The song that led me home

Echoes that bloom beyond borders

Back in Japan, I settled in Hatsukaichi, on the outskirts of Hiroshima. Retirement brought something I had rarely enjoyed before: time to think.

Looking back, I've come to believe that Wuxi's appeal has never rested solely on its thriving economy. What truly distinguishes the city is its rich cultural heritage.

For many foreign companies, including ours, that cultural atmosphere mattered. Wuxi offered not only business opportunities but also an environment where people genuinely enjoyed living. Its history, traditions and quality of life made it an easy place to appreciate, whether you were an investor or a visitor.

Whenever I sit down with a drink and a good book, memories of Wuxi inevitably return: its lakes and hills, the friends I made there, and the kindness shown to foreign businesses by the local government.

Those memories have never faded.

After retiring, I joined a local choir in Hiroshima. To my surprise, almost everyone already knew Mushaku Ryojo.

Whenever we sing together, I feel transported back to Wuxi.

It reminds me that the friendship between ordinary people in China and Japan is something truly lasting. In the summer of 2025, a television crew from Wuxi traveled to Hiroshima to film a program featuring Wuxi cuisine in Japan. I brought them to our choir rehearsal.