Shiga-ken, just outside of Kyoto, was home to my grandmother's parents. Back in 1919, my great grandparents emigrated to the United States and left my grandmother's brothers in Japan. There, one of her brothers had 2 boys, one named Takahashi. Since 1965, we ahve not heard from Takahashi, but have letters from him. We have the 1919 versions of my great grandparents' passports... and with those things, we travel today to Otsu, capital of Shiga prefecture, to find out if Takahashi, or any "yasui"--my grandmother's maiden name--relatives are still alive.
Here is our experience
travel to OTSU in Shiga prefecture outside of Kyoto.
Head to the Shiga Prefecture Government Building
Takeda, an extremmmmeeelllly nice man takes us into his office, where he is on his LUNCH BREAK and gets a translator for us. They then talk with my grandma
and sort through our papers... while offering us tea... who are these nice people?
They told us her parents are originally from Aisho in Shiga, an hour away and to get their "Koseki" we would have to travel to the Aisho city hall. So interesting. They spent nearly an hour and a half with us, talking about MY family history in Japanese/English. NOW THAT is a memory I have waited for. I found out so many new things, like their names.... Itsu Yasui is my great grandmother. I have my great grandfathers name written, but it is put away already. So, with grandma worn out and the heat-ablazin, we set our sails back to Kyoto.
(kind of cool to say were literally back where we started)Instead of heading home, however, we headed to get me a traditional KIMONO. These ladies were AMAZING
