Category Archives: Family

Atomic Bomb, Family, Food, Friends, Hiroshima, Japan, Nisei, Photography, Uncategorized, World War II, WWII, 温泉

Graciousness, Gratefulness and Grandeur

December 16, 2013 Mustang.Koji 35 Comments

q00893001u00132 — From http://www.entaijisou.com

My girl friend Linda fretted for a couple of weeks before going to Japan with me.

She fretted about the (we-know-they’re-coming) typhoons.

She fretted about the (we-don’t-know-they’re-coming) earthquakes.

But what did she fret about the most? She fretted about getting butt-naked in front of my cousins for a Japanese-style bath at a hot spring in Japan.

Silly lady… All Japanese do that.

Oops. I forgot. She is Irish with blue eyes.

Well, I guess if I were her and experiencing a panic attack, I’d just put a brown paper bag over my mouth… and drink all the scotch inside.

That would help. After all, she is Irish.

___________________________

The hot spring inn, “Entaijisou” or 延対寺荘.

During our ten-day visit to Japan in November, my cousin Kiyoshi (Masako‘s youngest brother) treated us to a most wonderful journey to Toyama Prefecture, just inland from the Sea of Japan. One such destination was famous for its hot springs and a beautiful gorge. We stayed at the inn called “Entaijiso (延対寺荘)” near “Unazuki Hot Springs (宇奈月温泉).” Started in 1900, the hot spring’s water is naturally heated to a most perfect temperature and has an open-air spa area called a “rotenburo (露天風呂)”. Literally, you are soaking outside under the heavens. Butt-naked.

Of course, I was unable to take photos inside the bathing area for obvious reasons but here are other photos from their website to give you a taste of the relaxation that can be had.

Yes, my Irish lady did go in with my (female) cousins! In a form of endearment, my cousin Masako even washed her back. Butt naked. After relaxing in the water for a while then dry off, you notice your skin is just ultra silky smooth. My cousins did say the geothermically heated ground water has therapeutic powers… That there is some kind of magical healing power bubbling up. I kind of doubted it. But there IS something in the water. 🙂

Their dining area was spectacular; just outside is the river and magnificent mosaic-colored hillsides – a post card panorama.

Kiyoshi’s gracious treat continued on the Kurobe Gorge Tram (黒部峡谷トロッコ). It is a a sightseeing train running on a very narrow track originally built to aid the construction of the Kurobe Dam. It follows a winding path along the river – something like 20 kilometers from the base station of Unazuki to the end. We we there unbelievably at their peak of the autumn color change. It is important to note we hiked a bit after getting off the tram at Kanetsuri Station – and my cousins below LED the way. While Masako has difficulty going DOWN stairs, she was a jack rabbit going up. Amazing. At 80 years of age.

My cousins (L to R): Tomiko (71), Masako (80), Namie (74) and Kiyoshi (65).

I will let the photos show you the grandeur we were so fortunate to experience. (Please note many of these were taken from the moving tram.)

AND A “I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE”… Can you spot it? There is a wild red faced monkey below.

__________________________

Prior to getting into the hot spring and public bath, I tried to relieve her anxiety.

I said, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

She replied, “They sinned.”

__________________________

I was proud of my blue-eyed Irish lady friend. She got into the public bath and hot springs butt naked.

And even got her back scrubbed by Masako, a survivor of an atomic blast.

Imagine that.

From a Japanese hot spring, I have learned that spreading peace for the world starts as a power that emanates from within one person.

Family, Friends, Hiroshima, History, Japan, Photography, World War II

Ten Beautiful Days

November 15, 2013 Mustang.Koji 23 Comments

Embarking on a ten day vacation to a land far, far away needs a lot of one’s time to prepare… one reason for my recent absence from WordPress. Not that anyone would notice, of course.

For now, just some colorful images of nature taken during the journey to Japan I immensely enjoyed… which would not have been possible without the unqualified help from my Hiroshima cousin Masako – after whom this blog is named – and her extended family. Hopefully, time will permit sharing more of this glorious journey – and enlightening in ways I could never have imagined.

So for now… Japan in autumn.

America, Children, Family, Food, Kids, Medicine, Money, Rights, Uncategorized

CNN: Is There Something Missing Here?

October 22, 2013 Mustang.Koji 7 Comments

Soap box time.

Not that I have the time.

But I am upset.

CNN. When will you TRULY report facts to us citizens as a nation?

Here is your website right now. The morning of October 22, 2013. Please look at it.

Where is your factual coverage of the Obamacare fiasco? Please tell us Americans as a nation who is signing UP for Obamacare…and who is NOT… and how MANY… and tell us Americans what the deductibles are for the most basic “affordable” insurance plans. I heard it was TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. That’s just for starters. Oh. By the way… my military buddy (with a wife and baby) just got his pay docked for another $200 for an increase in health insurance premiums…and this is after his pay was CUT during the Sequester. Report on that, please.

Where is your factual coverage of the Benghazi coverup? Have you forgotten about it? While I feel terrible about the teacher that was slain and reported on your webpage above, what about the unpursued murders of FOUR other Americans? Actually, I feel there are three distinct venues of coverup here that you fail to report on: (1) the failure to protect our four Benghazi friends who are now dead; (2) a concerted, planned release of information to blame the attack on a then recently released anti-Muslim MOVIE, and (3) the White House’s blatant refusal to inform the American public where their President was during the terrorist attack. (Whew. A bit long-winded here. Sorry. Getting upset does that to me.) Let’s remember to report on the intimidation of the officials and whistleblowers who know of the Benghazi facts under Hillary, OK?

Where is your coverage on the IRS targeting of conservative or pro-Israel groups prior to Obama’s re-election? Odd, isn’t it? Why aren’t you raising a stink about why it occurred, who ordered it, whether there was any White House involvement or coverup and whether there was an initial effort to hide who knew about the targeting and when? And to have the big IRS lady boss plead the FIFTH? My gawd. Why, CNN?

And… please don’t forget the IRS mailed $4.2 billion in child-credit checks to “undocumented immigrants” during the same period!

Where is your coverage of (you-dropped-it-off-the-radar screen) President Obama “exercising” Executive Privilege to protect Holder and the “Operation Fast and Furious” gun-running fiasco? Are you afraid of harming President Obama or his supporters? Please remember you made a BIG thing out of the unfortunate death of a kid “who could have been (his) son” – but don’t seem to care about the Federal agent who was killed by one of those Fast and Furious guns? Wow.

Lastly…

Where is your story on Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security being “out of funds”… but NEVER welfare? I feel that is important. Just how can these issues NOT receive proper coverage, CNN? They are IMMENSELY important to MANY Americans. Please report on this… objectively. But I’m sure you don’t hear me.

_______________________________

But succinctly, Obamacare has been funded. Big businesses and those with influence have been exempted from it. America’s debt ceiling has been raised again. (Please remember, welfare never runs out of money but Medicare and Social Security does.) And most of all, the actions of EVERYONE in Washington has served to decrease our faith in our elected leaders. We all suffered to some extent…but did they stop paying themselves? And consider that even if they put themselves under Obamacare, it is superficial; they will always pass laws to exempt themselves eventually. Their insurance plan is the greatest…and we pay for it with the (now increased) national debt.

That sucks.

____________________________________________

My purpose was but to express my views on the state of affairs affecting our great country… and the growing divide fueled by one-sided media. I am one of those but luckily turn to our blogs for facts or viewpoints. Are we heading into an internet-based civil war? As certainly as America has a gadzillion more issues unmentioned here, there are those whose views are surely very unlike mine…

Please express your views, too, and kindly.

But perhaps, one “growing” unifying view is… our elected officials are not well liked.

🙂

Thanks for reading.

America, 第二次世界大戦, Family, Hiroshima, Military, Nisei, Uncle Suetaro, World War II

Dear Mama – A Farewell Letter

October 8, 2013 Mustang.Koji 26 Comments

image0-012 — Uncle Suetaro (L) and my dad (R). Taken from the Hiroshima house with Mt. Suzugamine in background. Circa 1929

During my visit to my father’s childhood home in Hiroshima last summer, I was entrusted with hundreds of vintage family photos and mementos. I brought them back here stateside, promising my Hiroshima family I would “restore” them.

Well, after a good start, I developed a painful case “tennis elbow” from using the mouse so much during the retouching process. Sadly, it came to a screeching halt sometime in November last year.

But one very, very special item was entrusted with me – my Uncle Suetaro’s war diary.

Although born an American citizen in Seattle with the rest of his siblings, he was writing this war diary as a sergeant in the Japanese Imperial Army.

The last entry was a farewell letter to his Mother.

______________________________

The photo above had been secreted away behind another photo that was in Uncle Suetaro’s album. He meticulously kept the album up to the time of war. His oldest brother, my Uncle Yutaka, had conscientiously sent him family photos they had taken in Chicago and Los Angeles before imprisonment. Suetaro complimented the photos with his beautiful Japanese calligraphy, written in a silver, whitish ink.

The photo of Uncle Suetaro and my dad shown at the beginning was so very tiny – but there was something Uncle Suetaro loved about it to keep it. I wish I knew what it was.

__________________________________

Uncle Suetaro was killed as a sergeant major of the Japanese Imperial Army on Leyte apparently near a town called “Villaba”. Below is an actual page from a “war diary”, an official report written and published by the US Army. Villaba is located on the western shore of Leyte but not far from Ormoc Bay, which was a killing field for Japanese ships by US aircraft.

Source: US Army 81st Infantry Division Headquarters / Report of Operations

His remains were never recovered. In the family grave are his tiny pieces of his fingernails and a lock of hair. It was custom at that time to leave parts of your earthly body with your family as returning was unlikely.

Not much to bury… but it was better than not returning at all.

In a spiritualistic way, he had never left.

____________________________________

This is his farewell letter to his Mother (my Grandmother).

It is clear it was very hurriedly written.

With the help of my cousin Kiyoshi in Hiroshima and my dad, we’ve typed up Uncle Suetaro’s farewell letter – complete with old Japanese characters and translated as best possible into English. When reading this, please remember these are the words as written as a soldier going off to fight the Americans – but he was once a young American boy born in Seattle, WA.

image0-038_originalhigh — Cover. His name is at the bottom.
金本　末太郎

image0-034_original — ママ様
Dear Mama,
御無沙汰致しました。
I am sorry for not writing for a while.
お元気ですか。　自分も相変わらず元気旺盛御奉公致しております故、何卒ご放念く
ださい。
How are you? As usual, I am full of life fulfilling my duty to my country so please feel at ease.
（元気で国のために力を尽くしてるので心配しないでください）
愈（いよいよ）自分も日本男子としてこの世に生を受け、初陣に臨むことを喜んでいます.
More and more, as I realize I was born into this world as a Japanese male, I am overjoyed to be going into my first combat.
勿論（もちろん）生還を期してはいません（生きて帰ることは思ってはいません）。
Of course, I do not expect to come back alive.

image0-035_original — 併せ（しかしながら）自分に何事があっても決して驚かないように、また決して力を
落とさないよう平素より力強く暮らしてください。
And for you, Mother, whatever happens, do not be taken by surprise and please fight back with even more energy than you normally would.
24年の長いあいだスネかじりにて非常にご心配をかけ誠にすいませんでした。
I deeply apologize for these 24 years of worry and concern I have caused you.
お赦し下さい（おゆるし下さい）。
Please forgive me.
今の時局は日本が起つか亡びるかの境です。
At this time, Japan is at the boundary of either winning or perishing.
どうしてもやり抜かねばいけないのです。
We must persevere.
兄さん達を救い出すことも夢見てます。
I still dream that we can free our older brothers (from forced imprisonment in America by FDR – Ed.).
自分のことは決して心配せずお体をくれぐれも気をつけて無理をしないよう長生きを
してください。
Please do not worry about me but instead, please take it easy on yourself and live a long life.

(Note: Green indicates an edit inserted for clarification purposes.)

image0-036_original — 何事あっても荒槇、小林の方に相談して下さい。
If something comes up, please discuss it with the Kobayashis or Aramakis.
金本家は絶対に倒してはいけないのです。
No matter what, do not allow the Kanemoto name be extinguished.
伴の兄さんもお召の日が必ずあることと思います。
Mikizou-san will also be drafted.
（荒槇幹造さんも必ず徴兵されることと思う）
歳はとっていても軍隊に入れば初年兵です。一年生です。
Although he is much older in age, he will be treated like any other draftee. As a young recruit.
絶対服従を旨とするようよく言って下さい。
Implore upon him to obey every command without question.
近所の皆さん、河野,倉本、白井、武田、永井、正覚寺、梶田、山城、山根、杉本、
辻、河野…、橋本,西本、松本繁人、小林、中本、新宅、武蔵、水入、土井、堀田、住岡、見崎、長尾、加藤、三好、内藤、島本、(Writing continues next page from here) 宮本先生、谷口先生、慶雲寺などの人によろしくよろしくお伝えください。

image0-037_original — ではこれにて失礼します。
With that, I will say farewell.
何時までも何時までもお達者のほどお祈り致しております。
I pray for all eternity for your good health and prosperity.
南無阿弥陀仏の御６文字と共に行きます。
I go blessed with the six realms of Namu Amida Butsu.
サヨウナラ
Sayonara
昭和19年5月3日
May 3, 1944
末太郎より　　　ママ様へ
From Suetaro To Mama-san

His farewell send-off is pictured below. Masako-san believes Suetaro wrote the letter around this time. It was at gatherings such as this when a Japanese soldier was given a “good luck” battle flag – the ones that many WWII combat veterans “removed from the battlefield” as souvenirs. There are many cases now where their sons and daughters – or grandchildren – are making efforts to return such flags to the Japanese families.

One of the treasures found during our journey to the family home in Hiroshima this month. Uncle Suetaro is going to war and his death. — Uncle Suetaro (center) is pictured just before going off to war and his death. You will notice my grandmother is missing from the photo; that is because she suffered her first stroke knowing her last son was going to his death.

_______________________________________

Bertrand Russell wrote, “War does not determine who is right – only who is left.”

He is correct.

On a much smaller scale, though, Grandmother Kono was all who was left in that house when war’s end came. Her precious son Suetaro – who she kept from returning to America for the purpose of keeping the Kanemoto name going – was dead. She was now alone. I wonder how she felt.

A mother’s anguished solitude.

image1-007retouched — Grandma and four youngest children at the corner of King and Maynard in Seattle, circa 1926. From clockwise right-front: Suetaro, dad, Mieko, Grandmother Kono and Shizue.

(For other related stories:

A Mother’s Anguished Solitude, Part I

A Mother’s Anguished Solitude, Part II

Were Japanese Soldier’s Frightened?

America, 第二次世界大戦, Family, Hiroshima, Japan, Nisei

Eighty Years Later…

October 6, 2013 Mustang.Koji 20 Comments

Eighty years or so after he posed for a photo, my Grandfather Hisakichi is in an American book.

Standing “Marine-esque” in his Seattle barbershop.

Incredible to me.

_________________________________

I had come to know Rob Ketcherside from flickr. We had helped each other out looking at some old photos he had of Seattle – where all my aunts and uncles were born (except one). He had some fascinating tidbits on some of my Grandmother’s photos.

Well, it turned out he was an author. He had been doing a ton of research into “lost Seattle” – skylines and communities now long gone. With his fascination for “what was” (me, too!), those sights are now basking in sunlight once again through this mesmerizing book.

It was boosting to me when he asked if he could use one of the family’s vintage photos in his book; specifically, the photo of my grandfather’s barbershop. It is on loan to me from my cousin Masako (yes, the Masako after whom my blog is named) who luckily kept these family treasures all these years. It is more wonderful in that the home in which the photos were in survived the atomic blast – as did my family.

I hope Rob (and his publisher) don’t mind a couple of pages of his book are shown herein…and I’ll be picking up a few more copies to take back to Hiroshima in a few weeks.

In the description below, Rob also mentions Masahiro Furuya and his business. As it turns out, both my dad’s oldest brother Yutaka and his best friend John Tanaka worked for Furuya… And yes, that is the same John Tanaka my Aunt Shiz married. Small world, yes? Actually, Uncle Yutaka was the matchmaker.

A close up of his photo caption from above:

Grandfather is standing at the right-rear of his barbershop. And the photo is a full pager in Rob’s book! Cool! Grandfather should be pleased. In the original print, you can see the brand names of the hair tonics popular at that time. The gal in the middle was quite a cutie, too. I wonder what happened to her. If she was still there in Seattle when war broke out, it is likely she went to the same prison camp my dad and uncle were incarcerated in.

On an interesting note, the consensus is the calendar shows January 9, 1930.

In concert with Rob’s massive research effort, gone is my father’s precious Hotel Fujii and my grandfather’s pride and joy barber shop. It was demolished to make room for “Hing Hay Park” taking its place.

Front of Barbershop — Grandfather Hisakichi holding Aunt Shiz in front of the barbershop. Circa 1918.

image0-005_original — Dad on right with his youngest brother Suetaro in front of the barbershop (circa 1922). They are likely standing where the label “Hing Hay Park” is on the map above. As readers know, Uncle Suetaro was killed as a Japanese soldier by the US Army on Leyte on July 15, 1945. Dad was imprisoned in Minidoka, ID at the time of his death.

Eighty years later.

My gosh.

And like the barbershop and Hotel Fujii, my dad is the last one standing out of seven siblings and two courageous grandparents.

Thanks, Masako-san and Rob.

I kinda wish my grandparents could have seen this.

America, Family, History

Wordless (Kinda) Post #2

Image October 6, 2013 Mustang.Koji 4 Comments

America, Family, Money, Uncategorized

Wordless Post

Image October 2, 2013 Mustang.Koji 9 Comments

America, Army, Children, Family, History, Marines, Military, Navy, Nisei, Rights, Uncategorized, World War II, World War II, WWII

Thank You, CNN. Thank You.

October 1, 2013 Mustang.Koji 10 Comments

Thank you, CNN.

Thank you for blowing up this “Government Shutdown” bull shit way out of proportion.

You know. It’s no shutdown. It’s a slimdown. It doesn’t even qualify for a Weight Watcher’s sign-up special.

CNN, your exaggerated threats on world TV and the internet – and by siding with the White House – did negatively affect a diminishing group of our most patriotic citizens… Our Greatest Generation.

Yessiree, CNN. You made them break laws. Shame on you, CNN

Read about these WWII veterans in the sunset of their lives not willing to be denied their last and only chance to visit their own memorial erected in their name. Just as they stormed the hedgerows in France 70 years ago, they stormed stupid barricades set up by their own Government. Just click on this link: WWII Memorial Read about their triumphant last skirmish…against their own Government’s stupidity. The Government their comrades in arms gave their lives for.

________________________________

And answer me this, CNN… Who does Michelle have on HER payroll…and NOT furloughed?

Report on that, please.

Nah… Of course you won’t.

America, Children, 第二次世界大戦, Family, Friends, High school, History, Kids, Marines, Military, Navy, Rights, Uncategorized, World War II, World War II

The Way It Should Be

September 27, 2013 Mustang.Koji 15 Comments

After a sergeant in the Marine Corps reached mandatory age and got mustered out, he entered civilian life and became a high school teacher. Just before the school year started, the former enlisted Marine injured his back. He was required to wear a plaster cast around the upper part of his body. Fortunately, the cast fit under his shirt and wasn’t noticeable.

On the first day of class, he found himself assigned to the toughest students in the school. The smart-aleck punks, having already heard the new teacher was a Marine, were leery of him and he knew they would be testing his discipline in the classroom.

Walking confidently into the rowdy classroom, the new teacher opened the window wide and sat down at his desk. When a strong breeze made his tie flap, he picked up a stapler and stapled the tie to his chest.

Dead silence…

The rest of the year went very smoothly.

Oo-rah.

…and that’s the way it should be.

America, Army, 第二次世界大戦, Family, Marines, Military, Navy, Nisei, Photography, World War II, WWII

Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside

September 15, 2013 Mustang.Koji 10 Comments

Inside my heart is sadness… But that sadness is happily interrupted by great respect and smiles of good times gone by…

https://p47koji.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/two-old-men-and-a-fathers-day-anguish-2/

Masako and Spam Musubi

Category Archives: Family

Graciousness, Gratefulness and Grandeur

Ten Beautiful Days

CNN: Is There Something Missing Here?

Dear Mama – A Farewell Letter

Eighty Years Later…

Wordless (Kinda) Post #2

Wordless Post

Thank You, CNN. Thank You.

The Way It Should Be

Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside

True stories about World War II – One war. Two Countries. One Family

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True stories about World War II – One war. Two Countries. One Family