Being A Broad December 2010 #62
The monthly magazine for international women living in Japan
our cover girl: 57’s ANA SHIMABUKU
Driving a LAMBO
LIVING and WORKING in the RITZ-CARLTON
tips for FLYING with BABY
things we love to GIVE during the HOLIDAYS
the WORLD POLE DANCING CHAMPIONSHIPS
www.being-a-broad.com
F I F T Y SEVEN
ISSUE 4
Happy holidays! It’s hard to believe, but the winter holiday season is already upon us, and as anyone who knows me will tell you, I’m like an excited child when it comes to the Christmas season! In this issue of BAB, we’re helping you channel your inner child with a round-up of holiday events around Japan, including a snowy scene at the Okinawa Zoo Park (on page 5) and another edition of our holiday gift guide on page 8. Alena Eckelmann shares how she gets into the musical spirit of the holidays on page 12, and Stacy Kurokawa offers not only her own story but also great tips for flying with baby on pages 10–11. Besides that, our very own Emily Downey shares her experience driving a ‘Lambo,’ we find out what its like to work for the Ritz-Carlton, meet some professional pole performers, and lots more! Enjoy! Caroline Pover, BAB Founder
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image: Kerry Raftis/www.keyshots.com
image: David Stetson
IN THIS
message from the founder being a broad news BAB news, holiday events in Japan
our cover girl Ana Shimabuku of 57
women of the world news from around the globe
things we love the little things we love for the holidays
6 our cover girl image: Nathan Shanahan
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CPI event
the Ask Caroline book launch
flying wth your little one
KODO beats throughout the year—and Japan
10 mothers 12 travel 13
the broads (and boys!)
for the love of a Lambo
13 real-life story image: Elana Schmid
Publishers Caroline Pover & Emily Downey Editor & Designer Danielle Tate-Stratton Marketing Consultant Katy Lowen Advertisement Designer Chris May BAB Manager Dee Green BAB Reps Kelsey Aguirre (Shonan) kelsey@being-a-broad.com Shaney Crawford (Tsukuba) shaney@being-a-broad.com Ali Muskett (Shizuoka) ali@being-a-broad.com Arwen Niles (Chiba) arwen@being-a-broad.com Wendy Gough (Nagoya) wendy@being-a-broad.com Contributors Alena Eckelmann, Stacy Kurokawa, Linda Beltran, Elana Schmid, Tina Burrett, Megan Kojima, The Meat Guy Cover Model Ana Shimabuku Cover Photographer Kerry Raftis www.keyshots.com Proofreading Jane Farries Printing Mojo Print Opinions expressed by BAB contributors are not necessarily those of the Publishers.
real-life story
14 working
the Ritz-Carlton’s Linda Beltran
cooking those big meats for the holidays
pole professionals
she found love in Japan
moving to Japan to find a nice Aussie
15 food & dining 16 18
feature
18 she found love i in Japan
Being A Broad magazine, editor@being-a-broad.com www.being-a-broad.com tel. 03-5879-6825, fax: 03-6368-6191 Being A Broad December 2010
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BAB NEWS
From the BAB Message Boards: Member Erizabesu asks: The guerrilla garden I started behind my apartment building produced a bumper crop of bochan kabocha. They’re really sweet. I’ve made pumpkin salad. Friends in faraway lands suggested some great pumpkin soup recipes, but does anyone have a Japanese pumpkin soup recipe, suitable to be made on a gas ring in a tiny galley kitchen i.e., no oven, no blender)? Member BILLIE JEAN for Michael Jackson replies: Erizabesu, I made some yesterday—I just cut the pumpkin thinly so the soup can cook in ten minutes. I boil it with shiitake mushrooms and add koya tofu (dried tofu, which I heard is a high protein food for vegans). Then I
Subscriptions Being A Broad November 2010 #61
The monthly magazine for international women living in Japan
our cover girl: ENFOUR KK’s Tracey Northcott
the PREGNANCY and BIRTH issue! ALTERNATIVE birth methods IVF treatment options
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also inside: working for STARBUCKS
TWINS in JAPAN
ladies in LOVE
taking the perfect BABY PHOTOS
cooking for CHRISTMAS
and more...
www.being-a-broad.com
Thanks for picking up this issue of Being A Broad. Like what you see? Then why not subscribe today? For just ¥4,500 you’ll get one year (12 issues) of Being A Broad delivered to your door. Email editor@ being-a-broad.com to subscribe today! We now have the past several issues of BAB on our website—check them out at www.beinga-broad.com, and let us know what you think!
add green onions and miso, mix it up, and it’s all ready. I like to make it thick so I can use it on sandwiches or as sauce for rice. To thin it, just add boiling water. You can add potato or sweet potato, perhaps garlic, zucchini, or whatever else is at home. I like combining colours when cooking—I think it’s healthy. You can add konbu as well. Good luck. Member Wendy Gough adds: I make a semi-blended kabocha soup by steaming bite-sized pieces until tender, then lightly mashing them with a potato masher. Here’s my favourite soup recipe. • A few cloves of chopped garlic • two to four dried red chili peppers depending on your taste • 1/2 of a kabocha steamed and mashed • chopped nira • about 1 tsp garam masala • a little sea salt and pepper • 1 cup stock (either organic vegetable consommé or dashi made with shiitake) • 1 cup soy milk or 1 can coconut milk 1. Sauté the garlic and chili peppers in a little olive oil for one to two minutes. 2. Turn down the heat and add the kabocha, stock, and milk, and stir to mix. 3. Add the other spices then cover and simmer about 15–20 minutes. I sometimes add Fu, tofu, or other vegetables to make it more hearty or use less liquid to make it thicker. Member Erizabesu reports back: Wendy, the soup was soooo good! The recipe was super simple and went together so quickly. I substituted a few things—instead of red peppers, I used tobanjan, Chinese hot miso, and used instant consommé. Yum! To read the rest of the discussion or to offer your own suggestions, visit us online at www.being-a-broad. com/index.php/forums.
You can pick BAB up here: Shibuya-ku: • British School Tokyo • Boudoir • Sin Den
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• Nua Japan • Angell Memorial Central Hospital
lowbrook International School • ASIJ ELC • Tokyo Interna-
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School of Tokyo • Isetan International Customer Counter
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Meguro-ku: Montessori Friendsd Kichijoji: Shinzen Yoga Koto-ku: Toho Women’s Clinic Bunkyo-ku: Joy to the World International School Suginami-ku: JUN International School
Tokyo American Club • Nissin World Delicatessen • Crown Relocations • Temple University • Hulabootie • Krissman Tennis • PAL International School • ROTI Roppongi • Paddy Foley’s • Asian Tigers • ai Interna-
“My encyclopedia, my translator, my phone book, my best friend!”
—Western woman living in Japan
514–page book including everything you need to make the most out of your life: case studies of Western women working in almost 50 different types of jobs; anecdotes from many of the 200 Western women interviewed; profiles of 23 women’s organisations; and essential Japanese words and phrases. An essential book for any Western woman living in Japan. Read about: • Coping with culture shock. • Finding clothes and shoes that fit. • Avoiding hair disasters. • Cooking Japanese food. • Telling a chikan where to go. • Dating and the singles scene. • Organising contraception. • Getting married and divorced. • Adopting a baby. • Educating your child. • Finding a job. • Teaching gender studies in the Englishlanguage classroom. • Coping with reverse culture shock when you leave Japan.
Alexandra Press, 2001, ¥3,000 (inc. tax) To order email info@being-a-broad.com
Chofu-shi: American School in Japan Yokohama: Treehouse Montessori • St. Maur Saitama: Columbia International School Nagoya: St. George Academy • BAB Rep Wendy Tsukuba: Through BAB Rep Shaney Shonan: Through BAB Rep Kelsey Shizuoka: Through BAB Rep Ali Chiba: Through BAB Rep Arwen (To contact your local BAB Rep for a copy, simply send an email. All contact details are on page three.)
HOLIDAY
ROUND-UP by Megan Kojima
in particular is definitely worth seeing. www.zed. co.jp/home_en.php For members of the Tokyo American Club, there’s no limit to the amount of holiday spirit you’ll be able to stuff into your hearts and stomachs—kids can send letters to Santa, meet the big guy himself, and then participate in a gingerbread-making workshop. In addition, TAC will offer a buffet-style Christmas feast in Takanawa featuring turkey and bottomless champagne for adults (¥7,000). If it’s an oven you lack, then this might be just the alternative to a KFC Christmas you’d been hoping for! The Hobgoblin is also offering a delicious feast on Christmas Day, complete with a three-course turkey buffet including champagne or wine at their location in Roppongi (¥5,000 for adults and ¥2,500 for children). At their smaller locations in Shibuya, Akasaka, and Roppongi Crossing, they will be serving turkey and other items such as bacon-wrapped chipolatas, roast potatoes, and other veggies for only ¥2,200. Reservations are recommended. roppongi@hobgoblin.jp Spend time outside this winter at the temporary outdoor skating rink in Tokyo’s Nerima Ward at the Toshimaen Amusement Park (¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for kids). There’s also one in Yokohama—the Akarenga rink—and yet more ice at Meijijingu Gaien near Sendagaya station. In Okinawa, don’t let the heat put you off enjoying the winter holidays—the zoo sure doesn’t! Now in its 15th year, the Christmas Fantasy event lasts for six days and features a laser light show, fireworks, and even snow! www.xmas-fantasy. com/top_e.htm The Jewish Community of Japan in Hiroo will be celebrating Hanukkah with an family event on December 5 from 12:30–3pm, for ¥1,000–¥2,500, including lunch. The event includes games, dreidel, balloons, doughnuts, a homemade menorah contest, and more. www.jccjapan.or.jp/ hanukkah-extravaganza.html For traditional holiday events in other parts of the country, check out major train stations and department stores for holiday decorations that
BAB EVENT THIS MONTH: girls’ night out at 57
ALSO ON: 8–12: 37 Frames Exhibition
Come along to our December Girls’ Night Out—a great way to meet new people, catch up with old friends, and reunite with those who have been away. From 7pm at 57 in Roppongi. No cover, and your first drink is discounted! Let Katy know at katy@being-a-broad.com if you’ll be coming. We’re still finalising the date, so check Facebook or Twitter and online at our discussion boards (www.being-a-broad.org).
We’ve loved having photography from 37 Frames appear regularly in recent issues of BAB, and now is your chance to view more prints and perhaps bring home one of your own at Dee Green and Tracey Taylor’s exhibition, heart of place: Why we should have stayed home...but glad we didn’t. From misadventure to magic. The week-long event will take place at the RBR Creative Space and
Hello Kitty gets in the spirit of Christmas. Image: mino2006
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t’s the holiday season and even in Japan, where a mere one percent of the population is Christian, there are plenty of Christmas-related festivities in Tokyo to indulge your inner child and your stomach this winter. These activities tend to be a Japanese-packaged version of “Western” traditions, just as with most other things, and tend to be a bit more subdued than most foreigners are used to back home. But that’s no reason to avoid celebrating! Here is a roundup of events: If you are craving a light show, venture to most neighbourhoods in downtown Tokyo to enjoy displays of illumination. For starters, head towards Shinjuku Southern Terrace for sweetly blue-lit trees, or take the train to Roppongi to peruse Tokyo Midtown’s elegant display of tiny white lights before visiting the Shiodome at Shiodome Station, where a simply enchanting forest of blue awaits you. Other worthy stations to walk around carrying a mug of hot chocolate or a gingerbread latte in are Tamacenter Station for the Hello Kitty Illumination show and a 15-metre high Christmas tree saturated in glittering goodness. Ginza features a more homegrown Christmas with an actual pine tree covered in multicoloured lights to brighten up the streets of fancy shopping temptations that satisfy that Christmas urge to splurge. Families with kids (and families without, for that matter) will likely enjoy a visit to Tokyo Disneyland or its sister park, Disney Sea. Visit Disneyland for a Christmas Fantasy night, complete with a Mickeythemed parade featuring Santa Claus in the grand float finale, and a Christmas-themed fireworks display in front of Cinderella’s castle. Disney Sea will also feature its own illumination, along with a holiday parade, a revue, and a Broadway show with Donald Duck, Goofy, Mickey, and Minnie dancing to Christmas swing jazz music. www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/ index_e.html While you’re at Disney, the Cirque du Soleil show ZED is enhancing its show to include a Christmas theme; if you haven’t seen a Cirque performance, brace yourself for an artistic fantasy world—this one
are usually quite elaborate (but be aware they will disappear overnight on the 24th!), and check with your local pub to see if they’ll be doing a BAB traditional dinner. Sometimes a house party is all one needs to feel at one with the Holiday Spirits. Here are two suggestions for a Christmas cocktail with a Japanese twist. Ginger Sake Jello Shots • 3 packets of Knox unflavoured gelatin • 170ml sake • 285ml simple syrup • 15g fresh ginger, finely minced • 340m vodka • 170ml lime juice • 1 large cucumber, thinly sliced • candied ginger, finely julienned Sprinkle gelatin over sake and soak for five minutes in bowl. Lightly boil simple syrup and ginger and remove from heat. Add gelatin and sake mix, stir to dissolve gelatin. Add vodka and lime juice. Pour into a plastic wrap-lined eight-inch square glass baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and put into the refrigerator overnight. Cut into desired shape and enjoy! Lover’s Twist—because in Japan, Christmas is more like Valentine’s Day • 10ml Bols Grenadine Syrup • 10ml Bols Lychee Liqueur • 10ml Bombay Sapphire Dry Gin • 20ml sake • 45ml lychee juice • 5ml lemon juice Fill shaker with ice and add all spirits and liqueurs. Add sake, lychee juice, and lemon juice and shake. Pour into Champagne flute and garnish with lychee fruit and lemon coil.
Gallery in Azabu, from 10:30am–4pm daily. In addition, the week is filled with events including mini-sessions in Yoyogi Park, a Mad Hatters Party, and a seminar session covering the back story of 37 Frames with a chat about the creative process. For more information about the event, visit their blog at http://offtheplanet.typepad. com/37frames and for information about 37 Frames photography, visit them online at www.37framesphotography.com.
Being A Broad December 2010
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our cover girl
ANA NATHALIA
SHIMABUKU CHAVEZ of 57, cover photography by Kerry Raftis, www.keyshots.com Full name: Ana Nathalia Shimabuku Chavez Age: 26 Nationality: Peruvian Grew up in: Peru Time in Japan: ten years in total Japanese level: intermediate business Works at: restaurant and lounge 57 (www. fiftyseven.co.jp). Why did you come to Japan and why do you stay in Japan? It’s kind of a complicated story but in one sentence...I had to come because my parents told me to. I wish I was like other foreigners who dreamed of coming to Japan and loved everything about this country, but when I first came, it was because my dad got sick and had to retire, so my family decided to change environments and start again. I was depressed for months and I hated everything about Japan. I was a young girl who couldn’t appreciate this beautiful country and its opportunities. It was hard for me because even
I took an English teaching job in an elementary school and started to enjoy my life even more. I moved around a lot to try to learn as much as possible about the language and culture, and lived in Tokyo, Saitama, Tochigi, and Kanagawa. While teaching, I started thinking more about my future and needed a bit of extra money, so I decided I’d give bartending a try. I had enjoyed it at family parties and enjoyed the social aspect of working in a bar, so I started my present career working parttime in a bar in Tokyo Midtown after my teaching job. In the beginning it was difficult, as I had no formal experience, so I trained as a waitress in a number of places in Midtown, Ark Hills, and Roppongi Hills. After three years of moving around I eventually found the place that suited me perfectly: Fifty Seven. My teaching job was great, and I will take those memories with me forever, but it was never going to be my full-time career. My goal has always been to open my own restaurant, so when a full-time position was offered, I decided to leave teaching and move into restaurant management full time. I moved
though I am half Japanese, I grew up speaking Spanish with 100 percent Peruvian culture at home. I heard a few words in Japanese from my grandmother and had some sushi on birthdays, but that was about it. I knew I should not blame my parents, but I really didn’t want to stay in Japan, so I worked and saved money to go to the US to study English. After saving for a year I went by myself without knowing anyone. I didn’t care about how difficult it would be, I just wanted to run away from here. When I came back after two years, I realised English wasn’t enough to get the job I wanted. So I decided to study Japanese. My life started to change a lot, I started to enjoy learning Japanese and its culture. I was finally starting to appreciate a huge part of my background and heritage.
to Akasaka at the same time and that has allowed me to concentrate on my work. After almost a year I am loving it. We have a great family here at 57 and I’m proud of what 57 has become. At long last I am very happy and I have fulfilled my dream of loving Japan. I believe I am very lucky at the moment. I am able to help my family and on occasion spoil them a bit, I have a wonderful boyfriend, I have lots of great friends, I meet people from all over the world every day with my job, and I work with such a friendly and professional team at 57. I am very proud to be the bar manager of the best place in Tokyo to go out! There is nothing better than fulfilling peoples’ desires and giving them memories they’ll enjoy forever. From a couple for dinner or a 1,000 person event like Halloween and New Year’s Eve, we try to make it as special as possible for everyone involved. Now I’m focussing on saving for my future goal of opening a Peruvian-Japanese fusion restaurant and bar that will probably make me stay in Japan for a long time...who knows...? How do you manage to balance everything in your life? In this industry it’s very important to maintain a work/life balance as the hours are long, and the work is neverending, so I have to be very organised and self-disciplined with my time. It’s something I’m learning to do, but I’m getting better at it. For this reason it does make it hard to spend time with my family, my boyfriend, and my friends, but it is my top priority, even more important than sleep sometimes! My goal is not about money, it’s about
last I am very happy and I have fulfilled of loving Japan. Atmylongdream
All images: Kerry Raftis/www.keyshots.com
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learning for the future, I am a very passionate person, so I transmit all my passion at work, trying to learn as much as I can every single day. In terms of love...many people have said that Tokyo is the worst place to find love. I agree and that’s why I kept single for a while until I found the one I was looking for. I met him when I got promoted so the timing was all wrong, but you can’t ignore it when it happens. I am always busy and find it difficult...maybe I should just Ask Caroline... What do you do to relax? I enjoy bubble baths, watching Latin drama, shopping, spas, girly nights out, and my favourite one: dancing (especially to Latin music)! During the summer, I love going to the beach and drinking a pina colada whilst listening to music and watching the sea. It’s my idea of heaven and totally relaxes me. Best thing about being a foreign woman in Japan ? I like how many people see us as warriors—I often feel the admiration from others because many of us had to overcome the same challenges to try to make this country our home. I like how foreign women in Japan are so ambitious and it feels good to be part of it—it gives me the confidence to be a strong person and work BAB hard for my dreams. A Day in the Life: Every day is different for me. If it’s a workday, then I wake up, go to work, come home, and sleep. If it’s a day off, I’ll catch up on some sleep and then it’s a choice between my sister, parents, friends, or my boyfriend. They end up fighting for my time off, but it’s usually first come, first served! Nights off are rare, but I’ll try to go for dinner or a date and maybe a little dancing somewhere...
WOMEN OF THE WORLD image: York College of PA
compiled by Danielle Tate-Stratton
An analysis of data collected from 62,060 Norwegian women, 62 of whom selfreported as suffering from Anorexia, showed that women with anorexia are far more likely to have an unplanned pregnancy than those who don’t suffer from the eating disorder. Among the anorexic women, 50 percent had an unplanned pregnancy, compared to 18.9 percent of the others. Cynthia M. Bulik, director of University of North Carolina’s eating disorders programme in the US, who led the study, hypothesised that this may be because women with anorexia who have either no menstrual cycles, or whose cycles become highly irregular, falsely believe they are unable to become pregnant. In a study of the things that make them happy, women from the Philippines ranked food as the fifth most important aspect of their lives, with love life tenth, and sex life eighteenth (out of a possible nineteen). In comparison, men placed love life in sixth, food in ninth, and sex in tenth. Afghanistan recently announced plans to introduce its first national women’s cricket team, which hopes to go to its inaugural international tournament in Kuwait next year. Currently, approximately 100 women are playing cricket in Kabul, while three are taking a course on becoming umpires for the sport. There are also plans to open a culturally sensitive cricket academy for women in the near future.
The Self-employed Women’s Association in India has developed a battery-operated rickshaw for eventual use by women who make their living as ragpickers, often travelling up to 30 kilometres in a day to collect, sort, and sell scraps picked up around the city. The Association hopes to introduce more rickshaws to key points in the Paldi-Vasna and to keep the cost to the women very low.
image: Sean Dreilinger
Women’s soccer in England is about to become a professional sport, at least for some of the players on each of the country’s top eight teams. A new Super League is set to launch in spring 2011, meaning that women will have the chance to get paid to play soccer for the first time in the 90-year history of women’s soccer in England, a country whose national association (the FA), banned women’s soccer on its grounds until 1971.
The MIT Center for International Studies and the International Civil Society Action Network recently released a report stating that women are still being either excluded from, or not fully included in, the peace process of many countries. The report focused specifically on the Indonesian province of Aceh, Colombia, Israel, Liberia, Sri Lanka, and Uganda, where legislation to involve women in the peace process has been written, but for the most part insufficiently implemented. However, in some countries, such as Sri Lanka, women were involved in peace talks (though they ultimately fell apart), and the report praises the perseverance of women as a large contributing factor to peace in Liberia.
America’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has stated that though tax exemptions are available for medical products such as denture adhesives and acne medication, the same exemptions won’t be awarded to breastfeeding mothers for aids such as breast pumps, which may cost up to $1,000 a year. This is because, according to the IRS, breastfeeding doesn’t provide sufficient health benefits to be considered medical. The American Academy of Pediatrics argues, however, that this year alone breastfeeding will save the lives of 900 American babies and some $13 billion in health care costs. Twenty-four female officers became the first US women to begin training to serve on submarines in July 2010. They will begin duty on one of four submarines in December 2011. Women had previously been banned from serving on US submarines due to the close living quarters and an inability to provide them with space separate from their male cohorts. Australia has pledged $300,000AUD to train UN peacekeepers in how to keep women safer in war zones, where violence and rape are increasingly recognised as tactics of war.
While 51 percent of women in Canada are their family’s bill payers and financial decision-makers, the country has seen a 4 percent drop in this figure since 2006, according to a recent survey of 2,000 women. However, of those making such decisions, 56 percent enjoy and embrace the role, an 11 percent increase since 2006. Researchers at UCLA studied 650 pregnant women and found that of those with extreme nausea, 14 percent had a sister who also required intravenous treatment for her morning sickness, as opposed to just 1 percent of the women who didn’t suffer from the debilitating sickness. The researchers suggest there may be a genetic predisposition towards such extreme nausea during pregnancy.
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Economist Dilma Rousseff, who had never held an elected role previously, represented the Worker’s Party in becoming Brazil’s first female president. She has promised to improve education and healthcare. The Canadian government is implementing a ten million dollar program to ensure that Aboriginal women who are victims of violence have safe places to go in order to escape their current situations. Aboriginal women in Canada are three-and-a-half times more likely to be victims of violence than non-Aboriginal women, and over the past 30 years, some 600 women from these communities have gone missing or been murdered, inspiring the government to BAB create new programs such as this one. Being A Broad December 2010
THE THINGS WE LOVE
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Warm up the holidays with the most elegant cup of tea from Tea Forte. The 2010 Winter Collection is just out, and we particularly like the new Tea Villa (¥1,260), a charming sixand-a-half inch pyramid “villa” that houses six handcrafted silken tea infusers. Available in two limited edition holiday flavours: Sweet Orange Spice and Hazelnut Truffle. www.teaforte.jp, 03-6427-7140.
Starbucks Christmas Blend had been available only as a coffee bean until last year, but this year it will be available as Starbucks VIA® Coffee Essence, too. Enjoy Christmas Blend, which uses rare, aged coffee by Starbucks VIA® Coffee Essence, anywhere and anytime. ¥1,200, www. starbucks.co.jp.
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The Meat Guy suggests: Our very best cheeses all in one set. You can have a cheese party! Get some wine and you can have a cheese and wine party! Get some strippers and you can have a...well, as you can see the possibilities are endless. All four cheeses come from the Austrian Alps and are a great assortment of one maker’s finest. You’ll get about 450 grams of Tiroler, about 450 grams of Andreas Hofer, about 400 grams of Adler, and about 400 grams of the fabulous Felsenkeller. That’s a lot of cheese. You can even make a fondue if the urge should hit you. This makes a great gift. All of these cheeses are lactose-free! www. themeatguy.jp
The gift of photography is the gift of memories. 37 Frames Gift Certificates make the most memorable, stylish, presents and lead to a thoughtful, fabulous photo experience your friends and loved ones will always cherish. With award-winning photographers Tracey and Dee, you’ll be giving a gift that lasts a lifetime. Our 2011 gift certificates are now available in five packages starting from just ¥10,000. Perfect as the ultimate luxury, stocking fillers, or even corporate gifts. Contact us at 37frames@tokyo.com for all the info and conditions. Visit Dee and Tracey online at www.37framesphotography.com, www.tokyophotographers.com
Do you have a little thing you love in Japan? If you know of a product, place, restaurant, event, or service that our readers would love, please let us know! Send an email with 50–150 words describing your item and a photo, if possible, to editor@being-a-broad.com and we’ll use your suggestions in a future issue of the magazine.
A tip from Sin Den: This holiday season, why not give your loved ones a Sin Den gift voucher? The value can be chosen by the buyer and possible services include a haircut, hair colour, nail treatment, or makeup application. Sin Den also suggests the Wonderful Life Eco-Luxury gift set to balance body, mind, and spirit. This set is travel-friendly and makes the perfect set for gift giving. It may include many products from our shelves such as nails colours or hand and body creams. Costs range from ¥3,000 to ¥6,900 and include a free ornament and themed box with gift tag. www.sparitual. com. For more information, visit www.sinden. com or tel. 03-3405-4409. Defy dry, cracked winter skin this season with Elana Jade’s 100 percent Organic Nourishing Body Cream. Made with 100 percent organic ingredients, this cream is perfect for all skin types and can even be used during pregnancy; in fact, it’s so pure that you can literally eat it! Elana Jade blends enriched organic Shea Butter with carefully selected essential oils that deeply moisturise the skin, restoring suppleness, texture, and tone. The fluffy texture is similar to whipped cream and you can almost hear the sigh of relief from your skin upon first application. Available in two varieties: • Age-defying and detoxifying Frankincense, Spearmint, and Lemon • Ultra soothing Lavender, Roman Chamomile, and Sweet Orange. A must-have this winter and the perfect Christmas Gift for that special someone! Available only at the Elana Jade Organic Beauty Salon: Latorie Memorial Building 3F 1-519 Azabu Juban Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 106-0045, tel. 03-6438-9895, www.elanajade.com.
LAUNCH PARTY
by Dee Green, photos by 37 Frames Photography
CPI event
ASK CAROLINE
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here may have been a torrential downpour going on outside, but the rain didn’t stop the sunshine and sparkles inside at the recent launch for BAB founder Caroline Pover’s new book and series, Ask Caroline. More than 120 women celebrated all things fun, fabulous, and female at the official party in Roppongi at 57. Sponsor booths were set up throughout 57 for partygoers to experience all kinds of activities, while Caroline was on-hand to sign books and talk about her fantastic new series. Booths with a female-focus featured everything from a mini-art class from RBR and Creative Space to hula dancing from Hulabootie, and yoga classes from Sartori Yoga Therapy. Broads could try delicious Tea Forte, talk Feng
Shui with the ladies from the World of Feng Shui, get medical and dental advice from the female doctors of the Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic, and slow down ageing with Mimma from SlowingDownAgeing. If that wasn’t enough, there were beautiful jewellery designs on display from Noelani Designs, the chance to get hair and nails done from the stylish girls at Sin Den, and the opportunity to have a souvenir photo taken in the funky photo booth by 37 Frames. The ladies from the Pacific Islands Club were there to help plan an island vacation and talk holidays. Finally, a visit to the back room at 57 was in order for some serious women-only products and shopping with the ID Lube and Galaku girls. It was a wonderful afternoon that ended with
more than 20 prizes generously given away that totalled more than ¥200,000. As well, all attendees received a great goodie-bag when leaving, with some of the contents requiring batteries. It was an amazing day with champagne, bubbles, the chance to check out really fun activities, meet new female friends, and (of course) grab a copy of Ask Caroline and get it signed. Following the success of the first launch, the date is already booked for the Ask Caroline 2 party! Make sure to visit Caroline’s blog for more information, updates, and to see more party photos and write-ups. On this page enjoy some highlights, bad/fab costumes, outrageous poses, and inner photo mojo from those who rocked up to the funky 37 frames photo booth.
Being A Broad December 2010
mothers
FLYING WITH YOUR LITTLE ONE by Stacy Kurokawa
With pre-planning and a bit of luck, a long flight can be a no-tears experience for everyone. Image: Eugenio William.
Heading home for the holidays this year? Taking your little one with you, perhaps for the first time on a long-haul flight? It’s an adventure many Japan-based moms have to face sooner or later, and one that Stacy recently experienced. Here, she shares her entertaining trip journal as well as some tips and tricks for holiday travel of your own.
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joined a mile high club of a different sort this year...I got a guy’s pants down in the airplane lavatory. He proceeded to pee as soon as I had them around his ankles. That is when I noticed that I wasn’t wearing shoes. By some miracle, my socks didn’t get wet. I was OK, too. I wrestled my 11-month-old son into a clean pull-up diaper, mopped up the puddle, and got back to our seat. I did it! It was time to finally introduce my son Joji to his family in Canada. That is how I found myself on a 20-hour journey with an infant, with half of that time spent in the air. On Air Canada, it costs ten percent of the adult fare for an infant under two to share a seat with a parent. The prejourney anxiety was intense, including a trip to the doctor, because, perhaps my baby was feeling my nerves. About five days before our departure, his bowel movements changed from a once a day at around 11am event to a once an hour messy event. He started resembling a pink-bottomed
guess, if it is really no bother...” The guy bagged the stroller up and handed me an airline courtesy stroller. Wow! Travelling with baby is not so bad after all. After farewell kisses from my husband, we floated through security. The sippy cup of water Joji was holding got through. At customs, I contemplated the words “Embarkation” and “Disembarkation.” Joji wriggled and stretched out his little arms to grab at the pen. Somehow, I scrawled down my information. Once my card, ticket, and passports passed the scrutiny of the female officer, I looked down at my kid, “What’s this?” Joji was carrying the pen cup. I beelined to the small play area between
almost cried. This was going to be the longest trip of my life. I might still have to deal with diarrhea. IWas I even going to be able to eat?
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monkey. A friend on Facebook recommended the BRAT diet; bananas, rice, apple, and toast. A neighbour recommended some kind of gelatin powder that makes a lovely clear goo to stop him up. The expression, “take a powder,” came to mean something as Joji’s medicine from the doctor was a string of powder packets, the contents of which one carefully spilled onto a spoon and added a drop of water to. I bought bus tickets for the three hour trip to Narita, but with the diarrhea situation, I chickened out and got my money back. My husband drove us for what felt like five hours. We made three stops and two diaper changes. No poos—a miracle! As we sat in traffic in Chiba, I let Joji pull all the tissues out of the tissue box one by one and rip some up. Finally, we were wheeling my suitcase and the stroller to the Air Canada check-in counter. “We can check the stroller, too, it won’t be any trouble at all,” the counter staff offered. I hesitated. That wasn’t part of the plan. It’s not so portable, but he was offering. “OK, well I
our gate and a baby room. After an hour or so, I decided to check out the baby room: a sink, change tables, a nursing area, and nobody else around. I checked Joji’s diaper—just wet. After taking care of that, I turned off the light, closed the curtain around the padded nursing chair, and put my feet up on the table. Not bad. I closed my eyes and the little fellow suckled away for half an hour or so. Not bad at all. Back at the play area, I chatted to an Australian mom living in Singapore and a mom from mainland China who looked after my little one while I dashed to the loo. I was thinking that once on the plane, with a kid on my lap, relieving my bladder wouldn’t be so easy. I was right. Why do people rush to be the first to board a plane? Who wants to spend 30 minutes longer than necessary breathing recycled air while confined to a seat? I suppose some crazies carry so much carry-on luggage that they have to get on as soon as they can to claim as much overhead luggage space as they can. Because of these eager beavers, I sometimes have to put my stuff
over somebody else’s head. This time, though, I wanted to keep my backpack handy at my feet— wipes, diapers, baby snacks, amusements. I got into the regular lineup to board but was ushered to priority boarding. No choice. Ours was an aisle seat near the bathroom. The guy in front of me had the bulkhead seat—all that coveted leg space. I’m tall and have always requested and gotten it. I took a deep breath, put on my nicest smile, and asked the guys in front of me if anybody would exchange seats. The gentleman directly in front of me conceded, probably thinking that if he stayed put, he was going to get his seatback kicked for the length of the journey. “It’s like all my Christmases are happening on one day. I want to kiss you,” I gushed, as we moved our things. We had just settled into our new seats when the attendant came along and said, “No, no, a baby can’t be here. This is an emergency exit. You will have to move back to your assigned seat, ma’am.” I almost cried. This was going to be the longest trip of my life. I might still have to deal with diarrhea. Was I even going to be able to eat? Could I even put on the earphones, let alone see a movie or two? I nursed Joji as we took off. His feet tickled the thigh of the man in the business suit next to us, but he kept a straight face and studied his newspaper. By the time the crackers and refreshments came around, my little guy was asleep, feet still slightly on the other guy’s lap. And I got to see two movies, though eating with my left hand, because Joji was sleeping on my right, took a bit of finesse. At Vancouver Airport, the air was much lighter, but there was a familiar bad smell after picking up my suitcase. With Joji in the ERGO carrier, I swung my loaded luggage cart into a ladies room. No baby change table in sight, but the counter was huge. I stood him there and whipped down his pants. It was ugly and Joji wouldn’t stay still. A little bit got on the counter,
mothers
cleared up a few days later. Joji started walking and getting dirty and talking to chickens and dogs and a whole lot of other things happened. Five weeks later, it was time to embark, or is it disembark this time? The five hundred and some kilometre journey from my sister’s place to the airport hotel brought my fears to life. While I was able to stay on the correct side of the road and only occasionally use the wipers instead of the blinkers, the trip took double the time (nine hours) thanks to a brush fire that closed the highway and traffic from a huge air show that bunged up the alternate route. The car navigation voice kept telling us to turn onto roads closed due to construction. My shoulders froze under the tension. We ran out
with a wand. “You’ll have to take this off and put it through the scanner,” she said, pointing to my baby carrier. “Can somebody hold my baby for a second so I can put this carrier back on?” “Sorry, we are not allowed to do that,” the female agent replied. Right, and I am Superwoman. I plopped my baby down on the table in front of me, in a tray next to a lady’s backpack, snapped on my carrier, strapped my baby back to me, heaved my backpack on again, and I was out of there. I did it! Breathless, I flashed my ticket at the guy relaxing at the gate for my Victoria flight. “Has it boarded? Has it gone?” “We haven’t started boarding yet, the time on your ticket is not the departure time but the boarding time. You have five more minutes.” “Where’s the bathroom?” “Just over there.” The family/disabled door was locked. I strode into the regular ladies room. There was no seat on the wall to put Joji in, like they have in Japan. My tank top was wet and stuck to me so I really wanted to change out of it. I rushed back to the family toilet and waited. The door opened and a guy covered in tattoos emerged, clearly able-bodied and childless. Welcome to Canada. No time to change my top. I noticed a needle disposal bin on the wall and paper towels all over the floor. I went to pull down my zipper but it was already all the way down. I am going to write about this for Being A Broad, I thought. Again I breastfed my little monkey during taking off and landing. Again, I was beside a businessman, but this time a chatty Japanese fellow, off to a Fisheries Symposium. It was a good, short flight and Joji was asleep on my chest when my mum finally met him for the first time. The diarrhea problem
of food. I needed to go to the bathroom. Joji needed out. Double travel time meant double crying time. He was practicing body contortions trying to escape his seat. He cried himself into a deep sleep so we could unpack the car and shower at the hotel in peace. The journey back to Japan is not so favourable in terms of jet lag and time adjustments, but at least my husband was there. We paid $75 extra each for bulkhead seats and the third seat in our section was probably the only unoccupied seat on the flight. Joji had a great time reaching through the seats to hold hands with the toddler behind us. At security at Vancouver Airport, we went into a separate line because of our stroller, which was taken from us to be put in the hold just as we boarded. The Chinese Canadian family ahead of us was going back to China and had a baby about the same age as ours in a stroller, as well as loads of carry-on luggage. The officers kept picking things out of their bags, such as baby sunscreen, a curled-up, almost-finished tube of toothpaste, and supersized containers of vitamins. “Shall we toss these? Do you want to go back to your airline counter and check them in that way? You are already at your checked luggage limit?” We got through in minutes. They were still there. Their baby was starting to cry. On the way to our gate, I asked the information counter where the children’s play area was. “We don’t have one,” the lady told me. “What?” Did she misunderstand me? Further down, near our gate, I found a TV with kids’ programming and a huge plastic pirate ship for kids to play on. I went to a fast food counter and got a cup of boiled water and a carton of milk. Then at table near the play area, I opened a
went to pull down my zipper but it was already all the way down. I am going to write about this for IBeing A Broad, I thought.
Airports can be interesting places to explore.
Image: Sean Dreilinger
on my hands, but I think I wiped most of it up. Back at the special baggage pickup area, I let the little guy cruise from seat to seat to a luggage cart to a cat in a cage. We watched musicians with black boxed instruments. After what seemed like an eternity, our stroller appeared. I checked my bags for the next flight, and started sweating despite the humidity-free air. The next flight was soon, but I wasn’t sure what time it was. I had to get myself to the other end of the terminal for domestic flights. I started jogging, and panting, baby on my front, backpack on my back. I reached customs. “What time is it?” “Noon.” My ticket said 12:15pm. The line moved. The next thing, an officer was going over me
porridge package, added the water and milk, and fed Joji. It was then that I found a sealed jar of baby food that had got past security. At Narita, we had an hour before our bus came in. I remembered the nice clean shower room waiting area and asked the lady there if I could let my baby run around. She conceded, “Just five minutes, just here (around the corner near the janitorial cupboards). Really you should pay ¥500 to be here.” My little boy squealed in delight and ran that short length of hall back and forth, back and forth. I am happy to report that he slept most of the bus ride home. In some BAB ways, it is nice to be back in Japan. My advice for flying with an infant: if travelling alone with your kid, you may want to pay the ¥500 to your travel agent for the privilege of filling out your customs form in advance. Also consider reserving bulkhead seats, bringing a plastic bib and spoon (our airline provided jars of baby food), and if your baby is wearing summer wear, packing a sweater and socks in your carry-on. While in the air, ask the flight attendant to refill baby’s cup with water or juice, and find other kids who might play with yours or share toys. If your baby nurses, do so at take off and landing. Of course, go to the toilet prior to boarding and when waiting around—most babies love to look in the mirror (you too?), lean into the sink and dip their hands under the faucet water, and play with paper towel or unwind the toilet paper off the rolls in the stall. (We didn’t do that!) Good luck! For more tips related to flying with babies, check out these resources: • www.travelforkids.com/ Travelessentials/flyingwithbabies.htm • www.flyingwithkids.com • www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ children/index.shtm • www.babycenter.com/0_travel-withbaby-how-we-can-help_7155.bc
Being A Broad December 2010
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KODO—TAIKO BEATS THROUGH THE YEAR by Alena Eckelmann
Image: Taro Nashita.
Perfection on stage: the December Christmas Concert.
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he year is almost finished and I am making plans for the holiday season. How to get into the swing of things to be ready for the festive onslaught that awaits me at my parents’ place in Germany? I want to see some of Tokyo’s illuminations before getting on the plane home, but what else is out there that makes the pre-Christmas season in Tokyo special? In London I would enjoy a concert of Christmas carols by candlelight in St-Martin-inthe-Fields, a church just off Trafalgar Square, and then go to the Square to admire the largest Christmas tree in the whole of town. In Berlin I would go to the French Cathedral for an Advent concert and then round off the day with some Glühwein (mulled wine) and gingerbread at the Christmas Market. What to do in Tokyo, though? Christmas Extravaganza Taiko-Style: When I pondered this question a few years ago, I came across KODO’s December concerts. Bingo! Different country, different type of celebration! In Japan I would go to a taiko concert to wind up the year in style. KODO is arguably Japan’s best-known taiko ( Japanese drumming) group. If you see them on stage you cannot help but admire their superb drumming skills and the excellent choreography of their shows. Like rhythmic fireworks and a carnival of colour in one, their stage performances make your hands tap along and they ignite fire in your heart. What better way of warming up in the cold season could there be if there is no Glühwein at hand? My first KODO concert, back in December 2007, left me in such high spirits of the EasternOriental sort, as opposed to the Christian-inspired type, that I wanted to try some taiko drumming myself. This was the perfect item to put on my list of New Year’s Resolutions for 2008. I figured that taiko drumming would be an excellent way of discovering some of Japan’s musical and performing arts traditions. Instead of having to endure sitting quietly through hours of kabuki or noh performances, getting all stiff and not understanding much, I could get active by
learning to play an instrument and ideally making some Japanese friends along the way. From what I had seen on stage, it would certainly be a serious workout, too. This is how I got started banging on drums, which has now become a regular activity; a Japanese hobby, so to speak. However, I have not forgotten the source of inspiration for my taiko “career.” As a sort of Tokyo-tradition at the end of the year, I go to a KODO December Concert to see the professionals, and time and again they astonish with their sheer brilliance. What looks easy and perfect on stage is the result of countless hours of hard training; that much I now know. To drum up even a simple sequence is not as easy as it looks, and to drum in harmony with other group members is close to impossible without a lot of training. This says nothing of the ingenious pieces that the KODO members are playing. Besides, the muscular and handsome guys on stage are pure eye candy and the female members of the group are a great inspiration to wannabe drummer women. Summer and Taiko on Sado Island: Fast forward a few months and every year in August KODO stages their Earth Celebration, a taiko and music event that ranks among Japan’s finest open-air summer festivals. Some of my friends, who had gone to the festival in previous years, were raving about it, making me—the one who was actually playing some taiko—all envious. So, this past year it was high time to see for myself and I got on the shinkansen to Niigata City and then on the ferry to Sado, a sleepy island 40 kilometres off the coast of Niigata. There are only four hours between Tokyo and the taiko heaven that awaits you on Sado Island each August. KODO is based in Ogi, a quiet town on the southern part of the island. This is where the KODO drummers’ headquarters and their training centre, an old converted school building, are located. The 80-member strong group consists of 55 core members, including
24 performing members (16 men, 8 women), 28 staff members and 3 junior members, in addition to apprentices and part-time workers. The audience mainly sees the performing members on stage, but in order to deliver their brilliant shows and manage their tours around the world, many more people are involved. Being successful in the field of performing arts these days requires more than just artistic talent, it also needs sound business and organisational skills. This is definitely true for the Earth Celebration, an annual event that lasts for three days and sees thousands of people— foreigners and Japanese alike—travel to Ogi to watch the open-air concerts, participate in taiko drumming workshops, and attend the many fringe events around town. Each year KODO invites international artists, including musicians and performers, to join them for the celebrations. This gives the festival a very multi-cultural touch, a trait that is very much reflected in the nationalities of the audience. In good old summer festival tradition, I camped out at Sobama Camp Site right on the beach. Tents can be rented and a bus running between the camp site and Ogi takes you to the concerts and back. This is the perfect arrangement for a memorable summer weekend—a lazy morning at the beach followed by a stroll through the festival’s very own market offering multiethnic clothing, handicrafts, and international foods, then a taiko workshop in the afternoon, and a wonderful concert in the evening; all this for three days in a row. A path leading up from Kisaki Shrine brings you to the top of a small hill where Shiroyama Park is located. This is the beautiful, natural setting of the KODO Shiroyama concerts. Sitting on the lawn, eyes fixed on the stage, the taiko beat echoing through the air and resonating from the soil and the surrounding trees, one feels the very special atmosphere of this event. As the evening progresses, you gaze up into the dark firmament and the stars and the moon seem to become a part of the stage decorations. In this dream-like setting one easily forgets Tokyo for the time being and just enjoys a beautiful summer night—definitely BAB something to look forward to in 2011! The 2010 KODO December Concert tour begins on December 1 on Sado Island, then travels to Niigata, Nagoya, Osaka, Ashikaga, Sendai, and Yokohama before the Tokyo finale concerts December 17 through 19. For more information about KODO and their December concerts, please visit their website where you can also reserve tickets: www.kodo.or.jp.
OF A LAMBO by Emily Downey
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Image: Nathan Shanahan
Emily excitedly waits to get behind the wheel of a Lambo.
Image: Nathan Shanahan
am here to declare that I, as a foreign woman living in Japan, love cars. Not just any cars, of course: the fast, expensive kind. I love the look, the sound, and the sheer expense of them. Of course, I can say all this purely as an admirer rather than as a collector. My current mode of daily transport is a huge Toyota people mover, the antithesis of my true desire. Reality does not, and most likely never will, reach fantasy. Well, except for the one day I actually got to drive one of the most elite, sexy, luxurious, and expensive cars on the road today—a Lamborghini. It all started with a text—a harmless beep indicating that I had a message on my iPhone. It was from Caroline (Pover, publisher of BAB). It read “Hey, how are you? How would you like to drive a Lamborghini next month?” My shock was soon followed by an excitement that was electrifying. I literally had a wave of goosebumps erupt all over my body. It may sound crazy to a non-car fanatic, but replace it with your wildest dream and you will understand how I felt. I mean, it was up there with meeting your favourite celebrity or taking an exotic five-star holiday. It all came about thanks to Colin Shea, owner of Tokyo Car Club, who had arranged the whole event, aptly name Tokyo Expat Drive Day. We started out early Saturday morning on the 52nd floor of the Ritz-Carlton in Tokyo. A quick coffee to wake and warm us up and a brief from Lamborgini PR Manager Sarah Selleri (a lovely long-term Tokyoite originally from Italy) and we were on our way. Lined up at the front entrance of the Ritz were four ‘Lambos,’ as they are affectionately called. It was truly a site to behold and a rare one at that. The fact that I was about to drive one across Tokyo and all the way to Chiba was overwhelmingly exciting and nerve-racking. Upon entering the driver’s seat for the first time, the smell of leather was intoxicating. The seat was low, mere inches from the ground, and it was long in the leg, making you feel like you were lying down. It was left-hand drive, meaning the steering
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THE LOVE
wheel was on the opposite side compared to cars made for Japanese roads. The other three drivers, all male, happened to choose to drive the manual gear system, which gave a ‘gruntier,’ faster, and more technical drive. I put my car in automatic mode, choosing to enjoy the ride without constantly having to worry about changing gears. Our planned route was through the city, up onto the highway, across the Rainbow bridge, and down into the 14-kilometre-long Aqua Tunnel to Chiba, at which point the next four drivers would continue to Yokohama, ending at the Yokohama Country and Athletic Club for lunch. It was time to roll, and the three drivers ahead took off, not to be seen again! If there had been dust on the road, I would have been left in it. I started off a lot more cautiously, gently ambling though the lively streets of downtown Minato-ku. I took time to watch people rubbernecking from the streets as they caught sight of me, or rather the car. I would have been happy to pull up at a café and just park and watch the car itself all day, but I had a job to do and that was to get myself and that car to Chiba in one piece. I had a Lamborghini representative in the passenger seat to guide me on the car and journey, and it was a welcome distraction. The remaining drivers and the non-driving guests, spouses, Colin, and Sarah followed on a bus to meet us later on. As it was rather early on a Saturday morning, traffic was light, especially on the highway. The Lambo is one of the fastest road cars in the world, but I drove it more slowly than any other car in my life. I was being overtaken by drivers of ordinary cars by the dozen, most of whom tried to get a better look. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the feeling—the narcissist in me loved it. In the last stretch, my confidence picked up a little as I entered the two-lane, spaceship-like underwater tunnel leading to my final stop. I was still coasting along in the slow lane, however, totally not putting this handcrafted car to its potential. That is, until I was suddenly passed by a bus, one
that had cameras flashing from it as it sped past. I recognised some of the people on the bus as it flew by me—it was our gang—they had caught up with me despite leaving far later than I did. A combination of shame and disappointment welled inside me, and the thought of what a ribbing I would get at the end, being beaten by a minibus, was too much. What could I do? Some kind of Lambo power possessed me, enraging me like the bull insignia I was representing. I looked in my mirrors, gently pulled into the overtaking lane, ever so slightly planted my foot on the accelerator, and the rest is a blur. Disassociative fugue went into full effect, in rhythm with the roar of the engine situated inches behind my back. I literally flew past that minibus and past several other cars in a matter of seconds. There were no camera flashes this time, as they had no idea what had hit them as I stealthily slipped by. By the time they heard my engine catching them, I was long gone. It was a David and Goliath moment, but one where Goliath should have won. And she did. Minutes later we were out of the tunnel and back to daylight, where I was high on victory and sad that I was about to get out of this car forever. I really dawdled to the meeting spot, delaying the inevitable while my passenger was busily saying “Lambo-tachi, doko?” to himself. Those words, which translate to “Lamborghinis, where are you?,” is a combination certainly to be heard only once in a lifetime, and a fitting way to end BAB the drive. For more information on Expat Drive Days, contact Colin Shea at colin@tokyocarclub. com or visit http://tokyocarclub.com. For more information on Lamborghini, contact Sarah Selleri via www.lamborghini. co.jp. Yokohama Country and Athletic Club can be reached via their website at www.ycac. or.jp.
Being A Broad December 2010
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working
LINDA
BELTRAN
Director of Public Relations, the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo One of the beautiful suites at the Ritz-Carlton.
Linda both lives and works at the Ritz-Carlton. All images provided by Linda Beltran and Ritz-Carlton.
Name: Linda Beltran Nationality: American Qualifications: Public relations professional with more than 18 years of experience in the business. Job title: Director of Public Relations Employer: The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo Time in this job: Two years as of October, 2010. Job description: I manage the public relations
helps me accomplish this! Japanese requirement: I have a PR manager who manages the local media, and a marketing manager who oversees our marketing efforts, so we are able to be responsive regardless of the language requirement. General conditions: My office is on the 45th floor with views of Mt. Fuji in front of me and
for the hotel, including media relations, online marketing, social media, collateral production, and overall brand management. General requirements: To ensure that the hotel’s news is constantly disseminated to the local, regional, national, and international media—thankfully I have an amazing team that
Tokyo Tower behind me. It’s the first time in my entire 18-year-career that I’ve had an office with a window, and I had to come all the way to Japan to have one of the most spectacular views in the world! In general I have very ideal conditions! How she found this job: I contacted the RitzCarlton corporate office in Chevy Chase, MD, and said, “I’m single, mobile, experienced…you need to hire me.” After an opportunity with one of our sister hotels in China didn’t materialise (because I wasn’t fluent in Mandarin), the Tokyo property was suggested. In May 2008 I came for a week-long interview and left with a job offer. Best thing: Gaining international, five-star hotel experience and learning all about a new culture and country. Worst thing: That none of my family has been able to come and visit (they hate to fly). Interesting stories: Too many to tell...but so far the most interesting thing I’ve done since I’ve been here is climb Mt. Fuji in August of this year. Having never done any sort of climbing or hiking in my life, that experience was interesting, to say the least! In terms of the hotel, not only is The RitzCarlton, Tokyo my work, it’s also my home. Living in a hotel definitely has its perks, and I don’t think
contacted the Ritz-Carlton corporate office in Chevy Chase, MD, and said, “I’m single, mobile, Iexperienced…you need to hire me.”
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I’ll ever get tired of the services that are available, but oddly enough I do find myself missing the daily chores of cooking, baking, and laundry. However, I’m sure there will be a day when I eat those words and/or reconsider that sentiment. There’s also the 24-Hour Help Hotline: When I first arrived in Tokyo and would find myself lost, or in a shop and unable to explain to an employee what I was looking for, I was so fortunate to be able to call the hotel and have one of the staff assist me at any hour of the day— definitely a life saver! Issues affecting her as a woman: The hospitality industry is very much equally populated with women and men, so I can’t say that I had to overcome specific work issues because I was a woman. Also, the fact that I work for an American company made it an easier transition overall. Advice: Be diligent in learning the language, even though you can get by without being fluent. I wish I had been able to take lessons, but because of my busy schedule, it has been very difficult. I try to learn new phrases and words from audiotapes and conversations with friends. Still, I wish I had a better grasp on the language. Recommended resources: I source great media leads from Twitter and professional peers from LinkedIn. Try to join both professional and social groups so that you are exposed to likeminded people. Other jobs done in Japan: Shopping, touring, BAB and eating…but those were a pleasure! The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo is located in Tokyo Midtown, and you can find out more by visiting their website: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/ Properties/Tokyo/Default.htm.
THE BIG MEAT by The Meat Guy
Turkeys don’t have to be scary to cook!
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hances are, your grandmother, with her eight kids and vast extended family, had a lot more experience handling big meat than you do. She probably had occasion to pop something big in her oven every Sunday, the likes of which the typical woman today only sees a couple of times
bags of ice (so they don’t dilute the brine when melting), and 12 hours later you’ll have the girl plumped and ready for some action. Keeping the bird moist while getting it hot and steamy in the oven is the hardest part of getting it ready for the table. Wrapping it in an oven bag makes things safer, as it keeps the moisture in. Forget about basting, not only does it overwork the baster, it doesn’t really do anything. The most important tool that you have is a thermometre, check the temperature in the thickest part of the breast and take it out about 71°C, this should happen after about 30 minutes per kilogram if you’re cooking it at 175°C. It needs to end up at 74°C. If you like crispy skin, be sure to grease it up well with some oil or butter and make sure it’s uncovered for the last 15 minutes of cooking. Or just use a blow torch at the end like I do. If you don’t have an oven large enough to handle a whole bird, you can also cook up some turkey in a toaster oven, in your fish broiler, or even on the stove top. Turkey breast doesn’t have to be slow roasted to make it tender, so you can slice it into steaks and cook it in a frying pan. You can also roast any part of the turkey on the grill.
y final tip for the holiday chef is gravy. Make lots and lots of gravy—it can hide just about any mistake in M the oven. a year if she’s lucky. Big can be scary and intimidating, especially with the small Japanese range you’re probably used to working with. But if you treat the big meat nicely, it can make for a very satisfying special occasion. While it’s true that the larger the meat, the more difficult to handle it is, bigger is also more forgiving if you take it out a little too soon or a little too late. During the holidays, a big hunk of meat is an essential centrepiece for the table. Favourites may be one of the fowl variety or something beefy, or even porky, if that’s your thing. Basically, any heavy chunks of meat require the same cooking method; you’ll be rewarded for going low and slow as opposed to hot and fast. A whole turkey can be frightening to the firsttimer, but they can be a really easy way to make you look good. To keep things from getting too dry, turkeys need to be brined. Many come prebrined, having been given a salty injection at the factory. If so, you’re good to go straight out of the bag. But if you prefer to do it yourself and you get a hold of a natural bird, brining is easy. Stir salt into a full, nearly boiling teapot until it stops dissolving. Then fill your food-safe brining container with cold tap water plus one potato. Add the salt water (repeating as necessary), until the potato floats, then take out the potato. Chuck in your bird, along with a couple of well-sealed
Bank all of your coals on one side, put the turkey on the other, cover it, wait, and salivate. For some ladies, a massive hunk of beef is what makes their holiday complete. The secret to tender beef is slow cooking in a moist environment. The trick is to melt the collagen, which is the long, hard, protein in meat, and turn it into gelatin, which is soft and pleasant. In beef, this happens when the temperature hits 60°C, and the longer you hold it at that temperature, the softer it will get. However, you are also losing moisture at the same time, so the trick is balancing the two factors. At 180°C you should factor in about 40 minutes per kilogram of roasting time, more if the meat is thick and fat, less if it’s lean and long. Browning the roast before roasting it makes it look nice, but it doesn’t actually make it retain moisture like most folks believe. My final tip for the holiday chef is gravy. Make lots and lots of gravy—it can hide just about any BAB mistake in the oven. For a great source of fresh meat, including entire turkeys sourced from around the world, a huge variety of beef products, appetizers, and the only place in Japan to get that most unusual of holiday meats—the Turducken—visit The Meat Guy’s website at www.themeatguy.jp.
Looking for the perfect side dish to go along with your big bird? Why not embrace a ingredient common in Japan and try this shiitake mushroom stuffing? • 250ml dried shiitake mushroom • 750ml water, approximately • 250ml wild rice • 125ml orange juice • 75ml dry sherry • 125ml sliced carrot • 30ml chopped fresh parsley • soy sauce (to taste) • 125ml finely chopped walnuts or pecans 1. Soak the mushrooms until they are soft. Drain, reserving liquid, and then slice. 2. Rinse wild rice in cold water and then put in a saucepan with the mushroom liquid (minus any sediments) and cool water. Together, the two liquids should total 500ml. 3. Bring to a boil and them reduce heat, simmering for 30 minutes. 4. Add mushrooms, and continue to simmer until the rice is tender and the liquid has completely absorbed. 5. Add chopped parsley and soy sauce. 6. Stir in finely-chopped nuts and enjoy. (from www.familyoven.com) Gravy hides all flaws, and this one has plenty of ingredients familiar to women in Japan: • 2 dried shiitake mushrooms • 500ml water • 20ml extra virgin olive oil • 1 small onion, diced • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 3 tablespoons unbleached wheat flour • 5ml sea salt • 5ml shoyu • 5ml dried thyme • 15ml Mikawa Mirin or white wine 1. Soak the mushrooms until they are soft. Drain, reserving liquid, and then slice. 2. Heat the oil in a small frying pan and sauté the shiitake, onion, and garlic over mediumlow heat for three to five minutes. 3. Lower heat, sprinkle flour over vegetables, and stir constantly for two to three minutes. 4. Slowly add the water from the mushroom soaking while stirring briskly to prevent the flour from lumping. Stir frequently until gravy begins to simmer and thicken. 5. Add the salt, shoyu, thyme, and mirin or wine, and simmer gently, uncovered, for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. 6. Keep warm until ready to serve. (from www.mitoku.com)
Being A Broad December 2010
food & dining
DONT BE AFRAID OF
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POLE PERFORMANCE
PROFESSIONALS by Tina Burrett
All images: Christopher Simons.
Julia Piolanti (Cirque du Soleil, left) and Mai Sato (last year’s world champion, right) at the Mado Lounge, Mori Tower. October 31, 2010.
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doctor, a lawyer, and a diplomat walk into a pole-dancing studio. This is not the beginning of a joke, but an average evening at Art Flow, the Akasaka-based pole dance and aerial studio where professional women from across Tokyo flock to practice pole fitness and performance. No longer the preserve of gentlemen’s clubs in Rop-
than sports and more physically demanding than other forms of dance,” she says. An athlete from childhood, Lu began her love affair with sports as a member of her school’s swim team. Happy in the water, she was less comfortable when it came to hanging out on the poolside with other members of the swim team. “I’ve always been a bit unconventional and at school, especially in Japan, it is hard to go against the crowd,” she explains. “The team element [of swimming] wasn’t for me. As a teenager I was quite a loner. It wasn’t until after school that I found people willing to accept me as I was,” she says. Feeling like a misfit at home, it is not surprising that after graduating Lu drifted overseas. “I asked my mother if I could go to school abroad, but for an average Japanese family it was simply too expensive,” she says ruefully. While training in dance and circus arts in the US and Europe in her 20s, Lu not only gained the acceptance she craved, but also a newfound appreciation for her Japanese heritage. “Since coming home to Japan, I see the beauty of my culture,” she says. “I’ve always been interested in culture and its influence on art. Recently, I’ve performed as an African tribal dancer; I love the perfect synthesis of the physical and spiritual expressed by this form of
Waiting for the bus after my first pole class, I just wanted to climb the stop sign and practice,” laughs “ one Art Flow student.
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pongi, pole dance is fast becoming a popular pastime for women (and men) from an eclectic mix of professional and personal backgrounds. Despite their diversity, members of this growing legion of part-time pole performers share a common aim: to challenge the commonly perceived association between pole dance and the sex industry. The combination of strength, skill, and athleticism required in professional pole dance has led to calls for its inclusion in the Olympic Games. “I defy anyone to watch a professional pole dance performance and tell me it is not a sport,” says Lu Nagata, owner of the Art Flow studio and an internationally renowned pole artist. More panther than sex kitten, Lu is the personification of modern professional pole-dancing. Her performances, mixing circus-style acrobatics with more traditional moves, defy more than just the popular image of pole dance, but gravity as well. “I like to challenge expectations and jolt people out of complacency,” she says. Projecting an image more suited to a David Lynch film, Lu recalls how she and her protégé Mai Sato liked to perform in “jeans, white t-shirts, and a large horse’s head.” It is hard to imagine anything less titillating. For Lu, the artistic possibilities are a key attraction of pole dance. “It is more creative
dance. But, as hard as I try, I could never capture or express the true essence of Africa. African women are connected to their continent through the Earth. My heritage is different,” she explains. “I am Japanese and I want to show and share my culture with others. That’s why I love performing in kimonos, with paper umbrellas, or in traditional kabuki masks.” Lu’s appreciation and respect for other cultures is perhaps one reason why her studio is such a hit with Tokyo’s international community. Fluently bilingual, Lu teaches in both English and Japanese. But Lu isn’t the only one at Art Flow with enviable linguistic skills. “I’ve never met such a multilingual and internationally mixed group of women,” says Andria Aljoffri, who joined the studio earlier this year. “On the pole, I rub shoulders (sometimes literally) with a schoolteacher from Canada, an orthodontist from Tokyo, and an Ambassador from Eastern Europe,” she says. “After years of feeling isolated in Japan, I’ve found a group of women who share my outlook on life.” The popularity of classes at Art Flow is part of a global trend. Pole dancing has joined the mainstream. From rock videos to the local gym, women can be seen swinging around a pole just about anywhere. “Waiting for the bus after my first
pole class, I just wanted to climb the stop sign and practice,” laughs one Art Flow student. Others are less impressed with the proliferation of pole dance, seeing it as a backslide from advances in feminism since the ‘70s. Did our mothers really burn their bras so we could go out and pole dance in ours? The answer to this question surely depends on one’s own brand of feminism. For Ania Przeplasko, founder of the International Pole Dance Fitness Association (IPDFA), feminism is about female empowerment and the celebration of femininity. “In many cultures, female sexuality and beauty are celebrated and revered. For the French, for example, burlesque is a treasured part of their national heritage. Likewise, the Japanese talk of geisha with awe and respect. Only in countries with a puritan tradition are women’s bodies treated as objects of sin and shame.” Despite her impassioned defence of female sexuality, Ania challenges the idea that pole dancing is simply about sex: “How can it be about the sexual gratification of men when men themselves are performing?” When asked about her pathway into professional pole dance, Ania points to her somewhat unconventional upbringing in Soviet-era Poland. “My father was a professional boxer and my mother was a gypsy with a passion for making and wearing fabulous clothes. I got something from both of them,” she explains. A proxy for actual conflict, competitive sports was a serious business during the Cold War. As a professional boxer, Ania’s father was hailed as a hero by the Polish
Lu’s student Tomo dancing at Velours Club, October 2010. Lu organises performance nights for all of her students at Velours several times a year, for anyone who wants to dance, regardless of level.
feature
Communist state. Taking a gamble on sporting prowess running in the family, Communistappointed coaches offered the young Ania the chance to attend a special sports training school. She elaborates, “I decided to specialise in Latin dance, but even then I had a style of my own. They couldn’t find anyone to partner me and later, after I had an accident that forced me to reconsider my options, I decided to drop the sport.” But after years of training for six to eight hours a day, Ania instantly began looking for something to fill the void left by her sudden retirement from professional sports while still in her teens. “I started spending a lot more time with my mother,” Ania recalls. “She was always making clothes, and in Communist Poland where shortages were common and luxuries rare, this required creativity and ingenuity. Inspired by my mother, I enrolled in fashion school. At that point I’d never even heard of burlesque, let alone seen a performance. Looking back, I can see that the clothes I designed had a burlesque-style. I’ve always been drawn to the feminine and the theatrical.” Soviet Poland was not a fertile ground for young designers. Hoping for greater opportunities, Ania moved overseas, spending time in the UK, Hong Kong, and Japan. “It was in Japan that I first saw pole dance,” she says. ‘I was amazed by the toned physique of the performer. I asked her what kind of programme she was following and was stunned when she told me she’d got her body just from practicing pole.” At first Ania didn’t think of performing herself: “I actually wanted to do a pole dance-themed fashion show,” she says. Back in Poland, she couldn’t find anyone willing to stage the show. “The only places I could practice in were gay clubs,” she says, laughing. Once again facing professional frustration at home, Ania headed back to Japan. It was at a pole dancing club in Osaka that Ania first took to the pole herself. “I was really just practicing for fun, incorporating some of what I learned from Latin dance, but some of the performers liked my moves. They asked me to teach them and that’s where it all began.” That was in 1998 and Ania is still in Japan teaching, performing, and promoting professional pole dance. “Asia has been very good to me,” she says. “I set up my first pole dance studio in Hong Kong, something I could not have achieved back home. And last year, through my work with the IPDFA, I organised the international pole dance championship (IPC) right here in Tokyo.” In December 2010 IPDFA will again hold its global championship in Tokyo. Ania explains that this year’s contest will include a division for disabled competitors for the first time, an addition that “further weakens claims that pole dance is synonymous with sex.” This division will include
Tomo dancing at Velours Club for Lu Nagata’s student event in October 2010.
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sight- and hearing-impaired competitors. At the 2009 competition, undeterred by her vision impairment, performer Marie Dunot competed in the women’s category. “Marie was my inspiration for setting up the disabled competitors’ division,” says Ania. Last year’s IPC women’s champion, Mai Sato, is a former student of Lu Nagata and occasional instructor at Art Flow. Speaking of her protégé, Lu says: “she has a special talent and a unique style that is as elegant as it is complex.” Since winning the world title last year, Mai has begun training with the internationally renowned Canadian troupe Cirque du Soleil. Nevertheless, when she defends her IPC title this December, she will face
stiff competition from champions from more than a dozen countries. Powerful and innovative performers like Mai Sato are quickly changing the image of professional pole dance. While some feminist critics lament the popularising of pole dance, it is patronising to assume that performers like Lu Nagata, Mai Sato, and Ania Przeplasko are anyone’s victims. They know that not everyone sees their chosen profession as they do. But pole dancing—as a pastime or as a profession—is exactly that: a choice. And personal choice must be at the heart of any form of feminism. For more information on the IPC and ticket sales, BAB visit: www.polechampionship.com. Being A Broad December 2010
TO FIND A NICE AUSSIE BOY! by Elana Schmid A
Elana isn’t afraid to take charge sometimes.
fter moving to Japan to work with my brother Nathan as a personal trainer, the last thing I expected was to find love. I had been told that finding a boyfriend in Tokyo was a challenge, and that it was best to find a hobby instead! However, six months after moving to Japan I went to a bar with my brother and sister-in-law to meet some friends and the physiotherapists from Tokyo Physio. Sam was one of those physios. He and I didn’t really talk until we were on the move to another place, when I caught up to him and introduced myself. I told him that he knew one of my clients whom I taught kickboxing to. He replied, “Well it’s not really kickboxing, as the training is more along the line of fitness and not techniques.” I have to admit that I was very put off by his remark and for the next hour I only spoke to him if I was trying to put him down in some way or another. In the end, we made up, and after a long conversation we realised that we have a lot in common—mainly our interest in the health industry and martial arts. We exchanged numbers before the night was out, and the next morning I received a text message from him. I was surprised by this as I thought men had a three-day rule when contacting
have to admit, before he departed I didn’t realise that I would miss him so much, but I was on the internet as much as possible and fervently checked my phone in case he called or emailed me. This is when I knew that I was feeling something more than just lust. As soon as I came back into the country, he was at my home waiting for me and told me how much he missed me, too. Sam and I have been a great support for each other’s respective ventures in Tokyo. Starting Elana Jade, my organic beauty salon, was quite a challenge, but during that time Sam was always there to make all other aspects of my life easier and to calm me down when I became too stressed. I am now trying to return the favour by supporting him with his increased Karate for Kids classes, his work as a personal trainer with my brother and myself at Tokyo Fitness; all the while maintaining his physiotherapist work. I believe that good communication, similar interests, and quality time are very important in keeping a relationship healthy and strong. Therefore, even though our workload has increased dramatically, we still make the time to really enjoy each other’s company and keep the romance alive.
a female after their first meeting. Sam told me that he was unaware of this rule, and he even told his parents the next day that he met me and wanted to get to know me better. We both wanted to take it easy at first, especially since we are working in conjunction with each other and Hiroo would be a very small place if our relationship went awry. After two months of dating, I set off to Thailand for some intensive kickboxing training for a couple of weeks, while Sam left for Russia to compete in the World Karate Tournament. I
Sam and I are also very passionate about the same things, such as health and the passion for helping others improve their quality of life. Mind you, we sometimes stay up too late discussing what we each did in training that day and how our muscles and body felt during and after! Living abroad, you don’t have the same pressure to introduce a new partner to your family. However, since we are both very close to our families and think it is extremely important for our family and partner to get along, we were
uckily, being so close has not caused any problems; in fact it is just the opposite. I think to myself L everyday that I couldn’t possibly love him any more...
Image: provided by Elana Schmid.
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Despite their busy schedules, Elana and Sam make sure to spend lots of quality time together.
Image: provided by Elana Schmid.
she found love in Japan
I HAD TO MOVE TO JAPAN
introduced to each other via Skype chats to Australia quite early on in. This really helped when the time arose to meet each other’s families in the flesh. When Sam’s mother came to Japan, we felt that we already knew each other and we met with open arms. During the summer, I took Sam home to meet my family for the first time at my brother’s wedding. He had already met my parents and spoken to my immediate family, so it wasn’t too scary for him. My family really loved him and also welcomed him with open arms, which I knew they would. This Christmas it is going to be my turn to meet the rest of Sam’s family. I’m feeling pretty good about it, actually, and I am really looking forward to seeing where Sam grew up and, of course, his baby pictures! Although Sam and I are both Australian, we grew up in different cities, I in Sydney and he in Melbourne. We don’t plan to live in Japan forever, but will be here for at least the next five years before eventually moving back to Australia. The biggest dilemma thus far in our relationship is where to live when we return as neither of us wants to leave our hometowns (and of course, Sydney-siders and Melbournites are bitter rivals). Maybe we will have to settle for Queensland, though we are both still trying to make our case for our own city. After one and a half years we are now living together, even though we are not exactly sure how it happened. It started with me staying over at his place one night a week and on the weekends; because of his intense karate training he was training most nights of the week. As his training sessions decreased, he asked me to stay another night, and another, until we were only apart one night a week. We tried to keep this one night to ourselves, but one day that one night turned to none. We were living together in his studio apartment and have just now moved into a bigger place. As you can imagine, it’s hard for two people to live in such a small space. Luckily, being so close has not caused any problems; in fact, it is just the opposite. I think to myself every day that I couldn’t possibly love him any more than I do. But every day my love for him seems to be getting stronger. I always joke around about having to move to Japan to meet a nice Aussie Boy, but in actual fact BAB that is exactly what I had to do.
AUTOMOBILES: BEAUTY:
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LANGUAGE & CULTURE: by CAROLINE POVER
translation by Satomi Matsumaru
ASK CAROLINE
ABOUT LIFESTYLES, CONFIDENCE, FRIENDSHIP, APPEARANCES, CULTURE, CAREERS, LOVE, SEX, MOTHERHOOD...
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Caroline Pover
www.askcaroline.com
se RE d on AL R Jap EAL an qu es es e w tio om ns en fro ! m
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