The Prince who Saved me from Atopic Dermatitis

Adrian MASSEY, who came to Japan from North Carolina and Yoshiko, a resident of Iwakuni city, Yamaguchi prefecture had a fateful meeting one day in April, 2002. It happened at a private Japanese language class in the city. Adrian,
who was there to learn Japanese, thought Yoshiko, the assistant teacher, was “an angel-like pure hearted person,” while Yoshiko was attracted by Adrian’s thinking, “a gentle, courteous and wonderful person.”

Before long, they wanted to marry, but there was a big problem. Yoshiko has been affected by severe atopic dermatitis. She cannot consume eggs, milk, sugar, food additives and many other foods, and furthermore, she was easily affected by the climate in such a way that her skin easily becomes terribly dry, making her look awful.

She thought nobody would marry her, but Adrian told her, “Even if you look quite different, you are Yoshiko and I like your heart very much.” They were the most pleasant words she had ever heard, and later, they were married.

Yoshiko worried about meals. She can only eat simple foods such as vegetables, rice, wheat, soybean, fruit and a little meat, while Adrian was used to having cheese, butter, eggs and large steaks. However, unexpectedly, Adrian began to enjoy Yoshiko’s cooking, describing them as “very healthy and delicious dishes.”

In fact Adrian is very good at cooking. He cooked spaghetti and meat sauce that Yoshiko never in her life thought she would have, and curry pilaf that she really
wanted to try. “They were soooo delicious,” she said. “Thanks to my husband, I can now eat what I have not had before. It is really wonderful,” Yoshiko says in
appreciation.

Yoshiko created a picture book featuring herself as an alien based on her experience suffering from atopic dermatitis. She is very thankful to Adrian who supported her financially, but he commented, “It is my dream to make Yoshiko’s dreams come true.”

Yoshiko has had a hard time coping with atopic dermatitis, but is happy to be living the experiences she never had thanks to Adrian’s support. She now has
a daughter Aira, and is very thankful that she can spend enjoyable and happy times with them every day.