This month’s anciention: Think about it and you will not be ashamed. Yukineko translation: Once you realize, there is nothing to be ashamed of. In the past, the Japanese language had two words for the past: “inishie (ancient)” for the past connected to the present, and “mukashi (old)” for the past not connected to the present. Japanese classical literature has a rich power that transcends national borders and touches the hearts of anyone who lives in the present. Yukineko will gently navigate you through the world of “inishie.” The main character in this story is a very unusual princess. She has a lovely face, and she loves insects. In the Heian period (8-12th century), aristocratic princesses were supposed to have their eyebrows plucked, their teeth dyed black, and be demure. However, she is a natural. Her eyebrows are bushy and her teeth are white. She sings with the boys of low status and cuddles creepy caterpillars on her hands; so, people say bad things about her. One day, a nobleman hearing a rumor about the princess, snuck into her house; peered into her face, and setup a fake snake prank, accompanied with a teasing letter. The servant complained to the princess: “This is what happens to princesses when you love creepy-crawlies.” The princess then said, “This world is like a dream or an illusion. No one can decide what is really good or bad. If you know the truth, you have nothing to be ashamed of.” MIYAZAKI Hayao united the Princess who loves insects and Princess Nausicaa from the Greek epic poem “The Odyssey” to create the heroine of his masterpiece “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind” (manga and animated film). The voice of a woman 900 years ago telling us to “live naturally, just as you are,” continues to resonate in a different form today.