Volume 04, Number 18
Partyline
Sunday August 26th. It's not quite as hot as it has been, and old Edo is really happening. Over in Azabu Juban it's a butt-bumping mass of people from just about everywhere enjoying the annual and very popular Azabu Juban festival. Had to take a detour this afternoon as Omotesando was blocked off for a very lively and colorful parade of Japanese dancers and drummers. Nearby Yoyogi park was also super busy with all kinds of special events going on. Koenji was a blaze of activity amd color as well with their huge Awa Odori traditional summer festival. There's a big antique festival at Yasukuni shrine and last night and tonight, fabulous fireworks all over the city (actually country).
Other things coming up, and pretty much over by the time you read this include fashion week with shows and events around-the-clock. This also means a lot of models coming in just for a week or so most are OK, but there's always a few that like to tell you they are the “top model in New York, Europe, etc” and they can be pretty obnoxious. Oh well, here today, gone tomorrow.
The streets of Asakusa were full of Brazilians and Brazilloving Japanese in colorful carnival costumes shaking their booties to salsa music in the annual, popular, and very energetic version of the big carnival in Brazil.
Our Brazilian friends by the way, have really been busy. Enjoyed the Brazilian fashion show at Omotesando Hills. More on that later, but for now I want to let you know they were serving the healthy Acia berry energy drink, and I learned this is available at Natural Lawson. On Sep. 7 Brazilian Ambassador and Senora Andre Amado hosted a reception at their home to celebrate their countries National Day and there was a two-day people packed Brazilian festival in Yoyogi Park on Sep. 8 and 9.
There were a lot more nice South Americans here during the Chilean Officers training ship, Esmereldas, one week visit. As always we really enjoyed having the young officers and crew party at the New Lex.
Had to miss a few of the opening events at the awesome New Peninsula Hotel in Hibiya. My thanks to General Manager Malcolm Thompson for taking time out of his truly busy schedule to show me his beautiful hotel before it opened. Will talk a lot more about the lobby, rooms, restaurants, event venues etc later. Believe me they're all very special.
Forget what musical the song came from but sang Everything is beautiful at the ballet in the Hilton Tokyo lobby when I photographed the dancers from Lynne Charles' Dancing 4 Aids Orphans America, and during their rehearsals, at Francoise Morechand and Johnny Walkers party to promote the charity at Dice restaurant on the 57th floor of the Dentsu building in Shiodome, and of course during intermission and backstage after the super show in Yokohama. Once again, more on this later. I would however like to extend a personal thanks to a good friend, and real philanthropist, Hilton Tokyo's General Manger Christian Baudat. I introduced him to Lynne and he provided rooms for the top ballet dancers from all over the world who came to perform in the concert. He really helped make it all happen. As I so often say here in old Edo, the beat goes on. Now let's move back a bit—quite a bit.
The Sri Lanka festival 2007—Experience nature's best which was held in Yoyogi Park was, I am happy to report, bigger and better than ever. Special guests at the opening ceremony included popular politician Yasuo Fukuda, his wife, their son Tatsuo, Akie Abe and high ranking Shibuya-ku officials. The festival featured the many natural attractions of Sri Lanka and included Sri Lankan food, spices, Ceylon tea, Ayurveda products etc. There were also spectacular performances by Sri Lanka's most famous dance-percussion ensemble, Channa Upuli. The grand raffle draw offered holiday packages to the beautiful Sri Lanka with return flights on Sri Lankan Airlines. It was two colorful and cultural days of fun and all good things Sri Lankan. Our congratulations to Ambassador and Mrs Ranjith Uyangoda, the Embassy staff, the Sri Lankan Tourist Board, Sri Lankan Airways, Sri Lankan Tea Board, Sri Lankan Business Council of Japan, Sri Lanka Association in Japan, National Gem and Jewelry Authority and many others who put so much time and effort into the truly marvelous Sri Lanka Festival 2007.
This was the fifth anniversary of the Wings of Love Charity Gala dinner, and HIH Princess Takamado, Noritaka Ichida, Director of Birdlife International, TAJ Enterprise Director Atul Parekh, jewelry designer, Kazuo Ogawa and Hilton Tokyo's General Manager Christian Baudat and his super staff went all out to make it a very special evening in every way. The program opened with a speech by Atul Parekh. This was followed by a very meaningful speech by HIH Princess Takamado —Honorary President of Birdlife International. There was a toast by HE Hemant K Singh, the Ambassador of India. Guests really enjoyed the dinner—a variety of excellent Indian food prepared by Hilton and visiting Indian top chefs.
Ichida san made an interesting presentation on Birdlife activities and Kazuo Ogawa presented his colorful, cultural and dynamic Romance of India show. In addition to performances by top Indian artists and musicians that included Dr. Neena Prasad, Dr Sardreshmukh and Asman Pandit, violin virtuoso Sheena Kinohara who studied in India played the original composition for Wings of Love. Many of the elegant sophisticated costumes were designed by celebrated couture designer Kiyoshi Yamamoto. The grand door prize was two return tickets to India on Air India and the raffle special prize was two return tickets to London on British Airways. It was a beautiful evening in every way, perfect fot the occasion. A big kudos to all concerned.
Former Tokyoites, Ron and Maria Anderson, who now live in NYC, do really get around. The last time I talked to Maria they were heading to Canada for a few weeks with their family. Now (end of August) Ron's on a business trip to Seoul and Shanghai and Marie is visiting her family in Lebanon. During their last visit to Tokyo, where they have so many friends, their busy schedule included a laid back lunch hosted by Mitsuo and Lilo Maruyama in their honor at Trader Vics. Guests, for the most part, were very active and important Japanese ladies Maria got to know and work with in the Ladies Benevolent Society. Maria was a very hardworking and popular president of ILBS during her 10 year stay here.
A friend just sent me a photo of Ron shaking hands with Vietnam President Nguyen Minh Triet at a lunch in Washington that appeared in a major US newspaper. Those Andersons really are a dynamic couple.
Even when there isn't some big special occasion Thai Ambassador Suvidhya Simaskul and his wonderful wife Boontipa just never slow down. With all their interests, enthusiasm and friends this year's events have really kept them busy. On Sept. 26 1887 Japan and Thailand (then known as Siam) signed a “Declaration of Amity and Commerce”. This year celebrates the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Over the years a powerful economic partnership as well as strong education, entertainment arts, and cultural exchanges has developed. Special events for the occasion hosted by Suvidhya and Boontipa have included a celebration of their highly respected and beloved King Bhumibol's birthday, a Songkran (traditional Thai New Year) festival art exhibits.
A huge (over 300,000 people) Thai festival in Yoyogi Park, classic concerts, pop concerts, cultural shows, and business seminars (over half foreign investment in Thailand originated in Japan).
It was wall-to-wall people for the grand reception the Simaskuls hosted at the Imperial Hotel to celebrate the occasion. People there included top government officials from both Japan and Thailand. Guests entered through a huge arch of flowers and checked out the interesting exhibition of photos covering Japan and Thailand's history of relations after a few congratulatory speeches people there enjoyed the bountiful buffet and a dynamic traditional Thai music and dance show by one of Thailand's best cultural groups flown in by Thai Airways for the occasion.
Needless to say it was a beautiful evening in every way—perfect for the occasion. I would, by the way, like to congratulate Boontipa on the appointment as President of Ikebana International here in Japan. I'd also like to congratulate Pakistan Ambassador and Mrs Kamran Niaz and the Pakistani people on their 60th Independence day. Unfortunately I was out of Tokyo when Imtiaz Ahmad Gondal, President of the Pakistani Association Japan invited me to the reception at the Nippon Press center.
Sayonaras
After thirty-some years of knocking out Partyline, you'd think I'd be used to saying sayonara to good friends. That ain't necessarily so, the last few months have been back-to-back sayonaras for good people who's friendship I really cherish.
After four years in Japan, Egyptian Ambassador Hisham Badr and his beautiful wife Dahlia have returned to Egypt. After 10 years here, popular Nicaraguan Ambassador Harry Bodan Shields who was Dean of the Corps and his super lady Raquel have returned home. I watched their two sons, who live in Miami, grow up. A fine family in every way. After Harry left, popular Tunisian Ambassador Salah Hannachi, who was in Japan for almost 10 years, became Dean, a position he held for just 10 days before he returned to Tunisia. Hope to see him there soon.
Our Jamaican friends Ambassador Paul and Mrs Robotham are back in their lovely island and Kuwaiti Ambassador Ghassan Al-Zawawi and his family returned to Kuwait a few months ago.
On Friday August 31st there was a transtition of the rectorate of the United Nations University. After the handover ceremony, a reception followed that gave guests the opportunity to say sayonara to outgoing Rector Dr. J.A. Van Ginkel and his wife Anna Maria, and meet his successor Professor Dr. Osterwalder.
Another good friend in education, Dr. Joseph Arden, who headed the University of Maryland college and many activities in Asia recently retired. I ran into Joe and his author-artist wife Mong-Lan, (she is Vietnamese) in the executive lounge of the awesome Hilton Millennium in Bangkok recently. They were staying in Thailand for six months with a side trip to Vietnam before heading for Buenos Aires where they'll mostly tango for six months, I expect. Mong-Lan actually published a monthly paper on the tango while they were living in Japan.
Just heard two more of my favorite Diplomats, Omanian Ambassador Mohammed bin Yousef Al-Zarafi, and South African Ambassador Dr. Baldwin Sipho Ngubane and their beautiful families will be leaving Japan soon. I'll have photos and a rundown on some of the many Sayonara parties later.
Just Talk
I'm well aware I broke the laws when I had to pay one ¥7,000 fine for not buckling my seatbelt and another for using my mobile phone while I was driving. I'm aware these laws are for safety, so how about a law against the young Japanese girls who put on their makeup while they are driving. I was on busy Omotesando recently and stopped at a red light. In the car next to me there was a girl with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth, and one of those ratty-looking dogs jumping all over in the seat next to her. She already had on as much makeup as a Kabuki actor, and was very busy plastering on layers of mascara. This, of course meant she was looking in the sun visor mirror and ignoring the world around her. The light changed, and it took considerable horn tooting from the cars behind her, and a last swipe at her lashes to make her move. Now, if that's not selfish and accident-prone behavior, what is?