Friday, 21st December, 2001

This was, as far as we know, only the Society's second official bounenkai (year-end party), the first one having taken place on December 27th, 2000 at Hokkaido in Shinjuku. Both events were extremely successful, so it seems likely that a bounenkai will feature regularly in the Society's programmes in the future.

It is not easy to find a suitable venue at such a busy time of the year, and we are indebted to Professor Makoto Taniguchi (St John's, Cambridge) for securing Takanawa Wakyokan for us. This is a private club for employees of Hitachi Metals, but the atmosphere, while certainly exclusive, is by no means forbidding. We were treated to a splendid buffet meal in the club's main hall, and no pressure was put on us to leave 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 to 13, 17 clerks and the Director of Music) of The Choir of New College, Oxford, who took time out of their Japan Tour to attend the party. Mr Teruhisa Nakamura (Worcester, Oxford) welcomed them on behalf of the Society, and Dr Edward Higginbottom (the Organist and Director of Music) replied for the Choir. The latter made the interesting observation that as the boys of the choir are full members of the Foundation of New College, they should be eligible for membership of our Society regardless of whether they attend either Oxford or Cambridge University in the future. We'll be pleased to put this to the test!

The full choir delighted us with three Christmas Carols, and later in the evening the adults of the choir, most of whom are undergraduates at New College, made a more light-hearted contribution of several close-harmony arrangements. We realised once again how important it is for the Society to keep abreast of and participate as far as it can in Oxbridge-related visits to this country.

Wednesday, 21st November, 2001

November is a busy month in Japan but nonetheless a goodly number of members (28) graced the Society's lunch on the 21st held in the New Hall of the British Embassy. Also present were a few guests (5) and, very happily, two "returnees", Mr Martin Blakeway (Trinity, Cambridge) and Mr John Brodie (Christ Church, Oxford). It was a brilliant late autumn day outside and within both wine and conversation flowed. Jane Cooke produced one of her excellent lunches (good English fare, though a lasagna lurked and at which Ms Doreen Simmons [Girton, Cambridge] was seen looking suspiciously). Mr Stuart Jack (Merton, Oxford) welcomed new members (Dr Geynor Sekimori [Darwin, Cambridge], Mr Clement Tam [St Edmund Hall, Oxford], and Dr Francesco Stajano [St John's Cambridge]), and Mr Teruhisa Nakamura (Worcester, Oxford) told us of treats to come. All most enjoyable. The secretaries are to be thanked most warmly for arranging yet another jolly function, and indeed for all their hard work for members.

Hugh David Turner (Christ's, Cambridge)

October 26, 2001

C&O Poolside Party hosted by New Chairman

Dr. and Mrs. Barraclough's house
Minooka-dori 4-5-3 Nada-ku KOBE
(10-15 Minutes walk form Hankyu Oji-Koen Station, last house on the left)

See map

Saturday, 20th October 2001

For many years the C&O annual golf tournament has continued to take place in early summer at Hodogaya Country Club thanks to the kind invitation of Mr Hidehiro Takaki (Gonville & Caius, Cambridge 1927) and other members. In 1998 and 99, a winter golf match also took place and in 2000, three golf matches were played in February, June and November. The C&O Presidents have always managed to take time out of their busy schedules and participated in each game.

Tradition demands that in any sports match involving the two Universities, the Varsity Match must be competed for and we are pleased to say that the C&O golf tournament has kept up this tradition, with the best four (in some years three) players from each side counting. Net scores are used and, according to the (incomplete) records going into the 2001 summer tournament, the dark blues held a narrow lead with 9 wins to Cambridge's seven.

On Saturday, 16th June 2001 at Hodogaya C.C. blessed with fine weather and amid the usual huge spread of scores and handicaps, the light blues, stirred to action by the prospect of narrowing the lead, beat Oxford by 14 strokes, thus putting them within one match of drawing level in the series in the autumn match.

On Saturday, 20th October 2001, fifteen golfers (7 members each from Cambridge and Oxford and one lady guest) enjoyed a round of 18 holes at "Country Club The First" near Kisarazu, across Tokyo Bay via Aqua Line. It was a dry, warm and sunny day with little wind.

Sir Stephen Gomersall (Queens' Cambridge) and Simon Dalby (Trinity Hall, Cambridge), golf blue and winner of this year's Hodogaya tournament, teed off at 8:33 a.m. Shortly after the first flight headed off, the charming golf debutante Miki Yamada (Wolfson, Oxford) unleashed her 50 yard drive and quickly chased her ball down the first fairway of the 6,500 yard-long course. It was remarked, however, that perhaps the two Cambridge gentlemen in her flight would spare no chivalry, perhaps at the cost of extra shots. Meanwhile, back on the putting practice green, Steven Thomas (Merton, Oxford; Golf blue) appeared almost satisfied with his touch as he contemplated another bout with his long standing rival Dalby.