On March 17, 2011, as snow fell unusually in Osaka, the author wrote a heartfelt dialogue with his late mother. Seeing a duck in Nijō Castle’s garden as her presence, he recalls being urged by guardian spirits to “keep writing.” The essay expresses gratitude, memories of his youth, and a promise to reunite in Kyoto.

On March 17, 2011, the author addresses his deceased mother, mentioning the rare snowfall in Osaka. He expresses his conviction that a solitary duck he saw at Nijō Castle in Kyoto on March 13 was his mother’s spirit, and he describes the deep spiritual connection behind this belief. Through messages from historical figures like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Kūkai, he conveys the importance of overcoming his grief and fulfilling his life’s purpose.

Mom.
2011-03-17
I just looked out the window, and it’s snowing in Osaka, which is something you can only describe as rare.

On March 13th, in the garden of Nijō Castle created by Enshū Kobori, there was a single duck in a way I’d never seen in any other garden, huddled in the shadow of a rock. That was you, wasn’t it, Mom?

Yes. Kūkai said that he told you, “When he pushes the shutter, you must reveal yourself.” He said he and you achieved Shōbōgenzō at Daigo-ji Temple. Hideyoshi also said, “You shook the forest and met with us, and you stood there crying for a long time. At that moment, you found your way back home.” “I was the one who gave birth to you, but you realized that that was the place you came from.”

Lord Ieyasu came to me and said, “You must come to Nijō Castle on the 13th, because he will surely be there.” “I told you to hide your face in the shadow of the rock so no one would see you until he came. That’s why I was waiting for you there, hiding my face in the shadow of the rock like that.” “Lord Ieyasu said, ‘He will surely notice you and take a picture.’ Kisara-dono and the birds and carp all over Kyoto are the best of friends, so he will definitely notice you and push the shutter.” “At that moment, you must reveal yourself.”

It seems that Lord Ieyasu, Hideyoshi, and Nobunaga are now protecting you like guardian gods, but we will protect you too. The sea of Yuriage and the mountains of my hometown in Gunma, they will also protect you. Write about everything. Keep writing. You don’t need to hold back anything. You have done something for this country and for my children that no one else could have done. Without holding back from anyone or anything, get angry when you want to get angry, cry when you want to cry, and sing when you want to sing. Speaking of singing, the songs you sang as the representative of your graduating class at your junior high school graduation… “Hamachidori,” “Jogashima no Ame,” and “Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi wo”… It was the first time I had ever heard you sing, so I was a little embarrassed. The mother of XX, your best friend from childhood, and everyone else were all impressed and said, “I was so surprised that Mikio-san could sing so well.”

If I had known how to play the piano, you would have become a singer for sure. I’m sorry. I couldn’t do anything for you. I was just too busy carrying that big, heavy fish basket on my back and feeding you and our family of eight.

It’s okay, Mom. I’ll see you again in Kyoto on the 21st. I’m going to Kyoto to see you.