Inazawa-san

No one can be said to have gone more out of their way to make me feel comfortable here than Mr. Inazawa. Of course, I know him as Hishashi-san, since it wouldn't make sense for me to know somebody so well and still refer to them by their family name, but Inazawa-san would be best for you all to use. The san must be included, as I am often reminded that he is old enough to be my father.

I first met him at my welcome party. I was drinking Asahi beer out of a rather small cup when I looked towards his direction - as people do when they sense they are being watched, and I spy a box shaped face with oversized and thick, really thick, glasses glancing at me. It's kind of like a cartoon character actually. Add to that a non-threatening smirk, with one side of the lip curled up like Elvis Presley, and there you have a face you just can't resist...well, avoid. Quickly his right hand went up to motion me over to his direction, followed by the raising of the contents of his left hand when I arrived. In his left hand was an oversized sake bottle, and a proffer to step up from beer to real Japanese alcohol. Thus, not a bit inauspiciously, I began my relationship with Inazawa-san.

This must be mentioned, it's funny, because no matter what change of clothes he is wearing, the face always looks exactly the same. I think he pretty much always has that smirk, even if he is completely serious. Perhaps you know the type of person Inazawa-san is - the type that grabs you and says you're my friend whether you like it or not. The type that is all up in your face, but not in the egotistical way, rather, the way that makes you say - well, it looks like I'll be accepting this person for who they are and be friends with them. This type of warmth some people might find a little brusque, a little too much, but it's one that I appreciate a lot. By the way, I've actually never seen him with his glasses off either. It's a little comical actually, because I've been to his house (any time I have gone to his house it has been a full course meal, even if all I did was stop by his shop to say konbanwa). I've stayed late at night, seen him walking bright and early in the morning, but no, always with those thick full moon glasses. It's the Inazawa style. Don't try to imitate, because you never could.

But why am I writing about Inazawa-san? Because he's part of the way I have been making my Japan experience. Don't get me wrong, I get nothing but a headache from the kids in my seventh grade class, but Inazawa-san exemplifies the type of kindness you can only pray to be so lucky to recieve when your out on your own. Case in point. Quite recently, I was walking home from the local sushi restaurant and was about to cross the bridge in front of my house. I'm almost home, halfway across the bridge, when all of a sudden Inazawa-san comes flying from behind me and makes an abrupt stop akin to Fred of the Flinstones when he is taking Pebbles to a doctors appointment but suddenly realizes he left her at home. He pops out of his car, runs to the back, pulls out some noodle soup that he was delivering to the local 7/11 (he sometimes makes deliveries to them), and stuffs them in my hand as I fumble for words of gratitude. He then hops back in with a string of Japanese words I had no hope of understanding, turns around in the middle of the road, and speeds off back in the direction he came in. His complete u-turn meant only one thing. He spied me from afar as he was making his deliveries, decided he wanted to give me some soup, and had to change the direction he was going in so that he could accomplish his mission.

That type of kindness exemplifies anything he does, and I look for opportunities to reciprocate. I thought I was a nice guy, but being a nice guy and being that giving are too totally different things. I'm nowhere near that kind, but I like how this experience is making me more open and willing to give. This is the second, or maybe third time I'm writing about this, so I think that it might be the most signigicant change I'll experience here. Thank you Inazawa-san, for helping me be able to make my adjustment here and sharing your hospitality and sincerity with me.