The People that Surround Me: Hideyuki Ogawa

Hideyuki Ogawa is self-described as a Buddhist, economist, author, landlord, entrepreneur, columnist and a traffic flagger. He is my student and landlord and he is dictating a book to me.

His book is about how celestial bodies encouraged the love between Julia and Ben, American navy lawyers stationed in Japan. Ben is taken on a whirlwind of emotion when he loses his love in the Persian Gulf War. The beauty of Okinawa, Japan, helps Ben not lose the memories of his love.

After eight months we are now getting past the intro.

Hideyuki's lively imagination also extends to eccentric theories like the space continuum and relies on astrological beings to explain how the world runs.

His most recent kick is his theory that if Japan wants to be an economic forerunner it has to change from a man's world to a women's world. Because "women know how to make the world run." He explains that they are emotional, more in tune with nature, and can sense the need for change better than men. An editorial he wrote on this subject recently appeared in Nagasaki's newspaper.

His new business idea is to create companies that are purely women run and owned. I have known him for five years, during which he has always been very generous to me. Currently, he is flagging traffic by day and pondering the world at night.

The People that Surround Me: Yoko and Hiroshi Chigata

World meet Yoko. I teach mothers at a catholic high school and Yoko has been my student there for about two years. She is tender, kind, adores her husband and goes above and beyond for other people. Without even having to ask each other, Yoko and her husband extended the invitation for my family to stay with them during their visit here. From the bottom of their hearts they are genuinely hospitable.

Added bonus: she's a wonderful cook.

Recently my diet has been less than what is desired, and Yoko has graciously taken me under her wings, put me to work in the kitchen and awards me with food afterwards.


What I admire most about Yoko is her relationship with her husband. Hiroshi was a mathematics high school teacher and worked very hard for forty plus years under the Japanese life-time employment model and is now spending his well-deserved retirement happily. Their property is situated at the top of tiered fields, overlook the 99 islands.

This property would be a hot commodity elsewhere, but in rural Japan the sea is not a stranger. Rather, what drives a property price up is its location near a train station or in the center of a city. Yoko and Hiroshi spend their free time together growing wine on their small vineyard on one of the bottom fields.


I love how she enjoys the same hobbies as her husband. I love how there is no discussion between them when it comes to extending their kindness. I love the way she laughs and is entertained by Hiroshi's antics. I love how he depends on her to set things straight and maintain balance around the house.


They are a good role model for anyone married. They are what love is.

The People that Surround Me: Kimiko Tasaki

(photo credits:
James Canegata)

Since I have her picture right here, I'll start with Kimiko. Kimiko is a firecracker; and subsequently, one of my very best girlfriends. At first meeting she is polite, attentive, calm, eager to please others and beautiful; all of which are common traits that many Japanese women possess.

Then, just before you write her off as being 'normal,'a splash of spunk, a dab of attitude, and a slew of humour and sarcasm enter the picture. I have many Japanese girlfriends, but I think Kimiko is the most unique. This is why we gel.

After living here for many years I have noticed that western cultures embed a lot of sarcasm into their humour, and Japanese barely any at all. Kimiko is my only Japanese friend that I can say anything to, take any sarcastic shot I please. Not only does she get it, but she fires right back.

Kimiko is a free woman, meaning the world is her plate and what is on it has yet to be decided. After university she traveled the world for five months, came back to her hometown of Sasebo and committed to herself and family to stay three years in a banking job.

Now she's got time and the world before her.

"I want to do something extraordinary." What's her next step? Next week she will spend a month as in her friend's place in Osaka. During that time she'll make this month's big decision: "Do I go to NYC for a month, do I travel through India, do I find a job in Japan?" Free time is a blessing.

Although her mind is clouded with wanderlust, at the same time the important things in her life are family, furthering her career, developing friendships and mastering her English.

Where to go from here?

The People that Surround Me: Enjoying the Little Things

My time is eventually winding down here, so I am trying to scoop up every morsel of fun that my taste buds can handle. This includes Mt Moi (make the most of it) with my little kids I teach. Had to capture the photo above on camera after our warm-up song.

"Who's this?" D Monster asks. The rats answer, "It's you!"

Is this what they really think of me?? Odd thing is is that it does look like me. My reply, "I'm happy, not angry!" Then I charged them. The culprits - Tomoe and Haruki.




Just as I *finally* {hmph} settled them, Haruki apologized for passing gas. "That's stinky isn't it?" he says. Then he proceeded to tell us that his "chin chin" aka "pee pee" was itchy. geeeez, manners please.

They topped of the hour with a popular TV thing going on here. Click to see the "urusai" (noisy) performance.

The People that Surround me: Sairi Matsuo

It's March 14 and 13-year old Sairi Matsuo has a most important day ahead of her. She is a second year junior high school student and the happenings of this day will make or break her. At least that is what she's thinking right now. Sairi-chan, however, is not alone, millions of other Japanese girls lie awake this morning, contemplating the same thing.

You see, exactly one month ago to the day, Sairi made chocolate with her mother. They were making it for all the men in their lives, mainly 7-year old Yuta and her father. But what she didn't tell her mother was that she tucked some aside for Takumi-kun, her crush at school. Up until this point, though, their conversation had been strictly limited to sports club and hello goodbyes. On February 14th, however, Sairi mustered extra courage to speak to Takumi. That day, the conversation stayed the same, but it was accented in the end with a "here you are" along with a hand-sized box of homemade chocolates.

"I was so nervous," Sairi said about the covert delivery. "I really tried my best letting him know that I liked him."

The answer on Valentines Day from Takumi: A look of suprise and a polite thank you, eyes focused on the ground.

But his real answer will come today, exactly one month later on White Day. This is the day when girls across the country find out if the sacred question "Will you be my Valentine?" is answered yes or no . If she gets candy, then he likes her too. If she doesn't, then her day will go on as usual, but with a wave of disappointment riding through her.

White Day is celebrated in Japan, South Korea and other east asian countries such as Hong Kong, where Japanese influence is strong. On Valentine's Day, women give chocolates to men. Women even give "Giri-Choco" (義理チョコ), or "Obligatory Chocolate" to those close to her but with no romantic interest. When White Day comes, it is the boy's turn -if he so desires- to return the gift in what is called "sanbai-gaeshi" (3倍返し) or "triple return." The gift the boy gives is supposed to be three times the value of the initial gift from the girl.

The holiday began in 1965, when a marshmallow maker used marketing to convince men that they should pay back the women who gave them chocolate with marshmallows. Originally it was called Marshmallow Day. Later it was changed to White Day.

Soon, chocolate companies joined the commercial ploy and began marketing white chocolate. Now, Japanese men give both white and non-white chocolate, as well as other gifts.

As for 13-year old Sairi, what will she do if she walks home with White Day chocolate from her beau in her backpack? Will they hold hands the next day?

"No way, that would be too embarassing.

"I don't know," she sat in thought. "Maybe start talking to each other more?"

We will all have to wait until next week for that answer though. When asked if I could call her tonight to find out if she got the goods, she said,

"No! My mom will be home!"