1 Yasuura, where the “headquarters” of SHS–the Yasuura Campus–is located, has deep ties to Kūkai (Kōbō-Daishi). First, in Yasuura, there is Kōbō-ji Temple on Mount Noro, said to be where Kūkai (Kōbō-Daishi) practiced asceticism. It is said that Kūkai climbed this mountain twice, once at the age of 19 and again at 49, devoting himself to training in a rock cave. Kōbō-ji Temple is considered the site of this practice, and Kōbō-Daishi is enshrined as its principal image. It is said to be opened to the public once every 25 years. Furthermore, the approach to Kōbō-ji Temple is part of the Chūgoku Nature Trail, and along the mountain paths and in the rock caves, 88 pilgrimage stations are established, modeled after the 88 temples of the Shikoku pilgrimage (the Iono-jō 88 Stations). These were created so that people could remember Kūkai’s journey and make their own pilgrimage. Sanbonmatsu Park is the first station of the Iono-jō 88 Stations pilgrimage. Thus, Yasuura is a land deeply connected to Kūkai, a place he is said to have actually visited and practiced, and where historical sites and sacred places that convey his legacy remain to this day. 2 As such, from Wednesday night the 15th to Thursday the 16th, I was writing about the relationship between Yasuura and Kūkai. Then, on the afternoon of the 16th, I had a conversation with Mr. Shuji Ochi, who will teach the compulsory science subjects “Science and Human Life” and “Earth Science” (SHS does not use the term “sensei” at all). I was astonished to learn about the curriculum for “Science and Human Life,” titled “Humans are Children of the Stars, Children of the Universe ~Irreplaceable Life, a Journey of 13.8 Billion Years~,” proposed by Ochi-san, who had taught at Hijiyama Girls’ Junior and Senior High School for many years and is a member of the Geological Society of Japan. It was none other than the “history of the universe” that I presuppose in writing “The Road to D, or the Story of Kowa,” my world history. My surprise didn’t end there. At the beginning of his “history of the universe,” Ochi-san suddenly began talking about Kūkai, the very subject I had been writing about until that morning. Of course, without any prior arrangement. It was about the origin of Kūkai’s name. It is said that the Dharma name Kūkai was chosen by the young Kūkai when he was training in the Mikurodo cave at Cape Muroto in Kochi Prefecture, inspired by the magnificent view of the sky and sea visible from the cave. The name “Kūkai” combines “kū” (emptiness), a profound concept in Buddhism, and “kai” (sea), symbolizing vast and deep wisdom, and it is said to embody the wish to “accept everything in this world as it is and become a person of deep wisdom.” It goes without saying that “one who accepts everything in this world as it is and possesses deep wisdom” is none other than the “vagabond”—the “inquiry-based learner” who acts towards the construction of “D,” which all SHS members aim for. And as I explained in “Novel (3),” “kū” (emptiness) in Esoteric Buddhism, which is also the origin of Kūkai’s name, is synonymous with “flow,” the “fuse (driving force)” of inquiry-based learning by “vagabonds.” The “deep wisdom” gained by using “flow” as a fuse is the “history of the universe” we learn together with Ochi-san. And at its forefront lies “The Road to D = World History.” 3 The “epilogue” of “Ochi-san’s history of the universe,” titled “Humans are Children of the Stars, Children of the Universe ~Irreplaceable Life, a Journey of 13.8 Billion Years~ (the final session of the ‘Science and Human Life’ schooling),” completely overlaps with “The Road to D = World History.” In the “epilogue,” “global issues” that we, as members of humankind and SHS, face—such as global warming, energy problems, nuclear issues (nuclear power, nuclear weapons), and earthquakes (the Aki-nada Fault Zone, the Nankai Trough mega-earthquake)—are discussed. And it is explained that making the “resolution of these issues” a “flow” and constructing “D,” the ultimate goal of SHS, is the providence of “history of the universe.” The “prologue” and “epilogue” of the “history of the universe” textbook (?) quote a poem by an unknown high school student that was published over 40 years ago in a newspaper for high school students called “Ware-ra Kōkōsei” (We High School Students). Ochi-san gave this poem the title “Hymn to Life.” The “Hymn to Life” includes the following lines: “When you dedicate everything to something, When tears of joy and happiness overflow, At such times, the eyes of a human being shine.” This is undoubtedly the state of “flow.” It is the state of “Vagabond/Ryōma” as they journey on “The Road to D.” Ochi-san concludes the “epilogue” with the following lines (in bold black), saying that “love” is what leads people to this state of happiness (well-being): “They say the opposite of love is indifference. What are you interested in? What are you being indifferent to? Please take a moment to think about it.” In the “history of the universe” textbook (?), a photograph is placed before this passage. It is the famous photograph of a sign that reads “Nuclear Power: Energy for a Bright Future” in the deserted streets of Futaba Town after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. About a year and a half after the nuclear accident, in late August 2012, I was actually taken to see the same scene as in this photograph by an acquaintance, a victim who had evacuated from Futaba Town to near my family home in Aizu, Fukushima. That scene, and the lines of the poem above, instantly brought to mind Bank Band’s song “to U,” which triggered my decision to throw away my professorship and establish SHS (see “Novel (1)”): to U Bank Band Like a mirror, the pond reflects the sky’s blue shade Waterbirds living in the park give it life Light and shadow, front and back Lie close together without contradiction If only we could be like this… Love, love, I don’t know its true meaning But through someone, through something, feelings will connect, it seems To you far away, all I can say right now is this When sad yesterdays, beyond tears, someday change to a smile, Then one can love people, love them even more You don’t have to try too hard A beautiful flower in the ruined town, blooming bravely alone Who can say for sure, “We can raise it without it withering?” Even so, let’s release this small prayer towards the sky Like balloons, colorful prayers Love, love, it is strong, but also fragile Again, conflicts or nature’s fury, steal the place where we can rest To you who cannot sleep, words are just empty When sunken hopes and broken dreams, someday turn into the past Then one can love the present, love it even more No need to rush Love, love, I don’t know its true meaning Love, love, but it is strong The smell of rain, the smell of wind, are different from those days But you who live in my heart still teach me When sad yesterdays, beyond tears, someday change to a smile Then one can love people, love them even more, You don’t have to try too hard Then one can love the present, love it even more, No need to hurry Along with this “miracle song,” SHS and “Cowa” will build “Yasuura Commons = ‘A'” as a “place to rest” which can remain so no matter what “conflict or nature’s fury” may come. Watched over by Kūkai. (To be continued)