Volume 39, Number 02
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Happily, things did go as planned. After ten great days in Hawaii, I returned to Tokyo on Dec 27. It was really laid back in Honolulu. Activities there included a Jake Shimabukuro concert—I really enjoyed getting to know the super-nice ukulele virtuoso, a beach barbecue at Konishiki’s beautiful home outside Honolulu, time with Konishiki, his beautiful wife Chie and his family, and half a day at the colorful and interesting Polynesian Culture Center. In addition to all that there was a lot of shopping, good food, and getting together with friends. These included Associated Press’s Miles Edelsten and his son Othello—on my Northwest flight to Hawaii, Wally and Jane Yonamine, Baby Handl and her son Dominic, Alef Saraie and his lady Tina, Linda Pepin of Continental Airlines and a lot of Japanese who knew me from the Lex. All this, plus the laid back ambiance of Hawaii, added up to not getting the work I planned on doing, done. That meant really pushing it to have this column ready for Weekender Managing Editor Helen when she got back from Bali. Kind of a hectic way to end 2007, but as Sinatra sang: That’s Life, and I sure know thanks to God, I have an interesting and good one.
Let’s start this fortnight’s party/event coverage over at the beautifully redecorated Hilton Tokyo Marble Lounge, where on Dec. 5 we held our 10th annual orphan’s holiday party. As always the hotel’s general manager, Christian Baudat, and his staff went all out to make sure the party was a really festive event. There was a majestic Christmas tree, lots of balloons and decorations and a bountiful buffet of all the kids’ favorite food.
There were over 50 beautiful kids there and a really good turnout of community-minded, caring and sharing ladies who took time out of their busy schedules to help their child-for-the-day enjoy it all. I was happy to see Bahrain Ambassador Dr. Khalil Hassan there with his wife Dr. Salwa Almahroos. He’s a pediatric surgeon and he and Salwa both really love children.
Our usual Santa Claus, former Sumo champion, now top entertainer Konishiki, was at his home in Hawaii so couldn’t be with us this year. Of course, we really missed him, but we were lucky and had Dutch showbiz personality Rene Bosman to fill in. He, of course, is a lot smaller than Konishiki, but really got into the Christmas spirit, and is always wonderful with kids.
Also, sorry my co-host Tokyo Hilton General Manager Christian Baudat couldn’t be there, but the hotel’s Director of Business Development Jamie Mead made a nice welcome speech on his behalf. After the speech our helpers took their child to the buffet where everyone piled their plates high with the Hilton’s fine holiday food. This was followed by each of the participants taking their new friend up to Santa and presenting them with the gift they had brought for them. In addition to those gifts, we had T-shirts for each child from Gene and Ted Pelc, movie memorabilia from Warner Brothers Films and Toho Towa, and travel-oriented gifts from Air India, Lufthansa and Continental Airlines. There were also gifts from generous giving people who couldn’t be there. These included Yone Schwab (United Airlines), Nuzhat Niaz (Pakistan), Boontipa Simaskul (Thailand), Merewa Lesi Maue (Papua New Guinea), and Kazuko (Kay) Siazon (Philippines). Panama Ambassador Alfredo Martiz Fuentes and his wife Carla Marotta were out of Japan, but like last year, prepared a big stocking full of sweets for every child there.
For show time: Top entertainer Steve Haynes was dressed up like Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Rene Bosman was Santa with his Guardian Angels helpers, and vocalist Joye Carter led the singing and got everyone there into the festive spirit and up dancing. Thanks to so many friends it turned out to be a very special day in every way.
I got a marvelous surprise when a group of the students from Sacred Heart International School’s “Gift of Giving” club showed up and presented me with a substantial amount of cash that they had collected for the less fortunate. The club members are: Dima Siam, Marjorie Garnett, Hannah Derrick, Lujain Trad, Hannah Heintzelman, Alice White and Juliet Clemence. These are the kind of young people who are going to make this old world of ours a better place—for everyone in every way.
Kudos and my sincerest thanks go to the Hilton management and their hardworking always-helpful Public Relations, and Food and Beverage departments. Without their enthusiasm and support there’s no way I could have done the project. Kudos as well to Ceremony Corp President Tsukasa Shiga, Author and TV personality Barbara Teraoka, Entrepreneur Phil Miller and TV Celebrity Dave Spector who really helped the participants make personal contacts and communicate with the kids.
I’d also like to thank several other philanthropic friends who helped me send huge boxes of clothes, books, toys and the like to needy families in the Philippines. These donators included Jane Scolinos, Mitsuo and Lilo Maruyama, Chichan Plessner, Tohoku Shinsha President (owner of National Azabu supermarket) Banjiro Uemura, Ceremony Corp President Tsukasa Shiga, Danielle Yoshikoshi, Grace Saito and “Gift of Giving” club members.
I got there late and couldn’t stay long, but I am happy I was able to get to the Czech Republic Embassy for Ambassador Jaromir Novotny and his wife Dana’s reception to celebrate their country’s Independence Day. It was a crowded and lively evening, perfect for the occasion.
It was good news to hear that South African Ambassador Dr. Baldwin S. Ngubane’s posting here in Japan has been extended. Baldwin is a good friend, and has done a great deal to further promote good relations between his country and Japan. Last year he hosted a very successful seminar commemorating Women’s Day. At the reception I had the privilege of meeting the guest of honor, visiting South African Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Lindiwe Hendricks. What a dynamic lady.
Croatian Ambassador, Drago Stambuk is a really interesting man (poet, author, etc) who has a lot of interesting friends. I really appreciated him introducing me to Italian poet Claudio Pozzani at Segafredo’s recently. Claudio, among other things will organize the EU–Japan poetry event later this year in Tokyo.
Congratulations to Ted Pelc and his wife Naomi on the birth of their son Matthew on Nov 28. Ted and his dad, Gene, have been providing T-shirts for my orphan’s party and boxes to families in the Philippines for years. The Pelcs are really good people.
Congratulations as well to long-time friend Kazuyoshi Fujimoto who was recently promoted to President of National Trading Inc. He’s now responsible for National Azabu supermarkets in Hiroo and Denenchofu, National Interior, Video Graph and Kimura Shuzo Sake. Knowing Kazuyoshi, I’m sure that with his international outlook, business sense, and outgoing personality, he’ll do an excellent job.
As I mentioned earlier, I came back from Hawaii early to mostly emcee the countdown party at the New Lex. Frankly, I wasn’t all that happy about this, but once I got to the club and got together with the wall-to-wall people from all over the world who came to the club to bring in the New Year, I enjoyed every minute of it. I counted people from 67 countries that included a lot of friends I hadn’t seen for a while, and a nice group of military guys. As I often say, there are a lot of great people out there. Be sure to spend some time this year getting to know some of them. Meeting people and making friends is, after all, one of the best things this old life is about.
I still have three big boxes each about half full that I hope to send to the Philippines. If you have any unused warm-weather clothes—especially children’s, toys etc, that you want to go to a worthy cause, give me a call on 090-3200-6767 or alternatively email: editor@weekenderjapan.com and I will arrange to collect them. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.