Jess' Experience in Japan and Search for Fukue

Early Experience in Japan

• Age 9: Jess moved to Japan with family for a year (parents got English teaching jobs).
• Blonde Hair Curiosity: Japanese people were fascinated by Jess' blonde hair.
• School Experience: Faced challenges fitting in; only one person, Fukue, showed genuine interest in Jess.

Friendship with Fukue

• Bonding Activities:
  • Explored dirt roads and little shrines.
  • Caught frogs in rice paddies.
• Close Friendship: Fukue became Jess' best friend and surrogate family at school.
• Returning to Vancouver: Maintained pen pal communication initially, but it eventually stopped.

Worries About Fukue

• Jess' Concerns:
  • Wondered why the letters stopped.
  • Worried about potential bullying.
  • Scared something bad might have happened to Fukue.

Reconnecting with the Past

• Professional Musician: Jess' career led to thoughts of Japan and Fukue.
• Search Efforts:
  • Looked online but found no information.
  • Decided to return to Japan to find Fukue.

Revisiting Saku

• Changes in Saku:
  • From a small rural village to a regular city with 100,000 people.
• First Step: Visited the old school, meeting arranged with the principal.

Discoveries and Clues

• Living Situations:
  • Jess learned about Fukue's poverty and felt regret for leaving her.
• Yearbook Investigation: Found the name of Fukue's father and an address from 2000.

Intense Search

• Detective Work:
  • Went to the listed address, found the area changed.
  • Engaged with local press and city hall in hopes of finding leads.

The Reunion

• Finding Fukue:
  • Found a contact through a call.
  • Emotional return to Saku and reunion with Fukue was natural and heartwarming.
• Current Life:
  • Fukue has a steady job, a loving husband, and two kids.
  • Despite hardships, she has a wonderful life.

Lessons and Reflections

• Renewed Belief: Jess feels renewed faith in positive outcomes despite hardships.
• Ongoing Connection: Plans to stay in touch regularly as they did during childhood.