For the past 25 years, I’ve had the best Japanese host family in the world. The Yuzas have hosted me since my first trip to Japan as an exchange student in 1999 with TCU.

My parents, sister, wife, friends, and students have stayed with them, and they continue to open their homes for complete strangers (which is still a rare thing in Japan).

It was wonderful seeing them last weekend. It's always hard to say goodbye to friends who have become like family. Thank you to the City of Nagaoka, Niigata and the 長岡市国際交流協会.