One day, Dr. Higasa found a beautiful picture postcard in his mailbox. It was a picture of plum trees. From looking at this picture of an early spring landscape, Dr. Higasa could feel bright sunlight and cold wind. The post card was an invitation to a one-man show. The painter turned out to be the younger brother of one of Dr. Higasa’s classmates.

Dr. .Higasa went to the show, which was being held at a Mitukosi department store. Mr. Uemori the painter wore jeans, a black turtleneck and a tweed jacket and looked exactly as one would expect for an Impressionist painter. He was very gentle and his paintings reflected this.

After viewing Mr. Uemori’s paintings, Dr. Higasa decided to dare to ask him to paint the legend of the apricot forest. He hoped that if Mr. Uemori made this painting, it would be a masterpiece. Dr. Higasa talked to Mr. Uemori about the legend and encouraged him to attempt this work. Dr. Higasa told Mr. Uemori, “There are many paintings of legends in the Western world, but almost nothing of this type in China and Japan. I have never seen such painting about the legend of the Apricot Forest. Would you try to imagine it and paint it for me? I will supply information about ancient Chinese clothing, if it will help. Please paint it.”

As he listened to this explanation, Mr. Uemori gazed at the floor and said nothing. After a second, he looked up and smiled. “OK, I will paint it. I will return to France soon, but I will again have a one-man show next year in Japan. Please wait until then.”
Dr. Higasa had to wait one and half year to see the picture, but it was worth waiting for.