On September 15, 1937, Stephen fell ill last spring in Canton, while he was studying at the University of Lingnan and his instructors ordered him to return home. He returned home to Hong Kong and was diagnosed with Tuberculosis, his sister Pie, (Penelope) was forbidden from visiting him in his room. His mother sent a telegram to his father in Kobe, Japan about her son. In late July news had traveled over radio that the Japanese had seized Tientsin and surrounded Peking. By August his father had sent a letter requesting that Stephen join him in Japan to aid in his recuperation, in late August Japan invaded Shanghai and Stephen left with Ching by boat to Japan. He left for Tarumi alone shortly after arriving in Kobe, taking the train to Tarumi he was greeted by Matsu, his family’s servant. Matsu appeared standoffish and aloof towards Stephen, leaving him to his own devices for the most part.
September 16, 1937: Upon waking up, Stephen was enticed by the smells of Matsu’s cooking in the kitchen and it reminded him of how hungry he was, a feeling he had not had in a long time due to his illness. He wandered the house before going to eat and went into his grandfather’s study to appreciate a Chinese scroll painting his grandfather had painted, one he’d always appreciated since he was a child. After eating, he left for the beach with his painting utensils, after a time of painting he finally decided to go for a swim, which granted him a freedom he hadn’t felt since being ill; as if he was finally free of the burden. During his swim he was alerted to the presence of two girls that were giggling, his first sight of people his age in the coastal village, he was excited but hid from them in the water. Once he was home, he passed his time by writing letters to his friend King and his sister Pie, fretting all the while that due to the Japanese occupation in China, they may never reach their destination. Matsu returned to the house later that night and Stephen started a conversation with him in the kitchen. It was the first one that went anywhere and he found out that Matsu had two sisters, but one had died; the conversation ended shortly after but Stephen felt he had made some progress.
September 20, 1937: His father sent word that he wouldn’t be able to visit him until the following week; along with this there also had been no further correspondence from his mother and Pie from Hong Kong, even if only after a week of his arrival. Matsu has become more approachable to Stephen’s attempts at conversation, but they haven’t surpassed more than their mutual knowledge. Matsu has started to greet Stephen with a gentle bow of the head whenever they see each other throughout the day though. Matsu has surprised Stephen with his musical tastes, including the likes of Mozart and Chopin, which also reminded Stephen of Pie and her Russian piano teacher. When Stephen asked Matsu about his opinion on the war, he responded indifferently and seemed to have nearly no interest in the outcome. There have been no further signs of the two girls he met on the beach, but Stephen still returns every day to swim in hopes that he’ll once again have the chance to run into them again.
September 29, 1937: The past week was hard for Stephen, he had been confined to a quiet loneliness that covered him like a smothering embrace, but in the morning when he had returned from a swim, Matsu let him know a package had arrived for him. With excitement, he ran into the house to find a large brown package containing canvases leaning against the wall, along with a letter from his mother and Pie. When he returned to the garden to thank Matsu, he was nowhere to be found, but he could tell that the Garden was Matsu’s sanctuary, it continued to exude his odd lingering presence, a combination of sturdiness and quiet grace. When he read the letter from Pie and his mother he was put at unease by his mother’s news of the progress of the war, but her certainty that Japan would not invade the British-owned Hong Kong. Once Stephen had finished reading the letter, he became far more homesick and saddened than he had been in a while and lay down for a nap, which was quickly interrupted. The two girls had come up to the fence and poured flower petals upon Stephen, this gave him hope and excitement that he’d finally meet the girls he saw earlier, but he had arrived at the gate of his bamboo fence too late and they’d already rushed off.
On October 5, 1937: Stephen’s father arrived without forewarning and surprised both Matsu and Stephen with his visit, walking to the house from the train station unannounced. Stephen and Matsu were overjoyed and both greeted him excitedly, Stephen came running from the house and leaped at him with an embrace, nearly sending them both sprawling. Later that night they ate dinner, Stephen was thrilled to finally have someone to speak to again, and they conversed while they ate. Stephen’s father inquired about his health, in which Stephen had let it be known that he was beginning to feel much healthier, the pains in his chest had subsided and his coughing lessened. This was the first time in a long time, Pie born, who had become the focal point of his parent’s attention, that Stephen had been so close with his father. This feeling had seemed to him, to be amplified by the tranquil serenity of Tarumi village and that even the light had a way of illuminating even the most subtle nuance, which left him to ponder if whether his father felt the same way.
On October 6, 1937: While Stephen sat with his father at the beach, he felt like a child again and found out his father could not swim. He offered to teach him, and his father declined insisting that the next time he visited maybe, which saddened Stephen to know that he’d be alone again in a day. He then asked his father for news about the war and Shanghai, his father remarked that warplanes were performing continuous bombing runs and that the bombs didn’t raze the fires that were started; many innocents perished. He then asked after Matsu, his father informed him that at a younger age, Matsu was full of pent-up energy, but when his sister did he had become more reserved. Stephen was very intrigued by Matsu and wanted to know his story, his aloofness would not be a deterrent.
On October 8, 1937: Stephen walked with his father to the train station, after bidding farewell to him on his return journey he felt a sense of hollowness that made him want to cry. Upon returning to the house Stephen found Matsu in the garden, Matsu remarked that he was going to visit a friend of his in a small mountain village nearby and wondered if Stephen would accompany him. Stephen had excitedly accepted the offer and after lunch, they went to Yamaguchi a small mountain village, where Matsu had remarked that he’d often visit to deliver supplies to a friend. On the two-mile walk, Stephen found out the village was nicknamed “The Village of Lepers”, for when some of the villagers had the disease they were shunned by the other townsfolk and went into the mountains in hopes of dying peacefully. Once Stephen reached the village, it was a tranquil scene, only upon closer inspection did he begin to notice the ravages of the disease. Once they reached the edge of the village, they went to a house where Matsu knocked and greeted his friend, Sachi, introducing Stephen and they went inside, Matsu appearing almost youthful and at ease. On their walk back Matsu divulged to Stephen that his younger sister had been claimed by the disease.
October 21, 1937: Things have finally changed between Matsu and Stephen after their visit with Sachi, the air of awkwardness has disappeared; they still do not speak at great length, but the silence is no longer intimidating. After Stephen had finished his dinner in his room, he came down to find Matsu listening to the radio in the kitchen. He asked if they’d be returning to Yamaguchi any time soon, Matsu laughed and after a brief conversation let Stephen know they’d go again at the end of the week. The next morning Stephen decided to paint the garden, hoping that he could capture its serene, tranquil essence that seemed to hide a rich secret. Matsu delivered a tray for Stephen at lunchtime and left, once Stephen finished painting, he uncovered the tray to find noodles and a box containing three new sable paintbrushes, investigating further with Matsu he found out they belonged to his grandfather.
October 29, 1937: After painting a little, Stephen wanted to prolong the completion of the painting, savoring it, so he went to the beach to swim. Once he arrived before he had time to get into the water he was alerted to the presence of the two girls by their giggling, so he remained hidden until they were close enough to talk to. He introduced himself once they were near and he noticed they bore a resemblance to one another, the taller girl introduced herself as Keiko Hayashi and introduced her sister Mika. Their conversation was brief, but before they left he found out they lived in the village and that most the younger boys had joined the Army. Once Stephen returned to the house he found Matsu, after a brief conversation about his run-in with the sisters, Matsu informed Stephen that Sachi invited them to lunch the following day and they’d be leaving by noon.
October 30, 1937: During breakfast, Stephen asked if he could bring Sachi a small present, Matsu at first said it would embarrass her but eventually yielded. Following breakfast Stephen went down to the beach and drew a charcoal sketch of the beach that he brought with them on their trip to Yamaguchi. Once they arrived at Sachi’s abode she didn’t answer the door, so they went around to her garden, a “Kare sansui” that enraptured Stephen with its simplistic beauty. Sachi was very grateful when Stephen gave her his sketch, claiming that he’d brought her the very sea and she was honored to receive the present. After lunch, Sachi took Stephen to her garden, where she had told Stephen that upon first arriving in Yamaguchi she didn’t know if she could have a life, but Matsu had insisted on having a garden and helped her create it. On the journey back to the house Stephen asked if Sachi might visit them and Matsu informed him that she hadn’t left the village in almost forty years, choosing to stay there rather than dishonor her family.
On November 19, 1937: After finishing his painting of Matsu’s garden and receiving a grunt of approval from Matsu, Stephen was asked if he’d like to go into town to run some errands with Matsu. Upon arriving in the Village of Tarumi, they had come to a teahouse where Stephen met Matsu’s friend Kenzo; the go-to man for Matsu. Once seated inside the teahouse, Stephen asked if Kenzo had been Matsu’s friend for a while and Matsu let him know that they had grown up together. Along with this news, Stephen also found out that Matsu had known Sachi since they were younger as well, her being the best friend of his sister. After some conversation, Kenzo inquired about Matsu seeing “her” and Matsu gave him a note, later Stephen asked if Kenzo knew Sachi, and Matsu related to Stephen that she had cared a great deal for Kenzo when they were younger. Stephen pressed further and found out that just like Sachi’s family she no longer wanted to see Kenzo, but didn’t mind seeing Matsu because she didn’t care for him after their conversation they stopped at the post office and Stephen had a letter waiting for him.
November 20, 1937: In the morning after breakfast, Stephen sat out in the garden under stormy skies to read the letter he’d received from his mother that implied his father might be committing adultery; news which left Stephen in shock. In the letter, she also requested that Stephen return to Kobe to confront his father, but Stephen was not ready to leave Tarumi. Later, in the afternoon Stephen was in his grandfather’s study trying to write a reply when Matsu shouted that a storm was on its way and requested Stephen’s help in securing the house for the coming storm. The storm had grown increasingly violent, sending waves up over the dunes and onto the road in front of the house. While they worked on securing the fish in the garden’s pond a wave crashed over the fence, drenching them, followed by another that sent Stephen careening against the house leaving him winded and unable to recover; he could hear Matsu's voice but it was muddled and sounded distant.
Summary: On November 24, 1937, Stephen woke up naked, with a pounding headache, he felt a large bump on the back of his head, and Matsu entered the room shortly after, a bandage across his cheek. Sachi accompanied him, she had come to visit after the storm passed. After passing out and resuming consciousness, Stephen found himself alone, he left to find anyone and came upon the garden that had been destroyed by the storm, leaving him shocked. Matsu finally came around from the back of the house and informed Stephen that he’d been in and out of consciousness a couple of times for two days. Sachi had returned to see if Stephen was feeling better, which made Stephen very happy. Stephen then offered to help with the garden, but Matsu argued against it, Sachi quickly interjected and Matsu finally agreed to let Stephen help.
On November 30, 1937: Every day Sachi arrives before dawn and begins work on the garden just as the sun rises and leaves by dusk, often accompanied by Matsu. Between replanting pines and cleaning the pond Stephen and Sachi are becoming good friends. Stephen also wrote a reserved reply to his mother, briefly explaining the storm, his relapse, and that he’d require more time to rest in Tarumi; also he’d send a more thorough reply later on. While Sachi and Stephen worked in the garden, Sachi informed Stephen that it wouldn’t be long before it looked like his painting again letting Stephen know that Matsu was very proud of him. While they ate lunch together, news came over the radio that Japan’s army finally secured Shanghai, leaving Stephen in a state of shock. Later in the evening, Stephen’s thoughts of the war were alleviated by a visit from Keiko who had brought Stephen a get-well present; they set a date to meet at ten in the morning at the beach.
December 1, 1937: When Stephen woke in the morning, Sachi and Matsu were already hard at work in the garden, the garden itself was starting to resemble its erstwhile graces. Stephen had arrived early at the beach, awaiting Keiko, she arrived shortly after alone, which was a relief for Stephen. Stephen found out from Keiko that Matsu was well known in the village as a master of gardens and he was proud of him for it. For a time they sat together in the sand and conversed, after a while Keiko had to leave, on their walk back Stephen found out Keiko’s brother was a soldier in the Japanese army. Upon Stephen’s return, he heard an argument in the house, sneaking inside he saw a furious Kenzo arguing with Sachi and Matsu, he tore Sachi’s scarf away and called her a monster. Matsu forcibly threw him out of the house, and Kenzo berated Sachi with insults and swiftly left. This left Stephen emotionally wrecked, he snuck back to his room, knowing that once Sachi went to Yamaguchi, she wouldn’t return to the house again.
Summary: On December 2, 1937, Matsu informed Stephen that because of the altercation with Kenzo, Sachi would not be returning. Matsu explained what had happened, that Kenzo stopped by to deliver a letter for Sachi, and how he felt he was misled to believe that Sachi would never leave Yamaguchi. Following this explanation, Matsu revealed that Kenzo and Sachi were once engaged, and Matsu went on to explain that Sachi was the only girl Kenzo ever loved. But when she fell ill with Leprosy, Kenzo’s family forbade him from visiting her. Matsu told Stephen due to his foolishness he has caused Sachi to suffer another disgrace in her life. Stephen pressed that he could talk to her and convince her to return, but Matsu told him he’d not have her hurt anymore.
Summary: On December 5, 1937, Stephen starts the chapter with an attempt to paint; however, he can't. He is too busy thinking about Sachi and what happened the last time together. Matsu is back working in the garden, the one place where he seeks comfort. Matsu claims that it's Sachi's presence that completes the garden. Stephan makes up his mind to go visit Sachi despite Matsu's wishes. He didn't tell Matsu where he was going that day so he could visit her. Stephan wakes up in the morning before Matsu and makes the trip to the town of Yamaguchi. He arrives safely and reaches Sachi's house. He knocks and enters her house and starts to talk with her about Kenzo and Matsu. Stephan starts the conversation by telling Sachi that he is alone and didn't tell Matsu so she can feel "safe". Stephan and Sachi talk for a long time. He then tells her that she is beautiful after taking off her veil. They then talk about Tomoko, Motsu's sister, and that she was also a victim of leprosy. Tomoko killed herself with a fishing knife. They finish the conversation and Stephan goes back to Tamuku.
