It is my great honor to serve as emcee of the 2025 Annual Dinner of the New York Japan Society, a black- tie event held this year at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel (811 Seventh Avenue).

In 2022 I was the first non-Japanese entertainer hired to perform at this annual dinner, and now I will serve as host and moderator, and throw in a bit of piano playing as well.

25 years ago I walked into the NY Japan Society as a new student in their highly-regarded language program. I was 40 years old then, and I am sadly still far from “pera pera” (fluent) in Nihongo. But the wonderful teachers at the Japan Society graced with me their time, assistance and inspiration, and opened my life to a stunning array of new and exciting chapters. On June 12th I will attempt to give thanks for all of that, in most glamorous setting, indeed. Ganbarimasu. (I will do my best).

I will play a rare multi-cultural program of impressionist music by French and American composers — Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Francis Poulenc (his enchanting “Soirées de Nazelles”), John Alden Carpenter, Vernon Duke and Dana Suesse (her “Jazz Nocturne” and complete “Cocktail Suite”).

The indomitable conductor Robert Rÿker had the brainchild of inviting me to perform the cycle of all five Piano Concertos by Camille Saint-Saëns in Tokyo’s Oji Hall. The great French pianist Jeanne-Marie Darré used to essay this feat in a single concert, but as I am merely human it will take me two evenings.

Japan’s extraordinary “Symphony of Nineteen” players shares in the fun. Tonight’s opener features Piano Concertos no. 2 in G minor (with its celebrated Scherzo), no. 3 in E flat major, and no. 4 in C major. Expect a barrage of scales, double notes, octaves, drama and smiles.