Over decades of work, one meets all sorts of people.

 

More than 20 years ago, a client I worked with moved to Kannami, Shizuoka Prefecture. Kannami is known for its scenic beauty, warm climate, and pleasant living conditions, and I had the impression it was a place where relatively affluent people owned villas. Her name was Keiko.

 

Keiko was a charming lady, older than me, and a delight to talk with. Her two cats were Ponpon and Remy. Both were Western breeds with long fur, a milk-tea color, and darker chocolate points on their faces, paws, ears, and tails. Their eyes were a refreshing sky blue, and they were incredibly endearing. Each had a distinct personality, and Remy, in particular, was very fond of me. So, when she passed away, I cried buckets. I still remember Remy, buried in flowers.

 

Keiko and I had talked about having lunch together, beyond our professional relationship. Once, we happened to meet at a bakery cafe in a shopping complex above a JR station and shared a simple salad and bread lunch. I was in a hurry that day and we parted with the feeling that we hadn't talked enough.

 

Eventually, Keiko moved to live with her daughters in New York.

 

After seeing off her two cats, and likely due to her own advancing age, we began exchanging occasional emails. New Year's greetings, updates on daily life, stories about animals, and so on. I would also send New Year's cards with attached photos, and though we only exchanged emails a few times a year about our families and life in Japan, our correspondence continued for many years.

 

One day last year, Keiko suddenly visited my office. She was alone, without her family. She was already in her mid-80s, so I was quite surprised and also worried. We hadn't made any arrangements, so we could only talk for a few minutes before parting. At that time, she gave me a jar of very delicious red jam.

 

A year later. She visited again, this time with a gift. She apologized for not having the jam from last year, offering chocolates instead. She seemed noticeably more energetic and spirited than the previous year, which made me genuinely happy and, in a way, I felt encouraged by her. I was also deeply touched that she had brought chocolates all the way from New York, hand-carried across the ocean. These chocolates from New York had a mild, milky sweetness, and I enjoyed them immensely. Delighted, I posted about them on Instagram.

 

Today, I received an email from her. She wrote that her 21-year-old rescue dog, B-chan, had passed away. She mentioned that B-chan had been healthy until her 21st birthday. Even with modern veterinary medicine, a 21-year-old dog is rare. She also shared that a new rescue dog has joined the household to keep the remaining dog company. She also shared the happiness of choosing to live with dogs as part of her daily life.

 

I hope this friendship continues for a long time. She mentioned that New York is entering a season of beautiful fresh greenery. I felt as if I could sense the vibrant light green of the new leaves and the scent of the wind. It's a pleasure to receive such moments of mental leisure. And since she asked how things were in Tokyo, I am preparing to write a reply.

 

 

Akiko Shibauchi
Director of Akasaka Animal Hospital. After graduating from the College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, she worked in various positions, including the Laboratory of Clinical Pathology at the Nippon Veterinary and Zootechnical College. In 2016, she became the director of the hospital. As the third-generation director, following her father and mother, she promotes companion animal medicine and a practice centered on the Human-Animal Bond. Her specialties include internal medicine, general surgery, and regenerative medicine. She has also served as a former member of the Veterinary Affairs Council of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and as a part-time lecturer at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University. She is also dedicated to social contribution through veterinary medicine, including support for the coexistence of the elderly and animals, and animal therapy activities, with the lifelong theme of "creating a society where people and animals can live happily together."