Akiro could immediately see upon entering the simple house that

Yohaku kept a very traditional Japanese home. It was beautiful

and elegant in its simplicity, with great attention paid to the

placement of each and every item of furnishing and decoration to

achieve a perfect sense of balance in each room. The simple,

delicate screens; the impeccable arrangements of flowers; the ink

paintings; the subtle scent of incense; the woodblock prints; the

teien, the landscape garden visible through the open screen door at

the back of the small living room, with its painstakingly raked sand

and artistically arranged rocks and shrubs; all combined to give the

home a profound sense of tranquil harmony. Akiro was deeply

moved, both by the privilege of the audience and of seeing this

lovely home. Truly, this was the dwelling of a master.

“Welcome to my humble home, Katayama-san.”

Akiro was startled. He had not heard the sound of a sliding

screen, nor had he heard any footsteps. Suddenly Yohaku was

simply there, an old man in his eighties, dressed in a simple white

kimono and sash, his long, fine hair the color of freshly fallen snow,

cascading down past his shoulders and looking like a No player’s

wig. His face was deeply lined, with skin that looked like fragile

parchment, yet the deeply sunken eyes were alert and bright, the

startling color of cornflowers. He had never seen such eyes on a

Japanese. And though the old man was almost painfully thin and

slightly stoop-shouldered, there was somehow an aura of great

power and grace about him. A man truly centered and at peace

with life. Akiro bowed deeply and presented his card.

“Ohayo gozaimasu, Yohaku-sama, ” Akiro said. “Thank you for

seeing me.”

“Please, ” said Yohaku, his voice as soft as a caress, “the sama is

entirely unnecessary. While I appreciate the graciousness of your

address, I would much prefer it if you simply called me by my

name. Or if that makes you uncomfortable, sensei will do.”

“Thank you, Sensei, ” said Akiro, bowing once again and feeling

entirely inadequate.

Yohaku smiled. “Please, ” he said, indicating the living room with

his outstretched hand, “come in and sit down. Allow me the