Etsuko Yasunaga

The gift of giving

14/11/2024

Etsuko Yasunaga has fun looking for the ideal present for
someone she doesn’t even know.

By Etsuko Yasunaga

I HAVE many kind-hearted friends. Amongst those, Shaz is one of those people with the biggest heart of all. She is generous and it’s her nature to help others in need or who are less fortunate. Shaz has a friend Brooke who works in an aged care facility. As the festive season approaches Brooke organises gift giving for the residents. When Brooke started including additional aged care facilities and needed more presents, Shaz said she would use her network to help.

Shaz quickly creates a post explaining about this Secret Santa project and asks for volunteers on her Facebook profile. It’s truly amazing to see how quickly people respond, and within a day or so 50 volunteer positions are filled. It’s really heart-warming to see so many people willing to help out this great cause.

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Travelling north

12/9/2024

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A winter escape brings new experiences and some unanswered questions.

By Etsuko Yasunaga

ONE of my favourite times on our caravan travel is early in the morning. Still lying in the bed, not quite awake, I start to hear various birds’ songs. When we move to a new location, I won’t know what sort of bird call wakes me up until the following morning. Melodious butcher bird songs were delightful in Port Stephens and Mullumbimby, and the distinctive duet crack calls of the eastern whip bird entertained us on the Barrington River. Kookaburras often woke us up very early in the morning.

During our ten weeks travelling, we stayed at various places – commercial caravan parks, farm stays, pub free camps and low cost camps. The most expensive place wasn’t necessarily the best or most enjoyable. In fact the opposite was true. Our favourite places were often low cost (sometimes free), peaceful, quiet and surrounded by nature. Sometimes you find those places by chance, too.

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Stepping up

14/5/2024

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The Wonthaggi Road Runners celebrate the return of the Grand Ridge Rail Trail parkrun, after February’s devastating storm. Photos: Rob Kenyon

By Etsuko Yasunaga

COVID 19 robbed people of so many plans and opportunities in 2020 and beyond. For me, parkrun every Saturday was as certain as the sunrise, and I couldn’t imagine my life without it. After my 50th parkrun in May 2019, the date was set for my 100th as well as 25th volunteer celebrations. I was also looking forward to attending parkrun in Japan on our upcoming Japan trip.

I clearly remember writing those three goals on a tiny whiteboard as New Year resolutions at the Grand Ridge Rail Trail parkrun in Mirboo North at the end of January 2020. My name was put down on their volunteer roster as a Run Director in April. I was so looking forward to stepping up to this important volunteer role. It didn’t happen. The ever-present parkrun suddenly stopped.

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A splash of joy

22/2/2024

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Our mortality reminds us to cherish each special day.

By Etsuko Yasunaga

“HOW many summers do you have left? Not just ordinary ones but really good summers?” If someone asks you, what is your answer? The answer for most of us is: we don’t know. However here is what we all know: we don’t have infinite time. Our breaths are numbered. If I stay healthy and active, and remain free from terminal illnesses, maybe I have 20 or 25.

I continue to enjoy my daily swim most days in the ocean. The water is still warm and I only wear bathers now. Early days when I took up swimming, I chose the middle of the day or the afternoon when the sun was shining. I only managed 100 metres which took a long time to complete. As I became more comfortable in the water I doubled the distance to 200 then soon increased to 300 metres. My accumulated monthly swim distance is over 10,000 metres for six months since September last year. Nowadays I prefer a morning swim, the earlier the better. The daily swim has become such an important ritual for me that I feel my day can’t start without the splash of pure joy.

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Coming adrift

16/11/2023

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From the warm turquoise waters of Port Stephens to the cold grey waters of Inverloch, every swim
is a fresh adventure for Etsuko Yasunaga.

By Etsuko Yasunaga

STREAK: something that is done over a period of time without a break. That is the definition of the word by the Cambridge dictionary. The most common example that comes to my mind is a running streak. The official definition of it, as adopted by the Streak Runners International Inc., is to run at least one mile within each calendar day. As soon as you miss a day, the streak is broken and you have to start from day one again if you wish to continue. Running streaks are generally self-imposed and progress is tracked by the individual. The benefits are numerous, including increased motivation and sense of purpose, and forming a consistent routine and a good habit. The downside is that a running streak may force you to run when your body should not be running. Although a single mile is manageable for most runners, it may increase the likelihood of injury or burnout.

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The last goodbye

21/9/2023

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By Etsuko Yasunaga

January 2008
My plane finally landed in Nagasaki. Instead of my dad, my uncle was waiting for me at the airport. I got my suitcase hurriedly and walked to him. We exchanged brief greetings then walked straight to the car park. It was not a normal home coming. My uncle drove me straight to the hospital. There was not much time left. We arrived and took the lift to the floor where my dad’s room was. Everyone was there. My mum, my sister, my aunty and another uncle sat around dad’s bed, just waiting.

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Homecoming

19/7/2023

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Etsuko Yasunaga experiences the joy of reunion with loved ones and completes a special pilgrimage.

By Etsuko Yasunaga

FOR THE first time in six years I landed in Japan at the end of May. Our previously planned Japan trip was in May 2020, exactly three years ago but Covid stopped that happening. The one before that was in the cherry blossom season in April 2017. My mother and sister made an effort to come to see us in Tokyo. In retrospect I was glad we caught up then, even briefly. Ever since I moved to Australia I continued to return to see my family every two to three years. I want to see them frequently but it’s a tolerable absence. Not seeing my family for six years was way too long. When I landed at Narita airport I felt almost giddy with relief.

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One step at a time

18/5/2023

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Some magical days the mind clears and Etsuko Yasunaga
feels like she could run forever.

By Etsuko Yasunaga

THE weather was ideal. The horrendous north wind that had pushed up the temperature the previous day was gone. On Sunday March 19, the early morning air was absolutely still. “The perfect weather for running,” I thought. After a light breakfast I walked to The Glade in Inverloch, the starting place of The Run Bass Coast, part of an inaugural SBR Weekend organised by Elite Energy Events.

I saw many of my running friends were already gathering in the dark. I felt a touch of nervousness in my stomach. To tame my pre-race apprehension I chatted with Adam, Derek and a few others who were running the marathon. I may be biased but runners are really nice people who just want to enjoy a sense of well-being, health and vitality out in the open air.

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Once upon a time in Inverloch

25/1/2023

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Etsuko and Stathi are reunited almost a year after their adventure.

By Etsuko Yasunaga

TUESDAY March 15 2022. It was the day the red helicopter landed at the Area 40, a place locally known as Pensioners Point in Inverloch. Another black chopper landed at the oval around the same time. Fortunately those two choppers weren’t here for a medical emergency, and the spectacle provided much excitement and entertainment for locals and tourists.

I had walked nearly seven kilometres that morning when I bumped into Anne and her beautiful labrador Wally at the Surf Club. When she asked if I would like to extend my walk with her and Wally, I nearly declined since I was ready to go home. Then in a fleeting second, a little voice whispered “What if…?” I may stumble upon something intriguing if I say yes. If I don’t take the chance I will never know what could’ve been. Thus three of us started walking merrily towards Flat Rocks. We could have gone to the other direction but somehow we didn’t. Something grand was guiding us for a big surprise on our regular beach walk.

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Going with the flow

20/10/2022

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On the road again, Etsuko Yasunaga enjoys unexpected encounters and a moving reminder of this fragile, precious life.

By Etsuko Yasunaga

AFTER two long years of hiatus due to Covid, we finally hit the road with our caravan in late June. Although we enjoyed many short caravan trips in Victoria in 2021, I felt we were out of practice. I thought the best way to get back into caravan travelling was to go with the flow.Unlike other years we had no set itinerary, plan or destinations. The main focus was to escape the cold winter in Victoria and enjoy the sunshine in relaxed and simple caravan living for a couple of months. We upgraded our camper to a pop top caravan in April. With some trepidation we headed north again in search of the warmth and a carefree nomadic life.

We were heading from Lake Cargelligo to Cobar following Google maps. About half way in, we were stuck on the dirt road, couldn’t drive forward any more because the water was running on the road. It had rained heavily the day before and the edges of the road were too loose and slippery to turn around.

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Let there be delight

16/6/2022

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Photo: Rob Kenyon

By Etsuko Yasunaga

IT WAS a very cold night at the end of May. The concert took place at Meeniyan Town Hall. The Australian Youth Orchestra Momentum Ensemble was performing ‘Belonging’, conducted by Ariel Zuckermann. It was a 70-minute music performance through a series of short atmospheric works inspired by landscape. The Momentum Ensemble is a group of dynamic orchestral performers, all graduates of the Australian Youth Orchestra. I saw an ad and asked Robert to join me. Since we moved to Inverloch in 2013 we have tended to grab any opportunity to listen to a live performance. This was one of those spontaneous decisions we made, and we are so glad we attended this outstanding performance by young musicians who are future leaders of the music world.

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The space between

21/4/2022

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Watching a great modern film in her mother tongue, Etsuko Yasunaga
revels in familiar words - and in silence.

By Etsuko Yasunaga

RECENTLY I had an opportunity to sit quietly in the cinema and watch a lengthy Japanese movie. The three-hour masterpiece Drive My Car was the first Japanese film to be nominated for best picture in the 94-year history of the Oscars. It was also nominated for best director, best adapted screenplay, and best international film.

Initially I was a little hesitant. Viewing a daunting three-hour long movie when I’m usually out exercising seemed an extravagant use of time. Was it worth spending my time on a precious Sunday morning?

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Time and motion

24/2/2022

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Etsuko: fear of deep water gives way to the
exhilaration of gliding over sparkling water.

By Etsuko Yasunaga

DAILY walks provide me with plenty of opportunities – time to think and reflect, feel the change of the weather and the season and notice a subtle difference in the air. I’m often delighted with stumbling upon koalas, echidnas and kangaroos on my path. I’m usually alone but sometimes I walk with a friend for a catch up. Another friend’s dog occasionally accompanies our walk, too. At times, I listen to music or a podcast and consolidate choreography learning for my gym class.

While running bestows on me focused energy to move forward to either the final destination or intended distance, the energy is more expansive when I walk. I often let my mind drift and observe what pops up in my mind with curiosity but without judging. Those thoughts sometimes surprise me and a tiny seed for my writing is often planted during my walks. I have more time to look up the sky, talk to a stranger or take pictures if I fancy.

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Dreams take flight

16/12/2021

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Eastern curlews migrate from the northern hemisphere to Western Port. Photo: David Adam

By Etsuko Yasunaga

IT WAS June, around the winter solstice. Like so many things that happened in the last two years, I can’t exactly recall which phases of the lockdowns we were in at that time. Regional Victoria may have had relative freedom but our annual holiday to the Far North wasn’t going to happen yet again. I was walking alone on the beach under the cloudy sky. The air on my face was bitterly cold. I strode against the headwind with my head down, as if I needed more hardship to prove my resilience. Then I caught a swift movement in my peripheral vision. I looked up the sky, and here it was – a migratory bird of some sort. It wasn’t a big bird but her flight was strong. I could sense the determination of this little creature to reach her destination somewhere far away. Suddenly the image of me flying away as a bird was conjured in my mind, and the theme of my first French poem was set firmly.

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A stitch in time

4/11/2021

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An afternoon spent hand sewing transports Etsuko Yasunaga
to her childhood.

By Etsuko Yasunaga

I DISLIKE waste of any kind - food, things, precious resources and time, mine and other people’s. In our household any leftover food is reused for lunch or repurposed into a different meal by adding extra ingredients. I compost all food scraps for gardening. I strive to be punctual so that I don’t waste others’ time.

In recent years, textile and clothing waste has become a huge problem across the globe. Those excess clothes can take decades to break down in landfill if they are thrown away as rubbish. Even when they are sent overseas as second hand clothes, the sheer volume of them is choking those developing countries.

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We have lift off!

9/9/2021

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Photo: Pauline Wilkinson

By Etsuko Yasunaga

IT WAS a warm summer day in January. The doom and gloom of 2020 lockdowns were behind us, and we were somehow optimistic, enjoying the return of the normality of life. A good friend Peter from Melbourne visited and stayed with us for a couple of days for a long-awaited reunion.

One morning a lady with a little bundle in her hands greeted us, walking through our carport and the side of the house then on to our back garden. She was a volunteer from the wildlife rescue in Tarwin Lower, and she was carrying a young magpie called Maggie. Apparently Maggie was found injured at the top of our street a few weeks ago. A few of the air sacs in her lung were damaged; hence her respiratory system was badly affected.

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A light bulb moment

17/6/2021

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Cartoon by Natasha Williams-Novak

By Etsuko Yasunaga

WE WERE warned. This storm would be one of the most severe and damaging ones in the recent years. I saw many flood and gust damage warnings issued around Gippsland on the forecast a few days prior. I thought I’d better squeeze in a few more kilometres on my bike and walking before the storm hit, otherwise I may not be able to exercise for a while. I was resigned to a few quiet days with a good book at home.

Luckily the predicted heavy rainfall didn’t eventuate in Inverloch on Wednesday. I managed to exercise in between the showers, and it was invigorating to go out in the wild weather. However the horrendous wind got to me in the end. I don’t like wind. Harrowing wind unsettles and disturbs me. I feel my mind can’t focus adequately. It gets agitated easily and goes wild like a fallen leaf trembling.

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Lost and found

7/4/2021

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By Etsuko Yasunaga

I USUALLY walk to and from my French class in the town centre. Heavy rain was forecast on the day. I also slept in. A return trip from my house to the café by foot is around 6 km. There was no choice but to drive to be on time for the start of the class. After the class I drove to the rotunda, and decided to head east to one of my favourite walks in Inverloch: Screw Creek-Townsend Bluff Estuary Walk.

In spite of the heavy rain warning, the sky hadn’t opened by mid-morning. The walk was exceptionally calm and pleasant in the moist and humid air. How many times have I walked this path since I moved to Inverloch? I have lost count.

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The best of company

11/2/2021

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After our year of hibernation, Etsuko Yasunaga savours the special pleasure of sharing an experience with good friends.

By Etsuko Yasunaga

DURING January we enjoyed our friends’ visits from Melbourne. Especially after the year we had, it was high time to appreciate good company. We rejoiced with each opportunity to rekindle and deepen our friendships. Summer was at its height and the sea breeze was gentle on our skins. After months of lockdowns, particularly for Melbournians, finally our spirits were free to explore and take on new adventures.

Pip told me she was visiting Inverloch for a weekend in early January. She had a catch up dinner with her school friends as well as meetings with her clients. She could easily have stayed with one of her friends but texted me asking whether it was ok for her to stay with us on Saturday night. I was delighted. It had been a long time since we caught up properly. Nowadays there is less opportunity for me to visit Melbourne simply because I’m reluctant to be in the big smoke. I rang her back straight away to say ‘Yes’ and we planned to spend time together on Sunday morning.

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Flying high

12/11/2020

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Close encounters ... the injured swallow

By Etsuko Yasunaga

I WAS only few hundred metres from home on my daily walk. Two birds flew across my eyes swiftly. It felt like an arrow. They were so fast, but I managed to identify that a wattle bird was chasing an eastern rosella. I was in awe of their speed and admiring their nimble flying ability.

Next second I heard a heavy thud. The eastern rosella hit the wall of a house and with a dull sound fell to the ground near the rainwater tank. It didn’t move for a good few minutes. It was hard to tell from the distance but one of its wings seemed damaged.

Satisfied with the chase, the wattle bird was long gone, had flown away from the scene. Here I was hopelessly left alone with the possibly injured bird, with no clue what to do to save this tiny creature. One thing was clear. I couldn’t keep on walking as if I hadn’t witnessed anything. I had to do something, but I didn’t know what. I felt an urge at least to tell someone to offload my laden chest. Witnessing the fallen bird was simply too weighty for me to carry. Luckily Rob was home, working on our front garden so I returned home to tell him what I had just witnessed. I realised I was quite upset when I was telling him about the poor bird.

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A spring in her step

17/9/2020

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Etsuko Yasunaga: "Never question when you are intrigued about something. Follow your intuition ..."

By Etsuko Yasunaga

OUR camper stayed under cover for most of this winter. We had a few short trips in between lockdowns, but our annual winter escape journey to the north didn’t happen. The only way I could travel was virtually. When I joined Run Down Under in January this year, little did I know this unique concept would keep me going during challenging times. Each month RDU provided monthly competitions to keep us motivated. August was the Points Challenge.

I was intrigued when I saw the promotion material for this challenge. First of all, the visual image of a lean athlete pushing herself powerfully forward with a big stride caught my eyes. It symbolised her intention, focus and purpose. It captured the beauty of strength so elegantly. I decided I would become an elite athlete on my own terms.

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Second time round

2/7/2020

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Etsuko, aged 1

By Etsuko Yasunaga

MAY is my birthday month. I like the month of May both in Japan and Australia. In Japan after the spectacular array of delicate pink cherry blossoms that seems to engross the entire nation, May is the season of fresh verdure. The sunshine is brighter and the wind is refreshing and pleasant in late spring. Here in Australia autumn deepens in May and we witness how beautifully leaves grow old, still full of colours on their last days, then they eventually decay. I adore the crisp air in the morning and the glorious sunny afternoons when I can spend many hours immersed in my garden.

It was a culturally significant birthday for me this year. Turning 60 years old is called kanreki in Japan. The characters in the word kanreki literally mean ‘return’ and ‘calendar’. The passage of each of the five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water – combined with each of 12 zodiac animal sign years makes up the sexagenary cycle. The cycle of life returns to its beginning in 60 years in the lunar calendar.

I was born in 1960, the year of the metal rat, and the full 60-year cycle has come full circle this year in 2020. The 61st birthday (60th on a Western calendar) marks the beginning of an individual's second childhood. It is an important event for many Japanese families, often celebrated with a special family gathering. Traditionally, friends and relatives are invited for a large party or a celebratory feast. It is customary for the celebrant to be given a red hood and to wear a red vest. The colour of these clothes is associated with a Japanese word aka-chan, simply a little red one for babies, and thus symbolises the celebrant's return to one’s birth*.

7-5-3 Festival. Etsuko, aged three

For my birthday this year I toyed with the idea of a large gathering with my life-long friends with a few entertainments thrown in or an intimate dinner party with a small number of dearest friends. In the end the pull of the motherland was strong; I decided to celebrate my special birthday with Robert, my mum and sister in Japan. When we booked and purchased our tickets in early February coronavirus was already affecting China. I trekked across Nepal when SARS hit the world in 2003, so I was confident that we could still travel to Japan. I’d never imagined the COVID-19 situation would unfold in the way it did. Travelling home to Japan was only a 10-hour flight before. Now I feel Japan is so far away.

I was pleased to find out that mum wasn’t inconsolable as I expected, but was quite philosophical about the whole situation. She was certainly very disappointed that we couldn’t visit them in May to celebrate my birthday together, but she made her resolve to stay well and healthy until we could meet again. I regularly contact her via LINE, a communications app popular in Japan. She is often cheerful and her voice is usually filled with energy, which makes me happy.

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Gotta run

29/4/2020

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Photo: Etsuko Yasunaga

By Etsuko Yasunaga

“IT’S QUITE possible that you may have had a heart attack in the past.” My cardiologist said calmly. My mind was racing however, trying hard to absorb and comprehend what she had just said to me. It certainly wasn’t the sentence I expected to hear. It was the end of March. The world was already shrinking due to COVID 19, but this was when my whole world came crashing down on me. I felt heavy and suffocated.

A regular base ECG test at my GP a week prior revealed a few concerns for my heart, so I was referred to a specialist. Doctor’s orders were simple but painful – no more running until I get the all clear. Only three days before this, I participated in a fun run, and officially ran 10 km for the first time in my life. I trained hard and consistently for this event since January. It was a brilliant run, and I had a ball. I just had a taste of the exhilaration of distance running, then only to be taken away from me a few days later. Life was cruel.

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Memories of Hiroshi

20/2/2020

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A dogwood (Hanamizuki), a tree that Etsuko associates with Hiroshi.

By Etsuko Yasunaga

FEBRUARY comes. When I’m least guarded, after the celebration of festive seasons and an aspiration for the New Year, February comes relentlessly. Summer is at its height and the harvest is abundant. Yet February comes brutally, again and again.

After nine years February still brings a piercing ache to my heart. Though the pain from Hiroshi’s passing continues to heal slowly, a sudden burst of intense sadness engulfs me out of the blue. Still I do not wish to be defined by just one tragic event that took place in my past. As the anniversary of his departure draws near, I can’t help but feel a strong urge to better myself and better the world. This sense of urgency is very personal and only focused at Hiroshi - for him, in honour of him and in respect of his life which was cut short and he could not fulfil.

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Between the lines

11/12/2019

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Photo: Robert Kenyon

By Etsuko Yasunaga

IT ALL started like this. Miriam asked me one day “How is your writing going, Etsuko?” I can’t recall exactly when she asked this vital question. It must have been at least 18 months after my book launch back in November 2016. To be honest my writing wasn’t going anywhere. I wasn’t writing as much because I didn’t have readers to write for. I knew I would pick up my writing again soon, somehow. When the pivotal question was asked, however, I was on a sabbatical. “I’m not writing much lately.” At least I was honest with her.

“Why don’t you write for the Bass Coast Post? Introduce yourself to Catherine, the editor. Start from there.”

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