<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko sat in the kitchen, holding an ice pack to her cheek, watching Shiraishi pace back and forth, her anger still visible.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What do they think they are doing?â€, “I should call the police.â€, “Really, we can’t put up with this!â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Every so often she would turn to Akiko and put her annoyance into words, but then turn away again without waiting for an answer.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Why don’t you call the police?â€ Akiko asked, at last. “They actually started a fight this time.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, but who started it? And who would testify?â€ The priest stopped pacing, and turned to look at Akiko. “And anyway, everyone’s…â€ She was interrupted by the doorbell. Taking a deep breath, and another, she smoothed down her vestments. “You wait here.â€ The priest left, to answer the door.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, I hope that this is not a bad time.â€ Akiko recognised Mr Fujimura’s voice, and immediately dropped the ice, jumping to her feet and hurrying out into the corridor.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Not at all. Won’t you come in?â€ Shiraishi turned as Mr Fujimura stepped up into the house, and spotted Akiko. “Ah, Ms Tanahata. Would you make us some tea?â€ Akiko could still hear the anger, but Shiraishi was clearly trying to keep it under control.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“…entirely appropriate?â€ Akiko only caught the end of Mr Fujimura’s sentence as she entered the room, but it was easy enough to guess what he was asking; Noriko must have contacted him.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It is an old tradition of our shrine.â€ Akiko could tell that Shiraishi had deliberately kept the answer brief.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Not all of the old traditions were good ones. There was too much corruption from Buddhism in the old days. Now,â€ Mr Fujimura had clearly spotted that Shiraishi was about to interrupt, “I know that it doesn’t sound like there is much Buddhist about this festival, but equally just because it is old does not mean that it is good. Ms Yamanaka mentioned races with the mikoshi; such things are surely below the dignity of a kami, of a shrine.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The kami have many aspects, Mr Fujimura. We must not neglect any of them.â€ Shiraishi’s reply was very stiff.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Could there not be more respectful ways to honour them?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“A wild festival is appropriate to the wild aspect of a kami.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The Aramitama? But surely that is a very primitive concept, one that Shinto has largely left behind as it has developed.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Violence and passion are still with us. As we are all too aware. Mr Fujimura, are you aware of what the th… people you have sent to this shrine have done?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m sorry?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi quickly outlined what had happened.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“<em>That</em> sort of violence is clearly inappropriate at a shrine, and disrespectful to the kami. If you can’t keep your people under control, you shouldn’t be lecturing us about out festivals,â€ she concluded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Mr Fujimura’s face had darkened during the account, and as the priest finished speaking he bowed deeply.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I am most truly sorry for their excesses. If you will excuse me, I will go to talk to them immediately, and ensure that such a thing does not happen again.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Very well,â€ Shiraishi said, and then, after a pause, “Thank you.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Mr Fujimura got up, and, bowing again, left.</p>