We are now in the seashore town in Showa 25 (1950), where Kyozo and Kuma's three children are going to elementary school.
The town of Miwasaki is part of  Shingu City, in the southern part of Wakayama prefecture. This area contained about 4,000 people, including the towns of Miwasaki, Sano, and Kinokawa. At that time schools in this area included theMiwasaki Elementary School and Koyo Junior High School.

Kyozo had a fine ear and friendly face, and no one could imagine him as poor at socializing. His dark skin from a long life in the South Seas was far darker than ordinary, but it was not particularly strange because this fishing town is located in a warm and sunny district near the southern end of Honshu.
He is rather friendly but not pushy. In fact he is not an active talker, and it is rather difficult for him to join a carefree chat, but no one would say that they can’t understand him.
He rarely attended any meeting except for the neighborhood association; he had already resigned as a board member of the fishery cooperative. For the neighborhood association, too, Kuma often acted in his stead. Kuma would attend in the daytime, and Kyozo at nighttime meetings. He did not like Kuma going out at night. He’s a worry-wart.

Kyozo worked in the fields or his rice paddy every day, and was eager to improve a variety of crops. He diligently studied about fertilizer and the cultivation of land. Therefore, he often wemt to the related sections in Shingu City Office. He was the same regarding sea life: he was not satisfied until convinced he had covered all bases. He became totally absorbed in such matters without knowing it.

The Wozumi grocery store is left to his wife Kuma. He is totally helpless in serving customers, so he rarely appears at the store. But that does not mean he neglects its management.
Every purchase of groceries like sake, miso, and soy sauce, is his job under Kuma's direction. He pulls a two-wheeled cart back and forth to the wholesalers and breweries around the center of Shingu City over a hilly path with the help of his children.

He is most comfortable on the sea.
If there is even a minute of spare time, regardless of the weather, he rowed a temma boat of his own off the shore with the underwater gun and a bottsuri basket, or dives around Suzushima Island.
He never fails to get some seafood and his children eagerly wait for their dinner.

His character was well known in the town. "He is a bit obstinate but broad-minded", town people said in his  favor. So, they sometimes requested such and such positions or as an organizer, and Kuma struggled to refuse.
(Cannot understand this sentence)Therefore Kyozo got a reputation for not accepting.“Kyozo's not the one to ask…” the people would think.

Kanji Nishi, 45 years old, had been serving as a city councilman for three terms. He was from a landlord family called "Jujiya", a family line with a long history.
He was not interested in any career advancement, but not necessarily because he was from such a rich family.
There had been only a handful of people who graduated from prewar Shingu junior high school in Miwasaki, and he was one of them. He was not one to dwell on such things, but he was highly cultured and a good speaker.
When he was among the younger powers in the Shingu City Office, he was appreciated as being broad-minded and upright. For this reason, his colleagues during junior high school made him run as a member of the municipal assembly, and he won the election in the top spot. Citizens came to know of his good achievements for three terms.
He and his wife, who met while still in junior high school, now had two daughters. From April, the beginning of the new school year, one will be in 4th grade and another in 3rd grade in Miwasaki Elementary School.

Kanji Nishi, one of the few favorite candidates for the president of PTA, finally agreed under a certain condition. Now that he had accepted it, he was ready to do his best. But his present job as a city councilman must never be disturbed.
What he really wished as a compromise was for another man, Dennojo Sanoh, to take on the role of president, and he could carry out his role for the best as the vice president.
Sanoh used to be Nishi's intimate friend during their elementary school days, and their relationship of mutual trust continued strong even to today. He was confident that he would be able to do something with Sanoh. He now decides to persuade Sanoh to accept the post.

Dennojo Sanoh is the same age of 45 as Kanji Nishi. His daughter is in Koyo Junior High School, but his son is in Miwasaki Elementary School. His academic background was  ordinary, up to finishing elementary school.

Dennojo, nicknamed as Den, began working in Arafura Sea at the age of 20. His two elder brothers were already there. His younger sister was Kuma, Kyozo's wife.
When Kyozo happened to have a short-term return to his hometown, partly for the marriage ceremony with Kuma, he went back to Arafura Sea taking Den with him.
One of Den's precious experiences in the South Seas for nearly 10 years was his close relationship with Kyozo.
Getting used to the work, Den became a trustworthy colleague for Kyozo. He was also considered a fast talker and a little hot-blooded.

After many years, Den started a stationary store in Miwasaki. With his nephew as the main staff, the store came to be accepted by all the teachers and parents, with a wide selection of goods for a local town.
Den himself was drafted and experienced various battlefields during the Pacific War. His last rank was a lieutenant, which was the top-ranking in his town.

Den's respect for Kyozo Wozumi continued after his return to their hometown.
After the end of the war, he often visited Kyozo and they would drink together. The talk is one-way traffic from Den and the listener is mostly Kuma. The brother-in-law is satisfied only to smile.

…
When Kanji Nishi faced Den Sanoh with a serious face and convinced him to be the next PTA president, the thin-eyed smile of Kyozo Wozumi appeared in Den's mind.

He thought, “We can’t expect that he would easily accept, but what would happen if I would ask him about it with the condition that two of us would absolutely do everything as vice presidents under only the name of the president?”
Den's idea was this: “If Kyozo should grant my wish, I would do my best with Kanji during the term, always thanking him earnestly. This is the only way to repay his favor to me in the South Seas and everything else. I would very much like to make good use of his way of life for the future of the school children, talking together among the three of us. I cannot imagine any better job for me.”

Kanji Nishi surely had no objection. But anyway, the first problem was that "He will never accept it."

The two of them continued to explain the situation before Kyozo and did their best to persuade him.
"Please allow us to borrow your name. We will definitely be encouraged just knowing that you are with us. We will try to realize our expectations and hope to help the children with our whole hearts. Watch over us, and consult with us."
"Just for this matter, make my (Den's) desire be fulfilled. If you are faced with any trouble, I would deal with it with my own actions. Test me."
Having listened to them with a smile, Kyozo finally began to talk of an unexpected matter.
"Den, you remember we used to play the Yasukera dance at a village in New Guinea, right? I am sure you enjoyed it, too. Those memories appear to me clearly even now, both the song and the dance. I made similar small drums after returning home. I have kept them with care in the shed. There are also some other drums that they presented to me, together with dancing costumes."
During his stay in the Arafura Sea, his boat often came alongside the wharf of the village, where business deals were done. While staying there for a few days, there were various interactions between the crew and the local residents. The crew talked in Japanese and English, and the residents in the local language to each other. They could not understand each other; it was an unavoidable wall.
But like knows like. Both sides became friendly enough to be reluctant when it was time to part, and they developed a real friendship.

The local residents earnestly taught their local Yasukera dance, and the crew learned to take it seriously.
Wearing only fundoshi or a loincloth, they would dance while singing, stamping their feet on the floor with a spear in their right hand and a bundle of small bells in their left hand.
Yasukera dance was always celebrated during the village festival and any other event. On those days wives and ladies made local dishes, putting all of their cooking skills to good use to entertain the players.

All too soon, the crew were added as good friends, and it certainly made them want to drop in at this village of the island. The local residents prepared the square for their Yasukera dance, each time celebrating the crew's arrival alongside the wharf.

Therefore, here in Miwasaki town where there were many men with experience in the Arafura Sea, it was often suggested at many meetings, "Why don't we play it here, too?" .
Den Sanoh was also familiar with the dance through his experience and his nostalgic memory.

After a while the brother Kyozo adds.
"I understand Den and Kanji are so warm-hearted. If I am useful, I will be happy to help. I did not go even to elementary school, as you know. In spite of it, if my name is worth using, don't hesitate. I know I can do nothing, but if it pleases you.... My only wish now is I would like to show the Yasukera dance of our old colleagues to children as a school performance."
The two could hardly believe it; Kyozo’s words left them with their mouths agape.

"Strong and gentle boys, and charming and kind girls. I would like them to be happy that they were born in Miwasaki."

The top board members of the PTA for the new year, from April in Showa 25 (1950), was an unusual structure. The president was Kyozo Wozumi, and the two vice presidents were Dennojo Sanoh and Kanji Nishi.

Why Kyozo? Is he really OK?" Everyone was naturally worried about this president's selection, but the facts since then proved the selection right.
That man Kyozo, who disliked any meeting, never failed to attend every necessary meeting. This was a surprise unexpected by the both the vice presidents. But he did not talk, even a greeting. He just listened to everybody with a smile. The answers, remarks, or any other things are left to the two vice-presidents.

In addition, Mr. Iwanobe replaced Mr. Nakamura as the principal of the school. He had been a vice principal of Tankaku Elementary School in central Shingu for two years, and was known as indecisive by some people in Miwasaki. It seemed he was promoted to this seat just as an offering  before retirement by the municipal school board. Though he must have been more pleased than anybody, the role looked like burden for him.
It also looked like the peak reached at last for a man who never get ahead. He will just wait for retirement. He talked a lot, but mostly bragging, and with no good judgement.
"I'd like you to decide" was his favorite phrase. For a complicated discussion he pretended ignorance most of the time. So, the teachers who knew his backbround accepted Iwanobe as a new principal without any expectation.

- - - - -
There were a dozen schools of elementary and junior high in Shingu City at that time, and among them Miwasaki Elementary School was said to be an outsider. Not only the principal, but also teachers and staffs on a career track  did not take the posts to take pleasantly. In this situation, the new organization of the PTA will turn out to be a joyful miscalculation for the new principal.