Sankeien Park with Sekino Family

There is a well known Japanese proverb that states "ichi-go ichi-eh" or "One meeting, One face-to-face." It teaches that each encounter, whether it be a breakfast with one’s father or a one-time conversation with a stranger, carries great significance. Out of the entire expanse of history and the vast lands of the earth, each moment of meeting has been orchestrated for a purpose. It is unprecedented and unrepeatable. Because of this, the proverb teaches that one should face their conversant with full attention of mind and heart and make the most out of the encounter.

With this in mind, I spent a wondrous day with Sekino-san and Yumiko-san: two immensely loving and caring people who have treated me as their own son.

It started at Oppama station, where they picked me up and drove north to Yokohama. I sat in the backseat and we quickly got into our old conversation groove. We spoke of Japanese thinking, trees, birds and much more, learning and laughing all the way.

We arrived at Sankeien Park under cloudy skies. Such was opportune, for when the heavens are gray, the earth’s colors are more vibrant.

Sankeien Park is a large piece of property, donated by a wealthy silk merchant family in the 20th century. It has many ponds, old houses from around Japan, a bonsai exhibit and about 100 ume, or plum blossom trees.

Soon after passing the gate, we headed to a large pond and watched visitors feed its coi, or carp, and water fowl. A large pack of tufted ducks, with their yellow eyes, bluish beaks and thin black ponytails, would all swim together in the same direction. During feeding, they would paddle to the food, grab it and dive under to enjoy a private snack somewhere unbeknown to me.

After, we strolled to a bonsai tree exhibit. There were trees of various breeds, ages and sizes. Sekino-san said that some were 200-300 years old. I heard that molding and taking care of a bonsai requires a lot of work, and I hope to learn and write more of the process in the future.

Then we headed around the large pond, alongside the multitudes of blooming ume. We stopped in a small hut, where they were serving scorching hot tea next to a warming fire. Over the fire, in the center of the hut, hung a large boiling pot. The volunteers would add and take from the pot to make the tea. Such was a very nice courtesy and window into the past.

Soon after we arrived at a small museum. Inside were dozens of seasonal scroll paintings. Most portrayed the ume, next to a poem or other writing or alongside a bird. Many Japanese have the custom of making a special space in their house for the scroll painting, changing the design with the turning of the month or season. They are very fond of the seasons of nature, and changing the scroll painting is a way of bringing this feeling inside the home.

After, Sekino-san took me out to eat in Yokohama Chinatown for lunch. He bought me roasted chestnuts to give to the Matsusaki family and dropped me off at the train station on the way home.

A meeting and relationship of very high quality. Thanks to the Great Orchestrator.