Los Angeles, September 29, 2006 – The Japanese took over Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills on Friday, but this time it wasn’t for luxury shopping. Sony Corporation celebrated its global marketing partners’ conference by closing down three blocks of the moneyed thoroughfare for a bash. Being a global company, it wasn’t just the Japanese attending – over 800 folks from different countries arrived on separate buses, and took in Chaka Khan performing on a stage plopped in the middle of the street.

Sony apparently has lots of important friends in Hollywood; guests included Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Will Ferrell, Eva Mendes, Angela Lansbury and Drew Barrymore. Spiderman Tobey Maguire and pregnant fiancée Jennifer Meyer snuck in to the party unnoticed. The Japanese were mad for Will & Grace queen Debra Messing, and Kirsten Dunst complained that the flashbulbs hurt her eyes.

A photographer relentlessly followed Adam Sandler, shouting, “Look over here”; until Sandler finally snapped, “Don’t you have enough f--king pictures of me yet?”