Our People
Inspired Individuals
Tokyo American Club is not just a place to provide our Members with a sense of community; it's a place devoted to nurturing careers, cultivating skills and achieving aspirations. A rich assortment of roles, from childcare and information technology to culinary and fitness instruction, gives our inspired employees the chance to pursue their passions, whatever they may be.
Nobukazu Toyama, Head Chef, American Room"From the moment I first tried my hand in the kitchen, at 5 or 6 years old, I knew that cooking would become my life. Combining my passion for food and wine with my experiences cooking abroad, I aim to bring pleasure to our diners through well-matched pairings of cuisine
and wine."
Kiren Richardson, Special Events Coordinator"I get to organize a diverse range of events, from trips to a traditional sake brewery to Halloween activities for kids to a lecture by one of the few women to have climbed Mount Everest. Every day is different and exciting, and I'm never stuck at my desk all day long. I like that I can interact with so many people, both Members and staff, plus it's great to see my hard work pay off as Members enjoy themselves at the events."
Makiko Hosokawa, Sommelier"It's fascinating to meet famed winemakers from all over the world on the job and learn about their wine's history and culture. With every winemaker I meet, I'm always surprised and inspired by how much passion, how much love, they put into the grape. Through their experiences, I'm lucky to be able to deepen my own understanding of wine."
Erika Hara, Junior Administrative Assistant"I spent most of my university holidays working at restaurants, so when I began working at the Club's Garden Café after graduation, I felt very comfortable and always enjoyed myself. I wanted to pursue something new and build a career, and I knew Tokyo American Club was the place I wanted to be. My current position was the perfect opportunity for me—I can grow and learn in a diverse environment, surrounded by fascinating people of all ages and nationalities. It's hard to find a place like this, especially in Japan, and I'm proud to be a part of it."
Employee Awards
Employee of the Month
Erika HaraErika Hara says she never really fit in at school in Japan. Throughout her years at junior high school and high school in Chiba Prefecture, she felt suffocated by the pressures to conform. Even her teachers believed that she would best thrive abroad.
In 2003, Hara headed to the State University of New York at Fredonia, a small town near Lake Erie. Finally, she was within an environment in which she could flourish. "In America, it's about expressing your opinion and being yourself," the 25-year-old says. "I was encouraged to express myself."
Similarly, she explains, she had no interest in being immersed in the traditionally restrictive and staid surroundings of a Japanese company when she returned home after graduating with a degree in visual arts. Finding the Club's booth at a job fair proved fortuitous. "As soon as I walked in the Club, I thought it [seemed like] so much fun," she says. "This is exactly the kind of place I wanted to work."
Joining the Garden Café team in March 2008, not long after the Club had moved to Takanawa, Hara immediately felt at home. "I had such a good time working in Garden Café," she says. "We were passionate about making the place better."
After a few months, she spotted an internal vacancy for a position in the General Manager's Office. "Because admin tasks were not something I had done, I thought I should give it a shot," explains Hara, who lived in Canada with her family for more than four years from the age of 1.
Handling a range of administrative tasks, from setting up committee meetings to helping to organize events, Hara says she has learned a great deal during her time in the Club's nerve center and feels herself "growing in this job."
As for receiving January's Employee of the Month award, she says she feels honored. "I feel thankful to the people around me, the Members and staff; I love working with them," she says. "That's why I'm always smiling." At long last.
Employee of the Quarter 
Haldane Henry
Not long after picking up the Employee of the Month award for December, Haldane Henry was being recognized again for his work in the Club's Recreation Department. In January, the 37-year-old Jamaican was named Employee of the Quarter.
Joining the Club in 2003 as a part-time lifeguard, Henry now oversees all the lifeguards during the Pool season and teaches swimming. "He has really matured over the years with his responsibilities and is very well liked by the Members," says Recreation Department Director Scott Yahiro of Henry.
Growing up in Savanna-la-Mar, a town on the southwestern coast of Jamaica, Henry spent much of his childhood in or around water. He later became a qualified scuba diving instructor, teaching tourists at luxury resorts in Jamaica. The father of two moved to Japan in 2002.
Employee of the Year
Thomas ShirotaIt's been an exciting 12 months for Thomas Shirota of the Club's parking team. Last October, he was voted Employee of the Month and followed that up with the Employee of the Quarter award at the start of this year. Then in August, at the annual Employee Recognition Day party, Shirota picked up the Club's most prestigious honor: the Employee of the Year award.
"On top of the world" is how the keen fisherman describes his feeling at being named the Club's standout staff member of the past year. Having lived in California and Hawaii, he moved to Japan in 1997. He joined the Club more than two years ago.
For his achievement, Shirota was awarded round-trip tickets for two to the United States, a three-night stay at a reciprocal club and a ¥50,000 gift certificate.
