The Gift of Rain

Later in the morning, Philip drives Michiko back to her hotel. Then, he visits his business offices. The trading company, Hutton & Sons, was founded by his great-grandfather, a “legend in the East” (29). Philip’s knowledge of Japanese culture and language helped him make a lot of money in the post-war era.

Philip’s days are highly regimented, though not necessarily happy. He has been preparing for his death, but Michiko’s arrival has stirred unexpected feelings of melancholy within him. He leaves work early, walks through the bustling city of Penang, and thinks about his home. He has never hungered for cold, rainy England and has something of a reputation and status in Penang.

He sits in a peaceful churchyard, then decides that he must speak to Michiko, no matter how painful it may be. He finds her at his house by the pool, staring at Endo’s island. After dinner, she shows him Endo’s letter, which he agrees to read later. Beside the pool again, Philip is surprised by his contentment. They talk about Philip’s dead family and the local myths and legends. Once again, Michiko asks to know everything about Philip and Endo. This time, Philip agrees to speak about “[his] many shames, [his] failures, [his] unforgivable sins” (35). He examines the letter, preparing to speak about himself.

The narrative goes back to Philip’s youth. He is the youngest son of one of the oldest, wealthiest families in Penang, that runs Hutton & Sons, the business founded by his great-grandfather. The Hutton family has been part of the British colonial presence in Penang for four generations, living in the large mansion known as Istana. Philip is the youngest of four children. His three older siblings—Edward, William, and Isabel—were all born from Noel Hutton’s first marriage to an English woman named Emma.

After her death, Noel fell in love with a Chinese woman named Khoo Yu Lian, whose father was part of the mass migration of people from the Chinese province of Hokkien. Her father was a wealthy man and, like many people in Penang, he was “scandalized” by the marriage between a British man and a Chinese woman. He disowned his daughter and severed contact. Philip’s mother died when he was seven years old. He has few memories of her, especially as his father retreated into his work due to his grief. Philip was educated in the local languages and feels bound to Penang. He was not close to his older siblings; his multiracial heritage makes him feel alienated from two cultures, rather than a member of both.

In 1939, Philip is 16 years old. His family has traveled to England, though he has opted to remain in Penang rather than join them. Recently, his father leased the small island offshore from their beachfront property to a Japanese man. Philip enjoys spending time on that island, so he is annoyed that he is now forbidden from visiting.

One evening, when Philip is alone in the house, a Japanese man appears and asks to borrow a boat. The man is in his 40s, with gray hair and a stocky build. He introduces himself as Hayato Endo and reveals that his boat has been washed away by the tide. Philip is intrigued by Endo and his philosophical outlook. He takes Endo to the island, where Endo offers him a meal as thanks.

As he eats the unfamiliar Japanese food, Philip inquires about the items in the small house. He confesses to Endo that he feels like an “outcast” in his own family due to his parentage but struggles to explain himself. Their conversation touches on the seemingly inevitable outbreak of war. Endo speaks with longing and sadness about his hometown in Japan, though does not offer much information. Philip stays the night on the island and, in the morning, wakes to find Endo practicing martial arts. He is intrigued. Endo offers to become his sensei, his instructor in the art of aikijutsu.

With little else to do, Philip throws himself enthusiastically into this new practice. He visits Endo every day, even though he recognizes that his fraternizing with a Japanese man may cause consternation among the largely Chinese domestic staff. He learns how to fight according to the teachings of Endo’s favored aikido. He learns to trust Endo, who teaches him about calligraphy and philosophy as well as martial arts.

During this time, Philip also agrees to introduce Endo to Penang. Endo is the deputy consul for the northern region of Malaya and, Endo explains, he is tasked with caring for the affairs of the small Japanese community in the region. At this time, with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, the Japanese are “not very popular in Asia” (53).

Philip learns to speak Japanese but struggles to ask Endo about Japan’s militarism. Instead, he learns about Buddhism and the concept of enlightenment. Endo cannot promise that Philip will become enlightened, but he promises to equip him with all the tools needed to reach enlightenment. They meditate together on the peaceful island as the world seems about to descend into war.

Penang is home to many different cultures. As well as the British colonial presence, there are Chinese, Indian, and Malayan communities on the island. Each has its own distinct culture, though these often merge on the bustling streets. Philip recalls the sights, smells, and sounds of the multicultural city. He gives Endo a tour of Penang, introducing him to places like Armenian Street.

In turn, Endo introduces Philip to the small community of Japanese people which Philip had not known existed. Endo explains that the Japanese were “attracted to the wealth in this region” (58). As they eat in a Japanese restaurant, Endo offers a melancholic recollection of why he came to Penang. Endo comes from a samurai family, but his father displeased the Emperor by criticizing Japan’s increasing militarism. He was forced to leave Tokyo and become a businessman, but he raised Endo in the “skills of the samurai” as well as many aspects of Western culture (60), which allows Endo to speak to Philip in English.

Philip takes Endo to the famous Temple of the Azure Cloud, where they find an old woman who tells fortunes. The old woman tells Philip that he has the gift of rain and that his “life will be abundant with wealth and success” but will also test him greatly (62). Looking at Endo, she announces that he and Philip have a shared past in a different time. She warns that they have a great journey to make after this life. Her words puzzle Philip but seem to reinforce something that Endo has already been told.

Embarrassed by the fortune teller’s anti-Japanese proclamations, Philip tries to apologize to Endo. Instead, Endo recalls similar fortunes being told to him and teaches Philip about Buddhist ideas of reincarnation en route to the state of Nirvana.

The training sessions continue and Endo instructs Philip that the martial arts techniques can just as easily be applied to everyday life. Each day, Philip returns home, covered in bruises.

Philip is delighted to show Penang to Endo. Endo warns Philip that the purpose of his martial arts training is not to fight, but “how not to fight” (67). The training should only be used as a last resort, and even then it may be better avoided.

They explore the harbor, the shipyard, and the nearby mountain. Hiking up Penang Hill, they reach the property that Philip’s family owns at the mountaintop. Endo takes many photographs; Philip notes how few of these photographs contain people, yet alone Endo himself.

At night, they dine together at the Bellevue Hotel. Philip admits that he is not close to his family, claiming that he does not “fit in anywhere at all” (71). Back on the island, they resume Philip’s training. In the following days, Philip helps Endo to find a suitable property to house the Japanese consulate. They visit the house on the top of the mountain. During their journey, Endo invites Philip to accompany him on a trip to Kuala Lumpur.

Philip talks to the family chauffeur, known as Uncle Lim. They speak in Hokkien, the Chinese dialect common in Penang. Uncle Lim does not like Japanese people; his daughter lives in China but she will arrive soon in Penang, having been driven out of her home by the Japanese invasion. Philip is concerned for Uncle Lim’s family but he refuses to stop seeing Endo.

Philip’s Aunt Yu Mei asks Philip to join her for the Chinese festival of Cheng Beng. His aunt accompanies him to pay respects to his mother. Philip does not feel a particular connection to his Chinese heritage, but he humors his aunt. Trying to remember his mother, however, has become more difficult with each passing year. His most vivid memory is from the days after she became sick. She fell sick while traveling with his father in Sungai Lembing, as his father had been seeking a rare butterfly for his collection. Philip remembers the night of her death and the funeral. His older siblings wept, as Philip’s mother had been like a replacement mother to them, even though he did not understand this at the time. Aunt Mei tells Philip that his grandfather would like to meet him for the first time. Philip agrees.

Later, Philip practices with Endo. Endo presents him with an elaborate gift: A Japanese katana sword, beautifully made and a partner for Endo’s own sword. Philip is overwhelmed by the gift and, after some deliberation, fetches a book of poems from his house. He reads one to Endo, selecting a Hebrew poem by Solomon Bloomgarden. Endo finds the poem particularly affecting, especially as it shows that Philip is “starting to understand the lessons” (86).

Philip shows Michiko the poem and then takes her to see something. Michiko mentions that Endo’s sword was sent to her after his death. They go to the beach and take a short boat ride until, in a particularly dark spot, they become surrounded by fireflies. Michiko recalls Endo sharing a similar memory with her. She notes that Philip reminds her of Endo.

Michiko explains that she was in love with Endo as a young girl. Her father was so angry at the relationship that he launched an investigation into Endo’s father, which ended in the family being disgraced. She feels guilty for the part she played “in the downfall of Endo-san’s family” (91). The only time he spoke to her after this was to tell her that he was leaving. Philip is surprised that he appreciates Michiko’s presence in his house. He is happy, at last, that he can tell his story to someone.