Meeting John Lennon

This article was from the "Meet the Beatles" section of the Tokyo Beatles Fan Club magazine. This particular story is from Issue 1 which was published in the Summer of 1991. It was written by Takashi Sekiya (and translated into English by Kenji Maeda) Sadly no photos are with the story.

I met John Lennon at the entrance of the Dakota house in March 1977.
(I also met Paul McCartney at the entrance of the Abbey Road Studios in November
1976. But I will write about this story another time.) Anyway, I
think I was so lucky to have met them at the very important places in view of
the history of the Beatles. These are the most exciting moments in all of my
life of 42 years.


Back in 1976, it was the era Paul became a man of world attention after his
success in Over America Tour, but John still remained silent. I had not the
slightest idea where John lived in New York, but I managed to get his office's
address 1370 Avenue of Americas' through the fan club in London, where I was
staying to study the banking business.

In mid-March 1977, I flew to New York and went swiftly to his office hoping
I could have a chance to meet John. At the office, where a large
photograph of the cover design of Walls and Bridges was hung on the wall, I met
John's secretary Ms. Helen Seaman. She told me that John lived at the
Dakota and that he was devoted to the care of his child Sean. Also she
said that John once tried to give up smoking (but failed) and that he was
expecting much of the next Beatles' album, Live at the Hollywood Bowl.
Furthermore, she added, "I am sure John and Yoko will give you their autographs
because Yoko is from the same country as you."

Next day, I brought a Japanese folk-art object to the Dakota as a gift to
John. The Dakota stood with dignity in an old fashioned way among the
modern buildings. I was optimistic to see John but my optimism was crushed
when I heard a middle aged woman at the reception say, "Nobody can see John
Lennon without an appointment!" She gave me a sheet of paper to write a
message and my address and said, "You may receive his autograph only if he likes
your message." Oh what a hell! I was so disappointed that I could
not leave a good message which would attract John's eyes. I walked around
the Dakota with bewilderment and then sat on a bench when I saw John and Yoko
come out. It was just like that photograph on the sleeve of Watching the
Wheels. I dashed to them saying "Happy to meet you!" John answered
frankly, "Hello! Konnichiwa! (which means hello in Japanese). When I
talked to him to give me his autograph, he responded, "For what?" I thought
that he was on the alert about giving autographs or signatures freely, so I
explained those were for myself and for my brother. He said, "okay okay"
autographing four times. After that, I heard him saying "hurry,
hurry." There was a yellow cab waiting for them. Yoko got into the
cab first. I made an apology to her for disturbing them in Japanese
language, but she only stared fixedly at me without a word. John got in
the car and gave me a smile when he opened the gift and lifted it.

Forty four months later, that tragedy occurred at the same place I had
seen John. After I enjoyed Paul McCartney's concert in Tokyo this year, I
thought I could not share the time with John any more and felt sadness.
But my golden memory of meeting John will not fade away and will late forever
"Across the Universe."