When Mr Ikeda travelled abroad or to other prefectures, sometimes he would be home only for a few months out of the year. In the course of his travels, we the family would occasionally receive a phone call from him. The boys would take turns chatting with their father about what kind of souvenirs they wanted him to bring back and other small talk. They seemed to be used to their father being away all the time, but they were, after all, longing for him.

He would send each of them letters and postcards from abroad, usually covered with lots of stamps. Still, Mrs Ikeda was extremely concerned about how the boys perceived their father.

One day, when one of their school teachers was visiting, he asked the children what they wanted to be when they grew up. All the boys said without missing a beat, “I want to be like my father.” Tears welled up in Mrs Ikeda’s eyes.