Renewing Old Ties

While my brother Mark and I lived in Japan, a big part of our life was our host family. We both stayed with them during our first week in Kumamoto, then saw them often for dinner, baton-twirling exhibitions, festivals, etc. Our host mother, Kinuko Murayama, spent a year in Illinois when she was a high schooler, and that year had a big influence on her life--an American influence. Her English is extremely good, and she has emphasized to her daughters Kaori and Mami the importance of studying and speaking English. We also got to know their neighbors, the Yokohamas, and shared lots of good times with Chiyaki and her kids, Chinami and Kiichi. Everyone was extremely excited to meet Hiroki!Here, Chiyaki-san (Mrs. Yokohama) holds up Hiroki as her daughter Chinami looks on behind her; Kaori has a big smile on her face, while Kinuko is happy in the background.

All of the kids have grown up so much. Mami (holding Hiroki), is now a 2nd-year Jr. High School student/ 8th grader, her sister Kaori (holding Hiroki's left hand) and Chinami (with the peace sign) are both 15-yr olds in high school, and Kiichi (only boy, on the far right, is a 6th grader. None of them are little kids anymore.Eating is always a focus of visits to the Murayamas. On this day, another host-daughter, Carrie, and her husband David, joined us. We shared lots of memories, laughs, and updates. Kaori told us about Kaori being on the news with her school for some biology project. "I'll show you!" Kinuko happily said, then pulled out HER CELL PHONE, on which she had viewed and taped this TV show. You gotta love Japanese technology.


Although I taught at several different junior high schools, I was employed by the Kumamoto Board of Education. These days, about 25 JETs work out of this office. I make it a point to visit the office whenever I return to Kumamoto.

One of my favorite guys in the office is Mr. Mihara. We always had fun at the enkai's (eating/drinking parties), and he greeted Hiroki with a big smile.

During our short office visit, Hiroki let it be known that his diaper needed changing. Typical of Japanese hospitality, everyone INSISTED that we change him right there, on the conference table. I'm not sure, but this picture is proof of possibly the first time a baby was changed in the middle of the Kumamoto Board of Education office. Good times.

This is Yuji Higuchi, the supervisor for English teachers. He has gotten a promotion now, but still oversees the activities of the JETs in Kumamoto. Yuji helped me and others deal with countless issues, from speeding tickets and backed up apartment toilets to SARS quarantines and driver licenses. We even invited him to speak at our Japanese wedding ceremony. Without him, my time in Japan would have been far less smooth.

Catching up with Michiyo's high school friends: Yuko on the left, Kayoko (nickname "Tomei") on the right. We enjoyed a meal with them at Tome's house. Yuko is not married, but Tomei is pregnant with her first child, and looking forward to joining Michiyo as a first-time mom.

This house was the second of three visits, after Murayamas and before Tomei's house. Eiko, standing next to Michiyo and holding her daughter Yuri, attended grade school, junior and senior high school with Michiyo. Eiko's husband, Masaki, is holding up their son Hiroto, who has his head down. The other kids are from the neighborhood, enjoying the street entertainment of a strange foreigner.