Kojuro lived in the mountains and knew the animals well. He felt terrible every time he killed one; but he had to, for it was how he made his living. As Kenji describes them, the bears of Mt. Nametoko knew of Kojuro's plight and loved and respected him deeply. As for Kojuro, whenever he shot and felled a fierce bear that had charged at him, he would approach it and say, "Don't think I killed you, Bear, because I hated you. I have to make a living, just as you have to be shot. I'd like to do different work, work with no sin attached, but I've got no field, and they say my trees belong to the authorities, and when I go into the village nobody will have anything to do with me. I'm a hunter because I can't help it. It's fate that made you a bear, and it's fate that makes me do this work. Make sure you're not reborn as a bear next time!