The ground is always gray.
In everyday life, we’re always looking at concrete-paved ground, so that’s only natural.
But the ground at [Gio-ji Temple] is green.
Whether you look up or down, everything is green—a color brought to life by blue maple leaves, bamboo, and moss.
And when you look closely, you realize that even within the color green, there are many different shades—some deep green, some pale green. You notice that, too.
Naturally, I found myself talking less and less with my friends there. I listened only to the birdsong and the rustling of the wind, simply enjoying the passage of time.

[Gio-ji] takes its name from a woman named Gio.
Giō was a shirabyōshi—a performer who dressed as a man and sang and danced—and was favored by Taira no Kiyomori, a character in *The Tale of the Heike*.
However, that too was eventually lost, and it seems he spent the rest of his life here at [Giō-ji].
I’m not very good with romantic matters, so I don’t really understand, but I found myself thinking how envious I was that they could spend time here.
That’s because even when you look down, you can still enjoy the beautiful colors of the moss.

[Gio-ji Temple] is a little far from the center of Arashiyama.
In other words, it’s not something to take for granted that I have friends who’ve come this far with me.
I felt as if Giyo had taught me that, even across the passage of time.