On August 31st, I contributed a 5,000-character short story titled “Raising Clouds” to the Hokkoku-Shimbun.
The story is set five to eight years in the future in Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture. It follows “me” and my wife visiting Mount Hakusan, where we encounter a woman named Rokuka Suyama. She is dedicated to protecting the ever-shrinking snow patch on Sendagaike Pond. Her method is to fly kites painted with clouds to cast shadows over the snow and prevent it from melting under the sun. While her efforts are small and seemingly futile—possibly even more environmentally taxing than beneficial due to the impact of her activities on the mountain—something within “me” slowly begins to change upon witnessing her actions. This story is a work of climate fiction.
When I see measures being taken against global warming, I can’t stop thinking about the balance sheet of CO2. Even if a device absorbs a certain number of kilograms of carbon dioxide annually in one location, if the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during its production or the vehicles used for collection exceeds the absorption, then the activity increases carbon emissions. Even with the most positive outlook, if raising awareness about carbon emissions leads to more carbon being emitted through the activity, it defeats the purpose. Similarly, solar panels and storage batteries that can be installed cheaply thanks to subsidies are difficult to afford for the same reason. Writing about the environment from the perspective of “me,” who projects these feelings, was a valuable experience.
In climate fiction, it’s common to depict a disastrous future, but this time, I chose to write about a more immediate future, one where people are still looking forward. Since it’s a local Ishikawa newspaper, you might not have a chance to read it, but it’s a piece I’m fond of. I hope to feature it in a collection of short stories someday.
