and was relieved when I heard that he was coming to the party. I was still somewhat cautious then too, but we did exchange a few words.
The seminar was held in a large gymnasium. We changed into aikido outfits, and I practiced with Setsu off in a corner. Seagal was also there, but I didn’ t practice with him at all. After the practice ended, we all climbed onto the back of a truck, which didn’ t even have a cover over the back, and headed to the university apartment where everyone was staying.
Seagal and I were sitting right at the back of the truck. The driver was having fun, speeding over the rough, potholed road at night. Everyone was squealing with excitement; at least I hope it wasn’ t just me shrieking! Seagal tapped me on the shoulder, pointing out a rabbit which had been startled by the lights and horn, and had jumped out of the blackness and was bounding along the road. It was the first time for me to be totally surrounded by the great outdoors, and I got all excited and shouted out“ Wow, a rabbit!”
The speeding truck suddenly hit a huge bump, and I was bounced up into the air. In that split second, I could see the road. I was going to fall! But Seagal quickly grabbed me and pulled me back down onto the truck. He saved my life! I was so relieved, I wanted to say something, but I was still shaking from the fright. From then on, he put his arm around me and held me close to him so that I wouldn’ t be bounced up again. I leaned in to him too, in order not to bounce off.
We arrived at our accommodation, and were split into several groups allocated to different rooms. The living room was in the middle, and there were three bedrooms, each with two double-size beds, and a large closet, desk, dressing-table, and bathroom. I was surprised at how big everything was. Setsu and I didn’ t understand much of the conversation, but everyone was excited and we enjoyed being with our new-found friends, talking together in Fujihira-sensei’ s room.
While at the seminar we went shopping at the supermarket with Seagal, and when the seminar finished, we went to a town in Orange County, to the dojo where he practiced, run by Harry Ishizaki. Ishizaki-sensei had a moustache and looked very handsome, and even though he looked young, he already had grandchildren. He was Japanese but had American nationality, and said that he had gone to Kyushu, Japan, with the American occupying forces after the war.
When the seminar finished, instead of going back to San Francisco, we decided to stay for a while and practice at Ishizaki sensei’ s dojo in Orange County, and while we were there we decided to catch a lift with someone going back to Arizona. His name was
Mr Takagi, and he had a dojo in Phoenix, and he was originally Korean. He was a tall and handsome-looking man. His American wife was also beautiful, but she was away visiting her hometown with their children during the summer holidays, and he said that he would follow them later.
I think that the exhaustion of all the travel I’ d done since I left Japan all came to me at once then, and after getting to Arizona, I didn’ t see anything of the Native American tribal villages, and just slept in the car. People must have thought I was strange.
Later I heard that Seagal had said to Ishizaki-sensei,“ I like Miya-chan, so when they come back to Orange County dojo, can you make a chance for the two of us to see each other?” So the three of us, Setsu, Seagal and I, went to his parents’ house near Long Beach. It was close to the sea, and on a clear day you could see Mexico.
We returned to the Orange County dojo, but when I became closer friends with Seagal, I was given the advice to be careful of him, so I kept my distance a little at the dojo. When I did this, he looked so sad and forlorn leaning against the wall of the dojo. And, at that time, he had beautiful deep, clear eyes, penetrating warmly into one’ s heart. He also talked softly. Maybe it’ s because I’ m a little noisy that I like people who talk quietly. From
18