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Buffet Dinner at Tokyo Kaikan's Restaurant "Crystal", Kasumigaseki Building, March 24, 2008, 18:30 – 21:00

The restaurant is on the 35th Floor of the Kasumigaseki Building and commands a fine view of central Tokyo. Our event will be held in a private room that can accommodate up to 50 people.

Address: 3-2-5 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Tel. 03-3581-0420

Website: http://www.kaikan.co.jp/gnavi/kcrs.html

Attendance fee: 7,500 yen
(Payment is required in advance; account details will be sent to those who apply to attend. There will be no refunds for cancellations after the closing date.)

Dress Code: Jacket and tie

If you would like to attend, please contact Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by Thursday, March 20.


Seated Dinner at The Tokyo Club, 14th February, 2008

Reception and aperitifs from 18:00; dinner from 19:00
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 Monday, 11th February 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.


Dinner at Tokyo Club, 31st October, 2007

By now our members are no strangers to the handsome clubhouse in Roppongi 1-chome, on the same road as the Swedish Embassy, the American Embassy and the Hotel Okura, and almost in the shadow of the gigantic Ark Hills. On Wednesday 31st October 51 Camford members and guests gathered for dinner. The 6:15 for 7:00 starting time gave the early birds an opportunity to socialize over a glass of wine or two; those of us whose work goes on to a little later may have missed the conversation but were kindly allowed to catch up on the wine.

The Tokyo Club is a private and very exclusive club that only a year or two back began to allow outside parties to use the premises, provided that they were arranged by a member, and on this occasion our ‘host’ Terry Nakamura began the evening by reading us our rights, or more strictly, defining the spaces available for our use. Apart from the usual facilities we had a very nice private dining room, and after dinner, the spacious lobby outside for final drinks. Terry stressed that the Library, which was on the same floor, was out-of-bounds to non-Members, but we had, after all, gone there to eat and drink in good company and no-one seemed tempted to trespass.

Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007  - 1Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007 - 1

Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007  - 2Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007 - 2

So that we would know what we were eating, Terry had also kindly obtained a translation of the menu, which was all in French. The food, in whatever language, was right up to the usual standard, though before the dessert the waiters seemed a little bemused to carry away so many untouched salads; it appears that many of the British and British-educated still have not taken to the American custom of serving a salad on the side.

Two new members were introduced (Jenny Barb [Clare Cambridge 1978] and Hisao Shiomi [Faculty of Law, Cambridge, 2002]) along with one returnee (Jason James, King’s Cambridge 1983).

Though the Roppongi premises are now the home of the Tokyo Club, its former site in front of the Kasumigaseki Building has gone through yet another transformation. September 26th saw the opening of the new Tokyo Club Building, partly owned by the club, whose immediate impact is as the home of some up-market restaurants.

Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007  - 3Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007 - 3

Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007  - 4Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007 - 4

Tim and Huw looking far too serious, and Phil thinking of something to say to the photographer.

Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007  - 5Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007 - 5

Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007  - 6Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007 - 6

Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007  - 7Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007 - 7

After the dinner at the Tokyo Club, we moved on to a Nijikai at Aux Bacchanale in Ark Hills. We were a little pressed for time with only ten minutes to last orders. But a very pleasant autumn evening with plenty of wine to keep us going.

Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007  - 8Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007 - 8

Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007  - 9Tokyo Club Dinner Oct 2007 - 9

As before we are grateful to Terry Nakamura for arranging for us to have a very pleasant evening. Now that Tim Minton has also become a club member, perhaps we have a back-up.

Posted in | Submitted by huw.williams on Wed, 2007-10-31 18:00.
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2007 Autumn Golf Outing to Windsor Park Country Club, Ibaragi October 20-21.

Inspirational round from Oxford Ace, Miller, puts Dark Blues ahead.

Golf 2007 Ibaraki Group Photo

The series tied at 15-15, a group of ten assembled at lunchtime on Saturday in near perfect conditions and put in half a round in order to sharpen our games for the tournament on Sunday. An early indication of intent was given by Alex Miller, who drove the green of the par 4 seventh, which clearly unsettled the Cambridge contingent and gave heart to his Oxford team-mates.

Golf 2007 Ibaraki Nineteenth Hole

However, by midnight it looked like all attempts to sharpen our games had been futile; 12 bottles of wine, dessert wine and a bottle of port later, it seemed unlikely that the quality of golf on Sunday would be of the normal caliber.

Four hours later, the loyal England supporters in our party were watching the Rugby World Cup final (which sadly England lost to South Africa) and were looking doubtful for a 7.30 tee-off.


Golf 2007 Ibaraki Camford Room
Then at 6.30 History was made; for the first time in its 20 year history, The Windsor Park Country club hosted a party in the Oxford and Cambridge Suite for the Cambridge and Oxford Society, and Champagne flowed.

Golf 2007 Ibaraki Fairway

Posted in | Submitted by huw.williams on Sun, 2007-10-21 00:00.
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Odaiba Day

On Saturday 8th September the Society held the "Odaiba Day" events.
The first event was the visit to Oedo Onsen Monogatari, the urban onsen which some members had enjoyed on the occasion of the Society's 100th anniversary celebrations in 2005. This time 7 members and guests gathered to take the plunge and enjoy the somewhat confusing experience of old Edo in the ultra-modern surroundings of Odaiba.

The 7, fully revitalised and refreshed by their bathing, joined another
12 attendees at the Shiokaze no Koen barbecue area quite close to the waterside. As it turned out, the onsen had provided relaxation for muscles and sinews that would soon need to go straight into action assembling tables, chairs and barbecues themselves.

Odaiba Day - Group activitiesOdaiba Day - Group activities


Odaiba Day - Julian hard at workOdaiba Day - Julian hard at work


The scene resembled something out of the Krypton Factor or an Army Officer Initiative Course as Cambridge and Oxford graduates of all ages and both sexes struggled to understand exactly how the subtle catches and sliding pieces slotted into place.

Odaiba Day - Ladies at workOdaiba Day - Ladies at work

Posted in | Submitted by huw.williams on Sat, 2007-09-08 05:00.
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Roppongi Hills Club - cancelled

Roppongi Hills Club party

Unfortunately, it has proved impossible to organise an event at RHC.


Climbing Mt Takao and Dinner at Ukai Toriyama, Saturday, 26th May

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: Take Ukai Toriyama’s private bus from Takao-sanguchi station
- 17:00: Dinner at Ukai Toriyama
(It is, of course, possible to take part in either the hike or the dinner alone.)

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.

The restaurant complex 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. There are other choices for anyone who is allergic to chicken.

If you would like to take part in this event, please contact Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by 21st May, specifying whether you wish to take part in both the hike and the dinner or just one of them. Please also provide a phone number so that you can be contacted if the weather forces a last-minute cancellation.


Climb up Mt Takao and dinner at Ukai Toriyama

Saturday, 26th May.

The society has organized an annual climb up Takao-san for five years running now. The mountain is close to central Tokyo but feels like the real countryside. The climb in 2006 hit some unpleasant weather, with rain during much of the day. This year however the weather was excellent and the climb very pleasant indeed. We started the climb around 12:30 and made a very leisurely ascent enjoying the scenery and surrounding nature. We chose the route past the waterfall and up the river bank, winding our way around tree roots and descending travellers.

Takao-san climb 2007Takao-san climb 2007

We arrived at the top a little later than normal, having some Soba and beer for lunch. We were joined by Ed Whittaker, who had come separately. We descended in two groups, one taking the chairlift (the cable car was not operating) and the other choosing the road route. We were a little concerned about getting to Takao sanguchi in time to meet the bus, but this proved easier than expected.

We then went off to Ukai Toriyama in two groups and were escorted to a fine room overlooking the pond and waterwheel. The meal of aubergine, grilled chicken and various other delicacies was well received, as were copius quantities of 'bambooo sake'. After the meal we all walked around the gardens taking in the ambience and marvellous vistas, Ukai Toriyama is certainly a truly spectacular place.

We all returned safely to Tokyo after a wonderful day out.

HW, May 2007


Film Preview: "Playing at Politics"

Joint event with The Japan-British Society:

Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan

20th Floor, Yurakucho Denki Building (North Building), 1-7-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Tel. 03-3211-3161, Website: www.fccj.or.jp

Thursday, 26th April, 2007 (18:30 – 21:00)

Cost:
Film showing: free
Drinks: consumption basis
Buffet: 2,000 yen
(Payment on the door. No-shows will be billed.)

The book Playing at Politics is about the heated race for the presidency of the prestigious Oxford Union. The author of this book, Dr Fiona Graham, has now made a documentary including behind-the-scenes footage gathered during the original filming. The Oxford Union is a training ground for British politicians and has produced some of the greatest names in British politics. Playing at Politics is currently being shown at film festivals around the world. Dr Graham will be attending the showing on 26th, and a Q&A session is scheduled after the preview.

A buffet dinner will be served between 18:30 and 19:50, and the film screening will begin at 20:00. Tickets for drinks may be purchased at FCCJ’s front desk (please state that you are a member of C&O). Places for the buffet and screening must be reserved in advance, but it is possible to register for just one (presumably the preview!), rather than both. Please call FCCJ’s front desk (and not C&O) on 03-3211-3161 to make reservations. You will be liable for the full buffet charge if you cancel a reservation less than 24 hours in advance.
Information is also attached about a preview of Fiona Graham’s film about the Oxford Union, Playing at Politics, which is to be screened at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan on 26th April. Applications to attend this event should be addressed directly to FCCJ.


Buffet Dinner at Nambu-tei (南部亭)

Monday, 23rd April, 2007 (18:30 – 21:00)

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

Nambu-tei has proved consistently popular with members. If you have not yet experienced its charms, do take this opportunity to do so.

If you would like to join us, please let Tim Minton know (t.minton[at]camford.org) by 19th April. Members are, of course, welcome to invite guests to this event.

Cost: 7,000 yen inclusive. Payment is required in advance; account details will be sent to those who sign up, as will directions to the restaurant.
No refunds for no-shows or cancellations after the closing date.


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