Big Sound Temple

by Ben Stevens

  In middle of all ohaka is grass area. Often leaf fall from mountain tree around kaisanbaka. It important for to sweep these leaf up and clear weed and keep kaisanbaka look clean.

  Because kaisanbaka is important place where bone and ash of all dead temple priest are keep.

  First ohaka or tomb is make in sixteen century when first priest of temple die. (There is legend that say he one hundred and twenty nine year old when he die. But I think this is lie. Because no one live long life in sixteen century.)

  In Japan in old time then sometime dead person body is not burn to ash but instead is bury. So priest bone is under first ohaka on right when open iron gate.

  This is priest who is call kaisan shonin. I try explain what this mean.

  Kaisan have two kanji or Chinese character. First character mean open and second mean mountain. Shonin mean priest. We say this priest open the mountain because he start temple here.

  Place where he is bury is call kaisanbaka because baka here not mean stupid. Instead is how ohaka word become when put after other word.

  So may be kaisanbaka in English can be best translate as tomb of priest who open the mountain.

  But I say before there is total of twenty two dead priest here. I think only four priest are bury and rest have body burn and ash put under stone tomb. Now I think no one is bury in Japan. Alway body is burn.

  When priest who is now at temple die new ohaka will be build next to his father ohaka and his ash put underneath. After is space for three more ohaka then kaisanbaka is full. Someone have to find new place on mountain behind temple for to build ohaka for the dead priest.

  But by time this happen I think I already be in my own family ohaka.

  One time when my father sick in hospital and I work on own at temple the strange thing happen.

  Yamashita san come find me and say ‘Hiro san please come to kaisanbaka with me.’ He say ‘I not believe what I see.’

  I walk with Yamashita san and then see is tent in middle of kaisanbaka! I mean on grass area. Someone have climb over lock iron gate and build tent. This is very bad thing for to do. Because kaisanbaka is sort of like holy place. That only way I can think for to describe.

  I have key for iron gate and I open and walk inside. I before say Yamashita san alway look happy but now he look little worry.

  He say ‘Please be careful Hiro san.’

  I understand why he feel so concern. Because to make tent here is very strange thing for to do. So may be person inside tent have the mental problem.

  I stand by door of tent that have the zip. In loud voice I say ‘Excuse me what you do?’

  I surprise when zip of door sudden open from inside and three foreign face appear. Two man and one woman. They may be age middle twenty.

  One man with beard start talk in the Japanese. It not good Japanese but still I understand.

  He say ‘I sorry we Italian.’ He say ‘We travel in Japan but get lost and not know where to stay.’

  I say ‘Hotel is nice place.’

  Man say ‘I know but we have little money.’ He say ‘Please can we stay in temple one night?’

  I want to say sorry but temple not allow when Yamashita san speak. He is listen and now walk to tent door. He look at man with beard and is smile again. Because I think he know these are not danger people.

  Yamashita san say ‘Please come with me.’ He say ‘I take you to see priest and he decide.’

  I go back to work and later see priest. He say ‘Hiro san please to put out three futon in room next to temple office.’

  (This big room is sometime use by priest for private meet. It have wood floor sofa and chair and also the tatami mat. Temple have some futon in cupboard that is in shoin room. But I never have to put out these before.)

  Priest say ‘I let three Italian you find in kaisanbaka stay at temple just one night.’

  I very surprise but not let my face show it. This of course is thing for priest to decide. So I just say respect word which mean I understand and do.

  But later I see Yamashita san on own and he explain what happen. Because this temple is not temple where visitor is usual allow to stay. Some temple say OK and visitor pay small money for one or sometime few night stay. But never before this temple.

  Yamashita san smile and say he think he do too much before. Because priest not look happy when Yamashita san say is three Italian wait to meet him.

  Priest tell Yamashita san he busy man and not have time for thing like this. But priest know Yamashita san is very kind man so he come with him to room next to temple office where three Italian are sit and wait.

  Yamashita san say ‘When I walk in room with priest three Italian all stand up and bow.’

  This is thing like Japanese person do for to show the respect.

  Yamashita san say he see priest nod his head like he please with what they do. Now he take time to shake hand with each Italian person and hear the name.

  Italian person very polite and again bow. This something foreign person not do very well but Yamashita san say he think this still make priest more please. Because priest then say they can stay one night in temple.

  Italian man with beard use very polite way to say thank you in Japanese. He also ask if any job in temple he and two friend can do because they allow to stay.

  Priest say it OK. Say they just have to come to temple by ten clock that night and leave by ten clock in morning.

  Man with beard say he understand and again say thank you.

  May be two month after temple get postcard from three Italian. I mean they send postcard from Italy.

  It is write in not so good Japanese but it still show much effort. It say thank you again and say any person from temple if want to go Italy can have free place to stay.

  One woman who work in temple office use pin for to put postcard on wall. Because she say she like picture of old building on front of postcard.

  But I know she never go to Italy. She only leave Japan one time in life when she go to Korea for one week holiday. When she return she look very thin and tire. Say the foreign food make her sick all time and say she very happy to be back. Say she never leave Japan again.

  I think only person in temple who go to foreign country each year for holiday is Yamashita san. He say he have good friend who live in Hawaii and so he go there to visit for two week every summer.

  My father never leave Japan in whole life. Say he not want go any country where he not know language.

  But I want see some other country like England and America before I die. That why I still study the English even after I finish high school.

  While I at work I try four time for to call my uncle on my phone. I try call his mobile number like I call before. But every time is no answer.

  I think may be he is busy but then I think may be I call from other phone. I start have suspicion my uncle not answer because he can see is my number. I not know why I think this. Just is bad feel in my gut.

  I not have phone at my house. My father alway just use the mobile phone like me.

  I think may be I try call from temple office but this not good thing because is personal business. Also not easy to talk about this private matter if my uncle answer and two woman who work in temple office able to hear what I say.

  Then I remember is public phone on street outside Lady First. So when is my lunch break I go down hundred stone stair and walk to public phone.

  I put in hundred yen coin and dial uncle number and he answer very quick!

  I start try tell him what is happen yesterday evening but he interrupt.

  He say ‘You sign contract what is problem?’

  I say ‘Uncle sorry I not know what you mean.’ I say ‘You kind to lend me money and I pay back before six month finish.’

  Uncle give laugh that is not laugh. It sound like I am just baka young man who not understand how thing work.

  Uncle say ‘This business.’ He say ‘Money is lend to you by my company.’ He say ‘You think you have special favour j
ust because you my brother son?’

  I start feel angry now. My voice get more loud when I say ‘I not agree to interest pay like your gangster man want!’

  Uncle too quick say ‘I not know what you are talk about.’

  He lie. I know he know what I talk about. Because I now know is him who tell Bad Boy friend for to come to my house and cause the trouble. No one else.

  Uncle then say ‘But you agree to interest pay when you sign contract.’ He say ‘If you not believe me just read contract.’

  I say ‘I not able to read contract because you not give me copy!’

  Uncle give more not nice laugh. He say ‘Oh I sorry just go to my office and there is copy wait for you.’

  My uncle say he sorry but he not sound like he sorry one bit. He in fact sound like this conversation is make him happy.

  Then uncle say ‘In fact you not need go to my office.’ He say ‘I send someone from office today for to bring contract to your house.’ He say ‘Oh and you can easy pay interest money every week in some machine of my company that are in shopping arcade.’

  My uncle say this last thing because many loan company have machine near office that look like the normal machine that give money when put in the bank card. So person not feel embarrass to use.

  My uncle say ‘I get person who bring you contract to also give you card for this.’

  I just say word that mean whatever. Then I say ‘Just make sure person who bring contract not your gangster man who come last night.’

  In very pretend sincere voice my uncle say ‘Hiro I not know what you are talk about.’ He say ‘My company very respect business.’ He say ‘We not use person or method like that.’

  But I know his fat face is smile like shark when he say these big lie.

  Then uncle say ‘I think language in contract too difficult for person like you to understand.’ He say ‘But all explanation is there.’ He say ‘I make it simple for you now.’

  In too slow word that mean like I am baka he say ‘You have to pay interest every week on loan and that is that.’

  I of course realise now how uncle have trick me. I see him give shark smile when he give me loan because he happy for to make more trouble for me. I am very stupid for to fall in his trap.

  I very angry when I say ‘This all because of what happen to your dog!’

  There is some silence.

  Then uncle say ‘What you talk about?’

  But silence and his now quiet voice tell me my uncle know and also that I am exact right.

  My uncle have never forget what happen to his dog when I child. Now he is take the revenge. He have wait about fifteen year for this time.

  I try to talk more but my uncle interrupt.

  He say ‘I very busy and not have time for this conversation.’ He say ‘You get contract deliver from my office soon good bye’ and he finish the call.

  I not eat any thing yet for lunch but I not hungry anyway. Just walk back up hundred stone stair to temple while remember what happen to my uncle dog.

  It when my uncle my father and me went for walk along top of cliff next to sea. My uncle bring his precious dog. I remember it very big dog and have lot of gold fur. Big tongue hang out of mouth and drip the saliva every where. In fact dog then very like my uncle dog now.

  Anyway my uncle throw stick for dog and dog go get.

  I ask for to throw stick and my uncle say ‘Of course Hiro kun.’

  My uncle like me then. He stroke my hair and often give me present like toy I want.

  I throw stick few time for dog and dog go get. Bring stick back to me in it mouth.

  But then is strong wind when I throw stick. Wind take stick and blow over edge of cliff.

  Baka dog jump after stick and so also jump over edge of cliff. That last time anyone see dog.

  My uncle start cry and want go to edge of cliff. My father have to pull him back before my uncle also fall to death.

  My uncle give me look with eye that have terrible anger. But it not my fault! Wind blow stick over side of cliff. I not throw in that direction. It just bad accident.

  My father tell my uncle this but my uncle just continue cry. He even say he want call police on his new mobile phone. Dead dog have break his heart and make him like mad man.

  My uncle say ‘May be my dog still alive!’

  But my father and me know this not possible. Below cliff is just deep sea and wave and rock. No hope for any thing that live unless may be it the fish.

  This is reason why my uncle hate me and want for to ruin my life.

  I work rest of day at temple in what is call the daze. Final work finish and I go back to my house behind temple.

  Contract inside white envelope have be deliver through my front door. Also is card so I can use to pay interest money in machine every week. I not see person who deliver contract and card but it not matter.

  I not even shower and change out of work clothe before start read contract. My head start hurt when I try understand what is write. Like I say before contract have some word and Chinese character I not even know or understand.

  But after three page I see what Bad Boy friend say about interest. I start sweat and almost not able to breath.

  Because of interest amount contract say I have to pay each week. It about same as what I think I have to save each week for to be able to pay back my uncle after six month! And this just interest!

  I mean I still have to pay back all loan also. Still in the six month. So it like double amount. If not pay all loan in six month then interest amount is increase. This also write in contract.

  Contract fall from my very sweat hand. I think next time Bad Boy friend knock on my door may be he do more than just push me. I think I may be just able to pay interest money like contract want. But if there is all money still owe for loan after six month then what is point?

  Then sudden I think of someone who may be can help me. I surprise I not think of her before. She is person who I think can understand all of contract. Who understand thing about money and loan business very much better than temple janitor.

  But I think even if this person understand then she still not able to do any thing for to help me. Because I have already sign the contract.

  Also I feel shame for to show this person mess I make of my life. Because she is very success business woman and also know my father.

  But this is only chance I have. So I get my mobile phone and phone Hanako.

  Hanako say she very busy at work. I say is emergency.

  Hanako say ‘Hiro can emergency wait until tomorrow morning?’

  Lucky tomorrow my day off work. So I say OK.

  Hanako say ‘Come to my office ten clock in morning.’

  I say OK and Hanako end call. She never talk long time on phone. Alway just arrange thing quick then say good bye.

  I feel scare that Bad Boy friend come again this evening. I think my uncle keep send him just for the fun. I mean for to mental torture me.

  I not think normal customer of Yes Loan get visit from Bad Boy friend unless is big problem. Like they just say ‘I not pay money back what you do?’

  Because Yes Loan is success company in this city and I never hear anyone say they use yakuza or gangster man before.

  But still my uncle know person like Bad Boy friend and sometime employ. That is not good thing.

  I try eat some instant ramen for dinner but I not hungry. All stress is make me very thin.

  I turn off all light in house and sit in dark. I have thick blanket because of cold. I think I not answer front door if there is knock. Final I fall to sleep sit in chair. I wake up as dawn start to light sky. I think Bad Boy friend is not come this time. I safe for one more day.

  I have shower and change clothe. I drink cup of coffee and try eat piece of toast for breakfast. I watch mouse come out of hole in wall and run across kitchen floor. Very small creature with lot of fur. Mouse need lot of fur because Japanese winter very cold.

  I put contract back in envelope a
nd leave house. I think for to walk to Hanako office. It take may be half hour but now I not have any money for luxury thing like taxi.

  Is bright blue sky but cold. Person on street wear coat and sometime glove. There is some schoolgirl who have scarf but bare leg below skirt. They see funny look foreign man with beard and long nose and give what is call the giggle when he walk past.

  Hanako office is on second floor of big building that have lot of black glass window. (In Japan first floor is what foreign person call ground level.)

  There is wide stair and also elevator. I walk up stair. I open door and there is room with smart dress woman sit behind desk with computer.

  There is also low table with some magazine on top and some sofa and chair and green plant. Also a coffee machine.

  Woman say polite thing to me which mean like how can I help you?

  I tell her I am come to see Hanako. But I say Hanako family name and also say san after it.

  Woman say she contact Hanako. She use phone and tell Hanako I here. There is three door and also one other door that have toilet write on it.

  Hanako come out of one of three door. She have own office inside. It look very neat and clean. Hanako is dress like business woman in TV drama.

  Hanako ask me for to come inside her office. She ask me sit one side of big round desk with computer on top and she sit other side.

  There is big window from floor to ceiling behind her. I mean is like wall. Can see out of window though from outside on street window just all look black.

  Hanako mobile phone on desk sudden ring but she end call without answer.

  She look at me.

  She say ‘What is matter Hiro?’

  I not know what to say. I just give her envelope with contract inside. She give me look like question but take envelope. She take out contract and again look surprise.

  She start to read and shake head. She look at me for few moment like she think what next to say.

  Then she quiet say ‘How all this happen Hiro?’

  I take deep breath. I tell whole story quick as I can. Because Hanako time is precious and also because I ashame for to be such baka person.

  But I have to include thing like what happen to uncle dog when I child and also what happen to apartment I rent for Sakura. Because these are all thing which explain why I have to come here for to see Hanako now.