tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518173526743927131.post8981192973060382193..comments2024-03-02T06:07:56.433-08:00Comments on Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker: Unwrapping Bob Strickland, Kyoto's Resident Mummy Actor and RestaurateurBretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091212360788214719noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518173526743927131.post-4478211092927460952024-02-23T00:51:58.905-08:002024-02-23T00:51:58.905-08:00Hello Karen.. this is Billy...I was close with you...Hello Karen.. this is Billy...I was close with your Dad...we both drove his Corvette with a bike trailer on the back with his Harley on the trailer...from California up to Clark Fork, Idaho to the ranch that you used to live at...and he lived in the trailer next door.<br />Would be interesting to talk to you.<br />wlenz359@msn.com Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518173526743927131.post-70971445669184846312024-02-23T00:14:58.534-08:002024-02-23T00:14:58.534-08:00Hello Rick...this is Billy..contact me at:
wlenz35...Hello Rick...this is Billy..contact me at:<br />wlenz359@msn.com Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518173526743927131.post-47583572179690614532024-02-23T00:11:21.645-08:002024-02-23T00:11:21.645-08:00Hello Brett...I was close with Bob...he brought me...Hello Brett...I was close with Bob...he brought me to Kyoto and introduced me to Tokiko and Kobe Beef and many of his friends...which became an opportunity to live and work in Kyoto...I stayed and Bob went back to California and I lived in Kyoto alone for 5 years...your research and writings are very good and accurate...feel free to contact me <br />wlenz359@msn.com Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518173526743927131.post-89572043622576682202023-11-20T21:32:38.754-08:002023-11-20T21:32:38.754-08:00I ate twice at Ashiya. Once I ate alone in 1974. I...I ate twice at Ashiya. Once I ate alone in 1974. It came to $34 total. In 1982 I ate there with my girlfriend for a total of $116. I loved the drunken chicken appetizer. Visited the art gallery upstairs, a little cramped I recall.Jeff Tiegernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518173526743927131.post-69752485600412772882023-10-24T15:53:17.269-07:002023-10-24T15:53:17.269-07:00Brett. My late wife and I enjoyed a fine meal at ...Brett. My late wife and I enjoyed a fine meal at Ashiya in the winter of 1986. We had asked the concierge at the original Miyako Hotel for a nice place to eat. The cabbie took us to a narrow driveway and indicated that we should walk migi no kata e (to the right). There was a small roll of paper housed within a napkin ring with our names on it. The only other group for dinner was a birthday dinner for an Ojiisan (grandpa) comprised of 8 folks. We sat at the "counter" and watched Tokiko and I believe, her son cook our meal Teppan style. Delicious! We also visited the upstairs loft in which were displayed art made by hennagaijin from the Kyoto area. Also, we were shown the photo of the young Japanese aviator whom Bob had shot down during his time with the Black Sheep, and the story behind the gent's finding out about Ashiya and its owners through a story in a local shimbun. I remember that Tokiko mentioned that Bob was the youngest (and last to join) member of the squadron. I may have that wrong, but that is my remembrance. Since my wife passed, I have been to Ashiya only once. This November will be my 60th trip to Nihon. I have so many Tomodachi (friends), there, and so enjoy our personal and business friendships. Nihon ni ikimashou! PaulDutchmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06633457269768134293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518173526743927131.post-79354600823350039642023-07-18T17:14:01.861-07:002023-07-18T17:14:01.861-07:00Hello Karen, my name is Rick. I never met your fat...Hello Karen, my name is Rick. I never met your father in person but did have the pleasure of talking to him on the phone one time a few days before Thanksgiving when I was at my mom's in Redondo Beach, CA. in the mid 1990's, I believe. I lived in Kyoto for about six and a half years and was home on a visit when I called him on behalf of our mutual friends. We had planned on meeting up to talk about Kyoto and our friends but unfortunately the meeting never happened. I actually heard a lot of stories about the restaurant and him being the last and youngest member of the black sheep squadron. There was a huge picture, about a 4' by 8' enlarged photo of him, on the wing of his plane, hanging from the ceiling at a local Harley shop in Kyoto. I also received copies of some documents from the military and still have a pair of leather chaps that he wore when he rode his Harley with mutual friends of ours. I also rode with the same group of friends after Robert had returned to the U.S. At the time, there were many pictures of him alone and with our friends on the wall of a favorite American style restaurant called "Speak Easy" in northeast Kyoto. My memory is fading but I believe he may have also visited a small drinking establishment that one of my friends owned. There were also news articles and memorabilia of him on the walls of that establishment. He was quite the revered 'foreigner' in my group of friends. The one connection I haven't mentioned yet, as there was no mention in previous replies above, is that of Billy Strickland. Are you familiar with him? I knew him and a little bit of his history as well. Very nice young man. Buff, tattooed and modeled clothing for Harley motorcycle magazines. He also liked making jewelry. If you are interested in contacting me, I will share with you anything I can. japanman@charter.net, Take care!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518173526743927131.post-56940954708113541662022-06-30T11:26:13.501-07:002022-06-30T11:26:13.501-07:00I met Bob in 1970 while visiting Kyoto. I enjoyed...I met Bob in 1970 while visiting Kyoto. I enjoyed his stories about his studies and his motion picture career. I think he had a white 1965 Ford Mustang. Ted GlattkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518173526743927131.post-85154185851023645062021-10-29T13:06:27.314-07:002021-10-29T13:06:27.314-07:00Bob was my Dad. I am glad you were able to get to ...Bob was my Dad. I am glad you were able to get to know him. He was a very unique person. I am terribly sad to hear that he passed. We had some mending to do and it hurts that it didn't happen. Karen-Strickland-Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07547249686325001559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518173526743927131.post-77306341113328078902021-10-29T12:14:53.006-07:002021-10-29T12:14:53.006-07:00Brett,
My name is Karen-Strickland-Green. Bob was...Brett, <br />My name is Karen-Strickland-Green. Bob was my Dad. He was 16 and my mother, Rosemary Prickett was 15 when I was conceived. They married and were 16 and 17 when I was born. My Dad faked his age to get into the Navy at short of 18. My mother was too young and too immature to care for me. Her mother reported her to the authorities and my Dad's parents Orville and Mary Strickland were given custody of me at the age of 2 1/2. I am grateful every day that they raised me. My Dad was in my life because of them but when I was 8, 1958 he boarded a Japanese Freighter called the kosi maru and sailed to Japan. He had fallen in love with it during his time in the Navy. He had a colorful life. He married Tokiko sometime in the early 60's. Until I was 12 i did not understand why I had a Mom, a Pop and a Dad. Dad flew over for my birthday and told me the story. Rose used to come and visit me on my birthday and Christmas. I was told she was a friend of the family by the folks. Now I knew she was my mother. We did not have a relationship as "mom" was very much against it. Another long story there when I was grown. When I was 15 I flew to Japan for a couple of months. Dad and Tokiko lived in Tokyo at the time and had not yet started the restaurant. My Dad had many business ventures in Japan over his life. Some successful and some not. The Ashiya was the greatest of his accomplishments and his legacy. In 1989 he moved back to the states and re-kindled a relationship with me. He kept me at bay for many years until then. We had an interesting series of adventures until about 1994. He was a true story teller and not all of his stories were true but he had an intriguing life. Unfortunately we did not part the way I wanted. It makes me sad to hear that he has passed. I had truly hoped to mend things with him. I waited a lifetime to have a relationship with him but he was a troubled soul. But I love him, he was my Dad. I do not know what led you to research him but I am glad you did. I have been trying to find out if he was still with us or not. My daughter and her husband had recently researched the restaurant and discovered that Tokiko was still living. According to my Dad she divorced him in '88 or so and that was why he had to move back to the states. That was when he finally contacted me and wanted a relationship. I was 39. He and I were not close when I was growing up. I know that Tokiko did help him after that but have been unable to get any contact with her. Thank you for listening. I have volumes of pictures and memento's. Perhaps you would like to chat. Karen-Strickland-Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07547249686325001559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518173526743927131.post-48313549475611376612021-09-24T16:35:19.612-07:002021-09-24T16:35:19.612-07:00Brett,
Bob was more than a friend to me and my fa...Brett, <br />Bob was more than a friend to me and my family, he had become one of the family. I have many stories he told me and would love to sit down and talk with you. My son has Bobs fighter pilot jacket and a few other treasures Bob gave him. You can contact me at tom@docustomz.com<br />Thanks for keeping Bobs memory alive. Customzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09244296931464884310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518173526743927131.post-85153926684830059102019-06-20T09:31:21.286-07:002019-06-20T09:31:21.286-07:00I recall Bob well, we were in VA hospital in Long ...I recall Bob well, we were in VA hospital in Long beach CA. In 2010. Semper Fi my friend. RIP.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03230912046074305494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518173526743927131.post-90182106256653794972017-11-11T04:58:44.811-08:002017-11-11T04:58:44.811-08:00Thank you so much for dropping by! If you have any...Thank you so much for dropping by! If you have any other memories, please feel free to share them. Many thanks again!Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10091212360788214719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518173526743927131.post-7550226320262043772017-11-10T07:30:20.990-08:002017-11-10T07:30:20.990-08:00Bob was my downstairs neighbor when I lived in Hun...Bob was my downstairs neighbor when I lived in Huntington Beach,Ca. He was an amazing character. He was only 16 when he joined the Navy to become a fighter pilot and flew with the Black Sheep Squadron during the Korean War. He had some amazing stories.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05150405499728238696noreply@blogger.com