12October2011

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HiromiKawakami

GodBlessYou,2011
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HiromiKawakamiisoneofthemostcelebratedJapanesewritersofhergeneration.In1994herstory,Kamisama
whichtranslatesasGod,waspublishedtogreatacclaim.Then,in2011,intheaftermathoftheThokuearthquake
andsubsequentmeltdownsatFukushimasnuclearpowerplants,Kawakamirewroteherstory.

Whatfollowsisaretrospectiveinthreesections:first,thenewversion,translatedasGodBlessYou,2011;an
afterwordbytheauthoraboutwhatpromptedhertorevisitthisearlywork;andfinallytheoriginalstory.Allthree
pieceswerepublishedintheJapaneseliterarymagazineGunzoinJune2011butareappearinginEnglishforthefirst
timehere.

PhotobyRamanVirdi.

1.GodBlessYou,2011
Thebearinvitedmegoforawalktotheriver,abouttwentyminutesawayonfoot.Ihadtakenthatroadoncebeforein
theearlyspringtoseethesnipes,butthenIhadwornprotectiveclothing;nowitwashot,andforthefirsttimesincethe
incidentIwouldbecladinnormalclothesthatexposedtheskin,andcarryinglunchtoboot.Itwouldbeabitofatrek,
somewherebetweenahikeandastroll.
Thebearwasamassivefullgrownmalewhohadjustmovedintoapartment305,threedoorsdownthehallfromme.
Asagestureofgoodwill,hehadtreatedthethreeofuswhoremainedinthebuildingtomovinginnoodlesand
distributedpacketsofpostcards,alevelofformalityyoudontseeoftennowadays.Hesurewantspeopletolikehim,I
thought,butthenyouprobablyhavetodothatifyoureabear.

Whenhestoppedbymyapartmentwiththenoodles,wediscoveredthatwemightnotbecompletestrangersafterall.

YoudonthappentobefromXtown,doyou?heaskedwhenhesawmynameonthedoor.Yes,Ireplied,Icertainly
am.ItturnedoutthatapersonwhohadbeenahugehelptohimwhenhewasintheevacuationFromthewayhe
handledthemovinginetiquettetohismannerofspeech,hecertainlyseemedtobeanoldfashionedtypeofbear.center
thereduringtheincidenthadanuncle,oneofthetownofficials,whoselastnamematchedmine.Whenwetracedthe
connectionabitfurther,wearrivedattheconclusionthatthisofficialandmyfathermightbesecondcousins.Aflimsy
tietobesure,butthebearappeareddeeplymovednonetheless,waxingeloquentlyaboutthekarmicbondit
establishedbetweenus.Fromthewayhehandledthemovinginetiquettetohismannerofspeech,hecertainlyseemed
tobeanoldfashionedtypeofbear.

AndsothebearandIheadeddowntheroadonourstrollhike.IdontknowawholelotabouttheanimalkingdomsoI
couldnttellifhewasanAsiaticblackbear,abrownbear,oraMalayansunbear.Ithoughtofaskinghim,butit
seemedtoorude.NordidIknowhisname.WhenIaskedwhatIshouldcallhim,hethoughtforamomentandthen,
aftercheckingtobesurethatnootherbearswerenearby,said:ForthemomentIamwithoutaname,andsincethere
arenootherbearshereIdontthinkIreallyneedone.Iprefertobeaddressedasyou,butpleaseimagineitwrittenin
Chinesecharacters,notphonetically.Actually,though,youcancallmeanythingyoulikeIwontmind.

Yes,thiswasamostoldfashionedbear.Nottomentionratherfinickyabouttrivialpointsoflogic.

Theroadtotheriverranthoughastripoflandthathadoncebeenricefields.Almostallthepaddieshadbeenturnedup
duringtheprocessofdecontamination,however,andnowtheearthlayinglisteningIcouldnttellifhewasanAsiatic
blackbear,abrownbear,oraMalayansunbear.Ithoughtofaskinghim,butitseemedtoorude.piles.Despitetheheat,
alltheworkerswesawwereencasedinprotectivesuitsandmaskswithwadersthatextendedtotheirwaists.Forseveral
yearsaftertheincident,entrytothisareahadbeenabsolutelyforbiddenandthedeepcracksintheroadleft
untouched,butrecentlytheroadhadbeenfreshlypaved.AlthoughGroundZerowascloseby,asurprisingnumberof
carspassedus.Theyslowedtoacrawlastheyapproachedandmadeawidecirclearoundus.Notasoulpassedonfoot.

Maybetheyrekeepingadistancebecausewerenotwearingprotectivesuits,Isaid.Thebeargaveanoncommittal
grunt.Itookspecialcaretoavoidtoomuchradiationthefirsthalfofthisyear,somytotalamountofaccumulated
radiationindicatesIcanstillaffordsomeexposure.AndSPEEDI(theSystemforPredictionofEnvironmentalDose
Information)predictswewonthavealotofwindinthisregion.

Thebearrespondedtomyapparentexcuseswithashrug.Theonlysoundwastherhythmiccrunchofhispawsonthe
pavement.

Iaskedifhewashot.

No,Imfine.Walkingonasphaltisabittiring,butIllbeOK.Theriversnotthatfar.Thankyouforyourconcern.Its
kindofyouto...Ofcourseifyouarehotwecanwalkontheshoulder.Mybodyismuchlargerthanyourssomy
maximumpermissibledoseismuchhigher,whichmeansitshouldbeallrightformetogowithoutshoeswherethe
radiationlevelsarehigher.Itllbecoolerforyouthanthishotpavement.Shallwemove?

Hewentoninthisvein,apictureofsolicitude.Iwaswearingabighatandcanhandleheatwellanyway,soIsaidno,
butinfactitmayhavebeenhewhowantedtomoveoffthepavement.Wewalkedonsilently.

Eventuallyweheardinthedistancethefaintsoundofrushingwater.Aswewalkeditgrewlouderuntil,atTheonly
soundwastherhythmiccrunchofhispawsonthepavement.last,wereachedtheriver.Ihadexpectedtofindnoone
there,buttwomenwerestandingbythewatersedge.Beforetheincident,thishadbeenalivelyplacewherepeople
swamandfished,andfamiliesbroughttheirchildren.Now,however,therewerenochildrenleftanywhereinthearea.
Isetdownmybagandstartedmoppingmyfacewithatowel.Thebearstonguewashangingout,andhewaspanting
slightly.Aswestoodthere,thetwomencameuptous.Bothwerewearingprotectivesuits.Onehadlongglovesthat
reachedhiselbows,whiletheothersportedsunglasses.

Itsabear,isntit,saidSunglasses.

Ienvybears,putinLongGloves.

BearscanhandleStrontium.Plutonium,too.

Whatdoyouexpect?Theyrebears.

Sothatswhy.Becausetheyrebears.

Yeah,becausetheyrebears.

Theywentbackandforthlikethisafewmoretimes.Sunglassesstoleaglanceatmyface,butheavoidedlookingatthe
beardirectly.LongGlovesoccasionallyranhishandsoverthebearsbellyandtuggedathisfur.Finallytheysaid,
Becausehesabearonelasttime,turnedtheirbacks,andwanderedoff.

Goodgrief,thebearsaidaftertheyhadgone.Iguesstheymeantwell.

Ididntsayanything.

Youknow,mymaximumpermissibledosemaybeabithigherthanhumans,butthatdoesntmeanImresistantto
StrontiumandPlutonium.Ohwell,howcanyouexpectthemtoknow?

BeforeIhadachancetoreply,thebearwalkedquicklytotheriversedge.

Tinyfishweredartingbackandforthinthewater.Thecooloftheriverfeltgoodonmyface.Perhapstheworldbeneath
thewaterwasdifferentwhenseenthroughtheeyesofabear.Lookingmoreclosely,Icouldseethateachfishwas
swimminginanarrowlycircumscribedarea,firstupstream,thendownstream,asifboundbyalongandnarrow
rectangularspace.Thoseboundsmarkeditsturf.Thebearwasstudyingthewateralso.Butwasheseeingthesame
thingsthatIwas?Perhapstheworldbeneaththewaterwasdifferentwhenseenthroughtheeyesofabear.

Suddenly,therewasagreatsplashasthebearleapedintotheriver.Whenhehadsloshedhalfwayacrosshestopped,
plungedhisrightpawintothecurrent,andpulledoutafish.Itwasaboutthreetimesthesizeofthetinyfishwehad
seenswimmingalongthebanks.

Betyouweresurprised,thebearsaidwhenhehadreturned.Mylegsjustmovedontheirown.Goodsizedone,isnt
it?

Thebearheldthefishupformetosee.Itsfinssparkledinthesunlight.Thetwomenfrombeforewerepointinginour
directionandsayingsomethingtoeachother.Thebearbeamedtriumphantly.

Theyeatthemossthatgrowsontheriverbottom,hesaid.Unfortunately,alotofCesiumcollectsthere,too.

Thebearopenedhisbag,pulledoutaclothbundleandwithdrewasmallknifeandacuttingboard.Deftlyhecutopen
thefishandguttedit,andwasheditwithwaterfromaplasticbottlehehadbroughtfortheoccasion.Thenhesprinkled
itliberallywithcoarsesaltandlaiditonalargeleaf.

Ifweturnitovereverysooftenitllbereadytoeatbythetimewegetbackhome,hesaid.Butevenifyoudonteat
it,itllbeanicereminderofourtriptogether.

Thisbearreallythinksofeverything,Ithoughtadmiringly.
Wespreadaclothonabenchandsattherelookingattheriverandeatingtheluncheswehadpacked.Thebearhad
notchedastickofFrenchbreadandinsertedptandradishesintotheopenings;whileIhadriceballswithpickled
plumsinthemiddle.Fordessertwehadoneorangeeach.Itwasaleisurelymeal.

MightIhaveyourorangepeel?hesaidafterwehadfinished.Igaveittohim,andheturnedhisbackandgobbledit
down.

Thebearwenttoflipthefishover,thencarefullywashedtheknife,cuttingboardandcupswithwaterfromthebottle.
Afterdryingthem,heextractedalargetowelfromhisbagandhandedittome.

Pleaseusethiswhenyoutakeyournap.Ithasonlybeentwohourssincewestarted,andtheradioactivityislow,butall
thesame...Imofftotakealittlewalk.WouldyoulikemetosingyoualullabybeforeIgo?heaskedearnestly.

ItoldhimIwasquitecapableoffallingasleepwithoutalullaby.Hewasclearlydisappointed,butamomentlaterhe
washeadedupstreamonhiswalk.

WhenIawoketheshadowsofthetreeshadlengthenedandthebearwassleepingontheThebearheldthefishupfor
metosee.Itsfinssparkledinthesunlight.benchbesidemine.Notowelwascoveringhisbody,andhewassnoring
faintly.Apartfromus,theplacewasdeserted.Thetwomenwerenowheretobeseen.Ilaidthetowelonthebearand
wenttoturnoverthesaltedfish.Therewerethreefishnowwhereonlyonehadbeenbefore.

Whatafineouting!thebearsaid,standingbeforeapartment305.HepulledaGeigercounteroutofhisbagandranit
overfirstmybody,thenhisown.Iheardthefamiliarbeeping.Ihopewehaveoccasiontodoitagain.

Inodded.WhenItriedtothankhimforthesaltedfishandeverythingelse,though,hewaveditoff.

Notatall,heanswered.

OKthen...Isaid,turningtoleave.

Well,hehesitatedshyly.

Iwaitedforhimtogoon,buthejuststoodtherefidgeting.Hewasatrulymassivebear.Agurglingsoundcamefrom
deepinhisthroat.Whenhewastalking,hisvoicesoundedentirelyhuman,butwhenhehemmedandhawedlikethis,
orwhenhelaughed,hesoundedlikearealbear.

Wouldyoumindifwehugged?hefinallyasked.WhereIcomefrom,thatswhatwedowhenwesaygoodbyeto
someonewefeelcloseto.Ifyoudontliketheidea,ofcourse,thenwedonthaveto.

Iconsented.Thefactbearsdonttakebathsmeanttherewouldprobablybemoreradiationonhisbody.Butithadbeen
mydecisionfromthestarttoremaininthispartofthecountry,soIcouldhardlybesqueamish.

Thebeartookastepforward,spreadhisarmswide,andembracedmyshoulders.Thenhepressedhischeekagainst
mine.Icouldsmelltheodourofbear.Hemovedhisothercheektomineandsqueezedmefirmlyagain.Hisbodywas
coolerthanIhadexpected.

Ihadatrulywonderfultime.IfeelasthoughIhavereturnedfromavoyagetosomefarawayplace.MaytheBearGod
bestowhisblessingsonyou.Ohyes,andsaltedfishdoesntkeepverywell,soifyouchoosenottoeatitbesureto
throwitouttomorrow.

Backinmyapartment,Iplacedthewrappedsaltedfishatoptheshoeboxinmyentranceandwentintotakeashower.I
carefullywashedandrinsedmyhairandbody,thensatdowntowriteinmydiarybeforegoingtobed.AsIdoevery
night,IrecordedmyestimateoftheradiationIhadreceivedthatday:thirtymicrosievertsonthesurfaceofmybody,
andnineteenmicrosievertsofinternallyreceivedradiation.Fortheyeartodate,2900microsievertsofexternal
radiation,and1780microsievertsofinternalradiation.Itriedpicturingwhatthebeargodlookedlike,butitwas
beyondmyimagination.Allinall,ithadbeenaprettygoodday.
2.Afterword
IwroteKamisama,translatedhereasGodBlessYou,in1993.

ThetitleinJapaneseliterallymeansGod,andImakereferencetoabeargodinthestory.

ManysuchgodsexistedinancientJapan.ThereweregodswhopresidedoverallaspectsThereweregodswhopresided
overallaspectsofgreaternature:godsofthemountains,oftheoceanandtherivers,ofthewindandtherain.ofgreater
nature:godsofthemountains,oftheoceanandtherivers,ofthewindandtherain.Thereweregodsconnectedtodaily
lifeaswell:godsofthericefields,ofhumanhabitations,ofthehearth,thetoiletandthewell.Godswhopunished,
animalgods.Thereweredemonstoo,andgiants,goblinsandtreespiritsthatrangedacrossJapan,fromthenorthofthe
archipelagoallthewaydowntoOkinawa.

ItwouldbeanexaggerationtosaythatIbelieveinallthesegodsfromthedepthsofmyheart;yetwhenIwakeona
heaterlessmorninginthesedaysofelectricityrationingandfeelthewarmraysofthesunpouringthroughmywindow,
myimmediatereactionis,Aah,thesungodhasreturned.Inthatsense,IstillretainthesensibilityoftheJapaneseof
old.

MyreactiontoallthatIsawandheardintheaftermathoftheearthquakewas,WhyhaveIkeptmyselfinthedarkall
theseyears,neverattemptingtofindoutwhatIshouldhaveknown?Whatfollows,therefore,isanaccountofthefew
thingsIhavelearnedsincethen.SinceIamnotanexpert,mytermsandmetaphorsmaysometimesbeoffthemark.If
so,Ihopethoseofyoureadingthiswillhelpmecorrectmymistakes.

First,uranium.

TheradioactiveisotopesusedtopowernuclearplantslikethoseinFukushimaareobtainedfromamaterialcalled
Uranium235.Theseisotopes,Idiscovered,arefoundinnature,intheuraniumthatisburiedinmountains,ordeepin
theearth,orevendirectlyundertownsandcities.Thisisuraniuminitsnaturalform.

Naturaluranium,however,containstwotypesofradioactiveisotopes,whichareknownasuranium235anduranium
238.U238isfarmorecommonthanU235.

Indeed,putinmorefamiliarterms,uranium238comprises99.3%ofthetotalpopulation;uranium235just0.7%.

Inotherwords,itisextremelyrare.

Humanbeingshavemanagedtocondensethisraremineraltogenerateelectricalpower,orbuildbombsliketheone
droppedonHiroshima.Ifthegodofuraniumreallyexists,thenwhatmusthebethinking?ThereasonisthatwhenU
238isbombardedwiththoselightandairyparticlescalledneutronsitremainsaloofandunconcerned,whilethesame
neutronssetoffarapidchainreactioninthemoreunstableU235.Thepointbeing,Iguess,thataguywhoisquickto
flyoffthehandlegeneratesmoreenergythanaguywhoismellowandeasygoing.

WhenIwatchthedailyreportsoftheexplosiveincidentsatthenuclearplantandthecriticalsituationthere,Iwonder
howthegodofuraniumfeelsaboutthefactthatwehavesetthegremlinsofU235toworkforusinthisfashion.

AsIsaid,uranium235isexceedinglyrare.Asamatteroffact,though,itwasmorecommonbackintheolddays.The
olddaysherebeingabout4.5billionyearsago.Atimenotlongaftertheearthwasformed.

ThelifeofU235,however,isshorterthanthatofU238;indeed,thehalflifeofU238is4.5billionyears,whileit
takesonly740millionyearsforhalfofU235togiveuptheghost.Sooverallthesebillionsofyears,thepopulationof
U235wasdwindlingawaythereunnoticedintheground,shrinkingbyhalfevery740millionyears.Andthenhumans
cameacrossit.

ItwasMarieandPierreCuriewhodiscoveredthepresenceofradioactiveisotopesinthelate19thcentury.Then,
eventually,WorldWarIIcamealong.Well,peoplethought,letsputthemtoworkthemforusnow.Andtheydidnt
foolaround,either.Germanyconcentratedmoreonnuclearpower,whilecountriesliketheUnitedStates,GreatBritain,
RussiaandJapanfocusedonbuildingnuclearbombs.

Butletmereturntothestoryofthegodofuranium.

Uranium235hadbeenrestingthereintheground,quietlydwindlingawayforbillionsofyears.Hadnohumantouched
it,itwouldhavegoneonemittingitspiddlingquantitiesofradiationwithoutcausinganyproblem,peacefullywatching
overtheworld.Howselfeffacingweare!Icanhearthegodsay.Pertimeandspaceunit,ourradiationisfarless
thanthatofthecosmicraysthatbombardtheeartheveryday.

Humanbeings,however,hadanotheridea.TheygatheredbitsofU235fromwherevertheylay,concentratedthemand
thenwhippedthemintoaction.Splityouratoms,theycried.Giveuslight,giveusheat,giveuspower.Work!Work!
Fornuclearbombs,theydemandedthatthepowerbereleasedingreatexplosions;fornuclearpower,indribsand
drabs...

Ifthegodofuraniumreallyexists,thenwhatmusthebethinking?Werethisafairytaleofold,whatwouldhappen
whenhumansbrokethelawsofnaturetoturngodsintominions?

In2011,IreworkedGodBlessYouintoGodBlessYou2011.Ihadnointentionofstandinginthepulpitand
preachingagainstthedangersMyreactiontoallthatIsawandheardintheaftermathoftheearthquakewas,Whyhave
Ikeptmyselfinthedarkalltheseyears,neverattemptingtofindoutwhatIshouldhaveknown?ofnuclearpower.
Rathermypurposewastoexpressmyamazementathowourdailylivescangoonsouneventfullydayafterdayand
then,suddenly,bedramaticallychangedbyexternalevents.Theexperienceleftmewithaquietangerthatstillhasnot
subsided.Yet,intheend,thisangerisdirectedatnothingotherthanmyself.WhobuilttodaysJapanifnotme,and
otherslikeme?Evenaswebearthisanger,wewillcarryforwardinourmundanelives.Stubbornly,werefusetogive
up,tosaythehellwithit.Forwhenallissaidanddone,itisalwaysajoytobealive,howeverdauntingthe
circumstancesmaybe.

3.GodBlessYou
Thebearinvitedmetogoforawalkwithhimtotheriver,abouttwentyminutesawayonfoot.Ihadtakenthatroad
oncebeforeintheearlyspringtoseethesnipes,butthiswasthefirsttimeIhadgoneinhotweather,andcarryinglunch
toboot.Itwouldbeabitofatrek,somewherebetweenahikeandastroll.

Thebearwasamassivefullgrownmalewhohadjustmovedintoapartment305,threedoorsdownthehallfromme.
Asagestureofgoodwill,hehadtreatedallofusonthesamefloortomovinginnoodlesanddistributedpacketsof
postcards,alevelofformalityyoudontseeoftennowadays.Hesurewantspeopletolikehim,Ithought,butthenyou
probablyhavetodothatifyoureabear.

Whenhestoppedbymyapartmentwiththenoodles,wediscoveredthatwemightnotbecompletestrangersafterall.

YoudonthappentobefromXtown,doyou?heaskedwhenhesawmynameonthedoor.Hehadtreatedallofuson
thesamefloortomovinginnoodlesasasymbolofgoodwillanddistributedpacketsofpostcards,alevelofformality
youdontseeoftennowadays.Yes,Ireplied,Icertainlyam.Itturnedoutthatapersonwhohadoncebeenahugehelp
tohimhadanuncle,oneofthetownofficials,whoselastnamematchedmine.Whenwetracedtheconnectionabit
further,wearrivedattheconclusionthatthisofficialandmyfathermightbesecondcousins.Aflimsytietobesure,but
thebearappeareddeeplymovednonetheless,waxingeloquentlyaboutthekarmicbonditestablishedbetweenus.
Fromhismovinginetiquettetohismannerofspeech,hecertainlyseemedtobeanoldfashionedtypeofbear.

AndsothebearandIheadeddowntheroadonourstrollhike.IdontknowawholelotabouttheanimalkingdomsoI
couldnttellifhewasanAsiaticblackbear,abrownbear,oraMalayansunbear.Ithoughtofaskinghim,butit
seemedtoorude.NordidIknowhisname.WhenIaskedwhatIshouldcallhim,hethoughtforamomentandthen,
aftercheckingtobesurethatnootherbearswerenearby,said:ForthemomentIamwithoutaname,andsincethere
arenootherbearshereIdontthinkIreallyneedone.Iprefertobeaddressedasyou,butpleaseimagineitwrittenin
Chinesecharacters,notphonetically.Actually,though,youcancallmeanythingyoulikeIwontmind.

Yes,thiswasamostoldfashionedbear.Nottomentionratherfinickyabouttrivialpointsoflogic.

Theroadtotheriverranthoughricefields.Itwasapavedroad,andcarsdrovepastfromtimetotime.Theyslowedtoa
crawlastheyapproachedandmadeawidecirclearoundus.Notasoulpassedonfoot.Itwasscorchingday,andnoone
wasworkinginthepaddies.Theonlysoundwastherhythmiccrunchofthebearspawsonthepavement.

Iaskedifhewashot.

No,Imfine.Walkingonasphaltisabittiring,butIllbeOK.Theriversnotthatfar.Thankyouforyourconcern.Its
kindofyouto...Ofcourseifyouarehotwecanfindaplacetorestonthemainhighway.

Hecontinuedinthisvein,apictureofsolicitude.Iwaswearingabighatandcanhandleheatwellanyway,soIsaidno,
butinfactitmayhavebeenhewhowantedtotakeabreak.Wewalkedonsilently.

Eventuallyweheardinthedistancethefaintsoundofrushingwater.Aswewalkeditgrewlouderuntil,atlast,we
reachedtheriver.Manypeopleweregatheredonitsbanks,someswimming,othersfishing.Isetdownmybagand
startedmoppingmyfacewithatowel.Thebearstonguewashangingout,andhewaspantingslightly.Aswestood
theretwomenandayoungboycameuptous.Allthreewerewearingswimmingtrunks.Onemansportedsunglasses
whiletheotherhadasnorkeldrapedaroundhisneck.

Daddy,itsabear!squealedtheboy.

Rightyouare,saidSnorkel.

Arealbear!

Abearforsure.

Abear!Abear!

Theywentbackandforthlikethisafewmoretimes.Snorkelstoleaglanceatmyface,butheavoidedlookingatthe
beardirectly.Sunglassesjuststoodtheresilently.Thechildyankedthebearsfurandkickedhislegs.Thenheshouted,
Punch!andsluggedthebearinthestomachbeforerunningoff.Thetwomenambledafterhim.

Goodgrief,thebearsaidaftertheyhadgone.Butyoungpeopledontmeananyharm,youknow.
Ididntsayanything.

Imean,humanbeingsareofallsorts,butchildrenhavenorealmalice.

BeforeIhadachancetoreply,thebearwalkedquicklytotheriversedge.

Tinyfishweredartingbackandforthinthewater.Thecooloftheriverfeltgoodonmyface.Thosefishingalongthe
shorewerepointinginourdirectionandsayingsomethingtoeachother.Thebearbeamedtriumphantly.Lookingmore
closely,Icouldseethateachfishwasswimminginanarrowlycircumscribedarea,firstupstream,thendownstream,as
ifboundbyalongandnarrowrectangularspace.Thoseboundsmarkeditsturf.Thebearwasstudyingthewateralso.
ButwasheseeingthesamethingsthatIwas?Perhapstheworldbeneaththewaterwasdifferentwhenseenthroughthe
eyesofabear.

Suddenly,therewasagreatsplashasthebearleapedintotheriver.Whenhehadsloshedhalfwayacrosshestopped,
plungedhisrightpawintothecurrent,andpulledoutafish.Itwasaboutthreetimesthesizeofthefishwehadseen
swimmingalongthebanks.

Betyouweresurprised,thebearsaidwhenhehadreturned.Ishouldhavewarnedyoubutmylegsmovedontheir
own.Goodsizedone,isntit?

Thebearheldthefishupformetosee.Itsfinssparkledinthesunlight.Peoplefishingalongtheshorewerepointingin
ourdirectionandsayingsomethingtoeachother.Thebearbeamedtriumphantly.

Allowmetogiveyouthisfish.Asamementoofourdaytogether.

Thebearopenedhisbag,pulledoutaclothbundleandwithdrewasmallknifeandacuttingboard.Deftly,hecutopen
thefish,gutteditandwashedit.Thenhesprinkleditliberallywithcoarsesalthehadbroughtfortheoccasionandlaid
itonalargeleaf.

Ifweturnitovereverysooftenitllbereadytoeatbythetimewegetbackhome,hesaid.

Thisbearreallythinksofeverything,Ithoughtadmiringly.

Wesatthereonthegrasslookingattheriverandeatingtheluncheswehadpacked.Thebearhadnotchedastickof
Frenchbreadandinsertedptandradishesintotheopenings;whileIhadriceballswithpickledplumsinthemiddle.
Fordessertwehadoneorangeeach.Itwasaleisurelymeal.

MightIhaveyourorangepeel?hesaidafterwehadfinished.Igaveittohim,andheturnedhisbacktomeand
gobbleditdown.

Thebearwenttoflipthefishover,thencarefullywashedtheknife,cuttingboard,andcupswithwaterfromtheriver.
Afterdryingthem,heextractedalargetowelfromhisbagandhandedittome.

Pleaseusethiswhenyoutakeyournap.Imofftotakealittlewalk.WouldyoulikemetosingyoualullabybeforeI
go?heaskedearnestly.

ItoldhimIwasquitecapableoffallingasleepwithoutalullaby.Hewasclearlydisappointed,butamomentlaterhe
washeadedupstreamonhiswalk.

WhenIawoketheshadowsofthetreeshadlengthenedandthebearAllowmetogiveyouthisfish.Asamementoof
ourdaytogether.wassleepingbesidemeontheground.Notowelwascoveringhisbody,andhewassnoringfaintly.
Onlyafewpeopleremainedalongthebank.Allofthemwerefishing.Ilaidthetowelonthebearandwenttoturnover
thesaltedfish.Therewerethreefishnowwhereonlyonehadbeenbefore.

Whatafineouting!thebearsaid,standingbeforeapartment305andpullinghiskeysfromhisbag.Ihopewehave
occasiontodoitagain.
Inodded.WhenItriedtothankhimforthesaltedfishandeverythingelse,though,hewaveditoff.

Notatall,heanswered.

OKthen...Isaid,turningtoleave.

Well,hehesitatedshyly.

Iwaitedforhimtogoon,buthejuststoodtherefidgeting.Hewasatrulymassivebear.Agurglingsoundcamefrom
deepinhisthroat.Whenhewastalking,hisvoicesoundedentirelyhuman,butwhenhehemmedandhawedlikethis,
orwhenhelaughed,hesoundedlikearealbear.

Wouldyoumindifwehugged?hefinallyasked.WhereIcomefromthatswhatwedowhenwesaygoodbyeto
someonewefeelcloseto.Ifyoudontliketheidea,ofcourse,thenwedonthaveto.

Iconsented.Thebeartookastepforward,spreadhisarmswide,andembracedmyshoulders.Thenhepressedhis
cheekagainstmine.Icouldsmelltheodourofbear.Hemovedhisothercheektomineandsqueezedmefirmlyagain.
HisbodywascoolerthanIhadexpected.

Ihadatrulywonderfultime.IfeelasthoughIhavereturnedfromavoyagetosomefarawayplace.MaytheBearGod
bestowhisblessingsonyou.Ohyes,andsaltedfishdoesntkeepverywell,somakesureyoueatitallthisevening.

Backinmyapartment,Igrilledthesaltedfishandtookabath.ThenIwroteabitinmydiarybeforegoingtobed.I
triedpicturingwhatthebeargodlookedlike,butitwasbeyondmyimagination.Allinall,ithadbeenaprettygood
day.

TranslatedfromJapanesebyTedGoossenamdMotoyukiShibata.