Blue Samurai Blue

     Last Wednesday morning at 11:01 five weary English conversationalists arrived at the Manor and tiptoed out of size 5 and 6 shoes. In somber shades of gray and black, they assumed the self-assigned seats around the table: Chef-san  facing Traveler-san, two obaasan (grandmothers) facing each other, Composer-san opposite me. Four had gone to bed at 2 AM following the defeat of the Samurai Blue warriors at the World Cup in Pretoria. No more blue lights at Tokyo Tower in support of the home team, which reverted to everyday orange. No more throngs of fans gathering at large screens in nearby Roppongi Hills or Shibuya Crossing. No more words of praise from newly appointed Prime Minister Kan ("Yes We Kan") about the hard work of coach Okada.

     "It was not a good PK," explained the obaasan (grandma) of five, elaborating on how the final penalty kick went awry. "No one interviewed Komano-san after he fumbled the game for the Samurai Blues," said Chef-san looking distaught. "He was too upset." What is the English word for seriously bummed out because you lost the game for your team and let down your entire country? Devastated or crushed will do or, as the Brits would say, gutted. Mix that with a dose of guilt and enormous let down, but is there just one word? Rollercoaster ride? Suicidal? Obaasan offered up the word in nihongo for the fan who only watches soccer during the World Cup, a group to which she belongs.

    Feelings close to the surface, the generous English speakers presented me with an antique set of Japanned (lacquer) dishes, stacked on a tray, each painted with a delicate flower. A lengthy photo session captured the presentation and untying of the furoshiki (cloth cover), admiring the box decorated with cat stickers in honor of Suki-chan who had audited so many conversation sessions over the past two years. Time for the final chapter of A.A. Milne's classic, "Christopher Robin Gives Pooh a Party and We Say Good-Bye."  In September the group will continue speaking English at the home of lively Joy, who is appropriately named. We promise to keep in touch and, when Chef-san asked for a good-bye hug, the finality that hit Samurai Blue washed over us too.