Pop Japan

There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done.

Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung.

Nothing you can say, but you can learn how to play the game.

It’s easy. All you need is love.

This stanza is from the song, All you need is Love by the phenomenal The Beatles.

Truly, when it comes to love, ”there’s nothing that can’t be done,” whatever color or race you are in. Just as in the case of The Beatles’very own, John Lennon. Even if it was against all odds, he still wedded Yoko Ono, a Japanese contemporary artist, in 1969. The two seemed to have gotten along with each other well, until Lennon’s death in 1980.

But they are not the only interracial relationship in Japan. There are other couples in Japan who have proved that in this world, “all you need is love.”

Bill and Carol Muto: Love On Cloud Nine

Bill Muto is a third generation Japanese-american and is married to his spouse Carol Muto, who was born and raised in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1975. The year was a great timing for a wedding in Virginia, years after the great debate on interracial wedding. The state of Virginia was prohibiting interracial marriage until William Marutani, a lawyer, stood aginst it.

Bill and Carol met in Michigan, Bill was an Air Force Soldier during that time while Carol was studying as a nurse. After several exchanges of sweet thoughts and messages to each other, they decided to settle down in Texas wherein they raise their family, consisting of 4 kids.

Paul and May Ishimoto: One More Chance

Just like other love stories, Paul and May Ishimoto proved that giving another shot for your relationship could be worth it.

They met each other in a US internment camp, a place where those of Japanese descent were forcely relocated, wherein May worked as a nurse assistant. Their road went crossed when Paul was assigned also in the same hospital.

At first, May doesn’t have any special feelings towards Paul, but he didn’t give up until he proposed to May and got rejected. Paul can’t handle the situation and he didn’t eat nor drink for several days. May realized what happened and asked Paul why he did that. Paul uttered that May was his life. After that, May accepted the ring and they settled down and lived together.

Emmanuel and Eriko Gbevegnon: Crossroads

Their meet-up was totally unexpected as Eriko was a volunteer nurse that time for vaccination activities in Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Emmanuel was from Niamey, Niger, and came to Japan for a business trip. They meet in an event wherein Japanese culture was being introduced to the people from foreign lands.

After 3 years of courtship, the couple decided to live in Japan, but they got married first in Benin. Both of them are now living in Japan with their 3 sons. After all the differences in their races they are still able to manage everything and live happily.

Kyle and Shimizu Sexton: Just Laid-Back, I Can Handle This

Kyle Sexton is an American citizen who has a deep fascination in Japanese culture, food and everything about Japan. He went to Japan and decided to stay there, for good. During his stay, he became a successful baker and was able to have his own bakery.

He met Shimizu at a party. Some time after, they met again at the Japan African American Friendship Association (JAFA). For the second time around, Kyle never let Shimizu go anymore, and promised that he would marry her and would raise a family with her. Now, they have 4 children and one of them just graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.

Masataka Taketsuru and Rita Cowan: From Real to Reel

In 2014, there was a TV series launched in NHK that was about a Scottish girl who married a Japanese chemist guy.  The series was entitled Massan and was adapted from the true-to-life love story of Masataka Taketsuru and Rita Cowan.

Their love story left a mark in Japanese history because of the Japanese whiskey.

Masataka entered Scotland Glasgow University to study organic and applied chemistry. During that time Rita’s younger sister Ella, was enrolled in the university’s Medicine Faculty. Through her, the two met each other.

Ella asked Masataka the favor of teaching judo to his younger brother. Since the training was held in Cowan’s residence, Rita and Masataka saw each other and along the way their feelings have developed. Soon, Masataka confessed his true feelings to Rita. Rita felt the same towards Masataka and they decided to settle down.

Since interracial marriage was still a taboo that time, they just married each other in a simple ceremony at a Register’s Office. After that, Masataka brought Rita to Japan and started his ambition of creating the first Japanese Whiskey. This couple took risks to fight for their love and these are definitely visible in the authentic taste of Japanese Whiskey.

Banner photo by Jack Mitchell, from Wikimedia Commons.