The Imperial Hotel

     What better place to rendezvous with the mother of a member of the Imperial Family than the lobby of the Imperial Hotel? The obvious reason for this choice is the Hotel's location, a stone's throw from the Fukiage Gardens. Deep within the gardens stands the Kyuden (residence) of the Emperor and his consort of 50 years, Michiko-sama,  their son, the Crown Prince, his intensely depressed wife and their eight year-old daughter Aiko-sama who may have Asperger's Syndrome (according to the press) or just may be a spoiled brat. Outside of Japan the Emperor is called Akihito; within the country his era is known as Heisei (heavenly) as in Heisei 21 to describe 2010 or the 21st year of the Emperor's reign.

      Another excellent reason to meet at the Imperial  is to see the remains of Frank Lloyd Wright's vision on view in the lobby. No sooner had the doors opened on Wright's hotel than it crumbled thanks to the 8.3 earthquake of 1923. In 2006, when our family first arrived in town, we stayed at the Imperial. How impressed we were with the elevator ladies who usher guests into the correct elevator and bow so that the part in their hair is visible as the doors shut. Ladies in kimono repair for refreshment in the lobby after catching a Western musical at the Takarazuka theater across the street. The all-female musical troupe was founded in 1914 by the president of a railway company, and the productions continue to be funded thanks to railway travel. A livelier version of the all-male Kabuki-za, rumor has it that Mrs. Hatoyama, the prime minister's wife, started her career on the Takarazuka stage.

      But the third and true reason for today's rendezvous was to visit Uyeda Jeweller on the lower ground level. As board members of the intercultural women's club our mission was to place an order. Since the club was founded 61 years ago, each April vice presidents make this trek. Same order, different name. For our 2 PM rendezvous, I arrived at 1:45 to find the princess's mother, a vision in gray, waiting. Sumimassen. The elevator lady ushered us down, and one moment later Inoue-san, Jewelry Adviser, per his meishi (business card) seated us at the counter. The princess's mother produced the order papers, we agreed on the spelling of the president's name and my Imperial counterpart agreed to be the point person. Cups of green tea were put before us, and the transaction was completed by 2 PM. While the princess's mother was burdened by other Imperial duties, for me it was off to Uniqlo for the Style Up undershirt that pins sagging shoulders back.