干
早
年 - Year
A bent-over farmer (bend) leans forward, gripping a sturdy staff (stick) as he balances a giant bundle of golden rice (One) atop his back.
Below his feet, the cracked, sun‑baked earth (Dry) crunches with every step, making a satisfying ザクザク sound.
It’s the New Year festival in old Japan, and fireworks explode overhead, パチパチ, as villagers hang red-and-gold kagami mochi on doors to welcome a fruitful 年 (Year).
Each careful step, each harvested bundle, marks the passing of one full year, reminding you: carrying grain through bend, stick, One, and Dry is how time and tradition meet.
