Daily Archives: December 23, 2008

In my Judiciary Chairman’s office, I have my grandpa Maurice Karamatsu’s samurai sword behind me as a reminder to go all-out with strength and determination.  I am back seven hundred times stronger and even more determined to accomplish everything I set my mind and soul to do.  All negativity will be converted into positivity.  I have become stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually.  I am going to live everyday as if it will be my last.

As I look back at my life, I am so grateful for my family and friends.  I appreciate every girl I dated and every person I have met.  I am also thankful for my health.  Life is so short, you never know when your time will come.  

In the way of the samurai (bushido), one must be aware of death at all times.  When you are constantly aware of your impermanence, you appreciate your loved ones and your life.  Body is nothing more than emptiness, emptiness is nothing more than body.  All Bodhisattvas and Buddhas have practiced to understand “emptiness” in order to have no delusions.  With no delusions, there is no fear.  Bushido and Buddhism teachings gives us the guidance to not fear death by always preparing for death.  We live to die.  We should never be dying to live where you are always angry, placing harm on others, jealous of others, sad, wishing you could live a better life, or just living day-to-day.  Rather, we must strive to be happy, spread positive energy to others, and do all we possibly can in life.  We must try to face life’s challenges and live life to the fullest because we live, knowing we will die.  It is not easy to master this, but it is worth trying as hard as we can.

I look forward to everyday of life.  I can’t wait until the next day to work, exercise, enjoy my family and old friends, meet new friends, and make the most of my life.  I appreciate everything.

On Sunday, December 21, 2008, I turned 34 years old.  I attended a Shinnyo-en service at 10:00 A.M.  I ate lunch at Ala Moana Shopping center and bumped into my friend Nish.  My friend Scott Imaye, back home for awhile from Tokyo and Gavin Doi joined us to get our Christmas shopping done.   I guess it takes an entourage to get good ideas to get our shopping done for family, friends, and business contacts.  I celebrated my birthday with my mom, dad, and sister Lara at Gyu-Kaku at 6:00 P.M.  My sister and I joined the crew at Loulou’s after and we continued shopping until the mall closed.

My great uncle Roy Sadato Okubo recently passed away on December 2, 2008.  I attended his funeral on Saturday, December 20, 2008.  He was 86 years old and my late grandma Bessie Karamatsu’s younger brother.  When my grandma’s health was failing in the Spring of 2006, Uncle Roy held her hand by her bedside at the Queen’s hospital.  Uncle Roy is a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 522nd Field Artillery Battery B.  For most of my life I didn’t know I had a close relative that was a member of the famed 442, and when people asked me if I had a relative from this unit, I would reply “no.”  I am glad I told my uncle how I appreciated his sacrifice for us.  I recently found out that during the war, he could have returned home, but decided to stay with his friends and continued to serve.  I am so proud of him, and I am sure he is happy with his late wife, family, and friends, including my grandma.