Morikami Sukeji, who traveled to America as a member of the Yamato Colony in South Florida and remained there alone until the end of his life after the colony was disbanded, continues to write letters to his sister-in-law and her family, who lost her husband (Sukeji's younger brother) after the war. Perhaps because his sister, who had inherited the family home, had also passed away, Sukeji is concerned about the inheritance of the family assets. Furthermore, he gives his own "Seven Commandments" to his niece before she marries. Despite some mishaps, such as being involved in a traffic accident, he continues to work hard at landscaping.
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Returning to Japan in a dream
January 19, 1966
Dear sister-in-law, a package arrived. The package was damaged, but the contents were OK. It's been a while since I've had such a delicious treat. I'm jealous that you can eat so much of such delicious food. I've put the rice cakes in the fridge as they are. I scraped off the mold. I think they'll be fine.
This parcel took a long time to arrive. It left Kyoto on November 12th, arrived at Kuwa Port on December 11th, and arrived here on January 15th. It took two months. No, please wait a moment. It seems to have taken a little too long. It didn't leave Kyoto on November 12th. It seems that there are many Japanese marks (postmark marks on mail) that I don't understand when I read them.
I don't know why, but I haven't had many dreams since the new year started. It seems like I have more dreams when I'm worried about something. The one I had the other day was pretty boring.
In my dream, I was back in Japan. I was walking slowly alone through Miyazu town, where I often went for school events, when I noticed that even though it was not the middle of the night, there was not a single person there. There were no cars. It was a silent, dead town. I continued walking toward Miyazu Bay. Just as I turned the corner, I saw three young people whispering next to an old cart. All three were American. The cart was loaded with about 10 unripe water melon-like things, one of which was sliced into slices. When I asked them, "What is this?" they said, "It's a papaya, a new variety that's very delicious." They gave me a sample, and just as I was about to eat it, I was woken up by the sound of the morning newspaper being thrown in. It was a trivial dream, but what does it mean? Most of the dreams I have these days are a jumble, neither Japan nor America. They were speaking English. My dreams remind me of my old days.
I wonder what Aki-chan's (niece's) first dream was. It's cold again tonight. I wrote this letter by the heater. Goodbye.
(Be involved in a traffic accident)
March 25, 1966
Mi-san, I received the promised scarf yesterday. Thank you. It didn't arrive in time for this winter, but it will be useful from next year onwards.
The peach blossoms are over, the fruit is about the size of a thumb, and the raspberries are in full bloom. But it's cold, and I need a heater at night. I'm sensitive to the cold, so maybe it's because I'm getting older. My arm gets better and worse, and it's not getting better.
As you can see, I can't write as well as I would like. A week ago, I was involved in a serious car accident, but fortunately I was not injured. I've been feeling unwell lately, so I can't work as well as I would like to in the fields. Being single is a little inconvenient, but I have kind friends nearby, which is a great help.
I planted a few Japanese cherry trees and maples (momiji). Cherry tree seedlings cannot be imported from Japan, so they were all grown here. I planted seeds of Japanese black pine, maple, nandina, and tea. None have grown except for the black pine. The cherry trees are Yoshino and peonies, and I think they will grow big next year. Please take good care of them.
<Avoid things that insects don't like>
April 3, 1966
Aki-chan, thank you for your letter after such a long time. One after another, your old friends are getting married. I understand your feelings when you see them looking so happy, but you must not rush. It is safer to wait patiently. And do not forget to advertise. Spiritual training is important. True happiness will not come to those who lack training.
I am attaching my thoughts on choosing a marriage partner. If you find a suitable candidate, please let me know. I will help you. The more candidates, the better.
(1) Don't rely too much on the other person's wealth. Money is a monster; you never know when it'll be gone.
(2) Don't worry too much about appearances. Even if he is not good-looking, he should be healthy and not carry any harmful diseases.
(3) We should have the same or higher academic background. We should have as many common hobbies as possible.
(4) Even if a person is sociable, if he is a people-pleaser and talks too much, it will bring him trouble.
(5) If you look at your father, you can imagine that he is a strong-willed person who does not get discouraged even by small failures.
(6) He is an only son and was not raised by his mother.
(7) Someone who is honest and serious. It is best if they have a strong sense of responsibility.
I could write more, but I'll leave it at that for now. Finally, there is one important thing. We must not forget that humans are emotional animals. Even if the other person is a respectable person, it is better to avoid those who we dislike.
It's March, but the mornings are pretty chilly. My mood hasn't changed. My appetite is good, and I sleep well, but my right arm hurts from time to time. I think it will get better when it gets a little hotter. Today is April 3rd, and around this time 60 years ago I left Japan. It sounds good to say that I left with high hopes, but in truth I intended to endure for three years, save up a little money, and then return home. But now I'm still dragging my feet, having not accomplished even half of what I had hoped to do. However, I am still in the better position, and there are quite a few people among them who are struggling to even get food and are becoming a burden on the country. These old Issei are also dying one after another.
Shortly after the beginning of January, I lost my dentures. I remember taking them off in the field and putting them in my shirt pocket, but I can't find them. They are quite expensive, so I've been looking for them from time to time, and the other day I found them in a dream. I was still a child and was digging through a gutter in my hometown when I found them. There's nothing more ridiculous than a dream to find dentures lost in America in Japan 70 years ago. Goodbye.
<As the eldest son, I give advice on my father's inheritance>
April 1966
Mi-san, I have written to you many times about the land in Miyazu. I have been disinherited , so there is nothing more I can do.
(Note) Disinheritance: Under pre-modern family systems such as the Japanese "ie system," the basic form of inheritance was for the eldest son or eldest son to inherit the family headship unbroken. Disinheritance refers to the removal of the eldest son's rights for some reason (or from the eldest son's point of view, the removal of those rights). Sukeji says that he was "disinherited" because he abandoned his family.
The only way is to show him my letter and urge him to do something about it. The land is part of my father's inheritance. There is nothing to be shy about. You have to be stronger. If you are always worrying about what other people are breathing, you will never be able to hold your head up high.
I don't know what to teach, but Akiko's discipline is good. The point is that it must be appropriate for the times. Akiko's policy is nothing but her own will. It is something to think about when it comes to pushing others to do things in an old-fashioned way.
Last winter was unusually cold, and today, when the peach blossoms are in full bloom, I still want a heater at night. Sometimes the temperature dropped to 25 degrees (-4°C) or 30 degrees (-1°C) at night, and the freezing caused damage to the crops, as well as the oranges on the trees. I can't do anything because I can't handle the cold, and on top of that, I can't bend my left arm completely, so I can't write, and I have no choice but to cling to the heater.
I had an old coat that an acquaintance gave me, so it was a great help when I went out. It's gotten a little warmer recently, and the pain in my arm has subsided, so I can write. Now my back is starting to hurt, and I can't work as I'd like. I have no choice but to lie down on the edge of the river from time to time to rest. Today, an acquaintance came over and was surprised to see me.
Maybe it's because of my age, but I'm always in a hurry and nothing is going the way I want it to. My friends warn me that "it's not something you can take with you," but I can't be satisfied unless I finish what I've started. I push myself too hard and it makes me suffer.
<The land in Hyakueicho was donated to the city>
I don't believe in heaven, so I have nothing to worry about after death. To be honest, I don't want to die yet. I want to live 10 or 20 years. I want to live and see the fruit trees I'm planting now grow. I sometimes seriously wonder if humans can live forever.
Every time I look up at the twinkling stars in the sky, I think of the future. 20 years from now, or 50 years from now? Someday we'll find out. I really want to live until then.
The 100 or so peach trees I planted last year are native to Ceylon, and although they are small, they taste good. They are in full bloom now, but the early ones have already borne fruit, which is about this size (Note: I have drawn a picture with a pen). Before I moved to the US, I planted two peach trees, and about six of them bore fruit. I covered them with paper bags to keep out bugs. The bottom of the paper bag was hollow, so I went to check every day for the rice-sized fruit. That was about 60 years ago. I wish they were still alive.
This time, I officially donated the land of Hyakueicho (Ichieicho is 4 tan 25 bu) to the city. It is a token of my gratitude for the long-term support. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
"People are people, and I am me"
I ordered black pine and maple seeds from Japan and planted them around the pond. The cherry blossom seeds won't arrive until autumn. The Yusura plum will also come. I also planted nandina and Uji tea, but they haven't sprouted yet. At my age, I'm working so hard on things like this, and it may seem silly to people who are crazy about making money, but it's just the way I was born, so there's nothing I can do about it. There is no greater joy than this.
People who live in splendid houses, drive shiny cars, and enjoy all sorts of luxuries may be happy, but aren't those who live in shabby dwellings, content with simple food, get covered in mud, and feel at home in nature the happiest? People are people. I am me. It's about not letting the headaches of others' senki (colic) affect you.
What happened to the cypress tree we planted a long time ago?
May 20, 1966
Dear Mi-san, I received your letter dated the 12th. I don't remember the name of the small village Hijiri on the land certificate, but I think it was probably three small terraced fields between Yane and Okano's rice fields. Of the two forests, Okumura has a thin, steeply sloping mixed forest. It's not worth much, but the other one is at the bottom of a valley and is in good condition. When I came to America, there were 40 to 50 large cedar and cypress trees, and the 50 or so cypress trees I planted were also growing well, but I wonder what has happened to them today, 60 years later.
I think it was probably cut down for lumber. The assessed value on the certificate is just over 10,000 yen. It won't help you pay your debts, but I think the purchase price is much more than that. Ask a reliable land broker. If you become a landowner, you will have to pay land tax every year, but you will also receive rent from the rice paddies and farmland.
You will not receive any inheritance from your father. The only thing that can be called an inheritance is the small amount of real estate that you will receive. What I am saying is not just my imagination or second-hand information. If you don't want to receive such a small inheritance, just refuse it. It's up to you. Anyway, don't worry or feel embarrassed about such a small thing.
I still suffer from pain in my lower back and legs, but I go to the fields every day. It's a strange disease, and even though it's painful, I can't take a break. If I take a break, the disease will get worse, so it's a very unfortunate disease.
I suffered considerable damage in a car accident, and my driving license was temporarily revoked (for about a month), which made it very difficult for me to get to and from the fields.
(Titles omitted)
© 2020 Ryusuke Kawai
