Mr. Yakusa

I saw Japanese ham friends in every SEAnet convention since the first time I joined it in 1991. Isamu san, JA1AD was the first person I knew. He has kind face, kind smile and kind heart. He has promoted the convention in every Japanese Ham Fair and brought more ham friends to join. Isamu san does not talk much.. He always smiles and enjoy everything quietly.

Completely contrary to Isamu san is Hisao san, JA5TFF. Wherever there is a roar of laugh, you would see him at the center. He always like to make joke, being funny and have fun with friends all the time. Some of his jokes were terrible, but no one could be angry at him. I called him Yagusa San. He at first refused it, later he likes it.

He almost could not speak English when I first met him. The communication itself had been so funny with a lot of Q Code. We laughed until we were worn out.

The second time I met him he had a talking dictionary with him. So the communication was exchanging the machine.

The following year he came with small book and pen. He did not need dictionary any more. And after that he spoke. His English was better and better.

He always has so much fun that it was difficult to imagine how he would have been when he was in Japan.

Once after Bangkok SEAnet convention in Thailand, he invited a number of Thai and Japanese hams for SEAfood dinner in Ambassador Hotel. It was a thank you party. The day after that he visited my office. He gave us a business name card and we were very surprised that he was a president of a large company.

He told me and my boss that the SEAnet convention was the only time he could be relaxing and had fun. Otherwise when he were at the office, the whole year he would be sitting at the desk.. he then sat on the desk chair, back straight, solemn face, and solemnly nodded.. Hmm! Hai! like that. We could not help laughing about how he presented it and understood him more..

He said; “Thida chan, thank you. You call me Yagusa, no Yagusa, I good man. But I like Yagusa in SheeNet.. Thida chan. You very good. I kiss you” He stood up and gave me a kiss in front of my boss!!

SEANET was quiet without him.