USJ 25th Anniversary – Part 10 - Return From Japan

 

April 2, 2026

The night before, we had sorted and re-packed our suitcases for the trip home. We put the dirty clothes in one and the few remaining clean ones in the other. We also tried to even out the weight. We took ten books. Two were for the raffle at the party. Noriko ordered one. We gave another to one of our Japanese “kids.” We still had six, so we split them between our two suitcases.

Our sweet room support clerk, Setsuko Washio, had been off the previous two days, so we hadn’t seen her. However, she was supposed to be back on this day, so we left one out and signed it for her.

We savored one last breakfast and watched all the families preparing for their day in the park.

As we walked toward the elevator, I spotted Setsuko. She saw me about the same time and ran over to say hello. We talked for a couple of minutes while Larry went upstairs to pick up the book we had signed for her. When we gave it to her, she said, “Oh, thank you! I was going to ask where I could get a copy.” Sadly, we did not take a picture of her.

We spoke for a while longer, and then we returned to the room to complete our last preparations. We had to check out by 11:30, so we took the bags downstairs, checked out, and left our bags in the storage area. We would not be picked up until about 3:00 by the airport transportation company.

We took a last, long walk around CityWalk and over to the front of the park. We hadn’t planned to go into the park on this trip. Two years before, we had gone with friends and had seen all the new rides. We’d also checked to be sure our names were still on the windows above the candy store next to the main lagoon. They were.

Many of the original attractions (like E.T., Backdraft, T-2, Animal Actors Stage, the Western Stunt Show—in fact the whole Western area) were gone. The team windows, which had been on those buildings, were also gone. Larry’s major attractions—JAWS, WaterWorld, and Jurassic Park—as well as the rest of his area, were still intact. On that trip, Jurassic Park was closed for refurbishment, and we couldn’t get to the WaterWorld show, but we did ride on JAWS and saw his “footprints” on the beach of Amity Island.

This trip was about people. Our days were packed with visits with our Japanese “kids,” good friends, and teammates. I loved every minute of it!

We walked around the Universal Store once more, but we didn’t see anything else we needed to buy.

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at Starbucks. I didn’t need any more mugs. We already had two from Osaka (one from our original stay there and another from the 10^th anniversary trip in 2011), but I had seen a Japan mug with the sakura (cherry blossoms) on it. Since our return trips had all occurred in March, they had been in bloom for each trip. This one was no exception. Besides, I wanted another memento from this trip…

When we entered, we saw Lou Noy. We had met him and his family there on the morning of the party, too.

I had just bought my mug when Atsuko Sera stopped by. So, another mini-reunion.

Atsuko Sera, me, Lou

She had to catch a train, and Lou was waiting for his wife and daughter. Larry brought our cappuccinos just before they arrived. Lou said they were making one more pass at the stores to be sure they hadn’t missed a retail opportunity!

They were leaving at the same time we were, so we all walked back to the hotel and sat in the lobby. He said he thought he should read our book again and asked if he could buy one.

Larry got one out of his bag in the storage area and brought it over to us.

When it was close to time for our pick-up, we got our bags and made our way out to the front waiting area. Setsuko was working there, so we had a couple of minutes to spend with her before our car showed up. Lou’s arrived just ahead of ours.

We made good time getting to the airport, checked in, and then headed for our gate. When we got there, we were surprised to see George and Donna Johnson. Turned out, they were on the same flight. We had a wait since the plane didn’t leave until close to six, so we sat and talked.

Finally, it was time to board. The process went smoothly. We waved good-bye to the Johnsons since they were in a different area of the plane. Our flight ended in L.A., and they had a connecting flight to catch once we landed.

The trip home was uneventful. I watched a couple of movies, but then I plugged in my iPod and listened to music. I think I dozed for a while.

Since we were now headed east, we picked up the day we had lost on the way over and landed in the morning of the same day.

Customs was easy, and it didn’t take long to leave the airport. Chris (our driver) was there waiting for us.

On the way home, we told him all about our trip.

Once we got inside the house, Larry took the bag with our dirty laundry to the garage and started a load.

I took the other bag upstairs on the lift. Best investment we’ve made in the house in years.

I unloaded the toiletries and other items we would need but left the rest for the morning.

There wasn’t much to eat in the house since had tried to use up everything before we left. Larry got some fast food, and we had a small meal.

It wasn’t yet time to sleep, but the time change had caught up to us. We went to bed early.

April 3, 2026

This was Larry’s birthday, but we spent it unpacking and putting things away. Got most everything done.

I put on my new USJ 25^th Anniversary shirt, and Larry took a picture. I look like I’m frowning, but it was bright in the sunshine.

That evening was Flick Fellowship, where we meet with a group and discuss a movie. Since we had left the house clean before we left, and the cleaners had come on the 1^st, we didn’t have to do much except set out the extra chairs and get our food for the potluck meal. I also bought a small ice cream cake for Larry’s birthday. For this meeting, we had decided to show the DVD of a movie I loved, Rental Family. I had watched it again a couple of times on the plane and still loved it. So did the rest of the group.

But our day wasn’t quite over.

We had to drive to San Juan to pick up my cousins, Linda & David Salmon, who live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They had spent the previous week with their son and his family seeing Disneyland and Universal. That day was their Universal day, and they caught the Metro train from there to San Juan. They got in around eleven p.m.

Larry drove around while I waited for their train. It wasn’t a long wait.

We were so glad to see them.

They were tired from their busy week and day, and we hadn’t quite adjusted to the time change, so we all went to bed as soon as we got home.

April 4, 2026

Spent the day with the cousins catching up. Lots to talk about. They were about to undertake a foreign mission. Dave explained it to us. He is an attorney, so he would be helping expats deal with legal issues. Turns out, one of my dear high school friends had done exactly the same thing a couple of years earlier. I decided to call him, and I did.

As always, I loved hearing his voice and knowing he was well and happy. I asked if he would talk to Linda and David and answer their questions. Because he genuinely is one of the nice guys, he said he’d be glad to, so they went into the next room and talked with him for a while. Very grateful for terrific friends!

That night, I had made reservations at the Wind and Sea Restaurant for the four of us to celebrate Larry’s birthday together. We had a terrific meal (as always).

David, Linda, me and Larry. Happy birthday!

We didn’t cut his cake until the next day. They stayed a couple more days, including Easter Sunday. We always enjoy being with them.

Their visit was the perfect way to end a great trip.

USJ 25th Anniversary – Part 9 - Closing a Circle

 April 1, 2026

We ate breakfast at the hotel as usual, and as usual, loved watching all the kids excited about going to the park. This had become one of my very favorite parts of our day.

Afterward, we walked around CityWalk, visited the USJ store, and picked up a few gift items to take home with us.

We had made arrangements for our #2 Japanese daughter, Yasuko, and her husband, Toshiyuki, to meet us for dinner in Lounge 6 at our hotel. This was like another closing of a chapter in Japan for me.

On the first night I arrived in Japan, Yasuko and Toshi met us at the Hilton, where we were staying. Larry had made a very big deal about how the Japanese did NOT appreciate public displays of affection. He’d said, “I know you always greet everyone with a hug and kiss, but please don’t do it in Japan. I’m going to be working with these people for several years, and I don’t want to be embarrassed.”

He was right to mention this, since anyone who knows me knows I am a hugger. All our kids know this, too. However, I was determined not to knowingly break any local taboos while we lived there. (I removed my shoes when entering buildings. I didn’t blow my nose in public. Etc.)

From the moment I got on the plane, I kept reminding myself that I couldn’t greet anyone with a hug or kiss in public—even Larry. So, when I got off the plane, I refrained from my usual greeting and even holding hands (which we did all the time.)

We arrived at the hotel and took my bags to our room. (Larry had been there for about a week for a business trip before I arrived.)

Then we went to the lobby to await our “kids’” arrival.

Before too long, I looked down the long side hallway and spotted Yasuko. Toshi (whom we had not met yet) followed her carrying their two-year-old son, Daisuke.

As soon as she spotted me, she began to run toward me with open arms, grinning like crazy. When she reached me, she gave me a huge hug. Of course, I responded in kind. And suddenly I knew I’d be just fine! Then she hugged her “dad.” He had no choice and even looked pleased.

We met Toshi, who also hugged both of us. In public, where everyone could see.

I think we must have looked a bit scary to Daisuke. He had no idea who these strange people were and clung to his parents.

We went to dinner at a terrific Brazilian restaurant. Then we walked around the Asian Trade Center.

When he got outside, Daisuke ran around and seemed more comfortable with us. He finally let me hold him, and Yasuko took a photo of Larry and Toshi with me holding the little guy.

When we returned to Hollywood, I was asked to write an article about the trip for the USJ newsletter to prepare those who were to come afterward. (I was the first spouse to visit Japan before the big move.)

Article from the May 1998 Universal Japan newsletter

Larry, Daisuke, me, Toshiyuki

During our time in Japan, we saw Yasuko and Toshi often. They visited our home in Takarazuka, and Daisuke always had a blast. I called him my “wild man.” A hallway ran through the front of the unit. He started in the entry, raced through the living room and kitchen and into the hall, then through the hall back to the entry. All the while, he chortled and tried to get one of us to chase him. Sometimes we obliged. When our daughter, Kim, visited, she had fun chasing him and then doubling back to head him off as he came around the corner.

He was crazy about trains, and from our balcony, two train stations were visible below. The balcony had a glass-topped railing, so he could look down through it. He stood there for a long time waiting for the trains to arrive, which they did quite often. Then he would crow, “Densha! Densha! (Train! Train).

When we came home for Christmas the first year, we remembered a cartoon cell Larry had gotten at an employee sale while he worked in Hollywood. It was from the cartoon, The Little Engine That Could. It had the register holes and came with a background and a certificate of authenticity. We both knew where it had to go. We also bought him a copy of the book and video to go with it.

One of the last visits we made before we left Japan in 2001 was to their home in Nishinomia. By then, they had a second son, Yusuke.

Larry, Toshi, me, Daisuke, Yusuke, Yasuko

Now, in 2026, both boys had graduated from college, moved out of the house, and were working at good jobs. Daisuke had just gotten married, and I asked them to bring wedding photos.

A little before they were scheduled to arrive, we went to the lobby to wait for them. Just like in 1998, I spotted them coming through the door about the same time as Yasuko saw me. And, once again, she started to run to me with her arms open. This time, I met her halfway for a long-overdue hug. We had not been able to see them on either of our previous visits in 2021 or 2024.

For a moment, time stood still. Suddenly, I was back in a hotel lobby greeting our beloved “kids.” It felt like closing a circle and filled me with joy.

We went to the restaurant and enjoyed a nice meal, talking the whole time. Toshi had his Google Translate queued up in case we need a word or two, but we managed quite well.

I was stunned to see pictures of a now-grown-up Daisuke. He is the absolute image of his father when we first met him. We saw photos of Yusuke, too. “Our boys” were now grown men. Yasuko and Toshi like their new daughter-in-love, and the bride and groom looked very happy.

Toshi, Yasuko, Larry, and me

Our coupons for drinks came in handy again, and we enjoyed a lovely time with them.

Sadly, all too soon, it was time for them to leave. We hugged again in the lobby before they left. And, as always, we invited them to visit us in California. This time, I have hope they may finally come!

USJ 25th Anniversary – Part 8 - Not Quite Over

 March 31, 2026 – Continued

After the party, quite a few people didn’t want it to end, so they agreed to meet at the Hard Rock Café at CityWalk to continue the celebration.

I had to stay with Atsuko Sera to settle the hotel bill. She had to total all the receipts. Then she met with the banquet manager. It took some time.

Quite a few people who had said they were coming didn’t at the last minute, so we had committed to more people than actually attended. Fortunately, a few others had not RSVP’d, but were able to be there. So, they made up for some of those who were missing. (The war in Iran had just begun, and we knew of a couple of people who were overseas and couldn’t get out. Still others were just afraid to travel.)

I had said we would cover the cost for those who did not come, so I couldn’t leave until I got my credit card back. Therefore, I waited…

Atsuko returned with good news. The hotel had given us a reduced rate for those who had not come, so the amount was less than we had anticipated. And the exchange rate was far more favorable than it had been two years earlier. Bottom line: the total wasn’t as much as we had feared. And the party itself and being able to see everyone was well worth whatever it cost. So grateful for her managing all the negotiations! Without her, none of it would have happened.

While I was still waiting at the hotel for the bill to be settled, Toshi and Larry took all our bags and other items back to our room before joining the group. When I didn’t arrive right away, they set out in search of me. They were concerned because it had taken so long. Fortunately they found me on the way.

We finally reached the Hard Rock. Thankfully, most of our friends were still there.

On the way in, we saw Mike Davis and Shinkawa-san sitting together at a front table and waved hello. Shinkawa-san won one of our books as a door prize. Lovely to see him again.

At last, we joined the group.

Chie Yoshimi, Jim Kriss, Ritsuko Oki Onishi

Left side back-to-front: David & Sharon Streshinski, Karen Chrapeck & Janice Gerry, Ritsuko’s head

Right side: Donna & George Johnson, Lou & Cecilia Noy. Some others were missing from the photos.

Toshi, Larry and I joined the group at the back table. Everyone had already ordered by the time we got there, but we placed our orders. A few others stopped by to say hello. None of us wanted to leave, but the time had come at last.

We were exhausted after a busy and eventful day, but so grateful for the opportunity to share the time with good friends and colleagues.

Next time: Our final days in Osaka.