The Next Conch
Master Takeharu blows the Horagai conch during yamabushi training.
“At the next conch, we climb Haguro”.
And that’s all they tell me.
When is the next conch? It could be ten minutes from now, it could be ten hours, and we have no way of knowing. I can’t ask. The others don’t know. The assistant master would never tell me. That’s the whole point, isn’t it? What am I to do? I can’t just sit here and relax. Who knows when we will have to get up again?
So, nothing. I wait.
I look around to see what the others do. A few of the veterans are lying down. How can they do that? Do they know something I don’t? They got the exact same instructions as me: “At the next conch, we climb Haguro”. Clear as day.
And then I hear it. Snoring. Ok, maybe they do know something I don’t. They don’t seem worried about the conch at all. Like they’ve forgotten it even exists. All they’re worried about is getting in some well-earned shut-eye.
Perhaps it’s not the conch we should be fretting over, but the time in between. We know the conch is coming. That much is true. We just don’t know when. In the meantime, well, I guess I should make the most of this moment. Uketamo and everything.
"We'll be in touch about next steps".
“Decisions will be released in the spring”.
“The doctor will call you when it’s time to come home”.
And that’s all they tell me.
P.S. 2027 Training Dates Out Now
Our 2027 training dates have been released. Book a video chat with the team now to secure your spot. See below for more details.
We had a very full month on the mountains in July. Here are some of those moments:
Waking up to the sunrise above the clouds on Mt. Gassan.
The view from the summit of Mt. Gassan.
