The Mission

Episode 6

“I am not the same, having seen the moon

shine on the other side of the world”
Mary Anne Radmacher

(At dawn, in the rose garden of the hotel) призори

Prof. Greenberg: Good morning, Natsue! Did you sleep well?
Natsue: Good morning, prof. Greenberg!
What an incredibly beautiful kimono! невероятно
I love those birds and flowers!
Prof. Greenberg: Thank you, Natsue! When did you get your kimono?
The golden dragon is amazing!
Natsue: It’s a present from my parents for my 16-th birthday.
Prof. Greenberg: How lovely! I’m wearing a family treasure myself.
My grandmother was actually Japanese. всъщност
She married an American pilot whose parents were German.
Natsue: Do you speak Japanese?
Prof. Greenberg: Well, a little. But I love Japanese traditions.
I am very excited to help you today. Много съм развълнувана
Let’s prepare for the special Tea Ceremony. Хайде да се приготвим за
Natsue: Look at my little secret. I came to Bulgaria
with something exquisite – a set of tea pots and cups изтънчено
which were made more than 300 years ago.
My family is very fond of them. е много привързано към
They are a present from the Emperor of Japan. император
Prof. Greenberg: Wow! Look at that!
I’m crazy about old Japanese ceramics! Луда съм по...
Could you, please, give me one of the pots! чайници
Natsue: Let me take a photo of you holding it.
Here is a scientist who is also interested in също се интересува от
old Japanese arts and crafts! Изкуства и занаяти

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Prof. Greenberg: Why don’t we start practising? Защо не започнем...
My granny taught me how to perform
the traditional Tea ceremony but that was years ago.
Natsue: I’m sure you’re still very good at it, professor. добра във
Let me play some traditional music now.
We have about an hour to prepare. Да се подготвим
We should start our performance on time. На време
Prof. Greenberg: Are you going to explain the philosophy да обясниш
of the Tea ceremony to the audience? публика
Natsue: Yes, I have organised 2 workshops for today. Организирала съм
This beautiful rose garden looks like a small theatre, doesn’t it? театър
So you and I will be actors on stage, актьори на сцена
but the audience will take part, too. Публиката ще вземе участие
Prof. Greenberg: I can’t wait for the ceremony to start!
My granny would be proud of us if she could see us today! Би била горда с нас

(Later that day, after the second Tea Ceremony.

Natsue and her friends are relaxing at the tea table.)
Allunga: Can you hear something jingling? Да звънти
Natsue, there is something moving in your empty cup.
Is it one of those mysterious pebbles again? речни камъчета
Natsue: Yes, look, it’s popping up and down.
I’m sure there’s a letter on it. Look – it’s an “A”.

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Stanimir: Keep it safe, Natsue.
Oh, no, it jumped into the pond. езеро
Anshu: Look at the ripples – they are writing a message. вълнички
“The warmth of Summer is invited топлината
to visit me, the snow-capped giant.
Eight youths are welcome to observe да наблюдават
five jewels on my northern shoulder. Пет скъпоценни камъка
We trust you and we share treasures. Ние ви се доверяваме
We hope they live through you.” Да живеят чрез вас
Inti: What beautiful handwriting!
Is this what they call calligraphy? калиграфия
Edelgard: Yes, but what does the message mean?
Natsue, I’m sure you are “the summer” because that’s your name.
But who exactly is the snow-capped giant? заснежен
There are many mountain peaks in Japan. върхове
Kauri: There’s only one peak adorned with five jewels – скъпоценни камъни
the five crystal-clear lakes on the northern slopes of Mount Fuji. склонове
(The pebble popped up and spelled “5 a.m.” on the water.)
Matunaagd: I guess we’ll be getting up early tomorrow.
(The young people giggled.)

(5 a.m. on the next day around the pond in the rose garden)
Natsue: Are you all ready to travel? Please, think about
the word “Kawaguchiko” all the time. През цялото време
This is the name of the first lake of Fuji.
When I put my fingerprint on the pebble we’ll be there in a second.
( On the bank of lake Kawaguchiko.
The young friends can see “a film” on the water surface) повърхност
Anshu: I know what this is all about!
It’s the cherry blossom festival. Вишнев цвят
Can you see all these people walking among the cherry trees? сред
Let’s sit down and watch!

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Matunaagd: I guess the snow-capped giant is trying to show
the admiration of people for the perfect beauty of the cherry blossom. възхищението
Inti: It is very inspiring to walk among the trees – сред
all the peace and quiet, all the fragrance and beauty. благоухание
Natsue: Are you ready to see the second jewel of Fuji?
Let’s hold hands and focus on the word “Yamanakako”
(in a split second they are standing on the bank
of the next mountain lake.
A young lady is expecting them with a smile.)
Young Japanese girl: Welcome to my “Ikebana” workshop, dear friends.
What about choosing your favourite flower or twig? клонка
Let’s make a beautiful arrangement of these pretty elements. подредба
Let’s create like mother-nature does – нека да създадем
in harmony and proportion.
Absorb the beauty of Mount Fuji and its slopes поемете
and create your own pretty world. създайте
There, it’s ready. Congratulations!
Edelgard: Thank you, young lady!
At the first lake we learned how to observe beauty, наблюдаваме
but you taught us how to re-create it. Да я
пресъздадем Thank you very much, indeed!
наистина (It was time to visit the third lake
and they all focused on the word “Saiko”.
When they got there a group of children
and their teacher were waiting for them.)
Stanimir: Excuse me, I can see that you are making origami.
Could you teach us, please?
I’m very keen on making paper figures. Много съм запален по
Teacher: Of course, it’s my pleasure! За мен е удоволствие
Come on, everyone! Please, sit down and choose a colour.

Natsue: I have always been fond of yellow обичам жълтото

because it’s the colour of the sun and the summer.
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What about making animals and flowers какво ще кажете да...
to express the spirit of summer? Духът на лятото
Teacher: Origami figures are beautiful but you need
precision and patience. Прецизност и търпение
Let me show you my favourite designs.
Come on, children, please, help our guests!
(Soon the young friends were ready to travel again.
They gathered in a circle and whispered the word “Shojiko”.
A moment later they were on the bank of the fourth lake. На брега
A silent man was waiting for them.
Natsue walked up to him and bowed.) поклони се
Natsue: Osensei Morihei Ueshiba, it’s an honour to meet you! За мен е чест
(The other youngsters whispered his name in amazement. С удивление
The dignified middle-aged man достолепен
gave a silent sign and they all gathered around him. Даде знак (без звук )
His unique aikido lesson started. уникален
The young astronomers tried to mirror да повтарят точно
the movements of the father of aikido.
He was strong, but patient too. Но и търпелив
He was fast but he was also precise. прецизен
He was perfect.
Finally he bowed and disappeared into the waters of the lake.) поклони се

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Kauri: I can’t believe how lucky I am!
I’ve always wanted to take up aikido. Да се захвана с...
And today I practised with the founder основателя
of this incredible martial art! Бойно изкуство
Anshu: The Japanese presents today are fabulous! баснословни
Natsue, can you tell us the name of the fifth lake now?
Inti: I know it. It’s Motosuko. Right?
Natsue: Well done, Inti!
Let me use my fingerprint while we all say its name.
( A second later they saw the Lady of Light on the bank.) на брега
Lady of Light: Look at my excited astronomers!
Do you remember your mission?
You are to travel in space and time and learn
from the wisdom of the people you meet. мъдростта
Today we’ll travel together.
Our destination is the village of Ohimi. Цел на пътуване
Edelgard: I know it, it’s the village of centenarians. столетници
The youngest person there is 83 years old. Най-младият
Can you believe that!
Matunaagd: I’d like to know more about their life
Lady of Light: Well, if you hold your hands in a circle
we can silently fly over the island of Okinawa
up to the village of Ohimi and see it all.
Stanimir: I can see it! They live in the mountain
but it’s near the sea shore, too. Морски бряг
Inti: Everybody is working here.
Some people are gardening, others are fishing. Работят в градината
Their food must be very healthy!
Allunga: But nobody is quarreling. Никой не се кара
Look at them! They are all smiling or laughing. Смеят се
Lady of Light: Ohimi people believe that friendship
is the most important thing in life.
They meet and help their neighbours every day. съседи
Kauri: Look, everyone! It’s a birthday party.
They certainly know how to have a good time! Със сигурност
Matunaagd: They have a lot of energy for dancing
and games in the garden.
These are very strong old people!
Lady of Light: Would you like to know the Japanese secret?
It’s their principle of Ikigai,
a sense of mission in life. Чувство за мисия в живота

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Edelgard: Thank you for all your gifts from Japan! дарове
I need time to think about all the five jewels of Fuji.
Thank you so much!

(Later that evening in Tokyo.)

Natsue has taken her friends to a special workshop.
The small restaurant is full of young ladies.
The floor is covered with “tatami” mats покрит с...рогозки
and cushions to sit on. възглавнички

There’s a lot of colorful food- rice, fish and vegetables.

These charming mothers are here to learn.
The “fusima” sliding doors open and плъзгащи се врати
the teacher enters the room.
She is showing them different ways различни начини
to make their children’s lunchboxes picturesque. живописни
The food in the box gradually turns into a picture. постепенно
Animals, flowers, cartoon characters-
they all appear under the mothers’ fingers. Появяват се
“I’d like to eat some of these “pictures”” Anshu thought.
“I should take up cooking” whispered Inti. Да се заловя с...
“And I should have my own kimono” Edelgard whispered back. Мое собствено
And then they heard the sound of Koto – звук/глас на
a old musical instrument with 13 strings. 13 струни
They could almost see cherry blossoms in the air. цветчета
The shadow of Osensei Ueshiba crossed the room сянката
in a cloud of origami flowers.
The old people of Ohimi bowed with a smile се поклониха
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and all the mothers in the room
looked like flowers in a perfect ikebana.
What was their Ikigai?
What was their mission in life?
The old Japanese song floated in the air. Се носеше във въздуха
The strength of the old samurai warriors силата
touched the young astronomers.
They could see the five jewels glowing как сияят
on the northern shoulder of the snow-capped giant.
Thank you, Mount Fuji!

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© 2018 Zlatina Petkova-Hagel