Japan: Imagine reuniting with a childhood friend, 45 years after your last contact, and thousands of miles away! This was the memorable event that took place in Japan recently, when Eng. Michael Kamau,
Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, visited Japan. He was a guest
speaker at a Symposium on the 60th Anniversary of Japanese ODA (Official Development Assistance),
giving remarks on historic JICA activities in Kenya and how JICA has contributed to the development
of the country. He also visited some major roads in Tokyo as well as Yokohama Port and Kobe?Osaka
to understand if and how Japanese technologies utilized to construct and maintain these
infrastructures can be transferred to his country.
Eng. Kamau has served in the Ministry of Transport for many years, and played a key role in many of
JICA’s infrastructure projects in Kenya. In a meeting with JICA before his departure to Japan, he
mentioned something surprising…. “I spent my childhood in Nyeri, in central Kenya, and there, I
remember meeting Japanese volunteers called ‘Konno’ and ‘Chijiiwa’. They let me listen to music from
their stereo, which was my first time to hear music from a machine!”
JICA then traced the two to Japan. Munetada Chijiiwa had been a volunteer working as a vehicle
mechanic and was stationed at the Nyeri Forestry Service from 1968 to 1970, while Mitsuru Konno
was Chijiiwa’s successor and served from 1970 to 1973. On learning that Eng. Kamau remembers
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them from their stay in Nyeri 45 years ago, they were very surprised and eager to have a reunion with
him. JICA arranged for a reunion for them both with Eng. Kamau, in between his super?busy schedule
in Tokyo…
Eng. Kamau entered the meeting room with a beaming smile, and shook their hands tightly as if
reliving the time he shared with them 45 years ago in Nyeri. The initial tension in the room soon
faded as they looked at the photos of Nyeri 45 years ago that Mr. Chijiiwa and Mr. Konno brought –
they all looked very happy chatting: “there was Mr. A living in this house, and that house was Mr.
B’s…”
Eng. Kamau was even happier when he saw his mother and brothers in one of the photos. But that
was not the end – Mr. Chijiiwa brought a document dated 1970 – a license to produce local alcohol ?
that had been written by Eng. Kamau’s father, who had worked as the Manager of the Forestry
Service. “This is my father’s handwriting!” he exclaimed with joy. Each of these items were enough to
bring all three back to the years they spent together 45 years ago.
Mr. Chijiiwa mentioned that he named his daughter ‘Nyeri’, and also a grand?child ‘Niji’ (‘rainbow’ in
Japanese) so that this child would bridge the two countries. Mr. Konno also introduced his successful
business career, many in overseas, which he begun after his volunteer work in Nyeri.
Eng. Kamau noted: “Cooperation between two countries is meaningless without a human heart.
Touching each other’s hearts is the most important thing. I am grateful for this miracle that happened
today, to be reunited with these gentlemen after 45 years. I invite you both to Kenya, and we shall
visit Nyeri together. I am serious!”
From Mr. Chijiiwa and Mr. Konno: “We are utterly moved by this reunion. This is one of the most
beautiful moments in my life, and I am so happy that I participated in JICA’s volunteer programme.“ At
the end of the meeting, the three sang ‘Malaika’, a world?famous song from Kenya. They even danced
together as Mr. Chijiiwa sang songs in the Kikuyu language!
It was just 30 minutes’ reunion and not only the three, but also all the people in the room were
touched by the meeting. It was a genuine heart to heart reunion of friends.