This guest list for this event is already full, and we are waitlisting members who wish to attend.

By kind invitation of C&O President and British Ambassador to Japan, Sir Graham Fry and Lady Toyoko Fry

Footage of the 2008 Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race will be shown at 20:30.

Dress: Lounge suits

Charge: 3,000 yen per person (payment required in advance; the Society’s bank account details will be sent to those who apply; no refunds for cancellations after May 9)

If you wish to attend this key event in the Society’s calendar, please contact Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by Friday, 9th May. Members are welcome to invite one guest only to this event.

The 2008 Annual Golf Tournament will be held as usual at Hodogaya Country Club; tee-off time for the first group is 08:18 a.m.

Address: 1324 Kamikawai-cho, Asahi-ku, Yokohama 241-0802, Tel: 045-921-0115

The Saturday fee for non-HCC members is 31,360 yen, which covers the green fee (22,000), caddie fee (4,000) and other incidental expenses and taxes. Lunch (1,500) and beer/wine (300 per glass) are extra. There will be an additional charge of approximately 2,000 yen for the post-tournament party. A discount of 1,200 yen is available to senior golfers (70-plus years of age) on production of proof of age at the Club’s reception desk in the morning.

If you would like to take part in the tournament, please contact Mr Teruhisa Nakamura: t.nakamura[at]camford[dot]org

Hodogaya 2008 Group Photo
The dawn chorus had scarcely subsided under the first shafts of morning light when a perfectly matched group of eight from each university assembled for the first championship of the 2008 season. Led by their respective yokozuna Thomas (Oxford) and Dalby (Cambridge), both teams fizzed with anticipation as veterans Sato (Oxford) and Gomersall (Cambridge) squared off for their first shots from the downy yellow of the first tee. In the absence of lady players, Hodogaya’s soft-bosomed (but always mischievous) nature supplied ample decoration of pink, crimson and white with its vestments of plum, magnolia and camellia, as the four flights led off with the usual competitive intent. Some dallied so deeply within the welcoming bush that scores in excess of 50 were not uncommon, though honours were still pretty even, as the sides negotiated the uphill ninth to come in for a 10.30 lunch.
Hodogaya 2008 Fairway
The second nine however brought out true form. Dalby, piqued by a few missed approaches in the matinal session, slipped into top gear. The dapper Takeno (Oxford) kept cool, and even Minton (Cambridge), a Hodogaya virgin, negotiated the curves and hillocks as if he had fondled them for years. Cambridge saved a few points in the final stretch due to the lake alongside holes 16 and 17 being drained and “under repair”, but when the final reckoning came, it was probably the steadiness of Oxford’s senior member, Sato, who carded a cheery 44 in the back nine, which gave Oxford their narrow overall victory of four shots for their 17th championship against Cambridge’s 15. As the non-alcohol beer flowed among the driving members, Takeno placed his hands on the coveted individual trophy, and an impromptu committee of elders judged that his swing had been so fluid for a player of middling handicap that the latter was summarily reduced by 5. Accepting this with true British decency, the victor brought proceedings to a close with much deserved thanks to the society’s Secretary for providing the perfect weather and setting for another close and rewarding match.

Members and their guests are invited to join us for our annual Christmas Party in The International House of Japan's Kabayama Room (樺山ルーム), which opens onto the House's renowned garden.

Address: 5-11-16 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032. Tel. 03-3470-4611

Access: the closest subway station is Azabu Juban (5 minutes’ walk), but access is also easy from Roppongi (12 minutes’ walk). A map can be found at http://www.i-house.or.jp/jp/
The International House of Japan has a car park, but there is no guarantee that spaces will be available.

Attendance fee: 8,000 yen (Payment required in advance; account details will be sent to those who apply to attend. No refunds for no-shows or cancellations after the closing date.)

If you would like to attend, please let Tim Minton know by Sunday, 16th December (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org).

As in years past the Society held its End-of-Year party at the International House of Japan in Roppongi on December 19th 2007.

The venue as usual did not disappoint. The kitchens excelled themselves and there was plenty of both food and wine to go around. The 19th was unusually cold, and members were therefore unable to walk in the gardens.

Our bonenkai is usually held of Fridays, and it was feared that the date falling on a Wednesday would have deterred most. But of the 62 who had registered, only one failed to make it. A very good turnout indeed. Your rapporteur also noticed plenty of new faces of the younger generation, confirming the view that the Society's future is very much assured.

What was the point of the raffle tickets? A spoof? Everyone who attended left with the same present: a bottle of wine. It was a slight surprise that most chose the white, ignoring the red, which is promoted in Japan as the healthier. Perhaps our members are not health conscious, or perhaps they just ignore popular trends. [Both (or should that be neither?), of course—Ed]

All in all, a good time was had by all. Your rapportuer looks forward to the next bonenkai.

Louis, the rapportuer, enjoying a drink

Monday, November 19, 18:00 - 20:00

This event is now full.

By kind invitation of C&O President and British Ambassador to Japan Sir Graham Fry, and Lady Toyoko Fry

Dress code: lounge suits
There is no charge for this event.

If you wish to attend, please contact Tim Minton by e-mail (t[dot]minton[at]camford[dot]org) or fax (044-945-5716) by Monday, 12th November. Please give your name in kanji (if applicable), together with a contact phone/fax number; please also indicate which college/university you attended. We regret that members may not invite guests on this occasion and that we will have to reject applications once our allotted number of places is reached.

Reception from 18:00; aperitifs from 18:15; seated dinner from 19:15
Address: 9-14 Roppongi 1-chome, Minato-ku;
Tel. (03)-5114-0555
(Subway access from Roppongi 1-chome, Kamiyacho, Tameike Sanno stations; detailed directions will be sent to those attending.)

Cost: 8,000 yen (7,500 yen for Tokyo Club members)

(Payment required in advance; account details will be sent to those who apply to attend.)

Dress Code: Jacket and tie

If you wish to attend this event, please reply by Sunday, 28th October to Tim Minton, Honorary Secretary, by e-mail (t.minton[at]camford.org) or fax (044-945-5716).

Those who cancel after the closing date will not be refunded.

Some photos from the 9 October 2007 second tuesday meeting at the Ginza Tobu Hotel.

From left, Ms Emma Whitehouse, Mr Huw Williams, Mr Phil Robertson and Mr Terry Nakamura

From left, Mr David Turner, Mr Julian Culliford, Mr Chris Parry and Dr Hisao Shiomi