Message from the president

Dear Members, dear Friends of the Swiss Club Tokyo,

Let’s take a look back at 2021!

We were somewhat optimistic when we started our activities with the traditional ski week in early March and a first “Stammtisch” get-together on March 29.
However, our hopes for a slightly more “normal” club year were soon to be crushed by three ever increasing waves of infections, reducing our club life to a few outdoor activities such as the hiking excursions around Kamakura and three or four “Stammtisch”. Here are some highlights.

The development of the Covid situation in Japan put an early end to our hopes for a special Swiss National Day collaboration with the Swiss Embassy and the House of Switzerland during the Summer Olympics. Ultimately, we even had to cancel our regular outdoor 1. August event at the Keio Floral Garden Ange.Yet another blow was the permanent closing of the Floral Garden, and we see ourselves forced to find another suitable venue for our events.Fortunately, we were able to secure the Garden of the Swiss Residence for this year’s Outdoor Christmas celebration! That we were not able to admit all interested parties (owing to restrictions concerning the number of participants) was regrettable, but I am happy to say that we did not have to turn away any Swiss Club Members!Weather conditions and ambience were perfect, and there was a happy crowd that gathered in the Garden of the Swiss Ambassador’s Residence. Highlights.
I hope from the bottom of my heart that we will soon be able to again offer activities and events without too many restrictions!

And what’s in store for next year?

With “Omicron” looming at the horizon it is difficult to make any reliable predictions.We are planning to continue with our “Stammtisch” gatherings at the end of each month, starting on January 31, 2022 (note: there will be no Stammtisch in December!). Also, another Swiss Club Ski Week is in the making and scheduled for the period from February 26 to March 6. Please save the date if you’re interested — registration will open in January. We will also re-visit our idea to organize family picnics in a park and give the seaside activities in Summer another try. Of course, I will continue to offer the ever-so-popular hiking excursions around Kamakura.
But we will have to take it step-by-step, always in consideration of developments with the ongoing Covid threat.

Again, l implore you to step forward if you have any ideas and suggestions – or even better – if you would like to play an active role and become a board member of the Swiss Club Tokyo, please let us know! In this spirit I would like to wish you Happy Holidays and all the Best for the Year 2022!