The beginning of October, the fourth year of Myouei, Ezo land, northwest of Yangti Mountain, at the mouth of Korobetsu River.
The mountain forest was initially silent; it was October in Ezo. The distant mountains stretched in from the southeast, cloaked in the golden and crimson of late autumn. Maple leaves rustled, pine forests were deep, Ezo deer stepped on branches, and moon bears roared leisurely. This was the demarcation between farming and fishing, and between the Ainu and the Japanese. As the forest crows flew over the small villages of the tribes in the mountains, over the treetops enveloped in morning mist, they encountered the kelp drying grounds along the coast and the small Ainu fishing boats.
"Shaa... shaa~"
"Hwa... hwa~"
"Woo... woo!..."
