Bill Hersey’s Partyline February 1983

We are about to move into February, the shortest month of the year and usually one of the coldest and dreariest months here. If you are thinking of taking off for a few days, February’s usually an ideal time to head for sun ‘n’ fun in Saipan, Guam or the Philippines…all just a few hours (and a world a difference) away.

Issey Miyak at La Floret

Issey Miyake showed his latest collection in a new way at Le Foret Museum and the crowd…one that’s used to the best in just about everything …really enjoyed it. I spent so much money on my show in New York, I had to do something different here,” Issey told me. He went on to say, “From my experimenting and don’t know how people will feel about it.”

Well, Issey has done a lot of experimenting and has had the courage to try new things. That’s why he’s one of the best-known and most highly respected designers around. That evening there were 30 VTRs lined up along one wall. On another wall a very high tech display of Issey-dressed window mannequins had been tastefully set up on a floor-to- ceiling scaffold. Wine was served while guests watched Issey’s New York show on the videos and he moved through the crowd greeting people and answering their questions. It all worked out beautifully.

Issey, by the way, appears in a photo with Diana Vreeland the “Empress of Fashion” in the Nov. 29 issue of New York magazine. She has nothing but praise for the man. Another of his fans. Disco Diva Grace Jones, in Japan recently, said, “Issey’s not only a designer, he’s a real artist as well and his clothes were the first and are the only designer clothes I’ve ever worn.”

Jimmy Smith, Brutus, Editor Jiro Ishikawa, Nan Birmingham visiting Tokyo front New York City and design consultant (he did the Axis Building In Roppongi) and top fisherman Yasuhiro Hamano. Above, left: “Abdullah” Daimica Kai and fashion personality Helen Higgins. Above, right: The man himself, renowned designer Issey Miyake chatting with one of Tokyo’s most fashionable women, Flavin Biancheri.

Biancheris give elegant reception for Milano fashion group

Glamor galore that same evening at the Italian Embassy where Ambassador and Mrs. Boris Biancheri were holding a reception in honor of the visiting Milano Fashion Group.

The shows, which were widely acclaimed here, were organized by The Italian Institute of Trade (I.C.E.) in Rome. Most of the mannequins who were flown in by Alitalia were Italian, but the group also included some very beautiful people from such diverse places as New York City, Guadalupe and Venezuela.

Familiar faces from Tokyo’s fashion world included Ryozo Shibata, president of Alpha Cubic (and the fashionable La Tavola Italian Restaurant), journalist Junko Ouclti and the Mainichi Daily News’ fashion scribe Sandra Mori. Helen Mall who’s been a cover girl on many of the worlds top fashion mass, and Franco Inca, one of Italy’s top male models, were pan of the delegation.

I enjoyed talking with Laura Cobb who’s from New York City and has been modeling in Italy in order to get her singing career started. She will cut a single in Rome soon. If she sings half as good as she looks. she shouldn’t have any problems. I would have enjoyed talking with Venezuelan mannequin Alicia Salazar, but she didn’t speak English and her Spanish and Italian were so fast I couldn’t pick up much of anything. That didn’t stop her though, so I ended up just nodding in agreement to whatever she might have said.

Personable NTS/ President Morihisa Takagi happily agreed to have his photo taken with Guadalupe beauty lgarcelene Noel, but once he looked up at her, decided it was better if they both sat down for the photo. I ran into Takagi-san later that evening at the Japan Academy Awards dinner. A dozen or so of the models came over to the Lex later.

Japan Academy Awards dinner a glittering gala

On Feb. 17th the Japan Academy Awards sixth presentation ceremony was held at the Tokyo Prince Hotel; a dinner party-presentation and I’m happy to report people there, including the technical staff, made some effort to dress up for the occasion.

The stars and other celebrities really turned out in some original and glamorous fashions and that helped make the evening the way it should he. The dinner had been sold out and the sponsors had huge video screens placed around the room so those far away from the stage had close up views of everything going on.

The best picture award went to “Kamata Koshinkyoku” (Fall Guy). Best director to Kinji Fukasaku. Relative newcomer Mitsuru Hirata took the award for best actor; Keiko Matsuzaka, best actress (that’s two years in a row for her), veteran singer Rumiko Koyanagi took the award for best supporting actress in her first film role, and Mono Kazama came out on top as best sup-porting actor.

“E.T.,” even with competition like “Das Boot,” “On Golden Pond,” “Rocky III” and “Chariots of Fire,” was chosen best foreign film of the year. My only disappointment that evening was seeing Kenichi Hagiwara’s behavior. He was up for best actor but didn’t win. His wife Ayumi Ishida was up for best actress. She didn’t win either, but handled it very well. It’s sad to see someone who’s such a winner in life as Kenichi come on as such poor loser.

Actress Ayumi Ishida didn’t win as best supporting actress, but stayed gracious and friendly. Controversial director Nagisa Oshima in a colorful costume. Yositizumi Ishihara was among those receiving a special award as “promising newcomer.” Ills father is politician Shintaro Ishihara, his uncle superstar Yujiro Ishihara. Best supporting actress went to singer Rumiko Koyanagi Congratulations to all!

IN TOWN:

Internationally known art and antiques collector and dealer David A. Sulzberger here to meet with other dealers and collectors. David, who makes his home in London and Paris, flew here from Kuwait where he attended the opening of the new Museum of Art there. During his visit to Japan. he spent a night out in Roppongi with long time friend Hong Kong jewelry designer Kai Yin Lo (she was here for the Hong Kong Fashion Spectacular), had another dinner with another long time friend Rudolf Nureyev, a lunch with Pat Salmon and enjoyed dinner and a Japanese drum show with Francoise Morechand.

Oscar de In Renta visiting for a series of fashion shows for Mitsukoshi Department Store. We ran into Oscar and his model entourage from the Big Apple at Twyla Tharp’s Dancers’ opening night show and party at Koma’s Theater Apple. The Group had just been in Oscar’s native land. Dominican Republic, and had some interesting stories to tell. 

MY SAY:

I’ve always tried to be understanding about this, don’t take photos if I’m asked not to and on many occasions haven’t used photos taken when I was late requested not to. Not only that, I’ve turned down a considerable amount of money from magazines (including Focus) who wanted my photos. I’m really not out to embarrass anyone and do feel friendship and good will arc every bit as important as money. Guess that’s one of the reasons I never will be rich.