NMB Gathering V

[Guido]

I'm currently organizing the fifth gathering of the Tokyo chapter of the NMB - it will take place this coming Friday in Hiroo. If I missed to include members in Japan in my invitation mail, or if you are currently in town and want to participate, please e-mail / pm me.

[John A Stuart]

Thanks Guido, Would love to attend but will be in Seki on that day. Damn. John

[Guido]

Although the fifth NMB Tokyo meeting was announced on very short notice, eleven of us gathered at the "Watami" in Hiroo for some mixed Japanese/Western food, including "all you can drink". The fiscal year starts in Japan in April, and there are lots of parties to welcome new employees, crowding all restaurants, so we only got a two hour time slot, and moved on to the nearby "Sennen no Utage" later, where more great conversations, booze and snacks rounded off the evening.

 

Time flew with many fine examples of KodÅgu shown, stories swapped, catching up with friends we didn't see for a while, and of course a toast in honor of Ralph Bell for all his contributions to the NihontÅ community.

 

The first pic shows: (front row) Kenji Mishina (http://www007.upp.so-net.ne.jp/m-kenji/), Hans-Joachim Eschbaum, Takao Fujimoto of "Dejimaya" from Amsterdam, (back row) Mr. Lee and his son Daniel from Singapore, and Cyrus Chan of Tetsugendo (http://tetsugendo.com/).

[Guido]

The second pic: Erol Ishikawa aka "Ichi", (with back to camera) Gordon Robson, Koichi Moriyama aka "Nobody", and Andrew Ickeringill, apprentice Togishi.

[Guido]

Gordon explains to Erol how his finger once got stuck in a Kozuka-hitsu. Or maybe how to make a Menuki stew. Since I wasn't entirely sober when I took the photo, I don't really recall which story it was.

[Guido]

Two of the participants are not in the pics: yours truly (since I was behind the viewfinder, and everybody else was too drunk to operate my camera), and Robert Hughes of Keichodo (http://www.keichodo.com/) - the only decent shot I got of him was when he was flipping me the finger (well deserved, but that's besides the point), and therefore not suited for a PG 13 forum ...

 

CHEERS!

[Brian]

Well done and thanks for the pics and write-up Guido. As always, looks like you were a perfect host. The motto of these evenings should be "None shall escape sober!" :lol:

Erol looks like he is learning the finer points of tsuba patination..."...and then you stir it around in the solution of 25 minutes until......" :D

Some very esteemed guests there. I really have to make it over there again this year. Time to sell some goodies.

 

Brian

[Henry Wilson]

Sorry I missed that night. I was busy with the new fiscal year.

[Ichi]

That's okay, tsuba-guy. Btw, that tsuba stew was delicious ! See you at the next NMB party #VI.