Another Farewell
Today I’m debating whether I should write about what’s occupying my heart as it is heavy. Then again, that’s how it is…
I lost another important person in my life. It was the man who helped pave the path for my career. An old colleague called me yesterday to let me know he passed a few weeks ago, which again was a news I was anticipating. He was battling liver cancer for a few years. Mr. K was a well-known journalist in Japan and was operating a production company downtown LA producing a weekly news magazine show for the local Japanese TV audience in the ’80s. I was still a student at UCLA trying to finish up my undergrad aspiring to find a career path in journalism. Even though I had little experience, he hired me as an independent contractor. He believed in me, and for years since he continued to refer me to many meaningful documentary projects I’m proud to have worked on. Even though he was rather difficult to work for in the early years, as we both got older he turned out to be someone I could seek advice and guidance and actually enjoyed his company whenever we got to see each other and often shared meals whether in L.A. or in Tokyo.
When I was in Japan going through my mom’s apartment in May and found a whole box full of manuscripts by my grandfather, most of which were about the history of social work in my hometown, Yokohama, going back to pre-World War II, I reached out to him and asked what to do. He connected me with a reporter for the local paper that my father once worked for. The reporter found the material worthy, and It led to the newspaper to archive them in their library, which was an incredible blessing that was more than I had hoped for.
He wanted to meet for lunch or dinner in Tokyo then — while Tokyo was in the height of COVID surge and was in the 2nd or 3rd round of “state of emergency.” It would have meant that I take the train to get to Tokyo, so I told him I wasn’t up for it this time around. We tried to find a way to meet up without either of us having to use the public transportation, but it was too tricky for both of us to deal with. Now I wish I had gone to see him. Since I came back from Japan, I’ve reached out to him several times both by phone and email not to get a response. I was afraid he was in worse shape than he led me to believe.
It’s true, it’s just another reminder of impermanence — mortality — the human experience. While I’m saddened by the news, I am deeply grateful to have known him. And I consider myself extremely fortunate to have so many people like Mr. K. who have inspired, supported, and guided me throughout my life. It is my hope that I am and will continue to reciprocate as much as I can for my remaining years to come…