Bill Hersey’s Partyline June 1983
If you haven’t noticed in the dailies, there’s a big crackdown on the use of and trafficking in drugs here. I don’t like to see anyone get in trouble and, believe me, drugs are big trouble here not only for the user, but for friends and family as well.
If you like this country, you certainly should know by now what the laws are. Long-time residents have seen what a more “open attitude” in other countries has done to those countries and we appreciate what the strict drug laws and their enforcement here have done. It adds up to main contributing factors in making Japan one of the cleanest, safest and most crime- free countries in the world.
Let’s help keep it that way. If drugs are something you feel you have to do, do it else- where! Lecture’s over so let’s get on with what’s been happening on the local social scene.
Spectacular Reception opens lssey Miyake’s Bodyworks
The reception given by Yomiuri Shimbun honoring Issey Miyake at La Foret Museum ligura on the occasion of the exhibition “Issey Miyake Spectacle-Bodyworks” was a spectacle in itself. The entrance hall and both exhibition rooms were wall-to-wall people…not just “ordinary” people, but the dynamic movers from all walks of life that make Tokyo the exciting city it is.
Prominent in the prominent crowd were U.S. Ambassador Mike Mansfield and his wife Maureen who, it seemed, everyone wanted to meet, talk to and have their photo taken with. The Mansfields, as always, did America proud. Issey, one of the world’s most innovative designers, did Japan and himself proud. The exhibition was really some- thing.
Two rooms of electronically lit and translucent mannequins dramatically highlighted the fantastic fashions Issey’s created over the years. Background music, special lighting and several dozen top international models wearing Issey’s creations and circulating through the crowd made the exhibit and the reception a real happening.
Our congratulations to Issey, The Yomiuri Shimbun, La Foret and the many others who worked so hard (it took Issey four years) in creating some- thing unique, new, interesting and truly spectacular.
Argentines in Tokyo celebrate National Day at Embassy
The gods were kind and the weather was beautiful for Argentine Ambassador James M.D. Whamond’s mid-day reception to celebrate the National Day of Argentina. It was pretty much a stag affair with an interesting mixture of diplomats, Japanese government officials and many really top business leaders. André Lecomte catered the affair and waiters circulated through the crowd serving those French delicacies as only Andre can prepare them. The many military attachés from the various embassies wore their summer dress uniforms and really add- ed color to the celebration. Our congratulations.
Fendi’s fabulous furs featured at gala dinner-show
The name “Fendi” has long been one of the most prestigious names in the fashion field and the gala dinner at the New Otani where the Fendi present- ed its fur “Collezione Fendi 83/84″… as elegant and chic as an affair can be.
Koko Volpicelli, Fendi’s re- presentative in Japan, had in- vited the cream of both for- eign and Japanese society and the guest list read like Who’s Who. Unlike New York City and Los Angeles, Tokyo doesn’t really seem to have an “A list,” “B list,” etc., on guests. If they did, I was certainly sitting at the “A table” . . right by the ramp, and with some of the city’s most glamorous and interesting people. actress Judy Ong, Joypack President Zuiho Hayashi, Johnny Ma (visiting from Hong Kong), Kumiko Hattori and Fumihiko Umezawa, (his brother owns the Jujin Cosmetic Surgery Hospital). Thanks, Koko!
The show was spectacular, and the variety of colors and styles Karl Lagerfeld incorporated into the collection awe- inspiring. It was a beautiful evening in every way. Later, several of the Fendi family and many of the guests dropped by the Lex and joined in a party for the new “Bond Girls,” here to promote “Octo- pussy.”
I was especially happy to have the chance to sit and talk with Patrizia Grazioli-Venier. We used to work together when I produced (more or less) the fashion shows for the Italian Institute of Trade (I.C.E.) Well, Patrizia isn’t modeling anymore, but she is designing and has a line called “Patrizia- Italy” manufactured by Raika- Piage in Osaka. I was happy to see she’s doing so well.
Speaking of special evenings, the buffet dinner Italian Ambassador and Mrs. Boris Biancheri had at their residence to welcome Paola Fendi was that, and more! Giant multiple screens had been set up in the
garden and the many guests—top of the list from all walks of life—enjoyed watching the slides and films of Fendi’s latest collection and Italy’s most famous landmarks. Lights tastefully illuminated “Lago di Mita,” the small lake in the Embassy’s historic gardens, and mannequins gracefully posed on the red bridge over the lake.
The buffet and the ambiance were superb. It was one of those evenings you don’t see very often where luminaries from the diplomatic, fashion, entertainment, business, music and art world mixed together in perfect harmony. Our con-gratulations to Boris, Flavia, the Fendis and Fendi’s representative in Japan, Koko Volpicelli, for creating one of Tokyo’s most interesting and ex-citing evenings in a long time.
It’s a ‘happy birthday’ blast for rock star Billy Squier
It was a Happy Birthday for rock star Billy Squier when Toshiba EMI (his record com pany) threw a birthday-bash for the fast-ascending singer- guitar player at the Lex, The place was wall-to-wall people with models, musicians, local film stars and a host of Billy’s other fans. There was a show, Billy blew out the candles on no less than four cakes and everyone boogied on into the night. The man and the guys in his band are really a great bunch of talented guys and we enjoyed celebrating with them.
Clockwise, from above, left: Helping celebrate rock star Billy Squier’s birthday are Erika, actor-singer Sachio Itami and Squier’s keyboard player Allen Levi that’s dancer Cathy down front. The birthday guy Billy Squier with guitarist Jeff Golub. Toho Choreographer Roche and The Asahi Even- ing News’ entertainment writer Shig Fujita proceed to shake, rattle and roll. Presenting one of four birth- day cakes that night are the lovely and talented Asahina
Maria, Our Man Hersey, Billy and Brian Dockery, a member of the Board and Resident Representative of Toshiba EMI Records. Doug Lubahn (bassist with Billy’s band) with SOS model Lexie and Lexington Queen man- ager Suzuki-san. Seijiro Udo, the man who brings so many of the big-named rock acts to Japan, Asahina Maria and the night’s headliner, Billy Squier.
