Engaging Interests
Nihonbashi Club Members find common threads and community through lively special interest groups.
As the Nihonbashi Club membership grows, the mix of passions has become as satisfyingly complex as one of the Muromachi Bar’s signature cocktails. Stir in arts, fitness and a dash of history and you have a rich blend of special interest groups (SIGs) that offer something for everyone.
Less formal than committees and easy for anyone to start, SIGs have ignited new experiences and friendships at the Club’s downtown hub.
The first SIG, the Nihonbashi Community Group, was founded in March after the success of an outreach subcommittee formed in 2022 by Geoff Bowman, Bryan Jacop, Takuo Misaki and Kaori Koide. The goal is to develop ties between the Club and the local community.
“My passion for Nihonbashi is just so crazy that I decided everyone should know about this wonderful location,” explains Koide, a self-described “Nihonbashi history freak.” A native of Kobe, she moved to the area 14 years ago after living overseas. When the Club opened its first satellite location in the historic district in March 2021, she immediately joined.
As a founder of the Nihonbashi Community Group, Koide organizes many activities and leads the annual Bettara Matsuri Walking Tour, a 90-minute stroll around a market filled with booths offering bettara pickled radish, the star of a festival that dates back more than 300 years.
Each January, Miki Ohyama guides the Seven Lucky Gods Walking Tour, a “pilgrimage” to temples associated with Japan’s seven gods of good fortune—a chance for Members to usher in good luck for the new year.
Another popular function that builds bonds between the Club and community is the annual cleanup of Nihonbashi Bridge, the landmark built in 1603 that serves as the starting point from which all distances to and from Tokyo are measured.
There’s no cost for most SIG activities—the only fee is a desire to have fun and learn about Japan. And while the Nihonbashi Club itself is strictly for adults, outings such as the walks are open to Members and their families.
Although events like these require more organization, most SIG gatherings arise more spontaneously. While the groups put structure around specific interests, their informal nature allows for spur-of-the-moment planning.
SIG members and friends frequently interact through a group on the popular Line messaging app or via the Member area of the Club website. And the opportunities are expansive.
The success of the Nihonbashi Community Group has inspired other Members to form SIGs such as the Women and Work Group, Art Lovers Group, Community Group, Wine and Spirits Group, Investment Group, Fitness Group and Golf Association Group. There’s even a group for salty sailors.
Since no committee approval is required to form a SIG, any Member who wishes to start a group around their special interest is welcome to do so. “I’m loving this process and sense of making a new community,” says Koide with a smile.
To learn more about Nihonbashi SIGs, visit Groups in the Members’ area of the Club website.
Words: C Bryan Jones
Image of (l–r) Jean-Louis Spotti, Kaori Koide, Misaki Otoshige, Ginger Griggs and Miki Ohyama: Yuuki Ide
August 2024
