Monthly Archives: October 2016

Yoyu

161026_cosmos_5_600

余裕. Yoyu.

This is a wonderful Japanese word. A bit difficult to translate, but one my dear friend Henry Thoreau described perfectly—without even knowing it. It’s the word that best describes how full my heart became, and how it could become full, this past Tuesday, when I visited a high school in Aichi Prefecture, to give a little talk on cross-cultural understanding.

It had to be  a little talk . . . because I only had a little to say.

The high school was in Toyota City, which meant for me (he who does what he can to avoid motor vehicles whenever possible) two plus hours on three different trains, one way. At least I didn’t have to take a bus from my house. I could ride my bicycle to the train station. And from the third train station I could walk the mile or so to the high school.

I think it’s often a good idea—if you have the time—to give yourself a little leeway.

161026_goldenrod_bee_600

Leeway, that’s pretty much what yoyu means. It is most often used to talk about time, but it can be used to talk about a lot of things, I think.

Work a whole day in a factory so that you can afford a train ticket? Or take the day off and walk through the woods—a day’s pay unnecessary— to get to where you’re going? Which sounds better to you?

Here’s what Henry had to say about that.

One says to me, “I wonder that you do not lay up money; you love to travel; you might take the cars and go to Fitchburg today and see the country.” But I am wiser than that. I have learned that the swiftest traveller is he that goes afoot. I say to my friend, Suppose we try who will get there first. The distance is thirty miles; the fare ninety cents. That is almost a day’s wages. I remember when wages were sixty cents a day for laborers on this very road. Well, I start now on foot, and get there before night; I have travelled at that rate by the week together. You will in the meanwhile have earned your fare, and arrive there some time tomorrow, or possibly this evening, if you are lucky enough to get a job in season. Instead of going to Fitchburg, you will be working here the greater part of the day. And so, if the railroad reached round the world, I think that I should keep ahead of you.

161026_persimmons_600

It was a great bicycle ride to the train station. The sky was blue and the persimmons, some of them, were turning shiny orange. Just a hint of translucence in the skins.

All along the way, orange cosmos were out sunbathing.

161026_orange_cosmos_2_600

And then the trains. Well, they weren’t so bad. Nice views all the way, and I had a good book with me.

But what a pleasant surprise it was, to step out from Toyota City Station, and see what a lovely  blue sky the students had prepared for me. There was a lovely river to cross, too. From the highest point on the bridge was a spectacular panoramic view of  the distant mountains ringing the plain.

When I finally got to the high school, I was stunned.

161026_cosmos_3_600

The students had planted three enormous fields (each the size of a football pitch) with cosmos . . . all for me.

161026_cosmos_600

Yoyu.

I’d brought my lunch, so I walked out into one of the fields, plopped myself down, and had a leisurely lunch. I filled my lungs with their love.

They, the flowers. They, the students.

161026_cosmos_9_600

I was feeling so good when I finally walked into the classroom, I just up and changed around my whole talk. What a lovely environment they had to study in! How happy I was they invited me to share it with them! A few students may have thought I was crazy, but I think what I said made a lot of them very happy.

Well, we talked a bit about the risks of becoming an “international” sojourner–of growing beyond a home that you may love very much, a home that may seem quite different to you when you return.

161026_cosmos_2_600

Just for fun, we discussed how a fish, who’d never left his pond, might draw a cow—a cow that his old buddy, a frog, has done a mediocre job describing. Just for fun, we chose a boy to pretend he was that fish. Here’s what the boy drew.

161026_cow_fish_600

That pink thing is the milk sac. Beautiful.

Somehow I started talking about how my mother felt about her son living on the other side of the world. It was a good talk. I think it was, anyway. For me. And for them, too. Sometimes that happens.

161026_toyota_kita_students_600

Sometimes, not always, but more than not, what you need (what I need, anyway) to have things go well, is to feel a little kindness—and to have a little yoyu.

161026_bridge_sky_600

 

Cha-bo-ho-to-to-gi-su

160814_cedar_bamboo_grass_600Back in the middle of August . . .

160814_falling_life_600

. . . we walked the wet . . .

160814_fern_trail_600

. . . and misty woods . . .

160814_cedars_mist_600

. . . through the cedars . . .

160814_chabohototogisu_1_600

. . . searching out the mottled leaves of our dear, dear friend—Chabohototogisu.

160814_big_frog_2_600

Everyone joined the search.

How to describe our joy when that demure yellow of hers finally came into sight?

We all love her, but Shizuoka Duo (yeah, those guys were there, too) seemed most affected by Chabo’s beauty. At one point, I saw them down on their knees, their backs curled, their lips nearly touching one of the delicate blossoms, and chanting (almost pleading, it seemed, to be honest) . . .    160814_chabohototogisu_2_600

CHA-BO-HO-TO-TO-GI-SU! CHA-BO-HO-TO-TO-GI-SU! CHA-BO-HO-TO-TO-GI-SU!

160814_chabohototogisu_3_600

I rolled my eyes once, then caught myself—for I, too, wanted to get down on my knees and chant with them, but, well, I’m just about as shy as Chabo.

160814_chabohototogisu_4_600

Shizuoka Duo called me that night and said they had a new song. I told them to come on over to the studio. No, they said, they had to wait until everyone could come. All the Hearty Hikers.

So now it’s October—and they finally showed up just last night. I think everyone was there. There must have been seventy-five or eighty Hearty Hikers—maybe more.  They roared into the studio, a mighty river, their love for Chabo palpable.

By the way, Shizuoka Duo have been saying they’re going to help me buy some updated equipment—“once they make it”—but that hasn’t happened yet. So I took the old recording equipment from my pocket and said, “Let’s do it.”

The rest I leave to Shizuoka Duo—and all our Hearty Hiking friends.

160814_chabohototogisu_5_600

I’m a lonely girl . . . sitting all alone

In a silent world . . . without a phone.

My pillow rests . . . on a cedar root—

My naps are tested . . . by your hiking boots.

My leaves are trodden . . . fifty times a day.

I’ve been forgotten . . . I’m past dismayed.

Do you even know I’m here? Do you know how I feel?

You’re so, so near . . . but don’t sense my appeal?

CHA-BO-HO-TO-TO-GI-SU

I’ll walk the woods . . . discover you.

CHA-BO-HO-TO-TO-GI-SU

Show you that . . . my love is true.

My green is mottled . . . with ugly black spots

Heart’s in a bottle . . . see how it rots.

When I finally flower . . . I’m demure yellow

I exude no power . . . can’t catch no fellow.

In this August haze . . . I’m nothing unique—

In a couple of days . . . I’ll wither, grow weak.

I wish you’d greet me . . . at least share a smile

That’d help me be . . . content for a while.

CHA-BO-HO-TO-TO-GI-SU

What are these silly . . . things you say?

CHA-BO-HO-TO-TO-GI-SU

It’s way too much . . . this nay, nay, nay!

CHA-BO-HO-TO-TO-GI-SU

It may just be . . . a single day—

CHA-BO-HO-TO-TO-GI-SU

But you will surely . . . lead the way.

Don’t like my name . . . it’s way too long

Who could ever frame it . . . in a song?

The red, red roses . . . they’re always praised

But who supposes . . . that I could amaze?

Are you sure you know . . . when I will bloom?

I’ve not much to show . . . I wear no perfume.

Do you really believe . . . I have a chance?

Can you conceive . . . of me at your dance?

CHA-BO-HO-TO-TO-GI-SU

We’ll take your hand . . . spin you round—

CHA-BO-HO-TO-TO-GI-SU

Until you feel . . . joy unbound.

CHA-BO-HO-TO-TO-GI-SU

I’ll walk the woods . . . discover you.

CHA-BO-HO-TO-TO-GI-SU

Show you that . . . my love is true.

CHA-BO-HO-TO-TO-GI-SU

I’ll walk the woods . . . discover you.

CHA-BO-HO-TO-TO-GI-SU

Show you that . . . my love is true.

160814_chabohototogisu_6_600