Once there lived a young samurai named Tomotada.Though he had been trained for war and was skilled in handling the bow, spear, and sword, he spent much of his time tending the trees of the palace grounds. Tomotada loved all green, growing things. But he greatly loved trees.
One day Tomotada was entrusted with an important mission. He was to carry a message scroll from his lord to the lord whose castle lay beyond the mountains. It was a great honor.
It was early autumn, the day bright and clear, when he rode out of the palace gates. The golden willow leaves waved in the breeze as if in farewell.
Tomotada rode all through that day. As he approached the mountains, the sky grew black. Lightning flashed, a cold wind blew, and a heavy rain was soon pelting down. Tomotada rode on, urging his horse forward along the slippery trails. Night was fast approaching. A fall on those mountain passes could easily mean death. Up ahead Tomotada saw a gleam of light. It vanished, then shone again. Heading toward it, he came to a small hut. Near the hut, by the banks of a stream, stood three willow trees. Two of the willows were old, heavy-limbed, and grew close together. The third willow was young, graceful, and slender. Willow branches tossed by the wind had hidden and then revealed the light shining through a crack in the hut’s shuttered window.
Soaked and chilled, Tomotada tied his horse’s reins to a willow and knocked at the door. It opened. “Come in, young sir,” said the old man who stood in the doorway. “Come in out of the storm. Green Willow will see to your horse.” Tomotada turned and saw a cloaked figure leading his horse to shelter. He stepped inside.
A hot bath took the chill from his hones. Dressed in dry clothes, Tomotada sat down to a steaming meal prepared by the old man’s wife. The door opened and a cold wet wind blew in.