The Last Bamboo Stalk

Chapter Four A Sad Day The first thing Takeo saw when he opened his eyes on the day of the funeral was the clothing that had been laid out for him. A black suit was draped over a chair off to the side of his bed. There was quiet movement in the small house as the family was busy preparing for the sad day to come. “Hey, Dad,” Takeo said, looking around sleepily and taking a moment to orientate himself; he was definitely not in his bedroom back in Australia. “Ah, you are awake,” his dad replied, moving towards his son and sitting on the chair near the bed. “We let you sleep in. It was a long trip.” His father smiled sorrowfully. “We have a big day, Takeo. Both the funeral and the wake will be conducted together.” 43

The Last Bamboo Stalk Takeo looked into his father’s disheartened face. He hadn’t really thought about what to expect, not having been to a funeral before. “Why is that, Dad?” His dad leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. “Usually, the wake is first and the funeral is on the next day, but the village elders decided it was best to combine the ceremonies because we have all had to travel some distance to return to Shozoku,” he explained. “But also because of the respect the villagers had for your grandfather. He was held in high esteem and they wished to attend both services.” His father paused for a moment before rising from his chair. “Now that you’re awake, Takeo, you should wash, dress and eat.” Takeo noticed Kokoro sitting at the table, finishing her breakfast. He thought perhaps he had given off the wrong impression the previous day or that he had imagined her hostility, so he tried again. “Hi, Kokoro,” he said a little too loudly, waving his hand in front of her. She looked towards him, then at her father who was facing the 44

Chapter 4: A Sad Day opposite way, before scowling over her rice bowl. She got up from the table abruptly and stalked off. OK, perhaps I hadn’t imagined it, Takeo thought. Defeated, he sat down silently to his own breakfast. The family walked together towards the torii gate and the temple. Takeo and Kokoro followed behind their parents, yet kept a significant distance from each other. Every now and then, Takeo glanced towards his cousin but she continued to look straight ahead. The temple had been decorated with flowers, delicately arranged on a blanket of greenery, and a sweet smell of incense wafted through the still air. The family remained at the entrance. They waited to greet the villagers, who arrived shortly after, all at once. They walked solemnly together, like a dark wave flowing steadily up the cobblestone path towards the family. Following tradition, they presented black-and- silver envelopes filled with condolence money, placing them either in Takeo’s or Kokoro’s hands and then bowing. 45

The Last Bamboo Stalk Takeo was surprised to see Mr Gray following behind the villagers. The lawyer bowed towards his father and uncle, then his mother and aunt, and finally Kokoro and himself. His piercing blue eyes locked with Takeo’s for a brief moment. Takeo noticed the man glanced approvingly toward the amulet hanging around his neck. In the temple, Takeo’s eyes were drawn to the altar, awash with white and purple flowers. They formed a circular shape around a central golden frame. Within that frame was a photograph of his grandfather. He took his seat next to his parents at the front of the temple and stared at the photograph. The silver-haired man in the picture looked kind, Takeo thought, even though there was little expression in the portrait. He glanced at his father, studying him for similarities with the man in the picture. I wonder if I have any of Grandfather’s features, he thought as the Buddhist priest entered, kneeled in front of the altar and began to chant the sutra. Even though Takeo did not understand the words to the prayer, he was mesmerised by the deep, vibrating sound of the chant and the occasional 46

Chapter 4: A Sad Day tapping of a small drum. The sound resonated in his chest, like a harmony where two notes are in agreement forming one whole sound. The priest’s voice took his entire focus; he was not distracted by thoughts of school or friends or even his cousin. Nothing at all. And although he did not know what was being said, Takeo felt that this quiet contemplation somehow connected him to his grandfather’s spirit. His parents began to move and Takeo followed behind. They walked towards the altar and bowed once to each side of the room. Then, they carefully pinched some incense, taking a moment to focus on his grandfather’s photograph. Takeo saw his father’s eyes well with tears as he stood in front of the portrait. He seemed to hold the incense for the longest time before eventually dropping the powder into the burner. Takeo wanted to reach out and hug his father but was very conscious of everyone watching him, so instead, he continued to copy his parents’ movements. It’s to honour my grandfather, he thought, studying the portrait as the sweet, woody smell of incense filled his nostrils. 47

The Last Bamboo Stalk As he turned to head back to his seat, he recognised the mysterious woman in the green kimono, whom he had seen at the torii gate the previous day. She stood to one side of the altar, hovering near where his grandfather lay. She must have been part of the ceremony, although he hadn’t noticed her earlier. She stood, moving her lips intently, looking down, but no sound escaped. He was sure his amulet became warmer against his chest as he turned away.

Chapter 4: A Sad Day Takeo continued to watch the woman as his uncle’s family approached the altar to pay their respects. His aunt and uncle walked straight past her, but Kokoro didn’t. She stopped for the briefest of moments and looked up into the woman’s serene face. Takeo saw his cousin give a slight bow, lowering her eyes before turning and heading back to her seat. Her amulet must have warmed too, he thought, seeing her place her hand on it. After the family had visited the altar, it was the villagers’ turn. One by one they approached, the elders coming first, followed by the others. Mr Gray was the last one to pay his respects and as he returned to his seat the priest finished the prayer. Takeo noticed no one else had stopped or looked up towards where the mysterious woman stood reciting her prayer. Did they not see her? he wondered, resting his eyes one last time on the central photograph of his grandfather. The service concluded and everyone made their way out onto the steps of the temple. Takeo saw that several tables had been laid out under a huge and very old-looking camphor tree off to the rear of the building while they had been 49

The Last Bamboo Stalk inside. Some of the villagers were busy arranging food ready for a feast. The table was laden with rice and vegetable bowls and the smoky, salty- sea aroma of grilled fish filled the air. Takeo sat next to his parents and glanced around the tables. All the villagers were there, but he couldn’t see the woman in the green kimono. Perhaps she was still in the temple, he thought, keeping his eyes on the entrance while he took a mouthful of food. But she did not come out, or at least, he did not see her. By the time they finished eating, the afternoon was drawing to a close and the evening was fast approaching. Mr Gray wandered back to the house with the family. They sat quietly on the deck together, reflecting on the day and glancing off across the bay in between snippets of conversation. It was as if nobody had any energy left, Takeo thought, sinking into a folding chair as emotional exhaustion weighed him down too. “I’m sorry for having to bother you with the will on such a day,” Mr Gray said, breaking the group’s quiet reflection, “but I have to return to 50

Chapter 4: A Sad Day Tokyo this evening so I can catch the first plane back to Australia tomorrow morning.” Mr Gray seemed a lot more relaxed than the first time Takeo had met him, regardless of his busy schedule. He was not as official-looking, even though he was still wearing a suit, but more like a family friend. He had been sitting down reclining in his seat, drinking some sake and reminiscing about his good friend, Takechiyo. But now the lawyer lent further forward, pulled out his briefcase from under the chair and opened it, bringing out a pale yellow folder. He opened the folder, took out a single piece of paper and read. “This is the Last Will and Testament of Takechiyo Sakamoto of Shozoku Village.” Mr Gray’s voice took on a formal tone; it was clear and deep where it had been softer and more thoughtful only moments before. Takeo sat up straighter. He had a profound feeling that something important was about to be said. Mr Gray looked at the family members before continuing. 51

The Last Bamboo Stalk “To my dear sons, I leave this wisdom: no matter where you are in Japan or the world, anata wa watashi no mono.” He glanced towards Takeo, translating into English, “You belong to me.” Takeo glanced at his father, who was not one to show his emotion often. He teared up, then immediately raised his hand to cover his face in what seemed like a moment of embarrassment. Takeo lowered his eyes. He had never thought about his parents and their struggle with a feeling of belonging. Grandfather wanted him to know that they belonged to someone and somewhere and Takeo wanted to hug his father, though instead, he sat still as Mr Gray continued. “And together with my daughters-in-law, I leave the guardianship of my grandchildren. They will need your love and support.” Takeo saw the adults respond to the tender sentiment of the request with heartfelt nods at each other, Kokoro and himself. Mr Gray continued. “To my grandchildren, Takeo and Kokoro, I 52

Chapter 4: A Sad Day leave my house and...” Mr Gray looked up at the cousins, his solemn stare emphasising the importance of finishing the statement. “...guardianship of the bamboo forest.” There was silence for a moment. Everyone looked at each other and then back to Mr Gray while the declaration sank in. Takeo glanced at his cousin. The news was significant enough, but it was her reaction at that very moment that caught his attention the most. He was sure she understood what was said even though it was in English. She stared at Mr Gray, wide-eyed, her mouth dropped slightly open in surprise. Seeing her response, he checked himself; I must have the same look, he thought, then promptly closed his mouth. 53

The Last Bamboo Stalk “Dad? What does that mean?” Takeo asked, unable to hold back the question burning in his mind. But his father was rising from his chair and his mother, aunt and uncle followed suit. They entered the house for a few minutes, leaving Mr Gray and the bewildered cousins behind them. When they returned, his dad spoke. “We have decided. We will support our children to carry out our father’s wishes until they are old enough to accept the legacy themselves.” Takeo saw his father raise his chin with pride for the second time this trip. “I’ll be in touch with the necessary paperwork,” Mr Gray replied with a sincere smile. So many questions were swirling around in Takeo’s mind, but he stood quietly next to his parents as Mr Gray prepared to leave. The sky was darkening across the bay and Mr Tanaka arrived with the four-wheel drive to take the lawyer back to Tokyo. 54

Chapter 4: A Sad Day In his final goodbye, Mr Gray bent down to Takeo. “Do you remember what I said to you back at your house, son?” he asked. “Dad told me you said that I have Grandfather’s strength and courage,” Takeo replied, not feeling like he was either strong or brave. “And I believe it,” Mr Gray said encouragingly. He placed one hand briefly on Takeo’s shoulder, then turned, got into the car and was driven away. 55

Chapter five A Strange Happening Takeo woke early the day following the ceremonies. He stretched out, kicked off the covers and sat up, surprised that he felt so awake even though it was still dark outside. He leaned towards the window, gently pulled the edge of the blind back and looked out across the bay. The sky was a silvery blue colour - the night was fading into a pale day - but tiny shimmering pins still flickered here and there in the sky. The sun must be coming up behind the mountain, Takeo thought, letting go of the blind. He stretched his arms above his head. He could hear his parents, aunt and uncle in the next room through the paper sliding doors. They were still sleeping. Multiple soft swishing noises created a strange harmony as they breathed in and out. Kokoro’s mat was empty, though. She was already up. Good! He thought, not wanting 56

Chapter 5: A Strange Happening to deal with her sour expression, and then he remembered the reading of his grandfather’s will. Why would Grandfather leave the house and guardianship of the bamboo forest to him… and to her? How were they possibly going to share this place? And what did guardianship of the bamboo forest actually mean anyway? He hadn’t wanted to burden his parents with his questions. It had been a long, sad day and after Mr Gray left, they all went straight to bed. But now it was morning again. Standing up, Takeo threw on some clothes and went into the kitchen, looking for a snack. Grabbing an apple from the bowl, he wandered out the back door. He was surprised to see, in only a few minutes, the morning light had already changed. The day had begun. He followed the square stones, stopping on the last one and peering off down the dirt path that led into the forest. Wait until I tell Rosesh that I’m a guardian of a bamboo forest, he thought, proudly. But as he 57

The Last Bamboo Stalk stepped off the last stone and his foot hit the ground between the first of the stalks, his moment of boasting disappeared, replaced instead with awe and wonder at the giant bamboo’s majestic presence. His amulet seemed to grow in warmth and he held it as he took his first steps into the forest. He wandered down the trail, listening intently to what sounded like whispers calling him gently onwards, but instead must have been the breeze through the tops of the bamboo. Looking up, Takeo saw the early-morning light streaming in from above. The delicate leaves were illuminated into a fluorescent green canopy. It was strangely entrancing and familiar; it reminded him of the vision on the volleyball court. He stood still as the recollection came flooding back. It had been like a dream, but this place was unmistakable in its likeness. Takeo checked himself. There had been something in that vision that had terrified him, but should he be worried now? He frowned, shook his head and 58

Chapter 5: A Strange Happening the memory away, then continued on his trek. The pathway wound downwards and then curled around before making a steep incline. It split off several times into minor trails. Takeo made a mental note to stay on the wider path when he returned to the house. The breezy whispers followed him on his walk until they became mixed with a more recognisable sound - singing. Takeo strained to hear where the unusual sound might be coming from. “No,” he breathed. “Is that… Is that English?” He took his bearings, moving in the direction of the soft voice, which grew louder as the forest became denser and darker. The path narrowed, then abruptly ended. Takeo could hear the singing clearly, but it was on the other side of a bamboo clump. Someone was moving between the stalks. “Kokoro?” he blurted out, questioningly. “Takeo? What are you doing here?” she responded sharply. 59

The Last Bamboo Stalk “You can speak English?” “Yeah, sure I can,” she answered matter-of-factly through the stalks as if he should have already known. From the tone of her voice, Takeo was sure she was smirking. Takeo tried to peer through the dense bamboo stalks but could only see snippets of what lay beyond. “What is that place? How did you get in?” he asked. “Like this,” she responded. Then, he heard her recite what sounded like a poem in Japanese. The tone of her voice was gentle and the words drifted between the bamboo stalks. Take ni suzume, tōnoki to rei to chikara, yamino nakade danketsu. 60



The Last Bamboo Stalk Takeo was sure that the breezy whispers high up in the bamboo forest intensified, like they were answering the summons. The bamboo swayed smoothly to each side as if being gently ordered to lean apart. A gap big enough for Takeo to clamber through appeared, but he stood there disbelievingly, gaping at his cousin. She looked like a picture framed with bamboo, standing proud with her right arm up and palm facing out. “But…” he said, confused, “...what just happened?” “Hurry up,” she said, rolling her eyes at him. “I don’t know how long it stays open.” He clambered through the gap and found himself in a circular clearing surrounded by dense bamboo. He took a moment to glance around before his eyes fell back on his cousin. She stood there, not particularly welcoming, with her hands on her hips. Takeo wasn’t sure what to ask first. “So, you can speak English,” he repeated, but this time it came out more like a statement than a question. “I thought you understood what Mr Gray said last night.” 62

Chapter 5: A Strange Happening “Well, aren’t you a great detective,” she answered sarcastically, crossing her arms and glaring at him. Takeo became irritated. “What’s your problem, Kokoro? You’ve been mean to me since I arrived.” “You’re a gaijin,” she replied coldly. He stood there staring at her. Was he supposed to know what that meant? She frowned and shook her head in frustration. “It means you do not belong here.” “Oh, is that all!” he responded with a little snort. “Gosh, I already know that! I don’t belong in Japan and I don’t belong in Australia. I’m from Nowhere Land, haven’t you heard?” It was his turn to smirk. Takeo saw that she was surprised by his response. Her face softened. She looked down towards her feet, unlocking her arms and shoving her hands in her pockets. 63

The Last Bamboo Stalk “I go to an international school in Tokyo,” she murmured, not looking at him. “I’ve been learning English since I could talk.” Takeo knew that she was attempting to make peace with him. He turned his gaze away from his cousin and towards the space they were standing in. The clearing had several pathways leading off in different directions. In the centre, a large stone jutted out of the ground. It looked like granite, Takeo thought, studying the towering oval- shaped stone and how it leant back slightly. He wandered around to the front where the smooth face of the monument was covered with kanji characters. “What is this place?” he asked, running his fingers over the letters chiselled into the stone. “I’m not exactly sure,” she responded, watching him. “How did you find it?” he asked. “And how did you… you know… do that thing with the bamboo?” She hesitated for a moment before answering. “I stumbled into it. I was following the pathway, 64

Chapter 5: A Strange Happening holding my amulet and saying a proverb that Grandfather had taught me when I was little.” She repeated the proverb but this time in English, “The sparrow in the bamboo, our heart, soul and strength, united in the darkness… ...and then the bamboo moved. It let me in.” Takeo wasn’t sure what to make of it all. He’d seen the bamboo move with his own eyes but couldn’t understand how it was possible. He wondered whether he could make it move too. “Wow, that is so cool. Do you think you could teach me?” he asked, turning to face Kokoro. “Maybe.” She moved towards the monument and leant against the cold stone. Takeo was glad she had mentioned their grandfather. “What was he like?” Kokoro pointed to the last few characters on the giant stone. 65

The Last Bamboo Stalk “This is his name… Takechiyo Sakamoto,” she said solemnly, not really answering his question. She suddenly turned her back and moved towards one of the pathways, peering ahead as if searching for something. “Really?” he said excitedly, running his fingers over the characters. He thought of the wake and the woman holding the book. “Hey, did you see the woman in the green kimono yesterday? I saw her at the torii gate when we arrived. Then she was at the funeral, standing near the altar. Do you know who she is?” Kokoro turned and narrowed her eyes. “You saw her?” “Ummm, yeah, I just said that. Well, who is she? How did she know our grandfather?” “But…” Kokoro suddenly stopped, looking once more down the pathway and into the forest. “I feel...” She stumbled backwards towards the centre of the clearing, putting one hand on the monument to steady herself. “…I don’t feel well.” The wind suddenly picked up, swirling around 66

Chapter 5: A Strange Happening them. Takeo followed Kokoro’s eye line towards the pathway she had been examining a moment before. His eyes widened. A prickly terror gripped his body as if an invisible being was rushing straight towards him, but he could not move. He felt trapped. Kokoro slumped to the ground, clutching her amulet and groaned in pain. “Kokoro, are you alright?” He ran to his cousin and crouched by her side, facing the direction of the threatening presence. But he could only see a dark mist snaking its way through the bamboo stalks. A chill washed over him. The air hung with despair like nothing now mattered and he was frozen to the spot. Kokoro moaned. “I don’t know what to do!” he cried desperately. The bamboo’s whispers became shouts and the more he listened, the more he was sure that the bamboo was in pain. It was crying out. Takeo covered his ears with his hands to block out the noise. 67

The Last Bamboo Stalk The wind intensified, whipping around them with great force. Where the mist had been, the pale green bamboo stalks were turning an ashen grey colour. Kokoro wrapped herself in a ball against the monument. She raised her hands to cover her head. “What do I do?” he yelled, but his words were picked up and thrown away by the wind. His amulet began to reverberate against his chest. It grew in warmth, bringing Takeo back to the present moment. He gripped the amulet tightly in his right hand, then instinctively raised his left, holding his palm up towards where the force was coming from as if to block the threat. He closed his eyes. Kokoro’s words danced in his mind. He could hear her singing the proverb. Takeo hesitated. Was he supposed to say it? 68

Chapter 5: A Strange Happening The bamboo’s agonising cries rose and Kokoro screamed. Takeo opened his mouth, but he did not recognise his voice. It thundered: “Take ni suzume, tōnoki to rei to chikara, yamino nakade danketsu.” As fast as it had come, the rushing sound ceased. The wind died down quickly and the dark mist evaporated. Takeo sensed that the threat had dissipated. There was a calmness in the air, but he continued to stare down the pathway for a few moments longer. He then let out a gasp of air and turned towards his cousin, her arms now at her sides. The wave of foreboding was ebbing away. Kokoro attempted to stand using the monument to steady herself. “Are you alright?” he asked, taking hold of her elbow to keep her steady. “I feel like a boulder has run over me!” she 69

The Last Bamboo Stalk responded breathlessly, slowly straightening herself up. Takeo glanced back towards the pathway. “What was that?” Kokoro took a deep breath. “Your guess is as good as mine.” “Whatever it was, I think it’s gone now.” Takeo continued to hold Kokoro’s elbow as they took a few steps towards the pathway where the darkness had entered. The base of the bamboo stalks, along the edges, had turned black. “Listen,” Takeo said. “Kokoro, can you hear that?” “Hear what?” Her pale face was frowning. “It’s crying,” he said sorrowfully. He reached out to touch the blackened stalk. A sudden surge of energy flowed from the palm of his hand, through his arm and into the rest of his body. Takeo drew a deep breath. He felt his chest expand with the bamboo’s lifeforce. 70

Chapter 5: A Strange Happening “Look at what you’re doing!” Kokoro’s eyes grew wide and fixed on to where Takeo’s hand lay. The dark part of the stalk slowly receded as the pale green silk-like skin returned. He could hear the bamboo too. It was humming now. But it wasn’t just happening to the stalk he had touched. Slowly, the ones next to it started to repair, the returning of life spreading further away. They were all connected, weak on their own, but a fortress when united, Takeo thought. Then, he sensed a whisper, “Takeo, Takeo”. “You’re reviving the forest,” Kokoro said in amazement, her hand instinctively drawn to her amulet. “Keep holding on!” Takeo wasn’t about to let go. He could feel the energy flowing through his body and back into the forest. He closed his eyes. He felt every stalk that the mist had touched heal and heard every sigh of relief. The darkness was falling away, retreating to its source. Finally, he released his hand. “I think everything’s OK,” he said reassuringly, 71

The Last Bamboo Stalk staring off into the revived forest. As if in answer, a light breeze carrying a heartening whisper gently brushed his face. He looked towards his cousin. He could see she was feeling better. She was smiling. “I think we’d better head back,” Takeo said, standing up. He wasn’t sure what had just appeared and he didn’t want to stick around in case it returned. Takeo and Kokoro walked the rest of the way in silence. It seemed like a lifetime had passed since they had entered the forest, but their parents were only just sitting down to breakfast when they entered the house. Takeo didn’t realise how hungry he was until he saw the delicious food piled high on the table. The cousins spent the rest of the day together. They went down the harbour and explored the rocky inlets, searching for hermit crabs. That evening, lying on their mats, they talked about the strange happenings of the day. Kokoro started. “You asked about Grandfather earlier. Well, he was kind and he was patient. 72

Chapter 5: A Strange Happening He would take me on walks through the bamboo forest, but he never took me to that clearing. When we moved to Tokyo, we didn’t see him very often...” She trailed off. Takeo stuffed his pillow under his head. “Thanks, Kokoro.” She raised herself onto her elbow. “Also, I’m sorry I was mean to you.” “Yeah, you were a bit,” he teased, “but that’s OK.” “No, it wasn’t. I shouldn’t have called you a gaijin.” “Well, I am, aren’t I? I’ve never felt like I belonged.” He rolled onto his back. “Well, I think we’re both wrong. Look how you fought that thing today. How did you know what to do? And you healed the forest. I have a feeling you healed me, too.” “It feels like a dream now.” He was reminded again of the volleyball incident and his vision back in Australia, but his eyes were becoming 73

The Last Bamboo Stalk heavy. “There’s something else.” Kokoro sat up, crossing her legs and lowering her voice. “That woman you saw with the book…” “The one by the torii gate?” “Yeah, she’s not a woman.” “Huh?” Takeo stirred from his increasing sleepiness. “She’s a Kami.” “What’s a Kami? Do you mean she’s a ghost?” Takeo let out a spontaneous giggle. So much had happened in the last couple of days, his brain was tired, and now Kokoro said that this woman was not human. She looked real to him. “Shhhh!” Kokoro hissed, not wanting the adults to hear. “A Kami is a spirit being. A deity. I saw her when we arrived and she 74

Chapter 5: A Strange Happening bowed towards me too.” Takeo didn’t really believe in spirit beings, even though his parents had talked about them every so often. But now, looking over at Kokoro’s solemn face lit by the warm lantern light, he stopped smirking. After all, he’d had a strange connection with the bamboo. When he’d touched the stalk, it had seemed to whisper to him and he’d healed it. Perhaps Kokoro was right; the woman in the green kimono was a deity. Kokoro continued in a whisper, “The Kami are that which are hidden. That means that you must belong here, Takeo, otherwise you wouldn’t have seen her.” They stared at each other through the dim light. How could Kokoro tell the woman was a deity? Takeo wondered, unable to keep his eyes open any longer. 75

Chapter SIX An Old Tale “What is it?” Takeo grumbled. He’d been in a deep sleep when Kokoro started poking him on the shoulder. “Get up,” she whispered. He half-opened his eyes and glanced around. “But it’s still dark.” “I know, but c’mon, get up! We’ve got a Kami to catch!” Her quiet voice rose just enough to betray her excitement. Takeo rolled over and grumbled. He wasn’t sure about this, but his cousin seemed to sense his hesitation. “Don’t you think it’s odd,” she whispered encouragingly, “that only you and I can see 76

Chapter 6: An Old Tale her? And what about Grandfather leaving us the guardianship of the forest? What does that mean anyway? And that dark mist at the monument? And what about our amulets getting warmer?” She prattled on at a low whisper, ending with, “Don’t you want to know what it all means, Takeo?” “OK, OK,” he mumbled, defeated. She had some really good points. He rolled over, swinging his legs out of the bed. “But aren’t you a little bit worried about wandering around in the dark looking for a spooky spirit?” he asked hesitantly, but she just glared at him like she did not need to answer that question and threw him his jacket. They weaved their way along the dimly lit cobblestone streets. The sky behind the mountain was a fluorescent pink colour, signalling that dawn wasn’t too far away. It washed across slivers of dark clouds melting into the blue night-time sky. They headed down to the waterfront, where the fishers were preparing to go out in their boats, before changing direction away from the sea up towards the entrance of the village, talking in hushed whispers. 77

The Last Bamboo Stalk “How do you catch a Kami, anyway? What about a huge butterfly net that we could fling over the top of the spirit?” He mimed sweeping his arms out wide and down with his pretend net. “I’ve got you,” he said, smiling towards his cousin. Kokoro threw her head back and laughed. “Sugoi!” she said, a little too loudly, then quickly covered her mouth. They were being too noisy. “What was that word you said? Sugoee?” Takeo whispered. “Sugoi? Oh, that means ‘awesome’ in Japanese.” Takeo liked the sound of the word, repeating it to himself several times. “Anyway, I am not sure that ‘catch’ was the right word,” Kokoro said, getting back to the task at hand. “Kami can be both good and evil. I wouldn’t want to catch an evil one!” “Oh, OK.” He didn’t like the sound of an evil spirit. “Well, then, how are we going to ‘summon’ her?” he asked. “Do you think she’ll be at the torii gate? What do you think will happen? 78

Chapter 6: An Old Tale What can evil Kami do?” He started to fire questions one after the other. “Takeo, I don’t really know!” she replied abruptly. “What I do know is that both of us first saw her at the torii gate. It’s a sacred place and I figure it’s a good place to start.” She paused for a moment. There was enough early light to distinguish the outline of objects but not the detail. The distinctive but dark shape of the gate became more recognisable as they made their way along the quiet street. “Also, the Kami are connected to nature and I think our Kami might be linked to our bamboo forest.” Takeo couldn’t help notice that Korkoro used the word ‘our’. It had a flickering effect on him. Where ‘different’ had drained his heart, ‘our’ seemed to fill it. The pair arrived at the gate. Takeo could just make out in the distance the narrow pathway that he and his parents had taken a few days 79

The Last Bamboo Stalk earlier when they’d entered the village. He sensed the bamboo forest. It was stretching up, ready to receive the warm morning sun. He felt himself mirroring the stalks by unintentionally lengthening upwards, just like he had caught someone else’s yawn and couldn’t stop himself from yawning too. Kokoro busied herself by searching around the edge of the forest. Although Takeo wasn’t exactly sure what she was looking for, he joined in. They spent some time combing the base of the stalks and peering into the darkness, looking for clues. He found it a little hard to believe that the woman would be lurking in the dark bamboo forest or would appear out of thin air just because they wanted her to. Still, stranger things had happened recently. “Humph!” Kokoro exhaled, putting her hands on her hips. She turned around, lifting her gaze from focusing on the details to taking in the whole space. Takeo thought she looked like a detective examining the scene of a crime. She then strode purposefully back towards the gate. “That’s strange,” she mumbled, almost to herself. “I haven’t noticed that before.” 80

Chapter 6: An Old Tale He wondered if she remembered that he was there too. “What is?” “Look at this.” She pointed from one pillar to the other, not taking her eyes off them. “These have the same kanji letters.” 竹に雀、当の気と霊と力、闇の中で団結 He could see that the symbols on both pillars were identical. “Can you read it?” “Yes, but we already know what it says.” She turned and smiled at him. “It’s the proverb that Grandfather taught me. You know it too. It’s the one you said when we were at the monument.” They both took a step back, looking at the tall weathered pillars in awe. “Let’s try saying it,” he suggested. “Together.” “OK. You stand in front of that pillar and I’ll stand in front of this one.” 81

The Last Bamboo Stalk The cousins stood in front of the gate with the bamboo forest in the background and the village behind them. “OK, ready?” he asked, glancing over at Kokoro, a wave of excited silliness washing over him. “Sure am,” she responded confidently. The words came out in harmony, one slightly higher than the other but perfectly matched. “Take ni suzume, tōnoki to rei to chikara, yamino nakade danketsu.” They looked at each other, then around the clearing. Nothing happened. Takeo felt like he was about to laugh at their early-morning antics. Here they were out in near-darkness, chanting some funny poem. But something made him stop. Kokoro had used the proverb to move the bamboo and he had used it to fight off the dark mist. Perhaps it wasn’t a silly idea after all. 82

Chapter 6: An Old Tale Then, Kokoro put her finger to her lips to signal silence. Rustling was coming from over near the narrow track. A silhouette was moving between the bamboo stalks. The cousins shuffled closer together. For all they knew, they had not called their lovely Kami, but a more sinister creature instead. In anticipation, they peered wide-eyed towards the shadow, waiting for it to show itself. Flashes of green silk caught slivers of early-morning light, glittering for the briefest of moments between the bamboo stalks. Takeo caught his breath. Then, gliding out from the forest pathway, was the woman in the emerald kimono. She walked towards them. Her long hair swayed from left to right as she moved and her embroidered robe trailed weightlessly along the ground. Although she looked human, she had a bright tinge, a luminous glow that surrounded her. With her, she carried a large old book. 83

The Last Bamboo Stalk Takeo stood mesmerised. Cascading black hair gently framed her striking face. Kokoro was moving. He could see her out of the corner of his eye. She was bowing low, so he followed suit. “Ahh, I see you have found each other.” The Kami’s voice floated through the still air. “Take ni suzume.” Takeo looked towards Kokoro for an explanation. “You know it’s our Kamon, right?” He nodded timidly, glancing back towards the spirit. “Well, it’s also a saying. She means we go well together, like the sparrow in the bamboo.” The Kami smiled at Kokoro. She moved towards them, then knelt on the soft grass near the gate, beckoning them to sit with her. “My name is Aki. I’m the guardian spirit of this land.” She nodded respectfully towards them. “I’m Kokoro and this is my cousin, Takeo.” 84

Chapter 6: An Old Tale “I know who you are, watashi no kodomotachi… my children. I have been waiting for you and so has the guardian of the bamboo forest, your grandfather.” “Where is he?” Takeo asked, suddenly looking around the clearing. After all that had happened, he wouldn’t have been surprised to see his grandfather stride out of the forest. “He is here, child,” the Kami explained as she gestured towards the bamboo, “though you may not be able to see him with your eyes. You will when the time is right.” Takeo looked again towards the forest. “To be connected to nature means to be connected to the spirits.” “But, I’m not sure I understand, Kami Aki,” Kokoro frowned. “What does it all mean and why does the forest need a guardian?” Takeo nodded in agreement. “To know the present, we must understand the past,” the spirit responded, looking down at the large tea-stained book on her knees. She touched the symbol on the front of the book and it gleamed. 85

The Last Bamboo Stalk “It is your family’s Kamon,” she explained. Takeo could see a light radiate from under his cousin’s chin. “Kokoro, your amulet is glowing!” “Yours too!” she replied. Aki opened the book and turned the delicate pages carefully. “Long ago,” the Kami read, “Shozoku Village was a prosperous place…” All at once, an apparition appeared in the clearing. The bamboo forest disappeared into a road, edged with cypress trees. A horse and cart came rattling towards them and made its way along the pathway near where they sat. It headed through the gate and towards the village. A man sat on the seat at the front of the cart, gently urging the horse on while cane baskets shook behind him in the rear. Then, the vision faded and was replaced by three women. They wore elaborate clothes. Their hair was done up in buns with flowers and beautiful combs, ornate trinkets hanging down from them. They 86

Chapter 6: An Old Tale stood together talking when an older woman ambled towards them. She spoke gruffly at the three women, who bowed respectfully, then she turned to leave. Then that vision faded as well. “These are villagers from yesteryear,” Aki explained. “You can see and hear them, but they cannot see or hear you.” She continued the story. “Merchants and traders entered with gold to buy seafood delicacies or with goods to trade. They left to take their bounty back to their own village, content with their stomachs full of fish. The movement of people helped to make the village a lively place to visit.” The cousins sat mesmerised while the story unfolded in front of them. It was like watching a play on stage; characters moved on and off, fading in and out as the tale continued. The costumes and hairstyles suggested a time long past. Two men materialised near the torii gate. Takeo thought they must have been brothers, as they looked so similar. Aki confirmed it. 87

The Last Bamboo Stalk “These are your ancestors, Kaiyō and Yama,” she said respectfully. “They are twins.” She continued the story. “Ancestor Kaiyō and Ancestor Yama were not born in the village. They had been abandoned, perhaps by travelling merchants or by a visiting troupe of performers, but nobody really knew how the twins had come to be left behind. They were given to the village elder, Shozo, to raise in his household, and he named them Kaiyō after the ocean and Yama after the mountain. The boys grew quickly into young men. Kaiyō fished and slept near the water under the stars. He found a wife and had a daughter. He was happy. He loved the village that was his home. But Yama found his life a burden. Darkness hung on his brow.” Takeo studied the three-dimensional vision of the two male figures in front of him. They were so alike, almost identical. It was just that one had a gentle look on his face while the other looked severe. The men started arguing. 88

Chapter 6: An Old Tale Aki continued, “Yama wanted to leave Shozoku. He longed for a place where he could belong and he demanded that his brother travel with him. At the torii gate, Yama told Kaiyō of his plans, but Kaiyō refused to leave. Instead, he pleaded for his brother to embrace their given life. Yama grew very angry.

The Last Bamboo Stalk He felt betrayed by Kaiyō, who should have wanted the same thing. He ran towards his brother and a scuffle broke out.” The vision continued to enact the spoken words as the two men wrestled. Wide-eyed, Takeo and Kokoro drew themselves up onto their knees. Kokoro put her hands over her mouth in dread. “Yama stumbled and fell to the ground. “Brother, brother...” Kaiyō cried, kneeling next to Yama. Yama seethed, pushing Kaiyō away. “You are no brother of mine.” Yama rose from the ground. He flashed a tortured look, conveying his pain and, more markedly than all, his anger, towards his brother, then turned towards the mountain, lifting his feet awkwardly as he went. Kaiyō watched his brother leave. He dropped down on his hands and knees and wept. He cried a thousand tears, and, where each one hit the earth, a bamboo stalk rose, shooting up and 90

Chapter 6: An Old Tale surrounding his beloved village. Kaiyō became the first guardian of the bamboo forest.” The cousins stared sorrowfully at the vision of Kaiyō on all fours, weeping while the bamboo grew around him. Finally, it began to fade. “But, what happened to Ancestor Yama?” Takeo turned to Aki, who was looking up from the book. “Yama was never seen again,” she said sadly. “Some say that he left to go travelling to other parts of the country, searching for a place to belong. But most believe that he stayed on the mountain, where he lived out his days alone, his torment turning into a hollow darkness they now call akuryō.” “Akuryō?” Takeo repeated. “Yes, Takeo,” Kami Aki replied. She seemed to know what he was going to ask next. “Akuryō was the dark mist you encountered in the forest. Akuryō is Ancestor Yama.” 91

The Last Bamboo Stalk Takeo was beginning to understand. “Does that mean… the crying I heard from the bamboo… that was Kaiyō?” He stared wide-eyed at the spirit, startled by his realisation. She nodded. Kokoro had been wiping away her tears, but now she spoke. “Kami Aki, are you saying that we are the guardians of the forest now?” “Yes, my children, you are the descendants, and the legacy has been passed to you. Kokoro, you are the guardian of the bamboo’s heart and soul. You will know its joy but also its pain.” She turned to Takeo. “And you… you are the guardian of the bamboo’s strength – protector and protected. Like the bamboo, you will learn to adapt to the harshest conditions.” “But, I don’t know how to be a guardian!” He was unable to hide his alarm. 92