Volume 39, Number 03
Partyline
I took Northwest Airlines' evening flight to Honolulu where I spent ten days over the Christmas holidays. Kudos to the airline: the business class seats are very high tech and very comfortable, the in-flight service is excellent, and the food is good. I arrived in Honolulu early Sunday morning and was through immigration and customs in about 20 minutes.
Former Tokyoite Aaron Medina, who now heads Hertz operations in Hawaii, had set me up with a black Grand Prix, in which I often got a thumbs up from the locals. The car has all kinds of extras like a radio station and volume control on the steering wheel, and a projector in the dashboard that projects the speed you're going on the lower center of the windshield on the driver's side. As many of you who help me with my mobile phone and computer know, I'm not very technically-minded. Even after driving the Grand Prix for ten days I didn't know what half the special gadgets in the car were. Even so, it's a super car that's a real driving experience.
My home in Honolulu for the second Christmas in a row was the penthouse on the 38th floor of the Pacific Beach Hotel on Waikiki beach. My suite had everything including picture-postcard views of Diamond Head from both the living room and bedroom, and that's something to wake up to.
I also spent a lot of time at the Hilton Hawaiian Village where the Ireton family (Bill, Charo, Bill's mum Kiko and the five Ireton children: Matthew, William, Roberta, Thomas and Edward) were staying at the top of the Lagoon Tower. One of the many blessings in my life has been to have the privilege of watching the kids grow up. It's amazing to say the least.
There were some great meals, lots of shopping at the Ala Moana (Armani, Sharper Image, Long's Drug Store, Sears, Macy's, Foodland etc) with coffee breaks at Honolulu Coffee. As always, I spent considerable time at the big Borders bookshop, and rented lots of foreign movies with English subtitles at Diamond Head Video.
Special happenings this year included an afternoon with Konishiki, his beautiful wife Chie and an assortment of their friends and relatives at their beautiful beach house on Waianae Beach. There was a barbecue lunch, swimming in the pool, jumping on a big trampoline and listening to stories Konishiki's father, who is a preacher, told us.
A few nights later we went to the Hawaiian Design Center for a really laid-back concert by ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and his brother Bruce who plays the guitar and sings. Even their mother, a really cool lady, got into the act and belted out Jingle Bell Rock.
Jake is a fantastic showman. He has a marvelous warm personality and can do Hawaiian, Flamenco, Country and Western and even Koto-sounding music on his ukulele. I talked with him after the show and found it difficult to believe he had just turned 31. He looks like a teenager. Sony are bringing Jake here this year, try and see his show. It really is very special. He'll be playing at Orchard Hall, Bunkamura Shibuya, Feb. 23. For ticket information call Kyodo on 03-3498-9999. I hadn't been out to one of Hawaii's biggest tourist attractions, the Polynesian Cultural Center, for years.
The huge Polynesian Odyssey features seven different island native villages, an amazing Imax film, Coral Reef Adventure, a canoe pageant, market places, shops, restaurants, a luau, and a spectacular Polynesian show that features a world champ fire dancer. As I said, touristy, but interesting and fun.
Had a great Hawaiian pancake breakfast with the legendary basketball player Wally Yonamine at the always- busy Wailana restaurant across from the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It felt like Gulliver with all the US basketball players there that day. Those guys are tall. As you can see I really enjoyed my ten days in paradise. It was a great getaway in every way. Now—time to get back to Tokyo's many happenings.
It was the first time Turkish Ambassador Semet Atacanli—who was posted here May 4, 2007—hosted the country's National Day celebration in Japan, and he and his staff really did an excellent job. The Tange-designed chancery and garden were busy with a crowd that included Japanese government officials, diplomats, business leaders and familiar faces from the arts and entertainment worlds. The Turkish buffet was excellent, people there were interesting, and hospitality was warm and sincere. Our congratulations on this special occasion.
With Mary Katayama as President of ILBS and Lady Toyoko Fry, wife of the UK Ambassador as Chairperson of the ILBS Christmas Charity Fair and with lots of hardworking community ladies it was sure to be a big success. Everyone there was in a holiday mood, sales were brisk, and as always, with any ILBS event, proceeds will go to a number of worthwhile causes. Congratulations to all concerned.
Martina Ruiz Cabanas, the wife of the Mexican Ambassador was chairperson of this year's Latin Bazaar. Knowing Martha, and her dynamic personality, organizational ability and her enthusiasm, I wasn't at all surprised about the scale and scope of the event. All the Latin countries had colorful booths selling an amazing variety of handicrafts, jewelry and fashion. Most had food outlets serving homemade specialties of their country.
HIH Princess Hitachi, who arrived early to cut the ribbon with Martha, visited each booth, did a bit of shopping, had lunch with the Ambassadors' wives and returned later for the Latin entertainment. It was a lively show that featured top showbiz personalities from Mexico and other participating countries. I really appreciated the opportunity to spend some time backstage and meet some of the stars of the show. Many dropped by the New Lex and, believe me, they know how to party. It was a great day in every way. Viva Mexico— and all the other participating countries as well.
The evening titled “India–The Sparkle of Success” at Hilton Tokyo truly was Indian jewelry, fashion, culture and food at its very best. The promotion was organized by the Gem and Jewelry Export Promotion Council of India (GJEPC) and the Japan Jewelry Association (JJA). Special guests included H.E. Indian Ambassador Hemand Krisha Singh, GJEPC Chairman Sanjay Kothari and JJA Chairman M. Imanishi.
A group of top Indian fashion models flew in to work with Japanese models in a beautifully choreographed culture, fashion and jewelry presentation. The original and chic fashion was from India's renowned international fashion house Sheetal. It was the first time GJEPC and JJA worked together on a big promotion like this, and they wisely chose Infinity Creations President Atul Parekh as official coordinator. Kudos to all who made “India–The Sparkle of Success” a sparkling success indeed.
I learned, and for your information, 11 out of every 12 diamonds set worldwide, are processed in India. That country is really booming.
The staff at the Canadian Embassy really go all out to promote Canadian culture. Recent events in the Embassy's Oscar Peterson theater included an evening to commemorate the year of Glenn Gould. The program included a lecture by award-winning writer Keiichiro Hirano and a screening of the DVD, JS Bach: Goldberg variations.
Our Portuguese friends, Ambassador and Mrs. Joao Pedro Zanatti have been busy. On Dec. 14 they hosted a reception at their home to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon. On Dec. 18, they had a special award ceremony of the prize, “Rodriquez, the Inteprete”, given to those who did special work in translating Portuguese publications into Japanese.
Kudos and thanks to top hotelier Xavier Destribats. He, as you know, made the Grand Hyatt Tokyo one of the busiest and most prestigious in our city of many fine hotels. Others recognized his knowledge, professionalism and hard work and he was offered, and took, a very high position as Vice President Japan of Panarama Hospitality. We wish him all the best.
At the same time we'd like to welcome Xavier's successor, the new general manager at the Grand Hyatt—Roger Lienhard. Roger has an excellent background as an international hotelier and with his outgoing personality and sense of humor is sure to be a success here. I'll have a rundown on his welcome party at the Grand Hyatt with photos of many of the VIPs there later.