My Friend from Sendai

Zain Khoja

the story of Yuto Kuwagata, a close friend and Texas Rangers Fan

It’s been a while since I last saw Yuto. 182 days to be exact. So yes, my family and I miss him very much. On the first full week of August 2015, Yuto, along with several other Japanese students from the city of Sendai, embarked on a trip to the United States. For many of them, this was their first time leaving home, let alone their country, and thanks to the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort-Worth (JASDFW), these students were able to travel for little to no cost.

Yuto came with the same type of knowledge of our country as we have of his, but clearly two very different perspectives. He knew a lot about political structure, economy, landscape, and some history of the United States. He was shy at first, but as the week went by, he grew to be more talkative and comfortable with our family and the Texas culture. We asked Yuto for a checklist of things that were his first priority when it came to landmarks and tourist sites.

Immediately, he announced his love for the Texas Rangers. In Sendai, Yuto is part of a baseball team, but he had never been to a professional game of the MLB. So, on the Tuesday after his arrival, we all went to see a Rangers game and Yuto was exuberant! As we entered the enormous stadium, we both ran for the cart, where Yuto picked up his (now) favorite hat. The clap of the bats and dust flying in the air every time a baseball flew created a magical feeling we both just couldn’t get enough of. At the end of the game, Yuto couldn’t stand to leave the stadium, where he had just seen and felt his first baseball game.

Over the week, Yuto got to see some of the biggest landmarks in Dallas, including the Perot Museum, 6th Floor Museum, and Dealey Plaza; but we also took some time to chill out and get fro-yo.

And while Yuto learned a lot about how life goes in Dallas, we also learned from him. He taught us about Japanese cooking and the different dishes that Sendai specializes in. The cultural differences in behavior, respect for family, and daily activities became very apparent when Yuto woke up at 6:30 AM sharp and my brother was still in bed at 2 PM the same day. Yuto also had a strong economic sense and made sure every dollar his parents worked hard for was put to good use. Yuto’s presence also made me more aware of the valuable relationships in my life with my family and friends. The frequent displays of affection and gratitude towards his host parents influenced my personality and made me a more caring and self-aware human being.

There could not have been a more humbling experience that showed me how location affects a person’s perception of world. Yuto was clear about how luxurious the American life was compared to a lot of the hardships of Japanese life. When I inquired about the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami of 2011, Yuto didn’t hold back on describing the devastation. He was not personally affected, but many of his relatives and friends had their homes, businesses, and lives destroyed. Although I could never truly empathize with the tragedy that took place that year, I tried my best to sympathize.

There were so many differences in lifestyle, culture, and behavior that it was not until Yuto left that I realized that there were a countless number of similarities as well. We were both students, trying his best to achieve a goal in life, to be the best at what we love to do and make a lasting mark on the world. We were both teenagers, feeling independent and all adult-y but at the same time feeling like a child throwing a tantrum for TV and more candy. I was inspired by Yuto and a flame of curiosity blazes inside me every time a mention of Japan comes up.

Thank you Yuto, and I hope I can visit you soon!


Thanks for reading! If you liked this article, please tap or click that ♥. You can also check out my website ZainKho.com for my other stories and some of my work. This one is for you, Yuto.

~ZainKho



Similar Posts by The Author:

Leave a Reply