Both Akio and myself adore music. Even when we were busy, we'd make time to head for Salzburg, Austria and Bayreuth, Germany to enjoy an opera. At those times we'd always invite another couple that shared our love of music.

One year we were able to go with designer, Hanae Mori and her husband.

The performance was "The Ring" by, of course, Wagner. The Bayreuth lasts six days and people usually do some sightseeing, attend a lecture or just hang out, but Akio, who could never stay still, would take just the one day, and after getting the summer festival schedule from Salzburg, would be happy flying up to see an opera in just one day.

We dragged along the Moris and I took this snap shot at that time, by a lake with a castle, near Herbert von Karajan's house at Anif, on the outskirts of Salzburg. Although both our husbands have passed away, we still meet up occasionally for a meal or to go to a concert and have stayed close.

So now when we meet, we talk of fond memories, and soon lose track of time.

Yoshiko Morita, 26 June 2007