tokyo DECEMBER 2011
weekenderJapan’s premier English language magazine Since 1970
ROUGH INSIDE: 2011 IN PICTURES YEAR? LUXURY GIFTS SAYONARA A STYLISH NEW YEAR 2011!
LOOKING BACK/FORWARD CHRISTMAS HAKUBA Business leaders share their Your guide to a very merry Get ready for the slopes and thoughts on 2011 & 2012 Christmas in Tokyo book your ski trip
Also: Brangelina in Tokyo, Fired banker speaks out, NYE champagne, Hit the ice in Midtown, Agenda, Party pictures and much more...
Tokyo Weekender_CH6_DV6_JP.indd 1 9/28/11 2:49 PM DECEMBER, 2011 CONTENTS 24
PLUS! CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR AGENDA CHRISTMAS IN JAPAN P48 Staying in Tokyo? We can help you have
an authentic Christmas in the city. 11 40 14
A YEAR IN PICTURES HAKUBA LOOKING BACK/FORWARD Join us in saying sayonara to 2011 Get ready for the ski season with our Business leaders share their thoughts
with our year-end review. guide to Japan’s most popular resort. on 2011 & 2012.
08 Annus Horribilis 20 Freescale Japan 32 People, Parties, Places Ian de Stains looks back at 2011. The coming ‘silicon boom’ will change the Bill Hersey meets Brangelina and world says a gaijin company president. parties with F1 superstars. 17 Through the Wire We take a look at some of the headlines 22 Gift Guide 39 Hit the Ice that will shape the news in 2012 with a Need last minute Christmas gift ideas? Tokyo Midtown’s Ice Rink reopens little help from Asia Daily Wire. We’ve got all bases covered. for 2012.
18 Moving on Up 27 Be Savvy about Bubbly 47 O-Shogatsu A fired banker talks about being let go One of Tokyo’s top sommeliers talks Our man takes a look at New Year and the future of finance in Tokyo. bubbly ahead of New Years Eve. traditions in Japan. weekendertokyo Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! December 2011
Publisher Ray Pedersen Editor-in-Chief Pia von Waldau Editor Stephen Parker Art Director Liam Ramshaw Advertising Sales Director Tomas Castro Media Consultants Mary Rudow, Nick Nakazawa Vika Maslyuk Editorial Associates Chris Jones, Benjamin Freeland, Garrett DeOrio, Ayako Fujiwara, Vivian Morelli
Executive Advisor Hiro M. Ishibashi HMI & Associates Inc
Contributing Editors
Society Bill Hersey Opinion Ian de Stains OBE
Cover Photograph Lenny-Baptiste Conil (www.LennyConil.fr) Cover Model Cesar de Sainte Maresville Additional Photography Mami Tanabe, Misha Janette
IT Manager Nick Adams System Development Stephane Boudoux, Zia Ur-Rahman The Grinch Asi Rinestine
EST. Corky Alexander and Susan Scully, 1970
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DECEMBER 2011 www.tokyoweekender.com Discover the city and beyond
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[email protected] saigon.newworldhotels.com 8 OPINION IAN DE STAINS
At the Haunted End of the Year by Ian de Stains OBE
By what witchcraft I know not, we are see- It is entirely reasonable and understandable There are many who will argue that nuclear ing the winding down of another year. The that such people will look to the end of their energy can never be safe and that Fukushima— evenings grow darker ever earlier, leaving us annus horribilis as a chance to embrace what like Chernobyl and Three Mile Island before to ponder why it is that each twelfth month the future might bring. For those of us who it—is ample proof of that. However in a world seems to fly even faster than the one before. were more fortunate and less affected, it is where the demand for energy is rising faster We go through annual routines dictated by perhaps a moment for serious reflection: on than the natural means to meet such demand, the calendar and wonder why it feels like why we were spared the suffering visited the idea of abandoning the nuclear option is by only yesterday that we last considered them on others; on what we might do to alleviate no means a done deal. executed. To have a birthday in December is perhaps to feel this more acutely than most, Nor, let it be said, are any of the options being since each year-end tips the scale a little less “I seem to remember put forward by the IMF and the ECB to resolve in our favor. Of course, all birthdays have the the increasingly complex problems in the same impact, but a December birthday has asking much the same eurozone. It is not a far stretch to link the two about it a singular air. question in a column last because a meltdown of the euro would have catastrophic consequences far beyond Europe. The year end is a time, of course, for taking December. Or was it just There is no provision in the European Treaty stock; for giving thanks for our many bless- yesterday?” for a country to leave the euro; once you’re in, ings and—in the Japanese way of things—let- you’re caught up in the mechanism (as Greece ting go, bonenkai-style, of things that we’d has recently found). So here again, the year end rather simply put behind us. begs a question: where are we going economi- that suffering; on the courage of the count- cally? I seem to remember asking much the No-one who was around at the time is likely to less volunteers who’ve worked so tirelessly same question in a column last December. Or forget March 11th, especially those who were to help the no-less courageous survivors. Not was it just yesterday? closest to the epicenter of the earthquake; forgetting, of course, those individuals who Ian de Stains OBE is the author of “The Busi- those who experienced the wrath of the are daily risking their lives working to make ness Travellers’ Handbook to Japan” published tsunami; those who suffered the devastating the damaged reactors safe again. by Stacey International in the UK and avail- consequences of the nuclear failures. able from Amazon.
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For further details, please visit our website or call (81-3) 5412 3131 or email us [email protected]. 10 WEEKENDER SAYONARA 2011 2011 IN PICTURES SEPTEMBER: Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan This evacuation centre is now almost empty, except for one volunteer who is still living here and some kids playing among the cardboard packs that have served to provide some privacy for the hundred-odd families who were living here. Now they have all moved into temporary homes.
DECEMBER 2011 www.tokyoweekender.com SAYONARA 2011 WEEKENDER 11 Photo: © Nobuyuki Kobayashi / JRCS / Kobayashi Nobuyuki © Photo:
www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER 2011 12 WEEKENDER SAYONARA 2011
DECEMBER 2011 www.tokyoweekender.com SAYONARA 2011 WEEKENDER 13 2011 IN PICTURES Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, Japan Two Japanese Red Cross volunteers walk near Rikuzentakata Junior high school. Much of the debris has been cleared, and roads are clearly seen. The Japanese government has begun reconstruction planning but some areas make take five years to rebuild. Photo: © Nobuyuki Kobayashi / JRCS / Kobayashi Nobuyuki © Photo:
www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER 2011 14 BUSINESS LOOKING BACK/FORWARD JAPANESE Red Cross Q&A Photo: Tokyo Weekender Tokyo Photo:
Satoshi Sugai, Director of The Great East Japan Earthquake Recovery Task Force, has worked for the Red Cross for 27 years. He served in the international department in Geneva and also worked in Afghanistan, North Korea, Kosovo, Rwanda, Pakistan and many other countries.
“Many people join the Red Cross to help out in poor countries, but after 3/11 we all realized that humanitarian work doesn’t mean we only work overseas, humanitarian needs affect Japan too.” he says.
To find out more or donate, visit: www.jrc.or.jp/english Photo: © Nobuyuki Kobayashi / JRCS / Kobayashi Nobuyuki © Photo:
DECEMBER 2011 www.tokyoweekender.com LOOKING BACK/FORWARD BUSINESS 15
apanese Red Cross played a pivotal societies worldwide we have received 53 Will the nuclear disaster make you change role during the triple disaster in billion yen (and counting). The money was the way you do things? March. In our summary of the year enough to run the program in an accountable We want to call all Red Cross societies to do Tokyo Weekender spoke with one of way for three years, of course more donations something more in case of nuclear accidents, the main actors in event that mostly means more money for survivors. as part of this we are coordinating with J defined 2011 for us. the government and TEPCO to decide what Are you still raising money? to do in the future. Fukushima is still very Tell us about your activities following 3/11? Yes, it is still coming in without us even asking concerning, we think we will have to monitor Our main activities are with our medical and we welcome even one yen more. There people’s health for 10-20 years. We have not teams; we have a network of 92 Red Cross are over 70,000 unemployed people and 70 made a conclusion yet. hospitals across Japan. From the first day percent of people living in prefabricated we dispatched medical teams from these houses have no jobs, so the money keeps them What is your main purpose in Japan? facilities to affected areas, so far we have sent going. Our mandate is to collect money inside Japan, 845 teams. They put up temporary clinics in to dispatch and train necessary medical staff evacuation centers or in parks if buildings How are people in Tohoku coping? when needed and to dispatch relief items such had been destroyed. Tohoku was made up of very tight as blankets, sleeping bags and blood. In other communities and many people struggle being countries, for example the Philippines, Haiti How long do your volunteers work in the surrounded by strangers. Also we learned and the U.S. the Red Cross run evacuation field? from the Great Hanshin earthquake, that in centers: in Japan we do not. The government Some work for just 2-3 days, some for months the worst case people could commit suicide. response system here is very different from but that includes loading trucks and collecting We try and bring people out to get to know other countries, if anything happens the Red funds, as well as help inside the disaster zone. each other, we organize simple things like Cross [abroad] try to accommodate people in tea ceremonies, massages or just a chat with pre-stocked tents. We don’t do this in Japan What are your main challenges in Japan people. We also bring doctors and nurses if because the national law states that local today? there are any health issues. buildings (school gyms, public halls) must Well, Japan is a “hyper aging” society, by next be strong enough to serve as earthquake year, 23 percent of people will be over 65 shelters. years of age and in the earthquake-affected areas, 65 percent of people are over 60 years “We developed a plan How many volunteers do you have in of age which poses a huge challenge. We Japan? also have geographic challenges in Japan: on in 2009, some of it Japanese Red Cross has a vast network average 26 typhoons hit each year, including worked and some was throughout Japan; we operate one three large ones. These can cause floods headquarters in Tokyo and one chapter in and landslides, like Typhoon Roke did (in irrelevant, this disaster each of the 47 prefectures. We have around September 2011). Obviously we also have two thousand groups, with over two million many earthquakes in Japan as well as 108 was just too big to members, including ‘active’ and ‘sleeping’ volcanoes. members. Most people don’t realize we also predict.” have specialized volunteers, such as radio How do you coordinate your work with the operators and pilots directly registered to our government? facilities. JRCS is a part of government’s national How are conditions now? disaster management structure, and Mr. I recently went to Otsuchi, in Iwate, where Are you still recruiting volunteers? Konoe (JRCS president) is part of top-level one third of all government workers and the Not specifically for Tohoku but we always committee who meets with the government. Mayor were killed. The current Mayor said welcome people to join. We particularly want We are called upon if any large-scale disaster everyone is now out of evacuation centers more young people to join, we have a lot of takes place. Besides JRCS there are many and living in prefabricated homes, which housewives as members, they are great at agencies and ministries and the main relief is good news. On the national level, the cooking the huge pots of food but we brought comes from the Japan Self Defense Forces. reconstruction planning has begun, the local in AKB48 for a special campaign to help us They have huge logistics capabilities, and are government is now asking people how to recruit more young people. essential to clear debris and rubble. rebuild the affected towns because they are the people who will live there. Even though What would you like to see change in the What did you do with all the money you there is movement, people are still feeling future? collected? down. It is understandably quite difficult to I would like to see better coordination inside We collect two types of money, individual be motivated to reconstruct a town that has the Red Cross and in general across all donations including embassy and corporate lost so many people. agencies and NGOs. donations, which are given to survivors in cash. The JRCS doesn’t take any money Did you have a plan for a disaster this size? The Japanese Red Cross Society are still for administration, 100 percent goes to the We had a contingency plan for the predicted collecting funds, to donate, please visit the survivors. With the money collected before Tokai earthquake (central-west Japan), not website: www.jrc.or.jp/english the disaster (by regular donations) we paid for the Tohoku region. We developed a plan for many, relief items including delivery of in 2009, some of it worked and some was over 132,000 blankets and 13,000 sleeping irrelevant, this disaster was just too big to mats during the emergency phase. Now, with predict. the donations received from Red Cross and SONGS FOR JAPAN Red Crescent Societies around the world we How long will you continue your work in are supporting people living in prefabricated Sendai? RAISES 10 MILLION! homes and one of the first things we did was Most of our reconstruction projects will to give survivors home appliances like fridges, continue for three years. The main part will Songs For Japan, the unique, star-studded TVs, microwaves and rice cookers. finish in March 2012, the next two years we album collection created to help raise money will concentrate on physical rehabilitation, for victims of Japan’s 2011 earthquake and How much did you collect after March 11? like hospital building. We plan to finish this tsunami disasters, continues to benefit the
So far we have received 300 billion yen to be phase by 2014. survivors through Japanese Red Cross Society, JRCS © Photo: distributed to survivors. From the 92 national read all about it at: www.tokyoweekender.com
www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER 2011 16 WEEKENDER SAYONARA 2011 3
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1,2. Japan gets angry about nuclear energy 3,6,9 Setsuden (power saving) blacks out Tokyo 4. A somber hanami across Japan 5, Reporters are finally allowed near the Fukushima nuclear plant 7. Hiroshima marks another nuclear tragedy at annual peace festival 8. The world prays for Japan 10 10. Ganbarro! Becomes a common phrase around the world DECEMBER 2011 www.tokyoweekender.com ASIA DAILY WIRE NEWS 17 THROUGH THE WIRE
Floating tourist bus to start Tokyo ewly launched Asia Daily Wire is your go-to place for all the latest news from across tours next fall the Asia Pacific region. Covering business, culture, entertainment, sports and breaking An amphibious tourist bus called the Sky Duck Nnews, Asia Daily Wire is updated round the clock in real time and picks and chooses the will give tourists the chance to tour Tokyo by best headlines from sources across Asia—doing all the hard work for you. Here is a roundup of road and river. (Asahi) some of the most interesting headlines of the past month... We say: bring on climate change!
Japan public debt could reach a Added momentum for TPP talks Hackers May Have Stolen IDs, PWs staggering Y1,056 trillion in March means more difficulties ahead for For All Japanese Lower House A senior official at Japan’s Ministry of Finance Japan Members predicted Monday that the country’s public Japan’s decision to join negotiations on the Hackers may have stolen login IDs and debt could reach Y1,056 trillion in March, Trans-Pacific Partnership has provided passwords for all Japanese House of suggesting it will become harder to keep momentum for other nations to follow suit. Representative lawmakers and their secretaries financing the huge national liabilities using This, in turn, has put greater pressure on and read e-mails to some of them, a lower domestic savings. (Dow Jones) Tokyo to respond to the requests of other house report said Monday. (Kyodo) Japan is sinking deeper in the sovereign negotiating nations. (Asahi) We hope they didn’t get their MIXI debt swamp! Lots of things good and bad being said log-ins too! about the looming TPP agreement, what Tokyo and Osaka securities is certain is that it will be a game changer Olympus Woes Are Ethical Problem exchanges agree on merger ratio for regional economies. At The Top: Keidanren Chairman A merger between Japan’s two largest The Japan Business Federation will consider securities exchanges moved a step closer, taking disciplinary action against Olympus with agreement on the relative value of their Sony Facing 4th Straight Year Of Corp. over the optical and medical equipment stocks. (Asahi) Net Losses maker’s decades-long effort to hide huge This makes things simpler doesn’t it? Sony will likely sustain a group net loss of investment losses, Chairman Hiromasa 90 billion yen for the fiscal year through Yonekura said at a news conference Tuesday in TEPCO: Fukushima plant close to March 2012 because of weak television Kanazawa. (Nikkei) cold shutdown state sales. (Nikkei) Sometimes it takes a Gaijin CEO to clean the Tokyo Electric Power Co. said cold shutdown Maybe Sony should develop a stable at a major Japanese corp. conditions have been achieved at the Walkman app for the iPhone! Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, and is Dalai Lama Meets Tokyo Lawmakers awaiting government confirmation on what Japan’s ruling and opposition lawmakers, would be a huge step toward ending the crisis. North Korea, Iran Biggest Nuke including Akihisa Nagashima, special adviser Finally, some good news from the nuclear Threats: Ex-U.S. Defense Chief to the premier for foreign and defense matters, plant in Fukushima The biggest challenge in fighting the met Monday with visiting Tibetan spiritual proliferation of nuclear weapons is to curtail leader the Dalai Lama, sources familiar with Big Three Banks Show Little Impact the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and the encounter said. (Kyodo) Of Debt Crisis Iran, said former U.S. Defense Secretary Oops! Somebody is about to get pissed off... Logging solid first-half earnings, Japan’s William Perry at the 8th CSIS/Nikkei three main banks appear unscathed so far Symposium, which opened Tuesday in Tokyo. from the European debt crisis that has been A reminder for Tokyoites that there are pummeling their Western peers. (Dow Jones) bigger nuclear threats than Fukushima. Well at least someone got off unscathed! For all the big news of 2012 updated live, visit: www.asiadailywire.com
www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER 2011 18 BUSINESS LOOKING BACK/FORWARD
How many other expats do you know who got the boot? By now…I would say over half of my friends in other institutions were laid off or moved overseas. In some companies, there was probably a 90% head count reduction.
Did you ever consider leaving Japan for good? Yes, I really thought about leaving, especially after seeing Singapore and Hong Kong recover so quickly. However, Japan is still a desirable place to live in terms of bringing up kids and safety. If you talk to any foreigner that has lived here, once you get past the initial culture shock they love it here, so there are still plenty of reasons to stay.
What do you do now? I’ve joined Jones Lang LaSalle, which is a U.S. based real estate services provider, within the Corporate Finance team. We deal with all aspects of real estate finance, such as arranging debt for first time property buyers in Japan, (usually being foreign funds). We also raise capital for overseas real estate funds and find joint-venture partners to develop and finance projects in other Asian MOVING ON UP countries, and thus I find myself speaking to Japanese investors such as banks, developers The Banker’s view on the events of 2011 and various financial institutions. You may read about this type of deals in the Financial Times or the Nikkei, but we are going out and was yet another year of financial turmoil, which both further hurt doing it. and altered Tokyo’s financial industry. The hundreds of employees in the various banks and investment houses had always been prominent 2011 What do you think about the future of members of Tokyo’s foreign community and their hardship reflect what many in this Tokyo as a global financial hub? community have been through in recent years. Tokyo Weekender sat with Ari Druker, a I am optimistic about Tokyo, but Japan as a long time expat, and former banker in his office at the Prudential Tower, to tell us his story: whole is facing some challenges and large structural impediments, which impact it as a Looking back, how did the financial crisis busy those days and was the only one doing financial hub. An aging population, compiled unfolded in your bank? my job and therefore I didn’t think it would with a declining birth-rate and seemingly low Things were getting ugly but it wasn’t really be me. Finally, in the afternoon, it came openness to immigration. While there are that bad until Lehman Brothers collapsed. completely out of the blue, I got a call from many proficient English speakers, in general, Our group was doing lending backed by real HR, and it was over. the English language is still a big problem for estate and everything was already frozen many. in the U.S. but there was a delay before the What exactly did your boss say to you? crisis actually arrived here. We would have He said, “We know you’re very busy but What do you think Japan could do to conference calls with the U.S. and they would New York told us the head count has to be improve competitiveness? say “are you sure you are going to close these reduced…it’s not you, it’s everybody, and my Expanding Haneda Airport was a step in the deals?!”—Back then things were good and time will likely come too.” right direction, but of course tax incentives, office vacancies in Tokyo were about one need to be implemented, and other ideas too, percent; even if you wanted space you Then your boss was fired too?! like better day-care. If you look at the low couldn’t get it, so we thought we were safe. Well, I do not know what his exact situation number of women in the workforce, that is Soon enough though, it became clear that was, but I can tell you he is no longer there. At still a big issue. When I go to Singapore, half things were going to get worse, but I still that time, he made it clear that there was no of the office staff are women. didn’t think I would get hit personally. I was going back to the good ol’ days, and that’s why in the risk side and we were always kind of I understood the graveness of the situation How confident are you moving into 2012? protected compared with the sales people. On and there was not much I could say. In my industry, I believe my group is in the my side, things were hectic and every night I right place at the right time; all the economic was in the office until midnight. I was one of How long had you worked at the bank? factors set the stage for Japan to invest the busiest guys there... I was there for nine years. And it was first abroad, and given our global footprint, we time in my life I had ever been asked to are in a prime position to help. Inbound Were you at any point expecting to be laid leave... you hear about this stuff but you just investment may take longer because overseas off? never expect it will happen to you. investors are still concerned about radiation Not really, as our group was still pretty much and earthquakes, but the economy is coming together into the crisis, much longer than What did you do next? back. other groups in the business. Things prior I traveled to Okinawa and Hawaii with my happened in stages, we had a small reduction family and actually had a great refreshing So, blue skies ahead? late in the year but about half of us were gone time. Then came back to look for a job, that Maybe not just yet, but they are coming. I at the end of my fateful day. It was a bizarre was very nerve wracking, especially with think the industry is at such a low point experience for me (though well-known in a family, I went to speak to a lot of head- from which it can only improve. the industry), one by one, people’s phones hunters, they said “now is definitely not the would ring and be asked to attend a meeting… time to look for a job.” It was really hard with Soon enough other staff in the office started no end in sight; nobody was really TokyoWeekender.com to chatter, “Oh my god, this person went to optimistic back then. Visit the website for more news a meeting and didn’t come back!”... I was so and views from 2011 DECEMBER 2011 www.tokyoweekender.com SAYONARA 2011 WEEKENDER 19 1 2 3
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1. Jackie Chan opens Tokyo International Film Festival 2. Yasmine Tsamados of the Greek embassy signs a flag to support Japan 4. Anna Wintour and Bee Shaffer arrive in Tokyo for FNO (see page 50) 5. The postponed 2011 Art Fair Tokyo is a huge success 3. British DJ, Fatboy Slim spins at Big Beach Festival 7. Creatives help Japan 8,9,10. Lady Gaga, Girls Generation, Namie Amuro, Ai and Tsuchiya Anna perform at MTV Music Aid Japan 11. ‘Quakebook’, the world’s first Twitter-sourced book goes on sale www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER 2011 20 BUSINESS LOOKING BACK/FORWARD
FREESCALE LEADING THE WAY IN THE NEW EMBEDDED WORLD
One of the companies on the cutting edge in Japan and he sees increasing opportunities of micro processing technology is Freescale for foreign companies to grow in the Japanese Semiconductor, a Texas-based semiconductor market. manufacturer. As you read this, teams of Freescale engineers, scientists and designers “I have worked in Japan for more than 20 are busy working on the next wave of years and I look forward to continuing to embedded processing solutions; technology invest my time and energy here,” he says. which is at work in things we see and touch “The reason I believe we must focus on Japan every day. In fact, if you buy an e-reader, is because it is the most macro-economically David Uze, President of Freescale Japan tablet or smart phone this Christmas, there’s focused culture in the world. Japan is the only a good chance you will be using chips and country I know of where companies routinely s computer pioneer Alan Kay once sensors developed in Freescale labs. Now the create 50-year plans to ensure they are a said, “The best way to predict the company, which has had a Japanese office strong economic force in the long-term.” future is to invent it.” A since 1968, is making huge inroads into the country and helping to invent the future. Uze continues, “The 1980s was the decade The future of the semiconductor industry, of Japan, and this has been the decade of which provides computing chips for Expanding in Japan China—but I truly believe the 2020s will again everything from laptops to refrigerators Over the past seven years, Freescale Japan be the decade of Japan.” and embedded processing for applications has been hiring increasing numbers of young such as smart phones, industrial appliances graduates, as part of their expansion here and When the class of 2012 graduate next spring, and automobiles, is rapidly changing the this, says Freescale President David Uze, is many will worry about the state of the way we live and work. No longer will we just the beginning: job market they are entering. Hearing the rely exclusively on desktop or even laptop president of a global company speak with computers to provide information or manage “We are excited to be expanding in Japan,” such enthusiasm will come as a refreshing our world. The next trend of the information Uze says. Despite the uncertainty caused by change for many graduates accustomed to age is embedded computing where we will be the March 11 earthquake, Uze is convinced daily doom and gloom in the financial press. much more connected to the world around us. that high tech industries have a bright future
DECEMBER 2011 www.tokyoweekender.com LOOKING BACK/FORWARD BUSINESS 21
Freescale Technology Forum Making the World a Smarter Place WIN A Beyond building robotic cars Freescale semiconductors power airbags, SONY E-READER! braking, navigation and engine Go to control systems in vehicles all around the world. One of the www.tokyoweekender.com/freescale company’s highest profile customers is Porsche, and Freescale is one of the to enter THE COMPETITION! main sponsors of the 911 Carrera Cup (see main image). Action from the Freescale Cup
Earthquake Aftermath “From a business perspective, the earthquake created a lot of uncertainty for companies because of supply chain problems.” Uze says. “These problems were most visible in the empty supermarket shelves in Tokyo, but across all sectors, Japanese businesses have been forced to rethink their strategies. Many large, industrial corporations—famous in boss in Japan and having international the business world for their conservative, employees is a huge advantage. cautious attitudes—are now increasingly looking to international companies to partner “We are a global company with customers, with as a direct result of the earthquake. partners and employees all over the world,” This isn’t to create a second (back-up) source says Uze. “The staff in our Tokyo office of supplies but a dual source. In a globally reflect this. We have employees from many competitive market, businesses simply can’t countries, including India, China, Europe, the afford to risk interruption,” he maintains. U.S. and—of course—Japan. Our customers are multinational companies, so they need us to be diverse to help them be successful in the global market.” The Silicon Boom Could this so-called Embedded Age be the “I truly believe the “I’m not your typical Japanese boss,” Uze next driver of our global economy? comments. “As an American, I believe being Uze thinks so: 2020’s will again be a foreigner in Japan can be a competitive the decade of Japan” advantage, if you are willing to be flexible and “It is my belief that semiconductors will learn about other cultures.” replace oil as the key driver of our planet’s civilizations.” With increasingly strong yen, sluggish demand at home and the tragedy of March 11, He elaborates, “With the advent of hybrid “Our first concern, after March 11 was of Japan clearly has problems. It is technology and electric transportation, it is clear to me course, the people of the Tohoku region. pioneers such as Freescale who will hopefully that humanity will wean itself off of oil. In Thanks to support from our CEO and show the way for international companies to the past, oil was needed for private vehicle employees around the world we joined expand in Japan despite the business climate, transportation and semiconductors were not. other companies in sending food, water and further creating the ground for innovation Today, both are absolutely required. In the other necessities to disaster-struck areas here, giving the next generation of engineers future, semiconductors will be used more immediately after the disaster. We shipped new career opportunities in an increasingly and more in vehicles, and oil will ultimately 20 tons of supplies from overseas and sent a advanced international technology market. become far less relevant, in my opinion. Were caravan of another 20 tons from Tokyo and I a student today, I would want to be a part of Nagoya as fast as we could find supplies and FREESCALE JAPAN the next boom: The Silicon Boom!” fill the trucks. What we’ve seen over the past few months is a miraculous recovery by the Robot Cars Race in the “Freescale Cup” Japanese industrial complex and is a tribute Establishing a strong tie to university students both to the people of Japan and the companies is key to tapping into the ideas of tomorrow who want to see Japan succeed.” as well as providing a pipeline of talent for future engineers. To encourage more Global Market, Global Staff student applications and to spark an interest Recruiting multicultural staff is standard in To learn more about Freescale go to: in engineering as a career, the company is most countries and is becoming one of the www.freescale.co.jp/about The Freescale Technology Forum introducing the “Freescale Cup” (a company key factors for global business success, even www.freescale.co.jp/event/ftfj/2011/) sponsored robot car race), to Japan for the in a country like Japan that is famed for its Freescale Cup first time next year (See box). cultural uniformity. Uze says being a foreign www.freescale.co.jp/about/university_program/
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Price: Around ¥10,500 Website: www.johnniewalker.com
1 2 ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA Look sharp, just in time for NYE
If you think your husband needs a waredrobe upgrade, why not splash out a little on a sharp, tailored, Italian classic from Zegna. The elegant Christmas gift collection is also worth ISSEY MIYAKE a look if you are stuck for ideas. Christmas inspired eau de toilette Price: From ¥350,000 Website: http://store.zegna.com L’Eau d’Issey Christmas and L’Eau d’Issey pour Homme (pictured), are the latest offerings by one of Japan’s most feted fashion designers, Issey Miyake. Available in beautiful gift packs, they make the perfect present to suit most men and women. 4 3 Price: From ¥12,000 Website: www.isseymiyake.com ETRO Paisley Ink leather Boston bag
Etro is synonymous with style. This sophisticated holdall reflects founder Gimmo Et ro’s innate passion for travel and history, which has now become the leitmotif of all the lines of the fashion house.
Price: ¥139,650 (including tax) Website: www.etro.it 5 MONT BLANC Snow white Mont Blanc classique fountain pen tag heuer Inspired by the nature of the symbolic mountain, Montblanc is honouring Europe’s highest mountain with the launch of the new Formula 1 ceramic black wristwatch “Tribute to the Mont Blanc” Collection. Price: ¥109,200 With a black diamond dial with 84 Wesselton Website: www.montblanc.com diamonds and black ceramic & steel bracelet this new Tag Heuer watch is one stunning timepiece. You will certainly make someone very happy this holiday if you choose this as a gift. Price: See website for details 6 Website: www.tagheuer.co.jp
DECEMBER 2011 www.tokyoweekender.com CHRISTMAS GIFTS GUIDE 23 DYSON HOT Keep warm, look cool!
After taking center stage at this year’s Tokyo Designers Week, the Dyson Hot is finally available in stores. Utilizing the same high tech air-blade technology as the Dyson fans, this has to be the best looking piece of technology out this Christmas.
Price: ¥57,000 Website: www.dyson.co.jp MOLTON BROWN 7 Christmas gift set Heat up the festive season with Molton Brown’s highly charged pepper collection. This is the ultimate his and hers Christmas gift set. Spiced, 8 seductive and stimulating!
Price: ¥8,000 NESPRESSO Website: www.moltonbrown.co.jp Cafe quality coffee at home
Many coffee makers claim to produce decent espressos and cappuccinos but let’s face it, most are terrible! Nespresso caused a stir when it first 9 launched and with good reason, these little machines make some of the best coffee possible in a regular kitchen.
Price: From ¥16,000 Website: www.nespresso.com
CALLAWAY Golf ball set 10 One for the Dads we think, this sturdy wooden box of Callaway golf balls will make the perfect gift for the golf lover in your life. MANDARIN GIFT CARD
Price: From ¥7,000 Relax in style at one of Tokyo’s top spas Website: www.callawaygolf.jp Stuck for gift ideas? The award winning Spa at the Mandarin Oriental is one of the best in the city. Why not buy a gift card to surprise a loved one, then you can both relax...
Price: From ¥44,000 (+13% service charge) Tel: 03 3270 8300 11 SAMSONITE Website: www.mandarinoriental.com/tokyo Super strong and light suitcase Going away in the New Year? This hard shelled Cosmolite 12 suitcase the strongest and lightest Samsonite ever. The case comes in a variety of colors and is nearly indestructible.
Price: From ¥53,000 Website: www.samsonite.co.jp
www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER 2011 24 WEEKENDER CHRISTMAS THE PERFECT Christmas in Tokyo TOP TIPS TO MAKE THE FESTIVE SEASON IN JAPAN SPECIAL
by Garrett DeOrio Cole, or even your Chipmunks or your Percy and decorations ranging from classic green Faith if that’s what floats your boat, and get saplings to huge tacky light-up giant Santas into the spirit, friend. There is hope. to items best-suited to decking the halls of o begin this piece on Christmas in your bordello. The always handy Foreign Tokyo, I attempted to add to what I Buyers’ Club (www.fbcusa.com) can also help knew by sending out a request for with décor if your order soon to account for recommendations to a number of DECK THE HALLS The giants Costco (costco.co.jp/eng/) (¥4,200 shipping time. long-term expat residents – usually annual membership required) and Ikea a surefire way of getting ideas. This time, T carry a variety of holiday items, including For those of you of a creative bent, Yuzawaya every single person who responded either real fir trees, Ikea’s being a particularly good (store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/yuzawaya) and pined for the Western locales they knew from Shimojima (www.shimojima.co.jp) carry days of yore or quipped that the best place to myriad supplies for the craft-inclined – from celebrate the holiday in Japan was New York “Tokyo is a veritable wreaths to cloth by the yard to wrapping (or London, or Miami, or Munich, or Monowi, paper and holiday decorations. Nebraska—you get the idea). paradise of date Indeed, Tokyo is not seen as a Christmas spots around destination. For the parents of young kids, NOW FOR THE FOOD If you’re being traditional and cooking at it’s a time to buy toys, which is a lot less Christmas time” home, you’re in luck. Many of the dishes you endearing when not experienced through the love are just as possible here as at home. hoary brume of a Burl Ives record. For young deal at ¥1,990 plus a coupon for the same Check the aforementioned FBC or The Meat couples, it’s almost identical to Valentine’s amount if you bring the tree back. In-town Guy (www.themeatguy.jp) to order a ham Day in the Anglophone world. In this light, my favorites Tokyu Hands (hands.net) and Don or turkey. Both also carry appropriate sides expat friends’ response isn’t entirely unfair. Quijote have numerous locations and an and pies. Niku no Hanamasa also carries Well, put on your Bing Crosby, your Nat King array of artificial trees, ornaments, lights, whole turkeys and hams. Import mini-market
DECEMBER 2011 www.tokyoweekender.com CHRISTMAS WEEKENDER 25
“Many of the dishes you love are just as possible here as at home.”
menu (¥22,000), and selections from its 1,600-bottle wine cellar, served in its famous GOING OUT? 52nd floor premises overlooking Shinjuku Tokyo is a veritable paradise of date spots from the 16th to the 25th. around Christmastime. Virtually any restaurant with even a vaguely Western Stylish Swedish establishment Aquavit (www. menu, and many without, will offer some aquavit-japan.com) has an artful holiday kind of Christmas course for couples. menu on offer (¥12,000) from the 22nd to the 25th. For a meal cooked by a proper If you and your date are looking for Swedish chef in a more relaxed atmosphere, something special, the city’s top tier hotels are Kokubunji’s Lighthouse (www.lighthouse- a good place to start. The Sheraton Grande tokyo.com) is offering a Christmas dinner Tokyo Bay Hotel (www.sheratontokyobay. for a bargain ¥2,000, in addition to their fine co.jp) has options ranging from a European collection of regular and guest beers and ales. Christmas Buffet (¥3,500 lunch/¥5,200 dinner) to a Christmas Dinner Course (¥15,000). Of course, the much-touted four course Special room packages are also available, Christmas dinner at Wine Bar Davis (03-3440- from the “Joyful” or “Shiny” Christmases 6007), which boasts roast goose and British (¥20,000-¥25,000) to the “Christmas Dream” Christmas pudding, is available for one sitting in the Presidential Suite (¥300,000). (All on the 23rd and 26th and two sittings each December 23rd to 25th.) night on the 24th and 25th.
In addition to its “Stylish Christmas” For those who want something more casual, illuminations and décor, the Hilton Tokyo the Pink Cow (thepinkcow.com) will be Bay (www.hiltontokyobay.jp) offers room serving its customary popular Christmas packages and dining options ranging from a dinner (¥4,200) on Christmas Eve and Christmas Buffet (¥3,900 lunch/¥5,500 dinner) Christmas Day. One of the highlights is and a World Christmas Dessert Buffet in that the Pink Cow’s holiday feast includes the lobby lounge (¥2,700 weekdays/¥2,950 vegetarian-friendly offerings. If a communal weekends and holidays) to a Chinese feel, tofurkey, and some live entertainment Christmas Special Course (a Christmas Day appeal to you, this would be the place to go. tradition for a number of Americans, ¥3,800 lunch/¥10,000 dinner), all of which run from Good Honest Grub (www.goodhonestgrub. the 22nd through the 25th, except for the com) also serves up a traditional meal, with chain Seijo-Ishii (www.seijoishii.com) carries Dessert Buffet, which starts a week earlier. vegetarian-friendly options, in a casual a respectable assortment of holiday dishes, atmosphere. This has long been a favorite including turkeys (by order), pie crusts, The Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi not only with hungry expats, but with those mixes, and more. Import markets Euroseed (marunouchi.fourseasons.com) offers an interested in organic food or in knowing and Jupiter, a relative newcomer to Tokyo, but elaborate six course dinner in its Executive whence their fare hails. long popular in the Chubu and Kansai areas, Dining Room (¥30,000) from the 23rd to the have similar offerings. Of course, the good old 25th. Also available, from the 19th to the 25th, The ever-popular Hobgoblin (www.hobgoblin. depachika (department store basement) near are a Christmas Dinner (¥13,000) and a three jp) has a three-course ample Christmas dinner you is sure to carry a selection of seasonal course Christmas Lunch (¥3,900). From the available on Christmas Day (¥5,000) and is items, especially desserts, albeit at a price. 1st of December, sample a Christmas Cocktail also hosting a Charity Pub Quiz on the 14th at (from ¥2,100) or Christmas Afternoon Tea which a turkey dinner will be available. It’s worth keeping your eyes peeled, too. In (from ¥3,500). years past, roasted turkeys have popped up Garrett is a regular blogger at Japan Eats. for sale in locations as unlikely as fashion The Park Hyatt’s New York Grill (tokyo.park. www.japaneats.tv retailer Comme ça du Mode. hyatt.com) offers a five course Christmas
www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER 2011
CHAMPAGNE WEEKENDER 27
Why do you love champagne? Champagne is by far the best type of sparkling wine as has the best potential for aging. Whereas a regular sparkling wine tends to oxidize, over time champagne just turns more beautiful. Plus, what other sparkling wine remains quiet in the cellar for three, five even ten years before being sent to drinkers?
Why is champagne so special? For me it is like asking why prestigious brands are so special? There are many reasons and a combination of excellence: Excellence in soil, grape quality and in the winemaking process.
Which champagne do you recommend for people on a budget? Japan is filled with minor champagne brands that you can find for reasonable prices; but to ensure consistent taste and quality go for a major brand or a larger producer that is affordable.
“To start the year in style, why not go for an exceptional Champagne?” BE SAVVY ABOUT BUBBLY!
My best champagne for drinkers on a budget Tokyo Weekender sat down with one of the cities top Sommeliers to is Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top, a wine you can pick up at any local Seijo Ishii store in discuss everyone’s favorite New Years tipple. your neighborhood. With 70 percent of Pinot Noir, this champagne has a quite toasty and powerful taste that is really worth the money. A Bottle for Every If a full bottle is too much for you, you will be happy and hip with a small bottle of POP Occasion champagne (200ml). 1. The Champenoise 0.75L 2. The Magnum 1.5L Which champagne do you recommend if 3. The Jeroboam 3L 4. The Mathusalem 6L money is no object? 5. The Salmanazar 9L There is a whole world of Champagne to 6. The Balthazar 12L discover including rosé vintage and Prestige cuvées but diversity of brands is the key to Where to buy: enjoyment. Cuveé Louise Pommery, Comte Kaldi: www.kaldi.co.jp Yamaya: www.yamaya.jp de Champagne Taittinger, Pol Roger - Sir Seijo Ishi: www.seijoishii.co.jp Winston Churchill are all recommended 1 2 3 4 5 6 among the Prestige cuvées. But why not, to celebrate the end of 2011, go for an exceptional Champagne like “Salon”, try The Sommelier a cuvée prestige in a bigger size such as a magnum or enjoy an older vintage? Half-French, half-Japanese, Ken Moroi was born in Paris and received a Masters in Japanese Language and International Trade My recent favorite is a great champagne at Paris IX university. Moroi moved to Japan in 2004 to become a in both taste and looks, and is relatively brand manager for Vranken-Pommery Monopole, the second largest affordable: Champagne Diamant, available Champagne house in terms of sales and the distributor in Japan of at Isetan, Shinjuku or at Anniversaire in the grand Champagnes from Pommery, Heidsieck & Co Monopole, Omotesando is recommended for making a Demoiselle, Diamant and Charles Lafittes. Now the CEO of Vranken good impression at a dinner party. Japan, a newly established Japanese subsidiary, Moroi is responsible for all those lines, as well as Listel Wines and Port Rozes.
www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER 2011
ADVERTORIAL CHRISTMAS 29 MANDARIN ORIENTAL Festive Season Delicacies at the Mandarin Oriental
elebrate the festive season in style with friends, family or business associates and enjoy the glittering city views of Tokyo while savouring Ctantalising arrays of award-winning delicacies within the Mandarin Oriental’s specialty restaurants (from 16 December 2011 to 5 January 2012). Or reserve your very own home-made Christmas cake, created by world champion pastry chef Hiroshi Igarashi. Ideal for a sweet finale to your holiday feast, or as a delightful gift for someone special! Available until 25 December 2011. (Advance orders are recommended).
For the end of the year why not ring in 2012 at the Mandarin Oriental’s exclusive New Year’s Eve countdown party, tinged with the colour pink! Dance the night away to the enticing tunes of a live band while enjoying free flowing Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial and write and share your message for 2012 on the “Love Message Bottle” wrapped in pink.
New Year’s Eve Party: Price: ¥15,000 per person. For more information please call: 31 December 2011 (Please book in advance) +81 (3) 3270 8188 (Entry from 10pm)
www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER 2011 30 CHRISTMAS ADVERTORIAL
Charity Christmas PROGRAM
Gift collection and photo studio Dates: Gifts will be collected on Fridays and Saturdays between 17 November and 17 December. The photo studio will be available on Fridays and Saturdays between 17 November and 24 December. Time: 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm GRAND HYATT TOKYO Location: Lobby, charity Christmas area
‘THE LIGHT OF HAPPINESS’ CHRISTMAS PROGRAM 2011 The “Light of Happiness” Stay Dates: 17 November to 25 December rand Hyatt Tokyo, located in decorate. During this period on Fridays and Room Type: Grand Room, Diplomat Suite. the heart of Roppongi Hills, Saturdays, we will have a reception desk to Rates: 10% off regular room rates is introducing ‘The Light of collect Christmas presents to send to children (of which 5% will be donated). Happiness’, a hotel charity in Tohoku. For participating guests, Christmas For reservations, please contact: 03-4333-8800 program with various activities ornaments with handmade message cards will Gdesigned to bring happiness to children be distributed for guests to write on and hang Christmas Charity Hamper in the Tohoku region. From 17 November on the tree. The messages and presents will Filled with seasonal items perfect as Christmas to 25 December, the hotel lobby is being be sent to children in Tohoku via Kids Earth gifts available at Fiorentina Pastry Boutique. transformed into a Christmas charity area to Fund. A photo studio, headed up by the hotel’s Hamper S ¥7,000 share the joys of Christmas. There will be three professional photographer will be installed so Hamper L ¥18,000 Christmas trees installed, two designed by that guests can take photos with the Christmas For reservations please contact: renowned Japanese artists, Yuichi Higashionna trees. There will also be violin and piano 03-4333-8713 and Ruriko Murayama, and one tree, ‘The performances that will fill the lobby with Light of Happiness Tree’ for our guests to warm Christmas music.
WE LOVE: GINGERBREAD LATTE
Every year Starbucks gives us lucky Tokyoites the gift of the Gingerbread latte and in the new year they take it away! Starbucks limited edition drinks this season include the new Toffee Apple tokyo Latte and Cranberry White Mocha (pictured above) grab your fill before they vanish, or you will have to wait a whole year for the next weekender chance. Mmmm gingerbread! Christmas at Starbucks www.starbucks.co.jp
DECEMBER 2011 www.tokyoweekender.com NEW CARVERY MENU! Following a hugely successful Thanksgiving,Tokyo's beer heaven introduces a new carvery menu. Celebrate your Christmas or Bonenkai parties in the heart of Akasaka.
Book Now For Christmas Day!
BierVana’s new Carvery Counter awaits, with Roast Beef daily. 12:00 ~ 17:00
Also please see the blackboard for other roasts and grills of the day. Only ¥2,500 Monday to Saturday 6pm to 9:30pm (last order) ¥2,000 Tel. 03 3502 6500 Sunday afternoon 12pm to 4:30pm (¥1,500) Email: [email protected] Regular Carvery Address: Prudential Tower 1F, 2-13-10 Monday to Saturday 6pm to 9:30pm (last order) ¥2,000 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0014 and Sunday lunch 12:00 to 16:30 ¥1,500 Email: [email protected] www.biervana.com Opening times: Mon – Fri. 11am – 12am Sat. 6pm -12am Open for events Saturday until 6pm & all day Sunday 32 FACES & PLACES PEOPLE, PARTIES, PLACES
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie with Sony pictures entertainment Masao Morita and Dick Sano at the Tokyo International film festival. Brad was in town to promote Moneyball, a film critics are raving about: Go and see it today!
PEOPLE, PARTIES, PLACES Tokyo’s Longest Running Society Page, with Bill Hersey
hen something catches on here in Japan it really many sponsors of the 24th annual movie fest’. I have some really catches on and that’s what happened with great memories of previous TIFF’s as I worked writing and editing Halloween this year. It was colorful, fun but kinda the festival’s daily newspaper for the first ten years of the festival. crazy in Tokyo and I for one was happy when Unfortunately my schedule was super busy this year and I couldn’t the days (in some cases weeks) of celebrating make it to as many of the movie screenings as I would have liked but HalloweenW were over! Ray-Ban did their Halloween thing at Kozo I did get to see Brad Pitt’s Moneyball (pictured above), it’s a superb Hasegawa’s Legato in Shibuya. It was a real blast with close to one movie I highly recommend it. thousand costumed people packed into the Italian bar-restaurant dancing to the sounds of seven DJs. In my opinion, the best party I’m sorry to say I also had to miss Germany’s big day at Arisugawa park by far was Abeer al-Muslahi’s spooky get together at the Oman that was held to celebrate 150 years of friendship between Japan and embassy. Abeer, her family and staff had gone all out to make the Germany. Dale Toriyumi, manager at National Azabu supermarket annual party, held for a group of disabled children and their parents, told me there was a huge turnout. Our congratulations to our many a very special evening. The decorations, the food and the mood German friends on this special occasion. were all perfect for the occasion. The same day I enjoyed being one of the three judges at the kid’s costume contest at National Azabu There seemed to be a never ending stream of fashion happenings over supermarket in Hiroo. The expat community’s favorite store, as I’m the past month. The most impressive of course was Vogue Fashion’s sure you know is now closed but they have opened an annex on Night out (FNO), attended this year by the global editor’s of the fashion the same site, and do have plans to build a new store next year— Bible, including the Devil Wears Prada herself, Anna Wintour. All hopefully open for summer. the most famous designer stores along Omotesando, Aoyama Dori and in Omotesando Hills were packed with trendy shoppers, models, I hear the energy crisis is pretty much over now and even though I’m celebrities (and of course the usual turnout of free loaders who were writing this column in November, I’m not all that surprised to see busy shop-hopping for the free champagne and finger food). There was Christmas decorations already going up across Tokyo. I’m happy to an almost riot-like atmosphere at the opening of the new Michael Kors report that most Tokyoites made a huge effort to save energy when boutique on Omotesando and it was impossible to get near the special it was most needed after 3/11. As always, I might add, there were guest Jennifer Hudson but I did get close enough to see that she’s a number of restaurants, clubs and a few big karaoke venues that really knocked off the kilos since I met her backstage at Dreamgirls were lit up as bright and gaudy as those love hotels you see on the in Broadway a few years ago. She’s looking, and sounding great. way to Narita. The offenders should be ashamed, but knowing many Highlights of this year’s FNO for me included having a photo taken in a of them, I’m sure they’re not! beautiful rikshaw and watching the shamisen and dance performances by three genuine Kyoto Maiko at the Niwaka jewelry store in Aoyama. I’d like to say a big thank you to my friend Tom Yoda, chairman of The event titled “Kyoto pop up party” was really well done and packed Tokyo International Film Festival, his hardworking staff and the with people.
DECEMBER 2011 www.tokyoweekender.com BILL HERSEY FACES & PLACES 33
The embassy’s always helpful staff: Enami Sumi, Michika Imaeda, Political Consula Gloria Ncwana and Keiko Goto
South Africa’s Ms. Hendrietta South African Amb. Gert J. Bogopane-Zulu Grobler, Paul and Denise Tange South African Embassy Party
Strike! The cutest entrant to National Azabu’s Halloween comp
Oman Amb. Khalid al Muslahi, Palestine Amb. Waleed Siam, Halloween Takes Over Tokyo Dale Toriyumi, Abeer al Muslahi and Maali Siam
Halloween bunnies in Roppongi Halloween at the New Lex
Ray-Ban party at Legato, Shibuya F1 Party in Roppongi
Top Movie Exec’s at the TIFF opening party. 20th Century Fox’s Jesse Lee, Paramount’s Ichiro Okazaki, his wife Carol, Sony’s Dick Sanno, his wife Izumi, Sony’s Masao Morita, TIFF’s Tom Yoda, Warner Brother’s Bill and Spanish F1 driver Fernando Alonso Real Estate Tycoon Shin Kawamoto, Italian Photos: Tokyo Weekender Tokyo Photos: Charo Ireton and Disney Studio’s Takayuki Tsukagoshi with Tsukasa Shiga driver Vitantonio Liuzzi www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER 2011 34 FACES & PLACES PEOPLE, PARTIES, PLACES 01
South African Amb. Gert J, Grobler, Dewi, Bahrain Amb., Chinese Twin Dancers Chang Yi and Loreiei Chang Bill and actor Hayato Tani Actor Kawasaki Mayo and Junko Koshino Dr. Khalid Hassan Guatemalan Amb. Bryon Menendez, Pakistan Amb. Noor Muhammad Jadmani Grand Imperial Charity Banquet
Brazilian Amb. with sumo wrestler Kasei
Chilean Amb. Patricio Torres, Colombian Amb. Patri- cia Cardenas, Cuban Amb. José Rodríguez, Peruvian Amb. Juan Carlos Capuñay Brazil National Day
U.S. Amb. John V. Roos and Former Japanese Amb. to the U.S. Takakazu Kuriyama and His Wife Mimi.
Kyoko Spector, Saudi Amb. Abdulaziz Turkistani, Pasona President Yasuyuki Singapore National Day Nambu, Philippine Amb. Manuel and Maria Teresa Lopez
Architect Lingxin Gan, IBM’s Paul Yonamine, Singapore Amb. Chin Tiong Tan (center), his Wife
Denise Tange, Ernie and Aya Higa (Hands on Tokyo) Maureen and politician Yuriko Koike Weekender Photos: DECEMBER 2011 www.tokyoweekender.com BILL HERSEY FACES & PLACES 35
It was a blast from the past when I looked up at the Omotesando- Lex, in Roppongi. The star of the show was gorgeous Brazilian actress Aoyama Dori crossing and saw a huge billboard-sized photo of my Barbara Paz, a super nice lady and great fun to hang out with. longtime friend and fashion mentor Ken Ishizu. A young policemen at the koban there told me it was a tribute to the man who would be 100 Dewi Sukarno’s Grand Imperial Charity Banquet years old this year. The late and truly great man headed Van Jacket Inc., co-wrote the fashion classic “Take Ivy” and helped me found my When socialite Dewi Sukarno does something, she goes all the way to boutique Le Bazaar, which was in a two story building in Aoyama, make it very special and proof of this was her 14th Grand Imperial where the huge Peacock supermarket now stands. charity banquet at the stunning Meguro Gajoen. The hundreds of people there included government officials, diplomats, business Still on fashion, I really enjoyed visiting the famed Bunka fashion leaders, fashion designers and showbiz personalities: talk about college last month in Shinjuku, the college’s annual three day “Bunka” glitz and glamour! The sit down dinner was excellent and the fast festival was a great opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people paced show featuring Chinese twins Chang Yi and Loreiei Chang and seeing the future of Japanese fashion being sculpted was truly was excellent. I must also mention Hiroshi Oka and the Clear Tone’s inspiring. Orchestra, who provided the music along side super Korean singer Kim Yonja and noted Japanese tenor Masafumi Akikawa. I also really On the music scene I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed liked the motto for the event: “Devotion and service to all mankind”. the Japanese production of the Broadway musical “Rock of Ages” at The evening, as well as the lady behind it all, Dewi, were beautiful Yurakucho’s Tokyo International Forum. Pop idol Takanori Nishikawa, and proceeds went to several worthwhile causes. heads the talented cast and although he is in his early forties he has the energy of an 18 year old. The sets, costumes and music were all Shiga Tsukasa’s Formula One party at New Lex 08 wonderful. I just heard that Warner Brothers has plans to make a movie of the original broadway show, so I can’t wait to see that. For the sixth straight year my friend, former business partner and president of Ceremony Corporation Tsukasa, hosted a series of There really is too much happening in Tokyo to write about but I want parties for the many Formula One drivers who came to Japan for to mention a few of the great parties that have been happening in the the Suzuka Grand Prix. The biggest party was after the main race, city the past couple of months. and I’m happy to say many of the drivers partied all night with their friends and fans. I was really happy to have the winning driver South African reception for visiting minister and UIA congress Jenson Button drop by and surprise us. That busy guy recently did a great commercial for TAG Heuer and another with Lewis Hamilton Gert J. Grobler, the always busy South African ambassador hosted a for Hugo Boss. Speaking of Hamilton, it was great to see him in Tokyo fun reception at Meiji Kinkanken. The occasion was the visit of his again too, what a nice guy! Brazil’s Felipe Massa and Spanish champ’ deputy minister of public works, Ms. Hendrietta Bagoplant-Zulu and Fernando Alonso also partied until early morning. Those lucky an interesting mixture of international architects, in Japan for the enough to be there won’t forget it any time soon. International Union of Architects (UIA). It was a laid back evening of meeting people, making new friends with excellent South African Singapore National Day Reception food, music and dance. The next UIA World congress will be held in Durban, South Africa in 2014. Singapore ambassador Chin Tiong Tan and his wife Maureen’s celebration of their country’s national day at the Imperial Hotel was Brazil National Day reception first class all the way. The Tan’s are a popular couple and as expected, it was wall to wall people. I was happy to see that the hotel loosened There was also a huge turnout at the Brazilian ambassador’s residence their rules a bit. In addition to the bountiful buffet the hotel chefs in celebration of the country’s national day. This was the first time had prepared, they allowed the embassy to bring in specialties from I met the hosting couple, Marcos, his wife Ana Maria Galvao and a couple of the best Singaporean restaurants in town. The satays and their son Pedro. It was also nice to meet Brazilian Sumo wrestler Hainanese Chicken were excellent. Kasei and racing driver João Paulo de Oliveira who recently drove a car for my friend Tsukasa Shiga’s, Ceremony Corporation in the Thanks and happy holidays! Indy race at the Motegi Twin Ring track. Brazil, as you may know is a marvelous, colorful, diverse and very much happening country. I This is our last issue in 2011 and I’d like to thank you all for your love watching the Brazilian television series “9mm” on Fox friendship, support and readership over this most difficult TV at the moment and even though I don’t understand year. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you Portuguese I can’t get enough. Still on Brazil, I met a lot and yours happy holidays and all the best in the new of interesting Brazilians a few months back when I let year! a TV crew from Rio de Janeiro broadcast from the New SPONSORED CONTENT
Hypnotherapist Alastair Prentice Takeshi Sakurai (center) welcomes Ray-Ban marketing director (off to his yoga session). two new staff Moe Ayao and Ayano Fabio Lacavera. Tamagami to the popular cafe.
www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER 2011
PROMOTION ARIPARIS 37
ARIPARIS ARIPARIS Photos: SKINCARE WITH A PURPOSE sia Maeda is not your typical long way to go in terms of women’s rights. Japanese women. After running Japanese women may control the household away from home, she traveled purse but are powerless in many other areas. to the United States where she In particular, Maeda wants to see stay-at-home cultivated her wildly independent wives become a thing of the past: streak.A Coming back to her native country after stints in Boston, New York and Paris, “If women are independent and free, then she decided to do something to help motivate they can find their own way, start their own Japanese women to be more like the strong business or choose their own husband,” she role models she met abroad. Her solution: says. create a community of women centered around beauty products. Selling cosmetics may be an unusual way to help women, but Maeda is clearly passionate Sold entirely by word of mouth and never about her cause: doing any press coverage (until now), ARIPARIS SKIN SERUM ARIPARIS is a unique cosmetics company that “I want to make a good women’s community, is growing fast in Tokyo and Hong Kong. By it’s my mission to tell Japanese women that • Reduces the appearance of fine lines empowering women, Maeda hopes to change there is a different way to live. I want to spread and wrinkles the direction of Japan and to help the country my message like I spread my beauty product; • Revitalize your skin and diminish find its way in the world again but she is well by word of mouth.” signs of aging aware of the challenges she faces: • Stimulate the renewal of skin cells After the March 11 earthquake, Maeda • Excellent antioxidant support “Japanese women are quite different from traveled to Tohoku to hand out free cosmetics European or American women, we may wear to survivors, this experience she says, is proof Contains four key ingredients, made to the same clothes but inside our spirit is very that making people feel good empowers a secret recipe in Japan. different,” she says. people: Gold: To encourage skin turnover. Modern Japan, as Maeda points out, is not as “People were so happy to receive free modern as it seems. Many families still use cosmetics, for the first time in weeks people Silver: Antiseptic, helps reduce traditional matchmakers to find a husband for began to feel like normal,” she says. Beauty infections. their daughters, something that caused her to products can really help people.” Amber: Deep skin penetration, flee Japan for more distant, and in her eyes, enriching and moisturizing. progressive shores. ARIPARIS skin serum is available to Placenta: Anti-aging, full of nutrients, After studying abroad and touring the world purchase by appointment only: minerals and antioxidants. for several years she returned to Japan with Telephone: 03-3446-1891 or email: the realization that her country still has a [email protected] www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER 2011
o-shogatsu WEEKENDER 39 New Year JAPANESE STYLE Photos: Creative Commons / Tokyo Weekender Tokyo / Commons Creative Photos: by Benjamin Freeland with community members gathering at local Japanese people traditionally use it to celebrate shrine or temple grounds to pound mochi various ‘firsts’—the first sunlight, the first nyone seeking to experience Ja- (pounded rice balls) with a shallow wooden laughter, the first dream and so on. It is an in- pan at its festive best owes them- pestle and a large mallet. Once prepared, the fectious holiday, and should you have the good selves at least one Japanese New mochi is then formed into totemic decora- fortune to be able to celebrate it with a Japanese Year experience. Family consid- tions called kagami-mochi, consisting of two family, it is likely to be a treasured memory for erations and homesickness often balls of mochi with an orange on top, which many years to come. Amean that many expatriates in Japan miss out hearken back to traditional ancestral wor- on o-shōgatsu completely, but those staying in ship. The New Year is heralded by the ringing Japan for any length of time owe themselves of temple bells all across Japan, which is said at least one holiday season in the country. to erase the sins of the passing year and make While Japan has followed the western custom way for the next. of celebrating New Year’s on January 1 since the late 19th century, all similarities with western New Year’s traditions end with the date. O-shōgatsu is to Japan what Christmas is to Europe and the Americas—a beguiling mix “O-shōgatsu is a of ancient solemnity and secular revelry. joyous occasion and a Preparations for o-shōgatsu begin in earnest celebration of renewal” in the middle of December with the penning and delivery of the obligatory nengajō cards in a tradition that goes back to the late 19th More than anything, o-shōgatsu is about fami-
century (see box for a modern twist). These ly and centres on the home. Families typically Wheel Winged Photo: cards are sent to relatives, friends, bosses clean their houses from top to bottom during and coworkers and are deposited in specially the days before January 1 to welcome in good New Year CARDS IN JAPAN marked mailboxes between December 15 and fortune. Following the morning temple or 25, for guaranteed delivery on January 1. Cele- shrine visit, families typically return home Sending hand-written New Year cards brations typically begin a week ahead of Janu- for a traditional o-sechi ryōri feast (once upon is as much a part of Japanese culture as ary 1, starting with year-end bōnenkai parties a time housewives made these by hand, but eating sushi and drinking o-cha. This (literally ‘forgetting the year’ parties) typically nowadays they are typically ordered from selection from Omotesando based Winged held at izakayas by companies, groups of department stores). Children receive gift Wheel updates the old custom with students and circles of friends. Those looking money known as o-toshidama, which comes modern screen printed and embossed to book an izakaya during the last week of the in special decorative envelopes, and which designs. Be sure to post your cards early year are advised to do so well ahead of time. some savvier parents use to teach money- to make the deadline! The New Year’s festivities themselves typically management to their children. O-shōgatsu is a get started on the afternoon of December 31, joyous occasion and a celebration of renewal. For more info: www.winged-wheel.co.jp
www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER 2011 40 WINTER TRAVEL HAKUBA HIT THE SLOPES IN HAKUBA
akuba is one of Japan’s premier ski resorts, located in the heart of the Japanese Alps in Nagano. Set against the backdrop of rugged peaks, the scenery of Hakuba is truly amazing all year round and truly comes alive during winter. There are over ten resorts in HakubaH and the neighboring valleys, covering a huge expanse of ski-able ter- rain. Hakuba earns its reputation as the best ski resort area in Japan in many ways. It has the most resorts, offering a multitude of ski runs and a large variety of slopes (including the most advanced slopes), and offers the highest vertical of any ski resort in Japan.
Over 75 years ago, the farming village of Hakuba was chosen by the Hosono ski club of Japan for its abundant snow and pristine ski conditions. That’s how it all began. Today, the area has mushroomed into a world class ski destina- tion of unparalleled alpine opportunities. It is no surprise either as Hakuba gets over ten meters of exceptional powder snow every year and offers some- thing for everybody—a variety of alpine skiing, ski jumping, snowboarding, Telemark and Nordic skiing, snow rafting and tubing, snowmobiling and heli-skiing. The skiing season lasts until the end of Feb- ruary but book your holiday early as the resort becomes very busy during peak times.
This article was first published in Living Japan, a residential guide for newcomers to Tokyo: www.housingjapan.com
DECEMBER 2011 www.tokyoweekender.com HAKUBA WINTER TRAVEL 41 BOOMING HAKUBA HAKUBA HAPPO-ONE
SUN ALPINA Obinato no Yu Over the last few years, interest in the HAKUBA 47 Wadano
Hakuba area has increased dramatically. The Tokyu Hotel Daini Sato Hakuba Ski no Yu Olympic IWATAKE prospect of excellent powder snow and world GORYU Jumping Stadium Sign N Donguri TSUGAIKE Village Daiichi Sato no Yu class resorts is bringing tourists from all over Echo Land Happo Kurashita Ecoland no Yu Village no Yu the world. It is especially true for Koreans Happo Hot Springs Misorano Iriguchi Supermarkets Mizuho Shirouma no Yu Kinkubo Gas Stations Meitetsu Village and Australians, who have started choos- Village Mimizuku no Yu Iwatake no Yu Ski Lifts Landmarks Iimori Shinden Hakuba Town ing Japan for their ski holidays and make up Iimori Rikkyou Take no Yu Kita Fukasora A-Coop Garden no Yu SHINANO Hakubano Juro no Yu about half of all foreign visitors in Hakuba. Mori Jusco MORIUE Sta. NORIKURA & CORTINA KAMISHIRO Sta. HAKUBA Sta. Moriue For Australians, Japanese ski resorts offer IIMORI Sta. To Matsumoto Iida Tenjin To Itoigawa great powder conditions, cheaper lift tickets, no Yu Matsu Kawa and the chance to enjoy alpine sports during To Nagano HAKUBA MINEKATA To Minekata their summer season which are clearly huge Weekender Tokyo / iStock Photos: attractions. The overall number of foreign Hakuba ski resort tourists who visit Hakuba each year has gone up 400% since 2004, and the number of resorts and Hakuba 47, Goryu Toomi foreign investors is following close behind. OFF PISTE and Happo-one resorts offer comple- With the success of other resort areas in Japan mentary shuttle services. (such as Niseko) developers, investors, and business owners are aligning themselves for Hakuba probably has some of the best apres- There is also a reliable public bus serv- what could be the next real estate boom. ski entertainment of any of the ski resorts ice which operates during the ski sea- in Japan. There is a wide choice of Japanese son called the “Genki-go” bus that runs and other restaurants, numerous izakayas along the valley, providing access to (Japanese style pubs) and bars. For those who all of the ski resorts and other desired ON PISTE like to party hard there is a club scene with locations in town. (¥500 return.) dancing and drinking until early hours of the morning. There are several really cool There are of course several taxi compa- For novice to the expert skier, Hakuba pro- standing bars, a wine bar and even an old nies in Hakuba although the distances vides some of the best skiing in all of Japan: English pub. Most of the action is in Happo can make this quite an expensive way gentle slopes, steeps, moguls, long groomers and Wadano, although there are many venues to get around - fares start at about ¥710 and of course plenty of fresh powder. The scattered across the town. The free resort and go up after 1.5 kilometers. Hakuba variety of terrain is more than enough for guides available at all hotels have detailed is somewhat spread out though and it snow boarders of any level —half-pipes, ter- information on what is available. can be quite cold waiting for a bus or rain parks, gullies, hits, dry and deep powder shuttle. If you have your own transport bowls, ungroomed trails and steeps. Hakuba or can rent a car this is really the way 47 and Happo are two of the favorite destina- to go. The roads are well snow cleared tions for boarders, offering challenging and ACCOMMODATION but it gets icy so you will need snow diverse terrain, a terrain park, and a half tires. If you rent a car from Nagano or pipe. There are ski-schools operating in most Many hotels are located within walking dis- Matsumoto snow tires are standard. of the large resorts offering private and group tance of the slopes and nightlife. Accommo- lessons in both English and Japanese. Some dation which is further from the slopes will of the best operators for English lessons are usually provide transport to and from the ski Snow Instructors Japan and Evergreen.
NEED TO KNOW:
Hakuba Valley use an electronic lift pass system. The pass is a re-programmable computer chip in a plastic card, which allows access through the electronic gates at each lift, (refundable ¥1,000 deposit required). Ask in your hotel or ski rental company for more information.
www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER 2011 42 WINTER TRAVEL WEBSITE REVIEWS For hardcore boarders Hardcore skiers and boarders will love Snow Japan: Daily updates, town guides and a full map of Japan with the location BOOK YOUR of all major ski resorts. An earthquake guide is a handy plus for tourists who may be concerned about traveling to Japan as is the community forum that allows users to login and share tips and news. All the major resorts are ranked which quickly sorts the decent resorts from the duds. SKI TRIP NOW www.snowjapan.com Booking a skiing or snowboarding holiday in Japan can be tricky if you don’t speak Japanese. Fortunately help is out To party with Gaijin there for gaijin looking to organize a trip in English. We More then skiing and snowboarding trips, Tokyo Gaijins have selected some websites to help ease the pain and get organizes basketball, futsal, volleyball as well as parties, cycling, you on the slopes with minimum fuss. bungee jumping, sightseeing and hiking. Other sites may have better snow information but this site offers a great way to connect with other English speakers in Tokyo, which may be WeBSITE invaluable for newcomers. REVIEWS www.tokyogaijins.com
Easy planning in English With a clean layout, good photo galleries, giveaways and a good Q&A section Tokyo Snow Club (see left) is a great website and is one of the simplest ways to book an English speaking ski holiday in Japan. Open to all and free to join Tokyo Snow Club is a no nonsense site offering group discounts, lift passes as well as après ski, with live music and party events. If you are looking for a weekend in the mountains with no hassle, Tokyo Snow Club is Tokyo Weekender’s top choice. www.tokyosnowclub.com Photos: iStock / Tokyo Weekender Tokyo / iStock Photos:
Email: [email protected] "We’ll cut you the best deal... Anywhere! Call, Click or Come by!" US DOLLARS & CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED!
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Looking for a place to dine no matter what the occasion? Look no further. At Restaurant MOSAIQUE we serve: Real food, wine, cocktails, service and a friendly atmosphere. Come enjoy the fun. Tel: 03-6419-3711 / Website: restaurant-mosaique.com Minami-Aoyama 5-3-2 Minato-ku, Tokyo Everyday: Lunch, Brunch, Dinner Closed: Sunday evenings
DECEMBER 2011 www.tokyoweekender.com EXPAT LIFE FACES & PLACES 45 ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS MONTHS Weddings, Birthdays & anniversaries TOKYOITES, WE NEED YOU! BROADCAST YOUR NEWS IN WEEKENDER! Want the city to know about your celebration? Place a FREE PHOTO in our announcements section: For more info, drop us a line: [email protected]
Happy birthday Angela! Lots of love from your friends.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Takeshi. With lots of love from all the Family.
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48 AGENDA DECEMBER
Decanter’s wine cellar houses thousands of bottles waiting to be expertly paired with your meal by NEW Tokyo American Club sommeliers. RESTAURANT
SICK OF TURKEY? TRY A STEAK at DECANTER 2012 pick: FOO FIGHTERS LIVE
Tokyo American Club’s new restaurant is open to the public, so book your table early! Just announced this month, the Foo Fighters will make a return to Japan in 2012! The Decanter, Tokyo American Club’s newly the opening of its latest culinary adventure, band who are currently touring Australia opened steak house is a unique addition Decanter.” said Michael Bumgardner, General will play Yokohama Arena on March 7, then to the culinary landscape of the city, as it Manager of the Club. Decanter is also open to Zepp in Sendai on March 8 before traveling to serves cuts of beef previously impossible to the public, allowing non-members access to Nagoya and Osaka for gigs on March 9 and 11. find in Toyko. How? Decanter’s chefs take the exclusive Azabudai club for the first time. Tickets are from ¥8,500 (in advance) and a sure the trouble to fly all their meat in from the The restaurant’s wine cellar (pictured above) to sell out fast! U.S. and cut their own steaks right here in has vintages going back decades and a hugely th th Japan. This makes for some mean New York impressive champagne selection—perfect for Dates: 7 -11 March 2012 Where: Yokohama Arena strips, Rib Eyes and tenderloins usually the end of the year. Info: www.smash-jpn.com only available back home. “Tokyo American Club continues its tradition of introducing Where: Tokyo American Club, Azabudai fine food and wines to its members with Info: 03-4588-0675 • www.tac-club.org THE WEEKENDER’S GUIDE TO FREE AGENDA ESSENTIAL EVENTS THIS MONTH CONCERT AN IMPERIAL CHRISTMAS As it has done for decades, Tokyo’s 121 year-old Imperial Hotel will once again be presenting a series of festive Christmas dinners and live concerts for the enjoyment of its guests and the general public this Holiday Season. On Saturday, December 17th and Friday, December 23rd, the Tokyo FM Boys Choir of young sopranos will present live MJ TRIBUTE LIVE HAPPY BIRTHDAY BAR M! concerts of Christmas Season music at The Imperial, starting from 1:30 p.m. in the ground Fans of the King of Pop are advised to book Tokyo’s newest and most creative event space, floor Lobby, followed by another performance tickets early for this once in a lifetime chance bar M, is celebrating its second birthday on from 3:00 p.m. On Friday, December 23rd, the to see Michael Jackson’s hits being performed December 16! Head down to Daikanyama to Choir appears from 3:00 p.m. in the ground in Japan. Three of Michael’s brothers will catch all the trendy fun. Entrance is free! Also floor Lobby, and again from 4:30 p.m. in the be in Tokyo for the tribute concert at Yoyogi this month at M: Hors Is Not with Control/ Main Lobby of the Main Building. All shows Stadium, with a little help from the likes of Tokyo Indie/Short Pants (9th December) 22:00- free of charge. Macy Gray, Toshinobu Kubota and AI—who late, ¥1000 entry. And Koku by Deco Picha Boco recently recorded the Jacksons inspired hit (11th December) 15:00-23:00, ¥2500 entry (with single “Letter in the sky”. one drink).
Dates: December 13th /14th Dates: 16th December • 22:00 - Late Dates: 17th/23rd December Where: Yoyogi National Stadium Where: M, Daikanyama Where: Imperial Hotel, Chiyoda-Ku Info: www.mjtribute.jp Info: www.m-event-bar.com Info: www.imperialhotel.co.jp • 03-3504-1111
DECEMBER 2011 www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER AGENDA 49 HAPPY NEW YEAR TOKYO! 11/15 Don’t fancy temple hopping, How about some techno? JOSH Kicking off the always dramatic Womb WINK LIVE count down this year is one of the world’s top techno artists Josh Wink. Part of the East Coast/Philadelphia dance scene, Wink recorded three trance monsters out of his bedroom studio that topped European charts during the late 1990s and saw him anointed as a dance music poster boy. It’s been seven years since his last performance at Womb in 2004, so this December 31st will be huge! Don’t miss out! Also on NYE: Club Asia’s Electro, Techno, Bass “Countdown Party 2012” featuring Taku Takahashi will be equally huge (¥4,000 www.clubasia.co.jp). As will Unit’s New Year’s Party 2012 with DJs Altz, Aoki Takamasa & Dye. (¥2,000 www. unit-tokyo.com) Dates: 31st December Where: Womb, Shibuya Info: www.womb.co.jp • ¥5000 Bow tie night AT VELOURS AB Promotions and Turned On, proudly DON’T MISS: present Velvet Vol.9 “Bowtie Nite” at Velours on December 10. TOKYO ILLUMINATIONS Velvet is a high class Los Angeles/New York style club event at Velours in the trendy Minami Aoyama district of Tokyo and this One of the best things about edition will feature bowtie fashions along Christmas in Tokyo is the vast array with the city’s top DJs through support by of illuminations across the city. If you Chevrolet. Guests are encouraged to dress want to make a day (or date) out of to the nines and come enjoy the surprises visiting the winter lights, as so many and special atmosphere of Velvet. Doors Japanese couples love to do, check out open at 10pm and Ladies are enter free these dazzling locations... before midnight. Gentlemen can register for discounts and VIP table reservations at Shinjuku www.ab-promote.com. Tokyo Weekender Nearest station Shinjuku (JR lines) recommends you not to miss “Bowtie Nite” Until Jan 31, 2012 • 17:00 to 22:00 the ninth edition of Tokyo’s most stylish party at Velours. Shiodome Nearest station: Shiodome (Metro) Until Jan 9, 2012 • 17:00 to 22:00
Roppongi Hills Nearest station: Roppongi (Metro) Until Dec 25, 2011 • 17:00 to 23:00
Tokyo Midtown Nearest station: Roppongi (Metro) Until Dec 25, 2011 • 17:00 to 23:00
Marunouchi Nearest station: Tokyo (JR lines) Until Feb 19, 2012 • 17:00 to 23:00
Yebisu Garden Place Nearest station: Ebisu (JR lines) Until Jan 9, 2012 • 17:00 to 23:00
Dates: 10th December • 22:00 - Late Where: Velours, Minami Aoyama Info: www.ab-promote.com
www.tokyoweekender.com DECEMBER 2011 50 FACES & PLACES VOGUE FNO 2011 Photo: ImageNet Photo: FNO TOKYO Vogue Takes Over Omotesando
Photos by: Misha Janette and Mami Tanabe of www.tokyofashiondiaries.com Photo: Tokyo Weekender Tokyo Photo: DECEMBER 2011 Happy New Year! TABASCO Dec 2011 PRESS.pdf 1 11/22/11 3:54 PM
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Photos by: Misha Janette and Mami Tanabe of www.tokyofashiondiaries.com