Program in Traditional Thai Arts, at ORIGIN Ladprao center, 2006 Nov 12
On November 12, ORIGIN hosted a special one-day workshop in traditional Thai arts, at the ORIGIN center in Bangkok at Ladprao Road Soi 60. Participants studied marayaat (Thai etiquette), dance, flowers, and lai thai (Thai design) in the old style houses at Ladprao 60 – and then moved to Alex's apartment at Sukhumvit Road Soi 16 for the final Party featuring performances of Thai dance by Aporn-ngam Company.

TV appearance with Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro on 2006 July 22
On July 21, I appeared as the guest on MX TV's program 東京の窓から Tokyo no mado kara (FromTokyo's Window), an hour long talk show hosted by Governor Ishihara Shintaro. The theme was "For Japan's next generation.  Talking about Japan's 'cultural malaise'" 美しい日本を次の世代に・「文化の病」をめぐって【司会】 石原慎太郎 【ゲスト】 アレックス・カー

Foreign Tourist Committee meets Prime Minister Koizumi, 2006 Feb 9
On Feb 9, I was named to a committee to advise PM Koizumi and departments of the government involved with international tourism. The committee, which began with ten members who are all long-time foreigners living in Japan,  is called 「外国人から見た観光まちづくり懇談会」Committee for Tourism and Town Revival as Seen by Foreigners." The group met with PM Koizumi, at the Prime Minister's Residence in Tokyo on Feb 9, 2006.

White House visits Iori and ORIGIN in Kyoto
US First Lady Laura Bush visited Iori in November 2005, where she participated in an ORIGIN Japanese calligraphy course with Master Sawada Minoru, followed by a tour of the Sujiya-cho machiya.