Tokyo Kaikan Dinner — March 2008
On 24 March 2008, the Society gathered for the first — and also the very last — time at Tokyo Kaikan’s Crystal Restaurant on the 35th floor of the Kasumigaseki Building. The restaurant was soon to close as the building was scheduled for redevelopment.
Around twenty members attended, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere. Guests enjoyed a buffet dinner while taking in the spectacular night views stretching along Sotobori-dori to the towers of Shiodome and the illuminated Tokyo Bay Bridge.
We welcomed one new member, Prof. Yamada, and also said farewell to Pedro Da Costa, who was returning to Portugal to take up a research post in Oporto.
During the evening, Doreen Simmons reflected on the historical significance of the Kasumigaseki Building. Completed in 1968, it was the first building in Tokyo permitted to exceed eight storeys — a milestone that paved the way for the modern skyline we now take for granted.
Simon Lloyd added his own recollections, having worked on the 32nd floor for many years. Although the building was said to have been constructed to “300% above required earthquake standards,” he noted that experiencing earthquakes at that height still remained a distinctly unsettling experience.
After an evening of fine food, elegant surroundings, and lively conversation — accompanied by mild trepidation about seismic activity — the group dispersed into the spring night. A smaller contingent of seven members concluded the evening with a visit to the Dubliners’ Irish Pub on Sotobori-dori.
— Julian Culliford (Girton, Cambridge)