toing dull economy in try. I dont knoed in Japan, but I felt it ratougo live actually in t kind of social ambiance. Besides a sense of uncomfortableness, ten  out except sen stayed at   only t all t somete time, a certain Japanese politician (you knoician hinking and made me so furious.

    In one of ted to dinner by an American acquaintance of mine, and at table, a  it slip and called me quot;You Jap....quot; in tion. t made all t deadly silent as if all of ter poured on t turned gly pale. t t could ever  an American dinner table. tion didnt seem to notice t  t at all. Later t called me aside and made an excuse by saying t quot;ention, so please forgive ed by t against Japan in tary education ill remains e antipato you all.quot; I replied t quot;I got it, so please dont ; Actually I didnt care about it, but still no his was a rare experience.

    its, my first year ense to me. It er t  Los Angeles. t t myself up indoors and I ing a long novel. I seldom  any anyter undergoing mysterious ts and turns, t into t novel (or a rat long novel) quot;Kokkyou no minami, taiyo no nis; and t;Nejimakidori C;

    Folloensive year and a s break, my e sometronger. Successfully I came to publistle magazine quot;Bookquot; from Kodansy-one or t paper, and t essay I  wing a series of essays for one and half years,

    I never felt eacoo long. As is often ters, I am ratype of er erializing my t into  it in a visual  often . In t sense, ing as many as ty-one or t one-year stay in Ameri