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After East Harlem Explosion, Mourning a Japanese Daughter Who Loved New York After East Harlem Explosion, Mourning a Japanese Daughter Who Loved New York
(about 2 hours later)
The last time that Keiko Nakamura saw her daughter, Mayumi, was last March when she was leaving their home in Japan to move to New York City to study art.The last time that Keiko Nakamura saw her daughter, Mayumi, was last March when she was leaving their home in Japan to move to New York City to study art.
But in a stream of phone calls and emails over the past year, Mrs. Nakamura learned about her daughter’s new life in a foreign land that she did not want to leave. Mayumi shared photo after photo: piles of snow in a frigid winter; glittering lights against a night sky; corners of the city that caught her attention.But in a stream of phone calls and emails over the past year, Mrs. Nakamura learned about her daughter’s new life in a foreign land that she did not want to leave. Mayumi shared photo after photo: piles of snow in a frigid winter; glittering lights against a night sky; corners of the city that caught her attention.
The photos stopped after Mayumi Nakamura, 34, was killed by the gas explosion in East Harlem last week that leveled two adjacent tenement buildings, including 1646 Park Avenue, where she lived in Apartment 4 with roommates who were also Japanese. Ms. Nakamura was one of five women and three men who died in the blast, some, like her, far from their homelands in Greece, Mexico and Japan.The photos stopped after Mayumi Nakamura, 34, was killed by the gas explosion in East Harlem last week that leveled two adjacent tenement buildings, including 1646 Park Avenue, where she lived in Apartment 4 with roommates who were also Japanese. Ms. Nakamura was one of five women and three men who died in the blast, some, like her, far from their homelands in Greece, Mexico and Japan.
“She was very happy in New York,” Mrs. Nakamura said softly in Japanese, her words translated by an interpreter sitting beside her at the Japanese American Association of New York in Midtown Manhattan. “She said, ‘It’s very beautiful here and I like it.’ ”“She was very happy in New York,” Mrs. Nakamura said softly in Japanese, her words translated by an interpreter sitting beside her at the Japanese American Association of New York in Midtown Manhattan. “She said, ‘It’s very beautiful here and I like it.’ ”
Mrs. Nakamura came to New York City to carry her daughter’s ashes back to Japan. Mayumi was the younger of two children of Mrs. Nakamura, 63, a retired office worker. She was accompanied by her son, Taro, 39, a mechanic.Mrs. Nakamura came to New York City to carry her daughter’s ashes back to Japan. Mayumi was the younger of two children of Mrs. Nakamura, 63, a retired office worker. She was accompanied by her son, Taro, 39, a mechanic.
The Nakamuras declined to share any photographs of Mayumi and disclosed few personal details about her life, including where she attended art school or the names of her friends. They declined to be photographed themselves. The Nakamuras declined to share any photographs of Mayumi and disclosed few personal details about her life, including where she attended art school or the names of her friends. They spoke through translators and declined to be photographed themselves.
Mrs. Nakamura said that Mayumi started drawing with pencils, pens and crayons when she was just 3 years old, displaying an artistic side that flourished as she grew older. Her brother did not draw at all. Her mother, only a little. But they both encouraged Mayumi’s art. She was an animal lover — she had a pet parrot when she was young — and they were often her subjects: rabbits, dogs, cats, elephants. Mrs. Nakamura said that Mayumi started drawing with pencils, pens and crayons when she was just 3 years old, displaying an artistic side that would only flourish as she grew older. Her brother did not draw at all. Her mother, only a little. But they both encouraged Mayumi’s art.
She was an animal lover — she had a pet parrot when she was young — and they were often her subjects: rabbits, dogs, cats, elephants. Many of the animals, though, simply sprang from her imagination.
Ms. Nakamura often asked her family what they wanted her to draw. One time when she was 5 or 6 years old, her mother said, “Draw me.” She did. “The picture looked just like me,” Mrs. Nakamura said. “I looked really cute.”Ms. Nakamura often asked her family what they wanted her to draw. One time when she was 5 or 6 years old, her mother said, “Draw me.” She did. “The picture looked just like me,” Mrs. Nakamura said. “I looked really cute.”
Ms. Nakamura grew up in the prefecture of Yamaguchi — her family declined to give the name of their hometown — attended schools there and later worked as an assistant in a beauty salon. Her family said she was a good student and had lots of friends. “Always she smiled,” said Taro. Ms. Nakamura grew up in the prefecture of Yamaguchi — her family declined to give the name of their hometown — attended schools there and later worked as an assistant in a beauty salon. Her family said she was a good student and had lots of friends. “Always she smiled,” said Taro, who often stayed home and watched television shows with his younger sister.
But even as a teenager, Ms. Nakamura had been fascinated with American culture and wanted to experience it firsthand, her mother said. Her brother said she liked American pop music. “She loved America, so she wanted to go,” her mother said.But even as a teenager, Ms. Nakamura had been fascinated with American culture and wanted to experience it firsthand, her mother said. Her brother said she liked American pop music. “She loved America, so she wanted to go,” her mother said.
In 2001, Ms. Nakamura moved to Los Angeles to study English. She stayed for 10 years. She left to study art in Hawaii for another year before moving back to Japan, her family said.In 2001, Ms. Nakamura moved to Los Angeles to study English. She stayed for 10 years. She left to study art in Hawaii for another year before moving back to Japan, her family said.
But last March, Ms. Nakamura decided to return to the United States, this time to New York. She attended art classes and painted. Her family sent money to support her. Her mother said she did not know how her daughter came to live in the East Harlem apartment building. But last March, Ms. Nakamura decided to return to the United States, this time to New York. She attended art classes and painted. Her family sent money to support her. Her mother said Ms. Nakamura took care of herself and ate healthy, organic foods. She said she did not know how her daughter came to live in the East Harlem apartment building.
There are no plans for a memorial service here. Mrs. Nakamura said she did not know how long she and her son would stay in New York. There are no plans for a memorial service for her daughter here.
Mr. Nakamura said they wanted to know what happened to his sister and who would take responsibility for her death.Mr. Nakamura said they wanted to know what happened to his sister and who would take responsibility for her death.
“She came here to catch a dream in the United States,” he said. “But this time, she lost herself suddenly in this accident. We are very sad.”“She came here to catch a dream in the United States,” he said. “But this time, she lost herself suddenly in this accident. We are very sad.”