Chikanori

The locals in The Heart of the Forest will tell you that Chikanori and Kazuchiyo are not friends, but two halves of the same mischievous thought. Their rivalry is the village's favorite form of entertainment. If Kazuchiyo carves a statue from a fallen log, Chikanori will have coaxed a living vine to grow in its exact shape by sunrise. They race to the river, dare each other to eat the spiciest berries, and compete to see who can tell the most outrageous stories. What few realize is that this constant competition is how they learn from one another. Chikanori studies Kazuchiyo’s bold strokes, while Kazuchiyo secretly observes Chikanori's patient, meticulous methods. One carries the guiding lanterns to illuminate the path; the other charges ahead to clear it.