January 16, 2017
I have taken over 100,000 photos of Kyoto.
Kyoto, my second home, has taught me about plants, flowers, wild birds, and the beauty of nature in transition.
The gardens of the Kyoto Imperial Palace taught me that Kyoto is the essence of Japan.
The Emperors showed me the beauty of the various regions of Japan, of the Japanese mountains, the forests, the lakes, rivers, the countryside, the houses, and the beauty of the sea.
The Emperors recreated the beauty of Japan's mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, fields, houses, and oceans in the gardens of the Imperial Palace in the Katsura Imperial Villa.
In the Shugakuin Imperial Villa, they made me realize this.

At the same time, he made me realize that the Emperor is Japan's greatest superstar.
It was an idea that only Tadao Umesao and I had.
At that time, I was convinced that Kyoto was the place where the Emperor should live.
We were visiting the gardens of the Imperial Palace, the Katsura Imperial Villa, and the Shugakuin Imperial Villa, all of which are arguably Japan's most significant cultural heritage sites, with officials watching in front and behind us to ensure that visitors did not cause any damage, We proceeded in single file.
We took pictures and took in the scenery at the fixed viewing points as we pleased.
It was then that the Emperor suddenly appeared.
Suddenly, the Emperor and members of the royal family appear.
A loud cheer erupts.
I realized that this was the most beautiful way for the Emperor to be.
Tadao Umesao would silently agree with me.

After all, Tadao Umesao and I were born into this world with equal brains.
He, however, left this world with brilliant achievements as a true scholar.

A classmate from my alma mater, whom I will always love, was born in Watari, next to my hometown of Yuriage, and became a significant executive of one of Japan's leading corporations.
He sent me a greeting card in Sanpitsu-esque handwriting that encouraged me in my, shall we say, tremendous task.
In the margin, filled with a picture of a chicken, he wrote a thank-you note to me, describing a time when he visited Sendai for a judo club reunion and drank sake.

S-kun, I will continue to correct Japan and the world.
I will continue to do my part.

My great teacher says that she does Sutra copying from time to time.
Living in Kyoto as my garden, it is no exaggeration to say that I never go a day without seeing men and women, young and old, doing Sutra copying.
The thankful handwriting of the address on the greeting card from the teacher was all the more poignant to me.

At the end of last year, Mr. O, who was with us from Yuriage Junior High School to Sendai Daini High School in Miyagi Prefecture, selected the perfect place for our meeting in Sendai, a beautiful city and academic capital and gave us a wonderful time.

Mr. U, a junior at my alma mater, let me sing karaoke to my heart's content after the meeting at a bar run by an amiable and lovely lady owner.

The one who visited USJ~Kyoto at the end of the year with his beloved family. etc., etc.
May you all be happy forever.