“No distance of place
or lapse of time
can lessen the friendship
of those who are thoroughly
persuaded of each other’s worth.” 
Robert Southey

My travels around the world, limited though they may have been, have blessed me with the opportunity to meet and get to know many people. Most would best be described as acquaintances — people I know, but with whom I really have no ongoing relationship. Others, however, have developed into true friends. This is certainly the case with my friend Yuichiro, a teacher at Junshin High School in Nagasaki, Japan.

I don’t recall exactly what year I met Yuichiro, but it was his first year serving as a chaperone escorting a group of students from Junshin High School when they visited Saint Lawrence Academy for two weeks in the spring. Our visitors would stay in the homes of host families, who would provide housing, meals, and companionship throughout the visit.  Yuichiro’s host family that year was the Sifferman’s, who lived in Saratoga. Mr. Sifferman had contacted me prior to the arrival of our Japanese guests to inform me that he had a conflict on one of the weekends which required him and his his wife to be out of town. They were okay with Yuichiro staying at their home during their absence, as there was an older adult-age son living at home, too. They were just concerned that no one would be available to entertain Yuichiro on the weekend days.

I assured Mr. Sifferman that I would be happy to take on that responsibility, unaware that it would lead to a friendship which has lasted for close to twenty years.

On Saturday, we spent the day touring San Francisco by bus with the Junshin students and their host students from Saint Lawrence. It was an exhausting, but thoroughly enjoyable day. Then, on Sunday, I took Yuichiro over the hill to Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Carmel by the Sea. It was a picture-perfect day, which included a stop at the Santa Cruz lighthouse. While strolling along the Santa Cruz wharf that afternoon, I happened to see a miniature replica of the Santa Cruz lighthouse, so while Yuichiro was busy looking around the shop, I quickly purchased two of them. Prior to his departure, I presented one of them to him as a gift of our friendship. He keeps his lighthouse on his desk at Junshin High School. I keep mine on my desk here at home — a constant reminder of the bond we forged on that day.

Through the years, we’ve gotten together many other times, both here in California and in Nagasaki. We’ve shared many meals at restaurants in both cities. In 2007, when Kathy first visited Japan with me, we got together with Yuichiro and his wife for a delightful meal. On that same trip, the four of us joined a group of Junshin administrators and teachers for a traditional Japanese meal at an historic restaurant in downtown Nagasaki.

It’s been ten years since my last visit to Japan. Despite the time and distance which separates us, Yuichiro and I have maintained a close friendship. For this, I will always be grateful.