With his typical bravado, and at his own birthday party no less, Chuck Tyler made the grand announcement that Amy Adamson would be taking over management of the R&B trio Tigress as they began a comeback tour. And she wasn't kidding when she told me of wanting to bring back Tigress in a big way. Even if it was just a one-off show in Japan, she wanted to get the girls back in the public eye again, get them back onstage where they belonged, to remind everyone that these girls were music superstars. There wasn't much press for the shows, no big press conference or interviews, that part she'd handle later. They literally flew in, did the show, and flew out. It was a stealth show intended to generate buzz, those who were lucky enough to see it would then spread the word and then they could come back for a much bigger show.
Now a year later, with a comeback album that went triple platinum, she wanted to do it all over again. Starting with a return engagement in Tokyo at the same dance hall they'd performed at before.
For me, it was another whirlwind I was but a part of. We arrived in Tokyo at night and I stayed close with Amy and her crew since I didn't speak the language. What I saw of Tokyo was a lot of neon, flashing lights and signs that made no sense. With the whirlwind show over with, and being so tired from the flight, I was just staring out the window blankly as our limos and SUV's smoothly navigated the highways in the rain to our hotel. And even the hotel rooms were from another world, the only thing I recognized was a bed.
As was my luck though, my body clock said otherwise, and I couldn't find "my sleep zone" as it were. Room service was closed for the night. I looked out the window at all the lights.
"Maybe I'm not in such a strange land after all."
I dressed and went downstairs to see what a Tokyo hotel bar was like.
It seemed just as raucous as an American bar, it looked like baseball was on the large TV's, strange to see the billboard's in another language. None of the teams looked familiar. Wouldn't it be odd if I saw a Red Sox game here?
A bartender seemed to spot me instantly and asked for my drink order, at least I thought that's what he was asking. I looked around for something familiar. Then I looked down at the bar and spotted a coaster.
With the Corona logo,
'Muchas gracias, Corona.' I thought as I held up the coaster to the bartender
He saw the logo and nodded as he went into a cooler for a bottle.
Luckily the power of plastic still holds sway around the world and I had a small bit of America in my hand and a space at the bar to take in what I was seeing in this strange land.
That phrase 'you all look alike to us' seemed to be true, the girls were exotic, of course. But I wasn't looking for a one night stand, not here. If I'm this far away from home, a two or three night stand seemed more proper.
Or so I thought.
An oriental beauty made her way to the bar area. She had on that classic "little black dress" and simple heels to compliment black hair that just grazed her shoulders. I was definitely focused on her because it seemed like I'd seen her somewhere before. Like I said, I was reminded of that old phrase 'you all look alike to us' as I looked at her. She got her drink and smoothly thanked the bartender and took a sip through a straw. As she did this, I leaned back on my stool. She saw me and stopped.
"I think I know you." She said, luckily in English.
"For some reason, I think I do too. But I've never been here before." I said above the noise in the crowded bar
"Are you from the states?"
"Yes, I think that's where I've seen you."
"What's your name?"
"Jim." I said
"I'm Shiori, Shiori Osato." She said as she extended her hand
Now I began to process her name as best I could. She still reminded me of a friend of a friend, but that was a long time ago. And a name like Shiori I would've remembered easily.
"Do you mind my asking what you do?" I asked
"I'm a model, I work in the states but I'm originally from Tokyo."
"That's a weird coincidence."
"Oh, how's that?"
"Well, it's kind of a long story but a girl I met shared a house with this actress in LA and she said she used to model with a girl from Japan..."
"Wait a minute..." she said slowly before exclaiming "That's how I know you! You're the photo guy, right?"
"Yes, yes that's me."
"Then we have met, I probably said my name was Cheryl when we met, it's easier for people to remember than Shiori."
Aha! The mist in my memory suddenly cleared.
"You remember my friend, then." she said as she took my hand.
Cheryl guided me through the bar towards a table by a window where a woman was sitting.
"Hey, look who I found!" she said
The girl turned to us and her eyes widened, mine too.
"Holy guacamole..." I said
Her "friend" was none other than Catherine Bell.
The girl who gave me a motorcycle ride to remember. Along with a very cool jacket that I had to admit was still hanging in my closet, unworn. It felt a little weird to wear a motorcycle jacket when, technically, I didn't ride.
Catherine riding me though, was another story.
"Oh...my...god!" she said as she stood and hugged me exuberantly "What are you doing here?!"
"I'm working for Artists Unlimited now, doing what I do best." I said.
"Cool! When I met you, you were like a freelancer, right?"
"Right, they made me an offer I couldn't resist."
"That is incredible! I can't believe you're here!" she said as we sat down together in the booth.
"I was doing photos for Tigress' show tonight." I then remembered how the time difference affected things "Actually it's already tomorrow isn't it?"
"Right!" Catherine laughed "The time change really messes up your mind doesn't it?"
"Ah, you crazy Americans" Cheryl laughed "You still can't keep your time zones straight, can you?"
Catherine looked so good, even in her own little black dress, but hers showed off her ample assets more than Cheryl's did. And she had her hair cut in the short military style she'd had on "JAG" for so many years.
"I remembered how we met at the old house." Cheryl continued "I think you had fun that day." She said looking at me, then at Catherine.
"Best bike ride I've had in a long time." She said as she looked at both of us with that sexy look she did so easily.
"What's with the short hair? It looks good on you." I said
"Oh, I'm doing a JAG movie over here." She said as she playfully shook her head "We just finished some night shooting."
"No kidding! That's really cool." I said
Catherine in her Marine uniform again, yummy!
Cheryl ordered another round of drinks
"How long will you be here?" Catherine asked as she sat as close to me as the booth would allow.
"Not long, Tigress is doing a hit and run show in town and I did the photos."
"Hit and run? What's that?" Cheryl asked with a laugh
"Well, I just got in a few hours ago and then it's back to LA in a few hours. So this isn't gonna be a tourist trip for me. I doubt I'll see much daylight."
"Or us, for that matter." Catherine said with a sly smile as she twirled the straw in her drink.
"And what does that mean?" I replied with an equally sly look
