"Golden prayers" bloom on the trees on a cold winter's morning

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

In the silence of the early morning, when even the breath you exhale freezes white, white flowers quietly bloom on the trees of the midwinter town of Hokuryu, as if to awaken the town from its deep slumber.

They are "frost flowers," snowflakes that have fallen from the sky, joined hands at the fingertips of the branches, and transformed into crystals.

The moment the rising sun's arrow touches the petal, the silvery world transforms into a dazzling "golden sparkle."

A transparent and noble sparkle like a studded diamond. The intricate geometric patterns of nature reside in each and every crystal.

It is the fleeting yet eternal "glow of life" that the earth shows as it endures the harsh cold.

Seeing its beauty and transience, your frozen heart will slowly and gently melt, as if embraced by the sun.

Let this golden sparkle be your heart's compass. May today be a heartwarming story that warms someone's heart, just like this light.

◇ noboru & ikuko