My mom (in the white shirt) emigrated from Japan 30+ years ago, so whenever we go back, I get to see my mom in a whole new light.

Example: I was going through some old pictures at my grandparents’ house and found pictures of my mom in junior high. WHAT? My mom was 13 once in her lifetime?

My mom and her older sister (in the green shirt) don’t get together often, but when they do, they reminisce about their parents, catching fireflies in the Japanese countryside, helping their mom “ton-ton” the futons, and yes, even walking uphill both ways to school (which, for the record, was way farther than any school to which my dad ever had to walk uphill both ways.)

Despite living in tech-advanced Japan, my relatives over there don’t really hang out online, so they probably won’t see this blog post. But if they do, Aunt Hiromi, you make the BEST shabu-shabu I’ve ever had, and I can’t wait to go back and enjoy some of your fresh sushi. Nom!