2008.04.15

(This is a continuation of the article “Somebody Go and See It – The Grave of the Monkey/Grave of the Hunter Parts 1 and 2.” The links can be found on the “Word of the Day Link” to the lower right.)

In the Original Matsuura Brewery’s “Word of the Day” column from autumn last year， I introduced the “Grave of the Monkey/Grave of the Hunter，” but when I arrived in Oasa， I couldn’t make it to the site because the sun had already set. Then again after half a year took me through the winter， I tried a second attempt on my off-road bike. I made it to the “Grave of the Hunter，” but I couldn’t manage to get to the “Grave of the Monkey.” Now， I’ll continue the story on this， my third attempt. But if I do say so myself， I didn’t think that this story would be enough to lull me out here three times!

The person who couldn’t help but lend a hand to help me find the elusive “Grave of the Monkey” was none other than President of the Original Matsuura Brewery， Mr. Matsuura himself! Whether it was that he felt a sense of responsibility for my trivial task or whatnot， he forced two of his reluctant employees， Mr. Higashiura and Mr. Sakamoto， to go along and take up the challenge with him on foot. While getting pricked by the nettles of hairy caterpillars all along the way， they set out for more than three hours. Thanks to them， I was finally able to look at the picture of the “Grave of the Monkey” that they took for me.

Thank you very much. Also， from President Matsuura， who understands the essence of this 88 Brewery Tour very well， not a challenge but a present for those who are participating in the tour (and also a little bit of PR for the town of Oasa-cho):
As they reached the goal of the “Grave of the Monkey，” President Matsuura took out a little triangular rock that you can see in the picture here， and said， “This is a treasure hunt!” However， since the place was a “grave，” they were very careful not to violate its sanctuary – the stone is hidden appropriately nearby. Whoever can find the rock and bring it to the Original Matsuura Brewery， not only will you be given sake as a token of appreciation， but also， you will get 10，000 yen of Mr. Matsuura’s pocket money， right there on the spot (This is not a joke! It’s really true!) So hurry up- the early bird catches the worm! Once somebody delivers the rock to Mr. Matsuura， the game is over. At that point， we’ll also post your achievement on this blog...and yet this story is still not over!

Should I try another challenge of the “Grave of the Monkey” and try to find it myself? No， no， I think it would rather be easier to wait in ambush in front of the brewery and attack whoever finds the stone and comes back exulting their victory. That’s within the rules， isn’t it?

Postscript:
On Wednesday June 3， 2008， Mr. Yamada， who became the second person to complete the 88 Brewery Tour and achieve the title of “Sake God，” showed the will power of a Tokushima-ite and spent a day looking for the stone， finally discovering it in its hiding spot! Thank you， Mr. Yamada! I personally was quite worried that this story would never come to its conclusion. In place of President Matsuura of the Original Matsuura Brewery (who is the one who started and fueled the fires of this whole ruckus)， I would like to express all of our gratitude. For the time being， you’ll get all-you-can-drink sake at the Naruto-Dai Brewery， on the bill of President Matsuura!