“It is by chance  
that we met,  
and by choice  
that we  
became friends.”   
Henri Nouwen

One of the greatest blessings of my teaching career was the opportunity to develop friendships with people whose lives and cultures were very different from my own. One such friendship is with Yuichiro Wakiyama of Omura, Japan, a suburb of Nagasaki.

Yuichiro has taught at Junshin Junior & Senior High School in Nagasaki for many years. During the time his school enjoyed a sister-school relationship with Saint Lawrence Academy, where I was teaching at the time, we had numerous opportunities to visit each other’s campuses. Yuichiro traveled to California several times, while I was fortunate to visit Nagasaki more than a dozen times. What began as a professional relationship gradually developed into a lasting friendship.

Our time together wasn’t limited to classrooms and school activities. Yuichiro introduced me to historic sites, breathtaking scenery, Japanese culture, and, of course, a few excellent pubs. On several visits, he generously served as my personal chauffeur, ensuring that I experienced the best of Nagasaki.

In 2007, when Kathy accompanied me to Japan for the first time, Yuichiro and his wife, Kuniko, welcomed us into their home for a delightful dinner. Sharing their enthusiasm for all things Irish, the four of us also enjoyed an evening at an Irish pub in Omura. Wonderful memories!

When Yuichiro visited California, it was my pleasure to return his hospitality. Together, we explored Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Sausalito, and the Napa Valley wine country.

Sadly, more than ten years have passed since we last saw each other.

Today is Yuichiro’s birthday. Although he’s considerably younger than I am, we’re both getting older. Realistically, another journey to Japan seems unlikely for me. Nevertheless, I remain hopeful that Yuichiro and Kuniko might someday return to California. There’s still plenty for us to explore!

Distance and time have a way of separating friends physically, but genuine friendship isn’t measured by how frequently we see one another. It’s measured by the memories we share, the kindness we’ve experienced, and the gratitude we carry in our hearts.

Happy Birthday, Yuichiro! Thank you for your friendship, your extraordinary hospitality, and the wonderful memories. The Pacific Ocean may separate us, but friendship has no borders.