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It was a Saturday in March. The weather in Tokyo was relatively warmer
than usual and cherry blossoms were in full bloom, so the day looked like
a "Spring has come" day.
One of my cousins, who is the same age with me and has been living in Kyoto
for four years on a business assignment, was supposed to visit us in the
afternoon. He has got a new assignment and has been transferred to Tokyo.
He and his supervisor in his life were looking for a rental apartment in
Shinjuku, which should be a suitable place for a working bachelor. They
arrived at my home around at three o'clock. After taking a coffee break,
they went again, searching for more apartments. They were supposed to come
back for dinner.
Then the atmosphere at the Kanamarus became rather quiet, so I was sitting
on my desk and was making a slide presentation to be made coming Monday
at a meeting with my client. My cell phone, being charged aside on my desk,
rang. The name of my elder daughter was on the screen of the phone. She
told me casually, "Hi, I am at Meidaimae - a local train station fifteen
minutes from my home - and I would like to bring my boyfriend and introduce
him to you."
They arrived at my house. There is a sitting table in the living room of
the Kanamarus. They sat down falling on their knees in front of me - a
formal sitting style. She introduced him to me having a tense face. He
asked me for permission to get married. An unexpected call from my elder
daughter followed by message of great importance made me fell a little
awkward, but I tried to keep calm. My wife said to me later that I looked
as if I was keeping my presence of mind though I could not remember what
I told them.
The following Thursday, a national holiday, the Kanamarus and the Moris
had the first-time introductions each other at a very formal restaurant
in Hibiya park in downtown Tokyo. We exchanged formal greetings followed
by a three-hour-lunch. The dates for the engagement ceremony and the wedding
ceremony were talked about while someone has a bystander, his face with
awe. April 7th, a lucky day on the Japanese calendar was selected by his
mother, as the day for Yuinou, a traditional Japanese style engagement
ceremony. And then on May 4th, I will be a father of the bride, finally.
I am very happy that my daughter is welcomed by the Moris, however, I have
very mixed feeling while I talked about her childhood. Well, "Those
were the days" and "These will be the days." |
Miyamakinbai by YK |
