<div>Hi, this is Ami.
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<div>I am a pianist, teacher (English, Music), and sound healer, based in Shimonoseki, Japan. I had lived abroad for many years and came back to live in Japan in 2020, just before the pandemic. The main reason for my return to my native country was that my husband, a concert pianist, left me abruptly for another woman, and I had nowhere else to go.
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<div>In March of 2020, I came back to my parents' house in Shimonoseki, my mother's hometown. I did not grow up here, so in the beginning, I did not know anyone, apart from my relatives. I came back with just one suitcase, friendless, jobless, and penniless.
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<div>I received nothing in a way of financial support from my husband. The only thing he did pay was the moving of my piano from Switzerland.
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<div>Since then, I've tried my best to move on, and slowly got back on my feet. And after six years, my life slowly began to change. I now have regular music and English students, I am proud to be making my own living and standing on my own feet. I have also met many wonderful friends who are very supportive of what I do. I began to give concerts, and started doing regular sound healing sessions which really helped me greatly mentally and psychologically.
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<div>Now, for the most part, I no longer look back to dwell on the past or think about how my life would have been different.
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<div>I began to heal emotionally, and took pride in living my life honestly, with kindness and with positive outlook on life. And I am grateful to community of friends that I've built here. I'm also so thankful for all my loyal friends from abroad, who kept giving me moral support from the distance through mails, video calls, and social media.
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<div>I can say that I was becoming happy, truly happy on my own.
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<div>However, this past November, <strong>I received an urgent email from a lawyer in France, hired by my estranged husband, demanding divorce, and gave me only 15 days to find a lawyer on my side.</strong>
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<div>I have a trusted friend in Europe who quickly helped me in getting one of the top lawyers in Paris. She has proven to be a very powerful attorney and so far created an impressive dossier for my case and has sent it to my husband's lawyer. And we are still waiting to hear from them.
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<div>My lawyer works by the hour (not through contingency), so I had to initially pay her 3,000 EUR upfront for 10 hours of work. It was a substantial amount for me, as I am just only making enough to live my daily life, and I had just enough savings in my bank in the U.S., with which I could wire her that amount.
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<div>I thought this would be enough to settle the case.
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<div>However, she has already gone through 10 hours of work, and has sent me an invoice for additional 3,000 EUR to keep proceeding with the case.
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<div>I no longer have this kind of money. I asked her if she can do contingency, but we had already signed an agreement before she took my case, she said she was sorry, but she only works by the hour.
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<div>She is a wonderful lawyer, came very highly recommended, and she did a great job with my dossier, so I don't want to change to another attorney at this point.
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<div>Don't you think that it's unfair that, even though it was my husband who left me, and that he did not support me all these years, I am the one who has to pay so much money just to get the divorce settlement?
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<div>Meanwhile, I know that he has money and is spending a great deal of it with his new companion vacationing in the Riviera, etc, as well as making a new recording with a big record company Decca, which would cost an arm and a leg.  He does not hide all his lavish activities on his social media. And I am the one who has to try to scrape for money..
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<div>I did not know what to do.
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<div>My friends suggested GoFundMe. So, here it is.
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<div>The amount I would like to raise is 3,000 EUR, which is roughly $4,000 USD.   I hope I will be able to actually raise enough to pay the lawyer.
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<div>If you can find it in your heart to help me, <strong>any amount</strong> is appreciated!
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<div>I know some of you, my friends, have already expressed contributing for me, thank you!!
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<div>I would be so happy to get this divorce settlement finished and move on with my life.
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<div><strong>And, it would be really great if I receive some kind of compensation through this divorce. If I do, I will celebrate with all of you!! </strong>
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<div>Thank you so much!
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Anonymous

C O Jones

Philippe Foucher

Fred Hersch

Steven Allen

Elizabeth A Singleton

Youichi Yoshida

Noriko Miyamoto

Lelia Tenreyro- Viana

Candice Tutt

Gwendolyn Rodriguez

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