Japan is a revolving door when it comes to foreign residents. They come and they go. And when they go, most never come back.
My life — like everyone's I suppose — has been touched by a lineup of characters who once energized my daily routine. We worked together, laughed, argued, and became dear friends. Then hugged goodbye when they decided to depart these fair shores for what they assumed were fairer shores elsewhere.
And then they dropped from my life. And I from theirs.