KUMAMOTO -- A Japanese American woman whose ancestor emigrated to Hawaii about 130 years ago from southwest Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture visited the prefecture to explore her family roots, and managed to connect with relatives for a talk via a videoconference.

Lynn Araki-Regan, 55, a fourth-generation Japanese American and the great-granddaughter of immigrants from the prefecture, said with deep emotion, "To hear their voices and make that connection across generations and oceans was something I will treasure forever. It gave life and meaning to family stories and history that previously felt so far away."

According to Araki-Regan, her great-grandfather, Kichizo Shimada, was born in Yamaga, Kumamoto Prefecture, in 1875. The third son of his family, Shimada moved to Hawaii in 1899 and worked on a farm. He married Toyoka Oki, originally from Nagomi, Kumamoto Prefecture, and they raised a family.

Before visiting Japan, Araki-Regan contacted the Mainichi Shimbun national daily to seek cooperation with her search of her kin, and this reporter gathered information. As a result, it turned out that the grandchild of Toyoka's elder brother resides in Nagoya. Meanwhile, none of the relatives of the Shimada family could be found.

After arriving in Japan, Araki-Regan visited the town of Nagomi on May 20 around where the Oki family used to live. Their home was now vacant, and from there she had a 12-minute videoconference call with her relatives in Nagoya. They talked about their recent events, and Araki-Regan invited her relatives to Hawaii. After the conversation, she said through tears that her family's history and stories that had once felt distant have now been brought to life and given meaning.

While touring jizo halls and shrines in the neighborhood, she saw stone monuments and other objects bearing the names of many locals. Although she cannot read kanji, she noticed that one of the names was "Oki." She also spotted the names of other relatives, including her great-great-grandfather, and cheered with joy.

She also visited Yamaga, where Kichizo used to live. It turned out that none of her relatives currently live in a place where the Shimada family once resided, but she was able to chat with local residents. The area is home to vast rice paddies and fields surrounded by mountains, with streams flowing through them. A resident who can speak English told her that her ancestors must have seen the same scenery as it has long remained unchanged. She nodded over and over, as she admired the scenery and took photos.

At the end of her journey, she commented with delight, "I was able to stand in the very places where my ancestors once lived, walked, and ultimately departed from before beginning a new chapter of life abroad. ... This journey to Kumamoto became one of the most meaningful experiences of my life." She thanked this reporter, saying, "Your dedication and persistence made what once felt like a distant dream become a reality. ... I will forever carry with me the memories of the places we visited, the stories shared, the people we met, and the overwhelming feeling of connection to my ancestors and heritage."

(Japanese original by Kenji Noro, Kumamoto Bureau)