It was clear: Takano-san had been looking for yasashisa that, he believed, had disappeared from the minds of many Japanese, including himself: The something he had been looking for had finally turned out to be such yasashisa that would mak…

Takano-san’s voice remained calm. “Since that was her first trip to Southern California, Yumi-san energetically, at least to my eye, made sightseeing tours to Disneyland, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, shopping malls near by, beaches... A whole…

Having put down a glass of Coke on the table, Melba said to Takano-san. “I don’t understand yet why Yumi-san’s career was so important to you, Mr. Takano. Was it really worth costing your marriage?” I was sensing that Melba still wanted to…

Naturally, both Melba and Takano-san were not aware that I was embarrassed in such a way. Takano-san answered Melba. “I don’t think Yumi-san had any idea if she would become fond of her life in Southern California when I was ordered by my …

It was showering outside. I was in The Aristocrat -‘the Philippines’ most popular restaurant’- on Roxas Boulevard. Seating across the square table near the open window facing the boulevard was Melba, and left to me was Takano-san. We were …

Thank goodness. Joseph plainly erased such my anxiety. “No, no, that’s not what I meant, Trina.” He smiled wryly. “Now, we’re at the place where we have to talk about business. I would’ve chosen a little more refined a place for that purpo…

Mr. Kato -one of co-owners of the K&T Production- had not yet found my job even near Tokyo Metropolis, let alone in the area. Though Mr. Kato’s office was located in Funabashi, Chiba, between Narita International Airport and the heart of T…

Sitting side by side with Lisa on the long bench of a jeepney, I was waiting for the passenger vehicle to depart toward the north on Mabini Street. In the early evening, the terminal of Jeepneys and busses in Baclaran was as crowded as eve…

Cesar was no longer there. Being totally exhausted, I was sitting deeply in a loveseat in Lisa and Ricardo’s living room. Both of them remained silent, being unable to hide their displeasure, with Lisa sitting on a stool, leaning her back …

Manager Manuel was singing an American hit love song ‘You and I’ on the stage. With a lustrous, lively voice, perfect intervals, rich expression, his talent for singing was acknowledged by all Sakura girls to be of almost professional qual…

Singing on the stage was Gloria, a singer-hostess, 29 years old, oldest among Sakura girls, who was supposed to become a mama after Lisa’s departure to Japan. The karaoke saloon was filled with very loud music, as usual. And, when I realiz…

“Returning to the story in Cebú, Trina,” said calmly Takano-san, seemingly, trying hard to control his emotion, “in the island, I visited one more place, in fact. And the place had been reported to Kobayashi by Eva as a workshop, and was s…

Having smoked two cigarettes in a row, Takano-san finally resumed his story. “Eva retuned to the Philippines about nine months ago, coming out of, or intending to come out of, her status as an overstaying bar hostess in Japan, to establish…

Takano-san continued with his story. “Having once acknowledged a part of the trouble they had been facing, Gabriel looked rather willing to tell me his story. He calmly talked of what he had heard, what he knew, about how Kobayashi and Eva…

When Takano-san came back to his table, however, the smile he had been wearing on the stage was already gone from his face. The Karaoke Saloon Sakura was filled with singing and laughter. There no longer was any boring atmosphere which had…

“Not wasting too much time, I phoned back to Yabe in the early next morning.” Takano-san continued his story. “Yabe’s point was, to be brief: He has a long time friend, named Kobayashi. Kobayashi is preparing to start his business in the P…

Having Raymond carry her soft drink, Lisa came to Takano-san’s table, and took a seat, sandwiching me between him and herself. “Well, what should we talk about first, Takano-san?” Lisa grinned teasingly. “You surely are ready to answer any…

It was a little before ten o’clock in the evening. There was only one group of customers in Sakura: Three middle-aged men. Having gathered in a corner of the saloon near the entrance, girls with no customer were patiently waiting for the n…

The dancers went out of the front door, collectively throwing their very curious eyes on me who had been just patiently waiting in the receptionist room for a long time for Joseph to finish his talk with them. "I'm very happy to see you ag…

==The Philippines== --Year 1984-- ******************** September ******************** -- Chapter 16 -- Takano-san, who Melba believed needed me, did not show up at Sakura for more than two weeks, however, from the day I had served him for …