River breezes, river views. Steps to go swim, fish, be.

Imagining the shutters open, Yukitaka Osaki looking out, starting his day. Or the night air, cooling, scented with the gardens below. Earthy and alive.

His business manager, friend to William Gillette, who met a gem of a person and forever intertwined their lives. (That covered-up signage? Hoping it’s new details about his life, this place–and that someone will occupy the home, restore gardens here.)

Like this, about his brother: “Ms. Carle told us that Yukitaka Osaki’s brother was Yukio Ozaki, the famous Japanese politician and one time Mayor of Tokyo, who facilitated the donation of 3000 Cherry trees to Washington DC in 1910. (Yes, the famous Washington D.C. Cherry Trees! The reason for the last name spelling difference is unclear).” —Japan Society of Greater Hartford

Aunt Polly and those bolts–dot. dot. dot. dot–punctuating the sand–as crashing waves then soak my boots–wake from a boat flying by at top speed.

The bones of a vessel under the sand at this protected Connecticut State Archaeological Preserve–open to the public to view. Animals, cats, knew this territory.

The zigzagging steps upwards, a path to the castle (and that side path, so very intriguing).

Cove Cemetery, his resting place. Serene, astounding beauty.

Neighbors, friends, a brother, all with amazing life accomplishments.

From Friends of Gillette Castle State Park:

“Osaki enjoyed a half-hour’s visit with Gillette each night to discuss business of the estate as well as world events. He was well known around Hadlyme and was close to many of his neighbors, including the Hamilton sisters who lived in the yellow house across the road.

“William Gillette passed away in April 1937. In his will, he gave lifetime use of the cottage and riverfront property to Osaki. When World War II broke out, Osaki was shocked by the destruction caused by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. Some neighbors were concerned. Allen Gates, a local minister, wrote letters to the editor of the Hartford Courant about his plight. When they sent a reporter to interview Osaki, Alice Hamilton intercepted him and convinced the reporter not to publish a story that would bring attention to Osaki. One day, an FBI agent visited the area for a routine investigation of Osaki. He first met with the Hamilton sisters. Alice escorted the agent to Osaki’s house and stood outside during the interview. The agent recognized that Osaki was proud of his adopted home country. He was immediately cleared of any suspected threat to the country.”

The Hamilton sisters. Edith Hamilton!

Alice Hamilton, learning about her groundbreaking work.

“Hamilton was in the first generation of college women in the USA, chaired the first state commission to survey occupational disease, and with a taste for adventure, blended modest charm with a tenacity for remediating dangerous work. She held the nation’s first university appointment in industrial medicine, coincidentally as the first woman on the faculty of Harvard.”

–Her Story

The fiercely intelligent (and accomplished) Hamilton sisters, neighbors. Wow.

“One day, an FBI agent visited the area for a routine investigation of Osaki. He first met with the Hamilton sisters. Alice escorted the agent to Osaki’s house and stood outside during the interview. The agent recognized that Osaki was proud of his adopted home country. He was immediately cleared of any suspected threat to the country.”

His gardens. What did they contain? (Do any perennials yet live at his former home? Are there images that could perhaps provide clues? Did he have a donkey and a mule? Pictures of him on what looks like a mule exist, most identify the equine as a donkey.)

“…Osaki, who is believed to have been born in 1865 in the village of Matano, District of Tsukui, Province of Sagami, Japan, was one of three sons in a politically active Japanese family. In 1888, Yukitaka and his elder brother, Yukio, first arrived the United States. Yukio eventually travelled to Europe and then returned to Japan to enter a career in national politics. As Mayor of Tokyo, he facilitated giving the famous Japanese cherry trees to Washington, DC in 1912. He is widely revered in Japan and is considered the ‘Father of the Japanese Constitution.’ Yukitaka stayed in the U.S. and became involved with the theater community in New York City. He attended Oberlin Academy, the preparatory school for Oberlin College in Ohio, from 1894-1895. Yukitaka studied philosophy and oratory but did not graduate.

“Around 1896 or 1897, William Gillette hired Osaki to work as a cabin boy on his houseboat, ‘The Holy Terror.’ In 1898, Gillette commissioned a new boat, the ‘Aunt Polly,’ reputably to honor Polly Caruthers, an elderly “mountain woman” he’d met while residing in Tryon, North Carolina. It was launched in 1900 and expanded in 1901. Gillette brought Osaki onboard to continue his work for Gillette on the new vessel. Osaki subsequently became Gillette’s valet and stage dresser, an indispensable assistant on the future Gillette estate and a personal confidante to Gillette himself.” —Friends of Gillette Castle State Park.

Huh. This came to light while between trails at Gillette Castle State Park, a place much visited. Yet more to discover.

Old paths. New eyes to see, absorb, learn.

With imagination and curiosity to propel the way, from Saybrook and Indian Town (wondering what exists under the community here now, are there artifacts and shell middens?), to the Osaki House.

Essex Land Trust’s spiral-bound book to find wonders–enormous trees, quirky paths to nowhere (a treat awaits walkers who find this trail and follow it to the end), stops at every town’s library to browse and let magic happen. Chance encounters, recommendations. Pure joy.