Mike is met at Izumi station by Yukiti (Kutaro's nephew), his wife Kane, and Sumie Michi (Yukiti's sister).
View of the city of Izumi from the top of a hotel. The city lies between the coast and some mountains.
Sumie's house has the orange roof on the right side of the picture. Yukiti's is the house on the right of it.
An old house right next to Yukiti's, similar to the house that Kutaro was born in.
Another old house next door.
Just a few hundred yards from Yukiti's house is this service station, which was built over the site of the family burial plot. The remains were moved to a mausaleum behind the service station.
This is Yukiti's new house, completed in 1984. He had it built with income from his retirement pension. Fr. James Nishimuta standing in front. He was my personal guide and translator.
The sign on the right is an advertisement for Yukiti's part-time legal consultation business.
The far side of the house, showing the dining room and kitchen, and upper bedroom.
Interior of the main room. The massive tree trunks outline the end of the room where the shrine and family mementos are kept.
The room adjacent to the main living area was used as a temporary bedroom for Jim and I. The photo and medals above are of Yukiti.
This shows the intricate wood carving which separates the rooms.
The green robe I'm wearing is a very old Samurai ceremonial robe, with the Tateno crest (Mon). It is made from wool with gold thread detail.
This is the family armor, made for someone much smaller than I. It is very old and coming apart.
This picture shows photographs of Yukiti's two brothers, Tatsuo and Mitsuo, who were killed in war, and Yukiti's parents.
Sumi Michi, Kane, Tazuko, Tomoyasu, and Shoko.
Mike, Hiroyuki, and Nobuhiko admiring the feast that was prepared for us.
Lots and lots of beautifully prepared food.
From left, Sumi, Kane, Keiko, Shoko, Tomoyasu in lap of Kazunori, Yukiti, Fr James. Standing from left Ichiko, Tazuko, Ritsuko, Hiroyuki holding Nobuhiko.
Adults from left: Ritsuko, Hiroyuki, Ichiko, Michi. Children: Yukari and Nobuhiko. Four generations.
The white book on the table contains the history of the Samurai in this region. In it is a reference to Manzaemon Tateno in the 1600's.
After dinner, eating boiled beans, drinking beer, and talking family history.
Ritsuko and a tired Yukari.
Yukiti maintains the family history, records, and mementos since he is the oldest son.
Without anyone in it, the armor looks like a midget.
Mike holding one of the family swords. They have several.
This photograph was published in the local newspaper with a story.
This is the mausoleum where the ancestral remains are kept. Each family has a cabinet.
This is a gravestone for the Madarame family, erected in 1985. It has the Madarame family crest or "mon" on it.
Fr. Jim pointing to the line that says "Kiemon Madarame" on it. Kiemon was Kutaro's half-brother who was very close to him.
At the city museum, looking at other armor from the 17th and 18th century. The more powerful warriors had large horns to make them more frightful.
Left from back: Ichiko, James, Sumie (in front), Mike, Jungi, Kazunori, Yumiko, Yukiti, Kane. In front: Shoko, Naomomi, Yasuhiro, Tomoyasu being held.
Kazunori and Yumiko, Yukiti's two youngest. Yumiko is one month younger than Mike.
This is Hime's house in the country, outside Minamata. Hime was born in 1912, and is the daughter of Sue, Kutaro's sister.
This is an area near Minamata.
This is an area near Minamata.
Hime's daughters Fumiko and Noriko with Mike and Jim.
Leaving Izumi on the train.
Tomoko is the daughter of Hime. Her husband is Atsushi, and children are Asako and Tetsuhiko. In Fukuoka.
Taken from the train as we travelled from Izumi to Fukuoka, looking west at the bay on the west coast of Kyushu.
The oldest Tateno and the youngest