The 2nd Episode : Left parents’ house for Osaka
[April, 1977 Osaka, Japan]
I came out to Osaka on 13th April, 1977 when I was 18 years and 24 days old leaving my parents’ house in a rural place in Hyogo prefecture. Because I luckily passed the entrance examination of a university to study English. 42 years have passed since then. I had no idea for future after the graduation from the university although I would major in English. Even more I didn’t intend to go to a university 6 months before high school graduation. Most of my friends said to go to a university, so I changed my mind to try anyway.
But still no idea what to major in unfortunately. And studying English or foreign language was left in the process of elimination. The classes in the university were boring. On the other hand I found out a new fun to play the drums with my rock band. And at the same time my interest in English got more, reading English books and speaking with foreign students.
The night school was my selection. Osaka University of Foreign Studies (now, merged to Osaka University to be Foreign Studies Devision) was a national university, so the tuition fees were low. JP¥48,000 a year. (approx. US$200 at that time exchange rate) My income by a part time job in a day time was enough for living. I worked for several companies and the last one, for which I worked for more than 2 years until my graduation, supposed me my future which way to go.
