１０年ぶりの再会 Reunion after 10 years

2023.10.8

久々にドイツから来日した友人と再会した。ほぼ１０年ぶりである。彼はMr.ペッヒといい、以前私が働いていたドイツ産業見本市日本代表部の本部のお偉方である。仕事の関係で、ドイツでお世話になったり、日本では一緒に記者会見や企業訪問をした。彼もちょっと前に退職したとのこと。まだ、年金を貰える年にはなっていないが、コロナのために見本市が上手くいっていないので退職したという。今回来日したのは東京で開催される空手の選手権大会のためである。ドイツの選手団のコーチとしてきたのである。彼は、我々が知り合う前から空手を稽古していたので、合気道をやっていた私とはよく分かり合えた。夕方、東中野駅で私の上司だったドイツ人の友達とも待ち合わせて、そこから近い串焼き屋でお互いの近況やドイツの景気や昔の仕事仲間等の話をした。（写真）楽しいひと時が楽しめた。

   

Reunion after 10 years

I met up with a friend who came to Japan from Germany after a long time. It's been almost 10 years. His name is Mr. Pech, and he is a high-ranking official at the headquarters of the Japanese representative office at the German Industrial Trade Fair, where I previously worked.

Due to his work, I was indebted to him in Germany, and in Japan we held a press conference together and visited companies. He also retired a while ago. Although he is not yet old enough to receive a pension, he retired because the trade fair was not going well due to the coronavirus. He came to Japan this time for the Karate Championships to be held in Tokyo. He was the coach of the German team.

He had been practicing karate before we met. Because of this, he and I, who practice Aikido, were able to understand.

In the evening, we met up with another German friend at Higashi-Nakano Station, and the three of us went to a skewered restaurant nearby, where we talked about each other's current situation, the German economy, and old work colleagues. We had a great time. (Photo)