Of course Okinawa has plenty of homeless, and there are those few faces that you recognize time and time again. One specifically I have seen all over the island, usually hanging out in underpasses with that Okinawa-famous flower hat. Like many homeless regulars of small towns this guy owns the typical rumor of being rich. It is said that he was once extremely rich but something happened to his son that made him go insane. Tonight on my way home from work I took a different route, just for change, and I saw him. He was sitting on his junk-clad motorbike near the end of a tunnel with a new collaboration of Japanese flags on poles that I had never noticed before. It was beautiful the way the sun was shinning through the end of the tunnel onto him and through his flags. I decided I was going take a chance and take him a dinner in hope for some photo cooperation. When I first walked up to him, he looked right through me, as most would do to him. I had to literally stop directly in front of him and yell sumimasen before he took notice of the bag I held out, his eyes had a child-like glint to them. He took the bag of food and said arigato, I told him his new sign was sugoi and asked if I could take a shashin. In perfect English he then asked if I spoke Japanese or English and made me feel foolish for my broken Japanese. I answered English and we proceeded to have a small conversation exchanging names and he told me how he wanted to start a church group up near Camp Hansen. After the small talk I took a few photos and wished him a good night. As I was walking away I felt terrible for trying to bribe him with food for a few photos and right then and there I decided I would bring him dinner if I saw him again. Is he really a rich guy that lost his way? I’ll never know but his name is Kinjo-San, which translates to golden castle… makes you wonder!
You are such a good person. Love this story. I am also totally impressed by your writing abilities. I find all your blogs interesting. Make sure and keep updates on your new friend. Love and miss ya bunches!!!
Very cool!
I agree with your mother!!Your blogs are very interesting! Very impressed!!!! Love you loads
Seth Love you loads also
I read your blog about the homeless man, very interesting! It reminded me of a show on tv recently about a homless man who had been a concert pianist. Makes you aware that it can happen to anyone!
Your blogs are really interesting, that’s why I subscribed! Very cool of you to bring him food and talk with him. My husband used to do that all the time and in my oblivious world, made me realize that they existed.
We sat down with a homeless person in WI, it was December and freezing. We talked with him for a long time, learning that like many of the other homeless in Milwaukee, he was a Vet, as college students walked by, drunk and cursing at him – he was selling lighters. We bought 2 for $40 (he was selling them for $1.00 each) and then offered to buy him food at the near by George Webbs – Will returned the next day with a new pair or snow boots for him. The man had tears in his eyes.
Any way, I have been wanting to walk about and take photos of the homeless here and listen to their stories, wanna do that one day with me before you go?
[…] been visiting him. If you don’t know who I’m referring to, see my previous blog post here. Kinjo-San is not who you would typically picture from America, hanging out in the same spots; he […]