Big Sound Temple

by Ben Stevens

  I take tram to uncle house and not the taxi. Because tram is much more cheap.

  Tram take may be half hour. Weather today is blue sky and sun but not very warm. Winter is soon come.

  I say about uncle house before. I mean when was meal there after my father funeral. I say then is big house.

  But I mean is very big. It have the electric gate which open if someone inside house press button. It have camera to see who is outside house. There is notice by gate which warn of the danger dog.

  I press button and woman voice say ‘Hello.’

  I say ‘My name Hiro Matsumoto I am here for to see my uncle.’ I say ‘He expect me at two clock.’

  There is short silence.

  Then woman voice say ‘Please come in’ and gate open.

  My uncle is marry with seven year old son but I not think is his wife who I talk to. Uncle have man and woman who like servant inside house.

  Gate open and is big and very beautiful garden. Possible to build may be five normal size house just in front garden area.

  There is two gardener work in garden. They look like father and son. They look at me and quiet say hello.

  I walk along long path to very big wood front door. It open by woman who is the servant. She have on the black and white maid uniform like I one time see person wear in old English film that happen in London.

  Maid bow and polite say ‘Welcome Matsumoto sama please to come in.’ (Sama is like san after person name but mean even more polite.)

  Inside after I take shoe off in genkan area is very big hall with stair make all of wood. There many expensive look painting on wall. Everything very clean and tidy.

  Uncle big dog come up to me and start lick my hand. I not know any thing about dog so I not know what name of dog is. It just very big and have the tongue hang out of mouth that make it look baka. It gold colour fur look like it often go to the dog hairdresser.

  I not like any dog very much. But now I stroke this dog with my hand and try to pretend I like.

  Maid say ‘Please to come in this room.’

  She show me inside big room with wood desk in middle and two chair on either side. There is also some sofa and other chair. Desk have computer also. Room have look like may be is office. There is smell like expensive leather in room.

  Maid show me chair that is face window behind desk and say ‘Please to sit here and wait.’

  I sit down and woman leave room. I take chance for to wipe my hand on trouser because is wet from the dog saliva. I feel very nervous.

  Maid come back in with cup of hot green tea and some little biscuit for me. (In summer is usual cold green tea serve. But is hot green tea when is autumn and winter.)

  Maid bow and leave room again.

  There is big clock that is call the granddad clock in one corner of room. It tick second very loud.

  I wonder how much my uncle pay for granddad clock. I think he buy may be from country like England. Because it not have any Japanese word on it like some other granddad clock that is make in Japan.

  I wait fifteen minute for uncle. For it is two fifteen clock when he come in room. I stand and start make bow. But he just make sign with hand that mean for to sit back down.

  He walk to other side of desk and sit down. He produce big cigar and gold lighter from one draw of desk and start smoke. There is big glass ashtray on top of desk.

  He stare at me through cigar smoke like is think and I think may be I not speak first.

  My uncle is little fat. He alway wear suit that look expensive. He have soft skin that show he never work outdoor or with the hand. Many Japanese have narrow eye of course but my uncle eye so narrow is sometime hard even for to see them.

  I say this thing to my father one time. My father laugh and say ‘In my brother business this not problem.’

  I think my uncle and my father very different person. Not just how look but also in mind. But they alway respect to each other and never the problem between them.

  I think my uncle even cry at my father funeral. I mean I not see tear but he wipe narrow eye two time with the silk handkerchief.

  Final my uncle say ‘So what you want?’

  My uncle not use polite Japanese but also not very rude either. Just how rich man talk to more young man who is need the favour. When at dinner after father funeral my uncle make joke and get red face and laugh because get drunk.

  But now he not drunk he serious face business man.

  I bow head. This respect for to show that I need uncle help.

  I say ‘I am’

  Then I think I am not able to talk. Not know what to say. I again try say why I here but is no word come from mouth. My uncle make sigh and put big piece of ash from cigar in ashtray.

  My uncle say ‘I very busy.’ He say ‘Please to be quick and tell me why you here.’

  I succeed to say ‘I need money.’

  Then I find is more easy for to talk. But may be better not say too much.

  I say ‘I try to help friend with money but now is big problem and I need pay some more money for to finish problem.’

  I think what I say not really lie. Just not be very detail.

  My uncle turn head to side and get handkerchief from suit pocket and pretend wipe nose. I use word pretend because I see he really do this for to hide the smile. I never like my uncle smile. Alway remind me of shark that have just see the small child it want to eat.

  I think may be my uncle happy for to hear of my problem. Because of what happen to his dog when I boy. That he just say he not help and ask me to go. I baka to think man like this lend me money I need.

  But then he say ‘How much you want?’

  I take deep breath and say how much money I need.

  My uncle just make shrug of shoulder like is nothing.

  He say ‘When you need this money?’

  I say ‘Soon as possible uncle.’

  He say ‘I want it all pay back before six month is finish.’ He say ‘Understand?’

  I not believe what I hear. It seem I very wrong about my uncle character before. I wrong to have what Wendy once say is call the suspect nature.

  Then my mind return to the business. To pay back loan in six month time I think I have to save more than quarter of my temple pay every month. But this OK. Just have to do to make problem finish.

  I say ‘Thank you uncle.’ I say ‘I understand.’

  Uncle make shrug again.

  He say ‘Wait here.’ He say ‘I get you money.’

  He leave room and I wait for about ten minute before he come back. He have big white envelope and also some sheet of paper.

  My uncle sit back in his chair and put envelope on desk.

  He say ‘Inside is money.’ He say ‘Please count and make sure is correct.’

  I stand up and take envelope with both hand. I bow head to show how I grateful.

  I try to stop slight shake of hand as I open envelope and see many note. Most of note are ten thousand yen note. Some more small note and even four coin also inside. I mean for to make exact money woman at estate agent office say I have to pay.

  When I finish count I say ‘Thank you very much uncle.’

  Uncle say ‘Because this is business I also give you this.’

  He put down may be five sheet of paper that is all staple together. I see now is like contract. It have my name and address of my house behind temple at top.

  I try read first page of contract but it very difficult for me to understand. Is very complicate language and also have some kanji or Chinese character I not able to read.

  My uncle make sigh and look at his wrist watch for to show he busy.

  He impatient say ‘Is not important just little detail.’

  He put his hand over and turn document to last page. It have space where Japanese person normal use thing call hanko. Like what I use for document when rent apartment at estate agent office.

  But this time I not have my hanko here. I not think for to bring. For moment I very worry my uncle
say is no good I not have hanko.

  But he just say ‘If you not have hanko just use pen to sign.’ He say ‘Is not problem.’

  He give me silver pen and I sign name and write date also. Then my uncle say we finish. I stand up with hold envelope and give long bow.

  When I look up my uncle is smile like the shark. He not try to hide smile this time. Because I think he actual just happy for to help me.

  My uncle show me to front door of his house. My uncle open front door and press button for to open gate. There is screen inside hall that show outside of house because of camera by gate.

  I say thank you again and make bow.

  I start walk back along path when my uncle say ‘Hiro.’

  I turn around and say ‘Yes uncle?’

  He say ‘Please give me back my pen.’

  I realise now I still hold his silver pen with envelope of money! Pen heavy and I think is real silver. I think is very expensive.

  I say sorry several time when go back and hand back pen.

  My uncle still hold document I sign in his hand. He give last smile like shark and then close front door.

  I walk along path and just able to get out of gate before it close again.

  I bring white envelope full of money straight to estate agent office.

  Woman look surprise for to see me.

  I say ‘Here is all money again I very sorry.’

  Woman say ‘Please to come in this room for moment.’

  We go in small room with table and chair. She ask me to sit and she count money. She say thank you and give me receipt for to show I give her all money. She show me to entrance of office and say good bye when I walk out to street.

  Then I see Sakura! She just sudden there and walk toward me. She have some bag like she is do some shopping. She is dress very nice in expensive look clothe.

  But she walk straight past me! She not even look at me. She look just straight ahead. But I know she see me.

  For a moment I feel very anger and think for to go after her. Then I think the word that mean whatever. Sakura not my girlfriend and not in my life any more. That is all. But still it hurt my heart.

  I stop look at her and start walk back toward temple and my house. I give relief sigh. All I have to do now is save some of my temple salary for next six month. For to give all loan money back to my uncle.

  I again think thank you to uncle in my mind. Because of him all my problem is now over.

  One day the amaze thing happen at temple. I work with my father to cut grass that is around big statue outside temple hall. Sudden my father point finger at top of temple hall.

  He say ‘Hiro look!’

  It rare to see my father look like he is excite. So I look where his finger is point.

  There are many bird over top of temple hall slope roof. These bird are call tsuru. This mean crane in English.

  Tsuru big and very beautiful bird and mean special thing to Japanese people. In old time Japanese people believe tsuru live may be one thousand year. So they symbol of good luck because live such long time.

  Only animal live more long is turtle. Old time Japanese people believe turtle live may be ten thousand year. So turtle also symbol of the good luck. (But my opinion is not good luck to live ten thousand year or even just thousand. I think may be eighty is for me OK.)

  Both animal often draw by Japanese artist in history. Also many poem about them are write. There is legend that person who make one thousand crane from paper (this is call origami in Japanese) have any wish they want come true.

  Usual only see one tsuru or may be two at time. But now is may be thirty over top of temple hall. Then more tsuru fly for to join them. Soon there are forty or fifty tsuru. They look just to stay in air with only slight move of wing.

  People are come out from service in temple hall when this happen. Soon many people take photo of the tsuru with the mobile phone.

  Many people say word which mean like this is amaze! Because tsuru have form the shape over roof of temple hall that look like is letter H.

  Sudden one person excite say ‘Hotoke sama!’

  This one name Japanese people have for to call the Buddha. Person who say Hotoke sama of course mean that tsuru have form first letter of one of the Japanese name for the Buddha. But this only true if tsuru use first letter of western alphabet.

  (All Japanese people know western alphabet. It is call romaji in Japanese. Word romaji mean like Roman letter. Romaji is normal use to write Japanese if foreign person not know Japanese kana alphabet or kanji but still able to speak some Japanese word.)

  But my father and me and most people think shape of letter H not mean Hotoke sama. Shape make by tsuru is not some religion sign in romaji or any alphabet. My father laugh and say shape of letter H may be even mean my name.

  But to see many tsuru is still amaze thing and some photo people take are publish in some newspaper next day.

  Yamashita san come outside of temple hall. He smoke the cigarette as he look at many tsuru. He smile and laugh.

  He say ‘All tsuru meet here because after fly to Siberia.’ He say ‘It just chance they meet here because have to meet some where.’ He say ‘Every year about this time tsuru fly to Siberia for short while.’

  I say ‘Why that?’

  Yamashita san again smile and make the shrug of shoulder. He say ‘No one know is just nature.’

  My father make small secret smile like he not believe what Yamashita san say. After he tell me no Japanese tsuru fly to Siberia because it too cold.

  But of course my father not disagree with Yamashita san. It important for all people who work at temple to have the good relationship.

  Soon the tsuru fly away. They very white against blue sky and have the long beak. (They also have some black mark on neck and wing.) The sun make them shine like the bird from heaven.

  I never forget I see them that day. I not think it mean any special thing but still nice experience for person to have.

  It late in evening when there is knock on my door. I mean door of my house behind temple on mountain.

  I am watch the baseball in downstair room. I have to turn on heater now in evening.

  There is more knock on my door. It sound urgent.

  I think may be person is become lost when come down mountain path in dark. But then person see light of my house among many tree and tomb.

  I get up and walk in to hall.

  I open door and is big surprise. For moment I try to think how I know tough look man outside.

  Then I remember he is friend of Bad Boy. I mean friend who wear cap that say Fuck You! The man who I see in bar in Shianbashi with other friend of Bad Boy.

  But I not think Bad Boy friend recognise me. He not wear the cap now. He have black suit and white shirt and look like the real gangster man.

  He point thick finger at me and say ‘Why you not pay money?’

  His narrow eye look very fierce and look like he want hit me. But I not know what he talk about.

  I say ‘What money?’

  Bad Boy friend step more close to me. He smell of cigarette and the perfume for man.

  He say ‘Last week you borrow money from company call Yes Loan!’ He say ‘You sign contract to agree every week you pay interest on loan!’ Bad Boy friend say ‘You now two day late for to pay the interest!’

  I am very surprise to hear this. Because Yes Loan is name of my uncle business.

  (Many Japanese business try to use some English word in company name. Because it sound good even if person in fact not know what word mean. But still most Japanese people at least know what word yes mean.)

  But I think that my uncle give me money. This business just between me and him. I mean between uncle and his brother son.

  Uncle say I have to pay all money back before six month finish but that only. Not say any thing about have to pay the interest every week.

  I say ‘I think there is some mistake.’

  Bad Boy friend shake head like he very angry. He sud
den push me with his hand. My heart start beat more fast.

  He say ‘No mistake you sign contract!’ He say ‘You start pay what you owe or I am keep come back here!’

  I try keep calm and understand what is happen now. I already know sometime loan company use yakuza or Japanese gangster man for to get money what is owe. Gangster man alway come late at night. Sometime use the violence to make person pay.

  I read in newspaper one time of woman who owe money who have cat she love very much. But she not able to pay owe money so gangster man kill cat and leave outside her front door for woman to find in morning.

  Or sometime gangster man damage person car. Cut tire with knife or smash the window. Whatever it take to make person pay money.

  I not know why but I not say now that is in fact my uncle who is boss of company. I think this is just big mistake and I call my uncle tomorrow and everything be OK. But still I not like think that my uncle use person like Bad Boy friend for to get money from anyone.

  I try down calm Bad Boy friend.

  I say ‘I sort thing out tomorrow.’ I say ‘Is no problem.’

  Bad Boy friend again push me! I feel very shock and almost fall over.

  Bad Boy friend almost walk in to genkan area of my house now. He very close to me.

  He say ‘Do not say is no problem.’ He say ‘Is very big problem for you if you not pay money very soon.’ He say ‘And keep pay money also.’ He say ‘Do not make me come back here.’ He say ‘That not joke.’

  He turn and walk away in dark. I not think this is person who is scare of tomb on mountain at night. I mean of thing like ghost.

  I close door and stand just in genkan for short time. My whole body is shake like the leaf.

  I try tell my self everything be OK. Just big mistake and I phone uncle tomorrow for to put all thing right.

  So why I still have like the bad feel?

  Behind temple near my house there is place call kaisanbaka.

  Kaisanbaka have small iron gate that is alway lock. Inside is twenty two big ohaka or tomb make from stone.

  There are two line of nine ohaka that face each other may be ten feet distance apart. Four ohaka are at end of kaisanbaka so it is in shape of the rectangle.