Since I started my residency on July 15, 1980, I was supposed to return to Osaka on July 15, 1983. I decided to make the best of those last 2 weeks. I planned to use the first week to prepare for the move back to Japan, and the second week to enjoy a vacation in Maui.

I went to the Bank of Tokyo in Lower Manhattan to close my account the next day. There was a considerable amount of money left in my account, so I cashed $3,000 and sent the rest of the money to my account in Japan. I left the bank with 30, 100 dollar bills in my jeans pockets. The Bank of Tokyo was located on Wall Street, and World Trade Center was right next to it. I looked up to the WTC remembering the last 3 years in N.Y.C., while biting into a hot dog bought from a street vendor. WTC looked brilliant with an early summer sunshine.

On July 4, Independence Day, I enjoyed fireworks along the East River with my Japanese friends. Mike, ex-American football player at Kyoto University brought his girl friend who wore a yukata, a simple summer kimono. After the fireworks I brought them to my apartment. I gave Mike’s girl friend several copies of Jiro Akagawa’s mystery novels, which were best sellers back home in those days. She was so happy to receive my present.

As for moving, there was not so much to do, to tell the truth. My belongings fit into 3 large cardboard boxes. There were about 200 paperbacks, mostly Japanese novels, in my apartment. I decided to donate them to Japonica, a sushi restaurant across the street. I borrowed a cart from the concierge and carried books to Japonica. The owner of the restaurant accepted my donation with appreciation.