RETURN TO JINDAIJI

Three years ago, Tokyo Electric Power chief engineer, Fumio Ito (he is on the left--this is part of the "Search for Kenjiro" team having dinner at the New York Grill of the Hyatt in Tokyo), insisted that he had to take Pearl and I to his favorite Sakura site, Jindaiji Botanical Park.  I did not realize that he practically escaped from his  hospital and took a taxi to the Park Hyatt to pick us up.

To make a terrible story short, two weeks later he passed away and two months subsequently, Pearl went.

If you are a regular reader, or Pearl's friend, today was supposed to represent closure, for I had hoped to discover who was the model for the photo I took at Jindaiji Botanical Park (JBP) two years ago:

I learned that the artist creating the statue was Yasuo Bussi, at least as researched by the staff of the Jindaiji Botanical Park.  However, after a careful search, the four staff members there could not identify the person.  I left my business card and they promised to send me any information they might yet uncover, although they were not optimistic.  For those interested in someday visiting this park:

  -  from Shinjuku Station
  -  take the Keio line to Chofu
  -  go to stop #14 and board bus #34 to Jindaiji Botanical Park
  - when you enter the park, make an immediate right turn and walk to the rose garden
  -  "Pearl's" statue is located as follows:

On the back is engraved, 1961, Y. BUSSHi.  I enjoyed one of my better picnics (not really a hanami because there were no cherry blossoms):

Note that this is a 6% ethanol Chofu beer.  Thus, like my Search for Kenjiro's Grandmothers, there is not quite the closure for who is the subject of the statue.  I'll need to return at last one more time.

Tomorrow, my dinner at Kitcho (and, how's this for exclusiveness:  THEY DON'T TAKE RESERVATIONS WITHOUT AN INTRODUCTION!!!) in the Hotel Seiyo Ginza.

-