Take 5

The Letter

Alex asked me to prepare a letter for Tsu ensemble. I wrote it, but it ended up being an exercise in nostalgia all over again. Here it is, warts and all. Yes yes, I know - enough with Japan already. So here it is, the last one.

Dear Yuko-san,

How are you and Namiko-san doing? I hope that the both of you are in good health and spirits. It’s been more than a month since we were last in Tsu City, but none of us can forget the wonder ful times that we shared with your ensemble and you. We may be in Singapore, but a part of our hearts will always be with all of you in Japan.

All of us are adjusting back to life in Singapore. We meet every Saturday for our practices at the CFA studios (which you visited), and have dinner after that. Often, the topic will be on the Tsu ensemble, niibori, and Japan. All of us grow nostalgic when we look at the pictures that we took together. While we may have forgotten many of your members’ names, their laughing faces stay fresh in our minds.

There is the high school boy in alto two with thick black plastic glasses – he played a duet with your concert master from alto 1. The young lady, with the pixie-like face, who prepared a wonderful breakfast for us in your home. I will always remember her for her noble occupation – a caregiver for the elderly. Also, the lovely lady with long hair who played the tamborine in Spanish Coffee; she captured the hearts of all our male members. Who can forget the tough and big man from Bass who always wore singlets? With his long hair swept back and his pose with the beer bottle in our farewell party? Not forgetting countless others who have a permanent place in our hearts.

Then, there is you and Namiko-san. You have inspired us with your love for music. With a magnificent wave of your baton, a sharp intake of air and a nod of your head you transformed the notes on the score into something much more – magic. Some of us, like myself, had thought of stopping due to our work committments. But seeing you, and your ensemble play, made us determined to continue with the same amount of dedication we saw in all of you. Namiko-san showed us how important it was to have a passion in life, be it music, sake or pachinko even if we grew older. Your late father is very fortunate to have two wonderful, strong women like yourselves in his life.

I cannot thank you enough for the warm hospitality that all of you have shown us. The late nights that Namiko san and you spent with us, looking over scores, and picking out what you thought suited us best will never be forgotten. I can only hope that if time permits, we may see all of you again. Be it in Japan, or in Singapore. Do visit us again if you have the chance – you will always be welcome in GENUS (Guitar Ensemble of NUS).


Warmest Regards,


Leonardo de Guzman / “Leo”
Team Leader, Genus goes Japan

posted by leo @ 11:06 PM