It seems a bit early to be writing about Christmas, but there is a lot of planning to do if you must ship things home, or even pack them to take with you. That's why the Tokyo charity-oriented International Ladies Benevolent Society now schedules its ILBS Christmas Fair even before we have ordered the Thanksgiving turkey. This year it will be held on Saturday Nov. 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the American Club in Azabudai. Call (03) 3583-8381 if you need directions. Everything that is on sale has been donated, and all proceeds go to charity. You will find toys, gifts, children's clothes, holiday decorations -- lots of things to brighten the season. You may even brighten your own. Companies are generous in their contributions for raffle prizes, and your 250 yen expenditure per ticket might be a very good investment if you win one of the special gifts. This is a well-attended benefit performance, so go early for the best selection. This year's chairwoman is Barbara Uribe, wife of the Mexican ambassador, who has arranged surprise prizes from there, and publicity is being handled by Kay Brennan, wife of the president of United Airlines, so you can guess what some of the top prizes will be.
Another popular pre-holiday event is the annual Swedish Christmas Bazaar, or Julbasar, sponsored by SWEA (Swedish Women's Educational Association) and held at the Embassy of Sweden. Note the date in your calendar: Dec. 11, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be three Santa Lucia performances when the Queen of Light with her candle-lit crown will appear with her attendants and sing Christmas carols, at noon and at 1 and 2 p.m. Other Swedish traditions will be available -- glogg, ginger cookies, smorgasbord, beer and schnapps -- and Father Christmas will complete the authentic holiday feeling. There will be gift items and handicrafts as well as a lottery with exciting prizes. The money you spend helps many educational projects including scholarships for the study of the Swedish language and culture; generous contributions to TILC, a school for children with special needs in Tokyo's English-speaking community; and rice donations for the homeless. The Swedish Embassy is near the Okura Hotel. Call (03) 3470-5183 for directions.
Perhaps you would like something special to wear for the holidays. Recently I wrote of Yoko Mizumoto who creates distinctive Western clothing from traditional Japanese fabrics. Mizumoto, just back from a successful showing in Milan, has scheduled her next sale for Nov. 20 to Nov. 23. She displays her designs in the kind of Japanese house that you often see pictured in books but rarely have a chance to visit. It is also possible to make arrangements to have a tasteful Japanese lunch or dinner served there with all the careful attention to seasonal specialties and decorations. Her husband, who designed the house, has a restaurant in Shinbashi. It is quite a family! Call (03) 3981-3646 for directions from Mejiro Station.