MANY MEMORIES OF JAPANESE FISHING BOATS FILL MY MIND WHENEVER I REFLECT ON THE JOYFUL TIME I SPENT IN THIS MOST UNIQUE NATION. ONE WHO FREQUENTLY TRAVELED BY MYSELF INTO ALL AREAS, I MUST COMMENT THAT NEVER, NOT ONCE, WAS I ASSAILED AS AN "UGLY AMERICAN" OR AN UNWELCOME GUEST. YOUNG AND NAIVE, I THOUGHT LITTLE ABOUT THIS ASPECT AT THE TIME. I ENJOYED THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE TO ME WHILE I SKETCHED OR TOOK PHOTOS. I ENJOYED THE ATTENTION OF THE STUDENTS WHO WANTED TO PRACTICE THEIR ENGLISH WITH AMERICAN BOY-SAN (ME). I MUST THANK THE PEOPLE FOR THEIR POLITE AND FRIENDLY ATTITUDE. THEIR HOSPITALITY CREATED A LOVE FOR JAPAN THAT HAS EXISTED THROUGHOUT THE MANY DECADES SINCE THE SAD SAYONARA AT YOKOSUKA...
Memories of a Japanese fishing village. Back in the 1960s, one could journey down the coast that was passable and note all types of fishing boats and equipment. I was never met with any rudeness or impoliteness. I was always acknowledged with a smile and some curiosity. What was a young American doing wondering far off the beaten path, down into the sleepy fishing villages from centuries long passed? In retrospect, I realize how extremely polite the Japanese were. My memories of the time I spent are full of warmth. I wonder how many of those tiny villages remain? Someday, I might return, but in some respects, it is probably best that I don't; the memories of that tour are too valuable to return and realize that I have grown so much older while Japan has grown so much younger and so much more Western. One fact we must all face: in our memories, those we saw for the last time long ago will always remain young and beautiful. Returning to Japan would make me face a reality that I do not want to face, that time has passed and things shall never be the same.
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1 comment:
Great to see Yokohama in the early 60s. Of course the Custom House is still there, Not sure there are that many warehouses left. The red brick warehouses near there are home to shops now.
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