The document is a short story titled "How Mr. Yakamoto Saved Face" by Slim Fairview. It tells the story of Mr. Yakamoto, an elder in a Japanese village, who loses respect from the villagers after telling them his trip to America was the same as Japan. His son Yakamuri devises a plan to restore his father's honor by inviting the American family that hosted Mr. Yakamoto to their village and treating them to traditional American fare, showing the cultures are in fact different. The villagers are impressed and Mr. Yakamoto's status is restored.

1. Slim Fairview
1000 words
copyright 2007
First North American Serial Rights
How Mr. Yakamoto Saved Face
A Morality Tale
by
Slim Fairview
All his life, Mr. Yakamoto lived in his small village. He was a widower with one
son. He was considered wise and was well respected as was his honourable
father and his honourable grandfather.
Mr. Yakamoto sent his only son, Yakamuri, away from the village to be educated.
He was to learn the ways of what was spoken of respectfully as “the world
beyond our village.” The other villagers respected Mr. Yakamoto’s courage and
vision. Yakamuri respected and loved his father and worked hard to become
successful in what was called, the world beyond.
Because Yakamuri was successful in international business affairs and because
he loved and respected his father and because he wanted to repay his father for
all he’d done, he arranged for his father to accompany him on a short trip to the
west. His father could learn about American ways adding to his position of
honour in the village.
The villagers were excited and happy for Mr. Yakamoto. They sent him off with a
big celebration and eagerly awaited his return to hear about America.
The family who entertained Mr. Yakamoto, the Wahoos, were business
colleagues of Yakamuri. They were eager to offer their home and their hospitality
when they heard Yakamuri’s idea about bringing his honourable father with him.
They made many preparations. They wanted Mr. Yakamoto to feel comfortable
and respected. They wanted him to feel at home during his stay.
When Mr. Yakamoto arrived, the Wahoos were dressed in Japanese kimonos
and slippers. They bowed. They offered Mr. Yakamoto a kimono and slippers.
They bowed again.
They’d replaced their chairs with cushions and removed the legs from their dining
room table placing it on low blocks. They served sake and set the table with chop
sticks instead of knives and forks. They played Japanese music, they sent out for

2. sushi, and they rented a video of Kabuki theatre. They even replaced the bed in
their guest room with a futon. Mr. Yakamoto thanked them for their hospitality,
their generosity, and their consideration. He praised them for their knowledge of
Japanese culture. The Wahoos were pleased.
When Mr. Yakamoto returned to his village, all gathered and sat at his feet as
they waited to hear him tell everyone what America was like.
Mr. Yakamoto told everyone about the kimonos and slippers. About the cushions,
the chopsticks, the sake. He told them about Kabuki theatre and about the
futons. He told them, “America is the same as Japan. People are all alike.”
There was silence. All looked at each other in amazement and disbelief. They
stared at Mr. Yakamoto in awe. Then, they began to laugh. The crowd laughed at
him and mocked him. Mothers pulled their children away. Many accused Mr.
Yakamoto of not having gone to America at all. Of making up a tale. Mr.
Yakamoto stood up, turned away, and walked in shame to his home leaving the
mocking crowd behind.
Yakamuri watched as his father suffered great loss of face. He was sad and
walked quietly away. But he resolved to restore his father to his rightful place as
a respected elder of the village. He meditated. He came up with a plan.
Yakamuri called the Wahoos to thank them again for their hospitality. He insisted
on repaying them. (Lest he suffer loss of face.) The Wahoos were only too eager
to help Yakamuri save face by accepting his invitation to visit his father’s village
in Japan and to experience Japanese culture. And they hoped to return to
America to speak proudly of their sensitivity and sophistication.
There was excitement in the village when the Wahoos arrived. Yakamuri
introduced them and told the villagers he was repaying them for their hospitality
and generosity in entertaining his honourable father during their recent visit to
America.
When they arrived at Mr. Yakamoto’s home, they looked for the kimonos and
slippers. There were none.
“Old fashioned.” Mr. Yakamoto said proudly. But kick of your shoes. Make
yourself at home.”
Mr. Yakamoto led the Wahoos to the den. There he’d replaced the cushions with
a few recliners and some snack tables. “Kick back. Getcha beer?” Mr. Yakamoto
asked.
Yakamuri served pretzels, chips, and dip. He put out cheese and crackers.

3. “Don’t fill up on junk food. We got the grill going.”
“Are we having hibachi steak?” Mrs. Wahoo asked.
“Heck no,” Mr. Yakamoto said. “Barbecue.” He smiled proudly at his command of
the English expressions his son had taught him.
Yakamuri appeared in apron and chef’s hat and said, “hot dogs, hamburgers,
cheese burgers. Ready in a jiffy.”
During dinner, Mr. Yakamuri played the Beach Boys Greatest Hits. After dinner
he led his guests back to the den, picked up a couple of videos, and asked, ”Viva
Las Vegas, or Gidget Goes Hawaiian?”
That night, the Wahoos slept in a bed. For breakfast, they had bacon and eggs,
hash browns, and flapjacks.
When the Wahoos were ready to leave, Yakamuri called the villagers to his
father’s house to see them off. Then and there he again told the villagers how
he’d wanted to repay the Wahoos for their kindness and hospitality.
He told them about the recliners, the chip and dip, the burgers on the grill, and
the lemon Jell-O for dessert. And about Gidget Goes Hawaiian. The villagers
laughed and applauded.
Mr. Yakamoto slapped Mr. Wahoo on the back, stuck out his hand, and said
aloud, “put ‘er there, pal.” The villagers laughed and cheered.
The Wahoos smiled with delight at what they believed was high praise for their
cultural sophistication. They bowed to the villagers and left.
The Villagers were so impressed with Mr. Yakamoto’s great dignity, charm and
wisdom, that they restored him to a figure of great honour and respected him for
years to come. And that is how Mr. Yakamoto saved face.
The moral of the story: “If people want to feel at home, they will stay at home.”
fin
Mail: slimfairview@yahoo.com
copyright (c) 2008 Slim Fairview