85-1

KK/yk
Professor emeritus Alf Brodal
Anatomical Institute
University of Oslo
Karl Johans gate 47
Oslo 1, Norway 4 May 1985

Dear Alf,

Spring has come here, and in Oslo it will start from 17th of May. We hope that you have recovered from lumbar hernia and adenoma, and also that Inger is well.
Two months ago, Okayama University offered me a chair of Neuroanatomy after Professor K. Niimi. It took me sometime to finally decide to move from Morioka. Because our lab has now installed to do transplantation work in the cerebellum. I have been here twelve years; teaching duty for macroanatomy and dissection every year is very hard, particularly after the age of 50 (I am just 50 now), when one decided to go into the new field (a sort of neurobiology). I need much more time for reading in addition to experiments than I have it here. A great deal of information emerge every week in coming journals. In Okayama, I can use more time for research and the climate is mild, although very hot in summer, and good for Takako’s health who has chronic nephritis as you may know.
Okayama is located 150 km west to Osaka. Academic milieux is certainly better than here. We will move in the end of July.
Takako and Yoko are also fine. Takako works 2-3 days in a week in a private hospital. Yoko is now thirteen and belongs to the swimming club in her middle-school, just the starting age of independent in thinking and behaviour. As for me, I may say that I stand at present in a transition zone between the axonal transport work and regeneration study: writing HRP papers doing translation and tissue culture experiments.
We all sincerely hope that your health-conditions getting better and better as it becomes milder in spring.
With kind wishes and warm greetings to Inger and to yourself from three of us.

Yours,

(Koki Kawamura)
　

85-2

June 9th, 1985

Dear Koki,

Thank you so much for your letter of 4th May, telling us that you are going to move to Okayama University. According to what you tell, you will get better opportunities for research than you have at present, and since the climate is also better for Takako, I understand your decision very well. You must of course count with some special difficulties in changing your “milieu”, but these will probably be transient. We hope to hear from you when you are settled in your new place, and to get the new address.
As to ourselves we are experiencing how it is to get old, but after all, we manage. My lumber disc protrusion does not trouble me very much, except that I cannot do heavy work, lifting suitcases etc. as before. I may not have told you before, that in September 1983 Inger was operated on for a rectal carcinoma. She recovered well after the operation, but in February this year a control examination showed there to be a metastatic module in the right lung and in the liver. There have so far not given any local symptoms, but Inger is often very tired and needs to rest. Of course this sets certain limitations to our activities, but on the whole we lead a rather normal life, and try to keep physically fit, also to make excursions by car and walking trips. The garden, of course does not receive the same attention as it did formerly. All the children and grandchildren are well, and we see them quite often. At the institute work is going as usual. With a very slow pace I am now busy with examining the group in the rat and to see if this, as in the monkey (but not in the cat) projects to the cerebellum (particularly the uvula). So far the situation appears to resemble that in the monkey.
In case you are having a chance for a trip to Europe, we hope you will be able to make a detour to Norway. I wonder whether you are planning to take part in the international congress in London this fall?
With our best wishes for Takako, Yoko and yourself.

Yours,
Inger and Alf

Fred and Per send their best regards.
　

85-3

24 July 1985
Dear Alf,

Thank you for your kind letter of June 9th. I am sorry that I have not been able to write you earlier. Takako and I very often speak about Inger and you, your hospitality shown to us while we stayed in Oslo. We are sad and sorry to hear the status presence of dear Inger. We feel very close to you. But geographical distance is different. Immediately we could fly to you with roses.
In reality, we are occupied with preparation for moving to Okayama (date is 17-20th of August). We will not visit London for the Anatomist’s Congress (12-16 / Aug ’85).
My new address from the middle of August is:
Office: Department of Anatomy
Okayama University
Medical School
Okayama 700, Japan
(Tel 0862-23-7151)

Home: 107-7 Akoda
Okayama 700
Japan

Here I am enclosing a picture of Takako and Yoko, taken about 1 1/2-2 years ago, found in a drawer of my office.
With our best, best wishes and warm greetings to Inger and yourself, and your children and grand-children.

Yours, as ever
Takako and Koki and Yoko


June 9th, 1985

Dear Koki,

Thank you so much for your letter of 4th May, telling us that you are going to move to Okayama University. According to what you tell, you will get better opportunities for research than you have at present, and since the climate is also better for Takako, I understand your decision very well. You must of course count with some special difficulties in changing your “milieu”, but these will probably be transient. We hope to hear from you when you are settled in your new place, and to get the new address.
As to ourselves we are experiencing how it is to get old, but after all, we manage. My lumber disc protrusion does not trouble me very much, except that I cannot do heavy work, lifting suitcases etc. as before. I may not have told you before, that in September 1983 Inger was operated on for a rectal carcinoma. She recovered well after the operation, but in February this year a control examination showed there to be a metastatic module in the right lung and in the liver. There have so far not given any local symptoms, but Inger is often very tired and needs to rest. Of course this sets certain limitations to our activities, but on the whole we lead a rather normal life, and try to keep physically fit, also to make excursions by car and walking trips. The garden, of course does not receive the same attention as it did formerly. All the children and grandchildren are well, and we see them quite often. At the institute work is going as usual. With a very slow pace I am now busy with examining the group in the rat and to see if this, as in the monkey (but not in the cat) projects to the cerebellum (particularly the uvula). So far the situation appears to resemble that in the monkey.
In case you are having a chance for a trip to Europe, we hope you will be able to make a detour to Norway. I wonder whether you are planning to take part in the international congress in London this fall?
With our best wishes for Takako, Yoko and yourself.

Yours,
Inger and Alf

Fred and Per send their best regards.
　

85-4

Bl.holm Sept. 15, 1985

Dear Koki,

I am sorry that it has taken so long for me to reply to your letter of July 24th. But the last months have been very difficult time, because mainly of Inger’s illness. Following a depressive period, she turned into a moderate maniac phase, and I got quite worn out by taking care of everything and in addition to function permanently as a psychiatric nurse. Three weeks ago Inger was admitted to a mental hospital. In addition to her psychic disturbance there are changes of a general deterioration of her mental functions, with disorientation and defective reasoning powers. To what extent this may be caused by cerebral metastases or is only a general reduction of brain functions is not yet clear, but presumably she cannot any more manage alone or even with my assistance, the more so since I have just heard that my prostatic cancer, which has so far been quiet has now spread to the skeleton with several smaller metastases. Probably this may be halted for some time with hormone treatment, but how long this will last, is impossible to know.
As you will understand the situation is as present rather gloomy. It has been good to experience that our children have all the time been very helpful and understanding.
I am sorry to tell you these rather sad news. But of course, in our age one has to expect such things and to take them as they come.
We hope you will find the moving to Okayama and improvement and that both your scientific activity and your private life will be satisfactory. We are looking forward to hear from you when you are fully established in your new settings. Inger and I often think of you all three, whom we consider some of our best friends.
With our best wishes to you, Takako and Yoko from yours as ever

Inger and Alf
　

85-5

2/Oct. ’85

Dear Alf, and Inger

Thank you for your kind letter of Sept.15th. We feel very sad to hear that you have been unhealthy, even though the life is not always happy. Because you have been very kind and thoughtful, Takako, Yoko and I have many splendid, beautiful memory on Prestasen. I remember very well the first meeting with you in a conference-room in Leningrad Congress in 1970, the second at Forneby.
Supported by your kind help and education and encouragement, I have been able to continue the work on the cerebellum as well as in other field.
Very often we think of, and speak of you. You both, like roses, music, paintings…, Oslo fijord, lakes and snow and the spring. Three of us want to visit you again Oslo, we say very often. As for myself, I wish to take an occasion to visit Europe; main purpose being to see you. Please take the best care of yourself.

Yours as ever,
Takako and Koki and Yoko