Volume 04, Number 13
Partyline
Generally speaking I like to drive, and am certainly happy about that. With a full schedule of events all over our city, almost every day, it would be impossible to get to as much as I do if I didn't drive, or have a driver—and that's not about to happen. Just having a car doesn't solve all the problems. Once you get there you need a place to park, and the powers that be have gone all out to make Tokyo one of the most difficult cities in the world for the average car owner. The sad part of it is that those behind all the rules and regulations don't have to worry. Most have drivers, own buildings, or have connections with those who do. It really seems strange in a country where the automobile business is so important that they make it so difficult for the average working man to have a car.
I realize it's not nice, but I have shouted not nice things at those guys—and the occasional girl—in lime green who keep walking all over Tokyo taking photos of cars, measuring distances with a tape measure, and sticking those ¥15,000 tickets on cars, vans and trucks, and just about everything except those huge luxury cars that are owned by those who could well afford to pay. I do feel a little bit guilty when I do it as I realize that it's a job for the many—and I do mean many parking-law enforcers, it is just that this type of law enforcement is so inconsistent and selective and let's face it, Tokyo doesn't have enough parking. This means the people who own parking spaces/lots can up the price, and that many businesses where there isn't parking lose business. I know of several small restaurants shops, etc which have had to close because of this.
In the early stages of the newly enforced parking laws, they were tagging Fed-Ex, laundry and a variety of other vehicles who just parked long enough to do their job. In addition to the fine, points were deducted from the drivers' licenses which sometimes meant the loss of the license and the drivers way of making a living. I have heard there's been some wheeling and dealing going on and apparently some delivery companies are paying to avoid their drivers being ticketed. If this is true, it makes you wonder where that money is going.
I am well aware that there are parking problems and of course laws all over the world, but as usual in cases like this, our Japanese friends really go overboard. I'm sure if all the delivery trucks were ticketed that stop for a short time to make their deliveries in many major cities around the world, there would be a strike. It's amazing what stopping these services would do. The average Japanese with their “accept-all” mentalities don't really get into protesting that much, and in many ways, suffer for that.
Let's move on to our city's social scene and nice things. I'm happy, as always, to report the annual Refugee International Japan (RIJ) charity event was a huge success. This was the 17th year for RIJ's biggest fundraiser, “The Art of Dining”. The always gracious, always chic HIH Princess Hitachi joined in the ribbon cutting and took time out of her busy schedule to talk with each of the 21 participants about their table settings. Another super-chic lady—Lady Fry, wife of the British Ambassador, was director of this year's exhibition. If you have been to the Queen's birthday celebration at the British Embassy, you know she really knows what she is doing when it comes to table settings, ikebana, and art. Participants this year included long-time friend Lisa Akikawa. Lisa was in several films many years ago I helped do publicity for. Now she's a well-known bead embroidery artist.
Kudos to the British School—their kids looking like they're right out of a Harry Potter film—they put a lot of time and effort into their settings. Daniele Yoshikoshi used the Cote d'Azur where she and her husband Koichiro have a beautiful country home as the inspiration for their beautiful setting.
It was nice meeting Tom Wedgewood (8th generation of the legendary porcelain makers) and his wife Yumiko. I always remember back in Perrysburg Ohio, one of my grandmother's (God Bless her soul) cherished possessions was a Wedgewood soup bowl.
Our sincerest congratulations to the members of RIJ and their friends who worked so hard to make the Art of Dining the big success that it was.
There was a large turnout as well at the Apostolic Nunciature when Archbishop Alberto Bottari de Castello hosted a reception on the occasion of the second anniversary of the pontification of his holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Once guests congratulated the host they moved into the garden to talk with friends, enjoy the bountiful buffet, and the midday break. They had put up tents just in case it rained, but the weather stayed nice. Of course, that meant someone had to tell the host “somebody up there likes you.” I heard that twice! Over at the Grand Hyatt, Thai Airways International Public Co. Ltd hosted a grand reception on April 5. In addition to saying sayonara to M.L. Bhudhisarn Varavarn, who has been general manager here for three and a half years, the event was to introduce his successor Wiwat Piyawiroj, but unfortunately his arrival date had to be changed; I'm looking forward to meeting him soon. Buddy Varavarn, as he's known to his many friends here, was a graduate of St. Mary's, spoke in Japanese, and had a great deal of know-how about doing business in Japan. Guests at the party included the top airline, hotel, and travel business executives. It was nice seeing United Airlines' Mark Schwab, as well as meeting other Star Alliance members.
The Park Hyatt's General Manager, Robert Barker, was there with his gorgeous and outgoing wife Connie, and a beautiful lady, his sister Jane Hood, who was visiting from London. I also enjoyed talking with the Four Seasons Hotel's Hiro Kobayashi. Sorry a photo that I took of him was out of focus.
Ran into Thai Airways Marketing Manager, Iwao Kawabe, at the super successful (about 300,000 people) Thai festival at Yoyogi Park recently. He told me that Buddy is busy settling into his new home and job as Thai Airways Director in the UK, and Wiwat is doing the same here in Tokyo. We wish them both all the best. Thanks to Haitian Ambassador Jean Claude Bordes, I had an enjoyable break with some very interesting Japanese during Golden Week. This took place in a house art gallery near Shibuya. Others there included artists, producers, and actors. I especially enjoyed talking with a fine young actor about Mongolia. He had been there recently working on Kadokawa's epic film on Genghis Khan. Alin Solan had produced an excellent buffet of Haitian food, which everyone enjoyed. I was also happy to share the artistry of six Haitian painters Jean Claude had given me during his first tour of duty here. They're at the top of my list of favorite prized possessions.
As I previously mentioned, after 27 years, the Lexington Queen has reopened under new management— the progressive Kaguwa Company—and under the new name, New Lex—Edo. Kaguwa put a lot of money into completely renovating the club and it looks really good. Drop by and check it out for yourselves.
People
Looking forward to hearing about Jan Vulevich's (US Embassy) trip back to Mobile, Alabama for her high school class' 20th reunion. I am sure that was fun. The nice girls at my local 55DPE shop must have gotten tired of my teasing them about the photo albums they had on display. The albums read “Lovely caskets for your splendid memories”. Seems our Japanese friends would rather use funny—if sometimes ridiculous English— than pay a foreigner a little bit to help.
One of my pet peeves is guests using someone's party to promote their own projects. There's one lady who always overdoes this. Her purse is full of flyers and she keeps busy passing them out to anyone and everyone wherever she goes. She's as bad as some of the guys pushing club flyers on the streets of Roppongi; actually it's worse because these are private parties.
Missed
What is always one of the social events of the year—the laid back and enjoyable annual garden party hosted by Mitsuo, Lilo, and their son Helge at their beautiful home on the hillside in Tochigi ken. It's a day of nice people, excellent home-cooked food, and relaxing in the Maruyama's spacious Californian-style home, or in one of the gazebos by the pool in their huge garden. We all need to get away from the city once in a while, and the Maruyama's residence is country living and nature at its best. I did go to the colorful Asia–Pacific Ladies Friendship Society 2007 Festival and Charity Bazaar and will have a rundown and photos later.
Sorry I couldn't be at the check sharing party they held June 14 at the Hotel East 21 Tokyo. Proceeds from the bazaar go to worthwhile projects in the 21 participating countries.
On the 29th, Luxembourg Ambassador Michele Pranchere Tomassini hosted a reception at Luxembourg House for a special exhibition of the cooperative works of Luxembourg painter T. W. Marque and Japanese photographer H. Yamaguchi.
Michele and her family will be leaving Japan soon. She's done a fantastic job as Luxembourg's top representative here and will really be missed. More on this exceptional lady later.