A rough translation appears after each page of the letter. As with letters from American family members to their sons and fathers on the battlefield, this letter is a light-hearted status update of the happenings on the home front. Renko talks about the family activities, other friends and families, and encouragement to continue being strong and safe.
Please pardon me for starting the letter without formal greetings.
As I read your letter, Sir Takeshi (Takeyuki), you seem to be healthy and working diligently on your military duties. In the countryside, I'm very healthy and as on of the participants in the effort to encourage/support the war, I'm working diligently as well. So please feel relieved. Also, our old father and mother are doing well.
Father is trying to catch/trap/hunt sparrows at home every day for food. Mother commutes to the middle school, which is located behind the sanae factory (nursery for young rice plants, grown and then taken to the fields for planting). Mother leaves home around 6:30 in the morning and comes home around 5. Please feel relieved in this way that your mother is working very energetically.
Also, the family Okada who lives in Hirasuga are all doing well.
Also the Kobayashi family who live in Sunaba are doing fine. In addition, the Kakinuma family in Takasuga are doing fine. Your older sister in Tokyo is also well. Shoichi (Shiochi) is also extremely well (this is the young boy wearing a sweater in one of the photos). Grandma is well too.
Whether you are on the mainland (Japan) or the battlefield, it's all the same now. In the countryside each day something happens. But let's do our best until the day we will win. Well then, it's becoming increasingly cold, so we are praying for your health. Good bye.
Signed Renko on the back of the letter.
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