Taking Candy from Strangers in Ikegami

Once upon a time, four explorers went to Ikegami to see plum blossoms. When they had seen enough plum blossoms, Bossy Explorer - the one holding the map - told them to turn left at the first corner outside the garden to approach the famous Honmon-ji temple from the rear.

"This will allow us to visit Daibo Hongyo-ji temple which marks the place where the famous Buddhist saint Nichiren died" is what Bossy said in an annoyingly pedantic tone of voice. Meanwhile, what Bossy was thinking in an admittedly selfish tone of thought was "This will allow us to avoid climbing another three hundred and fifty-four slippery stone steps to reach the front gate of Honmon-ji."

"Okay," chirped Artistic Explorer, Weather Explorer, and Novice Explorer. "Okay" is music to Bossy's ears. Her children and siblings, commonly known as the Reluctant Explorers and Former Explorers respectively, have long since replaced "okay" with folded arms, firmly planted heels, stubborn facial expressions, and whiny questions like "Are you trying to trick us into a re-creation of the Bataan Death March again?" (To his credit, the Ancient Mariner has merely appended "as long as there's a meal involved" to "okay".)

Daibo Hongyo-ji was a much larger compound than the Explorers were expecting.

"What is that man doing in front of that little building over there?" (Novice Explorer has been in Japan less than two months.)

"Praying to St. Nichiren, perhaps," answered Bossy. (Bossy's middle name is Know-It-All.) "Let's go take a peek inside those buildings."

"That statue of St. Nichiren in his travel clothes is incredibly lifelike," noted Weather Explorer who then proceeded to murmur an Our Father under her breath to guard against a letter of chastisement from the Vatican.

"I favor a Hail Mary in these instances," confided Bossy as she tossed a 50-yen coin into the money box. "I'm counting on her to defend my ecumenical gestures to the Higher Powers."

Bossy wanted a group shot at the Daibo Hongyo-ji entrance for posterity's sake. "Artistic is always sneaking off when it's time for a group picture. If she doesn't shape up, I'm not taking her to Kappabashi next week."

"It's not her fault this time. A lady grabbed her arm and tugged her in the direction of a building behind the main hall."

Bossy, Weather, and Novice scurried past the main hall. When they caught up with Artistic, she was removing her shoes on the steps of a low, modern building. The sliding door behind her was ajar, offering a glimpse of a woman's shoulder and arm. Artistic was excited. "Hurry! Take off your shoes! She wants to show us something inside this building."

Throwing caution to the wind and forgetting every childhood admonition concerning taking candy or rides from strangers, the Explorers kicked off their shoes and filed into the building.

Bossy brought up the rear as they marched around the perimeter of a Buddhist sanctuary. By the time she turned the corner and caught up with her companions at the back of the building, the mysterious hostess had vanished. Bossy is not totally convinced the woman ever existed.

"Don't look at us," snapped Weather. "You are supposed to be admiring the view."

Certainly it was a view meriting lavish amounts of admiration. A glass-walled gallery enclosed the building on three sides, offering splendid prospects of a peaceful enclosed garden. It was a perfect setting for quiet reflection (on the generosity of strangers, perhaps) and for taking dozens of photographs from every possible angle.

Bossy spotted a boomerang shape painted on a rock in the Secret Garden. "If we were playing a computer game right now, that boomerang would be an important clue," she mused. "Wait! Is that a cemetery on the hill behind us? That might be a fun place to explore. I wish we didn't have to head in the opposite direction to reach Honmon-ji temple."

Or do we?

Next installment: Be Careful What You Wish For . . .