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Onomichi and me I love Onomichi - the town I grew up in. I used to say as a child " When I become famous, I am going to change my name to "Onomichi"ko and advertise my own town!" The grown ups just laughed to hear such a funny saying from a child. On the east side of Onomichi, there are many restaurants, clubs, and bars. The bright neon lights of red and yellow were blinking in an alley like a maze. I used to pass through the maze of neon lights to go to my art lessons. On the south side of Onomichi, there is a Jodo Temple. When look down to the harbor, which spreads from the precincts of the temple, there is a shipyard. There is always a big red ship and the smaller fishing boats are always around it. A mountain approaches the green sea of Onomichi. The houses are located in a line on the tired hillside. There are many old temples with big roof tiles which overlap each other. A sloped slender stone stairway runs between the houses and temples. There is a warm scent of Onomichi everywhere. As a child, I walked these cozy stone steps and alleyways. I used to look down at the sea from the temple that stood on the side of the mountain and I could also see the Train of the Sanyo Line. I used to try to imagine far off places I haven't been before. I went up and down these steps and alleyways a hundred times and drew my favorite town of Onomichi on a piece of large, white drawing paper. I drew Jodo Temple, Onomichi Water Ways, Senko Temple, Saikoku Temple - the faces of Onomichi had been drawn one after another. My feeling toward Onomichi and the pleasure of drawing grew stronger and stronger as I truly enjoyed drawing my favorite town. I haven't renamed myself as "Onomichi" ko yet. However, my loving feeling toward my Onomichi-town hasn't changed yet. I hope many people will visit this warm, cozy town and feel and will smell the warmth of my proud town, Onomichi. Ritsuko Sato

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Copyright 2002 Ritsuko Sato.