Yokohama Navy Exchange was where?

Our first year on Medori Gaoka in Yokohama we had a snowfall in March about 5 inches. My wife and i went out and made a snowman which drew some attention from our Japanese neighbors. The Children came over and pointed to it and we came to realize that we had made it with three balls. apparently the Japanese make it with only two. Perhaps Karou could confirm this. As for a perfect place to live, Thor Hyerdahl poised this same question in the 1930's. He chose to go to Fatu Hiva an island in the Marquasias [sp] group in the south pacific. Pretty nice place except for the headhunters. One of the nicest places I found in Japan was the fishing village of Shimoda. Which apparently has a temple nereby dedicated to fertility. Took a walk on a beautiful beach, wonderful experience except for the human body that had washed up. Was probably a fisherman, never found out. As there was a small group of people already there, we turned around, was not our place, to stop and stare. Took a walk along the fish pier and "spoke" to the fishermen, who were a very jolly bunch. One gave me a whole fish from his catch and I gave him a Kennedy 50 cent peice which he seemed to like. Back at the hotel we had no idea how we would be greeted bringing this fish home. The staff knew just what to do and took it off my hands and served it to us that night for dinner. We apparently took a cable car ride up some mountain as I have pictures of it but for the life of me I don't remember.

Hello, Peter san

Did you have a good night of Christmas? I was wishing it.
This link is Shimoda. To our regret, this is Japanese. Please enjoy these pictures.

http://www.shimoda-city.info/f_index_kmap.html

Kaoru
I had a nice christmas thank you I hope you did also.
Question do Japanese make snowmen with two snowballs or three? Thank you for the link to Shimoda. it will take me a little time to go through it, in Japanese. What did you get for Christmas?

Peter

Snowman make with two snow balls in Japan. I think that it is the same as your country. I got a splendid Christmas present from my friend. It is a medal of shining silver.

Karou san
In america we make snowmen with three snowballs. I think you mean sterling silver not shining silver. But is still OK. I received a small bonsai tree from wife san. Looks pretty kawai- so. but in 100 years will look like a good bonsai. I saw a bonsai in Kyoto, they said it was the oldest tree in Japan 700 years old. also got other stuff like pajamas. When I came back from Japan I had about 20 yukatas, but now after all these years they are all worn out after much use. I went to purchase yukata at a store here and they ask about $120 for one can you believe! We got them almost free at Ryokan. I still have my geta. I had them specially made for me because of my foot size. I climed showa shinzan in them. Not a good idea. More snow today in New Hampshire this is stupid !

Kaoru san I have been looking at the shimoda site but there is little that I remember. Tonight I have mixed feelings. Feeling very good about certain business today was a very good day. Otherwise feeling frustrated that I can not read Japanese. Question. Is it possible for foreigner to learn to read Japanese? I know you speak a little german. English and german is made up of same letters but the meaning is different. Japanese is three different types of characters blended together. I have tried to learn Japanese writing on my own but I am a failure to make progress. This must be a real problem for foreigners living and working in Japan. How do they do this ? Hope you are well, Yours; Peter

Peter san

I think that it is very difficult to read Japanese. It should learn Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana.

We sometimes forget the Chinese character, too. It might be possible to speak Japanese. Most foreigners who stay in Japan think that it is difficult to write Japanese. Or, they might be learning in Japanese language school.

Kaoru san
Thank you for your answer. To be honest, I was already sure of the answer. Prehaps there is hope for me. One think I have learned .. it is much easier to learn a language when you live in the country of the language.
Watching jtv set the "tone of the language". There were phrases that we needed much help with that were funny, like shing-hatchu-bi [not spelled right. Also when traveling they would know we were from Yokohama because of our "accent".
Now we look to the new year... HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! This year we here launch our new business. Now it is a secret until all legal protections are done. We have been working on this for three years and when launched will have room for "many people at the table". Including Japan and everywhere. Smaller dreams .. I have wanted to build a small Japanese cottage, a summer house, prehaps this year. I have the basic plans but not final designs. Size will be about 18 feet by 10 feet. Other dream is to return to Japan for a visit. This will depend on time and money. I still have not decided to take a tour or do it on my own. Went to a restaurant where they had gyoza.. called them peking dumplings.. sorry to report they were terrible. Not like Yokohama at all, filled with spinach, I like spinach but not in gyoza. keep looking.. Hey Lori.. you still there ?

My apologies. I have not been to the site in awhile and have been so wrapped up in my work life and family. On Sundays I know the Church is open, so I need to stop by. I live right down the street from it on Skyline Drive. I have no excuse for not doing this already, just real busy with ship life and my family. Mrs Matsudaira plays the piano at Church or is a patron? Either way I need to make a pit stop when I am going past. I am on the ship in Yokosuka today working so unfortunately I can not go today.
Every Sunday I do remember seeing Japanese plate cars there, most notably two silver Mercedes Benz. Did Mrs Matsudaira drive? Just curious, oh also I have seen some older Japanese ladies walking home after Church (going off base) and I even thought about stopping one and asking about the lady you know. I looked up the direct dialing to the Chapel, it would be: 011-81-45-281-4183. I found this on the Community website: http://www.cfay.navy.mil/negishi.htm I will also get my act together and go over there. Again, I sincerely apologize for my slowness.

Take care, Chris

Yes I'm still here. I check this forum pretty much every day; just don't post very often. ;)

And Chris, SO glad to hear from you! I understand about how life can get so busy that there's just not time for everything. To answer your questions: Mrs. Matsudaira plays (or played) piano - for both Protestant and Catholic services. If she still attends Chapel of The Rising Sun, she may or may not still play. Since she would be kind of getting up in years, I MIGHT guess that she could possibly have arthritis and may have difficulty playing the piano -- just speculating.

About whether she drives..... she always traveled by city bus and/or taxi when I lived there. I drove her to the outskirts of the housing area a few times after church or choir practice to catch a taxi. She would ride to my house and flag a taxi from there. (I lived at the top of Cardiac Hill; my house number was 711B. Wonder if the numbers are still the same?) And other times she would go to the other side (near the community support facilities) and catch a bus or taxi. If there was no one to catch a ride with to either of those locations and the weather was bad, she would call a taxi to the chapel. There were no security gates at that time; all traffic (and pedestrians) had free access 24/7. Does that surprise you?? I was surprised that there are gates now. I saw them on the video that is online, and on the satellite maps. Like I said awhile back, if you find out she is still there, I would like to have her e-mail me if possible.

swick75009@comcast.net

If she doesn't use e-mail, I could send my snail-mail address to the chapel via e-mail so they could give it to her; or if you would like to e-mail me, I would give you my snail-mail address to give to her. Again, I sincerely appreciate you going through all the trouble for me just so I can find out about an old friend. She was special to me; we had a great time playing piano and flute duets. She even brought 3 kimonos over to my house and dressed me in them and took several pictures. My husband even used one in his Golden Anchor Award application (1981, I think) for VAQ-136 (the squadron he was assigned to aboard USS Midway - homeported at Yokosuka at the time). Ahhhhh....WONDERFUL times and memories!!

{See, Peter! I am also on a nostalgia trip like you - and others. It really is OK}

Happy New Year everyone!!

Another thought about stopping at the Chapel....you mentioned stopping on a Sunday. I would think he Chapel office should be open weekdays and the Chaplain should be there. When I lived there, there was a full-time Chaplain and a Religious Specialist also assigned there.......
That might make it a little easier for you: other possible times to stop by.... just a thought.

Appreciatively,
Lori

Hi Lori
T thought you would be still here. Here's a novel thought. Perhaps you could E mail the chaplain and ask him. Don't have it now but I did see a listing of it either on the Negishi web site or the Fleet Activities Yokosuka, either way shouldn't be difficult to find. Also I remember from the vidio that the security gates went up after 9-11 perhaps I,m mistaken on that. Please let us know, I hope we can get a happy ending to this drama.

Kaoru san
Hey.. lets help Lori and you could call the Chapel of the rising sun and find about Mrs Matsudiara. She would be very happy. [ OK Lori you didn't see this its a secret suprise for you]. Here we get ready for New Years Eve.
This year we will be staying home as we are getting MORE snow!! AGGGHHHAAAA. Maybe 12 inches on top of the 30 we already have. This is not fun. I am whining and I know it. Sometimes we go out to dinner and a party but not this year. The 4 wheel drive Ford Explorer is very good to have this year. In Japan we would be coloring in the eye of the Daruma and burning it. What a wonderful custom. Sometimes we have champagne, but not for me gives me a headache. OK Kaoru
time for the vodka martini department. Also a tradition. There is a party in New York City and at 12 midnight they lower a large ball as a countdown. Sometimes we go outside and shoot off guns in the air. I don't know what you may think of that but we do live in New Hampshire.

I had thought of e-mailing to the chaplain (actually quite a while back), but didn't do it because an "out of the blue" enquiry like that could likely raise some question as to my "intent". I thought that having someone drop in and enquire in person would be better. With increased security that has become necessary in recent years, I didn't want to cause any discomfort or even problems.
Thanks, though for trying to be helpful.

Lori:

Well..OK I understand your concern about being misunderstood, but I think you may be overthinking it. Certainly they could decline any inquiry, If I were the chaplain your inquiry would seem sincere and harmbess enough, indeed it is endeering that you should be reaching out to find and old friend. I susppect in the military there is much effort in reconnecting. In any event keep us posted. I myself am trying to find my old friend Hidumitsu Shibanguchi, who was of much help to us in planning our trips and having us out to stay in his familys home in Satayama or thereaboust. We went "hunting" for the Yama Imo or "mountain potato" spent all day to dig this long rooted tuber that at the end of the day boiled down to about 1/2 a cupful of this paste. Anyway good luck, and Happy New Year.

Hi Lori, I have a little to report but really not much. I am stepping up my efforts - I did stop by there on New Years Eve during the day. I did not plan to stop that day because I figured the office was closed. I saw the typical few Japanese plated cars and assumed the office might be open. I went to the front doors and they were locked, I knocked but nothing. I then went to a side door which was facing the road also (to the left of the front door) - I think that is where the office is? I have never been inside. I did not get an answer at the side door either. I am going to call first if I am stopping by during the week. I will drive by that way each time I go home and check it out. Oh your house is still there and still numbered the same, some things don't change that much. If you came to Negishi today you would probably find many things have not changed, it is kind of like going back in time just living there. My wife is a little supersitious (Japanese), and sometimes she says there are ghosts around. I honestly believe her! Also from where I live on Skyline I can see a cemetery which is off base. I also have an excellent view of Mt. Fuji. I am going to email you from my work in a few minutes so you can have that email to contact me. I will be getting some time off which will give me more time to work on this. I am going to find out about Mrs Matsudaira. I am sure if she is not in attendence anymore that one of the older patrons will be able to help. Happy New Years to you and family.

- Chris

Thought I'd let you know we finally got snow here in Western Washington state. Have had trouble getting out of our driveway. My husband couldn't make it to work one day and had to go in late the next day. So, I won't need the complimentary 4 tons of snow you offered me a few weeks ago. Happy New Year to everyone on this forum.

Oops!! Going back and re-reading posts, I see it was 400 tons (not 4 tons) of snow you offered me. I still don't need or want it. :D

Lori
Glad you got some snow,I guess, except for driving eh?
The last few days has been beautiful and warm, in the 50's and an unheard of 60. The snow is finally melting and we can breathe again. Some even say that we may luckout the rest of the winter, I am not getting my hopes up but it is definately better. Our New Hampshire primarys are over and we have the state back again. Went to a John McCain ralley just for the fun of it. What a media circus! We take ourselves much too seriously. Today people are dutyfully going around and picking up the thousands of campaign plackards that litter the roadsides. It even smells a little like early spring, but I am not a bit deceived. I will be happy with an "average" winter. OK so.. whats with Chris's report on Mrs Matsudiara. i figured that you took the party over to E mails. Honestly after a week I thought that the thread had run out. Or that you were ticked at me for my suggestion to E mail the chapel. After all this time I hope that there is something good to tell. Let me know.
I wonder if Kaoru is still with us. Moshi Moshi..

Moshi moshi,
annonai...