Wine with an "ex-mama" in Ginza

I talked with "ex-mama in Ginza" yesterday.

In Japan, a woman working as a leader-hostes at a fancy bar is called "mama."
They open the club late at night and
talk with middle aged men over alchhole.
They are pros of conversations or hosting.
Maybe Japanese club is different from English one.
In Japanese, the place where people dance is also called a "club,"
but the place where hostes and rich middle aged men enjoy talking over alchhole
is also called a "club."

A woman I met yesterday,
she used to be a "mama" at a club in Ginza.
Now she was retired and established an institute to teach
how to make women you love fall in love with you.

With her, a man who is her former studnet was there.
Though he is not tall or handsome, his behavior was sophisticated:
his way of pouring wine, escorting women, etc.
Not too sexy but just sophistecated.

He said he used to be a very shy person.
He couldn't even talk with women making an eye contact.
Now he is good at talking funny and also good at listening.
He got married recently.
His wife is pregnant.
He is going to be a father.

I vivdly remember how happy he looks.
I don't why but I was feeling like almost bursting into tears.
Looking at him making an anouncement of having a baby,
I wondered how my parents felt when I was born.
I wondered how happey they were..

May they have a healthy, beautiful child!

Behind her smile

My friend from South Africa has gone back from Japan to her home town.

Though I had a few conversations with her,
I loved her.
I was encouraged her smile.
I realized how much someone's smile heals people's mind.

After she left here,
I happened to know that she had some harsh and sad experiences that I can't even imagine.

Once she went to India.
I thought she went there for a volunteer or just have fun,
but it was not true.
Before she went there, her friends killed themselves.

I was just speechless.

She didn't show how she was feeling when she was with us.
She was just friendly and bright,
and she had a beautiful smile.