February 2022 INTOUCH Magazine by Tokyo American Club

第四十七巻六八二号

TOKYO AMERIC AN CLUB

毎月一回一日発行

TOKYO AMERIC AN CLUB FEBRUARY 2022

トウキョウアメリカンクラブ

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本体七二八円

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平成三年十二月二十日第三種郵便物許可定価八００円

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INTOUCH

インタッチマガジン二〇二二年二月一日発行

The essence of urban living

Featuring expansive, panoramic views of the city,

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Renderings are based on blueprints from the planning stage of the project and actual objects, colors, and other details may differ. Furniture and furnishings are not included in the price. The view is not guaranteed due to future changes in the area.

FEBRUARY 2022

Toranomon Hills Residential Tower

Sportsman of the Year Michael Leitch on a life in rugby

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Contents 20 LE ADER OF THE PACK

KEVIN BOOTH

Club Sportsman of the Year Michael Leitch reflects on leading Japan’s national rugby team to World Cup success and being a galvanizing force for change.

LE ADER SHIP

DIGE ST

AGENDA

KAYO YAMAWAKI

INDEPTH

E D U C AT I O N

DINING

AC T I V I S M

16 SOUL KITCHEN

For Yasuharu Nakajima and his chefs, culinary experimentation always trumps imitation in the kitchens of the Nihonbashi Club.

15 BAT TLING BIGOTRY THROUGH B O OKS

An anti-bullying activist and author explores new ways to broaden racial acceptance in Japan through his bilingual children’s books.

FO CU S

COMMUNITY

WELLNE SS

VOICE

HIGHLIGHTS

PURSUIT

COVER IMAGE OF RUGBY PLAYER MICHAEL LEITCH BY SUNAO OHMORI

FEBRUARY

TOKYO AMERIC AN CLUB

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

INTOUCH

Representative Governor Jesse Green (2023)

Editor Nick Jones

First Vice President Sam Rogan (2022)

editor@tac-club.org

Second Vice President Dean R Rogers (2022)

Assistant Editor Owen Ziegler

Secretar y Nils Plett (2023)

Designer Kohji Shiiki

Treasurer Rune Sølvsteen (2023)

Designer Clara Garcia

Governors Michael Benner (2022), Trista Bridges Bivens (2022), Gregory Lyon (2023)

Production Administrator Yuko Shiroki

Anthony Moore (2022), Tetsutaro Muraki (2022), Catherine Ohura (2023)

GENERAL MANAGER

Reiko Saito (2023), Christina Siegel (2022), Olivia Smith (2023)

Darren Morrish

Statutor y Auditors Koichi Komoda (2022), Paul Kuo (2023) Parentheses denote term limit.

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGERS Business Operations Wayne Hunter

CLUB COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Business Suppor t Lian Chang

Compensation Anthony Moore Culture, Community & Enter tainment Joseph Billi (Trista Bridges Bivens)

DIRECTORS

Finance Mihoko Manabe (Rune Sølvsteen)

Communications Shane Busato

Food & Beverage Mark Spencer (Sam Rogan)

Facilities Toby Lauer

House Adam Donahue (Dean R Rogers)

Finance Naoto Okutsu

Human Resources Ken Cogger (Reiko Saito)

Food & Beverage Suranga Hettige Don

Membership Risa Dimacali (Tetsutaro Muraki)

Member Services Jonathan Allen

Nihonbashi Ginger Griggs (Catherine Ohura)

Membership Mari Hori

Nominating Alok Rakyan

Nihonbashi Noriaki Yamazaki

Recreation Daiki Yokoyama (Nils Plett)

Recreation Susanna Yung

Risk Control Justin Keyes (Christina Siegel)

CONTRIBUTORS

TAC Sustainability Task Force

Writers

Parentheses denote Board liaison.

Tim Hornyak

SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS

James Littlewood

Community Relations

Nils Plett

Frederick Harris Galler y

Nathaniel Rowe

Golf

Photographers

Squash

Enrique Balducci

Swim

Donna Beeman

TAC Talk

Kevin Booth

Wine & Beverage

Yuuki Ide

Subcommittee chairs to be confirmed.

Bob Lerner Sunao Ohmori Kayo Yamawaki Keyshots.com Illustrator Tania Vicedo

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All prices referenced in INTOUCH include consumption tax.

INTOUCH

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LEADERSHIP

Building a Strong Community WORDS NILS PLETT IMAGE KAYO YAMAWAKI

hen I joined the Club six years ago, I never imagined how integral a part of my life it would become. I originally joined to have a place where I could entertain clients. As I spent more time at the Club, I began to forge deep friendships and to build a community, which I believe is the main appeal for most Members. Whether it’s eating, relaxing, working out or having a drink, I enjoy interacting with the Club community almost every day. Several months after I joined, I began looking for ways to get involved in Club governance and to contribute. I served on the Finance Committee for two years before being asked to join the Recreation Committee and to chair the subcommittee overseeing the Sky Pool. Through these committees, I realized the important role the recreational facilities play in Member satisfaction and how each venue has its own dedicated community of users. To drive satisfaction and attract Members of all ages, we set out to develop new programs and events. And while the pandemic delayed some plans, many initiatives have flourished over the last two years. The mandate of the Recreation Committee after I took the helm continued to be the development of strong communities through the promotion of the Club’s impressive range of recreation programs and services. With the Club facing many pandemic-related challenges, I believed it was the perfect opportunity to further build Member value and a greater sense of community. I decided to run for the Board of Governors and was humbled to be elected. As a governor, I look to leverage this opportunity and my experience within the Club to work with my fellow Board members and the new general manager to improve Member satisfaction. Meanwhile, my work with the Club’s Recreation team continues. With the goal of encouraging even more Members to use the facilities, we are looking at holding fun events in different recreation venues each weekend—from golf tournaments at the 19th Hole simulator and sessions with the soonto-be-launched, interactive squash system to volleyball and basketball leagues and water polo games. The Club should be a place where Members of all ages and interests can relax and enjoy being a part of a vibrant community. I look forward to helping make that a reality.

“WITH THE CLUB FACING MANY PANDEMIC-RELATED CHALLENGES, I BELIEVED IT WAS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER BUILD MEMBER VALUE AND A GREATER SENSE OF COMMUNITY.”

Nils Plett is the Club’s secretary.

FEBRUARY

D I G E ST E D I TO R

Animal Aid

Galvanizing Force

DONNA BEEMAN

CHARIT Y

The huge cost of the ongoing pandemic has been in more than human lives. Economic disruption has left many families unable to care for pets. In Japan, this has meant an increased demand for the services of organizations like Animal Refuge Kansai (ARK). “We have also noted a drop in donations, probably because many supporters are facing uncertainty in their jobs and futures,” says ARK’s Julie Okamoto. That predicament made Members’ donations at the Club’s year-end charity drive even more critical. The contributions of pet food and toys will enable ARK to continue to look after the dozens of dogs, cats and rabbits at its shelter in Hyogo Prefecture. ARK, which was founded in 1990, is a Connections-supported charity. NJ Photo (l–r): Connections’ Kazuko Morio, Mesee Greene and Olivia Smith with ARK founder Elizabeth Oliver

G U E ST ST U D I O S

ENRIQUE BALDUCCI

Great Escapes

Winter for the Danish is a time of peak hygge. That’s cozy contentment to those not familiar with the trending Scandi concept. Through February 28, the Club is inviting Members to hunker down for hygge-filled getaways at the Guest Studios. Winter retreat rates start from ¥22,000 per night, including breakfast for two at Café Med. New Guest Studio fan Hisanori Yamada, who enjoyed recent stays at Yume and Surf (pictured), is in two minds about spreading the word. “I definitely recommend the Studios to my fellow Members,” he says, “but I don’t want them to become so popular that they become too hard to reserve!” Contact Member Services to book. NJ

INTOUCH

For six weeks in the autumn of 2019, Japan was enraptured with rugby. People who had never heard of a scrum or lineout were suddenly mesmerized by the 20 teams battling one another in Rugby World Cup games across the country. By the time the home side made it through to the best eight for the first time in its history, interest was at a fever pitch. Nearly 59 million people—almost half the population—tuned in to watch the Brave Blossoms take on South Africa in their quarterfinal. While that hurdle proved too much for Japan, the team had already earned the respect of the entire rugby fraternity for their attacking verve, flair and grit. The collection of Japanese and foreign players—embraced by the nation— became instant celebrities. Led by their New Zealand-born skipper, Michael Leitch, the side presented a dynamic, cosmopolitan and adaptable image of Japan. In some ways, the players offered the country a glimpse of its possible future. With a population in decline, Japan is searching for ways to stay economically competitive and geopolitically relevant. Perhaps the answer lies in harnessing the skills of people—whatever their nationality—committed to Japan. Just as Leitch did. “Coming from different cultures in New Zealand and coming over here at a young age,” he says, “I learned the culture and collaborated with other cultures to perform on a massive stage.” Michael Leitch, who receives the Club’s Sportsman of the Year award this month, discusses his rugby career on page 20.

L I B R A RY

From the Shelves It was exciting to imagine Lupin running across the rooftops of Paris. When I began working, most of the books I read were business and leadership-related titles, which were helpful but never caught my imagination. Joining the Book Lovers’ Group has opened my eyes to so many different genres, including some very amusing plays. I have just finished reading Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.

KAYO YAMAWAKI

What are you reading now? Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey. It’s an energetic and honest account of the actor’s life. He shares life-altering events and the people who shaped him. It’s a book that makes you think about your own life. Highly recommended. Toshiyuki “Mac” Tanaka

A longtime lover of books, new Member Toshiyuki “Mac” Tanaka wasted no time in exploring the shelves of the Library and, together with his wife, Yuka, joining the Book Lovers’ Group. What was your favorite childhood book? Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. I was fascinated by the undersea images and dreamed of boarding the Nautilus submarine. In fact, the Nautilus’ design inspired me to become a designer.

What inspired your love of books? From around 7 years old, my go-to place was the public library. I remember reading the Encyclopedia Britannica from beginning to end. I loved learning and looking at photos of things I never knew existed or places I had never visited. A 7-year-old reading Time magazine and Popular Mechanics must have been a strange sight. What genre do you most enjoy? I enjoyed mysteries like Sherlock Holmes and Lupin when I was young.

When were you last unable to put down a book? There are many books that I have read in one go, especially when on transpacific flights. But Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book is one I haven’t been able to put down for 25 years. Over 18 holes of golf, so much happens between your ears that sometimes I feel like golf is bigger than the universe. The story is set at Austin Country Club, where my kids and I learned how to not just play golf but deal with whatever life throws at you. I keep going back to the book for advice on how to think and how not to think too much.

S PA

Body Boost

KAYO YAMAWAKI

You’ve stuck to your New Year’s resolution to get back to the gym, but a month and change of a new workout routine can start to leave the body stiff and sore. Instead of pushing through the pain, a little pampering could be just what over-stressed muscles need. This month at The Spa, Club trainer and aromatherapist Hideaki Hongo (pictured) offers special, discounted rates on sports therapy treatments with essential oils. Combining deep-tissue kneading with calming and restorative decoctions like ginger, orange, rosemary camphor and more, Hongo’s one-hour (¥10,560) and 90-minute (¥14,080) sessions will have you ready to take on your next Fitness Center workout. OZ

FEBRUARY

D I G E ST R EC O G N I T I O N

WINE

Icing on the Cake

In with the New WORDS JAMES LITTLEWOOD

KAYO YAMAWAKI

IMAGE KAYO YAMAWAKI

When Vivienne Hanawa turned 8 years old in the early pandemic days of April 2020, a traditional birthday party was simply out of the question. One year later and with her daughter set to turn 9, Ellie Hanawa was determined to throw her daughter a party to make up for the cancelled celebration. “At first, we didn’t know what we were able to do in terms of what packages were being offered,” says Hanawa. “We got in contact with the Club, and we heard back from Hiromi straight away.” Hiromi Oka, a seven-year veteran of the Club’s Recreation team, presented Hanawa with the Club’s standard birthday plans. And when Hanawa requested some customized details, such as a party motif in a particular shade of turquoise, Oka wasted no time in tracking down alternatives. “I found three other options that were similar to the turquoise they wanted,” says Oka, who also organized a magician and balloons shaped like the numeral nine. “They really loved that idea.” “All of the back-and-forth communication was always very prompt,” Hanawa says of the weeks of planning. “We also had a special request for food. Vivienne really enjoys the lasagna, so Hiromi was able to organize that with the chef. That wasn’t part of any package.” “It’s always really thick,” Vivienne says of her favorite Club dish. On the day of the party, Oka even helped out with ushering guests to and from the party in the B1 classrooms and serving food, drinks and cake. With professional event-planning experience of her own, Hanawa is no stranger to the complexities of coordinating decorations, entertainment, refreshments and other logistics. Before the last party guest departed, she knew she would be recognizing Oka for her efforts in a Tell TAC comment card. “It’s great to give feedback, especially if it’s positive,” says Hanawa, who is also considering the Club for Vivienne’s fast-approaching 10th birthday. If so, would lasagna return to the menu? “Yes, yes, yes!” shouts Vivienne. OZ Members can recognize Club staff by submitting a Tell TAC online or by filling out one of the cards available around the Club. Photo: Ellie and Vivienne Hanawa

February was the last month of the year in one of the earliest Roman calendars. Derived from the Latin word februum, meaning ritual purif ication, February was a time of cleansing ahead of a new year. For reasons now lost to time, it got reshuffled to the second month by a no-mark emperor, most likely for mathematical reasons. But don’t let this stop you from purging yourself of substandard bottles and trying these three Cellar wines. An essential for anyone heading to Hakuba or Niseko is Bedrock’s 2018 Old Vine Zinfandel (¥4,180). This bold California Zin is bright and floral with flavors of crushed red berries, flowers and sweet spice. An ideal après-ski sipper. To keep the winter chill at bay, you’ll need a second bottle ready to go. Hoopla’s 2018 The Mutt Red Blend from Napa should do the job. Soft, creamy and delicious with all red meats. Available for ¥4,390. If you’re already wishing for warmer days, pick up a summer-infused 2019 Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand (¥3,080). The decades-old vines make for wines of unique complexity. This one oozes passionfruit and citrus. Enjoy with fresh seafood. James Littlewood is a member of the Club’s Wine & Beverage Committee. For the month of February, receive a 10 percent discount on purchases of at least three bottles of any of these recommended Cellar wines.

FEBRUARY

AG E N DA

Events in February Since some events may be postponed or cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, please check the Club website for the most up-to-date information.

Start Your Day in the City Catch up on your morning news feed or get a head start on the day’s e-mails while enjoying complimentary coffee with any breakfast item.  Weekdays  7–11am  American Room, Muromachi Bar & Lounge  Details online

Gallery Exhibition: Matthew Shewchuk

Connections Welcome Desk Explore the myriad social events, tours, classes and volunteering opportunities on offer from Connections.  11am–1pm (1F Family Lobby) & 3–5pm (B1 elevator area)  Free  Open to all Members  Details online

Winter Retreat Whether you’re planning a Valentine’s vacation at the Club or a relaxing overnight sojourn in your second home, hunker down in one of the Club’s seven stylish Guest Studios at a limited-time rate.  Through February 28  Details online

1–28

Tokyo Bay Swim Challenge Select your distance challenge based on real-world routes and swim your way to prizes and new personal bests—or maybe just the buzz of pushing yourself to new physical and mental heights.

It’s often said that artists possess an eye for beauty in ordinary objects that most of us miss. For Matthew Shewchuk, that talent is central to each and every work. “All the pieces in this exhibition are made from discarded trees from all over Japan,” he says. “Wood that would be otherwise turned into chips or burnt is given new form.” After 35 years of living, working and absorbing artistic sensibilities abroad, Shewchuk’s skill and patience on the lathe unfailingly uncover the timber’s natural textures and character. Through February 28, the American master craftsman’s exhibition at the Frederick Harris Gallery offers a unique look at the oft-obscured beauty of the natural world. OZ

Moment I realized I wanted to become an artist. I don’t know. I cannot remember a time when I didn’t enjoy making things. What I would tell my 20-year-old self. Enjoy this because before you know it, it’s over. My perfect creative environment. In the early morning sun. Artist, living or dead, I’d most like to share a meal with. René Magritte [20th-century Belgian surrealist].  Through February 28  Frederick Harris Gallery  Artworks available for purchase through Member Services  Details online

 Sky Pool  ¥2,750  Adults only  Sign up online

2 & 16

The Club’s band of public speaking enthusiasts share romantic tales and dating horror stories during this Valentine’s-themed workshop.

Meet fellow Nihonbashi Club Members at this semimonthly luncheon hosted by the Nihonbashi Committee. Reserve your spot by calling 03-6262-6976.

Toastmasters Luncheon: Love Sparks

 12–1:30pm  Brooklyn III  ¥2,420 (online: ¥550)  Sign up online

INTOUCH

Getting to Know You

 12–1:30pm  ¥1,100  American Room  Nihonbashi Club Members only  Details online

Friday Night Live: Evening in Paris A soirée of French cuisine, libations and live chanson music.  6:30–8:30pm  Winter Garden  ¥4,950 (walk-ins: ¥7,150); guests: ¥7,150 (walk-ins: ¥9,350)  Limit: two guests per Member  Details online

4–6

Luxury Jewelry Sale Make that special someone feel exceptional this Valentine’s Day with up to 70 percent off one-of-a-kind jewelry from Shono.  10:30am–7pm (February 4 & 5) & 10:30am–5pm (February 6)  Beate Sirota Gordon & Haru Reischauer classrooms  Details online

Abracadabra Class YUUKI IDE

Budding David Blaines pick up card tricks, sleight-of-hand illusions and more from local performer Martino Ricci.

 10:30am–12pm  Toko Shinoda & Yukiko Maki classrooms  ¥2,200 (guests: ¥2,750)  Ages 6–12  Sign up online

Sportsman of the Year Award The Club honors Japan rugby great Michael Leitch at a special ceremony. The former Japan captain discusses his prolific career and the journey to turn the Brave Blossoms into a giant-toppling team on page 20.  7–8:30pm  New York Ballroom  Adults: ¥1,500 (guests: ¥2,500); ages 8–19: ¥500 (guests: ¥1,000)  Limit: four guests per Member  Sign up online

Introduction to Squash Club instructor Rico Cheung offers free, introductory court sessions for up to four people on the same membership. Priority for 20-minute lessons given to firsttime attendees.  4:30–6:30pm  Squash Court III  Free  Members only  Ages 6 & above  Details online

Culture Connections Mingle with friends and new acquaintances while learning about the culture, cuisine and history of one another’s home countries.  10am  Details online

Super Bowl at the Club The NFL’s first-ever 17-game season was record-setting in more ways than just the schedule. On defense, Pittsburgh’s TJ Watt tied the single-season sack record with 22.5 tackles in just 15 games. On offense, Miami’s Jaylen Waddle tallied 102 receptions to set a new high-water mark for rookie wide receivers. And of course, Hall of Famer-in-waiting Tom Brady threw for the 80,359th yard of his career in October to set the all-time passing record for quarterbacks—before throwing for 4,161 more by the end of the season. Individual records, while undeniably impressive, are one thing. But the Super Bowl is something else entirely. On February 14, the Club hosts two watch parties for America’s biggest sporting spectacular. In the New York Ballroom, catch every touchdown and tackle from table seating

while breakfasting from a buffet spread of bagels with salmon gravlax, crab cakes benedict and more—before the menu switches over to fully loaded tacos at halftime. In Traders’ Bar, fans gather around flat-screen TVs for an authentic sports bar atmosphere of good-natured ribbing and a host of classic game-day bites like popcorn shrimp, chicken wings and nachos. Wherever you choose to take in football’s showcase event, you won’t find a better seat outside the Club. OZ SUPER BOWL AT THE CLUB  7:30am  New York Ballroom  ¥7,000 (guests: ¥9,000)  Limit: three guests per Member  Details online SUPER BOWL AT TRADERS’  7:30am  Traders’ Bar  ¥4,500  Adult Members only  Details online

Fitness Center trainers guide Members through 10 weeks of weigh-ins, nutrition tips and one-hour workout sessions, plus optional nutrition guidance from trainer Takeshi Hirata.

Stroll among hundreds of plum trees in the historic Atami Plum Garden on this Connections-organized tour that also visits the MOA Museum of Art.

Weight Loss Challenge

 Through April 18  Fitness Center  ¥72,000  Members only  Ages 16 & above  Details online

Atami Baien Plum Garden

 7:50am–6pm  Connections members: ¥14,000 (non-Connections members: ¥15,400)  Details online

FEBRUARY

AG E N DA

Wednesday Storytime A special edition of the Library’s regular Wednesday Storytime sessions, educator Kinota Braithwaite reads from his book Mio The Beautiful, a tale of growing up biracial in Japan. Read more about the Canadian’s activism on page 15.

KAYO YAMAWAKI

 4–4:30pm  Toko Shinoda & Yukiko Maki classrooms  Free  Details online

TAC Talk: Kinota Braithwaite

After his afternoon storytime, the children’s author and teacher discusses the challenges of raising biracial children in Japan.  7–8pm  Toko Shinoda & Yukiko Maki classrooms  ¥1,650 (online: ¥550); guests: ¥1,980 (online: ¥660)  Sign up online

Joseph Drouhin Wine Dinner Véronique Boss-Drouhin of the celebrated Burgundy winery virtually hosts a multicourse dinner of superlative wines.  7–9pm  Manhattan III  ¥25,300 (guests: ¥30,360)  Limit: two guests per member  Details online

Board Together Test your wits at the Library’s monthly tabletop game club while learning the finer points of old-school games like Risk and D&D.  5–6:30pm  Teen Connection  ¥1,100  Recommended for ages 12–18  Sign up online

Winter Garden Melodies Take in the soothing jazz and classical standards of local pianists, flautists and violinists. Continues February 18 and 25.

For centuries, the 514-kilometer tokaido trail was the main thoroughfare connecting the old political nexus of Kyoto to the new power center of Edo (Tokyo’s premodern moniker). From 1635, an order from the new Tokugawa shogunate compelled provincial lords to gather their full retinues and journey for weeks on end (staying in some of the 53 rest houses along the route) to the new capital. By the time they arrived, they were often physically and financially exhausted, just as the shogun intended. The Nihonbashi Club issues no such edict to start pounding pavement, but you might just walk away with prizes if you do. Through March 11, jump on a Fitness Center tread-

Sky Pool Splash-A-Round Kids burn off energy and make new friends during an afternoon of aquatic thrills.

 6–9pm  Winter Garden  Details online

 3–4pm & 4:30–5:30pm  Sky Pool  ¥2,200 (guests: ¥2,750)  Ages 5–12  Sign up online

Creative kids craft their own comic book with Library manager Drew Damron. The fun continues every second Saturday of the month.

Mask up and mingle with friends over happy-hour drinks during this monthly mixer.

DIY Comic Book Club

 11:30am–1:30pm  Teen Connection  ¥2,200  Ages 6–14  Sign up online

Tokaido Challenge

INTOUCH

Cocktail Connections

 5pm  CHOP Lounge  Connections members only  Details online

mill and start walking, jogging or running your way to the 92-kilometer goal—the distance from Tokyo’s Nihonbashi to the tokaido’s 10th Hakone Juku rest station. The first Member to rack up 92 kilometers will win dinner worth ¥20,000 at the American Room, with the runner-up receiving lunch to the value of ¥10,000. The next 10 to cross the finish line win complimentary appetizers, but every participant has the chance to lose a few pounds (shogunal approval not required). OZ  Through March 11  Nihonbashi Club Fitness Center  Free  Members only  Sign up online

Toastmasters Luncheon: Speech Contest At this special session of the Club’s public speaking devotees, members compete for prizes in a speech contest.  12–1:30pm  Washington & Lincoln rooms  ¥2,420 (online: ¥550); guests: ¥2,820 (online: ¥660)  Details online

Book Lovers’ Group Join fellow bibliophiles for moderated discussions on recent reads. Held on the third Thursday of the month. Contact the Library for details.  11am–12:30pm  Free  Details online

Booze & Blues Join Nathan Baggs, the Club’s beverage director, for seasonal cocktails a selection of appetizers and blues classics.  6–8:30pm  Washington & Lincoln rooms  ¥9,900 (guests: ¥11,880)  Limit: two guests per Member  Details online

Nihonbashi Chef ’s Table Enjoy an intimate dinner of gourmet cuisine and wine pairings. Learn more about the team behind the Nihonbashi Club’s culinary creations on page 16.  6–7:30pm  Private Dining Room  ¥15,000  Details online KEYSHOTS.COM

Cocktail Hour Learn how to craft the perfect cocktail from a Muromachi Bar mixologist.

 5:30pm  Muromachi Bar & Lounge  ¥2,200  Members only  Details online

TAC Talk: Suzanne Kamata The American author shares the life experiences that led to her novel on the complications of putting down roots in a foreign land.  7–8pm  Toko Shinoda & Yukiko Maki classrooms  ¥1,650 (online: ¥550); guests: ¥1,980 (online: ¥660)  Sign up online

Saturday Storytime Kids jump into the weekend with a book-inspired morning of magic, adventure and laughs.  11:30am–12pm  Children’s Library  Free  Details online

Show & Tell Jamboree Ages 6 to 9 learn how to wow a crowd at afternoons of games, music and more.  1–2:30pm  Washington & Lincoln rooms  ¥1,000 (guests: ¥1,200)  Sign up online

Youth Toastmasters Club Youngsters pick up tips on public speaking, debating and engaging an audience.

Father-Daughter Dinner Dance Even the ancient Greeks were acutely aware that little else was more precious to a dad than his little girl. “To a father growing old,” lamented the plaintive dramatist Euripides, “nothing is dearer than a daughter.” This month, the Club celebrates this cherished family bond with its annual Father-Daughter Dinner Dance. Hosted in a New York Ballroom transformed into an après-ski winter wonderland, this evening of music, dancing and cuisine always delivers memories to last a lifetime. Add in a performance of sleight-of-hand magic and illusion from magician Martino Ricci and a pre-party beautification boutique run by the Yama-

no College of Aesthetics, and it’s no wonder this event is a fixture on the calendars of dads across the Club. “It is a great chance for fathers and daughters to share a special night together in a more formal setting,” says Member Justin Balogh, who has attended three previous dinner dances with his 9-year-old daughter, Eva. “With all the other fathers and friends attending, too, it is a great social night for everyone.” OZ  5–8:30pm (Makeover Salon: 2–5pm)  New York Ballroom  ¥9,350 per person (each additional daughter: ¥7,700); guests: ¥11,220  Details online

Start exploring the Club’s wine collection at this sampling of two whites and two reds recommended by the Wine & Beverage Committee.

Expand your horizons and your social circle over a freshly brewed cup of joe at this monthly gathering for Connections members.

 5–7pm  American Bar & Grill  ¥3,100  Sign up online

 10am  Details online

Wine Flight Night

Coffee Connections

 3–4pm  Washington & Lincoln rooms  Sign up online

FEBRUARY

A DV E RTO R I A L

Sustainable Education Hakuba International School offers modern learning in a beautiful setting

hildren of today will face a variety of challenges by the time they reach adulthood, particularly when it comes to the environment. Achieving solutions at global and local levels will require a combination of academic ability, creativity and emotional awareness, and young learners will need them to successfully face a changing world. Hakuba International School (HIS) aims to develop these qualities through an innovative learning approach. Located in the stunning surroundings of the Japanese Alps in the village of Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture, HIS will open this September. The new boarding school will be for students in grades 7 to 12, and it plans to offer International Baccalaureate diplomas. The school was founded by Tomoko Kusamoto, who moved to Hakuba 13 years ago after a career in finance. The mother of three became involved in the community, establishing the Hakuba SDGs Lab and becoming the local public high school’s global coordinator. Bringing new educational ideas to this school inspired her to launch HIS, which has been offering a series of holiday programs since 2016. BLENDING METHODS Key to the school’s curriculum is projectbased learning (PBL), which allows students to learn material and put it to use through real-world activities. It will be the primary focus of lessons for students in grades 7 to 10. As Kusamoto explains, “When kids are doing projects, they are motivated to learn and they naturally want to do well. They really see the need to learn the skills and

INTOUCH

knowledge needed to get projects going and make them successful.” Kusamoto adds that another pillar of an HIS education is social-emotional learning, which is grounded in five elements: 

Self-awareness



Self-management



Social awareness



Relationship skills



Responsible decision making

Brought together, these elements empower students to discover their unique strengths and explore how they can put them to use. Kusamoto points out this will be a central element of the HIS experience. “Many schools try to form students into a kind of mold for what a ‘good student’ is,” Kusamoto says. “But we will encourage students to really explore and discover themselves, find out who they are, be confident about what they’re passionate about and help them figure out how to use that passion to contribute to the world.” THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT The beautiful setting is one of the school’s greatest strengths and will influence its educational approach. Kusamoto says she has already seen changes in the local climate since moving there, and nurturing an awareness of sustainability runs deep through the school’s curriculum. For example, sustainability will be a primary component of PBL activities at HIS. This awareness is also supported by the range of outdoor activities that students can enjoy amidst forests, mountains, rivers and lakes. Kusamoto points out that

Hakuba International School founder Tomoko Kusamoto

this closeness to one’s natural surroundings brings the concept of sustainability to the forefront: “Unless you really know and experience nature, it’s hard to really care about preserving it.” True to the school’s pioneering spirit and environmental sensibility, the final design for HIS’s first permanent building, which will be carbon neutral, will be shaped by the input of the school’s inaugural classes. It is scheduled to be completed in 2024. As Kusamoto explains, the combination of learning approaches that HIS will offer sets it apart among international schools and has the potential to affect the future of learning. “Bringing together sustainability, project-based learning and socialemotional learning is not something that many other schools do now,” she says. “I’m hopeful that our school will be able to demonstrate a new type of education in Japan.” HIS is now accepting applications for grades 7 and 8 as the school’s inaugural class, and plans to host a winter school program from February 17 to 19. To find out more about the remarkable learning opportunities an HIS education can provide, visit www.hakuba-is.jp

I N D E P T H | E D U C AT I O N

Battling Bigotry through Books

Set to speak at two Club events this month, Kinota Braithwaite discusses his fight to change attitudes about race in Japan. WORDS TIM HORNYAK

ike any first-grader starting school, Mio Braithwaite was excited to meet her teacher and make new friends. But those early feelings of nervous delight soon turned to anguish. When other kids at her elementary school in Kanagawa Prefecture directed racist barbs at her, Mio told her parents she didn’t want to go back. Surprisingly, Mio’s father, Kinota Braithwaite, saw an opportunity. The Canadian educator arranged to give a talk about racism at the school and even had a parent of one of the bullies do the interpretation. His message is crystallized in Mio The Beautiful, an exquisitely illustrated, bilingual children’s book. “I’ve done a lot of anti-bullying work before, speaking to kids and parents,

Kinota Braithwaite with his daughter, Mio, and son, Kei

but nothing prepares you for when it’s your actual child who is going through it,” says Braithwaite, 43. “I was quite upset, but I knew that if I did the same thing as the bullies, then we were not going to get a positive result. I had to show my daughter there’s a better way to deal with the problem.” Published a year ago, Mio The Beautiful tells the story of how the parents and teacher of a young girl taunted by her peers rally to spread a message of racial awareness and acceptance. Since the book’s release, Braithwaite has received messages from other parents in Japan sharing the struggles of their own biracial children. Born and raised in Toronto, Braithwaite follows in the footsteps of his late grandmother in writing about racial issues. Rella Aylestock Braithwaite, a descendant of Black pioneers, including former slaves from the United States who settled in Ontario, wrote newspaper columns about African Canadians as well as the 1975 book The Black Woman in Canada. With the Black Lives Matter movement shining a light on racial inequality across the world, the issues of discrimination and identity in Japan have been drawing greater attention, too, with Nike Japan releasing a provocative commercial on the subject in 2020. “People here are in their little bubble and want things to stay the same, but

I want my kids to feel accepted, too, and be part of Japanese society,” says Braithwaite, who teaches at the Montessori School of Tokyo. “Everyone likes a winner, so when they see someone of mixed heritage representing Japan, it’s a positive. This has also been good for kids, because now they can see someone in Japanese society who looks like them. When [biracial tennis player] Naomi Osaka carried the [Tokyo Olympic] torch, it meant a lot for my kids.” The success of the Sakura Medal-nominated Mio The Beautiful has led to Braithwaite speaking at schools and companies. He has since published Kei The True Friend, about the difficulties his son faced after moving to Japan from Canada, and Mio’s Wish: Growing Up Biracial in Japan. “My whole motivation is that I don’t want any child to be bullied or to be afraid,” says Braithwaite. “Hopefully, one day I won’t have to write these books anymore.” TAC TALK: KINOTA BRAITHWAITE  February 9  7–8pm  Toko Shinoda & Yukiko Maki classrooms  Members: ¥1,650 (online: ¥550); guests: ¥1,980 (online: ¥660)  Sign up online WEDNESDAY STORYTIME WITH KINOTA BRAITHWAITE  February 9  4–4:30pm  Toko Shinoda & Yukiko Maki classrooms  Free

FEBRUARY

INDEPTH | DINING

Soul Kitchen

The Nihonbashi Club’s head chef explains why creativity is a key ingredient in every dish. WORDS OWEN ZIEGLER IMAGE KAYO YAMAWAKI

ometimes, boom, a new dish works,” says Yasuharu Nakajima. “Sometimes, we’ll modify it two or three times, add some acid or a fresh, new ingredient. The more we collaborate, the better the result.” As the Nihonbashi Club’s chef de cuisine, Nakajima has been instrumental in shaping the satellite facility’s culinary philosophy since it opened in March 2021. But to presume that the testing and tasting ended when the first meals were presented to diners would be a mistake. “It’s crucial for our chefs to put thought into every dish before they start making it,” explains Nakajima, 44. “Everything from how it tastes, how it looks and how it’s eaten has to be considered.” Overseeing a team of 10 chefs, Nakajima emphasizes innovation and high-quality, seasonal ingredients over rote reproductions of long-standing recipes. During lulls in service, chefs are encouraged to experiment with the freshest meat, fish, vegetables and herbs to conjure up such dishes as Brillat-Savarin cheese, strawberry and prosciutto crostini and lamb chops with earthy lentils and local maitake mushrooms. When they’re content with their creations, the chefs present them to Nakajima and Antonio Villasmil, the Nihonbashi Club’s services manager, who decide whether a dish requires

INTOUCH

Yasuharu Nakajima

fine tuning or is ready for inclusion on the menu of weekly specials. This inspired, exploratory approach to cuisine has not gone unnoticed. “One dish that stands out in my memory was a catch-of-the-day, Japanese-style white fish in dashi soup from the weekly menu,” says Nihonbashi Member Akiko Kaito, a lunch regular. “The weekly menu is always different, and I look forward to it every time.” Truly exceptional dishes are reserved for the Nihonbashi Chef ’s Table, a monthly, multicourse dinner complete with sommelier-selected wine pairings in the intimate confines of the American Room’s private dining space. The concept, which launches this month, came about after a request for Nakajima and his team to be given carte blanche to craft a new menu.

“We have one chef who, if we need an amuse-bouche or some starters, he’ll put it together in five or 10 minutes,” says Villasmil, 45. “He’s so good at what he does, and when our chefs are given that kind of freedom, Members can tell.” Come February 21, diners can discover why creativity in the kitchen results in elevated fare in the dining room. After all, the best meals are so much greater than the sum of their parts. “A recipe has no soul,” Thomas Keller, the legendary chef behind The French Laundry in Napa and New York’s Per Se, once said. “You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.” That’s an ingredient available in abundance in Nakajima’s kitchen. NIHONBASHI CHEF’S TABLE  February 21 (every third Monday)  6–10pm  Private Dining Room  ¥15,000  Details online

I N D E P T H | AC T I V I S M

Tides of Change

The daughter of a boundary-pushing social activist reflects on her father’s legacy and unfinished work.

hey called Connecticut’s beaches the “sand curtain,” but the shores were as impenetrable as iron. “By the late 1960s, all but seven of Connecticut’s 253 miles of coast (and 72 miles of beach) were in private hands or effectively limited to [white, wealthy] residents of coastal towns,” writes historian Andrew Kahrl. “This was how Jim Crow had long worked in the Northeast.” That status quo of de facto segregation remained all but unchallenged until Edward “Ned” Coll made it his life’s work to confront it. “Hartford is about an hour and a half from the ocean,” says Member Elizabeth Coll of growing up in a state routinely ranked among those with America’s worst income inequality. “My father just wanted to take some kids living in a world of concrete to go play in nature.” What followed was a still-unfinished struggle in the courts and media to expose the structural racism of Northeastern elites, as outlined in Kahrl’s 2018 book Free the Beaches: The Story of Ned Coll and the Battle for America’s Most Exclusive Shoreline. Until 1963, Ned Coll was a public relations professional working out of a Hartford insurance firm. But when news of President John F Kennedy’s assassination swept the country, he decided to devote himself to the spirit of social change embodied by the slain commander in chief. “He said he went out in the streets of Hartford, and it was just a sea of white handkerchiefs,” Coll, 45, recalls of discussions with her father. “Shortly after, he quit his job and started the Revitalization Corps.” Originally founded in 1964 as a grassroots community support collective, the Revitalization Corps made headlines in 1971 when Coll high-

WORDS OWEN ZIEGLER

US Senator Robert Kennedy with Ned Coll in New York in 1966

lighted the issue of beach inaccessibility and what many viewed as the hypocrisy of “armchair liberals” clinging to patches of coastline. Coll’s protests were endlessly creative: impromptu bus trips to beaches, which often saw well-to-do sunbathers and swimmers physically bar Black and Hispanic children from setting foot on the sand, and so-called “beach invasions,” where Revitalization Corps-chartered boats would ferry families from public docks to beaches otherwise inaccessible due to regulations designed to deter minorities (in Connecticut, coastal tidelands are public property). Ned Coll even stood as a candidate in the 1972 presidential election, rebuking “politics as usual” during a nationally televised debate in New Hampshire. Over the years, others have picked up Ned Coll’s mantle to shine a spot-

light on modern forms of old injustices. A cross-cultural journalist and filmmaker, Coll carries on her father’s belief that only good things come from connecting people seemingly separated by barriers of communication and lived experience. She is currently editing a documentary to be released later this year on the ongoing struggle for Connecticut’s shoreline. Large portions of the film will feature those Hartford residents continuing to fight for equitable access to nature and recreational spaces. It’s those voices, she says, that are too often overlooked. “When [my father] started the Revitalization Corps, it was very comfortable for [the media] to put the center of attention on a white male. But when I look back, I just remember a bunch of [Black and Hispanic] women doing the work.”

FEBRUARY

Toranomon Hills Residential Tower

Image and text are based on blueprints from the planning stage of the project and may differ and change without notice. The use of shared spaces is subject to management rules; some will require a reservation and/or a fee for use.

Completed in November 2021, the Toranomon Hills Residential Tower is located in the heart of the rapidly developing Toranomon neighborhood, which offers a dazzling diversity of cultural activities and dining options. Both the outer and inner spaces of the property provide experiences that will satisfy senses and soul. The greenery-rich exterior was designed by Christoph Ingenhoven, a pioneer in sustainable architecture, while the vibrant and inviting interior areas were crafted by the world-renowned tonychi studio.

Even when you’re not inside your own tastefully appointed unit, the building’s shared spaces feel like extensions of your home. The gallery and library, all-day dining restaurant Toranomon Hills Kitchen, fully equipped Toranomon Hills Spa and exclusive Sky Salon lounge have all been created to provide a warm and welcoming sense of community. Residents can also enjoy a wide range of amenities and attentive service from the residence’s staff, including a concierge, doorman, valet and porter. We invite you to experience a new style of modern Tokyo living. Site visits begin spring 2022.

www.toranomonhills-residentialtower.com

I N D E P T H | FO CU S

R E D A L E OF THE K C A P Set to receive the Club’s Sportsman of the Year award this month, rugby player Michael Leitch talks World Cup wins, creating a culture of pride and dealing with celebrity. WORDS NICK JONES

Michael Leitch

INTOUCH

SUNAO OHMORI

smile breaks across Michael Leitch’s face as he recalls the “send-off ” at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. There were a handful of diehard rugby fans there to wish Japan’s national team good luck at the upcoming 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. “When we left, there were about 12 people at the airport singing,” he says. “They got told to be quiet.” By the time the squad of 31 players touched down at Haneda exactly six weeks later, they had knocked the rugby world off its axis and had won the hearts of fans across the globe. “There were 5,000, maybe 10,000 people outside the airport,” Leitch, 33, says. “It was nuts. There were people everywhere. You can never prepare for something like that.” The reaction was hardly surprising. Japan had gone into the tournament with a less-thanstellar record of one win in seven World Cup appearances. That sole victory was against minnows Zimbabwe in 1991. And while the Brave Blossoms had made impressive progress under head coach Eddie Jones in the lead-up to 2015, nobody would have predicted the outcome of their first pool game against powerhouse South Africa. Well, almost nobody.

“YOU’D BE EATING DINNER WITH YOUR FAMILY, AND PEOPLE WOULD ASK FOR PHOTOS. YOU COULDN’T WALK DOWN THE STREET.” —Michael Leitch

Michael Leitch against Scotland in the 2019 Rugby World Cup

“That game against South Africa was like reading a book,” says the 1.9-meter-tall flanker. “I knew all the plays and could see everything happening as we had prepared for. It was one of those games you’ll never see again, I think.” That last-gasp 34-32 win over the Springboks—regarded as one of the greatest sporting upsets of all time—has already been chronicled in a movie, The Brighton Miracle (screened at the Club in 2020). As captain, Leitch led the team to further pool wins over the United States and Samoa, a game that drew a TV audience in Japan of 25 million. After losing to Scotland, they became the first nation in World Cup history to win three group matches but fail to reach the quarterfinals. By that time, Japan had already captured the imagination of an entire country, and Leitch had become a household name. “It was crazy times,” says Leitch during a video call from the Tokyo training ground of his club side, Toshiba Brave Lupus, which plays in the new League One competition. “You’d be eating dinner with your family, and people would ask for photos. You couldn’t walk down the street.” At the team’s first press conference after returning from England, Jones referred to the players as Japan’s “new sporting heroes.”

KEVIN BOOTH

FEBRUARY

I N D E P T H | FO CU S

“I JUST HAD A DIFFERENT AURA ABOUT ME AND A BIT OF A SWAGGER. THAT REALLY BOOSTED MY CONFIDENCE GOING INTO THE WORLD CUP.” —Michael Leitch

“They have changed Japanese rugby,” he said. “To finish the tournament ranked ninth in the world, to finish ahead of countries like England is an absolutely amazing success story.” That achievement was particularly remarkable for a country where rugby is often overshadowed by sports like soccer, baseball and even swimming. While the game was first played in Japan at Keio University in 1899, its popularity never peaked beyond the university championship matchups that once filled the old National Stadium. But Japan’s showing at the World Cup in England was no accident. It was the result of years of planning by Jones and his team of coaches, who took over in 2012. Leitch says the famously meticulous Australian, who now coaches England, oversaw “a real shake-up.” “As one person said, 2011 was Disneyland. Because when Eddie came, it was absolute hell,” Leitch says. “We were up at 4 o’clock in the morning on the [scrum machine] rollers, drinking protein shakes and training five times a day.” While the ground-up overhaul required molding fitter, stronger and more dynamically skilled players, Jones also set about instilling self-belief in the team. “Eddie Jones knew the potential the Japanese players had and was the driving force behind get-

ting that mentality right, getting away from bad habits and getting away from a mentality that was happy to play a good game but lose,” Leitch says. With a squad made up of both foreign and Japanese talent, Jones knew that he needed a leader who could bridge cultures and bring players together. He turned to Leitch, a man who already had experience crossing cultural divides. Born in the New Zealand city of Christchurch to a Fijian mother and Kiwi father, Leitch started playing rugby at 5 years old. Like so many kids in New Zealand, he dreamed of one day playing for the legendary national team. “The All Blacks were super stars and, growing up, you wanted to be like them,” he says. But when a chance arose to enroll at Yamanote High School in Sapporo, Leitch, just 15 years old at the time, took it. “The toughest part was fitting in because I looked different, probably smelled different and walked different. But everything I did wasn’t different,” he says. “I did everything the same as the Japanese. I was quite self-conscious, and the way I perceived myself was probably less than it should have been.” Jones saw that hesitation in his skipper. “Our relationship started with me being really nervous about being captain and trying to do everything perfectly,” Leitch says. “He told

Michael Leitch playing for Tokyo’s Toshiba Brave Lupus

INTOUCH

Profile 1988 Born in Christchurch, New Zealand 1993 Begins playing rugby 2004 Joins Yamanote High School in Sapporo 2007 Enters Tokai University 2008 Makes Japan test debut against the USA 2011 Signs with Tokyo’s Toshiba Brave Lupus 2014 Appointed captain of Japan 2015 Named Super Rugby’s rookie of the year 2015 Leads Japan to World Cup victory over South Africa 2018 Joins Super Rugby’s Sunwolves 2019 Leads Japan to World Cup quarterfinals on home soil 2022 Plays for Toshiba in new League One competition Michael Leitch against England in 2018

me: ‘All you have to do is play and not be Japanese. Every time you have an interview, you bow your head. Just don’t be Japanese.’” In 2015, with the backing of Jones, Leitch returned to New Zealand to play for the Chiefs in the highly demanding Super Rugby club competition. It proved a transformative time for him. “At that stage, I had been in Japan a good 15 years, so it was about remembering where I came from,” says Leitch, who was named rookie of the year. “I just had a different aura about me and a bit of a swagger. That really boosted my confidence going into the World Cup.” With significant wins over tier-one teams like Wales and Italy in the run-up to the 2015 World Cup, it was clear that Leitch’s work to inject a sense of pride in his teammates was paying off. “What I’ve noticed is if you put a lot of emotion into it, you can beat the best players in the world. But if you don’t have that emotion, you get smoked,” Leitch says. “Ten years ago, you could watch university games with everyone bawling their eyes out before the game. Then you would watch the Japanese national team and not see any of that.” Club Member Steve Borthwick, who was Japan’s forwards coach under Jones, hails Leitch as “a phenomenal captain.” “You saw how proud he was to play for Japan and how much he wanted the team to do well,” Borthwick says. “You had people from New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and from across Japan, and he could bring everyone together. He was superb in that regard, I thought.” That camaraderie was even more crucial when Japan hosted the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the first in Asia. Led by new head coach Jamie Joseph, the Brave Blossoms were determined to show that their brand of fast, dynamic rugby could overcome any opposition.

After a nervy opening win against Russia, Japan beat Ireland, Samoa and Scotland to top their group. The country was transfixed. “That World Cup was the best,” Leitch says. “Everyone in Japan—Japanese and foreigners—got behind the team. That was special.” Drawn against South Africa in the quarterfinals, Leitch’s warriors were unable to repeat their Brighton feat from four years earlier. The eventual World Cup champions swept aside the hosts 26-3. “It was unfortunate we couldn’t do another job on South Africa,” Leitch says. “We knew they were going to be up in our faces. In the end, you can’t coach physical dominance.” Despite Japan’s exit from the quadrennial competition, their performances cemented their place among the world’s rugby elite. And the Christchurch kid, who still loves the sport’s “roughness,” was instrumental in that. “I would like to think that I was part of a change in Japanese rugby from a losing era to a winning era,” he says. With France set to stage the next World Cup in 2023, Leitch is determined to be on the plane from Haneda. “I’ve got to get away from this mindset of ‘I’m too old, I’ve had my time or it’s time to move on,’” he says. “I want to be there for the right reasons and earn my spot.” In a sport of towering athletes and bonecrunching collisions, what keeps him lacing up his boots each week? “I think that’s one of the beautiful things about our game is that you can rip each other’s heads off in the game then go and have a beer with them afterwards.”

JRFU

“I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT I WAS PART OF A CHANGE IN JAPANESE RUGBY FROM A LOSING ERA TO A WINNING ERA.” —Michael Leitch

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD  February 5  7–8:30pm  New York Ballroom  Adults: ¥1,500 (guests: ¥2,500); ages 8–19: ¥500 (guests: ¥1,000)  Limit: four guests per Membership  Sign up online

FEBRUARY

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C O M M U N I T Y | W E L L N E SS

Miki Yamamoto

Bit of a Stretch

Thanks to the Club’s fitness resources, Member Miki Yamamoto is enjoying a new lease on life. IMAGE KAYO YAMAWAKI

y family were great fans of ballet. When we were living in New York, every Christmas we would watch “The Nutcracker” at the Lincoln Center. As a child, I really wanted to be like the dancers I saw, and my mother found classical ballet lessons for me. I did that from the age of 3 to 6, and those three years really changed my life. I was a really flexible kid and had strong core muscles. For the first 15 years of my life, I was

traveling back and forth between the US and Japan. Nothing I did ever lasted a long time, but that flexibility stayed with me in some way. I don’t know why, but about five or six years ago, I had this craving to go back to classical ballet. I signed up for this class in Shibuya and did it for a year and a half. Honestly, it was very hard. It felt rewarding to regain my flexibility, but it was tough to keep my posture straight. At some point, I realized I wasn’t doing this to perform on stage anymore, which was the goal of many of the other people taking the class. Rather, it was about regaining my flexibility and core muscle strength and, most of all, to relax. I quit ballet but, coincidentally, I found [Toshiteru Sako’s] stretching class at the Club and signed up. My husband signed up as well, and he loves it. The Thursday class is wonderful and relaxing. I still have to build up my core, but Teru is very good at challenging us. I’ve never felt as good as I do now. My husband has been dealing with backache and shoulder ache for a long time, but things are getting better for him. I’m amazed at how flexible he has become.

During the class, your mind is focused on your breathing, so it’s a kind of meditation. It’s like you’re in a conversation with your body. When you go about your daily life, you don’t tend to listen to your body. But Teru teaches you how to do that and to be aware. At the end of the class, I feel very calm, loose and free of any stiffness. My husband and I used to play tennis, but we got busy with our work lives. So when we joined the Club and saw the Squash Courts, we thought it might be a good way to start hitting a ball again. Then we saw the pool. We were not good swimmers at all. In fact, I was afraid of even putting my face under the water. But now we have a Sunday routine. We play squash from 7:30 in the morning then go to the pool to swim 10 laps. That distance is nothing for some of the swimmers there, but it feels like an exercise with no age limit. This is the best way to start a Sunday. You feel good and your head is clear. Over the past few years, I’ve learned that no matter how old you are, if you have the will, you can always regain or develop your energy, stamina and strength. As told to INTOUCH’s Nick Jones.

FEBRUARY

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C O M M U N I T Y | R EG I ST E R

Arrivals

Up Close

AZABUDAI USA

Nagatanien Holdings Co., Ltd.

Ingrid Chen & Naotaka Montani Seisen International School

Takio & Sumika Ninomiya Citigroup Global Markets Japan, Inc.

Michael Lish Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

Shinichi & Tomiko Okada

John McArthur Quantum Design Japan

Co., Ltd.

The Nomura Trust and Banking

Junjiro & Tomoko Sato

Julio Triana Bayer Yakuhin Ltd.

Sai Life Sciences Ltd. Hisayo Shimizu

GERMANY

Shimizuzaka Dental Clinic

Adam Pasternak & Emi Iwano Volkswagen Group Japan K.K. Matthias & Mikana Schepers Volkswagen Group Japan K.K.

Coach A Co., Ltd. Akihiro Tachibana Takenaka Corporation

JAPAN Yuzo Abe Iwasa Tech

MEXICO Jorge Garduno & Luz Aranda

Hiroaki & Nao Ehira Omnifox Corporation

Coca-Cola (Japan) Co., Ltd.

Daisaku Fujikawa Citigroup

SINGAPORE

Haruhiko & Asako Hirate Juul Labs Japan Co., Ltd.

(l–r) Joichiro Seki, Alphonse Rizzo, Hiroko Seki, Athena and Matthew Rizzo and Mikoto Seki

Yoshiyuki & Ikuko Suzuki

AZABUDAI US A |

Matthew Rizzo & Hiroko Seki

Google Japan G.K.

“We wanted to join the Club a long time ago, but the timing just wasn’t right. Our Brady Bunch-like family has four children, and the Club’s diverse environment is just what we wanted. Azabudai is perfect for the children’s activities and Nihonbashi, close to where we live, provides a perfect place to exercise. We are looking forward to joining Club functions and communities.”

Yunsok Chang & Park Sung Hee Mastercard Japan K.K.

Yojiro & Makiko Kunitomo Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.

Junichiro & Aya Kurokawa Accenture Japan Ltd.

Fergus Gifford & Nyeonkyoung Oh

Yuichiro & Midori Nagatani

Arrow Shipping Japan Ltd.

NIHONBASHI CHINA Lingyun (Leon) Zhuang Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP

Hideyuki Okano Keio University School of Medicine Yoshinobu Onishi Chiba University Hiroshi Terasaki HTG Consulting Co.

JA PA N Naoki Isetani Oliver Wyman Group K.K.

Hisanori Yamada Tokyo Credit Services Ltd.

Departures Akira Akiyama

Junko Nakano

Paul & Sophia Cuyegkeng

Biju Oommen

Daniel Goldman Henrik & Heria Hauggaard Makoto Hoshino Paul & Alison Johnston

Walter & Allyson Poetscher Hiroyuki Shiotani Hidetsugu & Ayumi Tanaka

Teng Wee Khoo & Eunice Ang

Stephane & Catherine Voyer

Renaud & Estelle Marchand

Shosaku & Mami Yanagida

Naoko Tomita

NIHONBASHI JA PA N |

Naoko Tomita

DNX Ventures

“I am very pleased to join the Nihonbashi Club. I love the newly developed Nihonbashi area and am keen to spend my private and off-site business time there. The sophisticated surroundings of the Club will, no doubt, be a hub for me. I am looking forward to meeting Members from different professional backgrounds and participating in Club events and activities.”

Golden State Sippers The Club’s own Cab, Chard and Pinot. ¥2,400 a bottle The Cellar & online

FEBRUARY

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C O M M U N I T Y | VO I C E

Aiming Low in 2022 WORDS NATHANIEL ROWE ILLUSTRATION TANIA VICEDO

he heading on the whiteboard in the entrance to the WeWork office where I worked from over the New Year period read “RESOLUTIONS,” with a subhead “How will you be a #BetterYouIn22.” Underneath, people had attached cards with their goals for the year ahead. Intentionally or otherwise, the subhead wasn’t framed as a question. It appeared as a forgone conclusion: We shall all be better in 2022—whether we like it or not. Now explain precisely how. It’s axiomatic to say that the past two years of the pandemic have been a challenge for everyone everywhere (except for billionaires). Our collective sense of time has been badly blurred and bent out of shape, with one year infecting the next without the customary, exuberant celebrations to bookend the year. In this ongoing, mutated uncertainty, it’s fair to wonder how we should approach 2022. Should we bother with the millennia-old rituals of resolutions and goal setting or just chance it all? What would the Babylonians

(the pioneers of New Year’s resolutions) do if they were around today? Add another mud brick to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon or self-isolate in their reed houses? In a recent article in The Atlantic titled, “Resolutions Are Not the Vibe for 2022,” writer Faith Hill argues that the uncertainty of “choosing new goals feels like setting forth in a snowstorm, squinting into a great blurry expanse.” She isn’t making any resolutions for 2022 and implores people to follow her lead. Apparently, research reveals that resolutions don’t work in any event, and if your goals aren’t calibrated just right—not too narrow, not too challenging, not too many, but in the Goldilocks zone—you can just be setting yourself up for self-flagellation. Less forthright, but on the same self-compassion track, Melbournebased clinical psychologist Ahona Guha encourages us to lower our expectations in 2022 in a piece on Australia’s ABC website. Acknowledging that we’re all completely knackered by the constant cycle of upheaval and dis-

ruption, she advises everyone to chill. Sure, pursue a few little goals if you must, but don’t bust your guts doing it. Rather, she asks us to be “gentler and more compassionate with ourselves, and accepting [of] our limitations.” Personally, I seem destined to perpetually bump up against my myriad limitations. And yet I carry on, big goals in ravaged hand. Then, over the holidays, I saw the new Spider-Man movie with my kids. While digesting the anti-New Year’s resolutions advice I had read, I noticed a common thread amid the web-slinging action. Even an upbeat, young Spider-Man—in accepting his own limitations—needed two Spidey sidekicks to help him manage life’s heavy burdens. His girlfriend, MJ, coped by just flatout expecting disappointment in life. Whether your New Year’s resolutions are rooted in tiny or atomic habits, may your 2022 be bright—but not so bright that it burns you out. Nathaniel Rowe is a Member of the Club.

FEBRUARY

A DV E RTO R I A L

Power and Poise

When you combine exquisite design with superlative engineering, the result is the McLaren GT.

McLaren cars.mclaren.com Words: Peter Lyon Image: Alfie Goodrich

INTOUCH

rnest Hemingway once wrote: “My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way.” What you will see and feel with the McLaren GT can be simply expressed as the very best of British luxury design and motorsport heritage. The GT is a beautifully proportioned supercar that delivers prodigious dollops of power, a glorious, operatic V8 engine soundtrack and a surprisingly smooth ride that is perfect for daily driving. Inside, the GT pampers you with chic leather upholstery and Alcantara and aluminum accents that feel more equestrian club lounge than supercar. The seats are comfy and supportive, and visibility is excellent, especially around the front of the vehicle. It also offers a newly designed infotainment system that can be optioned with a high-end Bowers & Wilkins hi-fi. A high-definition, vertical touchscreen sits elegantly on the center console and features some useful shortcut buttons for easy use when driving. The cabin is roomier, more practical and more refined than any McLaren before it. The dramatic wing doors are fitted with an automatic, soft-close function and the optional nose-lift kit allows you to quickly raise the front of your GT to clear curbs or raised driveways.

Powering this sleek-looking grand tourer is a mid-mounted, 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that develops 612 hp, can sprint from zero to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and boasts a top speed of 203 mph. Married to a quick-shifting, seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox, it offers addictive amounts of power delivered to the tarmac through the rear wheels. The aluminum paddle shifters located just behind the steering wheel have an authentic mechanical feel and the three drive modes can be matched to the mood of the driver. For a supercar, “comfort mode” is pleasingly compliant, comfortable and soaks up all the bumps in city traffic, while “track mode” quickens your throttle response and stiffens your suspension for sportier driving. In addition to the GT’s impressive acceleration, what really stands out for those who love to drive are the way it handles, the stopping power of its brakes and its exhaust note. The steering is well-weighted and pinpoint accurate, the brakes have superb feel and invoke confidence and the song this V8 engine sings makes it feels like legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti is sitting behind your left ear. If you enjoy having your five senses tingle when you drive, then the McLaren GT’s aesthetics, acoustics, acceleration and appointments will deliver a full smorgasbord of thrills. It truly is the ultimate grand tourer.

COMMUNIT Y | HIGHLIGHTS

January 14 Shinnenkai Celebrations

In a Club first, the Azabudai and Nihonbashi clubhouses launched 2022 with simultaneous soirées of live music, cuisine and Member mingling. IMAGES YUUKI IDE & KAYO YAMAWAKI

FEBRUARY

COMMUNIT Y | PURSUIT

KAYO YAMAWAKI

Your Move CLASS

Traditional Japanese Games

While the video game industry grows ever bigger, the analog world of dice, tiles and boards is making a comeback. This brand-new class introduces students to various Japanese board games and time-honored pastimes, including origami, shogi chess and kendama, the popular, reflex-testing toy.

INSTRUCTOR

Hideyuki Kondo (pictured right)

Hideyuki Kondo teaches Japanese language and culture as the president of Tsubasa Japanese Language School, which he established in 2017. An instructor of elementary Japanese as part of Connections’ enrichment programs, he is now sharing his passion for classic Japanese games at the Club.

STUDENT

Liam Siegel

“I always enjoy playing a game with someone else in person. It’s a lot of fun to sit down and play a board game with your friends. I don’t know how to play traditional Japanese games, so it would be nice to find out how to play them. In particular, I want to learn about shogi and kendama.”

TRADITIONAL JAPANESE GAMES  Through March 18  Fridays  4–5pm  Toko Shinoda & Yukiko Maki classrooms  ¥22,770  Sign up online

INTOUCH

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第四十七巻六八二号

TOKYO AMERIC AN CLUB

毎月一回一日発行

TOKYO AMERIC AN CLUB FEBRUARY 2022

トウキョウアメリカンクラブ

natural extensions of your living space, Toranomon Hills Residential Tower offers a new way to experience life in

Team Japan Talisman

本体七二八円

comfort in mind, and common areas that feel like

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luxuriously appointed units designed with the utmost

INTOUCH

インタッチマガジン二〇二二年二月一日発行

The essence of urban living

Featuring expansive, panoramic views of the city,

Tokyo. One- to five-bedroom units available for lease. Site visits begin spring 2022.

FEBRUARY 2022

Toranomon Hills Residential Tower

Sportsman of the Year Michael Leitch on a life in rugby

DELIGHTING PALATES + TEACHING TOLERANCE + RESOLUTION REVOLUTION

February 2022 INTOUCH Magazine

Articles inside

HIGHLIGHTS

VOICE

FOCUS

EDUCATION

DINING

ACTIVISM

LEADERSHIP

DIGEST

WELLNESS

AGENDA