ROPPONGI GIRL

by
Mayumi Takadanobaba

Human Short Story and Artifical Intelligence Screenplay

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

January 1, 2023
All Rights Reserved.

Source: Roppongi Girl short story by Bradley L. Bartz fed into ChatGPT.

Write a screenplay synopsis for "Roppongi Girl" starring Mayumi Takadanobaba

"Roppongi Girl" follows the story of Mayumi Takadanobaba, a young woman living in Tokyo and working as an aspiring fashion designer. Mayumi has always dreamed of making it big in the fashion industry, and she is determined to do whatever it takes to achieve her goals.

One day, while traveling to Tokyo on a plane, Mayumi meets a handsome young man named Tatsuo. The two quickly hit it off and begin a whirlwind romance that takes them on a journey of love, adventure, and self-discovery.

As Mayumi and Tatsuo work together to build their own internet company, they face challenges and setbacks, but they also find strength and support in each other. Along the way, Mayumi discovers that true success is about more than just career achievements – it's about finding happiness and fulfillment in life.

Through her journey, Mayumi learns that no matter how difficult the path may be, with determination and perseverance, anything is possible. "Roppongi Girl" is a heartwarming and inspiring tale of love, friendship, and the power of following your dreams.


INT. BABA'S HOME - DAY

Mayumi sits at the kitchen table, flipping through a textbook as Baba works on a puzzle at the table next to her. Mom bustles around the kitchen, preparing dinner.

 

BABA
Baba looks up from his puzzle and watches Mayumi for a moment before speaking.

"Mayumi, you know, when I was your age, I used to get into all sorts of trouble. Just like that man we saw in Roppongi this morning."

 

Mayumi looks up from her textbook, surprised.

 

MAYUMI

"Baba, you were never a troublemaker."

 
 

BABA
Baba chuckled.

"Ah, but I was. I used to sneak out at night and explore the city, causing all sorts of mischief. It wasn't until I met your grandmother that I straightened out and became the man I am today."

 

MAYUMI
(Mayumi's eyes sparkled with curiosity.)

"What kind of mischief did you get into?"

 

BABA
Baba laughed.

"Oh, it's not appropriate for young ears. But trust me, it was nothing for you to worry about. The important thing is that we all make mistakes, but it's how we learn and grow from them that matters."

 

MAYUMI
Mayumi nodded, taking in Baba's words.

"I'll remember that, Baba."

 

BABA
Baba smiled and patted Mayumi's hand.

"I know you will, my Roppongi girl."

Fade to black.


INT. BABA'S HOME - MORNING

Mayumi and her family walk through the entranceway, the cherry trees in full bloom. Mayumi bounces on the balls of her feet, excitement written all over her face.

 

MAYUMI

"Come on, Baba, let's go practice some flips on the tatami mats!" she says, tugging on his hand.

 

BABA
Baba laughs and playfully pretends to resist.

"Ah, Mayumi, I'm too old for that kind of roughhousing. You go ahead."

Mayumi grins and takes off, flipping and tumbling across the mats. Mom watches fondly as Baba sits down on the porch, a peaceful look on his face.

Suddenly, Mayumi stumbles and falls, letting out a cry of pain. Baba and Mom rush to her side as she clutches her ankle.

 

MAMA
Mom asks, concern etched on her face.

"Oh no, Mayumi, are you okay?"

 

MAYUMI
Mayumi nods, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I think I just twisted my ankle. It hurts."

 

BABA
Baba gently lifts Mayumi into his arms and carries her to the couch.

"Don't worry, my Roppongi girl. We'll get you all patched up in no time."

Fade to black.


INT. BABA'S HOME - MORNING

Mayumi trudges into the kitchen, yawning. Baba is already up, tending to the koi pond. Mayumi rubs her eyes and stumbles over to him, peering into the water.

 

MAYUMI

"Good morning, Baka and Kawaii," she says, a small smile forming on her face.

 

BABA
Baba glances up and smiles at Mayumi.

"Good morning, my Roppongi girl. Did you have a good sleep?"

 

MAYUMI
Mayumi nods, still half asleep.

"Yeah, I did. I always sleep well on the weekends."

 

BABA
Baba pats her head.

"That's good. You need your rest. Now, why don't you go get dressed and we'll have breakfast together?"

Mayumi nods and heads off to get ready. As she gets dressed, she thinks about her dad and how she rarely sees him. It's always been this way, with her dad working long hours at the bank and only coming home to sleep on the weekends. Mayumi tries not to let it bother her, but sometimes she can't help feeling a little jealous of her friends who have dads that spend more time with them.

But she pushes the thought aside and finishes getting ready, determined to make the most of her time with Baba and Mom.

Fade to black.


INT. BABA'S HOME - DAY

Mayumi sits at the kitchen table, flipping through a magazine as Baba reads the newspaper. The sound of the TV in the living room fills the air.

 

MAYUMI
Mayumi looks up at Baba, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Baba, do you think I should talk about my life in Roppongi like this? I mean, it's not exactly normal, is it?"

 

BABA
Baba sets down the newspaper and looks at Mayumi, a kind smile on his face.

"Mayumi, normal is relative. What's normal to you may be different from what's normal to someone else. And that's okay. It's important to remember that we all have our own unique experiences and perspectives. Don't worry about what others might think. Just be true to yourself and your own experiences."

 

MAYUMI
Mayumi nods, taking in Baba's words.

"Thanks, Baba. You're always so wise."

 

BABA
Baba chuckled.

"Ah, I'm just an old man with a lot of life experience. You have so much ahead of you, my Roppongi girl. Embrace it and be proud of who you are."

Fade to black.


INT. MEGUMI'S HOME - MORNING

Megumi rushes around her room, trying to gather her things for school. Yuki stands at the door, tapping her foot impatiently.

 

YUKI

"Megumi, hurry up. You're going to be late."

 

MAYUMI
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Megumi says, finally grabbing her backpack and rushing out the door.

As they walk to school, Megumi asks Yuki about the loud frogs. Yuki explains that they arrive every spring with the rains and are a sign of new life. Megumi listens intently, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

When they arrive at school, Megumi waves goodbye to Yuki before rushing off to join her friends. As she starts her day, she can't help but think about all the exciting things she has learned about the world around her, from the loud frogs in her backyard to the bustling city of Roppongi where her cousin Mayumi lives.

Fade to black.


INT. SCHOOL - DAY

Mayumi, Megumi, and their friends sit in a classroom, listening to their teacher lecture on math. The sound of the frogs outside the window fills the air, a constant background noise.

 

MAYUMI
Mayumi raises her hand.

"Excuse me, Sensei, but can we open the windows? The frogs are so loud, I can't concentrate."

 

TEACHER
The teacher sighs and nods.

"Fine, but keep the noise down out there."

Mayumi and Megumi exchange excited glances as they rush to open the windows. The cool spring breeze and the sound of the frogs fills the room, bringing a sense of joy and excitement to the students.

As they continue their lessons, Mayumi can't help but think about the wild and vibrant world outside the classroom, full of all sorts of animals and adventures. She can't wait to explore it all with Megumi and her friends.

Fade to black.


INT. SCHOOL PLAYGROUND - DAY

Mayumi and Megumi run around the playground, giggling as they play with their friends. Kathy watches from the sidelines, a smile on her face.

 

KATHY
Kathy exclaims.

"Oh look, there's Bob the Cat!"

 

MEGUMI
Megumi looks up, confused.

"Bob?"

 

KATHY
Kathy says, gesturing to the cat.

"Ya, it's Bob and his brother Fred and Sister Sally. Say hi!"

Mayumi and Megumi laugh as they run over to the cat, greeting it in English and Japanese.

As the day comes to a close and the moms meet the kids at the school, Kathy takes Mayumi and Megumi aside.

 

KATHY

"Okay girls, let's practice your English. Can you describe Bob in more detail?"

 

MAYUMI
Mayumi nods.

"Bob is a black cat with white socks."

 

KATHY
Kathy prompts.

"That's right! And Megumi?"

 

MEGUMI
Megumi grins.

"Bob is a kuroneko with shiro socks."

 

KATHY
Kathy smiles and gives the girls a high five.

"Great job, girls. Keep up the good work."

As they walk home from school, the girls continue to practice their English, describing all the animals they see along the way and giving them silly English names.

Fade to black.


INT. MEGUMI'S HOME - DAY

Megumi sits at the kitchen table, chatting excitedly with Mayumi on the phone about her day. Kathy sits nearby, listening intently and encouraging Megumi to use English whenever possible.

 

KAZUNOBU
Suddenly, Kazunobu bursts into the room, a look of excitement on his face.

"Megumi, are you ready to go fishing?"

 

MEGUMI
Megumi jumps up, practically bouncing with excitement.

"Yes, Papa! I'm ready!"

Kazunobu smiles and motions for Megumi to follow him out the door. Baba and Yuki stand in the doorway, waving goodbye and reminding Megumi to be careful and have fun.

As they walk to the fishing spot, Megumi chatters nonstop about the frogs and the bug races that take place every night in the living room. Kazunobu listens patiently, a fond smile on his face.

When they reach their fishing spot, Megumi eagerly sets up her gear while Kazunobu prepares his. As they cast their lines into the water, Megumi can't help but think about all the adventures and experiences she's had in her small beach town, from the silly frog races with her family to the daily walks to school with her friends.

Fade to black.


INT. MEGUMI'S HOME - NIGHT

Megumi tosses and turns in her bed, unable to sleep due to the loud croaking of the frogs outside. She hears her parents moving around the room, trying to find a way to block out the noise.

The next morning, Megumi wakes up to the sound of birds chirping loudly. She looks out the window to see the birds feasting on the frog bodies that litter the ground. The smell of the decaying frogs fills the air, making Megumi gag.

As they set out for school, Megumi's mom hands her and her friends umbrellas to protect them from the birds that seem to be everywhere, diving and attacking the frogs. The birds are so fat from all the eating that they waddle along the road, seeming to laugh and joke with each other.

Megumi can't help but wonder what the frogs did to deserve such a fate, and if they will ever be able to escape the wrath of the birds.

Fade to black.


INT. MEGUMI'S HOME - NIGHT

Megumi sits at the kitchen table, eagerly helping her mom prepare the fish that she and her dad caught earlier that day. She chatters excitedly about the different techniques her dad used and how she tried to emulate them.

 

KAZUNOBU
As they cook, Kazunobu enters the kitchen, a big grin on his face. He says, holding up the ice box full of fish.

"Look at all these beauties we caught today,"

The family works together to clean and fillet the fish, laughing and chatting as they go. Once everything is prepared, they sit down to a delicious dinner of freshly caught fish.

As they eat, Kazunobu tells stories about his own fishing adventures, making Megumi and Yuki laugh with his antics. It's clear to see the love and bond between the family as they spend time together, enjoying each other's company and the fruits of their labor.

Fade to black.


INT. KITCHEN - DAY

MEG, a young girl with dark hair, watches as her MOM and BABA clean and cook fish at the kitchen counter. Meg eagerly assists, cutting the sushi with precision.

 

MOM
(to Meg)

You're getting so good at this, Meg. You'll be a pro in no time.

The family sits down to enjoy their dinner. As they finish, Mom gets up and sets the bath timer.

 

COMPUTER VOICE
(through speaker)

Your bath is ready.

Meg sings along with the jingle as she helps clear the table.

Later, PAPA tucks Meg into bed and they chat about their day. Papa encourages Meg to teach him English and they discuss the animals in their neighborhood.


INT. ROPPONGI STREET - DAY

MAYUMI, a young woman with long black hair, walks along the bustling street of Roppongi, taking notes in her notebook. She passes by a group of Chinese masseuses hanging out by a McDonalds and dubs them "The Neko Trio" in her notebook to share with Megumi later.

Mama and Baba walk on the inside of the sidewalk, trying to keep Mayumi as far as possible from the drunk staggering and vampire bats that populate the night in Roppongi.


INT. KARAOKE SHOP - DAY

MEGUMI and MAYUMI walk past the colorful window display of the karaoke shop, waving to their PAPA inside. They continue on to the supermarket at the corner, where BABA is picking out fresh fruits for Megumi's lunch.


INT. ALMOND COFFEE SHOP - DAY

Megumi does a twirl in the pink and fluffy interior of the Almond coffee shop, filled with delicious cakes. Mayumi watches with a smile.


INT. TRAIN STATION - DAY

The sisters buzz through the turnstile at the Hibiya train station with their Passmo magic pass, heading to Naka-Meguro station where Megumi's private school is located. The gated compound is secured by a guard, providing peace of mind for their parents.


INT. SCHOOL CLASSROOM - DAY

While Megumi counts frogs in her science class, Mayumi attends ballet and has private piano lessons at home.


INT. ALMOND COFFEE SHOP - AFTERNOON

The sisters enjoy a proper afternoon tea at the Almond coffee shop.


INT. MEGUMI'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Megumi and Mayumi share stories of their day and play the fun game of naming animals with gaijin names that Kathy started. Mayumi names the characters of Roppongi after animals, allowing her to better remember them than the less pleasant aspects of life in the city.

Both Megumi and Mayumi are active and dynamic students, participating in sports, local shrine festivals, and other school events.


INT. ROPPONGI COMPOUND - DAY

MEGUMI, MAYUMI, MOM, and BABA march out of the gate of the wealthy Roppongi compound, waving to the standing security guard. They begin their daily route to school, but on this Saturday morning, the streets of Roppongi are a war zone, especially at this early hour.

 

MEGUMI
(excitedly pointing)

Look, Baba! That's Kevin the Pig.

 

BABA
(confused)

What?

 

MEGUMI
(explaining)

Mayumi and I have a game that Kathy, our English teacher, taught us. Mayumi gives the animals she sees every day in Isumi English names, and I do the same for the animals here in Roppongi.

 

BABA
(amused)

That's interesting and funny.

 

MEGUMI
(whispering)

Look! That's Sally the Snake and her massage girls.

The sisters continue to point out the various "animals" they see on their walk, using the nicknames they have given them. Eventually, they reach the train station and board the Wakashio bound for the tip of the Chiba peninsula. Megumi is excited to show her mom and baba the way to Tokyo station and shares her extensive knowledge of trains with them.


INT. ROPPONGI STREET - DAY

MEGUMI, MAYUMI, MOM, and BABA walk down Gaijin Street, passing by the massage shop called "Sunrise Palace" where Sally the Snake is pitching to a passerby and the massage girls are whispering in his ear. Baba shows no emotion as they pass by, but Mom is well aware of the seedier side of Roppongi, as it is where she and Jun met.

Mayumi notices a well-dressed couple walking towards them. The man, KINGSLY, is from Nigeria and has been in Japan for many years. Mayumi has dubbed him "Kingsly the Tiger" and greets him warmly with a kiss on the cheek. His partner, MINORU, is dubbed "Sam the Pheasant" due to his more colorful and flashy style and his tendency to run around Kingsly to get his story heard. Minoru works as a club manager and Kingsly manages the staff at various locations across Roppongi, including hostess clubs, fine dining restaurants, and sports bars. Together, they are a power couple in the "High Touch Town" of Roppongi.


INT. GAIJIN STREET - DAY

MEGUMI, MAYUMI, MOM, and BABA walk down Gaijin Street, passing by a shop called "Sunrise Palace" with a massage sign board out front. Sally the Snake is pitching to a passerby, while the massage girls whisper in his ear. Baba shows no emotion as they pass, but Mom is more familiar with the seedier side of Roppongi, as it is where she and Jun met.

 

MAYUMI
(pointing)

Look, it's Kingsly and Minoru.

The girls spot KINGSLEY and MINORU, two well-dressed men who are a power couple in Roppongi. Kingsley, from Nigeria, has been in Japan for many years and manages the staff at various locations across the city, including hostess clubs, fine dining, and sports bars. Mayumi has named him Kingsley the Tiger, as he is a gatekeeper and well-respected in the "High Touch Town" of Roppongi. Minoru, whom Mayumi has named Sam the Pheasant, is always dressed in colorful, avant-garde clothing and sparkly shoes, and seems to constantly run around Kingsley to get his voice heard.

Kingsley greets Mom warmly with a kiss on the cheek and a formal, distant inquiry about her well-being.

FADE TO BLACK


INT. R2 SUPPER CLUB - DAY

MEGUMI, MAYUMI, MOM, and BABA walk past the R2 supper club, located across the street from the Tokyo Sports Bar building which also houses a hostess bar and high-end restaurant. The streets of Roppongi are full of people from around the world selling sex, drugs, and rock and roll around the clock. Every corner is staked out by regular players, and Mayumi has them all named.

Life in Tokyo does not adhere to a traditional 9-5 work schedule, and Mom makes sure that Mayumi is protected, respected, and shielded from the seedier elements of Roppongi by introducing her to the safe regulars. Kingsley, the well-respected "Tiger" of Roppongi, makes it known in no uncertain terms that Mayumi is to be protected and kept away from the dangers of the city.

Mayumi calls Ricki, a large man who works as a caller for the Wall Street Bar, "Harry the Hippo" due to his size and suit that drapes down to his knees. She often sees him blocking out the eastern sun between TGIF and Motown, casting his shadow almost all the way across Gaijin Street and onto the Roppongi cemetery in the distance.

Kingsley, on the other hand, is tall, black, and built, and spends his evenings playing pool with Minoru and the regulars at the Tokyo Sports Bar during happy hour from 7-9pm. The bar's real purpose is to serve hostesses after their shifts end at 2am, when it really starts to rock.


INT. ROPPONGI STREET - DAY

By morning, Kingsly and Minoru have checked in at a dozen Roppongi haunts, most of which they own and operate together. As they walk, they greet the various street callers and nod to competitors.

For Mayumi, it is not uncommon to see Kingsly twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening when she has dinner with her papa and family at the Oak Door in the Grand Hyatt of the Roppongi Tower. No matter what time of day it is, Kingsly always greets them with an energetic hello and hug.

Mayumi notices that her mom lights up when she sees Kingsly, while her baba grunts in disapproval. Mama talks shop with Kingsly, always just out of earshot of Mayumi. It is clear to Mayumi that Mama was a prize back in the day before Jun Takadanobaba took her from Minoru's hostess club some 8 years ago, although baba remains oblivious.

Kingsly knows that the family is headed to Chiba and that their train is moments away. He knows the exact time to let Mama go so that they can make their way to the Hibiya line at Roppongi station. The Saturday trains have a different crowd than the weekday commuter trains, with a mix of leftover drunks and travelers alongside the usual schoolchildren and suits.


INT. TRAIN STATION - DAY

Mayumi, MOM, and BABA make their way through Tokyo station, riding escalators and automated people movers. Mayumi has a keen eye and writes down unique individuals in her notebook, assigning them animal names to share with Megumi in Isumi.

MOM has reserved seats on the Wakashio train in the third car, third row. Mayumi gets the window seat and looks forward to the snack girl coming around. Baba sits next to her as they wave goodbye to Mom, who prefers to stay in the city rather than go to the country. Baba, on the other hand, loves the country and is relieved to leave Roppongi behind.

As soon as the train doors close and it begins to move, Baba's face transforms into a broad smile as she joins in Mayumi's animal name game.

 

MAYUMI
(excitedly)

Donna the Donkey!

She shows Baba her notebook, explaining that the woman on the escalator reminded her of the fully-loaded Donkey from "Shrek." Baba remembers watching the movie with Mayumi and agrees with the comparison. Sometimes Baba doesn't like the name game, feeling like Mayumi is making fun of others, but Mayumi insists it is innocent.

Mayumi could hear the Wakashio train pulling into the station and motioned baba to get a move on it!

The third car back door was right at the base of the escalator and opened as they hit the platform. Both whisked in and went to row 3 seats A and B. Mayumi grabbed the window and started her countdown to takeoff.

Baba knew Mayumi thought this part of the train ride was like Space Mountain at Tokyo Disneyland, the dark hole with flashing lights passing by before launching into the light. The smile expanded wide as the Wakashio's 1st stop was mouse land.

The Waka rolled past rivers and concrete for a full 45 minutes until the first green pastures and trees of note. The industrial Tokyo Bay was rusted and falling apart while mixed with the oasis of yellow in Ikea.

Soga was the last "city" stop. Mayumi knew this because the fashion change from here to Isumi. Soga is like Dallas, all prettied-up but have no real place to go. Baba and Mayumi would stop in Soga on the way home to Roppongi to do some retail shopping. At the Soga stop fishermen and day tippers hopped on the train. A few surfers and beach babes raised the chatter level to max. As the train rolls the green immediately appears with the speed making small hamlets rush by. The bamboo fields gave way to valleys of layered rice and flowing water.

Baba's face would always relax when green came. Mayumi loved this part. Baba would point to the fishing pole stored by the train door and explain to Mayumi what type of fish that it is best for.

Time on the train hits a time-warp rhythm as ancient shrines and farms houses wiz by.


INT. SHARKY - DAY

BABA, YUKA, and MEGUMI are packed into the tiny K-van, driving through the quaint countryside of Isumi.

 

MEGUMI

Look, there's Bob the Cat! And his brothers. Don't hit 'em, Mom!

YUKA laughs and expertly navigates the narrow country roads. They pass farms filled with cabbage and make a series of turns until they arrive at Yuka's home.


INT. YUKA'S HOME - DAY

MAYUMI enters the house, followed by the rest of the group. She looks around in amazement at the peaceful, rural surroundings, a far cry from the bustling city she just left.

 

MAYUMI

This is a whole new world.

BABA smiles, happy to be spending the day with her daughter and granddaughter in her beloved Isumi.

BABA Weekends with Mayumi and Megumi in Isumi are the best.

The group heads out to the beach, ready to enjoy the sunny day and each other's company.

Fade to black.


INT. YUKA'S HOME - DAY

MEGUMI and MAYUMI are running around the house, filled with excitement at the prospect of spending the day together.

 

MEGUMI
(to Mayumi)

Come on! Let's go fishing with Papa!

MAYUMI quickly changes into her swimsuit and grabs a towel, following Megumi out the door. They run down the road, barking with the dogs as they go.


INT. TOKYO - DAY (FLASHBACK)

MAYUMI is walking through the crowded streets of Roppongi, surrounded by the chaos of city life. She closes her eyes and imagines the peaceful countryside of Isumi, superimposing the Tottoro Lighthouse onto Tokyo Tower.


INT. ISUMI COUNTRYSIDE - DAY

MAYUMI and MEGUMI turn right onto a country road and are greeted with the beautiful sight of the Tottoro Lighthouse reflected in the flooded rice paddies. Mayumi stops to take in the view, while Megumi impatiently waits for her.

 

MEGUMI
(begging)

Come on!

 

MAYUMI
(smiling)

Hold your horses!

They continue running down the road, eager to join their father for a day of fishing.

Fade to black.


INT. ISUMI BEACH - DAY

MEG and MAYU walk along the empty beach, surrounded by a field of purple flowers. The sand is soft and dark, and the waves are calm.

The girls walk out onto the jetty, picking their way through the bamboo. They sit down to watch a group of surfers and jet skiers, including Kenichi and his older brothers, ride the waves.

 

MEG
Two ducks sit nearby, and Meg whispers to Mayu,

"Hey, those ducks love each other!"

Mayu giggles and suggests they call the ducks Ricky and Lucy.

MEG and MAYU bust out laughing as they watch Kenichi surf. Meg tells Mayu about Kenichi's father's Jet Ski marina up the river.

Fade to black.


INT. ISUMI BEACH - DAY

MEG and MAYU are walking along the empty beach, surrounded by a field of purple flowers. They make their way to the jetty, where KENICHI and his older brothers are surfing on jet skis.

 

MEG
(excitedly)

Look, Mayu! It's Kenichi!

The girls sit down to watch the surfers, giggling and whispering to each other.

 

MAYU
(giggling)

Look at those ducks, Meg. They love each other! Let's call them Ricky and Lucy.

 

MEG
(imitating Kathy from "I Love Lucy")

You got some splainin' to do!

The girls burst out laughing as they watch Kenichi ride a wave. Meg tells Mayu about Kenichi's family's jet ski marina up the river.

Fade to black.


INT. ISUMI BEACH - DAY

MEG and MAYU are running back along the beach, pretending to be boat captains as they pass the abandoned boat on the inlet.

 

MEG
(yelling)

I'm Popeye the sailor!

MAYU sits on the bank, pretending to row as they pass the boat.

Fade to black.


INT. ISUMI SUMMER HOME - DAY

The girls arrive at the summer home, greeted by BABA and YUKA on the porch.

 

MEG
(to Baba)

When does Kathy come?

 

MAYU
(excitedly)

I love Kathy!

Baba and Yuka explain that Kathy will be coming on Saturday afternoons to spend the night with the girls in Isumi. This allows Baba and Yuka some quiet time together. The kids are excited to show Kathy around and introduce her to their friends.


INT. OHARA STATION - DAY

BABA and YUKA drop the kids off at the station to meet Kathy. Meg and Mayu are excited to show Kathy their school and introduce her to their friends as the "Token Gaijin."


INT. YUKA'S HOME - DAY (FLASHBACK)

MEG and MAYU are on the phone with Kathy, practicing their "Californian" English.

 

MEGUMI
(into the phone) Mo

The girls have a daily phone call with Kathy to practice their English.

Fade to black.


INT. OHARA STATION - DAY

MEG, MAYU, and KATHY are giggling and holding hands as they exit the station. They go to the shared book library and exchange books before heading to the train platform.

 

MEG
(to Kathy)

Look at the train! It's painted with Pokémon characters!

Kathy takes out her camera and takes a picture of the bright yellow train. The girls ham it up and pose for more pictures.


INT. TRAIN - DAY

The girls are sitting together on the one-car diesel train, chatting and looking out the window. Meg points to the fifth stop, explaining that there is nothing there and they will have to come back and show Kathy next time.

Fade to black.


INT. ISUMI SHOPPING STREET - DAY

MEG and MAYU are walking with KATHY, explaining different ways to get to Meg's house and pointing out various landmarks along the way. The shopping street is traditional and filled with two-story store-fronts.

Kathy asks the girls to use English directions so she can better understand. Meg and Mayu comply, using a combination of sign language, English, Japanese, and facial expressions to communicate.

As they walk, they pass various temples, shrines, and monuments. The first is the sake museum, with its giant ball of rice stalks and giant gate and wall at the entrance. Kathy takes a picture with a big smile on her face.

They continue walking along Highway 126, following the rules of pedestrian safety. Kathy uses the opportunity to practice English with the girls, explaining traffic signals and other concepts.

Fade to black.


INT. ISUMI SHOPPING STREET - DAY

MEG, MAYU, and KATHY are walking along the traditional shopping street, marveling at the variety of services and products offered in the two-story store-fronts. They stop in front of the sake museum, where Kathy takes another picture of the giant ball of rice stalks adorning the entrance.

The girls are excited to show Kathy all of the different sights and landmarks along the way, using a mix of sign language, English, Japanese, and facial expressions to communicate.

 

KATHY
Kathy prods them to use English, using phrases like "This is a red light" to get them to repeat and practice their language skills.

This is a pen.


INT. ISUMI PORT - DAY

The girls arrive at the port, where they see the fishing fleet that has not been upgraded since the 1970s. They continue on to the hot bath spa at the Isumi River, where they will meet MOM, PAPA, and BABA to soak and have a snack before heading home.

Fade to black.


INT. ISUMI PORT - DAY

MEG, MAYU, and KATHY are walking along the port, admiring the old and rundown buildings. They stop in front of a pile of pottery jars, which Meg explains are used to catch octopus. Kathy takes the opportunity to explore the area and takes selfies with an octopus jar while the kids chat with Kenichi and his friends.

Kathy comes across a faded Asahi Beer vending machine, a relic from Japan's past. She inspects the coin slot, which is covered in yellowing scotch tape. To the left of the vending machine is an empty lot with rubble and an old, brown wooden building. The porch is clean, but the door hasn't been opened in years.

Despite being thirsty, Kathy decides to join the kids and listen to them chatter about "Pete the Pelican", a large bird that hangs out on the port's main street corner. Mayu and Meg try their best to speak in English, which elicits laughter from Kenichi and his little brother Michiaki.

Fade to black.


INT. ISUMI PORT - DAY

MEG, MAYU, and KATHY are walking down the hill towards the Isumi port, passing by old and rundown buildings. They come across a pile of pottery jars, which Meg explains are used to catch octopus. While the kids are chatting with Kenichi and his friends on bikes, Kathy takes the opportunity to explore the old neighborhood and comes across an old beer vending machine. She stops to inspect it and takes a picture, amused by the yellowing scotch tape covering the coin slot.

Next to the beer machine is an empty lot with rubble and a dark brown wooden building that looks abandoned. The porch is surprisingly clean, and Kathy imagines a local keeping it swept in homage to the beer machine. She is tempted to get a drink from the machine, but decides to catch up with the kids instead. They are chatting about a pelican named Pete that hangs out on the main street corner of the port, and Mayu and Meg are trying their best to speak English. Kenichi and his brother Michiaki are laughing at their efforts.

Fade to black.


INT. ISUMI PORT - DAY

Kathy, Meg, and Mayumi walk down a hill towards the Isumi port. The buildings around them are old and run-down.

Kathy stops in front of a pile of pottery jars and turns to the kids.

 

KATHY:

What are these?

 

MEG
Meg giggles and says,

"That is where Oscar the Octopus lives."

Mayumi joins in with her laughter.

 

MEG:

The fishermen use these pots to catch octopus. They get all strung and sunk together. These are probably 50 years old.

Meg explains that she knows a lot about fishing because of her papa and that they fish together every day. The octopus pots are large and grey, resembling wine casks. Weeds grow up to the edge of the pile, which bulges out from the street to an ancient wall.

Kathy picks up an octopus jar and starts taking selfies with it. The kids continue chatting and don't notice.

Suddenly, Kenichi and his friends ride up on their bikes, interrupting Kathy's photo shoot. The kids start chatting with them loudly.

Kathy takes the opportunity to explore the old neighborhood while the kids are distracted. The sky is clear and blue as she looks around at the bold, tall buildings.

Fade to black.


INT. ISUMI PORT - DAY

Kathy walks towards the corner where the kids are chatting with Kenichi and his friends. She takes a final selfie before approaching them.

As she walks, she notices an old, faded Asahi beer vending machine on the side of a wooden building. Her friends in Tokyo had always told her about these machines, which were a common sight in Japan in the past.

Kathy stops to inspect the machine, noticing that the coin slot is covered with yellowing scotch tape. She smiles wryly at the sight.

To the left of the machine is an empty lot with some rubble on it. The building next to it has a dark brown wooden exterior and a door that hasn't been opened in many years. The porch is clean, as if someone has been sweeping it in tribute to the beer machine.

Kathy is thirsty but remembers that her job is to take care of the kids. She catches up with them and listens as they chatter about "Pete the Pelican", a large old bird that hangs out on the main street corner of the port. Mayu and Meg try to speak English as best they can, which elicits laughter from Kenichi and his little brother Michiaki.

Everyone poses for Kathy, and just as they do, Pete the Pelican flies away.

Fade to black.


INT. ISUMI BEACH - DAY

KATHY, MEG, MAYU, KENICHI, and MICHIAKI are walking along the beach trail, headed towards the spa. Meg is in charge of Michiaki, ordering him around with obvious authority. Michiaki is happy to comply, enjoying the attention.

Kathy checks her watch and reminds Meg and Mayu that they need to be at the spa in 30 minutes. The group quickens their pace, turning left at the port and continuing down the beach trail.

As they walk, they pass a burned-out car with melted tires on the side of the road. It's a reminder of a society gone bad. The beach trail is narrow, with a 5-foot wall separating the path from the sand. The boys ride their bikes ahead of the group, while the others walk along the wall.

After about a kilometer, the path disappears completely into the sand. The group trudges through the soft sand, eventually reaching the harder sand closer to the water. In the distance, a cliff and lighthouse are visible.

The kids run ahead, leaving Kathy to walk alone. She can hear the gentle surf and the birds chirping as she enjoys the solitude. Being alone is something that all foreigners living in Japan experience from time to time, and Kathy relishes the peaceful moments. The sand is soft and the water warm as she walks.


INT. ISUMI BEACH PARK - DAY

As they continue walking down the beach, sporadic people pass by, including some surfers and a jogger. Kathy thinks about the kids and how Meg has been naming animals with Mayu, making it easy to create English lessons.

After walking on the sand for a while, the walkway finally appears again, leading to the Isumi river jetty. The kids are waiting on a park bench under a Spanish tile roof veranda. Kathy runs over to a signpost featuring pictures of turtles at various stages of life, including burying eggs in the sand on this beach.

 

KATHY
Kathy calls out, waving her arms for Meg to come over.

"Meg, Meg," "Tell me about this sign!"

 

MEG
Meg explains

"Turtle Beach, In the past, papa told me about grandpapa getting turtle eggs and cooking up omelets. Now this beach is protected."

As they leave the park and walk through the parking lot, Kathy takes in the smooth sand and vast view. The lot is full of small cars with surfers in various stages of dress. The Isumi river inlet is a popular spot, and Kathy loves it, noting the palm trees that remind her of California.

Nearby, they pass an old skate park that is overgrown and empty. Kathy walks up to the fence and looks for her skateboard, prompting Mayumi and Megumi to laugh and call her "skater girl". Right next to the skate park is a two-story hotel, spa, and restaurant called Hotel Isumi. The staff wear original uniforms, consisting of a dark blue blouse and skirt with gold buttons down the middle.

Fade to black


INT. ISUMI BEACH PARK - DAY

Kathy and the kids, Meg and Mayu, stand under the Spanish tile roof veranda as Kathy reads a sign about the turtle beach.

 

KATHY:

Meg, Meg! Come here. Tell me about this sign.

 

MEG:

Turtle Beach. Papa told me about grandpapa getting turtle eggs and cooking omelets. Now this beach is protected.

As they walk through the parking lot, Kathy looks around at the small cars filled with surfers and the Isumi river inlet. She notices the palm trees and thinks about California.

Kathy leads the kids around the corner to a two-story, 10 unit apartment building with for sale signs. The homes in the area are overgrown with knee-high grass, and there's an old skate park that's also overgrown.

Mayumi and Megumi laugh when Kathy almost instinctively looks for her skateboard.

 

MAYUMI:

Skater girl!

 

MEGUMI:
(chiming in)

Skater girl!

Next to the skate park is the Hotel Isumi, a two-story hotel, spa, and restaurant. The staff at the counter are wearing original uniforms with dark blue blouses and skirts and gold buttons down the middle. The only thing missing is a blue bowl cap with gold trim.


INT. SPA - DAY

Kathy, Megumi, and Mayumi enter the spa, following the colorful red banner with the Japanese symbol for women. As they walk towards the baths, Kathy notices a beer machine and a room filled with massage chairs.

Kathy ducks as she passes through the slit in the banner, and the kids do too, pausing to bow their heads before giggling and entering.

After taking a bath, the steam is still rising off of them as they meet Baba, Yuka, and Papa in the massage room. Papa is sitting in the middle massage chair with his eyes closed while Mayu and Meg demand coins from Baba to use the massage chairs. She happily complies, and Papa shows a grin but keeps his eyes closed.

 

KATHY
said Kathy as she settled into the massage chair next to Yuka.

"Ahh, this feels amazing,"

 

YUKA

"Yes, it's just what we needed after a long day of traveling," replied Yuka.

 

MEGUMI

"Baba, could you pass me the remote? I want to try out the heat function," asked Megumi.

 

BABA
Baba as she handed over the remote.

"Sure thing, Megumi,"

As the massage chairs worked their magic on their tired bodies, the group fell into a comfortable silence. The only sound in the room was the gentle hum of the chairs and the occasional coin being inserted into the machine by the kids.

 

PAPA
After a while, Papa opened his eyes and sat up.

"Well, I think it's about time we headed back to the hotel. We have an early start tomorrow,"

The group reluctantly stood up and stretched, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after their relaxing evening at the baths. They gathered their things and made their way out of the facility, already looking forward to the adventures that awaited them the next day.

 

Yuka:

"I can't believe we're all here, just like old times."

 

Baba:

"Yes, it's so nice to have a family outing and relax in the hot springs."

 

Kathy:

"I have to admit, I'm loving these massage chairs. I could stay here all day."

 

Mayu:

"Me too! Can we stay here forever, Papa?"

 

Papa

: "I wish we could, Mayu. But we have to go back to reality eventually."

 

Megumi:

"Aww, do we have to?"

 

Yuka:

"Well, we can always come back another time. And next time, we'll bring Uncle Tatsuo and Auntie Akiko too."

 

Kathy:

"Yes, that would be wonderful. It's so nice to spend time with all of you like this."

 

Baba:

"We're just happy to have you as part of our family, Kathy."

 

Papa:

"And I'm happy to have all of you as part of mine."

The family all smile and continue to enjoy their relaxation in the massage chairs, grateful for the bond they share and the memories they create together.

 

Kathy:

"This is heaven. I could stay here forever."

 

Baba:

"I'm so glad you're enjoying it, Kathy. The hot springs are one of my favorite things about living in Japan."

 

Yuka:

"And the massage chairs are just the cherry on top."

 

Kathy:

"I have to admit, I was a little hesitant about the whole hot springs experience at first. But now I'm hooked."

 

Baba:

"It's a great way to relax and unwind. And the social aspect is nice too. We always run into people we know here."

 

Kathy:

"It's such a different experience than what I'm used to back home. But I love it."

 

Yuka:

"I'm glad to hear that. It's always nice to experience new things and broaden your horizons."

 

Kathy:

"Definitely. I can't wait to come back and do it all again."

 

Baba:

"Anytime, Kathy. We'll make it a regular family outing."

The three continue to relax and enjoy their time at the hot springs, grateful for the opportunity to unwind and spend time together.

The fire crackles and the drums beat as the men, stripped down to nothing but a fundoshi, dance and chant around the flames. It's a wild and primal spectacle, one that Kathy has always found equal parts fascinating and bizarre.

But tonight, as she sits in the massage chair with the cold beer in her hand, she finds herself thinking less about the festival and more about the people around her. She looks over at Baba and Yuka, smiling and chatting with each other, and feels a warmth in her heart. She's grateful to be a part of this family, to have these people in her life.

And as she drifts off into a state of blissful relaxation, she can't help but smile to herself. She may be a foreigner in Japan, but with a family like this, she feels like she's finally found a home.

 

Baba:

"Kathy, you seem to be enjoying the massage chair."

 

Kathy:

"Oh my goodness, yes. I could stay here all day. This is heaven."

 

Yuka:

"I'm glad you like it. We come here every year, it's one of our favorite traditions."

 

Kathy:

"I can see why. It's so peaceful and relaxing."

 

Baba:

"And don't forget about the naked festival. That's always a highlight of the year for us."

 

Kathy:

(laughs) "I'm not sure if I'm ready for that yet, but I'll definitely have to check it out sometime."

 

Yuka:

"You should definitely come with us. It's a lot of fun, just make sure you bring a loincloth."

 

Kathy:

"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the suggestion."

The family continues to relax and enjoy their time at the hot springs, grateful for the opportunity to spend quality time together and recharge their batteries.

 

Mayumi:

"Kathy, can we go to the beach tomorrow? I want to build sandcastles and play in the water."

 

Kathy:

"Of course, Mayumi. That sounds like a lot of fun."

 

Megumi:

"I don't want to go. I don't like the sand, it gets everywhere."

 

Mayumi:

"Come on, Meg. It'll be fun, I promise."

 

Megumi:

"I don't know, Mayu. It's just so messy."

 

Kathy:

"Well, maybe we can find some activities that you'll enjoy too, Meg. How about we go to the amusement park or the aquarium?"

 

Megumi:

"I like those ideas. Can we do that instead?"

 

Kathy:

"Sure thing, Meg. We can do whatever makes you happy."

 

Mayumi:

"Yay! I can't wait to go to the beach and the amusement park and the aquarium. This is going to be the best vacation ever!"

The family continues their journey home, excited for the adventures that lay ahead of them. Regardless of their differing interests, they are able to find activities that everyone will enjoy and create lasting memories together.

 

Mayumi:

"Kathy, are you okay? You look really tired."

 

Kathy:

"I am, I think I overdid it in the hot springs. But it was worth it, it was so much fun."

 

Megumi:

"I'm so tired too, but I'm not sure I want to go home yet."

 

Mayumi:

"Why not? We can come back again next time."

 

Megumi:

"I know, but I just had such a good time with all of you. I don't want it to end."

 

Kathy:

"I know how you feel, Megumi. But we'll always have these memories to look back on and we can create new ones next time."

 

Baby:

"Yeah, and we can't wait to go to the naked festival together!"

 

Kathy:

(laughs) "One step at a time, Baby. I think I need to build up to that one."

The family all laugh and continue the ride home, grateful for the fun and memories they made together at the hot springs.

As the van pulled up to their house, the family all piled out, still feeling relaxed and rejuvenated from their outing at the hot springs.

 

Mayumi:

"That was so much fun, can we go back again soon?"

 

Papa:

"Absolutely, we'll make it a regular family outing. It's always good to take a break and relax together."

 

Kathy:

"I agree, I had a great time. Thank you for inviting me along."

 

Baba:

"Of course, Kathy. You're always welcome to join us for any family activities. You're a part of our family now."

 

Yuka:

"Yes, and we hope you'll continue to make more memories with us."

The family all smiles and shares a warm hug, grateful for the love and connection they have with each other. As they all head inside, ready to rest and enjoy the rest of the evening, they know that they will always have each other to lean on and create more special moments together.

Write a cliff hanger ending

But as they reach the front door, they are shocked to find it wide open and the house ransacked. Furniture is tipped over and items are scattered everywhere. The family stands frozen in shock and fear, unsure of what to do next.

 

Papa:

"What the hell happened here? Is anyone hurt?"

 

Mayumi:

"I don't know, but we have to call the police!"

 

Kathy:

"Oh my god, this is a nightmare. Who would do something like this?"

 

Baba:

"We don't know, but we have to stay calm and figure out what to do next."

 

Yuka:

"I'll call the police. Everyone else, stay here and try to see if anything is missing."

As Yuka makes the call, the family frantically searches the house, trying to piece together what happened. Who could have done this, and why? And more importantly, will they ever feel safe in their own home again?

Write a happy ending to this

As they sit down to a warm dinner cooked by Baba, they share stories and laughter, grateful for the time they have together.

After dinner, the kids all go to bed, exhausted from their day at the hot springs. Kathy, Baba, Yuka, and Papa all sit in the living room, enjoying each other's company.

 

Papa:

"I'm so glad we were able to spend this time together as a family. It's been too long since we all went on an outing like this."

 

Yuka:

"I agree. It's important to make these memories and spend quality time with each other."

 

Baba:

"Yes, and I'm glad we were able to include Kathy in our family outing. She's such a wonderful addition to our family."

 

Kathy:

"Thank you, I feel so lucky to be a part of this amazing family. I'm so grateful for all of you."

As they sit and chat, the warmth of the fireplace and the love of their family fills the room, bringing a sense of peace and happiness to them all. They know that no matter what challenges they may face, they will always have each other to lean on and create more special moments together.

write screenplay scene that is crazy, has pokemon and is a cliff hanger

Oh gosh, this story can go anywhere from now but the massage chair stopped and Megumi and Mayumi grabbed Kathy for the walk home. Baby, Yuka and papa got into the van and the kids went straight to the walkway along the Isumi River. Papa drove slow enough that the teams met at the Pacific Coast Highway 126. Kathy was relieved as she was getting tired as they all piled into the k-van for the rest of the ride home. Based on nothing, but everything at the same time. Where does Mayumi go next? Why is Meg crying in the next chapter? So many questions. www.RoppongiGirl.com

As they drove home, the kids were excitedly talking about all the fun they had at the hot springs.

 

MAYUMI

"I can't wait to go back again next year!" Mayumi exclaimed.

 

MEGUMI

"Me too, it was so much fun," Megumi added.

But suddenly, something strange happened. The van started to shake and the headlights began to flicker.

 

KATHY

"What's going on?" Kathy shouted.

 

YUKA

"I don't know, but it doesn't feel good," Yuka replied, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

Just as they thought things couldn't get any weirder, a bright light appeared in front of the van and a Pokemon appeared out of nowhere, blocking their path.

 

BABA

"What the hell is that?!" Baba yelled.

 

MAYUMI
Mayumi shouted, her eyes wide with excitement. "It's a Pokemon!"

The group watched in shock as the Pokemon began to transform, taking on a more humanoid form. And then, it spoke.

 

GIRATINA

"I am Giratina, the legendary Pokemon of the Distortion World. I have come to collect the one known as Mayumi."

The group gasped as Mayumi stepped forward, her eyes locked with the Pokemon's.

 

MAY*UMI

"Me? Why me?" she asked.

 

GIRATINA

"You possess the power to control time and space. I need that power to defeat the evil forces that threaten my world," Giratina explained.

 

MAYUMI

"But I can't just leave my family and friends behind," Mayumi protested.

 

GIRATINA

"You have no choice, Mayumi. You must come with me to save my world," Giratina replied, his voice firm.

Mayumi looked at her family and friends, tears welling up in her eyes. She didn't know what to do.

As the group watched in stunned silence, the scene fades to black, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats, wondering what will happen next.

Or …

As they all arrived back at their home, Mayumi's parents sat her down for a serious talk.

 

Baba: "Mayumi, we have something important to tell you."

 

Mayumi:

"What is it, Baba?"

 

Yuka:

"We believe you have the potential to be a great leader, Mayumi. You have always been so kind and compassionate towards others, and we think you could make a difference in the world."

 

Mayumi:

"Me? A leader? I don't know if I'm ready for that."

 

Papa:

"We know you can do it, Mayumi. You have the courage and determination to make a positive change."

 

Mayumi:

"But how? I'm just a kid."

 

Baba:

"You don't have to be an adult to make a difference, Mayumi. You can start by getting involved in your community and working towards the causes you care about."

 

Mayumi:

"I guess I could try. But I don't think I could be Prime Minister."

 

Yuka:

"Who knows, Mayumi? You could be anything you set your mind to. The sky is the limit."

Mayumi thought about what her parents said and decided to take their advice. She got involved in her community and worked hard to make a difference. And eventually, her hard work paid off. Mayumi became the Prime Minister of Japan and brought peace and prosperity to the nation.

The family was so proud of Mayumi and all that she had accomplished. And they knew that she would continue to make a positive impact on the world for years to come.

And this actually happened! Have a great day folks.

write screenplay scene where Mayumi meets her husband on a plane and both start an internet company

 

Mayumi:

"I can't believe it's been three years since we first met on that plane to Tokyo. Who would have thought that chance encounter would lead to us starting our own internet company?"

 

Husband:

"I know, it's crazy how things work out sometimes. But I'm so glad we took the chance and started Roppongi Girl. It's been a wild ride, but it's been worth it."

 

Mayumi:

"Absolutely. And with all the success we've had, I can't wait to see where the next three years takes us."

 

Husband:

"Me neither. With hard work and a little bit of luck, the sky's the limit."

 

Mayumi:

"And speaking of hard work, we should probably get back to the office. We have a lot to do before the end of the day."

 

Husband:

"Right, we can't let our success go to our heads. There's always more to be done."

The couple heads back to the office, excited for the future and the continued growth of their company.

One last try

Boy, artificial intelligence helped a bunch tell this story. What do you think?

Roppongi Girl

By Bradley L. Bartz

Fade in

Roppongi at dawn.

Baba said, "oh, that poor man."

Mayumi quickly retorted, "Na, Baba, he just drank too much." As she looked away from the drunk.

Mom looked at Baba with a shrug of her shoulders that showed Mayumi was right.

At eight years old, Mayumi came of age walking the streets of Roppongi at 7am every day to go to school. Mom and Baba always came with her. They lived in a compound right behind the Hard Rock Cafe just off Gaijin Street. The family has lived in this spot for hundreds of years. Baba's home is that old too.

Originally her home was the tea ceremony hall for family and business events. Her home always looked brand new to Mayumi. The entranceway had a row of 4 giant Cherry Trees lining each side. The porch was wide and surrounded the home. When the front shoji doors were open you could see the main room tatami mats that the little one would use as a gymnastics playground.

Dad automated the disappearance of the center fire pit and sitting area so she could have the whole room! Baba's sleeping quarters were spartan with the bedding folded and stored each morning.

By far my favorite part of Baba's home was the giant koi pond that was designed to be part of the interior and exterior gardens. My favorite was named Baka and the other Kawaii as those were the two words of my vocabulary when papa brought home my first koi. I got to name them! It's simple to discern which parent taught me these words.

My English teacher was always surprised when I excitedly used those words to greet my fish. Kathy was 22 when she first started to teach me English when I was 3 years old. I don't see her that often anymore, but I know where my California accent came from.

Mom told me she got married a few years back and is planning to move to Japan again.

Our home was a western wonder and one of the first imported "American Mansion" kits. Dad has this insane photo album showing him in the state of Washington with a chain saw in his hand in front of the tree that became the main pillars of our home.

My dad worked at a big bank in the Roppongi Tower. Even though he lived 5 minute walk from home I only saw him as he slept on the weekends. To dad living in Roppongi was the penultimate of being successful. Too bad he didn't know the sleaze I had to grow up with. He knew, but it did not matter.

This morning was no different. I woke at 5:30am daily and got an extra hour or so on the weekends.

Mom tried her best to shelter me from Roppongi and give me some childhood normalcy. Baba was consistent in saying soft things about Roppongi and its locals. I knew the local drunks, but it was the silly gaijins that confused me in the early years.

The pimps left me alone. The street callers selling sleaze did too. It wasn't that I was a local, it was that my dad was the all-powerful Jun Takadanobaba. Papa not only ran the big bank, he was active in every hi-society event in Tokyo proper. Some called him the mayor of Roppongi for a while.

Our home has a tall building on its North wall. Baba told me that papa was so powerful that no one dares to build tall enough to shade our property in any way. Even the mighty Roppongi Tower had to lower its height 3 stories so its afternoon shade did not hit our compound. At 1pm on December 22 each year we all knew exactly where the shadow would land.

I'm just 18. Should I talk like this? When normal is not, you might only realize it when pushed out of your bubble.

Megumi

My cousin Megumi lived in Chiba in a farming village on the coast called Isumi. She did not get to come to visit me in Roppongi until she was of age. That was a day to remember and the reason I am writing this book. The over indulgence of Megumi into the cesspool of Roppongi was epic. At least she had a tour guide, one that every local knew.

"Tama! Tama!," you have to come see this. When are you coming to Isumi again? I miss you so much," Megumi typed into Line. Meg always called Mayumi "Tama" 'cause when they were young she'd call her "maru" and Baba would laugh and say "Tama" which means Ball. Mayumi was my play ball. My

Tama!

"What's that sound?" asked Megumi

"Those are frogs! They just got born in the new rains and now are screaming for food." Said Megumi's mom, Yuki.

"They are so loud!" Megumi chirped.

Megumi's beach home in Isumi, Chiba was surrounded on three sides by rice, cabbage and bamboo. Five houses along a finger sized street, hers was the last and largest. The two-story home was also in a western style but built locally with decidedly Japanese influences. Especially in our shower and bath. It was like living in a hot spring resort.

The frogs arrived every year with the spring rains. This is the first year that Megumi asked about them, she was five years old.

"Come on Megumi we are going to be late for school," mom yelled from the front door.

Frogs were everywhere! Green little buggers that would move just as my foot would come down.

"Hooooooooonnnnnnnnnjjjjjjkkkkkkk cough cough," blew the local pheasant as it ran into the bamboo. He always sounds like a rusty wheel turning on grandma's bike as she rode to the market.

I skipped and jumped ahead of mom and grabbed hands with my best friend Yoko. Just beyond her was Yuki and Keniichi.

"Did you hear the frogs!," screamed Kenichi

Yu and I just giggled and laughed.

"Wait a second", Mom would always yell.

The walk to school took about 30 minutes. Along the way we came to learn where every kitty cat lived and started to have nicknames for the old-ladies tending the farms.

Wildlife was everywhere. Snakes, all kinds of birds, fish, frogs, boars, deer, cats, dogs and so much more.

We took two routes to get to school. If the weather was nice we would cut over to walk along the Isumi river. We started at the mouth of the river where surfers jived between the extended rock jetties. The fishermen were in rickety bamboo stays along the river. Just the other side of Pacific Coast Hwy 126 we marched into the playground.

Keniichi immediately went to the boys. Yu and I squealed as we met all of our friends. Our school was small by Tama's standards with only 200 kids in K-8 and about 500 in hour high school. Uniforms were standard for the boys, but the girls had a little more freedom. They could either have a pony tail or not.

School was school just like anywhere I suppose.

The moms still met us at school to walk home. Usually we'd stop by the farmer's market and pick up greens for dinner. In our small beach town the farmers rule and also provide the community with focal points. The same characters could be had every day.

The best game was giving English names to the animal life we saw everyday. Kathy would be on those walks home from school 2 days a week.

"Oh look! There's Bob the Cat!" screamed Kathy.

"Bob?" Megumi asked.

"Ya, it's Bob and his brother Fred and Sister Sally. Say hi!" demanded Kathy.

Ken and Yu just laughed so hard and ran around saying Bobu again and again.

When Ken and Yu left our parade, Kathy would get me to describe each named animal in more detail.

"Bob is black cat with white socks," Kathy told me to repeat

"Bob is a kuroneko with shiro socks," Megumi splurts as she ran toward Bob.

As soon as Meg got home she'd call Mayumi and talk about the day. Kathy encourages her to talk in some English when describing the animals and their mood of the day. They talked until dad got home.

"Papa!" Megumi would always scream while she is standing next to her fishing pole and ready to put on her boots. The bright red boots were an adorable contrast to the bright yellow rain jacket and hat Meg proudly wore.

"Ready? Let's go" Kazunobu Takadanobaba said as he electrically charged out the door.

Mom and baba would always stand at the doorway and say be careful and have fun.

Dad walked in front in a hurried pace. He loved fishing so much and was always so eager to see the surf.

The two dogs next door always barked when we left the house. Meg called them "Bert" and "Ernie" after seeing Sesame Street on Kathy's iPad.

"Come on," Dad admonished as he motioned Meg away from Bert and Ernie. The dogs did the same thing every day. Bert goes inside the dog house and Ernie just keeps pacing.

The frogs were everywhere on our little finger, but they were dead on the "main" roads. The cars had been running them over. The little green imprints into the soft road were flat and in different positions.

Meg thought about the frog races last night and if any of these little buggers were the winners. Every night in frog season the lights from our living room would bring bugs to fly around our front windows.

The frogs would jump on the window and eat bugs as they traveled up the window. The whole family would pick and name a frog to root for. As they moved up the glass some would fall off to the delight of the crowd!

Dad was already at the next corner ready to turn right and go to his fishing spot. Meg scurried her little legs, caught up and grabbed his hands and started yapping about the frogs.

Dad smiled and said, "oh yuk, I hate them froggies!"

At night the frogs went off like jets taking off from Narita. The noise would drown out the sound or the surf just a few hundred meters from our castle. Then the dead ones started to stink to high heavens. The Frogs got louder and louder at night day by day. With the rice paddies being flooded all them little polliwogs are born and quickly grow to be squawking "feed me" to whomever would listen.

By the third night of frogs we close our storm windows to try and muffle the sound just to get some sleep.

The fourth day of frogs was the worst and made me understand why Dad didn't like the frogs.

The road-kill frogs started to smell after three days in the sun. It wafted into the house when we opened the storm windows. The smells made Meg gag.

The birds were gleeful this fourth day of frogs. It was like the whole bird sanctuary moved into our backyard and were dive bomb attacking the frogs. It was not raining, but mom armed us with umbrellas so we could walk to school.

The fifth day of frogs turned to the dominance of the birds. They ate and ate and ate. Some of the birds so fat that they waddled along the road. In the bamboo grove next to our house between us and the ocean the birds sounds like they were having a party. Meg thought the birds were laughing and telling frog jokes.

The ocean was flat today but the waves still splashed across the rocks and concrete blocks. We always touched the bar at the beach head and turn left to our fishing spot. This area has a flower park that turns colors with the seasons. Fluffy small purple flowers floated in the wind bending the concrete fence that looks like lumber.

Just past the park was an abandoned bar that had its windows smashed out by the surf. This was the spot. Dad pulled out our rods and we went through a check list. He would ask Meg which pole she wanted today and she would close her eyes and reach out and pick.

It was the red one today, the "beast" as Dad called. It. A red feather and small hook repeated along a meter to be a fishing machine.

Our beach was always empty from our fishing spot the soft sand stretches 2 kilometers to the Isumi River jetty, I could only see old-man Sato casting into the surf. Sometimes when the turtles are laying their eggs in the sand we see the photography buffs clicking away.

Dad picked up the beast and cast it far off our concrete walkway at the edge of the surf. He then handed the pole to Meg and reminded her to gently pull on the line and feel for the bites.

Dad then cast his in and moments later pulled some fish. He was so gosh darn fast and good at it. Meg would try and emulate but her tugs didn't move the beast all that much. No matter Meg just loved the excitement and smile on dad's face when he hit and delivered the fish to the ice box.

Once we had 10 fish we had dinner and dad packed up and we laughed all the way home.

Mom and baba always cleaned and cooked the fish. Meg learned the sushi cut early and once mom was ok, she got to clean along side them. Especially when she caught the fish!

Right as dinner finishes mom sets our bath to tell us when its ready. About 20 minutes later a jingle is heard and the computer voice says your bath is ready. Meg always sang along with the jingle.

After dinner papa would put me to bed and we would chat about the day. He always encouraged me to teach him English so we did talk about all the animals in our neighborhood often. It was nice going to sleep thinking about Bob the Cat and his white socks.

Mayumi's day started with the pass out drunk and like Megumi she started to use nicknames for the humans of Roppongi. She started at the first door next to McDonalds where a trio of Chinese masseuses hung out pitching dawns leftovers. "The Neko Trio," she wrote in her notebook to share later with Megumi.

Mama and baba always were on the inside of the sidewalk at this point, trying to keep me the farthest point from the animals of Roppongi. Really, the way the random drunk that was staggering or passed out and the vampires bats of the night just before the sunlight burns their skin.

The Karaoke shop was always fun to walk by because we frequently met papa there and the window displays were so colorful. The supermarket at the corner always had fresh colorful fruits out front that baba would pick from for my lunch.

I always did a twirl at the Almonds coffee shop on the main corner of Roppongi. It's pink and fluffy interior is filled with delicious cakes and a daily stop after school. After my spin we'd go down the stairs to the Hibiya train station and buzz thru the turnstile with our Passmo magic pass. We took the train a few stops to Naka-Meguro station where my private school was. The gated compound was secured by a guard and that made my parents feels more comfortable.

While Megumi was counting frogs, Mayumi went to ballet and had private piano lessons at home.

The morning grit of the Roppongi cat walk wears off and the day in Tokyo delivers a continuous supply of comfort and lace. The afternoon tea at Almonds was indeed prim and proper.

Ok, from 6 years old just imagine Mayumi growing up in Roppongi, Tokyo and Megumi in Isumi, Chiba. Everyday they would share stories on their days and the fun game Kathy started in naming animals with gaijin names kept going. For Mayumi the characters of Roppongi became the animals. This allowed Mayumi to project a better memory than the true left-overs of any Roppongi morning.

Both kids were dynamic students and active in their schools. From sports to eager participation in the local shrine 'matsuris' and festivals.

It's easy to write about princesses like Mayumi. The trappings of wealth are just easier to describe. The big front doors lined with trees, etc. Because it is so easy I will do my best to describe Roppongi and its title of the "High Touch Town".

By now Mayumi had named every regular in Roppongi as different animals that Megumi gets to see every day. The names were always Bob the Cat, Sally the Bird, Fred the Bat, and more. The writer does not yet know why these names are important, but they seem to give a good reason to fill up the page.

The train from Tokyo station was the Wakashio that went to the tip of the Chiba peninsula. Megumi showed her excitement of going to Isumi by getting mom to talk about how to get to Tokyo station and where they would sit on the train. A six year old chatter box knew the train type, where it was made and all of the departure melodies. She was a train geek!

From the Roppongi compound mom, baba and Megumi marched out of the gate and waived the to the standing security guard. The daily route to school was the same, but Saturday mornings were a war zone in Roppongi. Especially when it was this early.

"That's Kevin the Pig" squealed Megumi as she pointed to drunk man holding on the light pole sitting on the sidewalk fence.

"What?" Grandma protested.

"Kevin the Pig" said Megumi looking directly into baba's eyes she continued in Japanese, "Baba, Mayumi and I have a game that Kathy the English teacher taught us. For Mayumi she gives the animals she sees everyday in Isumi English names."

"That's interesting and funny", said Grandma.

"Look!" whispered Megumi, "That Sally the Snake and her massage girls."

Right after turning on to Gaijin Street, just past the McDonalds is a shop called 'Sunrise Palace' with a massage sign board out front with pictures of hands touching bodies. This morning Sally the Snake was pitching a passerby and the massage girls were grabbing the client and whispering in his ear.

Baba was always internally horrified but showed absolutely no emotion when passing the filth of Roppongi. It was like it did not exist. Mama knew better as Roppongi is where her and Jun met.

Roppongi was in her blood. Baba did now know as they always told her that Jun and mama met at university.

Mayumi noticed first.

There were a couple of the best dressed in Roppongi that Mayumi came to know as the kings. Sorry Kingsly but I do need to describe you in detail as certainly the presentation of fashion and presence of power. Kingsly is from Nigeria and has been in Japan for 20 some odd years. I am not sure if I saw him in the same outfit on any given evening in Roppongi during a recent 3 year stay.

The two together were a power couple. Minoru the club manager and Kingsly the player. Kingsly's job was to manage all the staff at multiple locations across Roppongi. From hostess clubs to fine dining to sports bars Kingsly was the gatekeeper and certainly the one to know in High Touch Town.

Mayumi named him Kingsly the Tiger. He didn't need a made up English name as she has known Kingsly for as long as she has been on Gaijin street. Mama was always greeted warmly by Kingsly. A kiss on the cheek and a how are you. It always formal and at a concierge distance.

Mayumi named Minoru Sam the Pheasant. Minoru always was dressed in more colors and a style just behind Kingsly. A mini-me attempt at High Touch fashion. Minoru's shoes were always sparkly and avant-garde. Pheasant was also a good choice because being 1/3 shorter than Kingsly he seems to run around Kingsly to get his story heard.

The R2 supper club was across the street from the Tokyo Sports Bar building that also housed a hostess bar and high-end restaurant.

Roppongi was full of street callers from around the world selling sex, drugs and rock n' roll 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Every corner was staked out with regular players. Mayumi had them named in every direction in Roppongi. Mayumi did not just walk around Roppongi on the way to school.

Life in Tokyo does not have a timeclock.

Mama made sure that the known safe regulars all knew Mayumi and Kingsly made a point of making these introductions over the years. Kingsly made it known in no uncertain terms that Mayumi was to be protected, respected and shielded from all that Roppongi has to offer. From the biggest man on the street, Ricki, a caller for the Wall Street Bar to the Turkish boys selling kababs and the smallest pimp on the street, a Chinese gal 4' tall and firm hands to offer massage.

Mayumi called Ricki "Harry the Hippo". He was that big and always had a suit that draped to his knees making the overall Hippo look. She would see him sometimes between TGIF and Motown blocking out the eastern Sun behind him. His shadow cast onto and almost all the way across Gaijin street. Behind Harry the Hippo the street fell and in the background was the Roppongi cemetery with the Buddhist sticks capturing some of that morning winter glow.

Kingsly the Tiger was 6' 2" tall black and built. His evenings started at 7pm at the Tokyo Sports Bar where he and Minoru the Pheasant would play pool with the regulars. Happy hour was from 7 to 9pm and without a doubt Mr. Oldman was there. With 500 yen for his one beer that he would nurse until 11. Playing round after round of free pool.

The Tokyo Sports Bar real purpose is to serve hostesses after they get off work. From 2am its rocking.

By the morning Kingsly and Minoru have checked into a dozen Roppongi haunts. Most of them they 'own and operated' together. The walk was consistent by checking in with the various street callers and giving nod to competitors.

For Mayumi she would sometimes see Kingsly twice a day. Once in the morning and the other in the evening when she had dinner with her papa and family at the Oak Door in the Grand Hyatt of the Roppongi Tower. It was Jun's favorite restaurant and frankly he loves the late-night bar.

It did not matter what time of day it was, Kingsly always gave the same energetic hello and hug.

Mayumi did notice first. She noticed that mom would light up when she saw Kingsly and baba would grunt and disapprove. Mama would talk shop with Kingsly, always just out of earshot of Mayumi. Mama was a prize back in the day before Jun Takadanobaba took her from Minoru's hostess club some 8 years ago. Mayumi put It together and although hard to believe, baba was still oblivious.

Kingsly knew we were headed to Chiba and that our train was moments away. He knew the exact time to let mama go so we could casually make the Hibiya line at Roppongi station.

The Saturday trains had different crowds than the workday. The school commute everyone had a uniform on. Not just Mayumi in her sailor outfit, but the staff and suits. Early Saturday had two customers, leftover drunks and travelers.

From Roppongi station we rode one stop to Marunouchi and switched to the red train direct to Tokyo station. We had to have a purposeful pace to catch each transfer. The Wakashio train was a 2km walk under the tracks and a winding set of very long escalators to enter the stomach of Tokyo.

Mayumi loved the escalator rides. It was the only time the three stopped and just rode. If she saw a unique human she would write in her notebook a new name and animal to share with Megumi in Isumi.

There were more than just escalators on this trek thru Tokyo station. The people mover was like the airport and just moved people right along. You had six speeds of humans with these automated machines. On the move, standing still in motion, steppers up and down, the others frozen in place and the movers again.

Mayumi had great eyesight and would track her prey early on the ride and pick a name. Once written doodles took over around that name unless more uniques were spotted.

Mama always had reserved seats on the Wakashio in the third car in the third row. Mayumi got the window seat and was eager for the snack girl to come. Baba would be next to me as they waved goodbye to mama. Mama hated the country but always told Mayumi some other reason, like I must get my hair done, etc.

Baba loved the country and could not be happier. She loved her daughter but hated Roppongi. Mayumi could see it on her face. As soon as the train doors shut and it shudders forward baba's face becomes relieved and a broad smile appears as she jumps into Mayumi's animal name game.

"Donna the Donkey" Mayumi gleefully said as she pulled out her notebook and showed it to baba. Baba remembers that they just recently watch 'Shrek' and that Mayumi was right! That gal on the escalator looked like a fully loaded Donkey.

Sometimes baba did not like the name game. It felt like Mayumi was making fun of others, but to Mayumi is was innocent.

Mayumi could hear the Wakashio train pulling into the station and motioned baba to get a move on it!

The third car back door was right at the base of the escalator and opened as they hit the platform. Both whisked in and went to row 3 seats A and B. Mayumi grabbed the window and started her countdown to takeoff.

Baba knew Mayumi thought this part of the train ride was like Space Mountain at Tokyo Disneyland, the dark hole with flashing lights passing by before launching into the light. The smile expanded wide as the Wakashio's 1st stop was mouse land.

The Waka rolled past rivers and concrete for a full 45 minutes until the first green pastures and trees of note. The industrial Tokyo Bay was rusted and falling apart while mixed with the oasis of yellow in Ikea.

Soga was the last "city" stop. Mayumi knew this because the fashion change from here to Isumi. Soga is like Dallas, all prettied-up but have no real place to go. Baba and Mayumi would stop in Soga on the way home to Roppongi to do some retail shopping. At the Soga stop fishermen and day tippers hopped on the train. A few surfers and beach babes raised the chatter level to max. As the train rolls the green immediately appears with the speed making small hamlets rush by. The bamboo fields gave way to valleys of layered rice and flowing water.

Baba's face would always relax when green came. Mayumi loved this part. Baba would point to the fishing pole stored by the train door and explain to Mayumi what type of fish that it is best for.

Time on the train hits a time-warp rhythm as ancient shrines and farms houses wiz by.

When they arrived at the last main stop before Ohara station baba knew that her daughter Yuka and grand-daughter Megumi started towards the Besia Supermarket on the main 126 highway running through Isumi. Baba and Mayumi would walk from Ohara to the Supermarket, unless it was raining where they would take a short taxi ride. At Besia they would go and find Megumi and the laughter would truly begin. Baba and Yuka would methodically shop and the kids went to the front to get ice cream.

Baba loved Isumi. The town was frozen in time. Farms dot the landscape and farmers markets are every few hundred meters. The port and its fishing fleet has not been upgraded since the 1970's but still caught a bounty of fish. 'Isumi Time' she called it. Weekends with Mayumi and Megumi in Isumi were the best.

After shopping, everyone piled into Yuka's k-van called "Sharky" that seats 5 comfortably but is so small you would store it in the back of a Toyota Sienna van. Literally a beer can with wheels.

Sharky made a left on hwy 126 and passed the Isumi River. The first right was a small country road that quickly dropped about 20' and then ran along the river. At the almost abandoned 4 story hotel Sharky would make a left as the road got smaller.

Megumi streaked, "there's Bob the Cat! And his brothers. Don't him 'em mom!"

The next right brought them to farms on both sides filled with cabbage. Over the flood protection channel and it's big red wheel they made a left and then a right down the finger street to Yuka's home.

It was 10am and the sun with bright. Just three hours before Mayumi was walking past fallen drunks in Roppongi and now she is about to go the beach with Megumi. A whole new world!

Immediately Meg and Mayu went to the puppies two doors down and got them tails a waggin'. The poor dogs were always tied up in the front of the house. Beige and about half the height of Mayu it was always hard for the girls to see the puppies jump and yelp but be held back by their chains.

Baba called them in to get a snack and help set away the groceries. They never bought too much at the stores so that job was easy. In all of Japan shopping is a daily, if not, intra daily affair. Small homes led to no practical food storage.

Megumi ran upstairs and changed into her swim suit and grabbed a towel as Mayumi did the same. Mayumi kept clothes and the kids were interchangeable. The home was filled with laughter and smiles with the four girls all together.

Meg knew where papa was and ordered Mayu to grab the fishing gear and get a move on it. As soon as Mayu hit the front door the two were running down the finger road while barking with the dogs as they went.

The morning sun was bright and the sky had fluffy white clouds. A they turned right on the country road they saw the what they called the Tottoro Lighthouse and then another right put the reflection of the lighthouse in the flooded rice paddies to their left.

"Come on!" begged Megumi as Mayu always stopped to see this view. Mayu would close her eyes and her imagination would superimpose Tokyo Tower as seen from the middle of Gaijin street. This helped Mayu project the Tottoro Lighthouse onto to the Tokyo Tower. Her imagination of seeing Isumi in Roppongi helped her survive the onslaught of sluts, pimps and hos.

"Hold your horses," screamed and smiled Mayu as she caught up to Meg.

The road turned to dirt at the last home just now being painted yellow by the owner up on scaffolding he put up himself. The road went to the berm and then both could see the ocean and the rusted railing at the water's edge.

Both kids waived their arms and yelled at papa who was fishing 100 meters away in front of the broken down bar. He grunted, waived and went back to fishing.

Meg and Mayu made their favorite right turn and walked to the end of civilization as the concrete walkway gave way to field of purple flowers. A carpet of magic fluffy colors the stretch 2km between the small inlet and the Pacific Ocean to the Isumi River break wall.

When Mayu doesn't see people she doesn't think of filth. Meg knows this and just like Mayu when she sees baba decompress from Tokyo, Meg gets to see this happen to Mayu. The joy of youth explodes for Mayu in Isumi especially when the beach is empty.

The sand is soft and dark from its volcanic origin. Meg and Mayu know the rules about how far they can be to the surf. So they generally hang along the path between the purple flowers nearest to the calm inlet. The inlet is a farm for baby eels that the locals farm literally from their back porches that extend just to the waters' edge opposite of where Meg and Mayu walk.

As long as the waves were tame the kids were allowed to walk out onto the Isumi River jetty. From the soft sand concrete extended 100 meters out to sea. All sorts of old bamboo was strung about across the jetty with the big pile right in the middle from the beach out.

The kids picked and poked their way thru the bamboo and walked the rest of way to the end. In the river surfer was Kenichi and his older brothers and their girls on jet skis. Meg pulled Mayu and excitedly screamed so loud that the surfers waved as both sat down to watch.

Two ducks sat just 6 meters away. Meg whispered, "hey Mayu, those ducks love each other!" As the ducks just stared at each other.

"Let's call them Ricky and Lucy," giggled Mayu.

"You got some splaininng to do,' sputtered Meg in trying to imitate Kathy doing an 'I Love Lucy' imitation.

Both of 'em bust out laughing as they watched Kenichi slice a wave. Meg told Mayu all about Ken and his dad's Jet Ski marina up the river. Like Meg, Ken has never been to Tokyo.

Meg knew it was time to head back for lunch so they waved goodbye to Ken who did not notice. After climbing back over the dead bamboo they jumped to the pile of sand pushed against the wall. Soft! And quickly they ran up the beach to home. They could just see papa has he made his right turn to home and his 6 meter fishing poles bobbing and weaving above. Papa did not have to look after the girls on this secluded beach.

The path back thru the flowers has a different feel, smell and touch. The mist of the ocean was clearly seen from the boulders on the cliffs to the abandoned bar. On the path back we always stop for a second and pretend we are boat captains while looking at a garbage filled boat sunk to the coast of the inlet.

"I'm Popeye the sailor" yelled Meg while Mayu motioned that she was rowing while sitting on the bank above the boat.

Just past the inlet was a different path home that yielded new friends for Meg to show off. The squawk of the Minoru the Pheasant was heard first and then Meg yelled to follow her faster.

The summer home was empty and weeds growing here and there. A 3-meter-tall Indian totem pole painted in many colors stood guard and always made Meg and Mayu hop and howl. A few more meters and they could see baba and Yuka on the front porch watching them come in.

"When does Kathy come?" Meg asked baba.

"What!," screamed Mayu. "I love Kathy!"

Baba, Yuka and Yuko worked it out so Kathy would come on Saturday afternoons and spend the night with the kids in Isumi. This allows Baba and Yuka some quiet time together. Even papa liked Kathy and 'Engrish' night.

Baba and Yuka dropped the kids off at Ohara station to meet Kathy. They wanted to walk home with Kathy to show her Meg's school and show her off to friends. The Token Gaijin is still a status symbol in Japan.

Kathy also taught Megumi and Mayu "Californian" English over the telephone.

"The surf was totally bitchin'," Megumi screams on the phone during the only English language phone calls. At least 10 minutes every day we had to speak English on the phone.

In the beginning, it was hard and we were both stubborn. But after a while we got into beating each other with new vocabulary. It was a daily language competition that Kathy would sometimes allow to go to slang and street talk. After the allotted time we often spoke in Japenglishese mixing English and Japanese slang.

As I think about it, Kathy did not allow us to use bad language so we'd resort to text messages on Line.

Now together the three girls giggled big time as the met at the train station. Meg and Mayu grabbed Kathy's hands on either side and marched to the exit at Ohara station.

I love writing this story. The locations are known to me so I can smell the environment as I get excited about what they are going to do next!

Right after the ticket wicket they went right to the little shared book library and returned two books and took two. Meg and Mayu explained to Kathy who just smiled from ear to ear upon landing at Ohara station for the first time.

Meg ran over to the ticket machine with big buttons that said two or three stations in Kanji each. She pointed to the 5th stop and said," there is nothing there. We will show you next time!" As the one-car diesel train painted bright yellow with anime Pok駑on characters all over it. Kathy pulled out her camera and snapped a picture and then the girls really hammed it up and posed for many shots.

Meg and Mayu decided to walk to the port and then to the hot bath spa at the Isumi River. Mom, papa and baba will meet them there to drive home after a soak and a snack.

Kathy asked the kids to stop, "ok, lets start using English directions otherwise I can't move." As Kathy did the robot and squeaked to a stop. Frozen. Meg and Mayu just loved it and marched their directions in English and the three cross the train tracks and headed east to the cross Hwy 126.

Along the way Meg said,"I can show you so many different ways to get to my house! Old ones, new ones and this one with fish processing places and the so much more." Of course, her English was not that good, so she was using sign language, English, Japanese and facial expressions. Kathy was just beyond amused.

The shopping street on the path is traditional and not seen in Tokyo often anymore. The two-story store-fronts are right in the street. Upstairs is a living space and downstairs is a wide variety of services and products. The Bike shop is a mess with wheels and frames just stacked. The cake / bakery is pink and cute. The barber shop has its pole and the taxi stand looks like it has been the same for hundreds of years, you could almost see the horses parked.

Every few feet is a temple, shrine or monument in Japan. The walk from Isumi station was the same and Meg knew them all. The first was the sake museum with its giant ball of rice stalks adorning a giant gate and wall at the entrance. I mean giant! Kathy snapped another picture with a big smile on her face. The girls pulled her along.

Highway 126 had a steady beat of traffic and the girls knew how to be safe. They often walked this by themselves, even where they were just 6. Kathy was along for the ride and always prodded for English with a, "This is a red light." And get the girls to repeat.

Once across they hurried along down the hill toward the Isumi port. As they walked the buildings got older and rattier.

"What are these?" Kathy asked the kids as she stopped in front a pile of pottery jars.

Meg giggled and said, "That is where Oscar the Octopus lives." And she got Mayumi to play along and the English names for animals showed its laughter for the first time to Kathy.

"The fishermen use these pots to catch octopus. They get all strung and sunk together. These are probably 50 years old," explained Meg. She knew so much about fishing because of papa. They fished every single day together and today would be no different. The octopus pots were quite large and a dark grey color. The form looks like wine casks. Really like octopus apartments.

The weeds grew to the edge of the pile as it bulged from street to the ancient wall of the home. This part of the port was deserted, but the bold framing of the buildings still stood tall.

The sky was all blue now and as they made the last left to the port Kenichi and his friends yelled out. Three boys on bikes wheeled up. This gave Kathy time to explore this old neighborhood as the kids just went volume up chat boxes.

Kathy picked up an octopus jar and made a few poses with it. The kids did not notice as selfie after selfie happened. On her head, looking into it. She really had fun time looking at this old fishing gear.

The kids were at corner and caught Kathy's eye so she took a final pic and watched them disappear as she approached.

A mythical thing happened in this sleepy Isumi fishing village. Kathy came face to face with a beer vending machine.

The Asahi Beer sign was faded but it still stood out against the dark brown wooden building that housed this relic of Japan's past. Kathy's old-timer friends in Tokyo always talked about the beer machine on every corner. And how their students would tell them of their youth getting beer for their papas.

The moment did stop time. Thought bubbles inside Kathy burped their way to the surface. That relentless march of time just stopped. The kids were chatting away and did not mind Kathy stopping.

Kathy walked up to inspect the beer machine. Her wry smile showed when she looked at the coin slot and saw it covered with yellowing scotch tape. That was ok. It seems to reinforce this images back in time location.

Directly to the left of the beer machine was empty lot with some rubble on it that looked way overdue to be cleaned up. The wood siding of the building was dark brown and led to a door that had not been opened in many years. The porch was surprisingly clean, like a local had kept it swept in homage to the beer machine.

Kathy was thirsty, but her job was the kids. She quickly caught up and enjoyed the kids chattering about "Pete the Pelican", a large old bird that hung out on the port's main street corner. Mayu and Meg kept speaking in English as best they could. Every time would elicit hoops and howls from Kenichi and his little brother Michiaki.

Pete the Pelican seems like a well dressed waiter at a local bar. Distinguished with a nice touch of grey. Everybody posed for Kathy and just then Pete flew away.

Meg had complete control for the young Michiaki. She would order him to do things with obvious authority. Michiaki loved the attention and was happy to comply.

Time was moving and Kathy knew that the team had to meet at the spa in 30 minutes. Kathy reminded Meg and Mayu by pointing to her watch. Everyone quickly went to a marching pace and made a left at the port to walk along the beach trails. It was a longer walk that Kathy thought. Right after the port was the main Isumi beach with a big arch announcing it as so.

The public showers were the last building and then 10 km of beach to the Isumi river and the location of the spa. At the last of the road was a rusted and burned out car with its tires melted off. It fit, but is a reminder of a great society gone bad.

To the left were 50 meters thick of pine trees, down the middle was a path covered with sand, a 5' tall wall meant to block the sand and then the beach. We walked on the wall as it was just a step up from the beach. It was about 18" wide so Kenichi and his buddies easily rode on their bikes ahead of us.

About a kilometer from the Isumi beach park the path just disappeared completely to sand. The boys marched their bikes to the sand and all followed to the harder sand close to the water. In the distance was the great cliff and lighthouse just behind Meg's home.

The kids ran ahead and Kathy could walk alone. The kids were far enough away that she only heard the gentle surf and the birds chirping about. All foreigners living in Japan have long stretches of time where logical conversations in their home language do not take place. At the beginning of life in Japan the amount of time alone is noticed. Kathy liked it. The sand was soft and the water warm.

Sporadic people would be seen over the next 30 minutes walking down the beach. Some surfers in between the many jetties and an occasional jogger. Kathy thought about the kids and how Meg was naming the animals with Mayu. It made creating English lessons easy.

Just as it disappeared when the walk began the walkway revealed itself from the sand about 1km from the river jetty. Walking on the sand that long made Kathy's legs a bit tired so it was a relief to stand on the paved block pathway. The kids were waiting just ahead in a park bench under columned Spanish Tile roof veranda. A signpost at the beginning of this walkway featured pictures of turtles in various stages of life, including burying eggs in the sand on this beach! Kathy was so excited. She looked down the beach and again was proud about Japan modern world mixing with nature.

"Meg, Meg," yelled Kathy while waiving her arms to come here. "Tell me about this sign!" she continued when Meg got closer.

"Turtle Beach," said Meg. In the past papa told me of grandpapa getting turtle eggs and cooking up omelets. Now this beach is protected."

Smooth sand and a vast view as Kathy looked back from the parking lot at the Isumi river. The kids walked to the exit and she followed. The parking lot was full with small cars with surfers in various stages of dress. The Isumi River inlet was a favored spot. Kathy loved it. The palm trees were the final glory to remind of California.

The inlet finished here also as the bridge led to a small row of beach houses. The home on the end was grown over in jungle with a rusty front gate half open. The rest of the places looked pretty cool and inviting. As we turned the corner a two-story 10 unit apartment lay fallow with for sale signs.

Kathy knew it was the jungle in Okinawa, but Isumi seems greener than anything she'd seen. The homes probably weren't abandoned, just a few weeks away and the grass is knee high.

Part of California was seen in the old skate park, empty and also overgrown. Kathy walked up to the fence and saw the empty bowls and almost instinctively looked for here skateboard. Mayumi and Megumi laughed when they say that.

"Skater girl!" screamed Mayumi with Megumi chiming in right behind.

Right next to the skate park was a 2-story hotel, spa and restaurant. Hotel Isumi. Nothing original in the name in this bubble built place, but the original uniforms worn by the counter team. A dark blue blouse and skirt. The gold buttons down the middle were only missing the accent of a blue bowl cap with gold trim.

It was 500 yen to use the bath. The kids went to the counter to receive the coupons already paid for by Baba and Yuka.

"Kathy, we go up the stairs," said Megumi grabbing her hands following Mayumi who was way ahead at the top the stairs.

As you go up the wide stairs posters from past events of glory held at this facility still hung proudly. To the left were a few rooms and the staff with carts cleaning them. To the right a hallway with a colorful red Japanese symbol for women at the end. As Kathy and the kids walk towards the baths she notices the beer machine and a room full of massage chairs.

Kathy ducked as she entered between the slit in the red banner. The kids did too! Even though there heads did not reach, they made an in-motion pause, bowed their heads and went in giggling.

They had a bath.

The steam is still coming off these girls as the meet Baba, Yuka and papa in the massage room. Papa is sitting in the middle massage chair with his eyes closed. Mayu and Meg hop on either side of them and demand coins from Baba! She happily complies. Papa shows a grin, but keeps his eyes "shut".

Yuka hands Kathy a cold beer and insists she take it. Kathy was so frickin' hot she just was so pleased to have a cold beer. Kathy was not used to the hot baths yet, but over the years in Japan she became a professional bather.

After a bit Kathy got into the massage chair with Baba and Yuka at her sides. Oh man, she just melted into the pulsating sides and rolling triggers of pleasure. The painting of almost naked fishermen on a boat pulling nets filled with fish was erotic. The beer and push of the massage chair was ・pleasant. But the art was true Japanese homo-erotic. Only the foreigner noticed it that way, for Isumi is home to the naked festival (hadaka matsuri) where locals plunge local shrine gods on their shoulders into the surf.

Yes, the locals dressed in loins cloths would meet at their local shrines the night before. Each shrine laden with alcohol and taiko drums. Late September everyear for hundreds of years the obsessed with partying with be there by the fires.

Oh gosh, this story can go anywhere from now but the massage chair stopped and Megumi and Mayumi grabbed Kathy for the walk home.

Baby, Yuka and papa got into the van and the kids went straight to the walkway along the Isumi River. Papa drove slow enough that the teams met at the Pacific Coast Highway 126. Kathy was relieved as she was getting tired as they all piled into the k-van for the rest of the ride home.

Based on nothing, but everything at the same time.
Where does Mayumi go next?
Why is Meg crying in the next chapter?
So many questions.

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Thanks!

Mayumi