May 9: Special Update

The Club took the next step in its continuing evolution on May 9 when Masato Taki from Takanawa Shrine led a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the Club at Takanawa. Echoing a ceremony performed more than 35 years ago for the rebuilding of the Azabudai facilities, the Shinto purification ritual was attended by 28 representatives from the Club and the various companies involved in the Redevelopment Project.

“To be at the ceremony to break ground at the site gave me the feeling that we were really taking a significant step to redevelop this Club,” said Club Secretary Tom Brown. “At our current site, it is business as usual and there is no sign of redevelopment. But to be out there with a raw piece of land and construction workers ready to start building, it really made this project come alive.”

Groundbreaking Ceremony Another member of the Club’s Board of Governors, Tom Jordan, also attended the ceremony. “It is still amazing to me that from the present, empty grounds, our temporary, three-story Club building, including a full-size pool, will emerge—all in a period of eight months! Only in Japan!” he said.

The Club’s Redevelopment Project director, Alistair Gough, said that construction of the new premises officially started at Takanawa that day. “It really is a beautiful area, and I think the Members will be very happy with the temporary facility,” Brown said. “The Club at Takanawa will still be a great place to take the kids to the Pool, go work out, read books, get videos, have a good meal and enjoy the day.”

The Club is expected to take charge of its temporary home toward the end of December this year. The new Club back at Azabudai, meanwhile, is set to open its doors in 2010.