Reply #6: One day my Dad called his Brother in Osaka.

[AsahinaKimi]

My dad is a dentist in N.Y. and has a very, very nice house that is really way too big for both my Mom and Dad. He talked to his brother and said something like... You know, if things become too bad you can always leave Japan for a while, and live with us in the USA. Our house is big and comfortable. Your three daughters could come here as well.

My uncle thought about it and finally told him, that they could never leave Japan. Our family had been there for generations, and that their roots were there. If they were to find out tomorrow, that the entire nation would sink under the sea,.. they would gladly go with it.

When I thought about that, two things came to mind. One is that maybe it was my Uncles way of telling my Dad, he should have never left Japan, but I don't think my uncle would be that petty. I do believe that what he meant is his (my Uncle's) heart is there and would always be there..and he could never separate his body from his heart..

And secondly, being Shinto, He believes that the spirit of the place will some how preserve the best of Japan, no matter what happens there..and when he finally leaves this earth, he would much rather be with those spirits there, than anywhere else.