English.pd

Thoughts of Gratitude on
the 100 th Birthday
Of
Mrs. Kazue Yamada
22
by Ursula OKLE
On September 23rd, Mrs. Kazue YAMADA, or "Okusama" as we foreigners
call her, had her 100 th birthday. It was celebrated the day before with her family, and
we foreigners living in Kamakura were also invited. We try to visit Okusama as much
as we can in the Life-Commune Home in Kita-Kamakura, and we enjoy seeing her
every time.
Around 4 pm on September 22nd, Rainer and I picked up Okusama by car for
the first time since she began living in Kita-Kamakura; we brought her to her house
for the party. Along the way, she wondered where we were going and said, "We're not
going very far away, are we?" I think she was remembering that in former times we
quite often went out together for a drive in Rainer's car and had lunch with her at
different places. We told Okusama that we were going to her house, and when we
came close to the Hachiman Shrine she began showing us the way to the zendo.
Almost everybody was already there waiting for her. Her family was happy to see her
in good health. We went with her to the zendo and she offered incense at the altar.
It was a very nice party and everyone did their best to make Okusama happy.
Birthday cards and flowers were sent and also greetings from many foreign countries,
because she was the Japanese mother for many who now live all over the world.
Okusama and Koun Roshi had made their stay in Japan like “feeling at home”. In fact,
when I met Father Lassalle for the last time in Germany at the zendo in Dietfurt, he
said to me, “Please give my best regards to my mother in Japan." At that time he was
around 90 and I never will forget this. But also among the Japanese who came for