Everyone, the New Year is just around the corner.
I was born on July 31, 1940.
Many years have passed since then, and I thought it might be interesting to reflect on those bygone days, so I picked up my pen.
I was born in Takadanobaba.
During the Tokyo air raids, an incendiary bomb likely hit our house, setting it on fire.
At the time, my father had been drafted into the military, and we evacuated to live with distant relatives.
Looking back, I remember living for a time with several women relatives in a small farmhouse.
When a steam locomotive entered a tunnel, smoke would fill the cabin if the windows were left open, and it was quite an ordeal.
We traveled through the Seto Inland Sea, gazing at many islands before arriving in Iwakuni, where we crossed the Kintaikyo Bridge.
Its unique shape remains vivid in my memory even today.
Looking down from the bridge, the clear blue water flowed past rocks, creating a truly beautiful scene.
I remember once seeing a red crab blowing bubbles as it emerged from between the pillars of a nearby house.
I also recall the farmer untying straw rope and crafting simple straw sandals.
During the day, we would go play in the river.
We caught Japanese fire-bellied newts in buckets—black on the back and red on the belly—strange little creatures in retrospect.
We played like that every day in such an environment.
Geckos were said to protect houses and were cherished because they ate mosquitoes and flies.
One day, I saw smoke rising straight up from the mountaintop, piercing through the clouds.
Thinking back now, it must have been the atomic bomb.
Hiroshima isn’t far from Iwakuni.
Later, we took the steam locomotive again and arrived at Tokyo Station.
With the end of the war, pre-war teachers returned to schools and classes resumed.
We moved back to Nerima and lived about three minutes’ walk from the station.
A clear stream flowed near our house, with schools of rice fish and many dragonflies flying about.
There were beautiful varieties such as black-winged damselflies, silver dragonflies, giant dragonflies, white-tailed dragonflies, and straw-colored dragonflies, showing how rich in nature the area was.
Eventually, I entered elementary school, and I still remember the principal.
He wore a military uniform and cap, looking very much like an active-duty officer.
It was a harsh era with severe food shortages.
DDT, brought by American soldiers, eliminated diseases spread by lice and fleas.
At school, we too had DDT sprayed on our heads and backs.
This quickly put an end to the infectious diseases of that time.
I remember this being done twice in total.
Classes were held in the mornings and afternoons.
Later, school lunches were introduced—bread rolls and skim milk were served.
The skim milk, in particular, was hard to drink and would make us gag.
Teachers ate with us in the classroom, sharing in our hardships.
One day, I was scolded for playing by pointing the end of my bread roll up toward the ceiling while eating.
I was made to stand and got slapped on both cheeks.
Of course, I was at fault.
My father began making a living as a street vendor in Ginza, selling wallets and relatively expensive gloves to foreigners.
Later, he opened another store in Ikebukuro and expanded his business.
In winter, Mount Fuji could be seen snow-covered from Ikebukuro, and I remember the cold at dusk made the scenery look like a beautiful woodblock print.
Ikebukuro had been reduced to ruins by air raids, with most buildings burned to the ground.
It was bitterly cold and the conditions were harsh.
My father and mother sold celluloid products and wallets as street vendors to soldiers from the U.S., U.K., and Australia.
They did business in many locations, such as around Ginza 4-chome, Jumonji-dori, and Ikebukuro.
Even under the bitter cold and lack of resources, they traded with American, British, Australian, and occasionally Indian soldiers.
The American soldiers riding jeeps with pistols at their waists looked very cool to us.
At Tokyo Station, bomb holes in the ceiling remained, and rubble was piled up.
It was truly a time of confusion and hardship.
In Ueno, many war orphans gathered, and the atmosphere was heavy and suffocating.
Still, we Japanese survived with strength and resilience.
Before the war, my father ran a "milk hall" (a café) in Takadanobaba.
After the war, he hoped to open a similar shop again.
He started with stalls in Ginza and Ikebukuro and gradually expanded his business.
Eventually, thanks to his efforts, he succeeded in running a café in Ginza.
When he advertised for two staff members, he received 85 applications, showing how popular café work was at the time.
However, as the economy improved, running a café became less profitable.
Life is full of ups and downs, isn’t it?
After the war, Japan, under the protection of the United States, refrained from expanding its military and quietly proceeded under the form of the Self-Defense Forces.
But going forward, due to the influence of the Trump administration, the U.S. may stop being involved in Japan’s defense, and we might be required to purchase all military equipment, including fighter jets, ourselves.
Countries like China, Russia, and North Korea may become real threats, so we must remain vigilant.
We must work to build friendly relations with other nations and avoid war.
Now then, at our company, we sell Japanese swords.
We also accept consignment items.
Some have been with us for as long as 30 years, and many are well-maintained, fine works.
On the other hand, some swords show slight rust.
In such cases, we consult with our customers and, if necessary, polish the blade before putting it up for sale.
We appreciate your kind understanding.
We treat each item as if it were our own, taking responsibility for handling them carefully, so please feel at ease when entrusting your items to us.
If I personally judge an item to be a fake, I will honestly inform the customer.
Just recently, a customer was delighted, saying that their consigned sword "looked as beautiful as if it had been polished."
As the year comes to a close, I hope to see you all in good health.
Grandfathers and grandmothers, please stay well too.
I myself am doing well and continue rehabilitation twice a week.
I also walk to and from the shop as much as possible.
Thanks to that, I have remained healthy without needing to visit a large hospital.
I’m also grateful to my wife.
To all husbands and wives, since you are bound by some fate, please enjoy meals together, and occasionally spend a relaxing time at an inn.
Live peacefully without conflict.
To your children, please teach them the values of "kindness," "cheerfulness," and "modesty."
After overcoming hardships, joy will surely follow.
On the other hand, if you always choose the easy path, hardships will eventually come.
That’s what I believe.
To young people, I hope you will consider having at least two jobs.
When you pursue something you’re passionate about, you’ll also be able to fulfill your responsibilities at your company.
After finishing work, use your creativity to take on new and enjoyable challenges.
With that, I sincerely wish you all happiness and good health.
Farewell.

Aoi Art
Kazushige Tsuruta