News

Club Signs Lease for Nihonbashi Facility

The Club has moved one step closer to opening its first-ever satellite facility—in Tokyo's Nihonbashi district.

At a ceremony in the Winter Garden on August 5, Michael Alfant, the Club's representative governor, signed a 15-year lease for the Club facility in Nihonbashi Muromachi Mitsui Tower.

Tadashi Ogawa, general manager of Mitsui Fudosan's office building development department, also signed the agreement.

The satellite facility, which is set to open in early spring next year, will feature a restaurant, private dining room, bar, fitness center and locker rooms on the sixth floor of the Mitsui Fudosan-owned building.

"The Nihonbashi facility promises to be an attractive hub for Members in a fast-developing part of town—and at no cost to the Club," says Alfant.

Mitsui Fudosan is responsible for all costs associated with the project and has guaranteed the Club a monthly payment of ¥1 million.

The Nihonbashi Club will be open on weekdays for adults only.

Overseeing the project for the Club are the TAC Nihonbashi Task Force's Ginger Griggs (chair), Alok Rakyan (vice chair), Terry White, James Fink, Koichi Komoda and James Mori.

Photo (l–r): James Fink, Koichi Komoda, James Mori, Ginger Griggs, Michael Alfant, Tadashi Ogawa, Club General Manager Anthony Cala, Club Assistant General Manager Wayne Hunter, Noriaki Yamazaki (Nihonbashi Club opening director) and Mitsui Fudosan's Shuichiro Kodama

Filtering Club Air

Members can breathe easy while at the Club.

In addition to temperature checks, mandatory masks, facility reservations and regular sanitizing of spaces, the Club's state-of-the-art air-filtration system helps to maintain a safe Club environment.

HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorbing) filters and a three-to-one positive air-pressure ratio system are designed to remove harmful microbes and particulates from the air.

In fact, air in the Fitness Center is filtered and replaced once every eight minutes while The Spa’s treatment rooms benefit from recycled air every 12 minutes.

Closed doors throughout the facility ensure this system runs efficiently.

"The air systems in the Club keep air moisture at a point that lowers the risk of particles moving large distances," explains Toby Lauer, the Club's facilities director. "So the air is as good—if not better—as having a door or window open."

The Club's air quality is also checked each month by an independent air-monitoring company.

Connections Donates Masks to Charity

Members donated more than 750 face masks in the recent charity drive organized by Connections (formerly known as the Women's Group).

The masks were provided to Sanyukai, a homeless men's shelter in Tokyo. The nonprofit has been supported by the Club for a number of years.

"We didn’t expect to collect so many masks through the Club," says Tomomi Fujita of Connections' charities committee. "These masks can help slow the spread of coronavirus, save lives and, ultimately, help our communities and the economy recover quicker."

The drive was launched in April and wrapped up on June 30.

The work of Sanyukai was featured in the November 2013 issue of the Club's INTOUCH magazine.

Photo (Donna Beeman): Tomomi Fujita and Grace Lee of Connections' charities committee

Club Set to Reopen

Following the Japanese government's lifting of the state of emergency for Tokyo, the Club will reopen on June 1.

The Board of Governors decided to temporarily close the facility on April 7 in line with the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“While we managed to keep some services running while the Club was temporarily closed, the reopening of our facility will allow Members to once again enjoy our vibrant community and a fuller range of Club services at our Azabudai home," says Michael Alfant, the Club's representative governor.

Just as the Club established various health and safety measures before its short-term shuttering, it will introduce similar preventive measures when facility doors open to Members on Monday.

In the meantime, Members can continue to access the Club's selection of My Club at Home services.

Club Improvements Completed

During the Club's temporary closure, the maintenance teams have been busy deep cleaning, upgrading and repairing various areas of the facility.

The extensive list of completed projects runs from Guest Studio tiling and flooring fixes and locker room improvements to ventilation system repairs and corridor wall makeovers (pictured).

“During the closure, the staff took the opportunity to undertake some major maintenance and repair work,” says Toby Lauer, the Club’s facilities director, “with the aim of ensuring the Club is ready to open as soon as we get the green light.”

Information related to the Club's short-term closure can be found on the dedicated FAQ page.