Month: June 2020
Monday Morning Marketing
Hajime took the children to school today, and I know was set to talk to Takimi-sensei. So that leaves Yukiko-san free to go to the…
Status Report
The children and I are walking to Futaba. It’s still early such that it was a little cool. I think the children are surprised it’s…
Memories: Welcome to Tokyo
“This is a nice place,” Yuunosuke said, looking around. This had been a home of a mid-ranking beaurcrat from the Shogunate days whose famliy was…
Lazy Sunday
After we finish breakfast, Kinosuke-san is smoking his pipe out in the yard. I’ve been so busy the past few days that I never got…
Falling Asleep
After speaking to Kinosuke about the house addition and the treehouse, I decide to retire for the night. It’s been a long day and I’m…
Meetings & Avoidance
Hajime: After spending time with Makoto, we had a quiet but good lunch. I decided not to speak to Kinosuke right away as I see…
Going Home
It’s very early in the morning, the sun wasn’t even up yet but I stopped by my office to change to more appropriate clothing, which…
Backed to a Corner
“Oh man. Kaoru and Kenshin is off to who knows where and left me with fetching Kenji.” I only smile as Yahiko complains. “They probably…
Keeping Promises
All children need to know that adults keep promises, or at least try. Thinking of the older of the two boys who will be my…
Confinement
I sit at the end of the bed. These mattresses placed above the wooden slats are hard to get used to but there was a…
The morning after
When Kinosuke-san takes the children to school, I ask him to bring me some of the morning papers. Last night was quiet in our neighborhood……
Real Japanese Swords
I run through the streets, shouting at the sword police to keep holding their line. It’s bad enough that more than half of the Yakuza…
Let’s Finish This!
I catch my breath, finally able to separate myself from the fighting. I think I’ve stalled them long enough to let Imai get away. But…
Let it Burn!
I look out towards the street, there’s an eeriness that can only be attributed to the silence of a lifeless Yoshiwara. The various teahouses and…
Early Summer Nights
Makoto is off to bed, so I head up to Tsutomu-kun’s room. I’ve asked Kinosuke-san to stay downstairs for now… I’ve not talked to him,…
Next Day: Fallen Shizoku
The telegram arrived just in time. I walk around the streets and I can already see the police is pouring into Yoshiwara, setting up the…
Side Hustle till his Big Day
It was a busy day. I sent Fujita-san the details of the Yakuza attack on Yoshiwara and that I was following his orders exactly. The…
Long Idle Weekends
…I stand outside the castle. It smells of smoke and my heart aches for my beloved Aizu. But I will fight! I tighten my grip…
Saturday Lunch, Akebeko
Leaving lunch ready for Yukiko-san to cook, I make the excuse of an errand to leave the house, reminding Yukiko-san and Kinosuke-san that the police…
Kawaji’s Police
A secure telegram from Fujita directed only to me. This can’t be good. Everything was written in Katakana, no doubt to help secure the message…
Saturday Morning Fulfillment Duties
I look up at the construction. Kinosuke-san said it would only take a couple of days but how come it’s been 5 days already and…
Memories – To Be a Girl
November 1857 Hide-chan walks carefully. Pretty kimono with long sleeves, pretty geta, and pretty hair! It’s like being a princess! I’m going to twirl! Masa…
Killing with Kindness
I watch as the workers clean up for the day and there’s Kinosuke-san making sure that everyone puts away their tools. He tells them to…
2nd Week: Keepsakes and a Decision
I’ve sunk to a new low, I tell myself as I picked the lock to his office. It’s 2AM in the morning and there’s hardly…
The Next Right Thing
Dawn, a morning on the 2nd week of June I look over my accounting of Shindou Naruhodo’s visit one more time. I can’t afford despair…
Makoto Leaves a Note
(2nd week of June) I SEE WORKERS BY THE BIG TREE. They’re grown-up men but that’s okay. It’s not a secret base until kids say…
June – 2nd week Secure Telegrams & Nights Spent Waiting
Early 2nd week of June: The telegram came and I re-read it. It certainly came from Kinosuke but the words and phrasing tells me this…
Plans for the New Moon
I skipped out on my crossing guard duties and had someone else from the police go in my place. My substitute was quite annoyed but…
Memories: The Man Without a Name
Yagi Yuunosuke April 1869 I hate the sickroom. My father is dying, Kondou-san is dead now and the rest are -gone-. My brother is being annoying,…
After a Long Night
I go downstairs – Kinosuke-san is an early riser. I’ve not slept a bit. Last night, once I was alone, I sit down and write…
Time’s a Ticking: Later in the 1st week of June
I haven’t heard a report from Shindou the past few days. I’m tempted to reach out to him as we’re losing time. He was supposed…
Mid-morning: Not so Official Business
The children are all at school and I just got done speaking to the foreman about the treehouse that Tsutomu wants to build. He seemed…
Clean-up Duties for the Police
“We found these two dumped in the river just outside Yoshiwara.” One of the policemen who hauled the bodies casually mentions. The stench of rotting…
Memories: Being Useful
July 1865 I sit in the shade of a tree at the temple, on a rock that used to set off the asture garden, before…
Tsutomu Makes “Plans”
I look up at the tree. It’s the afternoon and the rays of the sun are peeking through the leaves. Should we really build a…