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I want to print a business card that says I’m traveling——Japanese female writer Reiko Suzuki, over 80 years old, still insists on writing with "feet" One day in early May 2020, the phone rang, and the number showed that it was from Japan. "Yao Sang, I'm sorry, but no one answered your phone call just now. Japan's Cailiusha is willing to publish the book about travel and life." On the other end of the phone, the voice of 85-year-old Suzuki Reiko (Suzuki れい子) seemed very energetic. "Are you okay? New crown pneumonia. Taiwan has done a good job in epidemic prevention, and Japanese TV stations are broadcasting it." I have known Reiko Suzuki for almost 8 years, and I usually communicate by email, but she will occasionally call, especially when TV or newspapers report Taiwan news. Taiwan has connected her and me, and developed a friendship that will never forget the years. The work I specially called to inform me was travel essays, the title of which was "The Old Woman Flying Through Time and Space" ("Time を 㧆 ける Old Woman"). Several of them were related to Taiwan, and I collected the materials with my company. Suzuki is an amateur female writer and a "wansheng" born in Taiwan. I met her before and after the publication of the autobiography "Southern Wind Like a Song" ("Taiwan-Ru Naru Motherland", 2014) in Taiwan. In order to market the book, she came to Taiwan at her own expense to attend the book launch and accept media interviews. Falling in love with "Wansheng" who connects with Taiwan through writing "Southern Wind Like a Song" truthfully describes her growing up in Taiwan. Born in Da'an District, Taipei, she is the youngest of four sisters. After Japan's defeat, she returned to Japan with her parents at the age of 12. He spent the period of personality formation in Taiwan, and grew up sucking the milk of Taiwanese nanny Ah Yan. The four seasons of the southern country shaped her and transformed it into an inner part. The original text should be literally translated as "Taiwan, the motherland of milk." The hometown of the soul awakens her nostalgic feelings. After the publication of her autobiography, Suzuki visited Taiwan several times after decades. In the later years of his life, he went to Taichung for a short stay and a short trip. It was not until I was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma two years ago that this kind of action that reflected my longing for another motherland stopped temporarily. “I want to print a business card that says ‘Traveling,’” writes the travel-loving Suzuki in her autobiography. Suzuki was born into a wealthy family. During the colonial period, my father's job title was the general manager of "Taiwan Textile Co., Ltd.", backed by the Nomura Foundation. Growing up in subtropical Taiwan made it difficult for Suzuki to integrate into the well-mannered Japanese culture after returning to the country. After studying in high school, he went to the Philadelphia Art School to study fine arts, and then breathed the air of freedom again. The experience of studying in the United States is positive. Suzuki later became fluent in English, which also laid the foundation for oil painting. He worked as a reporter for an English newspaper thanks to studying abroad. Later, she met the husband who was traveling with her and got married. modern slash old man After marriage, like Japanese women at that time, she entered the family and gave birth to two daughters. Despite this, she did not give up writing, "The Descendants of St. Francis Xavier living in Japan" (日本に住むザビエル家の民Descendant) and "Ballet Dancer Hattori Chieko's Daughter Watson, Fanko" (ワトソン渡子バレリーナ Hattori Chiekoの娘) is a work of that period. "Watson's book was published at the protagonist's own expense, and the manuscript fee was very generous," Suzuki said with joy. She never worried about financial issues, "So, the manuscript fee will be spent soon." Suzuki and his wife like life with many changes. After her husband retired, he decided to spend his retirement money on traveling and earning a living. This experience later became the nutrient for Suzuki's writing, "The journey has just started" (旅は初まったばかり) and "The World's Most Suitable Place to Live" (世界でいちばん住みよいところ) are the results. The couple traveled together all over Japan and the world. Not only has he traveled around Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Costa Rica, and Los Angeles in the United States, he has also run hotels and educational institutions, and taught languages, painting, and cooking. "My husband died lying in my arms," including this scene, is her fondest memory. She was 73 years old when her husband died, and she was an advanced elderly person. Without hesitation, she sold her house in Hikari City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and took refuge with her youngest daughter in Tokyo with two suitcases. The youngest daughter is a producer of a TV company. She is busy with work and often goes abroad. After the child was born, Suzuki took care of her flawlessly, and Suzuki was promoted to a grandmother, who was obliged to take care of her while writing. After a few years of silence, when his grandson went to elementary school, Suzuki wrote in an email: "Yao Sang, I just sent my grandson to school. Now, I am drinking coffee and writing in a cafe alone." Even with the burden of Despite the heavy responsibility of the baby, she still retains herself and insists on finding the next port of call for the wandering soul. "I hope that I can set sail at any time with my intuition," revealed in her autobiography, which is her artist's nature, with a kind of flow that cannot be complacent. "Strong Desire, Qifen Shouts to Stop" (Exuberant な Desire は 7fenで反えよ) is a biography written by Suzuki for the businesswoman Taeko Matsuda (1927~2019). For some reason, I feel that the title of the book also somewhat reflects her temperament. Wife, mother and grandmother are her identity and duties, while writers and painters are her desires. Up to now, there are still several oil paintings painted by her on the wall of the room in Tokyo. This modern slash silver-haired family treats everything with enthusiasm and without reservation, and it seems that nothing is difficult for her. 80-year-old still insists on writing with his feet Suzuki's mobility is super strong, and sometimes even I am surprised. For example, I made a sudden overseas phone call; I sent MUJI cotton dresses without notice; I flew to Taipei temporarily, but the hotel did not make a reservation, so I had to stay at my house; "Tomorrow, I will go to Taipei Main Station to observe the assembly of foreign workers. This is a scenery that Japan does not have." However, after all, the body cannot withstand the years. With age, the body gradually weakens. Two years ago, she appeared in front of me, 165 cm tall, her back was slightly bent, and she was on crutches due to low back pain. But on the other hand, the aging of the body seems unable to imprison the soul that loves to explore. In order to collect writing subjects, I have not changed the habit of going to the scene in person, and this kind of field investigation and interview is called writing with "feet" in Japan. I used my feet to write, and I did it once. In the early autumn of 2018, under the guidance of my Japanese friend Yuka Hara, Suzuki invited me to join a small trip to Taiwan. After returning to Tokyo after the trip, she realized that the cause of her back pain was cancer cells, and she was immediately hospitalized for surgery.
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