During my residency in Mitarai, an old town on an island in the Seto Inland Sea, I encountered exciting figures that appear as characters in my picture book. A turtle in a traditional carving and traditional engravings of a bear is found on the street. Wild monkeys walk around there as "Beware of Monkeys" signs caution. I don't see any monkeys there, though. Islands here around are famous for citrus fruits, and Mitarai has a wealth of these fruits. A bear is the main character for the picture...