I came to Japan in 2004. Met my husband in 2005. Met his family the same year. Met his grandmother at the same first time family meeting. She hated me.
This woman lived through WW2. Saw some crazy fiery shit.
Probably never thought her grandson would marry a foreigner… a dumbass foreigner like me.
Then finally, this past new years, we came from Canada and I introduced this woman to my daughter – her great granddaughter, and that cracked that egg. My daughter, 9 years old, born on the same day as her grandmother (this woman’s daughter). In the morning, I woke up early on New Year’s Day and she was awake. We prayed together at the family altar. And we finally had a chat together. I felt peace. She liked me. She liked the fact I was with her grandson nearly 20 years.
She died this morning after a long battle with cancer. 90 years old. Amazing woman.
This was a favourite song of hers.
[Kawa No Nagare No Youni](https://youtu.be/yn4TOmyVs_E)
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/15qbpq7/losing_a_japanese_loved_one/
7 comments
I’m sorry for your loss.
I’m sorry for your loss. I was able to help my wife when she lost her grandfather. He was orphaned because of the war and was adopted by another local family. Despite his scars, he never held any animosity with me. He was one of the most gentle people I have ever met and I’ve tried to emulate his personality. I will always treasure the memories I have of him.
So sorry for your family’s loss. I’m so glad you had that time together.
It’s a wonderful story, reminding us that people change. Your daughter is lucky to have seen her grandmother on that trip. And both you and your husband’s grandmother were lucky to have been able to repair your relationship before she died. What a blessing!
Rip
RIP. I was great friends with my Japanese wife’s grandmother. She taught me so much- we went for many early morning walks. I was the only person she asked for on her deathbed.
I’m sad reading about your lose – god bless you and her.
I read this and was like ‘no the math doesn’t work. You met in 2004 so how could it be almost 20 years. Then I felt sad.