The Koto Player

Down deep in the islands of Japan, the Suwa Valley to be exact, lies the magic music of drums. It is a special, enchanting music called O-Suwa-Daiko. A group of people in red uniforms use huge drums called daikos in an almost hypnotic dance and rhythm unmatched by anything in the world. Along with the rhythmic drums, one also hears the beautiful gagaku music that has been played for the Emporer and his court for so many centuries. Instruments native to this land, such as the koto, illustrate the beauty and magic of the islands that get snow and sunshine at the same time.

A young warrior named Brandon from our land of synthesizers and drum loops once had to go to live in the magic islands of Japan. Brandon did not like having to leave his family and friends for this unfamiliar land, but his commanding officer's word was law. With a heavy heart, he departed for this land that he was sure he would not like. He did not know any Japanese at all and wondered how he would possibly get along there.

As his fellow warriors escorted him to their camp, Brandon did not look around to notice the simple wooden houses with paper windows and doors or see the lovely maidens in flowered kimonos carrying their produce to market. He did notice the bright colors and sounds of the city of Tokyo and would not talk to anyone until he arrived at the warrior's camp. There he met a lively warrior named Micheal.

"Konichiwa," Micheal said, bowing gracefully.

"Huh?" Brandon responded.

"It's Japanese for 'Hello,' dude," Micheal explained. "I've been here for six months. You're going to love it here."

Brandon scoffed. "I doubt it."

"Little homesick?"

"You could say that."

"You'll get over it. Just look around. There's great stuff here."

"Yeah? Name one."

"The music. The theater. The dancing. The beauty..."

Brandon smirked flippantly. "I'm out of here as soon I can leave."

"Look, man. Let me prove it to you. Tomorrow we'll both be on leave. Let me take you to the Suwa Valley The music is great there."

After much prodding from Micheal, Brandon finally agreed to go with him to the Suwa Valley.

Brandon did not know what the Suwa Valley was, but he did what Micheal advised since Micheal had been there longer and was more familiar with the customs. Micheal took Brandon to a big green field very early in the morning. "To get good seats," he explained. Later in the day, many people gathered in the field and people in bright red uniforms carried daikos and other instruments to the center of the field.

"This music is very popular," said Micheal. "It's called O-Suwa-Daiko. They are also doing to do some music called gagaku."

Brandon only half listened to Micheal because something else had caught his interest. One of the people in the red uniforms was a beautiful maiden. She was native to Japan and had long black hair pulled back into a knot at the nape of her neck. Her inky-black eyes sparkled with merriment as she walked through the crowd. She tried to pick up a daiko and struggled to set it up on its stand without success. Brandon got up and walked over to assist the maiden with the daiko.

"Good morning, ma'am," Brandon said.

"Konichiwa, samurai-san," replied the maiden. "I no speak good English. I try learn, but hard."

"It's all right. May I help you with your drum?"

"I no understand."

"May I help you put this--" He pointed to the big drum. "--on this?" He pointed the stand.

The maiden finally understood. "Oh, hai. I mean, yes."

Brandon put the daiko on its stand for the lovely maiden. "By the way, my name is Brandon."

"My name Lotus Blossom in English. You just come to Japan?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Thank you for assisstance, Brandon-san. I go now to prepare." She bowed and scurried off to prepare for the demonstration. Brandon sat back down with Micheal.

"You're right, Mike," Brandon said. "I think I'll like it here."

Micheal laughed because he knew the reason was Lotus Blossom. The presentation began with the O-Suwa-Daiko performers. Lotus Blossom seemed to be the leader of the performers since she counted off in Japanese and started. The performance was lively, but to Brandon, Lotus Blossom was the only one there. The performance was over too soon for Brandon's taste. He sawLotus Blossom talk to a Japanese man carrying one of the more unusual instruments before her disappearance. The Japanese man was one of the performers who would perform the gagaku music that would finish the demonstration.

Lotus Blossom reappeared beside Brandon and Micheal. "Konichiwa, Micheal-san," she said.

"Konichiwa, Lotus," Micheal said. "Will you sit down with us?"

"Hai."

"Hello, again, ma'am," Brandon said.

"Konichiwa, Brandon-san."

Micheal and Lotus Blossom started talking in rapid Japanese, which sounded alien to Brandon. He did not mind, however, because Lotus Blossom had a beautiful voice. Micheal noticed and explained what they were saying.

"Lotus and I are pretty good friends. She taught me Japanese when I first came here. She comes to the base often to learn English. We were talking about the man she was talking to. She says she had a dream about serving tea to a man playing the koto. That's a kind of zither. That's what the man she was talking to is playing. She thinks that a man who plays the koto will be her husband. I told her to watch what she does and not to get in too deep. There are other koto-playing men out there and that is not the only interpretation of her dream."

Brandon nodded. He turned to Lotus Blossom. "Ma'am, did the man in your dream have a clear face?"

"No, Brandon-san. He did have round eyes, like you. You play koto?"

"No, ma'am."

"Then gagaku man is future husband. He will provide me well."

At the end of the demonstration, Brandon sadly watched Lotus Blossom walk away with the gagaku player. He hung his head as Micheal drove him back to the warrior's camp. Micheal could not stand to see Brandon so sad.

"Hey, man," Micheal said. "If Lotus means that much to you, learn to play the koto."

Brandon considered it briefly. "Why not?"

Micheal then helped Brandon find a good instructor and Brandon learned to play the koto. He continually went to see Lotus Blossom and became good friends with her. It seemed the closer he was to Lotus Blossom, the better he played. But he did not play for her yet, because he was not yet good enough. When Brandon's commanding officer asked if Brandon wanted to go somewhere else, Brandon refused because of the koto and Lotus Blossom. He often sat in his room alone at night and played the koto until his fingers were sore, always thinking about the day he would play for Lotus Blossom and she would fall in love with him.

Finally, he decided to play for Lotus Blossom. He made sure he looked his best and left for Lotus Blossom's home to play for her and her family. Lotus Blossom met Brandon at the gate.

"Brandon-san, how nice to see you!" she greeted.

"Your English has come a long way, Lotus," Brandon complimented.

"Thank you, Brandon-san. Why are you here?"

"I came to meet your family and maybe play for them."

"Play what?"

"My koto."

Lotus Blossom's face fell when she saw the koto. "Did you learn for me?" Brandon's eyes fell in agreement. "Oh, no. No. It is too late. I have already accepted the marriage proposal from the gagaku player." Brandon sighed. "I am sorry you have wasted your time over me, Brandon-san. If you leave now, I will understand. If you never want to see me again, I will understand that too."

Brandon looked back from Lotus Blossom to his koto. He had worked so hard and so long for her, but he was not bitter. "No, I am not angry. I understand your actions. I still want to be friends. I have come to play for you and your family and I will finish what I start."

Lotus Blossom opened the gate for Brandon. "You may, but my betrothed is there waiting for my return. You may not want to see him."

"It's okay, Lotus. I can congratulate him and tell him he's a lucky man."

Brandon went to the house and Lotus Blossom admitted him inside, but she did not enter. Brandon removed his shoes and bowed respectfully to the head of the household. He said in Japanese that he was a friend of Lotus Blossom and that he had come to play for the household. He then congratulated the gagaku player of his fortune. The head of the household bade Brandon to stay as long as he liked and his wife offered him some tea. Brandon drank the tea and started to play.

His music had taken on a sadder tone and made the women of the house start to cry, creating streaks in their white faces. As Brandon played longer, the children also started to weep. Lotus Blossom's betrothed hung his head in guilt, though he did not know why he felt guilty. The music was so sad that even the head of the household weeped, and he had not cried since he was a little child. The tear-filled household were astonished by a soft wail outside. It was Lotus Blossom, who heard the melodies from outside and was crying. Lotus Blossom entered the house with almost all the white make-up on her face gone.

"Oh, Brandon-san, why did I not wait! I had fallen in love with you even though you did not play the koto, but I thought I had to follow destiny. I shall curse the day I dreamed that dream!" The gagaku player stood up and spoke in Japanese. "He says that he will not marry unless I do not love him. I do not. I will marry you." Brandon was overjoyed. He hugged Lotus Blossom. The head of the household stood up and spoke. "He says it is good that I want to marry you. If I did not he would have offered you one of my sisters. Anyone who plays and makes him cry deserves to be called his son. He gives us his blessing." Brandon picked up his koto and joyfully started playing a merry tune. The gagaku player picked up his koto and joined in. The household then danced all around the house in happiness.

So three months later, Brandon and Lotus Blossom were married. They had many children and Brandon never left Japan. He still did not notice the sights and sounds, but only because he was focused on his lovely wife and children who had enchanted him and captured his heart. Every night happy music could be heard from their wooden house that made everyone who passed by happy and ready to dance out their joy.