I was born and grew up as the first son in the suburban area of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, in Japan. I have a 4 year younger brother, Hisahiro, and 7 year younger sister, Yoko. My father, Tomonori, started his own electric store biz and then changed to a retail store owner of industrial supplies. My mother, Aiko, was helping my dad but was basically a housekeeper. Since there were no kindies around there, I just enjoyed playing around in the countryside neighborhood. For example, I visited a nearby mom-and-pop candy store and bought and tasted a variety of candies. Also, there was an elementary school named Yokokawa Chuo Shogakko, in a few minutes and I enjoyed playing with a playset or catching tadpoles in the paddy fields and crucian carp or crayfish in the nearby river. In addition, I often visited my grandmother’s home which was located 10 km away from my home on foot, and explored interesting places like remains of air raid shelters with local kids. When I became hungry, I got a big and yummy miso rice ball. Since I was a good and honest kid, I was treated well by my uncles, aunts, grandma, and relatives.

私は栃木県の宇都宮市郊外で長男として生まれ育った。４歳年下の弟（久広）と７歳下の妹（陽子）の３人兄弟である。父（智徳）はしばらく電気屋をやっていたが、途中で工業用品販売のビジネスに変えた。母（愛子）は父の仕事を多少手伝っていた時期もあったが、基本的に主婦業が主体だった。近くに幼稚園がなかったので、行っていなかった。その代わり、自然豊かな農村地帯であったので、近くの駄菓子店でいろいろな駄菓子を買って食べたり、歩いて数分で行ける宇都宮市リウ横川中央小学校の遊具で遊んだり、田んぼでおたまじゃくしを取ってカエルになるまで観察したり、隣を流れる川でザリガ二やフナを釣ったりした。また、10キロほど離れた祖母の家へ歩いて遊びに行って、近くの地元の子供たちと一緒に防空壕跡を探検したりした。お腹がすくと、大きな味噌おにぎりを作ってもらい、食べて空腹を満たした。素直な子供だったので、叔父、叔母、親戚の人たちにかわいがってもらえた。