【目次】

1 Pilgrimages in the Asian Continent

In autumn sky clouds are so painfully white　10
On Hill 203 sasanqua camellias sway in the wind　12
Unexpectedly I found a toad at Nogi Hill 　16
An autumn wind softly passes by the Marco Polo Bridge　18
A white butterfly flies up from near the resting cow　20
The setting sun shines on the ruins of Unit 731　24
Winds blow harder, while sunset clouds hang over Dalian　28
A rainbow is formed on the arc of water spat by the lion’s statue　30
In a shower of rain a soldier’s image is seen in front of the Lying
Buddha　34
Silent is the sound of rain in Red Square　38
Someone who shooed away birds left a piece of cloth behind in
the harvested rice field　42
No limit to the afterglow in the cirrocumulus clouds　44
Distant thunder rumbles in moments of loneliness　46

2 Pilgrimages to Islands in the Pacific

I clench my fist tight at Pearl Harbor in midsummer　54
Peaks of clouds rise above the sea off Banzai Cliff　56
Summer grass grows around Kannon’s statue at Muntinlupa　58
In the heat I look into the water dungeon　62
The sea in summer shines brightly where Magellan once landed　66
A white butterfly dances among the ruins of the Japanese troops’ 
headquarters　70
Thousands of bats wildly fly, obscuring the scorching sun　72
How cool the daytime moon looks at the tip of a palm leaf! 　74

3 Pilgrimages in Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki 

A trail of vapor― while sunset lingers on yonder side of summer 
grass　80
Today’s flowers make me think of my dead father’s true intention　82
Putting out the light, I sit upright and listen to the sound of 
fireworks　92
A dragonfly sits, yielding itself to the swaying of the water grass　94
Summer passes along the old runway of B-29s　98
An airplane vanishes into heaven on the anniversary of the 
atomic bombing　100
Basking in the sun sits a tree frog with its eyes half closed　104

4 Pilgrimages to the Warriors of the Special Attack Units

In the glaring sun how impressive the shadow of the 
memorial to the special attack unit pilots!　110
White clouds reflected in the surface of the river look 
lonely in summer　114
Surrounded by winter sparrows, the memorial to the 
special attack unit pilots looks over the sea　118
Fluttering, a petal of the wild cherry blossom alights on 
the rusty human torpedo　120
As in a water mirage, a sailboat floats on Lake Kasumigaura　124

5 Pilgrimages to Okinawa

A white butterfly flutters away farther and farther out over the 
sea　134
Under the autumn sky silent tombstones cluster together　136
At the site of a fierce battle purple violets bloom　138
Yellow daffodils seem to lure the lion’s statue　142
A small lizard disappears into the stonewall in an instant　150
The momotamahi flower seems to be a phantom on a flame　152
Crinums there, foram sand on my palms　156
I stroll along the beach with a spring moon　158
How many shooting stars drift away over Kian Point!　162
A man rows a boat, new tree leaves bask in the sun　166
Thunder in the distant, how I wish to become that evening hue 
when I die!　170

6 Pilgrimages after the War

They offer water to the straw horse on the day of our defeat　178
I insert a red autumnal leaf from the valley into my book　182
How many fire trucks pass by on this snowy midnight!　184
In the colorless wind, white-robed veterans bow, begging　186
In the early summer I hear the sound of waves beating on 
Etajima　190
Cooking sweet potatoes, I feel like Kiyo the maid in the novel, 
Bochan 　198
Belated cherry blossoms in bloom at the temple where Priest Ryokan 
trained himself　200
Looking at myself from behind in the mirror, I tied my sash on 
the day the war ended　202
On the eve of her wedding I look at my daughter’s sleeping face 
by the spring light　204
The bush warbler, a cornerstone of history, talks of ancient times 　206
Distant mountains look clear. Cranes sing love songs with their 
necks stretched out　210
It’s a far cry from days gone by―a summer moon hangs in the 
gorge of high-rise buildings　212
I wonder whose spirit it may be, a white balloon flower is open 
this morning　216
Lightly making a circle with my fingers, I let the autumn wind 
pass through　218

Commentary　　Hisao Suzuki　224
AFTERWORD　238
About the author　 242
A few words from the translator　246