Bill Hersey’s Partyline November 1978

Lots of photos this month, so I think I’ll skip any attempt at an intro and move right into the happenings. My apologies to friends whose functions I wasn’t able to attend recently, but when there’s something going on in Ginza, in Harajuku and over at Sunshine City in Ikebukuro the same afternoon, it’s physically impossible to make them all. I sincerely appreciate being asked and will continue to do my best to cover as much as I can.

Latin American Ladies Bazaar at Tokyo Prince Hotel

Let’s start this week with the super-successful Latin American Ladies Bazaar held Nov. 7 in the Tokyo Prince Hotel. We arrived after the opening ceremony and the huge hall was packed.

The ambassadors’ wives and other ladies from the embassies had spent considerable time gathering handicraft items, art, and so on and preparing a variety of native foods for the charity event. In the first hour just about everything was gone: proof positive that hard work pays off and that once these women get together on a project, there’s no stopping them.

Showtime—and what a show! Entertainment included Latin and South American dances by children from the embassies, Johnny Monte and his Paraguayan Group (he’s off on a contract to work in the U.S.A. soon), a singer from Mexico and a great group from Bolivia. The power-packed head table, which included Princess Mikasa, Princess Hitachi, Princess Masako, Mrs. Sonoda, Mrs. Ushiba and Mrs. Ohira, really enjoyed the show, and Princess Hitachi requested an encore from the Bolivian group.

Everybody was there and having a good time. I was especially happy to see Monica Aragones, wife of the Spanish ambassador, back from rest and recuperation in Spain. She looks marvelous. Sat with Nancy Ma (Chinese cooking fame) and her daughter, Helen, awhile. They are both excited over a home Nancy bought in Hawaii.

Michaela and I were talking to Mercedes Guerra, wife of the Cuban ambassador, about a painting former Cuban Ambassador and Mme. Inchaustegui had given her and her husband before their death in a plane crash. Then Paraguayan Ambassador Marcos Martinez Mendieta brought us some corn-bread he had made the night before. We learned that cooking is one of his many hobbies and he’s good.

Welcoming the Italian Symposium

That evening Italian Ambassador and Mme. Vincenzo Tornetta gave a reception at their residence in honor of the members of an Italian symposium visiting Japan. It was a crowded party with an interesting mix of the Italian community, top-level businessmen and Japanese officials. As always, enjoyed talking with Yoshinori Maeda, who’s a retired president of NHK but still very active and involved.

Alitalia’s Carlo Morelli was there with his Enza and told us about their family’s holiday at their beach house outside Rome. Carlo’s up for a big promotion (no one deserves it more) but will tell you all about that later. Mme. Tornetta had her staff prepare a bountiful Italian buffet for the reception. It was difficult not to join in and enjoy, but I was already running late, so headed for the Tokyo Hilton for the Rolex reception.

Rolex World Mixed Golf Classic

The occasion was the Rolex World Mixed Golf Classic with 16 top international golfers from eight countries in town. John Read was host. We got there just before the show, so had a chance to move around a little and say hello to friends. These included John and Judy Courtright (United Airlines), British Ambassador Sir Michael and Lady Wilford, Swiss Ambassador and Mme. Pierre Cuenoud, Far East Traveler publisher George Pokrovsky, Doug and Vivienne Kenrick and Pan Am’s Tony Bernacchia with Marion Kaminski, and Dick and Debbie Boynton. The Boyntons were about to go to China again.

E. H. Erick Okada emceed the show, which started with John Read introducing the golfers and telling a few jokes. I watched it all beside Lady Wilford, who had won a golf trophy herself recently. The second part of the program was a magic show that cleverly incorporated the golfers in the tricks.

Saying Farewell to Ambassador Hirschberg

The 8th was another sayonara again . . . this time for a very popular couple, South African Consul-General Carl von Hirschberg and his wife, Mary. After three years in Japan they’ll be returning to South Africa. As expected, it was wall-to-wall people. We luckily got there a little early. Later the receiving line ran about a half block and people were in line for 30 minutes or more . . . Carl and Mary have a lot of friends.

I spent much of the evening with Mrs. Hidesaburo Shoda who told me several of her travel experiences. She’s a marvelous lady and it’s easy to see where her daughter, Crown Princess Michiko, gets her charm, bearing and grace.

Other prominent Japanese there were Mr. and Mrs. Takakichi Aso, the Shigeo Hories and Etsuko Hattori (Reijiro had to go to an important business dinner). The foreign community included many diplomats and businessmen plus a wide assortment of friends the Von Hirschbergs made here.

Walter and Natalie Ermakoff were there—her red Chinese jacket was super chic—and Ann Hugenot, as always, was wearing new and exciting fashions. Brian Watkins, who heads South Africa Airways’ office in Japan, introduced us to Dr. and Mrs. Loubser. He is director-general of South African Airways and Railways and was visiting here from Johannesburg. American Airlines’ man in Japan, Merrick Fowler, was there and left a few days later for a trip to the U.S., on company business. Other travelers included Maria Inez Elskop, who’s busy preparing for her trip back to Buenos Aires via Europe. New faces that evening included the very outgoing Deven Arora, who’s with General Electric Technical Services.

Special Inter-Continental Cocktail Buffet

Started out Nov. 10 at the Keio Plaza, where a cocktail buffet was given by three hotel general managers: Charles E. Guffroy, of the Hotel Furama Inter-Continental in Hong Kong; Pierre D. Martinet, of the Hotel Borobudur Inter-Continental in Indonesia; and John M. O’Shea, of the Hotel Inter-Continental Manila. O’Shea wasn’t able to make it, but had sent one of my best long-time Filipina friends, Carmita Francisco, executive marketing director of the hotel.

Nice crowd there with airline executives such as Tony Bernacchia (Pan Am) and Marion Kaminski, Les Gilbert (Northwest), Dieter Kotzan (Lufthansa), Felix-Yves Damette (Air France) and many Japanese VIPs in the travel and tourism biz. French friends Nichol Haour and Hubert Joignant both told me about their new business, the France Travel Center. If enthusiasm means anything, they should really do well.

PAL’s Charles Hagedorn introduced us to Dr. Rebecco Panlilio, who’s with the Sulo Group and seems to have the answer to what everyone wants in the Philippines: a modern resort with good beaches just an hour and a half from Manila. It’s called Puerto Azul and they already have 40 bungalows open. I plan on spending a few days there in late December, so will let you know more about it later. Kudos to Keio Plaza’s executive chef, Paul Mueller, on the superb Chinese and continental buffet.

From the Keio Plaza to the Hilton, we went to the Japan-Swiss Society’s annual ball. The Pink Pearl Ballroom, as always, was beautifully decorated and Susumu Tanaka and his staff had a buffet featuring many Swiss specialties. Richard Handl, the Hilton’s general manager, is himself a Swiss and was there to see that everything was perfect. As always, it was.

The entertainment included Zig and Zag, two guys from Switzerland who gave out with some folk music, a Filipino band for dancing, a skiwear fashion show and a special taped program that the staff of the Samba Club had prepared for dancing. Special lighting had been set up to give the dance area a real disco feeling. Swiss Ambassador and Mme. Pierre Cuenoud had provided the wine for the evening, and that certainly helped everyone get in a festive mood. Our congratulations to Bella Hentsch, who worked so hard in setting up the program.

Among those enjoying the evening: Princess Takeda, Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Aksenoff, Takenosuke and CheChan Sakakura, Mako and Helen (Ma) Yamawaki, Fred and Regine Langhammer, Jim Weeks, the Chick Igayas and Ann Hugenot. We left about midnight and the Swiss (even the conservative ones) were still going strong.

Celebrating Moroccan Green March

On Tuesday, the 14th, Moroccan Ambassador Abdeslam Tadlaoui held a reception in his residence to celebrate the anniversary of the Green March. It was pretty much a stag affair, so it gave me a chance to move around and talk with some of the diplomats, Japanese officials and businessmen I hadn’t seen for some time. These included U.S. Ambassador Mike Mansfield, who was just back from the States, and Zentaro Kosaka, who’s always involved in so many things. I also met newly arrived Lebanese Ambassador Joseph Naffah. Alitalia’s Pierro Iianelli was there, as was Hans Pringsheim, who edits Japan Business News. As we were leaving, Iran Air’s man-in-Japan (all around Asia now) Masoud Refghi was just coming in and we had a chance to congratulate him on his recent promotion.

Fashion Show at Hanae Mori

Fashion’s the name of the game and on Monday evening, the 20th, the Committee for The Space opened The Best Six Fashion Week with an evening gala on the top floor of Hanae Mori’s ultra chic building on Omotesando. In addition to diplomats and personalities from the fashion, arts and showbiz world in Japan, there was a group of mannequins and fashion journalists who had been flown in from all over the world for the event. After mixing and mingling between cocktails in one room and dinner in another, everyone settled in The Space for a swinging fashion show that gave us a sampling of each of the six designers participating.

Things started out with architect Kenzo Tange presenting a check to Shimazu-san who represented the Japan Red Cross. Then there was a speech by Mr. Inamaru, director general of Cultural Affairs. His interpreter was having some difficulty in translating from Japanese to English, so with Mistress of Ceremonies Tetsuko Kuroyanagi’s help, Inamaru-san spoke English and the interpreter had to change it into Japanese.

Aki Mori overcame his usual shyness and made a short speech and then the super-sensational mannequins whirled and twirled through an hour of fashions that ranged from fun to fantastic to freakish. It was a splendid reception and a very fitting opening to one of the biggest international fashion events in Japan in years.

Special Estee Lauder Reception – 10th Anniversary

Tuesday evening, the 21st, there was another gathering of Tokyo’s fashion set . . . this time at the Takanawa Prince Hotel where Estee Lauder’s man in Japan Fred Langhammer and his gorgeous wife Regine were hosting a reception. The occasion was the firm’s 10th anniversary here and the launching of their Private Collection perfume. The Langhammers are a popular young couple and by the time we arrived a great many guests including a generous sampling of well-known faces had already arrived.

During cocktails everyone admired the jewelry exhibition Diamond Information had set up especially for the evening. From there, we moved into another room for a program by noted classical pianist Etsuko Terada, followed by a sumptuous buffet, then dessert and Irish coffee with background music by a string quartet.

Among the many who enjoyed that perfect evening were Moroccan Ambassador and Mme. Abdeslam Tadlaoui, Nilufer (Neli) Eyiceoglu, Naoko Hatano, Dick and Mari Otomo, designers Junko Koshino and Yuki Hanae, Mary Tolman and John Fuji. Otomo-san had arranged to have girls there taking Polaroid photos, so most of us ended up with a nice memory of the evening. Congratulations to Estee Lauder, not only on their 10th anniversary, but also on the hiring of new Public Relations Director Keiko Miyazawa.

Paris Collection Tokyo and Elite Model Agency

Started out the 22nd at the Tokyo Hilton Hotel where the Elite Model Agency (Paris and New York) and Paris Collection (Tokyo) were holding a reception to announce their new partnership in Japan and to introduce some of the talent they have available. John Casablancas, president of Elite, was here for the opening. Glamour abounded as the international models mixed with the guests.

The newly formed company will offer a coordinating service for international models to work on special projects. We wish them our best, but the market here is becoming so flooded with foreign talent, I’m afraid, it might—as it has in the past—lead to problems for all those working in the field.

Over to Castel’s for a private party for one of the Best Six designers, Thierry Muggler of Paris. I thought it started at 10, but learned it started at 12; was kinda beat, so gave up on that one.

Jordan Embassy Dinner Reception

Friday, the 24th, and had three scheduled stops before a dinner party at Jordan Ambassador and Mme. Amer Shammout’s residence in honor of Prince Mohammed Bin Talal, younger brother of the King of Jordan.

The first event was at Ginza Matsuya where store manager Kan Yamanaka was hosting a reception for the foreign and Japanese press. The occasion was to celebrate the first year of interior reconstruction and talk about future merchandising plans. The reception gave me a chance to see many Japanese friends I hadn’t seen for a long time. Store consultant Juanita Reed made sure we met all the VIPs. She’s practically commuting between Japan and Mexico lately. Matsuya’s Ginza Store has always been a favorite with foreigners . . . it’s very much alive and always changing. Check it out for easy shopping at its best.

The next stop was the Imperial Hotel where Pietro Pizzo, councilor of the Sicilian Regional Government, and The Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (I.C.E.) were hosting a Sicilian wine-and-cheese-tasting party. Guests included most of the Italian community, heads of import companies, and leading hoteliers and restaurateurs. Mme. Leda Tornetta, wife of the Italian Ambassador, was a special guest that evening. Roberto Bucciarelli who, as most of you know, is general manager of the prestigious Excelsior Hotel in Florence, was there and told us CIGA Hotels will be doing their annual Italian Festival at the Palace Hotel in February.

From the Imperial we drove to the Malayasian Embassy in Nanpeidai for a sayonara for Malayasian Counselor and Mrs. G.K.A. Kumaraseri. After three years in Japan, they’re returning home for a new assignment. We couldn’t stay as long as we would have liked, but were happy to have a chance to join their many friends in saying goodbye and good luck.

Mme. Amer Shammout were hosts at a buffet dinner in their residence on Friday, Nov. 24, in honor of Prince Mohammed Bin Talal, the younger brother of Jordan’s King Hussein. The Shammouts are prime examples of Arab hospitality and the evening was very special. The impressive guest list included TIH Prince and Princess Mikasa, Japan’s vice minister of Foreign Affairs, Keisuke Arita, Sharif Zeid Hussein, heads of missions here and top-level business executives from both the foreign and Japanese communities.

Prince Bin Talal had a very busy schedule in Japan, including an audience with the Emperor, a call on Crown Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko, and receiving a black belt he had earned in karate. After dinner — and what a dinner of both western and Mideastern foods — everyone relaxed and enjoyed the sociable atmosphere that one always finds at the Shammouts.

I especially enjoyed talking with Sharif Zeid Hussein, a cousin of the king, about some of his projects. These include welfare programs, improved education and better public transportation. He extended an invitation for a visit to his country and I really hope to make it there in ’79. Prince Bin Talal and his delegation left for Korea the next day accompanied by Ambassador Shammout, who is accredited there.

Fashion Farewell Party

Thanks to Hanae Mori we got a sneak preview of Reiko Ikeguchi’s new restaurant-disco The Bee before it officially opened a few days later. It was still under construction, but provided the perfect setting for The Best Six sayonara party on Sunday, the 26th. By the time we got there things were really swinging. Prince Tomohito Mikasa was leading a line dance, the usually sedate John Fairchild (president of Fairchild Publications) had really let his hair down, Maxine Van Cleff Sakata was working hard at being the center of attention and Lady Warner seemed to be enjoying it all. The crowd for the most part was designers, mannequins, and people from the arts, fashion and showbiz world.

A tall black beauty from New York flopped down beside us and took the wilted white-paper flower she was wearing Billie Holiday style out of her hair. “Honey,” she said, “I stole this from the john at the Okura and it just isn’t going to last out the evening.”

One poor gal, whom you usually don’t see at this type of party, was really playing musical chairs. Every time she’d sit by anyone, they’d get up to dance or move. She finally trapped one journalist, who had been working so hard he was too tired to move, and she stuck to him all evening. No Mary Sunshine this lady.

The Soul Dancers from The Viscount and Samba were there as guests, not performers. No offense intended, but those kids really have got rhythm. What I wouldn’t do to be able to dance like that. There was a show by two of the tallest Japanese boys I’ve seen; they were all done up in butterfly (Hanae Mori’s symbol) drag . . . raunchy but fun. The party broke up the next morning. Talk on the way out was mostly about how super successful The Best Six fashion event had been and what a great way to end it.

Alitalia’s Italian Fantasy Gala

Tuesday evening, the 28th, and into the tux again. I’ve been wearing black so much lately I feel like I’m in mourning. This evening started out in the Imperial Theater for the gala opening of Alitalia’s Italian Fantasy.

The program was to include a multiscreened visual presentation, a fashion show, live canzone, Sicilian folk dancers, a performance by two of Italy’s best ballet dancers, and a superb buffet of Italian culinary specialties. Co-sponsors included Rome’s prestigious Hassler Hotel and Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel.

We got to see and enjoy the entire program a few days later as guests of Mr. and Mrs. Giovanni Dalla Colletta — he heads Ermenegildo Zegna’s office here in Japan.

Special people at the gala who were able to stay the evening included Italian Foreign Minister and Mrs. Arnaldo Forlani, Italian Ambassador and Mrs. Vincenzo Tornetta, and Japan’s ambassador to Italy, Naraichi Fujiyami. We were also happy to have the opportunity to meet Nadio Benedetti, managing director of the Hassler Hotel, and Mr. and Mrs. Giovanni Fei. He’s president of Olivetti Corp. of Japan and they just arrived in Tokyo recently.

Welcome Reception at the Kuwait Embassy

Over to the other side of town for a buffet dinner that Kuwaiti Ambassador Ahmad Ghaith Abdullah and his wife, Noha, were giving for newly arrived Lebanese Ambassador Joseph Naffah. They had invited an interesting crowd and it was a lively party. Diet Member Yoshiko (Shirley) Yamaguchi, who’s also vice-minister of Environmental Control, was there and spent much of her time in a corner of the living room with a Japanese man discussing the last few days’ political developments.

Other faces at the gathering included TMA’s Nick and Adele Bou-Saba, Yasuo and Kumiko Hattori, Tokindo Sakata of Sakata Pearls, Kunio and Mona Katakura, who are both noted Arabian scholars, the Hadi Debs and Kuni and Che Chan Yokoi.

The embassy residence was beautifully decorated with flower arrangements by Mrs. Abdullah and her ikebana teacher Yokoi Iwamoto. The lavish buffet of Mideastern foods was excellent, and almost everyone went back for seconds — some for thirds. During dinner I sat with Ambassador Abdullah, Zoubida Tadlaoui and Che Chan Yokoi. Talk was mostly about Kuwait and holiday plans. The ambassador’s family may go to Kuwait over New Year’s, the Yokois will spend their holidays in Hawaii and the Tadlaouis are thinking of a quiet Christmas and New Year’s here with their two children.

Zoubida, like everybody else, seems to be on some sort of a diet, and at dessert time one of the waiters brought her a single hard-boiled egg on a dinner plate. Her husband, Moroccan Ambassador Abdeslam Tadlaoui, had jokingly sent this over as a reminder of her diet . . . she ate her dessert anyway.

In addition to being with old friends, the evening gave us a chance to meet Michel Katra, who’s new with the Lebanese Embassy, and say good-bye to Hicham Dimachkie, who will be returning to Beirut after four years in Japan with the embassy.

It was one of those evenings we couldn’t (and didn’t want to) get away, so never did make it to the home of famous Noh actor Cumas Hashioka. He was presenting an evening of theater for friends. Sorry we missed it and hope there’s another opportunity to see this noted man perform in the future.

In and Around Tokyo

The next stop was the Imperial Hotel where Pietro Pizzo, councilor of the Sicilian Regional Government, and The Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (I.C.E.) were hosting a Sicilian wine-and-cheese-tasting party. Guests included most of the Italian community, heads of import companies, and leading hoteliers and restaurateurs. Mme. Leda Tornetta, wife of the Italian Ambassador, was a special guest that evening. Roberto Bucciarelli who, as most of you know, is general manager of the prestigious Excelsior Hotel in Florence, was there and told us CIGA Hotels will be doing their annual Italian Festival at the Palace Hotel in February.

From the Imperial we drove to the Malayasian Embassy in Nanpeidai for a sayonara for Malayasian Counselor and Mrs. G.K.A. Kumaraseri. After three years in Japan, they’re returning home for a new assignment. We couldn’t stay as long as we would have liked, but were happy to have a chance to join their many friends in saying goodbye and good luck.

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

•Henrik Mauritsen and Victoria (Vickie) Llantada on their marriage. The ceremony was in the Danish Embassy on Nov. 15, followed by a reception in the Tokyo Prince Hotel. The couple spent their honeymoon in Kyoto.

• Bob and Terangay LeGeay on the birth of their daughter, Tehani, on Nov. 18. This is their first and I’m happy to report Mom, Tehani—and Dad —all are doing fine. Bob heads UTA Airlines’ office here.

• Last week we ended up congratulating Levi’s Frances Pryor about her looks and left out the fact that it was her birthday. Best wishes, Frances.

IN TOWN

• Yasmeen Hasan Khan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Shujaat Hasan Khan, who was with the Pakistani Embassy here. Yasmeen married Dr. Nageeb Basir in Dubai recently.

• Umberto Vaccarini, here from Rome and working with Alitalia and the Imperial Hotel on the Italian Fantasy Show, which opens Nov. 28.

• Philippe Charriol who heads Cartier in Asia . . . here to meet with his agents on promotional plans for next year. They include the introduction of Cartier’s new Santos watch on the market here . . . and that’s a real beauty.

• Nicole Ortman, in from Hong Kong for a few days to see friends.

• His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Talal, brother of King Hussein of Jordan. He had an audience with the Emperor and has been meeting with top government officials and businessmen. More on the prince’s visit in the next column.

• Michaela von Habsburg, off to Hong Kong to spend a few days with her father, Otto von Habsburg, and her sister, Walburga, who had been on a two-week trip through Mainland China. Michaela brought her sister back here and she’ll spend a few weeks in Tokyo before returning to her university in Austria.

LUNCHED WITH:

• Patrick Green, assistant vice president and executive director, Tour and Incentive Sales for Hilton Corporation. Green was here for a week to meet with people in the travel and tourist industry. He told us about current property projects, which include a new Hilton in Maui, Chicago and downtown Dallas. Regarding international operations, there’s some talk about a Waldorf Astoria here in Japan. A few of the local hotels might improve if they had competition, but I’d be willing to bet they’d do everything possible to stop it.

•With Cuban Ambassador Jose A. Guerra and Philippine Airlines’ man in Japan, Charles Hagedorn, in the Keyaki Grill. It turned out to be a great lunch and I felt fortunate to get to know the ambassador better. He left for Cuba the next day on official business but will be back in Japan to spend New Year’s with his family. Talk about thoughtfulness . . . I mentioned that Sergio Mendes really liked Cuban cigars. The ambassador picked up the phone and in less than a half hour, a box had been delivered to Sergio’s Hilton suite.