Hidehiro Takaki, Gonville & Caius, Cambridge 1927-30
After graduating from Cambridge in 1930, and a further one and a half years working in London in Prof. Pite's architecture office, I returned to Japan in 1932. So my memories of the old days of the Cambridge & Oxford Society go back a long way into the past!
Giro Koike, Magdalene College, Cambridge 1931-34
This year, we will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Cambridge & Oxford Society, Japan. This is indeed a happy event.
But when I thought of how the members who knew the Society in earlier days are gradually disappearing, I felt I should take up my pen and leave some short account of what I know about the Society's history.
At one of the golfing establishments with the longest and most distinguished histories in Japan, it was with a real sense of anticipation that the serried ranks of the C&O Golfing Society gathered at the kind invitation of member Peter Sato (Oxford, St Catherine's) in the early morning mist at Hodogaya CC (established 1921), on Saturday 28th of March, 2009. There was history in the event, too, as 2009 also marked the 20th year since we have extant records for the C&O Varsity golf match, which itself was first held at Hodogaya CC.
A bright and sunny morning on Saturday 10th October welcomed twelve Cambridge & Oxford golfers to Ibaraki-ken for the Autumn 2009 meeting. The venue, Shishido Hills Country Club (West Course), hosts one of the four “Major” tournaments for Japanese professionals each year, and — true to its reputation — provided one of the toughest tests the C&O golfers have faced. We were fortunate to play there thanks to the kind arrangements of Mr Yoshio Karita.
On 26th October 2009, members of the Cambridge & Oxford Society were hosted by Edmond Aruffo (Hughes Hall, Cantab.) for a Thanksgiving dinner at the New Sanno Hotel in Hiroo.
On Wednesday, 24th February 2010, the Cambridge & Oxford Society held its main event of the month: a dinner at the charming French restaurant Les Cristallines in Minami Aoyama. The gathering was attended by 28 members and 5 guests.
On Saturday, 27th March, eighteen golfers gathered at the venerable Hodogaya Country Club for the C&O Spring Golf Meeting. We were greeted by cool temperatures and a steady breeze, but Hodogaya was in splendid condition as always.
Alongside many of our regular stalwart members, it was a pleasure to see some new faces joining the C&O golf group, including Tony Jackson and Charles Postles. We also welcomed three guest players.
On Saturday, 3rd April 2010, members of the Cambridge & Oxford Society were invited by former US Naval Officer Lieutenant Commander Edmond Aruffo (Hughes Hall, Cantab.) for a tour of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, based at Yokosuka Naval Base.
The scene that greeted our eleven participants early on the morning of Saturday, 6th November, as they stepped out of the clubhouse at Fuji OGM Golf Club Ichihara, summed up everything magical about golf in Japan at this time of year. A crisp, bright morning; a panorama of lakes and sculpted fairways; and trees blazing with every imaginable autumn hue — copper, rust, gold, and vermilion. As the rising sun burned away the last of the mist and warmed the 7 a.m.
A long-standing member of the C&O Society, Mr Miguel Poklepovic (Lincoln College, Oxford 1975) — then Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of Chile in Tokyo — kindly offered to help organise a Chilean wine tasting event. The Society has held successful wine and whisky tastings in the past, and the committee was delighted to accept his proposal.