A Man and a Reunion Photo

The Tsurumi Middle School reunion about 50 years ago.

I met Tanaka Kazushi san a week ago.  We were sitting side by side in the café next to a bookstore.  I was editing my haiku and tanka and about to leave when he said, "You must be studious person."  He introduced himself that he used to be an English teacher at the Tsurumi Middle School.  

Then he pulled out a clear plastic case from his bag and showed me the above photo, but he couldn't remember the name of the actress on the right-hand side of the first row.  We debated her name for a while.  I told him that beautiful actresses seemed similar to me, but finally, I came up with the name, Koyama Akiko.  

I remember her because she is a graduate of the same high school as I graduated although the name was different when she had attended.  It used to be girl-only high school before WWII.  I promised Tanaka san that I would blog about this in a week.  I hope he will be looking at this soon.  

On the photo, Tanaka san stood in the back row and right.  The man in the middle at the front row was Tanaka san's colleague, and the rest of the people were their students.

We had a good chat before my kana shodo class.  The time was up.  I stood up and said goodbye.  He said, “Have a nice day,” in English.  I turned around and said, “The same to you,” with a smile.  He pursed his lips looking at me.