Ohayugozaimasu!  Ogenki desu ka?

Genki desu,  doumu arigatou.

Translated, that means: Good morning!  How are you?  I am fine, thank you, in my native tongue, which so happens to be Japanese.

This is your friend, Michiko Nagasaki (nee' Osaka) writing.  I am so sorry for not writing in such a long time.  I have since gotten married to my boyfriend, Kazuhiko, and last year, we made the decision to move back to Japan.  We moved back there because Kazuhiko got a lucrative job offer with Toyota and I wanted to be near my own family.

My sisters Hiroku, Amma, and Kyoko, as well as my brothers Kenji and Kazuhiko, have moved back to "the old country" as well.  We all missed Japan terribly, so we made the painful decision to leave our lives in America and return to our homeland.

Two of my sisters live in Tokyo (Amma and Kyoko).  Hiroku lives here in Sapporo, which is where Kazuhiko and I live.  My brothers Kenji and Kazuhiko live in Kyoto.  

Regrettably, I will never see the beauty that is so prevelent in my country.  In 2003, nearly 8 years ago, I lost my vision when glass flew into my eye during a very bad storm.  I have been permanently blinded.  I cannot see anything but shadow and greyness.  It is extremely frustrating, but I have since learned to adapt to my disability.  I have a seeing eye dog (actually two: Osaki and Bruno; both are sable German shepherds) and I use a white cane with a red tip.  I get along very well despite my handicap.  About the only things I cannot do are cook or drive, or read a book like everybody else.  Other than that, I do quite well.

Kazuhiko, when not working, loves to putter around the house, where he loves to work in the garden, cook, read, and describe the sights as we take our daily constitutional.  I so enjoy his colourful descriptions, yet it makes me sad because then I wish I could still be living life as a sighted person.

We have found a church here in Sapporo that is Christian (Presbyterian).  We go to church every Sunday and we enjoy it.  After church, we go to lunch (usually to the sushi bar; we both dearly love sushi and fried rice).  We then go to the park if it is not raining (or snowing) and we go to the bath and soak in the nice, warm hot tub, to wash the day's dirt off of us.

We would like to have children, but right now that is too soon.  We don't have the time.  Kaz works full time and I go to university, where I am trying to get a degree in journalism.  I would love to be a professional writer and have some books with my name embossed on the cover.  This would be a dream come true .

Today it is snowing: I could feel the flakes tickling my face when we were outside.  The cold air stung my cheeks and assaulted my lungs, but it sure felt (and smelled) clean.  I love winter: I always have, always will.

Well, I am getting sleepy: it is approaching nighttime here.  I have had a busy day, helping out at church, then going to eat, to the park, and then to the sauna afterwards.  I am exhausted; all I want to do is get home to my nice, warm futon and crash for the night.  I can't think of anything better.  I will write in here again soon; sorry it's been a while!  Now you know why I haven't written.  Forgive me, please!  

Until later, this is Michiko Nagasaki saying Sayonara!

~Love, your friend in Japan, Michiko.  :)