Now well into the second century since the historic founding of The Cambridge & Oxford Society, Tokyo, on the evening of Saturday 28th March, over 130 members and guests gathered at Hotel Okura for the Society’s 110th Anniversary Dinner celebration.

As at the previous dinners for the Society’s 100th Anniversary and Cambridge University 900th Anniversary, we were again honoured by the presence of HIH Princess Takamado (Girton, Cambridge 1972).

The setting for this special evening was the splendid Akebono-no-Ma in the Okura main building, followed by after-dinner drinks in the Baron Okura private wine bar, discreetly located on the top floor of the South Wing.

Festivities opened with a cocktail reception, with diners attired in black tie or evening dress getting into the spirit of the evening to the accompaniment of live jazz music expertly played by students from Keio University Medical School.

As we sat down to dinner, Tim Minton (St. John’s, Cambridge 1977), Honorary Secretary of the Society, opened the formal proceedings by reading out congratulatory messages received from the Vice-Chancellors of the two Universities.

Senior member, Masaji Takahashi (Jesus, Cambridge 1961) then proposed a toast to the continued prosperity of the Society and good health of all in attendance and dinner was served. Amidst lively conversation, diners enjoyed an excellent five-course meal and fine wines from Hotel Okura’s cellars.

As the dinner drew to a close, we were then treated to two excellent speeches. Firstly, Princess Takamado recalled her happy times at Girton College and her conversations years later with her daughter as to how much her experience at Cambridge had meant to her. Then, Julia Longbottom (Cambridge 1982), Minister (Deputy Head of Mission), British Embassy Tokyo, inspired memories all around the room of our own university days as she spoke of her experience in going up to Cambridge and finding her own place in the social whirl that sweeps up all new arrivals.

We look forward to welcoming many members to this special event at Hotel Okura in March. Members are welcome to invite one guest each.

Reception desk opens at 17:30
Aperitifs, Akebono-no-ma (18:00 - 19:00)
Seated full-course dinner, Akebono-no-ma (19:00 - 21:00)
Dancing, Akebono-no-ma (21:00 - 21:40)
Cheese, wine and brandy, Baron Okura (22:00 – midnight)

Dress code: black tie
Attendance fees:
Aperitifs & dinner (and dancing) only: 12,000 yen (members), 15,000 yen (guests)
Aperitifs, dinner & after-dinner drinks: 17,000 yen (members), 20,000 yen (guests)

Members who would like to attend should let Tim Minton know by March 21st (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org), making it clear whether they (and their guests) wish to attend only the first part of the evening or the full event.

Full payment is required in advance; the Society’s bank account details will be sent to those who apply; no refunds for late cancellers or no-shows, who will in addition be asked to repay the substantial subsidy provided by the Society on their behalf.

March/April Spring Golf Tournament

This will be our second visit to Kojunsha, a private club founded in 1880 by Yukichi Fukuzawa. Our event will be held in the Chu-Shokudo. Kojunsha is located in Ginza 6-chome; directions will be sent to those who sign up. Members are welcome to invite one guest each (more than one in the case of family members).

Attendance fee: 7,500 yen (payable in advance)
Dress code: jacket and tie
If you would like to attend this event, please contact Tim Minton by Friday, February 20th (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org).

Our Christmas Party will be held as usual in the Kabayama Room (樺山ルーム).

If you would like to attend this event, please apply to Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by Friday, December 12th. Members are welcome to invite one guest each.

Dress code: as you like (within reason)
Attendance fee: 8,000 yen
Payment is required in advance; account details will be sent to those who apply to attend.

Join us for an evening of fun at Mozaique (http://www.restaurant-mosaique.com/english/index.html), where you can enjoy traditional French cuisine with a modern twist in a sophisticated but informal atmosphere.

Aperitifs: 18:30 - 19:00
Four-course dinner with wine and coffee: 19:00 - 21:00

Attendance fee (all inclusive): 10,000 yen per person (the Society will cover pre-dinner drinks)

Payment is required in advance; bank details and directions to Mozaique (a short walk from Omote Sando Station) will be sent to those who sign up. Members are welcome to invite one guest each.

If you would like to attend this event, please contact Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by Sunday, November 16.

We are grateful to Yoshihiko Kawamura of Mitsubishi Corporation for arranging our first visit, as a Society, to Toyo Bunko Museum (17:30 - 18:30) and Orient Cafe (18:30 - 21:00).

2-28-21 Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0021 (www.toyo-bunko.or.jp)

If you would like to attend this event, please contact Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by Monday, October 20. Please specify whether you would like to attend just the museum tour or dinner, or both. Members are welcome to invite one guest each.

Dress code: none
Attendance fees:
Museum tour: 900 yen (payable in cash on arrival)
Dinner: 5,000 yen (payable in advance; account details will be sent to those who apply to attend)

We are pleased to welcome Dame Barbara Stocking to a buffet dinner in Ark Hills Club's Continental Dining Room. The event will run from 18:30 to 21:00.

Ark Hills Club is 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 stations are Roppongi Itchome (Namboku Line) and Tameike Sanno (Ginza and Namboku Lines). Detailed directions will be sent to those attending. Members who wish to attend should let Tim Minton know by Monday, September 15th: t.minton[at]camford[dot]org. Members are welcome to invite one guest each to this event. (The one-guest rule is waived for family members.)

Dress code: Lounge suits

Attendance fee: 8,000 yen per person (Payment is required in advance; account details will be sent to those who apply to attend. Those who cancel after the payment deadline [1500, Sept. 16th] or fail to show up will not be refunded.)

On Thursday July 10th, the Cambridge & Oxford Society and the Harvard Club held a joint party at the beautiful Tsunamachi Mitsui Club in the Mita area of Tokyo. It was Camford’s third time in this handsome building overlooking a large period garden that slopes steeply downhill almost to the boundary wall of Keio University. It was designed by the British architect Josiah Conder as a reception and guest house for the Mitsui family and dates from 1913. If it reminds you of the Akasaka Palace (now the State Guest House), it could well be, for that was designed a few years earlier by Conder’s talented Japanese student Katayama Tokuma and opened in 1909.

Mitsui Club 2014 Photo 2
To give attendees a chance to enjoy the garden while it was still daylight, the Club authorities kindly allowed us in at 6:00 p.m., half an hour before the official starting time of the event. Some attendees stayed and chatted on the lawn near the fountain with its mythological guardians, while others, more adventurous, went down the steep stone paths and explored further. A sudden deluge of rain, however, got us all back into the building at exactly the right time for drinks followed by an excellent and varied buffet, served with the customary style.

Mitsui Club 2014 Photo 3

Mitsui Club 2014 Photo 4

Our main July event is a Summer Buffet Party on Thursday, July 10th at Tsunamachi Mitsui Club (www.tsunamachimitsuiclub.co.jp/), a private club for senior members of the Mitsui Group, which is housed in a spectacular 1913 mansion designed by British architect Josiah Conder (1852 – 1920). It was originally built as the Mitsui family’s guesthouse. This will be our third visit to the Club.

To give members a chance to view the extensive gardens before it goes dark, the reception desk will open at 18:00. Please note, however, that drinks will not be served until 18:30.

Members are welcome to invite one guest at the unsubsidised attendance rate.

Attendance fees: 8,000 yen (members), 10,000 yen (non-members)

Dress code: jacket and tie

If you would like to attend this event, please let Tim Minton know by Monday, July 7th (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org).