Sky’s the Limit for Togo Tribute

In a season when the phrase Japan bashing has entered the language, the Music Center threw a bash for one of its favorite Japanese.

The tribute Thursday at Santa Monica’s Museum of Flying was for Yukiyasu Togo, president of Toyota Motor Sales, USA.

“There are two reasons we’re honoring Yuki,” said Music Center President Esther Wachtell. “In the eight years he’s been in Los Angeles, his company has supported us in many, many different ways--from annual donations to putting up $1 million to buy the organ at the Disney Concert Hall. And he’s representative of Japanese corporate support, which was up 85% last year.”

The praise for Togo began after a grilled salmon dinner in the hangar-like museum. With an olive-drab 1923 Douglas World Cruiser torpedo biplane suspended 20 feet above them, the 400 guests heard a program emceed by Bank of America Vice Chairman James Miscoll.

It began with a short speech by pro golfer Chi-Chi Rodriguez, who works for Toyota. He called Togo a “brother” and mentioned--twice--that he would “die for Yuki right now.”

Although no doubt warmed by the sentiment, Togo would probably settle for some help with his putting.

The centerpiece of the program was a clever 10-minute video done as a faux TV newscast segment with KCBS anchor Tricia Toyota reading the “news.”

The story line was that Togo, “who is quite a hunk himself,” was being considered as the newest James Bond.

It interspersed clips from various Bond films with Togo driving, flying a helicopter and singing “My Way” on stage in Las Vegas with Wayne Newton.

It captured Togo, an unorthodox executive with a sense of humor.

After the sound effects of a crash, Togo appeared onstage wrapped in a parachute.

He then spoke about the need for “good human relations” between the United States and Japan and his belief that “together we can build a beautiful world.”

He also said he wanted to keep his speech “short and sweet” because “I want to finish my talk before you finish listening.”

Listening were Japanese Consul General Kiyohiko Arafune, Douglas Aircraft President Robert Hood, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Jim Hodgson, pilot Bob Hoover, publisher Christopher Forbes and Coronado Communication Chairman Jaime Oaxaca.

The evening ended with remarks from Wachtell, board of governors chairman Ron Arnault and Miscoll, who called Togo “an American philanthropist in a better sense of the word than most Americans.”