interface and
Apple Watch integration. Currently, this one is only
available for iOS. One app that we have on our list of
resolutions to try is Lark, an app that chats with you
about your food intake.

KEEP YOUR SMARTPHONE CLOSE AT “HAND”
Tuneband
Exercising with a soundtrack is always more fun, but it hasn’t always been
practical. The days of running with your phone awkwardly in your hand
or having it bounce out of your pocket are over. Tuneband has nailed the
shortcomings of other products in the market with a smartphone holder
and armband that is packed with all the right features. Made from a durable
silicone that allows access to all ports, buttons and camera lenses, the
Tuneband comes with screen protectors included and two soft and flexible
straps with sturdy velcro fastenings to ensure fit and comfort for all sizes.
Price: ¥¥2,800 | Where: www.grantwoodtechnology.com
A STYLISH COACH FOR YOUR WRIST
Jawbone UP2 Fitness Tracker
Wearable tech has had a tough time in recent years with many products
simply not cutting it in the fashion stakes, regardless of items’ functionality
and features. Jawbone’s UP2 tracker (a step up from the UP24 that
we recommended last year, but still a bit more trusted than the newest
model UP3) has done a great job of successfully combining both style and
practicality. Its sleek, lightweight design and range of vibrant colors are
far from just a fashion statement—the UP2 tracks your daily sleeping and
activity patterns, and provides tips and tricks for improvement along the
way. Particularly impressive is the “Smart Coach” feature—your own trainer
that gives you detailed personalized health and fitness advice based on
your habits.
Price: ¥14,000 | Where: jawbone.com
FITNESS FOURSOME
Whether it’s keeping track of your vital statistics, motivating you to take the stairs a few
more times each day, or helping you work the kinks out of sore muscles, this four-member
team of fitness products is a good one to have in your corner.
YOUR OWN PERSONAL MASSAGE THERAPIST
GRID Foam Roller
An invaluable and versatile product, especially for those of us stuck
behind a desk for most of the week. The GRID Foam Roller is ideal for
self-massage and working through any tight muscles, kinks and knots
that get in the way of free and easy movement after too many hours in
front of the computer or a particularly tough workout. Its multitextured
surface is firmer than many traditional rollers, which provides a consistent
and deep pressure that hurts so good. Perfect for the back, glutes,
hamstrings or calf muscles, it comes in a range of colors and sizes.
Price: ¥3,600 | Where: www.tptherapy.com
THERE’S NO OUTSMARTING THIS SCALE
Withings Smart Body Analyzer
Step onto this scale and not only will it tell you your weight
and body composition, all right, it can check your heart rate
through your feet. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections allow it
to connect with your smartphone and feed data right into
a Withings app or more than 60 different applications. The
Body Analyzer can help as many as eight different users set
up weight loss goals that can be broken down into bite-sized
targets, and the companion app can offer a few tips that
might motivate you to stay away from the snacks.
Price: ¥18,000 | Where: www.withings.com

y Michael Bobrove
1. Be Honest
What is the one thing you would like to achieve for yourself that
has always been on the back burner? This should be what you
WANT to do, not what you think you SHOULD be doing. Take
some time to consider what this is, and do not be tempted to
make impulsive resolutions over the New Year’s toast. Be honest
about what truly motivates and excites you.
Committing to lose a lot of weight only through a heavily
restrictive diet is simply unrealistic, especially if you are
passionate about good food. Perhaps changing every third
meal to a delicious low-carb or vegetarian one will keep you on
track—without missing out on a culinary experience. Likewise,
promising to run on the treadmill several times a week is not
sustainable if you find it boring! Alternatives include social exercises
like CrossFit or Zumba, which offer more variety to keep
you interested.
In addition to listing your goals, you may want to include
what can stand in your way. For example, if you are not an early
riser, avoid resolving to run before work. Instead, consider finding
a running partner in the office, who might like to do it over
lunch or at the end of the workday.
2. Keep That List Short
Instead of an overly ambitious list of 12 resolutions, why not keep
it to three or even one that you would like to achieve next year?
Being successful at a few commitments gives you greater confidence
to achieve more, and truly focus on doing them well. After
all, more goals may be added if resources allow!
3. Don’t Go It Alone
You don’t have to do it all on your own to make it happen. Try
sharing your New Year’s resolutions with your co-workers or
closest friends. It has been found that people are more accountable
to their goals when they involve their community. If you’re
looking to get fit next year, a personal trainer can help you get
started and stay motivated.
4. Plan To Make It Happen
Do not be tempted to sign up for the first gym you set your eyes
on. Go for a tour and find out if the gym offers classes you enjoy
and are aligned with your fitness goals. If you’ve got a specific
fitness goal, doing concrete research and consulting experienced
people can help you find out more about how to make it happen.
For example, participating in a marathon involves more than
just a lot of running. Talking to seasoned runners can reveal that
while training is important, physiotherapy support is equally
important for adequate body recovery, and better conditioning
and performance leading up to that marathon day.
5. Nobody’s Perfect
It is just as important to be kind to yourself as it is to be accountable.
Don’t get discouraged if you miss one yoga session; plan
instead to make it for the next one. Remember: a New Year’s
resolution should be a long term goal. You have one year to make
it and keep it. However, if your research reveals that your goal
might not be achievable within the year, consider making it a
two-year goal.
6. Reward Yourself
Above all, don’t lose sight of the big picture—resolutions are
about improving your general well-being and savoring what life
has to offer. While you are making that list, be sure to throw in a
commitment to treating yourself from time to time. That may well
come with trying something new like a Thai massage, disconnecting
yourself electronically from the rest of the world with a spa
retreat, or simply rewarding your senses with a luxurious meal.
Regardless of your resolutions, enjoy the year ahead!
Michael Bobrove is CEO of HealthyTokyo.com, your guide to
Japan’s best health and wellness providers. They spend thousands
of hours locating, visiting and screening high-quality, foreignerfriendly
health and wellness facilities. Users get free access to
their extensive network, useful info for healthy living in Japan, and
special offers.
JANUARY 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com

EXPAT LIFE | WEEKENDER | 19
“Disappearance and Recognition ,-Girl-”, mixed media , 71×22×15cm
Hokkaien
Aoyama Cemetary
To Shibuya
Gonpachi Roppongi Dori
Nishi-Azabu Intersection
Roppongi Hills
Mori Art Museum
Hiroo Station
Gaien West St.
Nogisaka Station
The National
Art Center, Tokyo
National Graduate
Institute for Policy Studies
Roppongi Station
Gaien East St.
Motoki Tanaka
Another Surface
Saturday 16th January- Sunday 31st January
Opening Hours: 12:00 - 19:00 | Closed: Mondays
Opening Reception: Friday January 15th from 18:00 onwards
NANATASU GALLERY
〒 106-0031 Tokyo, Minato-ku, Nishi-Azabu 2-12-4 Ogura building 3F
Te l : 03-6419-7229 | Web: www.na n a t a s u . j p
www.tokyoweekender.com JANUARY 2016

Speaking
in Tongues
by Alec Jordan
You may have thought it to yourself each time you were confronted with a menu that you couldn’t make sense
of, or every time you tried to read an ad on the subway, or tried to figure out what all of the buttons on your
washing machine meant: It’s finally time to improve your Japanese. But where to start? We’ve put together a
few ideas to get you started on your quest. Ganbatte kudasai!
READ WHAT YOU LIKE
One fellow who hit upon a solid approach
to learning Japanese from an early age is
translator, media personality, and tourism
ambassador for Nakano Ward, Benjamin
Boas. Giving the otaku cred of the ward he
represents, it should come as no surprise
that he started off learning Japanese through
manga and video games. We asked him for a
few language-learning pointers.
Do you have any particular tips or tricks
that proved particularly useful to you as a
student of Japanese? To speak, you have to
put yourself in situations where you’re forced
to use Japanese. Group activities can be very
helpful in doing this. Getting drunk with
strangers even more so. Even one drink can
help you relax and make mistakes. Making
mistakes and being corrected is the only way
to learn. For reading, read what you like. You’ll
need to read things over and over to fully
understand them so you might as well go with
stuff you won’t mind repeatedly poring your
eyes over.
What approach would you recommend for
people who are interested in improving
their Japanese?
Figure out what you want to do with your Japanese
once it gets good. Then try to do that,
even though you know you can’t.
What do you think are some of the biggest
barriers that most people have when
trying to learn Japanese?
Kanji is a big one that everyone has to get
through. It’s a slog. Start early and chip away
every day. There’s no shortcut.
THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY
Finally, there might be those of you out there
who might not want that completely open-ended
approach. A classroom environment, or the motivation
of a test, could be just the trick. If you’d like
to get started in an informal class setting, many of
Tokyo’s ward offices and smaller city organizations
offer classes taught by volunteer teachers, which
are a quick (English language!) Google search away.
They’re usually quite affordable, but more advanced
students may want to find something more challenging
before long. And speaking of challenges, there’s
the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Offered
twice a year, this five-level exam (1 is the highest
level and 5 is the lowest) has sections on kanji and
vocabulary, grammar, reading, and listening. It
may not be the truest indicator of your functional
Japanese, but in preparing for the JLPT, you’ll pick up
more than you expected. Added bonus: going to the
exam offers an experience in diversity rivaled only by
dropping by the Immigration Office. (www.jlpt.jp)
CLASSROOM IN THE CLOUD
So we’ll start with the good news. There are more ways to learn Japanese
online than you could possibly imagine. JapanesePod101.com has been
providing Japanese podcast and vocabulary lessons for years, and they’re
still going strong. While there’s plenty of advanced material for grammar
and reading on the site, it’s also a great place for beginners: and naturally,
there’s a lot of audio. When it comes to knuckling down and making your
way through written Japanese, you could go with the flash card systems at
WaniKani or ReadtheKanji.com. The principle behind these apps is called
spaced repetition—basically, the better you remember a given electronic
“flashcard,” the less often it will be called up. These services are designed
specifically for Japanese, but if you are willing to spend some time on similar
products of a more general bent—but with plenty of learning options—
you can try out Memrise or Anki. So, what’s the bad news? With so many
choices, it can be tough to stick with just one method.
JANUARY 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com

IN PURSUIT OF
BEAUTY
Wabist began selling elegant, functional products that epitomize Japanese
craftmanship on its online platform. But in 2014, it opened its first brick-and-mortar
location in Ebisu. Here are three unique pieces that caught our eyes on a recent visit
FRAMESCAPE DOUBLE SET
Japanese people have always believed that gods existed in the natural elements
around us—rivers, mountains, trees, and in each single stone. The art form
known as bonkei, in which miniature landscapes are depicted with small plants
and rocks, originated in ancient times as one way of expressing nature’s divine
beauty. Framescape was specifically developed for creating and displaying these
bonkei creations at home. Grow small plants in the included miniature clay pots
and experiment with the modular design of the wooden frames, steel tray, and
ceramic planters. A bit of Zen for your bookshelf or tabletop.
Price: ¥5,400 (two wooden frames, two planters, artificial soil, one steel tray)
BAMBOO WINE VESSELS
These unique conversation pieces are made by a timehonored
technique for processing natural bamboo.
Crafted by highly skilled artisans, the wine glasses come
in two colors: white, which is the original color of the
bamboo, and the brown shade that results after the
bamboo is smoked. If you’re worried about putting red
wine in these natural containers, fear not: the vessels are
made with a special coating that resists staining by darkcolored
beverages, but still displays the organic grain of
the wood. The rims of the vessels are thin, which allows
the natural taste of the wine to come through.
Price: Set of two (one white, one brown), ¥7,776
SHUKIDARUMA
To understand this product’s name, you’ll need a quick language lesson: yuki daruma
is Japanese for “snowman,” and shuki is Japanese for “drinking vessel.” Put
them together, and you’ll also understand the idea behind the set. The snowman is
made from two sake cups and a sake bottle, which you can warm up in hot water
to make atsukan—hot sake. The two cups work as a cap for the sake bottle so it
heats up more quickly. In summer, when most snowmen would be melting, you
can store the Shukidaruma in the refrigerator for cool sake. Comes in two varieties:
the matte finish “Bisque” and “Glaze,” which has a glossy finish. Price: ¥3,780
Gift Shop Wabist
Address: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Ebisu 1-16-26
Kyowa Building 1F
Open: (Mon-Fri 10:00-19:00 Sat 12:00-18:00)
Web: www.wabist.com | Tel: 03-6459-3451
Email: eplga@wabist.co.jp
www.tokyoweekender.com JANUARY 2016

y Matthew Hernon
From Karne Hesketh’s injury time try in Brighton to Yuzuru Hanyu’s flawless displays on
the ice, it’s been a year to remember for fans of Japanese sports. Here’s a look at some
of the highlights, lowlights and stand-out performances from the past twelve months.
Team of the Year
1. JAPAN RUGBY UNION SQUAD
No doubt about this one. The Brave Blossoms
produced the biggest shock in World Cup
history, defeating South Africa in the opening
game of the tournament. After losing to
Scotland they then went on to win two more
against Samoa and the US. Not bad for a side
who prior to the tournament had only recorded
one victory in 24 World Cup matches.
2. JAPAN MEN’S GYMNASTICS TEAM
After a 37-year wait the Japan team finally
won a gold at the Gymnastics World Championships.
3. JAPAN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL SQUAD
Norio Sasaki’s ladies reached the World Cup
final for the second time in succession before
losing out on the top prize to the US.
JANUARY 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com
Male Athlete of the Year
1. KOHEI UCHIMURA (GYMNASTICS)
The man known as “Superman” hasn’t lost in
the all-around event since 2008, so it came as
no surprise to see him win yet another world
title in 2015. He also picked up a gold on the
parallel bars before leading Japan to victory
in the team competition. Widely considered
the greatest gymnast of all time.
2. YUZURU HANYU (FIGURE SKATING)
On a different planet from the rest, he seems
to set a new world record every time he sets
skates on the ice. The first skater to break the
mythical 300-point barrier.
3. AYUMU GOROMARU (RUGBY)
He’s become a household name since the
World Cup and even boosted tourism in Gifu:
the hand gesture of a Buddhist statue there
resembles his pre-kick action.
Female Athlete of the Year
1. SAORI YOSHIDA/KAORI ICHO
(Wrestling) For the past decade these two
ladies have been so dominant in their categories
it is difficult to split them. In 2015 Yoshida
won her 13th world title while Icho won
her 10th. At 22 years of age, Eri Tosaka looks
like she’ll become the next big wrestling star
from Japan, having claimed her third gold
medal at the Worlds in the 48kg competition.
2. KANAKO WATANABE (SWIMMING)
The teenager produced a late surge in the
200m breaststroke final in Russia to win gold
at the World Aquatics Championships.
3. AYA MIYAMA (FOOTBALL)
The captain and heartbeat of the Japan side
that reached the World Cup Final. Voted the
third-best player of the tournament.

Young Athlete of the Year
1. KENZO SHIRAI (GYMNASTICS)
He’s only 19, but already has three skills
named after him (with a fourth possibly
on the way). Known as the “Twist Prince,”
he is one of the biggest risk-takers in
gymnastics and in October became world
floor champion for the second time. He followed that up by helping
his country win a gold in the team event.
2. KANAKO WATANABE (SWIMMING)
Along with her gold in the 200m breaststroke, she also picked up a
silver in the 200m individual-medley.
3. ABDUL HAKIM SANI BROWN (ATHLETICS)
Broke Usain Bolt’s World Youth Championship record in the 200m
and made the semi-finals at the Worlds. Named the IAAF Rising Star
of the Year.
Best Coach
1. EDDIE JONES (RUGBY)
Speaking to Weekender two years ago,
Jones said that he wanted Japan to “be respected,
with people saying the team have
enough about them to trouble any side in
the world.” It’s fair to say he achieved his
goal with his brilliantly prepared squad
lighting up the World Cup. In November he agreed to become the
coach of England.
2. HAJIME MORIYASU (FOOTBALL)
Won his third J-League title in four years as coach of Sanfrecce Hiroshima
after a play-off final victory over Gamba Osaka.
3. KIMIYASU KUDO (BASEBALL)
Guided the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks to their second successive Pacific
League and Japan Series title. Received the Matsutaro Shoriki Award.
Best Moment
1. KARNE HESKETH’S TRY (RUGBY)
The last play of the match and Japan
could have kicked for a draw. It would’ve
been an unbelievable result against a
formidable South Africa side; however,
the players weren’t satisfied with that
and decided to go for a scrum. It proved a wise decision. Hesketh’s
beautifully orchestrated try gave Japan the most stunning World Cup
victory ever.
2. NATSUMI HOSHI WINS GOLD (SWIMMING)
A few months after having her thyroid gland removed due to Grave’s disease,
Hoshi came from behind to win the 200m butterfly event in Russia.
3. NADESHIKO INTO THE FINAL (FOOTBALL)
Deep into stoppage time, England defender Laura Bassett put the ball
into her own net to give Japan a dramatic semi-final victory.
Biggest Disappointment
1. NADESHIKO HUMBLED IN THE
FINAL (FOOTBALL)
Norio Sasaki’s ladies had done brilliantly
to get as far as they did, but their
performance in the final against the US
was horrendous. Going down 4-0 after
just 16 minutes, their game was effectively over before the crowd had
a chance to catch their breath. Despite scoring twice to recover some
pride, it was a day to forget for Japan.
2. NISHIKORI’S INJURY STRUGGLES (TENNIS)
It was supposed to be the year that Nishikori properly challenged
the game’s elite players. Unfortunately injuries have once again held
him back.
3. SEMI-FINAL AGONY (BASEBALL)
3-0 up in front of a packed Tokyo Dome, Japan looked set to reach the
final of the WBSC Premier 12. Then Korea scored four in the ninth to
stun the home crowd.
Looking ahead to the 2016
Olympics, Weekender previews
some of the Japanese stars we
expect to shine in Rio.
GYMNASTICS
Kohei Uchimura (AA/Parallel bars) and Kenzo Shirai
(Floor Exercise) will be expected to take home golds,
but the main objective for both is a team victory. Japan
boasts a strong group of male gymnasts with the likes of Kazuma
Kaya, Ryohei Kato and Yusuke Tanaka all capable of winning
medals.
JUDO
Japan won just a single judo event in London,
but should do much better this time following a
successful World Championships last year where
they picked up eight golds. Kaori Matsumoto will be attempting
to defend her crown from four years ago while younger names
like Takanori Nagase, Mami Umeki and Ami Kondo are definitely
worth looking out for.
SWIMMING
Japan will go to Brazil with a number of formidable
swimmers including 2015 world champions, Kanako
Watanabe, Natsumi Hoshi and Daiya Seto. Kosuke Hagino, who
missed out on the worlds due to a broken elbow, is arguably the
strongest of the lot and is expected to compete in a number of
events. He was named the World Swimmer of the Year in 2014.
TABLE TENNIS
Players like Kasumi Ishikawa, Ai Fukuhara and Jun
Mizutani are all ranked highly; however, their best
chance of a medal could come in the doubles.
WRESTLING
Traditionally one of Japan’s strongest sports. Saori
Yoshida and Kaori Icho will both be aiming for a record
fourth Olympic title. Eri Tosaka, making her debut at the Games,
has dominated her category in recent years. Other female
wrestlers who could be in contention for a medal are Risako
Kawai and Sara Dosho.
BEST OF THE REST
22-year old Mayu Hamada wanted to be a speedboat racer as
a youngster but is now dreaming of a gold in the Taekwondo
featherweight division. Weightlifter Hiromi Miyake is looking to
follow in the footsteps of her uncle who won gold at the 1964 and
1968 Olympics. Fencer Yuki Ota and archer Takaharu Furukawa
will be hoping to better the silver medals they received at the
London Games. Kento Momota is an exciting prospect in the
badminton competition. World Record holder Yusuke Suzuki and
Takayuki Tanii are likely contenders in the 20km and 50km walks.
www.tokyoweekender.com JANUARY 2016

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JANUARY 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com

Taking a look at Japan’s “possible” futures through the
speculative lens of fantasy and science fiction
By Leslie Lee III
If you know anything about manga, you probably know a lot about VIZ Media.
The company is one of the longest-running and most notable international
distributors of anime and manga. Some of their properties include huge
series like “Naruto,” “Dragon Ball,” and “Bleach.” Last year VIZ Media
expanded into film production with the Tom Cruise sci-fi action thriller “Edge
of Tomorrow/All You Need Is Kill.”
VIZ Media’s venture into Hollywood
was enabled by its decision to
get into the Western dominated
science business. Since 2009, VIZ
Media’s Haikasoru line has brought
translations of popular Japanese
science fiction, fantasy, and horror
to the English-speaking world.
Award-winning author Nick
Mamatas—known for brewing a unique
mix of science fiction, fantasy,
and Lovecraftian horror in works
like “Love Is The Law” and “The
Nickronomicon”—is one of the is one
of the masterminds behind Haikasoru.
Their latest release on the
Haikasoru line is “Hanzai Japan,” a
collection of weird crime stories
from Japan and abroad. It’s the
third in a series of anthologies
that began with the sci-fi focused
“Future Japan” and the fantasyleaning
“Phantasm Japan.”
Nick and co-editor Masumi
Washington have put together an
entertaining and thought-provoking
collection of tales from both
Japanese and Western authors. One
sees yakuza use a monster attack as
cover for a bank robbery; another
has a sentient atlas that helps its
owner get away with heinous crimes.
Nick talked to Weekender about
“Hanzai Japan,” what he looks for
when publishing and a story, and
what he thinks the future of Japan
looks like.
What do you think makes Japan so
fascinating to Western SF/F readers
and writers? Why do you personally
find it interesting?
I suspect fundamentally that it’s a
false Japan—a Japan of the spectacle
comprised of ninja and glowing neon
and tittering geisha—that initially
attracts SF/F readers and writers to
Japan. Only when they dig a little
deeper to they learn about the
society, which does contain those
bits of spectacle, but which is far
more interesting than all of that. I
suppose what I find interesting about
Japan is its ability to navigate the
decades since the end of the Second
World War to become not just an
economic power on the world stage,
but a major exporter of popular
culture.
What’s your favorite story in
“Hanzai Japan”?
That’s sort of like asking
a parent who his or her
favorite child is. But I do
think there is something
special about “Monologue
of a Universal Transverse
Mercator Projection”
by Yumeaki Hirayama. I
would be amazed if it
doesn’t get nominated
for some sort of award
next year.
As an editor, what are you looking
from stories or writers when you
publish them on Haikasoru?
What I look for is something
roughly analogous to the sort of SF
Western readers already know, but
that doesn’t slavishly emulate it.
Sometimes we throw caution to the
wind and publish something entirely
off the wall, like “SELF-REFERENCE
ENGINE” by Toh EnJoe—a risk that led
to a reward in the form of a Philip
K. Dick Award Special Citation.
The book presents visions for an
alternative or future Japan; what do
you imagine is the future for the
country and culture?
I think that in the same way science
fiction and the pressures of the
Cold War influenced the United States
to become a contradiction—a giant
military tied to an individualistic
ethos—we’ll see a similar thing in
Japan: science fiction and population
pressures will lead to massive
innovations in robotics and portable
AI, and increased collectivist
attitudes among the non-robot
population, even as AI serve to
make people more self-sufficient and
isolated from their fellows.
What crime would you commit in
future, or present day, Japan?
Present-day: eating a food other
than ice cream, while walking down
the street, with my bare hands,
though that’s more of a social
violation than a crime.
Future: Kaiju rustlin’.
Hanzai Japan:
Fantastical, Futuristic
Stories of Crime From and
About Japan is available
on Amazon in paperback
or Kindle format. For
more information about
Haikasoru, visit
www.haikasoru.com
www.tokyoweekender.com JANUARY 2016

Bill with film world’s Kaz Kuzui (left) and Shake Shack Japan CEO Ryota
Tsunoda (right) at the Grand Opening for Tokyo’s first Shake Shack
Tokyo’s Longest Running
December was back-to-back parties and events, and I
always like to start out the first column of the new year with
something very special. This means moving back a bit for
Dewi Sukarno’s glittering Grand Imperial Charity 18th Banquet.
The venue was, as usual, Tokyo Meguro Gajoen’s “Maiougi,” which
has been given a facelift and is even more beautiful than before. Dewi
set up the elegant evening in cooperation with the Earth Aid Society NPO
to benefit the Japan Red Cross Society and AAR—The Association for Aid
& Relief, Japan.
As it is at all of her events, the huge venue was wall-to-wall people
that included top politicians, film stars, celebrities, fashion girls and the
cream of Japanese society. The variety of really outstanding fashion was
right-out-of-Vogue awesome.
My thanks to Dewi for one of the best tables in the house. It was next
to her table and people seated there included my ex-business partner
Ceremony President Tsukasa Shiga, Swiss medical student Michel Bielecki,
politician Akiko Sano and several top businessmen, including the
president of Steiff Teddy Bear. The toast was by Peruvian Ambassador
Elard Escala.
The seven-course gala dinner as delicious as always. This was followed
by entertainment that included a show by veteran popular singer,
Ikuzo Yoshi and two modern dances by Mai Nakanishi and her partner
Tatsuya Kukizawa. Mai, who’s Chinese, has an almost identical twin sister
who lives in New York where she’s a dancer as well. The big surprise
at our table was when Shiga bought a painting by Dewi for ¥800,000 in
the silent auction. Since he graduated from St. Mary’s, Shiga has become
Society Page with Bill Hersey
a real business tycoon and has many successful businesses as President
of Ceremony, which includes wedding halls, funeral parlors, and movie
production. He’s a Rotary Club member, helps support the Urawa Reds
Soccer team and contributes to many charities. He is also an art collector
(he owns a gallery) and dedicated F-1 race fan. Congratulations to Dewi on
her super beautiful event.
TURKISH NATIONAL DAY RECEPTION – IMPERIAL
The popular diplomatic couple, Turkish Ambassador A. Bulent Meric and
his wife Kumiko chose the Imperial Hotel for their National Day Reception
in October. The program included the playing of both the Turkish and
Japanese anthems, an informative welcome speech by the Ambassador, a
congratulatory speech by a Japanese government VIP, and a toast by another
dignitary. Japan and Turkey have excellent relations and guests included
high ranking government officials, as well as a full house of business leaders
and other VIPs from both countries.
Turkish food is very special and the Imperial’s Food and Beverage
Department worked with the embassy staff to prepare a lavish buffet of
Turkish and Japanese favorites as well as many western specialities. It was
a nice evening with many interesting people and good friends—perfect for
the occasion.
TOLMAN’S SHINODA EXHIBITION AT CONRAD HILTON
As the pop song goes, “Oops I (actually he) did it again.” I’m talking about art
expert/top dealer Norman Tolman. If you were able to see the exhibition by
the world famous artist Toko Shinoda at the Conrad Hilton, you know, I and
JANUARY 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com

PEOPLE, PARTIES, PLACES | SOCIETY | 27
Azerbaijan Amb. Nursel Ismayilzada and
Rana Ismayilzada
Michel Bielecki, Tsukasa Shiga, Haitian Amb. Judith Exavier
Uruguay Amb. Eduardo Bouzout, his wife Monica
Atul Parekh, Chinese Modern Dancer Mai, French artist Marc-
Antoine Squarcafichi, Michel
Michel, Kaoru Maki, Shiga Tsukasa
Dewi’s Annual
Charity Gala Dinner
Dewi and Tsukasa with Dewi’s painting that he bought at the silent auction
Mori Hotels & Resorts’ Mika Mori, Norman Tolman,
renowned artist Toko Shinoda, Miwako Date
Actor/Model Hide Kusakari, Norman, Shinoda-sensei
Bill, the film world’s Fran and Kaz Kuzui, film director
Masahiro Toda
Toko Shinoda
Exhibition
Geraldine Donovon, Qatar Amb. Yousef Bilal, his wife
Jamilah, Conrad Hilton’s GM Heinrich Grafe
Turkish
National Day
Good friends Toko (103) and Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara (104)
exchange years of memories
The hosting couple, Turkish Amb. A. Bulent Meric,
his wife, Aichi Prefecture official Tadahiko Ito
Seiko Ishikawa (Venezuela), Samir Arrour (Morocco), Khalid Al-
Muslahi (Oman), Kazuyuki Hamada, Manilo Cadelo (San Marino)
Kuwait Amb., Maria Teresa and Manuel Lopez, Fashion
Designer Yamamoto Kansai
www.tokyoweekender.com JANUARY 2016

28 | SOCIETY | PEOPLE, PARTIES, PLACES
Saudi Military attaché Abdul Rahman al-Harbi, Politician
Yuriko Koike, Saudi Amb. Ahmed Younos S. Al Barrak
Palestinian Rep. Waleed Siam, Jordanian Amb. Demiye
Haddad, Qatar Amb. Yousef Bilal
Top video cameraman Richard Colombo and his wife
Saudi
National Day
Tongan Amb. Tania Tupou, Sumo champ Konishiki, his lovely wife Chie
Actor and model Hide, Dominican pop star Kat
Film producer Georgina Pope, DJ Guy Perryman
Bill rocks the mic at his yearly Orphans’ Charity party
In & Around
Kenichi Yamamoto and Tomoya Nakamura of National
Azabu at one of their super BBQs
Sarah Muir, her mom Yuko, Carol Yoshida, Pamela Mori
The Iretons—Charo William and Bill—with National Azabu’s
owner Tetsu Uemura
Robert Zemeckis, director of “The Walk,” which opened
at the Tokyo International Film Festival
NOVEMBER JANUARY 2016 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com

PEOPLE, PARTIES, PLACES | SOCIETY | 29
many other art lovers know.
Norman and the Tolman Collection’s staff always come up with special
exhibitions and interesting ideas to promote their special collection of
paintings and prints by many of Japan’s best known artists.
Toko will turn 103 next year, and I’m happy to see she’s still painting.
To celebrate, Norman was able to get 102 paintings and prints of her work
over the years and that, plus her huge famous mural that permanently
hangs in the lobby of the Conrad Hilton, added up to 103. I had the privilege
of attending the opening reception which was wall-to-wall international
VIPs. Long time friends I hadn’t seen for a long time who were there
included the film world’s Kaz and Fran Kuzui and Gabriel from event
planners Black List.
People I met for the first time, and really enjoyed talking to, included
the famous doctor (at St. Luke’s Hospital) and author (of many medical
and health books), Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara—he’s 104 and still very cool.
Father Grimm of the Franciscan Chapel told me Japan has 60,000 people
who are over 100 years old. Other VIPs at the opening included Mika Mori
of Mori Trust Hotels and Resorts and her daughter Miwako Date who
is President of Conrad Hilton. I stayed in their beautiful Westin Hotel in
Sendai a week after the terrible Tohoku earthquake and tsunami when
I was helping Bill and Matthew Ireton distribute baseball uniforms and
other supplies to several schools that really suffered during that natural
disaster. Back to the reception, I really enjoyed meeting the Conrad Hilton
GM Heinrich Grafe and his super staff. Congratulations to all concerned
on the tremendous success of the exhibition.
SAUDI ARABIA RECEPTION – PALACE HOTEL
It was Saudi Ambassador Ahmed Yonos S. Al Barrak’s first time to host
a big National Day celebration. The occasion was his country’s 85th
National Day and he chose the palatial, completely renovated Palace Hotel
for the well attended, first class midday reception. The ambassador, his
staff and many Saudi students there wore national costumes which really
were perfect for the kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s special day.
Guests included former sumo champ and great philanthropist
Konishiki and his wonderful wife Chie. In just a few years she learned to
speak, sing and dance Hawaiian, and the busy couple often do musical
shows together. If you ever have the opportunity to see them perform,
don’t miss it. They’re really good. It was also nice seeing popular
politician Yukiko Koike there that day. She attended university in Cairo,
speaks fluent Arabic, and is a real expert on Arab affairs.
I was really surprised (and of course, happy) when two Saudi
students I’ve known for a long time came over and gave me a set of CDs.
They knew I had been a guest of the Shoboshi family when Ambassador
Fawzi was posted here, and I was invited to the five-day culture festival
in Jinadriyah near Riyadh several years ago. The festival was truly
fantastic and the Saudi National Guard’s hospitality marvelous. My new
CDs are a collection of the music of the festival over the years, and I
listen to them almost every day. Talk about great memories of
a travel experience I’ll never forget. The festival will be in
February this year.
SPECIAL PEOPLE
So lucky to meet so many great people through the column and plan on
writing more about them this year. My sincerest thanks to Director/Producer
Karen Severns of Kismet Productions and her husband Koichi Mori
for their help in helping me set up a screening of Tsukasa Shiga’s feature
film “Boku ha Bousan” (“I Am a Monk”) at the Foreign Correspondents’
Club. The film produced by Tsukasa Shiga was one of the many projects
he did to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of his company, Ceremony. There
are plans to show it with English subtitles. I’ll let you know when I know.
Thanks as well to Gene Pele who once again donated all kinds of fun
T-shirts for my annual boxes to unfortunate people in the Philippines
at Christmas time. Thanks to so many of you who let me bring Swiss
medical student Michel Bielecki to many of the events I was invited to.
Michel, whose father is a famous doctor in Zurich, loves Japan and thanks
to several friends in high places here I was able to get him into a special
program at Keio for several months. He made a lot of friends, and worked
hard while he was here. He also taught me quite a bit about operating my
iPad, including setting up my blog. He returned to Europe mid-December,
will complete his studies there, and hopes to come back here several times
a year to work on a project on traditional Japanese handicrafts he’s set up.
Another great happening because he was here was meeting and getting
to know his super mom who was a top model in Europe at one time, and
is still the epitome of chic, as well as being super cool. I’m so lucky with
people. Thanks to Michel, I also met American photographer Anthony
Wood, his wife Junko and son Kenji, who came to my house with lots of
equipment and took some interesting photos. Anthony’s really good—I
loved the photos and if you need any special pics, I strongly recommend
you contact him. Tel: 080-2107-8690 or anthony@anthonywood.net.
I really enjoyed a lunch at the Grand Hyatt’s Oakwood restaurant with
two of my talented friends: the movie business’s Georgina Pope (she’s
from Australia) and top British DJ Guy Perryman. They are both interesting
and fun people who are both super busy, so I really enjoyed our
time, and the delicious crab cake and New York cheesecake at the popular
restaurant. Georgina had one of her films in the Venice Film Festival and
has just finished shooting a short film with Elizabeth Moss from the TV
series “Mad Men”—the popular actress was here last summer shooting
a segment of TV’s highly rated “Girls.” Watch for Georgina’s specials on
Japanese films on NHK. She gave me some interesting news about the
entertainment industry and the NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) that
actors, actresses, and others in the film business have to sign when they go
to work on a new project.
In addition to all his regular DJ gigs, Guy is very busy on a big project
for Refugees International. The event will be held on the night of February
5, on the 27th floor of the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel. This is the second
year Guy’s done this. At last year’s “Night on Broadway,” we had a huge
success and I’m sure this year’s “Night in Hollywood” will be as well.
Delta Airlines is a big supporter of this worthwhile project. For
information, call 03-3407-1145. A few months back, it was a
busy night at National Azabu, where guests enjoyed the best
in barbecued lamb, delicious hamburgers, great ham, and
Bonito’s paella. There was a fine selection of wines for the
adults and special desserts for the kids. Staff members of
the popular store provided the great live jazz music.
Big Pictures President Mark Fuoti and the US Embassy’s
Lt. Col. Joe Sweeney at Hiroo Segafredo
Boris and fashion guru John Bosworth
at Hiroo Segafredo
French wine dealer Philippe Sauzedde and friend
at Hiroo Segafredo
www.tokyoweekender.com JANUARY 2016

COMING TO A CINEMA NEAR YOU IN JANUARY
JAN 8
BRIDGE OF SPIES
There was a time when it wouldn’t
have been possible for a new
film from industry titans Steven
Spielberg and Tom Hanks to slip under
the radar, but in a way it’s fitting that
Cold War–era historical drama “Bridge of
Spies” has done just that. This film may
not have got the press but it has certainly
earned the plaudits. The director and star,
who collaborated in the past on “Saving
Private Ryan,” “Catch Me If You Can” and
The Terminal, return to tell a true story
of espionage and heated negotiation in
the 60s. Hanks plays lawyer James B.
Donovan, a man tasked with representing
Rudolph Abel, a possible KGB spy.
Representing the enemy, and doing a
better job at it than his superiors or the
public would have liked, puts Donovan
and his family under intense pressure.
Later, when an American U-2 spy plane is
shot down over the Soviet Union and its
pilot is taken captive it’s up to Donovan
to negotiate the exchange. Based on real
events and from a script co-written by the
Coen brothers, “Bridge of Spies” is a smart
throwback to the tense, political Cold War
movies of old.
THE WALK
JAN 23
French high-wire artist Philippe Petit’s
staggering walk between the Twin
Towers of the World Trade Center in
1974 has already been chronicled in awardwinning
2008 documentary “Man on Wire.”
Robert Zemeckis has now given the story
the drama treatment, capturing Petit’s feat
in heart-stopping 3D. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
plays the diminutive Frenchman as he
arrives in New York and assembles a team
in order to accomplish his dream. The film
has fun with the crime caper–like drama that
precedes the main event but the film really
soars once “The Walk” begins. Petit’s suicidal
mission is staggeringly realized as the camera
swoops and soars to capture the tiny walker
trembling above the great city. Not one for
sufferers of vertigo, this is a film where a 3D
screening is highly recommended.
CRIMSON PEAK
Guillermo del Toro has carved out
a niche of his own as a master of
deliciously dark fantasy. “Crimson
Peak” is the director’s take on the gothic
horror films of old; a deliciously macabre
ghost story with the sumptuous visuals of a
period drama. Mia Wasikowska stars as a
young American author, Edith Cushing, who
falls for a dashing and mysterious stranger,
Tom Hiddleston’s Sir Thomas Sharpe. After
marriage the pair move from the New
World to the Old as they set off for Sharpe’s
ancient family estate of Crimson Peak in a
desolate corner of England. Thomas’s sister
Lady Lucille Sharpe (Jessica Chastain) is not
the only sinister presence young Edith has
to deal with inside the crumbling walls of
the mansion; the estate is populated with
gruesome apparitions and terrible secrets.
JAN 8
IT FOLLOWS
JAN 8
One of the most talked-about horror
movies of recent years and destined
for cult-classic status, “It Follows”
was one of 2015’s indie success stories. The
film takes that old familiar horror cliché, sex
is sinful, and gives it a post-modern twist to
create a terrifyingly relatable tale for our
time. College student Jay (Maika Monroe) has
been dating Hugh, which inevitably leads to
a fumble in the back seat of his car. After the
event, Jay awakens to find she’s been tied to
a chair as her lover proceeds to explain that
he was being stalked by a demonic entity that
is passed from person to person via sexual
intercourse. Now the supernatural force is
following Jay and there’s only one known way
to get rid of it. “It Follows” is a slick and stylish
affair that takes the best of classic horror and
gives it a modern overhaul with an awesome
80s synth-inspired score.
JANUARY 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com

PREVIEWS | MOVIES | 31
JAN 30
10 OF THE BEST: THE MUST SEE MOVIES OF 2013
> BEST OF THE REST This Month’s Releases
BLACK MASS
Johnny Depp, whose late stage career seems almost entirely
comprised of playing over-the-top characters while disguising
himself under buckets of makeup, tones it down and gets serious
for his latest role. Ditching the colorful costumes for a bald head,
Depp has taken up the mantle of notorious Irish-American gangster
James “Whitey” Bulger. As crime boss of South Boston’s Winter Hill
Gang, Bulger was unchallenged in the area until Italian mobsters
the Angiulo Brothers arrived on the scene. Bulger is given the
chance to gain an upper hand over his competitors when the FBI
ask him to turn informant—an alliance that will quickly spiral out
of control. “Black Mass” charts the rise and fall of this infamous
murderer and mobster. Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch,
Kevin Bacon, Dakota Johnson and Corey Stoll join Depp in the
stellar cast in a film from “Crazy Heart” director Scott Cooper.
PADDINGTON
JANUARY 15
Charming family comedy with
Ben Whishaw (“Q” in the Bond
films) voicing Paddington, the
little bear from deepest, darkest
Peru who is found by the Brown
family at a London train station.
THE INERASABLE
JANUARY 30
Ai Hashimoto and Yuko
Takeuchi play a student/author
team investigating the series
of unpleasant events that led
to a curse hanging over an
apartment building in this
J-horror throwback.
JAN 16
THE HALLOW
JANUARY 5
Dark fairytale in which a
family move to the Irish
countryside only to be
tormented by an ancient
presence lurking in the woods.
IN THE HEART OF THE SEA
Award-winning “Apollo 13” director Ron Howard returns to tell
the true-life tale that inspired Herman Melville’s classic novel
“Moby-Dick.” Setting sail in the year 1820, the New England ship
Essex undertakes a voyage “In the Heart of the Sea” to catch
whales and harvest them for oil. Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin
Walker, Cillian Murphy, Tom Holland and Ben Whishaw form
the ship’s crew as they bond and bicker before an event which
will alter the course of their lives forever. At the height of the
expedition a whale of staggering size appears and destroys the
ship, and after a mammoth battle against the planet’s mightiest
mammal the survivors find that the fight for survival has only
just begun. This period adventure pits man against an opponent
of righteous size with a fearsome hunger for revenge that would
eventually be turned into a story for the ages.
MONSTERS:
DARK CONTINENT
JANUARY 9
Sequel to 2010 indie hit
“Monsters” that increases the
action quota to the detriment of
the film’s drama.
NINA FOREVER
JANUARY 19
Ben’s ex-girlfriend Nina, who
died in a car crash months
earlier, returns from the dead
to sarcastically torment her
former lover and his new
girlfriend every time they have
sex in this jet-black romantic
comedy from the UK.
This month’s movie previews were written by Christopher
O’Keeffe. For more movie news and reviews visit
www.tokyoweekender.com
www.tokyoweekender.com JANUARY 2016

AGENDA
1
2
3
4
6
7
8
5
AGENDA: THE WEEKENDER ROUNDUP OF WHAT’S HAPPENING IN JANUARY
1 JAN 26
Grimes
Her Ac!d Rain Tour has
taken the world by storm.
Catch one of the year’s rising and most
highly rated Canadian artists at her
concert honoring her new album “Art
Angles.”
Where: Akasaka Blitz, Akasaka
How Much: ¥6,500
More info: www.tokyoweekender.com
2 JAN 29-31 3 JAN 29-31
4 JAN 8- FEB 11
Darumaya CD & Vinyl
Fair
Browse 70,000 used,
new, and (almost) forgotten albums at
one of the world’s largest record fairs.
Peruse old favorites and discover
new artists.
Where: Darumaya Record Shop, Ikebukuro
How much: Free
Yokohama Brewer’s Cup
Keep warm with a beer,
or several, if you opt to
enter the drinking contest. Enjoy good
food and lively crowds, and be sure to
secure a ride home.
Where: Osanbashi Hall, Yokohama How
Much: ¥500 to enter
More info: www.tokyoweekender.com
Flowers by NAKED
From the masterminds
of illumination at Tokyo
Dome City comes a new 3D, immersive,
gallery of projections and explosive art
in a walk-through experience.
Where: Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall,
How Much: ¥1,300
More info: www.flowersbynaked.com
More info: www.darumaya.to
5 JAN 10-24 6 JAN 11 7 JAN 21
Sumo New Year Basho
Get your year off to a
rumbling start with the
all-day sumo tournaments. Fun for
the whole family, it’s sure to be an
exciting way to ring in 2016.
Where: Ryogoku Kokugikan Stadium
How Much: ¥2,200- ¥14,800
More info: www.sumo.or.jp/en
Coming of Age Day
This pivotal festival in Japan
is a fundamental event in the
year, especially for youth celebrating
adulthood. Don a kimono and visit a
temple—or Disneyland.
Where: Temples around Tokyo;
How Much: Free
More info: www.tokyoweekender.com
Rakugo in English
Prolific Japanese comedian
Shinoharu Tatekawa is performing
his entire routine in English
for a special event. Join in the fun
and share a laugh!
Where: Fukagawa Edo Shiryokan,
How much: ¥2,300
More info: www.tokyoweekender.com
8 JAN 8-17
Furusato Matsuri
This annual festival
celebrates all prefectures
of Japan by showcasing their local cuisines,
dance, costumes, music, and art.
Experience all of Japan in one week.
Where: Tokyo Dome City, Bunkyo-ku
How Much: Free
More info: www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/furusato
JANUARY 2016 www.tokyoweekender.com

JANUARY | AGENDA | 33
JANUARY
9
10
11
12
9 JAN 16 - FEB 11 10 JAN 15-16
Kon Ichikawa Cinema
Setagaya Boroichi
One of Japan’s best directors
is being celebrated
the market is back, if you
Market The second part of
for 100 years of masterpieces. His 27 missed the first. Steaming food, eclectic
home-made goods, and vintage
works are being shown to commemorate
his vision and Japanese history. collectables are available.
Where: Kadokawa Shinjuku Cinema
Where: Near Kamimachi Station, Setagaya
How Much: ¥1,600
How Much: Free
More info: www.cinemakadokawa.jp
More info: www.tokyoweekender.com
11 JAN 9 12 JAN 23-24
Ageha New Year’s Party
Earth Garden Winter
Already scoping out the
A festival that is serious
first party of 2016? Look
about advocating for
to Ageha, starting off the year with the environment, where you’ll find
a bang, featuring 30 DJs, artists, and eco-friendly booths, products, food,
performers on all stages.
workshops, and performances.
Where: Studio Coast, Shinkiba
Where: Yoyogi Park, Shibuya-ku
How Much: Free (¥1,000 drink)
How Much: Free
More info: www.ageha.com
More info: www.earth-garden.jp
www.tokyoweekender.com JANUARY 2016

BACK IN THE DAY: JANUARY 1982
Check out the scene in Tokyo from 1982! You can read the rest of this issue (No.2
1982) and view Weekender’s 45-year archive online. www.tokyoweekender.com/
weekender-archives/

PHOTO BY FORWARD STROKE
Opening in January 2016
A sanctuary in a pulsating city
Oakwood Asia Pacific will be opening its 9 th property—Oakwood Premier Tokyo in
Japan. Located near the Marunouchi district, the property is a 2-minute walk from
Tokyo Station—the gateway to the whole of Japan.
Oakwood Premier Tokyo boasts 123 fully furnished apartments and is housed from
the 6 th to the 19 th floor of a 19-storey multi-serviced complex. Complete with shopping
and dining options to complement your stay, Oakwood Premier Tokyo is designed to
offer an unbeatable combination of exclusivity, convenience and luxury.
Oakwood is celebrating 15 years in Japan
For details and reservations, please visit http://www.oakwoodasia.com/tokyo/oakwood-tokyo-marunouchi.php
BANGALORE BANGKOK BEIJING CHENGDU GUANGZHOU HANGZHOU HONG KONG
HYDERABAD INCHEON JAKARTA MANILA MUMBAI PUNE SEOUL SHANGHAI TOKYO