A prior member of the C&O Society, Mr Miguel Poklepovic (Lincoln College, Oxford 1975) - the Minister-Counsellor, Embassy of Chile in Tokyo, very kindly offered to help organize a wine tasting event. The C&O Society has held successful wine and whiskey tasting events in the past, and the committee decided to take up Mr Poklepovic's offer. Unfortunately (for us), Mr Poklepovic was assigned to a new role as first Consul-General at the Chilean Embassy in Guangdong before the event was held, and so was unable to attend. The C&O Society appreciates the Embassy's subsequent effort to follow through with the planning and running of the event. In particular, Mr Herman Beck, Director of Commercial Office, Embassy of Chile, and Ms Catalina Sànchezs, Assistant; Commercial Office; Embassy of Chile.

Chilean Wine Tasting 1

The wine tasting was held at the Tokyo 21c Club in the Shin Marunouchi building on 22nd November. As expected, the attendance was high, over 50 people. A fine selection of Chilean wines was provided, thanks to several importers who were generous enough to provide samples of their products. Red and White Wines from Vintisquero, Leyda/San Antonio Valley, Limary Valley and Emiliana Natura were on offer. In fact there were so many excellent wines, it would be hard to name them all. Both Whites and Reds were provided with a wide range of different favours, something for everyone. There was also a Chilean olive oil called Santiago provided, with a very interesting and pleasant fruity taste. A buffet was provided, and finished off in double quick time by the hungry crowd. Many vineyard maps and brochures as well as Chilean gourmet books were displayed against a slide backdrop of the beautiful Andes.

Buffet Dinner
Mitsubishi Club
Tuesday, July 6, 2010 (18:00 – 21:00)
(By kind arrangement of Mr Buhei Okumura)

Mitsubishi Club is located on the 21st floor of the Mitsubishi Shoji Building in Marunouchi. The closest stations are Tokyo and Nijubashimae. Detailed directions will be sent to those who sign up.

Charge: 8,000 yen per person inclusive
(Payment is required in advance; account details will be sent to those who apply to attend. Usual charges will be applied for no-shows and late cancellations.)

Dress: Jacket and tie

If you would like to attend, please let Tim Minton know (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by Friday, July 2.

Buffet Dinner
Continental Dining Room, Ark Hills Club
Monday, June 14, 2010 (18:30 – 21:00)
(By kind arrangement of Mr Takashi Uyeno)

Ark Hills Club is located on the 37th floor of the East Wing of the Ark Mori Building, which is next to the ANA Intercontinental Hotel in Akasaka. The closest subway station is Tameike Sanno on the Ginza and Namboku Lines. Detailed directions will be sent to those attending.

Charge: 8,000 yen per person inclusive
(Payment is required in advance; account details will be sent to those who apply to attend. Usual charges will be applied for no-shows and late cancellations.)

Dress: Jacket and tie

If you would like to attend, please let Tim Minton know (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 10.

May Outing (guests welcome):

Saturday, May 29th (12:00 – 19:00)

Meet at Takao-Sanguchi Station – about 50 minutes from Shinjuku on the Keio Line

Dinner: 5,200 yen (meal only; drinks to be ordered and paid for individually)

Details of the day’s programme will be sent to those who wish to come on the outing. The following is an outline:

- 12.00: Meet at Takao-sanguchi Station (at the end of the Keio Line)
- 12:15: Climb Mt. Takao (599 m above sea level); refreshments available at the top
- 16:40: Board Ukai Toriyama's bus
- 19:00: Leave Ukai Toriyama for Takao-sanguchi Station

Takao-san is one of the closest places to central Tokyo where you can feel that you are finally out of the city. It is not a hard climb, and you certainly do not have to be a seasoned hiker to make it to the top. There are good views of Tokyo and the surrounding mountains on the way up, and a wonderful view of Mt. Fuji (weather permitting) from the top.

Ukai Toriyama is located in its own gardens in a steep valley about 10 minutes’ drive from Takao-Sanguchi Station. It consists of a series of small, traditional Japanese buildings and is the sort of place that Tokyo residents like to take their overseas visitors for a taste of ‘the real Japan’ (the photos on the restaurant’s Japanese-language website, http://www.ukai.co.jp/toriyama/, will give you an idea of the atmosphere). The main feature of the meal is chicken, which is barbecued at the table.

Please reply by Wednesday, 26th May to Tim Minton, Honorary Secretary, if you would like to take part (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org)

Ever popular among C&O members, Nambu-tei is near Hibiya Kokai-do (日比谷公会堂), just inside the south-west entrance to Hibiya Park, opposite the Fukoku Seimei Building. The closest subway access is from Uchisaiwaicho Station on the Mita Line (exit A7). Hibiya Station (exit A14) and Kasumigaseki Station (exits B2 and C1) are also close.

Address: 1-2 Hibiya Park, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0012
Tel: 03-3591-1023;
Website: http://www.nambu-tei.com/

Attendance fee: 7,000 yen inclusive (payment required in advance; account details will be sent to those who sign up)
No refunds for no-shows or cancellations after the closing date.

If you would like to attend, please contact Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by Wednesday, 14th April.

On Saturday March 27th, eighteen golfers gathered at the venerable Hodogaya CC for the C+O Spring Golf Meeting. We were greeted by a steady breeze and cool temperatures, but Hodogaya was in splendid condition as always.

As well as many of our regular stalwart members, it was good to see some new talent joining the C+O golf group in the form of Tony Jackson and Charles Postles. We were also very pleased to welcome three guest players.

C&O Golf 2010 At lunch time, reports from the first half's play confirmed that the course was playing tough, with no one having managed to play to their handicap.

The afternoon proved no easier and after battling round 18 holes, the traditional "ofuro" enjoyed at the end of play was all the more soothing to some tired muscles and weary golfers.

When all the results were in, it proved that experience and local knowledge had won the day, with Hodogaya member Peter Itoh taking home the C+O Trophy for the first time, with a score of 78 and after a countback with Steven Thomas. New man Charles Postles was in third spot and previous Champion Yasuzo Takeno placed fourth.

In the Varsity match, Oxford extended their historical lead to 21-15 with a significant 11 stroke victory.

C&O Golf 2010 -3 A short party and prize giving brought an end to a most enjoyable day, with participants already marking their diaries for the Autumn meeting - planned for Saturday October 23rd. More details to come in due course.

Reception and aperitifs from 18:30; seated dinner from 19:00; after-dinner drinks

The Tokyo Club: 9-14 Roppongi 1-chome, Minato-ku;
Tel. (03)-5114-0555
(Subway access from Roppongi Itchome and Kamiyacho stations; detailed directions will be sent to those attending.)

Attendance fee: 8,000 yen (7,500 yen for Tokyo Club members)
(Payment required in advance; account details and directions to The Tokyo Club will be sent to those who apply to attend.)
Dress Code: Lounge Suits
No refunds for no-shows or cancellations after the closing date (March 22).

A full-course seated dinner for a maximum of forty-eight people: please apply early.

If you would like to attend this event, please reply by 15:00 on Monday, 22nd March to Tim Minton, Honorary Secretary (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org). Please indicate whether you and/or any guests are members of Tokyo Club.

Dinner at Les Cristallines 24th February 2010, 18:30 to 21:00 Les Cristallines, 5-4-30 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
The C&O Society's main event of February was a dinner at Les Cristallines, attended by 28 members and 5 guests.
Les Cristallines 2010-02-24 Image 1
Les Cristallines is a charming French restaurant located in Minami Aoyama, around 5 minutes' walk from Omote-Sando Station. Its secluded location in a small side street made it something of a challenge to find, but as we arrived and greetings were exchanged it was clear that the restaurant was worth searching for. Separated from the busy streets of Tokyo by just a few dozen metres was a quiet, cosy atmosphere that couldn't have been more conducive to friendly conversation.
Les Cristallines 2010-02-24 Image 2 As we sat down to aperitifs, the Maitre d', Jean-Luc Bauer, introduced our chef. Accompanied by generous amounts of wine, our meal was presented on a succession of translucent crystal plates, which looked particularly stunning when lit from below by lights cleverly concealed within our tables. During the course of the meal we were introduced to four new members of the society: Yushi Inaba (St John's, Cambridge), Miguel Pokepovic (Lincoln, Oxford), Matilda Ruffle (Brasenose, Oxford) and Maki Terao (St Hilda's and Christ Church, Oxford). Also in attendance as overseas visitors were Laurent Bonnaud (St Antony's, Oxford) and Andreas Demetriades (Trinity, Cambridge).

Seated Dinner at Les Cristallines
5-4-30 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku
Nearest station: Omote Sando; directions will be sent to those who sign up

Attendance fee: 6,000 yen (payable in advance: account details will be sent to those who sign up; no refunds for late cancellers/no-shows)

Dress code: none

Please contact Tim Minton, Honorary Secretary (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org), by Sunday, 21st February if you would like to attend.

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 Friday, 11th December (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org).