Dear Dr. Yukiko Kurokawa,
I had the pleasure of creating an improvisation, which was like a meeting of your book reading and my dance, at the special seminar “Words and Dance: Richness of Aging” held in December 2021. I made new discoveries by touching upon the basics of traditional Japanese art expressions (Noh recitations and music accompaniment in Joruri puppet shows) which place importance on words. I would like to extend my gratitude to you and the staff members of the event. Thank you very much.
In the fall of 2020, I attended your seminar held at the Kanda Shrine (Kanda Myoujin), “The Past Living in the Present: The Joy of Aging in the 100-Year Life”. There I met (your book) “Mimosa”, with the subtitle “The Life Story of Teruko (107-year-old pianist)”, the recital text at the seminar (in 2021). I think I was motivated to attend the seminar (in 2020) largely by my state of mind at the time. My mother had passed away three years ago, and I was spending my days supporting my father who had made a resolution to upkeep his practice home studio by himself. He assigned himself to offer prayers to several Shinto and Buddhist altars and photos of our ancestral predecessors located at our practice studio, as his sole duty. I was trying to understand the feeling of my father who lived with calmness. What could I do for his happiness…?
In in the afterword of your book “Mimosa”, you describe Teruko-san as:
Her brain is strong.
Her mind is strong.
Her soul is strong.
She does not lament that she is able to do less and less, she accepts herself of now, she has the strength of spirit to maintain the sense of awe for life.
After reading your book, the life of Teruko-san overlapped with the life of my father. My father is much stronger than myself who became upset when I had nothing to do in the Covid pandemic. I realized that he was watching over me, when I thought it was me supporting him.
I would like to strive for the strength of spirit.
Teruko-san is a pianist, while my father is a dancer. Is it shallow of me to assume that their strength has been cultivated in their quest to master what they have in common, their arts?
I was inspired to write to you, as I found Mimosa like rays of spring in my favorite flower shop on my way home to the practice studio, after work outside.
Yuko Nishikawa
Dear Yuko Nishikawa Sensei,
At the special seminar last year, I had the privilege of seeing your creative dance, based on “Mimosa The Life Story of Teruko.” I was excited as it seemed as though the body, mind and spirit of Teruko-san had wafted upon a small pop-up theater in Moto-Akasaka. I am deeply grateful.
Teruko-san celebrated her 109th birthday last month, in February. Teruko-san said that she was frail as a child. And that “I didn’t expect to live such a long life.”
What is it to live a long life?
It is often said that “There are things we don’t understand until we reach that certain age,” but there are not many people who have lived to be 109-years old.
Today, each and every one of elderly people lead their unique lives, even if they have not lived to be over 100-years old. I am struck with awe by that sheer fact.
Your words that your father “was watching over me, when I thought it was me supporting him,” really touched my heart. You have pointed out that the strength of Teruko-san and your father has been cultivated by their quest to master their arts. I certainly agree with your point even though they come from different fields; piano and Nihon Buyo.
In their quest to master their arts, both have devoted themselves to staggering amounts of training. Thus, they have attained capacities tested by overcoming countless difficulties. They have gone through happiness and anxiety; they pray and live on today.
What are your father’s prayers?
What are his thoughts as he watches over you?
I am tempted to pose such questions discreetly.
But no, I will refrain from asking such frivolous questions and keep them in my imagination.
The season of Mimosa has come upon us.
Mimosa of Japan; Mimosa of the world.
I would now like to offer my private prayers of Mimosa.
Yukiko Kurokawa