Finding Yoshiko

‘The wind tells me she is single,'

Hama Shigetoshi, 72, a wasabi farm worker in Azumino, declares this confidently. 

As a boy, Hama fell in love with Yoshiko - while they were standing shoulder to shoulder at this very farm 57 years ago. Membership at their high school's sketch club gave them reason to spend time together - but at 17 the school forbade their budding romance and they split. 

He hasn't seen her in 55 long years. 

They both married different people and led separate lives, but Yoshiko still burns in his memory as his first, and perhaps only true love. 

Hama wrote for Shukan Gendai magazine in Tokyo for decades, but at 68 decided to return to Azumino for the 'last job of his life' - talking to each visitor at the farm about Yoshiko - hoping that someone will know her. 

His eyes twinkle each time her name leaves his lips - which is frankly amazing considering he doesn't even know if she's alive.