Friends and family forever

One day in July, 1982, Yoriko Saruta-san unexpectedly visited us at the Komaba Foreign Students' House in Meguro, Tokyo. She told us that she had been advised by someone from the Tourism Section of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo to consult us about her desire to go to Mindanao to pay homage to her husband killed during World War II. As she did not know exactly where her husband died, she said she needed to pray for him while inside the plane as it would pass over some mountain in Mindanao.

We spent time going through the details of her trip, including what she needed to say (and as back-up) what she needed to show the stewardess of the plane she would board during her very important trip to Mindanao from Manila.

Upon her return to Japan and back to our dormitory, she excitedly shared with us about her successful mission: How the kind stewardess informed her that their plane was now flying over the mountain that held her husband's remains, how she took that precious moment to pray for eternal peace and rest for her husband, and about the peace and quiet that she felt after doing this solemn act.

That was 28 years ago and she showed a picture of us together in front of that dormitory for foreign students as she narrated to the rest of my family how our friendship started and continued through the years. Then she was 63. When we met last week again, she has turned 91. She mentioned that this could be our last meeting together as she said she was getting more tired more easily and was experiencing more pain each day.

But she has been saying goodbye to us for several years now, we told her. She laughed heartily when we told her that she will live to be 100 or perhaps 104, like our own grandmother, Nanay Baning. We sincerely prayed so and continue to pray that God will allow us to have our dear Saruta-san with us for many more years to come. So did Ms. Kikuyo Higuchi, Saruta-san's very very dear friend. We have had several happy occasions to be together with Higuchi-san and Saruta-san.

They are almost inseparable. Their friendship started shortly after World War II, in 1948. From then, till now, and forever, they became, they are, and they will continue to be friends forever. A solid 62-year-old friendship and still going very strong. What a beautiful gift to have such solid friendship like theirs!

Higuchi-san is 7 years younger than Saruta-san. Both had worked in the same government office then, a rare feat for women during their time. While most Japanese women confined themselves at home, Saruta-san and Higuchi-san went on to be educated and were among the very few women hired to work in a government office.

Higuchi-san decided to remain single while Saruta-san remained a widow, taking care of her lovely daughter whom we call Mama Sakata. As Saruta-san embraced and accepted our family as part of her own, Higuchi-san also embraced us all lovingly as part of her own family too.

Now that both have long been retired, they have both made their reunion part of their lives. Together, at 91 and 84, they plan and go for trips to various parts of Japan and especially love looking for good travel packages that include very good food and very comfortable accommodations.

When our family met both of them last week, both golden ladies looked so radiantly happy and active. They excitedly shared that they booked themselves for a night together to reminisce and laugh about old times, perhaps to cry together as well for some sad recollections, but mainly to celebrate their friendship together anew. What beautiful friendship! What rare, strong, liberated Japanese women!.

What a blessing to have them as our friends and as our own family. May both live to be 100 and more so we can all continue to enjoy the joy and beauty of being their friends and part of their families.

* * *

Email: [email protected]