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).

The main June event will be held at one of our favourite venues, the French restaurant Nambu-tei (南部亭) in Hibiya Park. This will be our twelfth visit to Nambu-tei. As always, we will have exclusive use of the ground floor and terrace. Members who have not yet visited Nambu-tei will be able to get an idea of its great charm by looking at the restaurant’s website: www.nambu-tei.com/.

If you would like to attend, please let Tim Minton know by Sunday, June 8. Members are welcome to invite one guest each.

Attendance fee: 7,000 yen inclusive (payment required in advance; account details and directions will be sent to those who sign up)

No refunds for no-shows or cancellations after the closing date.

The list for this event is full, and no further requests to be added to the waiting list are being accepted.

Our annual Early Summer Party will be hosted by C&O President and British Ambassador to Japan Mr Tim Hitchens.

Dress code: Lounge suits

Attendance fee: 8,000 yen per person (subsidised by the Society - the actual cost is higher)
Payment is required in advance; the Society’s bank account details will be sent to those who apply; those who cancel after the deadline [16th May] will be charged the full attendance fee (8,000 yen + subsidy paid by the Society).

If you wish to attend this key event in the Society’s calendar, please apply to Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by Friday, 16th May. Please supply the following information:
Your full name in both romaji and kanji (if applicable)
Your university/college
The full name of your guest (in both romaji and kanji) if you intend to bring one; please also state the sex of your guest if it is not completely obvious from his/her name (this information is required for insurance purposes).

In principle only one guest per member is allowed, although this rule is waived in the case of family members.

This event is now full, but members may still register their names for inclusion on the waiting list.

We are pleased to welcome Professor Frank Kelly, Master of Christ’s College Cambridge, and Mrs Jackie Kelly to Japan with a seated 5-course dinner at The Tokyo Club on April 11th: reception and aperitifs from 18:30, dinner from 19:00, after-dinner drinks.

Those who would like to attend this dinner should contact Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by April 7th. Directions to The Tokyo Club will be sent to those who sign up.

The attendance fees are 6,000 yen for C&O members (subsidised by the Society) and 8,000 yen for guests and visitors. Payment to the Society's account is required in advance; account details will be sent to those who apply to attend; no refunds can be made for cancellations after 3 p.m. on April 8th.

Dress code: lounge suits

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: 7,000 yen (payable in advance)
Dress code: jacket and tie
If you would like to attend this event, please contact Tim Minton by Sunday, March 23rd (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org).

Join us for an informal dinner in the casual atmosphere of Sanbancho Café (http://sanbanchocafe.jp) on Friday, 21st February.

Attendance fee: 5,000 yen
Payment is required in advance; account details and directions to the venue will be sent to those who apply to attend. No refunds for no-shows or those who cancel after the closing date (Feb. 19).

One guest per member welcome

No particular dress code

If you would like to attend, please contact Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by February 19th.

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 13th. 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 and directions to IHJ will be sent to those who apply to attend.

This event is now full.

Berry Bros. & Rudd will kindly host another wine-tasting event for us at their offices in Marunouchi.

Space is limited, so this event is open to C&O members only. If you would like to attend, please contact Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by November 21st.

Attendance fee: 3,500 yen
Dress code: none

Payment is required in advance. Account details and directions to the venue will be sent to those who sign up.

Aperitifs from 18:30, seated five-course dinner from 19:00, after-dinner drinks

The Tokyo Club: 9-14 Roppongi 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tel. (03)-5114-0555

This event will be attended by the Headmaster of the Leys School Cambridge, Mark Slater (St Edmund Hall Oxford), who has kindly agreed to give us an after-dinner talk on the role the school played in educating the Meiji Japanese who founded the Cambridge Society in Tokyo, which later became C&O.

Members are welcome to invite one guest each.
Attendance fees: Members: 6,000 yen, guests: 8,000 yen
Payment is required in advance; account details and directions to The Tokyo Club will be sent to those who apply to attend. No refunds for no-shows or those who cancel after the closing date (Oct. 27).
Dress Code: Lounge Suits

If you would like to attend this event, please contact Tim Minton (t.minton[at]camford[dot]org) by October 27.