Shirokuma Literature Club | Wednesday Island People

"Wednesday Island" floats gently beyond the horizon in the middle of the week.
I like to cross over to this small island and quietly observe the lives of its inhabitants.
It is less about island life and more about life itself, or what it means to live.

What their daily lives are actually like is a mystery.
Rumor has it they are angels. That is why I try to land on the island as a transparent presence.

The people of Wednesday Island are kind.
There are no clocks here, nor are there any laws. The people are modest, speaking in small, whisper-like voices, and they live far removed from giant supermarkets, new product campaigns, land development, and the onslaught of capital.
Since there is nothing to threaten the island, they do not even possess the concept of "information." One cannot feel any sense of seriousness from them at all.

This is because that is what people are fundamentally.
I think it would be a waste to dismiss this as mere fictional nostalgia. Visiting Wednesday Island is a return to the original form of humanity.

You might think, "Isn't it boring?"
Don't worry. It is filled with surprisingly dramatic encounters and emotions. From flashy passions to calm, deeply moving moments, the variety is truly rich, and I never grow tired of it.

The island is so faint that you might miss it if you are not paying attention. Within that faint presence, it patiently waits for someone to visit.
Perhaps they are curious because they are angels. They are innocent people who love adventure or wish to experience a heart-wrenching sadness after a burning love affair with someone.

I am sure you will also feel a sense of empathy for this island.
This is because the people on the island possess personalities that defy imagination. You could even call it an extraordinary talent for acting.

One man is the best on the island when it comes to playing a villain. From his sharp gaze to the way he walks with a hunched back, he understands it so well that he feels more menacing than a real-life heinous criminal.
A woman can become a goddess-like presence who showers love and compassion on everything, or she can possess the exact opposite, a hopelessly depraved character.

A beautiful boy with clear eyes grows into a brave young man triggered by a certain tool. The grandmother at the general store is a former stripper, the grandfather next door is an escaped convict, a glass bottle containing a virus washes up on the beach, a baby is abandoned in a coin locker, and an idol girl destroys the world.

In truth, the connections between the people on this island are thin. If left alone, they could crumble at any moment.
That is why those who visit here provide them with relationships during the short time they spend on the island, calling them by name, arranging tools and locations, and securing a map called a "story." By intentionally connecting the bonds of people who were drifting, they breathe life into the relationships between the residents.

And on this map, I imagine developments like: people get to know each other at this distance, an incident happens around here, or someone discovers a secret. Then, I just wait for them to start moving naturally.

Sometimes a conclusion is reached immediately, and sometimes it takes an incredibly long time, but something always happens, and someone's voice can be heard.
We just need to listen quietly so that we do not miss those small voices.

Some suddenly say they want to "disappear." Falling into a well, blowing up the town, being carried off by a giant bird, losing their memory... the residents of the supposedly peaceful island offer to experience every possible thing.

So, no matter what the ending is, we can be at ease.
Because, after all, they are angels.
For them, playing the role given on the map is the greatest joy, and once the role is finished, they return to their calm lives on the island.

I visit Wednesday Island regularly.
I watch over the fate of those I have placed there and carefully observe what actions moved their hearts. I quietly take those memories back with me, transform them into stories, and scatter them throughout the world. Then, they are even more delighted to cooperate with me.

I have just returned from the island.
The map I drew had taken an unexpectedly thrilling turn.
Now, the story begins.

I can even portray them as if they are not charming characters at first.
And if you become deeply curious about what hidden charms lie in the lives they led on Wednesday Island, become absorbed in reading, and eventually have that desire fully satisfied, allowing you to set off on a journey toward your own infinite creativity, then I would be happy.

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