On December 7, 2016, the TSPS Bonenkai was held at Choro’s D in Kamiyacho for the second year running. Commander David Sutton-Kirkby kicked off the event with a champagne toast to the squadron, and to its members. After people had mingled for a while, the restaurant staff began delivering dishes of caesar salad, smoked salmon, pizza, pasta, roasted pork and other delights that made up the menu for the evening. To wash it all down the crew finished off the remainder of the champagne and then started in on good wines and other beverages.

As it was at the 2015 Bonenkai, we were entertained by two classically-trained musicians; Carl Herrin on guitar and Chiaki  Yamazaki on violin. Carl graduated from the Royal Academy of Music and has performed all over the world, while Chiaki returned to Japan after eight years as Concert Master with two orchestras in the Czech republic. As the commander said when introducing them, “The proceedings tonight are in need of a little class .” Or was it culture?

Carl and Chiaki began by playing a short set of classical music which included a piece by Elgar requested by the commander before leading the guests in a rousing breezy version of Sailing. They returned later in the evening after the tables had been cleared and played a few more classical tunes, as well as Ave Maria by request, before tearing into a the sing-song shanty, Drunken Sailor.  The collective voices of the crew bellowing the refrain “Shave his belly with a rusty razor” shook ever so slightly the exposed rafters of the rustic restaurant.

We then spotted guest Takayuki Yamasaki videoing the entertainment with his smartphone and asked if he would share. He has graciously provided video of the two songs sung by the attendees. 

‘Drunken Sailor’

‘Sailing’

It was a very nice evening for all in attendance, and we thank everyone who came out. Also, a special thank you to Carl and Chiaki for playing their lovely music, and to Commander Sutton-Kirkby for organizing the evening.

Note: Two upcoming events are on the TSPS calendar for February. We will be holding an open seminar on the subject of boating in Japan, and a later in the month we will have our annual Change of Watch. Both events are scheduled for the Foreign Correspondent’s Club in Japan (FCCJ.) We’ll be sending out information as we draw closer to the event dates. Hope you can make it out for them.

Photos by Warren D. Fraser

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

At TSPS, it’s been a wonderful and very enjoyable year full of adventures both on and off the water, so to celebrate the rewards of the year, we are again keeping with our long-standing tradition of getting people together for a bonenkai, or year-end party. This event is open to our members, their families and friends, and anyone seriously interested in joining TSPS.

Here are the details:

Date: Wednesday, December 7
Time: 7 pm – 9.30 pm
Place: Bistro Choro’s D (same as last year)

Address: Trans Pack Building 1F, 5-3-10, Toranomon,
Minato-ku, Tokyo,105-0001
Subway: Hibiya Line- Kamiyacho Station Exit 2, 2-minute walk)
Phone: 03-3434-5453
https://gurunavi.com/en/g821200/rst/

Fee: 6,000 yen for members / 7,000 yen for non-members

Menu: Appetizer, Pizza, Caesar’s salad, Meat dish, Pasta, Bread, Ice cream, Coffee

All you can drink: Heineken draft beer, Italian wine, 15 different cocktails, 3 different soft drinks

Note: Should you wish to bring your own wine, there will be no corkage charge.

PLEASE RESERVE EARLY AS SPACE IS LIMITED TO  40 PERSONS. 

PLEASE NOTE: TSPS will be charged for the total number of seats we reserve for the evening. Therefore, we will request no-shows and those cancelling after Sunday, December 4 to pay the event fee in full.

SIGN UP HERE

The 2016 TSPS Bonenkai is sold out.

However, we may have cancellations, so please email wfraser@mac.com if you would like to be notified if a seat becomes available.

Ahoy TSPS Members,

Our friends at Hayama Marina are once again inviting thirty (30) TSPS members and guests to join them for a day on the water. We’ll gather at Hayama Marina, board four or five boats, spend a pleasant morning and afternoon sailing, then sit at anchor for lunch and a swim and, following our return to the marina, continue the party in the boatyard with BBQ and refreshments.

Here are the details:

Date: October 8th Saturday 2016

Time: 10:00 AM at Hayama Marina (in front of the yellow building near the boat launching facility).

Fee: Adults ￥4,000, Kids ￥2,000 under 10 (The fee covers lunch and drinks on the boat as well as food and drinks back at the marina).

Note: Maximum bookings per party: 4  (for groups exceeding four, people may be added if places are available after the sign-up deadline. Contact eugenmall@hotmail.com)

Schedule:

* 10:30: Set sail. Be there or you might have to swim.

* 11:30: Anchor at Morito Bay. Lunch, Beer & Wine

* 14:00: Back to marina 

* 14:30: Barbeque & Drinks

Deadline:

Sign up by September 24th Saturday. Do not delay. Sign up now!

SIGN UP HERE

We prefer you sign up online (it’s ridiculously easy), but if necessary you can send an email providing your full name and the full names of any guest(s) to eugenmall@hotmail.com

NOTE: Non-members are welcome to attend without a TSPS member in their party if they become TSPS members by paying the membership fee at the event. Membership fees are here.

Please leave home in plenty of time to account for possible delays on the way. Arriving late, no shows or last minute cancellations do make a bad impression on our hosts who are going to a lot of trouble and expense to arrange this event for us.

Getting there:

Directions to Hayama Marina

By Car:

Take Yokohama-Yokosuka Toll Road, get off at Zushi-Interchange Exit 6, take left road to Hayama, pay ¥100 at toll gate after driving through tunnel, drive about 4 kilometers, go straight under overhead bridge for pedestrian with signal, drive through tunnel, turn left at next crossing with signal (AM-PM shop right side), go straight at next signal and Hayama Marina is 50 meters ahead of the signal, right side of the road. Parking is available.

By Train / Bus

Train time is around 1 hour from Tokyo to either Zushi or Shin-Zushi stations

If by JR (Yokosuka Line or Shonan Shinjuku Line) to Zushi Station:

Take bus no. 11 or 12  from bus stop no. 3

Get off at “ABUZURI  HAYAMA MARINA MAE.” Travel time is about 10 minutes.

Proceed about 100 meter along the road the bus is on to Hayama Marina on right side of the street.

If by Keihin-Kyuko to Shin-Zushi station:

Exit the platform from the exit nearest the front of the train, Go to bus stop no. 2. Same bus no. 11 or 12 stops there.

Hope to see you in Hayama on October 8.

Eugen Mall

Event Coordinator