Everybody wonders why I went to Cuba so suddenly.
In 2013, the first half of the year was wonderful. I published a booklet, “The War History of Kitakyushu-City | We Remember You”.
Then, I visited Battleship Missouri Memorial in Hawaii, then New York, then Norfolk, Virginia, and sang at the convention of the American Defenders of Bataan Corregidor Memorial Society. I also visited the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk. After Norfolk, I visited San Diego to see Mr. David Valley, then up to Los Angeles to see Ms. Monica Lewis. In Los Angeles, I visited the Japanese American National Museum.
After I returned home to Japan, I sang the Japanese and U.S. anthems at the Consulate of Fukuoka’s Independence Day ceremony. Then I had a special lecture about the booklet and my experiences at Kitakyushu University.
I had planned to go to New York in the autumn for three months and bought a ticket.
In August, I received a phone call from my younger brother informing me that my father had been in a car accident and was in an unconscious state. While he was unconscious, my brother and older sister kicked me out of the family. That was tough. It was as if my roots had been ripped out.
I lost my mind. I had a ticket to New York but hesitated about going. But I decided to go because I really needed an escape from my family.
Even after I arrived in New York, I was easily moved to tears. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I wore sunglasses and walked and walked on a street while tears dropped.
One night, when I walked neighborhood in Harlem, I stopped in front of a window of a Cuban restaurant where the Cuban band was playing music.
I was watching them from outside; a musician beckoned me inside. So I went in. I didn’t cry while I was listening to them, but I started to smile. He was a vocalist and a Cuban defector in the United States. His name is Danny Rojo, and he had many tattoos and a rainbow beard, but his voice was soft and nice.
I listened to his band PORNOSON’s album over and over again. While listening to it, I didn’t shed a tear. But later… I knew the lyrics of PORNOSON are obscene.
At the end of 2013, I visited Washington, D.C. and Arlington, Virginia. I toured war memorials and Arlington National Cemetery.
I returned to Japan at the end of January. Shortly thereafter, a friend of mine living in New York City asked for my help because she had been hospitalized since April. I bought a ticket to New York, but after a month, in March, she told me that she no longer needed to be in the hospital. Even if I cancel the ticket and accommodations, the penalty is not small. So, I didn’t cancel them. But why do I visit New York?
I didn’t have any plans. One day, I visited a Cuban restaurant where Danny was playing. A customer there gave me information about a salsa dance school. I started taking lessons at the school.
I stayed in a shared apartment. One day, one of my roommates told me, “If you love salsa, you should go to Cuba.”
“Is it possible to travel to Cuba?”
“Yes, you can! I traveled there. There’s a guest house called “Casa Yoshida” in Cancún. The owner, Lulu-san will help you get a visa and tickets.
While in Cuba, I recommend staying at Anita’s House. Shoko, Email Lulu-san!”
I spent three weeks in May at Anita’s House in Cuba. That’s when my relationship with Cuba began. Cuba is like a country on the other side of the WORLD I have been living. And it was the perfect place to get away from my family.
I have many memories and experiences in Cuba. So many. So, I will write little by little.