Bill Hersey’s Partyline, March 1987

As we’ve all said so many times before, where does the time go? In March the 21st was Vernal Equinox Day and a national holiday here in Japan. The day is known as Higan, Buddhist temples throughout the country hold special services and people pray for the souls of the departed and pay homage to Although it’s not a national holiday, the 3rd is the Hina-matsuri (Doll Festival) a special day for little girls. You’ve probably already seen the elaborate displays of dolls for the festival set up in the hotel. lobbies around town.  

There are no holidays on the U.S. calendar for March, but the 4th is Ash Wednesday and our Irish friends celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th.  On the social scene St. Mary’s will have their annual Ball at The Tokyo Hilton International on the 14th and Hello & goodbye… Kel and Liz Larsen, just before they split Tokyo for their San Francisco home. They were here on the final leg of a ’round-the-world tour which lasted six months. Would that be fun? Right on! Liz used to model here several years back. the Opern Ball will be held at the Capitol Tokyu on Friday the 20th.

National Day celebrations in March are as follows: the 3rd, Morocco’s National Day and Celebration of the King’s Ascension to the Trone; the 6th, Ghana’s Independence Day; the 17th, Ireland’s St. Patrick’s Day; the 23rd, Pakistan Day; the 25th, Greece’s Independence Day and the 26th, Bangladesh’s Independence Day. 

March can be cold and I’m looking forward to a couple of trips to warmer places, the first to Saipan to check out all the new developments on that great little island resort, and the 

second to beautiful Bali for the official opening of what I hear is yet another beautiful Club Med. 

Japan-Sweden Society reception at Okura 

TIH Prince and Princess Hitachi were the special guests at the annual Japan-Sweden Society reception Mar. 11 at the Hotel Okura. Among the 90 distinguished guests were Swedish Ambassador and Mrs. Ove-Fredrik Heyman; he’s Honorary President of the Society. At left: Akira Matsui, President of the Japan-Sweden Society, welcomes the guests; at the table TIH Prince and Princess Hitachi are flanked by Ambassador and Mrs. Heyman. 

Vestron Video International holds huge reception

At Tokyo Kaikan, Vestron Video International held a huge reception for people in the film and video business, plus members of the press. Vestron Video International’s Senior Vice President Robert Straight was here from Los Angeles and gave an informative speech outlining the company’s expansion plans which not only include a wide variety of new video titles, but theatrical releases as well. We were also happy to learn that evening that Dick Sano had just been promoted to Vice President, Vestron Video International. Dick works hard and everything he does he does well. 

The reception that evening was a perfect example: interesting guests, a Marvelous buffet that included the best frogs legs I’ve ever had and a warm and glowing ambiance, perfect for the occasion. Our congratulations to Dick and to Vestron Video International. 

LARK and James Coburn

I doubt if there’s anyone living in Japan who doesn’t know what actor James Coburn looks like. Philip Morris K.K. has done a phenomenal job of promoting their popular Lark brand cigarettes with Coburn smiling out of a sportscar and saying “Speak Lark” in just about every form of media possible all-around Japan. I first met James several years back when he was here as a judge for the Tokyo Music Festival. 

I really appreciate the opportunity to relax and talk with him at a small reception Philip Morris K.K.’s President, Guy Aelvoet hosted for James at the Capitol Tokyu. He had been on location in Asakusa for the last few days where they were shooting a new series of commercials and had picked up a cold. Even so, in between blowing his nose, he obligingly posed for photos, signed autographs, moved through the crowd and was as I remembered him from our first meeting: a very down-to-earth, natural and extremely intelligent man. I had the opportunity to talk with James the next day and he had killed his cold by “overdosing on Vitamin C.” Unlike most critics, he told me he really got involved in and enjoyed the controversial miniseries “Amerika.” His current project is a four-hour TV miniseries from the novel “The Mists of Avalon.” 

Philip Morris is, as you probably know, involved in all kinds of projects this year that include cultural exchanges, a possible fashion show, and participation in the return of the Formula One race to Japan (the last time was 1977). 

In addition to getting together with Coburn at the reception, I met a lot of interesting people as well. My thanks to  Guy who told me that because of the liberalization of tobacco imports, prices on Philip Morris products will go down from the beginning of April. That’s certainly a reverse of current trends on the price of just about anything here