Adult Gurunpa

I love Gurunpa.
Gurunpa is an elephant.
He is a dirty, smelly elephant.

For those who don't know, this is a spoiler, but Gurunpa is essentially chased out by his fellow elephants and sets off on a journey.

However, everywhere he goes on his journey, Gurunpa is treated as a nuisance. He keeps looking for a place where he belongs while feeling dejected.

Gurunpa tries his best.
He takes on the roles given to him with a positive attitude, trying to be useful to everyone. Each time, he fails and is chased out of the place he finally found.

Gurunpa continues to look for his next place, carrying the weight of his efforts that always seem to go to waste.
In the picture book, Gurunpa's dejected figure is drawn over and over again.

With every page I turn, I am convinced. Gurunpa is me.
I wasn't chased out like Gurunpa, but I have nothing to be praised for, and I feel a bit out of place wherever I go.

I am a nuisance who cannot act like my talented relatives, always trembling about when I might be kicked out, yet unable to fit myself into society.
While disappointed in my own low specs, I am still searching for something I can do.

It's the same on Note.
While everyone else posts articles that kindly reach out to readers, I can't do that.
I've tried a few times, but it doesn't feel like my own words, and I can't bring myself to press the publish button.

One day, I saw Gurunpa stickers on sale for 70% off during a store renovation sale.
It felt unbearable, as if Gurunpa was being treated as unwanted in the real world too, so I bought up all the remaining ones.

I also brought home a Gurunpa plushie that had been sitting unsold at a bookstore for over a year at the end of the year.
Every time I met Gurunpa in town, he gradually increased in my home.

When Hobonichi Techo introduced Gurunpa, I was as happy as if it were about me. I felt like Gurunpa had found a place to belong in this world too.

But in the world of the picture book, no matter how many times I turn the pages, the day never comes when Gurunpa becomes a talented elephant loved by everyone.

Do your best

Gurunpa

Do your best

Knowing the ending, I speak to Gurunpa.

Because there is a place where you belong, Gurunpa.
You will definitely find it.
So, do your best.

Gurunpa walks. As he moves forward, he finds a place for himself in everything from his past where he was treated as a nuisance.

Today, I received a notification from Note about a magazine registration.

What is that? Is it something to be happy about? Is it a good thing?
I didn't really understand, so I looked it up and Shichau-ojisan taught me.

I guess it's okay to be happy.
It might not be anything special, but someone accepted my words.

Hey, Gurunpa.
I don't know yet if my ending will be as happy as yours, Gurunpa, but I think I'll walk a little further.
Because I felt like I was told that since I've come this far, I should go see the scenery ahead too.

*This article uses an affiliate program to introduce products.
You can go meet Gurunpa from the image above.