A Single Deep Pool
The waka is a type of poem unique to Hinomoto made by combining a first and second stanza. At Sazanka's recommendation, everyone was trying to play a game using that composition...
Luca: Rrrgh, this is hard! Just finding the card with the same poem you're reading out is difficult enough! I mean, you gotta start looking when you're reading the first verse, but the cards only have the second verse on 'em!
Sazanka: Heh. That is why we call this "the game of a hundred poets." Let us make this next reading our last. "The people are the castle, the master is the foundation, and the retainers are friends..."
Cleo: Right! The next verse is...is... Argh! I JUST learned this one!
Sazanka: "...Such ties create a peaceful rule."
Euden: Such ties, such ties... Found it! Woo! I got this one, too!
Sazanka: Wonderful. And the winner of our game is Prince Euden.
Luca: Awww, man! He's got so many more cards than all of us.
Ranzal: He sure does—but I ain't losin' next time! I just gotta memorize a little more.
Elisanne: You'll need to memorize more than a little, Ranzal; you only have five cards.
Ranzal: Look who's talkin', you've only got ten!
Cleo: I'm surprised to see that you can create a game out of poetry. It must be a very important art form in Hinomoto.
Sazanka: It is indeed—and the ones we were just playing with are some of the most well-known and well-loved.
Euden: My favorite is the one I just took. What can you tell me about it?
Sazanka: Ah, yes. That one happens to be Master Ieyasu's favorite as well.
Euden: Wait, really?
Sazanka: Yes. That's because it is a poem about the bonds between a master and his retainers. A master must be humble and think of subordinates as friends, so that their bonds might become hard as steel. Master Ieyasu speaks constantly of this.
Luca: Ieyasu's not a bad guy, all in all.
Ranzal: Makes sense. A ruler can be tough and stalwart, but still considerate of his people. That's significant, what with all the high'n mighty nobles we got lyin' around.
Sazanka: Master Ieyasu places more value in ability and relationships than he does pedigree or status. However, hierarchical relationships between master and vassal are absolute in Hinomoto. He told me, "Think of me as your friend, and be honest in both word and action." But though these were my master's orders, I was still bewildered.
Elisanne: You had likely been taught that it was unacceptable to talk back to your master, or even pose a question.
Sazanka: I was indeed. Thankfully, Master Ieyasu had been doing things his own way for quite some time. It was much the same when we spoke about the poem you mentioned earlier. "A good master is adored not for power," he said to me, "but for benevolence. I would have you be my true friend." His gaze told me of his seriousness, and so I complied with his request.
Cleo: Then it was not just your family's decision for you to serve Ieyasu.
Elisanne: I understand. To an extent, we all gathered under His Highness's banner because we were charmed by his character.
Luca: Yep! He treats everybody like a friend and not some vassal lackey.
Ranzal: He and Ieyasu sound pretty similar. Hell, they even like the same poem!
Euden: Guys, stop. This is embarrassing.
Sazanka: Hmm. You may be right, at that.
Euden: It's funny—when I think of foreign lands, I can only come up with differences. But Ieyasu and I have the same values, and we both like a poem that talks about the common bonds between people. It seems you really can find similarities through a cultural exchange like this.
Sazanka: That is one way of thinking about it... Ah, but I can no longer hold it in! "In a distant land, I think quietly to the full moon. Our hearts are a single deep pool." Forgive me, but my emotions demanded I compose a verse. How did you find it?
Cleo: It was beautiful. What does it mean?
Sazanka: It means that people's hearts can be enchanting, even in a foreign land— a fact that greatly moves me. It reminds me that Master Ieyasu's way of thinking is commendable, even though it often leads to criticism from others.
Luca: Hey, I know what you mean there. Euden's a real weirdo compared to the rest of his family!
Sazanka: I never thought I might meet someone who holds the same ambitions in such a distant and foreign land. But people have gathered in this castle because its lord is truly exceptional. I am so proud to have a cultural exchange with everyone here.
Euden: And we feel the same. Let's hope the good times continue to roll!
Sazanka: May we continue to learn from one other!
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