Reconnect, Rediscover

Through this year’s Tokyo 101 sessions, the Club’s Connections group aims to help newcomers settle in and bring people back together.

JB Priestly said it best: “The more we elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate.”

The English novelist and playwright made the observation in his 1957 book Thoughts in the Wilderness, a collection of essays about life and society.

The pandemic left many of us feeling this way. While instant messaging, social media and Zoom helped us stay in touch, even the most introverted breathed a sigh of relief when we were finally able to reconnect in person.

This sentiment has become a guiding light for the Connections group’s Tokyo 101 sessions in 2024. Back for its second year under a new title, the latest installment in one of the Club’s longest-running programs will focus on reconnection and offering a source of support, enjoyment and enrichment.

Formerly known as Tokyo: Here & Now, the series of comprehensive, expert-led sessions were developed as a source of information not easily available in English. Touching on everything from medical care to food and culture, they helped newcomers adjust to day-to-day life in another country—an experience that can often leave people feeling as if they were in the wilderness.

The sessions soon became much more. New friendships quickly emerged as a welcome by-product of the event, with participants connecting over shared experiences as they adapted to their new home. This blend of vital guidance and energizing social support has made the expat primer a not-to-be-missed date on the Club calendar for decades.

Having joined the rebranded Tokyo 101 gathering last September, Club Member KT Barous says, “It was not just the information that I learned, but the connections that I made which later became a major support to me when I was having hard days.”

Heading up the 2024 program is northern Virginia native Marieann Machida. A 2023 participant herself, she’s excited to open the doors to a new group. “I think there’s going to be a lot of enthusiasm,” she says. “Connections member or not, everybody is welcome.”

This year’s edition of Tokyo 101 will take place on Tuesday, September 24, and Wednesday, September 25, with half-day sessions featuring seven guest speakers. Machida says the two-day format is key to the social aspect of the program. “On day one, everybody’s nervous, everybody’s kind of finding their place,” she explains. “On day two, you begin to feel like you’ve made friends.”

To ensure that as many people as possible can attend, Connections has arranged special rates at the Club Childcare Center for Tokyo 101 participants.

A central theme of this year’s event is reconnection and rediscovery. After heavy reliance on virtual communication during the pandemic, Machida and the Connections group are eager to continue welcoming face-to-face interactions back to the Club.

“More than just information, Tokyo 101 is about giving people a sense of place and connection with others who are having a similar experience,” Machida explains. “It’s the rediscovery of getting out of the house and doing things in person. We’re trying to focus on reconnecting with people.”

Kicking things off with breakfast and a chance to mingle, the first day’s discussions will touch on topics such as healthcare, Japanese food and disaster preparedness—an especially important topic in the face of recent government warnings about a possible megaquake.

Coming into the program with limited knowledge of Japan’s healthcare system, Barous says the discussions on medical care and disaster preparedness were her key takeaways from last year’s event. “I think it set me up for success, more than I would have assumed going in,” she says. “It gave me a sense of confidence that I didn’t have beforehand.”

On the second day, Member Reiko Saito will get things started after breakfast with a discussion of Japanese culture, followed by talks on mental health, lifestyle and travel.

Mental health plays a large role in setting yourself up for long-term success in a new place. Adjusting to life in Japan, Machida admits, can be trickier than in other countries. “It’s easy to feel isolated,” she says. “It’s nice to feel as though it’s a pretty standard experience.” Vicki Skorji, director of TELL’s Lifeline, Japan’s only English-language, mental-health crisis hotline, will share valuable tips on coping with the stresses of life in Tokyo on day two.

Other guest speakers will include Dr Gautem Deshpande of Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic, author and cook Elizabeth Andoh of A Taste of Culture as well as intercultural consultant and travel specialist Sandra Isaka of Heartland Japan.

In addition to expert talks, both days will include lunch, Q&A sessions and introductions to other events and workshops available at the Club. This year, all Tokyo 101 attendees, including non-members, will be invited to attend the Fall Kickoff BBQ at Splash! on Friday, September 27. The alfresco gathering on the Club’s scenic terrace will be an opportunity for Members and guests to make the most of the cooler evenings, get to know each other a little better and enjoy bites, sips and live music.

While Tokyo 101 may be geared to new arrivals, it’s not just for the uninitiated. Some challenges of settling into life in a new country don’t quickly dissipate—particularly where language and cultural barriers are concerned. The sessions are filled with “the information you might not know that you need,” Machida explains.

On top of practical resources, the opportunity to share personal experiences and swap stories in an inclusive environment is a big focus, she adds. “Drawing people in, getting them involved and giving them an outlet for their energies—that’s everything that I’m happy about.”