News
Club Receives Top Recognition
The Club has been recognized as a Distinguished Club in the BoardRoom magazine's latest set of awards.
The Club also received the prestigious “Iconic” status, reserved for clubs founded at least 75 years ago.
The Distinguished Clubs program identifies excellence in the private club industry through a rigorous evaluation of candidate clubs.
As the first award recipient outside of North America, the Club joins an elite group of 176 membership clubs.
Board Election Slate Released
The Board of Governors has approved the slate of candidates for this year's Board election.
The election will be held in conjunction with the Annual General Meeting on November 21.
Those Members not on the slate can still run in the election, provided they meet the requirements, including gathering the signatures of 30 registered Voting Members.
Nominations should be submitted to the Management Office by 5pm on September 7.
The following approved list of candidates was proposed by the Club's Nominating Committee:
American Citizens (four to be elected)
Michael Alfant
John Flanagan
Karim Hakam
Matthew Krcelic
Samuel Rogan
Betsy Rogers
Michael Van Zandt
Japanese Citizens (one to be elected)
Koichi Komoda
Kenji Ota
Other Nationalities (one to be elected)
Wolfgang Bierer
Alok Rakyan
Women’s Group Representative (one to be elected)
Chalice Markowitz
Club to Host USA House
The Club is set to be Team USA's base for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
United States Olympic Committee (USOC) CEO Scott Blackmun made the announcement at a press conference in the Winter Garden.
"It's my great pleasure and honor to announce that in 2020 Tokyo American Club will be the home of USA House in Tokyo," he said.
“On behalf of Tokyo American Club leadership, Members and staff, we are thrilled to welcome Team USA and know it will be an ideal home during the Tokyo Games,” said Club President Michael Alfant. “USA House is a place for celebration of Team USA, and that is a natural fit within a great community at Tokyo American Club. We are excited for the Games to begin.”
USA House is the USOC’s hospitality and organizational headquarters during the Olympics and serves as a place for athletes, families and sponsors to meet and relax.
The USOC delegation was impressed with the Club's facilities and location on its first visit, according to the organization's chief marketing officer, Lisa Baird.
“Tokyo 2020 gives us the platform and the opportunity to do the unimaginable, which is to stage what we think will be the best USA House ever," she said.
Photo (l–r): Club Tokyo 2020 Olympic Committee Chair Dean Rogers, USOC CMO Lisa Baird, Club President Michael Alfant, USOC CEO Scott Blackmun and Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda
Club Fencer Crowned Japan No 1
The Club's Davide Lorenzoni became Japan's top junior high school fencer when he won the All-Japan Junior High School Fencing Championships in July.
Held in Tokyo, the tournament featured 224 competitors from across the country.
"I am very happy to be No 1 in Japan, especially because my coaches have done so much for me," Lorenzoni, 14, said. "However, I feel that I am just at the starting line because I have always aspired to compete and win in the world championships."
Youth fencing classes at the Club resume in September.
Record-Setting Win at TAC Premier Classic
Squash pro Ryosei Kobayashi won a record fifth title at the recent TAC Premier Classic.
The Japanese national team player beat Masaki Suzuki to win the men's category of the annual tournament and ¥145,000 in prize money.
In the women's final, Risa Sugimoto triumphed over Chinatsu Matsui to take home ¥115,000.
Meanwhile, Member Yasuo Hinoki and Aimi Suzuki were crowned winners in the men's and women's competitions of the Friendship Tournament.
The Japan Squash Association-sanctioned TAC Premier Classic was held at the Club from July 21 to 23.
