尊き一銭  Tōtoki issen

The Precious One Sen

日本教育紙芝居協會  

Nihon kyōiku kamishibai kyōkai  

Japan Educational Kamishibai Association

______________________________________

[Instructions for narrator]

(表紙の説明)

Explanation of the cover

(朗詠する)

To be chanted aloud

_______________________

本居宣長の歌。 朗詠が出來ない場 合には、その儘朗讀してもよし。

A poem by Motoori Norinaga.* If you cannot chant it, simply reading it aloud is also acceptable.

_______________________

「 敷島の  大和心を  人間にゞ

朝日に匂ふ  山櫻花」 

Shikishima no / Yamatokokoro wo / Hito towaba / Asahi ni niou / Yamasakurabana

Should anyone ask me / about the Japanese spirit / it is the wild cherry blossoms / blooming in the morning sun.**

_______________________

「秋の空氣」の餘韻は(心の引きしまるのを感じる。) といふ叙情の言葉を省略した意味。 

The lingering feeling of "autumn air" implies the meaning of the lyrical phrase "feeling one's heart tighten" without explicitly stating it. 

_______________________

國學者、本居宣長先生を祀る、

三重縣松坂市の本居神社の社頭に、

何か誓いを立てる男があります。

暁の空に、まだ明けきらず、

冷々とした秋の空氣―――。

At the entrance of Motoori Shrine in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture, where the scholar Motoori Norinaga is enshrined, a man stands making a solemn vow.

The dawn sky has yet to fully brighten, and the crisp, chilly air of autumn lingers.

(短かい間)

(ぬく)

(wait a brief moment)

(pull the card)

*Motoori Norinaga (1730-1801) was a prominent 18th-century Japanese scholar and poet.

**as romanized and translated on the website of Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco https://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/cg_osumi_240428.html [accessed 1-15-25]

㉔

Colophon and instructions for narrator

產業組合中央會提供

尊き一 錢

Provided by the Central Union of Co-operative Societies (Sangyō kumiai chūōkai)

The Precious One sen

繪畫 小谷野半二

脚本 製作 日本教育紙芝居協會

Illustration: Koyano Hanji
Script: Produced by the Japan Educational Kamishibai Association (Nihon kyōiku kamishibai kyōkai)

尊き一 錢

二十四枚

The Precious One Sen

24 sheets/cards

尊き一錢 (版權所有)

Precious One Sen

(All Rights Reserved)

昭和十七年三月二十日印刷

昭和十七年三月二十五日發行

Printed on March 20, 1942 (Shōwa 17)

Published on March 25, 1942 (Shōwa 17)

東京市牛込區筑土八幡町八番地

編輯者 佐木秋夫

Address: 8 Tsukudo Hachiman-cho, Ushigome Ward, Tokyo City

Editor: Saki Akio [1906-1988]

東京市京橋區銀座西四丁目壹番地

發行者 相馬正男

Address: 1 Ginza West 4-chome, Kyobashi Ward, Tokyo City

Publisher: Sōma Masao

東京市本所區東兩國三丁目五番地

印刷者 小倉吉之助

Address: 5 Higashi-Ryogoku 3-chome, Honjo Ward, Tokyo City

Printer: Ogura Kichinosuke

東京市本所區東兩國三丁目五番地

印刷所 合名會社 小倉印刷所

Printing house address: 5 Higashi-Ryogoku 3-chome, Honjo Ward, Tokyo City

Printing house: Ogura Printing Company, Limited Partnership

東京市京橋區銀座西四丁目壹番地

發行所 日本教育畫劇株式會社

Publisher address: 1 Ginza West 4-chome, Kyobashi Ward, Tokyo City

Publisher: Japan Educational Picture Story Company, Ltd. (Nihon kyōiku gageki kabushiki kaisha )

日本出版文化協會

會員番號 一二二、五一七

Japan Publishing Culture Association (Nihon Shuppan Bunka Kyōkai) Membership Number: 122,517

日本教育紙芝居協會作品

Nihon kyōiku kamishibai kyōkai sakuhin

A work of the Japanese Educational Kamishibai Association (Nihon kyōiku kamishibai kyōkai)

[作品番號] 247

[Work number] 247

①

(Nakagawa Shōsaku): "Ah, good morning, Chairman."

(Credit Union Chairman, Suzutani): "Oh, Shōsaku. You're making your early morning shrine visit as usual, I see." 

(Shōsaku): "Yes, I'm here to pray for the continued military fortune of our Imperial Army and to make a vow about fulfilling my service to our country..."

(Chairman): "That’s wonderful. Such devotion embodies the spirit of the cooperative. So, Shōsaku, how is the daily installment savings effort going?"

(Shōsaku):
"Well, since meeting with you at the credit union office, I've been encouraging everyone to join, but... (pause) As they say, 'Sincerity moves heaven.' I will put my whole heart into this and definitely accomplish it for you to see." 

______________________

[Annotations for narrator]

This is where a man (Shōsaku), having finished his shrine visit, meets the union chairman in front of the shrine. 

Nakagawa Shōsaku (supporting role): Dressed in traditional Japanese attire. He has a daily habit of visiting the shrine in the morning before going to work. He serves as the leader of his neighborhood association.

Credit Union Chairman Suzutani. Also visiting the shrine. A person who holds a leadership position in the town. Only appears in this scene.

[Shōsaku] expresses his resolve.

①

(中川庄作)

「これは組合長さん、お早う御座います。」

(鈴谷信用組合長)

「おゝ、庄作さん。

相變らず、早く、御參詣ですな。」

(庄作)

「はい、皇軍の武運長久と、

御國への御奉公が務まりますやら、

御誓ひ申して居りますので･････。」

(組合長)

「結構な事、それが産業組合精神です。

それで、庄作さん。日掛貯金は、

うまくいつてゐますか?」

(庄作)

「ハイ。信用組合事務所で、

組合長さんに伺ひましてから、

皆にすゝめてゐるのですが･････。

(間)

なアに、〝誠は天に通ず〟と申します。

庄作の心のたけをつくして、

必ずやり遂げて御覽に入れます。」

_________________

[注釈]

こゝは、參詣が終

つた男(庄作)が、

その社前で組合長

と出合ふ。

中川庄作。(ワキ 役) 和服姿。 朝、出勤前に神社 參拜を日課として ゐる。隣組長をし てゐる。

鈴谷信用組合長。 同じく參詣。町の 指導的地位にある 人。こだけしか 出てこない。

決意を述べる。

②

(Tomokichi): "Hey, Kame, you're looking pretty lively first thing in the morning. Aren't you going to work? What are you up to?"

(Kamesuke): "What's that? What do you mean 'what am I up to,' Tomo? It's not like I'm enjoying myself. Listen here, I'm not rushing around frantically like you folks."

(Tomokichi): "Heh, you're acting pretty high and mighty."

(Kamesuke): "Don't you know? It's called military-demand inflation. Remember that!"

(Tomokichi): "Military-demand inflation? I don't know if it's inflation or influenza, but anyway, it's great that there’s a trend for prosperity these days."

(pull the card)

______________________

[Annotations for narrator]

Same morning as before. Later than the previous scene. Kamesuke. He is a day laborer. Usually called 'Kame.' His wife passed away three years ago, and he lives alone with his eleven-year-old son Saburō. He's a good person but loves to drink. (Main character)

Since he's drunk, speak in a loud voice.

This conversation has the familiarity of drinking buddies. Though the words are rough, the mood is friendly.

Express the feeling of laughing through the nose with a 'hmph.'

②

(友吉)

「おい 、龜公、朝つぱちから、いゝ顔色だな、仕事に行かねえのか?、どうするんだい。」 

(龜助)

「なにをツ。友公。どうするとは、何んでエ。くそ面白くもねえや。龜さんはナ、手前達みたいに、あくせくしてるんぢゃねェぞ。」

(友吉)

「ヘッ、御大層な景氣だなア。」

(龜助)

「知らねえか。軍需インフレつてんだ。おぼえておけッ。」

(友吉)

「 軍需インフレだって?

インフレだか、インフルエンザだか知らねえが、兎に角近頃は、景氣の好いのが流行って、結構だい。」

(ぬく)

_________________

[注釈]

同じ日の朝。前景よりのち。 龜助。人夫である。 普通「龜公」と呼ばれてゐる。妻は三年前に残し、息子三郎(十一位)と二人暮し。人は好いが酒好きである。(主人公)

酒に酔つてゐるのだから、大きな聲で。

 この會話は、お互ひに呑み仲間の親しさで。言葉は亂暴でも、心持は和やかに。

「フフン」と鼻のさ きで笑ふ氣持。

③ 

(Shōsaku) (quietly)
"Good morning, Kame-san. You're in an awfully good mood today. I stopped by last night to talk, but you weren’t home…"

(Kamesuke) (indifferently)
"Oh, is this about that savings thing?"

(Shōsaku)
"It's just daily installment savings, and if we organize it through the neighborhood association, the credit union will properly come to collect every day - there's no hassle."

(Kamesuke)
"Shō-san, daily deposit or daily nonsense, I don’t care. If I could manage to save, the sun would rise in the west! What a joke."

(Shōsaku)
"But come on, Kame-san. Just try it—you might be surprised. It’s just one sen a day. How about it?"

(Kamesuke)
"Listen, Shō-san. If I were going to save, I’d want to put away about a hundred yen a month. That’d be something worthwhile. But just one sen a day? Even after three years, I wouldn’t even have ten yen. There’s nothing to think about—I’m turning it down."

(pull the card)

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

Same morning as before. After the previous scene. Shōsaku, aware that his conversation partner is drunk, speaks seriously.

 Kamesuke, although good-natured, has an inherent tendency for wastefulness and finds savings bothersome. Fueled by his drunken state, he expresses his refusal.

 Shōsaku remains completely unfazed by Kamesuke's gruff words and continues to speak with enthusiasm.

Kamesuke has a feeling of irritation, akin to thinking, "What a nuisance."

③ 

(庄作) (しづかに)

「お早う、亀[龜]さん。馬鹿に好い氣嫌だね。昨晩、話があつて行ったのだが、留守だつたもんで……」

(龜助) (冷淡に)

「エヽヽあの貯金の話ですか。」 

(庄作)

「貯金といツても、日掛だし、隣組でまとめてさへ置けば、毎日チャンと信用組合で、集金に來て呉れるし、手間は掛らないんだ。」

(龜助)

「庄さん。日掛だか、日なしだか、知らねえが、俺らに貯金が出來りや、お天道様が西から出らア。「冗談ぢゃねえ。」

(庄作)

「だがなア、亀さん。だまされたと思つて、やつて見な。それも、一日一銭だ。 どうだえ?」

(龜助)

「だからさ、庄さん。俺ら貯金するなら、每月百圓位宛してえ。その位貯金出來りや、有難味もあるさ。チエツ。一日一錢。三年たつても、十圓足らずか。考へるところはねえ、俺ら、ことわるよ。」

(ぬく)

_________________

[注釈]

同じ日の朝。前景の後。庄作は、相手が酔拂つてはるるが、真面目に話す。

龜助は、人は好いが性來の浪費癖で貯金などは面倒だと、酔にまかせてことわる氣持。

龜助の公ふ事には少しも気にかけず何も熱心に。

「うるさいなア」といふ氣持。

④

(Housewife A):
"Hey, didn’t Shōsaku come by to talk about savings? What happened?"

(Housewife B):
"He said it’s just one sen a day, so I joined in as a social obligation."

(Housewife A):
"Is that so? Why do you think Shōsaku suddenly started arranging these savings programs?"

(A brief pause)

(Housewife B):
"By the way, I heard you went to the movies yesterday. Was it good?"

(Housewife A):
"It was wonderful. I really enjoy contemporary stories. On the way back, I stopped by Matsushimaya and bought a kimono."

(Housewife B):
"Oh my! Did you find a nice pattern?"

(Housewife A):
"Nothing special, but…"

(Housewife B):
"That's nice. I’ll go take a look once I’m done here."

(Housewife A):
"Sure, and the oshiruko [sweet red bean soup] at Miyoshiya was so delicious!"

(pull the card)

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

This scene takes place around noon, the same time as the previous events. It represents a so-called "well-side conversation" (a casual chat among housewives).

Even if it’s not entirely clear which of the three women is speaking at any given moment, it's enough to understand that one of the three is speaking.

Housewife A speaks in a slightly brash and higher tone.

Housewife B responds in a softer, slightly lower tone.

This scene illustrates behaviors such as watching movies, making unnecessary purchases, and indulging in treats like sweets, highlighting the wastefulness of such actions.

④ 

(お内儀さん、甲)

「ね工、一寸。庄作さんが貯金の話に來たでしよ。どうして?」

(同、乙)

「一日一錢つて言ふのだから、お交際に入つておいたけど。」

(同、甲)

「さうね工。) 庄作さん、急に貯金の世話なんか始めて、どうしたつていふんでせう?」

(短かい間)

(同、乙)

「そりやそうと、昨日、映畫、観に行つたんですつてね。 よかつた?」

(同、甲)

「とても、よかつた。現代もの、いゝね工。

歸りに松島屋へ寄つて、着物一枚、買つて來たの。」

(同、乙)

「まア!「好い柄、あつて?」

(同、甲)

「そんなでもないけど。」

(同、乙)

「よかつたね工。私も、これ濟ましたら、行つて見よう。」

(同、甲)

「さう〱。三好屋のお汁粉、おいしかつたわ。」

(ぬく)

_________________

[注釈]

書頃。同じ日と考へてよし。 所謂井戶端會議である。三人の内誰と誰とが、しやべつてゐるか、はいきりとわからなくても、三人の内、誰かゞしゃべつてゐる事がわかればよい。但し、甲は蓮つ葉に、やゝ高い調子。乙は、それを受けて、少し調子を下げて。

 この場景で、映畫 無駄な買物、買喰ひなどが、行なはれてゐる事を呈示してゐる。

⑤

(Neighbor Lady):
"Sabu-chan, is your father still not back?"

(Saburō):
"Oh, it’s the lady from next door. My dad’s probably out drinking again."

(Neighbor Lady):
"Have you eaten dinner?"

(Saburō):
"Yeah, I ate all of the leftover rice from yesterday."

(Neighboring Woman):
"Poor thing. Leaving Sabu-chan all alone without a mom, and wandering around drinking like that... I really don’t know what to think of Kame-san. Ever since Sabu-chan’s mother passed away three years ago, Kame-san has really changed."

(pull the card)

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

Kamenosuke’s house. Night time.

Sabu-chan (Saburō), (eleven years old) a third-year student in the lower division of the National Elementary School, is Kamenosuke’s only son. The neighbor lady feels sorry for the boy who has no mother and stops by to check on him in this scene.

While the father is responsible for cooking rice, there are times when he finds it bothersome and skips cooking, opting to eat outside instead. As a result, there are occasions when Saburō ends with nothing to eat.

⑤

(隣の小母さん)

「さぶちやん、お父ちやん。まだ歸らないのかい?」

(三郎)

「お隣りの小母さんかア。お父ちやん、又お酒飲んでるんだろう。」

(隣の小母さん)

「晩御飯、食べた?」

(三郎)

「うん。昨日の御飯が残ってたから、それ皆食べた。」

(隣の小母さん)

「可哀相にねえ。お母さんの居ない三ちやんを、獨りぼつちにして、お酒呑みあるいてゐるなんて、龜さんも、ほんとに、どうかと思ふよ。三年前、三ちやんのお母さんが死んでから、龜さんも、本當に、人が變つてしまつたね工。」

(ぬく)

_________________

[注釈]

龜助の家。夜。 

さぶちやん。三郎國民學校初等科三年生。(十一位)龜助の一人息子。 隣の小母さんが、母のない子を、可哀想に思つて、一す、見に來た課で ある。

 御飯は父が炊くのであるが、時々面倒臭がつて、炊かずに、外ですませる時もある。だが時々三郎は食べさせられない場合もあるのである。

⑥

Saburō’s thoughts (slowly and clearly)
Today at school, the teacher said, 'Right now, everyone in Japan must save as much as they can. Saving money is a form of service to the nation that anyone can do.'

I want to save money too, but my father rarely gives me even one or two sen.

 (changing tone)
If only he would save the money he spends on drinking. That’s it! When he comes home tonight, I’ll tell him about the daily installment savings plan that Uncle Shōsaku mentioned and ask him to start saving one sen a day at home.

Saburō, speaking to himself
He’s so late. It’s almost nine o’clock already.

(slowly pull the card)

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

The night grows late, but father hasn’t returned. Saburō has already finished studying and could go to bed, but he wants to talk to his father about the savings program...

[Speaking tone should be] as if to say 'That father of mine...'

A slight pause should convey a sense of reflection, as if Saburō is silently contemplating.

⑥

(三郎の思ひ) (ゆつくり、はつきり)

今日、學校で、先生が、「今、日本は、誰でも出來るだけ、貯金しなければいけない。」と、おつしやつた。「貯金は、誰にでも出來る御國への御奉公だ。」

と、おつしやった。僕も貯金したいけれど、お父ちやんは、稀に、一銭か二錢くれる位だ。

(調子をかへる)

お酒を飲むお金を、貯金すればいゝのに。さうだ、今晩歸つて來たら、庄作小父さんから聞いた、日掛貯金の話をして、家でも一日一錢貯金に入つてもらをう。

(三郎、ひとり言)

「 おそいなア。もうぢき、九時だのにナア。」

(ゆつくりぬく) 

_________________

[注釈]

夜が更けてゆくが 父は歸らない。勉 強もしてしまったし、ねても好いのだが、貯金の事を父に話したいと思 ふし……。

 (さらだ。お父さんなんか)といふ意 味で。

一寸、沈黙して考へる感じを出す。

⑦

(pause)

 (Kamesuke in a low voice)
"Hey, Saburō. Your father’s home now. You’ve fallen asleep—"

(short pause)

 (A bit more forcefully)
"Saburō! You’ll catch a cold!"

(pause)

 (pull the card)

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

Though he has returned home completely drunk, upon seeing Saburō sleeping, he becomes somewhat sentimental. He speaks in a low voice.

He genuinely feels a sense of compassion.

⑦

(間)

(龜助) (低く)

「おい、三公。お父ちゃん、今歸つたぞ。 うたゝねして―。

(短かい間)

(少しつよく)

 三! 感冒ひくぞ。」

(間)

 (ぬく)

_________________

[注釈]

醉拂つて歸つて來 たのだが、三郎の 寝姿を見て、少し 感傷的な気持になり。低い聲で。

 流石に哀れを感じる。

⑧

(Saburō) (Lecturing his father, in a slightly precocious tone)
"Listen, Father. They say we must save money, even if it's just one sen. The teacher told us yesterday. Ryo-chan's family also joined the daily installment savings that Uncle Shosaku started."

(Playfully appealing to his father)
Why don't we join, too?"

(Kamesuke)
"Kids these days aren't acting like kids. Children shouldn't be the ones eager to save money."

 (as you pull the card)

(Shōsaku)
"Kame-san. Here you go, the box is ready."

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

The next morning, Saburō speaks to his father with a cheerful attitude, using childlike tactics—pleading, sweet-talking, to sway his father’s feelings.

Though Kamesuke feels the urge to snap, thinking, "What’s with this kid and saving money?" he cannot bring himself to scold Saburō outright, still affected by the events of the previous night, leaving him emotionally uncertain.

Shōsaku calls out from outside and leaves a savings box as he speaks.

⑧

(三郎) (父に説ききかせる。少し生意氣な調子)

「だからネ、お父ちやん。一錢でも貯金しなければ、いけないんだつてサ。昨日、先生が仰言つたよ。良ちやんところでも、庄作小父さんが始めた、日掛貯金に入つたとさ。

(父に甘へ)

家でも、はいればいゝな。」

(龜助)

「近頃の子供は、子供らしくねえ。子供なんか、貯金したがるもんぢやねエぞ。」

(ぬきながら)

(庄作)

「龜さん。さア、箱が出來たから。」

_________________

[注釈]

翌朝、 明るい氣持で、父 に話しかけてゐるせがんだり、甘えたり、子供らしい 技巧で、父の氣持を動かさらとしてゐる。

「こいつめ、何でい 貯金なんか。」と頭 から叱りたいが、 昨夜の今朝でそれ も出來ずに少し生 にえの氣持。

庄作が外から、言 葉をかけて、貯金 箱を置いてゆく。

⑨

(Shōsaku) (continuing from before)
“Put your money in and pass it along to the next house.”

(Kamesuke)
“What’s this? You brought it yourself? So now we’re officially part of the group, huh?”

(Saburō) (excited but slightly suspicious)
“Father, isn’t this a savings box?”

(A short pause)

(Saburō)
“So that’s it! Our house was part of the savings plan all along. Father, you kept quiet about it—how sneaky!”

(pull the card)

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

Kamesuke’s thinking, 'This has turned into something annoying.'

Saburō is excited and pleased, but he keeps it to himself.

⑨

(庄作) (前よりつゞく)

「入れて、隣へ廻してお吳れ。」

(龜助)

「なんでエ。庄さんが、持つて来たのか。とう〱仲間扱ひかい。」

(三郎) (嬉しがつて、然し半ば不審で)

「 お父ちゃん。これ、貯金箱ぢゃないか。」

(短かい間)

(三郎)

「なアんだ。家も、貯金に入つてゐたのか。

お父ちゃん、默つてゐるんだもの。ずるいや。」

(ぬく)

_________________

[注釈]

こいつは、うるさ い事になったぞ、 といふ氣持。 

喜こんで。一人でのみこんでしまふ

⑩

(In a slightly low and slow tone)
The sound of a single one-sen aluminum coin dropping—soft, almost pleasant. It's a much different sound from the money usually left on the tavern's table.

(A short pause)

(Kamesuke) (quietly)
"So, this is what saving money is, huh? Ha, you're kidding me"

(A short pause)

(With a slightly raised voice)
"Saburō! Take it over to the neighbors."

(pull the card)

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

Because Saburō was so happy, [Kamesuke] reluctantly put in one sen.

⑩

(やゝ低くゆつくり)

 一錢のニューム貨を、コトリ。微笑しい音です。いつも、居酒屋のチヤブ臺に置いてくるお金の音とは、大分違ひます。

(短い間)

(龜助)(低く)

「これが貯金かい、ヘッ、冗談ぢやねエ。

 (短い間)

(少し聲を張って)

三。隣へ置いて来い。」

 (ぬく)

_________________

[注釈]

三郎が餘り喜ぶので、仕方なしに一 錢入れた。

⑪

(Yatsu-chan, a little girl)
"Oh, it's you, Saburō-chan. Good morning."

(Saburō -chan)
"Good morning, Yatsu-chan. Here’s, the savings box."

(Yatsu-chan)
"A savings box? What do I do with it?"

(Saburō-chan)
"What? Yatsu-chan, don’t you know? The teacher told us yesterday? The teacher told us yesterday. Battleships, cannons, tanks, airplanes, bombs - none of these can be made unless we save money. That's why we save one sen every day."

(Yatsu-chan)
"Oh, I see. Got it. So after putting money in, I pass it to the neighbor, right?"

(Saburō -chan)
"Exactly! Do it quickly. If we’re late, it won’t make it in time for the war!"

(Pull the card)

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

Yatsu-chan: A little girl from the neighboring house, around the same age as Saburō-chan. She could be considered the child of the previously appearing neighbor lady, or the child of the family living on the opposite side.

Deliver these lines clearly. [Referring to Saburō’s final line.]

⑪

(女の子、やつちやん)

「なんだ、三ちゃんか、お早う。」

(三邱)

「お早う、やつちやん。ハイ、貯金箱。」

(やつちゃん)

「貯金箱つて、どうするの?」

(三邱)

「なんだ、やつちゃん、知らないのかい?

昨日、先生が仰言つたゞろう。軍艦も、大砲も、タンクも、飛行機も、爆弾も僕達が貯金しなければ、出来ないつて。だから、毎日一錢宛貯金するんだよ。」

( やつちやん)

「そを。わかつたわ。入れたら隣へ廻すのネ。」

(三邱)

「さうなんだ。早く頼むよ。遲れちや、戰爭の間に合はないよ。」

(ぬく)

_________________

[注釈]

やつちゃん。隣りの女の子、同じ位の年。前出隣の小母さんの子供と考へてもよし、それとも反對の隣家の子供と考へてもよい。

この言葉、はつきりと。 

⑫

This morning, Nakagawa Shōsaku is once again making his rounds with the savings box in hand, visiting the neighborhood association. It’s been a month since the effort began, and things seem to be progressing smoothly. However, within this neighborhood association lies a significant obstacle: Kame-san's household.

At first, Kame-san went along with it begrudgingly, partly out of amusement and partly because his son, Saburō, persistently pleaded with him. But lately, he’s been coming up with one excuse or another and refuses to contribute even a single sen. The one most troubled by this isn’t Shōsaku but Saburō.

(pull the card)

⑫

今朝も、中川庄作が、貯金箱を下げて、隣組を廻つてゐます。始めて一月、どうやら順調、進んでゐますが、この隣組の内に、一つの難關があります。 それは、龜さんの家です。始めは、面白半分と、子供の三郎にせがまれるので、澁々ながらも、続いたのですが、此頃は、何んの、かのと言つて、一錢のお金を出して呉れません。これを気に揉んでゐるのは、庄作さんよりは、三郎です。

(ぬく)

⑬

(Saburō)
“Dad, it’s time for savings. Give me one sen.”

(Kamesuke)
“Savings? How much has it added up to by now?”

(Saburō)
“Well, let’s see... it’s been three months, so it’s about 90 sen.”

(Kamesuke)
“Three months to save 90 sen? Not even enough for a single drink—what a waste.
(Slightly more forcefully)
Saburō, just quit this saving nonsense!”

(Saburō, with a sniffly voice)
“No, Dad, I can’t quit. Please—”

(Kamesuke, shouting)
“Hey, shut up already! I said quit, so quit it! I’d much rather enjoy the taste of sake than the taste of saving!”

 (pull the card)

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

He was growing tired of the whole thing. It wasn’t entirely that he begrudged giving even one sen, but the idea of saving money itself irritated him.

The phrase "to have a drink" refers to enjoying sake. The word "kattarui" means "tiresome " or "irritating."

Perhaps Kamesuke was simply in a bad mood, but he ended up yelling harshly at Saburō.

⑬

(三邱)

「お父ちやん、貯金だよ。一錢おくれ。」

(龜助)

「なに、貯金だ。一體、幾何になったんだ。」

(三邱)

「さうだなア。三月になるから、九十錢立になつてるよ。」

(龜助)

「三月ためて九十銭か。一杯飲むにも、かったるいや。

(少し強く)

三。貯金なんか やめちまヘツ。」

(三郎、鼻聲のつもり)

「駄目だよ。お父ちやん。いゝから

 (龜助) (怒鳴る)

「えゝうるせいツ! やめろつたらやめちまへつ。俺あ貯金の味より酒の味の方がよつぽど好きだ。」

(ぬく)

_________________

[注釈]

面倒くさくなってゐるのである。あ ながち、一錢の金を惜しいといふのではないが、貯金する事が、気に食はないといふ氣持

「一杯飲む」御酒をのむといふ事。「かったるい」は、足りないといふ意味。

蟲の居處でも悪かつたのか、龜さんはとら〱三郎に 怒鳴ってしまふ。

⑭

(A short pause)

 (Tomokichi, teasing)
"Hey, Kame-san, I’m impressed. You’re really sticking with the one-sen savings, huh?"

(Kamesuke)
"Cut it out. I didn’t come all the way here to hear about savings. I quit that savings nonsense ages ago."

(Tomokichi)
"You quit? Ha! Nice try. I bet you’re secretly saving a bunch. Maybe tonight we’ll have you treat everyone!"

(Kamesuke, getting defensive)
"Don’t joke around! I really gave up that annoying savings business ages ago. If you don’t believe me, go ask Shōsaku!"

(Tomokichi)
"Hmm, suspicious. Chairman Suzutani was saying 'It's admirable that not a single person has quit.'"

(pull the card)

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

At night, in the izakaya.

The "short pause" reflects both the sense of drinking and the continuation of a previous conversation.

Tomokichi: A previously mentioned friend "Tomo" of Kamesuke.

Tomokichi doesn’t believe Kamesuke.

⑭

(短かい間)

 (友吉) (からかつて)

「龜さん。お前感心だぜ。よく 一銭貯金が續くね。」

(龜助)

「チヨツ。こゝへ来て迄 貯金の話を聞きや世話はねエ。 貯金なんてとつくに止めちまつたよ。」

 (友吉)

「やめた? へ うまくいふぜ。  さては案外ためてるな。 今夜はみんな亀さんに奢つてもらをうか。」

(龜助) (むきになつて)

「冗談言ふねえ。俺ア面倒臭い貯金なんか遂󠄂の昔に止めちまつたよ。嘘だと思ふんなら庄作さんに聞いて見な。」

(友吉)

『「 フウン。可怪しいねえ。組合長の鈴谷さんが「感心に止める者が一人も居ない」って 言ってたぜ。』

(ぬく)

_________________

[注釈]

夜、居酒屋で。

「短かい間」は、酒 をのんでゐる感じと、話が前から續いてゐる意味を含 めて。

友吉―前出の友公龜さんの友人。

 信用しない。

Though it's Sunday, it's been snowing since morning.

Kamesuke
"They say you don't need a blade to kill a laborer—just let it rain for ten days. Well, damn it, this snow just keeps coming down, doesn’t it?"

Saburō (cheerfully)
"Dad, get up and have breakfast. There’s still some left."

Kamesuke
"Ah, you go ahead and eat your fill. I’ll cook something warm for you later. It’s so awfully cold this morning. Let me sleep just a little longer…(yawns) Ahhh."

(A short pause)

(As the scene shifts)

Shōsaku’s voice

 "Good morning!"

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

A winter morning with snow.

⑮

今日は日曜だといふのに、朝から雪降りです。

(龜助)

「人夫殺すに刃物は要らぬ。 雨の十日も降ればよい、か。 ちき生め、よく降る雪だなア。」

(三郎) (朗らかに)

「お父ちゃん、起きて御飯食べなよ。まだ、あるよ。」

(龜助)

「アヽ、お前、いゝだけ食べろ。お書には暖かいのを炊いてやるからな。 今朝は又、馬鹿に冷えるぜ。 もう、ちつと、ねかしといてくれナ…… (あくび) アーア」

 (短い間)

(ぬきながら)

(庄作の聲)

「お早う。」

_________________

[注釈]

冬、雪の朝。

⑯

(Shōsaku) (casually)
"The snow's really coming down, isn't it? Is your father in?"

(Saburō) (in a low voice)
"Uncle Shōsaku, it’s about the daily savings, right? Just a moment, please. I’ll bring it right out."

(pull the card)

⑯

(庄作 (氣安く)

「よく降る雪だねエ。お父ちゃん、ゐるかい?」

(三郎) (低い聲)

「庄作をぢさん、日掛貯金でしよ。いま、一寸、待つてゝ下さい。すぐ出しますから。」

(ぬく)

⑰

Saburō takes hold of the savings box, then retrieves a small bamboo tube from the desk drawer. From inside, he takes out a one sen coin and—

 (quietly pull the card)

⑰

三郎は、貯金箱を受取ると、机のひき出しから出した小さな竹筒。中から、一錢取り出して―――――、

(静かにぬく)

⑱

(Slowly, in a quiet tone)

 The father, who had been lying in bed under the futon, looked on without meaning to and felt something warm welling up deep in his chest. The lonely feelings he had carried since his wife passed away three years ago came rushing back—

(Slowly, fading out)

 The unusually forlorn figure of Saburō, seen from behind, stirred something within him. And then the realization hit: he had hardly been there for his son.

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

The lingering sentiment in "the lonely feelings" conveys the poignant realization and surprise of unexpectedly witnessing the actions of one's child, who has grown up in their care.

⑱

(ゆつくり、静かな調子)

蒲團の中でねてゐた筈の父親が、見る気もなく、之を見て、「何だか、熱いものが、ぐうっと、胸に込み上げて来ました。三年前に、妻に死なれた、佗しい氣持と―。

(ゆつくり、ぬきながら)

何時にない、寂しさうな、三郎の後姿。 てんで、かまつてやらない自分。

_________________

[注釈]

「佗しい氣持と」の 餘韻は「思ひ合せ て、育った我が子の振舞をゆくりなく見た、おどろき」といふ叙情を意味する。

⑲

Rarely giving him more than one or two sen as pocket money, he hadn't spent a single coin and had been saving it every day like that!

Thinking of this, he began to feel ashamed of himself, always drowning in drink.

 (slowly pull the card)

⑲

稀に一錢二錢位しか渡してやらない小遣ひを、少しも使はずに、あゝして毎日貯金して居たのか! と思ふと、酒びたりの自分が、情なくなってくるのでした。

(ゆつくりぬく)

⑳

(Kamesuke's thoughts) (Quietly)
"He's the spitting image of his late mother."

(A brief pause)

(Still Kamesuke's thoughts) (Low, muttering to himself)
"Saburō... Your father will quit drinking and start working hard starting tomorrow. I won't let you worry about trivial things anymore, alright?"

(quietly pull the card)

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

This scene portrays Kamesuke awakening to his sense of responsibility as Saburō's father.

The "alright?" at the end carries the nuance of "Alright, forgive me, will you?"

⑳

(龜助の思ひ) (靜かに)

「死んだお母ア そつくりてやがる。」

(間、少し)

 (同じく龜助の思ひ) (低くひとり言。つぶやくやうに) 「三。お父ちゃん、お酒やめて、明日つから一生懸命働くぜ。お前にも、これからは、つまらねえ心配なんかさせねえから。な。」

(しづかに、ぬく)

_________________

[注釈]

こゝは、三郎の父、としての責任感に目ざめた龜助の心境を描いてゐる。

「な」･･･「な、勘忍しろよ」といふ言葉 を含む。 

㉑

(Shortly after that, on the evening of the neighborhood meeting)

 (Kamesuke)
"Nakagawa-san... I’ve got something I’d like to discuss with everyone…"

(Shōsaku) (Without any hint of teasing)
"Well, this is rare, Kame-san. Whatever it is, please don’t hesitate to say it."

(Kamesuke)
"Well, um... it’s about the daily savings… I’ve been thinking about it since the other night. Savings are something anyone can do to serve the country, right? So, in addition to the one-sen daily savings, I was thinking of starting a twenty-sen daily savings as well..."

(as you pull the card)

(Shōsaku)
"Hmm, well, Kame-san, that’s impressive!"

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

 Throughout this scene, Kamesuke’s words should be slightly hesitant and timid, as if he’s speaking cautiously and nervously.

㉑

それから、間もなく、常會の夜。

(龜助)

「中川さん。俺、すこし、皆に、相談があるんだが……」

(庄作) (少しも、からかふやうな様子もなく)

「これは珍らしいね、龜さん。何だか知らないが、遠慮なく言つて下さい。」

(龜助)

「そのウ、日掛貯金の事なんだが……。俺も此の間の晩から、一寸、考へがったんだ。貯金は誰にも出来る御國の御奉公だって、なア。で、一日一錢の日掛の外に、一日二十錢の日掛を始めたいと思ふんだが……」

(ぬきながら)

(庄作)

「うむ、こいつは龜さん、大出來だ。」

_________________

[注釈]

龜助の言葉はこの場景を通じて、少し、吃る位に、おづおづしてゐる方がよい。

㉒

(Shōsaku)
"By cutting out drinking, eating indulgently, playing around, or making unnecessary purchases—by avoiding all those invisible wastes—can’t we all easily save 20 sen a day? At this rate, who’s going to send bullets to the soldiers on the battlefield? Who’s going to support the front lines?

It’s us. It’s all of us. Let’s commit to a daily savings of 20 sen for three years, to be set aside without fail.

(Lifting his tone with enthusiasm)
And who suggested this? It’s none other than Kame-san! I couldn’t be happier—it fills me with joy beyond words!"

(pull the card)

_________________

[Annotations for narrator]

 This dialogue from Shōsaku reflects back on Scene 5, creating a thematic connection. Shōsaku’s words should convey a sense of conviction and earnestness, progressively building toward an impassioned tone to inspire and motivate others.

㉒

(庄作)

「飲んだり、食べたり、遊んだり、餘計な買物をしたり、目に見へない無駄使ひを省いたら、皆も一日二十錢は易々と出來やしないか。今のやうぢや、全く、戰地の兵隊さんにも戰地へ、誰が、弾丸を送るのか? 

「私達だ、俺たちだ。お互ひに、一日二十錢の日掛貯金、三年据置を始めやう。

(調子をかくて)

これが誰あらう。龜さんの申し出だ。私は嬉しい、嬉しくつてたまらない。」

(ぬく)

_________________

[注釈]

この庄作の言葉は前出第五景に照應してゐる。

㉓

The next morning, bright and early, the entire neighborhood association, led by Nakagawa Shōsaku, visited Motoori Shrine to renew their pledge to save and serve the nation. With the decision to commit to a daily savings of 20 sen firmly in place, it was clear that the once wasteful habits in each household would gradually be replaced with order and discipline.

On that early spring morning, the joyful applause of thirty people resounded crisply through the shrine grounds, brimming with renewed hope and determination.

(The end)

㉓

翌る朝、早く、

隣組一同は、中川庄作を先登に、本居神社に参詣し、貯蓄報國の誓ひを新たにしました。一日二十錢の日掛が、スラ〱と定まつたからは、之迄、浪費の多かった各自の家の生活にも、追々、きちんとした秩序が出来る事でせう。春淺い、朝の境内に、喜びに溢れる三十人の拍手が、爽やかに鳴りひゞきました

(終)