Rain, Water, and Belonging

The Character of Rain

This flow traces water from an element of childhood delight and identity to a setting of danger, surrender, and rescue.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The First Embrace of the Sea

The First Embrace of the Sea Fear becomes exhilaration At Tottori, the waves first approach the Narrator (God) like a timid child. Once Mother leads the child into the water, floating produces an ecstatic release from gravity. Water becomes kin The child treats the sea as an element in which it belongs. Swimming makes the body feel capable and opens a new physical world.

The Drowning Below The Drowning Below from "The Character of Rain". The Drowning Below A failed crossing Believing the seabed will remain shallow, the child walks toward Korea and suddenly loses footing.

The Drowning Below from "The Character of Rain". The Drowning Below A failed crossing Believing the seabed will remain shallow, the child walks toward Korea and suddenly loses footing.

The Drowning Below A failed crossing Believing the seabed will remain shallow, the child walks toward Korea and suddenly loses footing. Waves push the Narrator (God) under each time it reaches the surface. Beauty within danger Underwater light captivates the child even as it is drowning. Water contains both an overwhelming threat and one of the most beautiful sights the Narrator (God) has known.

Little Green Lake Little Green Lake from "The Character of Rain". Little Green Lake Returning to the water Nishio-san takes the child to Little Green Lake, where the Narrator (God) learns to swim underwater.

Little Green Lake from "The Character of Rain". Little Green Lake Returning to the water Nishio-san takes the child to Little Green Lake, where the Narrator (God) learns to swim underwater.

Little Green Lake Returning to the water Nishio-san takes the child to Little Green Lake, where the Narrator (God) learns to swim underwater. The child deliberately revisits the element that nearly killed it. A center of splendor From the lake, mountains rise around the swimmer in an expanding circle. Water becomes a place of confidence, beauty, and chosen exploration.

Rain as Identity Rain as Identity from "The Character of Rain". Rain as Identity A child immersed The Narrator (God) spends long stretches in rain and lake water, feeling not merely surrounded by water but transformed into…

Rain as Identity from "The Character of Rain". Rain as Identity A child immersed The Narrator (God) spends long stretches in rain and lake water, feeling not merely surrounded by water but transformed into…

Rain as Identity A child immersed The Narrator (God) spends long stretches in rain and lake water, feeling not merely surrounded by water but transformed into it. Rain becomes an expression of abundance and belonging. An invulnerable self imagined The child describes water as able to penetrate barriers and return after being displaced. This fluid self-image offers confidence but cannot prevent physical vulnerability.

The Pool Revisited The Pool Revisited from "The Character of Rain". The Pool Revisited Water turns inward In the koi pool, immersion no longer means exploration or delight.

The Pool Revisited from "The Character of Rain". The Pool Revisited Water turns inward In the koi pool, immersion no longer means exploration or delight.

The Pool Revisited Water turns inward In the koi pool, immersion no longer means exploration or delight. The Narrator (God) accepts the water as a place to stop resisting the life it has come to dread. Rescue changes the meaning Nishio-san pulls the child back to air, breaking the calm surrender. The element that once expressed home and pleasure becomes inseparable from mortality.

April, during the Tottori outing

Later in April

After the beach rescue

During Japan's rainy season

August 1970, during the suicide attempt