前のエピソード――Part IV Return to Japan and Damage Suit : Letters (arrival of cargo, security of our house)

　1. Letters from Brazil (continued)

　Letter 2 (May 1994)

　I have received three letters from Tomi-san. I was relieved that the documents I have sent (Birth certificates, Marriage certificates and Resident Register of Altemar (Kazuo's registered name in Brazil) and Simone (his wife) which was requested by the Labor Standards Inspection Office) had been received by you. Thank you very much.

　You might think that you have become acquainted with a troublesome person, but I do not have anyone but you to rely on. Please help me a little longer.

　The other day an unexpected incident has happened and I am suffering from mental disorder. I attended a doctor and have almost recovered. My daughter Mayumi was robbed on her way from collage. When she stopped the car at the traffic signal a boy of around ten-year old pulled a knife on her throat saying give him all she had otherwise he would cut her head. She came home as white as a sheet. The watch that the head nurse of Nishiarai Hospital had given me was also taken. Every day is frightening to me.

　After the currency has changed to Real the robberies have become more frequent.

(End of quotation)

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【Introduction of new currency Real】

[ Brazil has started this policy to bring in inflation under control. New currency 1Real = 1 US Dollar : the ninth trial of its kind. ]

　In Brazil, which suffered from more than 40% of inflation monthly, a new currency was introduced on July 1 to suppress the inflation. Present currency has only been introduced last year (August 1993) but the currency has experienced record inflation of 4,800% in the last 12 months. At early September of 1993, US Dollar equaled 100 Cruzeiro Real, but on June 30, 1994, 1 US Dollar equaled 2,750 Cruzeiro Real.

　With the value of money decreasing by two percent each day, the unit of bank note kept swelling such as 1,000, 5,000, 10,000. It has made the early banknotes mere wastepaper.

　The introduction of new currency was the final stage of the 'Real Plan' which was announced at the end of last year as the financial stabilization policy. It aims at the radical reform of the reliability of the US dollar.

【Decision to return to Japan】

　Worker's compensation is yet to be paid. She must earn money to pay the family's expenses including Kazuo's for the time being. Japan began to suffer from depression around end of last year. She wondered if she could find the a job in Japan under such circumstance.

　Jiro and Mayumi tried to stop her from going to Japan. She began to doubt that the Japanese government would eventually pay the worker's compensation. She could not stay in Brazil when she thought of Kazuo's misfortune.

　The life in Brazil after she had returned was harder than ever. Jiro's costume rental business did not go well because of inflation. She sometimes felt defeated.

　She finally decided to go to Japan to confirm the worker's compensation, and to know the result of lawsuit. She appreciated the great support of the Brazilian ambassador Olando who said government could not leave the matter unexamined.

　She said to herself, "Once I am in Japan, I must work harder to earn money, but I do not know how long it will take.

(End of 1. )