My Earliest Memories of My Great Grandfather Uzawa
“My Earliest Memories of My Great Grandfather Uzawa”
By Masako Nakagawa
WHO: Uzawa, Kikuya, Masako
WHAT: Early memories of Uzawa
WHERE: Harajuku (原宿)
WHEN: 1950 - 1955
WHY: Earliest memory which led to future research
Story Outline:
My house was 2 or 3 blocks away from my great grandparent's house
My great grandfather, Uzawa, built the house quickly after a horrible airstrike by the United States had burnt down their previous home.
I vividly remember the home and speaking with my great grandfather in the living room area.
Kikuya was my great grandfather's household helper
One day Kikuya was holding a stuffed animal teddy bear at my house - I was approximately 3 years old
The teddy bear used to belong to my great grandparents
I played with bonsai trees outside the house in the front yard
The front door was used for larger vehicles
The side door was where people came in
So I played with the bonsai tree by the front door
Kikuya came outside to invite me in for some tea
My great grandfather stepped outside of his study and asked, “Did Great Grandmother give you something sweet?”
I nodded my head in response
He walked into the living room and joined us for tea
I was with my mother, grandmother, and great grandmother
It was rare for him to come out of his study since he was always very busy with work
I always felt nervous when he was talking to me
I was 6 years old on the way back from a school field trip
Normal day and saw the principal on his bike passing by
All the students were walking home still in their outfits
I looked at my great grandparents house and noticed that there was Kikuya coming outside and looked panicked.
She looked around and ran to the direction of the physician's house
Later on, I found out that my Great Grandfather, Uzawa suddenly passed away on Oct 21st 1955 at 83 years old.
My mother Keiko was very close to my great grandparents
My mother used to go there every day just to talk
My mother always talked to me about my great Grandfather
After grandfather passed away he lives on through my mother Keiko and my research about his life
At the funeral, students came and sang the Meiji University song.