Columnist John Katsilometes: We’re going to be big in Japan

Monday, Dec. 11, 2000 | 9:51 a.m.

John Katsilometes is the Sun features editor. His column appears Mondays. Reach him at kats@lasvegassun.com or 259-2327.

In the daily flurry of phone calls, her's stood out.

"I'm with Asahi Shimbunn, the largest newspaper in Japan," said Chikage Takizawa, a coordinator and interpreter for the newspaper who's based in the publication's New York bureau. "We will have a special feature in our Sunday edition next year called '50 Reporters' Selection of 50 Spots in the World.' It will be a major feature in 2001.

"We have seen your paper on the Internet and would like to interview you."

"Count me in," I answered, with little clue as to what she had read online or exactly what I would be asked. Chikage did say I would be interviewed by a senior staff writer named Kazukiyo Matsuba and I was to meet both of them in the lobby of the the Flamingo Las Vegas on Tuesday at 5 p.m. So I did.

Kazukiyo's English was not good (but far better than my Japanese) and Chikage would serve as our interpreter. My first effort at breaking the ice -- "So, have you lost your per diem at Megabucks yet?" -- was probably lost in the translation, given Kazukiyo's transfixed expression.

We settled into a booth at the coffee shop and two tape recorders were placed in front of me. I asked Kazukiyo about his newspaper, and the answer was swiftly fielded by Chikage.

"We have 8,000 employees," she explained. "It is difficult to work up to Mr. Matsuba's position of senior writer. It takes many years and he is a very high achiever. We have only two columnists. Our circulation is 8 million."

Gulp.

"We pretty much have the same operation here," I responded. "Except, we're getting a new building."

Eager to start the interview, Kazukiyo cleared his throat and asked me ... something.

"Tell us about your Lennon statue," Chikage finally translated.

"We do not have a Lennon statue, unfortunately," I said, apologetically. "But, you know, we really should."

Pause for translation. Kazukiyo and Chikage were both clearly confused.

"Is there not a statue of Lenin at Mandalay Bay?" she asked.

"Oh that," I said. "Where's my head? Better yet, where's his head?"

Pause for translation. Laughter. Whew.

I reheated the story of the Lenin statue at Red Square, telling Kazukiyo of the initial controversy and how the head of the statue was lopped off by club officials, later stolen and finally retrieved from a local thrift store.

"Why would anyone steal the head of Lenin?" Chikage asked.

"Because this is Las Vegas," I said. "Weird things happen here. One moment you're watching a fake volcano at the Mirage, the next you're observing someone making off with Lenin's head at Mandalay Bay."

Pause for translation. Kazukiyo turned stern. So did Chikage.

"Do you think people who visit Las Vegas are aware of Lenin's history?" Chikage asked.

"If they are, it's not a high priority when they're walking through a casino," I said. "Most of our tourists are come here to be silly, to wear funny hats and eat shrimp cocktail."

Pause for translation. Kazukiyo smiled. He went on to ask a series of other Las Vegas questions.

"What's it like to live here?"

"It's like Sacramento or St. Louis, but with a whole bunch of big casinos."

"Is the Paris hotel just like the city?"

"No idea. Probably not."

"Have you met Wayne Newton?"

"Yes."

"Why do you have so many Elvis impersonators?"

"Because he was a major entertainer here, and because he is dead."

"Does the gambling ever stop?"

"I heard it stopped once, for a few seconds, when the news of Howard Hughes' death was announced."

"What are the best odds in gambling?"

"They say it's craps, but in my experience it's betting against the Redskins."

"What is the strangest thing you've ever seen here?"

"Carrot Top onstage with the Boogie Knights at the Drink."

"What?"

"Never mind."

An hour zipped by. When we finished I advised Kazukiyo and Chikage to see as much of the city as they could in the short time they were here -- just four days. Chikage said they hoped to make it to the Venetian and Bellagio but had no other set plans.

"We've already got plenty of material," Chikage said confidently.

I led them toward the casino before saying goodbye. I watched as they moved slowly through the maze of machines and tables, with the inescapable feeling that, sometime next year, about 8 million Japanese newspaper readers are going to have a unique view of our city.