Daily Archives: August 21, 2007

Before, I forget, I want to put this in writing.  One of my most memorable times was hanging out with some of the 100th Battalion veterans at Hanagasu Inn the night before their 65th Anniversary luncheon on I believe June 23, 2007 where we had food and drinks, and sang karaoke.  All the patrons and veterans were senior in age and they all sang Japanese songs.  There is one Japanese song that I memorized, “Shimauta”, which is an Okinawan song about the love for the island.  When I sang that song with my friend Stacey, the place went nuts.  The veterans were so excited, they took pictures and a waitress began to dance.  I felt, I had a glimpse of what it was like in the old days.  I also felt sad because in the future, many in my generation may never get to experience this because the Japanese language and culture is dying in Hawaii.  Stacey and I are so fortunate.  This has got to be one of my best life experiences that made me feel more complete in life.

As this is the obon season, it is a time when our ancestors visit us and and a time when we celebrate their lives as well as ours.  I am reminiscing my Grandma Bessie Karamatsu's funeral at Jodo Mission Hawaii in April 2006.  I remember Bishop Nakamura's statement to my grandma in front of the audience, “You don't have to rush to the pure land.  Take your time.  But when you do get there, Maurice Karamatsu is waiting for you in a temple he built out of Karamatsu trees.”

This weekend, I volunteered with a number of my friends at the Jodo Mission of Hawaii Bon Dance held on August 17 and 18 where I serve as Vice President of the board of directors.  Saturday, August 18 was especially fun because while we were cooking the barbeque beef sticks, Mr. Robert “Bob” Shimoda came by with a small cup of sake for me.  I toasted him.

Mr. Shimoda who I believe is 91 years old, was one of my Grandpa Maurice Karamatsu’s good friends.  Mr. Shimoda said Maurice Karamatsu (Passed away on May 14, 1992 at 79 years old), Stephen Kotake (Passed away on March 26, 2001 at 87 years old), and himself were friends since they were kids.  They used to play marbles when they were young.  They all grew up to be successful businessmen and were active in Jodo Mission of Hawaii or otherwise known as Jodo Shu.  They called themselves “sanbagarasu” or “three black birds”.  The three of them did everything together: business, politics, church, karaoke, drink, or just hang out.  During bon dance, they used to drink sake in the yagura (a covered tower where the musicians are on top and the sound system is on the bottom).  This past Saturday at the bon dance, my friends Brandon, Jon, Ian, and my cousin Grant and I drank beer and sake with Mr. Shimoda and a few others in the yagura as all the dancers danced around us, most unaware of our little party.  The time I spent with Mr. Shimoda that night felt very special.  It was one of my best moments in my life.  I could picture Mr. Kotake and my grandpa Karamatsu smiling with their dear friend.  At least twice that night, Mr. Shimoda told me, “Someday I will join them…someday.”

My friend Linda will undergo brain surgery this Friday to prevent an artery from bursting.  I met her four years ago and have been friends with her since.  She is an amazing person.  When she was nineteen years old she moved to Hawaii from Michigan, single and pregnant.  She worked in the bar scene to make ends meet.  She later got her real estate license and began her career in realty and real estate investment, eventually creating her own company.  By the time she reached her thirties, she was very successful in real estate, which led her to teaching courses and writing a book about doing business in real estate.  Now in her late thirties, it is hard to believe she is facing this health situation because she is so young.  She is strong and a go-getter so I know she will pull through and be all right.