The Real Ikuko

           

           My name is Ikuko. It means sweet-smelling something like flower in Japanese. It also means civilization, culture, or prosperous. It sounds like an exaggerated name for me. I am the first child, and my father was very excited about my birth. Before I was born, my father worked for a politician who advised my father with my name. I heard later that my mother wanted a modern and lovely name for her sweet daughter, but she could not complain to my father’s boss then she decided to accept it. I still remember when I argued with her, she said, “your name sounds like a strong and saucy person! That’s why your personality became the same as it.” My mother lamented sadly. I said it in my head, “In addition, my birth year sign is a tiger!! I am not like a princess at all.” In the meantime, “Mother, I am funny, but I am very shy, I want to say I am so sorry face-to-face right away. The real Ikuko is gentle and laid-back. She likes smiling all the time.”

Ikuko is a very traditional old-school name. Also, it is not a common or popular name. Therefore, I only have one friend who has the same name as me. She is a small, but she is very strong. She is a little older than me, but she is a hard worker and very smart. She is always calm and smiling like a flower bouquet. She treats me well, and I feel she is my old sister although we have the same name. On the other hand, I am a genius clumsy and kooky (Cookie). Then I always think she is more the real Ikuko behind name diligently smart and aromatic. However, I like my name and I always appreciate the person who remembers my name correctly and calls me Ikuko.