September 2022

When I was six, one day shortly after my little brother had passed away, I was playing with my best friend’s little sister. Usually, my friend, her sister and I hung out together, but that day, my friend was out playing with somebody else, and we were just the two of us. My friend’s sister […]

Throughout my young childhood, my mother was very eager to make me study basic math, believing that it would make my life at school easier if I mastered this single subject. She started her official lesson when I was about four. Every afternoon, before I could go to play with my friends, she would make

When I was about three and my baby brother didn’t yet sit or walk, the evening bath time was a very hectic event for my mother. In our tiny half-dilapidated apartment, as soon as the bathtub was filled with the warm water, my mother would usher us all to the bathroom. She would place my

Shortly after I entered primary school, there was a meet-and-greet gathering in the school auditorium. There were about 40 children from our class and another 40 from the class next to ours. Except for one friend with whom I went to the same kindergarten, I didn’t know anybody from other classes, so I was excited

The year when I was seven years old, one of my elder cousins got married and her wedding took place near my aunt’s house. My family was also invited to the party, and since we lived a little far away from the place, my caring aunt booked a room in a business hotel near the

In the summer when I was nine years old, my aunt organized a large family gathering in a well-known hot spring resort. Since my father couldn’t join us due to his work, my mother and I travelled there by trains. By the time we got to the nearest train station, we were in a very

My maternal grandfather passed away when I was one year old, and at my grandmother’s house, there is a Buddhist altar where my grandfather’s spirit and memories are honoured. Before each meal, a candle is burned, the meal is offered in a small portion and the family members burn an incense as a way to

It was when I was about seven or eight. One fine spring day, my mother and I were visiting my great aunt’s place in Tokyo. Since the weather was so pleasant, we decided to go for a walk in a nearby park. This park was not only well-known in the area but also a place

When I was about nine, I became very interested in hospitality, and often welcomed our family guests with some special gestures. This often meant a welcome board at the entrance, a handwritten card on the table, some uplifting decorations in the room and a tailored choice of background music. Being practical people, my parents thought

The spring when I entered kindergarten, one morning, I was standing under the cherry blossoms with my two childhood best friends. It was one of the very first days when we went to kindergarten, and the three of us were all dressed in prettier clothes than usual. The sun was bright in the sky and