THE MANGA BIOGRAPHY OF

Kenji Miyazawa
NIGHT OF THE MILKY WAY RAILWAY
AUTHOR OF

+
BY

KO YANO

MICHAEL BRASE

TRANSLATED BY

Japan & Stuff Press

W H E R E I N J A PA N DID K E N J I LIVE?

HOKKAIDO

HONSHU

HERE, IWATE PREFECTURE.

TOKYO

KYUSHU

SHIKOKU

The original Japanese version of this book was published by Kashiwa Shobo in 1993. The present English edition was published by Japan & Stuff Press, Mihara 2-19-60-202, Asaka-shi, Saitama-ken, 351-0025, Japan, in April 2010. The author wishes to acknowledge the cooperation of Rinpoosya for photo permissions and Susumu Sato, who consented to the use of excerpts from the Japanese book Miyazawa Kenji, which was written by his father, the late Takafusa Sato, and published by Fuzambo in 1942. Artwork and story 2010 Ko Yano English translation 2010 Michael Brase Translation editor: Curtis Kennedy Digital prepress: Michiko Ohnuma ISBN: 978-4-9902848-4-8 All rights reserved. www.japanandstuff.com

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1
KENJIS CHILDHOOD LEARNING TO LOVE MT. IWATE 2

2
FROM STUDENT TO TEACHER SOWING THE SEEDS OF TRUTH 42

3
FROM THE FARMERS ASSOCIATION TO KENJIS DEATH A MAN FOR ALL TIME 102 POEM 140

1
KENJIS CHILDHOOD
Learning to Love Mt. Iwate

KENJI AT FIVE, AND HIS SISTER TOSHI, THREE (1901).

A CIRCA 1907 VIEW OF THE STREET ON WHICH KENJI WAS BORN AND RAISED (PRESENT-DAY TOYOSAWA-MACHI, HANAMAKI CITY, IWATE PREFECTURE). KENJIS BIRTHPLACE IS ON THE RIGHT, ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE STREET.

KENJIS BIRTHPLACE (COMBINING STORE AND RESIDENCE) IN THE LATE 1920S. IN 1926, THE ORIGINAL PAWNSHOP AND SECONDHAND CLOTHING STORE BECAME A HARDWARE STORE.

4
BABA

G ED IN G D O NG
GE D

G-

THE FIRST GRANDSON ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FAMILY, HE WAS PAM PERED AS A CHILD.

KENJI WAS BORN IN 1896, THE FIRST CHILD OF MASAJIRO AND ICHI MIYAZAWA, WHO RAN A SUCCESSFUL PAWNSHOP.

UH

OH!

HES GONE AND WET HIMSELF AGAIN.

TOOSHII. TOOOSHIII.

IN 1898, KENJIS SISTER TOSHI WAS BORN.

GIDDYUP, HORSEY.

SINCE KENJI WAS THE ELDEST SON AND DESTINED TO BE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD ONE DAY, HIS PARENTS DIDNT LET HIM PLAY OUTDOORS MUCH, THINK ING HE MIGHT HURT HIMSELF. HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME INSIDE, PLAYING BY HIMSELF.

5
LEMME RIDE TOO, OKAY? HEY, SHINZO. HEY KENJI, LETS PLAY.

MY GOODNESS! WHATS THE MATTER?

WA

A
A
A!

NOW, KENJI, YOU SHARE YOUR HORSE WITH SHINZO, ALRIGHT?

WA AAA

GIDDYUP, HORSEY.

ONCE HE GETS STARTED, YOU KNOW

AA

WA AA

A!

WHY DOES HE KEEP CRYING LIKE THAT, MRS. MIYAZAWA?

WA A

A A!

6 UP,
NOW WATCH THIS.

UP AND AWAY.

P ON K

!! !

W H EEE!!!!

OH

NO !

RUN FOR IT, TOSHI!

HEY, Y

O
U

TW

O!
OH, ITS KEN AND TOSHI, ISNT IT?

GEE, THANKS.

HERES A SWEET BUN FOR YOU.

IM A FRIEND OF YOUR FATHERS.

HUH???

SEE YOU.

BYE.

NO WAY.

GIMME THAT.

T
A N K S.
THANKS.

HERE, HAVE A BITE.

HA

HA
HA
HA

ISNT THIS YUMMY??!!!

TAKE HALF OF MINE, KENJI.

8
BEGINNING LINES OF THE LETTER ON WHITE ASHES:

WHEN I STUDY
DEEPLY THE EPHEMERAL NA TURE OF HUMAN LIFE,

THE MIYAZAWA FAMILY WERE AVID FOLLOW ERS OF THE BUDDHIST JODO SHINSHU SECT. EVERY MORNING AND NIGHT, IN FRONT OF THE FAMILY ALTAR, THEY FAITHFULLY CHANTED THE HYMN OF TRUE FAITH OR THE LETTER ON WHITE ASHES.*

I REALIZE THAT LIFE,

FROM BEGINNING TO END, IS AS FLEETING AS AN ILLUSION.

IN THE MORNING
HE WAS OFTEN TAKEN TO A NEARBY BODAIJI TEMPLE.
WE MAY HAVE ROSY COMPLEX IONS, BUT BY EVENING WE HAVE BECOME AS WHITE AS ASH.

BY THE AGE OF FOUR KENJI COULD RECITE IT BY HEART.

HE LISTENED TO STORIES OF PARADISE AND HORRENDOUS TALES OF HELL WITHOUT FLINCHING.

IN AMIDA BUDDHAS VOW TO HELP ALL BELIEVERS ENTER THE PURE LAND. BELIEVERS CHANT THE NEMBUTSU (HOMAGE TO AMIDA BUDDHA) AS AN EXPRESSION OF THEIR GRATITUDE. THE HYMN OF THE TRUE FAITH WAS WRITTEN BY SHINRAN, THE FOUNDER OF JODO SHINSHU BUDDHISM, TO EXPLAIN HIS TEACHINGS AND URGE PEOPLE TO TAKE REFUGE IN AMIDA BUDDHA. (continued on p. 9)

* JODO SHINSHU IS PART OF THE JODO (OR PURE LAND) SCHOOL OF BUDDHISM, WHICH PUTS ITS FAITH

9
I HATE THAT STUFF. COME HERE AND DRINK YOUR MILK.

KENJIS HEALTH
LOOK, PICKY LITTLE KENJI GOT IT ALL DOWN. BUT ITS GOOD FOR YOU.

FWEE
FWOO

G UL P
G OLP

ARE YOU ALRIGHT, DEAR?

O O OH

HH!! !

WHILE NURSING HIM, KENJIS FATHER GOT IT, TOO.

MY STOMACH.!!!!!

AT AGE SIX, HE GOT DYSENTERY.

FROM NOW ON, NO MORE FRUIT.

AFTER THAT, THE FAMILYS DIET WAS STRICTLY CON TROLLED.

DONT COME NEAR ME OR KENJI.

BUT, BUT ?

(continued from p. 8) THE LETTER ON WHITE ASHES, PART OF A COLLECTION OF LETTERS WRITTEN BY PRIEST RENNYO FOR JODO SHINSHU LAY GROUPS, TEACHES THE IMPERMANENCE OF LIFE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUSTING IN AMIDA BUDDHAS VOW SO THAT THOSE WHO CANNOT ATTAIN ENLIGHTENMENT THROUGH THEIR OWN EFFORTS WILL BE SAVED NONETHELESS.

10

AA

A!

WA A A
A!
ER DG LE

MIYAZAWA PAWNSHOP

WAAAA!

THE THING IS

WHATS GOTTEN INTO KENJI?

ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT! PLEASE, JUST STOP CRYING.

APPARENTLY HE THOUGHT HED BE STARTING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ALONG WITH HIS FRIEND SHINZO.

IN THE END, THEY HAD TO GET HIM TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER SCHOOL SUPPLIES, JUST AS IF HE WERE A QUALIFIED STU DENT.

DONT WORRY, YOULL BE GOING NEXT YEAR.

11
SHALL WE EAT A FEW, THEN? TETSUO, THOSE PLUMS LOOK DOWNRIGHT SCRUMPTIOUS.

THIS IS REALLY YUMMY!

GOOD, ILL HAVE THEM ALL TO MYSELF!!!

MY DAD MADE FRUIT OFF LIMITS.

MEDICINE CABINET

BOY, AM I FULL.

I FORGOT ABOUT TETSUO.

O H!!!

THISLL KEEP DYSENTERY AWAY.

12
IS DYSENTERY ALL THAT BAD? YOU ATE A LOT, SO YOU GOTTA TAKE A LOT. MEDICINE. I BROUGHT YOU SOME MEDICINE. WHATRE YOU DOING HERE, KEN?

THISLL GET THE PUS OUT OF THAT BLISTER.

SOMETIME LATER

UGH GULP YUCK

NOW THERES NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

CARBOLIC ACID

IT HURTS EVEN WORSE NOW.

O O OH!!!!

AS GOOD AS NEW IN NO TIME.

KENJIS FATHER DIDNT BELIEVE IN DILUTING MEDICINE, THINKING THE STRONGER IT WAS, THE MORE EFFECTIVE IT WOULD BE.

WHAT ARE YOU WHINING ABOUT, YOU SISSY?

13
YOUVE GOT TO BE STRONG!!!

HANAMAKI KAWAGUCHI ORDINARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

STOP FIGHTING, YOU TWO.

SAYS ME.

SAYS WHO?

KENJI BELIEVED IN NONVIOLENCE.

WHO ASKED YOU?

SMACK!!! BEAM

14
FIELD OF PAMPAS GRASS

F LAP F LAP

THE GRASS HERE IS ALREADY GETTING GREEN. HOW ABOUT THE REEDS OVER THERE? WILL THEY BURN?

YA
YEAH, I THINK SO.

A AAY

! !! ! !

CRACKL E

W HOOSH
C RACKLE

YAY

!!!!

OK THEN. HERE IT GOES.

15

R O O OA A A R R
CRACKLE
CRACKL
E

WOOOWW!!

THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND.

HEY

HO

H EY HO!!!

BEAT IT OUT! USE YOUR JACKETS.

RUN FOR IT!

R O OOAA R

RR

CLANG CLANG CLANG

UHOH. THERE GOES THE FIRE ALARM.

16

YEAH. BUT MUMS THE WORD.

THAT WAS SOME FIRE, WASNT IT?

17
TODAY WELL START WITH ONE CARD EACH.*

OK. NOW WATCH THIS.

OH, CRAP.

Y E AA

A H !!!

Y E
SNIK

C LA TT E R CL ATTER

TODAYS NOT MY DAY.

O
O
W !!!

OH !!

!!!!!

* THEY ARE PLAYING MENKO (OR LOCALLY, BATTA), THE AIM OF WHICH IS TO TURN OVER YOUR OPPONENTS CARD (AND WIN IT) BY HITTING IT WITH YOUR CARD.

18

T H UDD

AARGHHH!!!!

H E EEEE!!!!!
O H O H OH !! !

SHUJI!!!!

SHUJI!!!!???? SHUJI!!!!????

IT MUST HURT

YOURE A REAL FRIEND, KENJI.

IT MUST HURT SOMETHING AWFUL!

SHLURP SHLORP

19
ALONG THE NEARBY KITAKAMIGAWA RIVER, THERE WAS A PLACE ALONG THE WEST BANK KENJI HAD DUBBED THE ENGLISH SEASHORE. ON ONE OF THE POINTS, THERE WAS A PRIVATELY OWNED MELON PATCH.

THIS WOODEN LID MAKES A TELLTALE SOUND.

YEAH

HOW CAN YOU TELL WHERE THE MELONS ARE, UNDER ALL THOSE LEAVES?

20

YAY!

SEE, I FOUND ONE.

K PO N A K

THWA CK THWA CK

RUSTLE RUSTLE

YEAH, LETS GET OUTTA HERE.

THIS IS ENOUGH, RIGHT?

HEY! HEY!

HEY!!!!
CRIPES, THE WATCHMAN!!!

KANICHI, HURRY UP!

AND IM OFF

HERE ARE YOUR MELONS!

! ARGH

NK KERPLU

HURRY UP!!!

WOOOSHH

21

DEEELI CIOUS!

GREAT MELON!

WASNT THAT FUN?

BWAH

AHA

OH, THAT. THE TEACHER DIDNT LIKE WHAT I WROTE.

THESE RED LINES, WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

WHEN THE NORTH WIND BLOWS, THE COLIC GROWS.

KENJI IN TROUBLE
HOW DISAP POINTED HE MUST HAVE BEEN, YOU WRITING SUCH NONSENSE.

BUT EVERYBODY BELIEVES IT.

22
WHILE KENJI WOULD JOIN IN THE FUN WHEN HE WAS INVITED, HE ALSO LIKED READING AND GOT VERY GOOD GRADES.

YES, FATHER.

AND SO, KENJI

I DONT WANT TO BECOME A GREAT MAN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

WELL, WHEN ITS COLD, I COULD BE A BLACKSMITH.

SO? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE?

WHAT KIND OF ATTITUDE IS THAT?

YOU KNUCKLE HEAD!!!!!!!

AND WHEN ITS HOT, I COULD WORK IN THE COOL AS A STABLE BOY.

23
OK, IVE FINISHED ODAYACHO. YES, FATHER. I KNOW ITS COLD OUT, BUT COULD YOU CIRCULATE THIS BULLETIN?

KENJIS FEAR OF DOGS

NEXT IS KAJI MACHI.

YO, KENJI.

Y I KES
ITS SUGIMOTO AND HIS DOG!

HEEELP!

SICM!

I HAVE A THING ABOUT DOGS.

G RRR

24
MISCHIEF AT SCHOOL

CLUMP

RIING RIIING

CLOMP

YESSS!!!

K E R PL UN K
<ERASER

CREEAKKK

A RG
YOU RASCALS!

H!!!

TIME OUT!!! UNCLE!

S T OO

OPP

P!

NOW WE'RE IN FOR IT!

25
THATS ENOUGH!

KENJI INTERVENES

SISSY PANTS, SISSY PANTSWEARING A BRIGHT RED SHIRT!

IF YOURE GOING TO HIT HIM, HIT ME FIRST.

, RING G RIIIN

IN RECOGNITION OF HIS EXCELLENT GRADES, KENJI RECEIVED HIS TEXTBOOKS FREE OF CHARGE EVERY YEAR THROUGHOUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

YEAH.

I CANT HIT YOU, KENJI. YOU WIN.

26
THAT LOOKS HEAVY.

GULP GOLP

STUDENT HOLDING A BOWL OF WATER AS A FORM OF PUNISHMENT.

LOOK AT ALL THE BUGS LIVING SO HAPPILY TOGETHER.

27
IN 1909, AT THE AGE OF 13, KENJI ENTERED MORIOKA MID DLE SCHOOL, TAKING UP RESIDENCE IN THE DORM.*

HOW SHOULD I KNOW?

WHERED HE GO?

HE WENT OUT FOR A WALK EARLY THIS MORNING.

HEY, WHERES MIYAZAWA?

THE HEART OF THE BUDDHA IS

AT 5 OCLOCK EVERY MORNING, KENJI ATTENDED LECTURES BY DAITO SHIMAJI, CHIEF PRIEST AT GANKYOJI TEMPLE.

* ROUGHLY SPEAKING, AT THIS TIME THE JAPANESE MIDDLE SCHOOL CAN BE CONSIDERED AS EQUIVALENT TO A PRESENT-DAY AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE JAPANESE HIGH SCHOOL TO AN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, WITH THE JAPANESE UNIVERSITY BEING A QUINTESSENTIAL ELITIST INSTITUTION, OF WHICH THERE WERE RELATIVELY FEW.

28
YES, UPPER CLASSMAN. FIRSTYEAR STUDENTS CLEANED THE LAMPS, TOOK OUT THE FUTONS AT NIGHT AND PUT THEM AWAY IN THE MORNING, RAN ER RANDS FOR UPPER CLASSMEN, AND DID ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. IVE GOT AN ERRAND FOR YOU, MIYAZAWA.

THE DORMITORY
THE RELATION SHIP BETWEEN LOWERCLASS MEN AND UPPER CLASSMEN WAS VERY STRICT.

HE ALWAYS THOUGHT THINGS THROUGH TO THE END. WHEN HE CAME UP AGAINST A PARTICULARLY THORNY PROBLEM, HE WOULD SOMETIMES COMPLAIN AND SHOW HIS FRUSTRATION, BUT HE WAS NEVER EASY ON HIMSELF. IN THE EYES OF SOME, HIS TENDENCY TO LOOK AT HIMSELF CRITICALLY VERGED ON SELFDEGRADATION.

KENJI HAD BEEN RAISED TO BE COURTEOUS AND PIOUS. HE SPOKE POLITELY NOT ONLY TO SENIOR STUDENTS BUT TO JUNIOR STUDENTS AS WELL. HE WAS GENERALLY LIKED, THOUGH SOME MIS TAKENLY THOUGHT HIM A GOODY TWOSHOES.

IN THE END, I CAN ONLY BE MYSELF.

HE TALKS TO EVERYONE IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AND IS NATURALLY CHEERFUL.

AND YOURE JUST PLAIN IGNORANT.

HE OFTEN ARGUED WITH ANOTHER STUDENT NAMED OTSUBO.

YOURE JUST PLAIN WEIRD, THATS ALL.

29
FINE WITH ME. LETS SETTLE THIS IN THE RING.

YEAH !! !

OH YEAH!!!

L E T S D O I T ! AN Y T IM E !

KENJI WAS STRONGER THAN HE LOOKED.

-B AMMM!!!

OK, YOU WIN.

F WHEEEE

30

MT. IWATE IS CALLING OUT TO ME. ONE DAY ILL CLIMB TO THE VERY TOP.

KENJI WOULD OFTEN GAZE AT MT. IWATE FROM HIS HOME IN HANAMAKI, BUT THE FIRST TIME HE SAW IT UP CLOSE WAS FROM MORIOKA. HE FELT AS IF HE HAD BEEN STRUCK BY A BOLT OF LIGHTNING.

IN JUNE OF 1910, HIS SECOND YEAR IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE DORMITORY HOUSEMASTER ORGANIZED A GROUP OF SOME 80 STUDENTS TO SCALE THE MOUNTAIN.

31
EVERYONE READY? OUR FIRST GOAL IS MT. IWATE SHRINE. BRIGHT AND EARLY TOMORROW

Y EE
MT. IWATE SHRINE
FINALLY THERE IT WASSUNRISE FROM THE SUMMIT OF MT. IWATE.

A AAY!

CAREFUL NOW. WATCH YOUR STEP.

THEY SET OFF AT 1:00 AM.

EVEN THOUGH HE WAS HOPELESS IN GYM CLASS, KENJI PROVED A STRONG CLIMBER. HE HAD FOUND HIS ELEMENT.

32
I HAVE FOUND MY WAY IN LIFE. THE FIRST PAGE OF THE TANNIJO* CONTAINS THE ENTIRETY OF MY RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. NOT THAT I UNDERSTAND IT ALL, BUT MAYBE ABOUT 80 PERCENT. I RECITE THE NEMBUTSU REGULARLY. BECAUSE OF THE BUDDHA, I DONT FEAR FOR MY LIFE. IN MY HEART, I AM READY FOR DEATH. I DONT FEAR GHOSTS OR SPIRITS, FOR THE BENEVOLENT BUDDHA, LIKE A SHADOW, IS ALWAYS PRESENT, PROTECTING THOSE WHO CHANT THE NEMBUTSU. EVEN HOONJI TEMPLE, WITH ITS 500 FRIGHTFUL RAKAN STATUES, DOESNT SCARE ME. AND IM NOT AFRAID TO CLIMB MT. IWATE ALONE AT NIGHT. IN ADDITION TO LETTERS LIKE THIS, EVERY MONTH, WITHOUT FAIL, KENJI INFORMED HIS FATHER OF HIS EXPENDITURES IN MINUTE DETAIL.

WELL, HES BECOME AN ADHERENT OF THE JODO SHINSHU SECT, THANK HEAVEN.

KENJI HAD BEGUN HOARDING ROCKS IN DRAWERS AND CLOSETS.

TO MT. IWATE, COLLECTING ROCKS.

WHERE HAS MIYAZAWA GONE OFF TO?

HA

HA HA

* TANNIJO CONSISTS OF THE RECORDED CONVERSATIONS OF SHINRAN, FOUNDER OF JODO SHINSHU.

NEMBUTSU (LITERALLY MINDFUL OF THE BUDDHA) REFERS TO THE REPETITION OF THE PHRASE HOMAGE TO THE BUDDHA OF IMMEASURABLE LIGHT, WHICH ALLOWS ONE TO BE BORN INTO THE PURE LAND.

33
HE HAS ONLY ONE TRUE FRIEND, MT. IWATE. HE DOESNT NEED ANYONE ELSE. SAME AS ALWAYS. WHERES MIYAZAWA?

BY THIS TIME KENJI HAD REACHED THE SUMMIT OF MT. IWATE EIGHT TIMES, AND THE THIRD OR FOURTH STATIONS MORE TIMES THAN HE COULD REMEMBER.

HE COLLECTS BUDDHIST STATUES, OF ALL THINGS, AND EVEN CARVES THEM HIMSELF.

THATS ONE WEIRD GUY.

HE EVEN CARVED THE MOUNTAINS SILHOUETTE ON HIS DESK. HE GOT HELL FOR THAT.

THAT, I THINK, IS A SUBJECTIVE ISSUE.

BUT HE OFTEN AR GUED WITH UPPER CLASSMEN.

THIS IS WELL WORTH READING. ILL LEND IT TO YOU.

TO UNDER CLASSMEN HE WAS ALWAYS KIND

GEE, THANKS.

34
NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT

BUT HE HARDLY TOUCHES HIS TEXTBOOKS. HOW IS IT HE KNOWS SO MUCH?

YOU CANT BEAT HIM WHEN IT COMES TO LOGIC.

WITH HIM, YOU CAN NEVER TELL.

CHUOKORON? NO WAY!

I SAW HIM READING RALPH WALDO EMERSON AND CHUOKORON, THE LITERARY MAGAZINE.

IN SUMMER, WHEN YOU GET OUT YOUR FUTONWHEW, THE STENCH!

ONE OF HIS LITTLE ECCEN TRICITIES WAS A HABIT OF STASHING HIS DIRTY LAUNDRY IN THE CLOSET.

YOU ARE GROWING SLEEPIER AND SLEEPIER.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO SUGGESTION.

BESIDES BUDDHISM, KENJI ALSO STUDIED HYPNOTISM AND QUIET MEDITATION SEIZAHO.

35

Z ZZ

NOW, TOSHI, YOUVE FALLEN INTO A DEEP SLEEP. YOU CAN NO LONGER OPEN YOUR EYES.

BLNK

HES GONE. YOURE SAFE NOW.

YAAY!!! I DID IT! I DID IT!

Z ZZ

WHATRE WE GOING TO DO FOR THE OCTOBER FESTIVAL?

YOU SEE, IF I DONT PLAY ALONG, HED BE AT IT FOREVER.

TEE

HEE

BACK AT THE DORM

HERE ARE SOME PRETTY LEAVES. LETS TAKE THEM, TOO. SO, GO GET THEM, GUYS.

A GRAND DISPLAY OF MAPLE BRANCHES, THATS WHAT OUR ROOM IS GONNA DO.

36
HEY, THATS POISON IVY!

NOT TO WORRY.

INCREDI BLE!!!!

A LITTLE POISON IVY CANT HURT ME.

R O ARR

RR

IS THAT YOU, KENJI?

O HH

H!!!

CREAK
CLATTER

WHO COULD IT BE, THIS LATE?

37
I HAD A RUNIN WITH SOME POISON IVY. WHAT ON EARTH?

FWFEWOO

FATHER?

WHAT? PUT MINCED CRABMEAT ON HIS FACE?

DONT YOU FEEL SORRY FOR THE CRABS?

WH, WHATD YOU SAY?

AHHH, THIS IS HEAVEN.

KENJI SPENT TEN DAYS RECUPERATING AT THE HANAMAKI HOT SPRING.

38
WHAT IS THAT???

FOR THE SCHOOL EXCURSION IN HIS FOURTH YEAR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL, STUDENTS WERE TAKEN ON A BOAT RIDE DOWN TO THE MOUTH OF THE KITAKAMIGAWA RIVER. ON THE WAY, THEY CLIMBED A SMALL HILL.

......

ITS THE OCEAN THE OCEAN!

KENJI HAD NEVER SEEN THE OCEAN BEFORE. WE STOOD TOGETHER ON THE HILL, A MYSTERY SPREAD BEFORE US, THE VAST SALTY SEA. HOW DIFFERENT FROM DESCRIPTIONS HEARD THE REALITY OF IT IN THE SETTING SUN, WAVES RISING FROM THE SCALY DEPTHS, HEAVING DEEP DARK BLUE, THE EAST STRETCHING TO INFINITY. I KNEW IT WAS JUST THE OCEAN, BUT MY HEART SAID SOMETHING ELSE, SEEING THE WAVES RACING, CRASHING TOWARD THE SHORE.

39
MIYAZAWA ONLY GOT A 30 IN GYM CLASS, BUT HE GETS PERFECT SCORES IN MOUNTAIN CLIMBING. IN HIS FIFTH YEAR IN MID DLE SCHOOL, IN A CLASS OF EIGHTYEIGHT, KENJI WAS RANKED SIXTIETH. HIS AVERAGE SCORE WAS ALSO A LOW SIXTY.

AH!

E IN R EF UG T R A E K A T I T US SU THE LO

HES A WIMPY LITTLE BOOKWORM WHO DOESNT KNOW WHAT HE DOING, THATS WHAT I SAY!

PERHAPS HES REBELLING AGAINST SOMETHING.

WHAT COULD BE THE REASON FOR IT ALL

I WONDER WHATS BEHIND IT ALL.

I WOULDNT KNOW. MY SUBJECT IS MATH.

ACCORDING TO THE JAPANESELANGUAGE TEACHER, HE HAS A TOUCH OF GENIUS.

HMMM ITS BEYOND ME.

BUT WHAT WOULD THAT BE?

40
SECOND, HE BECAME DEEPLY INVOLVED IN BUDDHISM. THERE WERE SEVERAL REASONS FOR KENJIS PLUMMETING GRADES.

THE SUTRA ON THE HEART OF REALIZING WISDOM BEYOND WISDOM*

FIRST, THERE WAS HIS INFATUATION WITH MT. IWATE, WHICH HE CLIMBED MUCH MORE THAN HE SHOULD.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

THIRD, HE BECAME PASSIONATELY INVOLVED IN THINKING ABOUT LIFE AND IN WRITING POETRY, ALL THE WHILE KEEPING A DIARY CRAMMED WITH AN UNRULY MIX OF SHORT PROSE AND POETRY.

OK BO XT TE

FOURTH, HE HARDLY EVER CRACKED OPEN A TEXTBOOK.

YO, KENJI!

HEY!
FUTURE LIFE

ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SUTRAS DUE TO ITS BREVITY AND PROFUNDITY. SEE HTTP://WWW4.BAYAREA.NET/~MTLEE FOR VARIOUS TRANSLATIONS AND FOR A DISCUSSION OF ITS MEANING.

41

O OOO
KENJ
I

H!!!

OFF ICIAL TRANSCRIPT

DESPITE HIS TERRIBLE GRADES, KENJI MANAGED TO GRADUATE FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL.

MIYAZAW

BUT HE DOES LIKE STUDYING.

THESE GRADES ARE INEXCUSABLE!!!

BAAAANG

S
SIR DE

SELF

RI T
CE N CIE

N SE

ITY L I SIB

NS O C

CA TIO

IN SPITE OF HIS GRADES, KENJIS LAST YEAR IN MIDDLE SCHOOL PROVIDED THE RICH SOIL NEEDED FOR THE GROWTH OF HIS INNER BEING. DURING THIS PERIOD HE WROTE 230 TANKA POEMS.*

* A TRADITIONAL FORM OF JAPANESE POETRY WRITTEN IN LINES OF FIVE, SEVEN, FIVE, SEVEN, SEVEN SYLLABLES. SEE WRITING AND ENJOYING HAIKU: A HANDS-ON GUIDE (JANE REICHHOLD, KODANSHA INTERNATIONAL) FOR A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF TANKA AS WRITTEN IN ENGLISH.

PI

INSTINCT

U ED