Pathway to Japanese Literature

Characters

Chūji Kunisada Kyūrōsuke Inari Asatarō Itawari Kasuke Shimamura Kizo Matsuida Yasuke Tamamura Saisuke Namikawa Kichizō Kappa Ushimatsu Yamikumo Jūzō Shaka

Three Others

Time and Place

In the mountains spanning from Kōzuke Province to Shinano Province. Autumn of the first year of Tenpō.

Scene

The early dawn of an autumn day found a mountainside where young pines grew. The ground lay thick with dwarf bamboo grass; before sunrise, Mount Akagi could faintly be seen in the cloudless western sky.

When the curtain opened, Saisuke and Asatarō emerged. Both men wore slightly soiled lined kimonos with their hems tucked up, gaiters around their legs, and straw sandals on their feet. Each carried a long wakizashi at his waist. Asatarō was binding his cracked scabbard with rope. As the two reached center stage, a voice called from behind. Voice: “Hey! Asa-nii, wait up!” Asatarō: “Hey! What is it?”

A voice calls: Hey! Hey! Asa-nii.

“Hey! What is it?”

“Hey! Stop for a moment!” “Don’t get too far ahead!” Asatarō called back: “Got it! I’ll wait here!” (Turning to Saisuke) “Hey Saisuke, let’s take a break, ain’t we?” Saisuke hesitated: “You sure this is safe... stopping here?” “Course it’s safe!” Asatarō scoffed. “We busted through Kido checkpoint ’round midnight last night.” “Been walkin’ nonstop since.” “Must’ve dashed near ten ri by now!” Saisuke nodded: “Everyone’s held up better’n I figured.”

Asatarō: "We ain't gonna flinch at this much, but old-timers like Kyūrōsuke and Ushimatsu must be pretty worn out by now." Saisuke: "But they’ve endured and kept up all this time." Asatarō: "They’re the same bunch who’s always spouting big talk. Can’t help but tag along, can they?"

(While the two were talking, Kyūrōsuke and Yasuke came out side by side—Kyūrōsuke an old man nearing fifty, Yasuke around forty.) Saisuke: (To Kyūrōsuke) “Hey there, Brother Inari—are your legs holding up?” Kyūrōsuke: “What nonsense are you spouting? I may look like this now, but back in my youth, whenever I heard a gambling den was set up, I could walk ten or twenty ri through the night without batting an eye. No matter how old I get, I won’t lose to you lot when it comes to leg strength.” Asatarō: “Bro, doesn’t seem like that’s really the case. Crossing Mount Haruna seemed to wear you out a bit, huh?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Kyūrōsuke retorted. “That’s your problem, isn’t it? You youngsters these days still haven’t trained enough. Back in our youth, we roamed from Shinano to Kōshū with Brother Chūji, working our way through gambling dens. Forty or eighty kilometers a day meant nothing to us then.” “True enough,” Yasuke agreed. “Brother Inari’s younger days were grand indeed. Even Boss Chūji probably learned a gambler’s manners from you.”

“Huh,” Asatarō grunted. “Is that so? He might’ve learned gambler’s manners from Brother Inari, but nobody taught him that iron guts and brute strength.” Kyūrōsuke’s face flushed slightly. “What’d you say? Don’t get cocky with me!” “I ain’t being cocky! You’re always yapping about the old days, but no matter how much you jaw, the past stays past.” Asatarō leaned forward, straw sandals crunching gravel. “Don’t know if you were some hotshot gambler above the boss back then, but now you’ve taken his cup and become his lackey—makes you just another grunt like us. Quit waving that ancient history around.”

Kyūrōsuke falls silent.

“But Asatarō—just ’cause you’re in the boss’s good graces, don’t go sneerin’ at us old-timers so much. It wouldn’t hurt you to show some consideration now and then.” “Hmph—‘consideration,’ huh? Don’t make me laugh.” “You bastard! What’re you sayin’? What’s your damn problem?”

“Hey hey—what’s gotten into you brothers? This ain’t no time for comrades to be squabblin’!” “But these old-timers keep puttin’ on such airs!” “What nonsense! You’re the one struttin’ ’round like some cocky youngster!”

“Come on, it’s fine,” Yasuke said. “The time’ll come when we see whether youngsters or old-timers prove more useful.” Saisuke suddenly noticed Chūji approaching. “Hey—the Boss is here!”

(All four stood up.)

Chūji appeared accompanied by subordinates including Kasuke, Kizo, and Ushimatsu; his swarthy face bore a scar near his sideburns, and a slight haggardness only intensified his fearsome demeanor. He wore a Kantō-striped lined kimono with gaiters and straw sandals, a long wakizashi in a sharkskin scabbard at his side, and a sedge-woven traveling hat on his head. Saisuke: “Boss, you must be exhausted.” Chūji: “Hmm, don’t you worry. I can still walk another five or ten ri without any problem!” Asatarō: “Boss, please have a seat over here. The grass is nicer over here.”

“My legs ain’t tired, but I’m sleepy.”

Kasuke: "That's true." "That goes for all of us." Kizo: "But we can't rest easy." "We oughta cross into Shinano territory while our legs still hold out."

“Hey—Mount Akagi’s right there plain as day, ain’t it?”

(Everyone noticed.)

Asatarō: “Not a single cloud in sight—that’s why it’s showing up so clear.” Chūji: “Nostalgic mountain... I’d thought this would be our grave, but whether through divine protection or what you will—we somehow cut through nearly a thousand pursuers from all eight provinces.”

“Boss, do you think the gods and buddhas give a damn about us? It’s all our own strength.”

Chūji: Ha ha ha ha! You might be right there. “Anyway, you’ve all worked hard.” “Let me say my thanks proper.”

"What are you saying!" "That’s outrageous!"

Chūji (sitting down on a clump of dwarf bamboo): "This will be my last view of Mount Akagi." “Hey, let’s take a break around here.”

(Everyone gathered around Chūji and sat down.) Kichizo Kappa, the subordinate, appeared following after them.

Kichizo: “Boss, I’ve secured breakfast.” “At a peasant household below, they happened to be cooking rice, so I had them make it all into rice balls.”

“That’s much appreciated,” said Chūji. “Make sure to leave them plenty of silver coins.”

Kichizo: “Understood.”

(Kichizo ran off.)

Kizo: “Well now, until the food’s ready, that means we can rest easy.”

(Everyone fell silent for a moment.) Kyūrōsuke considered taking a quick nap until the food arrived.

“That’s a good idea.”

Kasuke: “I think I’ll take a quick nap too.”

Chūji: Hey! “Hold it!”

Kasuke: “What’s this, Boss? Getting all formal on us?” Chūji: “Hey! “Everyone.” (Because Chūji was tense.) (Everyone straightened their posture.)

Chūji: “Hey! Everyone. I want y’all to listen up—I’m fixin’ to slip off to Shinano alone from here on out. Now I’d give my right arm to take every last one of you... But after cuttin’ down those officials and bustin’ through Heaven’s own checkpoint, we can’t have ten or twenty of us shackled together marchin’ under the sun. That said—I do need two or three with me. But after all we’ve sweated through together till today, I ain’t got the heart to pick ‘you go’ from ‘you stay.’ If we’re goin’, we all go. If we part ways—we part clean, no hard feelings. Now there’s about 150 ryō left here. Twelve ryō each for y’all—I’ll take what’s left. Figure your own paths and scatter! Listen sharp—keep yourselves hale and hearty! If word comes Chūji got nabbed and shipped off to Edo... burn a stick of incense for me... Hahahaha! (To Kizo) Hey—divvy up that silver!”

Kizo: “That’s—Boss! That’s a damn foolish notion! What the hell do you think we abandoned our wives and children to follow you all the way here for? Everyone’s been worrying about your well-being—isn’t this all driven by our single-minded desire to see where you’ll settle down!” Asataro: “Damn right. No matter how we smashed through Ōto checkpoint and you say it’s safe all the way to Shinano from here, there’s no way we can just let you go off alone.”

Kasuke: “That’s true. ‘Course, with a dangerous crew like us bein’ too risky to march around shackled together, why don’t you just point out the men you want takin’ along? Ain’t no call for holdin’ back between boss and boys. This here’s your big moment. There ain’t a single tight-fisted bastard here who’d go whinin’ or nursin’ grudges. Right?!” “Brothers!” Many voices: “Damn right.” “Damn right.”

Chūji remained silent…… Asataro: “Hey! Why don’t you just name us straight out?” Chūji—still silent—finally spoke: “If I meant to name names, I wouldn’t have consulted you lot in the first place. You’ve all risked your lives working for me. I won’t have distinctions coming from my own mouth.” Kyūrōsuke nodded. “That’s only right. What the Boss says stands to reason. In times like these, nobody’d feel right being left behind.”

“It’s because of your kind that everything gets complicated,” Asatarō snapped at Kyūrōsuke. “Since you old relics are nothing but deadweight, why don’t you do us all a favor and take your leave here? Step aside already.” “What’d you say, you little shit?” Kyūrōsuke fired back, veins bulging at his temples. “You’re the greenhorn who’s still wet behind the ears! If anyone should be stepping aside, it’s you—go pawn this job off on someone who’ll actually humor your nonsense!”

“What did you say?”

“Hey!” “Asa!” “You’re overstepping.” “Shut up!” “Yes.” “Yes.”

(Juzo Shaka suddenly edged forward on his knees.) “Hey, Boss—I’ve got a good idea.”

Two or three: “What is it?” “What is it?” “Let’s hear it.” Juzo: “A lottery’s the way to do it.” “We all draw lots—whoever gets picked becomes the Boss’s companion.” Chūji: “That makes sense.” “This way there’s no room for hard feelings.” Kasuke: “What’re you saying, Boss?” “Listening to these greenhorns ain’t right!” “A lottery? That’s stupid!” “If some greenhorn like Juzo here gets picked, he won’t be accompanying you—he’ll be deadweight!” “I’ll have none of this lottery nonsense!” “In times like these, physical strength’s what counts!” “Hey, Boss!” “Quit with the stupid hesitation! Just say one damn word—‘Kasuke, come with me!’” “Say it already!”

“Kasuke, you’re talking big!” Kizo scoffed. “Relying solely on brute strength won’t get you through this world. When we’re wandering unknown lands proclaiming ourselves as Chūji Kunisada of Kozuke, you won’t make a move without a strategist versed in tactics by your side. Just because you’re a big rice-eater with muscle doesn’t mean squat if you keep bungling things—you’ll starve on the road!” Kyūrōsuke finally spoke up: “All this bluster about strength and tactics leads nowhere.” His voice carried the weight of decades. “At times like these, we follow sake cup seniority. That’s the proper order.” He thumped his chest. “I received my cup first here! Yasuke was next.” He turned sharply toward the silent member. “Hey! You back me up!”

“What’re you on about, old man Kyūrōsuke? This ain’t no funeral procession! If it’s just a bunch of old geezers tagging along, what’ll we do when shit hits the fan?”

“As if I’d let you lot fret over such trifles!” Kyūrōsuke barked. “You might see this weathered face, but I’m still Kyūrōsuke Inari!” Asatarō’s trademark glare—once sharp enough to peel bark from pines—now hung dull in the mountain air. “Easy there, old timer,” he drawled. “No need to bust a gut proving what’s plain as day.” “You insolent whelp!” “Enough!” Kizo’s voice cracked like a whip. “Save your steel for real enemies!”

“Boss... couldn’t I be your companion?” Ushimatsu ventured. “I’ve no strength in my arms. Nor am I some clever strategist like Kizo. But in my heart...” He pressed a fist to his chest, voice dropping to a rasp. “I’ve long been ready to throw away this worthless life for you.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?” three or four men retorted. “You’re not the only one risking your life for the Boss.” “Don’t spout such nonsense.”

(Ushimatsu, dejected, scratched his head and fell silent.) “If you lot keep making such a racket,” said Chūji, “we’ll never reach a resolution, no matter how much time passes. If you’re uneasy about letting me go alone, why don’t you all hold a lottery among yourselves? I’ll take just three—starting with those who get the most votes. This way there’ll be no hard feelings, right?”

Kizo: Now that’s an idea!

“That’s an approach!”

Three or four voices: "Indeed, that’s a brilliant plan." Chūji: Then I’ll have you all decide through a lottery. Four or five voices: "Fine by us." “We’re agreed.”

(Kichizo emerged carrying a large basket filled with rice balls.) Kichizo: “Boss, the food’s here.”

Chūji found this arrival perfectly timed. They would deliberate on who to include while eating their meal. (Kichizo distributed food to everyone.) Kichizo: “Come on, everyone gets two each!” “The takuan’s three slices each.”

“Much obliged, much obliged.”

“I finally get to eat warm food after so long,” Kizo said. Holding a rice ball, Chūji muttered, “Need water.”

“If it’s water you need, there’s a stream half a block ahead.”

“I see. Then I’ll go have a drink.” “It’s decent water.”

“Then we’ll go too.” “I’ll wash my face too.”

(Everyone jostled their way toward the stream.) (Only Kyūrōsuke and Yasuke remained behind.)

Kyūrōsuke (after finishing his rice ball with a grimace): “Ugh… No… No… No matter how I look at it, I can’t stand this lottery business!” Yasuke: “Why, brother?”

“With this lottery system, I ain’t getting into the three.”

“You ain’t got no call to be writing yourself off like that,” said Yasuke. “When it comes to being Chūji’s top man, that’s gotta be you, ain’t it?” “On the surface, that’s how it looks,” Kyūrōsuke replied. “But ever since last year’s scrap with Ōmaeda—when they had to carry me outta that fight—I lost whatever respect I had left.” His voice turned bitter. “I know it clear as day. They might call me ‘brother’ this and ‘brother’ that, but deep down? They think I’m washed up.” He slammed his fist against his knee. “Go ahead with your damn lottery! You’ll see it plain enough when the votes get counted.”

Yasuke…

Kyūrōsuke: “And another thing—even if it’s just to spite that Asatarō bastard who keeps treating me like some washed-up old fool—I ain’t getting left behind!”

“That’s fair.” “But you don't need to worry.” “You ain't gonna fall through.”

Kyūrōsuke: “That ain’t how it is. It’s all too doubtful—I can’t think of a soul who’d cast a vote for me.” Yasuke: “What about Saisuke Namikawa? That man must owe you plenty.” Kyūrōsuke: “Ah, youngsters these days forget their debts quicker’n morning dew. These days that fool just clings to Asa—‘Brother Asa this, Brother Asa that’—like some lovesick pup.” Yasuke…

“Here’s what I figure,” Kyūrōsuke said. “Asa’s got four votes. Kizo’s got three. That leaves four—and outta those four, I’ll take two. That’s counting on you voting for me.”

(Kyūrōsuke stared fixedly at Yasuke’s face.) Yasuke (silently nodded)…. Kyūrōsuke: “Assuming you’ll vote for me, that leaves one more. I’d even give up an arm to get that one vote, but...” Yasuke: “Don’t joke like that! You don’t have to be so worked up. Even Kizo might put a vote in for you.” Kyūrōsuke: “That guy’s been on good terms with me lately! One more. Ah, one more.” (He steadily crossed his arms)

(The men who had gone to drink water came jostling back.) Kizo: “I’ve already wolfed down fifteen or sixteen of those rice balls.” Asataro: “They’ll still do to keep the hunger at bay for now.” “Alright—we’re done eating.” “Let’s get this lottery moving.” Kizo: “Understood.”

(He took folded paper from his kimono, drew his short sword, and cut it into several pieces.) (He distributed one sheet to each person.)

“There’s only one brush from the ink case.” “Write your votes quick and pass it along.” “Once you’re done, fold it small and toss it in this split bamboo basket.”

“We’ll take the three with the most votes,” declared Chūji. “Understood,” replied Juzo.

Kizo: “Juzo, you start!” (Kizo passed the brush to Juzo.) Each of them borrowed the brush in turn and wrote. (Yasuke finished writing and approached Kyūrōsuke.) Yasuke: “Here you go, Bro.” (Yasuke smiled warmly, just as he had promised.)

“Thanks.”

(Kyūrōsuke took the brush. His face vividly betrayed his earthly desires as he sank into deep contemplation.)

“Hey, old man,” said Asataro. “Hurry up and pass that brush around!” “What did you say?!” snapped Kyūrōsuke. “If you wanna think about it, pass the brush to someone else!” “Shut your useless mouth!”

(Kyūrōsuke indignantly put down the brush.)

“Old man, let me have it.” “Here.” (Kyūrōsuke threw the brush.)

(Saisuke received it and went to Yasuke’s side.)

“Hey, Yasuke, Bro!” “Teach me the characters.”

Yasuke: “I’ll teach you!” Yasuke: “What character is this?”

Saisuke (whispers something near Yasuke’s ear)—.

“Alright, you write it like this,” Yasuke said. He traced characters on the paper Saisuke held with his fingertip. “Got it,” Saisuke replied. “Thanks.”

(Everyone finished writing one after another.)

Kizo: “Well, has everyone written theirs? Is there anyone who hasn’t written yet?” (Looking around) “Good, I see everyone has written theirs. Boss, everyone’s written theirs.” Chūji: “I’ll read them out now.” Kizo: “Understood.”

(They stared at Kizo’s hands with nervously shining eyes, their gazes fixed like gamblers scrutinizing dice cups.)

Kizo (unfolding a folded paper scrap): “Alright? Everyone, listen.” He held up the ballot. “‘Asa.’ Only written in kana as ‘Asa’. But this has to be Asataro!” He showed the paper scrap to the group. “Asataro gets one vote—oh, this time it’s Asataro again. Asataro gets two votes!”

Chūji (grinned as if his plan had succeeded)

Kizo: “This time, it’s Kizo” (showing the paper scrap). “How about that?” “No lie here, right?” “Kizo gets one vote!” “Oh, the next one’s Kizo again! What a blessing!” “You all really do have good taste!” “How about that!” “Kizo gets two votes!”

(Kizo triumphantly held the paper scraps aloft.)

(Kyūrōsuke finally showed signs of impatience.)

“Huh? What’s this?” “Just chicken scratch—can’t make head nor tail of it!” “Is this ‘Kuurosuke’ or Kyūrōsuke? Kyūrōsuke gets one vote.”

(Kyūrōsuke panicked and became violently agitated.)

Kizo: Next up is Asa. "This makes three votes for Asataro." "Oh thank goodness! The next one's Kizo again!" "Kizo gets three votes." "Next up is Asataro." "Asataro gets four votes!" "Well now, next up is yours truly again!" "Kizo gets four votes." "This confirms me and Asataro!" "Oh, the next one is Kasuke." Kasuke: Yes! Kizo: With this, Asa and I have four votes each, while Kyūrōsuke and Kasuke have one each. "It's down to two now." Kasuke: Just one left. "Hold on—whether it's me or Kyūrōsuke."

Kyūrōsuke: “It’s me, of course! Come on, Yasuke—you’re backing me here, right?” Yasuke remained silent. Kizo barked: “Right then! Opening it!” He brandished the final ballot like a gambler flipping dice. “Odds or evens? Kyūrōsuke or Kasuke?” A beat passed. “Ah… Kasuke.”

“What? It’s Kasuke?!”

(Kyūrōsuke writhed in frustration.)

“After all, everyone’s honest,” said Asataro. “Appreciate it.” “They’ve got the Boss’s best at heart after all.” “Thank you, everyone.” “I’ll give my proper thanks.” “We’ll take charge of protecting the Boss.” “Alright then—counting on you, Asa-bro,” said Saisuke. Chūji spoke gravely: “So it’s settled in your minds then.” “I’ll be taking Asa, Kizo, and Kasuke with me.” “Kyūrōsuke—you’ve got one vote here. I’d take you along if I could, but I can’t go back on my first decree.” “Enough time wasted on this already.” “Now divide the money and go where you will.”

Kizo (breaking open the fifty-ryō bundle): “Come on now, everyone—don’t hold back. Take your share.” (Kizo, (distributing to the hesitant subordinates) Brother Kyūrōsuke. “What are you thinking? You too—reach out and take your share!”

(Kyūrōsuke reluctantly extended his hand.)

“Well then, we’ll take our leave ahead of you,” said Chūji. “Everyone—take care on your journeys.” “Safe travels, Boss,” they replied in unison. “Do take care.”

“Alright, I’m counting on you, Asa-bro.”

“Don’t you worry now.”

“I’m counting on you, Kizo-bro.”

Kizo: “Understood.” “The Boss’s safety’s guaranteed as long as we’re still breathing.” Calling out to one another as they went, the three withdrew up the mountainside.

Ushimatsu: With Asa and his crew accompanying him, there’s no chance of any major slip-ups.

“The Boss’s mind was set on those three from the start,” said Saisuke. “No mistake about it.” “No mistake,” Juzo agreed. “Long as we’ve got those guys with him, he’ll be right as rain.”

“Well then, I’ll head off toward Kusatsu now.” “I’m heading to Kusatsu too.” “I’ll head out to Kusatsu too.”

Ushimatsu: Alright then, let’s all head out together, Kusatsu group. “Kyurosuke-bro!” “Where are you going?”

“I’ll think for another half hour.” “Hesitate too long and you’ll lose out, I tell ya.”

(The lottery papers, caught by the wind, began to take flight.)

Kyūrōsuke: “Oh damn!” “If these things stay behind, there’s no telling they won’t end up as damned clues.”

(Kyūrōsuke gathered them up and crumpled them in his palm.) “Well then, Brother Inari, farewell.” “Leaving already? Later.”

“Yasuke-bro, farewell.” “Farewell.”

(Yasuke and the others exchanged farewells in a chorus of voices, and the four turned back the way they had all come.)

Afterward, only Kyūrōsuke and Yasuke remained. Kyūrōsuke’s face was terribly pale. (Silent and deep in thought) Yasuke: “Hey Bro!” “Which direction are you heading?”

“Shut up! I’m thinking!” Kyūrōsuke snapped. Yasuke scratched his neck. “I’d been set on heading from Kusatsu to Echigo myself, but then I remembered—my uncle’s up in Kumagaya territory. Might be dicey ground, but it’d make a decent foothold for slipping back home.” He kicked a pebble downhill. “So I’m making for Bushū. What’s your play?” Kyūrōsuke stared at the crumpled ballots in his fist. “You really hated that lottery business, eh?” Yasuke leaned against a pine trunk. “Can’t blame you—I’ve loathed today’s farce from the start.” His voice hardened. “The Boss plays at being too damn noble!” He gestured toward the departed gang’s dust trail. “We don’t ditch brothers we’ve raised since we were snot-nosed thieves! Asatarō and Kasuke might swing heavy arms, but next to you? Mere pups.” A bitter laugh escaped him. “Hell, even if they’d held another vote—you think those bastards would’ve picked you? When I saw only my name backing yours among eleven men...” He spat. “Makes you wonder what black rot’s festering in their hearts.”

Kyūrōsuke (indignantly): "You bastard—did you really write this?" Yasuke: "'Course I wrote it! Ain't no bastard besides me who'd write your name." Kyūrōsuke: "Did you really write it?"

“’Course I wrote it! Who else ’sides me d’you think would write it?” “Lie to me, I’ll cut you down!” “Proof’s what matters—your name showed up on one slip, didn’t it?” Kyūrōsuke frantically plucked out a slip from the crumpled papers in his hand. “You claim you wrote this? You—the best scribe among us—writing this chicken scratch?” “Uhh...” Yasuke panicked. “You’re saying you wrote even this?”

“Bro, forgive me!” Yasuke pleaded. “Bro, I was wrong!” “Cut me down for lying!” Kyūrōsuke reached for his short sword but immediately reconsidered. Even you—the one I thought was my last ally—see me as a spineless coward in your heart. Cutting you down wouldn’t change a damn thing. “But that’s strange,” Yasuke muttered. “If I didn’t write it... who the hell did?”

(Yasuke stared at the scrap of paper.) (Kyūrōsuke hurriedly crumpled it) Yasuke: "Who wrote it?" (Suddenly realizing) "Bro, you didn’t pull some cheap trick like writing your own name, did you?" Kyūrōsuke: "Wh-What are you saying!" (Suddenly changing mood and bursting into tears) "Yasuke, forgive me!" "Cut down this spineless coward in your boss’s stead!"

(Kyūrōsuke burst into loud sobs)

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