A little more than a decade ago, he searched for the author of “Pearl Harbor Warriors: The Bugler, the Pilot and the Friendship.” He discovered that author Dorinda Nicholson lived in Kansas City. Takiyma-Chung was then president of the National Storytelling Network, which had moved to Kansas City. They met for dinner and he asked permission to write an adult version of the book that would be performed in front of a live audience.

She encouraged him to do it. The following year, he shared his side of the story with her. She supported his decision to execute him. Takiyma-Chung will bring this moving story of the power of forgiveness to St. Louis audiences as part of the 45th annual St. Louis Storytelling Festival. The festival is hosted by the St. Louis County Library and runs November 13-23.

There is a powerful lesson in the story that captivated Takiyama-Chung and seems relevant to a deeply divided nation.

He shared details about the bugle and the pilot in a recent interview. Richard Fiske served as a private and bugler on the USS West Virginia. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Fiske survived the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. He was so close to the oncoming fighter planes that he could see the face of a Japanese pilot. This face remained etched in his memory and haunted him for decades. This tormented him in nightmares. This led to a hatred of everything Japanese, Takiyama-Chung said.

After Fiske served in the war and eventually retired from the military, he volunteered at the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii. He shared with visitors his memories of the war and in particular of the day of the attacks. In Tokyo, a man read a news report about Fiske’s story. This man was Zenji Abe, who commanded a squadron of dive bombers during the second wave of attack. He dropped his bomb, but missed his target.

Abe contacted Fiske and told him he would like to attend the memorial service for the 50th anniversary of the attack.

Fiske was not reassured by the idea of ​​coming face to face with him, given that he had hated the enemy for 50 years. On the day of the ceremony, Abe bowed his head as he walked toward the group of veterans. When the two men were within a few meters of each other, they embraced and tears streamed down their faces. Abe asked Fiske if he could give him money to buy a rose for the memorial each month and asked him to tap dance. It was Abe’s way of asking for forgiveness. Fiske honored this request every month for 12 years until his death. The men, enemies during the war, became close friends.

Abe attended his service.

When Takiyma-Chung presents it to the public, they embark on an emotional journey with him.

“It’s a story of hatred and reconciliation,” he said.

He is one of eight nationally renowned storytellers, alongside several regional presenters, who will be at the festival.

Kristen Sorth, director and CEO of the St. Louis County Library, describes the 45th annual festival as an incredible tradition. When she watches the performances, she remembers the phrase “Lectures put people to sleep, stories move them to action.”

“I was blown away to go there and see how involved you are,” she said.

This year’s programming will also include “Your Story On Stage,” which features community stories performed by the Repertory Theater of St. Louis, and “Capture Your Personal History,” which utilizes the Emerson History and Genealogy Center’s new memory lab to record personal stories. People can reserve a time at the lab to record their own family stories with loved ones. There are also writing and storytelling workshops.