ボーアタルジ 久子 Boa Tarde, Hisako！（Hello, Hisako！）

Prologue

On the morning of February 22nd, 1992, it was cold with a sprinkling of snow. 　　Tomi Yayoi (here in after 'I'), who was then an administrator at the dormitory for the female workers at a golf club at Gumma Prefecture, was expecting a group of workers from Brazil. The flight should have taken 24 hours but due to engine trouble the plane had been delayed for a night at Paris.

Fifteen people arrived at Narita airport with their cases and hand-baggage. At last, the motor coach which the golfclub had sent to collect them arrived at the dormitory. They got off the bus speaking excitedly in their own language as if they were at carnival and might start dancing at any moment. They were Japanese-Brazilian!

At the entrance to the dormitory, I had pasted a greeting, 'Muito Prazer! Boa Tarde' (How do you do! Hello). I knew no Portuguese at all but by consulting a Japanese-Portuguese dictionary had tried my best to show genuine hospitality.

At the dormitory the people from Brazil were delighted to have arrived safely in Japan and their animated conversation was a surprise to me. The women's dormitory was superb to Hisako. To the Brazilian it was unimaginably luxurious. She was overwhelmed by everything she saw. The rooms were for single use and were carpeted in red. Each room was air-conditioned and had its own shower and toilet, with a telephone to send or receive calls. The rooms could be locked to prevent outsiders from entering.

Outside the grounds of the dormitory were extensive with many trees planted there, especially paulownia trees. This deciduous tree which stands ten meters tall bears bunches of beautiful purplish flowers in summer. The wood is used Koto (a traditional Japanese instrument), Geta (Japanese foot wear) or the finest Japanese chests. Beneath the paulownia a 10-meter rope had been stretched on which a black Shibainu dog was running to and fro. The dog named Kuro was gentle and a popular mascot for the tired workers at the end of the day.

Hisako thought, it is my parents' home country. What a peaceful country! Isn't there any robbery? This type of lock may e easily opened in Brazil. Is this wide and fragile window safe enough with the single lock?

Many married caddies commuted from their homes. Young female caddies who aimed to become professional golf players and workers from Brazil aged 18 to 49 both lived in the newly built women's dormitory. Other residents were clubhouse workers, a cook, and waitresses from the restaurant at the golf club and, in the high season, the groups of caddies from the golf clubs at the local high schools and the Japanese Women's University.

My job as administrator at the dormitory involved especial responsibility for the management and welfare of the workers.

A good-natured cleaning lady who was commuting from Gumma City worked full-time to efficiently clean the spacious dormitory ― a wide training room, a meeting room, a dining room etc. She also looked after Kuro a great deal.

In such a way I came to know Mrs. Suzuki Hisako.

（End of Prologue）

Next title ：　Part Ⅰ 　The Son Suddenly Ended his 24 Years' Life： 1 Kazuo dies at work

This English version was translated by the Partner from original Japanese by Tomi Yayoi.