This was, as far as we know, only the Society’s second official bōnenkai (year-end party), the first having taken place on 27 December 2000 at Hokkaido in Shinjuku. Both events were extremely successful, so it seems likely that a bōnenkai will become a regular feature of the Society’s programme in future.
Finding a suitable venue at such a busy time of year was not easy, and we are indebted to Professor Makoto Taniguchi (St John’s, Cambridge) for securing Takanawa Wakyokan for us. Although a private club for employees of Hitachi Metals, the atmosphere — while exclusive — was far from forbidding. We enjoyed a splendid buffet meal in the club’s main hall, and were not hurried out even well after the official closing time of 8:30 p.m.
The sixty or so members and guests who attended were also treated to the company and singing of the 35 members (17 choristers aged 8–13, 17 clerks, and the Director of Music) of The Choir of New College, Oxford, who took time out of their Japan Tour to join the party.
Mr Teruhisa Nakamura (Worcester, Oxford) welcomed them on behalf of the Society, and Dr Edward Higginbottom (Organist and Director of Music) replied for the Choir. He noted, intriguingly, that since the choristers are full members of the Foundation of New College, they should technically be eligible for membership of our Society even if they do not eventually attend Oxford or Cambridge. We shall be delighted to put this to the test!
The full choir delighted those present with three Christmas carols. Later in the evening, the adult members — most of whom are New College undergraduates — contributed lighter close-harmony arrangements. Once again we were reminded of the importance of the Society’s involvement in Oxbridge-related visits to Japan.
Remarkably, this was New College Choir’s first visit to Japan. Their tour included Kyoto (Kyoto Concert Hall on the 19th) and Tokyo, where they performed privately at Aoyama Gakuin’s new chapel on the 22nd, followed by two public concerts at Suntory Hall on the 23rd (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.). Both concerts sold out well in advance — no small feat in the prevailing economic climate. Fortunately, many members of the Society took advantage of Suntory Hall’s generous 10% discount offer for C&O members.
Four new members, all from Oxford, were also introduced during the party: Ms Mari Momose (St Hilda’s), The Rev. Dr M. Antoni J. Ucerler (Campion Hall), Mr Simon Woolhouse (Keble), and Ms Miki Yamada (Wolfson).
— TDM