Tokyo Weekender August 2017

Ruth is an excellent ambassador and has made many friends for
both herself and for Israel. I, along with others there, was happy to try
the Israeli food as well as Japanese favorites. The laid-back ambiance
of the evening really brought back some great memories of my two
trips to Israel – and the many dynamic people I met there.
THAI FESTIVAL IN YOYOGI PARK
I was up early on Saturday, May 13, and joined Thai Ambassador Bansarn
Bunnag, his wife and many Japanese and Thai VIP visitors at the
18th festival opening ceremony. The Thai Festival is always one of the
most popular and this year was a celebration of the 130th anniversary
of Thailand-Japan diplomatic relations.
Unfortunately it was raining that day, but it was still crowded
and everyone really seemed to be enjoying themselves. My thanks
to Ambassador and Mrs. Bunnag who sat me next to the new Indonesian
Ambassador and Mrs. Arifin Tasrif who kindly shared their
umbrellas. This also gave me the opportunity to meet and talk with
the guest of honor: Thai Deputy Prime Minister, General Thanasak
Patimapragorn. He, the ambassador, and several Japanese made
short meaningful speeches to officially open the colorful and interesting
event. After the speeches, there was a dynamic show featuring
Thai musicians, dancers and traditional puppets. After the show, VIP
guests moved to a big building that had been set up for the festival
where they could check out the photo history of Thailand and many
of the lifetime accomplishments of their late great, highly respected,
much loved king Bhumibol. Everyone enjoyed the bountiful Thai
buffet, and mixing and meeting with the many high powered guests
there that day.
Happy to say the weather cleared up on Sunday and Yoyogi was
packed with people enjoying the food, shows by top Thai entertainers,
a kick boxing exhibition, the “Thai village” and the warm happy ambiance
of the truly great Thai happening.
Our Thai and friends from other members of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which was founded in Bangkok
August 8, 1967, are celebrating their 50th anniversary. The many activities
to celebrate included an exhibition of photographs portraying
ASEAN’s busy calendar of all kinds of worthwhile projects. The exhibition
of photos by her Royal Highness Princess Maria Chakri Sirindham
portraying ASEAN activities over the years was a big success at
the Thai festival 2017. Our congratulations to all concerned.
ROTARY CLUB MEMORIAL CONCERT
FOR GRACE SAITO
I enjoyed a superb Japanese lunch at the Peninsula recently
with Saitama business tycoon Tsukasa Shiga and Rotary Club
International director Hiroaki Kobayashi. I’ve known Shiga since he
was a student at St. Mary’s and Hiroaki since his days as a leading
exec at several top hotels. In between the many courses I had
the opportunity to bring up the possibility of a charity concert in
memory of the late and great Grace Saito. A true philanthropist, she
had over the years supported some of the Rotary’s many projects
by donating the proceeds from the many classical concerts she
sponsored. Kobayashi liked the idea and a few months later
I received an invitation to a charity concert for the eradication of
polio dedicated to Grace Michiko Saito.
It was a full house at Sogetsu Kaikan for this truly wonderful lady.
HIH Princess Takamado, a friend and fan of Grace, was the guest of
honor. The performance by seven top classical musicians and singers
was excellent. The closing – when everyone there was asked to join
them in singing “Amazing Grace” – was an outstanding finale for the
occasion. Our thanks and congratulation to Rotary International for
this much-deserved evening.
MIN-ON GALA-CHINA NATIONAL PEKING OPERA
First, my sincerest thanks to Min-On’s outgoing President Hiroyasu
Kobayashi for the many invitations over the years to so many wonderful
cultural exchanges from all over the world. He will keep working
with the new President Kazuto Ito as adviser. I’m sure they will
continue to bring great song and dance performers to tour and perform
all over Japan.
Hiroyasu ended his super successful time as president with the
China National Peking Opera Company’s colorful shows in 28 venues
across Japan. The special occasion that featured 58 cast members and
crew celebrated the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic
relations between Japan and the People’s Republic of China. It
was a kaleidoscope of song, dance, speech, combat and acrobatics.
The sets, costumes and makeup were spectacular. (Jackie Chan, by
the way, came from a Peking Opera background.)
After the show guests had the opportunity to meet, mix and enjoy
a lavish buffet with the cast. Many didn’t speak English, but those
who did helped us communicate. It was great and I feel that if I get to
Beijing, I will have some great new friends there.
At the party I met Soka Gakkai liaison officer Joan M. Anderson,
and she told me a long-time friend, jazz musician Herbie Hancock,
recently published a book he wrote together with the head of the
religious group, Daisaku Ikeda. I also had the privilege of meeting
and getting to know another great showbiz personality, Tina Turner,
who’s also a member of Soka Gakkai. She was doing concerts in Manila
when I was visiting there.
AZERBAIJAN NATIONAL DAY RECEPTION
In the Okura Hotel’s luxurious Orchard Room, Azerbaijan Ambassador
Gursel Ismayilzade and his lovely wife Rana hosted a reception
on the occasion of their Republic Day and 25th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Japan.
The program opened with a lady from Azerbaijan dressed in
national costume singing the national anthems of the hosting country
and Japan. This was followed by a very informative welcoming
speech by the host. It was a colorful gathering with several of the
children there wearing national costumes. Azerbaijani women, as
you can see by the photos, are wonderfully fashionable – at another
recent party Rana wore a dynamic dress by Issey Miyake, and for her
national day reception, she wore an original Italian creation. The
Ismayilzades are a very popular couple, and it was wall to wall
interesting people enjoying the relaxing special celebration.
Tokyo Weekender Editor Alec Jordan, Le Monde’s
Philippe Mesmer, Kit Nagamura, and Imperial Hotel
President Hideya Sadayasu at the Imperial Hotel’s Frank
Lloyd Wright 150th Anniversary Exhibition
World renowned diabetics doctor Kempei
Matsuoka, his daughter Sachiko Yuasa,
her daughters Sakura and Aoi, and his wife
Yasue at Saiseikai’s reopening festival
Charo and Bill Ireton, Natsuko Toda, actress Diane
Lane, Teruyo Nogami, and Eleanor Coppola
TOKYO WEEKENDER | AUGUST 2017 | 45