Women’s magazine “Linneru” an article about “Alone Again”

I would be delighted if you read it as a love story

Though a non-fiction book, it reads like a romantic novel. Alone Again by Fukiko Aoki, partner of the well-known American writer and journalist Pete Hamill, depicts their 33-year marriage from their meeting to his passing. This heartfelt memoir has just been published.

"The phrase 'in sickness and in health, until death do us part' is very true. But, we can’t die holding hands together. One of us has to go first. This book covers my journey with Pete from the beginning to the end. I would be very happy if people read it as a love story," Aoki expresses.

The book recounts numerous anecdotes that make one believe in fate. It begins with the instance where Aoki, then a journalist, met Hamill during his visit to Japan. "He was a famous writer, and I was so nervous. And then, an earthquake happened!" Whenever asked about how they met, Hamill would grin and say, "The earth moved," showing his charming personality.

Reading further, one gets glimpses of Hamill’s endearing nature. "He was the most tolerant person I’ve ever known. Even after marriage, I was never disappointed by discovering new sides of him," Aoki recalls.

However, there were times when their contact was lost. After their initial meeting in Japan, Aoki soon moved to the U.S. to help launch "Newsweek Japan," and their relationship quickly deepened, despite some difficult periods. "When he suddenly stopped answering calls, I was deeply hurt, especially since I was alone in New York."

Their dramatic life continued even after they got married and became official partners. From moving between various places from the suburbs of New York to Mexico in search of a peaceful haven, to covering the chaos of the 9/11 attacks as journalists, and to Aoki’s long, dedicated caregiving when Hamill fell seriously ill. Through her meticulous descriptions, one can feel the deep love and commitment Aoki had for Hamill.

"I have written non-fiction for many years, so I want readers to understand the facts more than my emotions. I think that’s very important," Aoki states.

Fukiko Aoki was born in Tokyo in 1948. She is an author who moved to the U.S. in 1984 and served as the New York bureau chief for Newsweek Japan for three years. She married writer Pete Hamill in 1987. Her books include Goodbye with a Leica - The Day Photographer Kyoichi Sawada Was Shot, Unbearably Japanese, and New Yorkers, among many others. She resides in New York.