I think pity is the emotion that the totally admirable Tsuha-san feels for me.

She is older than me, which means she grew up in immediate post war Okinawa. It is difficult to imagine what her childhood was like.

The civilian population in Okinawa was 300,000 pre war. 143,000 civilians were killed in 82 days of the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, another 107,000 Japanese military died and  12,000 US troops. All this took place in an area smaller than  London. After the battle 90% of buildings had been destroyed. All that was left was, “a vast field of mud, lead, decay and maggots”

Anyway, she is happy, never has a negative word and considers what is said to her carefully before forming a response. She and her husband come to my house every second Monday to clean it.

She cooks me food and brings it to my house as she believes that my pitiful attempts to feed myself will lead to premature death.

This morning she brought me an Okinawan salad of okra, tomato and shavings of dried tuna. The main course is goya champuru, a dish of goya, tofu, eggs and Spam. Of course there is rice.

Thank you

Remember Tsuha-san and her family in your prayers, please.