I was unwelcome in the U.S. for four years.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I ran away from St. Louis, and then I ran away from the United States, because of that terror of discrimination.
I used to run away from school to my village. But later, I went to the U.S. for studies and lost touch.
Well, my relationship to America at the time I left was very limited.
I escaped one time. In 1971 I was in the free world for six weeks.
I ran away from home. I ran away from St. Louis, and then I ran away from the United States of America, because of that terror of discrimination, that horrible beast which paralyzes one's very soul and body.
I was an incredibly lonely, very alienated teenager.
I had crossed the line. I was free; but there was no one to welcome me to the land of freedom. I was a stranger in a strange land.
After college, I wanted to learned about myself as an American, so I left the United States and went to Japan.
It was an honor and privilege to arrive to this country 16 years ago with almost no money in my pocket. A lot has happened since then.
I was in the U.S. about 15 years. Especially in New York. And then I came back to Japan.