The Third Successor of Yamaji Manufaturing, Life

Who is this baby? This story is dedicated to this baby who became the Third Successor.

Third and Second Successors

Third Successor with his mother

First, the founder of Yamaji Manufacturing; after the WWII, the Founder moved from Tokyo burning all his properties by air-raid, and started the Yamaji Manufacturing. The Founder had the senses of a design and manufacturing, but no sense of business. In spite of his wife’s advises he had to close the factory, because his partner had been cheating the Founder with their accounting clerk. The founder could not survive without manufacturing. He was trying to make and sale the Kushi-Katsu for supporting his family, but the business was not success. This time he took the advice of his wife, and started another factory with one of honest technician who used to work for him. In the beginning, they worked all kinds of work. The factory was gradually getting better. However, because of the founder’s long suffering life, and the problem of his relationship with wife, he suddenly died with stroke within the hour of suffering.

The Second Successor was still attending the college in Tokyo at the time of the founder’s death. Discussing about Yamaji Manufacturing it was the best way to finish the Second Successor’s Tokyo life. The Founder’s wife and the honest technician who became the Yamaji’s son-in-law were taking care of the factory. The Second Successor finally went back to succeed the factory that had the great dept. The Second Successor spent many sleepless nights, but with his youth, wisdom, and power, he worked very, very hard day and night. With the Japanese good economies, and his effort, the factory was growing and growing. He paid back the debts, made the money, and made the factory bigger However, he got deadly ill around the age of 60, and could not overcome his illness with his hard work, power or wisdom. In spite of his wife’s advice, he trusted one of his workers, and made him the President of Yamaji Manufacturing, but the Second Successor was cheated by this worker. With these incidents, the Second Successor gave lots of thought for several years and finally he made a decision to close the Yamaji Manufacturing.

Here the Third Successor opened up his mind. He wanted to be in-charge of the downsized Yamaji Manufacturing. Giving the great consideration, and listening the Second Successor’s wife’s advice, everyone agreed to give a chance to the Third Successor. The Yamaji Manufacturing continued to operate by the Third Successor.

Guess what the Second Successor did to the Third Successor. All the givers of his business to his successors are same. Hiroko’s friend’s husband gave his business to his son, because of his illness, and heart attack. The day Hiroko was in their house, he said,
“I have to go to company today.”
“With your condition, why do you have to go to the company? Please take care of your health.”
“There is Director’s Meeting this morning. Without me thing can not be settled.”
“You don’t have to go. I’m not driving for you,” said his wife.
“It is O.K. I have to go” he said and left for the meeting listening of the wife’s voice saying,
“Please be careful of the stairway and platform. Your legs are not strong enough.”
Why can they pass everything to his son?

The Second Successor was the same. He went to the factory every day, and told the Third Successor what to do.

The “good” things, even though “bad” for the human eyes had happened to Yamaji family. The Second Successor’s wife collapsed with a stroke. It was very, very light stroke, but in the beginning the Second Successor thought she might die. Now, he could not go to the factory at all. He had to take care of his family affairs. Since that incident for two and half years, he has been taking care of his wife, their financial matter, cooking, taking care of his third son, and golfing to make him relax. He has been so busy that attending the factory was not important matter for him.

The amazing thing happened at Yamaji Manufacturing in 2012.

The Second Successor must be very, very happy.

At 8 a.m. Chicago time, the phone call came from the Second Successor. His voice was very happy andwithout drunken voice. Hiroko knew something happy had happened at Yamaji family. Hiroko thought the Third Successor has finally got married. The Second Successor start talking about how he is enjoying the cooking. He can make very, very tasty Tsukemono. He said that “Cooking” is very deep, and open his eyes. He has never thought that making one dish need many chemical thought and the mathematic. He is so happy to cook for his wife and son. He’d like to send some Tsukemono he made to Hiroko. He didn’t say some important news so easily. Hiroko thought what is it. Finally, he said, “The Third Successor did it. He did it. Yamaji Manufacturing Year-end is July. 2012 Year-end was very, very good. I could not believe my eyes what I saw the number on the statement. He did it. He came to me for guidance while I was home to take care of my family. He did it all by himself I’m sooooo happy for him and for me.”

The Third Successor has very good characters; good personality, trustworthy, and humble heart. Without humbleness he can’t come to anyone, especially his father who treated him like baby, for guidance. In business world these good characters are thought to be weak character, but for the long term, people trust and desire to do business like him. Hurray for the Third Successor!

Hiroko has interesting photos for the Third Successor. The Third Successor and Lisa

Attending the friend’s wedding Lisa admired to be bride, and she was wearing the bride costume every day. One day the baby Third Successor came, Lisa was so excited to be with him, but the Third Successor tried to run away.

Well, it was very good. It was wonderful for Yamaji Manufacturing. Give thanks to the Third Successor for recovering the factory.

All Things God Works for the Good
Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

It is God makes ‘all’ things good. “All” things; it is not only good thing but also bad thing. As you read the Second Successor’s life, his wife became ill was bad thing in the human eyes, but the result of that all the things worked very good. Because the Second Successor could not go to the factory, so 2012 good result was done by the Third Successor alone. Isn’t it wonderful?!

Right of this moment if you are in some kind of problems, sufferings, sadness, in fear, etc. you should think of this verse, and let the Lord God work for your problems. Because God make the suffering produce perseverance; perseverance, character; the character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, …

The Important Months, Nursery

The important months for vegetable plants is from the end of May to the beginning of June. In those months of 2012, Dan-san and Hiroko went to Los Cabos, Mexico. Dan-san planted the cucumber seeds in the middle of June. However, all the plants have produced many vegetables.

Here is Hiroko’s Porch Garden


This photo was taken around the middle of August. There were six cucumbers. The new crops have already been eaten with smile. Enjoying to eat these fresh cucumbers and tomatoes, it is sad to think about the vegetables in Chicago winter. Those vegetables in the store have no flavor and no freshness.

Hiroko’s jalapeño tree. It was very, very hot pepper.

With these jalapeños Hiroko made hot sauce. The sauce has been used to sauté dishes, noodle dishes, Chinese and Japanese dishes, etc. The cucumber in the photo was produced from the porch garden.

This is Dan-san’s garden.

Aren’t these cucumber plants are growing well even though Dan-san planted the seeds in the middle of June? However, the numbers of productions were not very good. It might be caused by this year’s weather.

This is green pepper and tomato plants.
These green pepper trees love the hot, hot weather. The green peppers produced from these trees have thick meat and big and tasty.
It is bad for these tomato plants, because the weather in August started cool and cloudy. Tomato plants need sunshine and hot weather to ripe.
This year there is no squirrels, rats or any other animals to bite off the produces especially tomato.
The next door neighbor who has been raising the chickens placed the metal traps for rabbits appeared at the end of June. They caught those two rabbits with the traps and freed those rabbits at the field by the Michigan shore. Their traps might have caught the squirrels, too.
One of Hiroko’s church friends said squirrels, rabbits and chipmunks have been bothering their crops. They wanted to do anything to chase these animals. Someone can give them good idea to chase these animals.

These produce were from Dan-san’s garden. Doesn’t it look like a Crain? Why does many cucumbers curl up? Even though curled up cucumbers were very tasty.

big cucumber
One missed to find cucumber had grown too big to eat as it is, so Hiroko made kyuri-no-Kyuchan.

Shiso – Japanese herbs

The red one and the green one are grown very well. Hiroko should collect all those leaves before withered and salted them to keep for winter.

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The Bible story:
God has always been provided people’s need, those who trusted Him.

Matthew 6:25-34 “25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Before the end of the world, there will be no foods and those who have the mark of God the Lord on the forehead will not provide foods or any other necessity things from the worldly stores. People have to choose the mark between God’s or Satan’s 666 (Ref. Rev. 13:16-18) When such a time come Hiroko would like to trust the Lord’s promise and provision, and having the peace in Jesus.

From Afar, Photo Diary

Hi, Everyone
Thank you for coming to Hiroko’s empty blog last three weeks. A girl named Mikichan stayed with Hiroko since July 28. Hiroko posted everyday activities with lots of photos on Japanese blog, http://Ishimasu92.blog105.fc2.com.


This is Mikichan from Hokkaido, Japan. The photo sent by her mother saying Mikichan would be coming to Chicago wearing this kind of clothing. She is 14 years old and belongs to her Jr. High School Basketball Team. So she was looking for someone who can play basketball with. There wasn’t even the basketball court with the ring and net on the board in Chicago Parks.



She arrived at O’Hare exactly wearing the same clothing as photo on July 28. She went to jogging with Elsa, soon after she put her suitcase in her bedroom, but when she come back from jogging she was so tired that she wanted to sleep. She slept and slept. Well, wake her up for dinner otherwise she can’t sleep at night. Hiroko served pork chop. Mikichan said she love it.
After the dinner she was sitting on the computer for 4 hours. Since the first night she was using computer to talk with her friends in Hokkaido, Japan every night. We don’t have too much chance to talk to her



She was up since 3 o’clock, she said. About 3 nights she had problem with jet lag.
Sunday, we all went to church and she attended Devon Church’s Sunday School. The afternoon the visitation group visited to the Grove Nursing Home. Mikichan helped to do the puppet.
Hiroko had no energy to cook, so Dan-san took us to SunShine Café. Mikichan ate Japanese food on the 2nd day in Chicago.
She was complaining ankle pain. It must have caused the pain carrying her heavy, heavy suitcase from the Dan-san’s car in the garage and tripped at the little steps by the garage entrance.



After shopping at the Sam’s club, Mikichan stayed home to rest her ankle on the 3rd day. Hiroko would like Mikichan to have her own shower-jel, shampoo/conditioner, tooth paste and brush, so took her to Jewel. But she brought her own tooth past and brush because her father is a dentist.
Hamberger was served 3rd day of Mikichan



Mikichan’s 4th day is Hiroko’s washing day. Mikichan washed her own clothes. Her ankle had no pain, Mikichan said.
After washing, Hiroko took her shopping to downtown at Disney and Water Tower Place. She was spending hours and hours for shopping. Hiroko was now getting used to spend the time for shopping with these teens. Taro-kun made Hiroko realize shopping freak teen.
Hiroko took Mikichan to Italian restaurant. She loved the break. It was very good break. It was very interesting happened at the restaurant. The restaurant manager paid for their lunch.
She complained the pain on her ankle on the way home. She had this pain before so it would be gone soon, she said.
Chicken was served. Mikichan said she can’t eat any hot stuff. She said the chicken was very hot and spices.



Hiroko worried Mikichan’s pain on her ankle, but she kept saying don’t worry, it would be gone soon. The 5th day plan which is picnic was carried on the Evanston Beach with Amy’s family. Mikichan swam in the Michigan Lake. Everyone loved eating Onigiri, Spam Musubi, Hot dog, and vegetables at the picnic.
Tacos was served for the dinner.



On the 5th day, Dan-san and Hiroko took Mikichan to the AAYU clinic for ankle pain. Many X-ray was taken and treated very kindly and thoroughly. The kind doctor said her ankle was fine. It was relieved to know she was O.K. So Mikichan’s plan to stay overnight at the house of Okinawa-san was carried. Thanks to Okinawa-san for giving one free night to Hiroko.
Eating Chicago Pizza was one of Mikichan’s request, so she was happy and enjoyed the delicious Chicago Pizza with Okinawa-san. Okinawa-san took all four children to the Pizza.



No worrying about ankle pain any more, Hiroko took Mikichan and other two girls to Navy Pier on the 7th day. Oh, spending hours, and hours for shopping again. Between shopping they enjoyed the Ferris wheel and boat ride. One of Tanaka’s girl complained of her stomachache, so Hiroko shorten the day’s outing. For dinner, Hiroko took them to SunShine Café because the girls complained stomachache said she would like to eat Udon. It is very good for stomachache. Before the Café those girls made shrimp and vegetable tempura for Dan-san and Elsa.



7 o’clock Mikichan had to wake up and went to church cleaning on the 8th day. After the church cleaning, Mikichan went to jogging with Elsa.
The SNAL (Saturday Night Alive) was held and many children and adult came to decorate church for VBS. Devon Church No. 1 cook, Aileen cooked barbecue pork and Spanish rice for the dinner. It was very, very good dinner. Mikichan enjoyed eating the food.



On the 9th day, Mikichan attended Devon Church Sunday Worship Service in the morning. After the church Hiroko and Dan-san took her shopping at Target. Dan-san suffered for waiting and waiting for her to finish shopping. Hiroko told him we should walk, but it was hot day so he drove Mikichan and Hiroko to the store.
She was so happy to eat the steak for dinner.



Tanaka family took Mikichan to the Great America with No-no-Hana-san on the 10th day. Mikichan enjoyed all those high and fast rides. She was very much appreciated to Tanaka family. She loved to go there again.
Satchan took them to Mexican food for their dinner.



Dan-san gave the spending money to Mikichan, so she wanted to buy something for her dog. Shopping on the Clark Street on the 11th day morning.
Diane needed some help to decorate church more. Eliza, Mikichan and Hiroko helped her.
After helping Diane, Hiroko asked Eliza to play basketball with Mikican, and took them nearby Chicago Park District. The basketball court was under construction. Mikichan had no luck with Basketball.
Spaghetti was served. Mikichan liked it.



Devon church VBS started on Mikichan’s 12th day. Hiroko didn’t know how much she understood, so wanted to help her, but she closed her mind. She couldn’t talk about serious matter.
She said she had problem eating habit, so Hiroko started to talk about problem of over eating. Hiroko asked her, she night have unsatisfied feeling for something in her life. She had some problems with among her friends, but her mother was taking care of her, so everything is O.K. She seems to be very much in trust with her mother and her older brother. What they are saying to her has been her daily guideline.
She has been talking to her friends on the computer every night, but when Hiroko tried to talk to her, she was covered with her ear-phone and denied to listen. Hiroko didn’t know how to talk to these teens.

Dan-san and Hiroko took Mikichan and Rebecca and Zeporah to Mitsuwa. They enjoyed the visit to Mitsuwa..

After Mitsuwa Hiroko took Mikichan to the Hollywood Beach basketball court. Mikichan said she didn’t want to play with all those boys. They were playing very rough.



The 2nd day of VBS was Mikichan 13th day.. The day’s lesson was very important, and memory verse was John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Hiroko asked Mikichan to memorize this verse to remember God always loves you. Mikichan said she didn’t want to memorize any English words right now, because she had English phrases memorization homework, so she didn’t want to mix up with the words. She said she had no interest to go to church, too.

Hiroko took Mikichan, Eliza and her sister to Millennium Park and at Macy’s basement food corner for lunch, and Willies Tower. Hiroko waited at the down stair in the Willies Tower, so Eliza took care of those both girls. Thanks Eliza. They enjoyed to walk and to sit on the Skydeck.



The 3rd day of VBS was Mikichan’s 14th day. Mikichan seemed to listen to Amy, so Hiroko gave Mikichan to Amy. Thanks Amy.
Amy invited Mikichan to play basketball at Evanston Park.
Before going to the park, Hiroko took them for their lunch to KFC which Mikichan wanted to eat. Mikichan said the chicken was greasy.

Amy used to play basketball, but now she couldn’t play anymore. So Mikichan played by herself. Amy picked up the ball for Mikichan. Thanks to Amy for her hospitality.



The 4th Day of VBS was Mikichan’s 15th day.
Mikichan went to jogging and nail with Elsa. Japanese school, including Jr. High and High School are of strict to nail coloring and hair die. Hiroko wasn’t sure how to change died hair to original color hair. Elsa took Mikichan to nail coloring and bought remover.

It was late, late Elsa’s Birthday celebration day. The Doi family with Mikichan went to Fillipino Café on Caldwell. It is family oriented restaurant, and all the dishes Steven ordered were very delicious, especially not salty.

This is the restaurant parking area and inside of restaurant.




Attendees for the dinner

Two different kinds of pancit. As usual, Hiroko forgot to take photo of the dishes.
Happy Birthday to Elsa. Elsa’s idea to go to Philippine cuisine, and Steven picked this restaurant.



The last day of VBS was Mikichan’s 16th day. Sunday Worship Service held by VBS song leaders. It was very good service. The song leader is Missionary, and she was preaching the Worship Service using the VBS daily Bible words and subject to everyday practical use, and questioned how the words means.
Mikichan was asked to read one Bible verse Philippians 4:6 in Japanese during the Worship Service. Phili 4:4 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
She didn’t understand what the Japanese sentence was saying. She was very amazed all those children in her class understand the meaning of the sentence in English. Hiroko wondered if there is special Bible for Jr. High in Japan.

Afternoon the day, Hiroko took Mikichan to “Ginza Holiday” held at Buddhist Temple. Mikichan was laughing that we went to Christian Church in the morning and Buddhist Temple in the afternoon.
The famous Teriyaki Chicken from the “Ginza Holiday” was served as the dinner.



On the 17th day, Mikichan went to play bowling all by herself with Shizuko Hidaka and her grand-daughters. Hiroko met Shizuko Hidaka at Ginza Holiday who was interested to have Mikichan. Especially one of her grand-daughters has always been very much interested in everything connected to Japanese and would like to have pen-pal. She exchanged email addresses with the girl to become pen-pal.



On the 18th day of Mikichan was Hiroko’s washing day. Mikichan was happy to wash all her dirty clothes.
She requested to eat some food not in Japan, so Hiroko cooked Corn Beef for the previous day’s dinner, but Shizuko-san treated Mikichan for dinner. For her lunch Corn Beef was served. Mikichan said it was delicious.
She wanted to go to Navy Pier for shopping, so spend shopping at Navy Pier all afternoon.
Last dinner was Chicago Hot Dog which Mikichan requested. What is Chicago Hot Dog? No tomato ketchup, and lots of vegetables, chopped tomato, onion and hot pepper. On the Mikichan’s hot dog was tons of ketchup only.
Well, Mikichan spent hours and hours for packing, and computer last night of Chicago.



Bye, bye! Mikichan’s airplane left O’Hare on time, so she arrived in her parents arms on time. She said even though she had to give up Basketball Training Camp during her staying Chicago, it was worth to stay in Chicago. She had good time, she said.

Thank you for reading this 19 days Mikichan’s photo diary in Chicago.