玄米さん、逝きました。満7歳。（日本時間2018年６月７日未明）
僕の渡米と合わせるようにして猫エイズと白血病の末期症状を発症。三宅商店やSATOKENのみんなが、懸命にできる限りのお世話をしてくれました。４０日間の闘病の末に、これ以上ないくらい痩せ細った身体で雨の夜の中に姿を消して逝きました。翌日、草むらの中で、びしょ濡れで発見された玄米さんの亡骸の写真は、大地に叩きつけられた命の染みのようでした。僕のお腹の上でスヤスヤと最後を迎えさせてやれなかったことは心残りですが、今はしっかりと僕の胸の中に居ます。
震災の年の６月、移住先の沖縄で出逢った猫さんでした。命の儚さと、大切さがひとしお意味を増した震災後の暮らしの中で、小さな命の灯火の象徴であり、やんばるのジャングルで自由に育った野性は、僕らと自然界を媒介してくれる存在でもありました。2度の選挙で激変した僕の人生の、一番ハードな時期を支えてくれました。
玄米さんの思い出を分かち合う全ての皆さんに、御礼申し上げます。
ありがとうございました。写真:仁礼博
My cat Genmai(means brownrice) died last night. She was 7years old. Just after i arrived at California in the end of April, i got a news from Japan that she had a leukemia & FIV. It was going to finalstage. 40days of survival, she couldn't eat at last and fadeaway in the rainy night. My buddys found her body in the morning.
I moved to Okinawa from Tokyo 3days after Fukushima disaster. I was devorced but took my 6years daughter and exwife. But i couldn’t make them understand the risks about going back Tokyo, media or government announced again and again "it’s almost safe.don’t be nervous”,and 3weeks after they decide to back in their usual days.
I was alone in Okinawa. Then friends in Yomitan was looking for a new owner of 1month tiny cat she had been thrown away by mother cat maybe because of her weakness. “Hey yohei, you should take her to your home.” That was the first time to have a cat in my life.
It was more than 7years for me and she. Got 2times general election as a candidate (to change Japan),i became famous as a POLITICIAN(no way),had 1album and many tours, build up Organic shop, moved to Okayama(my roots place)..and so on. She always saved our house, gave love to we staffs, and waiting for me coming back from tours.
It was easy to remember how long passed from EastJapanEarhquake by her age cause she was born in that year. She was a kind of symbol of “life” for me. A small, tiny, soft, sharp, wild, and lovely existence taught me many things.
My friends buried her body under the KAKI tree in our farm. She died in a rainy dark night alone, maybe looking for me, but now i can feel her soul in my mind, want to celebrate her eternity peace.
Thank you to all who share the memories of her.
R.I.P. Genmai
photo by Hiroshi Nirei
【玄米 幼少期】
2011年6月 沖縄/本部町
読谷で貰ってきた玄米さんを本部町の自宅に連れて帰って撮った最初の写真
野良猫の平均寿命は1〜2年で殆どが身内の猫エイズ感染により死ぬのだと沖縄で聞いたことがある。7年、良く生きたね。「飼う」ていう感覚はなかった。精一杯、共に生きた野生の猫。
【Genmai in her childhood】
2011. Jun. Okinawa/Motobu
The first photo i took with Genmai.
Okinawa's south island so there're so many Stray cats and they have 1〜2years life in average. I heard from locos almost everyone dye for FIV. Genmai got 7years life. She did her best, and so do i. She was not a "pet" , just wild animal lived with me & my friends. @ Portland, Oregon