Page of Swords & The High Priestess, vol.17
Today, I'm going to tell you about one of the most sad but Awe-Inspiring days in my life.
We boarded a plane from "Narita International Airport" to "John F. Kennedy International Airport", and during the flight we discussed our future plans. I mean, seasonally it's going to be very cold in New York from now on, so I suggested we live together in San Francisco, where I was living at the time. As you know, San Francisco doesn't have much temperature change throughout the year. It was not too hot in summer and not too cold in winter, and Masato thought it would be better to move to the west coast to fight cancer. Or I thought it would be a good idea to move to Miami or Hawaii with him. He agreed to come to my home in San Francisco.
So, when we arrived in New York, we first secured a suite in "The St. Regis New York" and used it as a base to start preparing for our move. He was developing a Positive Spirit and seemed to be doing well, which does not look like a terminal cancer patient. That's why I agreed the day after we arrived when he told me he was going to his "Boogie Down Bronx" home alone to start organizing the move. I had a lot of things to do, such as negotiating with a moving company. He went out after eating breakfast. I'll talk more about this next time, but once we got to New York, we basically decided to adopt a plant-based diet. It's a cancer treatment, inspired by an episode about Roger in "The Gift of Life Prayers". So, he went out with a vegetable sandwich. I asked the hotel to make it specially.
When I came back in the evening, he had already returned. And he was sitting on the sofa, motionless. He was obviously acting strange, but I could see that it was probably not due to his physical condition. There were a great many books on the table in front of him. I witnessed him holding only one of those books tightly with both hands. It was a navy-blue paperback with "A COURSE IN MIRACLES COMBINED VOLUME" written in gold letters. He got "A Course In Miracles" somewhere and brought it back. I asked him.
What happened?
C. J. Raymond passed away. He was killed by gangsters.
He began to tell me what had happened. When Masato arrived at his apartment at "Boogie Down Bronx", he found a memo attached to the front door with scotch tape. Christopher Jeremy Raymond has passed away. It was the handwriting of his wife, Sandra. I mean, it was Sandra who put that memo on the front door of Masato's home. In other words, Sandra, who knew Masato had terminal cancer and attempted suicide by taking a lot of sleeping pills after hearing from her husband, did not email Masato about her husband's death so as not to shock him and seriously affect his treatment. Instead, she posted a memo on the door so that if he returned from Japan alive, he would know about her husband's death. After reading the memo, Masato hurried to C. J. Raymond's apartment. He was killed by gangsters the same day we left Honolulu for Lake Yamanakako.
There was a live performance of "SIZZLIN' HOT" that day, and C. J. Raymond came out of the live music club after the performance and was attacked by gangsters. The gangsters bludgeoned him to death after he was chased by gangsters who wanted to rob him of money, bass, effectors, and other equipment. The gangsters were immediately arrested by the NYPD.
Sandra was understandably angry, sad, and hopeless. She threw many words of doubt at Masato.
My husband is not a 2Pac! It's not Biggie Smalls! An African American was killed by African Americans. What does this mean? My husband listened to "One Nation Under a Groove" every day.
Where is that Nation?
In "Boogie Down Bronx", black kill black.
Masato, does yellow kill yellow in your Nation?
I replied that since there are not many different races/ethnicities living in Japan, it is usually the Japanese who kill the Japanese.
I see. Okay. Does yellow kill yellow in your Nation?
Your Nation is not good enough.
I hate Funk. "One Nation Under a Groove" sounds stupid! My husband grew up in Dayton, so he listened to Funk.
I'm not.
I grew up in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is no good either! But there was Philly Soul. Philly Soul is not like Funk. Gamble-Huff's song is romantic! I grew up listening to TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia).
I grew up listening to Mother Father Sister Brother, The O'Jays, The Ebonys and Philly Devotions.
I didn't grow up listening to P. FUNK scam bastards like George Clinton!
Gamble-Huff's music is different from the music of con artists like "One Nation Under a Groove," who spout off a fake utopian state to black people!
My husband's superstars are Larry Graham and William "Bootsy" Collins. William "Bootsy" Collins is one of those P. FUNK scam bastards!
Masato, you know that because you're a freaking Prince fan. Larry Graham is a Jehovah's Witness. He converted Prince to Jehovah's Witness. They did missionary work together. They ring the doorbell and say,. Would you mind listening to me?
Do they know where the Nation is where black people don't kill black people? You know where the Nation is where yellow doesn't kill yellow?
Masato, my husband said that Masato's Nation is a good Nation with peace and little violence. My husband said your Nation is a Nation with a highly developed spirituality. My husband always said,.
This is also Forgiveness.
This is also Forgiveness.
This is also Forgiveness.
If yellow kills yellow in your Nation, what's the use of Forgiveness?
This is also Forgiveness.
Christopher Jeremy Raymond, don't be silly.
I can't pardon the gangsta! The NYPD caught them.
You know that? The death penalty has died or been reinstated in this state.
I want to put them to death. Of course, right?
This is also Forgiveness.
This is also Forgiveness.
This is also Forgiveness.
What good is Forgiveness?
Sandra then went into a frenzy and came and threw at Masato one book after another on the exploration of "Spirituality" that C. J. Raymond was so passionate about reading.
I don't need these things!
This stuff is useless!
One of the books was "A Course In Miracles". So, Masato told Sandra, "If you don't want it, give it to me."
"Philadelphia Soul" is amazing! "It's Forever" by The Ebonys and "Stairway to Heaven" by The O'Jays are beautiful, and "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead is a great song to dance to!
But I also like Funk. I grew up listening to P. FUNK's "One Nation Under a Groove", "Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)" and "Flashlight". Needless to say, C. J. Raymond's hometown of Dayton, Ohio, is the funkiest Funk city. I love Funk bands from Dayton. C. J. Raymond chose "SIZZLIN' HOT" from his favorite SLAVE songs for his band and named it so! "SIZZLIN' HOT" appears on the 1980 album "Stone Jam." It's the fourth track on the A-side.
I love Roger Troutman's ZAPP the best, I love Rahni Harris' "DAYTON" which bears the very appropriate name for a Funk band from Dayton, and I love the LAKESIDE of that #1 song "Fantastic Voyage".
I also listen to other African American music. Listening to Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, James Brown and Aretha Franklin is the basic of the basics. Needless to say, I also listen to Charley Patton, Son House, Robert Petway, Little Walter and Othum Brown, Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, Huey 'Piano' Smith & his Clowns, Lonesome Sundown, Amos Milburn, Professor Longhair, THE SENSATIONAL NIGHTINGALES, The BELLS OF JOY, THE SPIRIT OF MEMPHIS QUARTET, The FAIRFIELD FOUR, Gene Chandler, Bobby "Blue" Bland, James Carr, Spencer Wiggins, Percy Milem, O. V. Wright, QUIET ELEGANCE, The 8th DAY, BARRINO BROTHERS, Steve Mancha, Darrell Banks, THE DELLS, THE DRAMATICS, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Four Tops and THE TEMPTATIONS. This is New York! Let's not forget Glenn Jones, Genobia Jeter, James D-Train Williams and Marc Sadane! We have to remember the importance of Brooklyn-born Kashif! I listen to 2Pac and Biggie Smalls without hesitation.
I came to "Boogie Down Bronx" because I was listening to the African American music that you and he love so much. Then I found Christopher Jeremy Raymond, the Funkiest of Funky bass players.
The Funk brought us together. He taught me all kinds of wisdom in an attempt to help me out of a serious trauma rooted in my childhood.
He took me to various spiritual workshops.
At the recent "TAO Shiatsu/Acupressure" workshop at "The New York Buddhist Church," I met a strange, wealthy Japanese lady named Yukiko Shimada. She discovered that I had terminal cancer, and she gave me all kinds of help that no one else could, and she let me go back to Japan.
In addition, she forced me into a church in Hawaii and forced me to become her husband.
C. J. Raymond is my best friend.
C. J. Raymond even introduced me to the lady who would become my wife and left this earth.
I will never forget his voice.
This is also Forgiveness.
This is also Forgiveness.
This is also Forgiveness.
I will never forget his voice saying, "This is also Forgiveness.", "This is also Forgiveness.", "This is also Forgiveness."
Please give me C. J.'s "A Course In Miracles" and I will learn more "Forgiveness".
Let me learn more "Forgiveness"!
He is one of my mentors in life!
Okay. Then take it all! I don't need it! I don't even want to see it!
So, he took a taxi back to "The St. Regis New York" with a bunch of books on exploring "Spirituality", including "A Course In Miracles". He said the sandwich was delicious. He came back and here he ate a sandwich.
Masato explained that much and then shut up. My heart ached so much, and I fell down on the spot because it was so hard and painful.
C. J. Raymond's above words are still ringing in my ears.
I wanted to say something to Masato that would cheer him up anyway. Perhaps the appropriate words are: This is also Forgiveness. It was obvious from the reason why he brought back "A Course In Miracles". We need to learn "Forgiveness" and he is absolutely trying to learn "Forgiveness". It is our Soul's Purpose and Destiny. So, without being told by me, Masato should have understood very well that we are in a phase where "Forgiveness" is needed. So, the appropriate words for us are "This is also Forgiveness". But I thought I shouldn't say that. I have spent only slightly more time with Masato than with Mr. Ohuchi and Janet. So I know Masato just a little bit more than those two. This is also Forgiveness. If Mr. Ohuchi and Janet had said these words to Masato, he would have accepted them, but I thought he might suffer if I said them. The two of them and I have different levels and magnitudes of "Spirituality", so "This is also Forgiveness" was not the word I could say at that time. Would he get angry? Would he wallow in grief? At that moment, I suddenly felt someone telling me to be silent.
Be silent.
Be silent until he finds the answer.
I heard no one's voice, but I had the feeling that someone was saying this to me. I followed that feeling. We were silent for a while. We both kept looking down. After a while, he kept looking down and muttered a few words.
Kore-mo-mata-Yurushi-nan-da-nee.
Masato muttered more. "Kore-mo-mata-Yurushi-nan-da-nee," Mr. Ohuchi said in Japanese, so I didn't notice that C. J. was always saying the same thing as Mr. Ohuchi.
This is also Forgiveness.
This is also Forgiveness.
This is also Forgiveness.
He always said that. Mr. Ohuchi said this many times, didn't he?
Kore-mo-mata-Yurushi-nan-da-nee.
Kore-mo-mata-Yurushi-nan-da-nee.
Kore-mo-mata-Yurushi-nan-da-nee.
"Kore-mo-mata-Yurushi-nan-da-nee" is the Japanese translation of "This is also Forgiveness". "Yurushi" corresponds to "Forgiveness".
I stood up waiting for his words. An irresistible feeling pushed me to stand behind him as he sat on the sofa. And I put my palms on his shoulders.
I touched his shoulders!
Of course, the "thought" that he might go into a frenzy from the horrors of trauma after being touched by me was about to occupy my mind at the speed of light. That "thought" had a super huge sound than the music of METALLICA or ANTHRAX or IRON MAIDEN or JUDAS PRIEST, and it went banging in my head. But I protested against the "thought" in my mind, sternly.
Shut up!
Now is not your time!
Then the "thought" went silent!
He was touched on both shoulders by me, but he was not afraid. And Masato began to talk quietly about his encounter with Christopher Jeremy Raymond, without refusing to let me touch him on both shoulders.
I came to New York, but it was already the Hip-Hop era. There were no Funk bands active. Well, that was to be expected. But I figured that if I went to a Jazz club, there would probably be at least one Jazz-Funk band playing, so, I went to the "Tiger Rag", a Jazz club.
I enjoyed the music until closing, then asked the waiter to let me talk to the owner. I asked the owner, Omar "Groovy" Hampton, to let me play drums.
He agreed over a glass of bourbon.
I started playing James Brown's hits from the 60s. These were songs like "Let Yourself Go," "Cold Sweat," "There Was A Time," "I Got The Feelin'," etc., all of which were played by a drummer named Clyde Stubblefield.
Clyde Stubblefield first worked with James Brown at a session in October 1966, and they made music together until about 1969.
I wanted to play drums like Clyde Stubblefield, so I listened to James Brown's records many times.
And I followed Japanese Soul and Japanese Blues bands such as South to South with Masaki Ueda, West Road Blues Band, and BREAKDOWN with Fusanosuke Kondo, and went to live music club "TAKUTAKU," "Jittoku," and "Kyoto University's Seibu Auditorium", where I caught up with musicians and was taught how to play the drums. I also asked many questions to Shuichi "Ponta" Murakami and Rikiya Higashihara of NANIWA EXPRESS.
Of course, I didn't have a drum set at home. I carried only a drumstick and a drum tuning key and practiced by beating my knees with my palm or a concrete block with a drumstick. I can't read music at all because I learned it by watching people play. My sister said something strange to me. Why can you play music if you can't read score? My sister doesn't understand that score didn't exist before music was born. LOL.
You know what I mean? It's JB style. You guys like it, right? Like Clyde Stubblefield, I play the drums. After I said that, I started hitting "Let Yourself Go". That day, C. J. Raymond, who had come to play bass and was a helper in the Jazz Funk band that was performing, added bass notes to my drumming.
He joined me, and the musicians that were there joined us to play the JB medley. That was really interesting.
At the end of the performance, Omar “Groovy” Hampton asked, "Do Japanese love Funk?." I had a tape of Hiromi GO's 1979 album "SUPER DRIVE" at the time, so I let him listen to it. The drum performance is by Steve Jordan. This is a 1979 album, so it's a lot quicker than him getting involved with The Rolling Stones. The Rolling Stones' "Dirty Work" is a 1986 album. Steve Jordan worked on Hiromi GO's "SUPER DRIVE" album long before he worked on Aretha Franklin's "Jumpin 'Jack Flash" recording.
Steve Jordan is a hero to New York Jazzmen, so everyone was surprised by the Japanese 'desire for authenticity.
In addition to being the owner of "Tiger Rag", Omar “Groovy” Hampton had an FM radio weekend music show called "We We It It Music". He showed interest in me and Hiromi GO. I was suggested to appear on "We We It It Music" and explain about Hiromi GO. I introduced "My Lady," "Feel Like Goin' Home," and maybe the three songs of Hiromi GO.
After the taping, Omar was in a good mood and took me to his favorite steakhouse for a thick, really good beefsteak cooked medium. He also asked us to introduce him to some interesting Japanese music next week.
OK! But I can't be in New York that long because I'm a tourist, and I don't have that much sound now because I'm a tourist. I don't live in New York ....
Okay, that's too bad ....
The next day, Omar consulted C. J. Raymond, a man of wisdom.
Is there any way to get this Japanese Funkateer Masato to get a working VISA?
He had a suggestion for Omar. I once returned to Japan and became a writer for "Rolling Stone" magazine on Omar's recommendation. I wrote reports and album reviews of lectures from Blues, Soul, R&B and Hip-Hop musicians in Japan. In between, I also wrote a report on Asian music for Omar and sent him some audio. Using the report and the sound source, Omar “Groovy” Hampton introduced Asian Rare Grooves in "We We It It Music". Two years later, I reentered the United States, retaining my position as a writer for "Rolling Stone" magazine. C. J. Raymond knew it would take two years to build a track record for the United States to welcome me in! In the meantime, Omar was all set to launch "Far East Rare Groove". Three months later, Omar “Groovy” Hampton quit “We We It It Music,” making way for young people and ending his career as a radio DJ.
After listening to that explanation, I wanted to ask Masato just one question. In other words, he hasn't worked on his studies since he graduated from junior high school. So, I wanted to know how he learned English. His purpose in coming to the United States in April 1992 was not to study in languages.
The reason for entering the country was whatever, whether it was sightseeing or something else. Anyway, I wanted to see a Nation called the United States of America. I thought that would give me an idea of where I should go in my career.
Masato Shiraishi is a very strange man. When we first met, I thought he was timid and obsequious, and I will tell you about that side of him in the future, but he is also incredibly optimistic and bold!
In the first place, he became familiar with American music after listening to "FEN (Far East Network)", which was run by the American military at the time, so he was used to English radio broadcasting. By the way, back when he was listening, it was called "FEN" and now it's called "AFN (American Forces Network)".
Now, on top of that, he was also doing extremely cheap crash courses in English conversation in other ways. His junior high school English teacher had a dream of becoming a diplomat. For this reason, when he was young, he approached foreigners on the street and begged them to become conversational partners to practice English conversation for a few minutes. Of course, his dream didn't come true, so he became Masato's junior high school English teacher. Masato listened to it in class, so after he graduated from junior high school, he imitated it and practiced English conversation without any particular future purpose.
Well, Masato Shiraishi, whenever he had time, practiced English conversation and drumming in an uncommon way! I was surprised. What a bold and incredible man of action he is!
Masato's explanation made me realize how important Christopher Jeremy Raymond was to him. Christopher Jeremy Raymond, whom Masato adored, left behind "A Course In Miracles" for Masato. It's not just "A Course In Miracles". Among the numerous books was Marianne Williamson's book "A Return to Love". Joan M. Gattuso's book "A Course in Love: A Self-Discovery Guide for Finding Your" was among them. Gerald G. Jampolsky's book "Forgiveness: The Greatest Healer of All", was among them. We later learned that these books were translated into Japanese by Hiroshi Ohuchi in Japan. And there was a lot of writing by James F. Twyman, the "Thomas Messages - The Psychic Children Speaks to the World - " author. He would have a great influence on Masato's later musical career.
Masato, who has always been touched on both shoulders by me, explained all of the wonderful stories that he and Christopher Jeremy Raymond nurtured. Although C. J. Raymond has a 9-year-old son and daughters aged 6 and 4 and is learning "Choir" style Gospel at "Abyssinian baptist Church", Masato also told me that his wife, Sandra, with three children, is probably struggling with the cost of living.
I said I would try to see her. I might be able to offer her a good job. Then I asked Masato. Hey, does Sandra really hate Funk?
No, she's happy to listen to Funk too. For example, there is a Funk band in Philadelphia called INSTANT FUNK. Sandra has their number one hit "I Got My Mind Made Up ( You Can Get It Girl )" on a 12" single. It was remixed by legendary club DJ Larry Levan and engineer Bob Blank. James Carmichael is quite a talented singer, just like a Philadelphia singer.
INSTANT FUNK made a big hit with "I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)" after transferring to the New York label "Salsoul". "Salsoul" originally had a lot to do with Philadelphia musicians, so it's only natural that they moved to "Salsoul". "Salsoul" was recorded at "Sigma Sound Studio", the studio that created most of Philly Soul's masterpieces. There's a local reason why Larry Levan, a DJ at the "Paradise Garage" disco on King Street in the Hudson Square neighborhood, is involved in the 12 inch version of "I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)."
"Salsoul" was discontinued in 1985, but revived in 1992. With its revival, "Salsoul", Sandra would sometimes participate in recordings as the backing chorus. She grew up in Choir's Gospel music and was the chorus of some of New York's greatest singers, including Meli'sa Morgan and Evelyn "Champagne" King. She met and married C. J. Raymond, who came to record as a session musician in the Salsoul recording studio.
After saying this, Masato pondered a bit and then apologized to me, saying that he wanted to stay with Sandra for a while to help her and that he didn't want to leave the city with C. J.'s traces for a while. I promised that I would find a wonderful place in New York where Masato could enjoy music and be filled with Joy, Peace, and a sense of Abundance. And sure enough, he ended up staying in New York. He ended up leaving "Boogie Down Bronx", but he ended up living in the Manhattan area with me.
Now, while I was putting my palms on his shoulders, I realized that I was getting a unique sensation like electricity running through my body. My body was hot, and I was aware of the sensation of something simmering, similar to the sensation of water boiling in the palm of my hand. "A Course In Miracles" is a very difficult book. We are repeatedly told by "A Course In Miracles" that bodies are not real. This is not easy to understand. On the other hand, I will also learn that healing occurs when the body is used for Holy Purposes. I mean, I was starting to discover my qualities, my mission as a healer.
Thank you for touching my shoulder. It was kind of nice and I felt very safe.
When he said that, he started to cry. His battle with cancer and his battle with sexual trauma began here, so on this day, he was not healed, but on this day, Masato felt comfortable with the sensation of the Vibrational Energy flowing from my palm and began to remember "Love." What a Love! This rapture of Love! I started dreaming of "a relationship in which mutual Forgiveness heals each other" between Masato Shiraishi. I was rapidly preparing to become a Reiki Healer.
Christopher Jeremy Raymond gave up his body. He passed away. In order to make us learn that Only Love is True and Only Love is Real, he gave up his body and presented Masato with his "A Course In Miracles".
©Mitsuhiro Toda@Screenwriter Group Aquariusera
