Mr. Robert "Bob" Shimoda

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.”