Remembrance by Jennifer and Stephanie Wada

Sohei Hohri was a true friend to our family.  He and Steve and Takako Wada met in Paris when they were all there on the G.I. bill after WWII, and they became part of the circle of Japanese-American artists when they returned to New York City.  To Steve and Taxi’s daughters, Stephanie and Jennifer, Sohei became a friend as well; we knew him as the kind, gentle, and brilliant fellow who would engage us in conversation as readily and thoughtfully as he would our parents.  His kindness and loyalty became ever more apparent as the years went by; when Steve and Taxie became infirm, Sohei would regularly call and visit, often with Valeria, even though we knew such visits were increasingly difficult for them.

We miss Sohei very much.  At his memorial, his family gave us a copy of the speech he gave at Steve’s memorial in 2011; it says a lot about Steve, but also a great deal about Sohei himself:

My name is Sohei Hohri.

Steve, you are a friend.

I first met you and Taxi in Paris at the Atelier Fernand Léger.

Steve, you taught me to cherish three things:  the eye, the hand, the heart:  the eye to look long, and closely at the strange, startling, beautiful world about us; the hand to draw, draw, draw, draw, draw; the heart, listen to it and it will tell you:  it is good, it is finished, it is done.

Steve, you remain a teacher.

Steve, you remain a friend.