Tokyo Weekender - December 2017 - January 2018

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Society TOKYO’S LONGEST RUNNING SOCIAL COLUMN WITH BILL HERSEY I find it hard to believe, but this super city of ours has been even busier than usual the last few months. It’s been impossible to get to all the happenings I’d like to, and with the holidays coming up soon, it’s going to continue to stay that way right up to Shogatsu, the traditional Japanese New Year celebration. I’m starting this column over the three-day holiday from November 3 to 5, and driving around this morning, I was really surprised at the number of big – and for the most part beautiful – Christmas trees and traditional decorations that are up already or going up all over Tokyo. By the time you read this, I’m sure old Edo will be beautifully decorated for the holiday season. Tokyo is changing in other ways too. We’re looking to the Olympics in 2020, and what I’m sure will be a very busy schedule, and in preparation for that there’s renovation and construction everywhere. If you’ve lived here long and know Japan, you can see that our city, which is already known as one of the world’s cleanest and safest in the world, is getting better every day. Just checking out all the great events over the last few months has been amazing. THE VON WERTHERNS’ GERMAN UNITY DAY GARDEN PARTY Germany’s popular diplomats Ambassador Hans Carl Freiherr von Werthern and his wife Elisabeth are always busy, and things were no different for them this fall. They celebrated their day of German unity on the 3rd, and they had Oktoberfest celebrations at restaurants, bars, and National Azabu. The weather was perfect on the evening of the 3rd, and the embassy residence and spacious garden were packed with many friends and business leaders from both the Japanese and German communities. Special guests included Wolfgang Tiefensee, the State Minister of Economy, Science and the Digital Society. The food (German, of course) and the ambiance were very special. Elisabeth, our hostess for the evening, is British, and always looks chic in original fashion. For the unification celebration, she asked the Imagine One World Kimono Project group to help create her outfit, and they came up with something so lovely. I especially liked the Steiff German teddy bear on the back of her obi. Another outstanding German event I attended was a special performance of Brahms’s “German Requiem,” which marked the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. This truly wonderful evening was held at Ikebukuro’s super venue, the Tokyo Metropolitan Theater. The R500 organizing committee, a small group from the worlds of music, religion and business, got it all – and I do mean all – together for more than 250 orchestra and chorus members. Under the baton of esteemed Maestro Robert Ryker they brought together an event that epitomized the beauty of musical harmony. A big and much deserved congratulations, and thank you to the organizing committee: Mari Baba, Roger Brookin, William Grimm, Masao Himer, and Robert Ryker. Kudos as well to guest artists Misaki Morino (soprano), Johann Schram-Reed (bass baritone), Satoko Kawagoe (pipe organ), and the over two hundred musicians and vocalists from the Tokyo College of Music Chorus and Tokyo College of Music Symphony Orchestra. They couldn’t have been better. Mrs. International Global 2017 beauty contestants Far too many patrons to mention here, but I do want to thank the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Embassy of the Republic of Austria for their support as well as the support of many others who helped make it all happen. ANTONIO INOKI WRESTLING EVENT On the sports scene, pro wrestler, politician, and long-time friend Antonio Inoki hosted a special evening. I couldn’t go, but it looked intriguing. The publicity brochure featured a picture of him wearing his traditional bright red scarf. My Japanese friends read the unusual party name and translated it as Inoki’s “before his funeral party.” I haven’t had time to look into what this actually meant, but I’m happy to hear he’s fine. The program featured well known international wrestlers from all over the world and I heard it was very exciting. Seat prices were ¥5,000 to ¥50,000, and I’m sure all the pro wrestling fans who attended thoroughly enjoyed it. POGOSYAN’S ARMENIAN 26TH INDEPENDENCE DAY AT OKURA Armenian Ambassador Grant Pogosyan, his wife Natalia, their son Tigran, and the embassy staff hosted a party at the Okura Hotel on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. Guests included several friends I haven’t seen for some time, but there were also plenty of new faces. The ambassador’s speech was very informative and he talked about the many projects that Armenia and Japan have undertaken during their 26-year relationship. He was especially enthusiastic about attending the Aurora Prize 2017. This year the million dollar prize went to Dr. Tom Catena, a Catholic missionary who is the sole doctor in the Nuba Mountains in Sudan. According to all reports, the 54 | DEC 2017 - JAN 2018 | TOKYO WEEKENDER
ARMENIAN 26TH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION 1. Armenian attaché and Mrs. Yeruand Markosyan 2. Hiroko Matoba, Farida Rahman 3. Edward Papazian, his wife Hiroko and their friend Zkanna Tase 4. Armenian Amb. Grant Pogosyan, his wife Natalia and Pres. of the Japan-Armenia Business and Cultural Group Yasumine Satake 5. Turkmenistan attaché Serdar Annagylyjov, Tigran Pogosyan 6. Avex Music’s Christopher and Stephanie 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 7 9 11 10 12 TURKISH AMBASSADOR BIDS SAYONARA 7. Vatican Amb. Archbishop Chennoth, popular politician Kazuyuki and Mrs. Yamada 8. Panamanian Amb. Ritter N. Diaz, Tuna King – Kiyomura Corp. Pres. Kiyoshi Kimura 9. The hosting couple: Turkish Amb. Ahmet Bulent Meric and his wife Kumiko 10. German Amb. Hans von Werthern, his wife Elisabeth, Head of the Crown Prince Household’s Nobutake Odano, his wife Tamayo 11. Romanian Amb. Tatiana Iosiper, Sara Hitchens (United Kingdom) 12. Fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto, Rana Ismayilzade (Azerbaijan) TOKYO WEEKENDER | | DEC 2017 - JAN 2018 | 55
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Tokyo Weekender - December 2017 - January 2018

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