,,GEI%A1 ,A ,,LIFE

           ,,M9EKO ,,IWASAKI
              ) ,R&E ,BR[N

              ,PUBLI%$ BY
       ,ATRIA ,BOOKS1 ,NEW ,YORK
     ,COPY"R #BJJB 0,M9EKO ,IWASAKI
  ,FUR!R REPRODUC;N OR 4TRIBU;N 9 O!R
  ?AN A SPECIALIZ$ =MAT IS PROHIBIT$4

      ,TRANSCRIB$ 9 ,5GLI% ,BRL BY
    ,BE? ,GOODMAN1 ,NANCY ,S*LOSS]1
      ,C>OL ,/UD]1 & ,C>OLYN ,RI<I
          ,"EGRE5 ,BRL ,S]VICE
           ,S1TTLE1 ,WA%+TON

             ,9 #D ,VOLUMES
               ,VOLUME #D
        ,PAGES ;I-;II & #CDA-DEF

          ,"U ! ,SPONSOR%IP (
  ,WA%+TON ,TALK+ ,BOOK & ,BRL ,LIBR>Y
           ,S1TTLE1 ,WA%+TON
                 #BJJC
                                     ;II
























                  #BH               #CDA

  ,8 /AGE "N 0 ,%9T>O ,KATSU4 ,I MET HM
:5 ,I 0 FIFTE5 AT "O (! F/ OZASHIKI ,I
ATT5D$ AF 2COM+ A MAIKO4 ,HE _H ASK$ "O
(! OLD] MAIKO 6ASK ME 6/OP 0S HE CD MEET
ME4
  ,%E 9TRODUC$ HM 0HIS REGUL> "N1 ,TO-
%IO4 ,TO%IO 0 ! BI7E/ MOVIE /> 9 ,JAPAN4
,I KNEW 8 "N B H>DLY "E W5T 6! MOVIES &
DIDN'T RECOGNIZE 8 FACE4 ,ANYWAY1 ,I
WASN'T IMPRESS$4 ,HE 0 DRESS$ L A SLOB4
,HE 0 WE>+ A YUKATA 7COTTON KIMONO71 :
IS TOO 9=MAL = AN OZASHIKI1 & X 0 K9D (
RUMPL$4 ,HE / _H PANCAKE MAKEUP ON 8
NECK4
  ,I 0 ONLY 9 ! OZASHIKI = AB FIVE M9-
UTES & DIDN'T SP1K 6HM DIRECTLY4 ,I RE-
MEMB] ?9K+1 8,:AT AN UNSAVORY P]SON40 ,I
HOP$ HE WDN'T ASK = ME AG4
  ,A FEW "DS LAT] ,I /OPP$ 0! OCHAYA ON
MY WAY HOME F S*OOL4 ,I BUMP$ 96,TO%IO1
:O 0 "! ) 8 WIFE1 & HE 9TRODUC$ ME 6H]4
,%E IS A FAM\S ACTRESS & ,I 0 PL1S$ TO
MEET H]4
  ,TO%IO 0 9 ! HABIT ( -+ 6,GION    #CDB
,KOBU ALM E NI<T4 ,9 FACT1 HE ASK$ = ME
FREQU5TLY4 ,I REFUS$ Z (T5 Z ,I CD1 B
KARYUKAI DECORUM DEM&$ T ,I APPE> ONCE 9
A :ILE4 ,I SPECIFIC,Y ASK$ ! OKASAN (!
OCHAYA 6KEEP ME AWAY F HM B "! 0 ONLY S
M* %E CD D4 ,X 0 BUSI;S1 AF ALL1 &! OKA-
SAN _H 6CAT] 6! R1SONA# REQUE/S ( H]
CU/OM]S4
  ,"O "T ,TO%IO ASK$ ! A3OMPANI/ IF HE
CD BORR[ H] SHAMISEN =A M9UTE4 ,%E H&$ X
6HM & HE />T$ 6PLAY A BALLAD CALL$
.,NAGARE 78FL[+074 ,I CDN'T 2LIEVE X6
,HE 0 9CR$IBLY TAL5T$4 ,I GOT GOOSE
BUMPS ALL OV]4
  8,": DID Y "E LE>N 6PLAY L T80 ,I ASK$
HM4 ,X 0 ! F/ AU!NTIC ?+ ,I "E SD 6HM4
  8,ACTU,Y1 MY "F IS ! IEMOTO (! ,K9EYA
,S*OOL ( SHAMISEN BALLADRY & ,I H BE5
PLAY+ S9CE ,I 0 A LL BOY40
  8,I'M V IMPRESS$4 ,:AT O!R SECRETS >E
Y HID+80
  ,! SCALES FELL F MY EYES & ,I SAW HM 9
A :OLE NEW LI<T4 ,"! 0 M "H ?AN MET !
EYE4
  ,= FUN1 ,I ANN\NC$ T ,I WD ONLY   #CDC
ATT5D 8 OZASHIKI IF HE WD PLAY ! SHAMI-
SEN = ME :5 ,I 0 "!4 ,X 0 AN IMP]T95T
REQUE/ ON MY "P1 B1 F !N ON1 :5"E ,I
5T]$ AN OZASHIKI HE 0 HO/+ "! 0 A SHAMI-
SEN SITT+ "! R1DY 6BE PLAY$4 ,?+S 3T9U$
L ? = ?REE YE>S4 ,HE ASK$ = ME 3T9U,Y1
,I W5T O3A.N,Y1 & :5 ,I DID1 X 0 MO/LY
6HE> HM PLAY4
  ,"O NI<T1 :5 ,I 0 EI<TE51 ,I 0 C>RY+
SAKE F ! KIT*5 6AN OZASHIKI4 ,I 0 AB TO
WALK UP ! /AIRCASE 6! SECOND FLOOR :5 ,I
NOTIC$ HM -+ D[N X4 ,I 0 EMB>RASS$ 6BE
CAU<T S OBVI\SLY 9 ! OP51 2C ,I _H RE-
FUS$ 6ATT5D 8 OZASHIKI T EV5+4 ,HE B.D$
D[N ! /AIRS & TOOK ! TRAY F MY H&S4
  8,M9EKO1 -E "H A M9UTE10 HE SD &
PRESS$ ME 96"O (! MAID'S ROOMS4
  ,2F ,I SAW X -+ HE PUT 8 >MS >.D ME &
KISS$ ME FULL ON ! LIPS4
  8,YEE*1 /OP40 ,I /RU7L$ FREE4 8,! ONLY
P]SON ALL[$ 6D T IS ,BIG ,JOHN1 MY DOG40
  ,X 0 MY F/ KISS4 ,& ,I DIDN'T F9D X
APP1L+ AT ALL4 ,I ?"\ ,I 0 HAV+ AN ALL]-
GIC REAC;N4 ,I GOT GOOSE BUMPS1 MY HAIR
/OOD ON 5D1 & ,I BROKE \ 9 A COLD   #CDD
SW1T4 ,AF MOV+ "? %OCK & FE>1 ,I QKLY >-
RIV$ AT A /ATE ( BURN+ ANG]4
  8,H[ D>E Y60 ,I HISS$4 8,DON'T Y "E
T\* ME AG4 ,"E60
  8,OH1 ,MINE-*AN1 DON'T Y L ME EV5 A LL
BIT80
  8,L8 ,:AT D Y M1N L8 ,L HAS NO?+ 6D )
X60
  ,I AM A%AM$ 6ADMIT X N[1 B AT EI<TE5
,I / 2LIEV$ T KISS+ CD MAKE Y PREGNANT4
,I 0 SC>$ 6D1?4
  ,I RAN 96! (FICE &1 9 VEHE;T T"OS1
TOLD ! OKASAN "EY?+4 8,I N"E WANT 6SEE
HM AG4 ,NO MATT] H[ _M "TS HE ASKS = ME4
,HE'S 4GU/+ & 8 MANN]S >E DESPICA#40
  ,%E TOLD ME ,I 0 OV]REACT+4
  8,MINE-*AN1 Y H 6GR[ UP A LL BIT "H4
,X 0 AN 9NOC5T KISS4 ,X'S NO?+ 6GET S
RIL$ UP OV]4 ,HE'S AN IMPORTANT CU/OM]1
& ,I WANT Y 6GIVE HM A LL SLACK40
  ,%E EXPLA9$ AWAY MY FE>S & OV] ! NEXT
FEW WEEKS 3V9C$ ME T X 0 SAFE 6A3EPT "O
( 8 REP1T$ REQUE/S = AN APPE>.E4
  ,I 5T]$ ! OZASHIKI ) RES]V,NS1 B
,TO%IO 0 CLE>LY REP5TANT4 ,HE       #CDE
PROMIS$ N 6LAY A F+] ON ME4 ,I RESUM$ MY
R\T9E ( HONOR+1 ON AV]AGE1 "O \ ( 8 FIVE
REQUE/S4
  ,"O EV5+ HE PLAY;LLY ASK$1 8,I "K ,I'M
N ALL[$ 6T\* Y1 B WD Y PUT "O1 J "O1 (
YR F+]S ON MY KNEE8 ,9 RETURN = ALL MY
H>D "W ON ! SHAMISEN80
  ,I ACT$ L ,I 0 T\*+ "S?+ 3TAM9AT$ &
G+]LY RE/$ ! TIP ( MY 9DEX F+] ON ! TOP
( 8 KNEE4 ,X 0 L A GAME4
  ,AF ?REE MON?S )! 9DEX F+] HE SD1
8,:AT AB ?REE F+]S80
  ,!N1 8,:AT AB FIVE F+]S80
  ,& LAT]1 8,:AT AB YR :OLE PALM80
  ,!N "O NI<T HE GOT S]I\S4 8,M9EKO1 ,I
?9K ,I'M FALL+ 9 LOVE ) Y40
  ,I 0 TOO 9EXP]I;ED 6"K ! DI6];E 2T
FLIRT+ &! R1L ?+4 ,I ?"\ HE 0 JOK+ >.D4
  8,OH PL1SE1 ,TO%IO-SAN1 H[ C T BE8
,>5'T Y M>RI$8 ,I'M N 9T]E/$ 9 M>RI$ M54
,2SS1 IF Y'RE M>RI$ Y >E ALR 9 LOVE60
  8,T'S N NECESS>ILY TRUE1 ,M9EKO4 ,LOVE
& M>RIAGE DON'T ALW G TGR40
  8,WELL1 ,I WDN'T "K4 ,B Y %DN'T FOOL
>.D L ?1 EV5 JOK+4 ,YR WIFE WD      #CDF
FEEL T]RI# IF %E HE>D & ,I'M SURE Y WD
N"E WANT 6HURT H]4 ,OR YR *N4 ,YR F/
RESPONSIBIL;Y IS 6MAKE !M HAPPY40
  ,! ONLY ADULT MALE ,I _H "E "KN 0 MY
"F4 ,ALL MY ID1S AB LOVE & RESPONSIBIL;Y
CAME F HM4
  8,M9EKO1 ,I DIDN'T WANT ? 6HAPP54 ,X J
DID40
  8,WELL1 "! IS NO?+ WE C D AB X S Y
BETT] =GET AB ! :OLE ?+ "R N[40
  8,& H[ D Y PROPOSE ,I D T80
  8,I H NO IDEA4 ,X'S N MY PRO#M4 ,B
,I'M SURE Y'LL D J F9E4 ,ANYWAY1 Y >5'T
:AT ,I'M LOOK+ =4 ,I'M LOOK+ =A GR& PAS-
.N1 "S"O :O W SWEEP ME (F MY FEET & T1*
ME ALL AB LOVE4 ,& !N ,I'M GO+ 62COME A
RE,Y GRT D.ER40
  8,S :AT IS HE L1 ? GR& PAS.N ( YRS80
  8,I'M N SURE 2C ,I HAV5'T F.D HM YET4
,B ,I "K A FEW ?+S AB HM4 ,HE IS N M>-
RI$4 ,HE "KS A LOT AB >T S T ,I C TALK
6HM AB :AT ,I'M DO+4 ,HE W N"E TRY 6MAKE
ME /OP DANC+4 ,& HE IS V SM>T1 2C ,I H S
_M "QS4 ,I ?9K HE IS A PROFES.NAL ( "S
SORT40                              #CDG
  ,I BLURT$ \ MY :OLE LAUNDRY LI/ ( RE-
QUIRE;TS4 ,I CLE>LY _H 9 M9D "S"O Z SO-
PHI/ICAT$ Z MY "F OR ,DR4 ,TANIGAWA4
  ,TO%IO-SAN LOOK$ CRE/FALL54
  8,B :AT AB ME80
  8,:AT AB Y80
  8,D ,I H A *.E80
  8,X DOESN'T S.D L X1 DOES X80
  8,S1 Y'RE SAY+ Y DON'T L ME V M*4 ,IS
T X80
  8,SURE ,I L Y4 ,B ,I'M TALK+ AB "S?+
ELSE4 ,I'M TALK+ AB ! LOVE ( MY LIFE40
  8,:AT IF ,I GOT DIVORC$80
  8,T'S NO ANSW]4 ,I DON'T WANT 6HURT
ANYBODY40
  8,B MY WIFE & ,I >E N 9 LOVE ) EA* O?-
]40
  8,!N :Y DID Y GET M>RI$80
  8,%E 0 9 LOVE ) "SBODY ELSE4 ,I SAW X
Z A *ALL5GE & DECID$ 6/1L H] AWAY F HM40
  ,N[ ,I 0 GETT+ ANNOY$4
  8,T'S ! /UPIDE/ ?+ ,I'VE "E HE>D40
  8,I "K4 ,Y SEE :Y ,I WANT A DIVORCE40
  8,:AT AB YR *N8 ,I CD N"E LOVE ANY"O
:O TR1T$ 8 *N L T40                 #CDH
  ,TO%IO 0 TWICE Z OLD Z ,I WAS4 ,B ! M
WE TALK$ ! M ,I FELT L ,I 0 ! ADULT4
  8,I DON'T ?9K WE %D TALK AB ? ANY M4
,WE'RE J GO+ >.D 9 CIRCLES4 ,? 4CUS.N IS
OV]40
  8,I'M SORRY1 ,M9EKO1 B ,I'M N WILL+ TO
GIVE UP4 ,I AM GO+ 6KEEP TRY+40
  ,I DECID$ 6?R[ D[N A *ALL5GE ( MY [N4
,I FIGUR$ IF ,I PLAY$ -PLETELY H>D 6GET
HE WD TIRE (! GAME & =GET AB ME4
  8,IF Y RE,Y LOVE ME !N ,I WANT Y TO
PROVE X4 ,REMEMB] ! POET ,ONONO ,KOMA*I8
,H[ %E MADE ,(FIC] ,FUKAKUSA VISIT H] =
"O HUNDR$ NI<TS 2F %E WD GIVE HM H] H&8
,WELL1 ,I WANT Y 6VISIT ,GION ,KOBU E
NI<T =! NEXT ?REE YE>S4 ,E NI<T4 ,)\T
EXCEP;N4 ,MO/ (! "T ,I WON'T ATT5D YR
OZASHIKI B ,I W ALW *ECK ON :E!R OR N Y
CAME4 ,IF Y -PLETE ? TASK WE C TALK AG40
  ,I N"E ?"\ 9 A MILLION YE>S T HE 0 AC-
TU,Y GO+ 6D X4
  ,B HE DID4 ,HE CAME 6,GION ,KOBU E S9-
GLE NI<T =! NEXT ?REE YE>S1 EV5 ON MAJOR
HOLI"DS L ,NEW ,YE>'S ,"D4 ,& HE ALW
REQUE/$ T ,I MAKE AN APPE>.E AT 8   #CDI
OZASHIKI4 ,? ,I DID ONCE OR TWICE A
WEEK4 ,DUR+ ^! YE>S WE DEVELOP$ A V
CIVILIZ$ FR%IP4 ,I D.ED4 ,HE PLAY$ !
SHAMISEN4 ,WE TALK$ MO/LY AB >T4
  ,TO%IO 0 A V TAL5T$ MAN4 ,8 UPBR++
GAVE HM A FIRM GR.D+ 9 ! AES!TIC PR9CI-
PLES T ,I 0 TRY+ 6MA/]4 ,X TURN$ \ HE 0
A K9D & LIVELY T1*]1 &1 ONCE HE />T$ TO
TAKE ME S]I\SLY1 A P]FECT G5TLEMAN4 ,HE
N"E AG W5T 2Y ! B.D>IES ( PROPRIETY & ,I
NO L;G] FELT ANY SEXUAL ?R1T 9 8 PRES;E4
,9 FACT1 HE 2CAME "O ( MY FAVORITE CUS-
TOM]S4
  ,M1N:ILE1 ,I 0 SL[LY & SURELY FALL+ "U
8 SPELL4 ,EV5TU,Y ,I RECOGNIZ$ T ,I 0
FEEL+ "S?+ = HM ,I _H N"E FELT = ANY"O
ELSE4 ,I WASN'T SURE :AT X WAS1 B ,I _H
! SN1K+ SUSPICION T X 0 SEXUAL ATTRAC;N4
,X 0 ATTRAC;N4 ,I FELT ATTRACT$ 6HM4 ,?
IS :AT P 7 TALK+ AB4
  ,? IS ": WE 7 :5 HE ASK$ MY FR 6DELIV]
! B\QUET ( COSMOS 6MY B$SIDE4 ,X 0 8
SWEET WAY ( 3T9U+ 6HONOR 8 PROMISE TO
VISIT ME E "D4
  ,:5 ,I R1LIZ$ ! FL[]S 7 F         #CEJ
,TO%IO ,I 0 FILL$ ) EMO;N4 ,I DIDN'T "K
IF ? 0 LOVE4 ,B X 0 DEF9ITELY "S?+4 ,I
GOT A TI<T FEEL+ 9 MY *E/ :5"E ,I ?"\ AB
HM1 & ,I ?"\ AB HM ALL ! "T4 ,X MADE ME
FEEL %Y & AWKW>D4 ,I WANT$ 6TALK 6HM AB
:AT 0 GO+ ON B ,I _H NO IDEA :AT 6SAY4
,I ?9K T ! LL DOOR 9 MY HE>T 0 2G9N+
6CRACK OP54 ,& ,I 0 FI<T+ X E /EP (!
WAY4
  ,AF T5 "DS ,I FELT WELL 5 6D.E AG4 ,I
/ CDN'T SP1K1 B ,MAMA ANN\NC$ T ,I 0
AVAILA# 65T]TA9 & CALL$ ! DRESS]4
  ,I MADE UP A BUN* ( NOTE C>DS ON : ,I
WROTE %ORT PHRASES S* Z 8,H[ NICE 6SEE
Y10 8,X'S BE5 A L;G "T10 8,?ANK Y1 ,I'M
F9E10 8,I'D LOVE 6D.E10 8,"EY?+ IS "W+
EXCEPT MY VOICE40 ,I GOT "? T5 "DS (
OZASHIKI US+ ! C>DS4 ,X 0 FUN1 ACTU,Y4
,! C>DS & MY PANTOMIME A4$ AN EXTRA
ELE;T ( :IMSY 6! OZASHIKI T ! GUE/S
SEEM$ 65JOY4
  ,X TOOK ^? T5 "DS =! PA9 9 MY ?ROAT 6G
AWAY4 ,AT LA/ ,I 0 A# 6SWALL[ )\T 4COM-
=T4 ,MY KIDNEY CAME BACK F XS VAC,N &
2GAN 6FUNC;N PROP]LY AG4 ,I 0       #CEA
BETT]4
  ,! MO/ 4TURB+ AFT]E6ECT (! ORD1L 0 H[
M* WEI<T ,I _H LO/4 ,I 0 D[N 6#HF P.DS4
,Z NOT$1 ! FULL MAIKO 5SEM# WEI<S #CJ TO
#DJ P.DS1 S Y C IMAG9E H[ DI6ICULT X 0 =
ME 6MOVE >.D & D.E :5 ,I 0 9 CO/UME4 ,B
,I 0 S HAPPY 6BE UP & >.D T ,I P]SEV]$1
& ATE Z M* Z ,I CD4 ,IF ,I CDN'T C>RY !
WEI<T (! KIMONO ,I CDN'T "W4
  ,EV5 ?\< ,I 0 W1K1 ,I MANAG$ 6A3OMPLI%
Q A BIT DUR+ ? P]IOD 2C "! 0 S M* GO+
ON4 ,I APPE>$ A NUMB] ( "TS ON ! /AGE AT
,EXPOSI;N ,PLAZA4 ,I 0 9 A MOVIE1 "O T 0
DIRECT$ 0,KON ,I*IKAWA 7& WRITT5 0,Z5ZO
,MATSUYAMA1 "O ( MY V F/ CU/OM]S74 ,!
MOVIE PLAY$ 9 ,KYOTO AT ! GOV]N;T ,MO-
NOPOLY ,!AT] B ,I 0 S BUSY T ,I N"E GOT
6SEE X4






                                    #CEB
























                  #BI               #CEC

  ,9 ! E>LY #AIGJ'S ,JAPAN 0 EM]G+ ONTO
! 9T]N,NAL /AGE Z AN ECONOMIC P[]4 ,?
*ANGE 0 REFLECT$ 9 ! NATURE ( MY "W4 ,Z
A REPRES5TATIVE ( TRADI;NAL ,JAPANESE
CULTURE1 ,I 0 =TUNATE 6MEET & 9T]ACT )
L1D]S F ALL OV] ! _W4 ,I'LL N"E =GET "O
5C.T] T JOLT$ MY NO;N ( \R 9SUL>;Y4
  ,I 0 9VIT$ 6AN OZASHIKI AT ! RE/AURANT
,KYOYAMATO4 ,! HO/S 7 ! ,JAPANESE AMBAS-
SADOR 6,SAUDI ,>ABIA & 8 WIFE &! GUE/S (
HONOR 7 ! ,>ABIAN M9I/] ( OIL1 ,MR4 ,YA-
MANI1 & 8 NUMB] F\R WIFE4 ,MRS4 ,YAMANI
0 WE>+ ! L>GE/ DIAMOND ,I _H "E SE54 ,X
0 HUGE4 ,%E TOLD ME X 0 #CJ C>ATS4 ,NO
"O 9 ! ROOM CD KEEP _! EYES (F X4 ,\R
HO/ESS 0 WE>+ A SMALL DIAMOND ON H] F+]1
& ,I NOTIC$ H] TURN ! R+ >.D S T ! /"O 0
HI45 9 H] PALM1 Z ?\< %E 0 A%AM$ 0XS
SIZE4 ,? BO!R$ ME4 ,9 ,JAPANESE1 ,I
SPOKE "R UP4
  8,MADAM1 YR HOSPITAL;Y TD1 LAVI% Z X
MAY BE1 IS / "*IZ$ 0! HUM# AES!TIC ID1LS
(! TEA C]EMONY4 ,PL1SE DON'T HIDE !
B1UTY ( YR DIAMOND4 ,"! IS NO       #CED
R1SON 6HIDE XS BRILLI.E F \R GUE/S1 ^:
GRTE/ ASSET IS _! OIL4 ,&1 = ALL WE "K1
,MRS4 ,YAMANI'S /"O MI<T 2 A HUNK (
CRY/AL4 ,9 EI EV5T1 X ISN'T Z RADIANT Z
YRS40
  ,)\T MISS+ A B1T1 ,MR4 ,YAMANI LAU<$ &
SD1 8,H[ CL"E ( Y 6RECOGNIZE CRY/AL :5 Y
SEE X40
  ,HE SPOKE ,JAPANESE6 ,I 0 IMPRESS$4 ,8
RIPO/E %[$ N ONLY T HE GRASP$ ! DEEP]
M1N+ ( :AT ,I 0 SAY+ 7IN A LANGUAGE T
MO/ ,JAPANESE 2LIEV$ 0 PRACTIC,Y IMPOS-
SI# = =EIGN]S 6"U/&7 B T HE 0 SAVVY 5 TO
RESPOND ) QK WIT & GD HUMOR4 ,:AT A %>P
M9D6 ,I FELT L ,I _H CROSS$ SWORDS )A
MA/]4
  ,I N"E DID F9D \ :E!R OR N T DIAMOND 0
R1L4
  ,! ,OSAKA ,EXPO 0 OV] ON ,SEPTEMB]
#CJ1 #AIGJ4 ,I 0 N[ FREE 6CELEBRATE !
NEXT RITE ( PASSAGE & TURN MY COLL> F
MAIKO 6GEIKO4 ,X 0 "T 62COME AN ADULT4
  ,I ASK$ ,MAMA ,MASAKO3 8,I HE> X TAKES
A LOT ( M"OY 6PREP>E = AN ERIKAE4 ,ALL !
NEW KIMONO & ?+S4 ,:AT C ,I D TO    #CEE
HELP80
  8,Y8 ,:Y1 NO?+4 ,! BUSI;S HAS X COV]$1
S J L1VE X UP 6ME40
  8,B ALL MY CU/OM]S H BE5 ASK+ ME H[ M*
,I WANT !M 6GIVE ME = MY ERIKAE & ,I'VE
BE5 TELL+ !M AT L1/ 4#C1JJJ4 ,0 T WR;G (
ME8 ,I'M SORRY40
  8,NO1 ,M9EKO1 X'S OKAY4 ,YR REGUL>
CLI5TS W EXPECT 63TRIBUTE "S?+4 ,T'S "P
(! TRADI;N & X MAKES !M FEEL GD4 ,PLUS1
!Y C BRAG AB X 6_! FRS4 ,S DON'T WORRY4
,Z ,AUNTIE ,OIMA US$ 6SAY1 ,8,Y C'T H
TOO M* M"OY40' ,?\<1 ,I M/ SAY1 Y >E N
LETT+ !M (F *1P40
  ,I H NO IDEA H[ ,I CAME UP ) T FIGURE4
,^! ?+S J POPP$ \ ( MY M\?4 8,!N ,I
GUESS ,I'LL L1VE X AL"O & SEE :AT HAP-
P5S40
  ,AC 6,MAMA1 MY CU/OM]S 3TRIBUT$ A
SMALL =TUNE 6MY ERIKAE4 ,I N"E HE>D !
DETAILS4
  ,ON ,OCTOB] #A1 ,I _H MY HAIR/YLE
*ANG$ 96! .SAKKO1 : A MAIKO WE>S =! F9AL
MON? ( H] C>E]4 ,!N1 AT MIDNI<T ON
,NOVEMB] #A1 ,MAMA ,MASAKO & ,KU-   #CEF
NIKO CUT (F ! TIE B9D+ MY TOPKNOT4 ,MY
"DS Z A MAIKO 7 OV]4
  ,MO/ GIRLS EXP]I;E ? CUTT+ ) M* NO/AL-
GIA & EMO;N1 B ,I W5T "? X COOLLY4 ,I
5D$ MY C>E] Z A MAIKO ) Z M* AMBIVAL;E Z
,I _H 2GUN X1 B = DI6]5T R1SONS4 ,I /
LOV$ 2+ A D.ER4 ,B ,I 0 4CONT5T$ )! OLD-
FA%ION$ & 3S]VATIVE WAYS 9 : ! :OLE
GEIKO SY/EM 0 ORGANIZ$4 ,I _H BE5 \TSPO-
K5 9 MY VIEWS S9CE ,I 0 A TE5AG]1 & _H
G"O REP1T$LY 6! ,KABUKAI 6-PLA94 ,S F>
NO "O 0 TAK+ MY 3C]NS S]I\SLY4 ,MAYBE N[
T ,I 0 2COM+ AN ADULT !Y WD LI/54
  ,I TOOK ! "D (F 6PREP>E = MY ERIKAE4
,X 0 A COLD "D4 ,MAMA ,MASAKO & ,I 7
SITT+ >.D ! BRAZI] PUTT+ ! F9I%+ T\*ES
ON MY NEW 5SEM#4
  8,MAMA80
  8,YES80
  8,UMM1 N"E M9D40
  8,N"E M9D :AT8 ,:AT 7 Y GO+ 6SAY80
  8,NO1 =GET AB X4 ,I 0 J ?9K+40
  8,AB :AT8 ,DON'T L1VE ME HANG+4 ,X'S
ANNOY+40
  ,I WASN'T TRY+ 6IRRITATE H]4 ,I   #CEG
J CDN'T GET ! ^WS \4
  8,I'M N SURE IF Y >E ! "R P]SON 6TALK
TO40
  8,B ,I'M YR "M40
  8,I "K1 & ,I RE,Y RESPECT Y :5 X -ES
6ANY?+ AB "W1 B ? IS DI6]5T4 ,I DON'T "K
IF ,I %D TALK AB X40
  8,M9EKO1 ,I AM ,FUMI*IYO ,IWASAKI4 ,Y
C ASK ME ANY?+40
  8,B ALL (! M5 Y GET 9VOLV$ ) LOOK L
DRI$ UP OLD SQUID4 ,& !N !Y BR1K UP ) Y
& Y HANG ON 6! LAMPPO/ 9 FRONT (! GROC]Y
/ORE & CRY4 ,X'S S EMB>RASS+4 ,& "EYBODY
9 ! NEI<BORHOOD SEES Y & SAYS1 ,8,POOR
,FUMI*IYO HAS BE5 DUMP$ AG40
  ,? 0 ALL TRUE4 ,MAMA ,MASAKO 0 =TY-
SEV5 & / _HN'T SETTL$ 96A /1DY REL,N%IP4
,NO?+ _H *ANG$4 ,%E 0 / 3/ANTLY FALL+ 9
LOVE1 & / ALI5AT+ H] LOV]S ) H] AC]BIC
T;GUE4 ,& %E DID CL+ 6! LAMPPO/ & CRY4
,I'VE GOT LOTS ( WIT;SES4
  8,T'S N A V NICE ?+ 6SAY4 ,I GUESS
,I'M N ! ONLY "O >.D "H :O HAS A NA/Y
/R1K4 ,B 5 AB ME4 ,:AT'S GO+ ON ) Y80
  8,I 0 J WOND]+ :AT X FEELS L :5   #CEH
Y FALL 9 LOVE40
  ,H] H& /OPP$ "W+ & H] BODY CAME 6ATT5-
;N4
  8,:Y1 ,M9EKO8 ,H Y F.D "SBODY80
  8,MAYBE40
  8,RE,Y8 ,:O IS HE80
  8,X HURTS TOO M* 6TALK AB X40
  8,X W /OP HURT+ IF Y TALK AB X40
  8,X HURTS J 6?9K ( 8 FACE40
  8,? S.DS S]I\S40
  8,D Y ?9K S80
  8,I'D L 6MEET HM4 ,:Y DON'T Y 9TRODUCE
U80
  8,NO WAY4 ,F/ ( ALL1 Y >E A T]RI#
JUDGE ( M54 ,&1 SECONDLY1 Y MI<T TRY TO
/1L HM F ME40
  8,M9EKO1 ,I'M N ,YAEKO4 ,I PROMISE Y1
,I WD N"E GET 9VOLV$ ) "O ( YR BOYFRS40
  8,B Y ALW MAKE YRF LOOK S B1UTI;L :5"E
Y >E GO+ 6MEET "S MAN4 ,IF ,I D 9TRODUCE
Y1 WD Y AGREE 6MEET HM LOOK+ L YRF80
  8,YES1 MY DE>1 ( C\RSE4 ,IF X MAKES Y
HAPPY1 ,I'LL G 9 "EY"D CLO!S40
  8,IN T CASE1 ,I'LL SEE :AT ,I C D40
  ,WE F9I%$ MAK+ ! PREP>,NS = MY    #CEI
TRANSI;N F MAIKO 6GEIKO4
  ,I _H MY ERIKAE ON ,NOVEMB] #B1 #AIGJ1
MY TW5TY-F/ BIR?"D4
  ,! F/ KIMONO ,I WORE Z A GEIKO 0 A =-
MAL CRE/$ "O MADE ( BLACK SILK1 EMBEL-
LI%$ )A PATT]N ( TIE-DY$ & EMBROID]$
S1%ELLS4 ,MY OBI 0 :ITE SILK DAMASK )A
GEOMETRIC PATT]N FIGUR$ 9 R$1 BLUE1 &
GOLD4
  ,WE -MIS.N$ TWO M KIMONO = ME 6WE>
DUR+ ! 9ITIAL P]IOD4 ,"O 0 MADE ( YELL[
SILK EMBELLI%$ ) PHOENIXES EMBROID]$ 9
GOLD L1F ?R1D4 ,! OBI 0 RU/Y V]MILION
BROCADE PATT]N$ ) PEONIES4 ,! O!R 0 MADE
( MUT$ GRE5 SILK1 ) AN EMBROID]$ PATT]N
( P9E & IMP]IAL C>TS "W$ 9 GOLD4 ,! OBI
0 BLACK BROCADE )A *RYSAN!MUM PATT]N4
  ,! COLL>S SEWN ONTO MY NAGAJUBAN 7 N[
:ITE1 SIGNIFY+ T ,I _H LEFT 2H ! *ILD-
LIKE QUALITIES (A MAIKO4 ,I 0 GR[N-UP4
,X 0 "T 6TAKE RESPONSIBIL;Y = MY LIFE4
  ,>.D ! "T ( MY ERIKAE ,DR4 ,TANIGAWA
APPROA*$ ME )A V EXCIT+ PROPOSI;N4 ,KUN-
IHITO ,%IMONAKA1 ! PRESID5T ( ,HEIBON
,PUBLI%+1 WANT$ 6DEVOTE AN 5TIRE    #CFJ
EDI;N ( 8 MAGAZ9E .,! .,SUN 6! HI/ORY &
TRADI;NS ( ,GION ,KOBU4 ,DR4 ,TANIGAWA
RECOMM5D$ 6,MR4 ,%IMONAKA T ,I "W ON !
PROJECT4 ,I R1DILY AGRE$ 6"PICIPATE1 Z
DID A NUMB] ( MY FRS4
  ,WE "W$ "U ! $ITORIAL SUP]VI.N ( ,TA-
KE%I ,YASUDA & 2F L;G ,I FELT L A BONA
FIDE J\RNALI/4 ,WE MET Z A T1M ONCE A
MON? &! PROJECT TOOK A FULL YE> 6-PLETE4
,! SPECIAL EDI;N 0 PUBLI%$ Z ! ,JUNE IS-
SUE & CAME \ 9 ,MAY ( #AIGB & SOLD \
IMMLY4 ,X 0 REPR9T$ ANY NUMB] ( "TS4
  ,! PROJECT GAVE ME AN ENORM\S S5SE (
A3OMPLI%;T & SATISFAC;N4 ,I 2GAN 6SEE T
"! MI<T 2 A LIFE = ME \TSIDE ! SILK5
3F9ES ( ,GION ,KOBU4 ,B ,I 0 "W+ Z H>D Z
A GEIKO Z ,I _H Z A MAIKO1 MA9TA9+ A
FULL S*$ULE ( NI<TLY OZASHIKI & REGUL>
PUBLIC P]=M.ES ON TOP (! O!R "W4
  ,"O EV5+ ,I 0 CALL$ 6! ,TOMIYO OCHAYA4
,MR4 ,MOTOYAMA1 PRESID5T (! FA%ION 3C]N
,SUN ,MOTOYAMA1 0 HO/+ AN OZASHIKI =
,ALDO ,GU3I1 ! ,ITALIAN FA%ION DESIGN]4
  ,I DRESS$ ) "PICUL> C>E T EV5+4 ,!
BODY ( MY KIMONO 0 BLACK SILK       #CFA
CREPE4 ,! HEM BORE AN EXQUISITE SC5E (
CRANES HU4L+ 9 _! NE/4 ,MY OBI 0 ! DUSK
R$ ( SALT %ALL[S1 DY$ )A PATT]N ( MAPLE
TREES4
  ,:ILE ,I 0 SITT+ NEXT 6,MR4 ,GU3I HE
A3ID5T,Y SPILL$ SOY SAUCE ON MY KIMONO4
,I KNEW HE FELT T]RI#1 S ,I TRI$ 6?9K (A
QK WAY 6MAKE HM FEEL BETT]4 ,I TURN$ 6HM
&1 Z ?\< X 7 N AN ODD REQUE/1 ASK$1
8,MR4 ,GU3I1 X IS S* AN HONOR = ME 6MEET
Y4 ,MAY ,I 2 S BOLD Z 6ASK = YR AUTO-
GRAPH80
  ,HE AGRE$ & R1*$ =A P54
  8,CD Y SIGN MY KIMONO8 ,"H1 ON ! L9+ (
MY SLEEVE80
  ,MR4 ,GU3I SIGN$ ! R$ SILK )A FL\RI% (
BLACK 9K4 ,S9CE ! KIMONO 0 E6ECTIVELY
RU9$ X MADE NO DI6];E 6ME IF HE DEFAC$ X
FUR!R4 ,! IMPORTANT ?+ 0 T HE FELT GD AB
\R 9T]AC;N4
  ,I / H T KIMONO4 ,I _H ALW HOP$ 6GIVE
X 6HM "O "D B1 UN=TUNATELY1 N"E _H ! OP-
PORTUN;Y 6MEET HM AG4
  ,A GEIKO'S KIMONO IS A "W ( >T & ,I WD
N"E WE> A KIMONO T WASN'T ABSO-     #CFB
LUTELY P]FECT4 ,ALL ! KIMONO WORN 0MAIKO
& GEIKO >E "O (A K9D4 ,_M ( !M >E GIV5
"NS1 L PA9T+S1 & >E TR1SUR$ Z S*4 ,? IS
:Y ,I H S* A VIVID MEMORY ( "EY?+ ,I "E
WORE4
  ,:5 ,I 0 9 ACTIVE S]VICE ,I -MIS.N$ A
NEW KIMONO E WEEK & WD R>ELY WE> ANY KI-
MONO M ?AN F\R OR FIVE "TS4 ,I H NO IDEA
H[ _M KIMONO ,I ACTU,Y [N$ DUR+ MY C>E]1
B ,I IMAG9E X 0 OV] ?REE HUNDR$4 ,& EA*
"O1 N 9CLUD+ ! ENORM\SLY EXP5SIVE ROBES
-MIS.N$ = SPECIAL O3A.NS1 CO/ 2T 4#E1JJJ
& 4#G1JJJ4
  ,KIMONO 7 MY PAS.N & ,I TOOK AN ACTIVE
ROLE 9 _! DESIGN & 3CEP;N4 ,MY GRTE/
PL1SURE 0 6MEET )! V5]A# ,MR4 ,IIDA AT
,TAKA%IMAYA1 OR ,MR4 ,SAITO AT ,G(UKYA1
OR ! SKILL$ /AFF ( ,]IMAN & ,I*IZO1 TO
TALK AB MY ID1S = NEW PATT]NS & COLOR
-B9,NS4
  ,ONCE ,I APPE>$ 9 A NEW \TFIT1 X 0 IN-
V>IABLY COPI$ 0O!R GEIKO1 & ,I GAVE MY
WORN KIMONO AWAY FREELY 6OLD] & "Y] SIS-
T]S :5"E !Y ASK$4 ,WE >E TRA9$ F
*ILDHOOD 6REMEMB] KIMONO ! WAY "O   #CFC
MI<T REMEMB] ANY "W ( >T4 ,S WE ALW KNEW
:5 "S"O 0 WE>+ A KIMONO T _H PREVI\SLY
BE5 [N$ 0"S"O ELSE4 ,? 0 AN IMPORTANT
SIGNIFI] ( "O'S POSI;N )9 ! HI]>*Y4
  ,ALL ( ? MAY SEEM EXTRAVAGANT1 B1 9
FACT1 IS ! L9*P9 (A M* L>G] 5T]PRISE4
  ,! KIMONO BUSI;S IS "O (! MO/ IMPOR-
TANT 9DU/RIES 9 ,KYOTO4 ,I MAY H BE5 9 A
POSI;N 6ORD] M KIMONO ?AN O!R GEIKO1 B
ALL ( U NE$$ A 3/ANT SUPPLY4 ,IMAG9E H[
_M KIMONO ! MAIKO & GEIKO ( ,GION ,KOBU
&! O!R F\R KARYUKAI COLLECTIVELY ORD] E
YE>8 ,! LIVELIHOODS ( ?\S&S ( >TISANS1 F
! DY]S ( ,YUZ5 SILK 6! DESIGN]S ( HAIR
ORNA;TS1 DEP5D ON ^! ORD]S4 ,! CU/OM]S
:O FREQU5T ,GION ,KOBU MAY N BUY KIMONO
!MVS1 B A L>GE P]C5TAGE (! M"OY !Y L1VE
2H GOES 6! DIRECT SUPPORT ( ^! CRAFTS-
PEOPLE4 ,9 ? WAY1 ,I ALW FELT WE 7 A VI-
TAL =CE 9 KEEP+ ^! TRADI;NAL 9DU/RIES
ALIVE4
  ,I DIDN'T ?9K ( KIMONO 9 T]MS ( M"OY4
,!Y 7 AN ESS5TIAL -PON5T ( MY CRAFT1 &!
F9] ! KIMONO ,I 0 WE>+ ! BETT] ,I 0
FULFILL+ ! OBLIG,NS ( MY JOB4       #CFD
,CU/OM]S -E 6,GION ,KOBU 65JOY ! APPE>.E
(! MAIKO & GEIKO Z WELL Z _! >TI/IC AC-
-PLI%;TS4 ,& NO MATT] H[ A3OMPLI%$ "O
MAY BE1 ! H>D "W IS 6NO AVAIL IF "O
DOESN'T H ! PROP] CLO!S 9 : 6APPE> 9
PUBLIC4
  ,9 ANY EV5T1 ,I 0 / FO7Y AB ! :OLE NO-
;N ( M"OY4 ,I R>ELY SAW X1 SELDOM T\*$
X1 & N"E PD = ANY?+ MYF4 ,I DID GET ALL
^? 5VELOPES1 ! "OS )! CA% TIPS 9 !M4 ,I
R1LIZE N[ T ,I 0 GETT+ ?\S&S ( DOLL>S E
NI<T1 B1 FRANKLY1 ,I WASN'T PAY+ ATT5;N4
,I (T5 PULL$ AN 5VELOPE \ ( MY SLEEVE &
GAVE X AWAY Z A TIP MYF1 6! .KANBAN 9 !
KIT*5 OR 6! %OE MAN 9 ! 5TR.EWAY (!
OCHAYA4
  ,B "! 7 ALW M4 ,:5 ,I GOT HOME AT NI<T
& TOOK (F MY KIMONO1 LL :ITE 5VELOPES WD
-E TUMBL+ \ ALL OV] ! FLOOR4 ,I N"E OP5$
^! 6SEE H[ M* 0 9SIDE1 J H&$ OV] ! EVE-
N+'S TAKE 6! /AFF (! OKIYA Z MY WAY (
SAY+ ?ANKS1 2C ,I CDN'T MAKE ! NI<TLY
TRANS=M,N 9TO 8,M9EKO (! ,IWASAKI0 )\T
ALL ( !M4
  ,I KNEW T ! T]M 8#AJJ1JJJ0 Y5     #CFE
74#A1JJJ7 0 US$ (T5 :5 P 7 4CUSS+ F9AN-
CIAL MATT]S4 ,I 0 2COM+ CURI\S AB ^! ?+S
& "O "D ,I ASK$ ,MAMA ,MASAKO 8,:AT DOES
#AJJ1JJJ Y5 LOOK L80 ,%E PULL$ A BILL-
FOLD \ ( H] OBI & %[$ ME T5 #AJ1JJJ-Y5
NOTES 7AB ! SAME Z T5 4#AJJ BILLS74
  8,X SURE DOESN'T LOOK L M*10 ,I SD4
8,I GUESS ,I %D 2 "W+ H>D]40
















                                    #CFF
























                  #CJ               #CFG

  ,I 0 UN_WLY 9 _M WAYS1 B ,I FELT1 N[ T
,I 0 AN ADULT1 T ,I %D MOVE \ (! OKIYA &
TRY 6LIVE ON MY [N4 ,I TOLD ,MAMA4 ,%E 0
SKEPTICAL B DIDN'T TRY 6/OP ME4 8,T'S AN
9T]E/+ IDEA4 ,Y >E WELCOME 6TRY1 ?\< ,I
D\BT Y W 2 A# 6H&LE X40
  ,9 ,FEBRU>Y ( #AIGA1 :5 ,I 0 TW5TY-"O1
,I R5T$ A L>GE A"P;T ON ,KITA%IRAWA
,AVE4 ,! R5T 0 4#A1AJJ A MON?1 : 0 AN
EXORBITANT AM.T ( M"OY AT T "T4 ,I HIR$
PROFES.NALS 6MOVE ME 9 & DECORATE ! A"P-
;T4
  ,Z SOON Z ,I 0 SETTL$1 "O ( MY GIRLFRS
CAME 6VISIT4
  8,M9EKO1 ? IS FABUL\S4 ,3GRATUL,NS40
  8,?ANK Y1 ,M>I4 ,MAY ,I (F] Y A CUP (
TEA80
  8,T WD 2 LOVELY1 ?ANK Y40
  ,I FELT S GR[N UP4 ,I W5T 96! KIT*5 TO
PREP>E ! TEA4 ,I PUT WAT] 9 ! T1KETTLE &
PUT X ON TOP (! /OVE4 ,B NO?+ HAPP5$4 ,!
BURN] DIDN'T LI<T4 ,I WASN'T SURE :AT TO
D4 ,I R1LIZ$ T ,I _H N"E ACTU,Y US$ A
/OVE 2F4                            #CFH
  8,:AT'S TAK+ S L;G80 ,M>I POK$ H] H1D
96! KIT*54
  8,OH1 SORRY10 ,I SD4 8,! GAS ISN'T -+
\ &! FLAME ISN'T LI<T+40
  8,T'S 2C Y H 6D ?10 %E SD & FLICK$ ON
! BURN]4
  ,I 0 V IMPRESS$4 .,X'S .L .MAGIC4
  ,%E TELLS ? /ORY 6? "D4 ,X / GETS A
BIG LAU<4
  ,"O "D1 ,I DECID$ 6CL1N ! A"P;T & GOT
! VACUUM \ (! CLOSET4 ,I PU%$ X B X
DIDN'T />T 6MOVE4 ,I ?"\ X M/ 2 BROK5 &
CALL$ HOME4 ,\R APPLI.E MAN CAME RU%+
OV] 6SEE :AT 0 WR;G4 ,HE QKLY SIZ$ UP !
SITU,N4
  8,MINE-*AN1 ! ?+ AB ELECTRICAL APPLI-
.ES IS T Y H 6TAKE ! PLUG & /ICK X 96AN
\TLET OR !Y WON'T "W40
  8,Y M1N X ISN'T BROK580
  ,EV5 ,I 0 EMB>RASS$ AT T "O4
  ,NEXT ,I DECID$ 6COOK A M1L4 ,F/ !
RICE4 ,I _H ALR BE5 6! RICE %OP & PLAC$
MY ORD]4 ,I W5T 6! %9Y NEW RICE CANI/]
SITT+ ON TOP (! C.T] & OP5$ X4 ,B "! 0
NO?+ 9SIDE6 ,I CALL$ HOME4          #CFI
  8,MY ORD] F ,TOMIYA'S N"E >RIV$4 ,DID
Y =GET 6PAY ! BILL80
  ,MAMA CALL$ ! %OP &! PROPRIETOR1 ) :OM
WE _H D"O BUSI;S = YE>S1 CAME OV] "R
AWAY4
  ,Z SOON Z ,I SAW HM ,I />T$ 6-PLA94
  8,RE,Y1 GRAMPS4 ,Y %DN'T T1SE ME ?
WAY4 ,I RE,Y NE$ MY ORD]40
  8,X'S SITT+ "R "H 9 ! 5TR.EWAY4 ,9 ?
BAG4 ,! "O T SAYS RICE ON X40
  8,B :Y ISN'T X 9 ! 3TA9]8 ,I TOOK !
LID (F & X 0 EMPTY40
  8,MINE-*AN1 MY JOB IS 6DELIV] ! RICE
6YR DOOR4 ,Y >E SUPPOS$ 6PUT X 9 ! 3TA9]
YRF40
  ,2F ,I MOV$ ,I W5T 6A BIG DE"P;T /ORE
& *>G$ "EY?+ ,I NE$$ 6! OKIYA'S A3.T3
FURNITURE1 B$D+1 COOK+ UT5SILS1 & DI%ES4
,I N"E LOOK$ AT ! PRICE TAG ON ANY?+4
,MAMA 0 HORRIFI$ :5 %E GOT ! BILLS B PD
!M ANYWAY4
  ,AT T "T 72F CR$IT C>DS7 WE / PD =
SMALL PUR*ASES 9 CA%4 ,I CDN'T *>GE ?+S
L GROC]IES4 ,^! ,I WD H 6%OP = MYF4
,ACLY1 ,MAMA GAVE ME AN ALL[.E =    #CGJ
9CID5TALS4 8,Y'LL NE$ M"OY = FOOD10 %E
SD & H&$ ME 4#E1JJJ4 ,I PUT ! M"OY 9 MY
PURSE & W5T \ %OPP+ 9 ! NEI<BORHOOD4 ,I
F.D ! BUT*]1 &! GROC]1 &! FI% /ORE4 ,I
_H NO IDEA H[ M* ANY?+ CO/ B FIGUR$ ,I
_H 5 6GET :AT ,I WANT$4
  ,! F/ %OP ,I W5T 96WAS A VEGETA# /ORE4
,I B"\ POTATOES & C>ROTS &A .DAIKON RAD-
I%4 ,I PEEL$ (F A T5 ?\S&-Y5 NOTE
74#AJJ7 & GAVE X 6! %OPKEEP]4 ,MY HE>T 0
RAC+4 ,X 0 ! F/ "T ,I "E GAVE "SBODY R1L
M"OY 6PAY = "S?+4
  ,AF H&+ HM ! BILL ,I PICK$ UP MY PUR-
*ASES & PR\DLY LEFT ! %OP4 ,B ! %OPKEEP]
CAME RUNN+ AF ME1 YELL+ "S?+4 ,I 0 SURE
,I _H MADE "S T]RI# BL"U & />T$ APOLO-
GIZ+1 VOCIF]\SLY1 8,I'M S SORRY4 ,I'M J
N US$ 6?4 ,I DIDN'T M1N 6MAKE A MISTAKE4
,PL1SE =GIVE ME40
  ,! MAN M/ H ?"\ ,I 0 \ ( MY M9D4
  8,I H NO IDEA :AT Y >E TALK+ AB1
,MISS4 ,B Y =GOT YR *ANGE40
  8,*ANGE8 ,:AT *ANGE80
  8,YR *ANGE1 ,MISS4 ,I'M SORRY B PL1SE
TAKE X4 ,I'M BUSY4 ,I DON'T H "T    #CGA
= ^! GAMES40
  ,& T'S H[ ,I LE>N$ AB *ANGE4
  ,N[ ,I 0 RE,Y %OPP+6
  ,RETURN+ HOME1 FULL (A S5SE ( A3OM-
PLI%;T1 ,I DECID$ 6MAKE A M1L4 ,! F/ ?+
,I COOK$ 0 A HUGE POT ( .NIKUJAGA1 A K9D
( M1T & POTATO /EW4 ,I MADE 5 = T5 P4 ,X
TOOK ME F NOON UNTIL F\R O'C4 ,:5 ,I ?"\
X LOOK$ D"O ,I WRAPP$ X UP1 CALL$ A CAB
& C>RI$ X C>E;LLY 6! OKIYA4
  8,I'VE COOK$ "S?+ = Y ALL10 ,I ANN\NC$
PR\DLY4 8,-E "EYBODY1 EAT & 5JOY60
  ,MY FAMILY DUTI;LLY SAT >.D ! TA# &
SAMPL$ ! F>E4 ,!Y EA* TOOK A M\?;L & EX-
*ANG$ LOOKS AM;G !MVS4 ,NOBODY SD A ^W &
NOBODY 0 *EW+4
  ,F9,Y ,KUNIKO SPOKE UP4 8,X'S N BAD =
YR F/ TRY40
  ,MAMA & ,AUNTIE ,TAJI 7 LOOK+ AT _!
PLATES4 ,!Y / _HN'T SD ANY?+4 ,I 0 9SIS-
T5T4
  8,RELI% & 2 ?ANK;L = :AT"E Y >E S]V$4
,ISN'T T :AT ! ,BU4HA TAU<T4 ,ISN'T X80
  ,MAMA SD1 8,T'S TRUE1 B "EY?+ HAS XS
LIMITS40                            #CGB
  8,M1N+ :AT EXACTLY80
  8,M9EKO1 DID Y BO!R 6TA/E ? 2F S]V+ X
6U80
  8,I DIDN'T H TO4 ,I CD TELL X 0 GD F !
WAY X SMELL$40
  ,%[S Y :AT ,I KNEW AB COOK+4
  8,"H4 ,Y TAKE A BITE40
  ,X 0 ABSOLUTELY ! /RANGE/ ?+ ,I H "E
TA/$4 ,I 0 ACTU,Y IMPRESS$ ) MYF T ,I CD
H 3COCT$ "S?+ T TA/$ S WEIRD4
  ,MY F/ REAC;N 0 6SPIT X \1 B ,I HELD
BACK4 ,IF ! O!RS _H MANAG$ 6GET D[N "O
OR TWO M\?;LS1 !N ,I WD TOO4 ,I REMEMB]$
MY "F'S DICTUM 8,! SAMURAI 2TRAYS NO
W1K;S :5 />V+40 ,B ? "T ,I *ANG$ X TO
8,! SAMURAI 2TRAYS NO W1K;S :5 EAT+10 &
SWALL[$ H>D4
  ,/&+ UP1 ,I SD1 8,X CD USE M "W10 &
/>T$ 6L1VE4
  8,:AT % WE D )! LEFTOV]S80 ,KUNIKO
CALL$ AF ME4
  8,?R[ !M \10 ,I CALL$ BACK1 Z ,I HUR-
RI$ 6! DOOR4
  ,MY PROSPECTS = 9DEP5D5T LIV+ DID N
LOOK GD4                            #CGC
  ,I CAME 6! OKIYA E "D 6GET DRESS$ =
"W4 ,MAMA KEPT ASK+ :5 %E 0 GO+ 6MEET MY
B1U4 ,I / _HN'T SP5T ANY "T ) ,TO%IO \T-
SIDE (! OCHAYA1 B \R ?REE-YE> 3TRACT WD
2 UP T ,MAY4 ,I DECID$ T ,I'D BETT] GET
H] OP9ION4 ,I MADE >RANGE;TS 69TRODUCE
!M4
  ,IF ,I REM9D$ H] ONCE ,I REM9D$ H] A
HUNDR$ "TS4 8,PROMISE ME Y W DRESS Z
SIMPLY Z POSSI#40
  ,%E CAME \ LOOK+ L %E 0 GO+ 6A W$D+4
,%E 0 WE>+ A =MAL BLACK KIMONO4
  8,MOM6 ,:AT >E Y DO+ 9 T GETUP8 ,AF Y
PROMIS$6 ,PL1SE G BACK 6YR ROOM & *ANGE
96"S?+ SIMPL]40
  8,B :Y8 ,DON'T Y WANT ME 6LOOK NICE :5
,I MEET YR FR80
  8,J *ANGE4 ,PL1SE40
  8,96:AT80
  8,ANY OLD ?+ W D40
  8,I DON'T "U/& Y1 ,M9EKO4 ,MO/ GIRLS
WANT _! "MS 6LOOK PRETTY40
  8,WELL ,I DON'T4 ,ESPECI,Y IF Y LOOK
PRETTI] ?AN ,I D40
  ,WE 7 SNIP+ AT EA* O!R 2F WE      #CGD
EV5 LEFT ! H\SE4
  ,WE MET AT ,TO%IO'S CU/OM>Y OCHAYA4
  ,X DIDN'T G WELL4 ,I 0 TOT,Y UNH+$4
,?9K+ ( ,TO%IO Z A CU/OM] 0 "O ?+4 ,?9K+
( HM Z MY BOYFR 0 A DI6]5T ?+ ALT4 ,I
2CAME PA9;LLY SELF-3SCI\S4 ,I CDN'T ?9K
( ANY?+ 6SAY4 ,I 0 BLU%+ F H1D 6TOE & MY
M9D 0 Z BLANK Z A :ITE %EET ( PAP]4 ,X 0
AGONY4
  ,MY H& %OOK Z ,I W5T 6S]VE ! SAKE4 ,MY
PROFES.NAL -POSURE _H -PLETELY 4APPE>$4
,:5 WE GOT HOME1 ,MAMA TAUNT$ ME M]CI.S-
LY4 8,MINE-*AN1 ,I'VE N"E SE5 Y S UP-
TI<T4 ,X 0 A RIOT1 "EYBODY4 ,\R COOL
PR9CESS 0 BLU%+ 6! ROOTS ( H] HAIR4 ,%E
0 TREMBL+ S BADLY %E CD H>DLY P\R !
SAKE4 ,& %E _H NO?+ 6SAY4 ,? IS GRT4 ,I
?9K ,I'VE F9,Y F.D YR W1K SPOT40
  ,I KNEW ALL AL;G T 9TRODUC+ !M WD 2 A
MISTAKE4




                  #CA               #CGE

  ,ON ,MAY #BC1 #AIGA1 ?REE YE>S 6! "D
,I LAID D[N MY *ALL5GE1 ,I RCVD A MES-
SAGE F ,TO%IO "? ! OKASAN ( 8 OCHAYA
ASK+ ME 6MEET HM AT ! ,I%IBEIKOJI ,9N4
,! MESSAGE SD "! 0 NO NE$ = ME 6-E 9
CO/UME4 ,? M1NT X 0 A PRIVATE MEET+1 N
AN OZASHIKI4 ,PLUS X 0 NOON"T4
  ,S ,I WORE A SIMPLE KIMONO ( BLACK
,O%IMA P;GEE PATT]N$ ) R$ ROSES &A R$ &
:ITE OBI PATT]N$ ) EMBROID]$ MAPLE L1VES
D"O 9 BLACK4
  ,:5 ,I >RIV$ AT ! 9N ,TO%IO 0 PLAY+
MAHJ;G )A GR\P ( 8 FRS4 ,! GAME SOON F9-
I%$ &! O!R P LEFT4
  ,EXCEPT = T "O /OL5 KISS1 X 0 ! F/ "T
,I _H "E BE5 AL"O 9 A ROOM ) HM4
  ,HE CAME "R 6! PO9T4
  8,I H -E 6SEE Y E NI<T =! LA/ ?REE
YE>S1 J Z Y ASK$4 ,N[ ,I WANT 6TALK AB
U4 ,D ,I /& A *.E8 ,:AT >E Y ?9K+80
  ,I WASN'T ?9K+4 ,I 0 FEEL+4 ,I KNEW HE
_H A WIFE & *N1 B "R !N X DIDN'T SEEM TO
MAKE A DI6];E4 ,I CDN'T HELP MYF4 ,I
ANSW]$ H"O/LY4                      #CGF
  8,I'M N SURE4 ,I M1N1 ? HAS N"E HAPP5$
6ME 2F4 ,B ,I ?9K ,I'M 9 LOVE ) Y40
  8,IN T CASE10 HE SD1 8,I ?9K WE %D
MAKE ! PROP] >RANGE;TS S T WE C 2 TGR40
  ,I DEMURELY CA/ MY EYES D[NW>D & SI-
L5TLY NO4$ YES4 ,WE GOT UP & W5T DIRECT-
LY 6SEE ! OKASAN (! OCHAYA4 ,%E LI/5$
:ILE HE EXPLA9$ ! SITU,N4 ,I C'T IMAG9E
T %E 0 SURPRIS$ 0:AT HE _H 6SAY4
  8,TO%IO-SAN1 Y >E "O ( MY MO/ VALU$
CU/OM]S10 %E RESPOND$4 8,&! TWO ( Y TRU-
LY SEEM 6C>E AB EA* O!R4 ,= ^! R1SONS1
,I W AGREE 62COME "PY 6? 4CUS.N4 ,H["E1
?+S M/ G "? ! PROP] *ANNELS4 ,IF Y WANT
6BE ) ,M9EKO1 Y M/ F/ RCV P]MIS.N F H]
FAMILY40
  ,I KNEW ! RULES4 ,I 0 9 S* A TIZZY T
,I _H =GOTT5 !M4
  ,! 8FL[] & WILL[ _W0 IS A SOCIETY A"P1
-PLETE ) XS [N RULES & REGUL,NS1 XS [N
RITES & RITUALS4 ,X ALL[S = SEXUAL RELA-
;N%IPS \TSIDE ( M>RIAGE1 B ONLY IF ^?
REL,N%IPS AD"H 6C]TA9 GUIDEL9ES4
  ,MO/ L;G-T]M REL,N%IPS 9 ,JAPAN1 S* Z
^? 2T MAN & WIFE & T1*] & 4CIPLE1   #CGG
>E >RANG$ 0A ?IRD "PY :O 3T9UES 6ACT Z A
G-2T EV5 AF ! TWO H BE5 JO9$4 ,?US1 ,"M
,SAKAGU*I >RANG$ MY APPR5TICE%IP 6! IE-
MOTO & REMA9$ R1DY 69T]V5E :5"E "! 0 A
PRO#M4 ,! OKASAN (! OCHAYA 0 MAK+ A S]I-
\S -MIT;T :5 %E AGRE$ 6BE A 8"PY 6! DIS-
CUS.N40 ,X E6ECTIVELY M1NT T %E 0 A3EPT+
! ROLE Z \R G-2T4 ,ON H] ADVICE1 WE IMM-
LY W5T 6! OKIYA 63F] ) ,MAMA4
  8,I 2LIEVE T P :O LOVE EA* O!R %D 2
TGR10 %E SD1 "E ! ROMANTIC4
  ,TO%IO PROMIS$ ,MAMA ,MASAKO T HE 0
GO+ 6DIVORCE 8 WIFE4
  ,MAMA ,MASAKO GAVE U H] B.S+4
  ,BE7+ ILL;S1 ,I C.ELL$ ALL MY APPO9T-
;TS =! RE/ (! "D & RETURN$ ) ,TO%IO 6!
9N4 ,WE W5T 6HIS ROOM4 ,NEI ( U SD M* AT
F/4 ,WE J SAT "!1 RE/+ 9 EA* O!R'S PRES-
;E4 ,F9,Y WE 2GAN 6SP1K1 BITS & PIECES (
3V]S,N4 ,\ ( HABIT1 \R TALK TURN$ 6AES-
!TICS4 ,! AFN GRADU,Y FAD$ 96EV5+4
  ,A MAID S]V$ U D9N] 9 ! ROOM4 ,I CD
H>DLY SWALL[ A ?+4 ,! MAID RETURN$ 6TELL
U T ! BA? 0 R1DY4 ,I _H ALR BA!D TWICE T
"D1 ONCE :5 ,I GOT UP 9 ! MORN+ &   #CGH
ONCE 2F ,I GOT DRESS$ 6-E SEE ,TO%IO1 S
,I DECL9$4
  ,I WASN'T PLANN+ ON SP5D+ ! NI<T & 0
SURPRIS$ :5 ! MAID LAID \ TWO SETS ( FU-
TON1 SIDE 0SIDE4 ,I WASN'T SURE :AT 6D S
,I KEPT TALK+4 ,"K+ 8 UN5D+ 9T]E/ 9 !
>TS1 ,I BR"\ UP "O TOPIC AF ANO!R3 MU-
SIC1 D.E1 ! !AT]4 ,2F ,I KNEW X MIDNI<T
_H -E & G"O4
  ,TO%IO SD1 8,M9EKO1 DON'T Y WANT 6GET
"S SLEEP80
  8,?ANKS10 ,I SD1 ) Z M* VIGOR Z ,I CD
MANAGE1 8B ,I DON'T SLEEP M*4 ,I'M /
WIDE AWAKE4 ,PL1SE1 :Y DON'T Y LIE D[N &
RE/80
  ,I 0 /RU7L+ 6KEEP MY EYES OP5 & HOP+ T
,TO%IO WD SIMPLY FALL ASLEEP S ,I WDN'T
H 6MAKE ANY K9D ( DECI.N4 ,HE /RET*$ \
ON TOP ( "O (! FUTON1 )\T GETT+ "U !
COV]S1 & KEPT "R ON TALK+4 ,I /AY$ ": ,I
WAS1 SITT+ AT ! L[ TA#4 ,NEI ( U *ANG$
POSI;N UNTIL ! SKY 2GAN 6B"R54
  ,I CDN'T HOLD MY H1D UP ANY L;G]4 ,I
DECID$ 6/RET* \ =A LL :ILE B PROMIS$ MYF
,I WDN'T FALL ASLEEP4 ,I LAY D[N    #CGI
G+]LY ON ! SECOND FUTON4 ,I ?"\ X 0 RUDE
6TURN MY BACK ON ,TO%IO S ,I LAY FAC+
HM1 CURL$ UP L A %RIMP4 ,HE ASK$ ME 6-E
CLOS]4
  8,I'M T]RIBLY SORRY10 ,I ANSW]$1 8B ,I
DON'T ?9K ,I C D T40
  ,S HE MADE ! F/ MOVE4 ,HE $G$ CLOS]4
,!N HE PUT 8 >MS >.D ME & PULL$ ME 6HM 9
A SNUG EMBRACE4 ,I LAY "! /IFF Z A BO>D1
?\< 9SIDE ,I 0 TREMBL+ & TRY+ N 6CRY4
,WE B>ELY MOV$ F T POSI;N UNTIL ! SUN 0
UP4
  8,I H 6GET 6CLASS10 ,I SD1 & GOT UP TO
L1VE1 ?US 5D+ \R F/ NI<T TGR4
  ,N[ T ,I 0 A FULL-FL$G$ GEIKO1 ,I 2GAN
6TAKE "S "T (F1 A WEEK 9 ,FEBRU>Y AF !
,SETSUBUN HOLI"D & ANO!R "O 9 ! SUMM]4
,T YE> ,I PLANN$ ON TAK+ A %ORT VAC,N :5
! ,GION ,MATSURI 0 OV]4 ,TO%IO _H 6G TO
,BRAZIL ON BUSI;S4 ,WE DECID$ 6TAKE AD-
VANTAGE ( ? UNEXPECT$ OPPORTUN;Y & R5-
DEZV\S 9 ,NEW ,YORK ,C;Y :5 HE 0 F9I%$4
  ,TO%IO FLEW 96,K5N$Y ON 8 WAY HOME TO
,JAPAN1 & ,I TOOK A ,PAN ,AM FLI<T 6MEET
HM AT ! AIRPORT4 ,HE _H 6WAIT =     #CHJ
ME = SIX H\RS4 ,TO%IO WASN'T US$ 6WAIT+
= ANY?+1 ?\< HE 0 DEF9ITELY 9 ! HABIT (
MAK+ O!R P WAIT = HM4 ,I HALF-EXPECT$ HM
N 6BE "! :5 ,I >RIV$4 ,B HE WAS4 ,I 0
OV]JOY$ 6SEE HM /&+ "! :5 ,I WALK$ (F !
PLANE4
  ,WE W5T 6! ,WALDORF-,A/ORIA HOTEL4 ,WE
RAN 96,ELIZABE? ,TAYLOR 9 ! LO2Y :ILE WE
7 *ECK+ 9 & *ATT$ =A FEW MO;TS4 ,B WE
CDN'T WAIT 6GET UP 6! ROOM1 & RU%$ (F Z
SOON Z X 0 POLITE 6D S4
  ,I CDN'T WAIT 6BE AL"O ) HM4 ,! BELL-
BOY %UT ! DOOR & ,I TURN$ T[>DS ,TO%IO4
,HE PROMPTLY BUR/ \ CRY+4 ,I _H N"E SE5
A GR[N MAN WEEP L T 2F4
  8,OH1 MY D>L+1 :AT "E HAPP5$8 ,:AT'S
WR;G80
  8,I'VE TRI$ "EY?+ ,I C ?9K (1 B MY
WIFE ABSOLUTELY REFUSES 6GIVE ME A DI-
VORCE4 ,I DON'T "K :AT ELSE 6D4 ,X
DOESN'T SEEM 6MATT] :AT ,I D4 ,OR :AT ,I
SAY40
  ,TO%IO S.D$ ON ! $GE ( DESPAIR4 ,HE
TALK$ 6ME = H\RS4 ,AB 8 WIFE4 ,AB 8 *N4
,AB 8 ANGUI% OV] ! :OLE SITU,N4     #CHA
,I 0 TOO 3C]N$ AB HM 6?9K AB MYF4 ,I
CDN'T /& SEE+ 8 PA91 &1 AT LA/1 ,I R1*$
\ 6HM4 ,=! F/ "T4 ,I PUT MY >MS >.D HM &
FELT HM S9K FULLY 96MY EMBRACE4 .,? .IN-
T5SE .CLOSE;S1 ,I ?"\1 ..? IS LOVE4 ,?
IS .X4
  ,I PUT TWO F9AL 3DI;NS ON \R REL,N%IP4
  8,I W /AY ) Y Z L;G Z X TAKES 63V9CE
H]4 ,B Y H 6PROMISE ME TWO ?+S4 ,Y W N"E
KEEP SECRETS F ME & Y W N"E TELL ME A
LIE4 ,IF Y D1 X'S OV]4 ,NO "QS ASK$4
,Y'LL G YR WAY & ,I'LL G M9E40
  ,HE PROMIS$1 & ,I 0 HIS4
  ,I 0 AMAZ$ AT ! P[] (! ANIMAL LU/ T WE
UNL1%$ 9 EA* O!R4 ,I OP5$ MYF 6HM HUN-
GRILY1 FEEL+ NO %Y;S OR %AME4 ,! SPECT]
( MY NEPHEW'S ASSAULT 0 LAID 6RE/ ON T
B$4
  ,:5 ,I LOOK$ D[N & SAW ! BLOOD ON !
%EETS MY HE>T L1PT ) JOY4 ,I _H GIV5
,TO%IO MY MO/ PRECI\S POSSES.N1 & _H D"O
S 9 LOVE4 ,9 "O WAY X 0 ! F/ "T = BO? (
U4 ,HE TOLD ME T HE _H N"E DEFL[]$ A
VIRG9 2F4 ,I 0 FILL$ ) 9DESCRIBA#
HAPPI;S4                            #CHB
  ,T NI<T "S ( ,TO%IO'S FANS 7 ?R[+ A
RECEP;N = HM4 ,HE 0 R1DY 6L1VE 2F ,I 0 &
,I TOLD HM 6G AH1D :ILE ,I TOOK MY BA?4
,I / _H 6PUT ON MY MAKEUP & KIMONO1 & SD
,I WD FOLL[ 9 HALF AN H\R4
  ,AF MY LL BA?1 ,I GOT \ (! TUB & W5T
6OP5 ! BA?ROOM DOOR4 ,! KNOB WDN'T TURN4
,X 0 BROK54 ,I PULL$ & PU%$ B X WDN'T
BUDGE4 ,I />T$ BANG+ ON ! DOOR4 ,TO%IO
_H ALR LEFT & "! 0 NO "O ELSE 6HE> ME4
,I LOOK$ >.D &1 LO & 2HOLD1 "! 0 A TELE-
PH"O NEXT 6! MIRROR4 ,I PICK$ X UP4 ,"!
0 NO DIAL T"O4 ,I CLICK$ ! HOOK A FEW
"TS4 ,/ NO?+4 ,I CDN'T 2LIEVE T BO? !
DOORKNOB &! PH"O 7 BROK51 & 9 !
,WALDORF-,A/ORIA NO LESS4
  ,I SAT 9SIDE T BA?ROOM = ?REE H\RS4 ,I
0 COLD & MIS]A#4 ,F9,Y ,I HE>D A NOISE
9SIDE ! ROOM4 ,TO%IO KNOCK$ ON ! DOOR4
  8,M9EKO1 :AT >E Y DO+ 9 "!80
  ,AT L1/ "O ( U 0 CALM6
  ,HE RESPOND$ QKLY 6! HY/]IA 9 MY VOICE
& F.D "S"O 6OP5 ! DOOR4 ,I 0 ?RILL$ 6SEE
HM4 ,B ,I 0 TOO EXHAU/$ 0! EV5TS (! "D
6G \4 ,POOR ,TO%IO6 ,HE _H BE5 S    #CHC
4TRACT$ AT ! "PY T HE -PLETELY LO/ TRACK
( "T4 ,HE FELT T]RI#4 ,X 0 V CUTE4 ,HE 0
ACTU,Y A V 3SID]ATE MAN4 ,A"P F ? LL IN-
CID5T1 WE SP5T A GLORI\S F\R "DS TGR 9
,NEW ,YORK ,C;Y4
  ,I _H F.D :AT ,I 0 LOOK+ =4 ,I 0 MADLY
9 LOVE1 &! 9T5S;Y ( \R PAS.N MADE A PRO-
F.D DI6];E 9 MY LIFE4 ,M ?AN ANY?+ ELSE1
X A6ECT$ MY DANC+1 : ATTA9$ ! EXPRES-
SIVE;S ,I _H BE5 SEEK+ = S L;G4 ,EMO;N
SEEM$ 6FL[ F MY HE>T 96E MOVE;T1 E GES-
TURE1 MAK+ !M DEEP] & M P[];L4
  ,TO%IO TOOK A 3SCI\S1 ACTIVE ROLE 9 ?
PROCESS4 ,HE 0 A S]I\S CRITIC4 ,\R PAS.N
0 ROOT$ 9 \R DEVO;N 6>TI/IC EXCELL;E & T
REMA9$ XS S\RCE UNTIL ! V 5D4 ,WE DIDN'T
H ! SORT ( REL,N%IP 9 : WE SAT >.D CU4L+
& :ISP]+ SWEET NO?+S 9 EA* O!R'S E>S4
  ,Z AN ACTOR1 ,TO%IO _H BE5 EXPLOR+ !
B.D>IES ( SELF-EXPRES.N = M YE>S ?AN ,I
_H BE5 A D.ER4 ,9 ? HE 0 V M* MY S5IOR4
,EV5 ?\< \R 4CIPL9ES 7 DI6]5T1 HE 0 A# &
WILL+ 6(F] ME SPECIFIC1 PO9T$ ADVICE4
  ,! ,9\E /YLE IS NOT$ = XS ABIL;Y TO
EXPRESS GRT EMO;N 9 SP>E1 DELI-     #CHD
CATE GE/URES4 ,? IS ! MO/ *ALL5G+ ?+ AB
! =M1 & ,TO%IO "U/OOD H[ "O MET T *AL-
L5GE4 ,":AS ,BIG ,MI/RESS 0 M5TOR+ ME F
)9 ! P>ADIGM1 ,TO%IO 0 A# 6GUIDE ME F
\TSIDE ( X4
  ,"S"TS1 PASS+ A MIRROR1 ,I WD UNCON-
SCI\SLY D "S LL MOVE;T4 ,TO%IO WD CAT*
ME & SAY1 8,:Y DON'T Y D X ? WAY80 ,8
SU7ES;NS 7 (T5 WELL 3SID]$4 ,I'D /OP
:AT"E ,I 0 DO+ &1 9CORPORAT+ 8 IDEA1 RE-
HE>SE ! MOVE;T !N & "!1 OV] & OV] AG4
  ,WE 7 LIV+ L A C\PLE B _H 6KEEP \R AF-
FAIR SECRET F ALL B \R CLOSE/ ASSOCI-
ATES4 ,HE 0 / A M>RI$ MAN4 ,WE N"E BE-
TRAY$ ANY 9TIMACY :5 WE 7 \ TGR 9 PUB-
LIC4 ,? 0 DI6ICULT1 S WE TOOK TRIPS
ABROAD :5"E POSSI#4 ,WE N"E _H \R PHOTO
TAK5 TGR1 EV5 :5 WE 7 2+ T\RI/S 9 "S EX-
OTIC RESORT4 7,EXCEPT =! R>E "O 9 ! PHO-
TO 9S]T47
  ,9 #AIGC WE TOOK ANO!R VAC,N 9 ,NEW
,YORK4 ,? "T WE /AY$ AT ! ,HILTON HOTEL4
,MR4 ,R4,A4 GAVE A "PY = U1 & ,TO%IO IN-
TRODUC$ ME Z 8 FIANC@EE4 ,I 0 ELAT$2 ,I
0 SURE T X 0 J A MATT] ( "T 2F ,I   #CHE
2CAME 8 WIFE4 ,! PRESS GOT W9D T ,I 0
HAV+ AN A6AIR )A CELEBR;Y &! PAP>AZZI
H.D$ ME = WEEKS4 ,B ! FUNNY ?+ IS T !Y
?"\ ,I 0 SEE+ "SBODY ELSE2 !Y GOT ! WR;G
GUY4 ,TO%IO _H A HUGE HOME 9 ! SUBURBS (
,KYOTO & ANO!R "O 9 ,TOKYO1 B HE SP5T E
NI<T HE CD ) ME4 ,MY A"P;T 2CAME \R
8LOVE NE/40
  ,HE MADE HMF "R AT HOME4 ,I SOON 4COV-
]$ A SIDE ( ,TO%IO'S "* T ,I N"E WD H
EXPECT$4 ,HE 0 UNCOMMONLY1 METICUL\SLY
N1T4 ,GIV5 MY H\SEKEEP+ SKILLS1 ? 0 =TU-
NATE = BO? ( U4 ,:5 HE _H "S "T (F & 0
HOME AL"O HE WD ACTU,Y CL1N ! A"P;T1 F
TOP 6BOTTOM4 ,HE WIP$ D[N ALL ! SURFAC-
ES1 9CLUD+ ! KIT*5 &! BA?ROOM1 )A DAMP
CLO? & !N A DRY "O1 J L MY "M TAU<T ME
6D1 ?\< MY H\SEKEEP+ EF=TS 7 USU,Y LIM-
IT$ 6RUNN+ ! VACUUM CL1N] >.D ! LIV+
ROOM FLOOR & SWI%+ AT ! C(FEE TA# )A
DI%RAG4
  ,9 MY DEF5SE1 ,I 0 V BUSY4 ,MY S*$ULE
0 Z FULL Z X _H BE5 :5 ,I 0 LIV+ AT !
OKIYA1 B N[ ,I _H 6TAKE C>E ( MY LIV+
SPACE Z WELL4 ,I W5T 6! OKIYA E     #CHF
AFN 6GET R1DY = "W1 B NO L;G] _H A 3T+5T
( MAIDS PICK+ UP AF ME AT HOME4
  ,MO/ (! "T ,I MANAG$ 6KEEP X TGR4 ,B
!N ,TO%IO WD D "S?+ T TE/$ MY -PET;E1 L
! "T HE 0 %OOT+ A MOVIE AT A /UDIO 9
,KYOTO4 ,HE />T$ -+ HOME LATE AT NI<T )
T5 OR S ( 8 CRONIES 9 T[4 ,I WD GET 9 F
A FULL "D ( "W & ,TO%IO WD SAY1 8,:AT H
WE GOT = ^! FOLKS 6EAT80
  ,I'D ?R[ :AT"E 9GR$I5TS WE _H 9 ! H\SE
96A BIG POT & COOK !M UP TGR4 ,MY F/ AT-
TEMPTS W]5'T S GRT B !Y GOT BETT] OV]
"T4 ,TO%IO MADE SURE T "EY"O'S GLASS 0
FILL$4 ,NO "O "E W5T HOME HUNGRY OR
?IR/Y4 ,I CAME 6LOVE \R IMPROMPTU "PIES4
  ,TO%IO 0 5DE>+LY W>M & GREG>I\S4 ,HE 0
GRT >.D ! H\SE1 & SPOKE LOV+LY ( 8 *N4
,I CDN'T "U/& :Y ?+S _HN'T G"O BETT] =
HM AT HOME4





                  #CB               #CHG

  ,9 E>LY ,MAY ! C;Y ( ,HAKATA 9 ,KYU%U
HOLDS AN ANNUAL FE/IVAL "KN Z ,DONTAKU4
,I US$ 6BE 9VIT$ 6ATT5D E YE>1 &A GR\P (
U WD MAKE ! TRIP F ,KYOTO4 ,I ALW /AY$
AT ! SAME HOTEL1 ATE 9 ! SAME RE/AU-
RANTS1 & 5JOY$ SEE+ MY FRS F ! LOCAL
GEI%A -MUN;Y4 ,I ALW %>$ A ROOM ) MY DE>
FR ,YURIKO4
  ,LATE "O AFN %E & ,I 7 TALK+ &! SUB-
JECT (! SIL5T PILGRIMAGE CAME UP4 ,!
8SIL5T PILGRIMAGE0 IS "S?+ T TAKES PLACE
DUR+ ! ,GION ,FE/IVAL1 ?\< FEW P "K AB
X4 ,I _H HE>D A RUMOR T ,YURIKO W5T ON !
SIL5T PILGRIMAGE & ,I WANT$ 6"K IF X 0
TRUE4
  ,! ,GION ,FE/IVAL HAS TAK5 PLACE 9
,KYOTO = OV] "O ?\S& YE>S1 & IS 3SID]$
"O (! ?REE MO/ IMPORTANT FE/IVALS 9 ,JA-
PAN4 ,! FE/IVAL />TS AT ! 5D ( ,JUNE &
3T9UES UNTIL ,JULY #BD1 & 9VOLVES A NUM-
B] ( ,%9TO C]EMONIES & RITUALS4 ,ON ,JU-
LY #AG ! LOCAL GODS >E 9VIT$ 6-E 96_!
SACR$ PALANQU9S "KN Z .OMIKOSHI & >E
TAK5 \ 96! -MUN;Y =! F9AL WEEK (!   #CHH
FE/IVAL4 ,9 %ORT1 ! GODS >E C>RI$ ON !
%\LD]S (! BE>]S F ! MA9 RESID;E AT
,YASAKA ,%R9E1 D[N ,%IJO ,/REET1 6_!
TEMPOR>Y %R9ES ON ,%9KYOGOKU ,AV5UE4 ,!
SIL5T PILGRIMAGE TAKES PLACE DUR+ ? "O-
WEEK P]IOD4
  8,I'D L 6TAKE "P 9 ! PILGRIMAGE1 TOO4
,:AT D ,I H 6D 6BE 9CLUD$80 ,I ASK$ H]4
  8,X'S N "S?+ Y JO94 ,X'S "S?+ Y DECIDE
6D 0YRF & Y D X AL"O1 9 PRIVATE4 ,B1 /1
IF Y RE,Y WANT YR PRAY] 6-E TRUE !Y SAY
Y H 6D X = ?REE YE>S 9 A R[10 %E ANSW]$4
8,& Y C'T TELL ANYBODY ELSE T Y >E DO+
X4 ,T'S "P ( XS P[]4 ,Y H 6D X 9 SIL;E4
,KEEP YR EYES L[]$4 ,DON'T MAKE EYE CON-
TACT ) ANY"O ELSE4 ,3C5TRATE -PLETELY ON
:AT"E IS HI45 9 YR HE>T4 ,KEEP YR PRAY]
9 YR M9D ! 5TIRE "T1 S9CE T IS ! R1SON =
! PILGRIMAGE40
  ,I 0 V MOV$ 0H] DESCRIP;N4 ,YURIKO _H
V 4T9CT F1TURES1 UNLIKE AN ORD9>Y ,JAPA-
NESE FACE4 ,H] EYES 7 /A7]+LY B1UTI;L4
,!Y 7 L>GE1 ) S(T BR[N C5T]S4 ,%E DIDN'T
EXPLICITLY TELL ME :AT ,I WANT$ 6"K1 B
%E (F]$ ME A SMILE T REV1L$ !       #CHI
TRU?4
  ,I CDN'T /OP WOND]+ :Y ,YURIKO 0 MAK+
! PILGRIMAGE4 ,:AT 0 X T %E WANT$ S BAD-
LY8 ,I KEPT BR++ X UP :5"E ,I _H ! *.E1
B %E ALW MANAG$ 6*ANGE ! SUBJECT4 ,F9,Y1
MY P]SI/;E PD (F & %E GAVE UP4 ,%E />T$
6TELL ME H] /ORY4
  ,? 0 ! F/ "T ,I _H "E HE>D ANY?+ AB H]
*ILDHOOD4
  ,YURIKO TOLD ME T %E 0 BORN 9 ,JANU>Y
#AIDC 9 A T[N CALL$ ,SUZU%I LOCAT$ ON !
COA/ (! ,JAPAN ,SEA4 ,H] "F'S FAMILY _H
BE5 9 ! FI%+ BUSI;S = G5],NS4 ,H] "F AL
RAN A SU3ESS;L S1FOOD -PANY4 ,Z A "Y
MAN1 H] "F (T5 VISIT$ ,GION ,KOBU4
  ,YURIKO'S "M DI$ SOON AF %E 0 BORN4
,2F %E 0 W1N$1 %E 0 S5T 6LIVE )A SU3ES.N
( RELATIVES4 ,DUR+ ! W>1 H] "F'S -PANY 0
REQUISI;N$ 0! MILIT>Y & TURN$ 96A MUNI-
;NS FACTORY4 ,B H] "F KEPT ON FI%+4 ,AF
! W>1 HE RESUM$ 8 BUSI;S & ?+S 7 GO+ V
WELL4 ,B HE DIDN'T BR+ 8 DAU<T] HOME4
,%E 3T9U$ 6BE PASS$ F RELATIVE 6RELA-
TIVE4
  ,Z 8 =TUNES IMPROV$1 H] "F 2GAN   #CIJ
ONCE AG 6VISIT ,GION ,KOBU & RESUM$ 8
FR%IP )A C]TA9 GEIKO4 ,%E M>RI$ HM & BE-
CAME ,YURIKO'S /EP"M4 ,AT LA/ ,YURIKO 0
A# 6RETURN 6H] "F'S SIDE1 & SOON A LL
SI/] JO9$ ! FAMILY4 ,I IMAG9E ? 0 ! F/
"T T %E KNEW ! SECUR;Y & W>M? (A LOV+
FAMILY4 ,H["E1 H] HAPPI;S 0 N 63T9UE =
L;G4 ,H] "F'S -PANY W5T BANKRUPT4 ,HE
2CAME DESP]ATE &1 N "K+ ": 6TURN1 PASS$
8 "DS 9 A DRUNK5 /UPOR UNTIL HE HANG$
HMF 2F ! 9NOC5T EYES ( 8 "Y DAU<T]4
  ,YURIKO'S /EP"M 0 AT A -PLETE LOSS AB
:AT 6D1 & F>M$ ,YURIKO BACK \ 6H] D1D
HUSB&'S RELATIVES4 ,! FAMILY %E 0 GIV5
6TR1T$ H] L A B1/ ( BURD51 N EV5 GIV+ H]
A PAIR ( %OES 6WE>4 ,!Y F9,Y SOLD H] 6A
8SLAVE TRAD]0 7.ZEGEN1 M5 :O W5T AB !
C.TRYSIDE BUY+ GIRLS 6SELL 96! SEX
TRADE74 7,? PRACTICE 0 \TLAW$ )! CRIMI-
NALIZ,N ( PRO/ITU;N 9 #AIEI47 ,%E 0 SOLD
6AN E/ABLI%;T 9 ! ,%IMAB>A PL1SURE QU>T]
( ,KYOTO4
  ,%IMAB>A US$ 6BE A LIC5S$ QU>T] ":
WOM5 "KN Z .OIRAN & .TAYU 7C\RTESANS1
HI<-CLASS PRO/ITUTES7 PLI$ _!       #CIA
TRADE1 ?\< !Y 7 A3OMPLI%$ 9 ! TRADI;NAL
>TS Z WELL4 ,A "Y OIRAN AL "UW5T A RITU-
AL CALL$ A 8MIZUAGE0 B H]S 3SI/$ ( 2+
C]EMONI\SLY DEFL[]$ 0A PATRON :O _H PD
H&"SLY =! PRIVILEGE4 7,? ALT]NATIVE DEF-
9I;N (! ^W 8MIZUAGE0 HAS BE5 ! S\RCE (
"S 3FU.N AB :AT X M1NS 6BE A GEI%A47
,TAYU & OIRAN "W$ "U 3TRACTS ( 9D5TURE &
7 3F9$ 6! 4TRICT UNTIL _! P]IOD ( S]VI-
TUDE 0 OV]4
  ,YURIKO'S /EP"M F.D \ :AT _H HAPP5$ TO
H]1 & %E IMMLY 3TACT$ ! OKASAN (! ;,Y
OKIYA 9 ,GION ,KOBU & BE7$ = H] HELP4 ,!
PROPRIETRESS 3TACT$ AN OTOKOSHI1 :O
SKILL;LLY 5G9E]$ H] MOVE F ,%IMAB>A 96!
OKIYA4 ,YURIKO DID N WANT 6RETURN 6H]
/EP"M &! OKIYA AGRE$ 6A3EPT H] 96_! C>E4
  ,? ALL O3URR$ :5 ,YURIKO 0 TWELVE YE>S
OLD4
  ,YURIKO 0 V GD-NATUR$ & APPLI$ H]F UN-
FLA7+LY 6H] LESSONS & 2CAME "O (! TOP
GEIKO 9 ,GION ,KOBU4 ,:5"E %E TALK$ AB
H[ M* BETT] H] LIFE 0 9 ,GION ,KOBU ?AN
X _H BE5 =! F/ TWELVE YE>S ^? B1UTI;L
BIG BR[N EYES ( H]S FILL$ UP )      #CIB
TE>S4
  ,TWO YE>S AF %E F/ TOLD ME ? /ORY1 :5
WE 7 BACK 9 ,HAKATA1 %E F9,Y 3FID$ 9 ME
AB H] R1SON = MAK+ ! SIL5T PILGRIMAGE4
,%E _H BE5 9 LOVE )A C]TA9 MAN = _M YE>S
& %E WANT$ 6M>RY HM4 ,T IS ! R1SON4 ,?
IS :AT %E PRAY$ = E SUMM] DUR+ H] SIL5T
PILGRIMAGE4 ,H] M9D 0 MADE UP1 & EV5 ?\<
%E RCVD PROPOSALS F _M O!R M51 %E COM-
PLETELY IGNOR$ !M4
  ,UNHAPPILY1 = POLITICAL R1SONS1 H]
LOV] 5D$ UP M>RY+ "S"O ELSE1 ?\< !Y 3T9-
U$ 6MA9TA9 A REL,N%IP4 ,9 ,MAY ( #AIHJ
%E 0 DIAGNOS$ ) C.ER4 ,I DON'T "K IF HE
0 ! R1SON %E GOT SICK1 B H] LOVE = HM
GOT EV5 /R;G] AF %E 2CAME ILL4 ,Z IF 9
ANSW] 6H] PRAY]S1 HE NURS$ H] T5D]LY Z
%E LAY DY+4 ,UN=TUNATELY1 8 EF=TS 7 9
VA9 & %E MET H] 5D ON ,SEPTEMB] #BB1
#AIHA1 AT ! "Y AGE ( ?IRTY-SEV54 ,9 MY
M9D ,I 2LIEVE T H] LOVE = HM / EXI/S & T
X W 3T9UE ON =A ?\S& YE>S1 OR 96ET]N;Y4
  ,SETSUBUN FALLS 9 ! MI4LE ( ,FEBRU>Y4
,X IS A HOLI"D T US$ 6M>K ! 2G9N+ ( SPR+
9 ! OLD1 LUN> CAL5D>4 ,WE CELE-     #CIC
BRATE ! O3A.N 0SCATT]+ B1NS >.D ! H\SE
6DRIVE \ EVIL DEMONS & U%] 9 GD LUCK4
  ,9 ,GION ,KOBU WE USE ,SETSUBUN Z AN
EXCUSE 6DRESS UP 9 SILLY CO/UMES & H
FUN4 ,MY FRS & ,I ALW *OSE CO/UMES T 7
!MATIC,Y RELAT$ 6EV5TS (! PREVI\S YE>4
,9 #AIGB ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES RETURN$ ,OK9AWA
6,JAPANESE 3TROL1 S T YE> WE DRESS$ UP 9
,OK9AWAN FOLK CO/UMES4
  ,? GR\P ( FRS & ,I 7 9 ! HABIT ( US+ !
TIPS WE MADE DUR+ ! ,SETSUBUN "PIES 6PAY
=A ,HAWAIIAN VAC,N4 ,WE W5T 6ALM =TY
OZASHIKI1 SP5D+ Z LL Z ?REE M9UTES AT
EA* "O 9 ORD] 6MAXIMIZE \R TIPS4 ,T NI<T
WE MADE OV] 4#CJ1JJJ1 5 6TRAVEL 9 /YLE4
  ,X 0 MY TURN 6BE T\R DIRECTOR4 ,2SS
MAK+ ! RES]V,NS1 ,I 0 9 *>GE ( ALL \R
M"OY & PASSPORTS1 : ,I 0 C>RY+ ) ME 9 MY
PURSE :5 WE LEFT ,KYOTO4 ,WE 7 GO+ 6SP5D
! NI<T 9 ,TOKYO 2F L1V+ = ,HONOLULU !
NEXT "D4
  ,UN=TUNATELY1 ,I LEFT MY PURSE 9 A
TAXI ON ! WAY 6\R HOTEL4 ,MY TRAVEL
MATES 7 N V SYMPA!TIC4 ,!Y SD1 8,OH1
,M9EKO1 X'S J L Y 6D "S?+ L ?40     #CID
,I 0 TRY+ V H>D 6BE RESPONSI# & 0 9C5S$
0_! REAC;N4
  ,I _H 6GET U NEW M"OY & PASSPORTS 0!
NEXT AFN4 ,I CALL$ "O ( MY CU/OM]S & EX-
PLA9$ MY PREDICA;T4 ,HE K9DLY AGRE$ TO
LOAN ME 4#CJ1JJJ 9 CA%4 ,I ASK$ HM 6BR+
X 6! HOTEL ! FOLL[+ MORN+4 ,I 0 DECID+ :
( MY GOV]N;T FRS 6TAP = EM]G5CY PASS-
PORTS :5 ,I GOT A CALL 9=M+ ME T A BUSI-
;SMAN _H 4COV]$ MY PURSE 9 ! BACK (!
TAXI4 ,! TAXI DRIV] BR"\ X 6A POLICE /,N
": ,I RETRIEV$ X ! NEXT MORN+1 9 "T TO
MAKE \R PLANE4 ,9 ! HU2UB ,I =GOT 6TELL
MY CU/OM] T ,I NO L;G] NE$$ ! 4#CJ1JJJ &
HE CAME RUNN+ 9 ) X J Z WE 7 L1V+4
  ,DESPITE ? 9AUSPICI\S 2G9N+1 WE _H A
WOND];L "T4 ,9 ! 5D1 MY FRS ?ANK$ ME =
2+ A GRT T\R L1D]4 ,"O AFN WE TOOK HULA
LESSONS ON A SUNSET CRUISE &! T1*] CD
TELL WE 7 D.ERS4 ,%E ASK$ U 6D "S?+ =
H]4 ,X 0 S M* FUN T WE 5D$ UP GIV+
,9\E-/YLE D.E LESSONS ON ! CRUISE =!
NEXT ?REE "DS4 ,_M ( \R CU/OM]S 7 WELL
3NECT$ 9 ,HAWAII & !Y >RANG$ WOND];L
D9N]S = U ON ,KAUAI & ,OAHU4        #CIE
  ,"O "D ! BREEZE 0 G5TLY BL[+ ,MISS
,M4'S HAIR4 ,I _H N"E NOTIC$ J H[ PRO-
N\NC$ H] BALD SPOT WAS4 ,!N ,I LOOK$
CLOSELY AT MY O!R TWO FRS4 ,& !N AT MYF4
  ,ALL F\R ( U _H BIG BALD SPOTS "R ON !
TOP ( \R CR[NS4 ,? IS A -MON PRO#M CAUS$
0! MAIKO HAIR/YLES1 : />T 0B9D+ ! HAIR
AT ! CR[N (! H1D4 ,! MASS IS KEPT 9
PLACE )A /RIP ( BAMBOO T PLACES 3/ANT
/RESS ON ! ROOTS (! HAIR4 ,\R HAIR /AYS
UP = FIVE "DS AT A "T1 &! RAT IRRITATES
! SCALP Z WELL4 ,:5 ! SCALP IT*ES WE (T5
SCRAT* X )! PO9T$ TIP (A HAIR ORNA;T1
FUR!R BR1K+ ! HAIR AT ! ROOT4 ,AF A NUM-
B] ( YE>S ! SPOT EV5TU,Y 2COMES BALD4
  8,Y "K :AT80 ,I SU7E/$4 8,I ?9K T AF
WE GET BACK 6,JAPAN1 :5 ! ,MIYAKO ,ODORI
IS F9I%$1 WE %D ALL *ECK 96A HOSPITAL
TGR & H \R BALD SPOTS FIX$4 ,:AT D Y
?9K8 ,% WE MAKE A PACT80
  ,!Y AGRE$ 6?9K AB X4
  ,WE W5T 96REHE>SAL Z SOON Z WE RETURN$
6,KYOTO4 ,I _H 6PREP>E A SOLO PIECE Z
WELL Z "PICIPATE 9 GR\P REHE>SALS1 PLUS
,I 0 ASK$ 6HELP ! "Y] D.ERS PRE-    #CIF
P>E _! "PS4 ,WE DIDN'T H "T 6TALK AB !
SURG]Y AG UNTIL AF ! ,ODORI OP5$4 ,MISS
,Y4 SD %E 0 TOO SC>$ 6H X D"O1 B ! O!R
?REE ( U DECID$ 6G AH1D4 ,WE LEFT = ,TO-
KYO ! "D ! ,ODORI CLOS$ & *ECK$ 96A HOS-
PITAL NE> ,B5KEI ,BRIDGE4
  ,! OP],N 3SI/S ( SNIPP+ ! BALD SK9 &
PULL+ ! $GES TGR 6TI<T5 X1 SIMIL> 6A
FACELIFT4 ,MY 9CI.N 0 CLOS$ ) TWELVE
TE5Y /IT*ES4 ,"! >E _M CAPILL>IES 9 !
SCALP &! OP],N 0 SURPRIS+LY BLOODY1 ?\<
SU3ESS;L4 ,EXCEPT X RE,Y HURT 6LAU<4
  ,\R BI7E/ PRO#M 0 T WE 7 /UCK 9 ! HOS-
PITAL = "DS4 ,\R ,TOKYO CU/OM]S DID _!
BE/ 65T]TA9 U4 ,!Y CAME 06VISIT & S5T 9
FOOD F ! BE/ RE/AURANTS 9 T[N4 ,B X 0
SPR+"T & WE 7 FRISKY4 ,WE GOT BOR$ &
/>T$ 6BICK]1 S ,I MADE UP ADV5TURES TO
AMUSE U4 ,"O AFN WE SN1K$ \ 6G %OPP+4
,!N WE />T$ 6SN1K \ AT NI<T 6G 6\R FA-
VORITE RE/AURANTS1 EV5 9 \R B&AGES4
,WE'D CREEP BACK 96! HOSPITAL 9 ! MI4LE
(! NI<T4 ,ANO!R AFN WE L9E-D.ED \R WAY
6! GAS /,N D[N ! BLOCK4
  ,! H1D NURSE 0 FURI\S3 8,? IS N   #CIG
A PSY*IATRIC HOSPITAL4 ,/OP ACT+ L MAD-
WOM54 ,& PL1SE /OP TY+ UP ALL \R TELE-
PH"O L9ES40
  ,AF T5 "DS OR S ! DOCTOR REMOV$ \R
/IT*ES & WE 7 FREE 6G4 ,I ?9K ! NURS+
/AFF 0 V HAPPY 6SEE U L1VE4 ,I WOND] IF
,MISS ,Y4 / HAS H] BALD SPOT4 ,I BET %E
DOES4
  ,I RETURN$ 6,KYOTO & EASILY SLID BACK
96MY R\T9E ) ,TO%IO4 ,I _H MISS$ HM4 ,B
ALL (A SU45 LIV+ ON MY [N SEEM$ L M TR\#
?AN X 0 WOR?4 ,X 0 A R1L /RA9 = ME 6PRE-
P>E & COOK M1LS1 CL1N ! H\SE1 D ! WA%1 &
PREP>E ! BA?--ON TOP ( HONOR+ MY PROFES-
.NAL -MIT;TS4 ,"! 0 N"E 5 "T4 ,I ONLY
SLEPT A FEW H\RS A NI<T Z X WAS4 ,I
CDN'T PULL BACK ON MY NI<TLY 5GAGE;TS1 S
! ONLY WAY ,I CD F9D M "T 0 6%ORT5 ! "T
,I SP5T REHE>S+4 ,! 3FLICT 0 2T 2COM+ A
BETT] D.ER OR KEEP+ A CL1N H\SE4 ,"! 0
NO 3TE/4
  ,I W5T 6SP1K 6,MAMA4 8,MOM1 MY COOK+
ISN'T GETT+ ANY BETT]4 ,& ,I DON'T H 5
"T 6REHE>SE Z M* Z ,I NE$ TO4 ,:AT D Y
?9K ,I %D D80                       #CIH
  8,H Y 3SID]$ MOV+ HOME80
  8,I DON'T "K4 ,:AT D Y ?9K80
  8,I ?9K X'S A GD IDEA40
  ,S T 0 T4 ,I MOV$ BACK 96! OKIYA 9
,JUNE ( #AIGB4 ,I _H LE>N$ T ,I 0 CAPA#
( 2+ 9DEP5D5T1 B AL T ,I DID N H 6BE4
,2SS1 ,TO%IO & ,I _H ! M1NS 6/AY AT A
HOTEL :5"E WE WANT$1 & ? WE DID FREQU5T-
LY4 ,I 0 GR[N UP4 ,I 0 A FULL-FL$G$ GEI-
KO4 ,I KNEW H[ 6MOVE >.D 9 ! _W4 ,I KNEW
H[ 6H&LE M"OY & H[ 6%OP4 ,& ,I 0 9 LOVE4
  ,I'M V GLAD ,I MOV$ BACK HOME :5 ,I
DID 2C X M1NT ,I 0 "! =! LA/ FEW MON?S (
,BIG ,JOHN'S LIFE4 ,HE DI$ ON ,OCTOB]
#F1 #AIGB4









                  #CC               #CII

  ,ON ,MAY #F1 #AIGC1 ,I PD A VISIT 6MY
P>5TS4 ,X 0 ONLY ! ?IRD "T ,I _H BE5
BACK 6! H\SE S9CE ,I LEFT X EI<TE5 YE>S
2F4
  ,I _H HE>D MY "F 0 DY+ & ,I WANT$ 6SEE
HM ONCE M4 ,:5 ,I LOOK$ 9 8 EYES ,I CD
SEE T ! 5D 0 NE> & T HE KNEW X4 ,9/1D (
(F]+ FALSE ^WS ( -=T1 ,I SPOKE 6HM H"O/-
LY & OP5LY4
  8,DAD1 ,I WANT 6?ANK Y = "EY?+ Y H
GIV5 ME 9 ? LIFE4 ,I AM CAPA# & /R;G & W
ALW REMEMB] "EY?+ Y TAU<T ME4 ,PL1SE G
FREELY4 ,"! IS NO?+ 6WORRY AB "H4 ,I W
TAKE C>E ( :AT"E NE$S 6BE D"O40
  ,TE>S /R1M$ D[N 8 FACE4
  8,MASAKO1 Y >E ! ONLY "O ( MY *N :O
TRULY LI/5$4 ,Y N"E DID LET G ( YR
PRIDE1 & Y H MADE ME V HAPPY4 ,I "K H[
H>D Y H "W$ & :AT X HAS CO/ Y1 & ,I WANT
6GIVE Y "S?+4 ,OP5 ! ?IRD DRAW] ( MY BU-
R1U4 ,TAKE \ ! .SHIBORI OBI4 ,YES1 T "O4
,I MADE X MYF & X'S MY FAVORITE4 ,:5 Y
F9D ! MAN ( YR DR1MS1 ,I WANT Y 6GIVE X
6HM40                               #DJJ
  8,I W1 ,DAD1 ,I PROMISE40
  ,I TOOK ! OBI F MY "F'S *E/ & TOOK X )
ME4 ,I KEPT X UNTIL ,I MET MY HUSB&4 ,I
GAVE X 6HM4 ,HE / WE>S X4
  ,MY "F DI$ ?REE "DS LAT]1 ON ,MAY #I4
,HE 0 SEV5TY-SIX YE>S OLD4 ,I SAT 2S 8
CORPSE & HELD 8 COLD H& 9 M9E4 8,I PROM-
ISE Y1 ,DAD4 ,I W N"E =GET3 ..,! SAMURAI
2TRAYS NO W1K;S1 EV5 :5 />V+4 ,PRIDE ABV
.ALL40
  ,EV5 ?\< WE ONLY LIV$ TGR =A FEW YE>S
,I _H ALW ADOR$ MY "F & KEPT HM V CLOSE
6ME 9 MY HE>T4 ,I 0 IMM5SELY SA45$ 0HIS
D1?4
  ,MAMA ,MASAKO _H GIV5 ME "S M"OY4 ,I
TOOK ! PURPLE SILK WRAPP] \ ( MY OBI &
H&$ X 6MY "M4 ,I DIDN'T "K H[ M* X WAS1
B ,I IMAG9E Q A BIT4
  8,I'M N SURE IF ? IS 5\<1 B ,I WANT Y
6GIVE ,DAD ! K9D ( FUN]AL HE WD H WANT$4
,IF Y NE$ M1 PL1SE ASK ,KUNIKO OR ME =!
RE/40
  8,OH1 ,MA-*AN1 ?ANK Y S M*4 ,I'LL D !
BE/ T ,I C4 ,B N "EYBODY >.D "H LI/5S TO
:AT ,I H 6SAY40                     #DJA
  ,%E GL.ED T[>D ! O!R ROOM4 ,YAEKO'S
L[1 S>DONIC LAU< CAME DRIFT+ 9 OV] ! S.D
( CL9K+ MAHJ;G TILES4 ,I FELT BAD1 B "!
0 LL ELSE ,I CD D4
  ,Z AN ADOPT$ MEMB] (! ,IWASAKI FAMILY
,I 0 UNA# 6HELP MY "M 9 ANY SORT ( (FI-
CIAL CAPAC;Y4 ,I LOOK$ AT H] ) EMPA?Y &
SD1 8,MOM1 ,I WANT Y 6"K T ,I N"E /OPP$
LOV+ Y1 OR ,DAD1 & ,I N"E W4 ,?ANK Y S
M* = GIV+ ME ? LIFE40
  ,I B[$ !N1 & LEFT4
  ,:5 ,I GOT HOME ,MAMA ,MASAKO ASK$ ME1
8,DID Y GIVE YR "M M"OY =! FUN]AL80
  8,YES1 ,I H&$ H] :AT"E 0 9 ! PURPLE
SILK WRAPP]40
  8,GD4 ,X'S IMPORTANT T Y LE>N 6SP5D
M"OY WISELY1 6USE X AT ! PROP] "TS4 ,X
IS OKAY 6S5D GIFTS ( 3GRATUL,NS AF !
FACT1 B N GIFTS ( 2R1VE;T4 ,^! %D 2 (F]$
9 A "TLY FA%ION4 ,? IS "O O3A.N :5 X IS
IMPORTANT N 6BE /+Y4 ,WE WDN'T WANT TO
LOSE FACE4 ,N[ MAKE SURE YR "M HAS 5\<4
,IF %E DOESN'T1 ,I W COV] ! A4I;NAL EX-
P5SES40
  ,? 0 V G5]\S ( H]4 ,& ,I 0 GLAD   #DJB
%E 0 F9,Y T1*+ ME H[ 6USE M"OY PROP]LY4
,B :5 Y ?9K AB X1 ! M"OY %E GAVE ME TO
GIVE MY "M 0 M"OY ,I _H E>N$ MYF4
  ,ANO!R MAJOR EV5T ( #AIGC 0 T ,I RCVD
A3R$IT,N 7.NATORI7 F ! ,9\E ,S*OOL NAM+
ME A MA/] D.ER4 ,! MA9 ADVANTAGE 9 2COM+
A NATORI IS T "O IS N[ ALL[$ 6LE>N & P]-
=M C]TA9 ROLES T >E RES]V$ =! MA/] DANC-
]S4 ,=! ,ONSHUKAI T AUTUMN ,I 0 ASSIGN$
! ROLE ( ,PR9CESS ,TA*IBANA1 "O S* "P4
  ,BIG ,MI/RESS /OOD ) ME 2H ! CURTA9 Z
,I 0 AB 6MAKE MY 5TR.E ONTO ! .HANA-
MICHI1 ! ELEVAT$ PASSAGEWAY T RUNS F !
RE> (! !AT] 6! /AGE4 ,%E L1N$ OV] & :IS-
P]$ 9 MY E>4 8,ALL ,I AM A# 6D IS T1* Y
! =M4 ,! D.E Y D.E ON /AGE IS YRS AL"O40
  ,! TRANSMIS.N 0 D"O4 ,I 0 FREE4 ,! D.E
0 M9E4
  ,B 2+ C]TIFI$ DID N M1N ,I 0 ALL[$ TO
T1*4 ,ONLY T1*]S TRA9$ F ! 2G9N+ Z S* 7
ALL[$ 6D T4 ,X DID N M1N ,I CD P]=M \T-
SIDE (! /RICTLY 3TROLL$ _W (! ,9\E
,S*OOL OR ! ,KABUKAI4 ,I / _H 6FOLL[ _!
RULES4 ,S1 :ILE X 0 NICE = MY C>E]1 !
C]TIFICATE 0 PRACTIC,Y USE.S4 ,X    #DJC
DID N 3TRIBUTE 9 ANY WAY 6A /ATE ( PRO-
FES.NAL OR F9ANCIAL 9DEP5D;E4
  ,9 MIDSUMM] ,KYOTO CELEBRATES ,OBON
7,ALL ,S\LS' ,"D7 0LI<T+ A HUGE BONFIRE
ON A M.TA9SIDE 6GUIDE ! S\LS ( \R ANCES-
TORS BACK 6_! O!R_WLY ABODES4 ,! FIRE C
2 SE5 F ANY": 9 ! C;Y4
  ,9 ,GION ,KOBU WE FILL BLACK LACQU]
TRAYS ) WAT] & PLACE !M ON ! V]&AHS (!
OCHAYA 6CAPTURE ! REFLEC;N (! FLAMES4 ,P
ATT5D+ AN OZASHIKI T EV5+ TAKE A SIP (!
WAT] F ! TRAY & SAY A PRAY] = GD H1L?4
,? C]EMONY 9=M,Y SIGNALS ! 2G9N+ (! SUM-
M] HOLI"D4
  ,I US$ 6SP5D A FEW WEEKS EA* ,AUGU/ 9
,K>UIZAWA1 ,JAPAN'S PREMI] SUMM] RESORT4
,I DIDN'T 3SID] ? A VAC,N4 ,X 0 M L A
BUSI;S TRIP4 ,_M GOV]N;T & BUSI;S L1D]S
H C.TRY HOMES 9 ,K>UIZAWA AL;G )! >I/OC-
RACY1 :O H L;G RETR1T$ 6? M.TA9 HAV5
DUR+ ! /1MY HOT S1SON4 ,! PRES5T EMP]OR
( ,JAPAN1 ,AKIHITO1 MET ,EMPRESS ,MI*IKO
ON ! T5NIS C\RT 9 ! MI4LE ( T[N 9 !
#AIEJ'S4
  ,I SP5T MY EV5+S GO+ F "O RESI-   #DJD
D;E 6ANO!R1 5T]TA9+ ! P[] BROK]S & _!
H\SEGUE/S4 ,"S"TS ,I WD BUMP 96,BIG
,MI/RESS Z %E 0 MAK+ H] [N R.DS4 ,%E 0 A
DI6]5T P]SON :5 %E 0 9 ! C.TRY1 K9D] "S-
H[ & N Z SOMB]4 ,%E WD SIT D[N & WE WD
TALK4
  ,%E TOLD ME :AT X 0 L DUR+ ! W>4 8,"!
0 S LL FOOD4 ,WE 7 ALL HUNGRY4 ,I W5T F
PLACE 6PLACE1 SPR1D A MAT \ ON ! FLOOR1
& D.ED4 ,P GAVE ME RICE & VEGETA#S4 ,T
IS H[ ,I F$ MY /UD5TS4 ,X 0 A H>D LIFE4
,I ?"\ X 0 N"E GO+ 65D40
  ,I LIK$ HE>+ H] /ORIES4 ,I CD SEE
FLA%ES (! _S %E M/ H _H :5 %E 0 "Y]4
  ,! MORN+S 9 ,K>UIZAWA 7 MY [N1 & ,I
LUXURIAT$ 9 ! RELAX,N4 ,I GOT UP AT SIX
,A4,M4 & W5T = L;G MORN+ WALKS4 ,!N ,I
R1D UNTIL X 0 "T = ME 6MEET ,TANIGAWA
,S5SEI AT ! ,AKANEYA ,CAF@E AT T5 O'C4
,DR4 ,TANIGAWA & ,I SP5T _M PRECI\S H\RS
TGR DUR+ ^? L;G SUMM] "DS4 ,I 0 A# 6ASK
HM ANY?+ ,I WANT$4 ,HE N"E SEEM$ 6TIRE (
GIV+ ME WELL-?"\-\ ANSW]S4
  ,HE LOV$ A GD CUP ( C(FEE & ORD]$ A
DI6]5T V>IETY E "D4 ,9/ANT GEOG-    #DJE
RAPHY LESSON4 ,HE WD DELI<T 9 DESCRIB+
6ME ! "P (! _W ": ! C(FEE CAME F4 ,"O ?+
L$ 6ANO!R &1 2F WE KNEW X1 X 0 "T =
LUN*4 ,"! 0 A SOBA RE/AURANT ACR ! /REET
F ! CAF@E4 ,WE ATE "! (T54
  ,_M ( MY FRS 7 9 ,K>UIZAWA AT ! SAME
"T ,I WAS4 ,MO/ ( !M TRAVEL$ AB ON BICY-
CLES B ,I DIDN'T "K H[ 6RIDE4 ,I 0 TOO
EMB>RASS$ 6ADMIT X1 S ,I WALK$ >.D PU%+
A BICYCLE 0XS H&LEB>S4 ,I DON'T "K :O ,I
?"\ ,I 0 KI4+4
  ,"O "D ,I RAN 96"S"O ,I KNEW4
  8,HELLO "!1 ,M9EKO4 ,H[ >E Y8 ,& :AT
>E Y DO+80
  8,:AT DOES X LOOK L ,I'M DO+8 ,I'M
PU%+ ? BIKE40
  8,RE,Y8 ,J ?9K1 ,I ALW ?"\ BICYCLES 7
"S?+ T "O SAT ON & P$AL$4 ,I N"E KNEW Y
7 SUPPOS$ 6PU% !M40
  8,V FUNNY4 ,IF ,I KNEW H[ 6RIDE ? ,I
WD40
  8,Y M1N Y C'T RIDE80
  8,OBVI\SLY N40
  8,!N :Y DON'T Y RIDE AB 9 A HORSE
C>RIAGE80                           #DJF
  8,WDN'T T 2 LOVELY60
  8,-E ) ME1 !N4 ,MY TR1T40
  ,%E TOOK ME 6A NE>BY HOTEL & ORD]$ ME
A HORSE C>RIAGE4 ,I LEFT ! BICYCLE 9 !
DRIVE & SP5T ! AFN RID+ >.D 0MYF4 ,I M/
SAY1 ,I FELT L ROYALTY4 ,I 0 HAV+ A GR&
"T4
  ,I PASS$ 0"O ( MY FRS4
  8,M9EKO10 %E CALL$ \4 8,:AT >E Y DO+
HO7+ T C>RIAGE ALL 6YRF80
  8,WAT* YR LANGUAGE10 ,I CALL$ BACK4
8,PL1SE A4RESS ME POLITELY IF Y WI% TO
3V]SE ) ME40
  8,DON'T 2 A JACKASS40
  8,!N MAY ,I ASSUME Y DON'T WI% 6JO9
ME80
  8,Y "K ,I D40
  8,IN T CASE1 PL1SE USE ! "R T"O (
VOICE4 ,Y MAY 2G9 AG40
  8,GD AFN1 ,SI/] ,M9EKO4 ,WD Y 2 S K9D
Z 6ALL[ ME 6A3OMPANY Y 9 ! C>RIAGE80
  8,C]TA9LY1 MY DE>4 ,MO/ PL1S$ 6H Y40


                  #CD               #DJG

  ,! ,GION ,KOBU IS ! ONLY KARYUKAI DIS-
TRICT 9 ,JAPAN T IS ALL[$ 6HO/ VISITORS
( /ATE4 ,WE >E 9=M$ ( ^! DIPLOMATIC MIS-
.NS MON?S 9 ADV.E & /UDI\SLY PREP>E =
!M4 ,WE R1D UP ON ! DIGNIT>Y'S C.TRY (
ORIG9 & RESE>* 8 OR H] P]SONAL >1S ( IN-
T]E/ S T WE C MA9TA9 AN 9TELLIG5T 3V]SA-
;N4
  ,I MET _M H1DS ( /ATE OV] ! YE>S4 ,EA*
"O 0 S DI6]5T4 ,"! IS "O EV5+ ,I REMEMB]
"PICUL>LY WELL4 ,WE 7 5T]TA9+ ,PRESID5T
,=D & ,H5RY ,KISS+]4 ,PRESID5T ,=D 0 AT
AN OZASHIKI 9 A BANQUET ROOM D[N/AIRS
:ILE ,DR4 ,KISS+] 0 9 "O ON ! FLOOR ABV4
,I 0 ASK$ 65T]TA9 AT BO?4 ,I ?"\ ! 3TRA/
MO/ REV1L+4
  ,PRESID5T ,=D 0 PL1SANT & 5GAG+1 B HE
DIDN'T SEEM "PICUL>LY 9T]E/$ 9 TRADI;NAL
,JAPANESE CULTURE4 ,8 OZASHIKI 0 R /AID
& DULL4 ,SECRET>Y ( ,/ATE ,KISS+]1 ON !
O!R H&1 0 CURI\S AB "EY?+ & KEPT ASK+
"QS4 ,HE 0 V AMUS+1 EV5 MILDLY RISQU@E4
,! "PY 2CAME Q BOI/]\S & WE ALL 5D$ UP
DANC+ >.D ! ROOM TGR & S++4         #DJH
  ,! WOND];L ?+ AB ! ATMOSPH]E ( AN OZA-
SHIKI IS T :5 GUE/S GET 96! _S ( X1 Z
DID ,DR4 ,KISS+]1 ALL 4T9C;NS 2T HI< &
L[ 4APPE> & "EY"O IS FREE 6RELAX & H A
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,QUE5 ,ELIZABE?1 ": 9=MAL;Y ( ANY SORT
IS PROHIBIT$4 ,9 ,MAY ( #AIGE ! QUE5 &
H] HUSB& MADE A /ATE VISIT 6,JAPAN4 ,I 0
9VIT$ 6ATT5D A BANQUET = !M AT ! ,TSU-
RUYA RE/AURANT4
  ,EV5 ?\< ? 0 AN UN(FICIAL D9N]1 X / _H
! TRAPP+S (A MAJOR DIPLOMATIC EV5T4 ,I
_H 6%[ P]SONAL ID5TIFIC,N 6! SECRET S]V-
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7 9 A RE/RICT$ Z"O ( SPECIALIZ$ SECUR;Y4
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WE /OOD 6GREET H]1 %E MADE A MAJE/IC EN-
TR.E 96! ROOM1 A3OMPANI$ 0! DUKE ( ,$9-
BUR<4 ,%E 0 WE>+ A B1UTI;L FLOOR-L5G?
DRESS ( PALE YELL[ SILK ORG&Y1 BRU%$ )A
FL[] PATT]N SU7E/IVE ( ROSES1 ,5GL&'S
N,NAL FL[]4
  ,WE TOOK \R S1TS &! BANQUET 2GAN4 ,!
TA# 0 LAID ) ELABORATE ,FR5* D9-    #DJI
N]W>E1 EV5 ?\< ! GUE/S 7 F ,GRT ,BRITA94
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ME Z A BIT N\V1U RI*E47
  ,I 0 S1T$ NEXT 6! QUE54 ,9 ^! SITU,NS
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LY4 ,IF ! VISITOR ASKS U A "Q1 WE H 6ASK
_! ATT5DANT IF WE >E P]MITT$ 6ANSW] FACE
6FACE4 ,ONCE GRANT$ P]MIS.N1 WE / H TO
3V]SE ) !M "? ! (FICIAL 9T]PRET]4 ,X IS
ALL Q /ILT$ & CUMB]"S4
  ,QUE5 ,ELIZABE? DIDN'T T\* ANY?+ %E 0
S]V$4
  8,DOESN'T ,H] ,MAJE/Y C>E = ANY?+ TO
EAT80
  8,IS ,H] ,MAJE/Y N FEEL+ WELL80
  ,I TRI$ MY BE/1 "? ! 9T]PRET] &! ATT5-
DANT1 65C\RAGE 3V]S,N B ! QUE5 DIDN'T
*OOSE 6REPLY4 ,S9CE ,I 0 "W+1 ,I CDN'T
5JOY ANY (! SUMPTU\S F1/ MYF4 ,MY M9D
2GAN 6W&]4 ,I SP5T "S "T /UDY+1 Z DIS-
CREETLY Z POSSI#1 ! JEWELRY T ! QUE5 0
WE>+3 H] E>R+S1 H] NECKLACE1 H]
BRACELETS4                          #DAJ
  ,! BANQUET HO/ESS MO;N$ = ME 6RISE4 ,X
IS USUAL = MAIKO & GEIKO 6MOVE AB DUR+ A
BANQUET1 6GREET ! V>I\S GUE/S1 S ? 0 N
3SID]$ RUDE4 ,! HO/ESS L$ ME \TSIDE 6!
5TR.E VE/IBULE4 ,! %OE VALET1 A WOND];L
OLD MAN ,I _H "KN = YE>S1 CALL$ ME OV]4
,HE _H A MIS*IEV\S GL9T 9 8 EYE4
  8,M9EKO1 "!'S "S?+ "H ,I "K Y WD L TO
SEE40
  ,HE TOOK A PAIR ( BLACK SAT9 PUMPS \ (
A C$> C>RY+ BOX4 ,!Y 7 ! QUE5'S %OES4
,EA* "O 0 DECORAT$ ) SEV5 DIAMONDS4
  8,C ,I H "O (! DIAMONDS80 ,I T1S$4
8,:AT IF Y TAKE "O F EA* %OE & GIVE X TO
ME8 ,I BET %E WDN'T NOTICE40
  8,/OP YR FOOLI%;S10 HE *ID$ ME4 8,I J
WANT$ 6%[ !M 6Y40
  ,I V5T$ MY ANNOY.E4
  8,GRAMPS1 ,QUE5 ,ELIZABE? HASN'T EAT5
"O MORSEL (! FOOD T %E'S BE5 S]V$4
,ISN'T T AW;L8 ,"EY"O "W$ S H>D 6PREP>E
? WOND];L M1L40
  8,Y DON'T WANT 6BE 4RESPECT;L1 N[1
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?+S ?AN WE D S MAYBE %E C'T EAT     #DAA
:AT %E'S BE5 GIV540
  8,B T DOESN'T MAKE ANY S5SE4 ,Y "K H[
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?9K X'S T]RIBLY RUDE40
  ,I M1N1 ! H1D *EF (! ,TSURUYA DIDN'T J
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TD4 ,:AT"E % ,I COOK80 ,I 0 SURE T HE _H
BE5 PLANN+ ! M5U = MON?S & T E ITEM _H
BE5 SANC;N$ 0! QUE5'S P4 ,H[ CD %E RE-
FUSE 6EV5 SAMPLE A M1L T _H BE5 OR*ES-
TRAT$ SPECIFIC,Y = H] 5JOY;T8 ,I DIDN'T
GET X4
  ,GRAMPS TRI$ 6HUMOR ME4 8,M9EKO1 ,I
"U/& :AT Y >E SAY+1 B PL1SE DON'T MAKE
AN ISSUE ( X4 ,WE DON'T WANT 6PROVOKE AN
9T]N,NAL 9CID5T N[1 D WE80
  ,AT 8 URG+1 ,I F9,Y RETURN$ 6MY PO/4
,I 3T9U$ 6SIT "! QUIETLY1 =BI45 65GAGE 9
3V]S,N )\T P]MIS.N1 WAIT+ =! :OLE ?+ 6BE
OV]4
  ,! TRANSLATOR CAME OV]4 8,MISS1 ! DUKE
( ,$9BUR< WI%ES 6SP1K ) Y40
  ,MAYBE ? WD 2 M 9T]E/+4 ,I W5T OV] TO
SIT 2S HM4 ,! DUKE GAVE ME P]MIS-   #DAB
.N 6SP1K 6HM DIRECTLY & LI/5$ 9T5TLY 6MY
ANSW]S 6HIS "QS4 ,HE APPE>$ 6BE V 9T]E/$
9 ! D.ES ( ,GION ,KOBU4 ,HE ASK$ ME AB !
,9\E ,S*OOL1 AB ! DI6];ES 2T 2+ A MAIKO
&A GEIKO1 & _M O!R ?+S AB \R LIFE/YLE4
,AT "O PO9T MY EYES 9ADV]T5TLY MET ^? (!
QUE54 ,"! 0 A /EELY ICI;S 9 H] GAZE4 ,X
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  ,! QUE5 / _HN'T T\*$ A ?+ ON H] PLATE4
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,AG5CY4
  8,MINE-*AN1 :AT 9 ! _W DID Y D YE/]"D8
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  8,:AT >E Y TALK+ AB80
  8,ALL ,I "K IS T ! ROYAL C\PLE SU45LY
DECID$ 6SLEEP 9 SEP>ATE *AMB]S LA/ NI<T1
& ,I _H 6SCRAM# 6F9D ! EXTRA SECUR;Y
6COV] !M40                          #DAC
  8,& :AT CD T POSSIBLY H 6D ) ME80
  8,I'M N SURE1 B Y 7 ! ONLY P]SON :O
SPOKE DIRECTLY 6! DUKE4 ,I ASSUM$ Y M/ H
D"O "S?+--0
  8,B ! ,DUKE 0 ! "O :O 9ITIAT$ ! 3V]S,N
& HE EXT5D$ P]MIS.N = ME 6SP1K 6HM DI-
RECTLY4 ,HE SEEM$ 65JOY \R T@ETE-@A-
T@ETE IMM5SELY40
  8,S T'S X4 ,T M/ 2 :AT !Y >GU$ AB40
  8,B ,I DON'T SEE :Y4 ,I 0 ONLY TRY+ 6D
MY JOB40
  8,( C\RSE Y W]E1 B '''40
  8,MR4 ,I%IKAWA1 MAY ,I ASK Y "S?+8 ,I
H VISIT$ A NUMB] ( DI6]5T C.TRIES & ,I
ALW TRY 6EAT :AT"E MY HO/ HAS BE5 K9D 5
6S]VE ME4 ,6REFUSE WD 2 4C\RTE\S &1 IF
,I 7 A VISITOR ( /ATE1 CD EV5 2 3/RU$ Z
AN A6RONT 6! N,N4 ,6SAY NO?+ ( ALL ! P
:O H "W$ S H>D 6PREP>E ! M1L4 ,:AT D Y
?9K8 ,WDN'T Y AGREE80
  8,AHA1 ,MINE-*AN1 ,I SEE4 ,X ALL BE-
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RASCAL40
  ,Z F> Z ,I'M 3C]N$1 "! IS N"E AN
EXCUSE = BAD 2HAVIOR4               #DAD
























                  #CE               #DAE

  ,= FIVE YE>S ,I 2LIEV$ T ,TO%IO 0 GO+
6DIVORCE 8 WIFE & M>RY ME4 ,DUR+ ? P]IOD
HE LI$ 6ME TWICE4 ,BO? LIES 9VOLV$ 8
FAMILY4 ,! F/ "T HE TOLD ME HE _H 6G \ (
T[N ON BUSI;S :5 HE 0 ACTU,Y SP5D+ !
NI<T 9 ,KYOTO ) 8 WIFE1 :O _H -E D[N F
,TOKYO 6SEE HM4 ,! SECOND 0 :5 WE 7 RE-
TURN+ 6,TOKYO F ,SAN ,FRANCISCO4 ,HE SD
WE _H 6EXIT ! PLANE SEP>ATELY 2C HE _H
HE>D A REPORT T "! 7 REPORT]S AT ! GATE4
,ALW LOOK+ 6AVOID SC&AL1 ,I DUTI;LLY
-PLI$4 ,"! W]5'T ANY REPORT]S4 ,:5 ,I
EXIT$ CU/OMS ,I SAW 9 ! 4T.E T 8 WIFE &
*N _H -E 6! AIRPORT 6WELCOME HM HOME4
  ,I "K ,I SD 9 ! 2G9N+ ( \R REL,N%IP T
LY+ 0 UNA3EPTA# B LIFE IS N S SIMPLE4
,ONCE WE 2CAME 9VOLV$1 ,I SAW T ,I NE$$
6GIVE ,TO%IO "T 6FIGURE X ALL \1 6TAKE T
F9AL /EP4
  ,B AF FIVE YE>S ,I R1LIZ$ T HE WASN'T
TAK+ X & ,I _H 6FACE FACTS4 ,WE W]5'T
ANY CLOS] 62+ A R1L C\PLE N[ ?AN WE 7 T
NI<T AT ! ,WALDORF4 ,I DECID$ 65D !
REL,N%IP & 2GAN LOOK+ =! "R OP-     #DAF
PORTUN;Y4 ,HE 0 K9D 5 6H& X 6ME4
  ,9 ,M>* ( #AIGF1 ,TO%IO LI$ 6ME =!
?IRD & F9AL "T4
  ,I US$ 6TRAVEL FREQU5TLY 6,TOKYO ON
BUSI;S4 ,:5 ,I 0 0MYF ,I /AY$ ON ! LA-
DIES FLOOR (! ,NEW ,OTANI ,HOTEL B :5 ,I
0 ) ,TO%IO WE ALW /AY$ 9 ! SAME SUITE ON
! FIF? FLOOR (! ,TOKYO ,PR9CE HOTEL4 ,I
/ REMEMB] ! NUMB] ( \R ROOM4
  ,WE _H PLANS 6MEET 9 ,TOKYO "O EV5+ S
,I *ECK$ 96\R SUITE :5 ,I GOT 6T[N4 ,I 0
>RANG+ MY COSMETICS & TOILETRIES ON !
VAN;Y 9 ! BA?ROOM :5 ! PH"O RANG4 ,X 0
,TO%IO4
  8,I'M 9 ! MI4LE (A PRODUC;N MEET+4 ,X
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9 ,ROPP;GI4 ,X _H BE5 A :ILE S9CE ,I'D
CUT LOOSE & ,I _H A GRT "T4
  ,I GOT BACK 6! HOTEL >.D ?REE O'C 9 !
MORN+4 ,"O ( ,TO%IO'S ATT5DANTS 0   #DAG
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=W>D 6GREET ME4
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  8,YES1 ,MISS1 ,I '''0
  8,IS ,TO%IO ALL "R80
  8,YES1 YES1 HE'S F9E4 ,B HE'S / 9 A
MEET+4 ,HE GAVE ME ! KEY & ASK$ ME 6ES-
CORT Y SAFELY 6YR ROOM40
  ,? DIDN'T MAKE A :OLE LOT ( S5SE 6ME B
,I 0 TOO TIR$ 6C>E4
  ,WE GOT 9 ! ELEVATOR & HE PU%$ ! BUT-
TON =! EI<? FLOOR4
  8,I'M SORRY1 B T'S ! WR;G FLOOR4 ,I'M
/AY+ ON FIVE40
  8,NO1 ,I DON'T 2LIEVE S4 ,I 0 TOLD Y
>E /AY+ ON EI<T40
  ..,? IS V .ODD1 ,I ?"\ Z ,TO%IO'S AS-
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"S?+ 6! ASSI/ANT B HE 0 HURRI$LY B[+ 8
WAY \ (! ROOM4 ,HE SD GDNI<T & %UT !
DOOR 2H HM4
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": ,I _H LEFT !M4 ,& "! 7 MY TOILETRIES1
L9$ UP 9 ! SAME ORD] ON ! VAN;Y4    #DAH
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2 OV] 9 A :ILE1 B ,I'M / "H40
  ,9 O!R ^WS1 ,I WDN'T 2 SEE+ HM ANY "T
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( O!R P4 ,B X DIDN'T R+ TRUE4 ,X S.D$ L
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6F9D \ :AT 0 GO+ ON4 ,I TOLD ! MAN AT !
FRONT DESK1 :O KNEW ME1 T ,I _H =GOTT5
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SUITE & OP5 ! DOOR4
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M9E4
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NO -PUNC;N AB OP5+ ! BAG4 ,I        #DAI
LOOK$ 9SIDE1 & "! AM;G ! CLO!S 0 A /ACK
( H1D %OTS ( ,TO%IO'S WIFE4 ,! PICTURES
7 ! K9D "O AUTOGRAPHS = FANS4 ,OBVI\SLY1
"S"T AF ,I W5T \ LA/ NI<T1 ,TO%IO _H MY
?+S MOV$ S 8 WIFE CD MOVE IN4 ,I EXPLOD-
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WIFE4 ,? 0 \R ROOM6 ,& ,I _H BE5 "! F/4
  ,I HE>D LAT] T ,TO%IO & 8 WIFE _H TO
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BOOK$ ANO!R ROOM1 N H MY ?+S MOV$ F "O
ROOM 6ANO!R4
  ,I %U4]$ )! R1LIZ,N ( :AT ? M1NT4 ,"H
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,NEW ,OTANI HOTEL4 ,I WDN'T H *ECK$ 96A
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PILE & PLUNG$ ! SCISSORS 96! C5T] (!
H1P4
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D"O4 ,HE 3T9U$ 6TR1T ME Z IF NO?+ _H
HAPP5$1 N"E M5;N+ ! 9CID5T4
  ,I EXPECT$ HM 63FRONT ME AB MY WANTON
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=! COAT & DCLD MY 9DEP5D;E4 ,8 REFUSAL
6BR+ X UP M1NT WE 7 LOCK$ 9 A WEIRD
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\T"R4
  ,9 ,MAY1 ,TO%IO 9VIT$ ME ON A FAMILY
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0 N 3SID]$ /RANGE T ,I 0 TRAVEL+ ) ? >-
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DROVE V FA/4 ,! NEXT MORN+ HE DROVE ME
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,I 0 G"O4
  ,I *ECK$ 96! HOTEL & ?REW MYF D[N ON !
B$4 ,I LAY "! AL"O = H\RS1 CRY+ MY EYES
\4 ,I 0 / TRY+ 6R,NALIZE ! REL,N%IP3 ,:Y
C'T ,I LET ?+S J /AY Z !Y >E8 ,:AT DI6]-
;E DOES X MAKE IF HE'S M>RI$8 ,B ! FACT
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ANY L;G]4                           #DBB
  ,:5 ,I _H NO M TE>S 6%$ ,I CALL$ A
CLOSE FR4 ,I 0 S WELL-"KN AT T "T T ,I
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8MY FACE 0 MY TICKET40 ,I 9VIT$ MY FR TO
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:O %D -E PRANC+ 9 B ! MAN HMF4 ,I GOT
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2 >.D HM4 ,I RETURN$ HOME 6,KYOTO &1 OB-
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OKASAN (! OCHAYA :O 0 ACT+ Z \R G-2T TO
9=M H] ( \R SEP>,N4
  ,TO%IO REFUS$ 6LET ! MATT] DROP4 ,HE
TRI$ 6SEE ME B ,I DECL9$4 ,EV5 8 "M GOT
96! ACT4 ,%E CAME 6! OKIYA A NUMB] ( "TS
6SP1K 6,MAMA ,MASAKO & ME4 ,%E 2SEE*$ ME
6RECONSID]4 8,HE IS BROK5HE>T$ AB ?1
,M9EKO4 ,WON'T Y PL1SE *ANGE YR M9D80 ,!
M %E PL1D$1 ! SUR] ,I 0 T ,I _H D"O ! "R
?+4
  ,AT LA/ !Y GAVE UP & X 0 OV]4 ,& S ?
IS H[ X 5D$4 ,? IS H[ ,I KILL$ !    #DBC
LOVE ( MY LIFE4 ,9 MY HE>T 8,TO%IO0 0
D1D4 ,HE 2CAME1 SIMPLY1 ,%9T>O ,KATSU1 !
ACTOR4 ,N[ T ,I 0 ON MY [N ,I 2GAN 6?9K
AB A*IEV+ R1L 9DEP5D;E4
  ,I 0 ?OR\<LY F$ UP )! SY/EM4 ,I _H
FOLL[$ ! RULES = ALL ^! YE>S1 B "! 0 NO
WAY ,I CD /AY 9 ! SY/EM & D :AT ,I WANT$
6D4 ,! :OLE R1SON :Y ! ORGANIZ,N ( ,GION
,KOBU _H BE5 SY/EMATIZ$ 9 ! F/ PLACE 0
65SURE ! DIGN;Y & F9ANCIAL 9DEP5D;E (!
WOM5 :O "W$ "!4 ,YET ! /RICTURES (! ,9\E
,S*OOL KEPT U SUBS]VI5T 6XS AU?OR;Y4 ,"!
0 NO ROOM = ANY SORT ( AUTONOMY4
  ,N ONLY >E WE N ALL[$ 6T1*1 WE C'T EV5
P]=M :AT & ": WE L4 ,WE H 6GET P]MIS.N =
"EY?+1 F \R *OICE ( REP]TOIRE 6: A3ESSO-
RIES & PROPS WE >E ALL[$ 6USE4 ,? >CANE
SY/EM HAS BE5 9 PLACE1 UN*ANG$1 = OV] A
HUNDR$ YE>S4 ,X 3TA9S NO PROC$URE = MOD-
IFIC,N1 NO AV5UE = IMPROVE;T OR RE=M4
,-PLA9+ OR RESI/+ IS TABOO4 ,Z NOT$1 ,I
_H BE5 TRY+ 69ITIATE *ANGES 9 ! SY/EM
S9CE ,I 0 FIFTE54 ,6NO AVAIL4
  ,ANO!R MAJOR PRO#M IS T WE P]=M]S >E
PD ALM NO?+ = \R PUBLIC P]=M.ES1    #DBD
EV5 =! ,MIYAKO ,ODORI1 = ALL XS POPUL>;Y
& CAPAC;Y CR[DS4 ,A SELECT FEW 7! T1*]S7
>E REPORT$ 6MAKE =TUNES F ! OP],N B ^? (
U :O ACTU,Y APPE> ON /AGE RCV V LL4 ,?
IS AF WE H REHE>S$ =A SOLID MON? & "W$
SELL+ TICKETS4 7,SELL+ TICKETS IS "P (
\R JOB4 ,I (T5 ASK$ MY BE/ CU/OM]S 6BUY
BLOCKS ( !M Z GIVEAWAYS 6EMPLOYEES &
CLI5TS4 ,I US$ 6SELL #B1EJJ A S1SON47
  ,S WE SUPPORT ! D.E B X DOES N SUPPORT
U4 ,& WE >E N M.TA9TOP SAGES :O C LIVE
03SUM+ MI/4
  ,I 0 N[ TW5TY-SIX & FAC+ RESPONSIBIL;Y
=! 3T9U,N (! OKIYA4 ,I 2GAN 6"U/& !
PRESSURE T ,AUNTIE ,OIMA _H BE5 "U :5 %E
F.D ME4 ,I DIDN'T WANT 6D X4 ,2C ( MY
/ATUS1 ,I 0 2SIEG$ ) "Y] MAIKO ASK+ ME
62COME _! (FICIAL ,ONESAN4 ,I GAVE !M
ALL ! SAME ANSW]3
  8,! ,NYOKOBA MAY 2 RECOGNIZ$ 0! ,M9IS-
TRY ( ,$UC,N Z A SPECIALIZ$ S*OOL1 B X W
N GIVE Y A HI< S*OOL DIPLOMA4 ,NO MATT]
H[ H>D Y APPLY YRF1 Y W 5D UP ": Y />T$3
)A JUNIOR HI< S*OOL $UC,N4 ,Y WON'T H !
ACADEMIC CR$5TIALS OR QUALIFIC,NS   #DBE
6FUNC;N 9 ! \TSIDE _W4 ,EV5 IF Y D V
WELL & RCV A MA/] C]TIFICATE F ! ,9\E
,S*OOL Y W N 2 A# 6SUPPORT YRF4 ,I'VE
TRI$ 6*ANGE ?+S = YE>S B NO "O HAS LIS-
T5$4 ,S1 ,I'M SORRY1 B Z L;G Z ?+S REMA9
Z !Y >E ,I DON'T FEEL -=TA# TAK+ ON ANY
"Y] SI/]S4 ,H["E1 IF Y'D L1 ,I'D 2 HAPPY
69TRODUCE Y 6ANO!R GEIKO :O MI<T 2 WILL+
6ACT Z YR SPONSOR40
  ,)\T "Y] SI/]S "! 0 NO WAY =! BUSI;S (
! OKIYA 6GR[4 ,! GEIKO ) U 7 AG+4 ,REVE-
NUES 7 D[N4 ,I DIDN'T WANT 6ASK ANY ( MY
CU/OM]S = A4I;NAL PATRONAGE1 ?\< _M (-
F]$4 ,I _H NO DESIRE 69CUR T LEVEL (
DEBT OR OBLIG,N 2C (! 3FLICT X POS$ 6!
ID1L (! 9DEP5D5T BUSI;SWOMAN T _H BE5
9/ILL$ 9 ME 0ALL ( MY M5TORS4 ,MY OP;NS
7 LIMIT$4 ,I _H 6F9D ANO!R WAY 6MAKE
M"OY4
  ,>.D T "T A FR ( M9E1 :O 0 "W+ FULL-"T
Z A GEIKO1 OP5$ H] [N NI<TCLUB ON !
SIDE4 ,"! 0 LL PREC$;E = ? SORT ( DUAL
ROLE 9 ! ,GION1 & H] 9NOVATIVE 2HAVIOR 0
SEV]ELY FR[N$ ^U1 B ,I ?"\ X 0
BRILLIANT4                          #DBF
  ,I DECID$ 6TRY ! SAME ?+ MYF4 ,I WD
R5OVATE ! OKIYA & TURN "P ( X 96A NI<T-
CLUB6 ,ONCE ! CLUB 0 E/ABLI%$ ,I CD USE
! 9COME 6SUPPORT MY FAMILY & ,I WD 2
FREE 6D :AT ,I WANT$4 ,MAMA ,MASAKO CD
HELP \ 9 ! CLUB :5 ,I NE$$ H]4
  ,B ,I 0 9 =A BIG SURPRISE4 ,X TURNS \
T WE DIDN'T [N ! OKIYA6 ,UNBE"KN/ 6ME1
WE _H BE5 R5T+ X = ALL ^! YE>S4 ,& WE
CDN'T R5OVATE "S?+ WE DIDN'T [N4 ,I TRI$
6TALK 6,MAMA ,MASAKO 96BUY+ ! H\SE1 B MY
R1SON+ FELL ON D1F E>S4 ,H] SOLU;N 6\R
PRO#MS 0 6HO>D M"OY1 N 6SP5D X4 ,%E _H
NO 3CEPT ( 9VE/+ 9 ! FUTURE4 ,%E ?"\
R5T+ 0 F9E4
  ,I DIDN'T4 ,S ,I W5T 2H H] BACK4 ,I
CALL$ ! BANK &1 BAS$ ON MY E>N+S1 0 A#
6SECURE A MORTGAGE & BUY ! PROP]TY ) MY
[N M"OY4 ,B !N ,I RAN 96ANO!R ROADBLOCK4
,! H\SE 0 OV] A HUNDR$ YE>S OLD S LEG,Y
9ELIGI# = R5OV,N4 ,ORD9.E DICTAT$ T WE
WD H 6DEMOLI% X & />T OV]4 ,I 0 R1DY 6G
AH1D B ,MAMA ,MASAKO 0 -PLETELY OPPOS$
6! IDEA4
  ,I 0 DET]M9$ N 6GIVE IN4 ,MY      #DBG
LOAD 0 TOO H1VY4 ,I 0 APPE>+ 9 ELEV5
DI6]5T P]=M.E PROGRAMS E YE>4 ,I LOV$ !
DANC+ B X DIDN'T PAY 5 6SUPPORT ! OKIYA4
,! ONLY WAY ,I CD AUG;T ! FAMILY 9COME 0
69CR1SE ! NUMB] ( OZASHIKI ,I "W$ B ,I 0
ALR OV]:ELM$4 ,& _H BE5 = YE>S4
  ,I / WANT$ 63/RUCT A NEW BUILD+ ON !
SITE (! OKIYA B R1LIZ$ T X 0 GO+ 6TAKE
"S "T 63V9CE ,MAMA ,MASAKO 6G AL;G ) MY
PLANS4 ,B1 Z ALW1 ,I CDN'T WAIT4 ,S ,I
W5T \1 LOCAT$ A SPACE 6R5T1 & F.D BACK]S
WILL+ 69VE/ 9 A CLUB4
  ,I OP5$ MY [N PLACE 9 ,JUNE ( #AIGG4
,I "ND X ,CLUB ,HOLLYHOCK4 ,I _H A "PN]
:O OV]SAW ! OP],N :5 ,I WASN'T "!4 ,B E
AFN1 2F ,I W5T 6"W1 ,I MADE SURE T "EY?+
0 9 ORD]4 ,& E NI<T1 :5 MY OZASHIKI 7
F9I%$1 ,I W5T 6! CLUB & /AY$ UNTIL
CLOS+4





                                    #DBH
























                  #CF               #DBI

  ,OV] ! NEXT ?REE YE>S ,I /E]$ A /1DY
C\RSE T[>D RETIRE;T4 ,! NI<TCLUB 0 ONLY
A TEMPOR>Y M1SURE4 ,MY R1L DR1M 0 6CR1TE
A BUSI;S T MADE WOM5 M B1UTI;L4 ,I WANT$
6[N A B1UTY TR1T;T CL9IC & ,I CAME UP )A
/RATEGY 6MAKE X HAPP54
  ,F/1 ,I _H 6H A PLACE4 ,I _H 63V9CE
,MAMA ,MASAKO 6LET ME BUILD A BUILD+4 ,I
?"\ X %D H FIVE /ORIES4 ,I WD PUT ! CLUB
ON ! F/ FLOOR1 A B1UTY TR1T;T CL9IC &
HAIR SALON ON ! SECOND1 & DIVIDE ! UPP]
FLOORS 2T \R LIV+ QU>T]S & R5TAL T5ANTS4
,? %D GIVE ME 5 9COME 6SUPPORT ! H\SE-
HOLD4
  ,NEXT1 ,I _H 6SORT \ ! FUTURE ( ALL !
GEIKO & EMPLOYEES :O 7 "U ! C>E (!
OKIYA4 ,I WD M$IATE 5GAGE;TS =! WOM5 :O
WANT$ 6GET M>RI$ & HELP ! O!RS F9D NEW
POSI;NS OR />T _! [N BUSI;SES4
  ,!N ,I CD DECIDE H[ & :5 6RETIRE4 ,!
PRESS 0 CLAIM+ ,I 0 ! MO/ SU3ESS;L GEIKO
6-E AL;G 9 A HUNDR$ YE>S4 ,I WANT$ 6CAP-
ITALIZE ON ? MO;TUM = GD 5DS4 ,MY
RETIRE;T WD 2 A HUGE BL[ 6! SYS-    #DCJ
TEM4 ,I 0 HOP+ T ! %OCK ( MY DEFEC;N &
XS REP]CUS.NS WD S]VE Z A WAKE-UP CALL
6! 3S]VATIVE L1D]%IP T !Y _H 6*ANGE ?+S4
,I WANT$ 6MAKE !M RECOGNIZE T ! ORGANI-
Z,N (! ,GION ,KOBU 0 DANG]\SLY \ ( /EP )
! "TS & T1 IF !Y DIDN'T 9/ITUTE RE=MS1 !
,GION ,KOBU WD H NO FUTURE4
  ,F ": ,I 0 /&+1 ! DEMISE (! KARYUKAI
SEEM$ 9EVITA#4 ,! ORGANIZ,N 0 S MORIBUND
T X 0 /RANGL+ ! V TR1SURES X 0 M&AT$ TO
PRES]VE4 ,! R1L;Y IS T1 EV5 AT T "T1 !
NUMB] ( OKIYA & OCHAYA 9 ,GION ,KOBU 0
DW9DL+4 ,! [N]S (! OCHAYA &! OKIYA 7 ON-
LY FOCUS$ ON IMM GA92 !Y LACK$ A COLLEC-
TIVE VI.N =! FUTURE4
  ,I CDN'T SIT 0& WAT* ,GION ,KOBU FADE
AWAY 96NO?+;S4 ,MAYBE "! 0 / "T = ME TO
MAKE A DI6];E4 ,I MADE A RADICAL DECI.N4
,I WD RETIRE 2F ,I TURN$ ?IRTY4 ,I DE-
CID$ 6LOOK ACTIVELY = WAYS 6SUBSIDIZE MY
9COME4
  ,KEIZO ,SAJI1 ! PRESID5T ( ,SUNTORY1
HAPP5$ 6CALL ME >.D T "T4
  8,M9EKO1 WE >E GO+ 6BE FILM+ A -M]CIAL
= ,SUNTORY ,OLD & ,I 0 WOND]+ IF    #DCA
Y WD COA* ! MAIKO ON _! MOVE;TS8 ,IF
Y'RE FREE1 CD Y MEET ME AT ! ,KYOYAMOTO
RE/AURANT AT F\R TM AFN80
  ,MR4 ,SAJI 0 A GRT CU/OM] & ,I 0 M ?AN
HAPPY 6OBLIGE4
  ,I WORE A LI<T BLUE E>LY SUMM] SILK
CREPE KIMONO )A :ITE H]ON PATT]N &A
FIVE-COLOR$ OBI EMBOSS$ )A GOLD WAT]M>K
PATT]N4
  ,TWO MAIKO 7 PREP>+ =! %OOT :5 ,I >-
RIV$1 : 0 6TAKE PLACE 9 "O (! PRIVATE
TATAMI ROOMS (! TRADI;NAL-/YLE RE/AU-
RANT4 ,"! 0 A BOTTLE ( ,SUNTORY ,OLD
,:ISKEY1 A BUCKET ( ICE1 A BOTTLE ( M9]-
AL WAT]1 AN OLD-FA%ION$ GLASS1 A HI<BALL
GLASS1 &A SWIZZLE /ICK ON A L[ TA# 0!
W9D[4 ,I %[$ ! "Y] WOM51 /EP 0/EP1 !
PROP] WAY 6MIX A DR9K & !Y COPI$ EA* (
MY AC;NS4 ,! DIRECTOR ASK$ ME IF ,I WD
M9D FILM+ A TE/4
  ,HE _H ME WALK D[N ! L;G CORRIDOR (!
RE/AURANT1 SL[+ MY /EPS =! SAKE (! CAM-
]A4 ,! SUN 0 S9K+ 9 ! WE/ & ,YASAKA ,PA-
GODA 0 GL[+ ON ! HORIZON4 ,WE %OT ? SC5E
A NUMB] ( "TS1 & !N !Y ASK$ ME TO   #DCB
OP5 ! FUSUMA 6! PRIVATE ROOM4 ,!Y "TD X
P]FECTLY S T ! BELL F ,*ION9 ,TEMPLE LET
\ A RES.D+ G;G J Z ,I 0 SLID+ OP5 ! PAN-
EL4
  ,I SAT D[N AT ! TA# & 2GAN 6PREP>E A
DR9K4 ,AD-LI2+1 HALF 9 JE/1 ,I SD 6"O (!
ACTORS1 8,WD Y L X A LL /R;G]80 ,:5 !
TE/ 0 OV] & !Y />T$ 6FILM = R1L ,I EX-
CUS$ MYF & LEFT4
  ,"S "DS LAT] ,I 0 9 MY ROOM GETT+
DRESS$ =! EV5+4 ,! TELEVI.N 0 ON4 ,I
HE>D ! S.D (A G;G &! L9E1 8,WD Y L X A
LL /R;G]80 ..,I'VE HE>D T "S": .2F1 ,I
?"\1 B ,I WASN'T RE,Y PAY+ ATT5;N4
  ,LAT] T NI<T ,I 5T]$ AN OZASHIKI & "O
( MY CU/OM]S SD1 8,I SEE Y'VE *ANG$ YR
TUNE40
  8,AB :AT80
  8,AB 2+ 9 -M]CIALS40
  8,NO1 ,I HAV5'T4 ,AL? ,MR4 ,SAJI DID
ASK ME 6GIVE "S ADVICE 6! MODELS 9 "O (
HIS4 ,X 0 FUN40
  8,I ?9K HE PULL$ A FA/ "O ON Y40
  ,S X .0 ME AF ALL6
  .,T .OLD .COOT1 ,I LAU<$ 6MYF4    #DCC
..,I'VE BE5 HOODW9K$6 ,I ?"\ X 0 /RANGE
T HE BO!R$ 6-E ON 6! .%OOT '''
  ,B ! FACT IS1 X _H BE5 PA9.S & ,I RE,Y
DIDN'T M9D4 8,WD Y L X A LL /R;G]80 BE-
CAME ! CAT*PHRASE (! "D4 ,&! :OLE EXP]I-
;E 0 UN9T5;N,Y FREE+4 ,I DECID$ X WDN'T
HURT 6A3EPT -M]CIAL (F]S & 2GAN 6APPE> 9
PHOTOGRAPHS1 ,,TV -M]CIALS1 ADV]TISE;TS1
MAGAZ9ES1 & ON TALK %[S4 ,I 0 GLAD =!
A4I;NAL 9COME &1 :5"E POSSI#1 US$ ! EX-
POSURE 6EXPRESS MY ?"\S AB ! GEIKO SYS-
TEM4
  ,I A4$ ! -M]CIAL "W 6MY PACK$ S*$ULE &
/AY$ ON ? TR1DMILL UNTIL ,M>* #AH1
#AIHJ1 ! "D T ,"M ,SAKAGU*I DI$4 ,H] D1?
0 A DEF9+ MO;T 9 MY LIFE4 ,X FELT L !
B"RE/ LI<T 9 ,GION ,KOBU _H G"O D>K4
,SADLY1 %E 0 ! LA/ MA/] (! MUSICAL TRA-
DI;N 9 : %E _H BE5 TRA9$4 ,! =M DI$ )
H]4
  ,) ,"M ,SAKAGU*I G"O1 ,I -PLETELY LO/
HE>T4 ,ANY 5?USIASM ,I / _H =! ,GION
,KOBU LIFE/YLE EVAPORAT$4 ,MY BODY 0 ALR
EXHAU/$4 ,N[ MY M9D CAU<T UP4 ,"M
,SAKAGU*I 2QU1!D ME A MAGNIFIC5T    #DCD
*ALC$ONY & ONYX OBI CLASP4 ,:5"E ,I
LOOK$ AT X ,I FELT N ONLY SAD B AL =-
LORN1 L MY /AUN*E/ ALLY _H G"O AWAY &
LEFT ME ALL AL"O4
  ,F\R MON?S LAT]1 ON ,JULY #BC1 ,I ASK$
,SUEHIROYA 6A3OMPANY ME ON A =MAL VISIT
6! IEMOTO4 ,:5 WE 5T]$ ! /UDIO ! IEMOTO
0 ON /AGE 0H]F4 ,%E F9I%$ H] D.E & CAME
6SIT FAC+ U4 ,I PUT MY FAN D[N =M,Y 9
FRONT ( MYF4
  8,I H DECID$ 6RETIRE F ACTIVE S]VICE Z
A GEIKO ON ,JULY #BE10 ,I ANN\NC$4
  ,BIG ,MI/RESS 2GAN 6CRY4
  8,MINE-*AN1 ,I H RAIS$ Y L MY [N DAU<-
T]4 ,I H SE5 Y "? S M*1 F YR ILL;SES 6YR
SU3ESSES4 ,WON'T Y PL1SE RECONSID] YR
DECI.N80
  ,A ?\S& SC5ES FLA%$ "? MY M9D3 H] T1*+
ME1 REHE>S+ ME1 GIV+ ME P]MIS.N 6D.E ?
PIECE OR T PIECE 9 PUBLIC4 ,I 0 MOV$ 0H]
EMO;N1 B %E 0 UNA# 6SAY ! "O ?+ ,I L;G$
6HE>4 ,%E CDN'T SAY1 8,:AT"E Y D1
,M9EKO1 PL1SE DON'T /OP DANC+40 ,! SY/EM
WDN'T ALL[ X4 ,:5 ,I /OPP$ 2+ A GEIKO ,I
WD H 6/OP DANC+4                    #DCE
  ,MY M9D 0 MADE UP4 ,I B[$ 6,BIG ,MIS-
TRESS &1 )A /1DY VOICE1 MADE MY F9AL
DECL>,N4 8,?ANK Y S M* =! _M YE>S ( K9D-
;S Y H %[N ME4 ,I W N"E =GET H[ M* ,I [E
Y4 ,MY HE>T IS FILL$ ) GRATITUDE40
  ,I T\*$ MY =EH1D 6! FLOOR4 ,! DRESS] 0
SPEE*.S4 ,I W5T HOME & TOLD ,MAMA
,MASAKO & ,KUNIKO4 ,!Y BO? BUR/ 96TE>S4
,I TOLD !M 6GET HOLD ( !MVS1 2C "! 0 S
M* 6D 9 ! NEXT =TY-EI<T H\RS4 ,WE _H TO
PREP>E "P+ GIFTS = "EY"O 9 ! -MUN;Y4
  ,BIG ,MI/RESS M/ H AL]T$ ! ,KABUKAI
IMMLY1 2C ! PH"O />T$ R++ (F ! HOOK &
DIDN'T /OP =! NEXT TWO "DS4 ,"EY"O WANT$
6"K :AT 0 GO+ ON4 ,! (FIC]S (! ,KABUKAI
DEM&$ AN EXPLAN,N4 ,!Y BE7$ ME N 6QUIT4
,B !Y DIDN'T (F] 6*ANGE ANY?+4
  ,T NI<T ,I W5T 6MY S*$UL$ OZASHIKI4 ,I
PRET5D$ T NO?+ UNUSUAL 0 GO+ ON4 ,"EY"O
ASK$ ME :AT 0 WR;G1 :Y 0 ,I L1V+4 ,BASI-
C,Y ,I J SD1 8,WELL1 ^! FIFTE5 YE>S MAY
H SEEM$ %ORT 6Y B !Y H BE5 AN ET]N;Y =
ME40
  ,X 0 WELL AF MIDNI<T 0! "T ,I GOT 6!
,HOLLYHOCK4 ,! PLACE 0 PACK$4 ,I    #DCF
0 SU45LY OV]COME ) EXHAUS;N4 ,I TOOK !
MICROPH"O & ANN\NC$ T ,I 0 RETIR+ F !
PROFES.N4 ,SAY+ X \ L\D L T MADE X SEEM
M R1L4 ,I ASK$ "EY"O 6PL1SE G HOME & !N
CLOS$ ! PLACE A FEW H\RS E>LY4
  ,I 0 AT ! ,NYOKOBA 0#H3BJ NEXT MORN+ =
MY CLASS4 ,BIG ,MI/RESS & ,I "W$ ON !
D.E .,YA%IMA .,ISL&1 "O (! D.ES T MAY
ONLY 2 LE>N$ 0^? :O H RCVD C]TIFIC,N4 ,!
LESSON W5T ON = M* L;G] ?AN USUAL4 ,:5
,I CAME D[N F ! /AGE1 %E LOOK$ ME 9 !
EYE & LET \ A BIG SI<4
  ,"! 0 NO?+ LEFT 6SAY4
  ,I PULL$ 96MYF & B[$1 DEEPLY4 ..,? IS
RE,Y .X1 ,I ?"\4 ..,"! IS NO TURN+ BACK
N[4 ,X'S .OV]4
  ,I TOOK A SECOND D.E LESSON F "O (! LL
MI/RESSES1 Z 0 MY CU/OM1 !N A ,NOH D.E
CLASS &A TEA C]EMONY CLASS4 ,I PD MY RE-
SPECTS 6MY T1*]S1 B[$ GD-BYE 9 ! GENKAN1
& WALK$ \ ! DOOR (! ,NYOKOBA =! LA/ "T4
,I 0 TW5TY-N9E YE>S & EI<T MON?S OLD &
MY LIFE Z A GEIKO ( ,GION ,KOBU 0 OV]4
  ,Z ,I EXPECT$1 MY RETIRE;T S5T %OCK
WAVES "? ! SY/EM4 ,B N 9 ! WAY ,I   #DCG
9T5D$4 ,9 ! ?REE MON?S AF ,I RETIR$1
SEV5TY O!R GEIKO AL QUIT ! BUSI;S4 ,I
APPRECIAT$ ! GE/URE1 ?\< X SEEM$ A LL
LATE 6BE %[+ SOLID>;Y ) ME AT T PO9T4 ,&
! P[]S T 2 DIDN'T *ANGE A ?+4



















                                    #DCH
























                  #CG               #DCI

  ,I WOKE UP ON ! MORN+ ( ,JULY #BE
FEEL+ FREE Z A BIRD4 ,I /RET*$ \ LUXURI-
\SLY 9 MY B$ & PICK$ UP A BOOK4 ,I
DIDN'T H 6G 6CLASS4 ,! O!R WOM5 9 ! H\SE
7 ALL TAK5 C>E (4 ,I J _H 6WORRY AB MY
8R1L0 DEP5D5TS1 ,KUNIKO & ,MAMA4
  ,KUNIKO'S DR1M 0 6OP5 A RE/AURANT4 ,I
PROMIS$ 6C>RY H] = ?REE YE>S & %E 0 BUSY
PLANN+ ! NEW 5T]PRISE4 ,IF ! BUSI;S 7 A
SU3ESS %E CD 3T9UE2 IF X 7 A FAILURE WE
WD CLOSE X D[N4 ,%E DECID$ 6"N ! RE/AU-
RANT ,OFUKURO NO ,AJI1 OR ,"M'S ,HOME
,COOK+4
  ,! ONLY P]SON :O WASN'T GETT+ R1DY 6G
\ ON H] [N 0 ,MAMA ,MASAKO4 ,I _H PA-
TI5TLY EXPLA9$ MY PLANS 6H] OV] & OV]
AG1 B %E J DIDN'T GET X4 ,%E 0 US$ 62+
DEP5D5T ON O!R P & _H NO DESIRE 6MAKE A
LIFE = H]F4 ,%E BASIC,Y LIK$ ?+S ! WAY
!Y W]E4 ,:AT 0 ,I 6D8 ,I CDN'T KICK H]
\4 ,:5 ,I /OOD ) H] 9 C\RT & PROCLAIM$
8,I WANT 6BE ADOPT$ 0! ,IWASAKI FAMILY0
,I TOOK ON A S]I\S RESPONSIBIL;Y4 ,I 0
HONOR B.D 6TAKE C>E ( H]4           #DDJ
  ,MAMA ,MASAKO & ,I _H SLI<TLY DI6]5T
OP9IONS AB :AT X M1NT 6BE ! ATOTORI4 ,I
"U/OOD MY -MIT;T 6,AUNTIE ,OIMA 6M1N T
,I 0 OBLIG$ 6C>RY ON ! "N ,IWASAKI &
MA9TA9 XS >TI/IC 9TEGR;Y4 ,I DIDN'T
EQUATE ? )A PROMISE 6MANAGE ! OKIYA IN-
DEF9ITELY4 ,MAMA ,MASAKO WANT$ ! OKIYA
63T9UE4
  8,MINE-*AN1 Y >5'T GETT+ ANY "Y]4 ,H Y
2GUN 6?9K AB :O IS GO+ 6BE YR ATOTORI80
  ,X 0 "T 6LEVEL ) H]4 ,I SPOKE 9 NO UN-
C]TA9 T]MS3
  8,MAMA1 PL1SE "U/&4 ,I D N WANT 6MAN-
AGE ! OKIYA4 ,I AM TIR$ ( ? BUSI;S &
WANT 6QUIT4 ,IF X 7 J UP 6ME ,I WD CLOSE
D[N ! OKIYA TM4 ,H["E1 "! IS ANO!R OP;N4
,IF Y WANT 6KEEP X GO+1 ,I'LL GIVE UP MY
POSI;N & Y C F9D "S"O ELSE 6BE !
ATOTORI4 ,I'LL GIVE Y :AT"E IS 9 MY SAV-
+S A3.T4 ,Y & YR NEXT HEIR C RUN ! OKIYA
& ,I'LL G BACK 62+ A ,TANAKA40
  8,:AT >E Y TALK+ AB8 ,Y >E MY DAU<T]4
,H[ CD ,I "E REPLACE Y8 ,IF Y WANT TO
CLOSE ! OKIYA1 !N WE W CLOSE ! OKIYA40
  ,X WASN'T EXACTLY :AT ,I 0 HOP+   #DDA
%E WD SAY4 ,I 0 HALF HOP+ %E WD A3EPT MY
(F] & ,I WD 2 REL1S$ F MY RESPONSIBIL;Y
6H] &=! 4POSI;N (! OKIYA4 ,B LIFE IS N"E
T EASY4
  8,OKAY1 ,MAMA4 ,I "U/&4 ,!N LET'S MAKE
A D1L4 ,Y >E WELCOME 6/AY ) ME1 B ON "O
3DI;N4 ,I WANT Y 6PROMISE T Y WON'T 9T]-
F]E ) MY PLANS4 ,EV5 IF Y ?9K ,I'M MAK+
A MISTAKE ,I NE$ Y 6LET ME D ?+S MY [N
WAY4 ,IF Y PROMISE1 !N ,I W TAKE C>E ( Y
=! RE/ ( YR LIFE40
  ,%E AGRE$1 & F9,Y GAVE ME P]MIS.N TO
RAZE ! OKIYA & BUILD MY DR1M =! FUTURE4
,I DIDN'T FEEL ANY GUILT OV] MY DECI.N
6CLOSE ! OKIYA4 ,I _H GIV5 ! ,GION ,KOBU
"EY?+ ,I _H & X 0 NO L;G] GIV+ ME :AT ,I
NE$$4 ,I _H NO REGRETS4
  ,I B"\ A L>GE A"P;T & WE LIV$ "! :ILE
! NEW BUILD+ 0 "U 3/RUC;N4 ,I WRAPP$ UP
ALL ! PRECI\S CO/UMES & OBJECTS T !
OKIYA [N$ & /OR$ !M SAFELY 9 MY NEW
HOME4 ,! BUILD+ 0 -PLET$ ON ,OCTOB] #AE1
#AIHJ4 ,DUE 6,MAMA ,MASAKO'S SU7ES;NS
7R1D 9T]F];E71 ,I _H 6*ANGE MY PLANS &!
BUILD+ 5D$ UP HAV+ ?REE /ORIES      #DDB
9/1D ( FIVE4 ,B X 0 C]TA9LY BETT] ?AN
NO?+4
  ,I OP5$ A NEW ,CLUB ,HOLLYHOCK ON !
GR.D FLOOR4 ,KUNIKO OP5$ UP ,"M'S ,HOME
,COOK+4 ,WE MOV$ 96AN A"P;T ON ! SECOND
FLOOR4 ,I / HOP$ 6OP5 A B1UTY TR1T;T
CL9IC ON ! ?IRD1 B 9 ! M1N"T WE US$ !
SPACE Z GUE/ QU>T]S &= /ORAGE4
  ,I 0 5JOY+ ! RELATIVE EASE ( MY NEW
LIFE4 ,ON A D>E F "S ( MY CU/OM]S ,I
TOOK UP ! GAME ( GOLF4 ,I TOOK PRIVATE
LESSONS =A FEW WEEKS & 0 SOON SCOR+ 9 !
#HJ'S & #IJ'S4 ,NO "O CD 2LIEVE X1 B ,I
?9K1 L ) BASKETBALL1 GOLF CAME EASY 6ME
2C DANC+ _H HEI<T5$ MY S5SE ( BAL.E &
GIV5 ME AN UNUSUAL DEGREE ( F9E MOTOR
3TROL4
  ,I 2GAN 6S]I\SLY RESE>* ! BUSI;S (
B1UTY & 6MAKE PLANS =A B1UTY TR1T;T CL9-
IC4 ,I TE/$ NUM]\S PRODUCTS & MET )A VA-
RIETY ( EXP]TS 9 ! FIELD4 ,"O ( MY CUS-
TOM]S (F]$ 69TRODUCE ME 6A MA/] HAIR-
DRESS] 9 ,TOKYO :O MI<T 2 ( HELP4 ,MY
CU/OM]'S WIFE SET UP ! MEET+ & AGRE$ TO
MAKE ! 9TRODUC;N4 ,I CALL$ ,MRS4    #DDC
,S4 :5 ,I >RIV$ 9 T[N 6F9ALIZE ! PLANS4
,%E ASK$ ME 6-E 0=A *AT IF ,I WASN'T
BUSY1 &1 HAV+ "T 6KILL1 ,I DECID$ 6TAKE
ADVANTAGE ( H] HOSPITAL;Y4 ,MRS4 ,S4
WELCOM$ ME W>MLY & U%]$ ME 96! LIV+
ROOM4 ,"! ON ! WALL 0 ! MO/ AMAZ+ PA9T+
,I _H "E SE54 ,X 0 AN EXQUISITE IMAGE (A
N9E-TAIL$ FOX4
  8,:O PA9T$ T PICTURE80 ,I ASK$1 HUMM+
)! 9TUI;N T "S?+ IMPORTANT 0 GO+ ON4
  8,ISN'T X A WOND];L PA9T+8 ,WE >E
KEEP+ X "H =! >TI/4 ,8 "N IS ,J9I*IRO
,SATO4 ,I'M /UDY+ ) HM4 ,8 C>E] IS J
GETT+ />T$1 B ,I ?9K HE'S V TAL5T$40
  ,I 0 ROCK$ 0A SU45 R1LIZ,N4 ..,I'M
DE/9$ 69TRODUCE ? >TI/ 6! ._W4 ,I KNEW
)\T A D\BT T ? 0 :AT ,I 0 M1NT 6D4 ,X 0
Z IF "S"O _H GIV5 ME A MIS.N4
  ,I ASK$ MY ,MRS4 ,S4 ALL K9DS ( "QS AB
! PA9T] & SOON X 0 "T = ME 6MEET ,TO%IO
= D9N]4 ,OV] ! PA/ FEW YE>S WE _H SAL-
VAG$ A FR%IP F ! DEBRIS ( \R REL,N%IP4
,MRS4 ,S4 & ,I W]5'T MEET+ ! HAIRDRESS]
UNTIL LAT] T EV5+4
  8,I'LL SEE Y AT ! ,PUB ,C>D9AL    #DDD
9 ,ROPP;GI AT T5-?IRTY10 ,I SD Z ,I
?ANK$ H] = H] HOSPITAL;Y & LEFT4
  ,TO%IO & ,I _H A NICE D9N] & !N HE
BR"\ ME BACK 6HIS (FICE4 ,HE WANT$ MY
OP9ION ON "S?+ HE 0 "W+ ON4 ,WE WAT*$ A
VIDEO (! FOOTAGE & 4CUSS$ X4 ,!N HE IN-
SI/$ ON DRIV+ ME OV] 6,ROPP;GI HMF4 ,I 0
A FEW M9UTES LATE4 ,I SAW "S"O :O ,I ?"\
MI<T 2 ,MRS4 ,S4 7L ,KUNIKO1 ,I AM NE>-
SI<T$71 B ! WOMAN 0 SITT+ ) TWO P1 N "O1
S ,I ?"\ ,I 0 MISTAK54 ,!N !Y ALL />T$
WAV+ ME OV] S ,I SMIL$ MY WAY ACR ! ROOM
6!M4 ,"O (! M5 0 V "Y & H&"S4
  ,MRS4 ,S4 9TRODUC$ ME 6! HAIRDRESS]4
,HE WASN'T ! "O4 ,& !N %E TURN$ 6! O!R
MAN4 8,& ? IS ,J9I*IRO ,SATO1 ! >TI/ ^:
PA9T+ Y ADMIR$ E>LI]40
  8,B Y'RE S "Y60 ,I BLURT$4
  8,I MO/ C]TA9LY AM N60 HE C.T]$ =CE;L-
LY4 7,HE 0 TW5TY-N9E47
  8,I LOVE T PA9T+10 ,I SD )\T HESIT,N4
8,IS "! ANY WAY ,I CD BUY X F Y80
  8,OH1 Y C H X10 HE SD4 8,TAKE X4 ,X'S
YRS40
  ,I 0 DUMBF.D$4                    #DDE
  8,NO1 NO1 ,I CDN'T D T10 ,I SD4 8,X'S
M* TOO VALUA#4 ,2SS1 IF ,I DON'T PAY = X
,I WON'T FEEL L XS M9E40
  ,B HE WDN'T HE> ( X4 8,IF Y L ! PA9T+
T M* ,I WD RE,Y L Y 6H X40 ,HE S.D$ COM-
PLETELY S9C]E4
  ,MRS4 ,S4 AGRE$ ) HM4
  8,BE GRACI\S1 MY DE>1 & TAKE ADVANTAGE
( 8 K9D (F]40
  8,WELL1 9 T CASE1 ,I A3EPT ! PA9T+
GRATE;LLY & W RETURN ! FAVOR 6Y "SH[ 9 !
FUTURE40
  ,I _H NO IDEA H[ PROPHETIC ^? ^WS WD
TURN \ 6BE4 ,M1N:ILE1 ,I SP5T S LL "T
TALK+ 6! HAIRDRESS] T WE _H 6RES*$ULE \R
APPO9T;T =! FOLL[+ EV5+4
  ,I MET ,J9 A FEW M "TS 9 ! NEXT FEW
WEEKS4 ,HE SEEM$ 6%[ UP :5"E ,I 0 MEET+
,MRS4 ,S4 ,!N ,I 0 9VIT$ 6A H\SE "PY AT
_! HOME 9 E>LY ,NOVEMB] & HE 0 "!4 ,HE
SP5T A LOT ( "T />+ AT ME B ,I DIDN'T
?9K ANY?+ ( X4 ,HE 0 V %>P4 ,V FUNNY4
  ,ON ,NOVEMB] #F ,I GOT A CALL F ,MRS4
,S4 8,M9EKO-SAN1 ,I H "S?+ IMPORTANT TO
TALK 6Y AB4 ,MR4 ,SATO HAS ASK$     #DDF
ME 6SP1K ON 8 2HALF4 ,HE WANTS 6M>RY Y40
  ,I ?"\ %E 0 JOK+1 & MADE "S S>CA/IC
REPLY4 ,B %E 9SI/$ T HE 0 S]I\S4 8,IN T
CASE10 ,I TOLD H]1 8PL1SE TELL HM NO4 ,I
WON'T EV5 3SID] X40
  ,%E />T$ CALL+ ME E MORN+ AT EXACTLY
T5 O'C 6REP1T 8 PROPOSAL4 ,X 0 GETT+ AN-
NOY+4 ,& APP>5TLY1 %E 0 DO+ ! SAME ?+ TO
HM6 ,%E 0 A CL"E WOMAN4 ,J9 F9,Y CALL$ &
YELL$ AT ME 6L1VE HM AL"O4 ,I YELL$ BACK
AT HM T ? 0 N"O ( MY DO+1 & WE 5D$ UP
FIGUR+ \ :AT ,MRS4 ,S4 0 UP TO4 ,WE 7
BO? EMB>RASS$4 ,J9 ASK$ IF HE CD -E SEE
ME 6APOLOGIZE4
  ,9/1D ( APOLOGIZ+1 HE PROPOS$4 ,I RE-
FUS$4 ,HE WDN'T TAKE NO = AN ANSW]4 ,HE
CAME BACK A FEW "DS LAT]4 ,HE BR"\ ,MRS4
,S4 ) HM4 ,HE PROPOS$ AG4 ,I REFUS$4 ,I
M/ ADMIT ,I 0 2COM+ 9TRIGU$ 0HIS COCKY
3FID;E4 ,MY REFUSALS DIDN'T SEEM 6PHASE
HM4 ,HE CAME AG4 ,HE PROPOS$ AG4
  ,9 SPITE ( MYF1 ,I />T$ 6?9K AB X4 ,I
H>DLY KNEW ! MAN1 YET HE _H ! QUALITIES
,I 0 LOOK+ =4 ,I 0 SE>*+ = "S WAY 6KEEP
! POLI%$ AES!TIC LU/] (! ,IWASAKI   #DDG
"N GO+4 ,BR++ A GRT >TI/ 96! FAMILY 0 "O
WAY 6A3OMPLI% T4 ,& ,J9 0 AN EXTRAORD9>Y
PA9T]4 ,( T ,I _H NO D\BT4 ,I 2LIEV$ !N1
Z ,I D TD1 T ,J9 W "S"D 2 DESIGNAT$ A
,N,NAL ,LIV+ ,TR1SURE4 ,& X WASN'T J T
HE 0 TAL5T$4 ,HE _H E>N$ A MA/]S DEGREE
9 >T HI/ORY F ! BE/ >T S*OOL 9 ,JAPAN1
,TOKYO'S ,GEIDAI1 & _H A PROF.D K (!
FIELD4
  ,I WASN'T GETT+ ANY "Y]4 ,I WANT$ 6H
*N4 ,I WANT$ 6SEE :AT X 0 L 6BE M>RI$4
,& ,J9 0 S LIKA#4 ,"! WASN'T ANY?+ OB-
JEC;NA# AB HM4
  ,I DECID$1 ONCE AG1 6MAKE AN 5TIRELY
FRE% />T4
  ,! F\R? "T HE PROPOS$ ,I A3EPT$1 ON "O
3DI;N4 ,I MADE HM PROMISE T HE WD DI-
VORCE ME 9 ?REE MON?S IF ,I WASN'T HAP-
PY4
  ,WE GOT M>RI$ ON ,DECEMB] #B1 TW5TY-
?REE "DS AF WE MET4



                                    #DDH
























                 ,AF^W              #DDI

  ,:AT HAPP5$ NEXT8
  ,S9CE ,I 0 62COME H1D (! H\SEHOLD1
,MAMA ,MASAKO ADOPT$ ,J9 96! FAMILY & HE
TOOK ! "N ( ,IWASAKI4
  ,I APPLI$ =& RCVD A LIC5SE 6BE AN >T
D1L]4 ,I SPOKE 6MY BACK]S 9 ! CLUB & EX-
PLA9$ :AT ,I WANT$ 6D4 ,"EY"O GAVE ME 8
OR H] B.S+4 ,I MET ) SURPRIS+LY LL RE-
SI/.E F ,MAMA ,MASAKO4 ,X DIDN'T HURT T
,J9 0 S* A *>M] & S GD-LOOK+4 ,MAMA SOON
DEVELOP$ A BIG S(T SPOT 9 H] HE>T = HM T
%E _H ="E4
  ,I N"E DID OP5 T B1UTY SPA4 ,! 9/ANT
,I SAW ,J9'S PA9T+ MY C>E;LLY LAID PLAN
VANI%$ & ANO!R TOOK XS PLACE4 ,T "O
PA9T+ 5TIRELY *ANG$ MY FUTURE4
  ,I SOLD ! NEW BUILD+4 ,I CLOS$ ! CLUB4
,J9 & ,I MOV$ 6A H\SE 9 ,YAMA%9A4 ,I GOT
PREGNANT4
  ,MAMA 3T9U$ 6LIVE 9 ,GION ,KOBU & "W Z
A GEIKO4 ,KUNIKO 0 N A GD BUSI;SWOMAN &
_HN'T MADE A SU3ESS (! RE/AURANT4 ,%E
GRACE;LLY A3EPT$ ! *ANGE 9 CIRCUM/.E &
MOV$ HOME ) ME4 ,%E 0 V EXCIT$ AB   #DEJ
! BIR? (! BABY4
  ,MY B1UTI;L DAU<T] ,KOSUKE 0 BORN 9
,SEPTEMB]4 ,MAMA 3T9U$ 6"W1 B CAME 6VIS-
IT U E WEEK & 0 V M* "P (! FAMILY4
  ,J9 IS N ONLY A GRT PA9T]4 ,HE IS AL
AN EXP]T AT >T RE/OR,N4 ,I 0 FASC9AT$ 0?
ASPECT ( 8 "W1 0! DEEP K ( >T & TE*NIQUE
T X 5TAIL$4 ,I ASK$ 6/UDY ) HM & HE AC-
CEPT$ ME Z A PUPIL4 ,KUNIKO WANT$ 6LE>N
TOO1 & JO9$ 9 ! LESSONS AF %E PUT ! BABY
D[N AT NI<T4 ,BO? ( U W5T ON 6GA9 C]TI-
FIC,N4
  ,9 #AIHH WE BUILT A SPACI\S HOME 9
,IWAKURA1 A NOR!RN SUBURB ( ,KYOTO1 )
L>GE /UDIOS = ALL ( U 6D \R "W4 ,MY
DAU<T] ?RIV$ & GREW 96AN ELEGANT &
GRACE;L D.ER4
  ,I ?9K ? 0 ! HAPPIE/ "T ( ,KUNIKO'S
LIFE4 ,SADLY1 %E WASN'T >.D V L;G 65JOY
X4 ,%E DI$ 9 #AIIF :5 %E 0 SIXTY-?REE
YE>S OLD4
  ,9 ! LATE #AIHJ'S ,MAMA ,MASAKO'S EYES
2GAN 6BO!R H] & WE AGRE$ T %E %D RETIRE4
,%E 0 9 H] MID-SIXTIES & _H "W$ L;G 5\<4
,%E TOO 5JOY$ H] SUNSET YE>S &      #DEA
DI$ 9 #AIIH1 :5 %E 0 SEV5TY-FIVE4
  ,ON ,JUNE #BA1 #AIIG1 ,I 0 AWAK5$ AT
#E3DE 0A SE>+ PA9 9 MY ?ROAT4 ,A LL :ILE
LAT] ! PH"O RANG4
  ,X 0 "O ( ,TO%IO'S ASSI/ANTS1 CALL+ TO
TELL ME T ,TO%IO _H DI$ E>LY T MORN+ F
?ROAT C.ER4
  ,TO%IO'S LA/ YE>S 7 N HAPPY "OS4 ,!Y 7
2SET ) BANKRUPTCY1 DRUG PRO#MS1 & ILL;S4
  ,I TRI$ 6HELP HM ": ,I CD1 B HE _H "S
S]I\S ISSUES4 ,MUTUAL FRS C\NSEL$ ME N
6GET 9VOLV$ & ,I TOOK _! ADVICE4
  ,TO%IO ASK$ ME 6-E SEE HM ?REE MON?S
2F HE DI$4 ,S AT L1/ ,I _H ! *.E 6SAY
GD-BYE4 ,N[ HE 0 SAY+ GD-BYE 6ME4
  ,YAEKO RETIR$ TWO OR ?REE YE>S AF ,I
DID4 ,%E SOLD H] H\SE 9 ,KYOTO & GAVE !
M"OY 6H] SON ,MAMORU 6BUILD A H\SE 9
,KOBE S %E WD H "S": 6LIVE4 ,9/1D1 HE
US$ 8 WIFE'S M"OY 6BUILD A H\SE & SP5T !
M"OY 8 "M GAVE HM ON WOM54 ,:5 ,YAEKO
MOV$ 96H] NEW HOME %E LE>N$ 6H] *AGR9 T
%E 0 N LADY (! MANOR4 ,H] DAU<T]-IN-LAW
GAVE H] A ROOM ! SIZE (A CLOSET & LAT]
?REW H] \ ALT4                      #DEB
  ,9 REC5T YE>S ,YAEKO DEVELOP$ ,ALZ-
HEIM]'S 41SE & 2CAME M IMPOSSI# ?AN "E4
,N"O ( MY SIX REMA9+ SIBL+S OR ,I AM 9
-MUNIC,N ) H] ANY L;G]4 ,I'M N EV5 SURE
": %E IS LIV+4 ,X'S A SAD SITU,N1 B ,I
C'T HELP FEEL+ T %E IS M]ELY GETT+ :AT
%E DES]VES4
  ,MY [N "DS >E UNRE/RA9$ & UNFETT]$4 ,I
AM NO L;G] RUL$ 0! DICTATES (! ,9\E
,S*OOL4 ,I D.E :5 ,I WANT4 ,I D.E H[ ,I
WANT4 ,& ,I D.E ": ,I WANT4
  ,I AM GRATE;L = ALL ! B.S+S & HAPPI;S
9 MY LIFE4 ,X HAS BE5 AN EXTRAORD9>Y
J\RNEY4 ,I AM 9DEBT$ 6MY "F =! PRIDE &
9TEGR;Y T H GUID$ ME SAFELY 6? P1CE;L
%ORE4 ,& 6,"M ,SAKAGU*I1 ,AUNTIE ,OIMA1
& ,MAMA ,MASAKO = T1*+ ME 6BE 9DEP5D5T &
FREE4
  ,I AM (T5 9VIT$ 6RETURN 6,GION ,KOBU4
,B N[ ,I AM GRACI\SLY WELCOM$ Z A GUE/1
R ?AN A P]=M]1 & TAKE GRT DELI<T 9 ! RE-
F9$ PL1SURE ( ATT5D+ AN OZASHIKI4 ,I
FEEL NO/ALGIC :5 ! "Y MAIKO & GEIKO
DON'T RECOGNIZE MY FACE4 ,B !Y DEF9ITELY
"K :O ,I AM4 ,:5 ,I TELL !M MY "N   #DEC
IS ,M9EKO !Y 9V>IABLY FLY 96A TIZZY &
ASK1 8,>E Y ! R1L ,M9EKO8 ,! LEG5D80 ,X
IS WOND];L 6SP5D "T ) !M4
  ,! KARYUKAI IS *ANG+4 ,:5 ,I RETIR$1
"! 0 NO LACK ( EXPANSIVE & G5]\S PATRONS
:O 7 WELL S*OOL$ 9 ! AES!TIC 9TRICACIES
(! METI]4 ,SADLY1 ? IS NO L;G] ! CASE4
,X IS N CLE> :AT LIES AH1D = ,JAPANESE
SOCIETY1 B X IS SAFE 6SAY T "! >E N Z _M
TRULY W1L?Y 9DIVIDUALS Z "! ONCE W]E1 P
)! LEISURE &! M1NS 6SUPPORT ! 8FL[] &
WILL[ _W40 ,I AM AFRAID T ! TRADI;NAL
CULTURE ( ,GION ,KOBU &! O!R KARYUKAI W
C1SE 6EXI/ 9 ! NE> FUTURE4 ,! ?"\ T LL W
REMA9 (! GLORI\S TRADI;N 2Y XS EXT]NAL
=MS FILLS ME ) SORR[4
    ,APRIL #AE1 #BJJB
    ,KYOTO1 ,JAPAN






              ,AC"KL$G;TS           #DED

  ,? "W WD N"E H BE5 A3OMPLI%$ )\T ! UN-
FAIL+ PATI;E & SUPPORT ( MY HUSB& ,J94
,F ! 9ITIAL LOOK ( SURPRISE ON 8 FACE :5
,I F/ TOLD HM1 _M YE>S AGO1 T ,I WANT$
6WRITE A BOOK AB MY EXP]I;ES Z A GEIKO
UNTIL TD1 HE HAS 3T9U,Y 5C\RAG$ ME 6FUL-
LY SP1K MY M9D4 ,"? ! TE>S1 ! LAU<T]1 &!
SQUAB#S ,I H TR1SUR$ 8 K9D;S & ADVICE4
  ,I M/ AL ?ANK MY DAU<T] ,KOKO = HELP+
ME EXPLORE "QS T ,I _H BE5 C>RY+ >.D )
ME = DECADES4 ,%E H&$ ME ! KEYS 6UNLOCK
! GATES ( "U/&+1 &= ? ,I AM TRULY GRATE-
;L4
  ,I WD AL L 6EXPRESS MY DEEPE/ GRATI-
TUDE 6,R&E ,BR[N = H] M>VEL\S ABIL;Y TO
TRANSLATE ! -PLEXITIES (! ,JAPANESE LAN-
GUAGE & CULTURE 96,5GLI%4 ,X 0 A GRT JOY
6"W ) H]4
  ,F9,Y1 MY S9C]E APPRECI,N GOES 6,EMILY
,BE/L] AT ,ATRIA ,BOOKS = H] SKILL;L
GUID.E 9 $IT+ & %AP+ ! TEXT4 ,H] 9SI<T;L
"QS AB TRADI;NAL ,JAPANESE CULTURE BR"\
AN 9VALUA# DIM5.N ( CL>;Y & S5SE 6!
MANUSCRIPT4                         #DEE
























                                    #DEF