I will just register here. My reply to your question is under “old Honmoku.” I will never wish to see San Mateo, CA again. Its grassy hills and tidal flats have been obliterated by ugly suburban spew. Pave paradise and put up a parking lot. Be done with Chinese flower farms tucked away in the canyons. Put some split-level cliches in among the oak trees!
Rural Manitoba looks much like California in the 1920’s-1940’s. In a sense I have gone home again!
I am not familiar with the history of San Mateo other than what you just wrote. Really too bad that it faced a similar fate as Honmoku did (that happened in Chiba and Yokohama around 1961). Watch out for developers and politicians who get together with only one thought–making money–and have no idea or concern for despoiling the environment or demolishing beauty. I was really impressed with Marco Island, Florida. They turned their tidal flats into a state park. Great place for bird watching and seeing the tides roll in. Florida has always been a state with environmentalists and developers vying for power and influence. In Canada, you have such vast land and resources still untouched by the greedy hands of developers. Wait till the Northwest Passage opens up with global warming and Americans begin to move to someplace cooler. Even Washington, D.C. can get much too hot in the summertime.
I have just completed a draft short story about my experiences in Yokohama during the occupation. It was 1949-52, I was 7-10, and we lived in Negishi Heights. My work is unpublished and probably will remain so. However, friends, as friends feel obliged to do, have suggested I expand it into a novella. The idea appeals to me, more than appeals, it is bound to some connection deep within that has never left anymore then my memories of Japan have ever left, for they are more than memories. So in going through some of my papers that I’ve collected over the years, I came upon an article you wrote for the Post in 1990 [Yokohama Revisited] and felt compelled to attempt to make contact. Of course, the web made it easy–a Google search sent me to your blog within seconds. I’m not sure where to go with this other than to thank you for the sum of what I experienced at a critical age and…for being from Yokohama.
I, for one, would love to read your story about Yokohama. The years you mentioned were during the Occupation. I recall seeing General MacArthur pass by in his open limousine near Sakuragicho station. Where I lived in Honmoku Motomachi, in front of the Bay of Tokyo, those years were marked by hardships for the fishermen and ordinary Japanese who didn’t have decent jobs. But I recall that on New Year’s Day, the fishermen used to toss candy and money to the kids. Besides fishing and spearfishing and gathering clams, we were satisfied with simple pleasures–flying kites, playing with marbles and spinning tops. I loved to explore the woods around and inside Sankeien Gardens. My neighbor and I buried some of our possessions near Hasseiden Temple (temple of the eight saints) and drew a map–ten paces from the big oak tree. . .) Played softball near the shore and rowed our little boat out to sea. What fun we had. . . without television and any of the sophisticated playthings that kids now have today.
Francis Tanabe
I would be happy for you to read my short story about Yokohama. It is titled, The Boiler Man. However, as I have no site of my own, I am unsure how to make it available. Do I post it in this blog somewhere? Send it via email as an attachment? What is the appropriate way for me to proceed?
As the son of the first mexican ambassador to Japan after the war I attended St. Joseph’s College and like you I have many memories of this very special place. I wonder where many of my friends have gone: Hans Baasch, Alexander Filatoff, A. Yamada among others. It is at SJC that I learned English. I regret not having learned more japanese and become more familiar with japanese culture. I hope to make a return visit in 2011, God willing. Among my prize possession I have a copy of the SJC 1953 Forward, the school book. If you are interested I could scan some of it. Do you have any similar material? I stayed at SJC from 1952 to 1956 at which point my father was posted in Canada. I opted to stay and make my life in Canada. I worked as a teacher and a school administrator. My wife is French Canadian and we have two daughters and two grandchildren.
Dear Manuel:
You were probably in my brother’s class when you were at St. Joseph’s College. His name is Kazuo “Larry” Tanabe. He graduated in 1957. He passed away three years ago in Yokohama, at a hospital not far from the school. He had a stroke while washing his car and never regained consciousness. Otherwise, he was in very good health. He had a long career working for Pan American Airways. He missed his 50th class reunion by just a few months. In his place I participated in the reunion held at the Foreign Press Club in Yurakucho where I met many of your classmates, including Hans Baasch and Albert Yamada. Hans lives in Germany and Al Yamada lives about 30 minutes away from my home in Bethesda, Maryland. Al and I meet quite often. He can get you in touch with his classmates but you will be surprised to hear that many have passed away. I’ll ask Al to get in touch with you and fill in on your classmates’ whereabouts.
On a separate topic, do read Japanese novelist Shusaku Endo’s novel, “Samurai.” I had no idea until I read that novel that a Spanish ship carrying several Japanese samurai (from the Dateh Masamune clan in Sendai) visited Mexico in the early 1600s. My wife, who is Belgian, is also French-speaking. Our two children speak French fluently. Alas, their Japanese is still rudimentary. I hope you will link up with your former classmates. I’ll send a note to Al Yamada that I received word from you.
Thanks for all the information. Sorry to hear about you brother and indeed my former classmate. As the years pass I know that I am one of the lucky ones. So far my health has been very good and with a little bit of luck I may be able to do some of the many things I still would like to do. I am very glad that you will try to get in touch with Hans and Albert. I look forward to renewing my contacts with them.
Interesting that tip about Shusaku Endo’s novel Samurai. I am going to check it out. Life is full of connections. What I do know is that there is an important Japanese community in Mexico. Some of them have distinguish themselves. I wonder, could some of then be descendants of the group you mentioned?
Talking bout a belgian connection, my mother was Belgian, and I myself was born in Belgium. Thus, it was easy for me to learn French. One could say it came to me naturally! My children are bilingual, French and English, but have only a very rudimentary knowledge of Spanish.
A classmate at SJC that I did not mention was R. Rauf, (Rahim?). His father was the Ambassador of India. Shortly after we had left Japan he became the High Commissioner for India here in Ottawa. Thus our two families had the opportunity to extend their relationship. I do not know his whereabouts but I know that his sister Bibi Rauf, a friend of my sister, lives in Washington. I also know that another sister, Alia Rauf, lives in Kingston, Ontario. I mention this in case someone is looking for him and contacts you.
Once again a big thank you. Should you ever be coming to Ottawa let me know. I will be glad to show around and invite you for dinner. The same goes for Mexico where we have a house in the Guanajuato area we use to escape the rigors of the Canadian winters. Regards and best wished to you and your family
Kunio Francis Tanabe 
I will just register here. My reply to your question is under “old Honmoku.” I will never wish to see San Mateo, CA again. Its grassy hills and tidal flats have been obliterated by ugly suburban spew. Pave paradise and put up a parking lot. Be done with Chinese flower farms tucked away in the canyons. Put some split-level cliches in among the oak trees!
Rural Manitoba looks much like California in the 1920’s-1940’s. In a sense I have gone home again!
I am not familiar with the history of San Mateo other than what you just wrote. Really too bad that it faced a similar fate as Honmoku did (that happened in Chiba and Yokohama around 1961). Watch out for developers and politicians who get together with only one thought–making money–and have no idea or concern for despoiling the environment or demolishing beauty. I was really impressed with Marco Island, Florida. They turned their tidal flats into a state park. Great place for bird watching and seeing the tides roll in. Florida has always been a state with environmentalists and developers vying for power and influence. In Canada, you have such vast land and resources still untouched by the greedy hands of developers. Wait till the Northwest Passage opens up with global warming and Americans begin to move to someplace cooler. Even Washington, D.C. can get much too hot in the summertime.
I have just completed a draft short story about my experiences in Yokohama during the occupation. It was 1949-52, I was 7-10, and we lived in Negishi Heights. My work is unpublished and probably will remain so. However, friends, as friends feel obliged to do, have suggested I expand it into a novella. The idea appeals to me, more than appeals, it is bound to some connection deep within that has never left anymore then my memories of Japan have ever left, for they are more than memories. So in going through some of my papers that I’ve collected over the years, I came upon an article you wrote for the Post in 1990 [Yokohama Revisited] and felt compelled to attempt to make contact. Of course, the web made it easy–a Google search sent me to your blog within seconds. I’m not sure where to go with this other than to thank you for the sum of what I experienced at a critical age and…for being from Yokohama.
Charles Derr
carlosderr@mac.com
I, for one, would love to read your story about Yokohama. The years you mentioned were during the Occupation. I recall seeing General MacArthur pass by in his open limousine near Sakuragicho station. Where I lived in Honmoku Motomachi, in front of the Bay of Tokyo, those years were marked by hardships for the fishermen and ordinary Japanese who didn’t have decent jobs. But I recall that on New Year’s Day, the fishermen used to toss candy and money to the kids. Besides fishing and spearfishing and gathering clams, we were satisfied with simple pleasures–flying kites, playing with marbles and spinning tops. I loved to explore the woods around and inside Sankeien Gardens. My neighbor and I buried some of our possessions near Hasseiden Temple (temple of the eight saints) and drew a map–ten paces from the big oak tree. . .) Played softball near the shore and rowed our little boat out to sea. What fun we had. . . without television and any of the sophisticated playthings that kids now have today.
Francis Tanabe
I would be happy for you to read my short story about Yokohama. It is titled, The Boiler Man. However, as I have no site of my own, I am unsure how to make it available. Do I post it in this blog somewhere? Send it via email as an attachment? What is the appropriate way for me to proceed?
As the son of the first mexican ambassador to Japan after the war I attended St. Joseph’s College and like you I have many memories of this very special place. I wonder where many of my friends have gone: Hans Baasch, Alexander Filatoff, A. Yamada among others. It is at SJC that I learned English. I regret not having learned more japanese and become more familiar with japanese culture. I hope to make a return visit in 2011, God willing. Among my prize possession I have a copy of the SJC 1953 Forward, the school book. If you are interested I could scan some of it. Do you have any similar material? I stayed at SJC from 1952 to 1956 at which point my father was posted in Canada. I opted to stay and make my life in Canada. I worked as a teacher and a school administrator. My wife is French Canadian and we have two daughters and two grandchildren.
Dear Manuel:
You were probably in my brother’s class when you were at St. Joseph’s College. His name is Kazuo “Larry” Tanabe. He graduated in 1957. He passed away three years ago in Yokohama, at a hospital not far from the school. He had a stroke while washing his car and never regained consciousness. Otherwise, he was in very good health. He had a long career working for Pan American Airways. He missed his 50th class reunion by just a few months. In his place I participated in the reunion held at the Foreign Press Club in Yurakucho where I met many of your classmates, including Hans Baasch and Albert Yamada. Hans lives in Germany and Al Yamada lives about 30 minutes away from my home in Bethesda, Maryland. Al and I meet quite often. He can get you in touch with his classmates but you will be surprised to hear that many have passed away. I’ll ask Al to get in touch with you and fill in on your classmates’ whereabouts.
On a separate topic, do read Japanese novelist Shusaku Endo’s novel, “Samurai.” I had no idea until I read that novel that a Spanish ship carrying several Japanese samurai (from the Dateh Masamune clan in Sendai) visited Mexico in the early 1600s. My wife, who is Belgian, is also French-speaking. Our two children speak French fluently. Alas, their Japanese is still rudimentary. I hope you will link up with your former classmates. I’ll send a note to Al Yamada that I received word from you.
Dear Francis,
Thanks for all the information. Sorry to hear about you brother and indeed my former classmate. As the years pass I know that I am one of the lucky ones. So far my health has been very good and with a little bit of luck I may be able to do some of the many things I still would like to do. I am very glad that you will try to get in touch with Hans and Albert. I look forward to renewing my contacts with them.
Interesting that tip about Shusaku Endo’s novel Samurai. I am going to check it out. Life is full of connections. What I do know is that there is an important Japanese community in Mexico. Some of them have distinguish themselves. I wonder, could some of then be descendants of the group you mentioned?
Talking bout a belgian connection, my mother was Belgian, and I myself was born in Belgium. Thus, it was easy for me to learn French. One could say it came to me naturally! My children are bilingual, French and English, but have only a very rudimentary knowledge of Spanish.
A classmate at SJC that I did not mention was R. Rauf, (Rahim?). His father was the Ambassador of India. Shortly after we had left Japan he became the High Commissioner for India here in Ottawa. Thus our two families had the opportunity to extend their relationship. I do not know his whereabouts but I know that his sister Bibi Rauf, a friend of my sister, lives in Washington. I also know that another sister, Alia Rauf, lives in Kingston, Ontario. I mention this in case someone is looking for him and contacts you.
Once again a big thank you. Should you ever be coming to Ottawa let me know. I will be glad to show around and invite you for dinner. The same goes for Mexico where we have a house in the Guanajuato area we use to escape the rigors of the Canadian winters. Regards and best wished to you and your family