Chapter 51 Farewell——The Beginning of Reunion——Returning from a Visit to Japan

There is an old saying in Japan that says: "Meeting is the beginning of parting".These desolate words are full of the meaning of "seeing and resting, why not see". Now, we turn this sentence around and say "separation is the beginning of reunion".This is not a forced consolation. Over the past few years, our Chinese and Japanese friends have always said goodbye and reunited again. Every parting has deepened our mutual care, and every reunion has deepened our mutual love. understand each other.We exhort and encourage each other every time we shake hands when we cherish differences, and we look forward to the next happy reunion.

Having said that, on December 3rd, when our plane rose to an altitude of 31,000 feet, with a sea of ​​white clouds and a clear blue sky, it suddenly occurred to me that our Japanese people who were full of farewell emotions My friend, when I walked out of Haneda Airport on the wet road with an umbrella under the sound of gloomy rain, my heart couldn't help constricting. The friendship between the Chinese and Japanese people is unusual.Thousands of years of close cultural exchanges have made our literature, language, customs, and habits all inextricably linked.So when we arrived in Japan, it didn't feel strange.We can remember the names of Japanese friends by looking at business cards; we don’t need translation when we see the names of stations, or the plaques of places of interest and temple gardens.When we visit Japanese friends, take off our shoes and enter the door, sit on the floor, look up and see the scrolls hanging "between the beds" or Lu Xun's poems, we will spontaneously feel a sense of intimacy.

At this time, the master invites us to write an inscription, and we can write as soon as we lift the pen. In this stormy era, we are all resisting the oppression of the US imperialists and all reactionaries.Under the same goal and aspiration of "opposing imperialism and defending world peace", our fighting friendship between enemies and enemies has been united like this. Take Chinese and Japanese writers as an example. We often meet for the first time at various international conferences.Although we were only known to each other before and had never had the opportunity to meet and talk heart-to-heart, during the meeting, we often found that our opinions coincided with each other on various issues of "opposing imperialism and defending world peace"!We can't help but feel how exciting and cherished our fighting friendship of mutual support and solidarity is in these sharp and complicated struggles!

During our visit to Japan this time, we not only met old friends whom we met in various places abroad or who had been to China, but we also visited many new friends. When we travel together, watch dances and listen to songs, or hold palms in each other's living rooms and courtyards, we will naturally talk about the past and talk about the future. The first is to promote the restoration of formal diplomatic relations between China and Japan. , normal exchanges between the peoples of the two countries.For all this, we must pick up the pen and sweep away the many artificial obstacles.Our words are powerful, and writers have great responsibilities.We will never let go of this sharp armed force of "opposing imperialism and defending world peace". Only by doing this can our cultural exchanges be unimpeded and our precious friendship continue from generation to generation.

The beautiful scenery outside my window is neither sunlight nor Hakone, the dazzling bauhinia flowers, and the emerald green acacia trees... All these prove that I have returned to the south of the motherland; but my heart seems to be still there Staying in Japan is like living next door to my Japanese friends.At this time, different and memorable pictures unfolded to me again and again... Our friendship is deepening time after time, and the next time we meet, whether it is in China, Japan, or In any corner of the earth, there is bound to be a more enthusiastic and joyful scene.For our lofty ideals, for the happiness of future generations, and for the peaceful life of all mankind, let us continue to work hard, continue to struggle, and welcome our triumphant reunion!

On December 12, 1963, Conghua Hot Spring. (This article was originally published in "Yangcheng Evening News" on December 20, 1963.)