257 38 24MB
English Pages 244 [256] Year 1994
During
the
Rains Flowers in the
Iwo
Shade
Novellas hy
I'ranslated by
Lane Dunlop
N\G A IMA
During
Rains
the
Flowers in the Shade
Two
Novellas by
NAGAI KAFU Translated by Lane
Nagai Kafu
(i
Dunlop
879-1959) was one of the most
important Japanese writers of fiction during the first
He
half of the twentieth century.
known
for his
and fancies of Tokyo: streets
and
women
—
is
best
evocative descriptions of the moods
alleys, its
its
gardens and canals,
people, and above
especially the kept
women,
its
all its
geisha,
and
prostitutes.
During
the
appear here the
Tokyo
borhoods
Rains and Flowers
in the
Shade,
m EngUsh for the first time,
of the 1930's. that
which
are set
m
Most of the seedy neigh-
Kafu so lovingly describes have
long since vanished, either in the bombing
raids
of 1945 or in the rebuilding that followed. Kafu's sympathies are clearly with the women that figure in these stories.
A man wedded
to the past,
happy
only in retrospect, Kafu saw in the world of the demimondaine the last tattered vestiges of the old
Tokyo,
when
it
was called Edo.
their day-to-day
life
the
He
also
saw in
only honest way
to live,
the love with the least falsehood, in a materialistic, hypocritical society.
During situdes
the
Rains (193
is
the story of the vicis-
of an amiable and lascivious Ginza cafe
girl. It is
considered to be
among
Kafu's master-
and
scholars,
pieces by
many
including
Donald Keene: "One of Kafu's
writers, critics,
finest
(continued on hackjlap)
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
During
Flowers
the Rains
in the
Shade
During
Flowers
TWO NOVELLAS
the
Rains
in the
Shade
BY
NAGAI KAFU
TRANSLATED BY LANE DUNLOP
STANFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS STANFORD, CALIFORNIA 1994
Stanford University Press Stanford, California
©
1994 by the Board of Trustees
of the Leland Stanford Junior University Printed in the United States of America
During
the Rains
was
originally published in
Japanese in 1931 under the Flowers
in the
title
tsuyu no atosaki;
Shade was originally published in
Japanese in 1934 under the
title
hikage no hana.
Kafu Nagai tsuyu no atosaki
©
193 1
/
hikage no hana
and 1934 Hisamitsu Nagai
Originally published in Japan
The
Translator's Preface and notes
were prepared
especially for this edition by Lane Dunlop.
CIP
data appear
at
the end of the
book
Stanford University Press publications are distrib-
uted exclusively by Stanford University Press within the United States, Canada, and Mexico; they are distributed exclusively by
Cambridge University
Press throughout the rest of the world.
To Edward G. Seidensticker In general admiration of his
and
work
in particular admiration
Kafu
which introduced me
of
the Scribbler
to this author
Digitized by the Internet Archive in
2011
http://www.archive.org/details/duringrainsfloweOOnaga
CONTENTS
Translator's Preface, ix
During the Rains,
3
Flowers in the Shade, 137
TRANSLATOR
Nagai Kafu was born on December Koishikawa
district
of Tokyo. His
a
1879, in the
father, Hisaichiro,
an important Meiji-era bureaucrat;
was the daughter of
3,
PREFACE
S
his
well-known Confucian
The two had met and married when
was
mother, Tsune, scholar.
Hisaichiro
was
a
student of Tsune's father.
At
that time
of old
brook
estates
Koishikawa was in the country, an area
and temples.
(literally,
the
It
took
its
name means "pebble
name from
the
river") that
still
flowed above ground in Kafu's childhood. early stories, living
"The Fox,"
is
about
a
One
fox discovered to be
on the grounds of the family house that is
smoked out and
killed
of Kafu's
by Kafu's father and
ruthlessly
his
staunch
henchman, the student-houseboy. The eventual disappearance of his childhood scenes under the pavements of the city in
its
shape Kafu's is
ineluctable expansion sensibility. In
must have gone
forever lamenting the passage of the
their replacement
far to
much of his mature work, he good old days and
by the bad new days.
A reluctant student who kept playing hooky to attend kabuki performances rather than university lectures, take shakuhachi flute lessons in the Yanagibashi geisha district,
apprentice himself to the Edo-style playwright Fukuchi
Ochi, and occasionally appear on the boards himself, Kafu steeped himself in
Edo period literature and also read such
foreign authors as Zola and Maupassant in English and
then French. His early works include Ambition (1902), The
IX
Translator's Preface
Woman
Flowers of Hell (1902), and The
Ambition; the stqry of the rise and
Dream
of the
fall
of
a
(1903).
young Meiji
businessman misled by newly imported precepts of success, is
in
written in Kafu's peculiar variety of Naturalism,
which personal
taste
and evocation replace the dispas-
sionate zeal and scientific reportage of Zola. Flowers of Hell provides an early forerunner of Tsuruko, the writer
Kiyooka's wife in During
beyond
the Rains, a
the needs of her society. The
details a
woman's descent
sence of
judgment
educated
of the
Dream
into degradation and the ab-
we
that
woman
Woman
find in the later Flowers in
the Shade.
These early works, written before Kafu's departure
September 1903
for
America and
demonstrating that Kafu was could not be
and "pure
fitted into the
literature" that
world of the time,
was
later France,
sui generis,
a
in
although
who
writer
framework of the Naturalism
dominated the Japanese
are not
among
his
literary
major works.
It
his literary activity in the years following his return
to Japan in
August 1908
that revealed his characteristic
terrain as a writer.
Kafu had been dispatched abroad by
means of concealing
his father as a
his unsatisfactory progress along
the road to conventional success and to accustom to the discipline required for that success.
Kafu worked
at Japanese
addition to engaging in his travels
(1909).
came
Most of
accounts of
life
To
him
this end,
banks in America and France, in
more
student-like pursuits.
Tales of America (1908)
and
From
Tales of France
the stories in the former are based in
America
that
on
Kafu heard from Japa-
nese immigrants; in the latter, hardly any Japanese appear, aside
from Kafu himself in various personae. Nakamura
Mitsuo, ajapanese
critic,
has remarked that Kafu acquired
Translator's Preface
his belief in individualism
from his
stay in
America and his
belief in traditionalism in France, where, having already
been exposed to
it
in
America, he was able to ignore the
mechanical aspect of Western
were
to stand
Kafu
in
good
civilization.
These
when he
stead
beliefs
returned to
Japan, where individualism as such was not acknowledged until after the Pacific
War and where
until well after the
Meiji era (1868-1912) civilization was equated with ernization.
Japanese in
its
of Tokyo, the at
interesting to reflect that Kafu, the bulk
It is
of whose work
mod-
properly thought of as quintessentially
is
evocation of the passing scenes and seasons city that
found
its
chronicler in him,
may
the outset of his career have undergone a definitive
molding of
his sensibility in
America. The thorough-
going individualism and natural beauty of America enced Kafu, both in
his eccentric social stance
sensitivity to nature evidenced in his
had disappeared
as subject
influ-
and in the
work, long after they
matter from his stories. Kafu's
American-inspired individualism, among other things,
may have
enabled
patriotic hysteria It is
him
to hold out
of the war
unmoved
against the
years.
with "The Fox" (1909) that Kafu's most character-
istic
work, with
It is
the
first
its
of
nostalgic tone,
may be
said to begin.
his stories published after his return to
Japan to use Japanese materials. Although short, and more
of
a
childhood
counted among
memory
piece than a story,
There followed
a series
rightly
of evocations of the vanishing
past, its pleasures, pursuits,
Sumida"
it is
his masterpieces.
and professions: "The River
(1909), Sneers (1909-10),
(1912), Geisha in Rivalry (1917),
The Kept Woman's House
Dwarf Bamboo
(1920),
and
Quiet Rain (1921). Perhaps the most typical of these, as
well as the most masterly,
is
Geisha
XI
in Rivalry.
Drawing on
Translator's Preface
Kafu de-
his experiences in the Shinbashi geisha district,
of the geishas and
picts in detail the hfe
their fashionable
gentlemen customers, the former sympathetically, the latter critically
and with
measure of contempt.
a certain
After a decade-long hiatus, which has been attributed to
new
Kafu's distaste for the brave
During
and Flowers
the Rains (1931)
Tokyo
chronicles of life in the
Japan, there appeared in the
"floating
Shade (1934), his
world" of the
1920's and early 1930's.
A Strange
(i937)» Kafu's account
of his summer evening
lady of the night in the Tamanoi quarter,
most intense distillation of his longing highwater mark of his
career.
late
Tale from East of the River visits to a
perhaps the
is
for the past
and the
was an accomplishment
It
he would never again achieve. Kafu's position had
its
hazards.
A man who
always
thought the past better than the present, so much so the once bad present in due course
became the good
that
past,
he entrenched himself in an anti-social solitude, which he believed to be ethically necessary. This was to yield the
unexpected dividend of popularity ately following the
war (thanks
in the years
to his uncooperative atti-
tude toward the wartime authorities), but
of tone,
in a gradual darkening
immedi-
it
also resulted
a certain cold
sardonic
note.
During
the
Rains
considered to be
is
masterpieces by a variety of writers,
among
critics,
Kafu's
and scholars,
among them Tanizaki Jun'ichiro, Nakamura Mitsuo, and Donald Keene. Edward Seidensticker, in his authoritative Kafu the Scribbler (ig6s) cites a comment by Tanizaki as the ,
most perceptive The
old-fashioned
yet made. is
fairly
I
quote from his translation:
conspicuous in Kafu's recent During
and the shifting of
the Rains.
Indeed in
might be
called the oldest of his novels yet.
its
style
Xll
its
There
scenes,
it
are chance
Translator's Preface
all through the book, which are used to furmanner common enough in plays and novels
meetings scattered ther the plot, in a
of another to the
The
era.
modern
oldness of the form stands in subtle contrast
colors of the material.
And Donald Keene, in his monumental study of modern Japanese fiction Dawn to the West (1984), has this to say: During
the Rains
ments.
.
.
The
.
.
.
from discriminating istic interest.
ranks as one of Kafu's finest achieve-
.
exceptional praise that During critics
was occasioned
the
chiefly
Rains
won
by the novel-
The detached analysis of a group of people makes work of French Naturalism, though a few
the story read like a
passages, mainly those relating to Kiyooka's father, evoke the
beauty of place and season in the typical Kafu manner. Flowers
in the
Shade might almost be called a continua-
tion o£ During the Rains.
Of one character,
the author says:
"In Jukichi's eyes, the lives of respectable people seemed
somehow
absurdly constricted and
happiness of life without later,
hypocritical.
lewd, indolent existence such
trast, a
its
as his
con-
pretenses" (Chapter
8).
And
of another character, Kafu comments:
This Tsukayama was the owner of an
which he had inherited from the labor agitation that after the
electrical appliance factory,
his father.
However, foreseeing
would continually plague
society,
he passed his
antiques.
.
.
.
self-justified
felt
an extreme pessimism toward
human
life.
13)
Again,
as in so
commentary seems Flowers
of contemporary
days in reading and collecting
Both by temperament and philosophical out-
Tsukayama
(Chapter
the business
enforcement of universal suffrage, he quickly sold the
factory. Distancing himself from the disorders
look,
By
seemed the
in the
Naturalism.
many
other cases. Professor Keene's
the definitive one:
Shade is another example of Kafu's special variety of
He makes
us see and
Xlll
all
but smell the dingy rooms
Translator's Preface
he describes, without ever allowing us to pass judgment on
them or
Kafu neither approves or disapproves
their inhabitants.
of his characters, and
if he tells
not in order to demonstrate
determined their
lives,
though
assuage our curiosity as to
how
woman
a particular
us in detail about their past
it is
how environment and heredity have this
was probably
true,
but to
how Jukichi came to live off women,
happened to become
a prostitute or a
procuress, and so on. Despite the flaws of narration. Flowers the
Shade
{Dawn
West)
to the
These tury,
in
unquestionably the work of an exceptional writer.
is
stories are set in the
which succeeded the
"second Tokyo" of this cen-
Tokyo, destroyed
first
in the
Great Earthquake of 1923, and which disappeared in
its
turn in the American incendiary raids of 1945. Most of the neighborhoods and the neighborhoods within neigh-
borhoods
that
Kafu so lovingly names and describes have
long since vanished, subsumed in the un-neighborhoodlike
wards.
Kafu's sympathies are clearly with the ladies of the
Tokyo demimonde, prostitutes,
the
geisha-prostitutes,
and out-and-out prostitutes
these stories.
A man
wedded
that figure in
to the past,
in retrospect, an incurable backward-looker, their ters
world the
of the old
last tattered vestiges
city,
when
it
was
waitress-
happy only
Kafu saw
in
of the licensed quar-
called
Edo.
in their day-to-day life the only honest
way
He
also
saw
to live, the
love with the least falsehood, in a materialistic, hypocritical society.
One may
surmise that
among
these feckless,
irresponsible yet generous-hearted sensualists at the bot-
tom of the
social abyss, in the
back
alleys
of Tokyo, Kafu
found emotional freedom from the cramped proprieties of his family.
Kafu was not on tives.
He
fell
particularly
afoul early
good terms with his
on of
XIV
rela-
his rigidly oldfashioned
Translator's Preface
father with his superficial overlay of Western ways; a
gradual estrangement developed between himself and his
mother over property matters and
ond marriage
his unrespectable sec-
and the gulf between himself
to a geisha;
and his youngest brother was such that Kafu refused either to visit his ailing
cause
mother or attend her funeral
in 1937 be-
would involve seeing the brother. According to among other offenses, had incited his
it
Kafu, this brother,
children to behave disrespectfully toward him. Although
following the war there was
a reconciliation
of sorts with
the brother, Kafu's relations with his family continued
thorny and lacking in affection to the end. Although he
adopted return
a cousin's
son during the war, he
him when he became
later tried to
suspicious of the cousin's
motives in agreeing to the adoption. Ironically, Kafu's sense
of nature seemed to require an
urban or suburban presence limiting or encroaching upon it,
to lend
it
the poignancy of transience or besiegement.
In During the Rains, besides the idyllic interlude of Tsu-
ruko's visit to her father-in-law's cottage in the outskirts,
soon to be effaced by the expanding metropolis, Kafu left this
description of the scenery of the Imperial Palace
compound As
in the heart of Tokyo:
the path along the top of the
embankment
gradually sloped
lower, at each step the night sky seemed to spread out wider
overhead. Visible in a single sweep of the eye from Ichigaya to
Ushigome, the scenery along the Moat the trees and shrubberies
— was an
softly flowing night wind, there
the grassy-smelling
call
"Ahh
trees across the
of what sounded
— somehow
looked up
at
was the
scent of field grass and
blooms of the pasania
above the towering pine sudden
— the embankment and
overall misty green. In the
it's
trees.
From
the sky
Moat, there came the
like a night heron.
as if
the sky. (Chapter
we were 3)
XV
in the country."
Kimie
Translator's Preface
The
may
stories
be accused of technical
faults:
the ex-
cessive use of coincidence, chance encounters, and hap-
penstance to
been
move
things along (although this
a quite deliberate return
ods of an
on Kafu's
may have meth-
part to the
earlier literature); the inadequate role allotted to
Tsuruko, the neglected
During
w^ife in
the Rains; the ir-
relevant or overly detailed characterization of the heroine
Kimie's old landlady; the taking of sides by the author, such
as in his sarcastic portrait
fiction writer
Kiyooka and
his
of the successful pulp-
sympathetic depictions of
Tsuruko and Akira, her father-in-law; sentiments that seem clearly his
mour of the
kept
own
his attributions
of
to Jukichi, the para-
woman O-Chiyo,
Tsukayama, the
to
gentleman of private means and benefactor of O-Chiyo's daughter O-Tami, to Akira (who
at
one point quotes
approvingly from Hosoi Heishu, an eighteenth-century
Confucian scholar whose work Kafu was reading on the day of the Great Earthquake, September
i,
1923), and,
finally, to
Matsuzaki, the genial philandering ex-official
who
down
lived
a
bribery scandal.
In this they imitate
we
life,
where
despite our best efforts
are constantly taking sides in our feelings about
people, dwelling in detail on those
who
interest us
perfunctorily dismissing from our thoughts those
and
who
don't, and projecting our feelings and thoughts onto others. Perhaps the best reply to critics
would be
to say
and
them
that imaginatively
Kafu lived these
down
faithful to his feelings rather than fol-
in a
manner
lowing some abstract
As
set
if to teach us that the
times those that break
of guidelines for
most
its
successful
set
fiction writing.
works
are
all the rules, the stories
irreplaceable accounts of alive in all
stories
life
in a lost
touchingly inconsistent
XVI
some-
remain
Tokyo, preserved
human
detail, in
Translator's Preface
beautifully perceptive choice of detail, by the a
masterly prose
medium of
style.
After the publication o£ A Strange Tale from East of the
Kafu
River,
with China and America. His
of his wartime
war
largely silent during the years of
fell
silence,
on the evidence
seems to have been based on
diaries,
his
contempt for the vulgarity of militarist Japan more than anything
else,
authorities,
versive of the
such
although
was
it
enforced by the
war effort. The few stories from this period,
"The Decoration"
as
a silence
who judged his work to be frivolous and sub(1942), Sinking and
A
Swimming
Tale
No One Asked
For (1944-45), minor but appealing works
set in familiar
(1942), The Dancing Girl
(1944), and
Kafu milieux, were published
after the war.
continued to the end of his
stories
life,
A
trickle
including
of
some
very good ones that reported the hardships of ordinary people in the desperate postwar conditions.
of these
is
"The Scavengers"
An
(1948), an account
example of forag-
ing for food in the countryside around Tokyo.
work was
Kafu's major postwar
the publication of his
diaries for the years 1917-59. Written
and styled through-
out for eventual publication, they were highly prized by
who
Kafu himself,
kept them always with him; they
also rank high in the estimation
of some
Kafu
critics.
enjoyed his widest reputation among the general public during the postwar years, mainly doings
as a
as a character
whose
penny-pinching eccentric and frequenter of
the tackier entertainment districts, especially Asakusa,
were reported
in the tabloids.
Nakamura Mitsuo,
the critic cited earlier in this pref-
ace, has left this portrait I
had some
years.
Now
of Kafu during these years: with Nagai Kafu in his
slight acquaintance
that
I
think of
it,
I
later
have the feeling that he was a
xvii
Translator's Preface
man of rather
large physique.
Not only was he
unusually
tall
for a Japanese of the Meiji era, but the features of his long face
were
all>
Targe also. In particular, he had splendid-looking ears.
In addition, his youthfulness, as symbolized by the nearlyjet-
black hair that belied his age, remains strongly in
my impression
of the man. This large stature and youthfulness of the distinctive features of his physique.
his
were not merely
They
also
may
be said
to be important characteristics of his literature.
Nagai Kafu died on April outside Tokyo.
30, 1959, in
Ichikawa, just
He was buried in the family plot at Zoshi-
gaya Cemetery in Bunkyo-ku, the old Koishikawa.
The
texts used for these translations are those in Nagai
Kafu Shu, published by Shinchosha
Bungaku Zenshu in 1961.
My
as
volume
14 in Nihon
grateful thanks are
due
John R. Ziemer of Stanford University Press for his painstaking editing and valuable suggestions for the improve-
ment of the English
versions.
L.D.
xvni
During
the
Rains
ONE {^
That
Kimie did not have
day,
on the Ginza
cafe
work at the From her rented
to report for
until three o'clock.
room in Honmura-cho in Ichigaya, she strolled out along the Moat [around the Imperial Palace compound]. Boarding a bus
the approach to the palace gates, she got ofFin
at
Hibiya. This side of the steel railway bridge, she turned off into an alley lined with the banners of eating and
drinking shops, like some neighborhood in the suburbs.
She was looking for the window of a rented a sign in gilt characters that read
office
"The Golden
with
Tortoise,
Divination and Fortune-telling." Since the close of the previous year, Kimie had had several strange, disturbing experiences.
Once, on the way
back from the kabuki with two or three fellow waitof all her
resses, the cuffs
to her
sleeves,
silk jacket clear
slashed off
mental
by
it
mysterious passer-by. Then, an orna-
comb of genuine
was done by
feel that
it
hair while she
was
that.
was unaware.
What made
was the handiwork of someone with was the
fact that
though Kimie had been leading short coat
worn over
the
grudge
closet.
a really wild,
kimono
a
her
subsequently a
dead kitten had been tossed into her clothes
A light,
with pearls
tortoiseshell inlaid
a thief, that
against her, however,
*
sealskin coat
through to her undergarment, had been a
had been pulled out of her If
from her
matching haori* of Oshima pongee and her padded
(tr.
Even
abandoned
note)
During
life
months and
these past
years, think as she might, she
had no memory of having done anything enmity. .At paid
it
first,
she had merely thought
much mind.
rants
to incur such
odd and not
it
Recently, however, in a small trade
tabloid called Street Scenes,
about the
the Rains
which mainly
women who worked
on and around
retailed gossip
at the cafes
and restau-
the Ginza, something about her had
appeared that until then Kimie had thought no one could
have known. Suddenly uneasy, she had decided to follow her friends' advice and consult
The
article in Street Scenes
On
defamation.
a fortune-teller.
had been neither slander nor
the contrary,
was
it
harmless and in-
a
offensive article, brimful of praise for Kimie's beauty. told
how
as a
young
girl
inner thigh, said to be
would
become
split
tinued,
a waitress, at
when
up into three moles.
Kimie must be
grew up she
No
doubt, the article con-
and in
a state
this sign that she
would
secretly overjoyed
When Kimie
find three patrons.
read
this, it
her a truly unpleasant, ominous feeling. the case that
been by
on her itself
left
Kimie had
It
had given
was
certainly
inner thigh a mole which had
at
had been joined by two other moles
without her exactly noticing when. truth.
she
some time or other the mole
of suspenseful anticipation over
first
mole on her
enter one of the entertainment professions. After
she had
had
sign that
a
It
a
Kimie had had
first
It
was the absolute
noticed the moles
at
about the
time she had gone to work on the Ginza, having started out
at a cafe
on Ueno Pond
were only two men
One was
could have
known
about them.
Matsuzaki, a lusty old gentleman with
she'd been
The
who
the previous spring. There
whom
having an affair since her pre- waitress days.
other was a writer called Kiyooka Susumu,
surged into popularity since she had met him
who had
at
the cafe
During in
the Rains
Ueno. The location of the mole was such
her family could have been expected to
Even
that not
know
even
about
it.
the attendant at her bathhouse could not have been
that observant.
Kimie
didn't particularly care
or another about the moles, but reporter
known
attendant
how had
a
about something that even
would
one way
newspaper
a
bathhouse
to observe? Joining these doubts to
fail
her suspicions from the previous year, Kimie was sud-
vague
denly possessed by
a
what might happen
after this, she
to
fear.
There was no
telling
thought. Although up
now she had never so much as drawn
a lot at a temple,
alone performed devotions to the gods, she abruptly
let felt
she ought to see a fortune-teller.
who had set up shop in a single house, was a man of about forty.
This latter-day wizard,
room
in an apartment
Dressed in a Western business shell glasses,
he had
a clipped
he leaned against his desk,
from the
that
suit,
with celluloid tortoise-
mustache. His demeanor,
at first
as
glance was no different
of a doctor or lawyer greeting
his client.
Over
window, which afforded frequent views of passing
national railway trains, a framed inscription read: "Divine
Aid.
The Writings of
Heihachiro."
On
the walls, there
were maps ofJapan and the world. Alongside the desk,
a
bookcase with staggered shelves held foreign tomes and Japanese books in traditional bindings.
Taking off her
Kimie seated teller,
light
shawl but keeping
herself in the indicated chair.
closing a half-read
his chair so that
"Does
it
it
in her hand,
The fortune-
volume on the desk, swiveled
he faced Kimie.
concern marriage?
Or
shall
I
tell
you your
overall fortune in life?" the fortune-teller inquired, a professional smile
answered:
"It
on
his face.
Kimie, lowering her eyes,
doesn't particularly concern marriage."
During
the
Rains
"Well then, we'll look into more general matters." Deliberately informal, evidently at
at
pains to put
her e^se, like a gynecologist inquiring into
Kimie
a patient's
condition, the fortune-teller continued: "Having one's
fortune told clients
is
very interesting,
it
seems. All sorts of
come here. Some people even stop by every morn-
ing on their v^ay to the office to get their fortune told for that day.
However, from the days of old
no
whether
telling
not.
Even
if
"My
sign
a prediction will actually
you draw
be alarmed about.
there has been
a
bad reading,
come
there's
true or
nothing to
How old are you?"
came up
this year."
"In that case, your sign
would be
the sign of the Rat.
What day were you born?" "The
third of May."
"The
third of May, in the sign of the Rat. Let's see
Taking up the yarrow under
sticks
." .
.
and muttering something
his breath, the fortune-teller set out the divining
blocks on the desk. "The divination sign for your age richudan.
is
if one read out the commentary from would probably be long-winded and not to Therefore I will simply tell you my thoughts as
However,
the book, the point.
it
they occur to me. Generally speaking, people to this richudan sign,
both
men and women,
who belong
tend to be es-
tranged from their relatives and to have very few friends.
They
pass through the world alone. Furthermore, judg-
ing from the
month and day of your
the yukon-senpu sign. This sign
birth,
means
you belong
that
even
if
to
there
has been an upheaval in your Hfe, things will gradually revert to normal. that
As
I
consider this sign,
it
seems to
me
you are in transition. There has been a great change in
your
life,
now things are slowly returning to the way If we compare it to weather, there has been
but
they were.
During a
Rains
the
storm, and
hasn't yet altogether
it
gone away. But
it
would probably be correct to say that things are quieting down and well on the way back to their original calm." Kimie, fingering the shawl in her at
the fortune-teller.
nothing to do with
was not
It
lap, stared
Something about
her.
vaguely
divination had
as if this
it
was right on
somehow embarrassed, Kimie lowered The diviner's saying that there had been a
the mark. Feeling
her eyes again.
change in her
no doubt
life
referred to her having ignored
her parents' advice and run away to Tokyo, where she
had ended up
Kimie had
as a waitress. left
home
posal her parents and her.
to escape
from
a
marriage pro-
her relatives had urged
all
upon
Kimie's natal house was in the village of Maruen in
Saitama Prefecture, about two hours away by train from
Ueno of
a
Station.
The family
business was the manufacture
kind of sweet that had become
Among
cialty.
a
noted local spe-
Kimie's friends from grade school was a
Kyoko, who'd gone on to become a geisha Ushigome and within a year had been redeemed by her patron and established as his mistress. The two girls girl called
in
constantly visited each other.
become gone
a
When Kimie,
country wife, had run away from home, she'd
straight to
Kyoko 's
house. Even though her people
had come and taken her back she'd always run ents let her
become an
away
go her
office
to the country several times,
again.
own
At
their wits' end, her par-
way, giving her permission to
worker or
a
bank
clerk.
Although Kimie, through the good patron
work
(a
at
not caring to
offices
man named Kawashima), had
an insurance company,
this
of Kyoko's
presently found
was no more than
temporary sop to her parents. Within half a
year, she
out of work and spending her days in idleness
at
a
was
Kyoko's
During place. Suddenly,
was discovered
it
that
the Rains
Kyoko's patron
had embezzled company funds. The case was sent had known from her geisha days back
make ends meet,
that failed to
to the
Kyoko began inviting men whom she
prosecutor's office.
to her house.
When
she went around to assigna-
tion houses and marriage agencies for customers. Kimie,
observing her friend's easy circumstances, thought
good way
to
make
the profession herself. rested,
Kyoko
it
when one
that
But
said; she
Although thinking
knew
At some
a living.
would be dreadful
was going back
might be nice
Although Kyoko had
felt
in the latest clothes
to being a geisha.
Kimie
inquiries of the girl's family.
to send
a waitress.
money
Kimie was under no such
try girl herself, she
to be ar-
to be a geisha,
She'd had no choice but to become
the country,
a
applied for a license, the police were
make
required by law to
it
it
point, she'd entered
no great need
to her people in
necessity.
to
A coun-
deck herself out
and accessories and, unless invited,
never went to movies and plays. The desultory perusal of a
novel or
a
book of short
on the
stories
trolley
was the
extent of her amusements. Other than that, she say,
she didn't even
As long
as
know
herself
what she
would
liked to do.
she had enough to pay the rent and her hair-
dresser, she
had no wish
to squeeze
money
out of men.
Often, for no extra charge, she had done exactly what the
man
wanted, so that no matter
she had led, Kimie thought,
it
how
was not
lascivious a
likely that she
life
had
incurred any great degree of dislike from anyone.
"So there at
is
nothing
I
have to particularly worry about
present?"
"How
is
your health?
the matter at present, then
If there it
is
nothing particularly
does not seem to
me that you
will have any serious health problems in the near future.
During
As in
the Rains
previously indicated, there has been
I
your
but
Hfe,
now
stagnant. Perhaps
may have some ever, as
I
things are quiet, indeed
earlier,
events from
now on. However, you
troubles you, and
are
How-
according to your divination
do not think there
I
somewhat
of uneasiness, of disquiet.
feeling
mentioned
and so
disturbance
you haven't noticed it yourself, but you
sign the temporary change in your ing,
a
gradually abat-
life is
will be any
if there is
untoward
something that
wondering what
to do, let us,
in regard to that particular matter, take another reading.
By
that means,
of what
yarrow
it is."
believe,
I
we
will obtain a general idea
So saying, the fortune-teller took up the
sticks again.
"Actually,
there
is
something I'm
about," Kimie started to say. But
it
slightly anxious
was impossibly
dif-
come right out and tell him about the moles. "I remember having done anything in particular, but somehow I feel as if somebody has misunderstood me." ficult to
don't
"Yes, yes." Closing his eyes in a significant kind of way,
more counted out
the diviner once
the yarrow sticks and
placed the divining blocks. "Indeed. This sign signifies that the
shadow accompanies
you
worrying
are
too
way, something that use the language there
is
I
actuality.
is
the object.
It's
possible that
much about various things. In not comes to seem
as if it
this
were.
To
employedjust now, there is illusion and
When
a thing exists,
it
naturally casts a
shadow. According to time and circumstances, however, the opposite sometimes happens, and the thing
by the shadow. Therefore,
if
matters will be peacefully settled of their
own
you
will put yourself in such a frame of mind,
that
you
will have nothing to
Thinking
that
is
created
you eliminate the shadow, accord. If I
believe
worry about."
what the diviner
said
was extremely
During plausible,
and that she'd been
Kimie immediately
felt
the Rains
fretting over trivialities,
Although there were
reassured.
other things she wanted to ask about, she was afraid that if
she went into detail not only her present occupation
but her having made the rounds of the assignation houses
and marriage agencies with Kyoko two or three years ago
would come
to light.
occurred to her that she might
It
ask about the dead kitten and the vanished comb, but she
did not want to be as
late for
work. She would leave things
they were today.
"Excuse me, but what
hand into her obi
"My
your
is
fee?"
Kimie slipped her
for her purse.
regular fee
is
one yen, but please give what you
feel is right."
The door opened, and two men in Western clothes entered. Not only did they unceremoniously plunk themselves
down in the chairs
right alongside Kimie's, but one
of them stared round-eyed Averting her
face,
at
her as
Kimie got
up.
if he
were
a detective.
Without saying good-
bye to the diviner, she opened the door and stepped into the corridor.
When
she emerged from the building, in the
clear,
serene sunlight of early May, the young foliage shone a vivid
green
all
along the
Moat from Hibiya
Park. In
the groups of people waiting for the trolley, the flutter
of fashionable clothing caught the wristwatch, passing under the
steel
eye.
Glancing
at
her
railway bridge, Kimie
approached Sukiyabashi Bridge. Past the Asahi Newspaper Building, advertisement balloons were moored to the roofs of several of the
pausing, Kimie gazed up
tall
at
buildings. Unconsciously
the spectacle. Then, behind
her, a voice called out "Kimie-san,"
sandals hurried toward her.
and the sound of
Wondering who
10
it
could be.
During
the Rains
Kimie turned around. one or -two with cafe
It
whom
was Matsuko,
on Ueno Pond. Since
of twenty-
a girl
worked
she had
year
last
at
the
Matsuko's clothes
that time,
and general appearance had greatly improved. Guessing
from her own experience, Kimie
"Matsuko-san.
said:
You're on the Ginza too." "Yes.
And no." After this ambivalent answer, Matsuko
went on: "Toward
the end of last year,
in the Japan Alps. After that,
But
now want I
called the it,
to
work
is
there now. So
"Oh, you were
Don Juan
"Recently, It
on
my way
to a bar
Lenin in the Fifth Chome. You probably
Salon Lac,
Alps.
played around for a while.
again. I'm
Kimie-san. Atsuko, that
at the
I
some time
spent
I
who was
girl I
thought
in the Alps?
I
at
the
a look."
ever since then."
might be nice
How
have the time.
go take
I'd
know
hadn't heard. I've been
heard from one of
I
with us
to see
is
him
my
customers in the
again, but
that sensei*
I
just don't
of yours?
Still
the
Kimie, while thinking that the respectful appellation
must
refer to the writer
best to subtly
Kiyooka Susumu, thought
sound out Matsuko.
it
Among her many cus-
tomers, there were also lawyers and doctors,
all
of them
sensei.
what with the
"Yes. He's frightfully busy these days,
newspapers and films and
all that."
Matsuko, however she interpreted deeply impressed. "Oh,
to
it,
*A artists
men are respectful (tr.
a
that
is
deep breath, she went on:
this,
so-o-o
.
.
seemed .
"When you come
coldhearted
lot. I've
term of address applied
note).
II
?"
to be
Taking
right
a
down
got plenty of experito teachers, writers,
and
During
ence under
my
That's
belt.
into business in a big
why
the
Rains
I'm thinking of going
way from now
on."
Kimie, thinking in her heart of hearts that there was
no need
to give the grandiose
was
at the outside
five or ten
teasingly, in a dehberately
"The
term "experience" to what
men, was amused. Half-
downcast manner, she
said:
sensei has a respectable wife, and he also has that
famous
Suzuko.
actress
A waitress like myself is nothing
but a temporary plaything for him."
When
Owari-cho the pedestrian
traffic
gradually grew lively.
However, Matsuko, oblivious of girl that
drew near
they'd crossed the bridge, as they
the passers-by, simple
she was, immediately blurted out: "But the rea-
son Suzuko got married was because the sensei was in love with you. Everybody says so. Isn't
Somewhat
true?"
disconcerted by Matsuko's earnestness,
Kimie quickly soon and have
it
replied:
"Matsuko-san. We'll meet again
a good long
me. They're hiring
talk. If you like,
come and
now at the Don Juan too.
I'll
give
see
you
an introduction."
"How many people do they have there now?" "Sixty. Two shifts of thirty each. The cleaning-up, and everything,
tables
makes
it
"Let's see,
turns do
now.
"I can't afford
it
came
even though she
grew
you have
Lately,
it's
that alone
it
to take?"
been best to take three."
fancy kimonos.
you end up doing
When
done by the men, so
easier than elsewhere."
"How many
taxi,
is
And
every night
to detailed accounts felt
once you take
.
of life's hardships,
for the other person,
intolerably bored.
Anyway,
a
." .
if it
was
Kimie soon a
matter of
money, even without saying anything you were bound
to
from the man. Separated from Matsuko
in
get something
12
During
the Rains
the crowd, not once looking back, her eyes dazzled by the
Mitsukoshi Building bathed in the
full sunlight,
Kimie
briskly cut across the intersection toward the far side of
the street. Then, feeling a
little
ashamed of
herself, she
turned and looked back. Matsuko, standing just where she had
Then,
left her,
as if her
was bowing
mind were
slightly as a sign
relieved
away and immediately vanished
13
by
that,
of farewell. she turned
into the crowd.
^) TWO Two
or three doors
Store,
down from
the
toward Kyobashi Bridge,
women, one on each
side
Matsuya Dry Goods
a pair
five-foot facade, supported a sign in
read
don
of nude plaster
of a wide archway
juan. At night, the
letters
were
red electric light bulbs. This was the cafe
worked. As side, the
of
sort
at
twenty-
letters that lit
up with
which Kimie
eye could reach, almost side by
far as the
same
inattentive,
in a
roman
cafes lined the alley. If
you might
pass
you were
by without observing which
was which. Kimie, although she'd been working here about
a year, still felt as if she
might enter the wrong
for
cafe.
Even now, she used the optician's shop this side of the cafe and the hardware store beyond
to locate the alley in be-
tween. Although the alley was just barely wide enough to let
one person through,
bage cans. Even about, and
went about
at
in the
it
was
lined with
enormous gar-
dead of winter bluebottles buzzed
high noon ancient
rats the size
their business at will.
of weasels
When someone
ap-
proached, they would splash up water from the puddles
with
their long tails.
Holding back her
sleeves,
vanced stealthily ten steps or so. By and by the
Kimie adfaces
of the
people passing her became familiar. Once she was inside, the odor of cheap cooking oil assailed her nostrils like a
wave from
the kitchen,
scurried
about.
all
on behind the
The
where numberless "oven bugs" kitchen had evidently been built
restaurant. Unlike the respectable front
entrance on the Ginza,
its
walls and roof were a single
14
During
the
Rains
thickness of corrugated sheet iron, hke the shacks that
Tokyo Earthquake.* Kimie went up the steep ladder-
had sprung up immediately
Not taking stairs
was
her shoes
from the ten-mat
a
off,
after the
dirt-floored entry way.
room with
At the
top, there
fourteen or fifteen mirrored
dressing-stands lined up along the four walls.
It
was
five
The second shift was arriving women who'd been working since eleven.
or six minutes to three. replace the
crowded room, there was no
the
front of each mirror,
two or
place to
three girls
sit
down.
to
In In
were competing
for space, sticking their faces out, applying the final layer
of makeup, altering the
and changing
style
of their hairdos, standing up
their clothes, or sitting cross-legged as they
put on fresh white socks.
Taking off her vertically slubbed unlined haori, Kimie
wrapped ing
it
it
away
up with her shawl in the pigeonhole
in a carrying cloth.
Tuck-
marked with her name
in
the clothes shelf that stood by the doorway, she patted the tip of her nose with the
Going along
pact.
powder puff from her com-
the corridor through the pantry, she
named Haruyo coming from the second-floor dining room. Since their homeward journeys both lay in the direction of Yotsuya, Kimie, among her sixty co-workers, had grown the most friendly with encountered
a waitress
this girl.
"Haru-san.
you
to
"It
Let's
We
something
was your
missed each other
work."
after
fault.
last night. I'll treat
I
waited for you the longest time.
go home together tonight, though. That way we'll
save money."
As Kimie *September
started along the corridor i,
1923
(tr.
note).
15
toward the second
During floor front, the
man "boy"
in charge
repeatedly from the bottom of the
the Rains
of footgear called up
stairs.
"Kimie-san. Telephone." "Ye-e-s." Answering in a loud voice, Kimie muttered
"Who
to herself:
with
little
steps
be?
What
a
between the
tables
and the potted
can
it
nuisance." Trotting plants,
she descended the ladder-stairs.
Downstairs was glance, entered
a single large
up
chairs, set
all
of it visible
at a
from the Ginza through a big stained-glass
door. Although large,
and
room,
in
space was cluttered with tables
its
booths on both sides of single-leaved
screens lining the walls to the right and ceiling, artificial flowers
left.
From
the
twined around paper lanterns.
Below there were not only potted plants among the tables and
chairs,
bamboo at first
but a dense stand of shrubbery,
thicket,
the
had been
installed.
room gave only an
cramped,
impression of disorder. Set
up across one wide corner was the with bottles of foreign
like a stage
Somehow
liquors.
bar, its shelves lined
Underneath
a large
pen-
dulum clock on the wall was the cashier's counter. Next to it,
on
behind a
glass door,
each person she passed, trotted toward the
a smile for
booth. "Yes?
was the telephone. Kimie, putting
Who
is
it?" It
turned out that the
call
was
not for Kimie but for another waitress called Kiyoko.
Pushing open the
Kimie
glass
door with the
called out: "Kiyoko. Phonecall."
tips
of her
toes,
Turning inside
the booth, arching her head back, she looked around the
room. At
this early hour, there
were but two groups of
customers, each with seven or eight waitresses clustered
around them. Even when she peered through the leaves of the shrubbery, said:
this
Kimie saw no sign of Kiyoko. Somebody
"She must have been on the early
shift."
Repeating
answer into the phone, Kimie hung up and stepped
i6
During
the Rains
A
out of the booth.
counter: "Kimie-san.
"And how did "If
it
were
I?
in
Western
How
did
the
at
go? The divination."
it
back from there." go? Thoughts of
it
that,
would
teller,
man
from where he was standing
clothes called to her
"I've just gotten
middle-aged
thin,
I
man,
after all?"
wouldn't have to go to
a fortune-
a
not that kind of thing anymore,
It's
Komatsu-san. I'm very pessimistic."
"What? Kimie-san the corners, the at
man
.
."
.
His narrow eyes crinkling
she'd addressed as
Kimie. Forty or thereabouts, he was employed
accountant
at
some dance
he went to work
of the
cafes
was
do
to
sorts
rooms, redeeming theater tickets
them. cries
evening, he
where he was known. His
all
as
an
Kanda. Every day, until
hall in
at six in the
at
Komatsu smiled
made the rounds greatest pleasure
of favors for the women, finding them their things at the
pawnshop, buying
— there was nothing he would not do
Made much of by
for
them, he would be greeted with
of "Komatsu-san, Komatsu-san."
If
he never said
anything unpleasant, on the other hand he never ate or
drank anything. In
his youth,
it
was
said,
he'd been a
geisha's attendant, carrying her samisen for her
when
went out on engagements. He was
have been
an actor's
valet. It
also said to
was he who had
told
she
Kimie about the
fortune-teller in Hibiya.
"Kimie-san, what did he
you? Did you get any
tell
clues?"
"Well, it
somehow
isn't clear
— he
told
what the matter
me is.
anything in particular, myself.
all I
sorts
of things, but
didn't try asking
him
." .
"That's no good. You're too easygoing, aren't you,
Kimie." "I
wasted one yen." Only
now that she had been asked,
17
During
the Rains
Kimie. realized that the diviner's prognostications had
been completely beside the point and her questions extremely half-hearted. She should have questioned the diviner minutely and
at length,
even
meant making him
if it
slightly uncomfortable,
"Even there's
but what
and
that,
not
clear.'
He
first
time
I've
done
He
Komatsu-san.
so,
no danger. That's
regularly,
mouthful
my
had
I
said for the time being
was
to
said this
'the matter
Anyway,
there.
is
that's the
fortune told. Unless you have
no good. Maybe
it's
He
found out.
came down
it
said a
all
it
fortune-telling, too,
depends on what you ask."
"Even
if there's a
method of
divination, there's
no
method of asking."
when you go
"Yes, but
doesn't he ter
you
tell
to the doctor for the first time,
that unless
you
he can't help you? That's
is,
same with
From tifully
the direction of the front
proached with at
him what
the mat-
a fortune-teller."
mature waitress
Pausing
tell
why I think it must be the
a
stairs, a
plump, beau-
in her thirties called
Choko
ap-
ten-yen note in her hand. "Cash, please."
the counter, giving herself a
good look
in the
wall mirror, she adjusted the collar of her under-kimono.
"Kimie-san, Ya-san
being "I
is
upstairs.
Please go up. He's
a nuisance."
saw him
downstairs.
before, but
Is it
"Yes. She
it
wasn't
my
shift,
so
I
came
true that he used to be Totsuko's patron?"
was taken away from him by Yo-san of the
Japan Film Company."
As Choko
started in chatting, the cashier
handed her
the receipt and change. Just then, in the mirror over the bar,
two
figures
were
reflected
from the doorway by the
counter that led back to the kitchen.
i8
It
was
the
owner of
During
the Rains
man called Ikeda, and an employee by the name
the cafe, a
of Takeshita. Rather than bother with greeting them,
Choko and Kimie put on know-nothing faces and headed upstairs. Ikeda, a thin-faced, bucktoothed man of fifty or so, had returned from a Japanese settlement in South
America
at
the time of the Earthquake.
With
his savings,
he had opened up cafes in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe.
was
said to be
When
the
making
He
quite a lot of money.
two women
arrived upstairs,
Choko took
the change to a party of two sitting in a booth against the
Kimie went toward
wall.
There
sat the
"Welcome
man
a table
overlooking the Ginza.
they called Ya-san.
back. I'd completely given up
on you of
late."
"You took
the
words out of my mouth. The way you
were making out the other miliated in
day. I've never
been so hu-
my life."
"Ya-san. Sometimes
can't
it
be helped." Sweet-talking
him, Kimie drew her chair up so close to his their knees touched. Just as
if
they were on intimate terms, she ex-
from
tracted a cigarette table
and stuck
it
pack of Shikishimas on the
his
between her
Ya-san gave himself out
lips.
as the
manager of an imported
car dealership in Akasaka-Tamariike. For a while, he
not only
come day
waitresses
were
after
at leisure,
of them out for supper her
off,
forty,
them
he brought
to the ladies,
appraisal
but had often taken four or five
after
work. Occasionally, to show
his
with him.
A man
two diamond
and hold forth
at
of about
rings to display
length on methods of
and estimation of price. Vulgarly self-assured in
everything, he was a
he spent
day in the afternoon, when the
a geisha
he would remove
had
freely,
man to set one's teeth on edge.
Since
however, the waitresses would swarm
19
During
around him and
him with every
treat
already received theater tickets from
on
occasions, and once,
a
the Rains
Kimie had
courtesy.
him on two
or three
hohday, he'd taken her to the
Matsuya and bought her a kimono jacket and a fancy dress collar.
She had come to
feel
an obligation toward him. If
he were to invite her out for supper and afterward proposition her,
reason,
him
would not be so easy to refuse him. For that she was teased by Ya-san, rather than put
off with
to be his
it
when
some
flimsy evasion, she thought
open with him.
made
It
inward chagrin with
anyway, passing
I
it
for less trouble.
a smile,
Masking
was jealous. You did me wrong." Deliberately off as a joke to the three or four other waitresses
right behind you.
I
heard everything you
was
said.
sitting
Although
were people around, you were holding hands."
"You're impossible.
If
you're going to complain like
I'm not going to the theater with you.
that,
better
Ya-san replied: "Well,
clustered around the table, he continued: "I
there
it
I'll
go some-
place else."
"She's awful, this one." Raising his her,
Ya-san knocked over
the table. Screaming
up from
their seats.
a bottle
arm
of cider
as if to strike at
the edge of
jumped Some of them not only drew back all
together, the waitresses
their long sleeves, but hoisted
up the
skirts
of their kimo-
nos to avoid being splattered by the cider, which was dripping from the table to the
commotion,
felt
floor.
Kimie,
as the cause
of this
constrained to bring a dishrag. Holding
the edge of her sleeve between her teeth, she swabbed the tabletop. Just then a
came
upstairs.
new
party of two or three customers
"Welcome." The ripely beautiful Choko
advanced to meet them. Before taking called out in a metal-cutting voice:
"Kimie-san, most
likely."
At
this
Kimie, tossing the rag onto the
20
their order, she
"Who's on duty here?" answer from someone,
dirt
of
a
flower-pot and
During
the
Rains
singing out "Ye-e-s," trotted with short steps toward the
newly arrived
The
guests.
had mustaches, were evidently on the
who both
customers, two gentlemen of fifty or so their
way back from
Matsuya or Mitsukoshi's. Paper-wrapped purchases had ordered black
in hand, after they
even look
they did not
tea,
the waitresses but began having a serious
at
business talk. Taking advantage of that, Kimie went and
down in the booth against the wall where the off-duty
sat
waitresses
had congregated.
among newspapers and chunks of sweet bean nuts
in the bag.
still
waitresses
On the table,
magazines, were such tidbits
paste, salty rice crackers,
Whatever
would pick up and
They were
scattered about
their
fmgers touched, the
mouths
toss into their
already bored with such
mundane
been sleepy,
it
.
.
Even
was evidently out of the question
With nothing
to take a nap.
.
matters as
chitchat about movies and gossip about colleagues. if they'd
as
and pea-
to do, they
ing for the time to pass. Just then,
a
were simply waitwaitress sitting in
one corner of the booth, who'd been flipping through the pictures of a magazine, exclaimed: It's
"My, what
a
beauty!
Kiyooka-sensei's wife."
At
this, all
out over the
the waitresses in the booth stuck their faces
table.
Even Kimie, her cheeks bulging with
chunks of sweet bean
"Which one
is
paste, leaned
she?
Show me.
I
forward still
slightly.
don't
know what
she looks like." "All right. Take a
good look
at her."
The
waitress held
The photomarried woman,
out the magazine right under Kimie's nose.
graph was of seated
on
a
a
respectable-looking
veranda.
The caption
read:
"The
Home
Life
of a Celebrity. The Writer Kiyooka Susumu's Wife, Tsuruko."
"Kimie-san. That's nothing, that sort of thing. If I were 21
During
you,
I'd
flicked a
of a
want
to tear
peanut
in half."
The
waitress
spoke
a
Her name was Tetsuko.
"You're quite jealous, aren't you?" As
Kimie
stared back at Tetsuko. "It's just as
wife
a wife.
is
who
photograph. Originally the wife
been forced by hard times to become
dentist, she'd
waitress.
it
at the
Rains
the
I
"You're so
At one time
if surprised,
should be.
it
A
don't have to worry about her."
Kimie-san," chimed in Yuriko.
practical,
a dancer, she
had changed professions and
come to work at the cafe. Then Ruriko, who'd started out as
an assistant in
the lucky one his
is
a hair-dressing salon,
added: "Anyway,
Kiyooka-san. His wife
is
a beauty,
and
number two is a famous waitress on the Ginza." "What do you mean, famous? Cut that out." Purposely pretending to be angry, Kimie got up and
went over Yata,
to the table of the automobile entrepreneur
whom she'd left in the lurch a while ago.
aware that she wasn't looked
after
her with
known Kimie
some show of concern. Ruriko had when, moonlighting
since the days
prostitute, she'd encountered the latter at a brothel.
Even
this cafe, there
them
come
across each other at
agreement between
her,
Ruriko had
that neither
was said
a placid expression. Just then,
she heard what sounded like
Thinking
table.
it
Aware
no matter what was
to guard the other's secret.
by
somebody pounding on
the business-suited figure of a customer stairs
was
reflected in the mirror
Immediately recognizing a
low
voice.
a
might be one of her customers, she
looked in the direction of the noise. At that same
up the
as a
two or three times
to be a tacit
after they'd
seemed
likely to take or cause offense,
to or
Although
in earnest, her fellow waitresses
"Oops,
it's
it,
instant,
who'd just come on
the far wall.
Ruriko alerted the others in
Kiyooka-sensei."
22
During
the
Rains
we were just talking about you." Haruyo, one
"Sensei,
of Kimie's boon companions, came running up. "There's
good booth over there." Chnging to his sleeve, she led him to the booth in the corner away from the others' eyes. a
This was Haruyo's solicitude, to ward off any trouble.
The automobile attentions "I
a
dealer Yata,
on Kimie,
still
who had come
hadn't
to press his
left yet.
already feel hot just from walking here.
I'll
dark beer or something." Shoving an armful of table,
Susumu took
hat and
brand-new gray
felt
new
Kiyooka
magazines and newspapers beneath the off his
have
hung
it
on a spray of artificial flowers. Clad in a blue serge doublebreasted suit and wearing a
bow
tie,
he was thirty-five
or -six. Noticeably sharp-featured around the nose and chin, he looked
the
all
more high-strung thanks
to his
hollow cheeks and large eyes whose whites showed around the
irises.
clear
He wore his hair combed back from the
forehead with deliberate carelessness. To anyone's eye,
he was the up-and-coming writer. As he looked just
like
one of the movie
in publicity photos. a scholar
days
of Chinese
some
at
Although literature,
a
matter of
fact,
one
sees
stars that
his father
was
Kiyooka, in
said to be
his student
regional university around Sendai, had had
extremely poor marks. After graduation, he had gone
around
a lot
with writers, but
it
was not
until three or
four years ago that he'd done anything to attract the attention of critics. Then, however idea?
— employing
as a
— where had he got the
source book Kyokutei Bakin's*
The Adventures of Dreaming Musobei, converting the
kite
of the original into an airplane and tacking on the
title
He
Everywhere, he'd lifted the book's entire plot and
Flies
placed
it
*Late
in a
Edo
contemporary
writer
(tr.
setting.
note).
23
The result was a work
During
of popular
was
fiction that
some happenstance,
been dramatized by actors of the
and even made into
success.
New
had
It
School method
movie. Since then, with each
a
By
serialized in a newspaper.
was an immense
it
the Rains
new
book Kiyooka's literary star had risen higher and brighter. Nowadays, his work was to be found in nearly all the newspapers and magazines. "Is this
up
to pick
one of your books too, sensei?" Making bold a
book
frontispiece.
on
lying
the table,
"They haven't made
Haruyo gazed
this into a
movie
at
the
yet,
I
suppose."
Kiyooka put on
a
Muraoka
a
in the editorial department of the
Here's the phone number. Call
him
to get over here
Make
bored look. "Haru-san.
phonecall for me, will you? There's
him
to the
a
person called
Maruen News.
phone and
tell
on the double."
"Muraoka-san? The one we know?"
Haruyo went on duty, brought
off to a
While pouring the in
your
sei.
the
dark beer and beer, she said:
stories that really bring
Back
Kamata
make
then, not that
I
call.
a
Sadako,
small
bowl of peanuts.
"There are some things
back the memories, sen-
had any chance, but
I
went
"So you've been
to
Kamata, have you, Sada-san?" at
Sadako.
did you give up?"
"Why, you "I'm not
say.
Because there weren't any prospects."
flattering you,
Sada-san.
With
a face like
yours, you're a natural for the movies. Probably
cause you wouldn't listen to the director. just
no good
for anything unless they have a
them. Even lady writers, until their work little,
to
for the first time."
Glass in hand, Kiyooka glanced up obliquely
"Why
who was
have to have a
man
backing them."
24
it's
be-
Women
are
man behind
starts to sell a
During
the Rains
Kimie,
a cigarette
down by
silently sat
Haruyo reported
"This
empty
is
lips,
came over and
the other party's reply. Seating herself,
she added: "Sensei, chan, what
between her
Kiyooka. Back from the telephone,
treat
it's
time for everybody. Kimi-
would you like?" fme for me." Kimie picked up Kiyooka's
glass
of dark
half-
beer.
"That's certainly nice and friendly. Well then, Haru-
chan chit
— you and
I
will have
pad from her
she stood up and
obi,
some chicken
Sadako jotted
rice."
down
Taking
a
the order as
left.
The shadows of
the evening sun that had shone in
through the skylight had faded away. From downstairs, abruptly, a that
it
was
phonograph five-thirty.
ing since three
now
started playing. This
was
a sign
Those waitresses who'd been
freshened their
rest-
makeup and went on came on. Even
duty. Upstairs and downstairs, the lights
though
it
was
still
light outside in the long
ning, inside the cafe,
from
early on, there
liveliness.
25
summer
was
a
eve-
nighttime
^)i
TH REE
Since
their
way home
lay in the direction
Kimie and Haruyo usually work, taking
a
left
of Yotsuya,
the cafe together after
cab from the vicinity of Sukiya Bridge.
Not only would they have been conspicuous on the Ginza, but drunken customers from the cafes thereabouts were still
wandering around at that hour. To avoid them, Kimie
and her friend would walk on hail a passing
down
argued
thirty sen.
one-yen
taxi,*
the driver
beyond the Ginza,
a little
and board
from
it
only after they'd
his original bargain price to
That evening, crossing the Sukiya Bridge and
passing under the bridge of the Metropolitan Railway, the
two neared the Hibiya intersection without having found a cab that would take them. "What is this? They're making fools of us. Even that one we thought had stopped drove away." Haruyo sounded angry. "It
a little
doesn't matter. Let's just stroll along.
drunk, so
"It's
Moat,
it's
already high summer, isn't
it
looks just like a stage
At the Hibiya intersection, were waiting "Let's
it?
Over
feeling
there
by the
set."
despite the late hour, people
for the trolley.
economize tonight and take the
As they headed
trolley."
for the trolley tracks across the
*Taxis that provided a ride anywhere in
of one yen.
was
I
just the thing."
A yen was worth about $o. 50 in
26
Tokyo
wide
for a fixed price
1930's dollars
(tr.
note).
During
Rains
the
man
intersection, a
in a
Western
suddenly stepped in
suit
front of them. Surprised, they looked at him.
who had
he of the diamond rings,
been
It
was
Yata,
the cafe that
at
afternoon.
"You're certainly enjoying yourself tonight. Where did
you go "I'll
"A
we
for a drink?" see
you home." Yata
trolley
is
fme
for
hand
raised his
to hail a taxi.
me. The cafe doesn't
like
it
when
get in a car with a customer." Haruyo's polite attempt
getaway was parried by Yata,
at a
been brushed off many times in "That's for the Ginza, isn't
way, they won't mind.
"Why
I'll
who
it? If
apparently had
manner.
this
you've come
all this
take responsibility."
not ride on the trolley with us and save some
money, Ya-san?" Kimie began walking briskly toward trolley that
ing that
it
had just
was the
now
arrived,
its
of the evening. There was no time
last
for Yata to protest. Willy-nilly, he followed the pair
boarded the
On
trolley,
a
red lantern signify-
which was bound
and
for Shinjuku.
the trolley, unexpectedly empty, there were three
waitresses
from some other
Haruyo, and
five or six
ing. Until the trolley
cafe,
unknown
to
Kimie and
men. All of them were doz-
had passed Hanzomon and was ap-
proaching Yotsuya-mitsuke, Yata was meek and submissive,
He
behaving
as
though he weren't even with the
pair.
did not even venture to speak until Kimie, leaving
Haruyo behind, was about
to get off the trolley.
riedly following her off, he said: "Kimie-san, for a transfer.
I'll
"It's all right.
it's
Hur-
too
late
hail a cab." I
don't have far to go." Kimie began
walking along the Moat, deserted of passers-by, in the direction of Honmura-cho. Spotting them, the driver of a
one-yen cab put
his
hand out the window, signaling
27
a
During
the Rains
discount with his fingers. Another stuck out his grimy visage and jeered
at
them. Yata stepped up close to Kimie.
"Kimie-san, do you absolutely have to go back? Can't
you make arrangements
one night? Eh, Kimie-san?
for
you must go back, one hour, even We'll have a
and then separate right afterward.
little talk,
come with me.
Please
I
won't ask anything unreasonable,
and you'll be home before the night already too
"It's
"The isn't it? Is
or
late.
out."
is
We've been wasting time.
go back. Besides, I'm on the
can't
If
half an hour, will do.
early shift
Now
I
tomorrow."
early shift? That's eleven o'clock at your cafe,
While we're talking
around here no good
for
like this,
you?
time
How
is
going by.
about Araki-cho
Ushigome?" Gripping Kimie's hand, Yata would not
take a single step farther.
As ally
the path along the top of the
sloped lower,
at
embankment gradu-
each step the night sky seemed to
spread out wider overhead. Visible in
from Ichigaya
the eye
Moat
to
the trees and shrubberies
overall misty green. In the softly flowing night
wind, there was the scent of
field grass
smelling blooms of the pasania
trees.
and the grassy-
From
the sky above
the towering pine trees across the Moat, there
sudden
call
of what sounded
—
"Ahh somehow Kimie looked up at
"Why For
don't
we go
it's
like a
as if
came
the
night heron.
we were
in the country."
the sky. Promptly, Yata suggested:
someplace quiet? Sacrifice one night.
my sake."
" Ya-san,
be
sweep of
Ushigome, the scenery along the
— the embankment and
was an
a single
my
what if we're seen, and
there's trouble? Please
patron, instead of that other person. I'm thinking
I'd like to quit the cafe."
Meaning
to pull at Yata's heart,
Kimie purposely rubbed against him as she quietly started
28
During
the Rains
walking. Actually,
she had in
all
mind was how
to
charm
Yata into outdoing himself with a really generous
whatever place he took her
"That person, you
say.
tip at
to.
Who is he? The man you went
to the samisen performance with not long ago?"
"No-o-o
.
."
.
Kimie began, then
hastily corrected
The man
herself. "Yes, yes, that's the one."
she'd gone to
the musical performance with was neither a patron nor a
he had been
lover. In short,
pick-up customer, the same
a
as Yata. "Is that so? Is that
completely
at
man your
patron?" Taking Kimie
her word, Yata continued: "But it's
give up very easily.
no good
It's
if he's
not a relationship you can
helped you up to now,
if
he nurses
a
grudge
against you."
Kimie
stifled
so. That's
out.
why
an impulse to burst out laughing. "That's I
said there'd be trouble if anything got
Tonight will have to be
"Don't worry about all
that
deep dark secret."
a
kind of thing. Everything's
right. If anything happens,
I'll
take care of it." Yata
exultant. Tonight, at least, everything lap.
was
felt
falling into his
Taking advantage of the deserted edge of the Moat,
he abruptly held Kimie close and kissed her on the cheek.
Without knowing Honmura-cho trolley
just stop.
when,
they'd
passed
They were nearing
the
the foot
of Korikimatsu Slope, where the pines stretched out their overarching branches. In the distance, the lights of the Ichigaya station and the police
box
in front
of Hachiman
Shrine were visible.
"That police box over there a little late, they ask
you
all
is
a nuisance. If it's just
sorts
of questions. Let's get
a cab."
Yata,
thinking this was not an opportunity to be
29
During missed, Ipoked about
was hot
him
one in
a single
the Rains
for a cab. Unfortunately, there
sight.
The
where they
pair stood
had stopped.
"My place is up that alley right over there. You see the drugstore on the corner? At nightfall, an advertisement
up on the roof That's how you
for Jintan Pills lights
can
tell. I'll
just drop off my things and
come
back. Wait
me."
for
"Hey, Kimie-san. You're sure everything's It'd
be
"I
ried,
a
me
come with me
woman
as far as
all
right?
the slip."
wouldn't do anything mean
the old all
mistake to give
like that. If you're
over there. Unless
I
wor-
go back,
downstairs leaves the door off the latch
night."
Five or six houses along from the foot of Koriki-
matsu Slope, the two turned into the
alley. In
the abrupt
change from the spacious view along the Moat to these
cramped back
streets,
not only did one
nose was stuffed, but the shabby
little
on both
sides,
regularly lined the streets
feel as if
one's
houses that
ir-
although inter-
spersed with wicket gates, shrubberies, and the hedge of
Kenninji Temple, breathed out
atmosphere of utter poverty. as a
house with
a
broken-down, decayed
When
a fish-shop sign
they'd
come
mounted on
its
as far
eaves,
Kimie, saying: "Please wait here," turned into an
from under the
alley
fish-shop's eaves. Yata, close behind her,
started to follow, then held back. feelings to have
him
see
It
where she
neck, he peered into the pitch-dark
might hurt Kimie's lived. alley.
Craning
At the sound
of a very creaky wicket gate opening and closing, he
somewhat
reassured.
But
his
felt
his irresistible desire to see for
himself led him step by step along the
alley.
Suddenly,
to his surprise, he stepped right in the middle of
30
what
During
the Rains
seemed
to be a puddle of rainwater. Retracing his steps,
muck
he scraped the
on some gravel and
off his shoes
a
ditch-board by the light of the fish-shop's eaves lantern. Presently,
"Oh
Kimie came back
dear
— what happened
"Nothing. These stink.
It's
"That's
out.
probably
why
I
cat or
told
to
you
dog
you?"
muddy
alleys are
What
as hell.
a
shit."
to wait outside.
My, you
reek."
Kimie backed off from Yata as he edged closer. "I'm wearing clogs.
I
can't let
any of that stuff get on
my
socks."
As they walked, Yata kept scraping his soles against the gravel.
When they'd emerged alongside the Moat,
under-
neath the eaves of the corner house there were stacks of
firewood and sacks of charcoal.
By
completed the task of cleaning off
the time Yata had
his shoes, a
cab drew up without their having hailed
"Kagura Slope.
I'll
give
you
by the hand, Yata got into the
one-yen
it.
fifty sen."
Taking Kimie
cab. "We'll get out at the
foot of the Slope. We'll walk a
little
ways from
there."
"All right."
"Somehow ing his
I
feel like
arm around
walking
night tonight." Pass-
all
her, Yata lightly
drew Kimie
to him.
Kimie, although complaisantly leaning up against him, nevertheless asked: "Ya-san, Yata, while thinking
was,
where
what
knew nothing of her
treat her as
that kind
we
going?"
pretender Kimie
previous history.
feeling that even if she appeared to
might not be
are
a terrible
know
He had
the ropes, she
of girl. The best tack would be to
an extremely permissive waitress and
take things into her
own hands.
Putting his
lips to
he whispered: "To an assignation house. That's
with you,
isn't it? It's late.
know of some
the
place, let's
I
let
her
her
ear,
all
right
know a good place. Or if you
go
31
there."
During
the
Rains
! At loss^
unexpected comeback, even Kimie was
this
"No, any
place
"We'll get out
at
the foot of the Slope, then.
quiet place behind the
at a
right with me."
is all
Ozawa
I
know
a
Cafe."
Simply nodding agreement, Kimie turned her eyes outside the window, thus ending the conversation. the cab stopped
after,
the shops
were
closed.
the foot of
at
Even
the nighttime
evening had had
earlier in the
leaving behind a roadside
stalls,
a lively trade,
litter
Soon
Kagura Slope. All
which
were gone,
of paper scraps and gar-
bage. At this late hour, only a few eating and drinking
shops were
open here and there on the Slope. Aside
still
from infrequent erratically
cars steering their
weaving customers
way among
scattered,
in their cups, only geishas,
cutting across the avenue, appearing and disappearing be-
tween one
front of the
of an "I
and another, were
alley
Bishamon
alley across the
think
puddles.
to be seen. Halting in
Shrine, Yata stared
the
at
mouth
way.
back along there, Kimie-san. There are
it's
Mind your
The stone-paved
sandals." alley
was so narrow
could not walk abreast in
it.
that
two people
Apparently fearful that
he went on ahead he would be given the
slip
if
by Kimie,
Yata stuck close by her, heedless of his elbow and shoulder brushing against the
other to save space, they
At of
its
a
end, there
low stone
one direction,
was
a little
fox-god shrine. This side
it
wall, the alley ran into another alley. In
immediately became steps leading down-
ward. Just then, with a geisha appeared,
from getting
wooden walls. Leaning on each made their way along the alley.
dirty.
a quiet clatter
of wooden sandals,
holding her skirts up to keep them Yata and Kimie leaned aside to
32
let
During
the Rains
her pass.
The
geisha seemed unaware of
some
chaotic-
looking curls in the chignon of her disheveled Shimada coiffure,
and even her
was languid.
gait
course, and in Kimie's too,
charm
As
her with their eyes.
if
typical late night
they both seemed
they'd agreed
The geisha,
kitchen door of a house
turned
was
A
district,
to the quiet back alley scene.
encounter in the entertainment to be thinking.
all
on
it,
with
unaware,
a lively voice that belied
demeanor of a moment
they followed slid
the corner of the alley
front of the fox-god shrine.
left in
inside,
at
In Yata's eyes of
seemed, she lent an added
it
open the
where
As soon
as
it
she
her exhausted
ago, she called out: "Auntie.
It's
already too late."
Kimie, who'd listened
thought of becoming
intently,
said:
a geisha myself.
I
"Ya-san. I've
really have,
you
know."
"You
Kimie-san?" Sounding genuinely sur-
have,
prised, Yata
seemed about
to inquire further. In a
mo-
ment, though, they'd come to the front gate of the assignation house they'd been looking still
sounds of activity
pounded on
for.
There were
inside. Calling out "Oi, oi," Yata
the closed gate.
Almost
at
once, there
the sound of a glass door being slid open, and
was
somebody
slipping into a pair of wooden clogs.
"Who
is it,
please?"
A woman's voice called out.
"Me. Yata." "Well, you've certainly taken your time, haven't you?"
The maid, coming out to open the gate, changed to a somewhat more formal manner when she saw Kimie. "Please come in." From the end of the corridor, leading the way past the cedar door of what seemed to be the privy, sliding open
33
During the door of an arched entry way, the maid
the Rains
showed them
into the four-and-a-half-mat downstairs sitting
room
at
th^ 'back of the house. Evidently guests had been here until a
moment
ago. There
was
a smell
of sake, and ciga-
smoke hung heavily in the air of the room. One or two parched beans were wedged into the decorative rette
groove of a red sandalwood
of
sitting cushions
from
said: "I'll straighten
up
it
table.
Bringing out
for
you
right away.
now had
a
chance to tidy the place."
"Business
is
really good, then?"
just
a
couple
maid
a pile in the corner, the
"Oh no. The usual hopeless
We've only
The maid went
mess."
off
to fetch the obligatory tea and sweets.
"Can't
we
air the
room out
knees,
a little?"
Crawling on her hands and
"It certainly is stuffy."
Kimie reached out and
Beyond
back the paper door.
slid
was an
the eaves, in the small garden there
illu-
minated stone lantern.
"Oh, how
pretty.
"It's different
It's
like a stage set."
from the cafe,
isn't
it.
A touch of old Edo,
one might
say." Stretching out his legs
stone, Yata
lit
On
up
the stepping
a cigarette.
the other side of the shrubbery, the second-floor
window of the house
next door was alight. Although
reed blind was lowered, the figure of a
mada
on
coiffure, standing as she
clearly projected against the
woman
took off her kimono, was
window's paper door. Kimie
quietly pulled at Yata's sleeve to
draw
his attention. Just
then, though, the voluptuous-looking shadow, larger
and
only
low murmur of voices.
a
less distinct like a cloud,
noticed nothing, his legs
its
in a Shi-
still
Yata,
vanished. There was
who seemed
flung out
to have
on the stepping
stone, shed his jacket and loosened his necktie.
34
growing
But Kimie,
During
the Rains
until the
maid brought
gazed vaguely den. For
of the
no
and then
tea
couple of yukatas,*
shadows across the gar-
at the flickering
was suddenly reminded
particular reason, she
first
a
time she had been taken to an assignation
house. Although
it
her sitting with the
had been
man on
Omori, not Ushigome,
in
the veranda and gazing at the
shadows projected against the paper door of the secondfloor
window of the house
next door on the other side of
the shrubbery across the garden, as they waited for the
maid
to complete the preparations,
different ings.
had been
in
no way
from tonight. All that had changed were her feel-
Then, she had been
afraid
of and fascinated by the
novelty of the experience; now, completely habituated, she thought nothing of it.
"Kimi-san, what are you going to have? They say they have
is
all
Chinese noodles."
At Yata's voice, Kimie turned around. Having changed into his yukata, he
was standing up tying the waistband.
"I'm not hungry." Kimie began to loosen the string of her unlined haori.
Depositing the kimono box in which she'd put Yata's
Western
suit in a corner, the
taken tonight.
It's
maid
cramped, but
said:
"Every room
is
how would this one be?"
Taking some bedding from the clothes closet by the ornamental alcove, she began to lay
down on at
the
the garden.
it
out.
Once again
sitting
open veranda, Yata and Kimie looked out
More and more,
the
memories of that
first
night floated up behind Kimie's eyes.
"You can
take your bath any time
always hot." The maid *A
light
kimono worn
sleeping garment
(tr.
left
you like. The water's
the room.
in hot
weather or used
note).
35
as a
bathrobe or
During "KiiTii-san.
What
are
you thinking about? Change into
your yukata." Peering into Kimie's worried about
her, Yata
Kimie removed
the Rains
face
took her hand.
from the Still in
side as if
her haori,
the sash that kept her obi in place and
the sash band. Taking out the contents of her pockets and
laying
them one by one on
and smiled. Three years
the mats, she looked at Yata
earlier,
when she'd left home and
was staying with her
girlfriend
had gotten her
as a clerk at
a
job
Kyoko, the
patron
latter's
an insurance company.
Within two months, she had been seduced by the depart-
ment head and taken Although a
that
to the assignation
was the
first
house in Omori.
time she'd actually slept with
man, not only had she observed Kyoko bring men into
on the
the house
room
as
Kyoko and
tice in a geisha
but on occasion had slept in the same
sly,
her patron. Like a young
girl
appren-
house, she was thoroughly conversant
with everything of that nature. At times, she was
up by
a violent curiosity.
partment head's proposition
The
latter,
stirred
She'd even consented to the deas a
means of
satisfying
it.
however, unlike the typical aging philanderer,
had been quite put off by Kimie's uninhibited behavior.
He'd
left
the assignation house shortly after their arrival.
As she remembered smile
show
at
all this,
Kimie unconsciously
the corners of her mouth.
let a
Knowing noth-
ing of her thoughts, but pleased to see her smiling, Yata
took her in
his
arms and held her
close.
"Kimi-san, you've decided to be good to me. thinking "It's
man
it
was
I
was no good and had given up hope."
nothing
always
like that.
tells
I'm
a
woman,
other men. That's
after
why
I
all.
But
a
tried to get
away." Encircled by Yata's arms, leaning back against his chest,
Kimie passed her hand
inside her haori
unfastening the end of her obi drew
36
it
out.
The
and
thin.
During
the Rains
fine-quality garment, twisting slightly, slipped free of
Her naked bosom was
her shoulders. allure at the
all its
opening of her long undergarment of vari-
colored striped
silk.
Yata, his voice increasingly urgent,
may not look it,
said: "I
revealed in
but you can trust me.
I
won't
tell
anyone."
"The gossip what
I
do,
it's
at
the cafe
No
matter
saying,
Kimie
a real nuisance.
is
none of their business." So
unfastened and discarded her under-girdle. Cradled by Yata's arms, lying in his lap, she arched her
"Take everything
Kimie
this,
her
first
off.
Even
time with him. Unless she
Wondering just when catch herself at
cajoled.
first
spite herself,
felt
she hadn't done her job.
even
as
Kimie
she was being coaxed and
herself, she
found she could not.
man was handsome, the trait itself with an ugly old man or a man
when
than
arrogantly asserted she'd at
a
she'd fallen into this habit, it
Trying to stop
More even
At
twice the interest in the
felt
to her heart's content, she
would
body upward.
moment like man if it was captivated the man
the socks."
the
thought repulsive. Afterward, ashamed de-
Kimie would shudder
at
the
memory of the
things she'd done.
Tonight, her sudden succumbing to the importunities
of Yata, lout,
whom
ordinarily she thought of as a conceited
was thanks
to that old
bad habit surfacing unaware.
37
»J FOUR
The
next morning, Kimie, getting out of the cab she'd
taken with Yata
at
embankment of the room in her dressing-stand, how-
the base of the
Mihtary Academy, returned alone the alley.
When she sat down
ever, she
suddenly
to redo her
drowsy. Without the strength even
felt
makeup, she barely managed
haori. Still in her It
at
to her rented
to slip off her
kimono, she keeled over onto her
side.
was only nine-thirty by her wristwatch. Intending
to
sleep the thirty minutes until ten, she closed her eyes.
No
sooner had she done so than the
bell attached to the
latticework door began ringing, and she heard a man's voice.
She opened her
of Kiyooka.
Startled,
eyes.
Kimie
Kiyooka only came here
was on let
her
He
It
was the unexpected voice
sat up.
the late shift the next day.
know
when Kimie
in the evenings,
Even
then, he generally
ahead of time, while she was
still at
almost never came calling unexpectedly
the cafe.
like this,
on
morning of a day when she was on the early shift. Did he know about last night? He couldn't have found out so quickly, Kimie told herself Although thoroughly the
flustered, she put
out in
on an innocent expression and
called
a lively voice:
"My, how
early
you
are!
Everything's
still
a
mess
in here."
When
she reached the bottom of the ladder-stairs,
Kiyooka had
just taken off his shoes and
38
come
inside.
During
the
Rains
The old woman, who was sweeping out the doorway, evidently knew what to say. "Kimie-san. Even if you don't like it, please take auntie's medicine once more before you go out. I was really surprised last night."
Taking heart
now.
It
at this,
Kimie
must have been those
rejoined: "I'm
dishes
I
all
right
mixed."
"What happened? Did you get an upset stomach?" Saythis, Kiyooka mounted the stairs to the second floor.
ing
In Kimie's
room, he
The second
one of
six mats,
sat
down by
three.
But
chest faced with paulownia
some ture.
tea utensils
little
the soiled,
out
on
all
sitting
the
window.
from
aside
wood,
a tray, there
Even on top of the
the usual
the
was two contiguous rooms, one of
floor
a
this virtually
and
furni-
were none of
empty
space,
shabby old mats and the rat-gray walls stood
more
sharply. Except for a faded, dirty muslin
cushion in front of the mirror-stand, there were
only a couple of extremely worn cotton and
flax
nos tossed against the base of the wall. Kimie,
as
custom, turned the cushion over before offering visitor.
utility
a dressing table
was almost no
utility chest, there
knickknacks. In
cheap
Kiyooka, placing
of the crease in
it
it
to her
on the windowsill, mindful
his trousers, seated himself again.
Beneath the window, on the phalt covering had
wash and
kimo-
was her
traces
begun
flat
zinc roof
to peel, stains
whose
as-
from mouth-
of face powder thrown out the window
mingled with waste thread, paper
scraps,
and the dust
and rubbish swept out every day. Across from
this filthy
roof were the backs of two-story houses that fronted
on the avenue Academy.
that ran past the gates
Among
of the Military
the dirty laundry, old blankets, and
39
During diapers
hung out
the Rains
was an incessant noise of
to dry, there
sewing machines and the clunking vibrations of a printing
Combined
press.
in cacophony,
Academy, came
the Mihtary
performed
as the students
from the grounds of
the shouts of
drills,
commands
the blaring of bugles
and the sound of marching songs. Not only during the day, according to
from the cinder in
how the wind blew,
track of the riding grounds
through the window onto the mats
left a gritty
he'd
first
ago),
drifting
and even
room
this
(about
a
year
Kiyooka had been trying to persuade Kimie to move
more
pleasant neighborhood. Kimie,
how-
although politely agreeing with him, had shown no
The
signs of making preparations to move.
unchanged from
bought so much
Kimie
certainly
supper table nor
was
fine dust
came
like ashes,
but
deposit inside the closed wardrobe. Ever since
been brought back to
to a cleaner, ever,
that,
still
a
year ago, and
as a single
it
had enough money, there was neither
The
a clothes rack.
electric lamp's
No
cracked, the same as a year ago.
looked trade,
for displaying pots of flowering plants
up
dolls or toys
as if
a
shade
matter
how
she had just
Kimie had no
taste
on the windowsill,
on top of the chest of drawers,
From
or pasting picture postcards on the wall.
Kiyooka had realized that she was a strange, "It's
was
teacup since then. Although
much time went by, the place moved in. Unlike others in her setting
furniture
would seem she hadn't
not necessary to give
me any tea.
early on,
eccentric
girl.
You're probably
about to leave for work, aren't you?" So saying, Kiyooka slid sill
himself down, cushion and
all,
from the window-
until he was sitting tailor-style on the mat. "I've got
some business that will take me as That's
why I dropped
"Oh.
Still,
you
by
for a
will have a
40
far as
Shinjuku Station.
moment." little tea,
won't you?
.
.
.
During
Rains
the
Auntie,
if the water's ready, please
bring us some." Call-
ing out, Kimie went downstairs. She soon came back up
with an enameled brass teapot. "I
hear you went to see a fortune-teller. That article
about the mole that appeared in
you who was behind "No. He didn't
from the thought I
felt
I'd
ask
known
"If
you
tell
me
tell
some
tea
anything." Pouring
him about various It's
first,
I
But somehow
matters.
When you
held back.
I
really strange.
it's
— did he
pot into a cup, Kimie went on: "At
awkward, so
though,
have
little
Street Scenes
it?"
think about
it,
not likely anyone would
such a thing."
can't
should go to
a
fmd out from
medium
"A medium? What's
the fortune-teller,
you
or a fox-diviner." that?"
"You don't know? Don't
geishas often consult
me-
diums?" "Yesterday was the fortune-teller.
thing doesn't "That's
Somehow
work
time
first it
seems
I
ever went to see a
foolish.
That kind of
for me."
why you
shouldn't worry. Isn't that what I've
been saying?"
"But
it's
just so peculiar. Because something that
was
known was known by someone.
It's
so unlikely to be positively weird."
"Even
if
you think nobody knows about
it
but you,
there are surprising things in the world. Secrets have a
way of leaking
out."
that he'd said too
Kiyooka cut himself short,
much. Hastily putting
realizing
a cigarette in his
mouth, he covertly observed Kimie's expression. Kimie, about to say something, remained
silent.
Holding the
half-empty teacup alongside her mouth, she stared round-
eyed
at
Kiyooka. Their eyes met and locked. Kiyooka,
41
During
the
Rains
pretending to be choking on the cigarette smoke, turned his face aside.
"The
best thing
is
from the
heart,
Unable
voice.
not to worry about
make
"That's true." To
it
Kimie threw
know
with Yata,
a
were speaking
note of conviction into her
set
it
down. Even
was
a relationship
about her. But she couldn't
tell
of a good two years.
was to know how much he
there
exactly
At times, Kimie even
this matter.
if Kiyooka
Kagurazaka
that she'd spent last night in
theirs
Kiyooka knew just about everything
knew of
it."
as if she
to say anything else, though, she slowly
drained her cup and quietly didn't
sound
felt
that at
some opportune moment she would like to break off with Kiyooka and make a fresh start with a new lover who
knew nothing of her past. Kimie did not like having half her life known about by other people. Even if there was no need to keep something secret, when she was asked by others about
it
she
would simply put them
a smile, or tell the first lie that
with her
own
family, with
came
whom
most
With tive.
Even
she might have been
expected to be the most intimate, Kimie had in the
off with
to her lips.
distant, never divulging her
innermost
fact
been
feelings.
a man whom she liked, she was even more secreWhen the man attempted to question her deeply,
she sealed her
lips
more and more
nothing.
Among
said that
no one had
firmly and told
her fellow waitresses
than Kimie but that
a
it
more
at
the cafe,
it
him was
graceful, genteel appearance
was impossible
to
tell
what she was
thinking most of the time.
Kiyooka had known Kimie ever first
the
was
day
pond
since the night of her
as a waitress at the cafe called the
in Shitaya.
that if she hadn't
Kiyooka's
first
been working
42
Salon Lac on
impression of Kimie as a waitress
she most
During likely
the
Rains
would have been
Her
a geisha.
features
were rather
them stood out. Her forehead was
average; nothing about
round, her eyebrows thin, her eyes narrow. In her face was extremely concave, as
But the
out.
hairline
profile,
had been scooped
if it
of her "Mount Fuji" brow was
as
sharply defined as if she were wearing a wig, and there
was an indescribable charm about her mouth, with protruding lower as
it
lip.
As she
moved about between
like pearls
was
rows of her
the regular
winsome. Apart from
particularly
its
spoke, the tip of her tongue teeth
these,
the whiteness of her skin and the gently sloping shoulders
of her figure seen from behind were probably foremost
among
her points of beauty. That
first
evening, Kiyooka
had been especially taken with her quiet manner of speech and the absence of any vulgarity ping her
a
demeanor. Tip-
munificent ten yen, he lay in wait for her out-
side the cafe.
walked
in her
Unaware
was following
that he
her,
Kimie
as far as the intersection,
where she boarded the
Waseda, changing
Edogawa. By the time
trolley for
at
she reached lidabashi, where she had to change again, the last trolley
been
from
of the night had already
left.
Kiyooka, who'd
trailing her in a taxi, at this point stealthily alighted it.
Pretending that
was
this
a
chance encounter, he
engaged Kimie in conversation. Even when asked, however,
Kimie would not
Merely answering
him
tell
that
it
was
exactly
where she
lived.
in Ichigaya, she strolled
with Kiyooka along the Outer Moat to the foot of the
Osaka
Slope. She gave
woman who was man said. with many tears of farewell, Kimie all
the signs of a
prepared to do whatever the Shortly before
this,
had parted from Kyoko, with
whom she'd been living for
so long and plying the same trade of unlicensed prostitution.
Kyoko,
finally giving
up the house
43
in
Suwamachi
During
of Koishigawa, had moved to
a geisha
Kimie was hving by
on the second
herself
the Rains
house in Fujimi. floor
of
a
house,in Honmura-cho. Since she no longer frequented the prostitution agency, she hadn't slept with a
month now.
man
for
more than
a
this late at
night nowadays. Just the sight, after so long,
of the quiet her heart in
late
was
rare for her
night scenery along the
some
indefinable way.
just then, and there
wind
It
Moat gladdened
was
It
even to be out
early in
May
was the pleasant sensation of the night
caressing her skin at the openings of the sleeves
and under the
skirts
Kiyooka was
a
Kimie had from
of her lined kimono. Thinking that
young
university professor or the like,
the start been well disposed toward him.
Deliberately repressing her leaping happiness and assuming a constrained
she in
him
let
even while going along with him,
air
take her that night to an assignation house
Yotsuya-Arakicho. Innately
found
man, would
a
fickle,
Kimie,
when she'd him and
instantly be passionate for
as instantly lose interest in
him. Her lovemaking with
Kiyooka continued almost
into the evening of the next
him go, she took that day oflffrom the cafe. Going with him that night to an inn in Inogashira Park, she spent the third night in Maruko Gardens. The fourth day, she returned with him to her rooms day. In her reluctance to let
in Ichigaya,
At about a
movie
where they this time,
actress called
for a while
finally parted
from each
had served
Suzuko something or as his
other,
who
concubine. Since her theft
by another man, he'd been searching
for a replacement.
Completely overwhelmed by Kimie's ardent if she'd
other.
Kiyooka had been thrown over by
attitude, as
given herself up body and soul to his pleasure, he
told her he
would indulge her
and that she was
to give
in
up being
44
any luxury she wished a waitress.
But Kimie
During
the Rains
meant
said that she
and would
to
like a little
open up
more
a cafe herself in the future
experience. In that case, said
Kiyooka, she should work on the Ginza. Making her quit her job
at
the Salon Lac after a
around Kyoto and Osaka he got her
their return,
prominent
cafes
a
job
to the days
at
when
or so, he took her
it
the
of weeks.
Don Juan,
the
on the Ginza. Soon
season came to an end and
mer
month
for a couple
Upon
one of the
thereafter, the rainy
was summer. From midsum-
first
autumn
breezes began to
blow, Kiyooka had no doubt but what he was loved by
Kimie from her heart. One evening, however, on
his
way
back from the theater with two or three fellow writers, he stopped in
at
the cafe. Told by the other waitresses that
Kimie, complaining of suddenly feeling unwell, had gone
home
early,
he decided
after parting
go by himself to her rented room see
how
she was.
As he
set
suddenly emerge from the
from
his friends to
Honmura-cho and out, he saw a woman's figure street along the Moat that he
always turned into. Although
it
in
was not yet midnight,
the houses along the one side of the alleyway had already
shut their doors. Along the thoroughfare, where both pedestrians and trolleys had tary taxi raced by.
From
Kiyooka soon ascertained
become
a distance
that the
only a
soli-
of about thirty
feet,
sparse,
woman was
whitish gauze silk-crepe kimono and a a pattern
wearing
summer
a
obi with
of green bamboo. His suspicions aroused, he
cut across the roadway. Keeping to the sidewalk along the foot of the
The woman, police box,
embankment, he shadowed the woman.
briskly and blithely passing in front of the
seemed
to stop
and be waiting for
a trolley at
the Ichigaya stand. Then, unexpectedly, she entered the
Hachiman Shrine. Without looking behind made her way up the Woman's Slope on the left.
gate of the her, she
45
During
Although more suspicious than
the Rains
Kiyooka was de-
ever,
termined to stay out of sight. Well acquainted with
neighborhood and trusting
to his
man's
fleetness
this
of foot,
he ran around the shrine compound and climbed the Sanai Slope. Entering the shrine grounds
he looked about.
A man
together on a bench the
main
shrine,
where
the Ichigaya Approach. three or four benches,
woman were
and
at the
from the back
sitting close
bottom of the stone
a cliff
stairs
Of course, illicit
was only one of
theirs
a
couple was
wanted
a
grove
He
trees as his cover, gradually crept nearer.
to eavesdrop
sit-
rendezvous. Kiyooka,
thinking this an excellent opportunity and with
of cherry
of
overlooked the Moat and
on each of which
ting rubbing shoulders in an
gate,
on Kimie and also
find out
what sort
of person her companion was. Telling himself that
had ever succeeded
no detective
moment,
in the excess
of his sur-
for an outburst
of jealous
prise,
had no time to spare
anger.
The man, wearing what looked
it
a
dark blue yukata without even
and held
a
he had that
in his investigations as
night, Kiyooka, at that
on
any detective story
in
walking
stick.
to be particularly old, even
like a
panama, had
summer
a
haori over
Although he did not appear by the dim
light
of the park
lamp the whiteness of his mustache stood out
to the eye.
Clasping Kimie around the waist under her obi, the said: "It certainly
nice and cool up here.
is
I'm having some new experiences. at sixty
I
practice
been decades since
where
shall
I
woman on
a
park
believe, there's a big archery range
on the other side of this
come and
man
to you,
never thought that
years of age I'd be meeting a
bench. Even now,
to
I
Thanks
shrine.
my
When was young, I
climbed these stone
we go from
I
used
archery there. Since then, stairs.
Well now,
here? Just staying here with
46
it's
you
During
the
Rains
on this bench is
fine
with me. Ha-ha." Laughing, the
Kimie on the cheek.
kissed
For a while, Kimie to
do
man
as
allowed the old gentleman
silently
he pleased. Presently, though, she quietly got up
from the bench. Bringing the front together, and
smoothing her
walk
Accompanied by
a little."
skirts
of her kimono
sidelocks, she said: "Let's
the
man, she went down
Woman's Slope up which Kimie had come, followed them at a distance. Unaware of him, the pair strolled along chatting the stone stairs. Kiyooka, circling around to the
by the edge of the Moat.
"How
I
moved
to
booked up every day from afternoon
she's
paid her a
little visit
good
to have a really It
since she
A girl like her must surely be very busy."
"She says on.
Kyoko been doing
has
Fujimi-cho?
talk.
recently.
But there was no time
You should go over sometime.
doesn't particularly matter if she's not in."
"Hm.
It'd
be interesting for the three of us to stay up
through the night together.
had such fun on
been
It's
that second floor in
a
long time since
Suwamachi, hasn't
we it?
You and Kyoko were really good playmates. During the day, even when I'm doing some serious work, something odd occurs to me and right away I think of you. Then I think of Kyoko. "Still,
I
feel as if I'm
having
a
dream."
compared to Kyoko, I'm better for your health."
"I'm not so sure. Just because you look girl,
yours
you
started
is
like a
decent
the greater sin. Aren't things different since
working
at the cafe?
What about
that for-
eigner?"
"There's too as
one wishes.
much
On
gossip
on
open and have no problems.
was
in
the Ginza.
One
can't
do
the other hand, geishas operate in the
Suwamachi."
47
It
really
was
better
when
I
During
the Rains
"What about her patron? Has he gotten out ofjail yet?" don't beheve so. There haven't been any talks since
"I
then,, so their relationship
was just obligation
probably over. Anyway,
is
— she owed him
it
for having paid off a
debt. She wasn't particularly fond of him or anything."
"What does she call herself these days? Is it still Kyoko?" "No. She
calls herself Kyoyo."
Enjoying the cool antly deserted
each other
late
night breezes and the pleas-
bank of the Moat, the two
flirted
they strolled along. Rounding the
as
proach, from the trolley avenue
at
with
New Ap-
the base of Hitoguchi
Slope, they turned into an alley in Sanban-cho, stop-
ping outside
a geisha
house that had the name "Paulownia
Blossom House" written on eaves. Since in the
it
was
a
the lanterns hanging
summer
neighborhood were
night,
all
from its
the geisha houses
open. Geishas sat out-
still
on benches enjoying the evening cool and gossiping
side
among themselves. In a familiar tone, the man inquired: "Is Kyoyo in?" Immediately, a diminutive woman stuck her round face out the door. Clad only in a loincloth, her hair
the
done in
low Shimada
a
coiffure tied with paper cords,
woman emerged from the house in
coming
as far
out
as the dirt-floored
all
her nakedness,
entryway.
"Ah, you're together. I'm delighted to see you. You've
come
at
the right time. I've only just gotten back."
"Do you know some good have
place
where we can go and
a nice talk?"
"I see
.
.
.
well, in that case
.
.
."
The naked woman
whispered an address to the man. The two walked on and turned the corner.
Kiyooka,
who up
to
now had
been
trailing the pair
while keeping himself concealed in the shadows of the alley,
could not bring himself to turn back now that things
48
During
the Rains
were progressing so
satisfactorily.
proceeded to the assignation house
Timing
his visit,
he
where Kimie had been
taken. Posing as an ordinary customer, he paid in ad-
vance, asking for a submissive off to bed quite as if that were a night spent
with
his eye
Kyoyo, he quietly took it
was
still
all
he had in mind.
old
on
a
in
loiter a
sun was up.
the high
at
sitting
down
ground on the
of the Moat.
Never, in
his thirty-six years,
all
had Kiyooka seen
even in dreams what he had witnessed with
He
the night before.
realized that the
which he had held up Without the energy merely
After
while in the em-
Yonban-cho. Strolling or
bench, he vaguely gazed
far side
.
early to return to his house in
Akasaka, he had no choice but to
bankment park
.
man with Kimie and
his leave before the
somewhat
.
glued to the peephole watch-
unknown
ing the frolics of that
Since
young geisha and took her
felt
to
now was
his
own eyes women
view of
completely mistaken.
for an explosion
of jealous rage, he
unaccountably depressed. Until now, he'd
simply assumed that
all
young women, not just Kimie,
calmly surrendered themselves to old lechers in their
and
fifties
sixties,
forgoing love and sexual satisfaction
solely for the sake of economic security.
How wrong
had been! The truth was something quite
body
like
alone,
Kimie,
other.
he
Some-
who he had thought loved him and him
had to go and debauch herself with an ugly old
man and a lewd, cheap geisha. Along with the realization of how superficial his experience and observation had been, Kiyooka
words.
felt a
He would
ever, after he'd
hatred for Kimie that was beyond
never see her again after
gone home and gotten
roiled-up feelings calmed
down
be too contemptible for words
49
this.
a little sleep, his
considerably.
if
How-
It
he pretended to
would
know
During nothing.
the Rains
He could not rest easy until he'd confronted her
with what she had done and exacted apology from her
own
a confession
and an
hps. After further thought,
how-
he realized that Kimie was not the ordinary
ever,
girl
she appeared to be. Interrogated, she might confess to
everything with surprising nonchalance. She might even, in her heart of hearts, be smiling scornfully at his jeal-
ousy and sexual a
frustration. This, for a
humiliation more
unfaithfulness.
He
difficult to
endure than the woman's
could not ignore the
would be even more mortifying
all
much thought,
pretend not to know.
as before.
And
it
at
him behind
his
he decided that he would after
On the surface,
While endlessly being made
bide his time and exact
insult.
to have her ostensibly
apologize and then stick out her tongue back. After
man, would be
some
things
would be
a fool of,
he would
signal revenge. This
was the
best plan.
For the past several years, to manage fairs,
Kiyooka had made use of two
his literary af-
trusted assistants.
One was a young writer named Muraoka, who'd recently graduated from Waseda University or some such institution.
For
a
monthly compensation of about one hundred
yen, he took
down
the stories that
him and worked them up into a Then Komada, a man of about
Kiyooka dictated
to
presentable manuscript. fifty,
went around
sell-
ing the stories to newspapers and magazines. As a former
employee of the accounts department of
a
newspaper,
Komada was conversant with the current prices for manuscripts and also had many friends among the reporters. He worked for a commission of 20 percent. It was the devoted Muraoka who, on Kiyooka's orders, had waylaid
Kimie on her way back from
the kabuki and slashed
off her sleeves with a safety razor.
ments had been bought
for
50
Of course,
the gar-
Kimie by Kiyooka. Some
During
the
Rains
time afterward,
Kiyooka had pearl-inlaid
stealthily abstracted
out.
would cry and
mind
Contrary to
from Kimie's
didn't
She didn't mention
the loss.
they
as
seem it
to particu-
Kiyooka
to
or,
woman at her place.
Although Kiyooka had known look
hair the
his expectation that she
Kimie
carry on,
apparently, to the old
Kimie was
together in a taxi,
comb he'd bought her at Mitsukoshi's
were getting
larly
when they were riding
a slovenly,
for
some time
uneconomical person
after her affairs properly,
who
that
didn't
he had not imagined that
her indifference even to the clothes she wore ran to
when
degree of nonchalance. Whereupon,
this
she was out,
he'd tossed a dead kitten into her clothes closet and later carefully observed her reaction.
Even
however, had
this,
not seemed to sow the seeds of fear in Kimie to any great extent. Finally, although worried that if
worse came to
worst he would be found out, he had instructed Muraoka to plant an item in Street Scenes about the
mole on Kimie's
inner thigh. This did seem to have caused Kimie consider-
Kiyooka
able uneasiness. Saying to himself "look at that,"
found
a
measure of
relief
from
his
had dropped from
that the scales
more he investigated Kimie's
life
angry
feelings.
his eyes,
the
more he found
angry about. His desire for revenge was not to be
by simple occasional pranks. portunity to
inflict
Now
however, the to be
satisfied
In order to spy out an op-
harsher punishment on Kimie's
body
and mind, he pretended to be more deeply infatuated with her than
ever.
This was to put her off her guard and
to prevent his intentions
enmity
had his
a
from being discovered. But the
that lay coiled at the
bottom of Kiyooka's heart
way of inadvertently showing
itself at the
words. Kiyooka had to exert extraordinary
keep
it
edges of
efforts to
hidden.
A moment ago, when Kiyooka had despite himself said 51
During
much about
too pass
it
the fortune-teller, his frantic attempt to
off as nothing
was inspired by
not good to go on facing each other
Glancing "It's
at his
wristwatch, he said
already ten-thirty.
a
I'll
this concern.
like this,
was
It
he thought.
as if quite surprised:
go with you."
it somehow unbearable to man in her unwashed state after having spent
Kimie, for her
be seen by
the Rains
found
part,
the night out. She, too, wanted to get out of the house. "Yes. Let's tiful,
I
walk
When
a little.
the weather's so beau-
hate to go to work. Because
from one end of the day
to the other."
don't see the sun
I
Throwing over her
shoulders a vertically striped unlined haori that she had carelessly tossed aside,
"If you
row
go today
Kimie
slid
shut the paper window.
at eleven, that
means you go tomor-
at five."
"Yes. So
come
to the cafe tonight. I'd like to
where and enjoy myself
that all right
Is
go some-
with you?"
"That's so." Giving this ambiguous reply, Kiyooka
took up
his hat.
"We'll go
somewhere and have
we? Anyway, I'm Kiyooka, stairs,
who
a
good
time, won't
free tonight." Pressing herself against
already stood
the head of the ladder-
at
putting up her cheek as
if to
say "kiss me,"
Kimie
half-lowered her long eyelashes.
Although thinking she was at this
dislike,
overly severe to
Kiyooka
fmd moral
the trade of pleasure.
At
he looked
whom
he had no
woman
charming, sensuous
fundamental
a sly puss, as
for
reflected that perhaps
fault
that
with
a
woman
moment, even
it
was
born to
his long-
cherished anger with her evaporated. If one thought of
her as a kind of machine for exciting men's sexual desires,
what she did when he wasn't around was nothing ish her for. all
He
the pleasure
even
felt as if
to
pun-
he should simply extract
from her he could and then throw her 52
During
the Rains
away. But then, instantly, his wish for her to be a
more
considerate of his feelings, to behave herself, and
him and him
to belong to
Looking we'll
aside,
alone began to surface again.
Kiyooka remarked
casually: "At
any
rate,
meet on the Ginza tonight. We'll decide then."
"Yes. Please." clattered
down
Her
face suddenly brightening,
Kimie
the stairs a step ahead of him. Snatch-
woman,
ing a cleaning rag from the old
Kiyooka's shoes with her
she wiped off
own hands.
In order to avoid the public gaze
on the
sidestreet that
led out to the Ichigaya side of the Moat, the
from
little
alley to alley,
coming out
Academy. Ascending Bikuni
in front
two
slipped
of the Military
Slope, they
walked along
the Moat through Honmura-cho in the direction of the Yotsuya Approach. As it was getting toward noon, they kept somewhat apart, although walking side by side, and
did not even speak to each other. Kimie, her face hidden
by
abruptly recalled that
a parasol,
it
was along here
that
she had strolled hand in hand with Yata the night before,
when
they'd gotten off the trolley.
and day made her wonder, despite
She could not but If
feel
what had
in-
Yata.
disgust at her feckless acquiescence.
Kiyooka-san found out about
From
contrast of night
herself,
do the will of a man as unsatisfactory as
clined her to
be.
The
it,
how
angry he would
the shade of her parasol, she furtively observed
the man's profile. She
felt a slight
pang of conscience, and
an unbearable sense of pity for him.
From now on, Kimie as much as possible
thought, she would behave herself
on her way home from the
impromptu
solicitations. It
apology, but her.
cafe
and not give in to any
wasn't that she meant
it
as
an
somehow Kiyooka suddenly became dear to
Snuggling up to him, she took
his
hand regardless of
the passers-by.
Kiyooka, evidently thinking that Kimie had grabbed 53
During
the Rains
hand because she'd stumbled on something,
his
of the eyes of the public, dodged away from her
fearful
slightly
toward the Moat. "What's the matter?" "I
say
want so much come.
can't
I
"What "I'll
to take today off.
be
It'll
you do
will
I'll
call
them up and
right."
all
the rest of the day?"
wait for you somewhere until you've finished your
business."
"We'll be able to see each other tonight. to take the day off, "I
me
suddenly
feel like
Kiyooka had
come out on
doing nothing
way of your
stand in the
You don't have
do you?"
no business
in fact
a surprise
all
day.
Don't
let
business, though."
He had
to attend to.
spying mission to observe Kimie's
behavior. If he shook her off
at this
point and went on
way, he could not be certain of what she might get up
his
to in the interval until he
met her
that night.
The
trivial
matter began to get strangely on his nerves.
Kimie, for her
of experience this
kind
it
with her
knew from her months and years men that in a situation of to give the man a bit of a hard time
part,
in manipulating
was best
selfish
whims. Somehow, Kimie
felt
intoler-
ably bothered by what Kiyooka had said before about the fortune-teller.
Without waiting
for tonight, she
would
have to adopt some method forthwith of making the say
what was
From long experience, she the man was, when it
no matter how angry
knew
that
came
right
Kimie
in his heart.
felt
down
to
it
she could easily captivate him.
endlessly at ease in this belief in her
was something she had been born with,
glamor.
It
of
temperature and body scent
flesh
particularly exercising any
come
man
into contact with
it
skill, left
that,
the
own kind
without her
man who had memory
an indelible, lifelong
54
a
During
the Rains
of pleasure. Not by one man, not by two men, but by
many various men Kimie had been told that she truly was an enchantress. Did her body give men such a powerful thrill? she'd
wondered. As she'd become more self-aware,
Kimie had gradually perfected her charms
until
now, de-
spite herself,
she believed profoundly in her power of
seduction.
They'd come almost
Abruptly putting on
Station.
Kimie a
as far as the exit
said: "I've
one-yen
taxi
spoken
from
"Hm." Despite as if she
a sad, forlorn expression,
selfishly,
and
that's bad.
I'll
take
here."
curt reply,
his
Kimie's wistful demeanor,
from her,
of Yotsuya
were
felt a
Kiyooka, noticing
curious reluctance to part
a mistress he'd
acquired just today
or yesterday. Kimie, deliberately fastening a vague gaze
on Kiyooka, poking the gravel with the tip of her parasol, stood
as if rooted to the
ground.
Forgetting everything he had against her, pressing her to him,
Kiyooka said:
place
fme. We'll go together."
is
"Do you
really
"It's all right.
mean
it?"
into her long-lashed eyes,
Take the day
off.
Expertly bringing the tears
Kimie quietly looked
ground.
55
Any
at
the
^)
f
IVE
In front of the gate of Matsukage Shrine in the metro-
poHtan suburban intersection.
dred and
district
of Setagaya, there
As you go along
a
T-shaped
the branch road
two hun-
yards or so, you
fifty
come
is
to a red lacquer
gate with a framed tablet that reads "Katsuenji Temple."
Across from
there
is
a tea field.
goes downhill. There
is
a
dry
fields
est at the
it,
From
here, the road
view, far in the distance across
and paddies, of the bamboo grove and cedar forback of Gotokuji Temple. Even in Setagaya,
neighborhood
is
probably the most secluded and remi-
niscent of the outskirts of the city in the old days.
the other side of the tea style houses
this
field,
there
is
a
On
row of Western-
with cement gateposts and
fences.
At the
foot of the slope, however, there are four or five reed-
thatched farmhouses, each enclosed by the same kind of
hedge
fence.
Among them was
an enclosure which, from
the nature of the locality, one might have guessed was the
residence and place of business of a gardener. Double slid-
ing doors were set between "inverted mixing-bowl" gateposts of chestnut
wood. Not even
standing far back
among
street
On
the roof of the house,
the trees, could be seen
from the
through the luxuriant mass of freshly green
foliage.
one gatepost, a nameplate read "Kiyooka Residence."
The words were
rain-stained and difficult to
make
out.
This was the retirement retreat of the writer Kiyooka
Susumu's old
father, Akira. Directly
summer sun shone down on
overhead, the early
the chestnut and chinaberry
56
During
the
Rains
trees just inside the gate. cast
The young
on the ground outside the underneath the
rectly
leaves.
woman
sober,
a
of about
It
was midday.
burnt-tea-color parasol,
thirty,
di-
the lusty duckings of
chickens were heard here and there.
Closing
shadows,
were drawn up
gate,
Only
leaves'
a
young
refmed-looking and evidently
a
married lady, opened the gate and passed inside. Her hair
done
in a loose bun, so that
onto her nape, she wore family crest lined
at
black
tumbled casually
summer
down
haori with her
the back of the collar over a fme-quality
kimono with
figure, a
a
it
Her
a splash pattern.
slender,
willowy
white shawl over her shoulders, combined with
her long neck, well-defined features, and pale, narrow face to give her a tranquilly lonely
air.
Shifting to the
other hand a bundle wrapped in a carrying cloth, she closed the gate. In contrast to the sun pounding
on the road, here
a gentle current
of
air
from the quiet summer shadows of the back into place a
a stray curl
while the young
woman
down
came flowing
trees.
Stroking
disheveled by the breeze, for
looked about
her.
The
little
path inside the gate was bordered with dragon's beard.
To one
side,
chestnut, persimmon, plum, jujube, and
similar trees flourished densely.
was
a
To
grove of speckled bamboo.
the other side, there
Its
young, vigorously
lengthening sprouts were starting to grow up into pale
young bamboo
trees.
From among
the branches of the
older trees, slender leaves were constantly fluttering to the
ground. The heavy-scented flowers of the chestnuts were in full
bloom. The young leaves of the persimmon, ex-
celling
even those of the Japanese maple, were displaying
just at this time their tenderest hues of fresh Filtered
by the
new
green.
treetops, the sunlight shifted sparklingly
over the thick moss. Beneath the quiet whispering of the
57
During breeze, there
was
a
the Rains
sound of water flowing nearby. Some
unknown little bird was warbling, livelier than the shrike singing at the dawn of a clear autumn day. Unconsciously softening her tread bird's voice, the
the sound of the
at
young woman followed
gravel path around the
bamboo grove
the curve of the
until she
an old bungalow hitherto obscured by the
entryway had
galow to
itself
mind
had
a
that
housebeams had been
tall
roof
the
tiles
window
not the
stability that
brought
least
foundation posts and sturdy
its
spliced to replace rotten
alongside the entryway had been
a
mixed hedge of box and
left
a
open,
bloom, were
however,
it
all
the
was quiet and
a
Only, on the grape
trellis that
among
shone
mingling of white and
more conspicuous. Here deserted.
sound neither of flower shears nor of kitchen door,
azalea blocked
in the sunlight that
through here, the peony flowers, full
wood, and
sound came from inside the house. Beneath
any view of the garden. But
also,
this
were stained green with moss. Although
window,
red in
The
The bun-
in as an afterthought.
look of timeless
but
to
the priests' living quarters of an old temple.
But there were signs
its
foliage.
a frosted glass latticework door,
had evidently been put
came
a
hung along
the flowers
There was the garden broom. the eaves to the
whose time
to
bloom
had evidently come, the buzzing of horseflies gathered clusters there noised
in
abroad the news that the summer
day was long. "Is
anyone home?" Taking off her shawl, the young
woman
quietly slid
open the
lattice
door.
the hushed interior, a voice answered:
opaque paper door was immediately
man with his
his spectacles
pushed up on
snow-white eyebrows.
It
From within is it?" The
"Who
slid
back by an old
his
forehead above
was the householder, Akira.
58
During
the Rains
"Tsuruko,
Please
is it?
on an "I
errand. I'm
came
something
in.
Today the old
alone."
all
at just the right time, then.
can do for you instead."
I
woman
And I've sent Densuke into the city
off on a grave- visit.
is
come
Perhaps there's
Still
carrying her
man
bundle, the young v^oman followed the old
inside
and seated herself at the threshold of the veranda. "You're already airing things out, "I
don't do
it
whenever the
so
throughout the
see."
I
any particular time.
at
spirit
year.
moves me,
I
do
I
it
have no help, at
odd times
the best sort of exercise for an
It's
old man."
From halfway along the veranda to the eight-mat room at
the back of the house, folding cases of manuscripts,
scrolls,
and pictures had been set out. Both the translucent
and the opaque paper doors were wide open. tail it
butterfly
came
fluttering into the parlor. Presently,
flew out into the garden again.
bundle on her clothing
lap,
Tsuruko
made over
while I'm
at
it,
shall
I
feet,
the old
I'll
leave
make some
a look, will
man began to
of
that article
over there.
And
tea?"
got as a
I
had it
think there's
I
some such thing
room. Just have
Undoing her kerchief
said: "I've
for you.
"Yes. I'd like a cup. paste or
A swallow-
some sweet bean
gift in the
breakfast
you?" As Tsuruko got to her
straighten,
one by one, the old
manuscripts lying on the veranda. His closely cropped hair,
as
with
white
his thick
as
eyebrows and mustache, had turned
snow, accentuating the healthy flush of
his
His lean, slightly built body seemed to have grown more and more vigorous with age. When Tsuruko came
face.
back with green
tea
and sweets, the old man
sat
down
at
the edge of the veranda. "I
haven't seen you for
some time. I thought you might
59
During
have caught
rounds
They
a cold.
say the flu
the Rains
making the
is still
in the city."
"You haven't caught
a single cold since last year,
have
you, Father?" "I
had
young
somewhat
a
people go off
diflferent
upbringing from today's
Ha-ha. The drawback
people.
You
once.
at
all
that healthy
is
depend on good
can't
health."
"Well
—
can't trust. it is
no need
there's
"There's
a
of thing."
to say that kind
saying from the old days about things you a
'It is
hard thing to trust in the favor of a lord;
hard thing to trust in the health of old
a
How's Susumu? Flourishing like "Yes. Thank you for asking."
age.'
Ha-ha.
the green bay tree?"
"There's something I've been wanting to talk with about. Actually, not long ago,
on
the trolley
looked part,
at
.
."
the old
Tsuruko over
man
met your
him
elder brother
began, then coughed and
Tsuruko, for her
his spectacles.
answered with studied casualness.
"Is
it
"Yes. to
.
I
something about me?" It
was nothing bad.
do with your family
We were
register.
talking about
what
There's no use fretting
about what has already happened. Let bygones be bygones.
I
If your
said
had no objections to whatever was decided.
family and
anything.
we
I
I
agree on
What about it,
can ask the clerk
at
the
just a matter of my putting
"Yes. "It it's
I'll tell
my
it,
Susumu
isn't likely to
then? If we set about
ward
my
husband
oflfice
it
to write
say
early on, it
up.
It's
seal to it."
that as
soon
as
I
get back."
doesn't really matter about the family register, but
best to be upright in
together the same as
should be
a
all
one's dealings. If you've lived
man and
wife for
all
these years,
matter of course to enter your
60
name
in
it
our
During
the
Rains
family register.
I
don't really
know what went on at first,
but according to your brother it's already been five years." "Yes. If
I
remember
correctly." Deliberately
Tsuruko lowered her
ous,
eyes.
ing to count the years on her fingers, that years. In the
ambigu-
She knew, without need-
autumn of her twenty-third
it
had been
five
when
her
year,
former husband had graduated from military college and
was studying abroad, Tsuruko had with Kiyooka Susumu
fallen into a liaison
hotel in Karuizawa.
at a
Her hus-
band's family, although not particularly wealthy, were
descended from the old aristocracy and
what people would hear and
ful
as
such were fear-
Without waiting
say.
for the husband's return, they'd dissolved the marriage
on the pretext of Tsuruko's
frail health.
Her parents had
already died by this time. Tsuruko's elder brother had
made something of a name dustry.
she
for himself in the
Bestowing just enough
would not go hungry or
capital
world of in-
on Tsuruko so
that
lack clothing, he forbade her
to set foot in the family's house or those of relatives for
the rest of her at
life.
home with his
At
that time,
father in
Susumu was
still
living
Komagome-Sendagimachi and
putting out a coterie magazine in conjunction with a few
other literary-minded youths.
When
was annulled, he immediately
left his father's
up
set
later,
a
new household
Akira suddenly
in
Tsuruko's marriage
house and
Kamakura. About half a year
lost his
wife to influenza. At the
same time, by the terms of the Civil Service Retirement Law, he was dismissed from perial University.
his professorship at the
the house in Sendagimachi and settled life
down to a leisurely
in the dilapidated cottage in Setagaya,
now had
Im-
Taking advantage of this, he rented out
been kept
as a sort
which up
to
of country house.
Until about ten years before, Akira's father, Genzai,
6i
During
had lived death
in retirement in the Setagaya cottage until his
Genzai, a scholar of medicinal herbs
at eighty.
had been employed Shogunate
in the herb gardens
Komaba, had
at
known among
well
the Rains
also written
he had held true to
his principles
der of his
at this
life
here
books and was Often urged
his fellow specialists.
after the Meiji Restoration to serve the
new government,
and passed the remain-
country
and plants that flourished today
who
of the Tokugawa
retreat. All the trees
in the
garden were the
mementos of Genzai. At first entering the academy of Nakamura Keiu, Akira had completed his studies under Sato Makiyama and Shinobu Joken. Immediately upon graduation from the Imperial University, he'd
been engaged
as
an assistant in-
structor there. For approximately thirty years, until his
retirement, he'd taught a course in Chinese composition.
Evidently there was something in him deeply sensitive to the times, however, for he usually advised his students
world the study of a dead way of writing
that in today's
was the apex of foolishness. Deprecating something
fit
for his opinion he
ing
much with
would smilingly
his colleagues,
mainly doing research ten
numerous
When affair
a
when asked Not associat-
articles,
in
married
refuse.
he followed his
own
bent,
Taoism. Although he had writ-
he hadn't published any of them.
he'd learned that his son
with
his specialty as
only for the dilettante, even
woman
Susumu was having an
and had
set
up house with
her in defiance of the world, Akira had been profoundly indignant. Thinking, however, that the
young men and women of
listen to the
this
it
wasn't likely that
modern age would
admonitions of an old man, he'd completely
resigned himself. Pretending to fact virtually severed relations
62
know nothing,
he had in
with Susumu. In the three
During
Rains
the
moving to this retirement cottage in
years since
Setagaya,
he hadn't communicated with him even once. Susumu,
from
for his part, surmising his father's indignation
ordinary disposition, as let
the
a sign
his
of defiance had deUberately
weeks and months go by without getting
in touch
with him.
However, when Akira had gone in
Komagome on his
by her presence in the narrow, hedged
woman's awkward bow
by bluntly asking her name. Only then did he
the unruly
own
free will
man
a
had taken up with the
Susumu know
woman likes
of
the death anniversary of her
mother-in-law, so to speak, and pay old
realize that
Why would
she was his son's wife, Tsuruko.
of her
come
Com-
flowers at the grave.
enclosure, he'd responded to the
who
Temple
wife's death anniversary, he'd
upon a young woman offering pletely taken aback
to Kichijoji
did not understand.
He
a grave-visit?
The
even thought that his
aged ears had misheard the name. As they walked along
make sure. That and after coming out
the cemetery path, he asked her again, to
provided the
start
of a conversation,
the temple gates they boarded a trolley together.
without their knowing
and on until
it
had habitually thought
their conversation
it,
was time
Up
to separate.
that the
to
Almost
went on
now, Akira
young men and women
of today were totally devoid of any moral sense. In his view, the
young men were
unfilial wastrels,
different
for the
and the young
most part
women were
a
gang of
not
much
from animals. More and more mystified by Tsu-
ruko's ladylike speech and demeanor, he thought stranger that
someone so conscious of the
rules
it
even
of correct
behavior should have committed the sin of adultery. Even after he'd gotten
home, he continued
mightily on the matter. Suddenly,
63
to exercise his
it
mind
occurred to Akira
During that
the
Rains
Tsuruko had broken her vows of constancy only
deceived by his debauched scoundrel of a son.
was
so, she
truly to be pitied.
he had no excuses to
pai-ent
met Tsuruko by chance
at
he'd gone up to her of his
If that
to be
were
Somehow feeling that as a when Akira afterward
offer,
the Shinjuku railway station,
own
accord.
And
so, at
some
point or another Tsuruko had been given the entree of the
house in Setagaya. But, from
a sort
of mutual reserve,
two did not touch on her relationship with Susumu. The matter remained as it was, without questions asked or statements made. As for financial matters, Susumu had the
gone on
to
make enormous sums of money, and
man's frugal way of
was too much for either
him
life
for him.
was such So
the old
that even his pension
that there
was no occasion
or Tsuruko to discuss household expenses.
Although there was
man who came in to look after woman who did the household
a
the garden and an old
chores, Tsuruko had seen that Akira seemed to lack for
proper meals, clean clothing, and attentions to his person. Unobtrusively, she did for
needed doing.
If
she had said openly that she was going
to take care of him, Akira that
it
in the
would
certainly have
answered
wasn't necessary. Also, there was an elder daughter
Kiyooka
of what
family,
this lady
a discreet
who had
married
a
doctor. Fearful
might think, Tsuruko did everything
manner
the days and
so as not to attract her observation.
months went by, Tsuruko's
feelings naturally
her
him whatever she noticed
became
state
clear to the old
more and more, he could not
in
As
of mind and
man. Pitying
help but secretly admire
her as a person too good for the likes of his son Susumu.
Holding said: "I
having
his
empty teacup on
was thinking of a talk
visiting
his knee, the old
your family soon and
with them. But when you get
64
man
old, putting
During
the Rains
on formal
clothes
becomes
impolite not to dress up for a a
But
a nuisance.
good opportunity. But you
I'm waiting for
first visit.
will
come
would be
it
to see
me, won't
you, even afterward?" "Yes. Things will be the same. If brother,
wouldn't
I
it
were just
my
but there's also your daugh-
hesitate,
ter to consider."
may be
"That
"At any That's
rate, it's surely
why
"It's
so."
I
who
I
have been in the wrong.
don't hold anything against anyone."
As
splendid of you to feel that way."
man
the old
spoke, a big horsefly alighted on a copybook of stone
rubbings of ancient handwriting specimens that had been out to
set
air.
Getting to his
Akira went on: mistake.
The
feet
and chasing the
"One should never be
fly
away,
afraid to correct a
errors of youth cannot be helped.
The good
or evil of a person comes out in old age."
Tsuruko
started to say
spite herself her voice
something but,
fearful that de-
might tremble, remained
with her head bowed. Her heart suddenly was she
felt
her eyes
grow
silent
full,
and
moist. Luckily, just then, she heard
a voice in the kitchen.
Making
that her opportunity to
escape, she hastily got to her feet.
ing in the direction the
fly
The
had gone,
old man, look-
said: "It's
probably
either the sake dealer or the postman. Please don't bother
yourself."
He began
to leisurely fold
up the pages of the
copybook. Tsuruko, determined not to show her
around to the kitchen; sure enough the sake dealer's
come
to deliver a
kitchen entryway, shaded by fell softly.
The
it
a
tears,
had gone
was the man from keg of soy. In the
grape arbor, the sunlight
breeze that came blowing from the
boo grove was so bracing
it
65
was
chilly.
The
old
bam-
woman
During
had evidently
Even
the ashes in the brazier had been neatly
man from
out. After the
there
up the maid's room before
tidied
seemed
to be
had held back
Rains
leaving.
smoothed
the sake dealer's had
nobody around,
the
the tears that
left,
and
Tsuruko
once overflowed. Hastily, she wiped
all at
them away with a handkerchief The old man knew nothing about it, but she and Susumu were a married couple in name only these days. It was no time to be considering whether or not
Susumu had
to enter her
left
name
in the family register.
the house the day before yesterday and
probably would not be back by tonight, even. These past
two or
three years,
script,
it
from home
as
a manuhim to stay away He would probably
on the pretext of preparing
had become customary long
as
for
he pleased.
be back in two or three days. With things
as
they were,
however, although he would surely not refuse to enter her
name
clear
in the family register as his legal wife,
without
his saying so that
great pleasure.
He might
even act
upon. Tsuruko, w^hile thinking
as if he
was
how
were being put
grateful she
Akira's kindness, could not but feel tearful to accept
it
would give him no
it
at
was
for
her inability
it.
The love life of Tsuruko and Susumu had lasted barely a were renting a house in Kamakura. Then
year, while they
Susumu, literary
from a
his
bound, became the darling of the
at a single
world and pulp
house for
a
started
fiction.
movie
making money hand over
Not only
did he immediately
actress called Sugihara
he took to going on endless geisha
had discarded him
low
actor,
some
in favor
sj^.^es.
fist
buy
Suzuko, but
After Suzuko
of legal marriage to
a fel-
Susumu promptly consoled himself by making
cafe waitress his concubine.
Although thoroughly
disgusted with him, rather than a passion of jealousy
66
During
the Rains
Tsuruko had come
to feel a bottomless sadness of despair
over her husband's character. Since her
Tsuruko had been tutored
girls'
school days,
and etiquette by an
in language
old French lady and had studied classic literature and cal-
ligraphy under a certain Japanese scholar.
The
discipline
and charm of such pursuits had proved her undoing when she married into the prosaic household of a professional soldier.
Not only had
in such a
life
household proved un-
endurable, but even toward the writer Kiyooka Susumu, the
man
she had chosen for herself, she'd been unable
for long to have feelings of affection
she compared the
Susumu of the
introduced to each other
Susumu,
the present
of popular
at a
who was
fiction, she
When
and respect.
past
when
they'd been
church in Karuizawa and regarded
as a great
master
could only think they were com-
Susumu five years ago had been unknown writer true to his serious literary aspirations. As for Susumu today, who could say what he
pletely different people.
an honest,
was? Without the least appearance of intellectual anguish, he seemed on the contrary to be endlessly, nervously keeping his eye fixed on fashions and
fads. In his diligent
money-grubbing, he might well be described bination impresario and speculator. his serialized
newspaper
fiction,
it
as a
com-
When one examined was simply
a
rehash
in current colloquial language of the banal stories
romances of yesteryear. Surely even the mildly
was aimed
must
and
literate
housewives
it
unreadable.
When she had read the story that Susumu had
begun
at
to publish in a ladies'
find such trash virtually
magazine from the end of
the previous year, Tsuruko had suddenly been reminded
of Rokuju-en's as if in a
Tales
dream,
ofHida no Takumi. She also recalled,
how
a professor
whose
Tale ofGenji she'd attended as a student
67
lectures
on The
had been wont to
During
men of the Edo
observe that the Hterary
nitely superior to today's writers.
had the run of the house,
demeanor were
all as
the Rains
period were
infi-
Susumu's cronies,
who
in their
manner of speech and
When two or three
alike as brothers.
of them were gathered together, they immediately began swilling Western liquor, sitting tailor-style or sprawled
out on their
sides,
they were having
what they were
and speaking in raucous voices
as if
When one listened to fmd out
a quarrel.
talking about,
it
was nothing but horse-
racing bets, mah-jongg wagers, vicious slander of friends, the vicissitudes of the publishing world, manuscript fees,
and absolutely obscene anecdotes about women.
Tsuruko had decided any number of times
Susumu's house
at
the
first
was no longer welcome
was relying on
the
at
money
her elder brother's house, she that he'd given her at the
of their estrangement. About half of bank. Even prepared
work
in an office,
was waiting
if
was
for the final break to occur.
time went by,
all it
still
time
in the
room and
find
Tsuruko had completed her plans and
Susumu, she continued
a
But although
request for alimony from
to say nothing, coldly
honoring
respects as a proper wife should.
became impossible
As
for her to abruptly
And
so she had failed to speak to
Overwhelmed by
these and other sad thoughts,
bring up the matter. this day.
it
necessary to take a
she certainly had no fears of
her husband in
to leave
good opportunity. Since she
Tsuruko, her handkerchief held between her
lips,
leaned
against the kitchen housepost and listened absentmind-
edly to the buzz of horseflies in the grape arbor.
Suddenly, there was surprise,
Tsuruko
a
sound of footsteps. Caught by
hastily tried to put herself to rights.
But the vestiges of tears
in the corners
of her eyes and the
sad pallor of her face were not so easily effaced.
68
During
the
Rains
The old man, thinking when Tsuruko had gone to the come back that perhaps it was a trouble-
kitchen and not
some
how
peddler, had casually stepped around to see
things were.
"Tsuruko, you're not feeling well, are you? Would you
down
like to lie
"No. I'm
all
at a loss
where
wooden
floor.
"Your
for a while?"
words, Tsuruko
right." Despite her
to put herself.
color's not good."
She
The
sat as if
old
felt
glued to the
man seemed
have
to
guessed what the matter was. "Whatever I hear from other people
I
never repeat. In the old days, there was
called
Hosoi Heishu. Whenever he found
ing to
somebody
he would burn
else,
a letter
on the
it
a
sage
belong-
spot.
You
needn't worry."
now
Tsuruko, wanting
to confide everything in her
good old man, drew herself close to his feet as to him. "There's something I want to tell you.
heart to this if to cling
Except for you. Father, even though
one
I
"Hm. I'm listening. look yourself at
want
no
to, there's
I've
been thinking that you didn't
all."
Noticing that the glass door of the
left
wide open by the man from the sake
kitchen had been
shop, Akira reached out and slid "Father, that talk It's
I
can talk to."
you
very kind of you, but
said I
it
shut.
you were going
don't think
anything." Tsuruko sniffed back her "Is that so?
a nuisance.
it
are
your thoughts?
to
tears.
Your home life is not going
What
to have.
would come
Is
well,
there
is it?
What
no hope
for
the future?"
"There's nothing in particular going on right now, but
even a
if I
wife in
were entered
name only.
in
your family
register,
There's no telling what
69
I
would be
may happen.
During I've
even thought
they
it
might be better just
the Rains
to leave things as
I'm sorry to be talking about myself this way."
are.
"No,
understand now.
I
Sasumu
It's
too bad to speak
ill
of
to you, but this sort of thing isn't limited to
Susumu. Even to the
if you explained what proper conduct was young people who play around with literature these
days,
it's
not likely they would understand.
teacher for
many
years,
and
know what
I
I've
been
a
I'm talking
I would call him in and try reasoning with him, but he's just no good.
about. If there were any hope for Susumu,
I've resigned
myself to
"Even when
ward
I've
it."
something,
said
be
been awk-
.
why even now, as But if we leave things as
"That's
him.
it's
." .
difficult.
I'm sorry about
say,
I
they
I'm not speaking to are,
your future will
that."
"There's no need to be. Whatever happens, I'm no I don't worry that much about the And it's not impossible that Susumu may come to
longer young, and so future.
have better feelings in the end."
"Hm. Hm." let
out
a sigh.
Still
standing, arms folded, the old
Then, hearing
of the back door, he
a
man
sound from the direction
"That seems to be Densuke.
said:
Let's talk over there."
All but taking her by the hand, the old
Tsuruko out of the kitchen.
70
man
hurried
SIX
Although it was was no wind.
it
was only
a drizzle
A
At seven
to break up. car pulled
o'clock,
a
who was
Hirokichi,
His companions, one past
men
man of
big-mouthed, balding
Komada
slid
open the
was
still
fifty
got out.
One
or so called
Kiyooka's literary agent.
forty, the other
clad in business suits and wearing glasses,
about
thirty,
were recogniz-
newspapermen. Komada, leading the
able at a glance as
way,
it
up to the gates of the Noda
geisha house in Fujimi-cho, and three
was
and there
In the early rainy season sky, the clouds
were beginning fairly light.
raining,
^
lattice
door. Joshing with the maids as
they took off their shoes, the three charged upstairs into a large sitting
room
at the front
arrangements had been made
smoking guest.
set
The
and
sitting
by telephone,
hung
in the air
of the room.
ready." Shortly after this greeting
ripely
"big sister boss," and a geisha of about twenty appearance.
since a
mature senior geisha, a woman who in this neighborhood would be called
by the maid, the of thirty or so
is
earlier
cushion were in readiness for each
scent of incense
"The bathwater
of the house. Evidently
made
their
They began setting out on the table the dishes
of food the maid had brought
upstairs.
Since the current story by Kiyooka in the Maruen news-
paper was due to conclude in two weeks,
Komada had
prudently entered into negotiations with another news-
paper for the
sale
of the next manuscript. Having secretly
paid off the managing editor, he was
of the
latter's
subordinates
at
71
now
regaling
the geisha house.
two
During
"The
sensei will be here presently.
Handing
let's start in."
Komada removed
He won't mind,
so
cup to the older reporter,
a sake
the lid
the Rains
from
bowl of soup.
a
"Drinking is just not one of my strong points." Having the geisha pour for him, the older reporter added: "I'm
who
like a geisha
can't play the samisen."
"I'm surprised
how to
at
you. Popular people have to learn
drink."
"Haven't I seen you somewhere before? I can't quite remember where. Surely not at a cafe?" "No, you may have. These days, what with geishas becoming waitresses and waitresses turning into geishas, there's no difference anymore." not unusual for
"It's
surely not
"Not
many
so.
It
"You don't
a geisha to
happens say.
all
become
become
waitresses
a waitress,
the time. Doesn't
There
are a lot
but
geishas." it,
sis?"
of them? I'm aston-
ished."
"That's right. There are five or six of us.
.
.
.
If
you
looked, you might find more." "Isn't there
someone here who used
to be
on the Ginza
or thereabouts?"
"That ya
.
.
.
girl
who
recently
came
what was her name
.
to us
from the Tatsumi-
?"
Pausing with her
.
.
half-drunk cup of sake in her hand, the senior geisha knit her brows. "She was on the Ginza,
"The Shinbashi Meeting
if
I'm not mistaken."
Hall," the
younger geisha
interjected.
"The Shinbashi Meeting About when, was it?"
The younger
reporter,
Hall?
who
at
the maid.
72
that
where she was?
had said nothing up to
now, abruptly pushed back the over his shoulder
Is
table.
Komada looked
During
Rains
the
What
"Call that geisha.
did
you say her name was?"
"Tatsuchiyo of the Tatsumi-ya."
The younger
geisha
having given the name, the maid started to get to her
up from downstairs: "O-Hana-
Just then, a voice called san.
The
"It's
guest has come."
probably the sensei." Glancing toward the paper
door,
Komada had no
there
was
panama
feet.
a
in
sooner
moved
aside slightly than
sound of footsteps on the
one hand and
verness cape, Kiyooka
"Sorry to be
still
wearing
ladder-stairs.
A
his gray serge In-
Susumu was among them.
late."
Handing
and cape to the
his hat
older geisha, and tying the sash of his single-layer iron-
blue haori, which he wore over an unlined striped crepe, at
the table,
had been
kimono of
Kiyooka seated himself in an empty place
where small
set out.
dishes of food and chopsticks
Apparently already acquainted with the
older reporter, he was introduced to the younger one.
An exchange of cards The maid, bringing tional bottles
up
across the table began immediately.
the geisha's answer along with addi-
of sake, announced: "Tatsuchiyo will come
in a little while."
"Everybody. Won't you have some more?" Receiving the tray of bottles, the senior geisha continued: "You.
Won't you have one?"
"Seems
like a
very dull party." Having himself served,
Kiyooka looked around
at
Komada. "Are
there any others
coming?" "At present, we're don't
still
know of anyone
in the process
else?
There
of selection. You
are waitress-geishas,
so there are probably ex-dancers and ex-actresses also.
Anyway,
if we're
going to
call,
someone
be good."
"He
has strange tastes, this one."
73
different
would
During
"We had
an unusual
girl
the Rains
Who
here until recently.
would be good, now?" That
"3is.
girl at the
Paulownia Blossom House.
Isn't
there a lot of talk about her?"
"You mean Kyoyo-san." The
senior geisha slapped
her knee. "She's better than a dancer. She can stand on her head." "She's probably a fright to look
"No,
she's beautiful,
at,
though."
and sexy. She's the busiest person
in this neighborhood."
"You're giving her
more. Anyway,
a terrific buildup.
call her, call her."
to be getting slightly drunk,
hearing the
was
name of Kyoyo of
tion,
lively.
But Kiyooka,
Blossom
that incident late
a
noncommittal expression.
senior geisha, seeking to add interest to the con-
versation, said: "If I'd
a little
summer. Since he could not veto the sugges-
however, he assumed
The
have
the Paulownia
House, was unpleasantly reminded of the previous
I'll
Komada, who seemed
I
were three or four years younger,
give up being a geisha and launch out on the Ginza
myself. Because waitresses are at least respectable types
on the it
surface.
over. That's
to
mine
is
No
matter what they do, they can gloss
what
I
think.
The house
right next door
an assignation house. Waitresses bring
all
sorts
The houses are close together, so if you put your head out the window there's just a paper door between you and the people next door. You can hear
of customers
there.
everything they
say.
There's a
tall,
slender
girl,
better
dressed than a geisha. She must be from a fashionable cafe
on
the Ginza. She always
comes
early in the morning.
Sometimes, she even comes before nine o'clock. Then, she leaves
at
around noon. I'm just barely awake by nine
74
During
the Rains
or ten. Right now, they're not keeping any girls there.
dead quiet.
It
Kiyooka
young by
makes me strain my ears to hear something."
silently
geisha.
And
the geisha
had himself served more sake by the
The two
this account,
then?
It's
reporters, apparently fascinated
egged on the senior geisha. "Yes, and
then?" Getting into the spirit of the thing,
went on: "Sometimes
the clients are different.
But they're always saying 'Kimi-san, Kimi-san,' so there
must be
a girl
who
goes there called Kimiko or Kimiyo.
She's really extraordinary.
pened
— when was — it?
There was something
that truly astonished
Kiyooka glanced up sharply
Komada,
an older,
as
who was
hap-
the reporters' faces.
more experienced man, soon
noticed the danger. Worried that
Juan
at
that
me."
it
was Kimie of the
Don
the subject of the geisha's discourse, he co-
But both of them seemed to
vertly observed the reporters.
be remarkably unconversant with the world of the Ginza
Without any
cafes.
them more
asked:
"What was
it
that astonished
one of
you? Was she
passionate than a geisha?"
"Of but
particular sign of awareness,
course. Just listen.
You'll hardly believe this,
." .
.
Komada,
to stop the conversation
ther, adroitly cut in.
from going any
fur-
"Hey, what's happened to that geisha
you called before? Go downstairs and tell her to come up."
The younger geisha got to her feet. Komada then added: "I'll have some rice soon." "I'll join you." The younger reporter, who hadn't had anything to drink, chimed in. What with the serving of "Yes."
the rice and the brewing of fresh green tea, the geisha's
story
was broken
off.
Just then, the
woman
called Tatsu-
chiyo knelt formally outside the opened paper door.
75
During
the Rains
Her age was about twenty. The ribbons of raw
silk in
her low Shimada coiffure were cut long, and the skirts
of her light purple kimono with
on the
floor.
Her
large,
a "flying pattern" trailed
firm-bodied figure suggested the
prostitute rather than the geisha.
who was on the
"Are you the one "Yes.
I
am." With
went on: "Perhaps
a rather
you
I've seen
there.
air,
Tatsuchiyo
Anyway, I'm aw-
I'm always not recognizing people.
fully shortsighted.
They think I'm being
rude."
Seemingly much annoyed
on without so much
prattled
Ginza?"
complacent
at
the
way Tatsuchiyo
as a glance in
tion, the senior geisha glared at her out
her direc-
of the corner of
her eye. Apparently noticing nothing, Tatsuchiyo drank oflf
one
after the other
two cups of sake poured
by the younger reporter and returned the cup "Since coming here, once.
It
I
for her to
him.
haven't been back to the Ginza even
must have changed. What
are the liveliest cafes
nowadays?"
"Where were you before? The Columbia?" "Oh, excuse me. was at the Shinbashi Meeting Hall." "Why did you become a geisha? Because you were living too fast and came under surveillance?" I
"You
say that, but actually cafes are rather respectable.
Because we're in the
"What do you do
cafe after
from noon
until midnight."
midnight?"
"After midnight? Doesn't everybody go to bed? can't stay
up
all
One
night, can one? Eh, you."
Just then, a petite geisha of twenty-two or -three, her hair also
done
in a
low Shimada
coiffure,
of eighteen or nineteen, wearing the
and
latest hairdo,
their entrance, seating themselves at the table.
Kiyooka needed no reminder
76
a tall geisha
made
bottom of the
that the small
woman
During
the Rains
/
was Kyoyo. He wasn't that night
life
likely to forget for the rest
when he shadowed Kimie from
of the Hachiman Shrine
cincts
better not to be recognized
of his
the pre-
Thinking
in Ichigaya.
by Kyoyo, on
his
it
two or
three visits to this neighborhood since then he had taken care not to encounter her. Feigning casualness, he turned
away and blew out smoke from his cigarette. Komada, finishing his rice, got up and went out into the corridor. "Komada-san. Just a moment." The maid drew him toward the back cost a lot,
"O-Kita-san.
stairs.
Sis. It
already will
so send the other one back."
"What about the two that came last? Are they all right?"
Komada
glanced
"Kikuyo
is
at his
a bit
watch.
expensive, but
"If that's so, send her back too.
so
it's all
I
." .
.
won't be needing one,
right if there are just three."
"Well then, Kyoyo-san, Tatsuchiyo-san, and Matsuyosan."
The maid
shall
we do
said the
names over
for emphasis.
"How
now?"
this,
Since the maid seemed to be
at a loss
how to assign the
Komada decided to slip behind the front desk on his way back from the privy and call Kiyooka downstairs, girls,
leaving the "I'll
do
When
two
reporters to choose the girls they wanted.
that, then."
the
maid went back
inside to send the senior
geisha away, the younger reporter, the ex- waitress Tatsu-
chiyo on his knee, was sitting
out
as
maid whispered ing
at
the
window and looking
he sang some popular song. Leaving him
what was
to the older reporter. Kiyooka, surmis-
up,
also to look for
went down the
so, the
on the pretext of going
Komada, unobtrusively backstairs.
up, neither reporter
was
By
left
the
the time he'd
to be seen.
77
to the privy
and
room and
come back
The maid, picking
During
up
and discarded jackets,
their briefcases
about to leave was saying to Kyoyo:
— right
floor^
listen,
at
as the latter
"It's
on the
was
third
the end of the hall." Pretending not to
Kiyooka
sat
down on
The
the windowsill.
stylish geisha, apparently thinking
that
Rains
the
Kiyooka was her customer,
tall,
from the look of things up
saying: "It's cleared
already," seated herself beside him.
At some time or
other, the rain
the straight, narrow street lined
had stopped. Along
on both sides with geisha
houses, the sound of clogs going back and forth grew slightly
more
frequent.
From a
distant corner, there
came
the refrain of a popular song, accompanied on a violin,
by
a street singer.
"That O-Kita
who went
back just now. Where
house? In Fujimi-cho?" Kiyooka asked,
as
is
her
of some un-
important matter. Actually, he was bothered by the matter
of that next-door assignation house the
woman
had
talked about.
"No. She's way out
past Sanban-cho, even
"Isn't there a girls' school or
"Yes.
My own house
"Is that so?
But
is
." .
.
something out there?"
right next to O-Kita-san's."
didn't she say that her house
was next
door to an assignation house?" "Yes. That
but one
is
would be
the
Chiyoda house. Next door
O-Kita-san's house, and the one on this side
is
my house." "Is that so?
That must be the house, then. That makes
side-by-side assignation houses, doesn't "It's strange,
"I
owe them
soon. But
"Out you can
I
it?"
somehow." a visit, so I've
don't
there the
know how
been thinking
I'd
go there
things are there."
Chiyoda house
sleep with the girls.
licensed quarters."
78
It's
is
the only place
where
the farthest out of the
During
Rains
the
The maid, coming down from the third floor, welcomed Kiyooka. Kiyooka, however, not particularly attracted by the geisha, merely said: "What happened to Komada? I've got a little business with him. He can't have gone back
yet."
"He was while ago.
As
the
at I'll
the desk talking with the proprietor a
go and
maid was
leaving,
Komada, stufFmg came up
fold into a pocket of his jacket, If
it
was on
little
see."
Komada was
business,
a
big bill-
the front stairs.
willing to go to an
assignation house, a cafe, or whatever, but he only rarely
ordered a
woman.
Since he'd been working in the busi-
ness department of his newspaper, he had dabbled in real estate
and the stock market.
wealthy
man by now.
He was rumored to be a rather
Despite
he
that,
house in Yotsuya-Teramachi, up an not even a rickshaw could enter
lived in a
still
alley so
narrow
his
a
miser of the old school
own
who would
If you're
going back,
early, so
probably
we
have
money
fingernails if he could save
"Komada. still
that
He'd been there since
it.
the days before streetcars. In Kiyooka's opinion,
was
little
I'll
can catch
Komada
set fire to
thereby.
leave with you.
It's
a trolley."
"Are you going on to the Ginza from here?"
"No. if she's
I've already
given that up.
someone who
reputation. There's something
We'll leave
"Well.
I
at her,
Kiyooka,
as
as if
is
damages your
then?"
The
geisha
surprised. Kiyooka, however, without
drew toward him
the bellrope that
on the post by the window and pressed
Komada,
it
want to talk to you about.
when you're ready." You really are leaving,
seemed genuinely looking
You know how it
sees everybody,
he was going he'd suddenly
the button. the
stairs
with
remembered something,
turned around toward the maid, 79
down
hung
who was
seeing
them
During
"Hey, you.
off.
the Rains
they stay overnight, send the geishas
If
back in the morning." "That's already taken care of." "I
don't think there was anything
matches, and we'll be
Give
else.
me some
Even while putting on
off."
his
Komada made sure to get his money's worth. "Thank you very much. Please come again soon." Slid-
shoes,
ing open the lattice door, the two
The moon had come out.
was
It
men
a typical
stepped outside.
summer evening of the
in the licensed quarters. In the alleys, the yukatas
women
going back and forth caught the eye.
"Komada, "So
go with
you'll
"Because I'm already the best after
I've
all.
tired
won't you?"
to Akasaka,
these days?"
of the
cafes.
Geishas are
been thinking of finding some nice
and setting her up."
lively geisha
You mean buying out
"Setting her up?
You'll have to think about "I
me
where you're going
that's
knew you'd
her contract?
carefully."
it
say that, if
I
talked
it
over with you."
"You'd probably do better not laying out
of money. That goes
for
a
round sum
buying out the contract, too.
If
she thinks there's a chance of your marrying her, she'll play
fair
pleasant
and square with you. But is
bound
something un-
if not,
and you'll have to
to happen,
let
her go
anyway."
"But even
I
don't
might even become "Is that so?
"No,
it's
know why,
know what
the future
Stormy weather ahead for you,
not
as
may
hold.
I
single again ..."
bad
in that case."
as all that. It's just that
but whenever
I
go home
I
—
I
don't
get intolerably
depressed."
Thinking he would of
his
like to tell
Komada
domestic arrangements, to answer
80
the full story all
questions.
During
the Rains
Kiyooka walked along, mulling over how and where
to
begin. All of a sudden, they were at the Fujimi-cho trolley stop. In the first place,
to
make Tsuruko
Kiyooka had never
his legal wife.
merely to enjoy occasional secret
woman
with
But the
her.
in earnest.
The
and he hadn't
serious,
sum of money from
he had rented
house
a
Of course,
her.
in
meant
really
his intention
to do. Luckily for him, he learned that she
ceived a
with
trysts
had been extraordinarily
had turned unexpectedly
what
had been
It
affair
known had
re-
her elder brother. With
Kamakura and
lived together
he was quite aware that Tsuruko's
beauty and character would place her above reproach his wife.
moral
As time
life
passed, however, thanks to his
Kiyooka had begun
to feel
he
a single off-color joke,
Unless he went
once
at least
a
felt
own im-
the waitresses or geishas, he
the waitress ing,
Kimie had been just
Kiyooka would have
with her
own
a geisha as
He'd been hoping ter.
grip
conversations with
I
If
more forthcom-
a little
up immediately
his
knowing how unreliable mind and was now thinking
soon
to elicit
as
he found the right one.
Komada's opinion on the mattrolley
his briefcase, all but leaped
coming, shifting
said: "I'll say
his
aboard with an agility
remarkable for his years. Immediately losing
Kiyooka
an assig-
unendurably lonely.
liked to set her
But Komada, seeing the
on
a cafe or
bar or cafe. But,
Kimie was, he'd changed of setting up
silly
felt
telling
unbearably cramped.
day to
nation house and drank and had
as
somehow ashamed
of himself. Knowing that he had to be careful about even
it,
interest,
good-bye, then. There's someplace
have to go."
"Tomorrow. there's
I'll
be
at
the office in the afternoon. If
something you want
Komada answered from
to talk about, give
the trolley as
8i
it
me a ring."
moved
off.
During
Kiyooka looked at his pocket watch. Since
it
was not
that late,
home. Late-night
It
the Rains
was ten o'clock.
now would be a good time to go Kiyooka
reveler that he was, though,
somehow dissatisfied. He could not force his steps in homeward direction until he'd visited one other place
felt
a
somewhere. But someplace be
at this
like the
jammed with
resses
was
hour, he could not just stroll into
Don Juan on
which would
the Ginza,
customers and where one of the wait-
of being harassed by
his mistress. Fearful also
the rascals and delinquent literary types
who
frequented
the eating and drinking shops around the Ginza, he had
no wish
to see
Kimie laughing and carrying on with some
drunken customer. The place
to
go to was
that assigna-
tion house in Akasaka he'd visited occasionally of
But the geisha
late.
there that he had his eye on, although he'd
already engaged her five or six times, did not seem overly
amenable
to his proposition.
When
he thought that even
tonight the matter would not be settled, Kiyooka irritated
ever,
when he had thought
it
how-
over, did not spring
from
his visit.
the geisha's refusal to do his will.
arose
from
his feelings
The
cause, as always,
of indignation toward Kimie.
Kimie had only done what he wanted her not have had to make the geisha.
had put
The
aside,
a fool
to,
he would
desire for revenge,
which
for a while he
once again welled up hotly in him. What
Next was
was
the fact that she didn't ap-
pear particularly overjoyed to have
a
famous writer
as
her
Even if he broke off the relationship, it seemed as would feel no especial regret or anything much at If the relationship ended, Kimie would no doubt take
lover.
she
all.
else
spent her days in apparent pleasure without
a care in the world.
if
If
of himself getting rejected by
aroused Kiyooka's wrath more than anything
how Kimie
felt
His anger,
even before he'd made
82
During
the Rains
advantage of that to find
a
new
There was no one more
difficult to
such a
who simply
to live out her lewd, indolent existence.
woman
physical pain
such things
suffer, the
upon
her.
only
And
way might be
yet, since
To make to inflict
one could not do
her hair or slash her face, one
as cut off all
could only wait for her to contract some serious that
would confine her
living
as before.
manage than a woman
without either ambition or desire for money,
wanted
on
lover and go
same empty-headed, frivolous manner
in the
to
bed
for
two
Mulling over such matters, following
illness
or three months. his feet
wherever
they led him, Kiyooka abruptly looked around him. This brilliantly illuminated place
—
it
was the entrance of the
low
Ichigaya railway station. Diagonally opposite, the
houses of the neighborhoods on the
were
visible.
Under
far side
of the Moat
the early rainy season sky that
was
beginning to cloud over in impenetrable darkness, an advertisement for Jintan
on and off caught
Pills flashing
Kiyooka's eye. Kimie's house was up the alley where that sign was flashing
on and
off.
Not only had he not
seen her for
nearly three days, from the day before yesterday until tonight, but mindful of that story he'd heard earlier
the geisha in Fujimi-cho,
was
to secretly reconnoiter the place.
Moat, he turned
The
from
Kiyooka decided the best thing
Going along by the
in at the usual alley.
lights in the
windows of
the sake shop and the
drugstore on the corner illuminated every nook and
cranny of the narrow
alley so clearly that
out the faces of passers-by. For about
a
had been coming here every four or
one could make
year now, Kiyooka five days.
Think-
ing he
was
pulled
down his hat brim deeply over his eyes and hurried
certain to be recognized
83
by the shopclerks, he
During
Ahead of him,
past. ist's
were
still
nobody was standing around
The
the shops.
the sweets shop and the tobaccon-
open. Along there, though, the lights were
very- dim, and
had already
shop
fish
at
encountered the old
"Why,
it's
woman who was
when he
a
"No. I'd
drop
tell
her
I
Is
I
I
woman
her
called
almost walked right by
up and was on
O-Kimi-san coming back
had
by.
slip past
lucky encounter. There have been
burglaries, so I'd locked
bathhouse.
We
abruptly
Kimie's landlady.
But the sharp-eyed old the sensei.
What
each other.
of
the corner of Kimie's alley
Pretending not to recognize her, he tried to in the darkness.
in front
Looking around him, Kiyooka was
closed.
just about ready to enter the dark alley
out:
Rains
the
my way
to the
early tonight?"
a little business in Ichigaya, so
thought
I
can't wait until she gets back. Please don't
was here
tonight. I've been slightly worried
about her." "Well then, just come in for
a
cup of tea."
"But weren't you on your way
to the bathhouse,
Auntie?"
"Oh come now,
you. There's no great hurry about
that."
Since he could not simply shake her off and go on his
way, Kiyooka,
room where at
as invited, entered the
the old
the long brazier.
one
as the
upstairs.
sooty, and there
downstairs sitting
woman slept and lived, It
was the same
sort
and
sat
Although the walls and
ceiling
were even floorboards missing,
kept clean and neat
down
to the last
down
of six-mat room
nook and
were
it
was
corner. All
Had there room could have been
the tears in the paper doors had been patched.
been
a
tenant available, even this
rented out. In the ornamental alcove, looking as
hung
there forever, there
was
84
a picture scroll
if it
had
of Mari-
During
Rains
the
some such
shiten* or
deity.
Atop an old
utility chest that
had faded to the hue of persimmon paper, hold shrine had been teakettle
hung
ished until
it
in a
set up.
Yoshiwara holder
shone.
house-
a small
Over the long brazier, an iron that
had been pol-
From such utensils and furniture, one
probably could have guessed the old woman's approxi-
mate
According to the old
age.
husband,
Russo-Japanese War, had died in herself
woman
a first lieutenant in the
by working
as a
army
battle,
herself, after her
at
the time of the
she had supported
housemaid or temporary house-
keeper and had also done piecework
at
home. By these
means, she had raised her daughter. The daughter had
had the good fortune the couple
now
marry
to
a
wealthy importer, and
lived in America. So that the old
woman
should want for nothing, they sent her an allowance. According to others, however, although the allowance from the daughter
was
real
cubine of a foreigner.
enough, the
latter
had been the con-
When she gave birth to
had been taken away by her lord and master
a child,
to his
she
own
country. Kiyooka was not only unable to decide which
of these versions was
true,
but could not make out
Kimie had rented the second first place,
and
why
she didn't
floor
move
of
this
house
to a nicer
why
in the
house in
a
better neighborhood. Despite her claim to have been the
wife of an
officer, to
judge from her present appearance
and manner of speaking the old
woman
belonged to
a
type frequently to be met with in the back alleys of the
Honjo-Asakusa
area.
That both her birth and upbringing
had been lowly appeared read the
bill
in the fact that she could barely
from the sake shop. Her mindless deference
toward anyone with *God of War
(tr.
a
mustache and wearing Western
note).
85
During clothes told one just about her. It
would do no good
up to
in the intervals
all
to
know
about
what Kimie had been
to ask her
between
was
there
Rains
the
Not
his visits.
letting his
long-cherished grudge
show
humored
he could manage, Kiyooka
"If
go
I
a
manner
as
to the cafe,
I
why
nuisance. That's
run into even
with
in his face,
sorts
all
when
pass
I
good-
as
of people.
by
at
said: It's
night
I
a
try
not to go inside."
When they see a famous person like your-
"That's wise. self, it's
people want to
woman
house next door chime the hour, the old
up
Oh dear
up all sorts of rumors.
start
already eleven o'clock." Listening to the clock in the
at
the octagonal clock
"Sensei, if
Please
do
It
I'll
looked
utility chest.
you can wait another hour,
wait.
"Auntie.
on top of the
she'll
be back.
put some more coals on the brazier."
doesn't have to be tonight.
I'll
morning." So saying, Kiyooka slipped
come by
his
pack of
Shikishimas into his kimono sleeve. But the old
woman
in the
had put two and two together. From Kiyooka's hanging around this neighborhood
at
such an odd hour, and
Kimie's slatternly behavior, which she'd kept an eye on night and day, she surmised the general situation. Pre-
tending to unless
I
know
nothing, though, she said: "But, sensei,
keep you here,
I'll
be scolded for
it
afterward by
Kimie-san." "If you don't
tell her,
"But somehow telephone in the
at
don't
I
feel
know
anything."
easy about
it.
I'll
use the
the sake shop and call her up." Groping about
drawer of the
scrap of paper
brazier, the old
on which was written
"Well then,
But
she won't
I'll lie
she's sure to be
need for you to
down
a
woman
took out
telephone number.
upstairs until
you
back herself by twelve, so
call."
Getting to his
86
a
feet,
get back. there's
no
Kiyooka added:
During
the Rains
"I'll
watch over the house, Auntie, so go and have your
bath
if you like."
When
he'd sent the old
Kiyooka went
upstairs. If
woman
off to the bathhouse,
any secret love
letters
lying about, he meant to lay hands on them.
woman, having
were
The
old
often been urgently requested by Kimie
to telephone her if anything unexpected
came up, decided
make the call at the sake shop or the drugstore on her way to the baths. Tucking away the scrap of paper with its scribbled phone number in her obi, she set out. to
87
^) Seven When
the phonecall
luckily
was drinking with
came from
phone booth. She went
summoned. But
a
the old
customer
to the
phone
woman, Kimie
at a table
near the
soon
she was
as
in addition to being rather
as
drunk
thirty or forty minutes to closing time), she
(it
was
was pre-
vented by the noise around her from hearing well. She
understood that Kiyooka had come to her place, but could not
make out
a
word of
was supposed
to
the old
woman's lengthy ex-
was not one of the nights Kiyooka
planation. Tonight
come, and there had been no advance
word from him. Kimie had felt free to make an engagement earlier in the evening to spend the night somewhere with a dancer called Kimura Yoshio, who had recently returned from the West. Then Yata-san, the foreign-car dealer with times, had
whom
shown
she had been intimate two or three
up. Also inviting
he'd insisted that on their
newly opened noodle shop on Matsuya Dry Goods
Haruyo and Yuriko,
way home Kimie
stop off at the
the street in back of the
Store. If she
had another engage-
ment, an hour or half an hour would be fme, Yata had
Going out
for a while, he'd just this
and was treating four or
five waitresses to various snacks.
At about the same time, the old gentleman zaki,
who
called
almost never went to cafes and the
Of
Matsu-
like,
had
course, he explained, he
was on
way back from seeing somebody off at Tokyo
Station.
suddenly appeared. his
said.
minute come back
At
all
the cafes
on the Ginza, not just
88
the
Don Juan,
During
the Rains
toward closing time,
after ten o'clock,
crowded
all
of
a
The
sudden.
clamor of voices, mingled with the
ters
motes of dust and
drowned out by
cigarette
clatter
the
of plates amid
smoke. To make mat-
when even she had had a little too much to
worse, Kimie had a headache. Just
begun
maybe
to think that
drink this evening, three
she'd
men had descended upon
here at the cafe, and back
to do?
Why
unfavorable?
more
tonight of It
all
her
her place another one was
at
waiting for her. She was practically
her wit's end.
at
What
nights were circumstances so
was enough
to
make her envy people
in
respectable professions. If she could drink herself
would
into a stupor, the others
or another.
With
this in
Matsuzaki's table.
me
usually got very
noise of the constantly
playing phonograph, intermittently
drifting
it
"I
take care of her one
mind, Kimie approached old
want to
get dead
drunk tonight.
way man Buy
an 'auto-car,' please."
"Are you in some kind of trouble? Did you quarrel with
one of your customers?"
seemed to know
once
at
"No. That's not " 'But'
At
— so
a loss for
it is
it.
By virtue of his years, Matsuzaki how things were with Kimie.
But
." .
.
something of that
sort."
an answer, Kimie was
silent.
Then,
it
oc-
man had known her from the days before she'd become a waitress and knew everything there was to know about her, it might be well to tell curred to her that since this old
him her problem and not
a single
other waitress
Matsuzaki, Kimie is
the
first
plied:
said:
at
the table. Snuggling up to
"I'm really in
a fix tonight.
This
time circumstances have been so unfavorable."
Matsuzaki, instantly
ask his advice. Luckily, there was
who seemed
to have guessed everything
from Kimie's manner and way of speaking,
"I'm leaving
in a
few minutes.
89
I
re-
just thought I'd
During
drop by and see
how
things were
Let's
meet again soon, during the
more
time."
the Rains
the cafe tonight.
at
when
day,
you'll have
"I'm sorry. Please don't be angry with me."
"Of
course not.
I
understand. You've probably got
more than one customer on your hands."
"When though.
mouth
all
said
is
and done, you're the only one,
How did you know,
Uncle?" Kimie, putting her
to Matsuzaki's ear, gave
him
the
lowdown about
tonight, not holding back a single detail.
"Can't you suggest some good plan?"
"There
are
any number of things you can do.
It's
problem." Matsuzaki promptly imparted to Kimie
scheme of action.
First,
on her way back from the
no his
cafe,
she was to rush one of her customers to an assignation house. Since there would be no question of her staying
man
overnight, after a while, before the leave,
Kimie could apologize
be hurrying home, and hide she
would have
for leaving
unsuspectingly accepted
tell
first,
pretend to
in another
room. Previously,
whom
she could trust to
sent a waitress
the house in Ichigaya to
got ready to
the old
a ride
woman
from
a
that they
had
customer only to
be taken off by force to an assignation house. While the
customer was
calling for a geisha
and plying them with
food and drink, the waitress alone, seeing her opportunity,
had escaped. The old
woman must come
fetch Kimie-san. Undoubtedly,
came
to the assignation house.
it
As
at
once to
would be Kiyooka who it
would
take
him more
than an hour to get there, Kimie would easily be able to take care
of one customer. As for the other customer,
with the excuse that she was
afraid
of being seen, Kimie
would send him on ahead to another assignation house. It was too bad, but he would have to sleep by himself
90
During
the
tonight.
Rains
Of course,
he would be very angry, but his long-
grow stronger in proportion would certainly come to reproach her. If, on that occasion, she gave him his heart's desire, the result would be more felicitous than if noth-
ing for Kimie was sure to
The next
to his chagrin.
day, he
ing had happened. Stroking his clipped gray mustache,
Matsuzaki smilingly added: "However, to carry off a job like this,
it
has to be a place where the people are intelli-
gent and resourceful.
Is
there
some house you're
friendly
with that would be suitable?"
There
"Yes.
there with
That place out in Ushigome.
is.
you two or three times when
Suwamachi. And these days, I
I
was
there's a place in
I
went
living in
Sanban-cho
go to occasionally." Just then, a waitress
came
to take Matsuzaki's order.
Kimie, making some irrelevant joke, got up and table. Since there
was only half an hour
Matsuzaki thought he might fmd^ut tomers were in the
interval.
He
left
the
to closing time,
who
Kimie's cus-
also felt curious to see
what kind of action Kimie would in fact take. But, thinking that
would be
it
soon paid the street, the
bill
and
difficult to sit still that long, left
the cafe.
On
he
both sides of the
shops had turned off their lights and closed
What with
their doors.
the rain that had fallen earlier and
the late hour, only a few stand-up eating and drinking stalls
were
still
the Ginza, the left
were
all
open. Along the main thoroughfare of
wide
deserted as far as the eye could see.
was the dark night
more
rain,
streets that led off to the right
sky,
and below the colored
cafes reflected in the
theaters
which loomed with
and variety
lights
a
and
Above
promise of
of the bars and
wet surface of the pavement. The
halls
had already closed an hour ago.
All the couples strolling about idly at this hour seemed to
91
During
be coining or going to or from the
no apparent
The
cafes.
passed by were comparatively empty.
the
trolleys that
Only
taxis,
Matsuzaki,
who nowadays came to the Ginza only now felt
something of the curiosity of
the sightseer. Without actually stopping, he loitered
the trend of the times
wake
the
him
to
high
come home
that only
to him.
memories of half a
who
Matsuzaki, a
the
now,
at
hour, did the transformation of this district and
this late
been
seemed
it
at
As always, when he observed
intersection.
the scene around him,
in their
with
destination, cruised the intersections.
and then on business,
Owari-cho
Rains
They brought
lifetime.
held a law degree, had
at
government ministry
official in a
one time
in
Kobiki-
cho. Implicated in a graft scandal that had shocked the nation, however, he had been tried and sentenced to
from
prison. After his release clear sailing.
Thanks
of his
life.
him enjoy himself for the grown and on
let
When
he compared the Ginza that
he'd seen every day on his
own
was
His children were already
the road to success.
rickshaw from
years,
all
to his deals, he'd accumulated a pri-
vate income sufficient to rest
prison, however,
his
way
mansion
to the ministry in his
in
Kojimachi for several
and the present-day scene, changing day by day
since the Earthquake, Matsuzaki could not but feel that
he was dreaming. The dream did not hold the deep emotion with city
which
of Rome.
It
a
modern Roman
implied only the shallow admiration that
show
the spectator at a variety a juggler.
Tokyo
When
a city
did, the spectacle
provoked
dexterity of
in the observer an as-
a certain sense
than merely from the appearance felt
feels for the
aped the West to the degree that
tonishment, along with
was
thinks of the ancient
especially keenly
of pathos. More
of the streets, this
pathos
when one thought of the
92
cir-
During
the Rains
cumstances of the waitresses
sense of feminine
among
not few
prostitute like
from the
who had to make their Hving
Women hke Kimie,
in this district.
decorum and
by nature lacking any
chastity,
were doubtless
Even though she was
the waitresses.
a
them, Kimie was of a totally different kind
was the same
geisha-prostitutes of the past. She
type of unlicensed prostitute that flourishes in the
of the West. The
fact that
such
women
the streets of Tokyo, if one attributed
had appeared
to the
it
cities
in
atmosphere
of the period, prompted the reflection that nothing was so surprising as the changes of time. Looking back
own
his
life,
Matsuzaki
felt
no
shame
particular
on
as
he
recalled being hauled into court and being convicted of
malversation. Perhaps this also was one of the the atmosphere of the period.
More
had passed since then. Even though
eflfects
of
than twenty years
this
man who
old
at
one time had been so noisily discussed was today having a quiet
drink in
a
Ginza
would have thought
it,
cafe, it
no one,
had buried the uproar, along with its,
in oblivion. That, indeed,
truly like a dream.
Matsuzaki
career,
Toward felt
if they
had known of
strange or criticized him.
the
his merits
Time
and demer-
one would have to
say,
the world and toward his
was
own
same melancholy mixture of
resentment and cold contempt. In
there
life,
was neither
past nor future, only the pleasures and pains of day-to-
day existence. Matsuzaki had come to
no need If that
to take either praise or censure too
were
so,
good
was
much to heart.
he was bound to consider himself as the
most fortunate of human in
feel that there
beings.
At age
health. Occasionally, without
sixty,
any
fear
he was
of what
people would think, he put his arm around twenty-yearold waitresses and flirted with
Moreover, he
felt
no shame
93
in
them
like a
doing
young man.
so. In this alone,
During his happiness
exceeded by
the
Rains
of royalty. Matsuzaki
far that
could not help laughing out loud.
KTimie, as previously arranged, after leaving the cafe
met the dancer Kimura Yoshio on went by
car to the friendly
As
in Sanban-cho.
prome-
the dark river
nade that runs toward Yuraku Bridge. From
there, they
Chiyoda assignation house
instructed to by old
man
Matsuzaki,
Kimie meant
to pretend to leave ahead of the customer
and hide out
in another
room, where she would await
Kiyooka with an innocent expression on her
face.
On
the way, however, Kimura's conversation revealed that
he was
a surprisingly sophisticated person.
thought
two or
it
a
matter of course that
three lovers.
When
Apparently he
a waitress
should have
they'd gone upstairs to the
second floor rear of the Chiyoda, Kimie immediately told
him about
tonight's situation.
As
Kimura
she'd expected,
went along with everything. "If you
cause you
wrong
had told
me right away,
I
wouldn't have had to
trouble. Please forgive me. I've
all this
thing. We'll
done the
meet some other time, when you're
not quite so busy."
As
if deliberately
urging her on, Kimura helped Kimie
with her preparations, even tying her obi for
Ever since she had seen Kimura perform mission between movies
had been this
ing.
stirred
manner
left
Kimura's
at
the
her.
in the inter-
Horaku Theater, Kimie
up by her usual
curiosity. Parting in
her with an unbearably dissatisfied feel-
art, to
go by
articles
he had published in
newspapers and magazines, was an amalgam of the Russian dance since Nijinsky and Chinese theatrical dance,
in short a mixture of East and West.
The
linear
beauty
of the movements of the male and female body, Kimura
94
During
the Rains
claimed, was far superior to the stationary effect of sculpture and the plastic arts. Furthermore,
found than the
it
was more pro-
power of music. To
intuitive, suggestive
the waitress Kimie, however, this sort of aesthetic discus-
was
sion
women
all
one.
When
she'd seen naked
young men and
cavorting about the stage, striking various poses
and occasionally embracing each other in front of a large audience, she'd the
wondered what
man who made
would be
it
from
his living
There was no difference between her the shameless geisha the girl student "Sensei,
it's
who
already
late,
is
wrestler or
believe me, try calling
me
Kimura added: "Kimie-san, Please.
done something
you won't go home,
so
will
I'm jealous."
place.
coming. You don't have any
do you? I'm going
let's.
and that of
sumo
who develops a crush on a baseball player.
"But your patron
"Yes,
of show.
feeling
patronizes a
you? You'll go to some other
choice,
meet
like to
that sort
home.
straight
up."
you don't
Handing her
please
Somehow
If
I
let's
his card,
meet again."
have the feeling
really unforgivable.
I
I've
don't want to
send you away." As usual, Kimie was unable to repress her interest in
Kimura,
a
new man. Leaning
who had
already
begun
against the knee of
his preparations for de-
parture, she took hold of his hand.
After a while, saying that she would engage a car for his return,
Kimie stepped out
into the corridor to call
the maid. Asking the time, she
was
now
called
struck two.
The customer
told that
yet appeared, nor had there been a phonecall. rived,
and the dancer Kimura took
had just
his leave.
The The
car ar-
writer
was now past When the cafe closed, Kimie had sent a fellow
Kiyooka, however, two-thirty.
it
Kiyooka had not
still
hadn't
shown up.
It
waitress called Ruriko to Ichigaya with her story.
95
From
During
the
Rains
I
her days as an assistant in a Western-style hairdressing
Ruriko had the entree of many assignation houses.
salon,
She- was not likely to
make
a
mistake in an
affair
of this
kind. Perhaps Kiyooka, without getting Ruriko's mes-
had gone home early
sage,
and more
inside her obi,
calling him,
from the
more
Kimura
it
the sudden reckless idea of
down the backstairs. Just then,
was the sound of somebody's
must be Kiyooka, Kimie
as she listened to the voice
it
was not Kiyooka.
At the
cafe,
had
that she
seemed
It
to
ar-
strained her
of the visitor
upstairs to the second floor front,
Yata.
him
started
front, there
But
that
Kimie
Thinking
rival.
came
felt
had the phone number of his residence,
it
Showa Apartments. With
ears.
Kimie
When she looked at his card, which she had slipped
away.
the
in a rage.
regretful, unbearably so, at having sent
Kimie
as
he
realized
be the untimely
although urgently invited, she had told a prior
engagement and could not go
to the back-street noodle shop with him. Instead, she'd said, if
liked.
sent
it
were
him on ahead with
there
she
a little later
would go anywhere he
Giving him the name of an assignation house, she'd the
lie
that she
would meet him
later.
Yata, for his part,
had taken Kimie
to the assignation house, the
at
her word. Going
one behind the Kagura Slope
where he'd taken Kimie the first night, he waited patiently until after call.
two
o'clock.
There had not even been
a
phone-
Guessing what was up, Yata remembered the Chi-
yoda house
in Sanban-cho,
ten days ago
on her way
where Kimie had taken him
to
work.
If she
was
there,
he
commotion and make a nuisance of himself by way of revenge. It was with this in mind that Yata had would cause
a
suddenly arrived gate, the
at
the Chiyoda.
maid came out
to slide
96
When he knocked at the
open the
rain shutters. "Is
I
During
the Rains
Kimie-san here?" To it
this crafty inquiry, the
for granted that Yata
maid, taking
was the customer Kimie had been
repHed: "The lady has been waiting for ever
waiting
for,
so long.
You men
are really inconsiderate." Suffocated
own
cigarette
smoke, Yata could say nothing. Obe-
his
diently going upstairs, he sat
down
by
tailor-style in front
of the ornamental alcove. Not even taking
his hat off,
he
looked around the room dubiously.
Informed of the situation by the maid
Kimie decided
the backstairs,
that she
the foot of
at
would have
to
make the best of things. Immediately going back upstairs, she slid open the opaque paper door. "Ya-san, this
too
is
much." Her voice sharp, Kimie upbraided him. Yata,
still
not over his surprise
and speechless blinked "I
at
the maid's reply,
Kimie's extraordinary attitude, merely
at her.
was thinking of going back." Primly
Kimie looked down
"What on the
at
first
earth
at
is
seating herself,
the mat.
going on?" Seeming to notice
time, Yata took off his hat.
"Somehow I'm
it
for
all
up
in the air."
Kimie, her eyes lowered, kerchief in her lap. Bringing
silently
some
maid entered the room. "You've miss. Shall "It's
I
brewed
had
a
tea, the
long wait,
bring some sake?"
stay
terribly sorry to have
made
up so long."
"I'm used to
late
Yata's hat and light feet.
freshly truly
already too late," Kimie said, her voice curiously
low and melancholy. "I'm
you
toyed with a hand-
hours. If that will be
summer
There was no chance
overcoat, the
all
.
.
."
Taking
maid got
to her
for Yata to say anything.
The
maid leading the way, he wordlessly entered the fourand-a-half-mat
room
at
the rear of the second floor,
97
all
During
unaware
that
it
was the same room
in
the
Rains
which the dancer
had been entertained.
Although hearing
downpour night,
that
in her sleep the
came
Kimie dozed
at
sound of the brief
daybreak of the short summer
for a while longer. Suddenly, at the
woman in the alley, exclaiming right under her window how hot it had gotten, and the staccato shrill
voice of a
clip-clop of clogs as
someone ran by, she opened her eyes.
In the eaves, sparrows
there sen.
were singing. From not
was the sound of someone
From
practicing
far
away,
on the sami-
the front of the house, along with the sounds
of housecleaning and wooden and paper doors being
open and as
shut, there
someone went up
The
rain
to the roof to
hang out the laundry.
had gone away, and the sun was
a clear sky. Inside the
room,
closed and the light bulb
its
still
was even more
stuffy heat
slid
were footsteps from the neighbor's
on from
oppressive.
from the musty odor of sleep,
glittering in
windows and doors last
all
evening, the
Her head aching
despite her experience of
such evenings, Kimie crawled off the bedding and began
opening the rain shutters. "Leave
it.
humor had
I'll
do
taken
"Oh, my.
a
it.
It
really has gotten hot." Yata's
turn for the better during the night.
Just try touching this." Taking off her long
underwear of bleached cotton with
a delicate red collar,
Kimie, on
all
arm toward
dow
the garment dry in the breeze. Observing her
to
let
pose, Yata
fours, reached out her
commented: "You're
the likes of the
"How
a lot n.^ie
the
win-
charming than
Kimura Dancers."
do you mean, charming?"
"I'm referring to your physical charms."
Thinking what
a
good saying
98
that
was about ignorance
During
and
the Rains
Kimie
bliss,
"Ya-san,
stifled a desire to laugh.
I'll
bet
you know somebody in that troupe. They all have good figures. Even a woman thinks that, looking at them. For a
man, "It's
it
must be seventh heaven."
not like that
They're fine
at all.
on the stage. Face to face,
they're not
know how
Dancers and models don't cept take their clothes
You've spoiled
me
long
as
as they're
worth talking about. to
do anything ex-
Conversationally, they're duds.
off.
women, Kimie-san." make fun of others like
for other
"Ya-san, you mustn't
that."
His face suddenly serious, Yata was about to say something. Just then,
quired: "Are "It's
from outside the room, the maid
you already up? The bathwater
already ten o'clock."
him from
Drawing
in-
ready."
wristwatch to
beside the pillow, Yata said: "I've got to drop
over to the office on a
you on the
business. But, Kimie-san, are
little
today?"
late shift
"Today, I'm on from three o'clock.
back to
his
is
It's
too hot to go
my place, so I'll rest up here until then. Why don't
you do the same?"
"Hm. moment.
I'd like to,
but
"Well, anyway,
Calling his
.
.
."
let's
Yata thought
it
over for a
have our bath."
showroom, Yata was informed
that
some-
thing had arisen which absolutely required his presence.
Not even having any breakfast, he took his leave of Kimie and hurried
off.
By now,
it
was getting toward noon.
Still
puzzled as to what had become of Kiyooka, Kimie phoned the fish dealer's in front of her place, relied in such matters,
to the phone. She
was
on whom she usually
and had them
call
the old
woman
told that last night her friend the
waitress had come, and the sensei had gone out together
with
her.
That was
all.
Perhaps Kiyooka and Ruriko had
struck up an amorous acquaintance, Kimie surmised. If
99
During
would explain
so, that
However,
no
that
was just
not having shown up here.
his
thought of hers, and Kimie
a
inclination to exercise herself about
home
felt
Since leaving
it.
of her seventeenth year and coming to
in the fall
Tokyo four years
Kimie had
ago,
And
that she'd lost count.
the kind of love that
why
the Rains
slept
with so many
men
Kimie had never sought
yet,
described in novels. That was
is
she had never experienced the emotion called jeal-
ousy. Rather than have one
man
deeply
fall
for her,
and
because of that enduring his angers and grudges, getting into troublesome entanglements and being
bound
to
him
it
best
because she had taken his money, Kimie thought to frolic
on the
spot, as the spirit
heart's content with
anyone
who
moved
her and to her
presented himself, be
he young or old, handsome or ugly. That way there was
no bad
down
aftertaste.
From
the end of her seventeenth year
to this very day in her twentieth year,
Kimie had
been pursued by the insatiable demands of such
She had not had the
leisure to consider deeply
frivolity.
what man-
ner of thing the true emotion of serious love might be.
was not
that (every
once in
a
It
very long while) Kimie did
not sleep by herself in her second-floor rented room, but her principal desire on such nights was to catch up on her chronic lack of sleep. Also, she would begin to imagine the
new
pleasures that
would
recovered from her fatigue.
how serious,
as
was so enjoyable tions at the
Today she'd
dim and
were dreaming. To Kimie, nothing
as that
mixture of feelings and sensa-
moment of waking, reality
also,
other subject, no matter
she dropped off to sleep, became
insubstantial, as if she
which was
naturally follow once she'd
Any
and which
a
as she tried to
indulging herself in
this pleasure,
awakened from her doze, Kimie was
100
make out
dream.
when
loath to raise
During
the Rains
her head from the pillow, although aware that
it
was
nearly three o'clock. Looking around her, she saw the clothes that she'd stripped off herself the night before
and her sash lying in
Kimura had
a disorderly pile.
come room at the back of the second
to this four-and-a-half-mat floor.
This morning he had gone, leaving
open for still
After the dancer
the automobile importer Yata had
left,
her.
cast the
Dangling from the
a rain shutter
ceiling, the light
bulb
shadow of the flower arrangement against the
wall of the ornamental alcove. Carrying the cries of vendors and the languid sounds of song practice, a breeze that
flowed along the narrow openings between houses came in at the
window,
herself cheek
caressing her face
down on
At
the mat.
where she had flung a
moment
like this,
Kimie wished that Yata or indeed any man were here. She
would throw
all
the desires in her
body
her fantasies that surged up more and
Kimie embraced
lightly closing her eyes,
the strength in her arms.
amorously with her
at
own
Heaving
him. Forlorn in
more powerfully, herself with
a sigh, she
body. Just then, there was the
sound of the opaque paper door softly sliding open. stepped into the screen.
It
all
wrestled
room and stood
in front
was none other than Kimura Yoshio,
Kimie had been thinking of so
A man
of the folding
whom
regretfully since last night.
"Well." Just barely raising her face, Kimie did not at-
tempt to get up. Gazing
at
him from where she lay, she Kimura to bend down to murmured: "I was dreaming
held out her arms, waiting for her. Pulling
him
close, she
later,
Kimura
about you."
A
while
silver filigree pencil the
the off chance that
When
the
it
told
Kimie
that
he had
lost a
evening before and come back on
might be
here.
two had gotten up and were putting
lOI
their
During
the
Rains
chopsticks to a fish in the front parlor, a phonecall came
from the waitress Ruriko. Last
night, as requested
by
Kimie, she had gone to Honmura-cho and assuming an agitated
demeanor had informed Kiyooka
been taken against her will
that
Kimie had
Chiyoda assignation
to the
house in Sanban-cho. Abruptly displeased and not
lis-
tening to her explanations, Kiyooka had shaken her off
way and gone somewhere by himself Anxious let Kimie know, Ruriko had waited for her to come the restaurant. But when she'd failed to appear even
along the to
to
Ruriko had gotten in touch
for the three o'clock shift,
with Kimie's landlady through the ing the situation from the old
fish dealer's.
Surmis-
woman's answer, she had
then called here. It
was dark by the time Kimie and Kimura completed
their repast.
Announcing
that
he had an opening day
tomorrow at the Maruen Theater and must go for rehearsal, Kimura made hasty preparations to leave. Handing Kimie five or six special-price tickets and asking her to sell them to the waitresses at the cafe, he departed, without paying either for the meal or the taxicab Kimie, just
as if she'd
storyteller or a kind
The
been amusing herself with
of male geisha,
felt a
carefully nurtured illusion that
living in a
all
day she had been
dream had already faded away. With
nothing to do tonight came
It
bill for
ing
on
she had
with an abrupt
was the hour when
food and drink, she went the
geishas to their engagements was late to
to her
the last of
at least
She could not stay by herself at the assignation
house. Paying Kimura's outside.
home
a
sudden letdown.
the light, the fact that for the time being
loneliness.
fare.
go to the
cafe, yet
the spur of the
coming and going of
at its
height.
It
was too
too early to go home. Think-
moment
102
that she
would go
see
During
the Rains
Kyoyo
at
Blossom House, Kimie had no
the Paulownia
sooner turned the corner than, coming toward her, holding up the skirts of her banquet kimono, the edges of her red undergarments aflutter in the evening breeze, in
full
geisha regalia, was none other than Kyoyo.
"Kimi-san. Are you on your "It's
already too
"You've been
"How "How go
at
did you did
late.
to the Ginza?"
I'd take the
night off."
the Chiyoda house, haven't you?"
know?"
know, nothing. Kimi-chan. You mustn't
I
there. Last night
"You
way
thought
I
I
saw Mr. Kiyooka."
did?" Kimie's eyes widened in surprise, as well
they might. "Yes.
I
saw Mr. Kiyooka during the evening
Noda house. He was with three or my way to an after-engagement, so of him. At the time,
saw
his friends later,
I
the Chiyoda.
you can
I
heard
know
The houses
see everything
I
that
I
at
the
was on
just caught a glimpse
didn't notice
and
sation. All the geishas
four people.
all
who
it
was. But
I
about their conver-
you occasionally go
are right next to each other,
from the window.
In the
to
and
banquet
room, they were talking away about you without knowing that here.
I
it
was Mr. Kiyooka.
or the day after really
ought
"So.
your
Well, anyway,
we
can't talk
have business with the old woman, so tomorrow
It
I'll
come by for a good long away from that place."
chat.
But you
to stay
was
that sort
of thing, was
it?
Well,
I'll
wait for
visit."
Dogs of the neighborhood, samisen carriers, shopboys delivering cooked food, geishas, and the like were pass-
ing by in an endless stream. Quickly ending their chance
encounter, the pair parted and went their separate ways.
103
^) EIGHT Since her husband generally got up toward noon, each
morning Tsuruko would have her milk and
toast instead
of
solitary breakfast
of the usual
rice,
clean out the
cage of the parrot she'd kept the past several years, water the bonsai, do up her hair, get dressed, and wait for her
lord and master to arise. This morning,
among
the mail
that the maid brought her with the milk, there was
with both the address and name written
letter
ern characters. Casually picking ered
it
was
it
a
West-
up, Tsuruko discov-
The handwriting was
for her.
from Madame Joule,
in
the French lady
from
familiar.
It
was
whom she had
taken lessons for more than two years before and after her
graduation from
girls'
Madame Joule, Joule, in
had accompanied her husband
China
for
upward of ten
eral years in Japan.
own
school.
wife of the noted Orientalist Alphonse to the East, living
years and afterward for sev-
At one time she had returned
to her
country, but after her husband's death, to console
herself for her
America and
Tokyo
widowhood
later
she had traveled by herself in
returned to Japan, where she'd lived in
for a couple of years.
It
was during
this
period that
Tsuruko and two or three of her schoolfriends had studied French and etiquette with
her. After
Madame Joule's
re-
turn to Paris, an urgent matter had arisen in connection
with the posthumous publication of her husband's work.
And
so four or five days ago she had once again returned
to Japan.
She was staying
Tsuruko to come and
at
the Imperial Hotel and wished
visit her.
104
During
the Rains
Tsuruko,
after
waiting until the noon siren for
to bestir himself, telephoned the hotel
Madame Joule was
a
with narrow eyes and
among
sees
plump,
genial,
set out.
round-faced lady such
flaccid cheeks,
women of a
foreign
and
Susumu
certain age.
one often
as
Her modern
Japanese was quite passable, and she could even read a little
of the old Chinese-style compositions. In her
to look
up words
in
An
ability
Etymology of the Chinese Language,
may well have excelled present-day Japanese students. It being the luncheon hour, Madame Joule led Tsuruko
she
to a table in the hotel dining
compilation of her her
first
task
was
shrines, temples,
late
to
room. In connection with the
husband's work, she told Tsuruko,
make up
for a lack
and old utensils by buying up
of these. Her second task was to locate to
of photographs of
accompany her back
a
number
a suitable Japanese
to France, a person to
whom
she
could entrust the organization of the numerous volumes
of Oriental paintings and writings at
her principal residence.
that
were stored away
When Tsuruko inquired what Madame Joule re-
degree of scholarship was necessary,
plied that she wasn't particularly looking for a specialist. If,
for instance, the person could distinguish
tanka
between
a
and a ha-uta* that would suffice. Rather than scholar-
ship, she
was looking
for a person possessed of the taste
and discrimination peculiar to the Japanese and also of a
modicum of French. Such to be desired.
a
person would leave nothing
Madame Joule
continued: "The
be completed in about half a year. at liberty,
I
would
longer the case,
I
If you
certainly ask you.
must ask you
to
But
work
will
were single and since that
is
no
recommend somebody
you know." *A
tanka
is
popular song
a
(tr.
poem of
thirty-one syllables; a ha-uta
note).
105
is
a short
During
Rains
the
Hearing these words, Tsuruko nearly pushed the back in her excitement. Almost forgetting leaned across the table and a year,
I
.
.
if
.
someone
said: "If
table
herself, she
for half a year or
it's
myself would be of use, no
like
matter what arrangements were necessary,
I'd like to
go
with you."
"Would you be in surprise
Madame Joule's eyes widened
able to?"
and pleasure. thought I would
"I've always
once." Trying not to
show
go
like to
emotion
the
West just
to the
that
had instantly
welled up in her, Tsuruko lowered her voice.
Madame
Until she had received
morning, come table,
and
to the hotel,
Tsuruko had never so much
change
As she had
fate.
Madame Joule's conversation,
Tsuruko,
under
a spell,
found herself longing
place.
Tsuruko had known
what awaited her was necessary
new act
life.
on
But
that
at
for
listened to
as if suddenly laid
go to some distant
to
some time
that
first to
until today, she
had not had the chance to
that everything
deep despair, she
in
was her punishment
old quickly, to wait for the day
Now, however,
this
and
that.
If,
more than
in the past, obstacles
the energy to expel the latter with in her
a tea-
to waste thinking
because of her habitual hesitation, Tsuruko
what was
but to
an extraordinary opportunity
had come her way. There was no time about
for the
it
when the regret and
sadness of half a lifetime would be no
time story.
it
leave her husband's house to find a
error she'd committed. There was nothing for
grow
whether
her destination was good or bad,
knowledge. At one point,
had decided
that a great
There was noth-
life.
ing so difficult to calculate as
the lunch
at
dreamed
as
could occur in her
like this
Joule's letter this
down
sat
all
mind, had come to
io6
had arisen
felt
that
now
her strength, to do
her.
During
the Rains
After lunch, as she and the old lady
on
sat
a sofa in
the corridor and sipped coffee, their friendly conversa-
went on
tion
blithely
for another
hour or
so.
Leaving the hotel,
unconcerned about the steamy noonday heat that
had suddenly followed a clearing in the rainy-season cloud cover,
Tsuruko caught
a cab at the
Hibiya intersection
and went out to Setagaya to pay her husband's old father a visit.
When she told him
about the proposed
trip to the
West, Akira replied that during his teaching days
met Professor Joule two or
university he had
"When you
get there, if there's anything in the
don't understand,
feel free to
and more overjoyed
write
at
the
three times.
me and
books you
ask."
at the prospect of leaving
More
home, Tsu-
ruko hurried back while the long summer evening was still
bright with sunlight to get her husband's permission.
But Kiyooka had already gone usual message
came
that since
out. it
Toward midnight
was
late
the
she was not to
wait up for him. Tsuruko had no choice but to go to
The next morning, since her husband was not there him to get up, she left a note saying
bed.
for her to wait for that she'd
Joule,
Madame Madame Joule
been requested to do something by
and once more
set
out for the hotel.
intended the following day to go to Kyoto, and also to visit
Nara. Sojourning two or three days in Nagasaki, she
planned to return to Kobe and wait for the steamer. Asking Tsuruko to to
come
to the hotel in
make ready
first
available
for that day,
Kobe, she wrote out
and
a detailed
schedule of her movements. To expedite the matter of
Tsuruko's passport,
embassy deal It
the
directly with the authorities concerned.
wasn't until
world was first
Madame Joule would have the French
late the
asleep, that
following evening,
when
all
the
Tsuruko met with her husband for
time and told him her plans for
107
a trip abroad.
During
Susumu, although so surprised
the Rains
that he instantly sobered
up from the sake he'd been drinking somewhere, spoke with deliberate nonchalance. "Is that so? It's all right with me. You may go."
"The agreement I'm thinking
is
for half a year, but if
I'd like to
all
"There's no particular need to hurry back.
much
goes well,
return earlier." It'd
be too
trouble to go again, so take your time, study and
sightsee and things like that."
The conversation of the two went no Susumu, although surmising hind too
of Tsuruko's, decided
this trip
late at this
a regretful air,
further than this.
the thoughts that lay bethat
was already
point to detain her. If he were to put on
would be mortifying
it
to have her think:
"Well, in that case he might have been a
me
it
in the past."
If,
little
kinder to
on the other hand, he assumed an
indifferent attitude that
would make her think
been waiting for her to go away, he would deepest desire had been seen through.
The
that he'd
feel as if his
best thing
was
to adopt an ambiguous attitude that was not quite either
of the two. This way of approaching the matter was the same,
as far as that
to put
on an
air
went, for Tsuruko
herself. If she
of sorrowful parting,
sance to be forcibly detained.
were
to act overly cool,
to be
thought
it
On
it
would be
were
a nui-
the other hand, if she
would of course be undesirable
a shallow, unfeeling
woman. Husband and
wife, covertly observing each other, doing their best not
on the
to touch
this scene
About
real state
of
affairs,
aimed
at
concluding
peaceably and in good form. a
week
later,
press train for Kobe.
Tsuruko boarded the evening ex-
Although there had been talk among
Susumu's friends of a farewell banquet, Tsuruko, saying that she
wanted
to avoid having her
name appear
in the
newspapers and seen by her family, resolutely rejected io8
During
the
Rains
the idea. The party that saw her off at Tokyo Station numbered only her husband, Susumu, and his disciple Muraoka, the student-houseboy Noguchi, and two or three of her schoolfriends, each of
spectably married.
Her
whom
was now
re-
elder brother, although sanction-
ing the trip to the extent of secretly providing travel ex-
come to see her off for fear of what people The old man in Setagaya, also, pleading his advanced years, did not come to the station. When the train had pulled out, two of the men, Susumu penses, did not
would
say.
and the
in the fore,
groups
rate
Only Muraoka, even
when
ladies naturally fell out into sepa-
made
they
as
their
way out of
the station.
hat in hand, stood gazing after the train
had disappeared. Looking around, Susumu
it
barked: "Hey, Muraoka, what are you standing there staring at?" "It at
was such
a lonely departure."
Looking around him
the already deserted platform, only
now
did
Muraoka
begin walking.
"Thus ends Book One of The
Life Story of Tsuruko.'"
With this comment, Kiyooka tossed his half-smoked cigarette
onto the
"Even "Oh, be to
tracks.
coming back in six months." come back all right. But it probably won't
so, she's
she'll
my house."
"Sensei,
I
had
that feeling myself.
Today was
a sort
of sign." "Hey, Muraoka,
paramour?
I
why
could see
didn't
it all.
timental, comparatively pure
Muraoka,
a
youth
still
you become her youthful
She was looking for
young man
a sen-
like yourself."
shy of his thirtieth birthday,
blushed crimson. "Sensei, don't make that kind of joke. It's
not true. That kind of thing."
"Ha ha ha.
It
won't be too late even after she gets back." 109
During
For the
time,
first
Kiyooka smiled
as if he
the
Rains
were genuinely
amused.
When
they got to the ticket gate, the three were sud-
denly engulfed in a crowd of people coming and going.
Breaking off their conversation, they emerged from the station.
The evening wind,
and desolate,
"Hey, Noguchi, a
was blowing lonely
after rain,
chill against the skin.
movie. Here's
houseboy on
a
his
it's still
you can go and
early, so
complimentary
ticket."
see
Sending the
way, Susumu aimlessly strolled along
with Muraoka among the crowds of pedestrians beneath
Maru Building. As if he'd suddenly remembered, Muraoka said: "Sensei, what about the Don Juan? Is it
the
all
over?"
"Hm.
I've
been doing
"What
sort
"Well,
I
thinking about that."
a little
of thinking?"
still
don't have anything particular in mind.
don't intend to bother you about
it,
Your trouble
a
you're too good
is,
"Is that so?
I
man
person."
that
sound just
like
some
in the country."
"Even
so,
I
don't think you should hold
against Kimie-san the
I
I
rest easy.
wonder."
"Sometimes you say things old
though, so
way you
grudge
a
do."
"That's because you're only an onlooker.
It's
not that
much. She just annoys me.
It's
nothing
dislike her that
as serious as
things a
revenge or retaliation.
little
hard for her.
If
I
mind, you'd be sure to say that
I
told it
just
want
you what
to I
make
had
in
was cruel or departed
from the path of virtue or something."
"What "It's
exactly
not that
I
do you have
in
mind?"
don't trust you, but
right now."
no
I
can't talk about
it
During
the Rains
"Are you going to report her to the poHce?"
"Don't be
a fool. If
I
did something Uke that, Kimie
would think nothing of it. They'd hold her for two or three days, and she'd come out free as a bird. Even if she isn't a waitress, there are I
want
do something
to
want
do anything.
I
won't have to
lay a
Ha
ha ha.
I've
this
the
up the
up some situation
to set
hand on her
— others
kind of psychological
theme of one of Balzac's
closet in
Then he
sits
which his
which
in
do
it
A
It
I
me.
believe
I
husband
hiding into
my fantasy
seals
a wall.
... in the story I'm thinking
I'd like to strip the
woman
naked and
stark
throw her out of a taxicab on some thoroughfare Ginza.
for
a short story
man.
state in a
is
.
matter of fact,
as a
stories.
wife's lover
.
and drinks wine in front of it with the un-
faithful wife. In
of writing,
No,
will
about writing
a lot lately
.
won't be able to
to her so she
fantasy of mine.
been thinking
about it's
It's a
plenty of things she can do.
would be amusing
also to tie her
up
like the
to a tree in
Hibiya Park. In the old days, they used to expose adulterous couples to public view
at
Bridge. That sort of thing.
the approach to Nihonbashi
What do you
think? Perhaps
the contemporary reader wouldn't accept such a story."
Muraoka could not
tell
whether Susumu was actually
talking about the plot for a story, teasing
of it, of
or,
pretending
his plans for
it
was
for the fun
revenge on Kimie. But he was vaguely
aware of something ominous, to rise
him
for a story, speaking obliquely
as if all his hairs
were about
and stand on end. Forcing himself, he
sounds interesting. Readers are getting
tired
said: "It
of sugary
love scenes." "It
might be amusing
also to set fire to the place
she was staying with her lover. Then, side in her
when
where
she ran out-
rumpled nightgown, grab her under cover of
III
During
the Rains
the confusion, take her off somewhere, and do whatever
one
felt
hke doing
to her."
"Indeed."
"There's something else "Sensei, please stop.
I
have in mind
Somehow
it
gives
." .
.
me
a
bad
feel-
ing. Please stop." "It
looks
as if
we're going to have
a
storm tonight."
The sky had clouded over blackly and looked as if it would send the rain down any minute. In the interstices of the clouds, tattered by the violent wind, appearing and disappearing.
stars
were
From the sidewalk trees, new leaves, so freshly
thrashing in the wind, the delicate
went flying helter-skelter to the pavement. Amid wind and the gathering darkness, the streets of this Marunouchi district, which at night tended to empty of green, the
seemed
passers-by, that
One had
the lonelier.
all
muggers might spring out from
the
the feeling
narrow
streets
between the towering buildings. "There's
a story
who was
Theater
home. She
about an actress from the Imperial
hit
lost a leg.
and dragged by
on her way
a car
The person who
did
it
was never
caught." "Is that so?
"Then
That kind of thing has happened, has
there
it?"
was the geisha who had her eyes rubbed
with germs while she was asleep and went blind.
woman
like
Kimie
is
sure to meet a similar
Suddenly there was
Muraoka stepped
a
fate.
A
." .
.
gasp from Susumu. Startled,
closer to him.
A
gust of
the side had snatched Susumu's expensive
wind from
panama
off
his head.
Without noticing
it,
they'd
come almost
as far as the
Mc/zi-Mc/zi
newspaper building. Somewhat fatigued, they
stopped to
rest at a small cafe in the
112
neighborhood. After
During
the Rains
Susumu had had a whiskey and Muraoka lowed
toward the Ginza.
their feet
to separate
and go
own
his
Kiyooka. Tonight, the
they fol-
he meant to study con-
where
wasn't known.
his face
In rapid succession, they visited five or six cafes.
four or five whiskies in each
Kiyooka was
on
rather unsteady
let's
stop
go to some place
this. Let's
the hell time
not
is it?"
"It's
already twelve o'clock."
"It's
already that late?"
"That's
why
Thinking
I've
that at
wander around
had enough of these any
rate
"Sensei,
cafes."
was risky
it
this area in a
they would be
went on:
we
that's
I'm tired out."
"What
least
He was when Muraoka
his legs tonight.
at his sleeve.
"Sensei, a cafe.
Having
even the heavy drinker
cafe,
about to enter another cafe along the way plucked
tried
way, he was prevented by
latter said,
ditions in back-street cafes
a beer,
When Muraoka
drunken
for
Kiyooka
to
state,
and that
at
safe in an assignation house,
let's
have
a quiet
Muraoka
drink someplace where
can relax."
"Hm.
You're quite talkative tonight, aren't you? All
right, take
me
to
some
place
you
like."
"Let's catch a taxi then, sensei."
Immediately tugging
at
the sleeve of Kiyooka's haori,
Muraoka began to head for the recently opened thoroughfare
of West Ginza, which ran toward Chichibashi Bridge.
"Wait. Wait."
Kiyooka had begun
to piss against the wall of a pitch-
dark building. Muraoka, standing corner, idly watched as three resses,
happened
a short
women,
ways
off at the
evidently wait-
to pass by. Abruptly, he realized that
one of them was Kimie of the
113
Don Juan.
Kimie,
also, see-
During ing Muraoka, seemed to utter a cry violent wind,
away unheard. Muraoka,
voice
Kiyooka had a
ara or oya
which even now hadn't
the Rains
— but the
left off,
bore her
instantly recalling
said as they'd strolled
what
through Marunouchi
while back, feeling some unidentifiable
fear,
desper-
ately signaled her
with
away. If Kiyooka,
who unusually for him was dead drunk
his
were suddenly
tonight,
head and hands to quickly go
to catch sight
of Kimie on
this
deserted back street, there was no telling what he might do. If he caused a ruckus that got into the newspapers,
would be
it
a disaster.
Kimie, whether she had guessed Muraoka's meaning or not
it
was impossible
to
tell,
passed by without fur-
ther ado. As, with her companions, she
was about
enter a noodle shop across the way, Kiyooka,
then completed after
very long
piss,
swaying
them."
don't.
There seems
"What
the hell
Muraoka clung to be a strange
do
strength in his arms,
a
Although
to his sleeve. "Please
man
following them."
care? I'm going to treat them."
I
"Sensei, please don't." Holding
it,
gazed
are those waitresses over there? I'm going to
In consternation,
taxi.
slightly,
them,
"Who treat
a
to
who'd just
Muraoka
him back with
all
the
hailed a passing one-yen
in the confusion he hadn't
been aware of
misty rain had begun to mingle with the wind. After
getting in the cab, he noticed that the outsides of the
windowpanes were wet.
The caught got off
three a
women, who
after leaving the
noodle shop
cab, were Ruriko, Haruyo, and Kimie. Ruriko
first,
in Akasaka-Hitotsugi. Next,
off in Yotsuya-Samon.
The
driver,
114
Haruyo got
who'd been given
the
During
the
Rains
destination beforehand, turning off the trolley avenue in
Shiomachi, started
down the Tsu no Kami
of night, with a drizzling
as she
was by herself
At dead
grow
sleepy as
Do what she would,
she could
deserted. Kimie, intoxicated, began to
soon
Slope.
were completely
rain, the streets
not keep her eyes open. All of a sudden, she heard
man's
a
voice say: "Kimiko." Surprised, Kimie realized that the voice calling out what he thought was her
of the driver, ing
him
name was
whom she'd never seen before.
a terrible oaf,
Kimie decided
that
that
While thinkhe must have
been listening to their conversation and was trying to be
him no mind, Honmura-cho." funny. Paying
Slowing the
from the
start,
taxi to a crawl, the driver I
thought
it
forgotten me, have you? at
Kato house
the
she said: "Ah, here
in
we are in
went on: "Right
was you, Kimiko. You haven't met you two or three times
I
Suwamachi." Taking off his
turned around and showed her his
cap,
he
face.
The Kato house in Suwamachi had been where Kyoyo had worked before moving on to Fujimi-cho. Now that the driver had said so,
deed have been
Having long
a
Kimie thought
that
he must in-
customer of hers on several occasions.
since forgotten his face, though, she could
not remember him
at all. It
was not
that
Kimie hadn't
given some thought to the appropriate attitude to adopt if
among
she should encounter a client from that time
the customers at the cafe. But, city
it
Tokyo being
cafe or another for nearly half a year
day on the Ginza client
gone
the
was, although Kimie had been employed
from
down
one
now, from her
first
to today she hadn't
that other time.
As
huge
at
the days and
met
a single
months had
by, she'd naturally relaxed her vigilance, only to be
abruptly accosted tonight by a taxicab driver. Although
"5
During
might
flabbergasted, as she well
best thing
was
to brazen
"You must have
the
it
wrong
Kimie decided the
be,
out with
a
the Rains
know-nothing
person.
I
face.
know what
don't
you'' re talking about." "It's
not strange you've forgotten me, Kimiko. Be-
cause I've fallen so low in the world I'm driving a one-yen
But you haven't
taxi.
risen so high yourself. After
you're just a waitress. Even a high-class lady
"Let
me
"But it's
a waitress
is
no
all,
from
different
of the night, eh?"
out, please. Right here's fme." raining. Let
"It's all right.
I
me drive you back to your place."
don't want to inconvenience you."
"Kimiko-san, back then, you charged ten yen." "I said, let
think
You
I'd
me
be out
out.
Why
late at
aren't
night
if
were
Do you of men?
afraid
fool."
At Kimie's show of
fearlessness, the driver,
because he thought that even
if
work, obediently brought the a
you stopping? I
gust of
wind blew
to say "serves
you
he tried force
it
perhaps
wouldn't
car to a stop. Just then,
the rain against the
window. As
right for not having brought an
brella," the driver reached
if
um-
back and opened the door from
inside.
"If here's
all
right for you. Get out, please."
"I'm leaving one yen here." Tossing fifty-sen coins
Timing
onto the
the exact
seat,
moment
Kimie
a
couple of silver
started to get out.
her foot touched the ground,
the driver suddenly stepped
on the
gas.
The
car shot for-
ward. Kimie, screaming, went flying head over heels out into the rain.
"Look voice was
at
you now, you whore." The
drowned out by
the
sound of the
immediately sped off into the night.
ii6
driver's jeering rain.
The
car
During
the Rains
Coining to around
her.
herself,
Kimie sat up in the mud and looked
Although she'd thought
the pitch-dark road that ran
Kami
that this place
was
from the base of the Tsu no
Slope to the police substation in Sakamachi, she
now saw that it was a neighborhood
of walled residential
compounds. She had no idea where she was. There were no
cars passing by,
herself along, she
and of course no passers-by. Dragging
came
to a pair of stone
gateway posts
surmounted by lamps. Under the provisional the foliage of an oak that reached wall,
Kimie began
to
do up her
at
instant she
knew
her palm. there
pulse began to pound.
It
hair,
of
disheveled from
was sticky with blood. The
was blood on her
The
and clothes went out of
shelter
branches over the
mud. Stroking her forehead,
the rain and clogged with
she looked
its
face,
Kimie's
heart to care about her hair
her. Just barely controlling
impulse to cry out for help, she
set
out
at a
the rain in search of a doctor's office or a pharmacy.
117
an
run through
^1 NINE The doctor, whose office was on Yakuoji-maemachi Avenue
at
the top of Ichigaya-Kappa Slope, not only gave
Kimie emergency
The rainy dawn by the time Honmura-cho. The
aid but called a cab for her.
night was beginning to lighten toward
room
she returned to her rented cuts and scratches that serious.
on her
face,
However, thanks
her soaking-wet clothes
all
in
hands, and legs were not to her not having taken off
night,
from daybreak on her
temperature gradually rose, climbing past forty degrees centigrade.
no
Even by
signs of going
the following evening,
down. Saying
that there
showed
it
was
a risk
of
typhus or pneumonia, the doctor gave instructions to the old
woman.
far.
By
Luckily, however, things did not develop that
the third day, talk of hospitalization was dropped,
and by the end of the week Kimie was allowed
to
sit
up
in bed.
Thinking not only a
stream of bedside
that
it
would be
callers if
a
nuisance to have
people found out about her
mishap, but that rumors of rape might even
arise,
decided to merely inform the cafe that she was
with
a cold.
On the afternoon of the eighth day,
came around
to see her for the first time.
By
Kimie laid
up
Haruyo
then, the
bandage on her forehead had been removed, and Kimie could explain away the scars with a story about having tripped and fallen in the alley that night.
Ruriko came that
by, but she also
Kimie had caught
a
heavy
ii8
The next
day,
went away thinking only cold. Kimie's temperature
During
the Rains
slowly sank to normal, and her appetite came back. As yet,
though, the bruises around her hips and on her arms
and legs hadn't healed.
When she went down
the ladder-stairs, she sometimes
having told her about in Ichigaya-mitsuke,
a
or
came up
The old woman
bathhouse with medicated waters
Kimie went
by forcing herself a
day,
pain.
felt
little,
that evening.
The next
would do her
she
coiffure,
she decided.
When Kimie got back from the bathhouse, arrived for her. Although there
was no return
had
a letter
address, as
she read it became clear that the letter was from Kiyooka's
Muraoka.
disciple,
have written
"I
whether cause if it, it
in fact
my
I
this letter after
debating with myself
should write such
a letter.
mentor Kiyooka-san were
That
is
be-
to find out about
would likely mean the end of our relationship. How-
ever, believing that
you
feel sufficient
me
to keep the matter a secret,
ter.
I
don't
know whether you
friendship toward
have written
I
are
this let-
aware of this, but
late
month Kiyooka-san's wife abruptly left Japan in the company of a certain foreign lady. Kiyooka-san pretends
last
that this parting has occasioned
no great emotion
in him,
but his behavior gives the pretense away. In the ten days or so since his wife's departure, what with drinking and dissipation the sensei's
life
has suddenly gone to seed.
my belief that it is only your love, power
to console the sensei in his present
Of course,
It is
Kimie-san, that has the
and future
life.
nowadays, the sensei avoids the very mention
of your name in front of
us.
avoidance, from that alone,
I
.
.
.
But from
that very
deduce that the sensei
is still
unable to efface the thought of you from his inmost heart. It
occurs to
me
that the sensei
blame on you alone
is
attempting to
for his having lost his wife.
119
fix the I
shall
During
have to
tell
My
year.
you everything
making bold
that has
to inform
happened since
you of the
venge that have been continually hatching
of the
sensei's heart ever since last year
you and
the sensei
of duty,
a sincere desire that
much
from each
the Rains
is
last
plots of re-
the
at
bottom
not to estrange
other. Rather,
a spirit
it is
you should know just how
the sensei loves you, even to the point of imagin-
ing bloodthirsty things against you. In the sensei will be traveling district, in
two or
from Sendai
order to deliver
three days,
Aomori
to the
con-
a lecture at a literary
Maruen Publishing Company. The sensei has expressed his intention of escaping the heat this summer at some hot-springs inn in the Northeast. I ference sponsored by the
myself have not
set foot in
my own
part of the country
in a long time, so after seeing the sensei off
take advantage of his absence to leave
Wanting
to see
Juan yesterday. I
am
forced to
you once before I
was informed
feel grateful that
you from going out
more than I
believe
that. If
you
I
then,
that
I
your
I
to the
I
Don
sick in bed.
illness has
these past several days.
say that
for a while.
went
you were
prevented
will say
no
hesitate to state the reason,
will instantly guess
all.
in the country until that time of year
wind shakes
Tokyo
intend to
I
So then,
when
will be
I
the
autumn
the stems of the tall-grown dahlias.
I
look
forward to meeting you on the Ginza in the cool of the evening
when
the crowds are lively once more.
July 4th."
Observing the ized only
now
letter's date,
that
it
was
Kimie
July.
felt as if
She also
she'd real-
felt as if
incident of barely ten days ago had taken place a
or
two months
in the past.
That was
how
long she
she had been in bed. Simply not having gone to the
where she'd been working every day 120
for
the
month
more than
felt
cafe,
a year
During
the Rains
now, made her
The
rains
clear.
During
but ceased
feel as if her hfe
were suddenly
over.
had completely changed.
The sky was
the day, a cool breeze
at nightfall.
The
absolutely
blew continuously,
night turned hot and steamy.
Even when she sat still, greasy sweat poured off Kimie.
In
contrast to the rainy season quietude of until just yesterday, the
narrow back
jammed with
alley
little
houses
suddenly came alive with people's voices and the sound of
sewing machines doing piecework.
On the streets outside
the alley, radios had started up amid a variety of other, unidentifiable noises. Called downstairs
Kimie yet
ate supper.
done up into
by the old woman,
Afterward, her freshly washed hair not
a coiffure,
with only
a
perfunctory dust-
ing of face powder, she sallied out into the world beyond
Not only was it bothersome to be talked at every woman, but with the sudden advent of midsummer she wanted to be out of the house, out walking somewhere, it didn't matter where. When, just before
the alley.
night by the old
leaving, she'd taken out her purse
from
a
drawer of the
mirror-stand, Muraoka's letter had caught her eye. Just so, she'd slipped
obi and kimono.
it
together with the purse between her
What with
the gathering dusk and being
called downstairs to supper, she
had only skimmed the
second half of the letter by the dim light from the window.
Kimie meant
Moat and fmd a quiet embankment where she could
to stroll along the
place at the edge of the
read the letter again under a bright park lamp. But
was heavy along suitable place
the Moat, and she
still
by the time she had come
Approach. Ahead, the
traffic
hadn't found a
as far as the
of the boat rental pier
New at
the
Ushigome Approach were visible. Two or three girls,
ap-
lights
parently students, were sitting on a fence that lined the
Approach, enjoying the evening
121
cool.
Taking advantage
During
of the
yukata with
fact that her
its
the
Rains
pattern of interwoven
ivy leaves was not overly conspicuous, Kimie loitered
at a
slight distance. Letting the wind blow against her loosely bound hair, she opened the letter by the light of a park lamp. The letter's style seemed to Kimie as affected as that
of a schoolboy's love
letter, as
circumlocutory
as
some-
thing one might read in a translated novel, and even gave
her a weird feeling somehow. But she found to
make out which were
flourishes. If
contents,
Kimie and so
seemed
it
his
one were
the facts and
to briefly
that since
second wife,
it
which
summarize the
Kiyooka had
his first wife
in effect
Kimie, would have to do something.
she,
there
was no
what desperate revenge Kiyooka might attempt her.
stall
over,
letter's
Muraoka seemed
such an event
made
had run out on him
went on pretending to know nothing, on
difficult
rhetorical
Kimie
to be cautioning
as best she could.
to
If
she
telling
wreak
to fore-
As she thought
Kimie grew more and more angry
at a
it
man who
could write such senseless, unreasonable things. After
a
while,
it
occurred to Kimie that
this letter
was no spontaneous outpouring of Muraoka's heart but something
that he'd
been put up to by Kiyooka. Recalling
Muraoka's behavior
that night
when
she had unexpect-
edly encountered
them on
about to enter
noodle shop with her
thought
it
of the cab
a
the West Ginza as she'd been friends,
quite possible that her having been later
Along with
on
a sense
the nape of her neck,
like a
Kimie
thrown out
was Kiyooka's handiwork.
that night
of fear
Kimie
felt
sudden cold gust against defiance surge up in her.
Kiyooka might be Kiyooka, but Kimie was Kimie. She
was not about
to knuckle
under to him.
anything he liked, she didn't
He
could do
care.
Since she could not stand forever in the same place.
122
During
Rains
the
Kimie moved on, thinking and thinking Approach.
By
the edge of the
cho where there
is
as
she passed the
embankment
in
Yonban-
pubhc garden, she found
a
a
bench
under a park lamp and sat down. Probably because it was
a
Sunday, there were none of the usual students about, teasing
young women on
their
way home from night
At the foot of the embankment,
school.
and
directly beneath her,
along the avenue across the waters of the Moat, there was
coming and going of
a continual
vals
trolleys. In the inter-
of their passing, from the surface of the dark water
the voices of the quiet
became
young women
floated up,
mingling with
sound of oars. Every summer, when the Moat
lively
with rented boats, Kimie always thought
back to the time when she lived together with Kyoko in the house in Koishikawa bought by the latter's patron.
Any number of times, rowing Moat where
the lights
deliberately
bumped
using that
down
as their
out to the middle of the
from shore did not
reach, they
into boats with only
men
had
in them,
cue for seduction. Since that time,
to this day, a period of three or four years, vari-
ous riotous scenes of Kimie's lewd and self-indulgent
about which she could
tell
life,
no one, had unfolded against
the backdrop of this moatside view
from lidabashi
to the
Ichigaya Approach. At the thought, the feeling came to
Kimie
that
somehow
latest incident
or other the curtain raiser of this
was naturally drawing
Aroused from her revery by
to an end.
a tiger
moth
.
.
.
that grazed
her cheek like a flung pebble, Kimie gazed once more the view that stretched
Suddenly, somehow, she if
would
it
it all
would not
it
at
to Koishikawa.
became dear to her. Feeling that
like to fix the scene in her heart, so that
she never saw
that
from Ushigome
again she
would have no
fade out of her
123
memory
even
regrets, so
for a long, long
During
Kimie stood up from
time,
the bench and
the Rains
went toward
the wire fence. Just then, hke a quivering shadow, a
approached out of the darkness under the very nearly
bumped into him. As
man
Kimie
trees.
they each veered out of
the other's way, their eyes met.
"Ya-a. Kimiko-san."
"Uncle, what are you doing around here?" In their surprise, the
two stood where they were. "Uncle" was
the patron
who
the geisha
from Ushigome, and
in
When Kimie
Gyutenshin.
and was staying tinually
came
had bought out the contract of Kyoko,
Kyoko's house, the geishas
at
house
who
there for visits always referred to
"uncle." Imitating them,
His
installed her in a
had run away from home
Kimie had
also called
con-
him
him
as
that.
name was Kawashima Kinnosuke. Formerly he had in charge of the stock department of a certain com-
been
pany.
When
it
was discovered
that he'd misappropriated
funds, however, he'd been sent to prison. In the old days,
he had been wont to dress entertainer, going about in
Now, however, a
as stylishly as a professional
Yuki pongee
not even wearing
and the
silk
obi, his feet
shod
Something about him suggested
emerged from
The
the waist
wooden
clogs.
that he'd only recently
his towel-cloth
he were cold, Kawashima
was.
cheap
at
prison.
Drawing together as if
in
like.
he was garbed in
laundry-faded towel-cloth yukata, cinched
with an undress
I
a hat,
past
is
Although forcing
a
said:
kimono
the past, the present
smile to his
lips,
at
the neck
"I'm not the person
the
is
the present."
man seemed un-
accountably agitated, constantly on the lookout from the corners of his eyes. Back then,
Kawashima had
already
been forty-five or -six years old, but his white hairs hadn't been particularly noticeable. Seen from behind, accom-
124
During
the Rains
panied by his young concubine, his medium-build figure
had seemed
that
of an exceptionally well-turned-out
prime of
in the
life.
Now, however,
man
his strangely yel-
lowed face was gouged with deep wrinkles, and his bushy
which looked as
hair,
ashes,
fore
was
had been
their
if he'd
lively
and sparkling,
deep-sunken sockets
"Back then, you did for a greeting,
remembering "Still
been showered with dust and
white and unkempt. His eyes, which be-
all
now glittered eerily in
as if staring
a lot
out
at
something.
of things for me." At
Kimie thanked Kawashima
a loss
as if only
now
to.
hanging around
this area, are
you?"
"I'm in Honmura-cho. In Ichigaya." "So.
Well then, we'll probably meet again some-
where."
With
this,
the
two had
started to
when it occurred to Kimie that know where he lived. Walking
she
move
past each other
would
like to at least
along two or three steps
with him, she inquired subtly: "Uncle, have you seen
Kyoko? Since
"Oh?
I
I
haven't seen her again."
heard something about her being in Fujimi-
cho. But if I get near her.
"No,
then,
it's
went the way I am now, she wouldn't So
it's
let
me
better not to go."
not like that
at all.
Do
go and
see her."
"What have you been doing since that time, Kimikosan? I suppose you've found some man you like and are living together."
"No, Uncle.
coming last
It's
a waitress.
week or
the
same
Although
as before.
I've
I
ended up be-
been sick in bed
this
so."
"Is that so?
A
waitress, eh?"
The two walked along
talking.
As well
as
young
couples sitting together on the benches under the trees,
125
During there
were
who
few passers-by,
a
also
seemed
Rains
the
to be stu-
dent types. Apparently somewhat reassured, Kawashima
doy^n of his
sat
"There are
own
accord on
of things
a lot
nearby bench.
a
I'd like to
you about. See-
ask
ing your face brings back the past. Even though
"Uncle, ing
at
when
before,
by myself,
I
I
really
been
lost in
I
met you. Uncle.
really
It
strange."
"That's so.
Kawashima
You can
Koishikawa quite
see
Slope
is
is
Gyutenshin. Yes,
days. If there
it's
I
Kagura Slope. That means the
carried
it
why
the country. Even
pleased in those
I've
been thinking of going
as a waitress, although
I
don't
been badly thought of and had grudges
trivial incident I've
It's
unpleasant, and
me,
to
somehow
I
Uncle, about ten days ago,
and was injured. one on
I
in one's life
one way or another, because of some
particularly care
might happen
as
the trees
up, you've got to resign yourself."
"That's true. That's
held against me.
on just
all
when one has enworth having been born. And when the
time comes to give
back to
from
"That brightly
And that place with
one time
is just
joyed oneself,
the
over there.
clearly
beyond the Moat,
also gazed across the water.
place over there
Ando is
and got
it
stay-
Even
fun.
a strange night. Just
here." His attention caught by the view
lit
most
the old days and staring off in a
daze toward Koishikawa, then is
when I was
the
was thinking of
was thinking about
thought
.
Suwamachi was
in
memories. Tonight has as
.
think of it, that time
I
your place
I
."
forgotten about the past
I'd
my arm."
I
still
Kimie
I
when I feel
think of what
frightened.
.
.
.
was thrown out of a taxicab
have the rolled
scars. See?
And
there's
up the sleeve of her yukata
and showed Kawashima.
"You poor a lover's
girl.
You've had
grudge?" 126
a
rough time of it. Was
it
During
the Rains
men
"Uncle,
more unforgiving than women.
are far
Recently, I've thought that for the
"When you
think about
first
men
it,
are
time."
no
different
from
v^omen."
"So you've thought the same thing, Uncle. From those
when you were having
days
."
good time
a
.
.
Suddenly, from the foot of the embankment, the sound
of
going by arose with
a train
a
cloud of coal smoke,
drowning out Kawashima's reply and obscuring Covering her
farther view.
face
with her
stood up. Kawashima also got to his "Well, like to
trouble, I'd
noon
90.
It's
KameWhere are
near
or one o'clock.
now, Uncle?"
living
"Me?
till
much
at least."
Honmura-cho, number
I'm always in
saki.
the
Kimie
feet.
on. If it's not too
have your address
"Ichigaya,
you
move
let's
sleeve,
Well,
I
.
.
If
.
I
fmd
a place,
I'll let
you know."
There was only one path through the park. Before they
knew
it,
Kimie and Kawashima had come out
the
at
New Approach and onto the trolley avenue alongside the Moat. Since it was only
a
one-stop ride to Ichigaya, Kimie
thought she would walk back
on the
trolley.
Kawashima
—
after seeing
by
side
off
As she stood waiting with him, however, in
their conversation just yet, again
without really seeming
to, step
—
two board them. Not
which direction was he going?
or three trolleys pass with no attempt to
resuming
Kawashima
by
let
walking side step, the
two
neared the Ichigaya Approach. "Uncle,
it's
right over there, so
come in for a moment."
went back to the country, there was no telling when would see him again. Kimie somehow had a lonely
If she
she
feeling.
she
She also
would
felt
that as a return for all his past favors,
like if she
could to cheer him up with stories
about the old days. 127
During "It's
no trouble
"Of course it "You have "Yes.
a
for
you?"
isn't.
Come
the
Rains
along."
rented room,
suppose."
I
have the whole second floor to myself. There's
I
nobody but to be afraid
the old
woman
downstairs.
You
don't have
of anybody."
"In that case,
I'll
impose on your hospitality
mo-
a
ment."
come
"Yes,
Whenever
up.
a social call, the old
the house. She's a
When
man, even
terribly tactful
is
little too alert. It
makes me
they turned off the avenue along the
would have
the alley, as luck the sake shop side.
woman
a
it's
the
it
Kimie ordered
feel
bad."
Moat
into
young man from
three beers and
some tinned
During her absence, the old
some
crab
the door of the entryway, she
called out: "Auntie, I'm back," and ushered
dently done
and leaves
was cooling himself on the sidewalk out-
from him. Sliding open
upstairs.
if it's just
A
cleaning up.
Kawashima
woman
had evi-
scrap of Yuzen silk
had
been hung over the mirror of the dressing-stand, and in the six-mat
room bedding had
Kawashima, standing
in the
already been laid out.
doorway, looked around the
room as if surprised. Only his glittering eyes showed anything, however, so that
woman
thinks I'm
Kimie guessed nothing. "The old
still sick. I'll
just put this away." Slid-
ing open the door of the wardrobe, Kimie started to put the pillow away.
As
if
he'd just then returned to himself,
Kawashima
hurriedly said: "Kimiko-san. Please don't trouble yourself. If I'm
"Well then, living at I
I'll
leave the
O-Kyo-san's
never so
know how to act." bedding as it is. When I was
treated like a guest,
much
place,
I
I
won't
was always being
as folded up a single kimono.
128
told that
My messi-
During
the Rains
ness dates
from
Turning over
a
the mirror-stand,
Hearing
Kimie
at
it."
offered
Kawashima.
to
it
the head of the ladder-stairs and withdrew.
Kimie got
her,
back into the room, she
is
about
old
board floor
you
treat
I'll
all
woman, bringing the beer and the tinned along with some pickles, silently placed them on the
The crab
you know
that time, so
muslin-covered cushion from in front of
to her feet. Bringing everything
a fish store. If
you
if it's fish
you want,
The house
like.
in front
out the window, they'll deliver
call
I
"Uncle,
said:
to anything
anything."
Kawashima, draining that
Kimie had poured out
seemed
for him, not saying a
on
to be keeping an eye
borhood
if this
was how
fearful
of the world
son became once he'd been in prison, sorry for
Kawashima
"Perhaps
as
felt
I
just got out of
felt
more and more
unbearably hot, Kimie
bed today, but
Although
despite this heat the breeze feels chilly."
she
per-
a
she observed him.
because
it's
word,
of the neigh-
that part
from the window. Kimie,
that could be seen
wondering
the glass of beer
at a single draft
paper
slid the
in fact
window
halfway shut. His eyes instantly reddening around the edges with second glass of beer, Kawashima
one
says, the
world
making another
is
effort
my
health isn't up to
you
still
have your
life
women
half a
There's nothing
a red quilt
You were
to the country, but could
month? Even
I,
and drink
I've
I
before you, Kimiko.
perience the true savor of life.
might go back
"Whatever any-
said:
and drink.
and getting back on it.
broken-down a glass
to me."
129
as
of sake,
his
I
thought of
my
but
feet,
can do. But
You
will ex-
saying that you
you stand am, when
it all
it
for
I
see
comes back
During
the
Rains
"Uncle, you've become quite respectable."
Kimie, although wanting to ask what sort of life Kawa-
shima had led since leaving prison, could not ask him and so adopted
straight out
speech.
Kawashima seemed
roundabout manner of
a
to be in a considerably better
mood. His voice taking on a tinge of animation, he said: "You can't dance in a sleeveless robe, as they say. So it's for the best. Since I've returned to this vile world, I've lived
gone without food,
like a beggar. I've
my
son were
alive,
he died of pneumonia while
was
I
and daughter have been sent back even
sell
years.
let
alone drink. If
he would have helped
me
But
out.
His wife
in prison.
to the country.
I
can't
the girl to be a geisha for another four or five
not that
It's
if
whom I've helped in
asked, people
I
the past wouldn't do something for me, but sooner than
walk around exposing
my
Kimiko-san. Even
leave this world, this old
not forgotten the
if
I
past.
He
"Oh, Uncle. Talking
disgrace I'd rather
.
has
that
way
.
.
.
It's
you who have
When one down to it, isn't it thanks to you that I've been make my own way? You got me that office job at can count.
I
right
able to first
myself,
man
thanks you."
helped me, in more ways than
comes
kill
.
.
and then
and the things
I
I
my way
slowly learned
around
learned about assignation houses
over Tokyo, and the other things
.
.
.
it's all
.
.
.
all
thanks to
you, Uncle."
"Ha-ha.
Is
tonight's beer a thank-you for
things I've taught you? If so, this old
accept your hospitality.
Even
man
is
all
the bad
pleased to
a professional like
Kyoko
was surprised by you back then. By now, you must really be something."
"Oh, not deal with
all
that
men from
much.
I
used to go around a great
the office.
130
I
wonder what's become
During
the Rains
of them at
I've
all.
never seen any of them again, not even
the cafe." "Is that so? That's
that
company
because they've
And
gotten older.
has gone under. Probably I'm not the only
one who's been
in straits."
"You, Uncle? You're not
who
of sixty
all
are
that old yet.
all
too energetic."
all
the old gentleman Matsuzaki as
About
I
know men to
mention
an example of what she
meant, Kimie checked herself "Pleasure, too,
when
it
Uncle
— the
becomes
a habit, is difficult to
give up."
"Even habit
for you.
past
is
the past, and so the
comes right back."
Kimie hadn't had anything days or
so.
As they were
to drink for the past ten
talking, the three bottles
of beer
were quickly emptied. "Your business has made
some whiskey over
Isn't that
"Oh, what with being gotten
all
about
down from "I
it."
a
very naughty
girl
of you.
there?"
sick
and everything,
I'd for-
Taking the square bottle of whiskey
the shelf,
Kimie poured some
into a teacup.
don't have any glasses, so please put up with this." "I've already
had too much."
"Well, you'll have
some more beer
"No, nothing more. Drinking again
then, or sake?"
after so long,
I'm
getting tipsy. It'd be awful if I couldn't go back." "If you can't
mind." Saying
go back, you can
this,
rest
Kimie drained at a
over there.
I
don't
single gulp the half
teacupful of whiskey.
"You "It's
waitresses really are splendid drinkers."
better than sake.
You
don't have a headache after-
ward." To moisten her burning throat, Kimie drank off a glass
of the remaining
beer.
Giving
131
a
deep sigh, she
irri-
During tatedly
combed back with
hair that
had begun
how much
to
her fingers her freshly washed
tumble across her
face.
Thinking
she had developed in just two years,
shima could not take
Kawa-
Kimie. Back then,
his eyes off
though there had been what one might quality,
the Rains
call a certain
al-
loose
something of the innocent maiden had lingered
about her shoulders and hips. Now, however, from her cheeks to her chin the profile of her long, narrow face
was supremely
The
elegant.
ders suggested a
line
more lissome
her opened yukata, from her knelt, her flesh
of her neck and shoul-
slenderness than before. In
bosom
to her thighs as she
was of an inexhaustible
fullness.
Every-
thing about her, not just particular parts of her body,
charm not
breathed out
a lovely, alluring
a respectable
woman. Such charm, no
same
doubt, was the
in kind as the difference in the everyday
of a tea-ceremony master from
relaxed.
demeanor
of an ordinary per-
that
swordsman even
son, or the physical alertness of a
most
to be seen in
at his
Even though the woman was not being par-
ticularly seductive,
despite himself,
Kawashima's
drawn
"Uncle, I've gotten
in
by
feelings
were aroused
her.
a little
drunk myself" Breaking
her formal seated posture, Kimie eased her legs out to
one side and leaned on her elbow against the windowsill. Propping her cheek on her palm, she turned her
toward the room
to let the breeze
Already quite drunk, Kawashima
where he
sat
was
fleetingly
blow
as
face in
against her hair.
he watched her from
reminded of Kimie lying
in
bed, her hair tumbling disheveled from the pillow onto the mat.
Half-closing her eyes, Kimie
popular song. "Samurai Japan
Kawashima seemed
to
.
hummed .
."
a line
from
a
Listening intently,
suddenly make up his mind.
132
During
the Rains
Serving himself, he drank ofFa glass of whiskey
at a single
draft.
Somehow
with
Kimie awoke
ing,
heat?
vague sense
a
— was
fmd
to
that she
herself
— lying on top of the bedding The whiskey
was dream-
because of the
it
nothing but her
in
bottle
and the beer bottles stood
scattered about just as they
had been. But the second
singlet.
was empty. From
floor
was chiming,
the neighbor's in back, a clock
either eleven or twelve o'clock. Suddenly,
Kimie noticed by her pillow double.
It
seemed
to be her
a sheet
own
of letter paper folded
drawer of the mirror-stand. Opening
Kimie saw
side,
that
from
stationery, taken
she lay on her
as
it
was from Kawashima.
it
"There's no time to say anything. Last night, I
happened
to
meet you,
for a place to kill
more
myself Thanks
completely despaired that
I
of.
to you,
Now
there
By
will regret leaving.
with Kyoko and are talking about
no longer be
you
for
ment
I
wanted
you were,
What
in this world.
your kindness. To to take
farewell.
I
tell
am
was
I
As thanks
for
watch over you from
is
this,
I
had
nothing in
this
will
you meet
most
likely
profoundly grateful to
you with me, I
I
able once
which
the time
you the
to that other world.
a terrible thing a
when
was walking around looking
I
to experience the pleasure of the past,
world
a
truth, in that
unknowing
all
was shocked
man's will
is, I
mo-
at
as
myself.
thought. So then,
your kindness in
this
that other world.
I
world,
I
will
pray for your
future happiness.
Kawashima Kinnosuke" "Auntie! Auntie!" Leaping up from the bedding, Kimie
went on desperately
calling out for the old
133
woman.
Flowers
in the
Shade
^
ONE
Outside
the glass
window of
the second-floor
room
rented by this couple was the laundry-drying platform of the house.
nowhere
The day was drawing on toward noon. From
in particular, there
Kimono
dines.
a
skirts hoisted, the
the front part of this floor to dry.
was
smell of broiling sar-
woman who
lived in
was busily hanging things out
Her shadow moved about on
the frosted outside
of the window. "Ju-chan, today
you go
is
the last day of the month.
to the post office for
me
later
Won't
on?"
The woman, who had looked around at
a
man lying in
bed reading the newspaper, seemed to be well past
thirty.
Without even an undersash, her laundry-worn yukata
open
in front, sitting
stand, she
with one knee raised
at
the mirror-
was doing up her sleep-disheveled
hair into
a bun.
"Yes,
I'll
go.
or three days,
showed no "It's that
Year's."
the
Are there any gotten
it's
live coals?
much
colder."
These past two
The man
still
signs of getting up.
time of year again. Only
Holding her
hair with
a
month from
New
one hand, with the other
woman drew toward herself the round porcelain braAn aluminum teapot was suspended over it.
zier.
"Hm. Time unlucky for me
certainly goes
in his
prime
is
too."
"That's so. ... is
by quickly. Next year
I
feel
very melancholy about
after forty, so he's all right,
137
but
a
it.
A man
woman is
Flowers
already finished."
On some impulse or other,
Shade
in the
the
woman
squared her shoulders and drew a deep breath. To the
man^ it somehow seemed 'Everybody
like a sigh.
woman.
suddenly, as if to soothe the right. If
we
can go on living like
complain about. Isn't that so,
man
gets a year older each year," the
not
It's
as if
O-Chiyo?
If
this, there's
we had any
all
nothing to
great hopes.
can live like
I
said
"Everything's
.
.
.
I'm per-
this,
fectly happy."
"That may be this
much
but
so,
we
longer. Already
can't even
go on living
like
." .
.
What do you mean?" "What, you ask. Because we are almost the same age. ." Noticing Even if I wanted to work, the customers the shadow moving around on the laundry platform, the woman abruptly lowered her voice. The man, crawhng "Already?
.
out of the bedding, after
for
— I'm not good
what people think
I
been doing nothing future.
it
comes
to that, I'm a
man,
I'm not just living off you. You have no respect
all.
me
said: "If
.
As you
for very
can't help like this
much in life,
so
But
not
it.
it's
no matter as if I've
without thinking about the
get older, you're always thinking about
the future. That's why, to this day, I've never wasted a
cent of your earnings. that so,
You must know
Although speaking almost
that yourself Isn't
O-Chiyo?"
a
in such a
low voice
that
it
was
the man put a strong emphasis into Coming up right behind the woman, and
murmur,
every syllable.
even gripping her hands, he went on: "Don't you
like
me
anymore? Already?" "That kind of thing a
sudden?" As
hands over her
if
.
.
.
What
are
surprised at him, the
breasts.
138
you
saying,
woman
all
of
placed his
Flowers
in the
Shade
There was
a
sound of a door
sliding open,
woman who
heavy sound of the
had been outside on the
laundry platform stepping
down
A moment later,
siren
her mind, the
noon
the
woman
and then the
onto the wooden
went
off.
As
"Yes.
I'll
office for
me
go right now.
padded garment with
a
From
wall.
you? Please
later on." .
.
.
had
my
man put on a sham
silk
go before
I'll
breakfast." Getting to his feet, the
up on the
changing
sat up.
"Let's not talk about that sort of thing. Eh,
go to the post
if
floor.
haori over
that
it
I've
had been hung
downstairs, a man's voice called:
"Nakajima-san, phonecall." "Yes.
Thank you." Seeing
that the
woman was
still
in
her sleeping dress without having even put on an undersash yet, the man, his hand
on the door, asked:
"Is
it all
right if I answer it?"
"Yes. I've told the houses a
I
do business with
that
I
have
younger brother."
The man soon came back upstairs. They say to come right away."
"It's
the Yoshizawa.
"Ah, so?" Picking up the man's narrow obi, which had
woman
fallen to the floor, the
soap and stairs.
a
put
it
on. Taking a cake of
towel from the mirror-stand, she went down-
The man,
taking
bottle of milk,
a
small
aluminum pot from
ornamental alcove, poured into
tea shelf placed in the
which had been standing
and began to boil
it.
the it
a
in the corridor,
There were phonecalls
at all
hours
of the night and day, and often there was no time even for a
bowl of
rice.
fortified herself
the milk had
The woman would go
with hot milk or
begun
to
a
out, having
raw egg. By the time
simmer, the woman, her hair done
up and even her neck powder on, humming through her nose,
came upstairs and
seated herself at the mirror-stand.
139
Flowers
"Ju-chan, have some.
I
Shade
in the
ate late last night, so
don't
I
need anything." "Really?
You have
a
very strange constitution. How^
can you not eat?"
"Ever since
I
was
a child, I've
And
square meals a day.
yet,
don't care for soup either. ... "It certainly does.
man the
The wrinkles
at
round
in the
now
took on the
face that
.
were the
face
lipstick's its
lively,
face
of a different per-
powder, the color-
Not only did it a modern would become. The small
narrow
it
chin.
seemed somehow
and slender torso,
the heavy-fleshed thighs.
ness of a
O-Chiyo gave
woman
under
ruby hue, the eyes sparkled
even foreign clothes
fully sloping shoulders
more
it?"
The
."
makeup, grew
compact body, when seen from behind, with
leg raised,
.
As she
its
grace-
set off all the
sat there
with one
off the oppressive seductive-
in her prime.
The man,
although she had turned thirty-six
this
year
satisfied that
O-Chiyo
still
possessed that kind of powerful glamor, took courage the thought that she could go
four or five years.
As he
on working
so that despite himself he
low
based,
mental
it
in
life.
felt it
When human
was the end. Not only
state
at
for another
did so, a sense of shame and
despair that had lain latent of late began to
this
I
the corners of the eyes, the freckles,
with
face
appear more
smoke
face in the mirror,
were stroked away by the white less lips
money, doesn't
don't
fingers applying the
instantly younger, as if it
son.
saves
It
And you woman's
w^atched as the
movement of her
almost never had three
don't like to drink and
I
stir in
him,
strange that he had fallen
beings became this dehis
own
feelings,
but the
of O-Chiyo seemed strange to him. He'd
become unable to clearly understand them. With what feelings had O-Chiyo come to be living with a feckless
140
Flowers
in the
Shade
man like himself these past months and years? Most likely, without knowing it herself, habituated by now to life as an unlicensed prostitute, she had come to think even of
shameful things
as
No doubt,
not shameful.
from time
to
time, she had had thoughts of changing to another line
of work. But the
fact
of her having gone no further than
grade school would make a shopclerk or
an
it
difficult to find
employee. Even
office
job, the salary doled out to one
an
illicit
in the
trade
would be
whole world
there
lowly status other than least she
was
the need of someone,
work even
had once practiced
was no profession shameful
this
suited to her
which
calling,
at
At the same time, contem-
woman's
lot,
no matter how
she must have
felt
whom she
feckless,
designated her lord and master, her companion in
There was no other way
as
she did get a
derisory. Probably she felt that
familiar with.
plating the loneliness of a
who
if
life.
to interpret the situation.
Noticing that the milk was on the
boil, the
man took
the pot off the brazier and poured the milk into a glass. Just
then completing her makeup, the
padded
silk
garment with
colored haori of expensive a
white shawl and
changed into
a "flying" pattern
ground, an embroidered Nagoya
with
woman
twill.
a scarlet
and
on
a
purple
a
gardenia-
Completing
this outfit
sash,
handbag, she seated her-
self again at the mirror-stand to put the last touches
her face.
141
a
on
^) TWO
After O-Chiyo had gone
out, Jukichi
made
a
combined
breakfast and lunch of the leftover milk and a soft-boiled
When
egg.
he had opened the
window and
bedding, the cafe waitress (Ito by name) front part of the second floor, a haori
put away his
who
rented the
thrown over her
kimono worn next to the skin and sticky with grime and makeup from her neck, looked in from the
lined night
corridor.
"Nakajima-san
.
.
.
Oh, has your wife already gone
out?" "Is there
something I can do for you?" Nakajima seated
himself by the window.
"About before, I'm sorry. While you were sleeping Leaning against the sliding door, she went on:
you but
to address an envelope for me. it's
I
." .
.
"I'd like
apologize for asking,
got to be in a man's handwriting."
"Of course.
That's an easy task. ...
To your
lover's
place?"
"Uh uh." The woman shook her head like a child. "To
my
patron's place.
start
Next month
is
December. Unless
I
badgering him now, the money won't come in time.
Even begging
"No
isn't easy."
matter what
it is,
"I'm sick and tired of
you have life as a
to
work
at it."
waitress." Taking out
some envelopes from her pocket, the woman handed them to Nakajima. As he wrote out the name and address for her, she went on: "Nakajima-san, I'd like to ask your
142
Flowers
in the
Shade
wife about joining the housekeepers' association.
about
it,
Nakajima-san? Perhaps
it's
something
How
can do.
I
The kind of housekeeper your wife is doesn't have to cook rice
Hke an ordinary housekeeper."
Nakajima did not hke about what O-Chiyo
did.
to be questioned too deeply
Merely nodding, he wrote out
same name on four or
the
five envelopes.
conceal her shady profession, had as a
Sometime be-
with him, O-Chiyo,
fore, after consulting
let it
be
in order to
known
temporary housekeeper she went out on
any
call to
When, now and
place the association sent her to.
that
then, she
stayed overnight, that was because she'd been hired for a
banquet or some other entertainment
Handing back
the envelopes to the
—
said:
"Housekeeper, nothing
class
day maid. She's always saying
young, she'd
like to
be
Thanks "I'll
woman, Nakajima
she's really a sort
a waitress.
"Then, no matter what
at a distant villa.
it is,
how
if she
of high-
were only
She envies you."
it's
not that interesting.
for doing the envelopes."
drop in
"Please do.
at
your
We
cafe for the reward."
serve doughnuts.
I'll
give
you some
tea.
Shortly after the
woman
left,
Nakajima, putting the
downThe house fronted on a back street, lined with retail shops, in Shiba Sakuragawa-cho. The glass shop, open to
post office savings passbook in his pocket, went stairs.
the street the full length of its eighteen-foot frontage,
half an entry way a
man of about
fifty
with
a
mustache, his bucktoothed
spouse, and their fourteen- or fifteen-year-old son
was by way of a shopboy, six-mat
room
was
where plate glass was stored. The owner,
at the
lived here. Passing
foot of the stairs
who
through the
where the family
was having its lunch, excusing himself, Nakajima stepped
143
Flowers
out the kitchen door. Walking along the ently
emerged on an avenue and made
trolley stop.
The branch
post office
her account was in Tanimachi,
at
year, until
rented a
from
moving
room
way toward a where O-Chiyo had
the base of the slope for
more than
a
Sakuragawa-cho, she'd
this spring to
in an alley near there.
their second-floor
he pres-
alley,
his
Azabu-Roppongi. That was because
in
Shade
in the
One
day, however,
windows, O-Chiyo had seen and
been seen by one of her former patrons,
who had moved
into the house with lattice doors diagonally opposite. She
had met him two or three times in Ikenohata, she said,
and
lest
house
in an assignation
her secret profession
come
known among the neighbors, she had immediately moved to her present room. Although meaning to trans-
to be
fer it
her account to
where
it
a
nearby branch, she'd ended up leaving
was.
yen of the room
In addition to the twelve
jima had promised to chip
in five
paying for the cost of every
as well as
call.
seventeen yen. Calculating O-Chiyo's tailor eral
rent,
Naka-
yen for the telephone
That made and gen-
bill
end-of-the-month expenses, he withdrew about fifty
yen. Quickly returning to the trolley stop, he found seven
or eight people waiting on the usually deserted pavement.
There was no sign of a
trolley.
never ventured out on day.
Even
that
of summer.
cape.
a
Of late, Jukichi had almost
main thoroughfare during the
the winter sunlight instantly dazzled
The wind,
Suddenly, he
felt
He had come
him
like
out without his Inverness
cold and desolate, blew against him.
hungry. Anxious to avoid meeting any
when he saw the grow larger, Jukichi threading his way be-
old friends or acquaintances these days,
crowd
at
the trolley stop gradually
walked on toward the next
stop,
tween telephone poles and sidewalk getaway. 144
trees as if
making
a
Flowers
When him,
Shade
in the
he'd gone as far as Tame-ike, from behind
woman,
along.
It
was
A
full.
barely slipping free of the press of people impa-
tiently waiting to get off,
came
a trolley car
at last,
glanced
at
on and people pushing
Nakajima
as
way
their
she was about to pass him.
"Nakajima-san?"
"Tama-chan. relaxed since
How have you been?" His tone unusually was not
it
a
male acquaintance, Nakajima
looked her over. Age, twenty-seven or -eight. Over
a
purple haori, evidently readymade, an ordinary woolen
Red lacquerware sandals, and a folded "And Chiyoko-san? Is she all right?"
shawl.
parasol.
"Yes, she's fine."
bad of me not
"It's I
didn't
to have visited
woman
took advantage of the momentary
and the deserted stop for in this
you even once, but
know where you were." Looking around her, a bit
lull in traffic
of chitchat. "Do you
Sakuragawa-cho
in
.
.
number
.
from Toranomon, so
if you like,
do come
you don't mind the imposition
looking for
a
room. I'm
around here are
As they
in Setagaya
.
.
On
eighteen.
the second floor of a glass seller's called Ota.
streets
live
neighborhood?"
"No,
"If
the
It's
not
far
by." .
Actually, I'm
now. But the rooms
terribly expensive."
talked, the
two were
strolling along the
back
of Tame-ike.
"After that time,
we
didn't see anything of you.
Even
O-Chiyo thought that you'd probably left Tokyo. But you haven't altogether shaken the dust off your feet, have you?" "I started to
shake the dust
off.
I
shook the dust off one
foot, ha-ha."
"Are you
"No.
We
still
with your friend?"
broke up. This summer, 145
we
finally
came
to
Flowers
And
an agreement and separated.
that,
was
*I
at
arrested.
madam
loose ends for a
went on the same with at a
small cafe in Shibuya. it
what split
a
friend
everything
hundred yen. be
is like.
live
to everything,
myself found
I
been working
it
was
It
all
tips
you know
We
money
the
done nice and proper through
now
free
thought,
I
on the
too much.
we had. We even agreed on
much more
"Is that so?
you
I've
was busier than
It
Although he'd agreed
my
go-between. So from It'll
or so. But things
wasn't likely that two people could
alone.
too. After
and there was nothing
could do, so until just recently
I
but
month
my friend,
else
of the Naka-
was rounded up
I
Shade
other things have hap-
pened. Last year, in the spring, the
nawa Club was
in the
and easy
But have you
a
my own.
working on
on, I'm
that way."
him up? Won't
really given
get back together soon?"
"Stop
that.
going to
may be
I
live off
.
.
."
a
the
complete
woman
fool,
man
but no
is
remem-
began, then,
bering Nakajima's relationship with O-Chiyo, abruptly
changed her tone. "That's
so,
you know.
me understanding and sympathy like
you, Nakajima-san
anything for such
"But
in the
a
— I'm
man.
I
a
.
gave
me
understood
woman, and
would be happy
end you'd probably get
man
If the
If he
.
.
tired
I
would do
to."
of me.
When
Isn't that so, Tamaman has no self-respect at all When we were living in the same house, somehow we never had this kind of talk. O-Chiyo, you know I can't figure out why she wants to live with me. It gives me a strange feeling sometimes."
the
.
.
.
chan?
.
"Oh, come now, Na-san. What late stage in the
"I
game, to suddenly
mentioned
it
are
you saying? At
.
this
." .
.
because the subject came up.
that I'm particularly worried about
146
.
it.
But
a
It's
not
woman's
Flowers
in the
Shade
feelings, unless
you ask her about them,
standing without understanding
"That may be
You seem
But
so.
it's
it's
like
under-
." .
the
.
same
women.
for us
to understand a man's feelings, without under-
Why wasn't my loverboy as
standing them. Oh, Na-san.
mature and sympathetic
you?"
as
"Are you already wishing he'd come back?"
"No. That's over with. Next time, I'm going
to
look
for a congenial lover, like you, Na-san."
"What do you mean, a congenial lover?" "O-Chiyo told me about you. She says you sort
of life. She says you talked her into
"Did O-Chiyo say
how much
matter
it."
kind of thing? Ha-ha. But no
that
talked, if the
I
like this
woman
herself hadn't
wanted to, I couldn't have done it. We're birds of the same feather. That's
why we're able to get along so well. There
are reasons for that. There's a real story behind
At
first,
Nakajima had
half-jokingly,
had come to him, just
as he'd
him, the story of half
was unable "It
chan?
was while I
.
.
."
was
I
tell,
alley,
he'd
still
think
I
you know, Tama-
a student, say.
I'll
But
just then
O-Tama,
window of a house
ask here." She had stopped
his discourse
awoken from as
took
which ordinarily he
interrupted him.
Nakajima,
behind
an
with anyone.
he began to
"Excuse me. short.
whatever
as far as his feelings
spotting a room-to-let sign in the bay
up an
.
to feel an intimacy,
his lifetime,
to talk about
." .
been prompted. But some-
where along the way, he'd begun uncontrollable desire to
said
it.
O-Tama
a
broken
off,
looking
as if
dream, vaguely watched her from
slid
open the
opposite.
147
lattice
door of the house
s% THREE Nakajima,
or to
call
had graduated from
him by
name, Jukichi,
his personal
a private university in the sixth or
seventh year of Taisho. During
this period,
thanks to the
European War, thejapanese business world was prosperous. Jukichi had no difficulty fmding
at its
most
a position as
the editor of a magazine put out by a certain firm by
of publicity. Although not particularly good he lacked sincerity and even tended to be
He was
for not having to
away
But he had
fired after a year.
at
way
the job,
late for
work.
a reason, just then,
worry about making
Whiling
a living.
the tedious days with such things as billiards and
fishing, he also tried his
hand
at
writing.
But he had
neither the enthusiasm nor the self-confidence to a writer.
Making
his rejection in a
become
newspaper short-story
contest his farewell to literature, he gave up that diversion as if he'd forgotten
all
about
it.
Discarding,
at
one
point or another, the five or six stories he'd taken the trouble to
make
clean copies of, he had retained just one
piece, an autobiographical account he evidently
hard to throw away. Even now, he kept
it
found
it
carefully stored
away
in an old briefcase in the clothes closet.
nings
when O-Chiyo was
On
eve-
staying overnight somewhere,
Jukichi often took out this old
This story related almost
work and
reread
it.
fact for fact Jukichi's life
dur-
ing the five or six years before and after his graduation,
when he was
living with a
widow more
older than himself.
148
than ten years
Flowers
The
in the
Shade
lady operated a billiards parlor in the Hirakawa
section of Koji-machi.
Accompanied by four or
five stu-
dent customers, she would often go to the movies or take strolls
along the Ginza or in Asakusa Park. Jukichi w^as one
of those invited on these outings. Every year the vv^idow closed up shop and
Kamakura
to escape the heat.
went
One summer,
lowed her there and promptly became her the cool weather
came and they returned
widow immediately left his
Just at that time, Jukichi received in the country that they could
for his academic expenses.
his parents
When
Tokyo, the
house together.
a
his family
to his liaison
with the
able not only to complete later,
when he lost
and enjoy himself.
were proprietors of an inn
had died
early,
taken over the family headship. lose
to
word from
without impediment but
Jukichi's family
Both
Jukichi fol-
lover.
no longer send him money
Thanks
widow, however, Jukichi was his job, to relax
August,
sold the billiards parlor and Jukichi
boardinghouse. The pair rented
his education
in
to the seashore at
and
in Niigata.
his older brother
The inn
had
did nothing but
money, however, and debts simply
up from
piled
year to year. Finally, having settled his financial
affairs,
the brother had emigrated with his family to Seoul and
was strenuously seeking
his fortune there. Jukichi, in his
reply saying that student though he was here
was
a fine
opportunity to support himself and that they were not to worry,
At ing
moved
in
with the widow.
that time, after his graduation, Jukichi
at his editor's job.
One
day, the
was work-
widow, who always
waited for Jukichi's return, was out of the house
when he
got back and did not get back herself until nearly midnight. cess
Her breath reeked of sake. When Jukichi,
of his mortification, upbraided her
149
in the ex-
in a tearful voice.
Flowers
woman,
the
forgive me. to have a
as if
soothing
You
can't hold
little
meal with
needn't worry, Ju-chan.
a child, said: "Ju-chan. Please
your
liquor, so today
a friend
bad of me to come back so
I'll
who
I
likes sake.
went
It
was
and I'm truly sorry. You
late,
never be unfaithful to you."
Then, displaying such passion
that
even though Jukichi
tried to suspect her he could not, she in
Shade
in the
made
up
it
to
him
bed by way of apology.
One morning Jukichi, as usual leaving the late-sleeping widow upstairs in bed, was Nearly half
sitting
the
a
year passed.
on the threshold putting on
postman tossed
in right
under
his shoes. Just then his
nose
bundle of
a
printed matter, apparently magazines. Taking them with
him, Jukichi as
set
out for work. After boarding
a trolley,
he began to tear through the half-wrapper, he noticed
a letter
msertcd between the rolled-up magazines.
addressed to Taneko (the
name was
also a
woman's. But Jukichi,
kind of premonition. As soon skillfully pried
as
Its
different
Among
office,
he
letter. In a
from the super-
every line and word were such
Jukichi's feelings to the boil. as "so,
was
that instant, felt a
he got to the
open the envelope and read the
man's handwritmg completely scription.
It
widow's name), and the sender's
as to
bring
them, such phrases
looking forward with pleasure to next Wednes-
day," "please don't forget that day yourself," and "at the
usual time" pierced Jukichi's heart with especial sharpness.
He
ing
the calendar, but
at
could
tell
when
"next Wednesday" was by look-
what was "the usual time"?Jukichi
thought of a plan. To investigate the widow Taneko's conduct, rather than something like following her around,
the quickest
way would be
to have a private detective
who specialized in such matters look into her antecedents. Making up
his
mind, Jukichi
150
set aside the
unspent por-
Flowers
in the
Shade
payment
tion of that month's salary as a
to the detective
agency.
Taneko,
it
turned out, was not
a
widow. Ten years ago,
she had been the concubine of an industriahst
who had
hanged himself in prison where he was serving
a sentence
for breach
in the
of trust. Previously, she'd been
a private tutor
household of the industrialist. Perhaps the personal
property and real estate presently in her name were part
of the wealth that had been legally squirreled away by the criminal before his arrest. Moreover,
whom
Taneko was currently having
among
the
men
relations with, the
detective agency discovered, were a biwa * instructor in the
Chikuzen mode,
a
New Method
actor,
and
a traditional
painter.
Before long, however, Jukichi was dismissed by the
company. About
from the
lips
a
year
of the lady
he was privileged to hear
later,
herself,
with nothing held back,
were even more circumstantial
detailed accounts that
than the detective agency's report. Whether she thought
much
she could not
whether
to
longer conceal her indiscretions, or
draw out her
lover's
sympathy, Taneko even
made bold to say this: "Ju-chan, for more than ten years, from when I was nineteen until I was thirty, I was the plaything of a really terrible person. I wonder how I ever stood it. I'm impressed despite myself that I did. I made up my mind, during that time, that when I got my freedom, I would do what pleased, to try to make up for I
my
lost
youth. So,
if
you sympathize with me and
sorry for me, please overlook little
fun.
No
matter
it
how bad
if
I
feel
go around and have
I've been, I've
a
never even
dreamed of leaving you and taking up with another man. *Japanese lute
(tr.
note).
151
Flowers
I'm just playing around. Deep in
To prove
faithful to you.
him
it,
man, haven't they
that
around with
a
after
been married men? Since I
man with whom
cations afterward. If it'll give
I'm absolutely
man, and
hasn't that
all
you've been living with me,
my heart,
Shade
in the
have never once fooled there
might be compli-
you peace of mind,
put
I'll
anything you like in writing."
when
Jukichi,
had
said,
he'd quietly thought over what Taneko
realized for the
who had
male concubine
ally a
first
civious female ex-concubine.
time that he was virtu-
been purchased by
another way, she was telling him: "You are graduate and won't make any trouble.
sity
you with an easy mind. Other men, That's
why
distance,
doing, so
too
don't
I
what
it
them
let
if you'll just
I
different
amounted
to.
from you,
my
money.
them
at a
it
without worrying right."
all
That was
Feeling a humiliation he'd never
before experienced, Jukichi
woman's house. Then
univer-
know exactly what I'm
go along with
everything will be
it,
said
can live with
into the house, keep
and meet them outside.
much about
a nice I
and might have an eye on
are worldly-wise
a las-
To put what she had
made up
his
mind
to leave the
again, however, he quietly thought
over his position. In the nearly twelve months that had
gone by since he'd
lost his job, the
energy to
start
look-
ing for another job had slackened in him, accustomed as he'd
become
to a
life
of idleness. Even
if
he went back to
the country, his family there had long since broken up.
Along with the
make
a living,
realization
of just
how
difficult
Jukichi was clearly aware that
only swallow the insult and resign himself to
would
circumstances, he IfJukichi
were
lack for neither
if
it
to
his present
money nor
to continue living off Taneko, he
152
was
he could
sex.
would
Flowers
first
Shade
in the
of all have to
rid himself completely
of a man's
self-
respect.
many
In this world, there are
persons who, to follow
the road to success, have themselves adopted into wealthy families or
marry into
among famous this sort
politically
of thing
is
not unusual. Compared to them,
Jukichi did not have that
paid for by a
woman,
to the official is
as
nothing.
powerful families. Even
people, highly praised in today's world,
who
much
to
be ashamed of To be
to live the life
takes bribes and
Drawing
of a drone: compared
wallows
in luxury,
it
examples from others' gossip,
his
the events of society, and what he saw and heard every day, Jukichi
found
a
way to
anesthetize his conscience and
buttress his self-respect.
had de-
In his autobiographical short story, Jukichi
scribed his struggles with himself and
made them
the jus-
tification for his conduct.
Apparently he had had trouble
with the
The
title
of the
story.
characters
on the
title
page
of the manuscript had been rubbed out any number of times and remained
illegible.
153
^) FOUR Even
two or
afterward,
would go out late at night. visit the
and not come back until
At the beginning of each month, she would
grave of her benefactor,
wealth with her, and to the
month, Taneko
three times a
in the afternoon
at
who had even
the end of the
shared his
month she went
bank where her money and promissory notes were
deposited. In addition, there were shopping trips to the
department
Even
stores.
for a short distance, she
send for an expensive taxicab to pick her up Jukichi, already inured to his
about such things time passed
it
as
much
as
Jukichi's
would
her door.
did not fret himself
lot,
he had
at first. In fact, as
gradually became clear that Taneko's con-
duct, even tacitly acquiesced in, had
on
at
own
introduction of
career.
a
Not only
no harmful influence but through an
that,
friend of Taneko's he
was hired
as a
was
able
publicity writer by a real estate company, and so to earn his living again, albeit a
meager one. He
now
felt
much calmer about his situation than he had before. The life of the pair, as they moved from Akasaka where they'd
first
from there
area,
and
Higashi-Nakano, in the eyes of those
who
rented to
a
house to the Shiba Park
knew nothing about them, seemed enviably fortunate and tranquil.
At the time of
the
Tokyo Earthquake, Taneko was
forty-five and Jukichi just thirty-three.
made herself up and
dressed as a younger
swarthy, diminutive Jukichi,
154
who
Taneko,
who
woman, and
the
had been prematurely
Flowers
Shade
in the
gray since his twenties, no longer seemed that in age
when
even
caked with white
done
they rice
sat side
by
side.
Taneko, her face
powder and cheek rouge, her
in the then popular "ear-covering" style,
kimono with
far apart
a "flying" pattern
and
hair
wearing
a
embroidered
a flashy,
gold brocade half-collar, would utter peals of shrill, noisy laughter.
At her
side, dressed in a
sober mosquito splash-
kimono of Oshima pongee with a matching haori, Jukichi would significantly clear his throat and pass his hand over his gradually balding forehead. They seemed a pattern
respectable couple, rather than a pair of lovers twelve or thirteen years apart in age.
When
the earthquake struck that
ber, Jukichi,
Shita
showing
Meguro, was
in
a client
Store.
Rushing outside
the crowd,
now
at
at all.
the Shirokiya
now
assisted
Department
and buffeted by
running, Taneko lost her
sandals and then injured her foot
Toward nightfall,
lots for sale in
Taneko, however,
in a panic, jostled
walking,
day of Septem-
around some
no danger
was caught while shopping
first
on some sharp
by passers-by, she
object.
finally
made
back to the house.
it
The
cut in her foot presently healed. That winter,
however, she caught
took
a
turn for the worse.
the patient's request,
other from Sendai to
a cold that
two
Hospital, she
On the doctor's
advice and by
on
relatives
— one from Mito, the
— neither of whom Jukichi had met up
now, were summoned
died
developed into peritoni-
Red Cross
Shortly after entering the
tis.
to the hospital.
When Taneko
the evening of the next day, a discussion
ately arose
between the
relatives
immedi-
concerning the disposi-
tion of Taneko's assets. (The relative
from Mito,
a
middle-
school teacher, said he was Taneko's older brother; the
one from Sendai,
a local lawyer, said
155
he was her uncle.)
Flowers
in the
Shade
Although they ransacked the house, they could not It was would divide the
the deceased person's will. the
two
overs
relatives
— the approximately
to Jukichi.
therefore decided that
leaving the
assets,
as well as the accessories
Although Jukichi protested, the lawyer-uncle
explained to him that legally he was not entitled to plain.
left-
thousand yen in the bank
five
and the furniture and clothes,
find
The brother from Mito, an
composition with Jukichi as to
how
degree in judo, interrogating
a third
he had
com-
instructor in Chinese
wormed
his
way
into Taneko's
house, displayed a moral energy that stopped just short
of taking Jukichi to court. Jukichi had no choice but to reluctantly agree to whatever they did. In school, Jukichi
had once gotten into threatened
him with
a fight
with
dagger
a
a
boy from Mito, who'd
wooden
in a plain
sheath.
Ever since then, he had been extraordinarily afraid of people from Mito. After the funeral, the
somewhat triumphant
air.
two
relatives
Left behind
departed with
all
by himself,
a
feel-
ing as if he'd awakened from a long, long dream, Jukichi
wondered what he should
Nothing presented
do.
"Master, I've cooked some
prised, Jukichi looked around.
Without
his noticing,
had begun to grow dark. The room was dusky.
wind
stirred the trees in the garden.
and turned on the of a
girl
itself.
rice ..." a voice said. Sur-
light, Jukichi
saw
A
it
lonely
When
he'd stood up
at his
knees the face
who had brought in a small supper table. She was woman they usually employed. He realized
not the young that she
was
the temporary housekeeper they'd hired the
day before the deathwatch, when they were short of help.
Her
age, at a glance,
Although she was not
seemed
to be twenty-five or -six.
especially good-looking, the ex-
traordinary whiteness of her skin, her bright, clear eyes.
156
Flowers
in the
Shade
and her conspicuously long, thick eyelashes enlivened the of her round
features girl
Her
face.
voice, too, like that
of a
of sixteen or seventeen, had an indefinable innocence
about
it.
Jukichi noticed
me
"Will you serve
for the first time.
it
Without appearing
boM^l.
Serving the I
held out his rice
particularly embarrassed, the
forgotten the tray. Please forgive me."
girl replied: "I've
anything.
He
some, then?"
she went on: "Perhaps you can't eat
rice,
didn't
know what
to
make
for you."
Outside the room, the housemaid began to
roll
open
the rain shutters of the veranda.
"No,
this
is
good.
single gulp half the
delicious." Jukichi
It's
soup with
a
poached egg
in
drank it.
at a
During
the three or four days before and after the funeral, there
had been no time ning to realize taste the
for a leisurely meal.
how hungry
Only now begin-
he was, he could not actually
food very well. The
girl,
seeming happier and
happier for being praised, said: "You must eat
Because your fatigue will come out
"O-Chiyo-san.
Is
that
a lot,
now.
once."
all at
your only name? Evidently
you've been through funerals yourself, O-Chiyo-san."
"There haven't been any
in
my family,
but I've worked
at funerals."
"Have you been doing "It's still
only
this for
a short time. I'd
fore the Earthquake, then started again last
took
a little vacation,
and
I
month."
"You weren't hurt ents
I
long?"
been working since be-
in the
Earthquake?
And your
par-
?" .
.
.
"No. They
live outside the city.
.
.
.
They're in the
country."
"You haven't gotten married as if you had."
157
yet?
Somehow you
look
Flowers
"Do
I
look
in the
Shade
had? Ha-ha."
as if I
"You mean you were married, and "Yes. I've learned
my
lesson.
it
didn't go well?"
working
easier
It's
in
other people's houses."
"But
that can't
go on
forever, surely.
Working
people's houses. You're not yet at an age
in other
where you have
to be pessimistic about your prospects. If you look, there are
bound
to be plenty
of men."
"That's very kind of you. But marriage that's
when it seems to be." there when it seems not to
something
is
not there
"Or
it's
how you
look
"Well then.
be.
It
depends on
at it."
If there's a
promising candidate,
I'll
ask for
your help."
How
"O-Chiyo-san.
old arc you? Twenty-five or
-six?"
"I'm glad
1
look so young. Actually, I'm already
twenty-eight." After the
smiling pleasantly, had removed the
girl,
supper
table, she
chatted
a
came back
directly for the rice server,
while withjukichi, and went back to the kitchen.
There was nothing
Although thinking
for Jukichi to
do but go
that in addition to disposing
to bed.
of the de-
ceased Tancko's clothing and precious jewelry, he would
have to immediately
now
solely
on
sell this
own
his
salary,
wish to begin. Letting the into ashes, his arms
of shadows on the with some green
house and learn to he
fire in
felt
live
from
not the slightest
the brazier die
down
folded, he vaguely watched the play
wall. Presently the
housemaid came
in
tea.
"What about O-Chiyo-san? Tell her she can go to bed." "Yes." Shortly after the maid had
158
left
the
room,
Flowers
in the
Shade
O-Chiyo, bringing
hot water bottle,
a
slid
open the
paper door.
"Oh.
thought the bedding had been
I
laid out.
For-
give me."
"But the master didn't say anything." The housemaid
went off again with
down
a
the bedclothes
sulky expression. O-Chiyo, taking
from the
closet, after
spreading out
Not knowing which
the sheets, began to take out a pillow.
of the two identical pillows stuffed with buckwheat chaff
was the man's, she these
.
.
."
But
that she'd said the
Taking out
a
which of
started to say: "Master,
then, quickly realizing
wrong
by Jukichi's
silence
thing, she blushed slightly.
pillow without having ascertained which
was which, she placed
it
at the
head of the
sheets.
Then
she knelt formally on the mat.
As his
if
he'd been waiting for that, Jukichi abruptly put
arms around her from behind.
"No. You mustn't
.
.
."
Her voice unexpectedly low,
O-Chiyo writhed in an attempt "Please stop. The maid will come
to get free
of Jukichi.
." .
.
Jukichi, as if brought to his senses
by the mention of
the maid, relaxed his grip and looked into O-Chiyo's face.
He'd thought
that
O-Chiyo would
say something angry
or stamp on the mat and storm out of the room. Instead,
merely saying: If you
do
it
"It's
again,
not right. You'rejust playing around.
I'll
scream for help," she took what she
guessed to be Jukichi's nightclothes from the laying
them by
bedding to put
the pillow, in the
went around
hot water bottle. Jukichi, observing
her closely, had the thought that
good-looking for
a
closet, and,
to the foot of the
O-Chiyo was
a little
too
housekeeper and must have come up
against this sort of thing often. That
159
was why she was
Flowers
surprisingly calm about
it.
later
occurred. His
"Sleep well." Putting both hands to the mat,
bowed
Shade
There might be trouble
would deal with that when it grew more and more disorderly.
on, but he feelings
in the
O-Chiyo
her head to him. As she was about to leave the
room, Jukichi
called her
"Please don't go.
I
back in an agitated voice.
won't do anything.
unbearably lonely."
i6o
Somehow I
feel
\^
FIVE
According
to
O-Chiyo's
story, she
was
the daughter
of a shipping agent in Nishi-funabori, on the Nakagawa
Embankment. Longing parents' advice and run
tance in Tokyo,
mansion
in
for the city, she'd ignored her
away from home
where she went
to
Takanawa. That was
work
maid
as a
in a
of 1912,
in the spring
name changed from
the year the era
to an acquain-
Meiji to Taisho.
That summer, practitioners of various strange
arts
were
holding forth every evening in Shibahara of Marunouchi. People would gather in great numbers to watch the faithhealing ceremonies. O-Chiyo, sneaking out late
at
with the houseboy and the rickshaw man, would for the pitch-dark ever, she
Marunouchi
district.
night
set
out
One night, how-
was caught and reprimanded by
a
policeman,
and sent back to the country by her employers. By then,
O-Chiyo was
already pregnant.
The baby was
O-Chiyo's aged mother undertook ing she
at least
wanted
O-Chiyo returned
to
Three or four years
later,
to earn
to bring
enough
for
Tokyo and entered through
a suitable
a girl,
up. Say-
its
upkeep,
service again.
intermediary,
she married into the family of a sundries dealer. after,
and
it
Not long
her mother in the country died. Confiding the cir-
cumstances to her husband, O-Chiyo took the child into her care. But things went well for barely a year. After her
husband's parents and brothers had descended upon them
from the country, the household
fell
apart in chaos.
The
shop had to close down, and poverty was upon them.
161
Flowers
O-Chiyo had
work
disliked rough, dirty
Having
in this marriage.
husband agreed
the child for adoption by neighbors
start
her heart
and her
a talk, she
to separate. Luckily, she
Shade
since girlhood
days in her parents' house, and from the
had not been
in the
was
at their
able to place
own
request.
On her own now, O-Chiyo diverted herself with a series of maid's jobs and then signed on with
a
housekeepers'
agency.
The next morning, Jukichi, after he'd sent the maid out on errands, had O-Chiyo open the drawers and doors of the chest where Taneko's clothes were stored. Inhaling with evident pleasure the smell of camphor,
exclaimed
in
wonder each time she
"Master, you say
now?
Master,
it
"Why would go ahead and
all
must be I
sell
tell
you
O-Chiyo
pulled open a drawer.
splendid clothing
this
is
mine
a lie."
a lie? If you
don't need them,
I'll
them. In that chest of drawers, there are
rings and other jewelry. They've been divided between
You can look
her relatives.
"Yes. Please
let
me
at
them,
see them. If
leisurely look at just the clothes,
O-Chiyo's
face
she were having
if
it
if I
you
were
would
like."
to take a nice
take
me all day."
was flushed and her eyes bloodshot, a
as
rush of blood to the head. Excitedly
taking out the rings and wristwatches from their boxes,
she tried them on and took them a
deep
off,
each time breathing
sigh.
"There's no hurry about the division of the jewelry. If
you don't
lose anything,
you can wear
it
for
two or
three days."
—
"Oh, you if would have liked
it
to
had been before the Earthquake,
wear
this ring
and walk around
the Mitsukoshi Department Store. But place to go."
162
now
there's
I
in
no
Flowers
in the
Shade
"Ha-ha." Laughing despite himself, Jukichi nevertheless felt a strange,
pitying melancholy
O-Chiyo's excessive happiness. Was
were
come over him what
this
at
women
like?
Right
after lunch,
O-Chiyo went off to
cancel her con-
with the housekeepers' agency. Jukichi dismissed the
tract
who had been hired while Taneko was alive.
maid,
together with O-Chiyo, who'd returned time,
Then,
lamplighting
at
but holding hands with her, he went off to the
all
neighborhood bathhouse. For some time estate business
after the
Earthquake, profits in the real
were extraordinarily good. Even Jukichi,
who worked for a land company,
received unprecedented
The Kabuki Theater had just been rebuilt, and Jukichi attended performances with O-Chiyo decked out in Taneko's finery. During the hot weather, they would go off to Hakone for three days or so. Having sold the house in the suburbs, they moved to Yarai-cho in Ushibonuses.
gome. Every night, they went around hand ing at the life,
stalls set
like that
However,
up
at
hand look-
night on the Kagura Slope. Their
of newly weds, was
a
happy one.
this happiness, as general
tions worsened,
in
economic condi-
was gradually destroyed.
In the spring
of the second year of Showa, nearly every bank closed
its
doors.
The
five
in
Tokyo
thousand yen that was Jukichi's
bequest from Taneko was
lost at this time.
Next, the
company
that Jukichi
By now,
every one of Taneko's precious keepsakes had
worked
for abruptly
long since been surreptitiously sold
Although
fit
that the
off.
secretly appalled at this
hard times, Jukichi invented
went under.
sudden descent into
a story for
O-Chiyo's bene-
company would soon reopen
after a financial
consolidation, and that she was to be patient. Meanwhile,
163
Flowers
he frittered away the days. As the
drew
O-Chiyo had
near,
Taneko's
articles
of clothing
taking possession
day of each month
last
pawn one
to
Shade
in the
that she
after the other
had so rejoiced
in
of.
how would it be if we rented a room somewhere? It would be much cheaper than owning a house." It was O-Chiyo herself, one day, who brought the sub"Ju-chan,
ject up.
although he had secretly waited for
Jukichi,
much
without so
as a
"Hm.
Is
"The company
usual calm demeanor.
work
will probably
things out before long. Actually, just yesterday,
summoned
to the director's house.
"If things
go back
.
what they were, wouldn't
it
be
—
cverythmg's gone."
"Is that so?
I
hadn't realized that. I've done something
truly unforgivable." Putting
learned of this for the on,
was
." .
We shouldn't try to live above you know except for my clothes for
our means. Also,
now
I
house then?
Jjetter to rent a
this season,
to
this,
that so?," displayed his
I'll
take
first
on an expression
as if he'd
time, Jukichi continued:
my own
"From
things to the pawnshop.
You
should stop selling yours."
"But to this,
a I
man
has to keep up appearances. If
don't care what
come
it's
wear." O-Chiyo's voice was
I
tearful. "It's truly
unforgivable." Jukichi, as
if
blinking back
his tears, covertly
observed the woman's manner. He'd
thought from the
first that
for
when
the supply of articles
pawning was exhausted, he would have
O-Chiyo had
to say
and carry out
to hear
accordingly. This "final resolution," whether
O-Chiyo's becoming
a shopgirl, a waitress,
keeper again for the necessities of endlessly
dog
life,
it
meant
or a house-
was bound
their life together, he thought.
164
what
his "final resolution"
to
Flowers
in the
Shade
In his student days
— from the time when, unhke today,
many
there had not been
and dance
cafes
halls
—Jukichi
had realized that he was a man who would put up with any humiliation to gain a woman's favor. During the seven or eight years
when he had
ingratiated himself with the
lady proprietor of a luxurious billiards hall and was living a
lewd and
licentious existence, Jukichi
had even experi-
enced pleasure in the humiliations he endured from the
woman. Women
loved best the
man who
let
them
inflict
whatever high-handed cruelty they pleased. Unless they could despise the unless
man and keep him under their thumb,
or
on the contrary they were abused by the man, they
were not
satisfied.
From
his
own experience, Jukichi had
confirmed that they would not leave off desiring either
one or the other of these extremes.
What would O-Chiyo do? She had lived with him for more than four years, and already was over thirty. During that time, she had been given everything that
want. Probably she
felt
both
a
women
debt of gratitude and a
lingering affection for him. Furthermore, in view of her
would cast him off. Seeing him even though for more than half a year he'd been selling off her clothes, that much was certain. From early on in this relationship, Jukichi had made certain calculations in his heart.
age, there
was no
fear that she
that she hadn't left
Jukichi, aware that for these last three or four years cafe waitresses
O-Chiyo
had been making
to be a waitress.
a lot
of money, wanted
But he was
afraid that if
he
broached the matter himself, he would be thought heart-
by the woman. He hoped to handle O-Chiyo in such way that she would suggest it of her own accord. Paying
less
a
no
attention to his attempts to stop her, she
go ahead and do Since
would boldly
it.
O-Chiyo had proposed 165
that they sell the
house
Flowers
and rent
a
room, Jukichi
that he'd already
felt
of
a residential
woman no
shop in lida-cho, Jukichi reasoned
home
that if he stayed
accom-
moved to the second
plished half his purpose. After they'd floor
Shade
in the
the time
all
time for leisurely
would give
it
the
When women,
reflection.
in uncertain situations, boldly carried out decisions su-
perior in resolve to those even of men,
it
was not the
of consideration and judgment. Generally,
result
it
was
from the impulse of the moment. This impulse, Jukichi thought, often came from their having endured loneliness
He
and boredom.
tances
decided to stay out of the house for
Of course,
irregular periods.
it
was
also to visit acquain-
from the defunct land company and
to ask for a job
that he did so.
Once, he
called
on an cx-colleague of fifty who
work
intervening year had found
man. After some desultory
as
chitchat, the
of thmg: "You're diflcrent from the still
If
got
it
Your
woman
you're stone-broke,
"Now a
easy.
damn
I've
that
she'll
we've sunk
is
go
man said this kind
likes
of me. You've
young and good-looking. to
this low,
work for you." we can't afford
to give
about appearances," Jukichi replied. "Actually,
thought about sending her out
a bit
in the
an insurance sales-
awkward having
as a waitress.
to suggest the thing
"What's so bad about
There
it?
are
But
it's
myself"
all
types in the
world. To take an extreme example, there are husbands
who
even make their wives become rich men's concu-
At the
bines.
real estate agency,
salesman Nojima, the wife worked
tall
as a clerk at a
lationship with the manager. a blind
of the
eye to
man
to
it,
she finally
open
do you remember
that
one with the buckteeth? His
a cafe in
stockbroker's and had a re-
Thanks
to
Nojima's turning
wormed enough money Ningyo-cho."
i66
out
Flowers
in the
Shade
"Is that so?
I
never
knew
that. It's a
famihar story, but
what do you think happens? Does the man the
woman up to it,
or does she start doing
it
secretly put
on her own,
and then he pretends he doesn't know?" "It's
or told
not hke other things.
them
woman
to
do
it,
it
If
you encouraged them
probably wouldn't go well.
who's been pushed into being
a waitress
A
or a
geisha cannot be said to be the right person in the right place.
Unless she's gone ahead and done
it
without
lis-
tening to the opposition of her family, she won't be very
good
at
it,
they say."
Another time, when Jukichi was else, this
person said to him:
visiting
somebody
"Why don't you forget about
some low-paying job, Nakajima? Why don't you yourself some rich widow? Since you're the sort of
finding find
man women
like,
you'd be sure to find something."
167
^)
SIX
On
way back from
her
Chiyo met someone she couldn't
was
remember
householder
the person even
She hadn't forgotten
called out.
whom
O-
the corner grocery store,
whom she hadn't seen in so long that
work
she'd gone to
when her name man was a
that the
for as a
tempo-
rary housekeeper before the Earthquake, but she could
not remember his name.
"How
did you ever
The man, keeping O-Chiyo:
"I'd like
you
remember my name?" an eye on the passers-by, said to to
come
again for
a
while. What's
your phone number?" "Right now, I'm no longer relatives
the agency.
One
my
of
I've come to help out," O-Chiyo said when O-Chiyo had gone to this man's
and
sick,
is
at
evasively. Before,
house from the agency, she'd been seduced despite herself
and ended up staying about
a
month.
In addition to her
regular daily pay, she'd received twenty or thirty yen.
"I'm
still at
you remember good.
the it,
When you
same
address. Kobinata-suidocho
don't you? Just
a
.
.
.
day or two would be
come over. It's rude The man pressed two or
get a chance, just
of me, but here's your
carfare."
three 50-sen coins into O-Chiyo's hand. Looking back at her,
he turned off into an alley across the way.
Lately,
how
O-Chiyo had been cudgeling
to pay at least part
of clothing to forfeit.
at
the
Now
of the
pawnshop that she
interest
that she
her brains as to
on
certain articles
was determined not
had been stopped
168
in the street
Flowers
Shade
in the
unexpectedly and even been given carfare by the man, occurred to her that she might
by paying him
a visit.
raise the
That day,
had gone out to apply for
a
job
as
it
it
money simply
happened, Jukichi
as a traveling
salesman
would not get back O-Chiyo prepared supper for
he'd seen advertised in the paper and until late in the evening.
him
and, leaving
on her way though
it
word with
was
after ten
when
get back until a half-hour
was buried
One
the people downstairs,
to Kobinata-suidocho before she
was
knew it. Al-
she got back, Jukichi didn't
later,
so that that night's affair
in secrecy.
day, after Jukichi
had gone out, O-Chiyo was
spreading her nightclothes to dry on the windowsill of their second-floor
from the
woman after
room, when
a voice called
"Ma'am. Nakajima-san's
street.
of about
fifty,
up to her
wife."
It
was
a
apparently a widow, who, shortly
O-Chiyo had moved
here,
had struck up
a free
and
easy acquaintance with her in the neighborhood bath-
On their way back from the baths, she would O-Chiyo up for a cup of tea. She even went so far say: "If you're ever in a tight spot and need some
house. invite as to
money,
I'll
lend
it
to you.
Without
a
promissory note
or anything." O-Chiyo, although thinking she'd like avail herself
was unable
of the
oflfer after
to say so.
hadn't gone to
visit the
to*
consultation with Jukichi,
The matter had rested there. She woman, nor had the woman come
to visit her.
Previously, in the Sakashita section of Otsuka, and before that in Negishi and before that in Takanawa, this old
woman ning
had been frequently arrested on charges of run-
a prostitution agency.
trade.
She had moved
same time
that
She was an old hand in the
to this
O-Chiyo
had.
169
neighborhood
From many
at
about the
years' experi-
Flowers
power of observation
ence, she possessed a at a
glance whether a
woman
women's
Especially in the
in the
Shade
that could tell
could be led astray or not.
bath,
from the way
a
woman
took off her clothes and put them back on, she could not only
tell
straightaway what that woman's past and present
circumstances were but also unerringly judge whether she was the sort
who would appeal to men. O-Chiyo had
caught
woman's
this
old
eye.
who had
client
developed
as a jewel,
a taste for the repulsive.
was nearly three months
It
She eyed her
even from the point of view of age for the satiated
ideal
to each other.
worn
since they'd first spoken
Observing O-Chiyo's
clothes,
which she'd
woman saw
ever since that time, the old
that al-
though of superior material they were worn threadbare around the sleeve-openings and the hems of the
When O-Chiyo came
to the bathhouse, the old
skirts.
woman
noted that she wore them next to the skin and that her
unbecoming
loincloth
was
a crude,
changed.
By
these appearances alone, the old
judged
was
that the time
ripe to
affair that
make her
she never
woman
proposition.
She had come by on her way to the baths to sound out O-Chiyo while getting a look at her place. In the secondfloor
room, with
its
tattered paper doors
and dirty mats,
everything, from the chest of drawers and the brazier to the writing table and
its
to the wealthy Taneko. likes
cushions, had formerly belonged
As
such,
it
was too good
for the
of O-Chiyo. The old woman, much thrown out
in
her original calculations and suspicious of the couple's
cir-
cumstances, nonetheless surmised that having fallen
this
low in the world O-Chiyo would be open to suggestions from the mere fact of having lived well in the past. "Is
this
your husband out every day?" She started by saying
kind of thing.
170
Flowers
Shade
in the
"Yes. He's never "It
must be
don't have
He's been out of work
in.
lonely, keeping
house
all
maid myself and have nothing
a
when
even sew. So
I
lately."
by yourself. to do.
occasionally visit people,
I
I
don't
end up
I
staying a long time."
women. They can't even stroll around
"It's different for
on
their
own."
"Ma'am, wouldn't you half for the fun of it?
It
go work somewhere,
like to
would give you something
"Unless you've graduated from
And
good.
I'm already too old to get
worked with look I
a lot
could even work
you
just
between
us,
never
I
I
don't believe
as a cafe waitress."
you went you'd be hired on is
no
it's
a job. I've
wanted the job, I'm sure
truly
to do."
school,
of people up to now. Every so often,
the newspaper advertisements, but
at
"If
girls'
but even
the spot.
if you
that
wherever
However
were so
.
.
inclined,
.
this
your
husband might not approve." "As long
might be so
as
we
.
.
.
way or another, that when you're down and out, you can't
can get along one
but
afford to care about appearances. telling
you
this,
but
my
you, Auntie, so I'm
It's
husband
.
.
of work since the summer. Even the
been out
well, he's
.
little
money we had
has gradually disappeared."
"That's truly
back soon, ing,
feel free to
soon.'
this,
It's
think: 'He'll
that feeling
When
come over and
even about foolish things.
to divert yourself.
not too much,
You always
that's so unpleasant.
yourself like
a carefree chat,
you
it is.
come back
he'll
of worrying,
home by for
how
I
As
can lend you
I
mentioned
money
come
of wait-
you're
at
we'll have
It'll
be good
earlier, if it's
anytime, so please
ask me. There's such a thing as comradeship
between women, too."
171
Flowers
"Oh, thank you. But on such
can't
could never impose upon you,
a short acquaintance."
"Yes, culty.
I
it's
But
in
little credit,
would
true a big loan
you can
"That's so,
I
get the
money without any the old
up her ultimate
if
your
woman
talking about, but
.
But
other," she began, keeping
to 1
be
a
It
would be
and trusting to
word
to
you
a
thing to be
sharp eye on O-Chiyo's ex-
waitress
.
.
.
is
if the
between
strictly
customer wanted
— you know what
like tossing yourself into the rapids
When
fate.
secretly, so just
O-Chiyo, looking gradually flushed
getting any."
a strange
it's
go somewhere and have some fun
mean?
good, you
you have no
if
way of
pression and overall demeanor. "This us. If you'd like to
is
be perfectly frank with each
let's
.
.
the
thought, was the time to bring
"Ma'am,
subject.
credit
trouble.
a
kind of problem."
this
back, there's no
it
expenses one
you have just
money anywhere. Even
suppose. But
hope of paying
little
to one's husband. If
most respectable housewives have
Now,
get us both into diffi-
any household there are
mention even
can get
Shade
in the
your husband's out,
come over
to
fixedly at the old
scarlet.
she lowered her eyes.
my
woman's
Then, without saying
The evening
I'll
place.
before,
a
get ."
.
.
face,
word,
she had
taken advantage of Jukichi's absence to go out again to
Kobinata-suidocho. Not only did she
know perfectly well
what the old woman was getting
but she
at,
had been seen through, even about
That was
why
felt as if
last night's
she
business.
she'd unconsciously blushed.
When O-Chiyo,
without either growing angry or
bursting into tears, merely swayed slightly to one side and
turned red, the old
woman
decided that her words had
been sufficiently understood. To her mind, O-Chiyo's
172
Flowers
in the
Shade
blush signified an acquiescence even deeper than that of a
spoken "yes." "Well, then, ma'am.
me." Saying
this,
Thank you
the old
woman
173
for putting
up with
quietly took her leave.
^) SEVEN "O-Chiyo, from now I'm going
to
work
at
home. I'm
just wearing out shoe leather by walking around every day.
no use.
It's
Taking ofFjust table.
I've
given up.
From now on,
his jacket, Jukichi leaned
Cupping
I
stay
home."
back against the
the back of his head in his hands, he flung
out both legs. "If
you work
said, starting to
"If it's
at
home,
I
make some
can help you too,"
O-Chiyo
tea.
something you can do,
let
I'll
you help me. I'm
going to mimeograph books."
"Docs good.
I
mean writing out
that
suppose the books will be
"No, they won't
show you
I'll
be.
It'll
characters? That's
no
diflficult."
be short stories and novels.
later on." Jukichi
suddenly burst out into
a
loud laugh.
"Ahh
— you
got
me
Not understanding
in the face."
what was so funny, O-Chiyo rubbed her cheek with her palm. After making the rounds following up help-wanted ads in the papers, Jukichi had resolved to inure himself to
work
as a copyist for
to the employer, the
uted to
a limited
one yen,
fifty
sen a day. According
mimeographed
material
membership and so
there
was
distrib-
was no
fear
of arrest. In the unlikely event of any trouble, the nominal
head of the society would bear
copyists and suchlike had nothing to
responsibility.
O-Chiyo, who'd been smilingly leaning back
174
The
worry about. against
Flowers
Shade
in the
"Even
Jukichi's knee, sat up.
me
peace of mind.
"That's what fifty
sen a day
"It really
is.
I
that, if it
be half like
It'll
thought, so
a
goes well, will give
game, won't
it?"
took the job. But one yen,
I
slave wages."
is
One yen and
fifty
sen
—
it's
what
a
house-
keeper gets."
The same as you used to earn in the old days. But it's better for a woman. Because occasionally you make some special income." "What a mean thing to say. There's no call to say such a thing, even to me. You were bad that time. It's too much, "That's right.
to say that kind
"O-Chiyo,
work
of thing now."
if
I
were
to get sick
me? Would you become
for
.
.
.
would you go
Putting his arm around her shoulder
up against him O-Chiyo's
to
do
.
.
down
into
thinking that she would broach
own accord,
he had been waiting for her
There having been absolutely no sign of that,
so.
however, he'd decided not to nity slip by.
and ask the "Yes,
to ?"
.
she leaned
as
coquettishly, Jukichi peered
face. Actually,
the matter of her
even
a waitress,
I
let this
evening's opportu-
He would introduce the subject woman how she felt about it.
point-blank
could do that."
"Do you
really
mean
"Yes. If you told
me
it?"
to,
O-Chiyo's reply being plicitness, Jukichi tried to
O-Chiyo had always
I
would."
slightly
make
vague
in
its
very ex-
sure of her. For her part,
lightheartedly thought that if it
was
something Jukichi told her to do, she would try to do it,
no matter what. This did not
a resolution that she
particularly arise
would begrudge no
Jukichi's sake. In short,
it
from
sacrifice for
was O-Chiyo's nature
to act in
everything according to the situation, blindly and with-
175
Flowers
out reflection. When, in her days
When
man
into sleeping
as if it couldn't
she had been proposed to by
Shade
temporary house-
as a
keeper, she had been inveigled by the
with him, she had done his will
in the
a
be helped.
respectable man,
she had married him. But what she could not endure
was
to be held to account
by those around
be
her, to
treated in a systematic manner, according to the rules.
was why she'd been unable populated by in-laws.
to be a wife in a
was why, without thinking
It
It
household it
humiliating or immoral, she had gone twice to the man's
house
in
Kobinata-suidocho, just
immediate acquiescence
become
a
waitress
as she'd
been asked. Her
in Jukichi's suggestion that she
was the same
of thing. Unable to
sort
think of any particular reason for refusing, she had simply assented. She didn't consider at
waitress
was
all
suitable for her or not.
whether work
To think
ahead of time and then to
act consistently
were impossible
O-Chiyo.
The next
feats for
day,
O-Chiyo had
as a
things out
on her decision
Jukichi look
at
the ad-
vertisements in the newspaper and then went to the cafe district
around the Ginza. At the
that she
was
slightly overage
first place,
she was told
and was turned down. At
the next place, not only did she feel intimidated by a
of thirty or forty applicants but, watching the large
mob
num-
ber of waitresses busily going back and forth, she realized for the first time
what conditions were
began to think
that she could never
long, her turn
came and she was
man of twenty-four liantine, full
age,
and
do the job. Before too
called into the office.
A
or -five, his hair gleaming with bril-
meticulously questioned her
name,
like in a cafe
and personal
as to
her residence,
history. After inquiring into
her job record, he told her that she would be notified
176
Flowers
later
in the
on
Shade
as to the results
O-Chiyo made
Much
of the interview.
relieved,
her escape.
She waited three or four days, but no word came. Since Jukichi had said that she should not be shy but just go in
and ask wherever she saw
help-wanted ad in the win-
a
dow, O-Chiyo once more set out for the Ginza. However,
were no such ads
there
in the
windows of the
cafes along
main thoroughfares. Walking around wherever her
the
O-Chiyo was
feet led her,
emerged into
a
back
by the time she
rather tired
end of which could be
street, at the
glimpsed the avenue along the river by Kyobashi Bridge.
Both
sides
of the
finally spotted a
In the
two
were lined with
it
a
of high-heeled legs were
was one of those
cafes
glass-bead curtain,
mouth
full
O-Chiyo,
visible.
where you had
foreign clothes, hesitated. Just then, a
nese clothes, her
Here she
cafes.
sign.
narrow entryway, beneath
pairs
thinking
street
help-wanted
woman
to
wear
in Japa-
and working, abruptly stuck
out her big face dusted with yellowish-brown makeup
and tossed feet.
a
banana skin onto the sidewalk
at
O-Chiyo's
Their eyes met. O-Chiyo, taking advantage of this
opportunity, bowed. "Pardon me, but are you hiring waitresses?" "Yes.
woman
Come right in. The boss is pushed back with her
mushy banana
that
here."
So saying, the
fingertips the
chewed-up,
had oozed from her mouth.
Shouldering her way through the glass-bead curtain,
O-Chiyo found
herself in a single dirt-floored
was so dark she could hardly far corner,
beyond
a clutter
that
of tables and potted plants,
light over the bar illuminated bottles of
lined
room
see people's faces. In the
up on shelves and the
faces
177
a
Western liquors
of two men, one in
a
Flowers
white kimono, the other in
a
dark business
in the
suit.
bhng, O-Chiyo made her way toward them. With she began: "There was
Breaking off
a
Shade
Stuma
bow,
help-wanted sign outside
his conversation, the
man
." .
.
im-
in the suit
mediately asked her for her name and address. O-Chiyo, thuiking that here too she would be told that they would notify her
adjusting the shawl in her hand, said:
later,
wait to hear from you, then."
The man
"You can
as
"Oh.
start
I'll
now. Pick
do
O-Chiyo
woman who seemed
a
man
"Our group go
head
is
room behind
made her
the bar,
haori.
red.
Today the second
floor
is
red, so
upstairs."
When,
presently,
it
grew dark
were turned on, the second
outside, although lights
floor
Amid
puscular than downstairs. a
to be the
introduced them. The waitress, leading
into a three-mat
remove her shawl and we'll
you go along."
that, then."
Calling over waitress, the
up
it
"I'll
casually replied:
seemed even more
cre-
the constant playing of
phonograph, and accompanied by
a voice calling
out
"Customers!," two men, surrounded by three or four waitresses,
came up
the stairs as if being dragged
up them.
Although none of them were drunk, waitresses and customers alike dumped themselves unable to remain on their
feet.
in a
The
corner booth as
if
six or seven upstairs
waitresses immediately clustered around the group.
One
of them, bringing two or three
as if
reproaching the customers:
bottles
of beer, said
"It's all right. It's
the
first sale
of the day, so they're cheap." "Before the
men
in the
we
drink,
show
growled. "Unless
mood,"
us one of your tricks," one of I
drink something,
the waitress chided him.
178
I
can't get
Flowers
Shade
in the
Three of the waitresses, O-Chiyo among them, stayed in the
booth
knees
a waitress
his
One of the guests, hfting onto his who was wearing Western clothes, put
a while.
hand up the kimono
hand up her
started to slip his
"What
—
the hell
The
women
that the
on her guard,
of
this
work
said:
today. Don't be too hard
shop
all
know what
waitress in Western dress,
around to the side of the customer, just started
him and
away.
their clothes next to the skin, did not
the matter was.
to
sleeve.
this one. She's really
O-Chiyo, unaware
wore
O-Chiyo
The man pushed O-Chiyo
the bitch."
At
sleeve of another waitress.
the other guest abruptly pulled
this,
coming
"This person
on
her."
With
these words, she hoisted up her short skirt and straddled
the man's lap.
Two or three more bottles of beer had been
brought to the
By now
it
table.
was midnight. Afraid
the last trolley,
O-Chiyo
hadn't yet closed.
was
at his
left
When
by herself although the
she got back, Jukichi,
desk copying out
They began
would miss
that she
a story to
still
cafe
up,
be mimeographed.
talking about today.
"Is that so.
there can't be
You certainly picked an awful place. But many like that. You've got to be patient and
keep looking." "Yes. That's
all I
can do.
The good
thoroughfares won't hire me, and suitable dress. That's
clothes at the
how
my
pawnshop
gorgeous they
are,
all
cafes
on the main
of the
cafes require
main problem
are
all
right
Taneko-san's.
now. The
No
matter
they aren't any use."
"Hm. They would be rather flashy for the Ginza.
why
don't you start looking in
work your way up
some other
to the Ginza?"
179
Well,
section and
Flowers
in the
Shade 4
"That's really to
work
as a
all
I
can do. I've already become too lazy
housekeeper. Cafes after
all
are the places
where^the money's to be made."
The next
had the day before, O-Chiyo
day, as she
out to look for work
Today, however, since
as a waitress.
she had no particular place in mind, less search.
Not only
of the inside of the
that,
it
seemed
but from the
cafes as she'd
little
to be a waitress.
But
whom
gone
know
at
the bathhouse.
as far as the trolley stop,
had no other
to seek advice.
went on her way, O-Chiyo remembered she'd gotten to
hope-
lost the desire
for the time being, she
prospects and no one from
like a
she had seen
walked around the back
of the Ginza, O-Chiyo had already
streets
set
the old
As she
woman
Although she'd
she abruptly turned around
and came back.
When
she had heard O-Chiyo's story, the old
said: "Well, then,
ma'am, why don't you do
Jukichi that she was on at this
trial
or that restaurant,
woman
this." Telling
service for three or four days
O-Chiyo was
to pass the time at
woman's house.
the old
Since there was a telephone in the house, the old
woman
didn't keep a
out. Occasionally, she
maid
for fear
would order food from
over the phone. Once or twice
would
call in a
of her secret leaking
a
a
restaurant
month, the old
woman
temporary housekeeper and have her do
the housework. Consequently, the kitchen sink and cup-
boards, rather than the uncared-for look of a large, poor
household, had
a neat
and pretty appearance. Generally,
men came calling from the afternoon into the evening. Summoning one of her girls by telephone, the old woman would show
the guest up to the second floor. If there
were two or three customers, having previously arranged it
with the young woman, she would have the man go
i8o
Flowers
in the
Shade
directly to an assignation house or inn that she did busi-
ness with. Regular customers,
way of handling
telephone, going to reasons, there at
knowing her circumspect
things, got in touch with her only a place
of their
own choice.
by
For these
was no very conspicuous stream of callers
the house.
O-Chiyo, spending her days
from noon to evening,
in the
at
the old
woman's operations. For her part,
the old
woman's house
end saw all there was to see of the old
by showing her how everything worked
meant
to silently instruct
on her way home, too
much time
that
it
woman,
in the house,
O-Chiyo. Although thinking,
would be better not to spend O-Chiyo disliked trudg-
in such a place,
ing about looking for
work
as a waitress.
And
there
was
noplace else to go. So she would go back the next day
and pass the time
two or
away from eral
there.
Taking
a
day off and then coming
three days in a row, she the old
became unable
to stay
woman's house. Sometimes,
customers came
at
once, she helped the old
out by making phonecalls. She was also
left in
if sev-
woman charge
of the house in the old woman's absence. Since not even Jukichi
would
believe that she
going around working the old
woman
call
up
as
was doing nothing but
an apprentice waitress, she had
a bar she did business with, in-
venting a story that she worked there. This meant she
had
to stay at the old
woman's house from evening
midnight. She had to show Jukichi the
supposedly accumulated. that a
One
until
tips that she
had
evening, despite the fact
customer was waiting upstairs, the woman who was
supposed to come, for whatever reason, did not come. It
was already nearly eleven
a substitute
Unable
o'clock.
could suddenly be
summoned
to bear the sight of the old
i8i
There was no way at this
woman's
hour.
distress, at
Flowers
her prayerful entreaty
second
floor.
O-Chiyo ascended
in the
Shade
the stairs to the
She couldn't bring herself to say
that if she
gave -in once there would be troublesome consequences.
Two
or three days
again.
When
as before,
so, night
later, that
night's customer
came back
he said that he must have the same
it
was
all
the
more
diflficult
woman And
to refuse.
by night, O-Chiyo descended further into the
depths. However, she was able not only to pay off the interest at the
back
pawnshop, but
rent.
182
to pay in full that
month's
\$
EIGHT
O-Chiyo pen
if
had not
what would hap-
really considered
Jukichi found out about her secret. She hadn't
even thought
much about whether
her secret could be
preserved like this indefinitely. She merely hoped that
would continue not time to think of
do should
be revealed.
it
ability to think
O-Chiyo's if
to preserve
Or
But
that
would
.
.
.
had
about
on
would not change
they came together
a secret until Jukichi
found
could
it
a regular
such was O-Chiyo's vague prayer.
Toward
the end of that year, the cold
than usual. Eve.
talk
Jukichi's joblessness go away. If
somehow remain job
if
after Jukichi
would
particular effect
in life
she separated from Jukichi, nor,
again,
they
would have no
Her road
situation.
have the
rather, she didn't
a beating,
the
or of what to
it,
of such things. Perhaps,
found out and given her a separation.
known. She did not have
to be
method
a
it
About
It
was
was two or three days before
less
severe
New
Year's
half-past midnight, her usual time,
came back, ostensibly from
O-Chiyo
the bar, actually by cab
from
Karasu-mori, where she had gone from the old woman's house. stairs
Undoing
the belt of her overcoat, she
and found Jukichi,
went up-
who seemed himself to have just
gotten back. His hat and Inverness cape had been hung up,
but without having taken off his scarf he was squatting
at
the brazier and blowing on the half-extinguished coals.
"The Ginza was "It's
the Year
so
End
crowded you couldn't walk on
Festival."
183
it."
Flowers
"The
in the
Shade
have stayed open until two o'clock
cafes there
since the twenty-fifth. They're even cheaper than Kanda."
As she
"Well, they're in the right location."
O-Chiyo might
realized for the
open
also be
and began to
took out
To divert the conversation, warmer that had been put to one
stir
up the coals
Of course,
I
did something really dangerous.
was just by chance."
it
O-Chiyo looked worriedly "I'd
at Jukichi.
heard there were 'escort
girls'
on the Ginza.
one of them and was just about
I
was
to turn off into an
when was accosted by a man in a cape. He wanted go to some place where it was dark and buy some post-
alley,
to
in the brazier. Jukichi
his wallet.
"O-Chiyo, tonight
tailing
said this,
time that the cafes in Kanda
until two.
she pulled out a foot side
first
I
cards. Actually,
I
just
happened
I've
mimeographs.
suddenly
the Ginza
all,
up the
is
some good ones
been carrying them around with the
on me. Recently, I
to have
the Ginza.
doing business. After
felt like I
made two
yen." Jukichi held
silver coins.
Rather than being surprised, O-Chiyo thought of her
own
secret.
"It
She was
would be
night. If I just
walk,
it'll
"But ful
all
I
went
to the
every once in
same place every
a while, as
I'm taking
a
right."
dangerous. Unless you're extremely care-
." .
.
"That's it,
be
It's
do
it
good answer.
at a loss for a
risky if
it's
why
like a
it's
game.
an adventure. It's
When you
interesting.
Not
It's
like
think about
being
a
pick-
that I'm a pickpocket or a
pocket or
a shoplifter.
shoplifter,
of course, but shady, secret things are interest-
ing.
They're curiously entertaining, somehow.
how hard up
I
was,
I
could never be
184
a
No matter
respectable person."
Flowers
in the
O-Chiyo,
Shade
was already known,
feeling as if her secret
thought it might be better to confess everything now. But she did not
know how
teapot, she started to stir
begun
to
burn
Lowering the earthen
to begin.
up the
coals again,
which had
brighter.
"Why don't we buy something to eat with this money? The shops
are probably
we
as the Slope,
still
open tonight.
If we
go
as far
can have some noodles. Don't you want
something? Are you tired?"
"No
." .
"Let's it?
.
go out, then.
Maybe
It's
awfully
warm this winter,
isn't
we're in for another earthquake."
"Yes. There
Although
was
a
sudden shower yesterday evening."
fearful that
he was enticing her outside with
something in mind, preparing herself
for
it,
O-Chiyo
went out with Jukichi.
A
soft
wind had begun
descended over the
city.
to blow, and a light mist
The pale, hazy
had
aspect of the quiet
was like a summer dawn. Even the thinly veiled light of the stars did not seem at all like winter. Although all the shops were closed, the still flowing crowds of promenaders grew ever more lively as Jukichi and O-Chiyo neared Ushigomemitsuke. Strolling ahead of them was a similar couple.
late-night streets, wherever one looked,
From their conversation, shift"
the
thing, said:
Year's?
remembering some-
New
Are you off that day?" asked yet."
"They should give you It's
"early shift" and "late
as if
"O-Chiyo, what does your place do on
"I haven't
it.
words
could be heard. Jukichi,
already three
three days
months
since
you
off.
You've earned
started
working
at
They haven't given you a day off yet." Once again, O-Chiyo was at a loss for an answer. Why,
that bar.
185
Flowers
was Jukichi asking
just tonight,
in the
Shade
questions? She
difficult
even had the feehng that he knew and was pretending not to
know,
by embarrassing her he was taking what
that
revenge he could for her misbehavior.
"Something has come up. this once.
spoke
I've
was thinking of leaving
I
home just tomorrow." O-Chiyo got to go
quietly.
"Home? You mean "Yes. Since
Funabori?"
Mother
died,
haven't gone back even
I
once."
"O-Chiyo. You probably don't mean
come
to
that's the case, please say so." Jukichi's voice
Then, noticing the couple up ahead, he stopped.
somebody
said: "Is
seemed
there?" There
was
back. If
had
A
risen.
voice
sound of what
a
to be a kiss.
"But,
I
.
.
O-Chiyo began, dragging
."
voice was almost inaudible.
thmg unforgivable
"It's
her
feet.
Her
because I've done some-
." .
.
"Are you saying you want to separate?"
"But you probably won't forgive me." "If
up
I
hadn't forgiven you,
now. O-Chiyo,
to
account of me that you ...
"Before long
Chiyo, longer.
I'll
find a
I've trusted you, I
I
all
it's
It
wouldn't have kept
my
.
.
.
well,
it's
silent all
on
can't be helped."
way of making so please stick
a living.
it
out
O-
a little
beg of you."
arm around her from behind, he quietly him. O-Chiyo pressed herself to him.
Passing his
drew her "I
.
to
.
.
so long as
have thought
and yet
I
was
you forgive me. But you must
a terribly
." .
.
i86
brazen
woman.
That's so,
Flowers
in the
"It's all
Shade
now.
right
everything
I
I
understand. As long as you
me
tell
won't think badly of it."
"Really?" O-Chiyo, laying her head onjukichi's shoulder,
looked up into
his face.
Caught off balance by her
weight, Jukichi steadied himself. Holding her tight, he
went on: "As long
you
as
feel the
same about me,
I
won't
think badly of you. For a long time I've thought there
was something mention kept
And
it.
But
strange. I
I
couldn't bring myself to
thought that you never would. So
You must have been
silent.
I
racking your brains."
The nearest person of the couple ahead of them,
appar-
ently catching the sound of their voices, dropped back a
two and turned around. Then, evidently reassured that it was the same kind of couple as they were, the figure once more drew close to its companion and walked on. step or
O-Chiyo, watching the couple recede swered: "Yes,
I
was worried about
come to understand?" "How, you say. understood, I
told
me you were working
it.
that's
at a bar,
into the mist, an-
But how did you
all.
Although you
you
didn't
come
back drunk even once. Even your clothes never smelt of liquor. I
And your
thought
it
tabi
socks were never dirty. That's
couldn't be
"That's just
how
it
a
why
bar or cafe."
was."
"And it wasn't only that. There were other ways in which I understood." Once again drawing O-Chiyo close to him, walking two or three steps in silence, Jukichi added: "I can't really talk about it. In this kind of place
"What?
Tell
." .
.
me."
"It
would be too
"I
don't care. Tell me,
coaxing manner,
insulting."
as if
tell
me." With
making
87
a
joke of
a deliberately it,
O-Chiyo
Flowers
opened her eyes wide and gazed up
Her expression, seemed
in the slanting
into Jukichi's face.
to Jukichi especially captivating and
she looked up
as
at
winsome.
O-Chiyo on
the fore-
him. But then, startled by
woman, he stood
a car's
upon them from behind,
headlights that suddenly flashed shielding the
Shade
hght from the streetlamp,
Stopping, Jukichi started to kiss
head
in the
one
to
side.
Glancing up
ahead, he saw that the other couple had also stood aside.
A
went by
train
Through
in the distance.
the
shadowy
mist, electric advertising signs atop the roofs of houses
on the At a
far side
of the Moat were
nighttime
a
cup of
sake,
stall
visible
behind the
trees.
along the Moat, the two shared
something they had never done before.
chill that with the rising wind grown intense, they leisurely made their way back. From that night, in the flesh and in their hearts, the two became more and more inseparable.
Oblivious of the late-night
had
at last
Having had the experience of
living with a willful,
immoral older woman, Jukichi knew how
women
by submitting
to them.
to
manage
What would have been
impossible for anyone with ordinary self-respect had by
now become
second nature with him. In Jukichi's eyes,
the lives of respectable people seemed absurdly con-
and somehow hypocritical. By
stricted
contrast, a lewd,
indolent existence such as his seemed the happiness of life
without
its
gone on
for four or five years
pretenses. His
life
other fallen into monotony.
suddenly picked up his
with O-Chiyo, which had
now, had
From
at
some point or
that night,
a peculiar liveliness.
however,
it
The thought that
woman was occasionally intimate with other men gave
rise to
various fantasies and violently aroused Jukichi's
sexual desires.
As
for
O-Chiyo, knowing
that she
had her husband's
Flowers
in the
Shade
open permission not only removed any shame from her
was working
heart but, since she
feehngs of shyness. She even herself.
And from
simple pleasure in the sorts
When
of men.
made much of by
felt
her girlhood,
the
When she went into
fact that
for Jukichi's sake,
proud somewhere in O-Chiyo had taken a
she was attractive to
all
she lived in Funabori, she'd been
young men of the neighborhood.
service as a
maid
in a
been teased by the amorous houseboys. as a
any
mansion, she'd
When she worked
temporary housekeeper, she'd had advances made
to her
by the heads of several households. O-Chiyo did
not think of
this as humiliation,
men
possessed something that
but
liked.
as
proof
that she
This something,
as
time went by and the number of men she'd been intimate
with increased, gradually became heart of hearts, she
was loved by
felt
Jukichi.
clearer to her. In her
more and more triumphant. She
And,
in the
same way, she must
be loved by the other men, she thought, in her extreme simplicity.
And
so, as if she'd forgotten that she
turn thirty-three with the lightheartedly,
from day
New
to day.
189
Year, she
was
would
able to live
^) NINE That
by the timcjukichi got back
day,
after
making
a
withdrawal from their postal savings account in AzabuTanimachi, O-Chiyo had gone out to work. The evening
deepened into night, but she did not come back.
It
wasn't
unusual for her to stay out overnight, sojukichi did not particularly
worry about
her.
As he always did on such
frequent nights of sleeping alone, he took the opportunity to rest
up from
The next O-Chiyo
his habitual fatigue.
still
worry
slept insatiably.
did not return, nor was there
Thinking there might have been to
He
drew on,
day, however, even as the evening
a
a
phonecall.
mishap, Jukichi began
a little.
Reheating the remnants of the midday meal, with seasoned and fried miso and baked laver on the Jukichi had
Yoshizawa
noon of
a solitary
Inn,
side,
supper. Afterward he telephoned the
which had summoned O-Chiyo the
the previous day.
there until the evening.
He
after-
learned that she had been
Her whereabouts
after that
was
a
mystery. Jukichi then called up two or three assignation
houses that O-Chiyo used, but learned nothmg further. Increasingly worried, Jukichi could only think of call-
ing up
some of her
but he didn't there
know
friends and
companions
their telephone
numbers. Thinking
must be something written down
her mirror-stand or somewhere, he
found nothing.
.
.
in the trade,
in a
drawer of
rummaged about but
.
"Nakajima-san, you have
a caller." Just then,
the voice
of the glass-dealer's wife called to him from downstairs. 190
Flowers
Shade
in the
Descending three or four steps of the ladder-stairs, Jukichi peered around below him. His girl
caller
was Tamako, the
he'd met yesterday on a street corner in Tame-ike.
come
"Please
Chiyoko
"Is
up."
in?"
"She's out right now. There's something I'd like to talk
about, though. Please,
come
up."
Briefly exchanging civilities with the family of the
Tamako followed Jukichi up the ladder-stairs.
glass dealer,
"I'm sorry about yesterday."
thought you'd come to the house
"I
and
after that
waited for you. Did you take the room?"
"The one
in Tame-ike,
you mean? Actually
I
did, but
then they said the downstairs tenant worked for a news-
gave
paper, so
I
searching
all
up. Today, I've been walking around
it
day, but there aren't
many rooms where you
have the use of a telephone." "If you're in this neighborhood, they'll
telephone here.
I'll
come and
tell
you use the
let
you when you have
a call."
do
"I'll
then.
that,
Chiyoko-san
already decided on
it.
Is
not back yet?"
still
"Actually, she
I've
went out
at
noon
yesterday, and that's
the last I've seen of her. I'm worried that she might have
had
a
have
mishap. I've tried calling most of the places that but she wasn't
a telephone,
called
up old
at
any of them.
I
even
woman Araki from when she was staying in I couldn't reach her at all. Because now
lida-machi, but
she's in Yotsuya.
I
was just thinking of going
there."
Tamako, because she hadn't worked out of
woman's house in for a
new
a
the old
long while and wanted her to arrange
base of operations, said she
would go with
Jukichi.
Turning
left
from the banks of the Moat 191
in
Honmura-
Flowers
wound
cho, they
back
street
here
two
their
hned with
way through
dusky
had only come
or three times, so that once out of sight of the
mailbox which had served him
Not
lost.
this or that
Httle houses. Jukichi
Shade
in the
as a guide,
they were
finding a drink shop or tobacconist's where he
could ask the way, they wandered about until they came
out
midway on
the Tsu
no Kami
retraced their steps, peering
the
at
Slope. Surprised, they
numbers on nameplates
under the house caves and on the gates by the dim of streetlamps. Finally they found they were looking
their
way
it
rang out merrily. But
lattice
house
for.
When Jukichi opened the wicket gate, to
to the
light
the bell attached
was pitch dark behind the
it
door of the entry way. Although he
called out
two
or three times, no one came. Just then, the telephone
began ringing inside the house, but there was no sound of anyone's voice. The phone went on ringing little
time, then suddenly
for some Only then did Jukichi of someone moaning in agony
fell silent.
and Tamako hear the voice
from the back of the house. They exchanged looks.
"The old woman's
Maybe
sick.
she's
alone."
all
"She's rich. Probably she's been murdered."
"Oh, how awful. Don't
frighten me."
Tamako clung
to Jukichi. "I'll
go
in
and take
Despite these brave words,
a look."
Jukichi, with a sense of something uncanny, stood rooted to the
ground
in the
out his hand, he
slid
There didn't seem
moaning to be
voice,
entryway. Then, furtively reaching
open the paper door an inch or two.
to be a single light
much more
on
in the house.
clearly audible
The
now, seemed
emanating from somewhere near the kitchen.
"Somehow
I
can't
go
around to the back. She
in
by myself Tama-chan, go
really
the house." 192
should keep
a
maid
in
Flowers
in the
"What over?
I
if
Shade
I
went next door and had someone come
don't hke this
ing voice
at all."
As Tamako spoke,
grew even more intense.
moanTamako
the
Involuntarily,
bolted outside, followed closely by Jukichi.
"Even
if you
think she has
what
to
do
went around the neighborhood
much to do with the neighbors.
after
I
I
don't
We'll decide
take a look and see if she's sick or what."
Going around back to open the
—
the kitchen, Jukichi fearfully slid
By
glass door.
the light of a bulb that
was on
somewhere in the house, he could make out the figure of the old woman, her white hair in disarray, face down by the sliding paper doors between the
wooden
floor
of the
kitchen and a sort of tea room. Staying outside, sticking just his face inside the glass door, Jukichi called: "Auntie,
Auntie Araki. Are you
The
woman
old
right?"
all
simply moaned. Evidently she was
in serious condition, almost unconscious.
assured, however,
and by the
by the
Somewhat
re-
tidy appearance of the kitchen
fact that there didn't
where, Jukichi came inside
seem
to
be blood any-
as far as the sink drain.
Leaning
over the movable floorboard, he called out again: "Auntie,
Auntie Araki." His repeated loud to the old
calls
seemed
woman. Clutching
raise herself.
Seeing her
tary exclamation.
finally to get
through
the paper door, she tried to
face, Jukichi uttered
an involun-
Tamako, who'd been standing
outside,
now fled for dear life,
stumbling over things until she was
past the wicket gate.
The
to about twice
its
to have vanished.
one lit
side.
by the
At
normal
old size.
woman's
face
was swollen
Her eyes and nose seemed
There was only the mouth, twisted to
his first
glimpse of this horrific visage, back-
light bulb
through the translucent paper door,
Jukichi thought he was seeing
Tamako came
a goblin.
back, bringing a neighbor with her.
193
Flowers
from the neighborhood
Presently, a doctor
suffering
accompanied by Tamako, went
main thoroughfare of Yotsuya
When
Ac-
and would require
called periodontitis
oral surgery. Jukichi,
the
Shade
arrived.
woman was
cording to his diagnosis, the old
from^something
in the
to
to look for a dentist.
they finally located one and brought hmi back, his
diagnosis was even
more pessimistic. The dentist in atten-
dance, they took the patient to Keio University Hospital.
According to the doctor,
if the
poison that was rotting
her jawbone attacked the old woman's brain, there was
nothing to be done.
It
was
when Jukichi and Tamako
past ten o'clock that evening
left
the hospital.
"Tama-chan. Tonight certainly has been
a
strange
night. Auntie Araki's a goner."
"You may be
The way
right.
she looked
"Something may have happened
Having the
taxi they'd hailed
to
." .
.
O-Chiyo,
way
along the
too."
stop in
from the
front of the glass dealer's, Jukichi ran upstairs
back entrance. Sliding open the paper door, he saw bedding
laid
out
in the
middle of the room. There, lying
in
bed with her back to him, was O-Chiyo. Both Jukichi and Tamako behind him, thinking she'd been accident or the
like,
in a car
inadvertently cried out.
"O-Chiyo, what happened?"
Awakened by
their
voices,
O-Chiyo murmured
drowsily: "You're back."
"What happened in the
to
you?" Jukichi stood where he was
doorway.
"Chiyoko-san.
It's
been
a
long time
.
.
."
Tamako
said,
from behind Jukichi.
"Oh with
a
—
It's
Tama-chan. You're together
strange look of her
own now,
"Didn't something happen to you?"
194
.
.
."
O-Chiyo,
started to get up.
Flowers
in the
Shade
"What do you mean, didn't something happen?" More and more suspicious of Jukichi's demeanor, O-Chiyo widened her eyes. "That's good, then. You're all right." As if noticing it for the first time, Tamako began to take off her coat. is
odd."
not odd
at all.
"Well, this "It's
We
were very worried about you.
You've been gone since yesterday afternoon and didn't even
call."
"Oh? I asked about
it.
the
maid
to
call.
"We've been out to Auntie going to
Araki's.
It
looks as
if she's
die."
was
"I
She must have forgotten
I'm sorry."
Her
frightened.
really
Mimicking
the old
woman's
was
face
expression,
like
this."
Tamako gave
a
detailed account.
"There's never been a stranger night than tonight.
were worried, thinking you'd been
we went
to
mat on
at
down
to
.
.
As
."
to,
I
if exhausted,
Jukichi sank
his side.
"Strange, indeed. night.
and then when
hurt,
Auntie Araki's, she was moaning away
death's door.
the
We
I
had
a lot
of trouble myself
Something ridiculous happened. Even
last
if I'd tried
couldn't have done something so ridiculous."
"What was
it?
We can't tell if you just smile to yourself
like that."
"But when I think about about it
it. I
picked up the
was stupid of me. "Chiyoko-san, "It
too
silly.
I
can't talk
was flabbergasted
at
myself."
that's awful."
happened on the spur of the moment. There was
nothing I could do. zawa,
I
it, it's just
wrong customer. Even I thought
when
I
I
was on
my way back from the Yoshi-
ran into a customer under the Shinbashi
195
Flowers
He
Bridge.
invited
me
to a meal, so
to a noodle shop behind the Ginza.
take
to a
n;e*
Shade
in the
went with him
I
I
thought he would
department store and buy
me something. We
wandered around the Ginza
for a while.
It
was the height
of the evening promenadejust then. In front of places
and bumped.
like
you couldn't walk without being shoved
the Matsuya,
was standing looking
I
at
the dolls in a win-
dow display, when a completely drunken student made as if he
were going
back.
me, so
to purposely crash into
The man was two
now. He'd stopped
at a
nighttime
so
stall,
I
There were swarms of people, and I couldn't tried to slowly
was
my
see a thing.
behind.
When
I
separated.
I
I
turned around, there
customer walking away from me,
hurried after
me by
stopped too.
make my way through, but someone kept
me from
pushing
stepped
I
or three steps ahead of
him and grabbed
his
thought.
I
clung to him, got separated again
thirty feet farther on, the
we
hand, but then .
crowd thinned out
.
I
got
About
.
a little.
I
him again, and said: 'You.' Then, when I looked him from the side, it was somebody else. From behind,
clung to at
he had the same
hat, the
same Inverness
cape, he
same height, but he was the wrong person. barrassed
I
couldn't even say 'excuse me.'
bright red and bowed.
and took
my
And
man
then, the
was the
I
was so em-
I
just turned
smiled
me
at
hand. 'I'm already tired of walking. Let's
take a cab,' he said.
He
hailed a one-yen taxi that
was
He was going to put me in that cabjust as if own woman. The driver had opened the door and
the curbside.
was
his
at I
was waiting. The sidewalk was jammed, and
no time
to stand
around and argue. So
with him. The driver said he'd go fifty sen.
'Do you
The man put cruise the
his lips to
my
seemed
got into the cab
as far as
Hama-cho
for
ear and whispered:
Ginza every night?'
196
I
it
He
thought
I
was
Flowers
Shade
in the
one of those
'escort girls.'
for an apology, so
I
There was no particular need
kept silent and did what he said."
"That was pretty quick-witted of you. What hap-
pened
Tamako,
out, said: stairs
I'm sure it's worth hearing," Jukichi
after that?
smiling.
from the
too,
"Where did he
It's
said,
drawing O-Chiyo
take you?" Just then, the
clock began to chime. Glancing
Tamako exclaimed: "Oh dear. I'll
side,
at
down-
her wristwatch,
already twelve o'clock.
have to say good-bye."
"Why
don't you stay overnight?
I'd like to
hear
more
about your loverboy." "That's
all
there
is.
I've told
you everything."
"Oh? So you've broken up for good?" "Yes." Tamako was starting to say something else, when this time the telephone began to ring. O-Chiyo knew that phonecalls at this hour could only be for her or the waitress floor.
who
rented the front half of the second
Hurrying downstairs, she came back up almost
immediately.
"Tama-chan. I'm already exhausted tonight. like
going out, could you take
them
that. It's a
trict. It's a
with her
good
my
If you feel
place? If so,
I'll
tell
teahouse over in the Tsukiji landfill displace."
O-Chiyo
signaled
some numbers
fingers.
"Yes. All right."
Tamako nodded. "Overnight?"
And so, this." O-Chiyo again signaled with When she'd done so, she went downstairs
"Probably.
her fingers.
again to give the answer to the other party.
197
^) TEN The
next morning, O-Chiyo, saying she would go see
how the old woman was,
set
out for the hospital. Jukichi,
with the intention of sleeping
noon, crawled back
until
As he thought he was dozing off, he heard woman's voice outside the paper door calling for
into bed. a
O-Chiyo. Thinking from
was Tamako, on her way back
it
last night's destination,
"Come
he called out:
in.
She's just gone to the hospital."
Turning over
saw
that
it
in
bed toward the door
was not Tamako.
It
was
as
it
slid
woman
a
open, he
of thirty or
so in an out-of-style Western hairdo, evidently a house-
maid. Although he'd seen her before, Jukichi could not
remember who she was. The woman stepped
briskly
up
to his pillow. Standing over him, she abruptly announced:
"Something "Ah,
so.
terrible has
Thanks
for
happened."
coming
to tell
me."
Immediately guessing everything by her demeanor and tone of voice, Jukichi sprang out of bed and took
some
"Who was "It's
away.
it
?" .
.
.
the Yoshizawa. Just
now
they took the
phone numbers
I
happened
then and was able to escape. But can't even
not long ago
I
make
came
I
of
tele-
to be in the privy just
don't have a cent on
a phonecall.
as far as the front
198
a list
fmd those numbers,
in the desk. If they
everybody's in trouble.
I
madam
And another detective is standing guard at the front
desk so O-Kimi-san can't get out. There's
me.
down
clothing from the wall.
I
came here because
door with O-Chiyo
Flowers
in the
Shade
on our way back from
came
to
warn
"The telephone in phone.
I'll
the Konpira Shrine. That's
why
I
her." this
house
isn't safe. Please
use a pay
loan you a yen." Jukichi fished some change
out of his sleeve. "I'll
pay you back
later."
"Whatever happens,
call
me
back again."
When
he'd
gone downstairs with the woman, Jukichi immediately put
a call
through
O-Chiyo paged
to
Keio University Hospital.
He had
and, using circumlocutions, told her
not to come back to the house. Going back upstairs, he quickly went through the drawers of the mirror-stand
and suchlike to see
Dragging out
a
if
there were any letters or receipts.
trunk, a wicker suitcase, and a valise
the wardrobe, he dashed downstairs and hailed
Coming back upstairs,
two
from taxis.
he stuffed everything he could get
into the trunk, the suitcase, and the valise, starting with
the bedding. Telling the glass dealer the
came left
first
story that
into his head and paying off the back rent, Jukichi
half the luggage at the baggage depository at Shinbashi
Station.
Then, boarding the
taxi into
which he'd loaded
the bedding and the valise, he paid a call
ware dealer named
Fujita in the
of Asakusa. The shop was on fare that ran past the
a
on
a
kitchen-
Senzoku-machi section
newly opened thorough-
Shochiku Theater straight toward
South Senju. This kitchenware dealer was the husband of O-Chiyo's younger
making
sister.
O-Chiyo, with the idea of
an emergency hideout, had previously
his place
introduced Jukichi to him. After dropping off the bedding and the valise there, Jukichi
at
once
set
about looking for
borhood.
When
O-Chiyo About
for the first time that day.
he came back
at
a
room
half an hour after she'd arrived,
199
in the neigh-
noon, he met up with
O-Chiyo
told
Flowers
him, Auntie Araki had drawn her
in the
last breath.
Shade
At
this
juncture, however, there was no time for the pair to have
about the departed person. As soon
a leisurely discussion
they'd finished a takeout lunch of rice topped with
as
fried fish, the
borhood
two decided of
in search
to fan out through the neigh-
room.
a
evening to the kitchenware a
room over
When
dealer's,
a rice-dealer's
they returned that
O-Chiyo had found
shop along an
alley diago-
nally opposite the Otori Shrine. Jukichi had found one
over
a
laundry up an alley lined mostly by residential
shops, near
a large
temple called the Nichirin
zaki section of Asakusa.
in the Shiba-
Although both shops had
phone, there were two Korean chauffeurs living
At the laundry there was only
rice shop.
The two immediately bedding and the
set
a
a teleat
the
concubine.
out for the laundry with their
valise.
"O-Chiyo, what
are
we going
to do?
I
left
behind the
mirror-stand, the brazier, the table, and the tea shelf
thought that before
it
got too
late this
evening,
back and get them and see what the situation "Call up
I'd
I
go
is."
Find out whether anyone from the police
first.
has come, or what
." .
.
come by now, it's probably all right." "Not necessarily. Last year when Tama-chan was taken in, it was two days after the raid that the summons came, "If they haven't
she told me."
"Everybody's taken tell
me
that
only ones
who
go to
same time. Didn't you
that sort
taxes, so
we had to
go.
But nobody
of place. I'm going to change
for a while."
"What name
the
weren't charged?"
"That was for to
in at the
you and O-Shun-san from Hattori were
will
you take?"
200
likes
my name
Flowers
in the
"Isn't
Shade
any name
right?
all
The
first
time
I
changed
it, I
chose Tachibana."
"Hm. You borrowed
name of
the family
the late
Taneko-san." "It's
already four or five years ago.
Araki's dead, no one's likely to
Now
that
Auntie
my name from
remember
that time."
make
"Let's
Tachibana, then.
it
downstairs. After that,
I'll
call
I'll
tell
up the house
the people in Shiba."
Borrowing the phone downstairs, Jukichi made about the situation dence until
this
the glass dealer's, their place of resi-
morning. Somewhat relieved to hear
no one had come,
Along one
at
inquiries
side
the
two
of the
that
the laundry together.
left
alley ran the tin-roofed fence
of
the Nichirin Temple. Keeping their eyes on the glittering streetlights
beyond, Jukichi and O-Chiyo headed for the
noisy thoroughfares. Soon they emerged onto the avenue in front
of the Shochiku. At the corner,
was ringing
haggled the vendor
and the "It
out
his bell. Fishing
down on
a
a
news vendor
copper coin, Jukichi
copies of the Evening
News
People's Evening Edition.
happened
this
morning, so
it
may
not be in the
papers yet." Glancing through the Evening News as they
walked along, Jukichi went on: "The Matsuoka
was
it
was part of the same
"Which
girls
raid."
got arrested?"
'Hongo District, Tomisaka Ward: OtaTetsu. Otsuka,
Tsuji
Ward: Miyabara Ko. Akasaka
Ward: Yoshioka Tsuyu
—
Nezu
raided. There's nothing about the Yoshizawa, al-
though "
in
District,
Hikawa
" .
.
.'
"They got Yoshioka-san too? You probably know her ." not too tall, the one who wore Western clothes .
"Hm. That one who
stayed overnight
201
.
when we were
Flowers
in
Tanimachi
.
.
.
News
the Evening
There
?
to
are a lot
in the
Shade
more names." Handing
O-Chiyo, Jukichi opened the
Evening Edition. Fearful of the eyes of passers-by,
People's
O-Chiyo
folded her newspaper. "It's
because only low-price
work out of
girls
the
Matsuoka."
"Have you ever been
"Two
there?"
or three years ago.
The
quality of their clientele
way down."
has gone
When
they turned onto the main thoroughfare, both
were lined with nighttime
sides
stalls,
and there was
a
thick flow of pedestrians. Without further conversation,
O-Chiyo walked
Jukichi and
"What
will
"Yes,
thought
I
you about one
who it
I
I
Do
go
to
as far as
was an
Thunder Gate.
you have someplace
I
'escort girl' I
to
I
told
met on the Ginza? The and took
would come
me along
tonight."
now?"
house on Hama-machi Park. Not one of our
regular houses. There's nothing to worry about.
make
start
to go?"
Hama-machi. That man
the one
promised him
safe right
"It's a
I'd
last night,
thought
with him. "Is
you do?
It's
a fresh start. I don't want to go broke right of the month from moving expenses ..."
The two
hailed a one-yen taxi.
On
the
way
time
at
the
to Shiba-
Sakuragawa, Jukichi dropped O-Chiyo off near the Meiji Theater.
Cutting across the broad avenue, O-Chiyo made her
way up a narrow alley that turned off toward the Hettsui Embankment. Outside the fifth or sixth house, there was a lantern inscribed with the name Fukakusa. As O-Chiyo slid open the lattice door, a maid whose face she remembered came out. "There was a phonecalljust now. He said
202
Flowers
in the
Shade
he was coming right away.
of him to please wait. ing
this,
the
He
He
said if you got here ahead
called
on
the telephone." Say-
maid showed O-Chiyo
where she had spent
the night before
203
into the last.
same room
^
ELEVEN
Together with
tea,
the
maid had
left
copies of the eve-
ning edition of the News and the Miyako News.
O-Chiyo
ing the Miyako News, the
Matsuoka and the Yoshizawa, but
Then she looked
at the
News, but
it
Remembering
that there
the pocket of her overcoat, article in
it
there
or thirteen
was nothing.
woman
to
was an Evening News
in
O-Chiyo
for a
silently
perused the
so as not to miss a single line or word.
went down the
list
open-
had only war reports
from Chin-chou and Tientsin, nothing read.
First
searched for an item on
Then she
of names and addresses of the twelve
women who had been arrested.
saw the name Fukazawa Tomi lightly closed her eyes
(19).
Suddenly, she
Tilting her head, she
and counted on her fmgers.
Fukazawa was O-Chiyo's own family name. The name Tomi resembled Tami, the name of the illegitimate child that O-Chiyo had borne in her eighteenth year. Just one character was different. And when she counted back from the age of nineteen given in parentheses, the child she'd given birth to in the
it
was the age of
summer of the second Tomi (19) whose
year of Taisho. Perhaps the Fukazawa
name was exposed in print was her child O'-Tami. For no particular reason, O-Chiyo thought she was.
When
separation talks had started up shortly after her
marriage to the sundries dealer, she had sent O-Tami out for adoption,
some fourteen
had been taken
in
or fifteen years ago.
by the family of a female
The
girl
hairdresser.
After that, however, there had been a complete break in
204
Flowers
in the
Shade
communication.
It
wasn't likely that
any news of her daughter's she had the feeling that the
her daughter O-Tami.
was she
career.
O-Chiyo would hear And yet, somehow,
O-Tomi in
When
the newspaper
than humiliation
a social outcast like herself, rather
only
felt
wanted
a desperate
From
main thoroughfare, she could hear
calling out an extra,
there
longing for her. Unbearably, she
to see her face, to talk with her.
tion of the
were
tea table,
was
she thought that the girl
and from
lively voices.
a
the direc-
a
newsboy
house somewhere nearby
Leaning on her elbows on the
plunged in vague thought, O-Chiyo presently
heard the sound of footsteps of someone coming up the stairs
and the maid's voice. Carefully, she folded up the
Evening News.
"He's here." With the maid's voice, the paper door slid
open. Laughing
as if
he'd begun to exert an effort,
the customer of the night before last entered the room.
No
"Have you been waiting long?"
of the maid looking on, he stuck
this than, regardless
out
a thick, hairy
cape and, pulling
sooner had he said
arm from the folds of his O-Chiyo to him, rubbed
Inverness his
man
cheek
against hers. Evidently well past
fifty,
on
white fringe above the
his
ears
gleaming bald head only
retained
and around the back. But he was broad-shouldered
and powerfully lips
a
the
built,
and
his oily red face, in
which the
and nose were particularly prominent, gleamed
liantly like his pate.
bril-
This old man, Sugimura by name,
was the owner of a wool business and the proprietor of a magnificent building on the West Ginza. In any red-light district or cafe, there are
lechers
who
surface in the gossip of the ladies, but
few
mold as well at a single glance as wool merchant. Over the past twenty or thirty years.
could have this
always one or two legendary
fitted the
205
Flowers
he had thoroughly famiharized himself with prostitutes.
As he grew
in the
Shade
all classes
of
he had become dissatisfied
older,
with ordinary methods of pleasure.
He was
always on the
new incitements. Since that night on when he'd happened to have his sleeve plucked by O-Chiyo in the crowd, and had thought that this was one of the "escort girls" he'd heard about, he'd come to
lookout for strange the Ginza,
feel that
he could satisfy
all
his habitual desires in
one
night with O-Chiyo.
bathwater heated yet?"
"Is the
"Yes."
"Then warm up stove. Please."
Even
the as
room
across the way. Light the
he spoke, Sugimura was undoing
his obi, to the maid's consternation. "I'll
the
bring your nightclothes right now." Saying
maid
"I
this,
fled into the corridor.
don't need such things." Sugimura clasped the di-
minutive O-Chiyo to
his
shaggy
chest. "Let's get in the
tub together. Eh?"
O-Chiyo, used
to such behavior,
without making any
particular outcry of surprise, allowed herself to be taken
off to the bath as the
man
The maid, following them little room across the way Then, a few moments later, she said.
with their yukatas, readied the
and
lit
slid
open the door of the bath preparatory
the electric stove.
in another guest.
Surprised the
at
The two were
to ushering
talking in the bath.
such a long bath, and hushing her footsteps,
maid withdrew. These
Jukichi
still
who was
nice to
days,
it
O-Chiyo.
was not only her own It
was not unusual
for
some of her customers as well to treat her kindly. That was why, even when she met up with an ugly man and was subjected to his irrational antics, the experience was not entirely without interest for her. Repressing her feelings
206
Flowers
in the
Shade
of disgust and outrage, she experienced the birth of a kind of thriUing pleasure, and at times even deUberately sought out such pleasure. Also,
this
sum. In order to gain
a tidy little a
mind felt
to
make
that Sugi-
a request for
of
his favor, she w^as
up with just about anything. O-Chiyo
to put
wanted enough money she
knowing
evening,
mura had money, O-Chiyo meant
to have the
was her daughter
experience, she
whom
young woman
from detention. From
customers
who patronized un-
no matter how
nicely they treated
knew
licensed prostitutes,
released
that
them, seldom came back more than three times. Generally, it
was only two
request, tonight
times. If she
was the
was going
make her
to
right time.
O-Chiyo 's scheme was
successful
beyond her
antici-
man of extremely crude mentality who never doubted his own pation. Sugimura, for
all
his playing
around, was
judgment. Observing O-Chiyo's complaisant
would not
he'd concluded that he
woman
it
was more than
prompted O-Chiyo last
easily
a spirit
of business that had
to pluck at his sleeve the night before
on the Ginza, he desired
make her
to
while. His only
worry was whether
the background.
Even
in the background,
that, if the
name
first
there
to
sound out the
you
I'll
make
this evening.
to take care of
you say
simply stay
was no great problem. But
woman
or occupation, he said:
you need,
own for a was a man in
his
man would
forward and even threatened Sugimura best to
attitude,
fmd another he might. Having arbitrarily
like her, search as
decided that
a
you?
it
I'll
.
Thinking
.
before she
end present.
the way, wouldn't set
came
knew
you up
I'll
you
in a house.
give like
restraints
on your freedom."
207
it
me
Won't
yes? I'm not suggesting anything unreasonable.
wouldn't put any
it
his
"It's all right. If that's all
a year's
By
.
if he
I
Flowers
way
"Fine. If that's the
Shade
in the
O-Chiyo's answer did
it is."
not sound overly enthusiastic.
"You
agree, then? If that's so, the sooner the better.
I'm the sort of person
dawdHng over
can't stand a
who
once he thinks of something
it.
Won't you
start
looking for
house right away? Tomorrow, even." "Yes."
"Anywhere's
would be this
for
all
Kyobashi or Nihonbashi
In
right.
most convenient
the
for
me. You can telephone
house any time of the day or night.
you
"Well, "Is
soon
as
I'll
you
as
find
I'll
rent the place
it."
looking right away."
start
your mother or somebody living with you?"
"Right now, we're not together."
"You don't have an older brother or an ha. Not that it matters, that sort of thing." "No, this sort
nobody.
there's
were,
If there
I
uncle?
ha
wouldn't be in
of business."
"I trust
you. Investigations of background are boring."
"Even though ingly honest.
"That's
I
I
seem
this
kind of person, I'm surpris-
won't make any trouble for you."
why
I
said right off
going to stay the night again? "Either
way
row morning grave-visit.
As soon
is
all
there's
I
trusted you.
Are you
How about it?"
right with me.
something
I
But early tomor-
must do. I'm making
a
." .
.
as the
money was
O-Chiyo felt find out news of the
in her hand,
she could not wait another minute to
young woman she thought was her daughter. toward midnight, there was
Making
Ha
a fire
Luckily,
over toward the Ginza.
hasty preparations, Sugimura took his leave.
208
TWELVE «^
Usually
with nothing to do,
at a loss,
had spoken
to
him
that evening
after
and they'd
course of action, Jukichi suddenly had so that he felt that even if he
had two bodies
it
O-Chiyo
settled
much
on
to
a
do
wouldn't be
O-Chiyo as Old Baldy's concubine, was to quickly fmd a house, move out of the rented room they had only just moved into today, and also, at the same time, to fmd another rented
enough. His
first task,
so as to establish
room in the neighborhood of the concubine's house so
he
could keep an eye on things. Another task was to go to the police station
and
and, after
O-Chiyo 's
By was
where the old madam
called
Matsuoka
number of her employees were being detained making sure that the Fukazawa girl was indeed
a large
daughter, to arrange for her release.
reading the advertisements in the newspaper,
easier than he
The other
thought to fmd
things were
immediate progress. the girl called
more
a
difficult,
When he went
and he made no
to the police station,
Fukazawa had already been
though by calculating from the
it
house for O-Chiyo.
girl's
released. Al-
permanent address
she was O-Chiyo's love child,
he determined
at least that
his suspicions
were aroused by the
fact that apparently
her records had not been transferred to the register of her adoptive family.
Now,
as at the
time of her birth,
she seemed to be O-Chiyo's. Ascertaining her address
at
the time of her arrest, Jukichi tried to get in touch with
the girl herself However, he was told by her landlady
209
Flowers
in the
Shade
had cleared out, leaving no
that after her release she
warding address. Waiting
for-
madam Matsuoka
for the old
to be released, he visited her estabhshment also, but again
without success.
Finally,
he tried to fmd out the address
of her adoptive family. But even time, had
with the passage of
become unknown.
That year seemed than other years. in
that,
to
end
in
even more hectic fashion
O-Chiyo greeted the new year in a house in a rented room in Shintomi-cho
Hatchobori, Jukichi
just
two or
ary,
but the whereabouts of the persons he was seeking
remained
a
three blocks away.
Soon
it
was nearly Febru-
mystery.
Calculating the comings and goings of Sugimura, Jukichi spent his days and nights in O-Chiyo's house until the dangerous hour. At the sound of the front door sliding
open, he was out the back door. Then, about midnight,
he came back.
If there
wmdows
back
was
a flicker
of the second
Sugimura was staying
of light
floor, this
The next
was
a
papered
sign that
and Jukichi would
for the night,
return to his rented room.
in the
would peer
day, he
through the latticework of the front door.
If the
potted
lily
atop the patten-box had been turned around backward,
was
this
a sign that there
were no
could enter the house openly.
If,
he would quietly continue on
so,
his
of husband and wife living together since
grown accustomed,
such
as
might appear
Jukichi a
One too
new
night,
late for
this life
in an
and Jukichi
visitors,
however, that was not way. Unlike the
to
life
which he had long
of an adulterer, exactly
Edo-period novel, provided
source of stimulus and interest.
when Jukichi had thought
it
was already
Sugimura, there was the sudden sound of
the lattice door sliding open. Surprised, Jukichi fled out the back.
A
cold
wind was blowing. But
210
the nighttime
Flowers
had opened along Hatchobori Avenue, and there
stalls
was
Shade
in the
a lively
Jukichi lights
flow of passers-by. Aimlessly strolling along,
came
to the Sakura Bridge. Across the canal, the
of the Ginza
in the distance
Continuing
his stroll, Jukichi
From amid
the
cries
of newsboys hawking
wind brought them
the
to
up the
now
to the ear.
news of
rather than the
the streetlights,
military songs and the
extras,
the congested nighttime scene.
It
now
near,
far, as
lent a harshness to
As he crossed
the bridge,
the Shanghai Incident, Jukichi
was thinking of the time when O-Chiyo had at
entire sky.
Kyobashi Bridge.
swarming crowds and
was the sound of recorded
there
lit
came
the sleeve of the bald-headed
plucked
Sugimura on the Ginza.
After that, mulling over Sugimura's ugly
without particularly minding
first
this,
face,
and how,
O-Chiyo welcomed
advances with pleasure, he thought there was nothing
his
so strange as a years,
woman's
nature. These past
months and
from the acidulous gossip of her colleagues and the
madams, Jukichi had been well aware that O-Chiyo was much in demand among the customers, but that after
old
was
all
hearsay.
Not
until
now,
after he'd
begun
to fre-
quent the concubine's house, had he been able to clearly observe
O-Chiyo
in action after
close look at her customer's face.
having gotten
a
And yet, Jukichi
good
did not
think her conduct either heartless or mortifying or shameful.
Only,
it
gave him
a
heavy, depressed feeling to think
about such things. Wandering through the night
streets,
he wanted only to observe the thickly made-up faces of the
women
sitting outside cafes, the legs
vealed by their Western dresses,
walking hand
or,
in hand, to eavesdrop
of
women
shadowing
on
their
a
re-
couple
murmured
conversation.
Turning off the darkened embankment into
211
a
back
Flowers
street
where
Becoraing aware that
woman
a
him, he turned around.
who had
its
window display.
had stopped not
was the
It
rented the
O-Chiyo had been hving on dealer's in
Shade
there were few passers-by, Jukichi paused
outside a pharmacy, his eye caught by
Haruko,
in the
waitress,
room
in front
far
from
by name Ito when he and
the second floor of the glass
Sakuragawa-cho.
"Ah, Nakajima-san.
been
It's
long time."
a
"Are you
still
"No.
moved to a street behind the Kabuki Theater.
Where
I've
are
living in the
same place?"
you?"
"Shintomi-cho."
"And Chiyoko-san? How is she?" "Something has come up. She's living by herself now." "Oh, really?" "It's
good
to split
"You taught me "It
up every once
a lot
in a while."
back then."
was mutual."
"Nakajima-san,
I
have
request to make. I've run out
a
of mimeographs." "I
you
don't have any right now, but
in
two or
make some
for
three days."
"Please. I'm at the
Carmen.
where the Hattori Clock shop
"You mean
in
understand what
It's
on
that
back
street
is."
back of Owari-cho?" Jukichi could not a waitress
from
doing around Kyobashi Bridge "If you
I'll
go from
here,
but you'll recognize
it
it's
a cafe in at
Owari-cho was
nine o'clock
on the
left. It's a
at night.
small cafe,
right away."
"Are you on your way there?" "Business
is
bad, and
I
have to think of other ways to
make money. When I'm off from the cafe, I'm out picking
212
Flowers
Shade
in the
up customers. be work
If things
way, there won't even
this
at cafes."
"Ah, yes
.
.
."
remembering what O-Chiyo
Jukichi,
had done the previous sorts
go on
year, reaHzed that there
must be
all
of women prowling the Ginza these days.
"Do you
take
them back
"There are some
to the cafe, or
?" .
.
.
among them."
real Lotharios
woman with her hair shingled and in West-
Just then, a
ern dress, apparently a friend of Haruko's, came up. "Back there in that alley, a
hobo was taking
a leak.
A
bit
much
even for the Ginza. Ha-ha." "You're in
a
"In a word,
good humor it's
a bit
this
evening,
much even
Jukichi, looking at the
woman's
She was Yoshioka Tsuyu.
When
I
see."
for the Ginza." face,
recognized her.
they'd been living
two
come to O-Chiyo and had stayed the night. And last year, she had been one of those whose names were bared in print by the Evening News in early December. Although recognizing Jukichi herself, in front of Haruko the woman said or three years ago in Azabu-Tanimachi, she had visit
nothing, merely acknowledging the acquaintance with the expression of her eyes. It
occurred to Jukichi that
this
something about the Fukazawa
woman might know
girl
from the previous
year's incident. "Is
your
cafe the
Carmen? Together with Haruko
"Yes." Tsuyuko's reply was guarded.
Haruko
said:
Last year
"Oh,
we
is
"This gentleman's name lived
on the same second
that so?
As they walked
is
From
?" .
.
.
the side,
Nakajima-san.
floor."
I'm Tsuyuko." along, Jukichi, taking advantage of
Haruko's being two or three steps ahead of them, drew
213
Flowers
closer to Tsuyuko.
Tomiko? From
"Do you know
the raid
on
know her." "Do you know where
"Yes'.
"I
the
in the
a girl called
Matsuoka
Shade
Fukazawa
." .
.
I
she
is
now?"
might."
Just then,
Haruko
called out to a passing
group of
drunken men.
"Hey for a
there, loverboys.
How about
going somewhere
cup of tea?"
Taking advantage of the interval, Jukichi gave Tsuyuko
O-Chiyo's exact address.
214
THIRTEEN
O-Chiyo had by the
Ward
given her daughter
O-Tami
for adoption
hairdresser's family in Shinei-cho of
a tidal
Kyobashi
of the sixth year of Taisho, when
in the fall
one night
wave had pushed
its
{^
way up
the
late
Sumida
River, inundating Tsukiji and reaching as far as Kobiki-
cho.
A
O-Tami was
five years old at the time.
frequent customer
the hairdresser's shop
at
now a concubine.
ex-geisha of Yanagi-bashi,
O-Tami being
was an
After seeing
by the hand by the hairdresser on
led
tival
days in the neighborhood, she took pity on the
girl.
Whenever she went
shrine-visit, she always
to such places as
fes-
little
Asakusa on
a
took O-Tami along and bought
various things for her.
Two or three years later, been
a
widow, took
husband did not treat
a
the hairdresser,
who had long
young husband. This adoptive
like children
and was prone to mis-
O-Tami. The concubine, whose
patron's
name was
Tsukayama, took O-Tami into her own house and had her attend grade school. Meanwhile, the hairdresser, hot
on
the traces of her inconstant husband, vanished one night
and was never seen again. With nowhere to go, O-Tami
was brought up by the concubine and
in effect
became
her daughter. Shortly
before
O-Tami's
graduation
from grade
school, a purse belonging to one of her classmates stolen.
was
Although there was no sure proof, O-Tami's de-
meanor was
suspicious.
A
note was sent from the prin-
215
Flowers
cipal to the concubine.
Shade
Taken aback, the concubine con-
ferred with her patron about "It
in the
what
to
do with O-Tami.
doesn't matter. Let her play around the house," the
patron
said.
This Tsukayama was the owner of an pliance factory,
electrical
which he had inherited from
However, foreseeing the labor
agitation that
ap-
his father.
would con-
tinually plague the business after the enforcement of universal suffrage, he quickly sold the factory. Distancing
himself from the disorders of contemporary society, he passed his self-justified days in reading and collecting antiques. In the year
eleven.
It
of the Tokyo Earthquake, O-Tami turned
was when she had
and was taking sewing
just left the grade school
lessons.
Although the concubine
rented a house in Shibuya almost the minute she had
emerged from the
shelter in Hibiya Park,
had gone for her sewing years passed.
Even
lesson, never
in the spring
Showa, when the concubine there
was
still
no word
of the second year of
lay fatally
as to
O-Tami, who
came back. Four
ill
with erysipelas,
whether O-Tami was
alive
or dead.
The following spring, however, Tsukayama went with a geisha to Hakone. The old couple who were staying in the next room at the inn had with them a girl whose face strongly recalled that of the child O-Tami.
When
yama made
was O-Tami,
now
enough the
girl
sixteen years old.
The in
inquiries, sure
Tsuka-
old couple,
who had formerly been moneylenders
Hakozaki-cho, had rescued O-Tami on the day of the
Earthquake
as
they fled helter-skelter through the
city.
hometown of Kiryu,
they
Taking her with them to
their
216
Flowers
in the
Shade
spent the rest of the year there. Since returning to Tokyo,
while waiting for someone to come and claim
had brought up O-Tami
Tsukayama informed cubine
own
child.
Promising the
girl a gift
there
was no
of money and
take a part in talks about her future,
the inn.
More that
in.
would
saying that he left
she were their
the old couple that since the con-
who had so loved O-Tami had died,
one to take her he
as if
her, they
than half a year
later,
Tsukayama had business
took him to Niigata. As he boarded the train, he once
again chanced to meet the old moneylender and O-Tami.
The old man said that shortly after their return from Hakone his aged wife had died. Taking along O-Tami so he would have someone to talk to, he was on his way to the hot springs at Ikaho. As he listened to the old man's story, Tsukayama idly observed O-Tami. In little more than six months, she had changed almost unrecognizably.
She
now seemed
unable not to wonder in her figure
the transformation. Indefinably,
and her looks, there was the precociously
seductive aspect that
who
completely adult. Tsukayama was at
conceals her
often seen in the apprentice geisha
is
young
age.
Tsukayama, fantasizing variously about the relationship between the old moneylender, on the far side of sixty,
and the sixteen- or seventeen-year-old O-Tami, thought he would
like to find
ever, there
so
out the truth of the matter.
was no opportunity
to.
How-
Another half-year or
went by. Then, unexpectedly, he received a letter from
O-Tami.
O-Tami had become
a
dancer
at a cafe.
Her
letter
was
an unabashed request for money.
For about two years
after that,
217
Tsukayama had no news
Flowers
of O-Tami. Then, coming across an item News, he learned of her
made arrangements "I
was
become
to be so.
It
was
life, is
he
kleptomaniac, but happily
a
would have been
probably
a
nuisance
it
if she'd
This sort of thing,
if it's
better. It's in the natural
order
a thief or a shoplifter.
her lot in
a lawyer,
for her release.
afraid the girl
seems not
Shade
in the Evening
Engaging
arrest.
in the
of things that she go from apprentice geisha to geisha.
It's
her fate."
Having
this
sort
Tsukayama spoke Although he intents
of conversation with the lawyer,
smilingly.
felt
sympathy
for
O-Tami, who
to
all
and purposes was an orphan, Tsukayama had no
wish to come forward
to
admonish and
instruct her.
Rather, with a cool interest, he merely observed the
progress of her eventful
life
from the
outside.
Both by
temperament and philosophical outlook, Tsukayama an extreme pessimism toward
human
life.
felt
Rather than
entering a respectable profession and either falling into dire poverty or else agitating herself with the pretensions
of success,
it
promiscuous
was happiness life,
for her to lead an ignorant,
like a bit
of trash floating along in
the gutter. Rather than moral intervention,
Tsukayama
way of understanding O-Tami was to help her out with small amounts of money and to extricate thought, the best
her from the occasional disaster.
One day, Tsukayama received a letter from O-Tami. was
I
a
long
letter, like a
have met
never meet in you, so I
met
I
short story.
my true mother, whom thought would all my life. thought it was my duty to tell I
true mother,
I
I
am writing this letter. To explain how,
my
It
I
and why,
have to completely expose not
218
Flowers
my
just
why a
in the
secret,
can't
I
Shade
but
tell this
my
mother's and her lover's. That
anyone but you.
to
My mother,
from
long time back, has been living the same kind of life
Most
myself.
and
one time or another,
likely, at
my
is
as
mother
have even slept in the same house, but that was
I
my mother, even heard stories any number of times from my friends about an older woman called Tachibana Chiyoko (Tachibana Chiyoko is my mother's professional name). we knew
nothing
about. Without
knowing she was
I
And a friend of mine called Tsuyuko, two or three years ago when my mother was living in Tanimachi in Azabu, even stayed
her place one night because
at
too hard to go back. For meet, and never had a big place
Tokyo
a
is, I
it
was raining
we never had a chance to to know each other. What
all that,
chance
thought.
Two or three days ago, Tsuyuko-san came to visit me. "There's somebody who very much wants to meet you," she said. "Will you meet her?" Since the police
working
I
felt
how
my
story,
I
I
say "happy,"
it
I
a
surprised.
woman who
I
When
I
did the
didn't feel sad about
it.
sounds strange, but some-
affectionate emotion.
felt a friendly,
was why, even when
was
mother was
true
for a living as myself,
— when I
by
bar in back of the Ginza called Carmen.
Hearing Tsuyuko-san's
same thing
fined
the end of last year, Tsuyuko-san has been
at
at a
learned that
we were
remembered how
my
Maybe
that
mother had
me in all the long months and years me away to other people, didn't feel any
never come to see since she gave
resentment
been
at
I
her heartlessness. Perhaps
a fine, respectable lady,
I
if
my mother had
would have hated
her.
I
my station in life could never have shown my face to my mother, no matter how much wanted to see her. It seems that my think, also, that if
I
had been ashamed of
I
I
219
Flowers
mother, after
all, felt
the
I
Shade
same way. The shame we both
under the circumstances drew us close
felt
in the
hurriedly set out for
to each other.
my mother's place in Hatchomy mother's hours from my
bori. Since I'd heard about
thought the afternoon would be the
friend Tsuyuko,
I
best time to call
on
her.
I
got there
at
A
about three.
girl
of twelve or thirteen answered the door and went upstairs
My
mother came down. She seemed
to have been asleep and
was pulling together the front of
my
to get
mother.
her yukata. "So. Please
My
heart
Tongue-tied,
come
was I
in. It
full,
was very good of you
and
I
followed her into
My
parlor or tea room.
come down
of downstairs
a sort
for the longest time.
another time, there was
call
on the
stairs.
I
listened closely.
person, but two. In a
"My to
sit
my
goodness
moment,
It
a
and
upstairs again
As
ing that perhaps one of her customers had
should
to say.
mother, saying she would put
something on over her yukata, went did not
to call."
know what
didn't
I
was think-
come and
I
sound of footsteps
seemed
one
to be not
the door slid open.
— they didn't even give you
a
cushion
on." Seating herself on the other side of the brazier,
mother immediately
started to
make some
able even to say "It's been a long time,"
I
tea.
Un-
tried to think
of
something appropriate. "You're very busy,"
I
finally said. It's
often say in our profession, by later struck
we It
me how funny it was to say that kind of thing know how my mother took it, but she didn't
don't
here.
I
seem
particularly offended.
"It's
not
a
customer.
It's
someone
to you." "Is
something
way of a compliment.
it
your man. Mother?"
220
I
have to introduce
Flowers
in the
Shade
Just then, a
man of about
showed
forty
his face in the
opening of the door.
"Welcome. end of
body
I've
this,
he
sat
down by my
everything about him from
name,
I
all
over for you since the
one doesn't
know where some-
no amount of looking around
is,
Saying
been looking
When
last year.
didn't greet
him
will find them."
mother. Since
my friend Tsuyuko,
I
knew
even his
formally.
"And I was practically next door. It's strange." I smiled. "Were you with Tsuyuko-san all the while?" my mother's lover asked. With that, I told all about how I'd
become friends with Tsuyuko at a dance hall in Shinjuku and had rented a room with her, and after that how first
we were both arrested and had our dancer's licenses away and could not even appear
at
any dance
taken
hall inside
the city limits, and then how, getting an introduction
from the owner of a
place in Gotanda, I'd switched to this
kind of work.
My
mother asked me
if
name, or think of some way
Or wouldn't it be safer to first I'd
was going
I
to
liked being a dancer, but
but a job
it
become
be a waitress,
got rather boring.
It
when
to a
my
dancer again.
like
it
change
Tsuyuko? At
became nothing
was such hard work, and
I
bound by the regular hours. I didn't want Even waitresses, if you worked at a place like Tsuyuko's, you had to go out into the street and didn't like being
to be a dancer again.
grab people you'd never seen before, so
of what might happen, explained
all this
In order to it
be,
my
it
was
you thought I
in detail.
economize on
mother asked,
She planned to stay in she had enough
if
really quite dangerous.
money
if
my room were
to
house
a
I
this
rent,
move
how would in
with
her.
while longer until
saved, and then start up a tea-
221
Flowers
house for
where
girls
rents
and
Up
When
future.
savings,
looked
now,
to
I
heard that they had two thousand yen in
my mother. My mother was eighteen when she thirty-seven.
good
hair
was
still
way
she
wore her yukata she looked
had
thick, she
a
And
yet her
and the untidy
figure,
mature young
like a
When she goes out, When was at the dance
of twenty-seven or -eight.
thought, she looks even younger. hall,
side
hadn't given a single thought to the
had me, and so she was already
woman
from the
in
had more than two thousand yen saved.
blurted out: "You've really worked hard," and
I
at
I
Shade
customers in some neighborhood
their
were low. Her lover chimed
that they already
in the
there were girls
who
were putting up houses
I
I
had saved
for rent, but
their
my
money and
mother looked
even younger than them. According to everybody, these girls
who had gone into
bit stupid
the housing business were a
and did whatever
a
man
never did anything but save money.
them
told I
to.
little
They
wondered if after
all
my mother were not that kind of person too. You can tell glance that she's not
at a
a
bad person. She's pretty and
looks young, but there's something weak about her. She
never gossips about others or makes small
talk.
of person puts her mind to saving money,
sort
When this there's
no
stopping her.
thought
I
I'd like to
ask
the
man who was my
up
that day. Besides, right
my
father,
knew subject didn't come start, I'd grown up
mother
but the
from the
without knowing there was such
a
much
meeting
for
my
my
she
person
Having never heard anything about him, that
if
I
as
still
my
didn't yearn
all
dearly beloved father. That was why,
mother
for the first time,
I
didn't
want
force her to talk about him. Rather than a father I
father.
have never seen, the person that
222
I
long for
is
to
whom the old
Flowers
in the
Shade
woman who brought me up in Funabori. was only three I
or four
But I
am I
at
stare
when she died, so I don't even remember her face. night, when I am all alone in the pitch dark and at one place, or on nights when I can't sleep and sometimes
tiredly half-dozing,
woman
can vaguely see that old
have the feeling that
and the countryside
You might even call it a vision.
along a
river.
who
dear to me,
is
I
it's
my
aunt
who
If I
am to say
lived in Shinei-cho
before the Earthquake, and yourself. As I've told you in
time of my
a previous letter, the happiest
lived in the house in Shinei-cho.
my
taken by the hand by
aunt,
I
I
memories
water.
And
are
the
was when
will never forget
went
for
the river in Akashi-cho and caught crabs. est
life
I
how,
walks along
My two happi-
both of places where there was flowing
two people
whom
I
loved the best in
my
childhood both died. I've
decided to stay
If anything
comes up,
at
I'll
my let
mother's place for
you know. Until
a while.
then, sayo-
nara.
Tamiko February
223
i6,
1932
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Nagai, Kafu, 1879-1959.
[Tsuyu no atosaki. English] During the rains & Flowers novellas
/
by Nagai Kafu
;
in the shade
translated
two
:
by Lane
Dunlop. cm.
p.
ISBN 0-8047-2259-5
:
— ISBN 0-8047-2260-9 (pbk.) Nagai, Kafu, 1879-1959 — Translations :
I.
English.
I.
hana. English. 1994. the rains. V. Title:
into
Nagai, Kafu, 1879-1959. Hikage no II.
During the
Title.
III.
Title:
During
Flowers in the shade.
IV. Title:
rains
and Flowers
in
the shade.
PL812.A4T7513
895.6'342— dc20
1994
93-24945 CIP
BOSTON PUBLIC
ym „
iiii...
Boston Hubiic Library. Sato orthto mitoriai bMwfltB tho
Ubraiy.
Boston Public Library
COPLEY S GENERAL LI
The Date Due Card
in the pocket in-
on or before which book should be returned to the
dicates the date this
Library. Please do not remove cards from this pocket.
7f frq§i front Jiap^J
achievements.
During
the
.
.
Rains
The
.
exceptional praise that
won from
discriminating critics
was occasioned chiefly by the noveHstic
The detached
analysis
the story read like a
though
work of French Naturalism,
few passages
a
interest.
of a group of people makes
.
.
.
evoke the beauty of
place and season in the typical Kafu manner." Flowers in the Shade might almost be called a
continuation of During the Rains. a
wealthy
his forties
Keene
woman
in his student days, ends
being supported by
says that
smell the dingy
hero, kept
Its
a prostitute.
Kafu "makes us see and
rooms he
describes,
all
up
by
in
Donald but
without ever
allowing us to pass judgment on them or their inhabitants.
Kafu neither approves or disapproves
of his characters, and their past
it is
if
he
tells
us in detail about
not in order to demonstrate
how
environment and heredity have determined lives
.
.
.
but to assuage our curiosity
as to
their
how
came to live off women, how a particular woman happened to become a prostitute or a pro-
Jukichi
curess,
The
and so on." present
volume contains
translator that briefly reer.
a
Preface by the
summarizes Kafu's
life
and
Visions of Desire Tanizaki's Fictional Worlds
Ken K. Ito "An
integrated, beautifully written life-and-works of Japan's premier
Tanizaki Jun'ichiro (1886-1965),
storyteller,
it
traces the
theme of
desire that evolved in Tanizaki's fiction over five-and-a-half decades
in a career remarkable for
produced one of the few
consistency and intensity. ... Ito has
its
truly excellent
books on
"This biography-cum-critical study of Tanizaki's
engaging
Japanese
—
long-standing need.
ful
a
Jay Rubin, Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies
author."
.
.
.
The book
is
life
and work
fills
a
an excellent and thoroughly
study, particularly illuminating in
its
dynamic and thought-
approach to the complex and subtle connection between life
and work
power
relations."
Tanizaki's
sexual
—
his
continuous examination of cultural and
—Nobuko Miyama Ochner, Momimenta xiv f 306 pages.
Nipponica
1991
The Miner Natsume Soseki Translated, with an Afterword, by Jay
Rubin
"Jay
has rescued from obscurity a
universally as a leading figure
Through
his translation
The Miner
strates that
Rubin
is
and
a pivotal effort in the
"Rubin's translation powerfully supports
was simply too
far
.
.
Rubm
its initial
original but also in the
still
189 pages.
The Miner
rejection
and subsequent .
.
.
more demanding and time-consuming
of bringing the work to
+
his thesis that
and penetrating reading of the
life
in English.
—William
xii
World Literature Today
has taken pains with this translation that
are reflected not only in his careful
task
Rubin demon-
development of
ahead of its time and that external circumstances,
not internal deficiencies, led to .
literature.
his significant afterword,
—Marleigh Grayer Ryan,
Soseki's art."
obscurity.
work by an author viewed
of modern Japanese
E. Nzff, Journal of Asian Studies
1988
Stanford University Press
ISBN 0-8047-2259-5