Talk:Kiyoshi Tanimoto

Rev Kiyoshi Tanimoto started a worldwide search for young people throughout the world to communucate with one another. in 1958 I answered an advert in an English newspaper and was later contacted by a young lady, Miss Mitsuko Kakimoto, who at the time was at school in Onomichi. We met in Manchester in 1967, and in April 1994, my wife, Gloria, and I visited Japan and met up with Mitsuko and her family. What a fantastic time we had, Kayotaka, Mitsuko's husband, Hideki eldest son, was staying at our home in England, Hiroki, second son, and Masako daughter. We travelled to Hiroshima to meet Mum and Dad. An interview took place in the newspaper offices, it is thought that we are the only 2 still corresponding after more than 50 years, and we were taken to meet Mrs Tanimoto and her Daughter. What an honour for Gloria and I, with Mitsuko to visit his home, and have tea with them. Since then we have visited on other occasions. Mitsuko and family have been to England. We have holidayed in Portugal, and had Masako to stay with us. All in all over 50 years of International Friendship all down to the dream of 1 man, Kiyoshi Tanimoto. I will always remember him, with fondness and bless the day I answered his advert, for giving me oppertunity to meet such a wonderful person now Mrs Mitsuko Komine. Arising from our friendship one of my daughters became a pen friend to a student from Mitsuko's English class, Hiromi. She to has visited us in England, and we her in Onomichi. My local Rotary Club, Walkden has twinned with a Rotary Club in Kanazawa, this too has resulted in exchange visits, and friendships formed between members of our 2 clubs. If you add the fact that I have done work, with Mitsuko, for the Media Studies Department of St Pauls University in Tokyo, and met Profesor Monna the Head of Department, it was a great day for me when I read Rev. Tanimoto's advert. William Shepherd

Little Hulton Manchester England