#bamboo forests

[susanoos-wife]

[1nconcievable]

Bamboo Forest

Prompt: Lush Life (thanks @flashfictionfridayofficial)

Fandom: Carmen Sandiego

Words: 474

Age Rating: General

Notes: This is in Shadowsan's POV.

When Shadowsan was Suhara, Hideo would sometimes bring him to Kyoto. Mostly it was due to his brother’s academic pursuits, but he did remember the bamboo forests that he was dragged into every other visit. He could just remember the sweat on his back during the hot summers while his brother gave him a speech about history or some other higher power. No matter how much he complained, Hideo never stopped - well, until that night that is.

Of all the lectures his brother gave, the only thing that ever stuck out was the one about Kaguya-hime. That was one of the few conversations that would go at length since many would know such a tale of a bamboo cutter stumbling upon a child from the moon who would grow into an unfathomably beautiful woman. All young Suhara could grasp was the possibility of wealth from every time a bamboo was cut down - it would get him out of the deadlock that was his brother’s meagre scholar wages.

Though Hideo would shake his head, not at the fantastical and nonfactual nature of the tale, but at his brother’s cravings. To the boy, it was possibly one of the greatest audacities Hideo would serve him on a bronze platter.

Shadowsan would always cringe at the memory before being swayed to remember what Hideo had to say about this fairytale.

“The gold found in the bamboo was simply for Kaguya-hime’s upkeep. Yet what ended up happening was that her caretakers became greedy to the point that they kept her isolated. Kaguya-hime may not be of this world, but her caretakers should have allowed her to feel human. That being able to enjoy other’s company rather than completely indulging in wealth. The Emperor and Kaguya learned that life or an eternal one would be empty without the simplicity of connections, why can’t you Suhara?”

Then a young Suhara would snap back in his mind “But wealth is how I get connections, oniisan.”

Looking back on it now, Shadowsan does sort of have a grasp of his brother’s warning of not choking on the bone while sucking on the marrow of life. As well as how not all connections are determined by wealth and that they may make you leave your determined path.

And there he was, years later in a bamboo forest in Kyoto. The lush green breaking the sun’s rays and fragmenting them into patterns along the path.

Strolling along with the extended family he found eventually.

2 loud yet alive Bostoners who always had each other’s company throughout their lives.

An adolescent on the other side of the world starting to make a life outside.

And a woman who has grown into beauty who he stumbled upon under the moon. The one who taught him true connection and moved him on from his previous determined path.

Additional note: I couldn't pick a specific bamboo forest bc I couldn't remember which forest I went to specifically (maybe Arashiyama Bamboo Forest?). Also, I tried to base it off the Tale of the Bamboo cutter or The Tale of Princess Kaguya but because of issues in translation and I haven't seen the movie, I based it off Wikipedia. So I'm sorry if I got anything inaccurate (please add in the comments if I missed anything)

@frozenwolftemplar @explosiontheory @mmaricarmen23 - maybe something you're interested in?

[indizombie]

An IAS officer who has had much to do with forestry in Orissa points to the paradox. 'On the one hand, you have the Koyas cutting strictly for their personal needs with sickles. They mostly want the young bamboo. On the other, you have the companies bulldozing everything in sight, on a mass scale. Young, or old bamboos, whatever the size, variety or age, it's all the same to them. If there are huge bamboo forests at all, it is in part because the Koya have nursed these with such care. But it is the traditional and controlled activity of the tribe that becomes illegal.' But why cut off the Koyas from bamboo while allowing private companies to access it? Sadhashiv Hanthal, a Dalit living in the mainly Koya village of Pitaghata, has an answer. 'From the companies, the government gets tax. From the Koya, what do they get?'

P Sainath, 'Everybody Loves a Good Drought'

[susanoos-wife]

[susanoos-wife]

Bamboo Grove at Kumemura, by Katsushika Hokusai

[canvas4everyone]

Black and white giants, built for munching bamboo. From mountain hideouts to cozy chewing sessions… their paws are weirdly skilled, like a secret tool. And that diet? It shapes everything about them. Even their quiet habits carry big meaning. Stay for the details.

[vs4m-nakamura]

Kyoto Sagano/京都嵯峨野 どの季節に行っても風情のある場所ですが、晩秋から冬に嵯峨野から落柿舎、 大覚寺、直指庵まで辺りを喧騒から離れての散策がおすすめ！

[sergioguymanproust]

These are the typical woods here in these Japanese islands.I often follow these trails that lead to deeper patches of bamboo forests and views as I climbed these hills of these mountains. Wild boar, snakes, raccoons and other creatures descend in the evening to destroy farms. But here they are not allowed to shoot animals.Farmers grow Japanese radish ,cabbage , potatoes ,onions ,tubers,etc.Words and pic by Sergio Guyman