Volume 04, Number 22
Partyline
Our city's skyline changes almost daily and with all the construction going on everywhere that's going to continue—probably forever. This past month there have been all kinds of major fashion happenings. On Oct. 25 Dormeuil held a glittering 165th anniversary party at the Q.E.D. club. Our congratulations. On Nov. 1 Bvlgari opened their beautiful new building on Omotesando. In addition to the jewelry store and accessory store, there's a café and cioccolato store. Bvlgari is also doing big things in Ginza later this month. More on that when it happens.
My favorite designer Giorgio Armani was in town to open the new, 14-floor Armani building in Ginza on Nov. 7. In addition to the Emporiums, there's an accessories floor, boutiques, furniture, showrooms a spa, restaurant and lounge with a terrace. He, of course, held a spectacular fashion show and party during his Tokyo visit. More on all this later.
Check out the renovated building across the street from Roppongi Hills' Starbucks outdoor café. Cornes & Co. is setting up a Bentley and Maserati showroom there. Nice, but from what I hear it's a temporary thing. In the same building, the Blue Man Group will be performing in the new Invoics Theater from Dec. 1 to Jan. 31. I saw the show in Vegas and it's a unique entertainment experience that's well worth seeing.
It was nice getting together with friends who were here to perform in Creative Man's Loud Park concerts. These included Black Sabbath, Marilyn Manson and his band, and the Finn group Hanoi Rocks. Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys dropped by the New Lex and that guy knows how to party. He was here to promote the group's new album, and will be back in February with the rest of the boys for a series of concerts. As I often say, here in Tokyo, the beat goes on.
On Sep. 5 Singapore Ambassador Tan Chin Tiong and his wife Maureen hosted a huge and colorful reception at The Imperial Hotel on the occasion of their country's national day. I was really happy to see Japan Times Chairman and Publisher Toshiaki Ogasawara. I worked for that exceptional man for many years writing fashion columns, and travel stories as well as submitting people and parties photos for the paper's social column. Toshiaki was there with his daughter Yukiko who is doing a commendable job as President of Japan Times. A special Kudos to the host and hostess on the superb selection of Singapore food that evening. In addition to the hotel food they had arranged for several of our city's best restaurants serving Singapore foods to set up booths in the reception hall. Talk about delicious. Singapore as you probably know is making a big drive to attract more tourism. With their existing facilities and lots of new developments underway, I'm sure they'll succeed.
My congratulations to Senegal Ambassador Gabriel Alexandre Sar and his wife Christine on the festive reception they hosted at the New Otani on the occasion of their national day. It was a colorful gathering with the hosting couple, as well as many of the African guests wearing their national costumes. I really appreciated ACTV's Dan Smith taking the time out of his busy schedule to drop by and film the special occasion for my people party and places website. It was an enjoyable event, interesting people, good food and Sengalese hospitality at it's best.
It was wall-to-wall beautiful people at the New Lex when Tokyo's trendiest joined the gorgeous Asami Saito to celebrate her birthday. Asami, who is one of the prime movers in the Miss Universe office here, recently announced her engagement to a very lucky man, Ben Serguson of Goldman Sachs—you should see her magnificent ring! Our congratulations.
Our Brazilian friends have been super-busy with all kinds of special events to promote this beautiful country. One of the many enjoyable happenings was the ‘Brazil Fashion Now' show at Space O in Omotesando Hills. Apex—the Brazilian trade and promotion agency brought in the colorful collections of Isabela Capeto and Ronaldo Fraga. The show was exciting and the guests were artsy and fun. There was great Salas by Brazilian DJ Felipe Venancio and plenty of my all time favorite juice—Acai from the Amazon. Years ago I had dinner with Brazilian actress Sonia Braga when she was in Tokyo and was really impressed by her ethnic fashion. You'll be seeing Sonia's kid sister Ana Maria Braga's 23-year-old daughter Alice in Warner Brothers' I am a Legend soon.
I couldn't stay for the dinner and the show, but I am happy I dropped by the Indian Centers dinner gala at the Okura for Chief Minister of Gujarat in India, Narendra Modi. The highly respected politician is an excellent speaker, and is a really knowledgeable and interesting man. GAGA communications chairman/CEO was there that evening and told me he had plans to buy and distribute some “very good” Bollywood films for Japan.
Canadian crooner Matt Dusk's concert at the Peterson Hall in the Canadian Embassy was proof positive of how great vocals with a big band really are. Matt has had number one hits in Canada as well as a number one hit on radio here in Japan. His repertoire at the embassy included, The way you look tonight, Besamo Mucho, Learning the Blues, and of course I did it my way. The audience loved it. At the after party I learned Matt was and is a huge fan of Frank Sinatra. He was sort of overwhelmed when I told him that I met Sinatra in Cairo, and he invited me to his rehearsal of his concert in front of the Sphinx and pyramids. I, of course, went to the concert—what an experience. You can catch Matt's show at the Blue Note over the holidays. Believe me the man is good.
After ten years as Ambassador of one of my favorite countries, Tunisia, and about ten days as Dean of the Corps, Salah Hannachi has returned to his beautiful country. Prior to his departure he hosted several sayonaras in his residence. The evening I went Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, fashion designer Junko Koshino and about 60 other interesting guests were there. Fukuda san is well known for his sense of humor. He made a nice sayonara speech mentioning his daughter spent her honeymoon in Tunisia and came home pregnant. He added with Japan's decreasing birthrate, maybe more newly weds should go to that wonderful country for their honeymoon.
Salah, a qualified university professional, a real diplomat and a gentleman made many friends for himself and his country while he was here. He really went all out with seminars and cultural promotions. To get the Japanese to know and understand Tunisia and it's people. For now, just want to thank Salah for his friendship, and wish him all the best back home.
To Do
On Monday Nov. 26 Grace Saito's Tokyo Grace will hold a charity concert for the eradication of Polio. This always-enjoyable event will take place in the Grand Ballroom 3F of the beautiful Peninsula Tokyo Hotel. Doors open at 1:30pm the concert starts at 2pm. Grace's events are always special, and she's really made a great effort to make this first one in the Peninsula even more special. For details and reservations call grace at her new home number 03-3265-2371 or fax 03-3234- 2460 #610. See you there.