Station Showa, Antarctica, 1957.

Everybody in Japan had their eyes on the First Expedition Cross-Winter. In November 1956, eleven men from different backgrounds, had embarked aboard the ice-breaking ship Soya, taking with them the hopes of a country broken by World War II.

Loaded with the dreams of the children who, first of all, brought their contribution to the project, the unanimous feeling which embraced adults at the idea of finally being on an equal footing with the world, the ship went off, carried by the promise a young professor of geology made to a defeated and tired people : "on this continent yet unknown, I will plant the flag of Japan."

The passionnate face of Takeshi Kuramochi remained engraved in the hearts of all Japanese as the one of the man taking them onto this adventure…

The young professor's charisma, his passion for the unexplored continent of snow, his personal history bound inextricably to the project Antarctica, his love for the dogs he trained for this expedition, and his natural capacity to encourage and awaken spirits had fired up those who were leaving, like those who were waiting.

20 000 km away from Japan, Hoshino sighed. He was the official leader of the small group of men who voluntered themselves as guinea pigs to spend winter over in Antarctica, so that scientists could come later and live safely.

He rolled his pen between his fingers, then put it next to the notebook where he recorded all events.

In front of his desk, the world map was pined next to the Antarctica map on the walls of the narrow room. Between them both, were posted the identity pictures of the ten men for whom he was responsible, just above of the names of the nineteen Sakhalin huskies which accompagnied the expedition.

Kuramochi fixed the objective, his intelligent and attentive dark eyes, always brightened up by this spark of will and courage. It was him who had first believed Japan would not remain eternally a defeated country. He left behind his young sister-in-law Miyuki, an orphan primary school teacher, who adored him and for whom he had not really realized his own feelings.

Near him smiled Utsumi who had been a member of the same group of climbing as Kuramochi, years ago, and who was now the journalist asked to cover the expedition Cross-Winter, and one of the most fervent supporters of the project.

Then came Inuzuka, a student who had pretended to be a connoisseur in dogs specialized in auroras borealis and who had proved incompetent in both categories. Incompetent, but avid to learn, to evolve, to change. His admiration for Kuramochi, who had not judged him and on the contrary had involved him even more, had no borders.

Then, Samejima, the surly and boorish mechanic, who wore a moustache and was there to show his son his father could also be a hero - and to return with stories about the pinguins which fascinated the little boy. Since Kuramochi had saved him during the sea journey, he nicknamed him "boss".

The following line began with the chubby cook Manpei Yamazato, appointed voluntary before he could say a word, but who held his place with dignity and courage as if he had voluntered himself.

The doctor Tani-sensei came after him. The old man never lost his wits and spirits, was quiet, sweet and wise. His sons having died in the war, his companions were his family and he had gladly resigned to stay with the colony.

Next to them was the feverish radio Yokomine, who still did not know his twins, born after his departure, and who had decided to serve rather then returning to the country. The men nicknamed him "daddy" and often kid him, but they always asked news of the children and cried hourras to every details, more enthusiastic then the parents themselves.

At the end of the line was the representative of the State, the agent Himuro, his narrow eyes piercing the photography, filled with contradiction and bitterness. He had never forgiven Kuramochi for marrying the woman they both loved. He held against him to have continued to live after she was taken by the war. He hated to be forgiven by him for being the involuntary cause of the death of one of their team members, twelve years earlier, in a mountain beaten by thunderstorm.

Sometimes, Hoshino wondered how Himuro could live without being suffocated by his regrets, the constant friction between the requirements of the government and the reality of the on-the-spot life in Antarctica, his resentful admiration for Kuramochi and the frustration of not being able to realize his own aspiration with the same audacious freedom.

The leader got up and went to the wall. He wiped his glasses, put them back on his nose and pushed away an undisciplined lock of grey hair. He passed a hand on the faces of the last two members, the sailor Funaki and the climber Arashiyama, pronouncing their names in a low voice as a prayer.

Every day, Hoshino spent a moment to think specially of every member of the expedition, begging that they return all alive.

He smiled, caressing the pictures of the dogs Utsumi had taken.

The dogs were full members of the project, companions in the same way as human beings.

Riki, long brown snout affable leader.

Fuuren Kuma, massive, majestic and terrifying, who had learnt where was his place and submitted himself to no other one than Kuramochi, as if he felt somewhere deep they were both descendants of the polar expedition led 45 years earlier.

Shiro, with long white silky hair, who should have been the leader and was very affectionate and absent-minded.

Taro and Jiro, the two brothers, sons of Fuuren Kuma, big black bears, playful and shy, whom Kuramochi had saved.

And the others, the bitch Shiroko, the faithful Tettsu who did not survive the first week of winter, the shy Goro, the unlucky and attaching Anko, the other Kuma, sweet slim Pochi… all different, all important.

Without them, none of it would have been possible…

Hoshino returned to his desk and took back his pen. He registered the date and added carefully in his diary that the three men who had left to accomplish the ascent of Mount Botnnuten with the sled, and of whom they had had no news for several days, had finally been found.

Three dogs had galloped in the blizzard, with a message. Thanks to them, Kuramochi, Himuro and Inuzuka could now return home safe and sound.

Then he went back to the window, unable to remain seated.

Article 2 of the constitution: "Nobody dies during the first year."

Before Samejima and Utsumi, aboard the snowbike, would returned with those whom he considered as children, he would not be able to find peace.