Page of Swords & The High Priestess, vol.22
I returned to Manhattan before Masato. It was Saturday, June 10. My home in San Francisco was not going to sell for a little while longer, but I had finished disposing of my household goods, so I left the rest to the real estate agent and went home. I had a Max Mara coat, Hermès scarves and blankets, BALLANTYNE Cashmere, malo and JOHN SMEDLEY knitwear, Cartier TANK, PATEK PHILIPPE Aquanaut, and other timeless classics that will never go out of style, I brought them back to my home in Manhattan. I also brought home a light called “Lucellino” by “INGO MAURER". I like it because it looks like an angel with wings sprouting from the light bulb. I also brought home the “LC3” sofa by Le Corbusier I had planned to bring the LC3 to Manhattan from the beginning, so I left room for it. Most of the appliances were unnecessary. We already had all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry tools we needed for our daily lives, so I had a recycling company pick up almost everything. Angie Kendall and Rachel Hayashibara took some of the items back. It wasn't until much later that I became even more, much more, enthusiastic about cooking and started using things like the Aritsugu knives from Kyoto, which are still my favorites to this day.
The recycler that Angie referred me to was really excellent and suggested the best order in which I would consider whether I needed or did not need each of my belongings. I followed it. So, they were very easy to haul away. They took away the stuff I didn't need right away, so I had a lot of free space to work with. I was able to use that free space to move on to the next task without stress!
At first, I thought I wouldn't need this, but after thinking about it, I found several things that I thought might be useful for my new job. I changed my mind and brought them back. In that sense, I did not get rid of much stationery. I also brought back things that I thought would be useful for Sandra. I also brought back things that I thought she would look good in.
It didn't take me long to sort through them. I had a habit of cleaning out from time to time, being bold, daring, and throwing a lot of stuff out. So, my San Francisco home was well organized, and I had no trouble distinguishing what I needed from what I didn't need. On the other hand, handing over work materials to “Nu-Era Pics” was a bit of a pain. Rachel Hayashibara did a good job of it, but the reason was that I had not organized my own materials in anticipation of the day when I would leave “Nu-Era Pics”. Of course, many of the materials that were in my home were also in the company, but some, such as very early materials, had not been transferred from my home to the company. It took some time to determine if there was any problem with discarding them.
While in San Francisco, however, I did not concentrate exclusively on disposing of household goods, but visited Leland Stanford Junior University. I met and talked with several professors and Doctors of Philosophy in order to gain the knowledge necessary to establish and administer the “C. J. Raymond Memorial Music Education Scholarship Fund”. Since fostering entrepreneurs is Leland Stanford Jr. University's primary focus, they all listened attentively and offered sound advice. Each visit enhanced my list of people to meet when I return to New York. I also met frequently with Rodney Kendall, who taught me many things, including the legal status of the Foundation, the legal procedures for establishing and administering the Foundation, and the rights and obligations of the Foundation. In New York State, the "Not-for-Profit Corporation Law" was enacted in 1969 and has been in effect since 1970. Since we are setting up a non-profit foundation in New York State, we must proceed in accordance with this law. In California, the “California Nonprofit Corporation Law” was enacted in 1978 and has been in effect since 1980. Naturally, the acquisition of corporate status must be done in accordance with the laws that vary from state to state. Rodney Kendall is a member of the State Bar of California, but he is also familiar with the state laws of New York.
I had experience in starting my own business, and I had helped many entrepreneurs achieve IPOs, so I thought I was familiar with starting a business. But charitable organizations are different. When I started my own business, I was an innocent girl, so I had an easygoing attitude that if I failed, I could just start over. However, when it came to the “C. J. Raymond Memorial Music Education Scholarship Fund,” I was not that fearless girl. From the beginning, I felt I had a huge responsibility on my back as I prepared to start my own business. I was so eager to meet people and read materials that I felt like there was never enough time.
Not only that, but I suddenly had a huge increase in the number of visitors and had to eat at many restaurants day after day. Angie Kendall was a bit on the chatty side, and she told some of her big-money friends that I was getting ready to start a new foundation. Well, it was no secret. However, I suddenly had a lot of visitors. The house was already in a state of chaos because I was in the process of organizing our household goods. I couldn't entertain them in my home and had to have meals here and there, LOL. They all offered to donate.
In the past I donated to many charitable organizations. As I told you before, in the beginning it was to satisfy my EGO's needs. I wanted to be on top of others by giving more money than they gave, just for show. But after visiting with Melissa “Missy” Blanchard in Albuquerque and learning about the "Law of Attraction", I began to give less and less based on that idea. I became more careful about what the money I donated was being used for. So, I was very pleased when my friends who came to see me listened attentively to the projects of the “C. J. Raymond Memorial Music Education Scholarship Fund”.
Those activities cheered me up. I certainly didn't seem to be the type to stay home all the time cooking meals, and I was excited about starting another business and couldn't sit still. However, I have one partner. I had to return to New York where Sandra was.
Incidentally, while I was in San Francisco, Sandra was taking computer classes. Of course, she had the computer skills to type e-mails, browse the Internet, and do other useful things in her daily life, but not to the level needed for business. Sure, the “C. J. Raymond Memorial Music Education Scholarship Fund” is a charity, but it could and should have been her financial foundation. In that regard, as many skills, if not more, were required of her as any business. At that point, I felt that I had to first groom her to be the best fundraiser she could be, and only after she had gained enough experience would I pass on the chair of the board. In 2013, indeed, that is exactly what happened.
As one might expect, she was finding it difficult to learn the skills. From San Francisco I called her frequently, listened to her concerns, and sent her encouraging e-mails. However, nothing is more effective than actually meeting and talking. When I returned to New York, I frequently invited her and her children to my home. To make Sandra feel less nervous, I sometimes invited some of her fellow singers and former members of SIZZLIN' HOT to come over for dinner. Surprisingly, they were happy to eat the vegetarian menu! But what about her children? I was worried that her kids might not want to eat my veggie dishes, but they ate the veggie burgers and vegetable curries with great relish! Of course, I made an effort. I made various efforts. In Japanese Buddhism, there is a vegetarian menu for ascetic practices called “Shojin Ryori.” Among them, there are “Modoki Ryori,” dishes that resemble meat or fish in appearance and texture. I came up with my own style of "Modoki Ryori". Thinking about it is one of the pleasures that continues to this day. Veggie burgers with alternative meats are a bit of a craze at the moment, and many veganism-promoting ventures are launching meat alternatives. I have been prototyping alternative meats at home, not in a factory! I have been doing so since before the boom arrived!
So, I was very lucky that I didn't have to rush to “McDonald's” or “BURGER KING” or “KFC” or “TACO BELL” to get something for Sandra's kids, LOL. They are learning Gospel at “Abyssinian baptist Church” and they sang Gospel songs like “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”, “Amazing Grace”, “God Will Take Care Of You” and “In The Upper Room” in front of me! They sang Gospel songs for me! It was like watching a little Whitney Houston or Mahalia Jackson. Yes, even I knew about Mahalia Jackson, as expected. Because she sang in Douglas Sirk's 1959 posthumous film, Imitation of Life. She sings “Trouble Of The World” in the funeral scene near the end!
So that Masato could truly enjoy practicing drums and other percussion instruments, I found a wonderful soundproof property where the music does not leak outside. So, when they sang, I was truly grateful for this heaven-sent gift of our home.
During this period, Sandra and I had many conversations. I answered her questions about my experiences, of course, but in general I was the listener. I had to know more and more about her and her husband in order to make the "C. J. Raymond Memorial Music Education Scholarship Fund" meaningful. It was a good time to develop friendships. Music helped a lot. I borrowed Masato's records and CDs and listened to them with Sandra. The day I listened to her stories of her childhood, we listened to Philadelphia Soul together. We would listen to “Sunshine” and “Stairway to Heaven” by THE O'JAYS or “It's Forever” by THE EBONYS and cry with her. The day she told me about her memories of C. J. Raymond, we listened to songs by Funk bands like the OHIO PLAYERS and ZAPP from Dayton. We also listened together to “I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)” by INSTANT FUNK, which Masato explained Sandra loved. Sandra sang along to all the songs. In fact, as Masato said, Sandra loves Funk too!
Of course, I had informed Masato of all this by letter. I let him know all of this so that he could concentrate on his Alchemy Crystal Bowl practice with peace of mind. As I said, he was very concerned about Sandra and her children's lives. So, he was very blessed that the idea of establishing the “C. J. Raymond Memorial Music Education Scholarship Fund” came to me. But there was something else he wrote in his letter with even more passion. He wrote back in the manner of a music fanatic. Masato listed the songs of the Philly Soul chorus group and wrote to me asking me to play those records for Sandra. The list included “Look On The Good Side” by THE INVITATIONS, “Don't Take Your Sweet Lovin' Away” by GHETTO CHILDREN, and “You Better Be Certain” by THE FUTURES. Some of these were 45 rpm single records and were very, very, very hard to find. He has too, too, too many 45 rpm single records, LOL.
Or, give Sandra a listen to CRÈME D'COCOA's “Nasty Street,” an album from 1979 that sounds so alive and so close to Philly Soul in its heyday. "Doin' The Dog“ and ‘Doggin’ It” will have her dancing with excitement. Slow numbers like “Baby, Please Don't Go” and “I Don't Ever (Wanna Love Nobody But You)” are great, too.
It was relatively easy to find CRÈME D'COCOA's album “Nasty Street,” LOL. Certainly she and her kids were excited to hear it! We danced while listening to a record that belonged to Masato. And while we were doing that, Masato Shiraishi came back to NYC. It was August 8. He looked like Jesus Christ with long hair and a beard, LOL. Or would it be more accurate to say that he looked like Fumio Miyashita or Kitarō, as Ambient Musician? That's natural, isn't it? He hadn't had a haircut or shave since April 22! And since then, sometimes without a beard, sometimes with it extended, he has continued to maintain his essentially long-haired style to the present day.
First and foremost, Masato looked very healthy and robust. I was surprised to see how strong he was, like a man who works hard and sweats a lot. It takes a lot of courage just to drive a Toyota "HIACE" with the “SIZZLIN' HOT” logo painted on its yellow body and sleep in the car for 60 days on a round trip, so I think it was natural that I got the impression that he had become robust from him.
By the way, at dinner that night when he returned, he explained to us about the "Sweat Lodge". "Sweat Lodge" is a hut used by Native Americans for ceremonies to purify themselves with herbal steam and restore their health by sweating. Although its use is probably more “Spiritual” in meaning, the mechanism itself, in other words, is a sauna.
This is originally a sauna where one takes off all of one's clothes and enters. Masato was invited by Chuck “Lakota” Wray to join the "Sweat Lodge" before he left Sedona. He, of course, went in completely naked at the time! He recounted it with glee! He and Chuck “Lakota” Wray went into the “Sweat Lodge” completely naked and worked up a good sweat! He told me the story with great joy and happiness. Of course, he must have taken “Men's Baths” in Japanese-style public bathhouses several times in his life. In fact, at the Hotel Mt. Fuji, he went to take an open-air bath with a view of Mt. Fuji. But basically, he did not like to be seen naked, either by men or women. As I have said, he was afraid of being touched and seen naked. So, I was really surprised. And then I had dinner with him and I thought to myself.
Uh, have you healed from your sexual trauma?
Perhaps you would like to make love to me tonight?
I ate nervously. We really hadn't done much in the way of touching each other until that day. I can count on my fingers! We slept in one bedroom, but in separate beds. I think he made a great effort to sleep in the bedroom with me. I think there were many nights when he was afraid of me. He was so afraid of being seen naked himself that he seemed to believe that others should be afraid of being seen naked too. Once, when we had just started living together, I started to dress myself in the bedroom, thinking he had already fallen asleep. He was not fully asleep, and he raised himself out of bed, unaware that I was changing. At that moment I was completely naked in the upper half of my body. At that moment he apologized over and over again, unbelievably.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm really, really sorry.
I wanted to tell him. It's okay. I am your wife and you can look at my nudity. I won't be offended if you touch me. But I wasn't sure if that was the right thing to say, so I ran out of the bedroom. After that I stopped changing my clothes in the bedroom. It was the first time for both of us to live with someone of the opposite sex who was not a member of our family, and I made a lot of mistakes. I once forgot to lock the bathroom door and he opened the door. He apologized to me for that too. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. At that time, he liked apologizing too much!
Oh, finally, tonight we make love and be united as one!
No, I was not. It was not that I was excited with anticipation. Rather, I was scared. As it turned out, we didn't that night. It would be a little while before we did. We had passed through many experiences of mutual "Forgiveness" and we were able to have intercourse for the first time. It was truly what I would call a Miracle! I mean, he had been sexually traumatized, but somewhere along the way I had also been afraid of intercourse. It needed to be healed. What I was afraid of was hurting him. I thought my behavior during sex might hurt him. This is a typical thought that inhibits healing from happening, but I just couldn't shake off the thought that I might hurt him. Much time was needed.
He was certainly afraid of being seen naked or touched, but on the other hand, I know he was not without a desire to have sex with me. I once told you that during his cancer convalescence, he listened most to Indian Classical Music, while occasionally listening to sweet, romantic ballads by a Soul chorus group. It wasn't a chorus group, but once while I was cooking he was listening to "Slow Motion," an album by Gerald Alston, formerly of THE MANHATTANS.
There was a moment when it was clear to me that he was looking at my butt. I could feel his eyes on me. I sensed that he wanted to have sex with me. It was at that moment that my body became, rather, hard. I felt very strongly that if I had sex with him now, I might rather hurt him. And he sensed it. It was much later, when we began to enjoy our evening make love, that I confirmed to him what had happened. Did you think at that time that you wanted to have sex with me? He remembered that time very well. And he honestly admitted that he wanted to have sex with me very much at that time. I will tell you about those things another time.
By the way, that night he asked me to discuss our relationship. In other words, we were married in a church on Oahu, but legally we were strangers. We were both Japanese and had to register our marriage with the local government office according to the “Family Law” of the Japanese Civil Code, but we had not done so. We were in what is known as a “Naien-Kankei.” Masato asked me to discuss whether or not we would continue our marriage.
I was willing to do so, which is why we decided to dispose of my home in San Francisco. And he knew that. So, I did not expect Masato to ask me to discuss the continuation of our marriage. I asked him frankly.
I'm afraid to ask, but I have to. Don't you like being with me?
Masato's reply was this.
I want to repay you for all you have done for me, and that is why I went to Sedona to practice Crystal Bowls. That's why I want to live with you. I want to live with you and give back to you in different situations. But with me, you won't have the experience of having a child. What do you think about that?
I certainly enjoyed spending time with Sandra's children, and I did feel that it might be nice to have my own children. However, I wasn't thinking of leaving him, and I didn't force him into a church on Oahu because I wanted children. Well, much more than that, it is a very strange motive! As you know, the purpose of my marriage to him was to obtain a position that would allow me to be with him wherever he went and keep him tied to me so that he would not commit suicide. I wanted to live with him. I frankly told him how I felt. He suggested that we not go through legal marriage. He put it this way.
.
If you fall in love with another man and want to have children with him, you can always leave me. No, you bought this house. So, I'll leave. So if that happens, be sure to tell me. I'll figure out how to thank you for all the gifts you've given me when it actually happens.
I understood his words as an expression of kindness, but felt a little sad. But I agreed to his proposal. I then presented him with the gift I had bought for him. I had bought a wedding ring while he was away. Of course, I could have waited for the day he bought it and gave it to me, but, well, common sense, such as a man giving a woman a ring, was not very important to me. I wanted him to wear the same ring I did. I looked at HARRY WINSTON, BVLGARI, BOUCHERON, etc., but in the end, since we live in New York, I bought the ring at Tiffany & Co.
I bought the least expensive “Wedding Bands”. I knew very well that he was continually strained by my purchases, so I tried not to buy him a ring that was too expensive. However, every girl loves “Wedding Bands” by “Tiffany & Co! I am one of the girls, so of course I like “Wedding Bands”! After our discussion, we exchanged rings. Of course, he took my hand and put the “Wedding Bands” on the ring finger of my left hand. So, he was always afraid of being touched, but still, at that moment, he allowed me to touch his hand. I think that may have been the day we really began to move forward as husband and wife.
The next day, Karsh Kale came to our home to visit Masato. The book “Drumming at the Edge of Magic: A Journey into the Spirit of Percussion” by Mickey Hart, which he had given Masato as a gift, had inspired Masato to spend 40 days in Sedona practicing Alchemy Crystal Bowls. So, it was only natural that Karsh Kale would want to hear from Masato. He came to our home with an Indian-American DJ who calls himself BAAZ. "BAAZ" is the English word for "Hawk". An Indian film director named Guru Dutt made a film called “Baaz” in 1953, and the Japanese title is “Taka” which means “Hawk”. Karsh Kale and DJ BAAZ listened to Masato with great interest. He explained that as he continued to practice, he began to feel less and less like he was playing the Alchemy Crystal Bowls. Since the Alchemy Crystal Bowls is a percussion instrument in nature, it is basically struck with mallets. Or the edges are rubbed with mallets. In other words, it is the same way of playing as the Singing Bowls, one of the Dharma tools used in Tibetan temples. Masato experienced a moment when the sensation of playing the Alchemy Crystal Bowls faded and eventually disappeared! He explained to them that he had become one with the “Overtones” played by the Alchemy Crystal Bowls. However, it seemed very difficult to explain the sensation in words.
My own senses melted into the “Overtones.” But I can't explain what that means. I've never had that feeling when I play the drums. When I play the drums, I'm thinking about the future, maybe just a little bit further into the future, and yet I see myself striving to be able to support the whole band at that time. When it's just one person playing the Alchemy Crystal Bowls, there's nothing but “Overtones” and I don't have to think about the future just a little bit further into the future. I don't even realize that I no longer have that need.
When Masato explained this to him, DJ BAAZ suggested to Masato that he perform at his own Club event at Frederick's Space Monkey in Queens the following weekend. He wanted to play music that dropped to a slower BPM. He thought that today's people, who are exhausted by constant competition and struggle to survive, would be better off swaying lightly to slow music than dancing hard to relieve stress. "BPM" stands for "beats-per-minute". So, Masato began to explain to DJ BAAZ the idea of using Alchemy Crystal Bowls in “Ambient Music” as a form of Club culture. They hit it off immediately. In fact, Karsh Kale brought DJ BAAZ to our home because he had already noticed the similarities in the direction they were heading.
Of course, I invited Aki Sugihara and we went together to the Club event held at Frederick's Space Monkey on Saturday night, August 19.
As you may have forgotten, “August 19” was the day Masato and I met. The year before, on August 19, I had touched his back and discovered that he had esophageal cancer, LOL. What an experience to live in Manhattan a year later, to go out to a Club in Queens and have my Heart tremble to the Overtones of the Alchemy Crystal Bowls he played! It's no surprise, but I never imagined such a thing back then. Karsh Kale was there as well as Jermaine Hwang. After Jermaine Hwang became a personality, “Far East Rare Groove” again invited Karsh Kale as a guest from time to time. As when Masato was the personality, he presented updates on Asian musicians active in Club culture as discussed in the context of the “Asian Massive” movement. Thus, a year later with friends who were complete strangers to me a year ago, I watched my husband proudly! It was the first time I had ever watched him perform in public. It was an evening where I could not help but marvel at the wondrous unfolding of life.
By the way, between Masato's return and this day's Club event, a big change had come to my “C. J. Raymond Memorial Music Education Scholarship Fund” project.
I had just returned to Manhattan to once again attend the "Forgiveness Prayer Group" at Mystic Merlin. It was a Saturday afternoon, August 12. Do you remember Manuela Elefanntini, an Italian-American woman who had a Reiki healing performed by Mystic Merlin the first day I attended? Manuela's grandfather Mario was a Sartoria in Sardinia. "Sartoria” means tailor. One night, while returning home from dinner with friends, he was killed by a robber, leaving Mario's wife Teresa to raise their sons, Vittorio and Tullio, alone. Vittorio is Manuela's father. To help the family out of their dire straits, he apprenticed himself to Domenico Sabatini of Sartoria, who had worked with his father, Mario, even though he was young, and taught him all the techniques of tailoring. Later his younger brother Tullio also became an apprentice of Domenico Sabatini.
During a difficult period of the war, their work declined dramatically, but they worked hard to maintain and improve their skills, daily asking neighbors to let them measure their body measurements, create patterns, and practice hand sewing. After the war, After Vittorio and Tullio had acquired first-class skills as Sartoria, Domenico Sabatini died of illness, and Vittorio emigrated to the United States. This was in 1949. A friend of Vittorio's named Antonio Massaro, who had moved to Crewe in central England and was working at the "Chester Barrie" factory, told him that American executives, including lawyers, doctors, and political and business leaders, had developed a preference for natural shoulder suits that were different from Saville Row suits. It is the suit that they “Sartoria” are best known for!
Meanwhile, Tullio Elefanntini and his mother, Teresa, remained in Sardinia, where he took a job at the local "CASTANGIA" factory, where he was responsible for the production of the wonderful suits. "CASTANGIA" is the world's oldest sartoria factory brand with both history and strength, founded in Cagliari, Sardinia, in 1850.
Vittorio Elefanntini came to Manhattan to make suit patterns for New Yorkers, cutting fabric with scissors, hand sewing, and ironing one pound of ironing. Eventually, Vittorio met and married a woman named Stella. Thus was born Manuela Elefanntini, their daughter. It was 1951.
Vittorio and Tullio lost their father, but Domenico Sabatini lavished his love on them and gave them all the high skills they needed to live as “Sartoria”. And they have been able to live close to their late father by making suits. The joy of making suits is always connected to the memory of their father and their mentor. Had it not been for educational opportunities, Manuela's father may never have recovered from the shock of having his father killed. But PTSD, Manuela tells me, has cast a dark shadow over his life.
I think Sandra is now working on learning computer skills in a positive way, driven by a strong sense of mission. But she will probably have very strong emotional lapses from time to time, and you need to be prepared to be there for her at those times, Yukiko. I think you can do it, but it's hard when you're alone. Even with your husband, it's hard.
Manuela said something that surprised me. Hey, you should add me to the group. Actually, Manuela Elefanntini studied at the “NYU School of Social Work”. It is now the “New York University Silver School of Social Work”. She is interested in poverty, inequality, and the mental health of children and adolescents, and has spent her entire career involved in social work, including serving on the board of a foundation that operates a food assistance fund for children from single-parent families in need. Fortunately, she was taking a pause in her life at that time to study "A Course In Miracles". She had grown up watching her father struggle and had a strong compassion for children who had lost a parent, and had intended to pursue a new career in that field, but felt that learning the Holy Spirit's Gift of “Forgiveness” was important for her next career move, so she joined the "Forgiveness Prayer Group" and was learning! She believed that the constant “use and be used, dominate and be dominated” way people live is the root of human suffering. She had felt from an early age, watching her father, that the practice of “Forgiveness” was essential to ending that suffering. However, she did not know how to learn it systematically.
One day, Manuela Elefanntini was walking through a bookstore toward a section devoted to books on social welfare. Suddenly, the paperback edition of “A COURSE IN MIRACLES COMBINED VOLUME” fell from the bookshelf in front of her! She picked it up. Looking at the title, she thought it was a religious book, but it was in the section devoted to criminal psychology. She wanted to put “A Course In Miracles” back on the shelf, but didn't know where to put it. At that moment, she heard a voice telling her to open the book and read it! Manuela obeyed the voice and opened the book and read the first few pages. She was convinced that she had to buy it and read it, LOL.
Now her compassion poured out to Sandra's family. She was not the only one who wanted to help, as others in Mystic Merlin's Forgiveness Prayer Group came forward and some of their acquaintances wanted to join my project. Several of them were experts in mental health for victims of crime. They later helped Sandra. Frankly, the fact that my name was already known to some extent also worked in a positive way. Word spread faster than expected that Yukiko Shimada was going to start a charity. Thus, preparations were made to establish the foundation.
Now, back to my husband's topic for a moment. DJ BAAZ really liked Masato's Alchemy Crystal Bowls performance on August 19. So, he asked Masato to participate in the recording. It was on August 20, 2002 that Karsh Kale released a compilation album called “Asian Massive: A Six Degrees Collection” featuring numbers by himself, MIDIval PunditZ, DJ Cheb I Sabbah, and others. DJ BAAZ was in the process of making a similar compilation album, “Are you ready to flow?" Masato was called in for DJ BAAZ's own song “Amplifying Vibrational Energy” on the album. Thus, he was going into the studio to record a song for the first time. In other words, both he and I suddenly became very busy. Masato had said he would help start the “C. J. Raymond Memorial Music Education Scholarship Fund,” but he didn't have time for that anymore. Of course, he would later work for the project in many ways, but anyway, he could not be involved in the launch.
Thus, the number of visitors to our home increased rapidly. Sandra and her children, of course, came frequently. Of course, Manuela Elefanntini was also a frequent visitor to our home. As she did during Masato's recuperation, Aki came to visit and answer my and Masato's questions about “A Course In Mircles”. In return, she would eat a meal I had prepared at our home and leave. She also sometimes brought her friends from “MAHA YOGI ASHRAM NYC” such as James “Ānanda” McNally. And of course, Karsh Kale, DJ BAAZ, and Jermaine Hwang came to visit Masato. Masato continued to learn Tabla from Karsh Kale, and when Jermaine Hwang arrived, the two of them were selecting songs to be played at "Far East Rare Groove". I was also going out more often to meet with good people who would come to me wanting to donate. I was still working from home, but I knew that in a little while I would need to set up an office.
Masato has been appearing more and more at DJ BAAZ's Club events, and while both he and I have been busy like that, Friday, October 6 arrived. On that day, the compilation album “Are you ready to flow?” produced by DJ BAAZ was released. "Amplifying Vibrational Energy featuring Masato Shiraishi” was well received by New York Club DJs! Jermaine Hwang invited DJ BAAZ and Masato to “Far East Rare Groove". The week after the show aired, it became clear to listeners that the show was well received. DJ BAAZ was in a very good mood. So, he said to Masato.
Hey, Masato. Let's make your first album! Don't you think it's a good idea? I'll produce it.
Karsh Kale and DJ BAAZ were at our home, eating my vegetable curry, listening intently to Masato's new musical ideas, showing off their ideas as well, and having fun creating a theoretical framework. In fact, DJ BAAZ was ready to produce Masato Shiraishi's debut album even before “Amplifying Vibrational Energy featuring Masato Shiraishi” was recorded, mixed down, and sold. Thus my husband Masato Shiraishi began work on his first album, “Harmonics - Reconnect to the River of Life -".
Continued story :
©Mitsuhiro Toda@Screenwriter Group Aquariusera
