Hello. I am from America and I am reading the Heart of the Samurai book. I am exploring this cool website. It is cool beans!
About 10 years ago (I don't recall the exact year) I was invited by The John Manjiro Society to participate in a cultural exchange with several USA members of the USA Wheelchair Marathon Team. After our race in Oita City we travelled with guides to Kagashima, Nagasaki, and as far south as Sakurajima before an extended stay in Tokyo where we participated in many cultural activities. Although I have visited Japan to race a total of 9 times that visit was by far the most memorable and enjoyable for me and my teammates. I want to thank your Society again for that wonderful opportunity and to wish you well in your ongoing efforts to foster friendship in the USA by keeping the John Manjiro story vibrant.
In 2006, I was awarded a Japan-Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholarship (completely paid by the Japanese govt.) to travel to Japan and learn and experience the educational system. It was 3 weeks filled with wonder and beauty. This website truly pays homage to Manjiro. Thank you. ( I am a 1974 grad of FHS.)
Finally we visited wonderful place Fair Heaven after my long time dream, and found that the place has never been changed as the time when Manjiro was here. Many thanks for greatest hospitality Rooney-San and his wife.