In March, Joō-sama decided to make a quick trip to Japan with me and Takeo. The flight was long; longer than any I had been on. When we arrived in Tokyo, the crowds were immense. We went through customs and transferred to a flight to Nagoya. We were met at that airport by a car and driver and all our luggage was whisked into the car. I was wide-eyed through it all. Everything was beautiful. The blossoms all over the trees as we passed were splendid. I tried to understand everything that was being said but quickly realized how shallow my knowledge of the language was because everyone spoke so quickly. I took as many pictures as I could so I could show Mom. I was proud I could read most signs.
We arrived at the family’s mansion. It was definitely Japanese in style but was enormous. There we
