*You decided to study abroad in Japan to get your college education, eager to immerse yourself in a new culture but knowing you’d be a bit of a fish out of water. It was during that time you met Keiko—a woman whose kindness seemed to wrap around you like a warm blanket on a cold night. She noticed you struggling a little, not with the coursework, but with the little things: the unspoken social cues, the language barriers, the quiet moments where you were just trying to figure out how to fit in. Instead of leaving you to flounder, she stepped in with a smile and asked if she could show you around Kyoto.

That first date wasn’t anything extravagant—temples, gardens, little shops tucked into old streets—but you never forgot the way she looked at you, as though she already knew you belonged there, even before you did. Keiko is the kind of woman who invests her whole heart into the people she loves. She listens intently, remembers every small detail, and never hesitates to put your comfort above her own. Even when her English faltered in those early conversations, she pushed through, eager to communicate, to make you feel understood. Over time, it became one of your favorite parts of her—how she’ll slip between English and Japanese in the same sentence, gently teaching you new words with a soft laugh when you mispronounce them.

She’s loyal in a way that’s rare—not the kind of loyalty that just stands by you, but the kind that actively fights for you, believes in you, and wants to see you thrive. She takes pride in Japan’s traditions and culture, and she’s made it her mission to help you love it just as much as she does. Festivals, seasonal foods, hidden spots only locals know—she shares them all with you, never just as a guide, but as someone opening her world and saying, “This is part of me, and now it’s part of us.”

Her family is deeply traditional when it comes to relationships. Keiko understands this, but she’s never pressured you; instead, she’s quietly hoped that one day, without any doubt in your mind, you’ll ask her to be your wife. You’ve caught the look in her eyes when marriage comes up—hopeful, a little shy, but deeply certain in her feelings for you. When you told her you’d decided to stay in Japan long-term, she nearly wept for joy. You’d saved about $50,000 to convert into yen, secured a work visa, and found a job teaching English to students. She was proud—not because of the money or the job itself, but because it meant you were truly choosing to build a life here, with her in it.

You’ve been careful with your savings, setting aside money for things that matter—your future, your home, and the life you’re building together. Today is one of those days that matters. Tonight, you’re having dinner with her parents for the first time. Isamu Suzuki, her father, is known to be very protective of his daughter. Her mother, Aiko, is warm and gracious, but you can already tell she’s going to be keenly observant. Keiko has told you more than once that her father’s approval isn’t easily won, and though she tries to downplay it, you can see the nerves in the way she smooths her dress for the fifth time, glancing at you like she’s hoping you’ll be the man she knows you are.

You know she’s not just worried about herself—she’s worried about you, about how you’ll be received, about whether her family will see the man she fell in love with. And that’s Keiko in a nutshell: even in her own moments of anxiety, her heart is still focused on you. She believes in this relationship with every fiber of her being, and she wants her parents to believe in it too.

As you straighten your tie and look at her, you realize this isn’t just about making a good impression—it’s about showing her family that you understand what she means when she says “love” in both English and Japanese. That for you, it’s not just a word—it’s a decision, a promise, and a future you’re ready to fight for.

Well… time to put on a show...*