The Story
I don’t remember which film it was,
but on the night I saw a scene of a vast, desolate land,
I found myself drawing these characters in a white notebook.
I don’t recall exactly when I drew it,
but it was around the time
words like “rare earth” and “Japan’s resources”
kept appearing in the news.
That must be why this text came out of me.
A small island, floating alone in the eastern sea. Japan.
Yes, it’s a small country, only a fraction of the world.
But I can’t help thinking that within this rich, unique land,
there are resources we cannot see —
and that they are what shaped this country:
peaceful, safe, quietly humble, and kind.
This is not an island meant to become a base for AI,
but a land where something real has long been stored —
something that has supported the lives of its people
and made this a nation of long life.
I believe the spirit of the Japanese people
has always resided in this land, too.
Resources of the body and the spirit,
I think, are buried here, in this soil.
Visual Story Details
Subject: Hand-lettered calligraphy reading “100 Billion Beneath,” surrounded by gold and ink diamond motifs.
Mood: A contemplative tone where quiet stillness coexists with a sense of urgency and pride.
Theme: A meditation on Japan’s invisible resources and spirit, inspired by news coverage of rare earth elements and national resources.
Artist: Kazue Shima (Visual Story Artist)
