Volume 04, Number 11
Partyline
It's early in May and I'm working on my column for our June 1st issue. We do really work ahead, and this is just a gentle reminder that if you have any special events we can help you promote and publicize we really need the material a minimum of three weeks before the publication date. I really like to put future happenings in Party Line's "To Do" section, and, of course, there's "Things to Do" info on the first page of each Weekender issue.
There's so much happening in our city all the time, it really is difficult to pick up on everything, and sometimes I miss really special happenings because I learned about them too late. A good example was a Tibetan Cultural Promo at a Japanese Temple during Golden Week.
Then there was the African Bazaar at the Ibis Hotel. Looking ahead, I'd like to mention the Tokyo Grace 10th Anniversary "Charity Concert for the Eradication of Polio". The concert will be held in the ballroom on the 39th floor of the prestigious Park Hyatt Hotel from 2:30pm (doors open at 2:00pm) on Thursday, June 7. Supporters for the classical music event joining "The Tokyo Grace's chairwoman" Grace Saito (a true philanthropist) include the Rotary Foundation Polio Plus Partner Committee, Tokyo Niki Kai Opera Foundation, and Park Hyatt Hotel. For reservations or info, call Grace at 03-3497-0111ext.1225 or fax her at 03-3401-4810. I first got to know Italian chef Andrea Cozzolino, his wife Mariko, and their son Alessandro at Segafredo in Hiroo. Like me and so many Italian friends, the laid-back café is my, and Andrea, and his family's favorite hangout.
Needless to say I really appreciated the invitation to join Andrea, his family, and many of his interesting friends for his birthday celebration. Actually, a sign outside the restaurant said, "Andrea's 24th ("In his mind") birthday party." Guests were a colorful and fun mix of mostly Italian and Japanese. It was a super celebration with excellent Italian food and a birthday cake, and a festive, festive mood. Andrea's super homemade bread, I might add, is very special as is he and his family.
From the Italian buffet at Andrea's, let's move over to the highly-acclaimed Dynasty Chinese Restaurant in the Hilton Tokyo Hotel. For Mitsuo, Lilo, and Helge Maruyama's annual Chinese Feast. This was the first time the Maruyamas held this culinary event at the Hilton, and the hotel's general manager Christian Baudat made sure his staff (they're the best) went all out to make it the special evening that it was. The menu for the dinner was course after course of Chinese favorites—all specially prepared for the Maruyama dinner. What a feast.
It was a totally relaxed dinner where guests frequently changed tables and had the opportunity to chat with everyone there. Lilo, Mitsuo, and Helge, as well as the Hilton staff, really know how to do a gettogether like this—and do it well.
Still at the Hilton, the General Manager Christian Baudat, a true European (he's Swiss) had a special lunchtime ribbon cutting a six meter long cake-cutting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the European Union. Romanian Ambassador Aurelian Neagu took time out of his busy schedule to join Christian in the ribboncutting. The Hilton's marble lounge is always busy for both their luncheon buffet and afternoon dessert buffet. Most there had cell-phone cameras, and were busy photographing the half-a-dozen Hilton staffers when they made a grand entrance carrying the cake.
Later that day, the E.U. Commission here and members of the Union held a huge celebration on the 52nd floor of the Mori Tower Building in Roppongi Hills. Prime Minister and Mrs. Shinzo Abe were special guests, and I'll have photos and a rundown on the celebration later. I've covered several of the many, and I do mean many, sayonaras for Turkey's super and super-popular Turkish Ambassador Solmaz Unaydin. This week we will run a few photos of the sayonara that the sharp, charming, chic and very popular lady hosted at her residence. It was, as expected, wall-to-wall interesting people, great Turkish food, and all with a warm laid-back ambiance. The only downer was knowing that Solmaz would be leaving. We wish her all the best back in beautiful Turkey.
Sorry I had to miss Israeli Ambassador and Mrs. Eli Cohen's huge reception at the Hotel New Otani on the occasion of the 59th Independence Day of the State of Israel. In addition to greetings from the Ambassador, and congratulatory speeches by guests of honor, there was a concert by the Shalom Choir. Hopefully I'll have photos of the special event later.
Also sorry I had to miss a performance of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream by the International Theatre Company London. This was the latest in a series of highly-acclaimed British stage plays brought over by Ashley Associates. My congratulations on what I heard was an evening of Shakespeare at its best. I am glad I got over to the spectacular Hyatt catering and food reception at the Grand Hyatt. It was truly an evening of good people, superb food, and relaxing music with a variety of original table settings and spectacular ikebana. It turned out to be a really great evening for me. TV personality and actress Kyoko Spector and actress Kanda Uno convinced me I should go to the fourth floor garden and try to win a prize. Each of us were given a Hyatt room key-card at the entrance. When I inserted mine, a little green light started flashing, and I was told I won the grand prize—a one-night stay for two in the Grand Hyatt's Presidential Suite! Wow! I never win anything, and now I'd be sleeping where Madonna, Al Gore, and so many other famous people had slept when they were in Tokyo. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to that. Photos and a rundown on the Hyatt reception later. Word spreads fast, and when I went downstairs after the party to get my car I received a lot of enthusiastic applause from the hotel's super staff in the lobby and the parking area. Nice people all.
I never realized that the "Samantha Thavasa" bag line modeled by Paris Hilton, Penelope Cruz, etc. was actually designed by a Japanese man. Seems, as successful as he is, the guy doesn't always get his way. A few people I know got "some sort of flyer" saying Michael Jackson was going to be in the Samantha Thavasa store at a certain time on a certain day. They went to see the star, but he didn't show, and from what I heard, Michael had not made a commitment to be at Samantha Thavasa's. He did spend considerable time at the huge BIC Camera store in Yurakucho. The management obligingly closed the store to other visitors during Jackson and his entourage's visit. ACTV's Dan Smith worked closely with Michael during his visit, and told me that he was really surprised to find him so pleasant and for a celebrity, quite easy to work with.
Travel
A visit to Malaysia anytime is an exciting, colorful, and always enjoyable travel experience. This year Malaysia celebrates its 50th anniversary of nationhood and believe me, they have a full calendar of all kinds of special events for the celebration. These include parades, cultural presentation, food fairs, open houses, sports events, concerts, dances, theater, etc., etc. Kuala Lampur will be especially busy with their "Colors of Malaysia" events, which run through June 25. There are still some good package tours available, for information call the Malaysian Tourist Office at 03-3501-6691 or check their website at www.tourismmalaysia.or.jp.
I met Malaysian Minister of Tourism Datuk Seri Tenoku Aunan Bin Tengku Mansor at his reception at The Oriental Mandarin. The personable minister really knows what he's doing.
The art world lost two very prominent members recently. First, noted artist Clifton Karhu who worked closely with the Tolman Gallery passed away on March 24th. It was also with great sadness that the Tolman Gallery and artistic community in Japan mourned Yamamoto Nobutaka (Taka-san)'s passing due to complications from cancer. Taka-san worked at the Tolman Gallery in Shiba Daimon for over twenty years, and was dedicated to not only the Japanese prints sold by the gallery, but also its website, which he designed, artists, clients, and even the look of the gallery, which he contributed to through flower arrangements. Thought of as a member of the family by those who worked closely with him, and admired and appreciated by artists and customers alike, Taka-san will surely be missed by all who knew him.