After the war, Ishy obtained franchises in several of the best hotels in Hawai‘i and trained up young members of the family – his Japanese family, Malia’s Hawaiian family – who were interested in that kind of work. It wasn’t long before he set up the first of several shops in the city. I’m very pleased to have been part of his success. As a journeyman it was easy enough to do. I knew that Ishy would help me now if he could.

I made enquiries about shipping schedules, and three months later, after quitting my job, I was signed on to a cargo boat on a Pacific circuit, which would give me a little time in Tokyo.

Ishy, who knew Tokyo well, sent a message to Chappy with details of when I’d be there. I was excited, though hadn’t yet contacted Oriwia as I was aware that this venture could lead to disappointment.

The docking port was at Yokohama. I needed to take a train to central Tokyo and was grateful for the map given to me by Ishy. It had instructions for me in English as well as directions in Japanese for the taxi driver who would take me to the railway station, the attendant who would sell me a ticket and the stranger who would show me my platform. I was aware of people. People everywhere as I boarded the crowded train that took us through a concrete landscape – factories, apartments, teeming shopping centres, temples, department stores. Here and there were little wooden houses sitting among it all.

I stepped from the train at Tokyo station, knowing that, despite the throngs, I would not be difficult to find. At the end of the platform, blocking my way while the hordes moved around us, was Chappy.

All I could do at first was wrap my arms round his emaciated body and let tears drip on him. It was like holding a bundle of his bamboo sticks that I used to carry for him sometimes, and just as rattly. We didn’t speak.

Another taxi driver sped us through the town, where I expected to see evidence of the destruction of a city. I knew Tokyo had been bombed over a hundred times during the course of the war. What I saw was a new city, a rebuilt city, a modern city, alive, burgeoning.

We arrived at a public garden, a restful place of soft colour by a large lake where pathways went in many directions. After the noise of traffic and the bustle of people there was the quiet stillness of rock.

We sat.