She may only be 16, but Juri Sugihara’s epic journey to Flin Flon was decades in the making.
The giggly Japanese girl is in town visiting Donna Williamson, the long-time Flin Flonner who has been penpals with Juri’s mother since they were both teenagers.
“She used to say that when she had children some day, she’d send them to me,” says the ever-bubbly Williamson.
Williamson, then 13, began corresponding with Akiko Ogawa, then 14, in 1977. Despite their many cultural differences, they forged a deep, lifelong friendship.
Williamson travelled to Japan in 2007 to meet Ogawa in person. At that time, Juri – pronounced “Julie” – was just nine years old.
But Williamson, herself a mother of four, never forgot Ogawa’s pledge to send her children to visit Flin Flon.
With Juri now approaching adulthood, both Williamson and Ogawa agreed the summer of 2014 made for good timing.
So Juri hopped a direct flight from Tokyo to Calgary, where Williamson picked her up on July 18. They then made the long drive back to Flin Flon.
For Juri, it’s been like stepping into a whole new universe. And though she has difficulty speaking English, she has fit right into the community.
Juri dove off rocks into the scenic waters of Bakers Narrows. She roasted hot dogs over a camp fire, marvelled at the Northern Lights and got soaked seadooing.
One of her favourite evenings came when she went to “the outside movie,” watching the latest Muppets film at the drive-in.
Juri has also fallen in love with the nature and spaciousness of Manitoba, a province that is 71 per cent larger than Japan with 100 times fewer people.
“Squirrel,” she says, when asked what animals she likes. One day, when Williamson woke her up to show her some cranes that had happened by, Juri asked, “Like the origami?”
Still, Juri has occasionally been homesick, especially missing the raw fish she regularly dines on back home.
“Our food is very sweet for her,” explains Williamson.
“Too sweet,” adds Juri, her dark marble eyes twinkling.
Flin Flon has been more than a new cultural experience for Juri. She was eager to immerse herself in the English language, which she hopes to one day teach – just like her mom.
Juri is scheduled to leave Flin Flon tomorrow, but it’s clear from the perpetual laughter between her and Williamson that neither lady will forget this trip any time soon.
Fortunately, this may not be the last time that Williamson welcomes a Japanese visitor. Waiting for Juri to come home is Ren, her 13-year-old brother.
