Today is the Day!!

In about five hours Yumiko and I will go by taxi to the Shinganji Temple in Tokyo where we will have a private ceremony to bury the second half of Ken's ashes.  In attendance will be Ken's sister Takae San and her immediate family and Ken's sister-in-law Sumiko Kono and her immediate family.  I am 'Chief Morner" and will be carrying a picture of Ken as we do all the rituals.  Following the ceremony we will return to the Keio Plaza hotel and have a wonderful celebration of this great man's life.  About 40 people will be in attendance including Ken's friends from Junior High, Senior High and Keio University.  Many people will be giving little speeches in memory of Ken (including Yumiko and me.)  Ken's friend will play the flute and his two little nieces will also play the flute. We've put together about a 120 picture slide show too.  I am hoping we will have lots of pictures to share.  If so, I will add a few more in a new blog post.  It will be a good day.

Ken Kono

Ken's Grave in the Shinkanji Temple cemetery

Yumiko with Mariko Koyama

Tamon Ando, Ken's oldest friend saying a few words

Kitty with Ken's high school friend Masao Konami who translated for everybody

Ken's Table

Akiko and Yuuko Sakamoto, Ken's great nieces (daughters of Atsuhiko - first son of Takae Sakamoto) who played the flute for Ken

Sumiko Kono with Kitty at the Shinganji Temple where Ken's service was held

Masataka Sakamoto, younger son of Takae Sakamoto with his children Nao and Akari

Takae Sakamoto, Kaku San (tax attorney), Masataka and Atsuhiko Kono

Standing from left are Sokichi Iba talking with Yutaka Tatsumura and  Hiroshi Nasu talking with Sadaharu Kanai.  Seated are Sylvia and Norio Mahira and Kitty Kono

Masataka Sakamoto, Takeo Mogami, Atsua Sakamoto

Yumiko Kono, Kitty Kono, Takeo Mogami and Sakiko Mogami  at a wonderful dinner at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo

Yumiko Kono with Sumiko Kono at Shinganji Temple

Atsuhiko Sakamoto (First son of Takae San) and wife Haruko speaking with Yoko Otsuji (Friend of Ken's from Keio University

Atsushi Matsumoto,  Master of Ceremonies and Yoko Otsuji

Fumie Kumaga from Hibiya High School playing beautiful flute for Ken

Ken's many friends from Aoyama Junior High,  Hibiya Senior High and  Keio University

Kitty addressing the reception

Takeo Mogami, great friend from Hibiya High School who organized the party talks about Ken

Yumiko Kono talking about her Dad

Yutaka Tatsumura, great friend from Keio University talking about Ken

First picture of Ken I took from the second story of my little house on Tryon Street in Philadelphia, probably a month after we met in August 1993.