􀂆 To Nobe • Kuwahara Kanako [1965]

[PROPRIETRESS OF A WESTERN-STYLE GUESTHOUSE]

We knew each other for a long time didn't we, eversince we were students together, and in all thattime I have never come across a person who spoke hermind as you did, or was so honestly frank in heropinions. I think that in a sense you were my rolemodel. I have not taken it in yet that you have diedand still feel that if I went to Kyoto we would beable talk about our favourite things and joketogether as we used to. There are times when yourlovely smiling face comes to mind and then at othersI hear your gentle voice borne on the wind and thosememories still give me strength. ‘Thank you, Nobe’,from the bottom of my heart. From Game.

􀂆 An Exhibition and a Daphne Sapling

• Yamada Junko [1965]

[JAPANESE VOLUNTEER AT KYOTO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITYHOUSE]

Nobukōsan, the Daphne you gave me has bedded in reallywell. It's not that big yet but it gives off alovely scent in the spring you know. When I met youat the lecture for your husband's photographicexhibition at the Kyoto University Museum in 2010you said you’d split up your own plant to give mesome root-stock. I thought at the time that this wasjust small talk and so I was all the more delightedwhen you actually got in touch with me about it.When we were at university together we only kneweach other by sight but for me when we met the otherday it was more a happy and welcome reunion than amere casual re-acquaintance.

􀂆 Like an Angel • Senda Minoru, [1971]

[EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCHCENTRE FOR JAPANESE STUDIES]

Kanasaka Kiyonori-san and his wife Nobuko-san are stillthe envy of people for their close-knit marriage.Kiyonori-san's love affair with Nobuko-san seems tohave begun when he was a post-graduate student atKyoto University's Department of Geography where shewas working on Society business. I was also apost-graduate student then but I have to admit thatI saw nothing.