A Stranger Who Became a Precious Memory — My Journey in Japan

                                                                  Yoshikawa and me
Francis Bacon once said, “Reading maketh a man, and writing perfects him.” I would add my own thought:

“Travelling is fun and recreation; it relaxes the mind, opens the heart, and teaches us lessons that no classroom can teach.”

I have always loved travelling. Over the years, I have trotted across a quarter of the world, collecting memories rather than possessions. I thank God for giving me the courage, strength, means and good health to travel and experience the beauty of different countries and cultures.

Among all my journeys, my first visit to Japan remains especially close to my heart.

My First Days in Tokyo

I stayed with my son in his apartment in Tokyo and spent a whole month exploring Tokyo and the surrounding areas.

At that time, I knew practically no Japanese, and my son's landlady, Yokawa, could not speak English.

How, then, could two people who could not speak each other's language possibly become friends?

That is exactly what happened.

On the second day of my arrival in Tokyo, Yokawa came up to my apartment. She began speaking to me in Japanese. I listened, completely lost, as the unfamiliar words sounded like a beautiful but mysterious melody.

Then she tried gestures.

She said something that sounded to me like “sakuna.”

Again and again she repeated it.

I had absolutely no idea what “sakuna” meant.

Then she took me gently by the hand and led me downstairs to her refrigerator. She opened it and pointed to some fish.

Suddenly, everything became clear.

She was asking me whether I eat fish!

I smiled at the discovery. We had communicated without sharing a common language.

But that little incident taught me something I would never forget: when travelling to another country, even a little knowledge of the local language can open a door to friendship.

“

Necessity Is the Mother of Invention”

The very next day, I walked into a nearby bookshop and bought some books and CDs to learn what I called “survival Japanese.”

I whispered to myself:

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”

I began learning a few useful words and expressions. I was determined not to remain a helpless foreigner surrounded by words I could not understand.

Soon, I knew enough to accept Yokawa's invitation to spend a day with her.

I had no idea that this simple invitation would become one of my most unforgettable memories of Japan.