Bill’s Partyline July 2nd, 2004
PEOPLE
Summer travelers include popular International School of the Sacred Heart teacher Barry Spence, who is off to San Antonio for marking AP U.S. history exams. Envy him the walks along the beautiful riverside, the Mexican food and the Mexican people. After that, he and his wife Judith will take their daughters to London to visit their grandparents. Then more studies for Barry at Puerto Vallarta (that’s a great place) to finish his certificate in counseling. The Spences will end their summer travels relaxing in one of Asia’s most fascinating cities, Kuala Lumpur.
Koichiro Yoshikoshi and his wife Daniele will be heading for France soon to spend some prime time in their country home just 10 miles from Cannes. “Their son Gaelan just got his degree in physiotherapy. Our congratulations to Koichiro who was among the top 100 Japanese company presidents in a recent survey. He heads Triumph International Japan.
PARTIES
It was a beautiful day at the British Embassy. The embassy looked regal, as it should, for a mid-day reception given by Ambassador Sir Stephen Gomersall to celebrate the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. The long queue of guests waiting to congratulate the host enjoyed the soft straights of an all-girl string quartet, the impressive painting, and many beautiful flower arrangements. Once guests congratulated Sir Stephen, they moved out into the embassy’s vast garden to mingle with the crowd, enjoy the wide array of English food favorites (including mine: fish and chips) and take advantage of the warm ambiance and beautiful weather. It was a great day, perfect for the occasion.
Rain, wind, sleet or snow; there’s nothing going to keep away the many friends of Ron and Maria Anderson from one of the co uple’s always special evenings in their Roppongi home. It was raining hard that night and, though I got there early, the spacious apartment was already filled wall-to-wall with interesting people. At the Andersons’ home I’m always with friends, and the bonus is always meeting many of our city’s top business leaders. Maria always goes out of her way to make sure I do that. She’s an exceptional woman, kind and thoughtful to all, and it is easy to see why she’s the love of Ron’s life; he a powerful and popular businessman (AIG chairman here) and a very nice man as well. Tables in the dining area groaned under Maria’s culinary creations, including continental and Mideastern (she’s Lebanese) favorites. It was, as I mentioned, another thoroughly enjoyable and laid-back evening with excellent food, engaging people and the warm hospitality of two of Tokyo’s nicest, Ron and Maria.
PLACES
Congratulations to our friends at Austrian Airlines on their recent move to new offices on the 15th floor in the South Tower of the Yurakucho Denki Building which also houses The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan. On May 27, tl1e airline’s popular and always-busy general manager for Japan and Korea, Georg Illidunann, and his staff hosted an open house where they, justifiably proud, showed guests (including many leaders in the travel and tourism business) their spacious, light, bright and chic new home, highlighted by Austrian Airlines’ dynamic and relatively new logo.
*First published at the Tokyo Weekender
