Today, I met
Yoko Kawashima Watkins, 75 years old, and author of “So far from the Bamboo Grove” and “My Brother, My Sister and I” who spoke in the Little Theater for the day. She was dressed in the traditional Japanese kimono and geta (Japanese shoe), and began her talk with a bow of greeting and respect to her audience. Yoko had the teachers and myself stand in front, and showed the students how to respectfully bow to their honored teachers. She also taught them “Ohayo,” which means “Good morning.”
Yoko displayed the Japanese characters for “people” to show and explain how we all need to lean on each other. As I listened, parts of her talk brought tears to my eyes as she briefly described some of her past sorrows and experiences, and showed photographs. She emphasized her love for children, how she honors them, and how they can make the world a better place. In addition, Yoko spoke to them about being peacemakers, and not letting their lives be run by anger or bitterness. She made us laugh with a story of how she lost 14 pages of work on her very first computer because she didn’t know how to save it, and how she will continue to use her faithful IBM typewriter.
She also talked about how her first book came about due to meeting a very spoiled 15 year old girl during her first trip to America sometime in 1955. This girl was ungrateful for all that she had, her parents, and the refrigerator filled with food. Yoko was amazed at her attitude and rudeness and, when she returned home, wrote her a 10 page letter letting her know how grateful she should be for all of her riches. Just as she was about to mail it, Yoko decided that only the girl’s parents could make a difference and did not mail it. Several years later, she took a class that required a 50 page manuscript. She took the original 10 pages, expanded them, and the beginnings of her first book was born.
Afterwards, I spoke to Yoko and we had an instant connection as I told her how many of her experiences as a young girl mirrored my early years as a poor young girl growing up in Brooklyn, NY. We hugged as she told me there was nothing wrong with having been poor and how it gave an appreciation for what one has, and I agreed. We shared a few laughs, and talked about how I love Japan and studied aspects of the language and the country during my undergraduate years. We instantly bonded. She is a lovely lady, full of grace and softness, and I felt like she was the grandmother I’d always wanted.
Later on I returned, told her I was the librarian, and asked if she wanted to see the library. She came with me and was amazed at how large the room was, and the quantity of books. She saw students shopping at the Bookfair and asked if they had thanked me for giving them the opportunity to buy books. We also spoke about our husbands, and I congratulated her on 53 years of marriage.
Sayonara (goodbye) and Domo Arigato (thank you very much) Yoko. It was a pleasure to meet you.
