Mo Ichido: Once More Second Edition

by Kenneth Fenter

In 1977 the Fenter family went to Isahaya, Japan for a two year stay. Kenneth, Lora, Philip and Janelle left their comfortable home in Springfield, Oregon to stay in the western style house left by missionaries at Chinzei Gakuin Junior College. Kenneth and Lora taught at the high school and junior college. Philip age 12 attended the public middle school. Janelle age 9 attended the public elementary school. Only one other non-oriental foreigner lived in the town of 75,000 at the time. For the Fenters it was like living in a gold fish bowl. The first year is chronicled in the book Gaijin! Gaijin!: Foreigner! Foreigner! In Mo Ichido: Once More, Fenter continues the story beginning with the the summer break between the first year and the return to Oregon to restock for the second year. The family is accompanied by three children of their friends and they experience mild culture shock. They become eager to return to their home and friends in Isahaya. The second year is an expansion of friendships as well as their view of the country with the lease of a car. Their hard work learning enough language to get around and understand better what was happening helps in coping and exploring. As time comes for their final departure, Kenneth discovers that he has a skill and craft that friends desire which may prolong his contact with Japan and he leaves with the intent to return. Mo Ichido is the second of three books Fenter wrote in the mid 1980s. The third of the series is Stained Glass. Gaijin! Gaijin! was re-issued in January of 2011, Mo Ichido is being re-issued March 2012, Stained Glass will be reissued in 2012 also.

474 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 29, 2012