Volume 04, Number 24
Partyline
Wow, our last issue in 2007 —where does the time go? I had hoped to get more caught up on event coverage then I have, but as you know my friends, in Tokyo I stay busy.
Dec. 5 was a perfect example. A few weeks earlier I got together with the good people at The Hilton, and as it didn't look busy we scheduled our 10th annual Orphans' Christmas Party for that day, but as well you know, things don't always go as planned. By the time the fi fth rolled around, believe me, it was a full day. First there was the midday reception at The Imperial hosted by Thai Ambassador Suvidhya Simaskul and his wife Boontipa to celebrate their highly respected and much-loved H.M. King Rhumibol's birthday.
From there I headed to the Hilton, for an hour or so of preparation. The many good friends there helped make the orphans' party the big success it was. From the party I drove down to the International Forum where actor Will Smith was appearing at the Warner Brothers' premiere of I Am Legend. After that it was way out to Nakano Sun Plaza for Minon Concert Association's performance by the China National Acrobatic Troupe and a reception to meet the cast. It's all worthwhile and enjoyable, but not always easy.
Let's start this week's event coverage at the Imperial Hotel where Saudi Ambassador Faisal H. Trad hosted a marvelous reception to celebrate his country's national day. The many guests included top government offi cials, diplomats, business leaders and a host of interesting people from all walks of life. The bountiful buffet was excellent, and the ambience warm and enjoyable. In one end of the reception hall there was an Arab-style room (dewaniya) where guests could relax and enjoy the mint tea and dates. It was a special evening in every way. We did, of course, miss Ambassador Trad's wife Nadia. She was back home attending to family affairs. As I've mentioned before, most Arab events are blessed with the presence of many of the guests' children, and that really adds so much.
The Thai festival at Yoyogi Park gets bigger and better every year. This year over 300,000 people attended the two days of Thai food, Thai handicraft sales, Thai music and dance performances and, of course, the legendary hospitality of the Thai people. It was a real happening. Don't miss it next year. I was wearing a safari jacket that day and took it off when it got warm but somehow in the confusion of things it got lost in the crowd. When I discovered my loss I went to the Guardian Angels booth and reported it to their boss, Keiji Oda.
“Is that it?” he said, pointing to my jacket hanging nearby. The Angels really do a lot to help the community— and me.
Brazil Ambassador Andre Amado and his wife Paula have been super busy with all kinds of special promotions (concerts, fashion shows, carnivals etc.) to promote their colorful and exciting country. During all this they also hosted a midday reception at their beautiful home on the occasion of their country's national day. People at their celebration included legendary Sadako Ogata, former U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. What an interesting lady!
After ten years in Japan, Dean of the Corps Nicaraguan Ambassador Harry Bodan Shields and his dynamic wife Raquel have left Japan and returned to their home in Managua. Harry and Raquel were really good friends to me, and it was a pleasure knowing then and watching their sons Harold and Harry grow up here.
Prior to their departure, there were all kinds of sayonaras for the popular couple. I was traveling, so missed many of them but did get to a “private farewell” party at the Keio Plaza Hotel. As expected there was a good turnout of the Bodan Shields' VIP friends. Kudos to Matthew Ireton as well. His live performance at the Shidax village in Shibuya was really an enjoyable evening of the talented young man's music and his warm, outgoing personality. Matthew, a senior at George Washington University, spent most of his summer holidays working as an intern for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's political of- fi ce. Much of his two weeks here with his family was spent preparing for this entertaining evening. Matthew really puts his heart and soul in everything, and that's a lot.
I enjoyed seeing a lot of longtime friends like Frank and Sonia Striegl, as well as meeting some for the fi rst time, including Hawaii-based author Susanna Moore. She wrote In The Cut, which was made into a fi lm starring Meg Ryan. In talking with Susanna I learned we had so many mutual friends including legends like Chin Ho who built the fi rst big resort hotel, the Ilikai, in Waikiki; Richard Smart, the owner of the huge Parker Ranch, on the big island, and Hawaii's most popular poster girl Rosemarie Alvarez. They're all gone now, but we sure have some great memories of interesting times with these good people.
It's never easy to write about friends I've lost, and so held off writing about a good man, good friend; motorcycle racing champ Norifumi Abe, who was killed in a traffic accident Oct. 7 near Kawasaki. ‘Norick' as his friends called him, was just 32 and had gained international fame by winning three World Championship Grand Prix titles, and was well-known in the European racing circuit. I got to know Norik at The Lex —he was very international and loved the club. I also spent a few days at the Hilton Odawara Resort when he was there, and we planned a couple of charity projects together. He was a totally cool man. Yamaha had just given Norick a new motorcycle and on his way home he crashed into a truck that had made an illegal U-turn.
In addition to his wife and two children, Norik had countless friends and fans. Several thousand attended two memorial services for him in Aoyama, and Yamaha held a huge memorial recently in Aobadai. A few days ago a friend gave me a Japanese magazine Riding Sports with Norik's photo on the cover. In the story inside they mentioned how much Norik enjoyed meeting and chatting with Leonardo DiCaprio at The Lex. I remember that night like it was yesterday. Like all who knew him, I will really miss this friend.
The world lost another great man recently; internationally renowned choreographer Maurice Bejart. I had the good fortune of getting to know this tremendously talented man backstage and at parties here, in Paris and in New York. I consider his dance interpretation of Ravel's Bolero, which I first saw performed by the late and great Argentine dancer Jorge Donn, one of the most dynamic and creative dance pieces I've ever seen. Believe me —the man's work will live on.
It's always gratifying to see hardworking, nice people get the recognition they deserve. A perfect example is the American military's praise and multiple awards to Masakazu Ishiyama. His customer service skills, international thinking and outgoing personality have earned him respect and admiration from his customers, his employers and his coworkers. I'm sure this hardworking and very capable young man will continue to be successful in whatever he does.