Volume 04, Number 06
Partyline
The last few weeks have been full of so many international and interesting people. Entertainment Drive’s founder Miechael Bolanos and producer/director Matt Sampson were in town for a few weeks and really enjoyed entertaining them and being entertained by them as well. The timing was right as a mutual friend, Broadway star Carol Woods was here as well starting in a month’s run of the popular musical Chicago for Kyodo Tokyo. Carol plays the role of Matron “Mama” Morton. At the dress rehearsal, learned that Backstreet Boys member Kevin Neil McCready was in the show as well, and did a great job as the lawyer, Billy Flynn. I’d done several parties for the Backstreet Boys, and really enjoyed getting together with Kevin, and seeing another side of his talent.
Thanks to Johnny Kitagawa I was able to invite Michael, Matt, Carol and Croatian Ambassador Drago Stambuk to his show Endless Shock at the Imperial Theatre. The three-hour musical which stars Koichi Domoto, runs for two months and tickets sold out in a matter of hours. After the show we went backstage to see Koichi and some of the other stars. Koichi and his brother Tsuyoshi are a showbiz duo called Kinki Kids. They’re in the Guinness Book of Records for the Most Number One Hit Songs. Others at Endless Shock that evening included Olympic Gold Medalist figure skater Shizuka Arakawa.
It was quite a contrast the next night when I joined the international cast of Chicago at the Kabuki theater for a performance by the legendary Tamasaburo. After the show a few of us were invited to spend some time with him. What an interesting man. Our seats at Kabuki were the best—right by good friends former Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata and his wife Yasuko.
Others in our city recently: Nobu Matsuhisa, Bobby DeNiro, his wife Grace and Meir Teper for the opening of the new Nobu restaurant in the Toranomon Towers office building behind the Okura Hotel. The opening was wall-to-wall Japanese Geinojin (showbiz personalities) and other VIPs—photos and rundown later.
Back to Carol Woods, that super lady really did her patriotic duty Feb. 21 when she headed for Yokosuka where she, backed up by a US Marine band, belted out the blues—and did her a capella version of God Bless America for visiting US Vice President Dick Cheney and the 5,000 US military personnel stationed on the huge aircraft carrier, Kittyhawk.
Samrat
Had another enjoyable evening—one with some great Latin music by Diva Noriko and a talented trio at Yog Kapoor’s Hiroo branch of his popular Samrat Indian Restaurant chain. Other friends of Yog who were there included Sitar Master Chandrakant Sardeshmukh who taught the late and great Prince Takamado sitar, and will perform at the Birdlife International (Princess Takamado is honorary president) Taj Enterprise Fifth “Wings of Love” Charity Dinner Gala at Hilton Tokyo May 25.
Noted artist Masami Yanada, who I first met at the Mt. Hagen Festival in Papau New Guinea was also at Samrat. You can see his beautiful work on the parliamentary building in Port Moresby, as well as on a series of PNG postage stamps. Masami’s bringing an exhibition of contemporary paintings from India at the Ueno Royal Museum.
Parties and More
Let’s move on to our city’s always-busy party scene for lots more good people. It was a very special evening at the New Otani when Omanian Ambassador Mohammed bin Youssef Al Zarafi and his wife Samir Al-Zadjali hosted a glittering reception on the occasion of the Sultanate of Oman’s 36th National Day.
For the occasion the host and hostess looked regal in the country’s national dress. Their three beautiful older daughters Muntaha, Thuriya and Sharifa, each wore costumes from three regions of Oman. Their young son Youssef (ten) who goes to St. Mary’s and daughter Malak (nine) who’s a student at Seissen also dressed in Omanian fashion. Muntaha who recently received her Master’s degree at the University of Brisbane in Australia will marry this June. Sharifa now attends university classes in Brisbane and Thuriya goes to Sacred Heart here in Tokyo. Mohammed and Samira and their children are a popular diplomatic family and the celebration was as expected wall-to-wall interesting people.
It was a glittering evening with huge photos of their ruler Sultan Qaboos bin Said as well as beautiful scenery and business development. One wall was lined with congratulatory floral arrangements, there was an illuminated ice carving of Oman’s national emblem, and a buffet of Japanese, Western and Arabic specialities. Oman is one of the few countries I haven’t visited in that part of the world. I actually drove to the border in the UAE, but “No visa, No entry.” I’ll plan better next time. Everyone who’s been there, including two of the world’s top travelers, Mitsuo and Lilo Maruyama do nothing but rave for the country and its people.
As always a party hosted by the US Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer and his wife Susanne was very special. For this one, their home was beautifully decorated for the holiday season with a huge Christmas tree (where they greeted guests) in the main reception room, and an amazing display of handcrafted traditional figures everywhere.
The Schieffers, do, as most of us know have an excellent staff. Along that line, I want to thank the US Residence Manager Alan R. Royston for his time and consideration during that very busy evening for him.
Norman Tolman has to be one of the busiest guys I know. In addition to his world travels, he’s always setting up exhibitions, and art-related events or hosting a dinner in someone’s honor.
I’m certainly glad I had the opportunity to drop by the Shinsei Bank during the Tolman Collection’s 18-day exhibition of Chinese art titled “Color of Your Life.” The bank’s awesome high-in-the-sky event space provided a perfect setting for the dynamic Chinese art.
Sayonaras and Accolades
As you know, there were countless sayonaras for outgoing Turkish Ambassador Solmaz Unaydin. One of the first was a very enjoyable intimate dinner hosted by Mitsuo Lilo Maruyama at the prestigious “Ukai Tofu” by Tokyo Tower. It was a very layed back affair with good friends, and an unbelievable variety of tofu dishes.
Congratulations to: Philippe Sauzedde who received the Merite Agricole Award as Officier from the French Minister of Agriculture, Dominique Bussereau. The award was presented by French Ambassador Gildas Le Lider at the embassy. Philippe, among other things is brand Ambassador—Dom Perignon. Soichiro Yoshida, Honorary Consul of Sweden was decorated with the insignia of the order of the Polar star at the Swedish Embassy.
New Places / New Faces
My thanks to Park Hyatt Tokyo GM Robert Barker for his introduction to the newly-opened Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa. Located in Hakone Gora, one of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring areas. The interiors and service are a great mixture of modern and traditional Japanese culture. For reservations and inquiries call 0460-2-2000.
Masae Tokiwa, one of the members of Hilton Tokyo’s dynamic (and always helpful) Public Relations department has taken on a new job as Marketing Communication Manager of the Hilton Odawara Resort and Spa. I’ve stayed there, and believe me, the resortspa is the perfect getaway. For information call Masae at 0465-28-1224.
Happenings
Don’t forget the 9th Arab Charity Bazaar at the Egyptian Embassy Saturday, Mar. 17 from 11am–4pm. There’s food, drink, handicraft, henna, fashion and fun for all. Raffle grand prizes include roundtrip air tickets to the Arab countries.
The Asai-Pacific Ladies Friendship Society will present their 2007 Asia-Pacific Festival & Charity Bazaar on Wednesday, Apr. 18 from 10:30am–3pm at the ANA Hotel. There’s a sale of Asian and Pacific handicrafts accessories, jewelry, foods, and home baked goods.
Entertainment includes traditional song and dance of member countries. Door and raffle prizes include roundtrip air tickets to many Asian–Pacific countries.
For information call: 03-3785-4852 or 03-3416-6071 (after 7pm, please).