Bill Hersey’s Partyline December 2015

PEOPLE

Tsukasa Shiga’s welcome party for the F-1 drivers at the Chic Club was wall-to-wall beautiful models and many of the best racers and their friends. I left at 4 am and the main karaoke room was still full of people. They were really having a good time. Our congratulations to Shiga on the 50th anniversary of his super successful business. I first met him when he was a St‘ Mary’s student. We had a PR and event planning company (HSI) for 10 years and he’s now a real business tycoon as President of the Ceremony Corporation. 

PARTIES

MALAYSIAN NATIONAL DAY—THE IMPERIAL HOTEL 

Malaysian Ambassador Dato Ahmad Izlan Idris and his wife Datin Rose Abdullah chose The Imperial Hotel’s Fuji Room for their National Day  Reception. Guests included government officials, many ambassadors and their wives, a group of high-ranking Japanese naval officers, and of course Malaysian military officers. My thanks to the hosting couple for allowing me to bring a few VIP friends. These included business tycoon Tsukasa Shiga, Ceremony President and now film producer. He brought the popular emcee for film events, Kuro Erikawa, who came directly from a special screening of Shiga’s film “Boku wa Bousan” (“I  Am a Monk”). I also brought Swiss medical student Michel Bielecki and his super mother Ela, who was visiting from Switzerland. We all really enjoyed talking with the outgoing English-speaking naval officers. Some of them actually did some training in San Diego where I lived in Pacific  Beach for three years. The world gets smaller. 

SINGAPORE NATIONAL DAY—THE IMPERIAL HOTEL 

The Fuji Room was also full when Singapore Ambassador Chin Jiat Yoon and his wife Lee Moi hosted an elegant reception to celebrate their always festive National Day. The program included the singing of Singa—  pore and ]apan’s national anthems and welcome speeches by Ambassador Chin and several Japanese dignitaries. The Singapore Embassy is a pioneer in getting their regular venue-  The Imperial Hotel—to allow them to bring in food from several of the best Singaporean restaurants in Tokyo. Guests in the know lined up at the three serving Hainan Rice chicken, satays, and a delicious noodle soup. As soon as the speeches were over, the Imperial’s food and beverage department had also done a great job with a variety of Dim Sum and  Peking Duck. 

VIETNAM’S 70TH NATIONAL DAY RECEPTION—NEW OTANI

Recently arrived Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong and his wife Hoang Thai Minh Hya have really been keeping busy since their arrival here just a few months ago. They started off big with a big reception they hosted at the New Otani. The occasion was to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of  Vietnam. japan has very close relations with Vietnam and in addition to many diplomats, and members of the Vietnamese community, guests included many top Japanese government officials and business leaders. The program included opening speeches by the Ambassador and several Japanese governmental dignitaries. There was a musical performance by a talented local high school band. The buffet with some great  Vietnamese food was excellent. 

PLACES

There was a great turnout at the popular National Azabu market for one of their many outdoor events. People there really enjoyed the delicious barbecued food, Benito’s Paella, an Erawan massage, and Thane Canuss’s coconut products. It was a truly enjoyable event with jazz music by a  group of international players. And congratulations to Panamanian Ambassador Ritter N. Diaz and Ayana Hatada on their wedding at the Imperial Hotel on October 24. We wish them a long, happy, healthy, and prosperous life together.   

*First published at the Tokyo Weekender

*Images Copyright: Tsukasa Shiga