Japan’s number one English language magazine JUNE 2014 Songs from the Heart Chris Hart Lets His Music Do the Talking

COME TOGETHER Our Summer Festival Guide

HELL ON WHEELS Vintage Motorbikes Tear Up a Saitama Race Course

WORLD CUP 2014 The Samurai Blue Get Ready to Hit Brazil

ALSO: Director Steve McQueen Exhibits a Daring Short Film, People Parties and Places, Agenda, and More ... JUNE 2014 www.tokyoweekender.com JUNE 2014 CONTENTS 10

HELL ON WHEELS A band of vintage motorcycle enthusiasts push their bikes to the limit

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SUMMER FESTIVALS CHRIS HART WORLD CUP GUIDE The best action of the season, from The crooner talks about his path from We look ahead to the teams and players who shitamachi samba to a rock fest in Niigata vending machine technician to J-Pop star are preparing to take Brazil by storm

13 Manabu Saito 18 Seisen International School 26 Movies The Yokohama F. Marinos star looks Discovering the joys involved in giving Wes Anderson returns, and Jon Snow goes forward to shining on the world stage back to the community up against a volcano 14 World Cup Wallchart 19 Poppins International School 28 Agenda Keep track of your favorite teams’ Combining cutting-edge research with Club action galore, a charity “Yamathon,” progress towards the championship children’s natural love of learning and bugs that light up the night 16 Steve McQueen 22 People, Parties, Places 30 Back in the Day An artist and filmmaker displays a new Bill Hersey, catching up on Tokyo’s ever Chinese students in Tokyo stage a rally in work at Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo busy social scene support of the Tiananmen protests

www.tokyoweekender.com JUNE 2014 THIS MONTH IN THE WEEKENDER

like Chris Hart, finding fame as a J-Pop crooner (and as our cover star for the month). Not only did Hart’s JUNE 2014 Japan’s number one English language magazine JUNE 2014 vocal stylings land him an album deal, it put him in touch with his future Songs from wife: not a bad turn of events for a guy the Heart who came over to Japan working for a Chris Hart Lets His vending machine company. Music Do the Talking It must have been quite a vision Publisher BC Media Group that inspired a pack of vintage Chairman Ray Pedersen COME TOGETHER motorcycle enthusiasts to pack Our Summer Festival Guide Executive Producer Asi Rinestine up dozens of bikes into a shipping container and send them across the Editor Alec Jordan HELL ON WHEELS Pacific from California for a day Art Director Liam Ramshaw Vintage Motorbikes Tear Illustrator Liam Akin Up a Saitama Race Course of racing on a Saitama dirt course. We have to admit that reading this Media Director Kotaro Toda WORLD CUP 2014 account of the Hell on Wheels crew’s Account Executives Nobu (Nick) Nakazawa The Samurai Blue Get Ready to Hit Brazil adventures in Kawagoe had us reveling Ohad Elbaz ALSO: Director Steve McQueen Exhibits a Daring Short Film, People Parties and Places, Agenda, and More ... in the heady funk of engine fumes and Media Consultant Mary Rudow nd with that, spring has imagining a dirt-biking alter ego. Marketing Ingrid Dubreuil shuffled off over a few And even the Americans among Editorial Consultant Sami Kawahara short weeks. We’ve still us know that something big is coming A up in the sports world this month, an Society Bill Hersey got some time—and plenty of rain—before Japan’s summer days event that fans and athletes alike have Editorial Associates Vivian Morelli hit us with their full oppressive force, been dreaming of for months and Matthew Hernon years. Whether you played a bit when Mace Bertumen but we’re starting to get a hint. One thing the coming of summer you were younger or are just getting Film Christopher O’Keeffe reminds us of, though, are those lazy to know the game better, you’ll want days when you could just look up at to check out our guide to all the action IT Manager Nick Adams that will be going on down south. Development Manager Stephane Boudoux the clouds scudding by and daydream Finance & Admin Sakura Arimura entire afternoons away. And even in So, stay cool, stay dry, and we’ll DBA Iryna Sundutova this busiest of cities, we’re still prone see you again once things have really to stealing a bit of time to dream warmed up next month. about what we’ll be when we grow up, and you can read about a few of them this month. Some of us might harbor fantasies EST. Corky Alexander, 1970 of taking our singing outside of the Editor shower or the karaoke room, and Published monthly at the Regency Shinsaka Building, 5th floor 8-5-8 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 (03) 6666-4924 / (03) 6432-9229 (fax) [email protected]

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Published by BC Media Group www.bulbouscell.com

Fried Sushi by Liam Akin. To see more of Liam’s work check out www.friedsushi.net

JUNE 2014 www.tokyoweekender.com www.tokyoweekender.com JUNE 2014 Gearing up for a summer in Tokyo? You don’t have to go too far to get your share of fun—whether you go in for music festivals, beach bashes or traditional mat- suri. Time to let your hair down and fill up your calendar with some celebration

By Vivian Morelli

HOSTESS CLUB SUMMER SONIC 2014 WEEKENDER AUGUST 16–17 JUNE 21–22 WHAT IS IT: A short (and cheap!) WHAT IS IT: Music festivals don’t train ride away in Chiba prefec- get much more indie than this. ture, Summer Sonic has been The twice yearly festival brings building a solid reputation over together a mix of old favorites and the last decade. Expect an eclectic obscure bands for a two-day show- mix of important international case. This June edition presents Blonde Redhead and Cat Power as names as well as local talent—everyone from pop megastars to 90s headliners, alongside Simian Mobile Disco, Cloud Nothings, Perfume punk rockers will be taking it to the stages of Makuhari Messe, Marine Genius, Sohn, Toy, Highasakite, Joan as Policewoman and The Bohicas. Stadium and the beach. So far, Arctic Monkeys, Avenged Sevenfold, Phoenix, and rock legends Queen and Robert Plant have been an- FOR YOU IF: None of those band names sound obscure, and you’ve nounced. managed to install Spotify in Japan. FOR YOU IF: You like your music with a side of air conditioning. WHAT TO WEAR: Pair those New Balance sneakers with stonewash jeans, we hear normcore is big this year. WHAT TO WEAR: Flat shoes, as the distance between the Marine Stadi- um and Makuhari Messe isn’t short, and a watch, as you won’t want to miss your top acts. ELECTRIC RUN JULY 11–12 WHAT IS IT: Fitness and laser SONIC MANIA 2014 shows? Run a 5K along a AUGUST 15 neon-adorned course on the WHAT IS IT: The all-night dance shores of Chiba, and end the work- party is Summer Sonic’s warm-up, out with a huge party featuring and is held the night before the DJs, lasers and glow-in-the-dark actual festival. It caters to a bit of beachballs. Participants are encouraged to wear their flashiest cos- a different crowd, but if you have tumes and to walk or even dance the race. enough energy and luck getting your hands on some tickets, you should stick around for the main FOR YOU IF: A 5K seems like a challenge. event. This year’s Sonic Mania presents Kasabian, Kraftwerk, Mogwai and Krewella. WHAT TO BRING: Your sneakers and some glow-in-the-dark gear. FOR YOU IF: You’re more EDM than classic rock.

WHAT TO BRING: A change of clothes for the next day, as you’ll be pulling an overnighter.

JUNE 2014 www.tokyoweekender.com YOYOGI CULTURE FESTIVALS ALL SUMMER WHAT IS IT: You know it’s officially summer when Yoyogi Park gets overtaken by swarms of people, waiting in front of countless food stalls exuding delicious, spicy aromas—for every single weekend until the leaves turn red. Sample foods and performances from Indonesia, Brazil, Thailand, Latin America, Vietnam, India and Sri Lanka, to name a few places.

FOR YOU IF: You’d rather not leave the city and don’t mind queuing FUJI ROCK 2014 up for food. JULY 25–27 WHAT IS IT: An outdoor, weekend-long festival tucked amidst the misty WHAT TO BRING: An empty stomach and your patience. mountains of Niigata. Whatever the weather—it will rain, and you will get a sunburn—the trip to Japan’s best-known music festival will be an epic journey. This year’s lineup includes Arcade Fire, Denki Groove, Manic Street Preachers, The Flaming Lips, Jack Johnson, SUMIDA RIVER Franz Ferdinand, Blur’s Damon Albarn, Travis, The Lumineers, Out- FIREWORKS FESTIVAL kast, Lorde, Basement Jaxx and a few more handfuls. JULY 26 WHAT IS IT: By far the oldest and FOR YOU IF: Camping for three nights and skipping a few showers largest (not to mention busiest) doesn’t make you want to run away. fireworks display in Tokyo, the Sumida River Fireworks Festival WHAT TO BRING: Mosquito repellent, rain boots, a tent and sunscreen. is one of the most popular events in summer. The last Saturday of July is always synonymous with a night sky filled with dazzling shades, and packed crowds below trying to get the best spot to view them. Nearly a million spectators gather every year to see the colorful explosions, which come in an array of patterns, shapes and sizes.

FOR YOU IF: Crowds don’t scare you.

WHAT TO WEAR: Your yukata (light summer kimono), of course.

KOENJI AWA ODORI AUGUST 23–24 WHAT IS IT: Just about the biggest party in Tokyo, Koenji’s annual street dance festival crams the ASAKUSA SAMBA FESTIVAL streets to capacity for an evening AUGUST 23 of revelry. Around 12,000 Awa WHAT IS IT: The annual Asakusa Samba Carnival sees dancers wiggling dancers and countless more their way through downtown Tokyo and shaking their feathers to members of the public will descend upon the neighborhood to take the beat in what is possibly the city’s sexiest summer festival. Expect in the parades, which snake along nine different routes through the plenty of samba vibes, shaking hips, exposed stomachs, glitter and se- narrow, atmospheric streets. quins, Brazilian beats, and hordes of Japanese men with zoom lenses. FOR YOU IF: You want to get lost in a haze of booze and dancing. FOR YOU IF: You want to spice things up with the shitamachi version of the iconic Rio de Janeiro Carnival. WHAT TO BRING: Some coins to keep you stocked with water and ice cold beers. WHAT TO BRING: Your camera...

www.tokyoweekender.com JUNE 2014 By Matthew Hernon

When vending machine technician Chris Hart started uploading some of his songs on YouTube, he was just hoping for some feedback from people in Japan. what he didn’t anticipate was the impact that those videos would have, not only on his music career, but also his love life.

es, I met my wife via YouTube,” Hart tells Weekender. “She posted some videos on there singing in English, then saw mine and con- Y tacted me. We decided to meet up and make some music together; we hit it off right away and within two weeks were already talking about marriage. After that we were invited on to a show about chance en- counters by NHK where we performed a SMAP song. Someone from Nippon Television saw it and invited me on Nodo-jiman Za! World.” The popular seasonal reality show features foreigners singing in Japanese, and Hart won it in the spring of 2012. Covering Kazumasa Oda’s ballad “Tashika na koto” and SMAP’s “Yozora no mukou,” he wowed the judges with his pitch perfect, soulful voice. Masahiro Nakai, who witnessed Hart’s rendition of “Yozora,” a far more accomplished display than his own group had ever achieved, admitted that he felt “embarrassed to come on stage” after

JUNE 2014 www.tokyoweekender.com CHRIS HART | MUSIC | 9

I had people writing letters to me about their families, concert weeping. Many of his devotees say that he stands out because he “truly under- hardships, dreams, all kinds of issues. There were even stands the soul of Japanese music.” There are many talented foreign artists in the businessmen telling me about the stresses of their jobs, country, but few are as dedicated as Hart. I was just amazed that these songs could have such a He started studying the language at the age of seven, began singing J-Pop songs in profound effect. his early teens and since moving here five years ago, he has made a concerted effort soon after the two men began working to learn about all aspects of life in Japan. on the singer’s debut album. “I actually first came here when I was They decided to start with a collec- Chris Hart Factfile 13,” he says. “It was just for a two-week tion of covers—popular J-Pop hits that homestay as part of the Japanese course Hart grew up listening to from the late I was taking at school, but I quickly fell BORN: nineties onwards, including songs by in love with the place. The people were San Francisco, California (1984) the likes of Spitz, Masahara Fukuyama so hospitable, going out of their way to and Dreams Come True. A critical and ALBUMS: make sure I had a great impression of their commercial success, Heart Songs entered Heart Song (2013), Song For You (2014) country. I knew I had to come back; it just the Oricon charts at number three in took a bit longer than I’d hoped. I did some June last year and has thus far sold more SINGLES: jobs that required Japanese back home and than 300,000 copies as well as winning Home (2013), Yume ga Samete (2013), I then I finally got my chance to return with numerous awards. For Hart, though, it LOVE YOU (2014), Mamoritai—Magic of the vending machine company in 2009. is the reaction from fans that has given a Touch (2014) I wanted to start from zero, not coming him the greatest satisfaction. with an American mindset. It was a huge “I thought that people might find AWARDS: challenge to engage in a culture that is some of the tracks nostalgic, bringing Japan Record Awards—Best Promoted so much more felt than spoken, but you back some memories of their youth or Work (Heart Song & Yume ga Samete), have to make the effort. I saw people who some kind of event in their past. What Japan Gold Disc Awards—New Artist moved to the States who didn’t adapt; I didn’t expect, however, was the depth of the Year, 5 Best New Artists, Special they kept their traditions and did things of emotion that the songs could inspire Product Album of the Year (Heart Song) their own way, which is fine up to a point, in certain individuals,” Hart says. “I had but it makes it more difficult to blend in people writing letters to me about their and fully appreciate what is around you. the San Francisco–born singer, and families, hardships, dreams: all kinds of When I arrived I wanted to learn as much appeared genuinely nervous when he issues. There were even businessmen about Japan as possible and I think that was asked to sing alongside him. Looking telling me about the stresses of their jobs; has helped to make my experience in this like a true professional, the majestic vocal I was just amazed that these songs could country that much better.” display helped to propel Hart from a part- have such a profound effect. It gave me Clearly loving life here, Hart plans on time club singer to a genuine J-Pop star. clear ideas about what I wanted to do for sticking around for as long as possible. “I went in to the show with no expecta- my original music.” He’s unsure how long he will remain in tions,” he tells us. “It was only after being Hart’s follow-up album, Song for the public eye, but isn’t overly concerned on it that I became aware of how popular You, gave him a chance to work on those about that. It has never been about being it is; it really is watched by a lot of people. ideas. Including popular tracks “I Love famous; he won’t be too disappointed if Consequently, this can have a big effect You” and “Yume ga samete,” which fea- he slips off the celebrity radar in the near on the sales of the songs you perform. I tures iconic singer Seiko Matsuda, it was future. His goal is simple. He just wants actually returned the following fall season released earlier this year and further to keep making music for those fans who and sang “Home” by Yusaku Kiyama and enhanced the 29-year-old’s reputation have shown him so much support over the the original version then got to number as one of the country’s most talented years. As long as they keep writing to him, one in the charts, five years after it was young musicians. Described by Hart as he will keep trying to answer them with first released. “an easy-listening J-Pop album,” it also his music. Of course it has also helped to open showed he could write songs as well as doors for foreign singers such as myself, sing them. Nicholas Edwards and Diana Garnett. “I saw it as being like a natural There is no recording contract for the progression from the debut album,” he winner like American Idol, but it helps says. “With the first one I was telling my to get you spotted. Fortunately for me history through the songs I listened to in Jeff Miyahara accidentally recorded the my youth: with this one I was trying to program when I was on it and apparently tell other peoples history. It was my re- liked what he saw.” sponse to the letters I received, with the One of country’s most sought-after re- topics ranging from love to overcoming a cord producers, Miyahara has collaborat- lack of confidence.” ed with a number of high-profile Japanese Hart has a strong bond with his fans, stars as well as many international artists who regularly bombard him with gifts in- such as Boyz II Men and Timbaland. cluding CDs, jewelry and food. For some He quickly realized the huge marketing the emotion of seeing him on stage can potential of Hart and arranged a meeting, be too much, and they spend the entire

www.tokyoweekender.com JUNE 2014 RIDING MOTOCROSS REQUIRES ou may have preconceptions of what sort of culture would populate a dirtbike track, images of high flying, high- A CERTAIN TYPE OF ADRENALIN- Y octane energy drink–fuelled athletes may spring to mind. SEEKING LUNATIC—IT’S A SPORT There are, however, subcultures in most action sports, and WITH SEVERE INHERENT DANGERS. motocrossing is just the same. Meet Hell on Wheels. Earlier in the year this group of motorcyclists spent a full day packing BROKEN BONES, LIGAMENTS, CUTS, 40 vintage motorcycles into a shipping container in California. Their pur- AND BRUISES ARE ALL PART OF pose: a single day of racing at an out-of-the-way motocross track in Saita- THE RISK TAKEN FOR THE RUSH OF ma. Organizer Jeff Tulinius, who usually goes by the name “Meatball,” describes the Hell On Wheels crew and affiliates as “a vintage motorcycle CLEARING A GAP, TAKING A TURN repair shop in California—just a couple of guys wrenching on old bikes. TIGHTER, OR ACCELERATING HARDER. We get out and race as often as we can. No real clubs as such came with us, but the guys and gals from Von Zipper, Deus, BA Moto, Lossa Engineer- Text and pictures by Kyle Drubek ing and a few others came along.”

JUNE 2014 www.tokyoweekender.com HELL ON WHEELS | FEATURE | 11

These old bikes have class and tie us into a past that was the start of a motorized two- wheel revolution. They are timeless and unique.

twin suspensions, two-strokes against four-strokes. The riders rode that thin line between control and utter mayhem: sometimes they would make heavy contact in tight berms, and sometimes a misjudged landing would launch a rider off the track. The riders stood in hearty defiance of danger, This eclectic group of riders shares lap, much less a full race. Some had and embraced the consequences. a love of building, maintaining, and been meticulously restored, while It was a collective rejoicing in most importantly, riding motorcycles others were covered with an aged days long past, when full-face helmets which probably should be relegated patina of scuffed paint and fitted and body armor were unheard of, to short Sunday jaunts. These people with fiberglass-wrapped mufflers. All a throwback reminiscent of hazy take their fun seriously, and relish in were machines that had been lovingly summer afternoons, skidding bicycles restoring motorcycles long past their cared for, sporting engines which had with playing cards clothespinned into glory days, and then thrashing them to gone under countless rebuilds, hand- spokes, and handbuilt wooden jumps. the point of near implosion. packed bearings, and frames modified The trip out to Japan was a first Connett Brewer of BA Moto lets us to handle brutal jars and slams. for the Hell on Wheels crew, and they in a bit to the appeal of riding these The race itself was simple—it was weren’t sure how things were going rustbuckets: “These old bikes have divided across engine size categories, to go with the Japanese motocrossers. class and tie us into a past that was the with a series of heats for each one— “We’d seen magazine articles and start of a motorized two-wheel revo- but in all honesty, the results were of videos on the internet but you never lution. They are timeless and unique. little concern to most involved. The know what to expect ... The Japanese Much like antique cars, I consider key element was to enjoy a single day guys didn’t disappoint. They had some them works of industrial art. Yeah they of racing which had taken months of of the best bikes we’d ever seen and leak oil and s--- breaks but as long as preparation and countless hours of their clothing and gear was dead on. you stay on top of it, they will treat you mechanical work, and hopefully not The starting grid looked straight out right. That’s old British for you...just be injured in the process. of 1969! Along with that, they were ride and enjoy life.” The Clash boomed from PA just some of the nicest guys you could The concept of “run what you speakers, and the races kicked off in meet; [we] really enjoyed hanging out brung” stands as a stark contrast to a massive cloud of fine dust. The roar with them.” the mainstream bike cultures of Japan, from raucous two-stroke engines Some may cry sacrilege at the where high-cost custom fabrications echoed from the surrounding sight of a collection of classic and high performance add-ons are forest. Bikes abandoned or vintage two-wheeled common. In this case aesthetics run at the starting gate were machines being so a far second to purpose, but function common, while bikes callously thrashed, also creates new forms, presenting a with engines wrung but it is rallies and pleasing demonstration of styles and past their limits races like this that inventiveness. similarly peppered offer a glimpse A dusty parking lot in Kawagoe the track, stalled of the roots of was packed with transport vans, aged or sometimes just modern-day riding trucks, and bikes representing almost plain dead. A strug- and machines. It was every country imaginable. Reveling in gle for survival had begun, a chance to see these the gritty, oily air, the 200+ participants riders intent on making bikes in action—not finished their practice runs on a course each lap faster, taking each stored carefully away in built and maintained for modern jump longer, and pushing a shed or showroom, but suspensions and high-power engines. their bikes’ finite capabilities run to their limits—and At first glance, many of the rusty, against the unrelenting track. experience the thriving seemingly cobbled together bikes Hard-tailed Triumphs ran culture of the people who looked incapable of completing a full against slightly more modern ride them.

www.tokyoweekender.com JUNE 2014 By Matthew Hernon

WITH FIVE-TIME WINNERS BRAZIL EXPECTED TO TAKE TOP SPOT, THE A TOUGH GROUP. CHAMPIONS SPAIN ARE AMONGST THE TOURNAMENT MOST INTERESTING ASPECT ABOUT GROUP A WILL BE THE BATTLE FAVORITES, HOLLAND ARE ALWAYS A THREAT, AND CHILE ARE SEEN AS FOR SECOND. DESPITE BOTH STRUGGLING IN QUALIFYING, CROATIA DARK HORSES. IT DOESN’T LOOK GREAT FOR AUSTRALIA, WITH FORMER AND MEXICO HAVE SOME EXCITING ATTACKING TALENT, WHILST CAPTAIN PAUL WADE STATING THAT THEY’LL “GET UNDERDOGS CAMEROON ARE CAPABLE OF CAUSING AN UPSET. ABSOLUTELY SMASHED.”

TRIVIA: BRAZIL HAVE WON MORE WORLD CUP GAMES THAN ANY TRIVIA: SPAIN’S GAME AGAINST HOLLAND IS THE FIRST TIME FINALISTS OTHER COUNTRY (67); MEXICO HAVE LOST MORE THAN ANYONE (24). FROM THE PREVIOUS TOURNAMENT HAVE BEEN DRAWN TOGETHER IN THE GROUP STAGES.

THE HIPSTERS GROUP. COLOMBIA AND JAPAN LOOK GOOD GOING TRICKY GROUP FEATURING THREE PREVIOUS WINNERS. ITALY SHOWED FORWARD AND WEAK AT THE BACK: FOR GREECE THE OPPOSITE IS THEIR QUALITY REACHING THE FINAL OF THE 2012 EUROS, ENGLAND TRUE. IVORY COAST ARE INCONSISTENT, BUT IN YAYA TOURE BOAST THE HAVE SELECTED AN EXCITING YOUTHFUL SQUAD, WHILE URUGUAY CAN WORLD’S BEST CENTRAL MIDFIELDER. MOST DIFFICULT GROUP TO CALL. CALL ON SOME OF THE WORLD’S BEST STRIKERS. OUTSIDERS COSTA RICA SHOULDN’T BE RULED OUT EITHER. TRIVIA: WITH 142 GAMES FOR HIS COUNTRY, MIDFIELDER YASUHITO ENDO WILL BE THE MOST CAPPED OUTFIELD PLAYER IN BRAZIL. TRIVIA: A MONGREL NAMED PICKLES KNOCKED THE GENERAL ELECTION OFF THE FRONT PAGES IN 1966 AFTER FINDING THE STOLEN WORLD CUP TROPHY UNDER A BUSH IN SOUTHEAST LONDON.

JUNE 2014 www.tokyoweekender.com NOT A PARTICULARLY STRONG GROUP. FRANCE ARE TALENTED BUT TEMPERAMENTAL, SWITZERLAND SHOULD BE MORE ENTERTAINING THAN AT THE LAST TOURNAMENT, ECUADOR LOOK STRONG ON THE COUNTER- ATTACK, AND LONG SHOTS HONDURAS WILL BE HOPING TO RECORD THEIR FIRST EVER WORLD CUP WIN.

TRIVIA: FRANCE STRIKER JUST FONTAINE’S 13 GOALS IN 1958 ARE THE MOST SCORED AT A SINGLE WORLD CUP. BRAZILIAN RONALDO HOLDS THE OVERALL RECORD (15 IN 4 WC’S). YOKOHAMA F. MARINOS MIDFIELDER MANABU SAITO LOOKS TO BRING HIS GOAL- MAKING MAGIC TO THE WORLD’S STAGE.

rom Pele’s dummy to Tardelli’s tears, Mara- dona’s hand to Zidane’s head, the World Cup regularly produces iconic moments that live F long in the memory. For Manabu Saito, who was recently named as one of the 23 Japanese LED BY MAGICAL MESSI, TWO-TIME WINNERS ARGENTINA SHOULD QUALIFY members going to Brazil, it was a wondrous solo effort from a WITH EASE. THE BATTLE FOR SECOND IS EXPECTED TO BE BETWEEN 17-year-old English striker at the 1998 tournament in France DEBUTANTS BOSNIA AND AFRICAN NATIONS CHAMPIONS NIGERIA, WITH that stands out most in his World Cup recollections. OUTSIDERS IRAN HOPING TO CAUSE A SURPRISE. “Michael Owen was my hero growing up,” Saito tells Week- ender. “That goal against Argentina where he just ran at their TRIVIA: OSSIE ARDILES WORE NUMBER ONE IN 1978 WHEN ARGENTINA defenders without any fear: wow, it was just tremendous. It NUMBERED THEIR PLAYERS ALPHABETICALLY. THEY DID THE SAME FOUR was the first World Cup I can remember. I was eight at the time YEARS LATER, THOUGH MARADONA WAS EXEMPT: HE WORE THE NUMBER and because of the time difference, my father would record the 10 JERSEY. games and I would watch them the following day. Four years later the final was played in Yokohama, so I got a chance to watch it at the stadium, it was a magical experience.” Now it is Saito’s turn to try to emulate his hero and create a piece of history of his own that will inspire the next generation of Japanese footballers. He’s certainly capable of it. Known for his ability to create a piece of magic out of nothing, the Yoko- hama F. Marinos winger marked his international debut last year with a spectacular strike against Australia and is a regular scorer of eye-catching goals for his club. A HARD GROUP WITH SOME INTRIGUING GAMES, INCLUDING GERMANY’S Behind Kagawa, Honda and 100TH WORLD CUP MATCH AND USA COACH JURGEN KLINSMANN COMING Okazaki in the pecking order, the UP AGAINST THE SIDE HE WON THE TOURNAMENT WITH IN 1990. ON PAPER 24-year-old is likely to start on the THE EUROPEAN SIDES APPEAR TO HAVE THE SLIGHT EDGE, BUT GHANA bench for the opening game against AND AMERICA WILL MAKE IT VERY TOUGH FOR THEM. the Ivory Coast in Recife, but if the game is tight he may be the man TRIVIA: CRISTIANO RONALDO DOS SANTOS AVEIRO’S SECOND GIVEN Alberto Zaccheroni turns to in order NAME “RONALDO” WAS CHOSEN AFTER THE THEN US PRESIDENT RONALD to unlock the Ivorian defence. He REAGAN, WHO WAS HIS FATHER’S FAVORITE ACTOR. is certainly not going to Brazil just to make up the numbers. “Of course I was really glad to hear about being se- lected for the squad, but just being picked isn’t enough,” he says. “I want play, score and enjoy it. Now the J-League season is on a break I can start focusing on the World Cup and that means I need to do some research about our opponents. This is a great opportunity for us: I feel ONE OF THE WEAKER-LOOKING GROUPS. ALGERIA HAVE NEVER GOT PAST our team has the potential to change the THE FIRST ROUND, KOREA ARE THE SECOND LOWEST RANKED TEAM IN history of Japanese football.” BRAZIL, WHILE RUSSIA SHOULD BE SOLID IF UNSPECTACULAR. MUCH Following the game against the Ivory IS EXPECTED OF BELGIUM, WHO ARE PLAYING IN THEIR FIRST MAJOR Coast, Japan will travel to Natal to take on TOURNAMENT IN 12 YEARS. Greece and then on to Cuiaba, where they will face the dangerous Colombians. In what TRIVIA: KOREAN STRIKER AHN JUNG-HWAN WAS FIRED BY ITALIAN CLUB is possibly the most open of all the eight groups SIDE PERUGIA AFTER HE SCORED THE GOAL THAT KNOCKED THE AZZURRI in the tournament, Japan will fancy their chances OUT OF THE 2012 WORLD CUP. of making it to the knockout stages. No doubt Saito is already dreaming about scoring the goal that gets them there.

©Yokohama F. Marinos www.tokyoweekender.com JUNE 2014

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Following a spate of awards for his film 12 Years a Slave, Steve graininess of the digitized Super 8 film adds to the short’s immediacy and power. McQueen goes back to his artistic roots with a challenging new The film was never meant to be displayed publicly, but after McQueen returned to the short on display at the Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo same island in 2009, he learned that Ashes had been murdered, and he decided to create he trendy and stylish surround- the 2008 Cannes Festival—but his short films the work as a tribute to the young man, so ings around Omotesando are pri- have also gained wide attention for their that his existence would not go entirely marily known as a hub for lovers unflinching attention to the rawness of life forgotten. of fashion and style, but there in full detail. Both force his audiences to look Presented with McQueen’s characteristic are also many places where you the harsh facts of history directly in the face minimalism, Ashes harnesses the contrast be- Tcan experience avant-garde art. One of these and develop their own emotional reaction to tween the sheer happiness of its subject’s face is the Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo, located on these moving canvases. on one hand, and the events of his short life the seventh floor of the Louis Vuitton store in The short on display at the gallery, Ashes, and tragically early death, which are narrated Omotesando. This art space, which opened in takes a more intimate subject for its attention in voiceovers by Ashes’s friends. the beginning of 2011, is only the second Louis than IRA conflicts or slavery in the US, but McQueen does not push his audiences Vuitton Espace in the world—the­ first opened is no less affecting. The film has its roots in to reach any particular conclusion with in Paris in 2006. a trip that McQueen made to the Caribbean this powerful short; rather, he fashions an The gallery holds about three exhibitions in 2001, while shooting another piece. The environment in which viewers are forced to a year, playing host to rising international art- director was struck by the appearance of a develop their own sense of meaning, thereby ists as well as more established players on the young man who went by the name Ashes. becoming creators of narrative art themselves world art scene, who create new works with He came from a humble background, but as they examine their own presumptions and the support of Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo. McQueen recognized a “star quality” in his expectations. Most recently, the Espace in Tokyo is athletic grace and natural presence. showing an intriguing work by the British art- Not able to cast him in the piece he was McQueen’s work will be on display at the ist and filmmaker, Steve McQueen, whose film working on at the time, he asked a friend, Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo until August 17. 12 Years a Slave had a tremendous showing at Robin Miller, to film Ashes on his boat. The Admission to the gallery space is free. the 2014 Academy Awards, taking home the resulting clips capture the young man’s Hours: 12 pm–8 pm Best Picture trophy. McQueen is no stranger slender figure as it rises and falls in his small Address: Louis Vuitton Omotesando Bldg. 7F, to success with feature films—his debut full- fishing boat, with only the stark blues of the 5-7-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001 length, Hunger, won a Camera d’Or Award at West Indian sea and sky as a backdrop. The Phone: 03-5766-1094 | Fax: 03-5766-108a

JUNE 2014 www.tokyoweekender.com EXPAT LIFE | WEEKENDER | 17

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www.tokyoweekender.com JUNE 2014 18 | EDUCATION | SEISEN

Students at one of Tokyo’s top international schools experience the joys of giving A backDay to the communities of Service around them

the best way for the kids to take an active role in their projects during the day was to let them choose the way in which they wanted to serve: “for the students, we want the service to really come from the heart. So even if a student is in the choir most of the time, if they want to spend their day of service cleaning up along the river, that’s fine! We were trying to encour- age that choice, and give them the motivation for choosing to do what they want.” Even the youngest children played a part in the day of service: the primary school students performed song and dance routines to perform at nearby nursing homes, and the kindergarten students prepared lunches— with some assistance from some of the upper school students—for the custodial staff and guards on campus. Although the Handmaids order was found- ed in 1877, the day in St. Raphaela’s honor was a high-tech affair. The school set up a Google+ page for the event, and found themselves linked up with many other Handmaid schools and organizations throughout the world. These rriving on campus of Sei- staff have gathered to honor St. Raphaela new connections gave advice and encourage- sen International School with services and various ceremonies, ment as the runup to St. Raphaela’s Day. Along mid-morning on May 16, but this year, Seisen decided to celebrate with the volunteer groups, 10 students took A you could feel the excite- Raphaela’s memory with a Day of Service. responsibility to record the service day with ment in the air. Students Students at all levels are involved with iPads and cameras. By the end of the after- were running around the halls, discuss- community service projects throughout noon, the students were able to see a video of ing their plans for the day. A group of the year, but the recent decision to honor the day’s activities, and share it with their new middle-schoolers were working with a St. Raphaela in this way seemed fitting, social networks. PE teacher to assemble new basketball as Sister Margaret Scott, head of Seisen It was plain to see that this was just the hoops for the recreation area. The school School explained: “In the past, we’ve beginning for Seisen’s newest tradition, and felt like it was getting ready for a festival always had a Mass, where we would hear we’re looking forward to seeing how the school or party: it wasn’t the kind of atmosphere the story of Raphaela: She came from a continues to inspire its students to find joy in that you’d expect to find on a day dedicat- wealthy family near the city of Córdoba taking an active role in their communities. ed to community service. [in Spain], and was raised in luxury. But in The date has always been an impor- her teens, she said to herself, ‘I have been tant one for Seisen: it is the saint’s day of served long enough: the time has come to St. Raphaela, co-founder of Handmaids of serve.’ And we realized that the real way the Sacred Heart of Jesus. (the school was to celebrate Raphaela is for students to go founded by the Handmaids organization and do what she did.” in 1949.) Every year, the students and High school and middle school stu- dents participated in 14 different activi- ties for the day: groups went to parks by Tamagawa and Futako-Tamagawa to help local communities with beautification pro- jects, visited several local nursing homes to give musical performances for resi- dents, volunteered at a local soup kitchen, painted murals, and cleaned up around the campus. As the plans developed for the Seisen International School day of service, Seisen staff realized that 03-3704-2661 (phone)| 03-3701-1033 (fax) they didn’t want to simply assign students www.seisen.com [email protected] to tasks. Sister Margaret pointed out that 1-12-15 Yoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-0097

JUNE 2014 www.tokyoweekender.com PALIS | EDUCATION | 19

LookingA intoLesson the magic of learning in that occursActive when cutting-edge Learning research in early childhood education is combined with young learners’ sense of wonder

f you think back to some of the favorite teachers from your childhood, they were probably the ones who brought your I classes to life, making the subjects so in- teresting that you couldn’t keep yourself from being curious about what you were learning. You might even say that there’s something magical about those moments in your education. It’s no surprise, then, that PALIS—Poppins Active Learning International School—takes part of its name from the English govern- ess who was famous for making learning fun. The Poppins Corporation has always been con- cerned with “Edu-care”—caring for children’s all-round needs while educating them to their full potential at the same time. For more than 25 years, Poppins has provided professional nanny services and nursery schools for Japanese families, and today has 138 nursery schools in Japan and one in Hawaii. The company’s name has long stood for quality and high standards, supported through links with institutions such as There is a buzz of confidence in the the esteemed Norland College in England. More recently, Maiko Todoroki, director of Poppins Corporation, daughter of CEO and atmosphere at PALIS as children go about President Noriko Nakamura, recognized an opportunity to combine their education with confidence and the school’s traditions with top universities’ academic findings on early learning. satisfaction Having been educated in the UK since the age of 12 and as a par- ent of a nursery-school-age boy, Todoroki saw that many students in dren, alongside that class’s lead teacher. One of the more popular Japan “were forced into doing things…I saw situations where young specialist classes is “Kids’ Yoga,” in which students learn how to use children didn’t have the chance to awaken their individual talents. their bodies to make shapes of letters and combine those shapes for This inspired me to create an environment where young children phonics practice. could wonder about things, and where they could be helped to PALIS’s curriculum is made richer thanks to the academic research discover the world.” being conducted at leading institutions in early childhood develop- As Principal Bill Ward explains, empowering students to take a ment. As a part of training and summer programs, Poppins’s staff proactive approach towards their own learning process lies at the members attend symposia at Harvard University as well as Stanford heart of Active Learning, but the fundamentals are never ignored: University in the United States, “We let the children branch off to follow their interests as they where they are exposed to some of explore, guiding them while following the Early Years Foundation the latest ideas in early childhood Stage Framework as it’s used in England. This includes specific top- pedagogy; this constant updating ics, such as Social Growth, Numeracy, and Literacy, which are de- adds depth and innovation to the veloped through focus activities and regular face-to-face individual school’s methodology. talk. Through this approach young children gradually find out how There is a buzz of confidence to negotiate and take responsibility for their learning schedule.” in the atmosphere at PALIS as One unique aspect of the pedagogy at PALIS is the specialist children go about their education teacher program. For these classes, an expert in a particular subject with confidence and satisfaction area—for example, knowing that they are learning the specialist music and discovering. teacher is a concert pianist, the art teacher PALIS will be hosting open-campus events on June 7, 14, and 21. is a graduate of Gold- An eight-week summer program, offering a different learning theme each smiths University of week, begins July 1 and runs until August 29. For more information, see London, while the sci- contact information below: ence teacher worked on NASA projects— 03-5791-2105 (phone) | 03-5791-2106 (fax) 11 months–5 years visits the class during www.poppins-palis.jp/en/ [email protected] the week to deliver an age-appropriate Poppins Active Learning International School, Yebisu Garden Terrace lesson to the chil- Nibankan 1F + 2F, 4-20-2 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0013

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www.tokyoweekender.com JUNE 2014 22 | SOCIETY | PEOPLE, PARTIES, PLACES

Tanya Kumar and Kristopher Brown at their wedding in New Dehli

PEOPLE, PARTIES, PLACES TOKYO’S LONGEST RUNNING SOCIETY PAGE, WITH BILL HERSEY

y doctor told me I can’t drive for a couple of months. man who owns the really run-down Goto Bldg. 2. As the old saying goes I enjoy driving and am sorry about that. Once again it “What goes up must come down,” and according to what I heard, #2 has been good people—good friends have come to the will go under the wrecking ball in June. This building—which housed rescue, pick me up and take me all around this great first the Lexington Queen and later the New Lex Tokyo, a half-dozen Mcity of ours. I’ve been here a long time, and drive all over. Even so, different hostess bars over the years, and a few offices that no one relaxing in friend’s cars instead of driving has really given me the really seemed to know went on in—has recently really gone down hill. opportunity to see so much I hadn’t seen or perhaps just didn’t pay all That’s a long story I’ll tell later. that much attention to before. It really makes one realize what a big As most of you know I hosted a lot of happenings with so many and wonderful city Tokyo is. international celebrities there: it was interesting and fun for 35 years, We all see so many changes almost overnight, and with all the and I hope to get a book on much of it out later this year. building and redevelopment, we’re sure to see a lot more. I will Boy George, who recently cut his first album in 18 years, dropped update you on things as I learn about them. Let’s start out with a huge, into the Lexington Queen when both he and the club were pretty much beautiful new project—Mori Buildings’ Toranomon Hills Mori Tower, on top of the charts. We put him and the others in his entourage in the which is scheduled to open June 11. The new landmark boasts 52 floors VIP section where they could relax and enjoy. Nature called and as the and is 255.5 meters tall. Extended roads, tunnels, broad sidewalks, star got up and headed for he restroom one slightly overweight, but tree-lined streets, modern residences, offices, conference halls and fast moving, young girl fan managed to tackle him on the dance floor. a variety of retail outlets will, according to the developers, make He’s a big guy and didn’t fall down: He just kept walking (dragging Toranomon the “gateway to Tokyo” Hyatt lovers are really looking the girl who wouldn’t let go) over to where I was standing, and loudly forward to. One highlight is the new Andaz Hyatt Boutique Hotel at the exclaimed “I didn’t know what it is, but something has attached itself to top of the beautiful new building with its “special grade” anti-seismic my leg.” It took two security guys to get him free. construction. This, my friends, is all really going to be really special. Sitting in one of my favorite coffee shops, Tully’s, recently, and was MARUYAMA’S CHINESE DINNER—HILTON about to write about the clean, modern, artistically decorated Goto Mitsuo, Lilo and Helge Maruyama’s Chinese New Year’s dinner party, Bldg. on Roppongi Dori. The owner that houses Tully’s is the same with its VIP guest list, family hospitality, and a superbly prepared

JUNE 2014 www.tokyoweekender.com PEOPLE, PARTIES, PLACES | SOCIETY | 23

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Maruyama’s Dinner Hilton Tokyo Ambassador Mackenzie Clugston 9. Jamilah Al-Otaibi, Maali Siam, Ala Hassiny, Maria 1. Tony Matsubara, Toshiko Yanai, PM Abe’s mother Yoko Abe, Hisako Uemura, Midori Teresa Lopez (Philippines) 10. Shima-san, Pakistani Ambassador Farukh Amil, Albanian Ohga, Abe’s mother-in-law Emiko Matsuzaki, Sadako Nagano 2. Mary Katayama, Grace Ambassador Bujar Dida 11. Philippines Ambassador Manuel Lopez, Kuwaiti Ambassador Saito, Utako Arrour (Morocco), Lilo Maruyama 3. Palestine Ambassador Waleed Siam, Abdul Al-Otaibi, Iraq Ambassador Nadid Al-Rabaee, Palestine Ambassador Waleed Siam, his wife Maali, Iraq Ambassador Nadid Al-Robaee, his wife Ala Hassa Hassiny, Kuwaiti Moroccan Ambassador Samir Arrour 12. Emiko Matsuzaki, Colombian Ambassador Patricia Ambassador Abdul Al-Otaibi and his wife Jamilah, Yasmine Tsamados (Greece), Fumiko Cardenas, Teressa Dejean, Akio Matsuzaki, Hisako Uemura 13. Toshiko Yanai, Fumiko Tottori 4. Teressa Dejean (Argentina), Reko Dida (Albania), Heidi Vahekeni (Angola) 5. Tottori, EU Ambassador Hans Schweisgut, Yoko Abe, Mitsuo Maruyama Paula Bowers (Canada), Helge Maruyama, Djibouti Ambassador Ahmed Araita Al, his daughter Emely 6. Mitsuo Maruyama, Philippines Ambassador Manuel Lopez, Moroccan India’s Nat’l Day at the Okura Ambassador Samir Arrour 7. Swedish Minister Counselor Ulf Sormark, Mary Katayama, 14. French Ambassador Christian Masset and his wife Hélène 15. Indian Minister Sanjay Argentine Ambassador Raul Dejean 8. Utako Arrour, Kaoru Schweisgut, Lilo, Canadian Panoa, his wife Minalti.

www.tokyoweekender.com JUNE 2014 24 | SOCIETY | PEOPLE, PARTIES, PLACES

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India’s Nat’l Day at the Okura 1. The popular restauranteur brothers, Pal and Yog Kapoor 2. Indian Chamber of and Senora Lopez 7. Vietnamese Embassy staff Chucong Huang, his wife Duong Bich Muyen, Commerce’s Ricky Sarani, Jothy Kumar, Yog Kapoor 3. Sri Lankan Ambassador Wasantha Hideko Kudaka Crane 8. The host Vietnamese Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung and VIP guest Karannagoda, Malaysian Ambassador Datuk Shaharuddin 4. Austrian Ambassador Bernhard Zimburg, Indian Ambassador Deepa Wadhwa, Rashim Zimburg. In and Around 9. The Mehndi ceremony for the wedding of Jothy and Anil Kumar’s daughter Tanya to Vietnam New Year’s Party Kristopher Brown 10. The couple arrives at the Sangeet ceremony on a painted elephant 5. The hostess Le Nguyet Nga, Maria Teresa Lopez 6. Philippines Ambassador Manuel 11. Anil Kumar, Tanya Kumar, Kristopher Brown, and Jothy Kumar 12. Dolly Baker, 1922–2014

JUNE 2014 www.tokyoweekender.com PEOPLE, PARTIES, PLACES | SOCIETY | 25

11-course dinner by Hilton Tokyo’s popular Dynasty restaurant was her. By the way, she looked gorgeous at the ILBS Ball, which she perfect in every way. In addition to many diplomatic couples, guests once chaired. included a group of really important and always busy ladies. Got an overseas call from someone who spoke good English but with a very French accent. Thought it was a friend who is really good THE HUNGS’ VIETNAMESE NEW YEAR PARTY at accents so joked a bit until I realized it really was world famous I enjoyed wishing friends at the Dynasty dinner a Happy New Year hotelier Xavier Destribits. He ran the Grand Hyatt for seven years (“Gung Hay Fat Choy!”), and a week or so later, I had the opportunity here and moved to Switzerland, where he heads a huge hotel group. to walk over to my neighbors a few minutes from my house and join Anyway Xavier had heard about my health problem and called to see the wall-to-wall friends of Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung, his family “How I was doing.” Really enjoyed talking with him, and he and his and his staff in their New Year’s celebration—“Cung Chuc Tan Nien” wife Tatiana send their best to their many friends here. to all our Vietnamese friends on this festive occasion. The ambiance at the party was great, with all the guests really enjoying the bountiful JUST TALK buffet (especially the pho noodles), the Vietnamese entertainment and A big and sincere thank you to Lawson convenience stores’ CEO the hosts’ warm hospitality. Many of the ladies there wore the chic Takeshi Nimami. When he learned I was sick he sent me two boxes traditional national dresses—Ao Dai—and they really added color and of an assortment of Lawson’s special bread developed especially for glamour to the special evening. health-conscious people. The bran bread is low in calories and has a lot of fiber. It’s also low in carbohydrates and very popular with PEOPLE ON THE MOVE people suffering from diabetes across Japan. It’s not just good, it’s Years ago, I used to hang out with world-renowned conductor Seiji really recommended by doctors. If you’re curious to give it a try, ask Ozawa, but I hadn’t seen him for a long time. I was really happy to see your Lawson people for their “bran bread.” and talk with him at Ambassador Kennedy’s party for the Boston Red Sox. A few weeks later, I was watching the classic TV channel #36 and CATCHING OR TRYING TO CATCH UP my timing was perfect. It featured Seiji conducting almost two hours So much has happened over the last few months I managed to mess of Gershwin’s music, including An American in Paris. The concert was things up from time to time. Will try and clear it all up this column. outside and I could hardly believe the number of people there and First, I had a write-up on India’s festive National Day last column. But how much they all enjoyed the concert by Japan’s master of music. there weren’t any photos, so I’ll run them now. Sorry about that. I should be used to seeing friends leave, but it wasn’t easy when I wasn’t able to get to the Imperial Hotel’s Annual, always first-class, Colombian Ambassador Patricia Cardenas and Zimbabwe Ambassador reception for the media, but the hotel’s PR man, Nacio “Skip” Cronin Stuart Comberbach and his wife Bicky all returned home. These people really worked to get the photos for me (we’ll show them in the next were all real movers and shakers, and for me they were like family. column). Friends who were there told me it was a very special evening Ambassadors are usually here for four years. Patricia was here 7 with truly excellent gourmet food. Skip had some health problems as years, and Stuart and Bicky were here for 11 years. Believe me, they all well, and I’m happy to report he’s much better now. worked wonders in furthering relations and creating understanding A big Kudos to Omani Ambassador Khalid Al-Muslahi, his wife Abeer between Japan and their respective countries. Boy will they all be and their staff on the success of their Oman/Japan student forum missed. culture show at their beautiful Embassy and residence. Long time The Iretons—Bill, his wife Charo, and three of their five kids, friend Takako Shimazu, sister of the Emperor, joined the Al-Muslahis in Roberta, William, and Edward—flew to LA for their son Thomas’s officially opening the super cultural event (we’ll show you the pictures graduation from Loyola Marymount University. He’s interested in film next month!) It was my first party after getting out of the hospital, and production and like all the Ireton kids, graduated with honors. William Abeer made sure I had some of the delicious and healthy Omani food: will stay in the US and be in New York City, working with the New York talk about good friends. Yankees. Matthew, the oldest, had to pass up on the trip because of his I also wanted to say farewell to Dolly Baker, a longtime friend of heavy showbiz schedule (acting, singing, emceeing, etc.) Corky Alexander and one of the stars of the jazz scene in Tokyo, where One of Tokyo’s most popular ever couples, Ron and Marie she lived from 1961 until 2001. She sang regularly at the American Anderson—they live in the Big Apple now—were back in Club, several international embassies, and at many of Tokyo’s Tokyo and, as always, had a full schedule of breakfasts, jazz clubs; she also cut albums and appeared on TV. She was lunches and dinners in their honor. I did get to have a prominent member of Tokyo’s international community, a coffee break with Maria. She’s a very special lady in and I loved seeing her sing. I was sorry to hear that she had every way, and like everyone who knows her, I really love passed away in April, and I wish her family all the best.

Wayne Gracyk, William Ireton, and Bill Ireton at Swiss travelers Patrice and Michel at the Former Djibouti Ambassador Rashad Farrah and Legends Bar in Roppongi Seihakusai Festival in Nanao, Ishikawa-ken Kuwaiti Ambassador Abdul Al-Otaibi.

www.tokyoweekender.com JUNE 2014 MOVIES COMING TO A CINEMA NEAR YOU IN JUNE

JUN 14 NOAH here was a time when Biblical epics were the biggest event pictures THollywood had to offer, with the likes of The Ten Commandments and Ben Hur boasting the biggest budgets, the hottest stars, and the grandest visuals. Long having fallen out of fashion, films in this genre occasionally appear, often whipping up a storm of controversy in their wake, as was the case with Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. The story of Noah is less likely to cause much controversy, unless you take issue with just how true to scale the Ark should be. Russell Crowe takes up the role of the man tasked by God to make an ark to carry two animals of every kind and repopulate the earth after a great flood arrives to purify the land. Darren Aronofsky is the man behind the camera, the gifted director who first came to attention with grueling drug addiction drama Requiem for a Dream before courting Academy Awards success with The Wrestler and Black Swan. Jennifer Connelly, Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins and Emma Watson fill out the cast of thesps helping and hindering Noah in his monumental task.

JUN 6 HER JUN 6 he Academy Awards wrapped up back in March but it’s often a long T wait for all the Oscar heavy-hitters to reach Japanese shores. June sees the last of the Best Picture nominees finally released with the arrival of Spike Jonze’s Her. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore Twombly, a lonely man unable to fully connect with the people around him. Theodore purchases a new artificially THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL intelligent operating system with a female POMPEII irector Wes Anderson is one of voice and personality with which he iven the globe-conquering success the most idiosyncratic directors eventually starts a relationship. The film of Game of Thrones, it was only a Dworking today. For years he has been was directed, written and produced by G matter of time before cast members delivering his own brand of oddly touching Jonze, the maker of the brilliant Being John started breaking away to film projects. Peter cinema with a distinct visual style and a Malkovich, and co-stars Amy Adams and the Dinklage, (Tyrion Lannister), appeared in talent for bringing together large casts of voice of Scarlett Johansson as Samantha, last month’s X-Men offering, Nickolaj Coster- top acting talent in quirky roles. Throughout Theodore’s digital love interest. Waldau (Jamie Lannister) was in the Tom his career, Anderson has demonstrated a Cruise sci-fi blockbuster Oblivion and Lena knack for creating wonderfully complex JUN 28 Headey (Cersei Lannister) can be seen in narratives that are funny, sad and endlessly this month’s fantasy sequel 300: Rise of an imaginative. The Grand Budapest Hotel stars Empire (out June 20). One of the youngest Ralph Fiennes as Gustave, the concierge stars of the show is Kit Harrington (Jon of an opulent hotel in a fictional European Snow), who’s stepped off of the The Wall and country, who teams up with a lobby boy to into the ancient Roman Empire for Pompeii, prove his innocence after being framed for murder. The film has a huge cast featuring a Gladiator-meets-300 action adventure many Wes Anderson regulars including Bill that sees a slave fighting for the woman he Murray, Willem Defoe, Jason Schartzman, loves (Emily Browning) in the shadow of an Tilda Swinton and Owen Wilson. exploding volcano. EXPAT LIFE | WEEKENDER | 27

www.tokyoweekender.com JUNE 2014 AGENDA JUNE 1

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5 AGENDA: THE WEEKENDER ROUNDUP OF WHAT’S HAPPENING IN JUNE

1 JUN 18 2 JUN 14 3 JUN 13 4 JUN 14–15 TLC Outlook Festival Japan Realmusic Tokyo 2014 Asean Festival 2014 Remaining TLC members Launch Party Sponsored by Real Madrid’s The Association of T-Boz and Chilli will show Dub Phizix & Strategy, official energy drink, this Southeast Asian Nations you that they still don’t want no Dillinja, P Money and Royal T will party presents Jungle Brothers, Black team up for a two-day extravaganza scrubs, and that they still got it. give you a preview of the largest Sheep and Hifana. filled with a plethora of dishes, music Where: Akasaka Blitz, Akasaka bass music and soundsystem Where: ageHa and live performances. How Much: ¥9,000 - ¥18,000 (2F seating) culture festival in Europe. How Much: ¥4,800 (adv.)/¥5,500 (door) Where: Yoyogi Park, Shibuya More info: www.tokyoweekender.com Where: ageHa | How Much: ¥6,500 More info: www.ageha.com How Much: Free More info: www.outlookfestival.jp More info: www.aseanfestival.jp

5 JUN 27 6 JUN 21 7 JUN 13 8 JUN 28 Todd Terje Tokyo Yamathon Sanno Matsuri Resident Advisor at Norwegian disco at its The “ultimate urban One of Tokyo’s three biggest ageHa best, with the “king of challenge” where teams festivals, this week-long Levon Vincent, Eddie summer jams” as part of the Red compete to walk or run through celebration features huge processions C and DJ Sodeyama will warm up Bull Academy’s up-and-coming Tokyo visiting all 29 stations of the of costumed revelers, portable shrines, the crowd at the popular Resident artists event. famous JR Yamanote train line. and riders on horseback. Drop by Hie Advisor night. Where: Womb, Shibuya Where: Start/Finish at Tokyo International Shrine throughout the week before for Where: ageHa, Shin-Kiba How Much: ¥3,500 Forum How Much: ¥10,000 per team various cultural activities. How much: ¥4,250 (adv.) More info: www.womb.co.jp More info: www.tokyo-yamathon/com Where: Hie Shrine (Tameike-Sanno Station) More info: www.ageha.com How Much: Free More info: www.jnto.go.jp

JUNE 2014 www.tokyoweekender.com JUNE | AGENDA | 29 JUNE

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STAR RANCH 12 ANGUS FILLET

ENJOY A JUICY, FLAME-GRILLED, 9 UNTIL JUN 15 10 JUN 7–8 AMERICAN TENDERLOIN STEAK. COOKED Short Shorts Film Festival Tokyo Festival of Whether you’re looking Modular JUST HOW YOU LIKE IT AND SERVED to catch the next big Learn about the WITH 2 SIDES OF YOUR CHOICE. Japanese director or go in for British technology behind electronic music black comedy, there’s something with international artists including for everyone to enjoy with this huge Richard Devine and Black Zenith. FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY! collection of short films. Where: Super Deluxe, Nishi-Azabu (Available Until June 30th) Where: Tokyo and Yokohama (check site) How much: ¥2,500-¥4,500 How Much: Free More info: www.tokyoweekender.com More info: www.shortshorts.org/2014/en 11 JUN 14 12 JUN 21 Bonjour Tokyo Summer Fussa Firefly Festival Tahitian Party Catch the ephemeral Don your favorite Hawaiian glowing critters in this or Tiki shirts for this summer preview 49th annual festival. While the party: even if it rains, the atmosphere short-lived wonders only appear at will be hot. nighttime, visitors are welcome for Where: Tokyo Salon, Omotesando an all-day celebration. How Much: ¥2,000 (includes one drink) Where: Fussa Hotaru Park More info: www.bonjourtokyo.com How Much: Free More info: www.fussakanko.jp

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