Before World War II, Kobe was a very international city, says Yuko Ono. She grew up in tranquil surroundings there. In her girlhood she was accustomed to the presence of several non-Japanese residents, who loved Kobe for its ranging hills, mild winters and idyllic waterside setting. Ono liked the city's international atmosphere.
For herself, she said, "I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. I was studying at a small but rather famous college run by a Frenchman who was well known for his art. I particularly enjoyed child psychology. But we lost our house in wartime firebombing. My parents went to Kyushu, and I had to go to stay in a dormitory. There wasn't enough food, and because of malnutrition I was losing my health. My father took me away."
That was a setback for an aspiring young woman who, strictly brought up in a traditional family, was serious, steady and ambitious.