Part 1: I Just Shook His Hand Summary and Analysis

The University of Tokyo has been inviting Richard to visit Japan and speak at the school. Although Richard had always wanted to accept the invitations, he had been sick on several occasions and therefore unable to attend the meetings. In the summer of 1986, Richard is once again invited to speak at the University at a conference. He is in good health this time but feels he cannot accept since he has no current paper prepared. But the University is determined to have Richard be part of the conference and offers him a chairmanship of one of the sessions. This would relieve Richard of having to provide a paper and so he agrees to the offer.

By 1986, Richard has remarried so he and his new wife, Gweneth, travel to Tokyo for the...