Visiting Japan a few years ago, I was asked by a resident, "Ah, you're from Northern California. You must have visited the grave of OKei." In responding, "Who?" I must have sounded and looked stupid.
My new friend explained that OKei is a sentimental favorite in Japan--a legendary figure representing faithfulness, loyalty, diligence, bravery, and self-sacrifice--and that many Japanese visitors to the U.S. West Coast make it their business to stop at Placerville for the sole reason of visiting the grave and paying their respects.
Upon my return to this country, and on a trip to South Lake Tahoe, I did stop at Placerville, made the appropriate inquiries, found the location, and climbed the hill. There I saw Okei's grave and headstone. It is a lonely place, but there was a bouquet of fresh flowers on the grave. I resolved to do some investigating, and did. It's a story far more familiar to Japanese in Japan than to residents of this country--even to residents of Placerville, I discovered.
A little research in the California History Library at the University of the Pacific convinced me that the Aizu Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Company's failed attempt at farming in 1870 Placerville was worth writing about. We had published quite a number of BalonaBooks and were considering several subjects for another book. OKei seemed perfect as a task for me. The character of Julius does nicely tie his Balona descendants to the Wakamatsu Colony. I hope you think so, too. (If you enjoy this story, you might also enjoy Yoshiko Uchida's Samurai of Gold Hill, a different but really excellent "take" on the same subject.)
Jonathan Pearce, author of The Far Side of the Moon
