When my fiancé and I arrived in Tokyo, Japan in early 1975 the culture shock was overwhelming. It was so different from the United States and this was my first trip on an airplane much less overseas. There are no street names; just numbers of the area and specifically the block. It’s also is a notoriously safe city. As a matter of fact, that year I read in the local English newspaper that the previous year the police had fired their guns five times; twice in the air.

Al and I got married at the American Club in Tokyo with several of his colleagues present. After we returned from our honeymoon – to the Sapporo ice festival in Hokkaido – we lived in an area of Tokyo called Daikaiyama; later we moved to an apartment in Akasaka – the business center of Tokyo. One night around 8pm I was on our large patio on the 3 rd floor when I saw what looked like a geisha preparing for the evening. Real geisha are not that common anymore in Japan (there’s only 600 working in Japan today). First there was the kimono along with the “belt” called an obi. Then makeup and wig.

She had to have seen me. I felt like I was intruding, however later I saw her leave giggling the Japanese women’s way.

I was ‘discovered’ on the subway by a Japanese woman with the Western name of Judy. She assured me that I could be a model and she would be my conduit. Although tall and thin, it had never entered my mind that I could possibly earn a living modeling. My husband Al was very supportive and accompanied me on jobs. Once we climbed Mt. Fugi in a photo shoot for my portfolio. I think he felt I needed something to do. I did some magazine work; but as my marriage crumbled, I gained confidence. My husband was transferred to Long Island, NY and being the semi-dutiful wife, I left with him.

After several months Tokyo beckoned. This was Japan of the late 70’s, early 80’s. It was a time of great achievement for all of Japan. The working man in Japan could expect to be with that company all his (rarely her) employed life. The computer was still in its early stages used by our government and a few tech companies. Companies like Sony and Toyota saw amazing growth compared to American companies. Indeed, although expensive, domestic excellence ruled in Japan.

This trip alone I dyed my hair platinum blonde and changed agencies to Okazaki Jimsho. I saw almost immediate success at modeling. I was on the cover of the top magazine in the country, had a contract with Nina Ricci, Iona soap; and did many “beauty” (that is my face) jobs. In addition, I was a favorite of Junko Koshino. She was an Aavant Garde clothes designer that liked big, bold designs. In Japanese hearts, I was second only to the Japanese super model Sayoko Yamiguchi.

I became a became a regular customer at a bar/restaurant called Crocodile. It was owned by a former yakuza boss named Gan. The Yakuza is the legendary powerful mafia in Japan. Ruthless and brutal they’re a legend in Japan and beyond. One way of telling the members is they have colorful tattoos on their backs. Gan had no tattoos and this meant he was high up in the organization. He was from a samurai family, short but muscular. I think he was a little in love with me. He could be both protective and jealous. To be specific he was both mistrustful of the  man that’s probably the love of my life: Hiroshi Watanabe.

The emporium Central Park was a daytime hangout. There was a café and also a small shop that developed photographs. Hiroshi was a photographer that went to art school and had worked in New York City. We were very compatible. We had the same astrological sign, Gemini, and were in the same business; him being a photographer and me a model. Hiroshi was feminine in some things and I am masculine. For example, he liked decorating and I enjoy sports. Before we got together, we teamed up for a catalogue job in which we traveled to the Philippines. The others in the entourage were the Art Director and his wife, along with a stylist and another model, Elsa. We visited during a time of strife.

Rebels controlled parts of the southern island of Mindanao. The sponsor, who was with us, insisted on an armed guard when we went outside of Manila. Our hairdresser and makeup artist were Filipinos and knew all the chic people. I even let them cut my mid-length hair for a super short style. It was an eventful trip and over the space of time I came to know Hiroshi pretty well. To say the least, he made his feelings known to me. True to myself; I put him off. Thinking nothing would come of it when we got back to Tokyo, I saw him a few times at Crocodile. It would be later that we finally became a couple. Although I would leave Japan and Hiroshi later that year for Paris, my fond memories of that country have endured to this day. The Japan of today and Hiroshi haven’t changed much since those years.

Shibuya is the busiest of shopping districts; Akasaka is still the center of the business community; Daikayama is still residential, Ueno still has the zoo and every spring the cherry blossoms still bloom.