The entrance is spacious, and there’s a guest room, a living room and a zashiki — a room with tatami mats. We used to sit in seiza around a low table to eat meals together.
They’re all kind and full of love. My great-grandmother turned 100 last year! She’s super energetic. My grandma, Sachiko, who lived with us grows vegetables and takes care of the rice fields. Summers are tough because of the heat. She always makes me delicious Japanese food — I especially love her chikuzen-ni (a simmered chicken and vegetable dish).
On my mother’s side, my grandparents run an osteopathic clinic. My grandpa Toshio practices kendo and currently holds the 8th dan rank. Every morning at 5 a.m. he wakes up to run, practice swings or ride his bike. My grandma always listens to my stories about love and life worries. She loves Western music and movies and really helped nurture my sense of taste.
My mom teaches kids’ dance and is a bit famous, locally. The kids love her, and I really respect her for always being so cheerful. She’s someone I can talk to about anything, just like a friend.
My dad used to work as a salaried employee at a fitness club but now he runs his own personal training gym.
