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Japan We traveled around Western Japan, mainly to visit my relatives, before starting for the World trip. Bruce makes a wish at Izumo Shrine
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| Osaka | Banquet with relatives | Kyoto | |
| Suzuka | Kibukawa | Izumo | |
| Hamada | Hagi | Miyajima | |
| Hiroshima | Tokyo | ||
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In 1980, having known each other about two week, Noriko and Bruce decided to marry. The two were citizens of different contries. Both were over 30 years old with lives and careers. What if anything was their shared experience? But the two believed that if resolute they could make it happen. They hastily declared a plan. . . . 1...Bruce returns to the U.S. and saves money. Noriko gives notice at her work. 2...A year on (1981), Bruce returns to Japan and helps Noriko vacate her apartment. 3...Bruce and Noriko travel to Nepal to meet Noriko's parents. 4...B and N marry in Kathmandu provided Bruce has not failed any of Noriko's tests. 5...The two continue around the world. 6...The couple arrive in Pittsburgh, Pa. and meet Bruce's mother. 7...The two end in Berkeley to the apartment Bruce shares with Hisa. 8... Live happily ever after. The end. All of this occurred, but not on the original timeline. | |||
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Noriko's Morinomiya apartment in Osaka is of a standard cookie-cutter design. Bruce shared the tiny apartment for almost a month while Noriko concluded her life in Osaka and the couple packed all Noriko's things for shipment to the U.S.
This apartment was an upgrade from where she had lived two years before where Hisa and Bruce had visited her. This one has its own bath! Living here taught Bruce the satisfaction of living simply. What need is there for stuff? (Where would one put it?) I was sorry to bid it good-bye to return to an American lifestyle of excess. | ||
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_ds200604172304.jpg Bruce doing dishes at the low sink designed for Japanese size. [Bruce]The height of the standard Japanese counters inflict back pain to a 6' tall person who must work at them. This adaptation worked for dishwashing.  |
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[Noriko] In Osaka, my aunts, uncles, and cousins held a banquet for us in our honor of our engagement at a Chinese restaurant.
[Bruce] This was not a "banquet" but a formal occasion: parents meet fiance. Because Noriko's parents could not be present, the second son of Noriko's grandfather, stood in for Noriko's father. Akira-san tape-recorded Bruce's responses to his questions. He mailed a copy of the tape to Noriko's father. | ||
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_atwpages15.jpg Uncle Akira, acting head of Nishizawa family.  |
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_atwpages1.jpg Presenting wedding gift (money) which we dearly needed for the coming trip.  |
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_atwpages4.jpg Cousins, from left, Yoko, Tomonari, Hiroko, Takuji, and Shoko, Tatsushi, with Tetsuya in front.  |
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While Noriko was at work, Bruce explored Kyoto by himself. He wandered famous temples and shrines and wonderful old streetscapes.
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_ds220320170829.jpg Ponte cho, the narrowest street of all. Its splendor (in Bruce's mind) can hardly be put into words.  |
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_ds220320171309.jpg By the Kamo River.  |
_ds220320171402.jpg A traditional sweet shop. Kyoto used to have many.They typically occupied the best corner locations. Bruce could never walk past one without admiring.  |
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_ds220320171945.jpg Outside Imperial Palace?  |
_ds220320172041.jpg Shugakuin Imperial Villa.  |
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At a beach near Tsu, near Setsuko's house, with Koichi's and Toshiko's family. [Bruce] Setsuko is Noriko's aunt, the sibling most practical about money. She married a doctor. In Suzuka they thrived after Honda built a large factory. They owned a large house, clinic and a playhouse.
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_ds200604172851.jpg Koichi and family join us.  |
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_ds200604173111.jpg Aunt Setsuko clam digging  |
_ds200604173207.jpg Akiko and Toshiko  |
_ds200604174149.jpg Kai not appreciating the waves  |
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_ds200604174627.jpg Takuji  |
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_ds200604174729.jpg In front of Setsuko's house  |
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With Aunt Sumi's family at Kibukawa [Bruce] Kibukawa is Noriko's birthplace. In fact, this very old house was her birthplace. Her mother's family has dwelled in this house for generations. It is the residence of the headman of the Tenri-shi compound of Kibukawa.
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_ds200604174917.jpg With Yamazaki family (my mother's side). From left, Shizuyo, Hitomi, Akiko, Shizuko, Aunt Sumi, Kai, Koichi, Masue and Bruce.  |
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[Noriko] Izumo Taisha Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Japan. It is dedicated to Okuninushi, deity of marriage. It is rebuilt every 60-70 years. [Bruce] Izumo and Ise are the two great shrines of Shinto. Ise is so sacred that visitors may not see anything but the outside of the gate. At Izumo visitors are free to stroll.
Every year during the "godless" month, approximately November, all the Shinto gods are believed to converge here to party. Hence the rest of Japan is "godless" during that month. This was unknown to me in those days. | ||
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_ds200608174525.jpg Taisha station  |
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A brief stop near Izumo to drop off gifts from Linda to the Gotos. Our friends Linda and Kevin had resided here for two years, teaching English. It is a small town on the Japan Sea coast.
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[Noriko] Visit Uncle Kenzo and Mariko at Hagi [Bruce]Hagi is a remote city to the south on the Japan Sea. It had an important historic role in the Meiji rebellion of 1868. Noriko's uncle resided here through his teaching career.
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_ds200608175014.jpg Middle school where Kenzo taught.  |
_ds200608175115.jpg Rurikoji (?)  |
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_ds200608175525.jpg Daishoin or Tokoji  |
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_ds220320162155.jpg Tokoji Temple.  |
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_ds220320162739.jpg Rover in front of Kenzo's house.  |
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Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima. Built in Heian period, it seems to be floating in high tide.
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_ds200608181317.jpg Noh stage is surrounded by walkways.  |
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To visit Hiroshima was one of the musts
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_ds200608182846.jpg Hiroshima Peace Memorial  |
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_ds200608183037.jpg The Children's Peace Memorial, monument for Sadako Sasaki.  |
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We visit Hisa's parents and family, staying for a couple of days at Noriko's parents' condo. Noriko's parents had not yet resided here since they had purchased it only recently in anticipation of her father's retirement.
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_ds200608183413.jpg View from my parents' condo in Minamisuna, Tokyo.  |
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