I have known Yutaka Kobayashi for almost forty years, from a young man to a grandfather, a part of life where I was, inside his delicate lacquered heart, a friendship pearl, his tomodachi.

To my tomodachi Yutaka-san



“Tomodachi acazu” means in Japan
“a friend with untiring zeal,”
the one which will be always there,
in times of sorrow to dry your tears,
and silently walk as over a tatami mat
with sadness you rest your head…

The one that in times of joy will collect
the smiles happily leaving your face,
so you wouldn’t forget them tomorrow
knitting smiles into an amazing maze,
like a golden spider made of laughter
trapping flying jokes in your garden…

A Shogun counts on the undying loyalty
of the Samurai’s katana deadly blade,
to protect his house and his well being
wherever he chooses his heart to place,
but only a simple man with no power
can call another man, his truly friend…

Lotus flowers gentle teetered by kamikaze
divine-wind taking warmth from your heart,
carrying the perfume of all your thoughts
to rest like a balsam on the tired hands
of the spirit that resides in your tomodachi,
that your friendship he wears, deep inside…

The one that will no abandon by leaving
without a word, like a raven by the night,
invisible, a false and malignant intruder
invading like deadly smoke your house;
with his untiring zeal for you, his friend,
he wouldn’t never desert from his guard…

A happy man, there is no one more happy,
that the one having at his side a tomodachi.


Tomodachi= Friend
Acazu= with untiring zeal