Miss Vietnam 2007 Mai Phuong Thuy, director Michael Bay, and Natalie
Mika and Kyoko Kano with actor Josh Duhamel
Actor Hiroki Narimiya and Andrew Cripps, president of Paramount Pictures International
Tyrese keeps them rocking at the New Lex
Konishiki and his wife Chie with actor/singer Tyrese Gibson
Paramount Japan’s top man Ichiro Okazaki, Japan Association of Theater Owners’ chairman and Mrs. Mitsuhiko Okura, and Kikuko Migita
Hala Otaibi and her mother Jamilah of Kuwait, Utako Arrour of Morocco, and Aisha Al-Muslahi of Oman
Mexican tourism minister Guillermo Eguiarte and his son Sebastian
Helsinki Olympic gymnast Mahmoud Reda of Egypt and Dr. Nadia El Boral 4. Palestinian Ambassador
Palestinian Ambassador Waleed Siam, his wife Maaki, and their son Karim with outgoing Iraqi ambassador Ghanim Al-Jumaily and his wife Widad Slah
Palestinian Ambassador Waleed Siam, his wife Maaki, and their son Karim with outgoing Iraqi ambassador Ghanim Al-Jumaily and his wife Widad Slah
Hamoud Otaibi of Kuwait and Anas Al-Jumaily of Iraq
Organizer Ines Ligron, the winner Emiri Miyasaki, and last year’s winner Hiroko Mima
Producer and choreographer Steven Haynes and Portuguese choreographer Cesar Augusta Moniz
Takae-san, Konomi Tamada, Cesar, Komatsu-san, Anri Schroff, Watanabe-san, and Yuji Yamada
Popular actor Manabu Oshio and sports representative Dan Nomura at the Grand Hyatt’s Oak Door
Actor Tsuyoshi Ihara, his wife Junko, and Clinto Eastwood’s son, jazz musician Kyle, at the Blue Note
Bill and Chara Ireton with Leonardo DiCaprio, in Tokyo to film Warner Bros.’ film Inception
Len Clarke and Shiho Watanabe of Racenow with Nissan’s Gareth Rees
Mariette Rees, Gabby Heintzelman, and Sally and Steve Uden
Yoshi Huggler and Myrta D’Angel
Cristiano Scognamiglio and Italian interior designer Elisabeth Villa preparing for the opening of Cristiano’s new cameo boutique
Cote d’Ivoire Ambassador Liliane Boad and her two kids Malika (16) and Jean Marc (14)
Luxembourg Ambassador Paul Steinmetz and his wife Radhika at their national day reception
I was driving through Roppongi one evening recently and saw that the lights in the International Clinic were all on. It was almost 8pm, and I know that the clinic closes at 5pm. Curiosity got the best of me, so I pulled over to check it out and leave an envelope of photos I had for the clinic’s Dr. Eugene Aksenoff. I was lucky, as he was there, and I had a chance to chat with him a bit during a break he had between a couple of television interviews. Word had gotten out that Eugene had treated Michael Jacksonduring his March 2007 ten-day visit here, and the media in Japan, like all over the world, were really going all-out trying to find out something new about the King of Pop. Weekender actually ran an autographed photo of the doctor and Michael in its April 1997 issue. It’s amazing the number international celebrities Eugene has treated over the years.
I had the opportunity to meet Michael on three occasions, but never really got to know him. Like superstars often are, he was well-protected by his (mostly nice) security people, and there were always a few hangers-on who tried to figure our how they could make a little extra money off of anything he did. I did get to talk with him at a reception at the US Embassy, where he presented a check from Pepsi-Cola to a children’s charity, and I found him to be very friendly, intelligent, and open.
ACTV’s Dan Smith, who worked with Michael for ten days in 2007, has nothing but raves for the man, saying he volunteered to visit the American military bases near Tokyo, went all-out for his fans, and was easy to work with. Dan told me he’ll always remember what a great time he had with Michael and his daughter when they spent hours checking out just about everything at Bic Camera.
Over the years I’ve met and spent considerable time with most of the other members of the Jackson family. It turned out to be a really fun evening way back when I took Janet to her first disco, the Lexington Queen. She was a little chubby at that time, but very pretty. Her longtime live-in boyfriend (and later husband for nine years), dancer Rene Elizondo, was with us, and they seemed very much in love.
Time to move on to old Edo’s always busy social scene…
Arab Bazaar
Our many Arab friends in Japan were very busy and did a great job with their Arab-Japan week. Events included an exhibition, a symposium, a grand reception at the beautiful Mandarin Oriental Tokyo hotel, an Egyptian folk dance show, a Palestinian movie at JICA, a colorful bazaar at ARK Hills, and a musical at Akasaka Community Plaza. Thanks to Dr. Nadia El Boral, I got to meet and chat with Mahmoud Reda, who was here with his excellent folkloric dance troupe Reda. He was an Egyptian gymnast at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. The bazaar this year was more colorful and busy than ever. The venue was perfect for many happenings that day. Kudos to all concerned.
Miss Universe Japan Contest
It was glamour galore at the 2009 Miss Universe Japan contest at the International Forum. Friends who were judges included fashion guru Francoise Morechand, event planner Anri Schroff, and Samatha Thavasa’s president Kazumasa Terada. Needless to say, they had an enjoyable, but not so easy, task in choosing from the 20 girls. This year’s winner was the 24-year old Tokyoite Emiri Miyasaki, who has a lot going for herself. We wish her all the best. My thanks to the event’s organizer, Ines Ligron, for the two great seats. My guest was Portuguese choreographer and artistic director Cesar Augusto Moniz, who was in town with the Kamusuna Ballet Company from Lisbon. I introduced him to the multi-talented Steve Haynes, who did the choreography for the show that evening, and they really hit it off. My thanks to TV producer Dan Smith and his staff, who attended and filmed Kamusuna’s performance for Dan’s program FOX Backstage Pass.
Transformers Premiere
Paramount’s world premiere of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen at the Roppongi Hills Club was one of the most star-studded events I’ve been to in a long time. Special guests from abroad included director Michael Bay and actors Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, and John Turturro. Local celebs there included sumo greats Konishiki and Akebono with their respective wives, pop idol Jin Akanishi of Kat-Tun, members of pop group News, the Kano sisters (Kyoko and Mika), several Japanese actors including Kiroki Narumiya, Japan’s kickboxing champion Takayuki Kohiruimaki, who looks like an actor, several Miss Japan and Miss Universe Japan runner-ups, and about 70 fashion models from all over the world.
I first met Josh when he dropped by the New Lex last year. I love his TV series Las Vegas, and was happy to have the chance to congratulate him on his recent marriage to Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas. I had forgotten how tall he is… Speaking of tall, the absolutely gorgeous Miss Vietnam 2007, Mai Phuong Thuy, who towered above everyone there, remembered me from a meeting two years ago. Hopefully she’ll be back in September for the Vietnamese festival here.
Paramount had set up a dynamic light show and hired several of Japan’s top DJs, and the place really rocked. Actor and singer Tyrese Gibson got everyone moving when he grabbed a microphone and belted out his latest single, Take Me Away. I just read in an interview that he has 70 tattoos. He also, I might add, has a great personality. A big kudos to the staff at the Roppongi Hills Club—the buffet was really excellent, and the food, champagne, and wine just never stopped coming. At about 1am many of the guests there moved on to the New Lex, where they partied on until about 4am. Once again Tyrese took the microphone and really got the crown moving. Needless to say, a good time was had by all.
On the Move
I just got a beautiful card from former Tokyoites Ron and Maria Anderson, who are vacationing in Maria’s homeland of Lebanon, and loving every minute of it. After four years in Japan, Gareth and Mariette Rees, along with their children, have moved to Moscow. He’ll continue working for Nissan in a new job there. Ann Comberback, wife of the Zimbabwean ambassador, is just back from South Africa, where she attended their son Christopher’s graduation. He’s now an architect.
Regina Doi, Aoba International School’s highly respected founder and head mistress, is doing some city hopping in the US now. It’s part business, part pleasure, and Regina’s working on some great new programs for her school. That lady really knows what she’s doing. Art guru Norman Tolman and his daughter Allison, who runs the New York Tolman Collection gallery, are doing the kind of traveling I like to do. Their itinerary includes Egypt (I ran into them there once) and Bhutan, among other places. It’s all part of Norman’s birthday present for Allison.
And Finally…
Our muslim friends started their annual observation of the holy month of Ramadan on August 2nd. During this month they are reminded to do good deeds, forgive one’s enemies, forget past hurts, and give alms to the poor to please Allah. We wish our muslim brothers a joyful celebration of the Ramadan. Salaam!
