Short Story Series "Saru River Traffic" (1)
This story is a work of fiction and contains much content that deviates significantly from reality, such as the behavior of bears. Given the current situation where accidents involving bears have been occurring frequently across Japan over the past few years, please read this with a full understanding of the dangers they pose. Please be aware that this text contains many elements that may be misleading.
1 To Biratori Town, Hokkaido
Biratori Town, located in Saru District, Hokkaido, was wrapped in a silence as if time had stopped. With a total area of 743.09 square kilometers, this town, home to over four thousand people, is nestled among rugged mountains, true to its name which comes from the Ainu word "Pira-Utur," meaning "between the cliffs."
The Saru River, which flows leisurely through the center of the town, heads toward the Pacific Ocean while collecting snowmelt from the Hidaka Mountains. Its clear, cold flow nurtures a paradise for mountain stream fish such as white-spotted char, dace, cherry salmon, and rainbow trout. Yezo spruce and white birch trees line the riverbanks, and in early summer, a wild lily-of-the-valley colony spanning about 15 hectares fills the air with a sweet fragrance.
A man began visiting this town every summer. He is Shunsuke Harato, a site manager for a semi-major construction company who comes all the way from Tokyo.
On the morning of August 25th, after finishing the paperwork at the rental car counter at New Chitose Airport, Shunsuke Harato was heading toward Biratori Town along a familiar road. The traces of fatigue from his grueling work in Tokyo were deeply etched into the face of the 42-year-old. His rugged, unshaven face, combined with a sturdy physique forged at construction sites, exuded a wildness far removed from urban sophistication.
"I've come again this year."
Harato muttered to himself while gripping the steering wheel. Every year around this time, his heart turns toward the land of Hokkaido. His days working as a supervisor at a condominium construction site in Tokyo drained his mind and body with worries about construction schedules, material delivery deadlines, and the weight of site responsibility.
He had broken up with the woman he was thinking of marrying three years ago, and now it was difficult for him to find a reason for living outside of work. His only salvation was his annual mountain stream fishing trip.
Upon arriving in Biratori Town, Harato dropped off his luggage at his usual guesthouse, "Yamazato." It is a small inn run by an elderly couple in their seventies who warmly welcome solo anglers like Harato.
"Thank you for coming again this year."
The landlady, Mieko Sato, bows deeply. Her gentle tone, mixed with the local dialect, soothed Harato's heart.
"How is the river looking this year?"
"Well, the fish population seems dense, but..."
Mieko's expression clouded as she said this. Then she continued.
"However, there have been many reports of brown bear sightings this year. Just last week, there was talk that one even came down to a field on the outskirts of town."
Harato nodded. It was information he had already heard in the news beforehand. In recent years, brown bear sightings in human settlements have been increasing throughout Hokkaido. It was attributed to changes in the mountain ecosystem due to global warming, leading to a shortage of food such as nuts and river fish.
"Please be careful. Make sure to carry a bear bell, and do not go deep into the mountains alone."
"Understood."
That night, Harato fell into a peaceful sleep for the first time in a while. It was a night wrapped in silence, far from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and the noise of construction sites.