Chapter 1: The Boy and the Water

I was born in a town called Beppu in Oita Prefecture, Kyushu. 

Surrounded by the sea and mountains, 
It is a hot spring town with steam rising from the hot springs. 

There is an ocean near the house, 
A short walk away is the river, 
Steam from hot springs was rising from all over town. 

When I was a child, I wasn't very healthy. 

I have childhood asthma 
At night it gets hard to breathe, 
I've felt my life was in danger many times. 

My grandmother was always there for me. 

My grandmother was a kind and very strong person. 
At night when I'm breathing hard, 
He quietly sat down beside me and stroked my back. 

My mother was a cheerful and strong-willed person. 
I've been married several times in my life, 
I have almost no memories of my father. 

I was with my sister, who is two years older than me. 
I was raised in my grandmother's house. 

I also had an uncle at home who was ten years older than me. 
He was a very intelligent and kind person. 

My grandmother's family was not wealthy, 
My sister and I each had our own little room. 

My grades at school were average. 

I always get a "1" in physical education. 
The music is also "1". 
The drawing is also "1". 

But strangely enough 
Only some science and social studies 
I had some very good grades. 

That's the kind of boy he was. 

My favorite pastime was fishing. 

When it's a day off 
Grab your fishing rod and go out. 

Go to the sea, 
Go to the river, 
Go to the pond. 

Before you know it 
My feet were heading towards the water. 

One day, I caught a rockfish. 

When I brought it home, 
My grandmother was very happy. 

I still remember that smile. 

The bath at home was a hot spring. 

Not ordinary water, 
Hot spring water springs up from deep within the earth. 

As a child, I 
I didn't think it was anything special. 

But water was always nearby. 

Hot spring water. 
Sea water. 
River water. 
Pond water. 

And water where fish swim. 

I also loved going to the aquarium. 
I gazed at the fish tank for a long time. 

Fish swimming quietly in the water. 

The scene 
For some reason I really liked it. 

Thinking about it now, 
Since then I 
Maybe he was attracted to water. 

And when I look back on my life 
You may notice something. 

As a boy 
I was just fascinated by the water. 

Hot spring water. 
Sea water. 
River water. 

That water 
Before you know it 
It had become my life's work. 

but-- 

The boy at that time 
I don't know yet. 

Chasing fish 
The water where I was casting my fishing line 

Eventually 
Lead your own life 
I hope it becomes a big trend. 

Water 
It was flowing quietly. 

And the flow is 
Towards a future that is still unseen 
It continued.