Kuramoto Akira
Most Emerald residents fail to notice the small, wizened man who spends his days quietly tending to the Tea Garden and pondering its simple wonders. Those who perform menial tasks and the elderly are usually ignored, and so it is for Kuramoto Akira. In his practical invisibility, Kuramoto hears and sees much, including things Emerald City’s criminal elements (particularly the Yakuza and Triad) would rather kept secret.
Going to the police never occurs to him, as Kuramoto remains wrapped up in guilt over his perceived past wrongs. As a young pilot in the Imperial Japanese Navy, Kuramoto unhesitatingly rained death and destruction down on Chinese targets, and later in 1942, participated in the seaplane fire-bombing of Emerald City. Kuramoto survived the war, but the rest of his family lost their lives during the American bombing raids. Once an eager fighter, Kuramoto was now sick of war.
He tried without success to rebuild his life until 1992, when the Emerald City government made Kuramoto the guest of honor at a world-peace gathering on the 50th anniversary of his attempted fire-bombing. Deeply moved by the outpouring of forgiveness he received from the people of Emerald, Kuramoto participated in a ceremonial tree-planting to commemorate the spirit of peace and reconciliation. Ever since, Kuramoto—now a permanent Emerald City resident—repeats that ritual by tending to the Tea Garden, hoping to maintain its beauty and atone for his past warmongering.
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