Lights Camera Action All About the Movies

ESTABLISHED 1970 BY CORKY ALEXANDER VOL. 39 NO. 01 FREE JAN. 04 – 17 2008

LIGHTS CAMERA ACTION ALL ABOUT THE MOVIES

THE PAST AND FUTURE OF JAPANESE CINEMA CATCHING A MOVIE WITH THE KIDS Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers Photo courtesy of Warner NEW MOVIE SPREAD: REVIEWS & RECOMMENDATIONS

ALSO ONLINE AT WWW.WEEKENDERJAPAN.COM

THINGS TO DO

04 Feature Saturday, Jan 5 Saturday, Jan 12 Japanese Cinema: History, Fun Facts and Trivia Learn about Italian art Learn about Design in Scan- 06 NEW! Movie Plus icon Bruno Munari at ret- dinavia and the climate I Am Legend, Bee Movie, Reign Over Me, The Assasination of Jesse rospective Work People Not that influences it through James by The Coward Robert Ford; Theaters to Visit; Upcoming DVD Releases; Star Gossip Allowed through Jan. 27, Jan.14 at the Tokyo Opera www.shiodomeitalia.com. City Art Gallery. www. 08 Dining operacity.jp/ag/exh88/e. Six Great Restaurants Near Movie Theaters 09 Travel Sunday, Jan 6 Sunday, Jan 13 ‘Live in Asia’ Guest Apartments Have an eclectic night out with poetry from Rock out with legendary act 4–7pm followed by musician Tom Holliday and Bon Jovi at the Tokyo Dome 10 Investments / IT Investing in the Movies, Watching TV/Movies on the Train topped off with some delicious pub grub at What tonight and tomorrow at the Dickens in Ebisu. www.whatthedickens.jp 5pm. ¥9,000–¥10,000, tel. 11 Business 03-3402-5999. Business Profile: Neil Day of Paddy Foley’s 12 School’s In Video in the Classroom Monday, Jan 7 Monday, Jan 14 13 School’s Out Take the children to the Celebrate today’s holiday—seijin no hi—by go- Cinemas with Babysitting Services Birmingham Royal Ballet’s ing to Meiji Shrine where you will see hundreds production of Beauty and the of girls dressed up in decadent silk kimono to 14 Sports Beast at Tokyo Bunka Kai- celebrate turning 20 in the upcoming year. A-Z Guide of Watching Live Sumo kan, ¥4,000–¥18,000, www. 15 Partyline brb.org.uk Photo credit: Bill Cooper 18 Arts & Crossword Tuesday, Jan 8 Tuesday, Jan 15 ••• See 89-year-old jazz piano Cheer for your favorite o kick off 2008 we are pleased to introduce legend Hank Jones at the rikishi at the New Year Tour new double-page Movie feature, includ- Blue Note Tokyo at 7 and Grand Sumo Tournament ing news of upcoming cinema and DVD releases, 9pm tonight for ¥8,400. at the Ryogoku Kokugikan our favourite theatres, and the latest celebrity visits www.bluenote.co.jp through Jan. 21. www. to Japan. As we launch these new pages we theme sumo.or.jp/eng. Photo credit: heschong this issue all about movies! Our feature story covers news about the Japanese film industry and some Wednesday, Jan 9 Wednesday, Jan 16 fun film facts. Our Dining section highlights some Enjoy the ten dynamic (and Enjoy the haunting melo- of the best places to grab something to eat before free!) Open! zones at ICC dies of Icelandic seven- running off to catch the latest new release. We’ve Open Space before it chang- piece electronic band got some great places that cater to you and any lit- es theme in early March. Múm. At Shibuya Duo tle ones that fancy a film. The IT section informs http://tinyurl.com/ynmzg5 Music Exchange, tel. 03- you of the latest gadgets to help you watch movies 3462-6969. on the go. And of course there’s Johnny Depp on the cover—enjoy! Thursday, Jan 10 Thursday, Jan 17 As we change the volume of this issue to in- Introduce yourself to kabuki with Izo, a “modern” Take a date to UK jazz, Lat- corporate the long history of the Weekender, I re- performance starring V6’s Go Morita, through Feb in, and soul fusion group alise that this magazine will be entering its 39th 3. ¥9,500–¥11,000, tel. 057-000-3337. Matt Bianco as they groove year in February! It still feels like quite a privilege to at the Blue Note in Aoya- be publishing a magazine with such a history, and ma. www.bluenote.co.jp that is older than I am! Caroline Pover, Publisher Friday, Jan 11 Friday, Jan 18 ••• Take the family car buff to see the world’s larg- Head to Paddy Foley’s for a pint and while you’re est exhibition of cars with aftermarket parts at there, pick up the new issue of Weekender, due out WEEKENDER—JAPAN’S QUALITY ENGLISH MAGAZINE the Tokyo Auto Salon, Makuhari Messe. ¥1,200– today. PUBLISHER Caroline Pover ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Rajiv Trehan MANAGING EDITOR Helen Bottomley EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS ¥3,500. www.e-autosalon.net Danielle Tate-Stratton, Marie Teather, Michael Mahoney TRAVEL & SOCIETY EDITOR Bill Hersey ARTS EDITOR Owen Schaefer DESIGN and LAYOUT Elizabeth Briggs DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Stephen Young ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kieron Cashell, Amy Dose, Sheree Hsu CONTRIBUTORS William Casper, Phil Gibb, Leigh Wellsview, Andrew Robinson, Emily Downey, Carolyn Todd, Lawrence Nylund, Maria Young. OFFICES at Caroline Pover, Inc., 5th floor, Chuo Iikura Building, 3-4-11 Azabudai, Minato- The Australia Society’s Gala Ball for Charity ku, Tokyo 106-0041 Tel. 03-5549-2038 Fax: 03-5549-2039 Email: [email protected] Opinions expressed by WEEKENDER 15 + 1 across, NY Dec 31st count dow n spot contributors are not necessarily those of the Publisher. by Danielle Tate-Stratton FOUNDED IN 1970 BY MILLARD H. “CORKY” ALEXANDER

ith miles of white, warm beaches, some of the the evening, with the promise of midnight snacks Answers from Crossword #17 (Weekender Dec 21) Wbest surfing in the world, huge skies, and best of and goodie bags to take home. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 all, summer when we have winter, Australia would be This year, the event is themed “Outback” and S Q U A R E D E C E M B E R lovely towards the end of January. However, for those of celebrates the environment both in Australia and H N A V A U E 9 10 us who can’t pop on a plane and head down under, the Japan. Accordingly, the proceeds from the auction O R C H I D F E A S I B L E 11 Australian Society’s Gala Ball is the next best thing. go to two environmentally friendly charities—Eco- G O N T N T B V 12 13 14 The annual event celebrates Australia Day, the Future in Japan and Aussie Helpers in Australia. A N O N A W A I T G L E E 15 16 biggest holiday in the country. It takes place annually Eco-Future (www.eco-future.net) provides grants to T K T E N U Y S 17 to celebrate, according to the government, “what we NPOs and NGOs in Japan for the purpose of foster- S P E C I A L A G E N T 18 19 have achieved and what we can be proud of in our ing the Earth’s future forests and for research on for- U D M V D I P U 20 great nation,” including the land, people, freedom, est resources in Indonesia and Malaysia. Aussie Help- C E L E B R A T I O N S 21 22 and democracy. Help the Australians get a jump on ers (www.aussiehelpers.org.au) works to help fight U U S M E E S U 23 24 25 the celebrations—on January 25—at the Grand Hy- poverty and “lift the spirits of those severely affected S Y N E T O A S T S T A R 26 27 att Tokyo. The night promises “black ties, gorgeous by drought” in the Australian farming community. E C S N S Y C P 28 29 frocks, and a delicious meal and drinks, followed by Tickets are ¥28,000 for Australian Society F O O T N O T E S E N A T E energetic entertainment and a charity auction.” Auc- members or ¥30,000 for non-members and can U R O H A R R 30 31 tion items are set to include wine, travel, and other be reserved individually or in tables of ten at L I K E W I S E B R I D E S goods. Make sure you match your black ties and frocks www.australiasocietytokyo.com or by emailing with dancing shoes as the party is set to go late into [email protected]. FEATURE

The History of the Cinema in Japan by Marie Teather

The Last Samurai provided foreign audiences with Japan has received a boost in tourism since Lost In insight into Japan’s rich history Translation’s release Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers Photo courtesy of Warner Photo courtesy of Focus Features Co. or this, our movie issue, and with the launch of the ing box-office records is the best-known maker of ani- Fnew double spread movie pages, let’s take a look at mated movies, Hayao Miyazaki. His recent 2001 release the influences Japan has had on the world cinema and Spirited Away won him an Oscar, and became the first at notable films related to Japan. With the following animated film to win an Academy Award. blockbuster facts, there is something interesting for even the most ‘back seat’ of movie fans. ANIME Miyazaki’s thought-provoking movies have made him BEFORE ‘THE BUBBLE’ a household name in Japan since the 1960s. Although For the greater part of the twentieth century Japan’s anime has only recently received foreign attention, major movie studios churned out an assembly line of domestically it has been a box-office revenue genera- military- and ‘life on the home-front’-type produc- tor for decades. tions, emoting on predicable post-war feelings of na- Astro Boy was the first animated television program in tionalism and rebuilding family values. Before then Japan, but it was Akira, Otomo Katsuhiro’s futuristic movie Japanese films were little more than adaptations of about a group of teenage rebels roaming the streets of a traditional stage or kabuki plays. post-apocalyptic Tokyo, that first made it to the big screen. In 1951 the Toho Company released Godzilla, the It was also the first Japanese animated movie to have an first blockbuster monster movie of its kind starting a impact abroad. (Of note, the music video for Michael trend that has continued to this day. Jackson and Janet Jackson’s 1995 hit Scream, featured clips During the 1980s Japanese money was invested from Akira and other Japanese anime.) into Hollywood productions, and films made here in Miyazaki is also co-founder of Studio Ghibli, an ani- Japan were funded by foreign money, kick starting an mation and production company often called ‘a Japanese interest in the cinema and rehauling the movie mak- Disney’. Through Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki`s fans have ing industry. Anime received its first overseas attention been treated to classic stories of fantasy, including must- and Akira Kurosawa directed his last great epic, Ran. sees such as Laputa, Kiki`s Delivery Service, My Neighbor To- The film was the most expensive Japanese film ever toro and more. (Not surprising, the Disney Corporation it- produced of its day and won two awards from the Brit- self that has secured the majority of Ghilbi’s international ish Academy of Film and Television Arts. distribution rights.) The studio has become so popular that the Ghibli Museum was opened in 2001. DIRECTORS OF INFLUENCE The most influential Japanese director in internation- MODERN AND WESTERN INTERFERENCE al cinema is perhaps Kurosawa Akira, who directed In recent years Japanese anime has even found its way the first Japanese movie to ever win an international to Hollywood, the most notable film being Quentin award. Rashomon took first prize at the Venice Film Tarantino’s 2003 blockbuster Kill Bill. Festival in 1951 and three years later he made the epic Kill Bill was adapted from a 1973 Japanese ‘revenge Seven Samurai (in Japanese: Shichinin no Samurai). To- film’ calledLady Snowblood. Influenced strongly by Japa- day the film ranks as one of the greatest films ever nese samurai films and martial arts movies, Tarantino’s made, and it is said to have inspired the classic West- film brought Japanese culture, both new and old, into ern film The Magnificent Seven. Western cinemas at a time when the box office was rid- The Seven Samurai tells the tale of seven samurai ing on the success of all things Japanese. warriors hired to protect a small village from looting More recently Tarantino appeared in Sukiyaki West- bandits, while The Magnificent Seven shows seven gun- ern Django, the 2007 Japan-based ‘spaghetti Western men hired to protect a Mexican village from bandits. style’ shoot-out, which again masterfully twisted togeth- In 1961 Kurosawa went on to make The Shadow er the best of Japanese and Western cinematic styles. Warrior, which was later made into the Clint East- Apart from Tarantino himself, the film is made of wood Western A Fistful of Dollars. Perhaps this was an entirely Japanese cast, with dialogue in English. the start of Clint Eastwood’s interest in Japan-based In the same year Lost In Translation catapulted movies, as later in his career he returned the favor modern-day Tokyo onto international screens as au- by bringing a World War II battle to the forefront of diences pondered the on-screen relationship between modern day cinemas. Bill Murray and Scarlet Johansson. With the death of Kurosawa in 1999, Kitano Takeshi Incidentally Japan has received a boost in tourism stepped up as the leading Japanese director on the world since the film’s release, with sightseers flying in to visit stage. Better known to us here in Japan as a risqué TV co- The Park Hyatt or to experience a karaoke experience median and presenter, overseas his movies have continued as crazy as the one portrayed in the movie. to pick up prizes for both his directing and acting skills. Johansson herself won the Upstream Prize for In 2000 Takeshi starred as a sadistic high school Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for her per- teacher of the same name in the controversial Japa- formance, and can still be seen on Japanese TV today nese blockbuster Battle Royale — a movie where one in commercials for Dr. Rainer coffee. class of delinquent teenagers is sent to a deserted is- Also in 2003, The Last Samurai provided foreign audi- land every year to kill each other. ences with insight into Japan’s rich history and, for per- Another director making waves overseas and break- haps the first time ever, this Western interpretation of | Weekender FEATURE

beacon: a signal fire or illuminating light that calls or guides At beacon urban chophouse, the fire from our grill calls our guests to come together and join us in celebration.

Lunch: 11:30 - 15:00 L.O. Mon.—Sat. / Brunch: 11:30—15:00 L.O. Sat. Sun. Hol Tea time: 15:00—17:00 L.O. Sat. Sun. Hol Dinner: 18:00 - 22:00 L.O. Mon.—Sat. / 18:00—21:00 L.O. Sun. Hol

Letters From Iwo Jima was named the Best Film in a Foreign Language at the 2006 Golden Globe awards. Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers Photo courtesy of Warner Japan won the respect of Japanese critics. The film did, ACTORS AND ACTRESSES however, have an largely American production crew, As yet, few Japanese homegrown actors or actresses with filming done in New Zealand with actual shots of have exerted any influence on movies made overseas. Mount Fuji superimposed. Most noticeable would be the aforementioned bilin- The Last Samurai was nominated for four Academy gual Ken Watanabe. Some interest was sparked however, Awards including one for Ken Watanabe as Best Support- in actress Chiaki Kuriyama, Kill Bill’s 17-year-old, chain ball ing Actor. In this, his first English-speaking role, Watan- welding schoolgirl psycho although, until she can speak abe found himself hailed as a new international pin-up. English, fans may have to wait for any future appearances 1-2-5 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo / Tel: 03-6418-0077 Two years later Watanabe appeared in another West- of a more wordy nature. www.tyharborbrewing.co.jp ern adaptation of Japan’s past, Memoirs of a Geisha. De- spite the popularity of the book from which the film was HORROR based and the hype prior to release, the film was not well Kuriyama, did however, appear as Tatako Chigusa, Girl received by critics and had little impact at the box office. Number 13, in the sadistic horror Battle Royale, until Memoirs of a Geisha was not screened in China after being shot in the back by her classmate. officials banned it, fearing it would rouse anti-Japan senti- The excessively violent film was labeled ‘crude and ment and stir up ill feelings of Japan’s wartime actions. tasteless’ by members of the Japanese parliament, but is

still listed as one of the top ten grossing movies of all time 7 minute walk from Shibuya station • 5 minute walk from Omotesando station (B2 exit) WAR FILMS in Japan. Domestically alone, it brought in ¥3.11 billion. Japan’s role in the great wars of the twentieth century has Due to cultural sensitivities, the film still does not been the subject of numerous revisionist film examina- have an official distributor in the US, although it can tions, providing insight from ‘the other side’ as an alter- be bought in the UK. native to the usual American bias. ‘J-Horror’ has found a market overseas and a recent In 2006 Clint Eastwood released two films just two wave of former Japanese folk-tale spooks have found months apart from each other, depicting the same World their way into popular culture abroad. War battle from two opposing viewpoints. Flags of Our The 1998 Ringu (The Ring) was voted the most fright- Fathers follows the tale of three surviving American flag- ening horror movie in Japan and is still the highest gross- raisers following their return from the Pacific, whileLetters ing horror film in Japan to date. The story of a cursed From Iwo Jima—again starring Ken Watanabe—shows the videotape that brings death exactly one week later to any- Japanese perspective of the battle. Both films combined one who watches it became an international success after collected an annual gross of $135 million. being remade in Korea in 1999 and in the US in 2002. Letters From Iwo Jima is filmed entirely in Japanese A whole host of other horror movies have been made and although reception of the film’s historical accuracy in the US, including The Grudge and Dark Water although was mixed here in Japan, it was named the Best Film in if and when this trend will spread to more main stream a Foreign Language at the 2006 Golden Globe awards. movies, remains yet to be seen. Prior to Eastwood’s films, 2001’s To End All Wars was released, starring Keifer Sutherland in a storyline FUTURE similar to the classic Bridge Over The River Kwai. Nowa- As we move further in the twenty-first century, the future days the Western/Christian overtones of forgiveness, seems bright for Japanese movies as overseas influences apparent throughout the movie, are not received very continue to cast a unique light on interpretations of the well, signifying a need for less biased portrayals of culture here and Japanese influences are integrated Japanese in the theaters. into internationally produced production abroad.

Movie Facts:

Miyazaki`s 2001 hit Spirited Away is the highest grossing film of all time in Japan.

Tarantino refers to Tokyo as his second home and is reported as saying “Visiting Japan is the only time I leave my small county in LA.”

The crew of Lost In Translation faced threat of arrest when filming in both the Japanese subway and at the Hachiko crossing.

Tom Cruise spent almost two years preparing for his role in The Last Samurai, learning how to speak Japanese and sword fighting.

2006 saw a new trend for movies premiering in Japan: Spiderman 3, The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix were just three movies where directors opted for Tokyo to make their headlining debuts.

In the infamous Kill Bill restaurant scene, which has since been likened to popular Nishi-Azabu restaurant Gon Pachi (although never officially confirmed), Uma Thurman’s character kills 57 people.

The Japanese government tried to ban Battle Royale but feared that to do so would inadvertently give the film more publicity.

Unless coming from the UK the ¥1,800 ticket charge may come as something as a shock to movie fans new to Japan. Most cinemas do, however, have a ¥1000 ticket charge on Ladies’ Day (Wednesdays) and on Movie Day (the first day of the month).

Jan. 04 – 17 2008 Vol. 39 No. 01 MOVIE REVIEWS WITH WILLIAM CASPER

I AM LEGEND REIGN OVER ME

For the record; first there A film about loss, friendship, and healing. Reign Over was the post apocalyptic Me stars Adam Sandler as Charlie Fineman, a dentist book I Am Legend by Ri- who lost his family (a wife, three girls and even a chard Matheson, about dog) during the 9/11 attacks on New York, and has the last surviving man regressed into irresponsible teenagehood to forget in a nightmare world of his pain. A chance encounter with his dental college isolation and mutants. This was made into a cheesy room mate, Alan Benson played by Don Cheadle, B movie as The Last Man on Earth starring Vincent now successful and married with kids, seems to Price in 1964. This in turn was remade in 1971 as The awaken something in Charlie; the stifled Benson is Omega Man starring Charlton Heston, and has now drawn to the wild freedom that Charlie’s bizarre and been remade as I Am Legend. As a fan of the Charlton erratic behavior in some way represents. And so the Heston movie and in light of some of the abysmal unlikely couple begins to hang out. recent remakes of good movies (Get Carter, Rollerball, At times the plot runs perilously close to Terry Alfie, etc.) I approached this potential disaster with Gilliam’s The Fisher King, but where Gillian’s characters trepidation. Silly me. use fantasy and charm to escape their loss, Reign Over The latest version of I Am Legend has retained all Me (a few comedic moments apart) is heavy with pain that was good about the Charlton Heston film (the and sadness. ghostly cityscape, the genuine suspense) and quietly Adam Sandler, looking uncannily like Bob lost some of the more surreal aspects (the quasi-reli- Dylan, does a decent job as Fineman and elicits gious undertones and the 1970s politics, man). More emotions I thought beyond him. Don Cheadle, in than that, it has rounded out the main character, Sidney Poitier mode, is also good in the less showy made the central premise more believable and best of role. The other characters, particularly the females, all, gives Robert Neville (Will Smith) our soul survi- are weaker. Liv Tyler is hopelessly miscast as an vor, a German shepherd for a companion. uptown shrink; Jada Pinkett Smith as Benson’s wife Will Smith is excellent in what is essentially a one is underused, and worst of all, the talented Saffron man (and his dog) turn. This is not the kind of role Burrows is saddled with an ill-conceived character that usually wins awards, which is a shame as Smith treated with something close to contempt by the shows real depth portraying a man teetering on the script. Donald Sutherland shows up in a brief cameo brink of insanity but managing, just about, to stay as a judge that nicely spices the film up just at the sane enough to continue his work attempting to save point it is becoming long. the last remnants of the human race. 9/11 brings monumental baggage that rests At times I Am Legend is genuinely frightening and heavily on Charlie’s shoulders; to lighten the load, I at a breezy 101 minutes it’s that rarest of things: a big half-wished he was one of a group of people struggling budget film that leaves you wishing it were longer. with their loss from that day, or that Charlie’s family Visually spectacular (post-apocalyptic New York looks had died in a more relatable, less public way. Worth a incredible) try and see it on the big screen. look but take some tissues. Release date: Dec. 14, 2007 Release date: Dec. 22, 2007

THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD

As you would expect from the director of Aussie classic seeing. Some might argue the length reflects the time Chopper, Andrew Dominik’s ambitious, languid retell- and pace of life in 1880s America, but so little hap- ing of the last few months of the life and death of Jesse pens they could have trimmed the 40 minutes and lost James (Brad Pitt) has much to commend it. It’s beautiful nothing. to look at—there is a real evocation of a time long gone; Pitt’s performance rests on how you feel about him several of the performances are very good, particularly already—I think he’s a likeable actor but just doesn’t Casey Affleck as the Uriah Heep-like Robert Ford (had have the range for something this nuanced—if you like Heep ever seen fit to murder David Copperfield); overall what he does in other films you’ll like what he does here. production values are good (though I was a little sur- Obvious comparisons (influences?) are Terence Malick’s prised by the obvious quality of the James gang’s dental Days of Heaven (which evokes a similar pace of life in 94 plan); and the sense of something out of the (contem- minutes) and Robert Altman’s McCabe and Mrs. Miller, porary) ordinary being attempted is admirable. both flawed classics, both mercifully shorter and as a re- But, and it’s a big but, there is just no way of get- sult more watchable. With Sam Rockwell, Sam Sheppard ting round the length (2 hours and 40 minutes) and (underused) Mary-Louise Parker (ditto), Garret Dillahunt, the lack of action. The problem is accentuated by a Paul Scheider, Jeremy Renner (all three excellent). ponderous voiceover telling us things we should be Release date: Jan. 12, 2008

WEEKENDER’S FAVORITE MOVIE THEATERS

SHINJUKU: Shinjuku Milano Za, Kabuki-cho 1-29-1, Tokyu Milano ROPPONGI: Roppongi Hills Cinema. Roppongi 6-10-2, Minato-ku. Bldg. 03-3202-1189. JR Shinjuku station East Exit, number B13. 03-5775-6090. In the Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Complex, facing the Walk towards Nishi-Shinjuku station; the theater faces this station. Mori Tower, a few minutes’ walk from Hibiya Line Roppongi Station. Showing: I Am Legend. http://gojapan.about.com/library/tokyo/ Showing: Beowulf, National Treasure, Alien vs. Predator http://www. bltokyo_movie_shinjuku.htm. tohotheater.jp/index.html.

SHIBUYA: Shibuto Cine Tower, Dogenzaka 2-6-17, Shibuya. 03- ODAIBA: Cinema Mediage. Daiba 1-7-1, Minato-ku. 03-5531-7878. 5489-4210. From JR Shibuya station, take the Hachiko exit to the large Across the street from Tokyo Terepoto Station, just behind the Fuji TV intersection (to Dogenzaka). Go up the road, and it will be on your left building. From the Yurikamone line’s Daiba station, cross the street. (across from Shibuya 109). Showing: National Treasure http://gmap. The cinema is next to Aqua City Odaiba. For information about movie jp/shop-1533.html. listings, please see: http://www.cinema-mediage.com.

For more reviews please visit our website at www.weekenderjapan.com

| Weekender MOVIE PLUS WITH BILL HERSEY

Nicky and Paris Hilton were in town for Ka- zumasa Terada, president of Samantha Thavasa Bag Company. I had met Paris before, but never really got to know her. Special Set Menu 30% off menu On her most recent visit, I hosted a party for her and her sister Cut, Colour, and Treatment Colour ¥3,410~ Nicky at the New Lex. I was indebted to her because she praised ¥14,230 ¥8,530 Highlight ¥1,580~ the Lex in her book Confessions of an Heiress, although I didn’t like a Cut, Perm, and Treatment Straightening ¥8,960~ lot of what I read about her in the gossip magazines. ¥14,760 ¥8,800 At the party, both girls were great. They do know how to party, and Cut and Treatment Cuts ¥1,000 off they were really nice to everyone there. In talking with Paris, I realized ¥9,350 ¥7,720 Top Stylist ¥6,090 ¥5090 how much of her image is a creation of marketing. In real life she’s Bring this ad and get a free Stylist intelligent, interesting and thoughtful. Her favorite word is “hot” and shampoo and blowdry with these options. (Valid until Feb. 29, 2007) ¥5,040 ¥4040 she loves to use it: “the club’s hot”; “that male model’s hot”; “you’re hot” (I loved that one!) Nicky, however, is quieter and very involved Tel: 03-3563-6336 in the hotel project—not a Hilton, but a very ex- 1F/2F Isei Bldg pensive art deco hotel in Miami Beach. 1-8-17 Ginza, Chuo-ku Tokyo 104-0061 Miss Universe Guests included superstar Yoshiki, Sa 2007 Riyo - www.essensuals.co.uk Mori at the mantha Thavasa President Kazumasa Weekender Warner Brothers’ Terada, actors Taro Yamamoto and Masa- premiere of ya Kato as well as Rakuten baseball team The Brave One. owner Mikitani San.

Superstar Will Smith was in town to promote his Warner Brothers film I Am Legend. In addition to having back-to- back interviews, a press conference, TV appearances and the premiere itself, Will made a quick trip to Yokosuko to meet American military members and their families. I first met him over ten years ago, and am happy to report that success has not spoiled the talented, hardworking superstar. Photo courtesy of Access E Photos by Christopher Jue

Coming Soon on DVD! Jan. 8: Free Zone A Jewish-American woman, her Jewish cab driver and a Palestinian black market liaison embark on a tense SHINAGAWA: Shinagawa Prince Cinema. Takanawa 4-10-30, Mi- road trip to the Jordan-Iraq-Saudi free zone. nato-ku. 03-3440-1111. Across the street from Shinagawa station, in Jan. 11: The Big White Robin Williams plays a poor insurance the Shinagawa Prince Hotel. Showing: I Am Legend, National Trea- agent who, out of financial desperation, tries to stage his es- sures, Alien vs. Predator http://www.princehotels.co.jp/shinagawa/ tranged brother’s death to collect a hefty insurance claim. cinema/index.html. Jan. 11: A Good Year Russell Crowe stars as a London-based investment banker who goes to Provence to sell his uncle’s vineyard, YOKOHAMA: Toho Cinemas Lalaport. 4035-1 Ikebe-cho, Ysuzuki-ku, in this charming romantic comedy. Yokohama. 045-929-1040. JR Yokohama Line, Kamoii station. Take the Jan. 12: Borat: Cultural Learning of America for Make Benefit North Exit; the theater is on the first floor of the Lalaport Complex. For Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan Watch Kazakh journalist “Borat” current movie listings, please see http://yokohama.lalaport.jp. – from Britain’s Ali G fame – travel across the U.S. in this hysterical ‘mockumentary’. Jan. 18: Hustle & Flow A petty drug dealer and hustler becomes dis- satisfied with his life and tries his hand at hip-hop, in this interesting film. Jan. 18: Failure to Launch A romantic comedy about the hit- or-miss relationship between a girl (Sarah Jessica Parker) and a guy For more reviews please visit our website at www.weekenderjapan.com (Matthew McConaughey) …who lives with his parents.

Jan. 04 – 17 2008 Vol. 39 No. 01 FINE DINING

Passing on Popcorn A Variety of Restaurant Choices Near Popular Tokyo Cinemas, by Ulara Nakagawa

or many of us moviegoers, it’s always been that seeing an energetic film. A variety of Asian cuisine is Foh so salty and cheerfully yellow concession stand offered in the beer garden style venue, including Thai, popcorn washed down with a giant cup of coke that Indian, Vietnamese and Japanese. The equally color- really makes the experience complete. Or, on occasion, ful menagerie of international staff and clientele are a sickeningly sweet chocolate bar to wolf down as soon laid back and friendly, at times even rambunctious. as the lights dim so as not to been seen by others as a Tenku no Machi’s greatest offering for fun-loving din- total glutton. ers, however, may be its hours of operation: it’s open For me, age and a growing waistline have led me until midnight weekdays and until 5am on Fridays and to reconsider glorious cinema indulgences of the past. Saturdays. More information is available at: http:// A large bag of popcorn with butter and soft drink fills r.gnavi.co.jp/a373400/ my recommended caloric intake for an entire day. And those simple treats that used to get me giddy at birth- Khazana at Odaiba day parties and amusement parks sometimes just don’t Hollywood is so passé. Bollywood is the internationally cut it anymore. For some reason, once you’ve tried savvy cinema lover’s place to be. Though it may not popcorn with truffle oil, the standard fare can seem a be so easy to come by movies from India here, your bit dull to the tongue. cinema experience can be enhanced with some of the Luckily alternatives are so easy to come by in To- country’s distinct and delicious food. Khazana is part kyo, that I’ve hardly felt deprived. Within walking dis- of the Maharaja Group, one of the biggest Indian res- tance to some of the theaters we’re featuring on previ- taurant chains in Japan. Odaiba’s Khazana is a slightly ous pages, here are six particular choices that may help fancier version of their other venues, featuring a night you make the most of your next movie outing. view of the island and Rainbow Bridge. Indian chefs prepare reasonably priced mainstream dishes including Ciao Bella at Roppongi Hills Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Butter Masala and Keema Italian mobsters from those New York crime movies Curry. Information on Khazana in English is at: www. may gasp at the notion of sitting down for a meal of englishok.jp/shops/khazana_odaiba/ organic burdock root and grain-fed pork Parmesan gnocchi, but hey, since when do we take culinary ad- Buffet Ex Blue at Lalaport in Yokohama vice from gun-toting stereotypes that have never even been to Japan? Ciao Bella is an organic Italian restaurant near Roppongi Hills TOHO Cinemas. Using only carefully selected ingredients such as organic vegeta- bles and eggs, they go as far as to use alkali ion water for all of their cooking. Though the menu seems to be on the pricey side, one dish from the a-la-carte menu is intended for two people. Requests can be made for smaller, one-person portions or items that are not on the menu. Further information can be found at their English website: www.englishok.jp/shops/ciaobella_ roppongi/index.php Ex Blue is a crowd pleaser for all members of the family Photo courtesy of Ulara Outback Bar and Grill at Shinagawa Station Sure, a good family movie can tug at the old heart- A good old shoot’em’-up Western or urban action flick strings, but sometimes there’s nothing like seeing a sure can work up an appetite, even if it wasn’t you doing child go wild at the ice cream counter of a buffet that all of those crazy stunts. A juicy set of barbequed back can bring back sentimental memories of times when ribs or plate of jumbo Buffalo wings with blue cheese a giant dish of soft serve doused in chocolate sauce may satisfy the void. Or for those more sensitive Bro- could make your day. The Buffet Ex Blue restaurant keback Mountain types, the Typhoon Bloomin’ Onion in Yokohama is always packed with adults and chil- is a crispy flower shaped tangle and popular vegetarian dren alike. With over seventy food choices in West- option. The Outback Steakhouse Bar and Grill is a con- ern, Japanese and Chinese cuisine, along with free venient stop for before or after catching a show at the drinks and a dessert bar, Ex Blue is a crowd pleaser Shinagawa Prince Cinemas. Located right at Shinagawa for all members of the family. Prices are practical, station, the casual and Western-style restaurant offers the two-hour dinner time limit is more than suffi- English speaking staff and menus. Further information cient, and children under three eat free. The Buffet can be found in English at: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/fl/en/ Ex Blue is located inside Lalaport Shopping Centre g587806/menu.htm in Yokohama in the same building as the TOHO Cinemas. Open all day from 11am to 11pm, it is a Tenku no Machi in Shinjuku’s Kabuki-cho flexible choice for matinee and night moviegoers. More information is at their website: www.buffet. jp/exblue/index.html

Uogashi Fukuchan in Shibuya Movies set in the past can evoke a romantic sense of long lost eras and experiences. If you want your re- flective state to last a little while longer before being shattered by the packed train ride home, visit Uogashi Fukuchan located behind Mark City in Shibuya, about a block away from Shibuto Cine Tower. Japanese blogs rave about this off-the-beaten-track Japanese eatery A variety of Asian Cuisine is offered in this beer garden-style venue. for its attractive prices and fresh seafood. The shop

Photo courtesy of Ulara operates as if in its very own long lost era: no written Musicals made into movies, such as Chicago or Dream- prices—all dishes are set daily by market prices and girls almost always get me riled up and ready to par- cell phones are entirely banned. The shellfish platter, ty all night. Steps away from Milano Za Cinema in sea urchin sashimi and raw sweet shrimp are highly Shinjuku’s happening Kabuki-cho district is the huge recommended. For further information and map, vis- rooftop restaurant Tenku no Machi, that is perfect for it: http://tokyo.gourmet.livedoor.com/ accommodating that certain high brought on from restaurant/info/18302.html

| Weekender TRAVEL Best -Value Furnished Apartments in Tokyo

Spacious apartments in center of Tokyo -Nakano & Nishi-Ogikubo No Room for Visitors? Great location for shopping, food, entertainment. Send Your Friends to “Live in Asia”, by Leigh Wellsview *Free Internet access (wired) *Rent: from US$100/night, min. 2 nights recently got a phone call from a friend back home *25 sq. meter - 46.5 sq. meter. 1BR - 2BR Iin Canada letting me know that she’d decided to * 5 min. on foot from JR line or Metro station finally fulfill a lifelong dream by traveling more and * Full kitchen / Bathroom was planning to stop by Tokyo on her way on to Thailand. Of course, I was thrilled to hear that Linda would finally be able to see where I’ve been living and playing for this last year, and we quickly made plans to do all of the ‘musts’—the Imperial Palace, Harajuku, Ueno Park, Odaiba, Disney Sea, a night in Roppongi, some serious shopping—it will be a busy five days! It wasn’t until we’d giddily hung up the phone that I started wondering just where I was going to put Linda when she arrived. Choosing to live centrally—in Ebisu—is perfect for me alone, but my tiny six-mat apartment it bulging at the seams without the added luggage of a girl on her way around A bold, geometrically patterned rug nestled under the chrome the world, not to mention its owner! Plus, as much and glass coffee table lend the one bedroom apartment in Nishi as I love spending time with Linda, I questioned Ogikubo a decidedly modern flair. Photo courtesy of Live in Asia how long it would take for us to get on each other’s nerves if we were not only seeing the sights together, but also living on top of each other. Initially, I thought the solution would be to send her to a nearby hotel, but a quick ‘google’ turned up overly expensive room rates and rooms as cramped as mine. Plus, being in a hotel means eating all of your meals at restaurants, and despite the deals to be had with specials and lunch sets, eating out all day, every day, quickly adds up. Knowing that Linda, like me, would rather spend her money on kawaii Japanese souvenirs, I kept looking and soon found the perfect solution—a rental apartment owned and managed by Live in Asia. Their Japanese arm, Japan Vacation Rentals, offers one and two bedroom apartments in Nakano and Nishi-Ogikubo. Both are close enough to the Yamanote line ‘loop’ to ensure that she can get anywhere we want to go quickly, but with the added bonus of being just far enough away from the truly expat areas of Tokyo. Bright modernly decorated spaces in central Tokyo This allow ‘traveler, not tourist’ Linda the chance to live Photo courtesy of Live in Asia more like a local. for the value but also for its location and quality of the Even though everything in their apartments is apartment” is typical of the over two-dozen positive compact—this is Tokyo after all—Live in Asia has clear- reviews (versus just one not-quite-glowing review) left ly thought long and hard about the décor and furni- by travelers from all over the world. ture choices. As I looked through the many images on For those like me, who like to know every detail their website, I began to fantasize about moving out of before they set out, Live in Asia documents their sim- my beloved flat in Ebisu and into one of their bright, ple check-in and check-out procedure on the website modernly decorated spaces myself! Lots of white opens in enough detail to assuage the fears of even the most up the spaces, while punches of fun, bright colors like nervous of travelers. Helpfully for anyone traveling a bold, geometrically patterned rug nestled under the into town on their own or for those of us who can’t chrome and glass coffee table lend the one bedroom make it out to meet our guests at Narita and are let- apartment in Nishi Ogikubo a decidedly modern flair. ting them experience that journey on their own, Ja- The two-bedroom apartment in Nakano is similarly pan Vacation rentals has put, in clear detail, directions white and bright and sleeping six, is exactly where I’ll to both Nakano and Nishi Ogikubo, and has designed be sending any of my friends who happen to traipse a system of phone calls at key check points (Narita, through Tokyo in a group or with a child in tow! Shinjuku) to ensure that the moment you step off the I was also impressed with the attention to detail train a representative will be ready and waiting to take that Live in Asia provided—apartments come fully you straight to the apartment and give you your keys. furnished, of course, but also include details such as Having heard stories of the last time a friend came to shampoo, conditioner, linens, kitchen supplies, and visit (I couldn’t find her at the airport for nearly an every jet-lagged travelers oft-forgotten best friend— hour and it didn’t get any smoother after that—suffice an alarm clock. it to say we barely made it home in one piece), Linda is The truly remarkable thing is just how affordable loving the idea of being calmly welcomed by an agent, staying in one of these apartments is! The one bed- having a chance to freshen up, and then meeting me room apartments start in the ¥10,000 range, or just in her ‘new neighborhood’ for dinner. ¥64,000 for a week—that’s up to three people for six Not knowing the Nakano area very well, I’m glad that nights! Unusually for this type of do-it-yourself ac- the English-speaking staff will give Linda information on commodation, there’s a short minimum stay—just the neighborhood, including on where to grocery shop, two nights, although the company does charge a how to get around on transit, how the internet (free wi-fi reasonable ¥7,000 cleaning fee for each week or part is included) works, and will also solve any other problems week that you stay. that they can during the course of her stay. In addition to several great photos of each prop- All in all I’m thrilled that Linda and I can sightsee in erty, detailed listings of what you can expect to find, Tokyo together, but that she’ll be able to experience liv- and clear pricing on the clear and well-written web- ing in Tokyo on her own as well, especially with such a site, there are also plenty of comments from satisfied friendly and helpful company. To learn more, visit their guests. The comment from Nathan of New Zealand, comprehensive website, which has lots of great in- “Just want to say that this place is excellent, not just formation in English, at www.liveinasia.com.

Jan. 04 – 17 2008 Vol. 39 No. 01 IT

Video Saved My Tokyo Commute by Andrew Robinson

ife in Japan is mobile, especially in sardine-train content, available on my portable device to watch LTokyo. We’re always moving from place to place— anywhere and any time I need a little distraction or bound for home, workplace, gym or other. This mo- entertainment. bility suggests our entertainment can So, what to watch them with? be mobile, be too. In recent months, There are many devices and ways I’ve found my portable video player to take this great content with you, [PVP] to be a fantastic way to spend out in the world. I use an iPod touch my mobile fun time. [Apple, from ¥36,800] that’s become I’ve set my laptop to collect video my constant companion. It current- blogs automatically and to sync this ly has music videos, TV and feature istockphoto.com/SereneDay

data with my portable device [an © films, and up to date selections from iPod touch...it’s amazing] so it’s ready the various video blogs I subscribe when I’m on the go. TV and feature to. At 120 grams, it’s light enough films are available for purchase from to carry anywhere. Sony has a new the accompanying iTunes Store, so I version of their Playstation Portable have Lost, Desperate Housewives or Pi- [Sony PSP, from ¥27,800] that I of- Portable video players are a fantastic way rates of the Caribbean if I want them, ten see in action, and at 280 grams to spend mobile time. but there is so much free video con- it doesn’t overburden. The PSP is tent available it’s staggering. Did you know NASA has mainly a game device, however, with movie con- a video podcast from the shuttle missions and the tent limited to the Sony-only UMD disk format, but International Space Station? http://www.nasa.gov/ video blog access was added last year. Rounding out multimedia/podcasting/ How cool is that? The truly our short list are various models from Archos www. inspiring TED conference www.ted.com/talks has re- archos.com and iRiver www.iriver.com. While Apple cently released over 100, 20-minute video segments and Sony have competing distribution services that covering incredible topics in technology, education provide content for their devices, these companies and design. The New York Times has short video seg- make hardware designed to play various kinds of un- ments on dining and wine, there’s news from CNN, protected video formats, with the Archos model and stand up shorts from Comedy Central. All this free allowing for recording off your TV.

INVESTMENT

Investing in the Movies

or the sophisticated investor there has always tential is undertaken to identify, assess and correct Fbeen a way to invest in the movies. Many of any deficiencies in these areas. A final ‘greenlight’ whom understand the risks and can commit large is given by an investment committee to the most sums of money in the hope that they will be part of promising motion pictures, only after complete as- a box office hit and, as a result, a very big payback surance that the motion picture will generate sig- on their investment. Many of course suffer the igno- nificant profit. miny of their film project going straight to DVD as Payback is usually in the form of a percentage it did not cut the mustard with fickle cinema audi- of box office receipts or a flat return on the money ences. Worse still, a complete artistic and financial invested. There is a quandary on which is the best flop can occur, no matter how big the movie stars route to take as unfortunately you cannot switch are in the leading roles. Increasingly, more investors once you have decided. This is where professional wish to diversify their portfolios or merely wish to advice comes into play from the experts—but then develop their movie going interests into something again sometimes they get it wrong. Having mainline more tangible so they can indulge themselves. actors is no guarantee of success at the box office. There are specialist firms that provide access to One other way to invest is to select shares direct- this exciting and high-risk investment area. Typical- ly into movie companies, perhaps not as exciting as ly they select films for financing through a rigorous, owning part of a specific film but it might satisfy the multi-step process from a broad source of producers, Cecil B De Mille tendencies in you. directors, agents, managers, and production com- Remember that some multinational companies panies. They identify the most promising projects, such as Sony own Hollywood studios amongst their based primarily on the property’s creative and com- more traditional electronic product lines. The ra- mercial appeal and the skill, experience and accom- tionale for companies such as Sony or other news plishments of the associated talent. media companies is that it gives them an additional The screenplay is the most important aspect of string to their bow and a bigger target audience for filmmaking. The target script is broken down and them to cross sell between all of their brands. analysed for marketability, budget, pre-production The cheapest investment of course is to invest in and shooting schedule, potential rating category, a Directors chair, baseball cap and a clapperboard— legal and copyright issues, insurance requirements at least you can look the part! and completion bonding considerations, among other factors. Interviews with filmmakers are con- ducted, a list of supporting documents are requested Provided by MAGELLAN: and reviewed or prepared, and consultations with THE FINANCIAL PLANNING COMPANY

potential distribution partners begin. Simultane- Email: [email protected] Tel. 03-3769-5511 ously, a full financial, legal and accounting analysis of the motion picture projects with the highest po-

10 | Weekender BUSINESS

20 Years in Japan and Counting... Profile of Neil Day of Paddy Foley’s, by Michael Mahoney

eil Day never imagined that he’d settle in Japan. He Nalso never imagined that he’d sing in a rock band, act on stage, play on a cricket team, meet Dennis Lillee, be a popular DJ, manage a pub or be sent to an immigration detainment center for nearly a month. Yet all of these experiences did happen to him in Japan, a place that, twenty years after his arrival, he still loves. “In Japan, these things come out of the blue,” he said with a smile. “There’s always a chance to experience something, to learn something new here,” he says with a laid-back, good-natured enthusiasm, which makes him so popular among guests at Foley’s. (Just before his arrival, a number of guests could be heard asking other staff when he would be in.) Day came to Japan in October 1987. It was at a time when Ireland was suffering from 20 percent Neil Day of Paddy Foley’s as Grand Marshal at the St. Patricks Day unemployment and around 90 percent of his gradu- Parade 2007. ating college class left the country, simply because there were no jobs available. The government- the overturning of the deportation order. sponsored FAS Program—which sent youth to work When he came to Foley’s in 2003, the place was a abroad for a few years to learn new skills and then shambles: the walls were black and decorated in graffiti; return to help develop Ireland—arranged for Day to the lone washroom had a broken hand-dryer; the area interview with Ricoh, the Japanese office automa- near the cash register always stank. Food was not served, tion company. The company offered him a job and and the bar was suffering from mismanagement. Day arrived with dozens of other Irish graduates to Day made Foley’s into the great place that it is work in what was then ‘the Dragon of the East.’ today. He surveyed the customers to see what they Day knew that life would not be easy at first, and wanted, and he ran with it: a company was hired to indeed it presented a number of challenges. He had no source and repair the ‘stink’; he repaired the ‘broken Japanese language skills, other than a one-month crash things’ (i.e., hand-dryer), and made the separate wom- course offered to him upon arrival by his company. en’s washroom; he knocked down a wall, thus opening “I wanted to get the first three months over with. up the bar area, and made a music room out of the I knew that I’d be a fish out of water, making stupid former storage area, and used his technical prowess to mistakes—and it did happen”, he recalled. “[But] establish an advanced high-tech AV broadcast system. the hardest part of being here was saying goodbye With the latter achievement, Foley’s became the first to [my] culture,” Day continued, citing the lack of bar in Tokyo to offer extensive rugby and cricket cov- English-language print media, home-from-home TV, erage, as well as live coverage of sporting events back and internet, as well as the lack of sports clubs and home. As the only place to show (‘without hitch’) all pub-life in 1980s Japan. of the matches in England’s Ashes Trophy—a month- But he did not let this get him down. Instead, Day long cricket championship series—“Foley’s really hit it became actively involved with the Irish Network in big with the expats”, Day said. Japan and, by 1990, was elected Chairman. While in- Over his years here, Day has noticed many volved with the group, their activities diversified and changes in the foreigner community, as well as expanded to include Tokyo’s first-ever St. Patrick’s Day changes in the Japanese perceptions of the foreign- Parade, Christmas and Halloween events, an annual ers in their midst. On the one hand, he states that Irish sports day and live music events such as the Celtic Tokyo has become much more cosmopolitan and, Festival Japan. In that time, foreigners in Japan had a with the better social and business infrastructure, real interest in sharing their countries and cultures with has become easier for foreigners to get on their feet the Japanese, and those who were here ‘had a knack’ at in Japan. With increased cultural contacts, business banding together, according to Day. exchanges and programs such as the JET Program, it Day continued his work at Ricoh for twelve is much easier for foreigners to come here. years and, upon leaving the company, spent vari- Despite this increase in visibility, however, ac- ous amounts of time working as R&D manager for ceptance of them has changed for the worst. He an internet applications company (Digital Garage), credits xenophobic comments from certain political traveling to promote the MPEG-7 standard at con- leaders in Japan (to the effect of ‘beware of groups of ferences and, when these plans didn’t work out, foreigners at night; they will cause trouble’), the me- took up teaching and other odd jobs. During his dia’s tendency to stereotype foreigners as potential time here, he sang with a rock band (“you know, criminals and the frequency by which police check White Snake, Pink Floyd…” he said with a chuckle); foreigner registration cards in the street (without gained popularity as a DJ and even acted on stage due reason) as having made Japan generally less wel- (as the main character in an Irish comedy play). coming to foreigners than before. After being here for 16 years, Day ran into immigra- Yet he repeats that he loves the place and, in the fu- tion problems and was forced into an immigration detain- ture, is open-minded to things, which would allow him to ment center for three and a half weeks, while he appealed stay here longer or even move abroad again. However, his the court’s order for his deportation. He had been charged fascination for computers and technology remains avid with “overstaying his visa”. (Although Day had indeed and he recalls his long-held dream of wishing to work for applied in time, he was never advised about the proper NASA with wide-eyed enthusiasm. procedures and thus did not take his documents abroad With all of these amazing experiences and acquired for processing, resulting in his inadvertent overstay.) The knowledge, does Day have any advice for those just arriv- issue was finally resolved when he was able to consult a ing to Japan? lawyer. Her efforts—as well as the support of two former “Don’t forget to be yourself,” he says in earnest. ambassadors to Japan (who were familiar with his Celtic “You hear about Japan [back home], and adapting is cultural events), several Japanese people and a letter from good, but you have to maintain your own character. the Prime Minister of Ireland asking for the government’s You can never be Japanese. You have to be open- understanding—got him released on bail and eventually minded, and accept things.”

Jan. 04 – 17 2008 Vol. 39 No. 01 11 SCHOOL’S IN

Video in the Classroom Videos in the Classroom: Tool or Distraction? By Lawrence Nylund

We have moved to our own building! New bus service, live camera, ballet, Karate & school lunches! Ages: 15 months to 6 yrs 10am - 5 pm including afternoon classes [email protected] www.doremigarden.com Phone: 03-3554-3664 istockphoto.com/Ivan Josifovic istockphoto.com/Ivan © Videos can help kids learn!

emember the days when an in-class slideshow pres- Study after study shares Yaffe’s enthusiasm, as- Rentation brought magic to your class? The images serting that videos are indeed effective teaching tools were fuzzy and the tape was scratchy, but instead of in the classroom. An extensive article entitled “No hearing Mr. Jones/Smith/Johnson drone on you had the Child Left Behind: Scientific Research Indicates that chance to sit back and watch the lesson come to life Using Video in the Classroom Improves Learning” before your eyes, while one lucky soul got to push the — published by libraryvideo.com asserts that “video BEEP!—projector button between the —BEEP!—slides. in the classroom improves learning, retention and Audio-visual presentations in schools today are, of test scores.” According to the paper, these results are course, a far cry from these stop-and-go slideshows of possible because videos spark student interest and, yesteryear. Nowadays, teachers around the world are us- by thus engaging learners, “allow for absorption and ing DVDs, videos and the internet to replace one-sided processing of information” more so than traditional lecture classes with interactive multimedia extravagan- lecturing techniques. A theorist in the same paper zas. Yet two questions remain: How exactly are videos stated that lecture-style learning was strictly a ‘lin- being used in the classroom today? Can videos indeed guistic approach’ to teaching, and thus only effective be used effectively? for teaching some, while videos “reach more students Videos are being used in a variety of different ways, and provide more opportunities for neural develop- for a variety of different classes around the world. Matt ment and learning’”. Furthermore, a TV Ontario sur- Harris, an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher vey cited in the document revealed that a majority of in Fukushima prefecture, uses video clips from YouTube teachers (66 percent) believed that students learned to test student listening skills, as well as to show kids more when a video was used in the classroom. how learned phrases can be used in real-life situations. On a different note, Wei states in her article that He also uses specials such as Charlie Brown Christmas for videos are effective as a tool that “unlocks voices, giving cultural lessons about American holidays. opens worlds, taps emotions and reveals issues”, In her article Video in the Classroom as published by allowing minority voices and perspectives to be on www.mediarights.org history teacher Debbie Wei heard much more so than in standardized American writes how she uses documentaries to illustrate difficult textbooks. She adds that, by hearing first-hand ac- historical events, such as the Vietnam War, while an counts of past events on a video, listeners can pick article posting on the www.libraryvideo.com website up on nuances and tones used in the verbal language, mentions how videos have been used to teach and en- which are otherwise missed in text. courage good health, physical activity and even reading But do videos in the classroom of today really have skills in different research studies. the same ‘magic effect’ on today’s tech-savvy kids as the Few teachers, however, seem to use video as a slideshow projections of yesteryear? tool as much as Jonathan Yaffe. Vice-Principal of the Harris certainly thinks so. He agrees that videos are Kikokushijo Academy International School in Tokyo, indeed useful in his rural Fukushima classrooms, and Jonathan told Weekender that his alternative American that it is “fun for the kids” to watch a video in class. school used videos in a multitude of classes: YouTube “When you bring a TV or computer to class, they [the clips of people in Thailand brought the region to life students] get more receptive,” he said. “But you can’t during a recent Social Studies unit; An Inconvenient Truth use it all the time, or it loses its appeal.” was shown in an effective class about global climate When asked how his students reacted to the video change; The Simpsons will be used in an upcoming class usage, Yaffe replied “They really like it. They like [vid- on stereotyping. With a founding principle “to incorpo- eos] because they are moving, they are more interac- rate technology into every subject”, students not only tive than books.” With internet videos in particular, watch an extensive number of videos in class, but they students “can go on and see what life is like, see how even make many of their own videos, sharing with oth- people interact. There is no way to compare” vid- ers what they have learned. eos to pictures in a book, he stated.

12 | Weekender SCHOOL’S IN SCHOOL’S OUT

Quiet Speakers and Babysitters Child’s Play Taking Your Kids to the Movies, by Emily Downey INTERNATIONAL PRESCHOOL Established in 1978

hether you are the parent of a newborn, tod- free of charge. The children’s hall is a wonderland of Wdler, tween (pre-teenager) or teenager, there is crafts, live theater, a library with English books, and something here for you in Tokyo when it comes to various play equipment stations. If you have yet to movies. Movies are usually screened in their original visit, make it a priority in this New Year season. languages, as Japanese audiences seem to prefer sub- Finally, not to forget the teens and tweens, there titles to dubbing. This means that all Western mov- is an abundance of great cinemas dotted liberally ies are screened in English, and while ticket prices all over Tokyo. Movies usually show a little later in (around ¥1,800) may seem higher than at home, the Japan (compared to the US) but some blockbusters state of the art sound, have been known screen size and clean- to have their world liness more than premieres right makes up for this. here in Tokyo. Ja- For the newborn pan has its own mums and dads there ratings system to Child’s Play is highly regarded as an excellent are two fabulous op- classify movies for starting point for your child’s education. It is a tions that ensure you adult themes and never miss out on the violence, but if you school where the children enjoy playing and latest blockbusters de- like you can check discover that learning is fun. They develop socially, spite having just given foreign ratings on- physically, emotionally, and psychologically through birth. Besides, going line by looking up our relaxed but well-prepared programme. We to the movies can be the movie’s web- strongly believe that children learn through play, and a great date with your site. Mature teens we are happy to play a role in helping them enjoy partner as well as a should be able to and develop. We are confident that all parents are great way to return to attend their near- the normalcy of life est theater along very pleased sending their children to Child's Play. after giving birth. with friends with- If you can’t stand out parental super- For Children Aged 1 1/2 to 4 Years to leave your baby but vision. For tweens, would still like to see a a good idea is to go 18-8 MOTOYOYOGI SHIBUYAKU TOKYO 151-0062 movie, then Roppongi along with them, TEL. 03-3460-8841 FAX. 03-5709-0552 Hills’ ‘Mama’s Club buy the tickets and http://childs-play.org istockphoto.com Theatre’ is for you. © wait in a nearby Specially dimmed coffee shop or do lighting, lowered Enjoy the movies with your children—no matter their age. some nearby shop- movie volume, child ping before picking seats and stroller stor- them up when the age are all on hand to make the experience suitable movie ends. The great thing about Japanese movies for newborns right up to toddler and preschool age. tickets is that they specify the exact times the mov- (There is no restriction on the child’s age but please ie starts and ends, so you can be sure to be there bear in mind that the movies are mostly aimed at an when they pour out of the cinema. adult audience.) Also, be prepared for many other A final tip: Nearly all major movie stars visit Ja- mums and kids to be at the screening; thus, you can pan at one time or another when their movies pre- expect a lot of noise and activity. Breast-feeding is miere. They usually have a public red carpet walk in welcome, bringing your child’s food into the theater the Roppongi Hills cinema complex, where fans can complex is allowed and baby-changing facilities are get a glimpse of their favorite stars. Keeping abreast of available. You can check the current screening sched- when movies are premiering and contacting the rel- ule at the website below. evant movie companies may help you find out when If you are ready to leave the baby or child for a and where the stars will be doing public appearances. short time and watch the movie in peace and quiet, then Odaiba’s Mediage is the theater for you. There Happy star chasing! is a Poppins Babysitting Centre—a well-known babysitting chain with a very high standard of service– located in the shopping and movie complex. The For More Information... hourly rate starts at ¥1,600 and the center accepts infants to school age children. Poppins is open from Roppongi Hills TOHO Cinemas. Roppongi 6-10-2, 10am until 8pm, leaving enough time for you to see Minato-ku, Tokyo. In the Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka a movie at the state-of-the-art cinema and then fit Complex, facing the Mori Tower, a few minutes’ walk in some shopping or a meal afterwards. Going to from the Hibiya line Roppongi station. (03) 5775-6090. Odaiba can be a fun day out for the whole family, (Please call and ask about “Mama’s Club Theater” as the area also has a huge Toys-R-Us store, a ship showings.) http://www.tohotheater.jp/mamas_club_ museum and a science exhibition by Sony. theater/index.html Sitting through a whole movie can be a daunt- ing task, if you’re with a toddler. A good option for Poppins Babysitting Service in Odaiba. 1-7-1 Daiba, Mi- you is to take a trip to the National Children’s Hall nato-ku. A one-minute walk from Yurikamome Daiba (Jidokan) located a short stroll from Shibuya station. station, and a six-minute walk from the Rinkai Tokyo Entry is free and there is a small movie theater for Teleport station. http://www.aquacity.co.jp/en/service/ kids and parents on the third floor, right near the child.html babies’ play area. Movies are played hourly and are usually some kind of Japanese animation, like the Shibuya Children’s Hall. 1-18-24 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku. mega-popular Anpanman. You can come and go as Take the Yamanote, Shin-Tamagawa, Hanzomon (exit you please during the screening, if your toddler is 12), Toyoko or Ginza line to Shibuya station. It is a not interested in watching the movie. This is also seven-minute walk from the station. (03) 3409-6361. great for the older brothers and sisters as all children http://www.fukushihoken.metro.tokyo.jp/jidou/ and parents are welcome to attend the screening, English/index.html

Jan. 04 – 17 2008 Vol. 39 No. 01 13 SPORTS

The A-Z of Watching Live Sumo By Carolyn Todd, Editor of www.sumofanmag.com

umo—two fats guys bashing bellies, Sright? Not exactly. Sumo combines the sober religious traditions of Japan with a soap opera of heroes, villians, in- trigue, and scandal. Sumo wrestlers live cocooned from reality, their unique life- styles alien not just to those from overseas, but also to the Japanese, although behind the yukata and mage hairstyle they’re just regular youngsters with kei- tai and iPods—and an unusual job. Getting to see a sumo tournament is not as difficult as you might imagine. There are six tournaments a year: January, May, September (Tokyo), March (Osaka),

July (Nagoya) and November (Fukuoka) Photo courtesy of Carolyn Todd (www.sumo.or.jp/eng/ticket/honbasho_ joho/index.html). Each tournament Asashoryu in action. lasts 15 days and runs from 8.30am to 6pm. There are six divisions: the two top divisions, al swords and bright kesho mawashi ceremonial aprons, juryo and makunouchi, start at 3pm and include the which might be entertaining. ‘famous’ wrestlers. Kids three years old and under are admitted free The upcoming tournament in Tokyo runs from and, if you buy general admission tickets, they cost Jan. 13–27 and advance tickets are on sale now at the only ¥200 for kids up to 15 years old; otherwise, for Kokugikan box office (Ryogoku station, Sumida-ku) advance tickets, prices are the same as for adults. and many outlets (see www.sumo.or.jp/eng/ticket/ As for when you should go, any day is good. In the tokyo.html for details). second week, the tension starts rising as we close in There are various ticket types: on the first floor, ring- on the tournament champion, and wrestlers fight for side seats are individual floor cushions (¥14,700), but promotion, but every day is exciting. they’re extremely hard to get if you’re not first in line for A tournament day starts at 8.30am with the low- tickets; masu seki start a little further back and are usually est ranked wrestlers. When you arrive you’ll be given boxes of four floor cushions (¥36,800–¥45,200/box). (A a booklet in English about the basics of sumo, as well word of warning: if you’re bigger than a regular Japanese as a schedule of the day’s matches for the top two divi- person, trust me, you don’t want to squeeze four people sions. You’ll then be escorted to your seat, although into a box unless you have a penchant for DVT.) The sec- early in the day there are few spectators so it’s a good ond floor has regular seats (¥3,600–¥8,200 each), which time to go and sit right down at the front. You won’t be are great if you’re on your own, don’t want to be squashed moved until the owner of the seat arrives, but be care- into a box or want a cheaper experience. ful not to get in the way or disturb the wrestlers and Weekends are obviously the busiest, especially the judges with talking or cell phones. final weekend, which often sells out during the first Many people only come for the higher ranks at few days of ticket sales. Once the tournament starts, 3pm because they’re more colorful and dramatic, you can usually still get tickets at the box office, even but you miss out on a lot of the atmosphere if you International for the final day, although for that you’ll have to queue come so late. Also, the higher-ranked wrestlers start from very early. If you go early enough on any day, arriving at 12 or 1pm so maybe you can meet them Tennis School you can buy general admission tickets (¥2,100), which in the corridor for a lucky handshake. The best time give you a seat in the back row (same day sales only). for a photo with your favorite is when they’re about Don’t worry too much about where you’re sitting; all to leave the venue; they’re much more likely to stop the seats have a good view, and you can walk around as than before their match. much as you like. If you want the same view you get on And don’t think that you’re stuck in your seat Fall Sessions TV, ask for shomen seats; there’s a seating map so you once you arrive. You can move around, eat some can point out your preferred area. chanko nabe, buy snacks and souvenirs, even leave the KITS offers professional tennis instruction for all levels, Kids are always welcome, although they can’t revenue completely once during the day if you get your ally run around and play, so if they’re likely to get ticket stamped at the door. taught in English by certified United States bored, maybe they should stay at home. Saying that, In January, the wrestler to watch out for is un- Professional Tennis Association coaches most kids are transfixed by the action. If they do get doubtedly Asashoryu, one of the top-ranked Yokozuna bored, there are snacks and TV monitors in the hallway who you’ve probably seen on the news being suspend- to keep watching the action while they let off some ed for various transgressions. This will be his comeback steam. In Tokyo, there’s also a museum with ceremoni- tournament and, for that reason alone, you should get your tickets early as everyone will want to see him. Carolyn Todd lives in Kyoto and is Editor of Sumo Fan Magazine (www.sumofanmag.com), Also, the very popular Bulgarian, Kotooshu, is fac- *Fall Sessions Start September a bimonthly online magazine presented in four languages ‘by ing demotion if he doesn’t get a tournament result the fans, for the fans’. The staff are based in eight different of at least 8-7. This is the first time he’s been in this countries and have many different backgrounds and sumo in- position so it’ll be interesting to see how hard he can terests, but volunteer their time to bring sumo knowledge to fight to retain his rank. non-Japanese-speaking fans. If you need sumo info. contact My own favorite is a Mongolian, Ama, who is Carolyn at [email protected]. highly regarded for his speed, fighting spirit, and- te Useful sumo links nacity. He’s aiming to move even further up the ranks TEL. 03-3325-0924 http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ Sumo Association: English and so he’ll be going all out. FAX: 03-3325-0924 Japanese information about tournament and tour dates, buying As for the Japanese, veteran Chiyotaikai was close tickets, daily matches, streaming video of tournaments, rank- to winning the last tournament until he was injured; EMAIL: [email protected] ings, beginner’s guide, who’s who. look out for his thrusting tsuppari. A day at the sumo www.sumoforum.net/forums/index.php?act=idx Sumo URL: http://www.krissmantennis.com is a great family day out, but beware, it’s addictive; I Forum: Anything you want to know about sumo, you’ll find it here. went once just for the experience, and now I edit a sumo magazine! 14 | Weekender PARTYLINE WITH BILL HERSEY

Beautiful Ballet to Help AIDS Orphans

Hilton Tokyo’s G.M. Christian Baudat, with Stuttgart Ballet’s Sue Jin Kang (Korea). the ballet’s patron Francoise Morechand. Austrian Opera Ballet’s Lynne R. Charles.

One of Lynne’s principal helpers Barbara Japanese ballerina Shoko Nakamura, of the Levene with Cuban dancer Jose Carreno, Berlin ballet. of the American Ballet Theater. Austrian Opera Ballet’s Gregor Hatala.

Lebanese Ambassador Mohamad El-Harake, Asami, Lydia Carriedo Stuttgart Ballet’s Alexander “Sasha” Zaitsen, Bill Hersey and Italian (Spain), Bangladeshi Ambassador Ashrat-ud-Doula and his wife prima ballerina Mara Galeazzi. Jasmine.

Ukrainian Independence Day Celebration

Latvian Ambassador Peters Vaivars and his wife Rina, with German Azerbaijani Ambassador Azer Husseyn, his wife Narqiz and their Minister Bernd Fischer and his wife Jutta. son Adran.

Japan Resources Import President Tohkai, Ukraine Counselor Vadym Sydiachenko, Ukraine Ambassador Mykola Kulinich, his Croatian Ambassador Drago Stambuck with Ukrainian Ambassa- wife Olena and Dr. Eugene Aksenof. dor Mykola Kulinich

t is, as I’m sure you know, our first issue of the New Another superstar Nicolas Cage and super producer IYear. I’d like to start out by saying that I hope you Jerry Bruckheimer were here for Walt Disney Studios Ja- and yours had a wonderful Christmas and a great pan to promote National Treasure: A Book of Secrets. As you New Year. I also hope that 2008, the Year of the Rat, can imagine, they had a very busy schedule as well. will be a good year for everyone. There were lots of National Day celebrations As for me, I took off for Hawaii on Dec. 16. After in December, including those of the United Arab ten laid-back days there I headed back to Tokyo to pre- Emirates, Thailand, Bahrain and Qatar. Big holiday pare and then emcee the New Year’s party at the New happenings included U.S. Ambassador Thomas and Lex. I then took it easy while the traditional Japanese Susanne Schieffer’s annual Christmas party, Pirelli New Year’s celebrations took place. Tires and Christian Dior holiday events and The Pe- The last few weeks have been super busy for me, with ninsula Hotel’s official opening party. a wide variety of happenings and all kinds of interesting Going on my travels meant missing some very people visiting Tokyo. In the entertainment scene, I loved important events. Thus, I couldn’t be here for Qatar the concert by the Indian Ocean Fusion band, which was Ambassador Reyad Ali Al-Ansari and his wife Muna’s part of the Festival of India. Now I’m spending a lot of my National Day celebration at The New Otani on Dec. 17. playtime listening to their mellow CDs. The Ambassador, who is also Dean of the Arab Corps, Once again Min-on brought the truly amazing and his wife Muna are a very popular couple, so I’m China National Acrobatic Troupe back to Japan. With sure that their reception was something special. nearly two hours of unbelievable acrobatics, juggling As one of the many special events to celebrate and contortions, these really nice, very talented people the fifty years of diplomatic relations between Ma- gave the audience a preview of some of the spectacular laysia and Japan, on Dec. 18 Malaysian Ambassa- things we’ll see in Beijing during the 2008 Olympics. dor H.E. Dato Mohd Radzi Abdul Rahman and his The audience wildly applauded after every act. wife Datin Tazliza hosted the opening ceremony of Jan. 04 – 17 2008 Vol. 39 No. 01 15 Fine Custom Taileors PARTYLINE WITH BILL HERSEY Vijay Wadhwani Dec. 13-15, 2007 18th Anniversary of the German Reunification Hotel New Otani Tokyo make appointment at... www.noblehouse.us [email protected]

Thyssen Krupp Representative Rainund Spanish Ambassador Miguel Carrieda and Frese and his wife Lena, with German Minis- his wife Lydia, the hostess Alexa Daerr, and ter Bernd Fischer, German Assistant attaché Jutta Fischer with Atsuko Kume. Lilo and Mitsuo Maruyama. Jorg Heintze and Valerie Weiss.

German First Secretary Dr. Adrian Nitsche Ceramic artist Gerd Knapper, journalist The host, German Ambassador Hans- Koichiand, Daniele Yoshikoshi, with Moroc- Gebhard Hielscher, Kieko Knapper and the Joachim Daerr and visiting Minister of the can Ambassador Abdelkader Lecheheb. Knapper’s daughter Ute. Federal State of Sachsen, Georg Milbradt.

Colorful Celebration: The Malaysian National Day

The hosting couple Malaysian Ambassa- Malaysian dermatologist Dr. Chin Huai Keong dor Dato Mohd Radzi, and his wife Datin of the International Clinic, and her husband Boontipa Simaskul (Thailand) with Nguyen Tazliza Dr. Hang Chuah Keong Thi Phuong Dung (Vietnam)

Laotian Ambassador Sithong Shitnhothinh and his wife Ammala Croatian Ambassador Drago Stambuk, Pakistani Ambassador Kamran with Vietnamese Ambassador Tuan Cap Chu and his wife Nguyen Niaz and his wife Nuzhat. Thi Phuong Dung. a photo exhibition as well as a buffet luncheon at buy the Heinrich Schutz Choir and a mandolin concert their beautiful residence. by Anne Wolfe. Food that evening included many deli- I’d like to start out the New Year with something cacies prepared by Michelin Star Chef Mario Pattis and beautiful, and the very worthwhile project Dance the Dresden Christmas Stollen Association. 4 AIDS Orphans Africa, organized by ballet dancer/ I saw many of the students I know from the German teacher Lynne R. Charles, was certainly that. Lynne School helping that evening. “This is supposed to be a used her international connections and many friend- holiday and we’re working,” one of them jokingly told ships to bring some of the world’s leading dancers here me. It didn’t seem to be a problem, though, as it was ob- to participate in this charity gala. It was an evening vious that he and the other students were enjoying the of first-class entertainment—East met West in a well- spectacular evening as much as the many guests there. balanced program of classic and contemporary dance I had the privilege of knowing Ukrainian Ambas- at it’s best. It was a lot of hard work for a needy and sador Mykola Kulinich and his wife Olena when they worthwhile cause. Kudos to Lynne, the dancers, and were in Japan years ago. It was really nice to see them the people who supported her. Hopefully, she’ll be able again at The New Otani Hotel on Sept. 18, to celebrate to do it again this year, with even more people who both the 16th anniversary of Ukrainian independence could and should get involved. and 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Ja- German Ambassador Hans-Joachim Daerr and his pan. It was a laid-back evening of interesting people, wife Alexa threw a truly monumental happening to cel- delicious Ukrainian food and warm ambience. ebrate the 18th anniversary of German reunification. On Sep. 4 Malaysian Ambassador Dato and his wife Guests entered through the chancery and proceeded up Datin Jazlisa hosted an exciting, colorful gala evening at the hill to the beautiful home and garden. Interesting, The New Otani. The celebration was two-fold—to celebrate informative exhibitions of German products ranging Malaysia’s 50th anniversary of independence, as well as from cars and sporting goods to food was set up eve- their 50 years of diplomatic relations with Japan. 2007 was rywhere. The garden—with its teahouse, temple, stone “Visit Malaysia Year” and, in addition to the country’s al- lanterns and huge bell—was tastefully illuminated, and ways-full schedule of festivals, sporting and cultural events, there were tents and booths set up to serve delicious there were many special 50th anniversary happenings. German culinary favorites. I loved the German breads, For the party, the Malaysian Tourism Board and and the variety that evening was endless. Malaysian Airlines flew in a group of traditional Special guests that evening included Minister of dancers from Sabah. There were also several Malay- the Free State of Saxony Georg Milbradt and his wife sian chefs who prepared Malaysian cuisine includ- Angelika as well as three-time Olympic Champion in ing squid curry, rending (spicy beef) and Malaysian Ski-Jumping Jens Weibflog. desserts for the buffet. The program included singing of the Japanese and At the end of the evening, the staff of the Embassy German national anthems, as well as German folksongs surprised Mohd and Tazliza with a huge birthday cake. 16 | Weekender PARTYLINE WITH BILL HERSEY Segafredo Zanetti Espresso www.segafredo.jp www.segafredo.it

The friendly staff at Segafredo’s, Hideaki Chilean Ambassador Daniel Carvallo, his Suda, Daisuke Noguchi, Sayaka Iijima, and wife Jacquie and their lovely daughters Ayaka Ueda pose with Joe Sweeney of the Panamanian Ambassador Alfredo Martiz Florencia (8) and Antonia (6). U.S. Embassy. Fuentes and his wife Carla Marotta.

In and Around

Legendary baseball player Wally Yonimone and his wife Jane (Yonimone Pearls), with Owner of Piadina Café Italian restaurant Art dealer Stefano Castelli and fashion guru noted author Robert Whiting (Tokyo Under- Giorgio Matera, his wife Teresa, and their Francoise Morechand at the beautiful new world) and his wife. children Riana and Sebi. Bvlgari building opening on Omotesando.

Schieffers Introduce New Staff at the American Embassy

From St. Mary’s International School, High School Principal Saburo Kagei and teachers Steve Wilson and Susan Wilson, with the hosting couple Ambassador Thomas and Susanne Schieffer; Seisen International School’s Montessori School of Tokyo Principal Pete Juds, North Carolina Invest- Carmelita Nussbaum (Elementary School Principal), Seisen’s Sheila ment Representative to Japan Leland Gaskins, Nishimachi School Head- O’Donaghue (Kindergarten principal) and Ninnette Trout (Admissions). master Terry Christian, and Oak Associates partner Carolyn Gaskins.

Hideko Kudaka of The Daily Yomiuri, U.S. A VARIETY OF ACCOMODATIONS AT GOOD LOCATIONS IN TOKYO Assistant Press Attaché Lori A. Shoemak- U.S. Residence Manager Alan R. Royston U.S. Assistant Press Attaché Frank W. er, Pastor Barry P. Dawson (Tokyo Union and Assistant Manager Kathy Wilson. Stanley with his wife Setsuko. Church) and his wife Shelly.

The couple had just celebrated both of their birthdays. order of the Rising Sun on Nov. 20. Glad I was able to get over to the U.S. Embassy for In the last year or so, there were a lot of changes made Ambassador Thomas and Susanne Schieffer’s reception among the big film distributors here. Major happenings to meet the new embassy staff members and their wives. included William Ireton’s promotion to President and It was, as expected, an evening of interesting people, de- Representative Director of Warner Brothers Entertainment licious food and the Schieffer’s great Texas-style hospi- Japan. Since his promotion he’s enlarged and upgraded tality. I had the opportunity to meet the principals and the WB offices here. Over at Sony, Senior Vice President of URL: www.japt.co.jp Mast Life Meguro Minami 702 teachers of many international schools, and I enjoyed Film Distribution Dick Sano and his staff are very happy Email: [email protected] 3-5-17 Nishi-Gotanda getting to know them all. It was also nice to see long- in their new offices at Toranomon Towers. Toho-Towa Tel: 03-5437-5233 Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0031 time friend Kathy Wilson who I got to know when she President Hisanori Hiranuma and Managing Director was working at the Irish embassy. Kathy is now Assist- Hiro Matsuoka signed a contract with Universal to dis- ant Residence Manager at the U.S. Embassy Residence. tribute their films here in Japan. It was also nice to see former Tokyoite Jose Luiz United International Pictures has, like in other Viana de Cunha when he dropped by the New Lex re- countries, closed their offices here in Japan. I would like cently. Luiz headed Varig Airlines operations here for to wish UIP all the best in their future endeavors. several years. He’s now living in Brasilia where he’s Di- In other news, Paramount Pictures Japan has just rector of Leisure and Incentive Tourism. More on this opened their new offices. Some of my good friends there interesting guy to follow later. include Ichiro Okazaki, who left his job as Vice President I’d like to offer my congratulations to Glenn L. of Sales at Buena Vista International to be the President Boothe, whose son Robert recently signed on to play with of Paramount, and UIP’s Marketing Director Hisamichi the L.A. Dodgers. I’m sure you’ll be hearing a lot about Kinomoto, formerly the Marketing Director of UIP, who him in the future. (I’ll have a photo in the next column.) will be Head of Marketing for Paramount. Hideo Suzuki, Congratulations as well to Simone Ugolini, who head of Buena Vista Japan has been super busy as well. has spent three years in Japan as General Manager of In addition to completely renovating their offices, they’ve Valentino Japan Ltd. Simone’s now in Milan for a new changed the name of their company to Walt Disney Stu- and challenging assignment at Valentino Global Head- dio Pictures Japan. As many of you know, Gaga Commu- quarters. We’ll miss him here in Tokyo and wish him nications joined Usen and they now have beautiful offices all the best back home. high in the sky in Midtown Tower. There have been a lot Congratulations to Dr. Hans J.A. van Ginkel, of changes at Twentieth Century Fox as well. Jesse Lee, professor and former rector of the United Nations who did a super job in Seoul for the company is now University who received the Grand Cordon of the General Manager of their offices here. Jan. 04 – 17 2008 Vol. 39 No. 01 17 THE ARTS BY OWEN SCHAEFER

The Hara show contains works from the grand to the miniature. On the large side is Das Zimmer (The Room), a work consisting of an oversized sofa, chair and lamp, complete with a mammoth remote control and 15 working channel buttons. Viewers are invited to take off their shoes and clamber like children into the chairs, where they are free to watch a selection of Rist’s video works displayed on a modestly sized television. On a much smaller scale (but no less captivating) is Selfless in the Bath of Lava, a coin-sized screen recessed per- Suji’s Restraunt & Bar fectly into a hole in the gallery’s wooden floor. Looking down, we watch a distant image of Rist herself, standing Offering All Your naked against the backdrop of a lava flow, sometimes Das Zimmer; AV installation view at the Hara Museum of Contempo- writhing with pain, sometimes appealing to the viewer Favorites from Home rary Art, Tokyo.

Photo courtesy of Hirotaka Yonekura for help. The image is neither gory nor particularly realis- edia ‘watchdoggery’ is so pervasive in film and tic, but the bond it forges with the viewer is palpable, as is Mon television that the sight of a shocking im- the sense of helplessness and distance it creates. age on video can involuntarily lead the viewer to Ever is Over All, on loan from New York’s MOMA, Brunch ask, “Can you show that?” For the more critically depicts a decidedly feminine young woman walking minded, it begs the question “Why not?” down the street, joyfully shattering car windows with a The latter is one of many questions that Swiss-born suspiciously heavy flower. Then, in I Couldn’t Agree With artist Pipilotti Rist raises in her work. As a result, her solo You More another young woman stares deeply into the exhibition at the Hara Museum entitled Karakara is not al- camera—and consequently into the viewer’s eyes—as she ways a show for the squeamish, since the sometime-con- strolls through buses and supermarkets, with tiny images troversial side of Rist’s work focuses on sexuality and the of naked people frolicking across her face. human body. Rist dives into taboos without flinching (al- Less risqué but still highly mesmerizing is À la belle though the same can’t always be said for her audiences): étoile (Under the Sky), Rist’s newest work. For this in- bloody mouths, extreme close-ups of the body, and even stallation, the video is projected onto the floor of the medical endoscopic images have found their way into her room, and viewers are asked to stand on it as they videos, often juxtaposed against forests, landscapes, fruit watch. It will take a few moments for your eyes to ad- Lunch and simple scenes of the everyday. just to the scale of the images, but once they do the But Rist does not film these things merely for their effect becomes mesmerizing and almost disorienting shock value; even the most startling of her images are as you tumble through space, fly off the edges of build- often playful—guileless rather than gory, euphoric ings and be swallowed whole by human faces. While rather than erotic. Yet almost all of her works battle it may lack the edgier elements of some other works, it against what Rist considers ‘dogmatic ways’ of see- has a roller-coaster giddiness that’s hard to forget. ing the world. There are strong political and feminist Pipilotti Rist: Karakara (to Feb. 11) Hara Museum of themes here, to be sure, but there is also an abound- Contemporary Art. Shinagawa Station. ¥1,000. 11am– ing, organic love of the human animal, with a dollop 5pm (Wed. until 8pm Closed Mon.) Tel. 03-3445- of beauty to top it all off. 0651. www.haramuseum.or.jp CROSSWORD #18 Dinner Across 1. see 8 down Down D 4. Forrest Gump star 1. making a movie (8) (3,5) 2. got on tape (8) 9. black magic (6) 3. her in Paris (4) 10. short latest info film 5. too disapproving (8) (12) 12. make sleepy (4) 6. quiet (4) 13. cartoon kiss sound (5) 7. annoy (6) 14. x-rated film color (4) 8. + 1. Down. Motion 17. no where nearly done pictures nickname Brunch - Sat & Sun - 9 AM to 4 PM (2,3,2,5) (6-6) Lunch - Mon thru Fri - 11 AM to 4 PM 20. supplying of movies 11. 60 or 120 secs (12) (1,6,2,3) Dinner - Every day - 6 PM (last order at 10 PM) 23. film slices (4) 15. wing it speech (2-3) 24. Historic Hollywood 16. yell (5) Open late everyday! theater (5) 18. actors’ boss (8) 25. puppy cry (4) 19. met a muse? (8) 28. hams it up (8) 21. thespians (6) 29. film cutter (6) 22. go to (6) 30. stall at a fair (8) 26. over actors (4) 31. --- Hitchcock. Thriller 27. loved Hollywood * Please look for crossword answers in our next issue of Weekender. maker (6) icon (4)

WEEKENDER PICK-UP POINTS

Akasaka Akasaka Excel Samrat Azabudai Essensuals, Nissan Dubliners Toranomon, Fujimama’s Roppongi Club, Tokyo Midtown Tokyo, Samrat, Dubliners, Hotel Tokyu, Akasaka H&R Consultants Hanzomon British Hotel Okura, Town Cryer Allied Pickfords, Aoyama Clinic, Tokyo Skin Clinic, Tower Records International Clinic, /ReloJapan, Suji’s, Tokyo Embassy Hiroo Meguro Party Palace, Book Center, Azabu Dai- Va Tout, Volvo, Wolfgang Takanawa Samrat Akasaka Prince Hotel, Lease Corporation Across Travel, Kato Minami Azabu Hiroo ichi Mansions, Bernd’s Puck, Zest Setagaya Tennoz TY Harbor Akasaka Tameike Tower Azabujuban Magellan, Gallery Frame Store, Intl. Clinic, Karl Che, Bar, Bourbon Street, Sakura Int’l school, Seta Brewery Uchisaiwaicho Residence, Aoyama Nissin World Delicatessen, Meidiya, National Azabu Work Out World Mita Dance Studio, Devi International Preschool Imperial Hotel Daiichi Mansions, Oakwood Residences, Supermarket, Samrat, Australian Embassy, Fusion, Grand Hyatt, Shibakoen Tokyo Gifted Yokohama St Maur Austrian National Tourist Paris Miki, Temple Segafredo, Tokyo Lawn English Studio, Mutti Hotel Ibis, International Academy & Rivendale, International School, Office, Aux Bacchanales University, UFJ Bank Tennis Club Jingumae Moto-Azabu Global Kids Clinic, Nakashima Tokyo Surgical & Medical Yokohama Country Akasaka, Canadian Chofu American School Boudoir, Gold’s Gym, Sin Academy, Gymboree, Dentist, Oakwood Clinic, Shibaura and Athletic Club Embassy Library, City in Japan Ebisu Good Den, The King Clinic Nishimachi Int’l School Roppongi T-Cube, Paddy Japan Times Shibuya Yoyogiuehara Child`s Club of Tokyo, Hotel Day Books, Happy Days, Kamiyacho 911 (Mad Nishishinbashi Town Foley’s, Roppongi Hills British School Tokyo, No1 Play Yurakucho New Otani, Moti My Lebanon, Samrat, Mulligans), American Cryer Nishi Azabu Club, Roppongi Hills Travel, Tower Records, Press Club outside of Akasaka, Ritz Carlton, Segafredo, The Footnik, Chamber of Commerce in Nottinghill Cakes, PAL Residence C, Roppongi Shimbashi Tokyo Nagoya Lease Phone - 03-3505-4490 US Embassy Aoyama The Westin, Va Tout, Japan, Asian Tigers, Atago International School, Hills Residence D, Roti, Irish Times Shinjuku Japan Ibaraki Windsor TELL, Virgin Atlantic What the Dickens Green Hills Residence, Pheres, Samrat Roy’s, Samrat, Santa Fe, Hilton Tokyo, Live In Asia, Park Golf & Country Club URL - http://www.sujis.nett Airways Ltd. , Kinokuniya, Ginza Ash Hair- Dubliners Shinagawa, Omotesando Beacon, Tipness, Tokyo American No.1 Travel, Park Hyatt Chiba BMW

18 | Weekender www.JapanHomeSearch.com

Your home search starts and finishes here! Search for your dream home on our comprehensive online database Hundreds of oor plans and photos available online Contact us for an accompanied tour today

www.JapanHomeSearch.com

Jan. 04 – 17 2008 Vol. 39 No. 01 19