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.

The Spring outing each year, for many, marks the first time in the season that the Guttie Percha ball is given its first chance of flight, and equal opportunity to raise (and then sometimes dash) the members' perennial hopes and aspirations for the golf of the summer to come. This year was no exception, with the course's Official Starter seeing off the assembled three flights of four off at 8.06am. A full and varied repertoire of tee shots was on display, aptly illustrating the group's immunity to the cold, as each addressed a tricky par four fairway that steeply fell away then disappeared around on a dog-leg left to an elevated green.

We were fortunate to be treated kindly by the weather, with an overcast day never threatening anything more ominous. With the course set up as a tough challenge, it was with the usual animated discussion regarding the lucky bounces, or just-short approaches, the regretful "it-almost-carried-the-water" and "if-only-I'd-not-duffed-that second-approach" -commentary that characterise any meeting of the Society, that a heartening lunch was taken in the wood-panelled Dining Room in the late morning, which set up the eight members from Oxford, and three from Cambridge, and one guest (Mari Ohsaki, James Lawden's (Oxford, New) guest) for the afternoon's action. With the greens running surprisingly fast for the time of year, and the fairways in superb condition, each four-ball returned with tales of fickle fortune, and a unifying satisfaction of being out for another Good Walk Spoiled.

Information about this event has been sent to members. If you would like to attend, please reply by Wednesday, March 18 to Tim Minton: tdminton[at]gmail[dot]com rather than the usual Camford e-mail address. Please note that we can accept only 35 applications to attend this event.

The team will be playing matches against All Kanto Gakuin (14:00, Sunday, March 22nd) All Keio (14:00, Saturday, March 28th) at Mitsuzawa Stadium, Yokohama
(www.wldcup.com/Asia/stadia/mitsuzawa.html). We have reserved blocks of seats for both matches. If you would like to join us, please contact Tim Minton by 20th for the match against Kanto Gakuin, and by 26th for the match against Keio.

Tickets for each match are 2,000 yen (payable on the day); details will be sent to those who sign up.

Monday, 16th February 2009
Exhibition and drinks: 18:00 – 20:00
Dinner: 20:30 – 22:30

The Mori Art Museum is located on the 53rd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, and the Mado Lounge is one floor below. Bali Café Putri is in Roppongi Hills Hillside (B1), which is adjacent to the Mori Tower.

Charges
Museum entry: 1,000 yen (normal admission fee: 1,500 yen); this includes access to the Sky Deck on the roof of the Mori Tower
Mado Lounge: cash bar
Dinner: 5,000 yen
(Late cancellers and no-shows will be charged for any expenses incurred on their behalf by the Society.)

If you wish to take part in one or both parts of this event, please contact Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford.org) by Thursday, February 12.

Saturday, September 13th, 2008, 13:30 – 18:30

A visit to Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari (www.ooedoonsen.jp/) formed part of the programme for the Centenary celebrations in 2005, and we made a repeat visit as part of ‘Odaiba Day’ last year. This year, the onsen visit will begin at 1.30 p.m. Oedo Onsen Monogatari houses a selection of different pools with various mineral compositions, as well as an outdoor pool. There are separate areas for ladies and gentlemen, and an amusing Edo-style theme restaurant area inside the complex adds to the fun. The Onsen visit will be followed by a catered barbecue in nearby Kaihin Park, which overlooks Rainbow Bridge. This part of the programme will begin at around 4.00 p.m. Details will be sent to those who apply to attend.

The charges, which are payable on the day, are ¥2,800 for admission to Oedo Onsen Monogatari, and ¥4,000 for the barbecue (covers both food and drinks). Please note that no-shows/late cancellers will be billed for any costs incurred on their behalf by the Society.

Members are welcome to invite guests. If you would like to attend, please contact Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by Monday, September 8th, making it clear whether you wish to attend both parts of the programme or only one.

11th July, 2008, 18:30 to 21:00
Mitsubishi Shoji Building (21st Floor), 2-3-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Mitsubishi Club is a private and very exclusive club which was founded in 1973 by the 29 Mitsubishi group companies to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the group. In this context, only VIP members of the 29 Mitsubishi group companies can use this club. On this occasion, Buhei Okumura (Trinity, Cambridge 1954), one of our honorary secretaries, kindly arranged for C&O members and their guests to be given access to Mitsubishi Club for our Society’s main July event.

Mitsubishi Club 2008 Group Photo
Mitsubishi Club is located on the 21st floor (the top floor, about 100 metres above ground level) of the new Mitsubishi Shoji Building. Mitsubishi Shoji (Mitsubishi Corporation) is one of the leading members of the Mitsubishi Club. The new Mitsubishi Shoji Building was completed on 31st March, 2006, and is located just behind the Marunouchi Building (Maru Biru) near Tokyo Station. When we entered the party room, which was a self-contained area of the Club, we were astonished by the spectacular view of the Imperial Palace.
Mitsubishi Club 2008 Group Photo 2
After half an hour or so of sociable conversation and of enjoying the wonderful views, Bu Okumura gave a speech of welcome, in which he briefly talked about Mitsubishi Club. Actually, 37 people had signed up for the party, but three of them failed to show up. Among the 34 attendees, there were 7 guests, including a young undergraduate, Mr Yuki Kato (a guest of Julian Culliford), who had just finished his first academic year at Trinity College, Cambridge, and is spending his summer holiday at home. Also, a member of the Harvard Club of Japan, Mr. Paul Greenberg, attended our party as a guest of Giovanni Bianchi (Christ Church, Oxford 2000). The assembled party enjoyed animated conversation over a buffet dinner, wine and other drinks. At the end of the party, Terry Nakamura (Worcester, Oxford 1964), Honorary Secretary, introduced a new member, John Yamamoto-Wilson (Magdalene, Cambridge 1971), and then Huw Williams (Clare, Cambridge 1980) spoke of a BBQ party planned on Saturday, 13 September 2008 at Odaiba.

Mr Buhei Okumura has kindly arranged for C&O members and their guests to be given access to Mitsubishi Club on Friday, 11th June for our main July event. Mitsubishi Club’s new premises are on the 21st floor of the Mitsubishi Shoji Building in Marunouchi; detailed directions will be sent to those who sign up for this event.

Mitsubishi Shoji Building (21st Floor), 2-3-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3216-5361

Attendance fee: 8,000 yen (Payment required in advance; account details will be sent to those who apply to attend. No-shows and cancellations after the closing date will not be refunded.)

If you would like to attend, please contact Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by Tuesday, 8th July.

C&O member Mr Yoshio Karita has kindly arranged for members to be given a guided tour of the Mori Art Museum’s exhibition History in the Making: A Retrospective of the Turner Prize. The tour will be followed by drinks in the Mado Lounge.

Mori Art Museum: 53rd floor, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower
Mado Lounge: 52nd floor

Information about the exhibition can be found at
http://www.mori.art.museum/english/contents/history/info/index.html

Entry to the museum is free of charge to those registered for this event (the normal admission fee is 1,500 yen); the Mado Lounge will operate a cash bar. The number of applications we can accept for this event is limited, so only one guest per member will be allowed.

Please note that the guided tour will begin at 6 p.m.

If you would like to take part in this event, please contact Tim Minton by June 29th (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org).

May Outing (guests and family members welcome):
Saturday, May 24th (12:00 – 19:00)

If you would like to join us on our annual excursion to Mount Takao and Ukai Toriyama, please contact Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org). There is no obligation to take part in both parts of the day's progamme, so please indicate if you would like to participate only in the hike or the dinner.

The cost of dinner at Ukai Toriyama is 6,000 yen, which includes tax, service and a limited supply of drinks.

Saturday, May 24th.
It was with the weather forecast threatening rain that we optimistically gathered outside Takao-sanguchi station for a (not so) bright and breezy midday start to our day of hiking and dining on May 24th. Some stragglers (namely Charlotte Lewis and myself) were somewhat late having been enthralled by the Trick Art Museum a couple of minutes away, warily suggested to us all by Tim Minton. We finally escaped its maze of rooms with hidden doors – tricky indeed - pausing for some quick shots in the mouth of a great painted gorilla on the way, to join the party and set off on the hike.
Mt Takao & Ukai Toriyama - stream
The first few drops of rain ominously started to fall, and those of us who were somewhat unprepared for inclement weather were relieved to hear that Phil’s backpack was full of assorted jumpers and provisions. Luckily the rain stopped soon after, and didn’t bother us for the rest of the walk. In fact the weather was perfect hiking weather, neither too hot nor too cold.
Some of our party broke off to climb the mountain in a cable car while the rest of us carried up and on by foot. Passing through the greenery and along mountain streams, the walk was very pleasant although increasingly strenuous as we neared the top.
As we walked we talked, changing conversational partners as we variously fell behind or caught up, muttering the odd greeting to those passing in the other direction. Occasionally we’d pass Chris Parry going in one direction and then the other as he put us all to shame by nimbly running up and down and along the mountain range all day.

We will have exclusive use of this popular French restaurant’s ground floor and leafy terrace.

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
(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.)

There is no particular dress code for this event.

If you would like to attend, please contact Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by Friday, April 18.