An autumn 2016 Kyoto foliage chronicle. From Daigo-ji, Tenju-an, and Eikando to Tofuku-ji, Arashiyama, and Jojakko-ji, the author records a series of extraordinary moments. A chance encounter with Sekihei at Tofuku-ji, a mysterious meeting with a wagtail in Arashiyama, and reflections on photography, memory, and fate.

It was at that very moment. Astonishingly. That I ran into Mr. Sekihei.
2016-11-19.
Before heading to Sendai last weekend to attend an elementary and junior high school reunion, I had अनुमानed that this year’s Kyoto autumn foliage would reach its peak this coming weekend. Based on my impressions from visiting places such as Arashiyama beforehand, I was convinced that this year’s foliage was proper, and that nothing like last year would happen. However, a few days after returning to Osaka, I thought I should check just in case, and when I looked up Kyoto’s foliage information, I was astonished. Daigo-ji had already reached its best viewing period.
As you know, Daigo-ji and I have a long relationship. Surprised, I headed to Daigo-ji early the next morning. Perhaps because it was also an early weekday morning and there were even fewer people, it was among the very best I had ever seen.
As usual, I had a delicious tonkatsu set meal inside the wonderful large-scale shopping mall in front of Daigo Station. The shop’s food could rightly be called exquisite. The fact that cabbage, rice, and miso soup were all refillable was also excellent. I ground sesame seeds and mixed them with the shop’s two special sauces before eating, and it was incredibly delicious. Fully satisfied, I headed to the next destination, Keage. Tenju-an and Eikando had reached their best viewing period. Starting from Tenju-an, a sekitori-class garden and also one of my personal favorites, I moved on to the yokozuna Eikando. As expected of Eikando. I was intoxicated by the autumn leaves. I cut short the rest of my plans and returned home.
Then, astonishingly, Tofuku-ji had changed to peak viewing. (Normally, Tofuku-ji is a bit later than Eikando). The day before yesterday, the forecast said that only the morning would be sunny, so I headed to Tofuku-ji early in the morning. Contrary to the forecast, it was cloudy. It felt just one step before full peak, and it fell slightly short of the same yokozuna, Eikando. This too is a garden as familiar to me as my own home, so I took instant shots with lightning speed, (the photos were truly wonderful, even if I say so myself), and exited in no time at all.
It was at that very moment. Astonishingly. That I ran into Mr. Sekihei.
If I had stopped by Kaizando, where everyone goes to see, or if my departure time from Shin-Osaka had been different, I would never have met him. I ran into him by a miraculous coincidence. All readers who know about Mr. Sekihei and me will surely think this was not a mere coincidence. He knew who I was. Simply by telling him my title and pen name, he nodded and said, “Oh.” After exchanging business cards, he said to me, “Let’s keep in touch,” with the assertiveness befitting someone from mainland China. Compared to him, I even thought for a moment that I was rather shy.
I then headed from Tofuku-ji to Arashiyama, (I alone have gone to Arashiyama more than 80 times just this year), and here too something extraordinary happened. My close friend, who was my usual companion, raised a surprised voice and pointed while standing on the sidewalk in front of Honke Sakuramochi Kotokikichaya near Togetsukyo Bridge. Wondering what it was, I looked, and there was a wagtail on the eaves right before my eyes. I too was surprised, and when I beckoned, saying “Welcome,” it fluttered down in front of me. In a place crowded with tourists, this could only be described as a miracle.
After taking photos at the usual spot, I muttered that this was no ordinary occurrence, that perhaps my mother, who died in the tsunami, had come to see me, or perhaps Takahashi-kun, whom I had been close to since my difficult high school days, had come to visit, especially since I had been truly shocked to hear at the weekend reunion that as many as fourteen classmates had died. My close friend replied, “That must be it.”
Yesterday was a truly clear day, so I had planned to go to Ishiyama-dera first thing in the morning, but I changed plans at Kyoto Station and took a rapid train to Arashiyama. The yokozuna of autumn foliage, Jojakko-ji, was the best it had ever been in many senses.
Because it was early in the morning, there were few people, the sky was clear, and the leaves had just reached their peak, it was among the very best I had ever seen. Therefore, every photograph was superb. Watching my “paintings,” shot with my SONY α99, one of the world’s highest-quality large-screen TV-compatible cameras, I was deeply moved. (A hearty laugh).
From the next chapter onward, I will once again deliver to the world what I have said about Mr. Sekihei.