Kampai! Maggie Gyllenhaal and Suki Waterhouse Toasted to Adeam Designer Hanako Maeda

Tucked away on a quiet corner of New York’s Upper East Side stands an unassuming set of doors. Behind them is the grand residence of the Consul General of Japan. The Beaux-Arts setting could not be farther from the New York Fashion Week scene downtown, but with the blessing of the Japanese government’s Japan 2019 cultural promotion program, the consulate general was transformed into an alluring fashion den, honoring Japanese-American designer Hanako Maeda of Adeam.

The Japan 2019 initiative honors young Japanese talent in the arts, fashion, sports, and culture, in advance of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Ambassador Kanji Yamanouchi, Consul General of Japan, described the importance of the program: “When we talk about our alliance and country-to-country relationships, it’s not just about government-to-government or business-to-business. It’s also about the people, culture, art, music, and food. These are so important. If New Yorkers know more about Japan and Japanese culture, it will be an important basis for future understanding and will form a stronger friendship.”

One of the Japan 2019 honorees, Hanako Maeda, showed her Spring 2020 Adeam collection at New York Fashion Week. “Yokohama is my parents’ hometown, and I used to visit in my youth,” explained Maeda of her latest show’s inspirations. “It’s very close to Tokyo, so it was like a weekend getaway. I was visiting Yokohama and was inspired by the beach landscape and how beautiful the scenery is. Through the past Adeam collections, I’ve always wanted to express this East meets West mentality. And since Yokohama is one of the first Japanese ports that opened to foreign trade, I felt like it was appropriate for my collection.” As Adeam gains popularity in the U.S. (there are already several stores in Japan), the East-meets-West aesthetic seems to be resonating—the label’s notable clientele includes Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Anne Hathaway.

To celebrate the brand’s success, Ambassador Yamanouchi invited guests to an intimate reception at his Fifth Avenue townhouse. 18 guests joined the party, including Maggie Gyllenhaal in a chic Adeam Resort 2020 trenchcoat, Suki Waterhouse in a delightful Adeam suit, and Peter Sarsgaard. Guests arriving through the reception hall were greeted by a procession of delegates from the Consul General’s office, followed by a cocktail hour with sparkling saké and a Japanese bass and flute duet. Attendees mingled and discussed Maeda’s success, Japan’s new emperor, Naruhito, and the ambiance offered by the Consul General’s home. On the topic of Maeda’s clothing, Waterhouse told Vogue, “I love her heart. She is such an incredibly warm person, and her designs are impossibly chic.” Gyllenhaal agreed, and added, “I think her designs are so elegant, modern, and fit beautifully. I’m not taking my coat off because it feels so good.”

After cocktails, guests ascended the grand staircase for dinner and flowing saké in the second-floor dining room. Two chefs from Tokyo prepared a vegan shojin ryori feast of corn potage, satoimo cake, fried tofu, and vegetable sushi. The lively dinner conversation centered around the talented, humble, and triumphant Maeda, including stories from the designer’s parents and praises from all the guests. When the dinner came to an end, the 18 guests departed into the night—back to the New York Fashion Week grind after a delightful but fleeting taste of Japan.