Volume 04, Number 12
Partyline
I had a really interesting lunch at the new La Colina Mexican restaurant in Tokyo Midtown recently and want to recommend this fine eatery. For the most part, the mainly Mexican staff, the food, and the service are really excellent. The interior is very Mexican chic and the outdoor dining area overlooks the park. La Colina is on the first floor of Midtown Galleria. Try it—you'll like it.
People at the lunch, coordinators of the internationally renowned Dance 4 Aids, included the project's founder, ballerina Lynne Charles, Project Manager Jennifer Manino, and long-time friend Barbara Levine who is communications coordinator. The purpose of our meeting was to discuss Lynne's ballet charity event, which will be held at the Seishonen Center in- Yokohama on August 20–22.
Titled Dancing 4 Aids the project will bring some of the worlds top choreographers and dancers together to perform in a really dynamic program—an open day, a workshop, and a charity gala. I'd like to mention a few of the generous, kind, and caring dancers. They include— Jose Carreno, Shoko Nakamura, Lienz Chang, Mara Galeazzi, Thiago Souares, and Gregor Hatala. If you would like to be involved with the Dancing 4 Aids project please make a donation. I'm well aware there are many people out there asking for donations, but I can guarantee all money donated to Dancing 4 Aids will go to making this event a success. All proceeds will go to the proper treatment of innocent children, whose lives have been affected by the pandemic in Africa. Lynne Charles and Francois Morechand-Nagataki, president of the Honorary Committee of Medicins du Monde Japan and patron of the event will see to that. The accountant for the project "will be happy to answer any questions donors might have."
I'm a strong believer that people are basically good, thoughtful, caring, and do what they can to help the less fortunate. People like Air France and KLM's General Manger Claude Therevin, Hilton Tokyo General Manager Christian Baudat, Grace Saito, Bill and Charo Ireton, Takako Okoso, Steve Haynes, and ACTV's Dan Smith are among those who make me know what I believe is right. God bless them all.
Meanwhile, do yourself and the world a favor and support this project. For more info call 080-5683-8222 or email: donations@dancing4aidsorphans.org
I'm sure I'll have more later, but for now, back to our city's social scene. It was a beautiful evening in every way at the ANA Hotel's Prominence Hall on March 20. The occasion was a reception to commemorate the launching of Boeing B777-200 aircraft for Austrian Airlines flights between Vienna and Narita. The special event was patterned after a virtual flight and once the visiting guests had congratulated the hosts, Director Network and Long-haul Sales Herbert Liess and Austrian Airlines General Manager for Japan and Korea, Georg Illichmann, they were escorted into the reception area by the head-to-toe, chic, reduniformed airline cabin crew. The buffet was a culinary and artistic achievement with the best in continental and Japanese food served as it is on the airline's flights. From Vienna to Tokyo, the meals are catered by noted caterer, Attila Doguclan's prestigious company, Do & Co., who also cater for the F1 formula racing team. Outbound from Tokyo, Austrian Airlines use Star Alliance member ANA for catering which is excellent as well.
Everything in the 777-200's interior is new, from seats to entertainment systems. Business class seats and economy class seats have both been upgraded and each has its own video monitor with a wide selection of programs to chose from. Austrian Airlines has daily (except Thursday) direct flights to Vienna. I've made the trip a dozen times on Austrian Airline's Airbus and always found it the epitome of laid back, enjoyable flying. Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to a Boeing 777-200 flight to the beautiful city of Vienna sometime soon. On the occasion of the 89th anniversary of the Independence Day of the Republic of Estonia, Ambassador Peeter Miller hosted a midday reception at the New Otani. It was a well-attended event that gave guests a chance to congratulate the host, see friends, meet people for the first time, and enjoy the buffet.
The Brunei Ambassador Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Adnan Buntar, his wife Yura Alaiti, and their staff hosted a colorful reception at The New Otani on the occasion of Brunei Darussalam's National Day. The Adnan Buntars are a popular couple and as expected it was wall-to-wall with people. Many of the embassy staff brought their kids with them and they looked super Brunei chic in their national costumes.
I appreciated Yura introducing me to her daughter Nitha Quaini. After graduating from Seisen she'll attend classes at a university in London. She, as you can see by the photo, is a very pretty girl and she's extremely bright as well.
Yes my friends—here's a bit more about the Irish ambassador Brendan Scannell, his wife Margaret, and the Irish community's many, and I do mean many, activities, to celebrate St. Patrick's Day (the national day) and 50 years of Ireland–Japan diplomatic relations. In this column I'd like to cover the super reception the Scannell's hosted at the Okura's really nice venue—Ascot Hall. Guests of honor that evening included the Irish Minister of Health, Tim O'Malley, his wife and his children, plus the Japanese Foreign Minister, Taro Aso. There were speeches by the ministers; both are very dynamic speakers. Aso-san, I might add, is very animated as well. The buffet was Okura food at its best and, as most of you know, that's excellent.
At the entrance hall to Ascot Hall there was an interesting display about Irish people who have really made their mark here in Japan. They included Lafcadio Hearn, who was professor of English Literature at the Imperial University of Tokyo, John William Fenton who wrote the Japanese National Anthem, Kimigayo, the missionary and educator Charles D. West who taught English at Tokyo University, Thomas James Waters, who designed Ginza, and Reverend William Thomas Grey, the father of Keio Japan Hockey, plus many many more.
Our African friends have really been keeping busy! On May 19 and 20 they held a colorful and exciting African festival at Hibiya Park. Highlights of the event included dancing and drumming.
On May 25 the African Diplomatic Corps (ADC) and United Nations University hosted an international symposium on the occasion of the celebration of Africa Day 2007. The theme was The Financial Instruments for the Promotion of Infrastructure, Trade, and Investment between Japan and Africa. Speakers included the Minister of Finance and former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, and Dr. Simon N. Guiamba, special advisor to the African Union (AU). Perspectives from the Group of Eight (G8) were presented by the German Embassy, which was given the presidency of the G8 in 2007.
On May 25, South African Ambassador, Baldwin Sipho Ngubane, hosted a reception in the Okura Hotel's Ascot Hall on the occasion of his country's Freedom Day. That was one of those evenings I really wish I would have had a clone. Ambassador Ngubane's reception started at 6:30pm and I had already committed myself to Taj Enterprises/ Hilton Tokyo's Fifth Annual ‘Wings of Love' gala evening. This is a prime fund-raiser for Birdlife International HIH Princes Takamado's honorary president, and she of course was at the glittering gala. I'll have photos and a rundown on that later. Also, I hope good friend Baldwin will send photos of the celebration.
As I mentioned before the legendary Lexington Queen (27 years in Roppongi) closed last November. Well, the club has been taken over by a more progressive company, Kaguwa. They already have the fun show-club Kaguwa behind McDonald's in Roppongi. This really is the only fun show-club of its kind—a one hour musical (Western and Japanese) worth seeing.
The new owner put a lot of money into the new Lex. After 27 years it really did need renovating and it's really looking good. Our opening night was a celebrity packed blast and it's really nice to see so many of the old Lex's customers back and having a ball. Drop by and you'll see what I mean. Watch for a rundown and photos on The New Lex—Edo's opening night party in the next column.
The Guardian Angels, those hardworking guys and gals with the red berets who voluntarily help keep our city safe need your help. Carlos, who heads the Roppongi group, says they really need two bicycles.
I'm trying to contact the Ishibashi (Bridgestone) family, but meanwhile, if anyone out there has a decent bike they'd like to donate to the Angels, please give me a call at 090-3200-6767.