We'll start all over again
I just realised today that I have been drinking (heavily some days, not so much others) every night since March 16th. Welcome to Tokyo in and around St. Patrick's Day. I was marching in the Yokohama Parade down Motomachi (think Galway, narrow streets and good atmosphere) on the 10th and in the Tokyo parade on Omotesando on the 18th (think a lot bigger, Omotesando is like New York's 5th ave but the parade itself is smaller and there aren't any floats really). The Enterprise Ireland group, of which there were over 100, wore green happi (This is a happi). Happi are traditional Japanese festival wear and we got ours done up with our logo and name on it. I got to wear a headband as well which was great, I like headbands.
The 2007 Emerald Ball was on the Saturday, Paddy's Day itself. I was flat out that day between helping to prepare for the ball as well as take care of clients but it was a great night. In total, we pulled in 400 people this year compared to 244 last year and there was a waaay better buzz and atmosphere this year too. We had an afters party this year for the first year ever and while the crowd for the afters wasn’t half as big, they were the ones who kept the party going until late with their dancin’ and sining ways. The silent auction was very popular, especially the share in a thoroughbred horse that ended up going for a million yen (6500 euro). I was happy for Sarah too (our illustrious chairperson) because not only was the ball a success, but Gerry secretly arranged for her family to fly over to the ball from Ireland to surprise her. For me, it was a chance to meet a lot of people, have a good time, wear a tux and look fancy. Afterwards everyone went to Foleys and I didn’t get home till around 5.30 or 6 in the morning.
I went to the new art museum in Nogizaka near Roppongi on Saturday afternoon with Hiroko and her friend Machiko. The museum itself doesn’t have any of its own works - everything that is on display is on tour or else brought in specially. The exhibition I went to see was one that focused on Japanese artists (although there were others included too) who had produced work in Paris. The whole museum is pretty swish. After that, myself and Hiroko met up with Sumie and Kieran and we all went to a house party in Kagurazaka thrown by my friend Shie. Shie works as a journalist here in Tokyo, and she has done bundles of articles on Ireland (including one for me on study abroad for WISH magazine). It was a fairly international crowd with people working as photographers, on radio, in banks, teaching, business - you name it. Shie’s gaff is all bohemian meets traditional Japanese, with low lighting, beads and sliding doors. The food was good and there was a decent bit of banter, meaning of course it was first train home for me as is what often happens at these things.
Yumiko, my ace intern working with me here, is leaving this week to go to do study abroad in London for 8 months so last night the two of us plus Chisato had farewell drinks in an Okinawan restaurant and karaoke in Shinbashi which didn’t finish till two this morning. It was a savage night, and I was happily surprised to see Kaiser Chiefs have made it on to the karaoke playlist here. I am wiped out today, but I am also annoyed because a) I just realized because I got home too late to return them last night, I owe 18 euro in DVD late fees from my local rental and b) My suit, tie and jacket don’t really match because I was in a coma putting them on this morning.
Final note for today - listen to Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds if you like rock and musicals.
The 2007 Emerald Ball was on the Saturday, Paddy's Day itself. I was flat out that day between helping to prepare for the ball as well as take care of clients but it was a great night. In total, we pulled in 400 people this year compared to 244 last year and there was a waaay better buzz and atmosphere this year too. We had an afters party this year for the first year ever and while the crowd for the afters wasn’t half as big, they were the ones who kept the party going until late with their dancin’ and sining ways. The silent auction was very popular, especially the share in a thoroughbred horse that ended up going for a million yen (6500 euro). I was happy for Sarah too (our illustrious chairperson) because not only was the ball a success, but Gerry secretly arranged for her family to fly over to the ball from Ireland to surprise her. For me, it was a chance to meet a lot of people, have a good time, wear a tux and look fancy. Afterwards everyone went to Foleys and I didn’t get home till around 5.30 or 6 in the morning.
I went to the new art museum in Nogizaka near Roppongi on Saturday afternoon with Hiroko and her friend Machiko. The museum itself doesn’t have any of its own works - everything that is on display is on tour or else brought in specially. The exhibition I went to see was one that focused on Japanese artists (although there were others included too) who had produced work in Paris. The whole museum is pretty swish. After that, myself and Hiroko met up with Sumie and Kieran and we all went to a house party in Kagurazaka thrown by my friend Shie. Shie works as a journalist here in Tokyo, and she has done bundles of articles on Ireland (including one for me on study abroad for WISH magazine). It was a fairly international crowd with people working as photographers, on radio, in banks, teaching, business - you name it. Shie’s gaff is all bohemian meets traditional Japanese, with low lighting, beads and sliding doors. The food was good and there was a decent bit of banter, meaning of course it was first train home for me as is what often happens at these things.
Yumiko, my ace intern working with me here, is leaving this week to go to do study abroad in London for 8 months so last night the two of us plus Chisato had farewell drinks in an Okinawan restaurant and karaoke in Shinbashi which didn’t finish till two this morning. It was a savage night, and I was happily surprised to see Kaiser Chiefs have made it on to the karaoke playlist here. I am wiped out today, but I am also annoyed because a) I just realized because I got home too late to return them last night, I owe 18 euro in DVD late fees from my local rental and b) My suit, tie and jacket don’t really match because I was in a coma putting them on this morning.
Final note for today - listen to Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds if you like rock and musicals.