Our People

Inspired Individuals

 

 

Tokyo American Club is not just a place to provide our Members with a sense of community; it's a place devoted to nurturing careers, cultivating skills and achieving aspirations. A rich assortment of roles, from childcare and information technology to culinary and fitness instruction, gives our inspired employees the chance to pursue their passions, whatever they may be.


Nobukazu Toyama, Head Chef, American Room
"From the moment I first tried my hand in the kitchen, at 5 or 6 years old, I knew that cooking would become my life. Combining my passion for food and wine with my experiences cooking abroad, I aim to bring pleasure to our diners through well-matched pairings of cuisine
and wine."







Kiren Richardson, Special Events Coordinator
"I get to organize a diverse range of events, from trips to a traditional sake brewery to Halloween activities for kids to a lecture by one of the few women to have climbed Mount Everest. Every day is different and exciting, and I'm never stuck at my desk all day long. I like that I can interact with so many people, both Members and staff, plus it's great to see my hard work pay off as Members enjoy themselves at the events."






Makiko Hosokawa, Sommelier
"It's fascinating to meet famed winemakers from all over the world on the job and learn about their wine's history and culture. With every winemaker I meet, I'm always surprised and inspired by how much passion, how much love, they put into the grape. Through their experiences, I'm lucky to be able to deepen my own understanding of wine."

 

 

 

 

 

Erika Hara, Junior Administrative Assistant

"I spent most of my university holidays working at restaurants, so when I began working at the Club's Garden Café after graduation, I felt very comfortable and always enjoyed myself.I wanted to pursue something new and build a career, and I knew Tokyo American Club was the place I wanted to be. My current position was the perfect opportunity for me—I can grow and learn in a diverse environment, surrounded by fascinating people of all ages and nationalities. It's hard to find a place like this, especially in Japan, and I'm proud to be a part of it."

Employee Awards

The Club recognizes the hard work and individuality of itsoutstanding employees throughout the year with Employee of the Month, Quarter and Year awards. Winners receive a certificate and voucher as a token of appreciation for their dedicated work.


Employee of the Month

Atsumi Nishimura

It wasn't easy to settle into a strange, new culture while doing battle with an alien language each day. But that was the struggle a young Atsumi Nishimura faced after she and her family moved to Canada when her father's company transferred him. "I was just sad to leave my friends behind," she says of being uprooted at 12 years old.
Eventually, it was the universal language of music that helped her through the tough transition. A keen pianist since she was a little girl, Nishimura began taking private lessons at the local music conservatory in London, Ontario. Around the same time, a music teacher at her high school invited her to join the choir. She also picked up the alto saxophone and began playing with the school band.
"Music was a big part of my life," says the 36-year-old, referring to the pursuit that has continued to hold her attention since her school days in Canada. And even though her current position in the Video Library, where she has worked since 2007, would seem to offer few opportunities for her to exercise her skills of rhythm and harmony, she started a program for children combining her two passions-music and movies-last year.
The program also allowed Nishimura to put her second degree to good use. After graduating from Keio University in Tokyo and working for a while, in 2001 she moved to the United States with her husband while he pursued his PhD at the University of Rochester, New York.
Eager to study again, Nishimura decided to enroll in a music education course at the university's music school. After graduating, she taught music to kids for a few months in Washington, DC, where she witnessed the extremes of American society. "I could tell that they were really excited about learning music," she says of the children in the city's deprived areas where she sometimes taught. "That's why I studied music education."
For now, the Employee of the Month for July says she enjoys chatting to Members about movies and offering recommendations, and hopes that there will be a few more musical opportunities at the next Club in Azabudai.

Employee of the Quarter

Jasmine Lai

The Communications Department's Jasmine Lai picked up the most recent Employee of the Quarter award. The 28-year-old graphic designer, who grew up in Taiwan and New Zealand before attending university in Sydney, Australia, where she studied graphic and environmental design, was the recipient of May's Employee of the Month accolade.
As one of the Club's design specialists, she works on a variety of projects and daily tasks, including promotional material for events, brochures, displays, the Club website and the monthly magazine, iNTOUCH.
Lai's boss, Communications Manager Matthew Roberts, says the award is well deserved. "The quiet and understated manner in which Jasmine goes about projects really belies the design powerhouse that lurks within," he says.
Arriving in Japan in 2007, she joined the Club the following year.

 

 

 

Employee of the Year

Thomas Shirota

It's been an exciting 12 months for Thomas Shirota of the Club's parking team. Last October, he was voted Employee of the Month and followed that up with the Employee of the Quarter award at the start of this year. Then in August, at the annual Employee Recognition Day party, Shirota picked up the Club's most prestigious honor: the Employee of the Year award.

"On top of the world" is how the keen fisherman describes his feeling at being named the Club's standout staff member of the past year. Having lived in California and Hawaii, he moved to Japan in 1997. He joined the Club more than two years ago.

For his achievement, Shirota was awarded round-trip tickets for two to the United States, a three-night stay at a reciprocal club and a ¥50,000 gift certificate.