A couple of years ago, I wrote a short story for Luke Crane's Burning Wheel supplement called "Blossoms Are falling," about a boy in Heian Japan. The story opens with a man about to play the first note of the day on a shakuhachi, or bamboo flute...and is interrupted by a messenger announcing that the Emperor of Japan is going to visit.
The story is set in the rural town of Magome, along the Nakasendo Highway. The Nakasendo was a 300 mile footpath from Edo to Kyoto. The governor is from Kyoto, and hopes to impress the Emperor during his visit enough to be sent back to Kyoto and the civilization he's missed since his posting.
His son, Kazuo, has other ideas. He barely remembers what Kyoto was like, and has grown to love the country life, the paper lanterns, the summer dances, and his best friend, the son of the local warlord.
The town is as serene as the surface of a koi pond, but just under that smooth surface is a place teeming with life, intrigue, and dishonor. It was a pleasure to write the story, and I think it's one of my best.
In an amazing example of life imitating art, it is two years since I wrote the piece, and I find myself living in Gifu prefecture, not far from the actual town of Magome. Not only that, but I have been taking shakuhachi lessons, and I practice every day. When I wrote the story, I had no idea that I would be moving to Japan, let alone so close to Magome. I had found the town in wikipedia almost at random. I also never thought I'd be learning to play the shakuhachi.
I hope those are the only things in the story that come true, because the rest has more to do with the title and less to do with bamboo and lanterns.
The good news is, now you can read Dishonor Before Death on your iphone, or your kindle. You can buy it from Amazon for $.99, or you can paypal me a buck and download it by clicking here. Or read it, and if it's worth a buck, then paypal me. Satisfaction Guaranteed!:
Thanks, and
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