The Last Bamboo Stalk

THE last Bamboo Stalk





First published 2022 © Twinkl Ltd of Wards Exchange, 197 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield S11 8HW Copyright © Twinkl Ltd. 2022 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Twinkl Ltd. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Twinkl is a registered trademark of Twinkl Ltd.

THE last Bamboo Stalk Twinkl Educational Publishing



Contents 1 12 Chapter 1 An Unusual Lunch Break  26 Chapter 2 A Gift from Grandfather  43 Chapter 3 A Long Trip  56 Chapter 4 A Sad Day  76 Chapter 5 A Strange Happening  94 Chapter 6 An Old Tale  114 Chapter 7 An Impending Challenge  129 Chapter 8 A Name Has Power  144 Chapter 9 A Choice to Make  160 Chapter 10 A Chance to Belong  173 Chapter 11 A Time to Say Goodbye  Chapter 12 An Epilogue



Chapter One An Unusual Lunch Break “Hey! Watch out!” A strained voice yelled across the cavernous gymnasium. But it was too late. Takeo turned abruptly and saw the threat – a blue-and-yellow leather ball was growing larger by the second, hurtling directly towards his head. He’d been sitting at the edge of the volleyball court with his best friend, Rosesh, eating lunch, just like they did every day. They were eyeing the game in between mouthfuls of food. Rosesh had been telling him about a science lesson with Mr Jones, who was known around the school to be a little eccentric. The students often relayed their teacher’s goofy experiments with affection. 1

The Last Bamboo Stalk Rosesh had a funny way of narrating a story. He was waving his hands around and using exaggerated expressions. Takeo was grinning from ear to ear, eagerly awaiting the story’s finale when the volleyball player’s warning call echoed through the large hollowed space. Takeo swiftly assessed the situation. The volleyball was travelling at a speed that was too fast to dodge; he was caught between Rosesh on one side and a railing on the other, and, to complete his imprisonment, a row of orange plastic grandstand seats lay directly behind him. In a split second, Takeo decided there was nowhere else to go. His only way out was up.

Chapter 1: An Unusual Lunch Break He jumped up high into the air. His slight frame became instantly vertical and his feet touched down lightly onto the seat in the front row. The wayward ball hit Takeo’s abdomen with enough force to send him flying backward. He fell onto the hard concrete step between the first and second rows of seating, folding neatly in half, like a clamshell snapping shut. “Takeo!” He could see Rosesh peering wide-eyed at him through his flailing arms and legs. “Are you alright?” “Ow! That hurt,” Takeo responded breathlessly and a little dazed. He wondered how one minute he could be sitting down eating his lunch, listening to a humorous story, and the next, be tightly wedged with his fingers touching his toes in a strange sort of involuntary yoga pose. “Hey, can… you... help me? I’m… stuck!” Each word was pronounced simultaneously as his arms and legs thrashed left and right while he struggled to bring himself upright again. “Of course,” Rosesh replied, seeming to have realised that he should help his friend. But 3

The Last Bamboo Stalk somebody else got there first. “Need a hand?” Takeo couldn’t see the person speaking and before he could answer he felt a giant hand grab his, then he was on his feet and being dusted off by one of the older kids from the volleyball game. “You OK?” The kid asked. He was tall and slim, athletic-looking, just how you’d imagine a volleyball player to be. He towered over Takeo with a concerned smile. “Yeah, I’m OK,” Takeo responded, looking up, one hand on his chest and the other rubbing his lower back. “It just knocked the wind out of me a bit.” “It was like a cannon,” Rosesh added. He shot his hands forward to mimic the hurtling ball. “C’mon, Ben, let’s go!” One of the kid’s teammates yelled out for him to hurry up from over on the court. Ben glanced back and gave his friend a wave. He didn’t look like he was in too much of a hurry. 4

Chapter 1: An Unusual Lunch Break “Hey, do you two want to join in?” he said, gesturing back towards the game. “We could do with a few more players.” Takeo frowned. Perhaps Ben was just trying to be friendly, Takeo thought, but it was a very strange invitation given that he had just been bowled over by a rogue ball. He was one of the shortest kids in the whole school and he didn’t even know how to play volleyball. Takeo studied Rosesh. He didn’t look keen either. He was shifting uneasily back and forth on the balls of his feet. “Um, thanks, but we’re just eating our lunch,” Takeo responded, pointing towards his bento box. Surprisingly, it had survived the excitement. The older student leaned over and curiously scanned the organised lunch box. It was a neatly divided container with sections that housed different food groups. Inside was 5

The Last Bamboo Stalk rice, green vegetables, fish, dumplings and a small container of milk. It was obvious it had been put together with care. “Wow, that’s different!” Ben exclaimed, adding, “I just have a ham sandwich and a packet of chips.” Takeo could tell that Ben had not meant to offend him. He looked genuinely surprised by the well-presented lunch box. But something in Takeo sank. It was that word again. Different. He could see Rosesh shuffle in front of his own stainless steel three-tiered lunch box. He obviously didn’t want the older kid to comment on it. “Where’re you from?” Ben asked. “Me?” Takeo was surprised to hear this question. Surely Ben needed to get back to the game by now. “Sydney,” he replied. “Oh right, no, where are you really from?” In an instant, Takeo saw what Ben was seeing. 6

Chapter 1: An Unusual Lunch Break His question was based on how Takeo looked. On how Rosesh looked. On their ‘different’ lunch boxes. The funny thing was they were both born in Australia, they had both never been to their ancestral homelands (Japan and India) and they could both only speak a little of their families’ language, Japanese and Hindi. Australia was their home, yet Ben’s question set Takeo and Rosesh apart. “Nowhere Land,” Takeo responded. The older student’s brow furrowed. He looked puzzled. “Hurry up, Ben! Lunch is nearly over,” his teammate yelled impatiently. “OK then, as long as you’re alright. See ya!” He gave Takeo a friendly sort of push and moved off to rejoin the game with the offending volleyball nestled safely under his arm, his long strides crossing the court in a matter of seconds. The boys sat back down to finish their lunch, very aware that it now looked a little less appetising. Rosesh tried to normalise the 7

The Last Bamboo Stalk situation by rekindling the excitement of his story from before the volleyball attack. “So… as I was saying,” he said, standing up in front of Takeo, “there was this plume of smoke coming from over near the playground. I yelled out, ‘Fire! Mr Jones! Fire!’” Then he pointed to the imaginary window near the playground, which was, actually, towards the volleyball game. Takeo stared at his friend miming Mr Jones flapping around the class, trying to unhook the fire extinguisher from its wall bracket, but he couldn’t concentrate on what Rosesh was doing. His mind wandered. He glanced back towards the game. He was struggling to shake a troubling feeling. When the bell rang, he took one final mouthful of food before absentmindedly closing his lunch box and standing, ready to head back to class. Then, it happened. A cool hollow feeling became lodged in his chest. Takeo felt a sense of foreboding that something was fast approaching and about to collide with his body. It seemed strangely reminiscent; didn’t that just happen 8

Chapter 1: An Unusual Lunch Break only moments ago with the volleyball? But this time, he did not feel ready. His vision hazed into blackness, and then... ...he was standing in a forest. Tall spires of bamboo stretched upwards, like spears jutting out of the ground, surrounding him. Where am I? he thought, spinning frantically on the spot, searching for familiarity. This was not the school gym. He patted his body; it felt real. He heard the faint sounds of volleyball players somewhere behind him. Their voices echoed in the air, calling out to each other and laughing. He looked around again, confused as to where the sounds were coming from. “Hello?” he called hesitantly, but nobody answered. He took a deep breath and studied his surroundings. The place felt strangely familiar, like he’d seen it before. But that’s impossible, Takeo thought. There was something else there too. An unfriendly feeling hung in the air and he called out again, hoping for an answer this time. “Hello, is anybody there?” But still, there was 9

The Last Bamboo Stalk no response. Takeo looked up. He saw light filtering through the foliage high above his head. The moss and rotting leaves on the ground emitted a damp smell. He studied the nodes in the bamboo stems, closer together at the base of the plant and wider apart higher up, with smooth green sections in between. Takeo noticed a pathway winding through the thickly clumped bamboo and began to follow it. As the light diminished, a feeling of uneasiness began to grow. Still, he followed the narrow track deeper into the darkness. On and on he walked until he arrived at the edge of the forest. A ravine ran along its length. It created a physical boundary and a dark mountain rose on the opposite side. Takeo shivered at the sight of it. The wind picked up. He saw a wall of black cloud forming threateningly from the mountainous ridge into the sky. He stood watching it on the edge of the forest, flanked by towering bamboo on both sides, swaying in the blustery wind. 10

Chapter 1: An Unusual Lunch Break He overheard a familiar voice. “Takeo… hey, Takeo.” It was Rosesh. He was calling him. The cloud formed into a solid wall of darkness. It was moving forward. Takeo could feel a lack of hope building inside of himself as it inched further towards him. He could feel the sensation squeezing his chest, crushing him. “Tasukete, Takeo!” Takeo heard a faint voice calling him for help. He turned his head every which way, trying to find the source. The dark void hit the outer edges of the bamboo. The stalks on either side of him turned black and dissolved into dust. He saw them drift down towards his feet... …and the haze cleared. As he fell sideways, crumpling heavily onto the hardwood floor, the last thing he saw was Rosesh hopelessly stretching out his arms in an attempt to catch his falling friend. 11

Chapter Two A Gift from Grandfather The telephone was ringing. The shrill tone coming from the kitchen mingled with Takeo’s first wakeful moments. He opened his eyes. Disoriented by the sound, he sat up abruptly, glancing around the space before realising he was in his own bedroom. His body relaxed and he lay back down. Pink and orange light mixed with a bluish tinge streamed through the crack in his bedroom curtains. He wondered whether it was dawn or dusk and how long he had been asleep. He searched his mind for the last moment that he could remember, the point before everything had turned to darkness. He’d been at school. He’d been having lunch in the gym, watching the game with Rosesh, when he was hit by the volleyball. There was that older kid too. Ben? Then fragments of the vision he’d had drifted 12

Chapter 2: A Gift from Grandfather into view; familiar green bamboo stalks, narrow paths, darkness and… whispers. He blinked and stretched, noticing that he was still wearing his school uniform. He looked towards his bedroom door, which was slightly ajar, and wondered how he’d managed to get from school to home. He couldn’t remember anything. He heard his father answer the phone as his mum pushed open the bedroom door, poking her head in and smiling. “I thought the phone might wake you. Do you feel alright?” she asked, coming into his room a little further. “Yeah, I’m OK,” he answered. “What happened, Mum? And what time is it?” “It’s about five o’clock,” she replied, looking at her watch. “Don’t you remember what happened?” He frowned as he searched his mind for the missing memory. 13

The Last Bamboo Stalk “The nurse thought that you had fainted. You didn’t hit your head when the volleyball struck, so she called us instead of an ambulance. Do you remember now? You were awake when we picked you up.” “Was I?” he answered, feeling confused. “Mum, before I fainted, I...” Takeo stopped speaking. Both he and his mum looked towards the door. They could hear his father on the phone. His voice was rising and the Japanese words flowed faster and faster. It wasn’t the words themselves that caught Takeo’s attention, after all, he couldn’t fully understand them, it was the emotion riding on the back of them. His father’s tone of voice was agitated. It was a rare occurrence to hear his father talk in such a way. His mother looked back at him, her expression tinged with shock and sadness. “Rest, Takeo. We’ll talk later,” she said, giving him a sympathetic smile and then left the room. Takeo lay listening to the conversation. It ended swiftly and he heard a double beep as the handset was returned to its base. 14

Chapter 2: A Gift from Grandfather Then, another strange thing happened. His parents started speaking to each other in Japanese. They rarely spoke their native language, opting instead to speak in English, and had done so ever since arriving in Australia all those years ago. His parents had always said that it was essential to learn English fluently to be understood and accepted. As a result, Takeo knew only limited Japanese, although it seemed people at school, including his teachers, expected him to be fluent. Still, he could tell by the way his parents spoke that something was wrong. Takeo leaned forward and strained to make out what they were saying. It had something to do with his grandfather in Japan. He didn’t know much about his dad’s father, he’d never met him. He only knew that he was named after him - Takeo was short for Takechiyo - and that he lived on his own because his wife, Takeo’s grandmother, had died many years before. From what he could hear, it sounded like his grandfather had passed away. Takeo attempted to get out of bed, but the sheet was wrapped tightly around the top half of his 15

The Last Bamboo Stalk body, making it difficult. He pulled and tugged at the sheet, then unceremoniously fell out of bed. A loud knock at the front door coincided with his fall. Finally untangling himself, he stood up, moved to the bedroom door and peered through the gap. His bedroom faced the lounge room, and, over the top of the couches, he could see the front door of the house. “Mr Gray?” his father said, after a moment’s pause. Takeo could hear the surprise in his father’s voice. “I have only just now had the phone call.” Mr Gray stood on the front step, framed by both of Takeo’s parents. He was a short rounded man with dark, slicked-back hair and sunglasses. He carried a briefcase and wore a full suit even though it was warm outside. Removing his sunglasses, he gave a low bow, his piercing blue eyes finding Takeo’s on the way down, across the lounge room, over the couches and through the gap in his bedroom door. 16

Chapter 2: A Gift from Grandfather “Yes, I know. Your father made me promise to come to see you as soon as it happened. It is what he wanted,” Mr Gray said, glancing back towards where Takeo stood. The man had a curious look on his face, Takeo thought. “And I was close by,” he added, as if to justify how he had arrived so quickly. He glanced back towards Takeo’s parents, then seemed to remember why he was there. “I am very sorry for your loss, Mr and Mrs Sakamoto.” He nodded his head again slightly, lowering his eyes, then looking up once more. “May I come in?” “Yes, of course,” Takeo’s mother replied, seeing her husband was still a little taken aback. She moved aside and extended her arm out for the visitor to enter. “It has been quite some time,” Mr Gray said by way of opening up the conversation. He stood and looked around the space. “This was only an empty shell when I viewed it for you all those years ago, but I can see you’ve made it into a lovely home.” He turned to face the couple. Ahhh, Takeo thought. He remembered now. His father had told him how a friend of 17

The Last Bamboo Stalk his grandfather’s had helped them settle in Australia. This man had assisted with finding accommodation, navigating the banks on their behalf and even setting them up on job pathways. It had all happened before Takeo was born. Their visitor gestured towards the couch. “May I?” Mr Gray had an authoritative manner and Takeo’s parents were soon sitting opposite him, separated only by the coffee table. Placing his leather briefcase out in front of him, he leant sideways and peered over the couch, behind the confused couple and towards Takeo’s open bedroom door. “Oh good, Takeo is here too. Can he join us?” he asked, adding, “This concerns him, too.” Not waiting for an answer to his question, Mr Gray busied himself with unpacking his briefcase, taking out some papers as well as a small ornate wooden box, which he placed carefully in front of himself. As Takeo’s father 18

Chapter 2: A Gift from Grandfather continued to watch him, his mother turned and gestured for Takeo to join them. He came out and took a seat in between his parents. Mr Gray commenced. “As you know, I was Takechiyo’s friend, but I am also his lawyer. I am here to notify you that your father left a will, Mr Sakamoto. It is his wish that it be read in Shozoku Village with several other beneficiaries to be present.” Takeo glanced towards his father with a concerned look on his face; his grandfather was gone. “But my father had very little estate, Mr Gray,” said Mr Sakamoto, surprised, “and there’s no way I can leave my work at the moment. I have 19

The Last Bamboo Stalk a project deadline to meet. Can’t my brother in Tokyo take care of the arrangements?” Mr Gray stared intensely at the man, his perceptive blue eyes searching the other’s sorrowful expression. “Your brother will also be asked to travel back to Shozoku with your niece, Kokoro, who, along with Takeo, is a beneficiary.” Takeo sat bolt upright at the sound of his name. What did beneficiary mean? “Takeo?” his father exclaimed. “Mr Sakamoto, I know you and your father were… well… you were not close, but...” Takeo’s father looked down. Takeo knew that his father and his grandfather didn’t speak to each other often. He’d asked about it once, but all his father would say was that Grandfather had been upset because he had abandoned the family legacy, though Takeo hadn’t really understood what that meant. Eventually, there had been some reconciliation. Takechiyo had helped his son and new wife 20

Chapter 2: A Gift from Grandfather settle in Australia through engaging Mr Gray’s services, but the father and son still rarely spoke. Now… his grandfather was gone. Mr Gray repeated, “Takeo is named as a beneficiary. His presence is requested at the funeral and the reading of the will.” He picked up the small box, reaching over to hand it to Takeo. It was made from pale-coloured wood and had a smooth, shiny finish. It had a burnt indentation on the lid that resembled thin leaves of a plant along with a small bird central to the design. The image had a circle around it. “This is your family crest,” he said, urging Takeo to take it from his hand. “Your grandfather wanted you to have it.” Takeo looked at his father questioningly, not sure whether to receive the gift. “It’s our Kamon,” his father explained, smiling sadly into his son’s eyes. “Take ni suzume… the sparrow in the bamboo.” He nodded for Takeo to take the box. 21

The Last Bamboo Stalk Inside he found a bronze amulet. It lay on soft, black satin material. The shiny, raised design matched the image on the outside of the box. The sparrow and thin bamboo leaves stood out against the black background and were surrounded by a circular rim.

Chapter 2: A Gift from Grandfather Takeo ran his fingers over the amulet before lifting it carefully out of its bed. Weighing it in his hand, he noticed how surprisingly heavy it was for such a small object.

The Last Bamboo Stalk “Is it really necessary for us to go back?” Takeo’s father asked, breaking the trance the amulet had produced and bringing everyone back to reality. “We are very settled here. It’s not easy for me to leave work and Takeo is busy at school.” “Yes, it is necessary,” Mr Gray replied. “Yes,” he repeated a little more forcefully, “you must. It is very important.” He pulled a yellow envelope out from his breast pocket. “Your father wanted me to organise your flights.” There were three slim airline tickets in it. “But, these are for the day after next, Mr Gray? Mr Gray?” Mr Gray was already standing, having closed his briefcase. “A car will collect you and take you to the airport.” It seemed as if he had decided the conversation had come to an end. The lawyer gave a short bow to the bewildered family and turned towards the exit. 24

Chapter 2: A Gift from Grandfather Mr Sakamoto stood hastily. He bowed in response, looking at the envelope, then to his wife and back to Mr Gray, who was now heading towards the front door. Mrs Sakamoto quickly followed the visitor while her husband stood bewildered by the unexpected proposal. Mr Gray turned and locked his bright eyes on Takeo, who stood next to his father. He bowed. “Ganbatte, musuko,” he said in perfect Japanese. “Anata ni wa sofu no chikara to yūki ga aru koto o omoidashite kudasai.” He slid his sunglasses on and walked out into the bright sun. Takeo turned to his father, wide-eyed, seeking a translation. His father answered the silent request. “Mr Gray said, ‘Good luck, son,’ and asked you to ‘remember you have your grandfather’s strength and courage.’” And with that, he pulled Takeo close. 25

Chapter THREE A Long Trip A smartly dressed driver greeted Takeo and his parents when they finally got off the plane at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport. He had white-gloved hands that held up a sign that read, ‘Welcome, Sakamoto Family’ written in English. Smiling broadly, the driver bowed, then introduced himself as Mr Tanaka. He gestured towards their bags, taking each one and placing it carefully on an airport trolley. “Not surprisingly, Mr Gray has thought of everything,” Takeo’s father said, impressed by the lawyer’s organisational skills and the ability to foresee what the family needed. Mr Tanaka guided them through the bustling airport. Takeo’s eyes darted this way and that, glimpsing the different shops in the busy terminal. The arrival hall was how he had 26

Chapter 3: A Long Trip imagined it to be: crowded, sleek and organised, but he had not imagined the small details in his first impressions of Japan. Tempting, familiar smells wafted from food kiosks with paper lanterns hung above the displays. Below, brightly coloured models of noodles in bowls, some with seafood or meat and vegetables, were all made from plastic but looked good enough to eat. Some of the more advanced models had the chopsticks hovering above the bowl, held aloft by shiny noodles that appeared to be dripping down but were, in fact, a plastic support for the chopsticks. An illusion, Takeo thought and smiled. The airport was incredibly clean. The glassy tiles reflected the movements of well-dressed people arriving from around the world, hugging loved ones, or leaving and heading back to their own country after a holiday. Businesspeople wheeled travel cases behind them while checking the latest update on their smartphones. Takeo’s dad put his hand on his son’s shoulder, guiding him gently behind Mr Tanaka, through the glass entrance and towards the waiting black four-wheel drive. 27

The Last Bamboo Stalk The journey from Tokyo to Shozoku Village was a long but scenic one. During the car ride, Takeo gazed out of the window. The landscape was both similar and different to Australia. They drove through industrial areas with vast warehouses and along crisscrossed freeways, which looked amusingly like spaghetti on a plate. Australia has these things too, Takeo thought, but they just look different. It had been a day of firsts. His first time on a plane, his first time in Japan, the first time his eyes had seen this place, these people or these surroundings before. That was a strange thought. He wondered what else he would see, hear, smell and taste that he hadn’t known before. They soon left the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, heading north-west, towards the Yamagata region and the remote fishing village of Shozoku. Takeo could see the rugged mountains ahead shrouded in a mist like a soft pale grey blanket pulled over an exhausted child. He leaned his head against the window frame of the door, thinking of his grandfather. He wondered how they would have got on if they had ever met. 28

Chapter 3: A Long Trip Touching his amulet around his neck, he had a feeling they would have had a connection. But then, the words ‘Nowhere Land’ drifted into view, and he was reminded that being ‘different’ meant disconnection, and he sank a little deeper in his seat. His mind drifted to the thought of the vision. He hadn’t yet told his parents about it, not wanting to burden them during this sad time. Takeo’s thoughts continued to wander freely, but the aftermath of excitement caused by his day of firsts collided with the comfortable warmth of the late afternoon sun hitting the glass and the rhythmic swaying of the car. He pulled his own blanket up over himself and fell into a relaxed sleep. *** A sudden jolt woke Takeo from his slumber. Everything to the left and right was a deep dark green. Thick cypress trees rose up on both sides of the car as it made its way around the bumpy, winding curves of the mountain. A cold sense of unease emanated from the darkness between the trees and he shivered, despite the warmth within the vehicle. 29

The Last Bamboo Stalk They rounded a corner and his father gave a heartfelt sigh. “We’re here.” Takeo peered through the front window of the car, rubbing his eyes. Ahead, the mammoth cypress trees halted and, standing in front like a castle wall, were giant bamboo stalks. The contrast was notable; the thick-trunked army of cypress trees stepping down the side of the mountain, their roots interwoven with mounds of moss, and the pale, slender bamboo stalk soldiers tightly clumped together shooting up in readiness towards the sky. “Woah,” Takeo said in awe, leaning as far forward as he could to see the tops of the bamboo, but they seemed to go on forever. “Yes, they are impressive,” said his father admirably. “I’d forgotten how magnificent they are.” Turning around to his son, he added, “These are giant bamboo. The stalks can be up to thirty centimetres in diameter and they grow up to thirty-five metres tall.” 30

Chapter 3: A Long Trip Takeo joined in. “That’s about the same as a ten-storey building.” From the backseat, he saw the edge of his father’s smile. “They are the tallest bamboo in the world. Our own barricade and our Kamon.” Takeo saw his father turn to look at his mother in the back seat. He raised his chin in a gesture of pride. She smiled back wistfully. “Our family’s crest,” Takeo whispered, understanding now why the bamboo was on his amulet. The car headed towards the forest, but Takeo couldn’t see where they were supposed to enter. The road ended unexpectedly. It looked like they were driving directly into the thick impenetrable forest. Mr Tanaka stopped the four-wheel drive and looked towards a weathered wooden sign that rose out of the dirt on the driver’s side. On it was a single line of kanji characters in faded black paint. The driver spoke softly as if reciting a gentle prayer. Takeo peered out the side window straining to see the wooden sign, but the car 31

The Last Bamboo Stalk started again and, as if from nowhere, a narrow dirt track came into view. Takeo’s mouth dropped open. “What? That wasn’t there before. Was it?” he questioned, shaking his head. But Mr Tanaka just gave him a wink in the rearview mirror. The driver slowly followed the track, almost at a roll. The bamboo was so close that Takeo could put his hand out of the window and brush his fingertips along the stalks. He heard a rustle from above, as if the forest was welcoming him. How different this was from the feeling of driving through the cypress trees, a warmth to the other’s coldness. “Dad, what did that sign say?” Takeo asked, not ready to let the unusual event pass without further explanation. “It’s a proverb, Takeo,” he replied solemnly. “In English, it translates to ‘One who begs entry, of strength and heart must be made, or else darkness comes.’” “What’s that supposed to mean?” Takeo asked, 32

Chapter 3: A Long Trip but nobody answered. He sat quietly, contemplating the poem as the car continued to roll along for some time. This ‘bamboo barricade’ must be very wide, he thought, his hand drawn to the amulet hanging around his neck. He was sure it was becoming warmer as they drove deeper into the forest. Then, all of a sudden, they were out the other side and into a clearing. The dirt road turned to a cobblestone path and they headed towards a tall wooden torii gate signifying entry to a sacred space. More writing was engraved vertically down the length of the pillars. Off to one side of the gate, Takeo noticed a woman. He assumed she must be a villager. She wore an emerald green kimono and had long dark hair that fell on either side of her elbows, almost touching the ground. Her arms were wrapped around what looked like a large old book. She was watching their arrival and, having caught Takeo’s eye through the car window, she bowed. He nodded his head, lowering his eyes in return, but when he raised them, she was gone. He looked from one side of the clearing to the other, but she was nowhere to be seen. 33

The Last Bamboo Stalk “Hey, Mum, did you see that villager? She was wearing a green kimono,” he asked. His mum looked around as best she could. “No, I can’t see anyone yet, Takeo.” “Huh, that’s weird. Where did she go?” he questioned. The road inclined downwards and into the village. The evening light bathed the landscape 34

Chapter 3: A Long Trip in rich yellows and pinks. Wooden two-storey houses squashed together like sardines in a tin, bordered the narrow road, with the sea visible just off in the distance. The houses seemed both ramshackle and neatly arranged. They were the same, but also different at the same time, Takeo thought. Each one was a dark wooden colour. They each had a window awning, a gabled roof, a white lantern strung up above the doorway and a small pot of greenery out the front. But they were varying heights and widths and some had larger windows while others had slim ones. It gave an odd look of organised chaos to the streetscape. All the way down the hill, along the cobblestone street, people stood on their front steps. Each one bowed at the car as they passed, much like the woman at the gate. “Dad, why are the villagers bowing at us?” Takeo asked, peering at his father from behind the front seat. “They are greeting us, Takeo, and they know why we are here. Your grandfather was a respected elder of the village.” Takeo looked back out of the 35

The Last Bamboo Stalk window. He nodded his head at each villager in a return greeting. The car took a sharp turn at the base of the hill, near the edge of the sea, then made a steep ascent towards a smaller house sitting alone up on a ridge at the edge of the bamboo forest. People were waiting on the front porch as they pulled in. Takeo recognised his uncle, his aunt and his cousin, Kokoro, from the photos he’d seen at home. The family had arrived the day before from Tokyo. Kokoro was much taller than the last photo he had seen of her. Taller than him, he thought, even though they were both twelve years old. She wore an oversized hoodie, track pants and a baseball cap that mostly hid her short bob haircut. Takeo clambered out of the car. It had been such a long trip. He took a moment to stretch his legs, breathe in the sea air and glance towards the unfamiliar view before turning towards his cousin. He wanted to make a good impression, having never met her before. So he smoothed 36

Chapter 3: A Long Trip his creased shirt and gave his hair a quick tidy, then approached her. She stood sullenly off to the side as their parents greeted each other. He saw that she wore the exact same amulet around her neck, which gave him confidence. “Konnichiwa,” he said smiling. Kokoro did not return the greeting and instead scowled. Takeo’s uncle must have seen the exchange as he called out with a firm tone to his daughter. She glanced back towards Takeo, then under her breath, so that no one but her cousin would hear, she muttered irritably, “Gaijin,” and turned away. Takeo’s parents graciously thanked Mr Tanaka, who had been busy carefully placing their bags on the front deck. They said their goodbyes and just as he drove off, a visitor arrived. He was a village elder wanting to talk to his father and uncle about arrangements for the ceremony the following day. Takeo was left to explore. 37

The front deck of his grandfather’s house was high enough to offer a full view of the village.



The Last Bamboo Stalk Takeo could see that Shozoku lay tucked comfortably between the bamboo forest, stretching around the outer edge in a semicircular formation on the high side of the village, and the ocean on the low side. The waterfront houses dipped their toes in the sea, like hesitant bathers wondering if they should brave the cold. His eyes were then drawn up and beyond the bamboo forest, where the dark green of the mountain rose high above to a threatening peak. It seemed to be bearing down on the village. His grandfather’s house displayed the family’s Kamon on the front door. Much like the wooden box that his amulet came in, it was burnt into the wood. The house was small, simple and immaculately tidy with a main living space and two rooms off to the side. The back door opened directly into the bamboo forest. In the hazy evening light, Takeo squinted in an attempt to make out where the pathway from the back entrance into the forest might lead. He took a few steps forward on to small square stones and towards the darkness before deciding he’d go exploring as soon as he could and when 40

Chapter 3: A Long Trip the light was better. The cousins had to share the main living space for sleeping while their parents stayed in the two rooms. Takeo once more tried to break the ice with Kokoro as they settled onto their futons on opposite sides of the floor. He didn’t think that he could speak well enough in Japanese to make her understand anything, so he tried in English. “Hey, Kokoro,” he said, speaking slowly and a little too loud, “do you know that we have the same amulet?” He pointed to his chest where his amulet lay. Kokoro didn’t answer. She glanced towards him, then rolled over to face the wall. He tried once more. “Do you know much about our grandfather?” She turned her head back in his direction. “No English, gaijin!” she responded gruffly. 41

The Last Bamboo Stalk Takeo frowned and rolled over towards the wall. Whatever ‘gaijin’ meant, he knew from the way she spoke that it wasn’t very nice. Well, I’ll just have to go exploring on my own, he thought, curling up and closing his eyes. 42