Return of the Crane

Hooray! The crane symbol "tsuru maru" is returning to JAL!! Click HERE for the picture.

My Sister

You and I shared laughter and pain throughout the years. You have been there for me all this time quietly but in so many important ways. Hearing my story, you say, "Your happiness is my happiness. I understand what makes you happy because we share the same values and similar experiences and because I trust you." I treasure your words and gentle smile that have supported me, and I love the special playfulness that you only seem to reveal around me. I only wish you had been a little bit better student of English...

At the Narita Airport on the day I left Japan in 1984. You hardly spoke that day.


At Yokohama's "Minato no Mieru Oka Koen" (Hilltop Park Overlooking the Port) exactly one month after my departure.


In a high school hallway with one of her students, 1993.


From my summer Japan trip 2010. Off to work from her apartment, my favorite place to stay.


More pictures to come...

恩師へ贈る俳句 （Haiku for a Great Former Teacher)

Ozawa Ayano Sensei, my modern dance teacher, still teaching in her studio, heard from me after a 33-year absence. It was 9 a.m. her time, 4 p.m. my time yesterday when I called her. Despite her appointment with two students, she happened to be in her Kamakura home due to a cold. She remembered me, my mother, and my personality and cried for joy with me.

She e-mailed me to say that my call was a present for her "koki," a Japanese milestone celebration. She has just turned 70 years old. How honored I am to participate. She spoke with the same exuberant voice and spirit, which has influenced me all those years.

A chapter of my life finally seems to have closed as I took care of unfinished business, giving a sense of starting a new chapter.

I wrote this haiku, dreaming of our meeting here or in Japan.

時を越え
恩師に贈る
古希祝

toki wo koe　（overcoming time)
onshi ni okuru (Sent to my former teacher)
koki iwai (her 70th birthday present)

Inspired

When Shiro and I left New Year's dinner at my Chinese friend's house around 8:30 last night, I saw a beautiful crescent in the night sky. But when I looked for the moon around 10:30, all I could see were shining stars. Then I heard a sound under the distant sky.

Here's a haiku written this morning inspired by ...

夜も更けて
麗しき月
かくれんぼ

yomo fukete (As the night deepens)
uruwashiki tsuki (the pretty, graceful moon)
kakurenbo (is playing hide and seek)

Entranced

酔わす唄
あればいらない
お酒も肩も

With entrancing songs
I'll be OK with no drinks