While watching NHK’s “Buraburari Tamori” episode on Mito, the author recalls that the principal of his beloved alma mater was a famous educator from Mito. In his graduation anthology, it was written that one of the three literary “Ks” would one day leave a major mark on Japan’s literary world—and that was the author himself. During his difficult youth, a chance reunion with the principal at Sendai Station left an unforgettable impression. The ending song of the program, about sending happiness to the future, resonates with the author’s belief that his daily unpaid work is indeed for that very purpose.

2017-01-28

Right now, NHK’s “Buraburari Tamori” is broadcasting the Mito episode.

When I was a student at the alma mater I will love forever, the principal was a famous educator from Mito.

In the graduation anthology, it was written that there were three “Ks” in the humanities at our school.

It said that one of those Ks would someday leave a great mark on Japan’s literary world.

That person was none other than myself.

Because I came from the kind of family background I have already described, I spent a difficult youth.

During that time, I happened to run into him at the Maruko Department Store that once stood in front of Sendai Station.

The expression on his face at that moment is something I will never forget.

Why was I here, in such a place, like this?

At the same time, because he was an exceptionally perceptive man, I believe he instantly understood my predicament.

There was such a look in his eyes.

The ending song of this program begins with the line, “Sending happiness to the you of the future.”

That my daily unpaid efforts are precisely for the purpose of sending happiness to the future—you—
is something that all discerning people around the world surely understand.