Bill Hersey’s Partyline March 1985

There’s been so much happening the last few weeks its hard to know where to start. Anyway, impossible as it seems, last Thursday was the first day of spring and the weather is starting to warm up already.

Monday the 18th and I was on a three hours into Pan Am’s Flight 800 12-hour direct scamper across the skies from Tokyo to New York City. This flight has been Like a reunion. Ken Moss, Regional Manager, Asia-Pacific for Hilton international, had just spent a few days in Tokyo meeting with Richard Handl and was planning a week in The Big Apple before making a rendezvous with his wife Camie in California followed by another week of relaxation in Egypt. But here is the last from Tokyo.

Tadlaouis’ mammoth reception fetes Morocco’s national Day 

The diplomatic scene has also been extremely busy. On Mar., 4 Moroccan Ambassador and Mrs, Abdellam Tadlimui gave a huge reception at the New Otani to celebrate the 24th Anniversary of the Accession to the Throne of His Majesty King Hassan II. The Tadlaonis are one of the most popular diplomatic couples and have made so many friends from all walks of life here.. Consequently, as expected their National Day celebration was one of the highlights of Tokyo’s always busy social scene.

Close to 1,000 guests not only enjoyed true Moroccan hospitality but also had the opportunity to eat cous-cous, one of the national dishes of Morocco, and a real favorite of anyone who’s had them.

RI-Japan dinner-screening raises  6 mil.

In its first fund-raiser of 1985, Refugees International Japan raised over JPY 6 million from a Gala Dinner and Film Premiere held Feb. 28 at the Capitol Tokyu Hotel. More than 400 people donated JPY 20,000 each to attend the benefit which launched the organization’s “APPEAL for AFRICA.” Early donations to the fundraiser enabled R.I.-Japan to respond to an emergency request for $5,000 for a supplemental feeding program operated by the Japan International Volunteer Center at a refugee camp at Lugh, Somalia.

Special guests of R.I.-Japan included Their Imperial Highnesses the Prince and Princess Takamado; Captain Mark Phillips, husband of Princess Anne; Sir Hugh Cortazzi, former British Ambassador to Japan, and U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission William Clark and Mrs. Clark.

While officially opcning the APPEAL for AFRICA,” the event also served to acknowledge Mrs. Wendy Staines who has served for three years as Executive Director of Refugees Intemational Japan. Mrs. Staines, whose term of office ended in January, was thanked for her great contribution in managing the organization during its period of expansion on the international refugee relief scene.

In 1984, more than t39 million was raised by RI-Japan to fund refugee projects worldwide. While establishing its current “APPEAL for AFRICA,” the organization will also continue its support of refugee projects around the globe. RI-Japan, a voluntary organization composed of both Japanese and foreigners, works only with established international refugee relief agencies to provide funds for nutrition, health, self-sufficiency and educational projects.

Swinging party for Apollonia at the Lex

Tokyo’s had more than her share of interesting people visiting the last month or so and, thanks to good friends, I’ve not only got to know a lot of them, but spend time with them as well.

The perfect example was last evening when I hosted a party for the gorgeous, warm and personable Apollonia (who co- stars with Prince in the film “Purple Rain”) and her glamorous personal agent Pamela Wilson. They were here to promote “Purple Rain” for Warner Brothers and the sound-track album and the “Apollonia Six” LP for Warner-Pioneer.

Bill Hersey’s PEOPLE: Emile & Sharon Yamanol

I first met Emile Yamano about 15 years ago when I booked him for a fashion layout for a Japanese weekly magazine for which I was fashion editor. He was ex¬tremely “international,” even at that time, so we used him for the magazine as a regular after that.

Even then he was very business-oriented and he and I ended up as partners in a small boutique called “Le Bazaar”onAoyama Dori in the area where the Peacock Super Market is now. It was a crazy, fun business that catered to models and showbusiness personalities. It lasted about three years until the building was torn down to make room for bigger things … such as the Sumitomo Seimei Building.

Emile — who still has the good looks of a model — is In of a Japanese father and a Russian mother. His wife’Sharon (who still models) is the daughter of an American father and a Japanese mother. Her aunt is the famous actress Meiko Nakamura and her uncle the famous con¬ductor Yoshiyuki Kozu. She also has a niece, Kana Kozu, a well-known authoress.

Both Emile and Sharon were born in Tokyo, though she was raised in the U.S. Emile attended Waseda High School and graduated from Meiji University with a degree in economics and politics. His modeling career started during his first year in university and kept him busy for about six years., He first met Sharon on a modeling job when she was just 14.

Ernilets business career started as a consultant for a cosmetics company. His next move was to a job as Sales Manager for Hunt’s Western Conglomerate for Japan, Taiwan and Okinawa. In 1975 he became Representative in Japan for California Cling Peaches and, since then, has become one of the top promoters of U.S. foodstuffs in Japan with such clients as Northwest Cherries, Florida Department of Citrus, California Avocado Commission, National Sunflower Association and California Table Grapes.

His office also works in consulting companies like Coca-Cola and Dole in developing retail business in Japan. In the near future he’ll expand even more by working, along with Sharon, on developing the market for American mink.

Emile and Sharon were married in 1973 and have two lovely daughters — Marisa, 11, and Nina, 8, who were born in Los Angeles and now attend Seisen In School. The girls speak Japanese and English and are studying French. They’ll grow up as international as their parents!

Emile’s work keeps him very busy, not only here in Japan, but in the USA and around Asia as well. When he and Sharon do have free time they enjoy traveling for pleasure, motorcycles and reading.

For the tops in any type of food promotion, I can certainly recommend Emile’s company, Food Marketing Service Corp., Azabudai Uni-House, Suite 411, 11-20, Azabudai, Minato-im, Tokyo 106; telephone: 582-5044.