iNTOUCH (Tokyo American Club), August 2014

TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB

August 2014

Plates of Perfection A behind-the-scenes look at the making of Club culinary magic

On Land and Sea

The secret of one Member’s triathlon success

Fiery Festivals

Obon’s centuries-old carnivals of fire and light

Pantsuits and Diapers Japan’s struggle to support working moms

Kayo Yamawaki

2 4 6 7 8 10 12 14 17 18 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 40

contents Contacts Events Board of Governors Management Food & Beverage Library Video Library Recreation Women’s Group Feature Talking Heads Frederick Harris Gallery Cultural Insight Member Services Inside Japan Out & About Event Roundup Back Words

18

FEATURE From Stove to Table

14 RECREATION No Signs of Slowing

24 TALKING HEADS Language Test

From a forgettable first triathlon to podium finishes more than 25 years later. Club Member Brett Whiteoak explains how he did it.

Club Member and language expert Makoto Ishiwata offers his assessment of government efforts to improve English skills in Japan.

iNTOUCH

Editor Nick Jones

To advertise in iNTOUCH, contact Rie Hibino: rie.hibino@tac-club.org 03-4588-0976

For membership information, contact Mari Hori:

“Our 100 percent beef patties are processed downstairs in the butcher shop. Sometimes a lucky Member will get steak mixed in with their hamburger patty,” says American Bar & Grill manager Antonio Villasmil. iNTOUCH takes a peek at what it takes to satisfy appetites every day at the Club.

Business Support

Anthony L Cala General Manager

Lian Chang Asst GM, Business Support

Designers Anna Ishizuka Ryan Mundt

Wayne Hunter, Director GMO & Membership

Darryl Dudley, Director Engineering

Production Assistant Yuko Shiroki

Business Operations Brian Marcus Asst GM, Business Operations

Shuji Hirakawa, Director Human Resources

editor@tac-club.org

Assistant Editor Nick Narigon

Scott Yahiro, Director Recreation

Tokyo American Club 2-1-2 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8649

Communications Manager Shane Busato

Nori Yamazaki, Director Food & Beverage

Cover photo by Kayo Yamawaki

Despite government promises to accommodate new mothers in the labor force, Japan’s childcare system is failing to meet the needs of this growing demographic.

Management

mari.hori@tac-club.org 03-4588-0687

www.tokyoamericanclub.org

32 INSIDE JAPAN Working Mom Hurdles

Jonathan Allen, Director Member Services & Guest Studios

Naoto Okutsu, Director Finance Toby Lauer, Director Information Technology

Getting in Touch Department/E-mail Phone American Bar & Grill

(03) 4588-0676

american.bg@tac-club.org

Banquet Sales and Reservations

(03) 4588-0977

banquet@tac-club.org

Beauty Salon

(03) 4588-0685

Bowling Center

(03) 4588-0209

bowling@tac-club.org

Café Med

(03) 4588-0978

cafe.med@tac-club.org

Catering

(03) 4588-0307

banquet@tac-club.org

Childcare Center

(03) 4588-0701

childcare@tac-club.org

Communications

(03) 4588-0262

comms@tac-club.org

Decanter/FLATiRON

(03) 4588-0675

decanter@tac-club.org

Engineering

(03) 4588-0699

eng@tac-club.org

Finance

(03) 4588-0222

acct@tac-club.org

Fitness Center

(03) 4588-0266

fitness@tac-club.org

Food & Beverage Office

(03) 4588-0245

fboffice@tac-club.org

Foreign Traders’ Bar

(03) 4588-0677

traders.bar@tac-club.org

Guest Studios

(03) 4588-0734

guest.relations@tac-club.org

Human Resources

(03) 4588-0679

Information Technology

(03) 4588-0690

Library

(03) 4588-0678

library@tac-club.org

Management Office

(03) 4588-0674

gmoffice@tac-club.org

Membership Office

(03) 4588-0687

membership@tac-club.org

Member Services

(03) 4588-0670

tac@tac-club.org

Pool Office

(03) 4588-0700

pool@tac-club.org

Rainbow Café

(03) 4588-0705

rainbow.cafe@tac-club.org

Recreation Desk

(03) 4588-0681

rec@tac-club.org

The Cellar

(03) 4588-0744

the.cellar@tac-club.org

The Spa

(03) 4588-0714

spa@tac-club.org

Video Library

(03) 4588-0686

video.library@tac-club.org

Weddings

(03) 4588-0671

banquet@tac-club.org

Women’s Group Office wg@tac-club.org

2 August 2014 iNTOUCH

(03) 4588-0691

from the

editor

Perhaps reflecting the stereotype, the French enjoy eating and drinking the most. According to a recent report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the French spend an average 132 minutes a day consuming food and drink. This compares to 65 minutes for Americans, 108 minutes for Japanese and a paltry 59 minutes for the average Briton.

While some might say that the numbers reflect the quality of the national cuisine in the respective countries, few would disagree that eating habits have changed drastically over the past few decades. Urban living, particularly in a city like Tokyo, is increasingly about juggling the various demands of the day, food being one of them.

This is why dining has always been such an important element of the Club, which offers a broad a range of eating experiences for a multitude of palates, nationalities and ages.

Since so many Members visit the Club specifically to eat, this month’s cover story, “From Stove to Table,” offers a snapshot of the world beyond the “staff only” doors, where well-drilled teams of people work to prepare hundreds of dishes a day. It all requires some deft logistical choreography.

The aim, though, is always the same, according to the Club’s executive chef, Lindsay Gray. “A great dining experience at the Club should include a warm welcome, a server knowing your favorite first drink or bottle of wine while your favorite signature dish is being perfectly prepared by the Club’s chefs,” he says.

Decanter chef Scott Kihara says that a great dining experience is based upon the expectations of the diner, whether that’s about the ingredients, the service or the restaurant ambience. “In each case,” he says, “those expectations need to be exceeded, leaving the guest with a memorable experience.”

No matter how long they spent eating.

contributors Megan Waters Tim Hornyak

Megan Waters is a Tokyo-based freelance editor and journalist who writes for a number of English-language publications and websites. A former editor-in-chief of the ACCJ Journal and deputy editor of BCCJ Acumen magazine, she has written on a broad range of subjects. On page 14 of this month’s iNTOUCH, she discovers how one Club Member is clocking ever-better triathlon times and defying his age. Originally from South Africa, Waters relocated to Britain at 16 and studied linguistics and publishing at Oxford Brookes University. She moved to Japan just two weeks after the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami to teach English in a small town in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Michelle Herring

Following a 25-year career in sales and marketing, American Michelle Herring moved to Singapore with her husband in 2005 before relocating to Tokyo four years later. While in Asia, she has worked as a marketing consultant and freelance writer and photographer, publishing two books: Japan: Timeless and Tranquil and Sakura Sensations: Cherry Blossom Magic in Japan. A member of the Women’s Group, as well as the Club’s mahjong, bridge, Toastmasters and book groups, she reviews a recent Women’s Group tour to the verdant surroundings of Gifu Prefecture on page 17. A keen scuba diver and traveler, Herring has visited more than 40 countries around the world.

Words from the editor 3

What’s on in August 1

Friday

1

Friday

Birthday Special Receive 30 percent off a luxuriating massage or rejuvenating facial at The Spa during the entire month of your birthday. Check the details on page 16.

First Friday: Bon Odori Celebrate the summer in traditional Japanese festival style, with staples like yakitori skewers, fried chicken and chilled sake in the Winter Garden. 6–8 p.m. ¥2,000. No sign-up necessary.

4

5

Monday

Women’s Group Office Holiday The Women’s Group Office closes for the annual Bon holiday until August 15.

18

Tuesday

Fall Class Online Registration Take the first step to picking up a new playful pursuit or fitness routine for the fall. Learn more about how to register on page 16.

Monday

Women’s Group Enrichment Program Exhibition Until September 7, peruse the remarkable cache of creations by students and instructors of last semester’s Women’s Group classes at the Frederick Harris Gallery.

Details on page 26.

27

Wednesday

New Member Orientation The Club’s newest Members learn about the Club while enjoying a chance to mingle. 6:30 p.m.

Washington and Lincoln rooms.

Contact the Membership Office to reserve your spot at least one week in advance.

4 August 2014 iNTOUCH

29

Friday

Friday Feast Frenzy Hook up with friends at a Café Med booth for all-you-can-eat pizza, pasta and more on the final Friday of each month. 5 p.m.

11

WMonday

14

WThursday

Club Closure The Club closes for a day for annual facility maintenance and the Employee Recognition Day party.

The Club reopens on August 12.

Squash Social Night The Club’s squash players enjoy an evening of casual play and a chance to put their skills to the test against professional Hitoshi Ushiogi, a former national champion. 6:15 p.m. Continues on August 26.

20

20

Wednesday

Wednesday

American Red Cross Certificate Program This basic water rescue course provides the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies. 11 a.m. Continues on August 31. Details on page 16.

Toastmasters Club Start losing your fear of public speaking and improve your leadership skills at this monthly event. 12 p.m. ¥2,200. Sign up online or at the Library.

30

31

Saturday

Recreation Open House Explore the range of fitness programs on offer and learn more from the instructors who will teach them. 2 p.m. Page 16 has more.

Sunday

Summer College Prep Camp Review the basic skills essential to scoring well on the SAT test and learn valuable test-taking strategies for the real exam.

Continues through October 5. For the details, flip to page 16.

EVENTS

1

Friday

Time-Out Treat The Spa is offering parents a rejuvenating breather with a discount offer on facials, massages and childcare. Find out more on page 16.

15

1

Friday

Summer Reading Program The Library promises youngsters ages 6 to 12 a summer of adventure, discovery and prizes.

Stamp cards available at the Library. Free. Runs through August 15.

1

Friday

Fit-Tix Summer Stamp Rally Complete a Summer Stamp Rally card by August 31 and earn free Fit-tix tickets for group fitness classes. Pick up your card at the Recreation Desk.

18

Friday

Sunday

Academic Program Orientation Meet the Club’s group of experienced tutors who can guide students through the academic challenges of school and beyond.

Find out more on page 16.

Saturday

New Member Orientation The Club’s newest Members learn about the Club while forging new friendships. 10 a.m. Washington and Lincoln rooms. Contact the Membership Office to reserve your spot at least one week in advance.

Yatai Night In the spirit of the Japanese summer festival, the Rainbow Café terrace plays host to an evening of tasty matsuri staples and traditional games. 4–8:30 p.m.

Read the lowdown on page 8.

24

2

Monday

Swimming with Mudsharks The Club’s youth swim team, the Mudsharks, kicks off its third session this year. Find out how to join this fun “school” on page 16.

24

Sunday

SAT Diagnostic Test Practice the college entrance exam in a stress-free environment and discover strengths and weaknesses. Flip to page 16 for the full rundown.

24

Sunday

25

Monday

Bridal Fair The Club offers a glimpse of wedding perfection for soon-tobe-married couples planning their special day. 11 a.m. Find out more on page 29.

Coffee Connections Whether you’re new to Tokyo or you just want to meet new people, drop by this free Women’s Group gathering. Contact the Women’s Group Office to organize free childcare. 10:30 a.m.

Coming up in September 4 TAC Eagles Tryout

8 Woodblock Prints in the 20th Century with David Caplan

10 Fuji Day Hike

13 Meet the Author: Hugh Ashton

16 Women’s Group Enrichment Program Registration

17 Vertical Exploration Wine Tasting

20 Welcome Back Party: A Night with the Stars

26 Library Book Club

(Prices do not include 8 percent consumption tax.)

Noteworthy dates for the month 5

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Safeguarding Our Home

by Sadashi Suzuki

W

henever I visit reciprocal clubs overseas, I’m struck by how well their security and member verification policies are enforced. Their gatekeeping measures always impress me.

When you arrive at Singapore American Club, for example, an attendant at the entrance asks for some ID if you’re not recognized as a member or regular visitor.

Once I explain I’m a reciprocal club user, I’m ushered to the front desk to register.

At the Olympic Club in San Francisco, once you have registered as a guest and are recognized as a reciprocal visitor, you receive a warmhearted welcome from both facility staff and members in the bar or restaurant. This registration process leads

6 August 2014 iNTOUCH

to a more comfortable club environment.

The New York Athletic Club (NYAC), meanwhile, requires men to wear a jacket on weekdays. After a long-haul flight from Tokyo, it’s tempting to wear jeans and a T-shirt or even shorts and a pair of sneakers to the club. But when I consider how I expect to be treated as a reciprocal club member, I comply with the dress code. The fact is I know I will receive superior service to a hotel.

Like the clubs in Singapore and San Francisco, NYAC requires all visitors to first register at the entrance. These kinds of security checks reinforce a sense of belonging for members and help the clubs maintain a tight-knit community atmosphere and a culture determined by their members.

The sign in Singapore American Club’s Union Bar reflects this idea well. “There are no strangers here,” it reads. “There are members whom you haven’t met.”

The Club recently introduced a “Members First!” policy, which has meant the introduction of more Membership card readers at entrances and a requirement for Members to register guests. I fully support

this initiative and I encourage my fellow Members to embrace it, too.

It is critical that we create and preserve a culture and ambience that deters unauthorized access to the Club, particularly as we grow and prosper.

The new guest registration policy and procedure helps guests assimilate easily into our community’s culture while holding sponsoring Members accountable.

I’m confident that the “Members First!” policy, with its security measures, will help us protect our home and run it in the way we want. Let’s make our home a safe and comfortable place for all. o

Board of Governors John Durkin (2014)—Representative Governor, Gregory Lyon (2014)—First Vice President, Brenda Bohn (2014)—Second Vice President, Per Knudsen (2014)—Secretary, Hiroshi Miyamasu (2015)— Treasurer, Ginger Griggs (2015), Lance E Lee (2014), Mark Miller (2015), Machi Nemoto (2014), Betsy Rogers (2015), Jerome Rosenberg (2014), Mark Henry Saft (2014), Sadashi Suzuki (2014), Kazuakira Nakajima—Statutory Auditor (2014)

MANAGEMENT

Striving for Success

by Tony Cala General Manager

F

ollowing the significant growth in the number of Members over the past year, there is a real buzz and energy throughout the Club this summer.

This has been reinforced by all the positive feedback we have received to the changes that have been implemented over the months. There’s no doubt, the Club is really blossoming.

This rejuvenation was no more obvious than at last month’s Independence Day Celebration, which attracted more than 600 Members and guests. The all-day series of events and entertainment was the largest July Fourth bash held at the Club in a long time.

Other recent standout events at the Club include our month-long World

Cup festival, which featured a Brazilianthemed First Friday party (you can see photos from the evening on page 38) and plenty of screenings of live matches in Traders’ Bar. A number of Members even headed to the Club to catch the final at 4 a.m. on a Monday morning.

After the tournament wrapped up, the Club welcomed three chefs from The Modern Honolulu boutique hotel for a weeklong Tribute to Modern Hawaii promotion in all the restaurants.

This popular event gave Members the opportunity to taste some authentic flavors from the Pacific archipelago.

With more Member-focused events planned, including the annual Welcome Back Party next month and a new adult Halloween bash in October, management, in partnership with various committees, continues to build on the Board of Governors’ “Members First!” initiative of delivering value, service and excellence to the Membership.

Since the beginning of this year, management has been working on a threeyear business plan to mirror the Club’s strategic focus and TAC 20/20 financial

plan. Comprised of five parts (objectives and principles; marketing; operations; organization; and finance), the plan’s key aims are to grow the number of Members and to realize the TAC 20/20 vision.

In short, we want to evolve the way we do business to deliver maximum value to our Members while maintaining fiduciary responsibility. A 120-page draft plan, which has been presented to the Board, will be implemented for the fiscal years 2015 through 2018.

To ensure a successful future for the Club, we need to provide value to Members while being innovative and committed to excellence. I regularly address these points at the monthly staff forum and managers’ meeting. In our pursuit for greatness, there can be no business-as-usual mentality; it must be business at its best.

We are thankful for all of the abundant support from our Members, the lifeblood of the Club. Your interest and encouragement is the reason for the success we are experiencing.

As we strive to improve and provide even more reasons for you to be proud of being a Member of Tokyo American Club, I ask you all for your continued participation. o

Executive remarks 7

classic

eats

Festival Flavors

by Nick Narigon

D

uring any of the dazzling hanabi fireworks displays, which draw more than 1 million spectators over the summer months in Tokyo, the local streets are lined with food stalls selling such Japanese festival staples as yakitori skewers, takoyaki octopus balls, yakisoba noodles, cotton candy and shaved ice.

These yatai, which are particularly prevalent at summer matsuri in Japan, became popular in the Meiji period after first appearing in the 1700s.

This month, Rainbow Café will host

its own summer festival of sorts, complete with yatai food and traditional games and face painting on the restaurant’s terrace.

“We want to have that Bon Odori [summer festival] feeling,” says Osamu Miyagi, the Club’s family dining manager.

“In the past, kids even came dressed in their yukata [summer kimono]. It’s like we have a small festival in family dining.”

Yatai Night also means that the whole family can experience some Japanese seasonal customs, without having to fight the crowds or sweltering heat. o

Yatai Night Friday, August 15 4–8:30 p.m.

Rainbow Café Adults (18 and above): ¥2,670 Juniors (12–17 years): ¥1,810 Children (7–11 years): ¥1,330 Kids (4–6 years): ¥860 Infants (3 and under): free Prices exclude 8 percent consumption tax.

FLAVOR

INJECTION FLATiRON’s new seasonal menu fulfills every food junkie’s craving.

Reserve at 03-4588-0675 or decanter@tac-club.org.

8 August 2014 iNTOUCH

EARL BIRD OFY FER Save 10

perce cost of yo nt on the ur booking it party by at least 3 0 days in ad vance.

CELEBRATE THE SUMMER WITH THE PERFECT PART Y.

We’ll take care of the spectacular rooftop venue, sumptuous barbecued food and free-flow drink, so all you’ll need to organize is the eager partygoers.

Barbecue party packages start from ¥6,900 per person (minimum: 20 people). To book your summer bash, call 03-4588-0308 or e-mail banquet@tac-club.org.

Terms and Conditions Requested dates are not guaranteed. Date changes are treated as a cancellation. A credit card number or Membership number is required to confirm and guarantee any booking. This offer cannot be used with any other promotion. Prices do not include 8 percent consumption tax.

off the

MO WILLEMS Most popular children’s author over the last five years

shelf

THE HELP (KATHRYN STOCKETT) Most popular work of adult fiction over the last five years

Top Titles

A peek at what’s hot at the Club’s popular hub of literature, tomes, page-turners and everything else in between.

TOKYO VICE (JAKE ADELSTEIN) Most popular Japan collection book over the last five years

1,000

Approximate number of books checked out by Members in 2013

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID (JEFF KINNEY) Most popular children’s chapter book series over the last five years

JAMES PATTERSON Most popular adult fiction author over the last five years

LIBRARY GUIDE • Mark your place with one of the free Library bookmarks. Pick one up the next time you check out a book.

10 August 2014 iNTOUCH

SIMPSONS COMICS: JAM-PACKED JAMBOREE (MATT GROENING) Most popular graphic novel over the last five years PINKALICIOUS (VICTORIA KANN) Most popular picture book over the last five years

Approximate number of new books purchased in 2013

35,000

THE HUNGER GAMES (SUZANNE COLLINS) Most popular work of young adult fiction over the last five years

• Notify the Library staff if you discover a book that is stained, damaged or missing pages or its accompanying DVD.

200

Number of prizes awarded over the last year

• Avoid overdue fines by checking the due date in the book and returning or renewing it on time. Remember that new books, or those requested by another reader, cannot be renewed.

LIBRARY

new

reads Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt by Michael Lewis From the author of Liar’s Poker and The Big Short comes a fascinating story of Wall Street and the manipulation of the stock market. Reading like a detective novel, it’s well-researched, intriguing and hard to put down.

A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power

by Jimmy Carter The United States’ 39th president calls this the most important book he’s ever written. This eye-opening nonfiction book details injustices and calls for change and an end to discrimination against girls and women throughout the world. It also chronicles the progress being made.

Jamie Oliver’s Food Escapes: Over 100 Recipes from the Great Food Regions of the World by Jamie Oliver Import some of the world’s finest flavors and dishes to your kitchen with this splendid book. Filled with colorful pictures, healthy recipes and wonderful stories by Britain’s famous celebrity chef, it’s much more than a cookbook.

Exploring Kyoto: On Foot in the Ancient Capital

by Judith Clancy Planning a visit to Kyoto in the fall when the weather cools down? Kyoto is a great city to stroll around and the detailed information in this book is all you need.

Maps, guided walks and hideaways are revealed by the resident author.

Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan This nonfiction memoir examines the bond between mothers and daughters. Funny and thoughtprovoking, it may make you look at your mom in a different way while leaving you to ponder how your children perceive you.

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie Rushdie penned this creative fantasy novel at the request of his young son during his exile. A marvelous tale of a boy who saves a world of make-believe, it should appeal to older children, young adults and adults. This contemporary fable is a great introduction to the author.

Reviews compiled by Library Committee chair Alaine Lee.

Library & Children’s Library Daily: 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Tel: 03-4588-0678 E-mail: library@tac-club.org

member’s choice Member: Hannah Van Zandt Title: 100 Cupboards by ND Wilson

What’s the book about?

This book is about a boy named Henry York who lives in Kansas. He needs to stay with his Uncle Frank, Aunt Dotty and three cousins, Anastasia, Penelope and Henrietta, after his parents are kidnapped while biking in Africa. While sleeping in the attic, he hears strange noises coming from the wall. He scrapes off the plaster and discovers 99 cupboards in different shapes and sizes, and each cupboard leads to a different place.

What did you like about it?

It is adventurous and mysterious all at once.

Why did you choose it?

My cousin Katliyn in Florida recommended it to me. Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down.

What other books would you recommend?

The Hunger Games series and The Books of Elsewhere series.

Literary gems at the Library 11

VIDEO LIBRARY

flick

pick

W

The Future of Movie Viewing

by Lance E Lee

ith sales of movies on DVD continuing to decline, it’s reported that by 2018 sales of digital movies (either downloaded or streamed) will surpass their plastic-cased counterparts (according to the Digital Entertainment Group, digital movie purchases increased to almost $1.2 billion last year).

This trend is pretty evident and, when you consider how tech savvy the younger generation is and the convenience of streaming films, it seems certain to continue.

I actually like my collection of DVDs that neatly line the wall of my study, and I am not particularly prone to paying for something I already own. Although there are plenty of online movie providers to choose from, including Comcast, Flixster and Amazon, there isn’t one provider yet that allows me to access all the movies out there.

It also bothers me that I have to pay a similar amount for the digital version of a movie, even though there are no shipping and handling costs involved for the provider.

As streaming becomes more

commonplace and more consumers buy Internet-enabled TVs, it will become harder to avoid digital movies, particularly when the industry begins to phase out the DVD player, as it did with the VCR. When the DVD player does finally disappear, will movies be stored on USBlike sticks or will we just access our libraries through a single online source? A single provider of digital entertainment would definitely make everything simple.

I am comfortable with where movie viewing is headed. The idea of just turning on my TV and pulling up a movie is an appealing one. How about you? Are you embracing the realm of online films? Or are you still enjoying your old-school life?

I’m happy in both worlds at the moment, but I know that sooner or later I’ll become a convert. o Lee is a member of the Video Library Committee.

Check out the Video Library’s extensive (DVD) collection of movies and TV series.

Did you know?

new

movies

If you don’t watch enough DVDs to commit to a monthly fee, à la carte membership allows you to rent movies for ¥400 a movie, or ¥200 for a short feature.

AC T I O N

R O MA NCE

CO ME DY

D RAMA

Cuban Fury Beneath the doughy exterior of sad-sack engineer Bruce Garrett (Nick Frost) beats the heart of a former teen salsa champ. To win over the girl of his dreams (Rashida Jones), he must reignite his dance-floor fire.

BIO G RA P HY

Need for Speed Street racer Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul) joins a cross country race to seek revenge on a wealthy business associate who framed him for a crime he didn’t commit. Based on a video game series.

The Angriest Man in Brooklyn Every day is a bad day for Henry Altmann (Robin Williams), especially when the curmudgeon is told he has 90 minutes to live, which leads to frantic attempts at reconciliations with friends and family.

The Lunchbox When a lunchbox is delivered to the wrong office worker in Mumbai, a lonely and neglected housewife builds a charming relationship with a widower through a series of lunchbox notes.

Red Wing A young Texas ranch hand (Glen Powell) is torn between two romances in a thoughtprovoking and stirring love story, based on George Sand’s French novella, François Le Champi.

Cesar Chavez A biopic of the civil-rights activist and American labor leader César Chávez (Michael Peña), who in the 1960s organized 50,000 farm workers in California. Also starring John Malkovich.

Video Library Daily: 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Tel: 03-4588-0686 E-mail: video.library@tac-club.org Reviews compiled by Nick Narigon.

12 August 2014 iNTOUCH

Helping you find property investment success

Premium Value Bank is your trusted partner and guide to the Japanese real estate market, offering support at every step of the process, including helping to arrange financing for up to 100% of a property.

From property management and tenant acquisition to monthly reports and data analysis, we’re confident we can make property investment in Japan work for you.

Call us now to arrange your free Premium Value Bank consultation.

Tel: 03-5447-6112 (English) Tel (from May 12): 03-5766-7727 (English) E-mail: info@p-v-b.com p-v-b.com

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT ADVISORS

No Signs of Slowing Far from taking it easy as he grows older, Club Member Brett Whiteoak is clocking ever-quicker triathlon times.

by Megan Waters

Brett Whiteoak

14 August 2014 iNTOUCH

B

rett Whiteoak hasn’t let the onset of middle age, a serious knee injury or a stressful career in the oil and gas industry stop him from competing in triathlons. In fact, his performances continue to improve.

Having taken part in about 80 of the endurance tests to date, the 54-year-old former ship’s captain has only recently achieved his best placing: first and second, respectively, in his age group in the Yokohama leg of the 2013 and 2014 ITU World Triathlon Series. And that’s thanks, in part, to the Club’s masters swim program.

A keen competitive runner and casual triathlete in his native Australia, Whiteoak took part in his first triathlon in 1987, in Tasmania, where he did “terribly.” Then, shortly after moving to Japan three years ago, he was forced to stop running for six months after injuring his knee.

RECREATION

Whiteoak says he was never a strong swimmer and saw the injury as an opportunity. “I thought, ‘If I can’t run, I should spend some more time swimming and cycling, instead,’” he says. And so began his early-morning training sessions with Masa Hamanaka, one of the Club’s swim instructors.

Divided into two groups, the masters program draws up to 15 Members to the Sky Pool three mornings a week for 2-kilometer swims in one-hour sessions. “We established the program back in 2007 for serious swimmers who were looking for structured training or swimmers who want to reach a higher level of fitness,” says Sky Pool manager Haldane Henry.

Besides improving their fitness and stamina, participants also benefit from the sense of camaraderie and mutual support in the program. “After 20 minutes in the pool I would normally

just think, ‘OK, that’s enough.’ But because you are all doing it, it makes you do it,” says Whiteoak. “Although there is no coaching as such, different routines and being forced to swim for one hour and forced to push yourself more than you can by yourself has definitely helped improve my swimming.”

Despite the 6:30 a.m. starts, Whiteoak says the views from the Sky Pool provide an incentive to get out of bed. “The sun comes through the glass sides of the pool enclosure, through Tokyo Tower, and sometimes you even get a glimpse of Mount Fuji,” he says.

The training and high-level competitions don’t come without sacrifices, though. Married, with an 8-year-old son, Whiteoak admits that he struggles with balancing his home life with training. One solution he has found is to cycle early in the morning, so he can still enjoy breakfast with his family.

He also tries to run during lunchtimes.

Whiteoak is keen to stress the support he receives from his family. Christine, his wife, who is completing her masters in sports physiotherapy, is acutely aware of the health benefits of triathlons.

“She tells me that by doing triathlons rather than just running, you reduce the damage and impact on your legs and body,” Whiteoak says. “Triathlons are good for cross-training. By doing something different [like swimming and cycling], you give your legs a break.”

The fiercely competitive Whiteoak, who averages between eight and 10 hours of cycling, running and swimming a week and follows a balanced diet, says he competes to stay in shape and for the challenge. “In Australia, I never won triathlons. But because I have been doing so well here in Japan, it gives me more confidence and incentive to compete in more,” he says.

Whiteoak recommends aspiring triathletes to start with a sprint triathlon, which, with its 750meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run, is half the distance of an Olympic triathlon. In particular, he advises beginners to try next month’s Murakami ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup, his favorite event in Japan.

The Niigata-based contest attracts a large number of foreign competitors and is noted for its picturesque waterfront course and enthusiastic local support. Since the race has a limited number of spots, Whiteoak urges budding triathletes to sign up early. Once registered, the next test will be keeping up with the supercharged Australian. o Waters is a Tokyo-based freelance journalist.

To find out more about the Club’s masters swim program or the Tri Club, contact the Sky Pool Office at 03-4588-0700 or pool@tacclub.org.

Christine, Brett and Nicholas Whiteoak

Fitness and well-being 15

RECREATION H E A LT H

Set for Success

Enriching Lives

This month, the Club’s professional tutors provide high school juniors and seniors with an insight on the college admission process.

Get started shaping up, slimming down or picking up a new fitness pursuit from the array of fitness programs on offer this fall. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. on August 5.

Academic Program Orientation A chance to meet the Club’s tutors and ask questions.

Sunday, August 24 1–2 p.m.

Toko Shinoda Classroom Free

Recreation Open House Saturday, August 30 2–5 p.m.

Gymnasium Free

Different Strokes

Team Trial

The Sky Pool is gearing up for another funpacked season of expert-led adult and children’s programs.

SAT Diagnostic Test Practice the college entrance exam in a stressfree environment and discover strengths and weaknesses.

Sunday, August 24 3–7 p.m.

Toko Shinoda Classroom Free

Club coaches evaluate the basketball skills of TAC Eagles hopefuls in grades one to six.

Summer College Prep Camp Learn essential test-taking strategies and skills for the SAT test.

August 31–October 5 Every Sunday 3–7 p.m.

Beate Sirota Gordon Classroom ¥110,000 Sign up online or at the Recreation Desk

Life-Saving Lessons

Kids’ Group Lessons September 1–October 9 (register from August 4) Gummy Sharks: ¥28,000 (seven weeks) Wobbegongs: ¥28,000 (seven weeks) Goblins: ¥25,200 (seven weeks)

Learn how to prevent, recognize and respond to different types of aquatic emergencies at a two-day, American Red Cross-certified basic water rescue course.

Parents and Tots September 1–24 and September 2–25 ¥16,625 (seven lessons)

TAC Eagles Tryout Thursday, September 4 5:30–7:15 p.m.

Gymnasium Sign up online or at the Recreation Desk

American Red Cross Certificate Program August 20 and 31 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Sky Pool ¥8,000 Ages 9 and above Sign up online or e-mail pool@tac-club.org

Private Lessons September 1–October 12

Mudsharks Swim Team Mini Muddies: August 18–October 9 Junior, Intermediate and Tiger Sharks: August 18–October 17 Sign up online or at the Sky Pool Office (Prices exclude 8 percent consumption tax.)

Double Delight Birthday Special For the entire month of your birthday, for as many times as you wish, receive 30 percent off a luxuriating, 60- or 90-minute massage or rejuvenating, 60- or 75-minute facial.

Because sometimes one day of celebration just won’t do.

Time-Out Treat Unwind with a 60- to 90-minute facial or massage while using the Childcare Center and you’ll receive 20 percent off your treatment and 50 percent off childcare.

(Offer valid for weekdays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., only.)

The Spa proudly uses products by

Book an appointment at The Spa at 03-4588-0714 or spa@tac-club.org Monday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–8 p.m. | Sunday and national holidays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

16 August 2014 iNTOUCH

WOMEN’S GROUP

National Treasure Hunt

by Michelle Herring

Community Help

by Nick Jones

T

After lunch in the village, nestled in the Showgawa River Valley, the group strolled, shopped and took photos around the World Heritage site, which is often featured on postcards and in tourist brochures. The charming village is famous for its unique thatched-roof farmhouses, built in a “praying hands” style alongside glistening rice paddies.

“The trip was such a fantastic opportunity to go outside of Tokyo and see the ‘real’ Japan,” said Women’s Group member Coleen Ostrower, “with beautiful mountains, gorgeous, authentic Japanese architecture in thatched-roof farmhouses, rice fields and fabulous castles.” o Herring is a member of the Women's Group.

The new Women’s Group tours brochure, which features domestic and international trips, is available from the Women’s Group Office from the middle of August.

Sanyukai, a homeless men’s shelter in Tokyo, received ¥2 million.

Therese Cowled, the chair of the Women’s Group’s charities committee, says that the group’s fundraising activities used to help the Club maintain its nonprofit status.

“While no longer a requirement under the Club’s new status, our continued support of local charities enables each member, volunteer and supporter of the Women’s Group and our activities to make a significant contribution to the local community and help shape a better world,” she says.

The Women’s Group also provided funds for various Club projects. o

Kayo Yamawaki

he Women’s Group donated almost ¥9 million to charities last financial year.

Through its annual sales and fundraising campaigns, such as the Asian Home Furnishings Sale, International Bazaar, Carpet Auction and Angel Campaign, the organization raised more than ¥7.5 million.

Of the seven charitable recipients, the Asian Rural Institute, a Tochigi-based organization that trains local community leaders from across the world, received ¥1 million, while

Heidi Sanford

T

raveling by bullet train to Nagoya, the 16 Women’s Group members began their May tour to Gifu Prefecture with an exploration of Japan’s intriguing past in the Aichi capital.

Nagoya Castle was where the Owari lineage of the ruling Tokugawa family, the foremost of the family’s three lineages, resided for more than 250 years during the Edo period.

After the Meiji Restoration, it was used temporarily as a palace for the emperor. In 1930, it became the first castle to be designated a national treasure.

The fortresses continued on a cloudless, blue-sky day, when the group stopped at Inuyama Castle, one of 12 castles built before the Edo period still in existence. Overlooking the Kiso River, which serves as the border between Aichi and Gifu prefectures, the national treasure is reportedly the oldest castle in Japan. Its original construction was completed in 1440.

The day’s cultural delights continued into the evening when the group, led by Kazuko Morio and Heidi Sanford, convened on the banks of the Nagara River for a festive outing on a traditional cormorant fishing boat. After a sunset dinner aboard a 13-meterlong yakatabune boat, the tour’s participants prepared to take in the age-old fishing practice of ukai.

Excitement built among the group as darkness fell and the fishing boats lined up side by side. Aided by the flickering light of their kagaribi bonfires, the cormorant fishing teams skillfully drove the ayu sweetfish into shallow waters for the trained sea cormorants to dive underwater and catch them.

“Observing the 1,300-year-old method of cormorant fishing was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and totally fascinating,” said Women’s Group member Sharon Fuller.

The next morning, the ladies headed by bus to the muchanticipated Shirakawago viewing point, where they were welcomed by a dramatic panorama of the idyllic village, set against a backdrop of lush, green mountains.

An interactive community 17

18 August 2014 iNTOUCH

FEATURE

FROM STOVE to TABLE To create and serve every meal at the Club requires the expertise and diligence of dozens.

by Nick Narigon Photos by Kayo Yamawaki

From Stove to Table 19

B

roiled lamb infused with anchovy. Seared Hokkaido scallops. Freshly ground beef patties. The preparation for such dishes begins well before the server arrives at the table in one of the Club restaurants.

Lunch service at American Bar & Grill, for example, starts the day before, during the 5:30 p.m. staff meeting. Desserts are baked from 8:30 a.m., while Decanter’s sirloin steak is carved at 10 in the morning.

This month, iNTOUCH presents a behind-the-scenes peek at the process of preparing hundreds of meals and snacks each day for the Club’s five restaurants, one bar, single seasonal rooftop café and function facilities.

DELIVERY Every morning, Kazuyuki Onuma and other staff test each new delivery of fresh produce for radiation with handheld meters. < BUTCHERY Using a honesuki boning knife, Toshiyuki Kurotaki deftly carves a 10-kilogram hunk of US beef for Decanter while Yoichi Kaneko ties up a 5-kilo slab of prime rib, which will be slow-cooked for 12 hours in American Bar & Grill.

BAKERY By 10:30 a.m., pastry chef Daisuke Yuki, 39, and his staff have prepared a lemon soufflé, a birthday cake decorated with the Stars and Stripes and some mini lime tarts, among other handcrafted sweet treats.

20 August 2014 iNTOUCH

FEATURE

< AMERICAN BAR & GRILL Every weekday, 120 to 130 business professionals and other Members dine at American Bar & Grill, making it the Club’s busiest lunch spot. While the restaurant's food and service are important, Antonio Villasmil, 38, the restaurant’s manager, says lunchtime diners come for the relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. “They don’t feel tension you feel when a restaurant is busy,” says Villasmil. “The personal touch we offer, you can’t get anywhere else. Also, we have the best burgers in Tokyo.”

From Stove to Table 21

FAMILY DINING The Club’s two family dining restaurants, Rainbow Café and Café Med, come alive after 5 p.m. “Today is Wednesday, so the families come in after swimming lessons and taiko [drumming] lessons,” says May Kamiyama, 24. On the busiest evenings, the outlets serve hamburgers, steak wraps and salads to more than 600 hungry diners. Kamiyama says her duties go beyond serving food.

For a recent sushi-themed buffet, she helped decorate and taught youngsters how to make origami. Fellow server Mima Osawa, 20, says the Members who visit the restaurants aren’t treated like customers. “You have conversations and get to know them and their families,” she says. “We have a comfortable relationship.”

FLATiRON FLATiRON chef Laura Ohno pours some liquid nitrogen into a glass mixing bowl containing cream. Vapor erupts from the bowl, billowing over the stainless steel grill. Once the mist clears, Ohno holds a serving of instant ice cream. Diners at this intimate restaurant, near Decanter on the third floor, experience a two-hour, 10-course, culinary spectacle that blends science and innovative ingredients with entertainment. “You have to do two or three things at the same time,” says Ohno, 35, who could be using a handheld food smoker one minute and a sous vide water bath the next. “It’s like performing a live show on stage. You have to be entertaining and cool.”

22 August 2014 iNTOUCH

FEATURE

DECANTER “It’s the quietest kitchen you will ever see,” says Decanter manager Malcolm Simpson of the restaurant’s creative hub, where chef Scott Kihara and his team prepare their signature steaks, chops and other dishes.

From Stove to Table 23

10 years [of the Meiji period], there were two types of Japanese people: those who were experts in English and those who were not, even though they had spent so long studying English. The point is there were two types of teaching: seisokugo, or regular method, and hensokugo, or irregular method. Those who studied under the regular method improved their English. They learned English in English. And in the hensoku way, they learned English in Japanese. Then, in the Meiji era, they abolished [the regular method] because those people who studied English in this way started to speak English in their daily conversation, too. And now most Japanese don’t think the [hensoku] way to learn English is strange, but they find it difficult, so they think English is difficult. iNTOUCH: Why has the government stuck to this methodology for teaching English for so long?

Makoto Ishiwata

Language Test

J

apan is getting serious about English. At least that’s the message from the government. Following years of economic stagnation and the decline of Japanese dominance in certain industries, officials want to reinvigorate the country’s global competiveness, and English skills, they say, are key to any future success.

In the world rankings for average TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) scores, Japan has traditionally performed poorly. But the government hopes to change that. In 2011, English was introduced for fifth- and sixth-graders of elementary school and this will be extended to third-graders from 2020.

Makoto Ishiwata is president and CEO of Language Teaching Revolutions in

24 August 2014 iNTOUCH

Tokyo. iNTOUCH’s Nick Jones spoke to the Club Member about the latest set of measures to improve English skills in Japan. Excerpts: iNTOUCH: Broadly, how would you describe the English skills of the Japanese?

Ishiwata: Most Japanese people, I would say, are beginner level. But the irony is we’re not beginners at all. On average, most Japanese people study English for 10 years. iNTOUCH: So why don’t these years of formal education lead to better English skills?

Ishiwata: It’s about how ineffectively English is taught in Japan. For the first

Ishiwata: About 20 years ago, the government started some “super English high schools,” which were allowed to use English in English classes. They experimented with this in different schools and the results were excellent.

Even within one year, the students became so fluent in English. Then five years ago, the Ministry of Education asked all high schools to use English in English classes.

It was announced five years ago to be implemented two years ago. There were lots of voices opposing the plan five years ago, saying the students [would not be able to] understand anything if they were taught English in English. Now, two years after the implementation, I heard that less than 20 percent of high schools use English as the means of instruction. To return to the [hensoku method], it’s like learning how to swim without going to water. And these instructors only know how to teach in the classroom, not in the pool. iNTOUCH: In 2003, the government introduced its plan to “cultivate Japanese with English skills” through changes to the education system. What are your thoughts on this initiative?

Ishiwata: They always talk about this kind of thing. It’s not a new thing, but they haven’t come up with anything drastic yet, although they are working on it.

TALKING HEADS

WORLDS APART TOEIC & TOEFL scores by country

120

Mean TOEFL Score by native country (max. 120)

800

600

400

200

One thing they’re trying to change is the tests themselves, and they’re thinking of replacing the [college entrance English] tests with tests from outside, like TOEFL, where all four skills [reading, writing, listening and speaking] are involved in the test. So that may change something because the teachers will have to adjust their way of teaching. iNTOUCH: How much of a problem is the language ability of the English teachers themselves?

Ishiwata: Sometimes in schools, the English teachers’ [English] level is lower than the level of teachers of other subjects.

It’s just what they learned in school and in school they don’t learn practical English.

I think that should definitely be changed in the future. iNTOUCH: English has now been introduced in elementary schools. What are your thoughts?

Ishiwata: I don’t think it is working. I’m not opposed to introducing a foreign

language at an earlier age, but the way it has been introduced is kind of crazy.

The teachers were not ready and some teachers had never studied English, plus the instruction time is limited. iNTOUCH: How are poor English skills in Japan impacting the economy?

Ishiwata: The loss is huge. At our school, we have around 300 adult students, all professional, and most of them would like to have more opportunities to do their business overseas, but because of the limitations in their English they can’t.

Japan as an economy is losing lots of opportunities. iNTOUCH: How would you fix this problem?

Ishiwata: First, we have to educate teachers. Just telling them to use English in the classroom won’t help.

So they have to spend lots of money on English teachers’ education. Also, the number of non-Japanese teachers going to elementary schools is quite

Source: www.ets.org

0

97 GERMANY 91 INDIA 89 MALAYSIA 89 SPAIN 88 FRANCE 85 SOUTH KOREA 84 BANGLADESH 84 RUSSIA 83 BRAZIL 82 INDONESIA 77 CHINA 70 JAPAN

Mean TOEIC Score by native country (max. 990)

990

limited because they’re not compensated much. It’s hard for schools to find good, qualified teachers. Ideally speaking, the government should decide the kind of level that the teachers must achieve within a certain number of years, and they should give them the time and the opportunity to improve. And if they can’t improve, they should change the subject that they teach. Those people who cannot use English should not teach English. If I’m correct, Korea took a drastic measure about 15 years ago. They hired new English teachers who were capable of teaching English in English and those teachers who were not capable had to change their career. iNTOUCH: How confident are you that the government’s latest initiative to improve English skills will be successful?

Ishiwata: Over the next few years, especially with the coming Olympic Games, they have to make lots of drastic measures and among them should be how English is taught in Japan. We still have the audacity of hope. o

Member insights on Japan 25

FREDERICK HARRIS GALLERY All exhibits in the Frederick Harris Gallery are for sale and can be purchased by Membership card at the Member Services Desk. Sales of works begin at 6 p.m. on the first day of the exhibition.

Women’s Group Enrichment Programs

by Nick Narigon Whether they were looking to fulfill lifetime dreams or craft their own memories of Japan, hundreds of Members have taken Women’s Group enrichment programs over the years.

When it comes to discovering a new talent or nurturing an existing one, the inspiring cache of courses is designed to challenge every inquiring mind.

Rajul Shah, chair of the Women’s Group enrichment programs committee, has taken a range of classes, including ones in photography and art.

“For me, the programs are a great way to not only engage my starting point into art, but it put me in touch with exceptional instructors with impressive résumés,” says Shah. “What we’re really trying to do for our members is enrich their experience. You can walk away knowing something that you didn’t know how to do before. You can even reach a point where you are exhibiting your work.”

This month, the Frederick Harris Gallery will showcase just what’s possible through an exhibition of instructors’ and students’ works.

Member and instructor Rita Uetsuka, who teaches how to make screens, lamps and lanterns, says she encourages her students to create from scratch and is impressed by the results. She also says the class provides a way for students to forge friendships.

“Students have chances to make friends and share information about where to go and what to do in Tokyo,” says Uetsuka. “Many students become my close friends.”

During the exhibition, Kazuko Inomata, who teaches silver clay jewelry making, will display ornate pieces made from the enamel material first discovered in Japan. An instructor at colleges in Osaka and Honolulu, Inomata says working at the Club helps her English skills.

“It is my pleasure to teach this traditional Japanese craft and introduce such wonderful materials to the Women’s Group members,” she says. “Artists need stimulation for their creativity and the students at Tokyo American Club provide stimulation for me to create [art].”

Exhibition

August 18–September 7

Enrichment Program Registration Day Tuesday, September 16 9:30–11 a.m.

Women’s Group members only: 9:30–10 a.m.

Beate Sirota Gordon Classroom and Activity Room

26 August 2014 iNTOUCH

Where the living is easy

©Jeff Goldberg/ESTO

This summertime, vacation in style and comfort at the Club.

mac zen spa fitness oasis den for two

Book your stay by calling 03-4588-0734 or e-mailing guest.studios@tac-club.org.

www.tokyoamericanclub.org

Guest Studio Summer Escapes (until August 31)

• 3-nights-for-the-price-of-2 getaway • One-night special • Long-stay break (+5 nights) • Women’s Group overnight special (¥20,000)

CULTURAL INSIGHT

Parting Words and Rites This month’s Bon festival sees families across Japan commemorate departed family and ancestors through ageold rituals.

by Efrot Weiss

L

ike so many time-honored traditions in Japan, longestablished death rituals have modernized. Following Buddhist custom, the services are designed to facilitate the spirit’s journey to the afterlife and protect the living from the “pollution” of death.

Today’s rites have been simplified dramatically. For most, death occurs in hospital, not at home, and funeral professionals have taken over from the family and community.

“My mother, who died at 96, had arranged every aspect of her funeral when

she was 85, shortly after my father died.

She did not want to be a burden to her kids,” explains one Japanese Member, who asked not to be named.

“Each family has their own set of traditions,” says another longtime Member, who preferred to remain anonymous. “With my aunt, we brought the body home for the wake. But both my grandmother and uncle wanted to donate their bodies to science. They had always wanted to do this. My grandmother died at 97 and was very healthy. We did request the ashes, which we received a year later.”

Several traditional Buddhist practices during the wake, funeral and cremation are still followed.

Immediately upon a person’s death, their lips are moistened with a wet, cottonwrapped bamboo chopstick—an attempt at resuscitation called matsugo no mizu, or water of the last moment.

The deceased is cleaned and dressed in a white kimono, with the right side overlapping the left—opposite to how it is normally worn.

During the wake, a priest chants sutras while mourners light incense. The family often keeps an all-night vigil, lighting candles and incense to prevent malevolent spirits from entering the body.

In preparation for the funeral, the body is placed in a casket with some of the deceased’s favorite items. “When my auntie died, we put her favorite necklace around her neck,” says the longtime Member.

In addition, six coins (rokumonsen) are placed in the casket to assist the deceased in their crossing of the River Sanzu, or River of Three Crossings, on their way to the afterlife.

At the funeral, the coffin is placed amid flowers and below a picture of the deceased. Eulogies are delivered and telegrams, from those unable to attend the funeral, are read aloud.

A wooden mortuary tablet, or kaimyo, displays the posthumous Buddhist name of the departed. By changing their name, it’s believed the deceased won’t respond if their name is called and so their journey to the afterlife won’t be interrupted.

Following the cremation of the body, the family separates the bones and ashes with special, mismatched chopsticks, symbolizing a bridge between the world of the living and the dead. The leg bones are placed at the bottom of the urn with the cranial bones at the top to ensure the deceased is in the correct standing posture.

Due to its resemblance to a seated Buddha, the Adam’s apple is sometimes stored separately. Bones are sorted by two family members at a time. This ritual is why Japanese don’t pass food between chopsticks during meals.

So begins the spirit’s 49-day journey to the Pure Land. Every seven days, the spirit is judged to determine if it deserves to be a Buddha. On the 49th day, a memorial service is held to mark the spirit’s transformation to an ancestor, signifying the end of the mourning period.

Remembrance ceremonies are conducted on important anniversaries of the person’s death, as well as during the annual Bon holiday. o Weiss has been a Club Member since 2002.

Joining a Committee Compensation Mark Miller Culture, Community & Entertainment Daniel Smith (Lance Lee) Subcommittees Culture & Community JoAnn Yoneyama Entertainment Matthew Krcelic Frederick Harris Gallery Yumiko Sai Finance Rodney Nussbaum (Hiroshi Miyamasu)

28 August 2014 iNTOUCH

Food & Beverage Michael Alfant (Jerome Rosenberg) Subcommittee Wine Stephen Romaine House Jesse Green (Gregory Lyon) Subcommittee Facilities Management Group Tomio Fukuda Human Resources Jon Sparks (Per Knudsen)

Membership Alok Rakyan (Machi Nemoto) Nominating Steven Greenberg Recreation Samuel Rogan (Mark Miller) Subcommittees Bowling Crystal Goodfliesh Video Library Abigail Radmilovich Fitness Samuel Rogan Golf John Vaughan

Library Alaine Lee Logan Room Christa Rutter Squash Martin Fluck Swim Alexander Jampel Youth Activities Betsy Rogers

Say “ I do” to style and personality at Tokyo American Club

Whether you want your special day to be an elegant, black-tie celebration or an intimate, low-key affair, our professional planning team will help you craft the perfect wedding.

BRIDAL FAIR Sunday, August 24 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

New York Ballroom, Brooklyn rooms, Decanter Free | Open to the public (walk-ins are welcome) Reserve your spot at 03-4588-0977 or bridal.sales@tac-club.org

yokoso Amar & Patricia Darira

United States—HSBC Securities (Japan) Ltd. Daisaku & Megumi Masuno Japan—Masuno Corporation Kyoko Deguchi Japan—AbbVie GK

Takashi & Akiyo Ono Japan—Rothschild Japan

Satoshi & Mariko Suzuki Japan—Nanayo Shoji Co., Ltd.

Vipan & Megumi Sharma India—United Ocean Group

Ashley & Yukio Aoki United States

Shinya & Ayako Yamamoto Japan—Morgan Stanley MUFJ Securities Co., Ltd.

Kiyoshi Nakamura & Sasja Antheunis Japan—Dentsu, Inc.

Nargis & Atul Pasricha United States

Hitoshi Kurihara Japan—Japan Business Assurance Co., Ltd.

Eugene Hong & Catherine Ho Singapore—Alcon Japan Ltd.

Yumiko & Ryo Iwabuchi Japan—Citigroup Global Markets Ltd.

Kumi Hori Japan—MLD Co., Ltd.

Tetsuo & Akari Iguchi Japan—Deutsche Securities, Inc.

Amit & Leena Oberoi Singapore—Coca-Cola East Japan Co., Ltd.

Zachary Struyk & Shimon Yoo United States—SunPower Japan K.K.

Pauline & Philippe Bernard Australia—Sanofi K.K.

David & Ryoko Richardson Australia—Modeling Resources Pty Ltd.

Ryo Kubota Japan—Acucela, Inc. Richard Kenny

United Kingdom—Cae Solutions Corp.

Rocco & Chikako Trapanese

United States—Career Scout Japan K.K. Hsiao Lu Elena Fong & Hideki Tsuchida

United Kingdom—Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office

sayonara Kiyo Yamaguchi Hisahiro & Kayoko Yamada Masami & Takako Ohkawa Tetsuya & Keiko Otsuka Yao-Ting & Hsing-Chen Huang Takeshi & Ayako Fujimaki

Kazuhiro Moriuchi Raymond & Megan Kong Patrick Kim & Hyunjin Lee Juergen & Gundi Bohn Takashi Niwa Andrew Dahms & Eriko Morinaga

Lina Lee & James Kim Ian & Christianne Wilson Bill Spurgeon Christina Lucas

Stacks of Services at the Club Spica

The Club’s professional shoe repair and polishing service.

Tel: 03-4588-0670 The Cellar (B1) Sat: 1–4:30 p.m.

Sun: 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Weekday drop-off: Member Services Desk

30 August 2014 iNTOUCH

FedEx

To find out more about the range of services and Member discounts, visit the FedEx counter.

The Cellar (B1) Mon–Fri: 1–5 p.m. (closed Sun and national holidays) Sat: 12 p.m. (pickup only)

André Bernard Beauty Salon

Hair care for adults and kids, manicure, pedicure, waxing and more.

Tel: 03-4588-0685 Family Area (B1) Tue–Sun 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

The Art of Travel

Discover Japan and beyond with help from the Club’s travel desk consultants.

The Cellar (B1) Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Tel: 076-221-1586 E-mail: tac@theartoftravel.net www.theartoftravel.net

MEMBER SERVICES

employee

of the month

Maiko Ikemi

by Nick Jones

R

eturning to work from maternity leave, Maiko Ikemi was surprised to discover that the time away from her job as part of the Club’s events and meetings sales team had equipped her with a new skill: empathy for young families.

“I have a better understanding for family Member needs and have gained a real appreciation for the need to accommodate their wishes,” says the 33-year-old, who was named June’s Employee of the Month (she last won the award in 2007).

Since the number of private events and parties has significantly increased since she first started in the role in 2005

(after a year in the American Room, the old Club’s fine-dining restaurant), Ikemi’s new-found insight is proving useful.

“The most important thing is that you will need to know what customers really want, even when they’re not entirely clear or even understand themselves what they’re looking for,” she says. “For some events, I spend more than a year just doing the preparations. Within the coordination, a relationship with the client develops and I must ensure they always feel comfortable working with me.”

Ikemi, who left her native Chiba Prefecture at 15 to attend high school in the Australian city of Melbourne, says she

enjoys the opportunities her job offers to meet people and learn. “I also like that I continuously need to update my knowledge on the latest trends regarding food and events, which is a lot of fun,” she says. “As I love eating, it gives me more excuses to do so.”

Once a keen painter, she has also discovered that motherhood leaves little time for such hobbies. “I don’t have time to paint anymore since I am a working mother,” she says. “Instead, I enjoy spending time with my 2-year old son. It’s great to see how quickly he grows and changes and the way he seems to learn new things every single day.” Much like his mom. o

New Member Profile

New Member Profile

Why did you decide to join the Club?

Why did you decide to join the Club?

“Having lived in Switzerland for some 10 years, we are enjoying exploring a new culture. The Club offers us even more experiences, as it brings together a multinational group of people. We highly appreciate this environment and the chance for our kids to live in a manifold society, as well as the Club’s different, outstanding facilities, such as the recreation facilities, the Library, different restaurants and cultural classes.”

“Since my parents are longtime Members of the Club, it is a community that I would like my family to experience, and I look forward to three generations of my family being able to enjoy the facilities. I also think the Club is valuable to my career as an executive coach and strategy consultant, and it’s a good opportunity to take clients to the Club for dinner and to interact with other Members.”

(l–r) Nils, Bettina, Oliver and Ionna Schnerr

(l–r) Takashi, Shuzo, Yuzo and Reiko Ishioka

Oliver Schnerr & Bettina Schnerr-Laube Germany—Kistler Japan Co., Ltd.

Takashi & Reiko Ishioka Japan—Dream Incubator, Inc.

Services and benefits for Members 31

Working Mom Hurdles

32 August 2014 iNTOUCH

Benjamin Parks

Chieko and Sean Corry

INSIDE JAPAN

While the Japanese government backs “womenomics,” societal hurdles for working mothers remain.

by Nick Narigon

K

Carsten Fischer

However, other recommendations, such as modifying immigration laws to encourage domestic help from overseas and adjusting barriers in Japan’s income tax system, have met resistance.

Nakamura, who is helping 54 nurseries in Kanagawa Prefecture to become licensed, says the government plans to offer incentives to open childcare centers, operated by nonprofit social welfare corporations. However, private firms, which account for 1.6 percent of Japan’s 24,000 day cares, are excluded, she says.

“There is still a big discrepancy in public support between the social welfare corporations and business corporations.

The government has admitted we need corporations to help open more nurseries but hidden behind the public statements are regulations preventing corporations from entering the market,” says Nakamura.

“If we can get rid of those hidden hurdles

for the corporations, we can really help with these waiting children.”

Last year, Nakamura says, Yokohama successfully reduced its waiting list to zero, in part, by encouraging businesses to provide a childcare service for employees.

Shiseido opened its own day care center at its Shiodome headquarters in 2003. The company also offers five-year maternity leave and employs 1,500 staff to cover for working mothers when they need to take care of a child.

“Our objective is to keep female employees in the system, educate them further and accommodate the breaks,” says Fischer. “As a company, you have to accommodate an infrastructure that enables women to work with a peace of mind. If you want to advance capable women to management positions, you have to make sure they stay in the company and they can work, despite the demands of society and the household.”

Benjamin Parks

neeling on an alphabet mat in the Club’s Childcare Center, Chieko Corry pushes her 18-month-old son, Sean, back and forth in a red convertible, his favorite toy.

A TV host and image consultant, Corry works five days a week and sometimes nights, while her husband puts in long hours, often traveling for business. Before Sean was born, she planned to take three months’ maternity leave. The 46-year-old Club Member says she became a hokatsu, a new term to describe mothers in search of a childcare spot.

“We did massive amounts of research,” says Corry. “We visited about 20 childcare centers and each one was different.” By the time she found the right fit, she was told the average wait was eight months.

One of her friends, she says, waited a year and a half.

With women a key component of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s much-publicized plan to rejuvenate the economy, reducing such wait times, he has said, is imperative to facilitating women’s participation in the country’s workforce.

The number of working women drops significantly between the ages of 25 and 39 and, according to a 2013 survey, 60 percent of women said they quit work after the birth of their first child because of the lack of support for working mothers.

Carsten Fischer is CEO of Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido. Nearly all of the company’s female workers who leave to have a baby return to work. With more women entering the workforce, determined to stay, Fischer says it is important to have a system in place to accommodate employees’ work-life balance.

“The prime minister is working hard to get more females into the workforce because that is a huge strive for diversity and innovation, and innovation drives growth, and we need growth as a country,” the Club Member says. “Creating that awareness is one of the first steps.”

Noriko Nakamura, founder of the

Japan Association of Female Executives and CEO of Poppins, which operates 138 day cares in Japan, says 850,000 children in Japan are on childcare waiting lists.

While Abe plans to reduce this by creating spaces for 400,000 children by 2017, the Club Member says the government’s efforts fall short.

“There is little incentive for mothers to start working after they have given birth,” says Nakamura, sitting in the new Poppins Active Learning International School in Ebisu. “Making sure there are accessible childcare options for working mothers is very much the key to promote women to get out and join the workforce.”

An adviser on the issue to the government and the mayor of Yokohama, Nakamura says some government measures are in the pipeline, including an easing of the licensing requirements for day cares and expanding the annual nursery teacher exam to twice a year.

Noriko Nakamura

Until the system is reformed and smaller businesses are provided with childcare support, women will continue to struggle to balance full-time work with raising children. It’s a problem exasperated by the fact that the average Japanese father spends one hour a day helping with household chores, compared to three hours in other developed countries.

Today, Chieko Corry takes her son to a Meguro day care from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and she hires a nanny when she works longer. On weekends, she brings Sean to the Club’s Childcare Center for a few hours.

“It’s like putting together a puzzle,” she says. “After transportation fees, it’s not cheap. You ask yourself, ‘Why do I work when paying for childcare is the same amount you earn?’ It’s difficult.” o The Childcare Center is open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A look at culture and society 33

Nebuta Festival

Playing B with Fire

by Catherine Makino

August in Japan is ablaze with fiery festivals for the Bon season.

34 August 2014 iNTOUCH

esides oppressive humidity, the summer in Japan is also known for festivals, or matsuri, in all their colorful variety. This month, in particular, sees people don yukata kimono to take in fireworks, processions, bonfires and dance performances, set to the rhythm of taiko drums and bamboo flutes.

Since the middle of August is marked by the Bon season, when millions of Japanese return to their hometowns to welcome back the spirits of their ancestors, many of the festivals at this time feature elements of this tradition, including lamps and fires to guide the departed and floating lanterns for their return to the netherworld.

According to Naoyuki Ogi, a Buddhist monk at Chosho Temple in Yamaguchi Prefecture, the Buddhist custom of Bon has been observed in Japan for at least 500 years.

“It is a time when our ancestors’ spirits come back to this world,” he says. “However, when they journey back, they need light to guide them to their original homes, so they won’t get lost. We guide them by using

light, such as lanterns and fire, saying, ‘Your home is here.’”

Between the rituals and grave cleaning, Ogi says, Bon serves another purpose.

“Obon is a good opportunity to slow down and think about the connections between us and our ancestors and reflect on life,” he says.

While there are hundreds of festivals across Japan this month, here are a few of the more exceptional, light-themed events:

HIROSAKI NEPUTA FESTIVAL August 1–7 Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture This annual extravaganza attracts a whopping 1.5 million people every year.

Smaller in scale than Aomori’s similar festival, this matsuri features a stunning procession of around 80 fan-shaped and man-shaped illuminated floats, adorned with images of legendary figures and warriors. After the parade, the floats are cast into the sea in a purification rite to ward off illness. www.en-hirosaki.com

OUT & ABOUT

Toro Nagashi

an ancient exorcism, the modern-day version features fireworks. www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp

ANJIN FESTIVAL

NEBUTA FESTIVAL August 2–7 Aomori, Aomori Prefecture Regarded as one of the big three Tohoku festivals, along with Tanabata in Sendai and Akita’s lantern festival, this procession sees more than 20 large lantern floats, depicting historical heroes and legendary figures, paraded through the streets. Each float is accompanied by costumed dancers, adorned with bells. Incidentally, finding a fallen bell is considered good luck. Around 3 million people descend on Aomori for the festival each year. www.atca.info/nebuta_en

TORII-BURNING FESTIVAL August 5 Lake Ashi, Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture Two 6-meter-tall torii shrine gates are built on Lake Ashi and then ceremonially burned. Thousands of paper lanterns are floated on the lake while the flames consume the torii in an epic scene of fire and light. While the festival’s roots can be traced back to the legend of

August 8–10 Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture This festival marks the launching of the first Western-style Japanese ship, built

by Englishman William Adams, known in Japan as Miura Anjin. Aside from a ceremony, parade, concert and taiko drum competition, lanterns are floated down the Matsu River and out to sea. Fireworks over the water wrap up three days of fun. www.shizuoka-guide.com

SPIRIT BOAT PROCESSION August 15 Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture Amid clouds of incense and the sound of gongs and firecrackers (reflecting Nagasaki’s Chinese influence), the city hosts a dazzling procession of various sized shorobune boats to send off the souls of those who passed away during the year. Shoro Nagashi is held at the end of Obon. www.at-nagasaki.jp

FLOATING LANTERN FESTIVAL August 16 Miyazu Bay, Kyoto Prefecture One of the biggest Bon toro nagashi (floating lantern) festivals in the country,

this event features more than 10,000 red and white paper lanterns and a spectacular fireworks display. Miyazu is also famous for a 3.6-kilometer-long sandbar, covered by pine trees, called Amanohashidate. www.kyoto-kankou.or.jp

DAIMONJI BONFIRE August 16 Mount Nyoiga, Kyoto Prefecture Five giant bonfires, forming Chinese characters, are lit on the sides of five mountains overlooking Kyoto. While the exact origins of the festival are unclear, the fires are part of the ritual of sending off ancestral spirits at the end of the Obon season. www.kyoto-kankou.or.jp

YOSHIDA FIRE FESTIVAL August 26–27 Yoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture Celebrated for more than 500 years, this unique festival’s burning torches and parade of two large portable shrines through the streets are to appease the goddess of Mount Fuji in the hope that the volcano won’t erupt over the coming year. It also serves as the closing ceremony of the Fuji climbing season. www.city.fujiyoshida.yamanashi.jp Club Member Makino is a Tokyo-based freelance journalist. Additional research by Club Member Sandra Mori.

Explorations beyond the Club 35

For more photos from some events displayed in these pages, visit the Event Image Gallery (under News & Info) on the Club website.

Mudsharks End-of-Year Awards Dinner June 3

The Club’s competitive youth swimmers wrapped up another successful season of aquatic action and training with a fun evening of food, games, accolades and awards.

Photos by Yuuki Ide

1

1. (l–r) Renee Steiner, Minami Ide, Calyan Markwick Smith, Naomi Ledell, Erika Greenberg, Solenne Becker, Sabrina Matsui and Julia Neely 2. (l–r) Eigen Schinaman, Sky Pool manager Haldane Henry, Michael Chu, Yumiko Uehara, Maya Murakami-Moses, Anika Whan and Mudhsarks coach Simon Hadlow 3. (l–r) Thomas Whan, Haldane Henry, Christopher Hathaway, Yumiko Uehara, Calyn Markwick Smith, Maika Kushner and Simon Hadlow 4. (l–r) Haldane Henry, Aren Mizuno, Bandon Sato, Yumiko Uehara, Marin Hadley, Waris Mills and Simon Hadlow 2

3

4

36 August 2014 iNTOUCH

Meet the Author: Ray Reay June 4

Ray Reay, a Canadian Mount Fuji guide and the author of Climbing Mt. Fuji: A Complete Guidebook, explained to Members what compelled him to write his book and offered tips on climbing Japan’s iconic peak.

Photos by Yuuki Ide 1. Ray Reay

1

Try 3: Be an Ironman June 1–8

Ruriko Mano and Nick Vitalis swam, ran and cycled their way to triathlon glory—and prizes—in this inaugural Club challenge in the Fitness Center and Sky Pool.

Snapshots from Club occasions 37

For more photos from some events displayed in these pages, visit the Event Image Gallery (under News & Info) on the Club website.

First Friday: 2014 FIFA World Cup June 6

Ahead of the opening game of soccer’s biggest party, the World Cup, Members celebrated the tournament’s host country, Brazil, with an evening of Brazilian snacks, drinks and carnival dancers in the Winter Garden.

Photos by Yuuki Ide

1. (l–r) Wolfgang Bierer, Club President John Durkin and Bruce Benson 2. (l–r) Miles Batten, Matt Krcelic and Garth Ramsey

1

2

38 August 2014 iNTOUCH

EVENT ROUNDUP

Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Grand Buffet June 15

The New York Ballroom hosted a feast of favorites for Club dads and their families, while some fathers continued the annual celebration at the Bowling Center, where they enjoyed two free games.

Photos by Ken Katsurayama 1

1. (lâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;r) Maria Cho, Der-Kent Liang, Yurino Cho, William Liang and Meikan Yoo 2. Kazumasa Ohyama, Ei and Kent Kurihara, Ayako Miyamoto and Miki Ohyama 3. Ken, Yu and Sayaka Uehara 4. Milena, Lucio, Belinda and Paulina Fortunato 5. Tai, David and Shima Abrams 6. Tamako, Iwao and Megumi Maekawa

2

3

5

4

6

Snapshots from Club occasions 39

BACK WORDS

Whatever the story, anecdote, fictitious tale, rant, cultural observation or Club commentary, now’s your chance to take it to the world…well, Membership, anyway. E-mail your submission (no more than 700 words) to editor@tac-club.org.

Going It Alone

by Dave McCaughan

A

ging, shrinking and alone.

That seems the fate of Japan’s population. The first two characteristics are discussed regularly in the media, but recently I read three reports that got me thinking about the sizable chunk of the population that lives alone and the implications of that trend on society.

Kishyo Ginza Honten Royal Crystal Bldg. 4F 5-4-6 Ginza ENGLISH Tel: 03-6251-8191

http://kishyo.com

40 August 2014 iNTOUCH

According to the World Health Organization, the average life expectancy of a Japanese woman is now 87 years, the highest in the world. Other statistics indicate that a woman of 60 in Tokyo today is likely to live to around 95.

The average life expectancy for men, meanwhile, is 80, the eighth highest in the world (Iceland tops that table). This means that a typical Japanese wife in the capital may live a decade or two on her own after her husband dies. Interestingly, some women don’t see this as a bad thing.

When listening to focus groups of women in their 60s, I am shocked at how many say they are looking forward to their “post-husband” years.

Other research highlights that among single women around 50 years old, some 68 percent say that living alone will be their main goal as they age, meaning decades of single living after retirement.

Another area that has attracted the attention of the world media since the 1990s is Japan’s hikikomori, or shutins. Often retreating to their bedroom in their parents’ home, they choose to withdraw from society and shun school or work. A 2013 government survey found that of the more than 3 million singles, aged between 35 and 44, living with their parents, at least 10 percent were hikikomori. Imagine what will happen when mom or dad are no longer around for them.

As you have probably gleaned by now, there are millions of middle-aged or older Japanese who are choosing a life on their own. This will likely have a huge impact on everything from housing to the size of goods offered in stores. Potentially, there will also be a need for services tailored to the needs of singles and more ways for them to connect and share.

Whether it’s single women choosing to be alone or a portion of the population who can’t contemplate living with a partner, Japan will have to deal with and adapt to another aspect of its already complicated demographic future. o Club Member McCaughan is managing director with the advertising agency McCann Worldgroup Hong Kong.

The essence of Japan

Meticulously crafted Japanese cuisine, discreet hospitality and traditionally refined surroundings.

毎 月 一 回 一 日 発 行 第 四 十 七 巻 五 九 〇 号 ト ウ キ ョ ウ ア メ リ カ ン ク ラ ブ イ ン タ ッ チ マ ガ ジ ン 二 〇 一 四 年 六 月 一 日 発 行 平 成 三 年 十 二 月 二 十 日 第 三 種 郵 便 物 許 可 定 価 八 ０ ０ 円 本 体 七 七 七 円