Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           ItwasaroundthistimethatayoungmannamedNorioSuzukifirstheardofOnoda.Suzukiwasanadventurer,anexplorer,andabitofahippie.Bornafterthewarended,hehaddroppedoutofschoolandspentfouryearshitchhikinghiswayacrossAsia,theMiddleEast,andAfrica,sleepingonparkbenches,instranger’scars,injailcells,andunderthestars.Hevolunteeredonfarmsforfood,anddonatedbloodtopayforplacestostay.Hewasafreespirit,andperhapsalittlebitnuts.

           In1972,Suzukineededanotheradventure.HehadreturnedtoJapanafterhistravelsandfoundthestrictculturalnormsandsocialhierarchytobestifling.Hehatedschool.Hecouldn’tholddownajob.Hewantedtobebackontheroad,backonhisownagain.

           ForSuzuki,thelegendofHirooOnodacameastheanswertohisproblems.Itwasanewandworthyadventureforhimtopursue.SuzukibelievedthathewouldbetheonewhowouldfindOnoda.Sure,searchpartiesconductedbytheJapanese,Philippine,andAmericangovernmentshadnotbeenabletofindOnoda;localpoliceforceshadbeenscavengingthejungleforalmostthirtyyearswithnoluck;thousandsofleafletshadmetwithnoresponse—butfuckit,thisdeadbeat,college-dropouthippiewasgoingtobetheonetofindhim.

           Unarmedanduntrainedforanysortofreconnaissanceortacticalwarfare,SuzukitraveledtoLubangandbeganwanderingaroundthejungleallbyhimself.Hisstrategy:screamOnoda’snamereallyloudlyandtellhimthattheemperorwasworriedabouthim.