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WHEN EAST MEETS WEST: October 10th Sports Day in Japan.

Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr.

October 10, Sports Day :

It was added to the list of national holidays in Japan in 1966 to commemorate the 19646a00d8341bf7d953ef01156ff02a98970c-800wi Olympic Games.It was on October 10, 1964.That date was chosen because that was when the opening of the 18th Summer Olympic Games. The games were held at the national stadium in Tokyo.

There is nothing more important than good health. In fact ,both physical and mental health is most valuable treasures to all of us. Sports Day is designated to make people aware of the importance of health and to urge them to developed healthy bodies and healthy minds through taking part in sports and socializing together.

Both public and private organizations throughout the country sponsor a number of sporting events on October 10 th so people, both young and old,men and women, can take part in them.

Partly because of such efforts on the part of the central and regional governments and partly because of people getting increasingly health-conscious,the number of Japanese who go in for sports has been constantly on the rise in recent years. While my children were attending kindergarten at St. Joseph's ,our sports day experience day started.

It all started for us on October 10th,yes the whole family had to become involved and it was a must each year the nuns and priest used to get after my wife and I to take part and become active.Throughout our children's school life, from kindergarten, elementary school, through junior high school,many years we were involved.

We used to go to the school grounds put down mat or tarp to sit on and my wife prepared a very large picnic basket lunch and some cool drinks in the cooler to enjoy together with the children at about 12:00 p.m.noon for about one hour we could rest and enjoy together. During the events we used to watch them taking part in various events.such as relay races, dances, and all kinds of track and field events etc,of course we too sometimes had to run and take part in some of the events also, they didn't let you just sit there in peace and watch.

All the fanfare and various events started at 09:00 a.m.sharp and it all ended about 3:30 p.m. We used to all have a real great time of it taking pictures and cheering our kids on in the the events that they took part in. When we arrived at our home we were all very exhausted and of course dirty and sweaty.The bathroom became a real busy place bathing the kids and than it was our turn,In the evening it was a hearty dinner and early to bed because my wife Keiko and I had to work the next day Monday.but the children always had the day off after sports day lucky them.

After junior high school, our children went on to the States,for high school.Lucas our eldest son went to stay at my sister Rosemarie Fisher Collins home,in Westville, New Jersey. Lucas attended Gateway High School.Our other son Max and daughter Rachel, went on to attend Beaverton High School located in Beaverton, Oregon.They resided with a very close and good friend of ours.

Presently Lucas is married he is 28 years old,and he is a spec/3 with the U.S. Army and is stationed at the Scohfield barracks,in Honolulu,Hawaii. Last year he was deployed to

Al Asad ,Iraq for 1 1/2 year.Our son Max presently is attending Portland Community College and attends to transfer to Portland State University soon,he is trying to find a direction to follow in his course of study. ax was  discharged from the U..S.Marine  Corps as a sergeant  a few months ago.Max was also deployed to Al Asad Iraq also as his brother was. His base was Camp Schwab,Okinawa. As for Rachel she's in her 3rd year at Portland State University and studying very hard she is majoring in International business and Economics she likes University. All three of the kids have made many friends and have settled into the American way of life and enjoy it.

Thus Sports Day has ended for us since the children left home and we have many really great memories of when they were here growing up here in Kitakyushu city, Japan.

The togetherness was a wonderful experience and we miss them all very much,their childhood was a great one and a time for us all,we have some really great memories to look back on.

Warm Regard To all back in the South Jersey area and especially to our many family members and our many friends in the Gloucester City area.

Hank F. Miller Jr.

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