WICHITA FALLS, Texas (AP) - It is a beautiful friendship that started with ink and paper.
Sixty years ago, two grade school girls, Yeada in Texas and Keiko in Japan, became pen pals. The connection never faded.
For the first time, Yeada Gunter and Keiko Tomita met each other in person with hugs that shared their joy with friends and family surrounding them. Even a 20-hour flight couldn’t dampen their excitement.
The decision to come to Texas for a very special and unique reunion was made by Keiko and her children on the Japanese New Year; it was something she had wanted to plan for many years. Her son Koichi and daughters Aiko and Kyoko were thrilled to accompany their mother.
“Tomorrow night we’re going to the rodeo,” Gunther told the Wichita Falls Times Record News (https://bit.ly/1DXygwD), glowing at the thought of Keiko getting to see cowboys “rope and ride.” Gunter’s daughter, Tracie Bowman, was quick to help her mom organize memorable moments.
Sitting in the airport lobby as the Tomitas waited for luggage, language held no barrier for the pen pals. Keiko’s daughter Kyoko, stepped up as translator but some moments were highlighted by an exchange in a word or two, English or Japanese.
Over the years their experiences, have been remarkably similar.
“One of mother’s teachers, at the U.S. base in Hokkaido asked her if she would like to write to a student in America,” Kyoko translated. “She was very excited.”
“It was like that for me. We were in class discussing pen pals and I was interested the opportunity to write to someone in Japan. I remember when I got the first letter,” said Gunter. “It was a wonderful surprise. Keiko had help writing it in English.”
Back and forth letters, notes, cards recognizing birthdays and holidays, sometimes little gifts marked the passing of decades. There were stories of daily and family life, wedding days and the birth of children on both sides of the Pacific.
As they had completed their education and moved on as young women, each experienced a mirrored day; both Yeada and Keiko became teachers. Working among elementary and junior high students, the two found their career choice very rewarding.
“We have been polite in our writing, you wanted to make the language easy to enjoy. We did write a little less frequently while we raised our children,” said Gunter, grinning sweetly. Photos, formal and snapshots helped chronicle the worlds the friends lived in.
There was only a phone call or two.
To their families, it was easy to see the friendship of the two has been treasured over 60 years. Watching them communicate just with smiles, gestures and a few words made it appear as if they had always lived next door to two each other.
As the Tomitas visited and prepared to get everyone settled for the evening to handle some jet lag, the subject of small gifts exchanged between the two pen pals came up.
From her luggage Keiko produced a brooch Yeada had given and a picture of her wearing it. She was especially tender opening little pink music box that in the late ’50s had come all the way from Texas.
“I have a few other small gifts but when we get to our house, I’ll show Keiko the Japanese doll she sent me,” said Yeada. “I’ve kept it carefully. It’s a treasure.”
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Information from: Wichita Falls Times Record News, https://www.timesrecordnews.com
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