A Vote (Irefuda) 入れ札

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

If you still remember a book you read in your childhood, the book tells what you are. "Irefuda (A vote)" by Kan Kikuchi (1888-1948), a Japanese author, who established a publishing company and both the Akutagawa Prize and the Naoki Prize, the two most prestigious literature prizes in Japan, is one such book for me.

"Irefuda," which literally means "a vote," is a fiction about Kurosuke, a member of a group led by Chuji Kunisada, a professional gambler and folk hero. Chuji was wanted for a murder and on the run with his followers including Kurosuke. Thinking that running away in a group would attract attention from the authorities, Chuji decided to dissolve the group, taking only three members with him while parting from the others, but he couldn't decide who to take with him, so he asked his followers to choose the three by a "vote." 

Kurosuke was a "senior" member, but had lost trust from the other members recently. So, Kurosuke voted for himself, hoping a few others to vote for him and to be chosen as one of the three. However, he got one vote, i.e., only his vote. Kurosuke was disappointed and ashamed by what he had done.

Something happened, however, after Kurosuke left the group. Yasuke, a younger member, followed Kurosuke, saying that he didn't understand why Kurosuke hadn't been chosen and that he himself had voted for Kurosuke.      

Kurosuke grabbed his katana sword but stopped there because to criticize Yasuke, he had to tell that he'd voted for himself. This would make him feel more embarrassed.....

Japanese elementary schools usually recommend certain books. I read all such books and forgot most of them, but I remember a few, one of which is "Irefuda" and I know why. I desperately wanted to be popular and chosen as the class president. I changed schools many times, going to four elementary schools and three junior high. I was so lonely that I was jealous of popular classmates. And I hated such myself... 

I clearly understood how Kurosuke felt and that's why I still sometimes remember this story and the lonely me at that time...    

  

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菊池寛の「入れ札」ご存じですか。子供の頃読んで非常に印象深く、今も時々思い出す話の一つです。お読みになったことのない人のためにざっとあらすじを述べますと｡｡｡

九郎助（主人公）は国定忠治の手下です。忠治は代官を殺して１１人の手下と逃げています。でも、全員で逃げると目立つので、忠治は、その内３人だけを連れ、残りの手下とは別れることを決めます。ところが忠治自身はその３人を決められず「入れ札（投票）」で決めようとするところから話は面白くなります。

選ばれる自信のない九郎助は自分に投票します。でも結局他の三人が選ばれ、九郎助は一人で逃げることになります。その時です。若手の弥助が九郎助を追ってきて言うのです。「兄さん（九郎助）が選ばれなかったことには納得できない、自分は兄さんに入れた」と。

九郎助は煮えくり返る思いです。でも弥助を責めるには自分のやったことを言わなければならない｡｡｡という話です。

「入れ札」は推薦図書の一つでした。推薦図書は全部読み、数冊を除き、後は忘れてしまったのですが、その覚えている数冊の内の一冊が「入れ札」です。理由は分かってます。転校ばかりで寂しかった私はクラスの人気者に嫉妬していたのです。そしてそんな自分が大嫌いでした。

今でも九郎助に共感した自分をはっきり覚えています。そして今も折に触れ、九郎助と、その頃いつも一人ぼっちだった自分を思い出します。

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