My feelings for Japan have grown slowly throughout the years.
I took wado-ryu karate when I was eighteen. Three months later, I realized I didn't have enough money to continue training past the trial period. However, in three months, I had learned to count to ten in Japanese, many times over. I could do a front snap kick, block and turn my way through most of a kata, and say a phrase, "Ki ken kai no ichi."
It was a spark that didn't catch.
A good friend of mine married, moved to Japan, and now has a career teaching English in Osaka. His wife became my friend also, and they now have a beautiful baby. We exchange small gifts through snail mail.
Another friend introduced me to anime...
...as well as Japanese tapas.
My son became obsessed with judo, anime, and learning Japanese, not necessarily in that order...
...while my daughter loved Fruits Basket and Pokémon.
Then, for Daniel and the dojo, we agreed to be a host family for students who came to America to train with our judo club for a week. I was expecting to host one or two students, but three teenage guys?? I was terrified. However, they were kinder and more polite than I ever could have imagined.
They gave us gifts...
...and showed us how to make Japanese curry rice.
I decided to learn Japanese myself.
I don't know why a 41-year-old mother of two is becoming a bumbling, matronly fan. It's a little ridiculous. But here I am.
日本, あなたがすごく好きだ.
I can't help it.
So I'm going to write about it.
敬具
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