Pathway to Japanese Literature

Characters

Tokura Okuzo Fifty

Daughter Kumi Twenty-two

Wakui Makutaro Twenty-eight

Cousin Asuke Thirty-one

Hiraki Sone Forty

A matchmaking parlor’s meeting room—second floor.

An eight-tatami Japanese room arranged in Western style—furnishings that were neither quite an office nor a parlor.

Director Hiraki Sone guided Tokura Okuzo and his daughter Kumi into the room.

Sone: (recommending the right-hand chair) “Now then, Miss, this seat should suit you.”
“It’s not too bright here...”

Okuzo: Not at all, there's no issue even if it's bright.
"The brighter it is, the better."
“At least when it comes to looks alone—even so—I’ve no cause for shame…”

“Father, you’re so annoying.”

“That’s precisely why we approved his candidacy based solely on the photograph,” Sone replied. “Today’s arrangement was made expressly for your thorough observation of the gentleman.” She gestured gracefully toward a chair. “Now then—Father, if you would take this seat...” (She settled into an adjacent chair herself.)

“Has he already arrived?” Okuzo inquired.

“Oh yes, he’s been waiting quite some time,” Sone assured them with practiced ease. “The gentleman appears thoroughly committed to this meeting. As I previously mentioned—being heir to such substantial wealth naturally fosters an air of magnanimity—which explains why Mr. Asuke here has taken such pains to oversee every detail.” Her fan fluttered discreetly. “He accompanies his cousin once again today.”

Lowering her voice conspiratorially, she added: “Regarding our candidate—they say he’s sworn never to marry should this proposal fail. To make such an earnest declaration, even humorously... Well! It suggests rather strong partiality on his part.”

“As I mentioned previously, if we were simply after any marriage prospect, there are more than enough to go around. However, it is her own wish that we explore a broader range of chances.”
“While I understand this is your trade, I must ask you to kindly disregard any policy of expediency here.”
“Should you be able to introduce us to as many gentlemen as possible, it would be most appreciated…”

Sone: “Very well.”
“However, we too must conduct at least a basic selection process.”
“Even were I to propose matches clearly unsuitable from the outset—given how stringent the young lady’s conditions are.”

(She smiled with her eyes)

Kumi: “Oh, I’d like to add a proviso to that final item on the list...”

“On top of *that*?”
“What might that entail?”

Kumi: “You know how there are people who sing through their noses while doing chores?”
“That’s another thing I simply can’t stand.”

“In that case, please wait a moment.”

(Goes to the next room)

Kumi: (to Father) About this "foreign study" business—do find out today where exactly he went.

Okuzo: “Very well.”

Kumi: “And another thing—if he doesn’t clearly state his profession as well, that simply won’t do. One moment he claims to be a company executive, the next he’s writing research papers, then suddenly declares he’s about to launch some business venture. Such an ambiguous position is utterly unacceptable.”

Okuzo: “Very well.”

Sone: (reappearing) “My apologies.”
(holding a paper scrap) “First...” (reading aloud) “Must have received higher education; second, must possess either a monthly income of 150 yen or more or property worth 50,000 yen or more.”
“Thirdly: Beauty not required, but must not be deficient in presence.”
“Fourthly: Politeness toward women.”
“Fifthly: Cheerfulness and decisiveness.”
“Now this is to be added afterward.—Provided he does not sing in a nasal voice...”

“It’s when they’re doing something like that.”

“Why did you bring up such a thing?”

Kumi: “When I visited the Karibes yesterday—you know their husband is an engineer? Well, in the neighboring workshop, while putting away his drafting tools, he kept humming through his nose like this—” She demonstrated with a nasally drone. “I was positively mortified! That’s why I vowed never to endure such a man.”

Okuzo: “But must you fixate on such trifles…?”

Sone: “Ah—it concerns personal habits, does it not? They say even saints have seven quirks. Why, my late husband—as you recall, he served at the court—would tap his teacup thrice before drinking.” Her smile turned wistful. “One learns tolerance through marriage.”

At this moment, a voice called out “Madam” from beyond the sliding door.

Sone: “Yes.”

“Pardon me for a moment…” (rose and went out)

Okuzo: “Now see here, Kumi—if you keep nitpicking like this, no man will ever meet your standards.”
“Haven’t they all fallen short until now?”
Just when matters neared resolution, she’d find some petty flaw.
And she’d sabotage the negotiations entirely.
This one was supposedly recommended by Auntie from Midori-cho.
A man without fault in education, wealth, or bearing.
Yet when he once visited our home and didn’t depart immediately after announcing his leave—you declared him unfit.
“Wasn’t that because your mother said ‘Oh, do stay awhile’ and detained him?”

Kumi: “That’s right.”
“That’s what they call courtesy.”
“A man who gets so flattered he can’t bring himself to leave—I find contemptible.”

Okuzo: (Shaking his head as if resigned) “Today’s fellow seems the quiet type in his photo—might get all bashful in a formal setting like this.”
“Inexperienced men can’t be expected to act so smoothly before women.”
“That’s precisely where you find their promise, I tell you.”

“There are various ways to be bashful, you know.”
“It differs based on one’s level of education, you know.”

The sliding door suddenly slid open, and Hiraki Sone appeared.

The two subtly made their preparations.

Sone: “Then I shall show them in right away, so...”
“Miss, are you ready?”

Kumi: “Hmm…”

Sone: (went outside again) “The stairs are rather dark…”

Kumi: (hurriedly used her compact) “Father, I hate how you treat me like a child too much in front of others. I can’t speak properly anymore.”

Okuzo: “Is it better for my business card to have a title or not?”

Kumi: “What kind of title…?”
“Having something like ‘Tokyo Hardware Association Director’—it’s better not to have that.”

Okuzo took out a business card from his card case and placed it on the table.

Before long, Hiraki Sone led the way as Wakui Makutaro and then Cousin Asuke appeared.
Both men wore morning dress.

Sone: “Well, this is… Mr. Wakui.”
“And this is… Mr. Tokura.”
“Please, over here… you….”

(Asuke ended up sitting in the chair intended for Makutaro, resulting in Kumi and Asuke facing each other.)

Okuzo: (standing up again) “How do you do... I am her father.”
“This is…” (he extended his business card between the two men)

The two men exchanged polite nods and peered at it.
Meanwhile, Asuke poked Makutaro’s elbow and signaled him to present his business card.

Both men produced their respective cards and extended them toward the father.

Okuzo: “Ah, thank you.”
(Receiving the cards together and examining them again) “I’ve become rather uncertain… Er… (glancing toward Sone) Which one was it that they called Mr. Makutaro again…?”

Asuke: “It’s not me.”
“This one here.”
(Points to the person next to him.)

Wakui Makutaro: “This one here.”
“I’m the one.”

Okuzo: “Ah, so that’s how it was.”
(Comparing the business cards) “Then this one would be you.”
“My apologies for the confusion.”
(whispering to his daughter)

“I may be his cousin, but today I’ve taken on the role of mediator out of courtesy,” said Asuke. “There might be matters too delicate to address directly…” He paused meaningfully. “Moreover, this man has a disposition where he becomes tongue-tied when overly formal…”

“Me?”
“Don’t joke around.”

“Now then, through this most serendipitous connection, we find ourselves meeting in this manner—but I wish for both parties to speak unreservedly on various matters.”

Sone: “Truly, to permit such informality...”
“In this modern age, those of us called matchmakers need only introduce the two esteemed parties—nothing more...”

Asuke: "And yet, that itself remains quite a weighty responsibility..."

Sone: "Ah, but the primary destiny is precisely what determines such matters, you see."

Okuzo: (To Makutaro) "Pardon my asking, but to which country did you undertake your foreign studies...?"

Asuke: “America, I suppose.”

Makutaro: “America—though really, more like Germany.”

Sone: “You must have visited both countries, I presume?”

Makutaro: “If you want details about my foreign study, ask this man here. He knows everything...”

Asuke: “This is how it is. He absolutely loathes talking about himself, you understand? Mr. Makutaro first went to America for legal studies but took up biology midway and apparently crossed over to Germany.”

Makutaro: "Enough about that already."

Asuke: "But if we don't talk about such matters, there would be nothing left to discuss, would there?"

Makutaro: "I didn't come here to listen to your prattle. I came to speak with the young lady alone—about matters that concern us alone."

Asuke: "I'm well aware. But there must be proper procedure."

“We’ll decide the order ourselves,” said Makutaro.
“First, Miss—what was your first impression of me?”

“Hey!” interjected Asuke.

“Depending on that,” Makutaro continued, “I’ll determine my next move.”

“That... well, we can discuss that in due course...”

“There’s no use hearing my first impression later. Miss, will you talk with me or not?”

Kumi (still looking down, did not respond).

"What does it mean that you're simply looking down like that? Normally one should interpret this as an affirmative response—does that pose any problem?"

Kumi (still looking down): “What you say… I find interesting.”

Makutaro glared at Asuke with a look that said “How’s that?”

“Hmm, interesting,” remarked Okuzo. “Certainly interesting.”

Makutaro leaned forward. “Then Miss, please ask me anything directly. I shall answer what needs answering.”

“Ah, since he insists...” Okuzo nudged his daughter. “Why don’t you begin with...”

“I cannot speak,” Kumi murmured without raising her eyes, “while everyone remains present. The questions one might pose here are better left unasked altogether.”

“Well then,” Okuzo cleared his throat, “shall we... withdraw temporarily?”

“That is indeed the case,” said Sone. “While our regulations strictly prohibit leaving newly introduced parties unsupervised during their initial meeting...”

“What is the reason for that?”
“There are various complications involved, you see…”

“Then you shouldn’t mind—should you? Please let only this lady stay and have those two attendants go downstairs.”

Okuzo: “I suppose we shall do so.”

Asuke: “Shall we proceed like that?”
(whispering) “Hey, you okay?”

Makutaro quietly wiped sweat from his brow.

Okuzo and Asuke rose from their seats and exited the room.

Sone: “I must apologize for being intrusive, but please do not take offense...”

Makutaro: “I don’t mind. Instead, I take it you won’t be remaining here either…”

Kumi: “I had intended to come alone, but Father insisted on accompanying me.”

Makutaro: “My situation is the same. That cousin of mine—thinking he’s just a bit older—goes out of his way to meddle. As for me—no matter where the proposal comes from—I’m usually rejected just after showing my photograph. And on the rare occasion it progresses to a meeting, without fail the next day either the young lady in question falls gravely ill or some obligation-based marriage proposal comes along, and regrettably, my courtship gets called off.”

“According to that cousin of mine—I give a terrible first impression.”

“My shoulders are too sloped for Western clothes to suit me, and when I wear a kimono—I look like a rakugo apprentice…”

“There’s no such thing at all.”
“By Japanese standards, it’s quite ordinary.”

“Is that so?”
“How kind of you.”
“Admittedly, that cousin of mine’s shoulders are far too rigid.”
“Now that that’s settled, Miss—by what criteria do you select a marriage partner?”

Kumi: "That... well..."

Sone: "I shall be conducting the formal inquiries."

“I would like to be the one to inquire.”

Sone: "First requirement: completion of higher education."

Makutaro: "I left middle school midway. True enough, I crossed to America washing dishes, but when they shipped me to the German front as a volunteer soldier, the armistice had already taken effect. Ended up working half a year as a cook in occupied territory."

Kumi: "But your biology research?"

Makutaro: "My cousin must have misapprehended something. What's next?"

Sone: “Second, a monthly income of 150 yen or property worth 50,000 yen or more...”

Makutaro: “Monthly income of 150 yen...?”
“Fifty thousand yen...?”
“I currently fail both criteria. The only time I ever had a monthly income over 150 yen was when condolence money piled up to about 200 yen after the old man died.”
“As for property, there’s only the house my mother lives in, currently valued at 1,500 yen.”

Kumi: “Then how do you manage each month...?”

Makutaro: “As for monthly income—I can’t speak to that—but day by day I manage somehow.”
“If two can eat, three should manage too—that’s my philosophy.”
“The third condition…?”

Sone: “This seems rather off-topic... What was the third point again...?”

She already knew.
Even without mentioning it…

“You understand.”
“I don’t understand.”

Kumi: “There’s no need for you to understand.”

Sone: “Ah, that’s right.”
“It concerns your appearance, does it not?”

Kumi looked down.

Sone: “That matter is already settled.”
“There’s no need for concern.”

Makutaro: “I’m the one most concerned here! No matter what I may say myself, if the young lady looks upon me with her own eyes and declares herself pleased, there’s nothing to be done.”

Kumi blushed. “Oh! When did I ever say I was pleased?”

“I can usually tell,” said Makutaro. “Now then, fourthly…?”

“Politeness toward women—that was the requirement, was it not?” replied Sone.

Makutaro: “Toward women...? Women come in all sorts—does this apply to every kind? With others, it likely doesn’t matter at all.”

Kumi tilted her head in a thoughtful pose.

Makutaro pressed: “For instance—to defend your dignity, wouldn’t slapping some meddlesome busybody be permissible?” He glanced sideways at Sone.

Kumi nodded. “I wouldn’t mind that.”

“But in return, if you tell me to kneel at your feet, I’ll gladly do exactly that.”
(He wiped the sweat from his neck hastily.) “It’s hot in here... isn’t it?”

“Shall I open it a bit, perhaps?”

“Even if I open the shoji, no free air seems likely to enter,” said Makutaro, wiping his neck. “Shall we proceed to the fifth?”

Kumi folded her hands primly. “The fifth concerns matters of personality, but I believe it would be best understood if I explain it from my own character’s perspective.”

Makutaro leaned forward, sleeves brushing the tatami. “Your character? Shall I try guessing it instead?”

Kumi: “Go ahead…”

“To put it one way, you’d be stubborn; you’d have strong self-esteem.”

Kumi: “You guessed correctly.”

Makutaro: “Then again，you’re cheerful enough，but when you sulk，it’s quite something.”
“In other words，somewhat hysteric，wouldn’t you say？”

Kumi: “I’m not a hysteric, but…”
Makutaro: “You’re not a hysteric.
But you are hysterical.
And jealous.”

“Oh….”

“Am I wrong?”
“If I’m mistaken, I apologize.”
“There’s a saying that jealousy is love’s ripple.”
“I’ve forgotten who coined it.”
“Do you care for literature?”

“I do read novels a little… but I won’t read them unless they’re ones I like.”

Makutaro was no different from anyone else.
However, you had quite strong likes and dislikes.
“Do you ever feel like crying when you see carrots?”

Kumi: “Carrots aren’t quite like that for me, but…”

“Well then, what would you think upon seeing a suburban railway conductor salute while leaping aboard?”

“Well…”

“If that’s all, then it’s nothing major.”

“What I detest most are slow decision-making and singing in a nasal voice, you know.”

“That’s already been taken care of on our side.”

It was unclear where Makutaro stood. “Try telling me something that demands a decision.”

Kumi...

Makutaro: “Then try telling me to die.”
“If you consider that too cruel—how about jumping from the second floor?”

Kumi: “That isn’t what I meant.”
“Take someone who visits another’s home and declares their departure yet lingers endlessly—I simply can’t abide such people.”

“I haven’t said anything about leaving yet.”
“Therefore, that is perfectly acceptable.”

“Acceptable…?” Makutaro wondered. “Is this truly acceptable? Is everything satisfactory?”

Kumi looked down.

“Then we shall conclude for today…” Sone began.

“That’s quite unnecessary,” Makutaro interrupted. “Haven’t we neglected to discuss the most crucial matter?”

“When you speak of this crucial matter…” Sone trailed off.

“The wedding date!” Makutaro declared.

Sone fell silent.

“How about it, Miss Kumi?”

“But regarding that matter... I cannot decide without consulting Father first.”

“That’s quite true, isn’t it,” said Sone. “Since you’ve reached a decision in principle, we shall arrange another meeting to discuss further particulars…” She pressed her palms together formally. “Shall I summon everyone now?”

Kumi: “Please do…”

Sone pressed the call bell.
The maid appeared.

“Please tell everyone…”

Makutaro (silently crossed his arms)

Sone (whispered something into Kumi’s ear)

“Ah, I understand that,” said Kumi.
“I would not do anything so presumptuous.”

“Business is business, you see,” replied Sone.
“We must have proper procedures followed there, you see…”

Okuzo and Asuke entered timidly.
As they passed each other, Makutaro turned his face away and went outside.

Asuke: “Hey—leaving already?”

Makutaro: “That’s not it.”

Asuke: “Where are you going?”

Makutaro: “I’m going where I want to go. You don’t need to follow.”

“Madam Sone—downstairs?”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, downstairs it is.”
“Please, this way…”

(Stepped forward to lead the way)

Okuzo (to his daughter): “Has the talk concluded already?”

Kumi (curtly): “Yes.”

Okuzo appeared to want to ask something more but, with Asuke present, could not do so and instead gazed fixedly at his daughter’s face.

A long silence.

Asuke: “It’s rather stifling in here.”

Okuzo: “Quite.”
“This place really must be kept shut tight.”

A long silence.

Asuke: "That man truly vexes me."
"I cannot presume to know your thoughts, Miss, but he does possess a certain... deficiency in social awareness."
"The truth of it is—while he did indeed go abroad—one might say he received scarcely any proper schooling..."

Kumi: "Why then would they declare him a graduate of some foreign university here?"

Asuke: “Well, you see... It’s those matchmakers after all...”

Kumi: “However—the matter of income has been clearly stated, I presume?”

Asuke: “Even that—he did say he earns enough to get by here, but...”

Kumi: “But that will be quite all right now.”

Asuke: “But what of his character? I suppose you still consider him rather unsuitable as a spouse? Ah, but there’s no helping that either. I’ve actually gone through considerable trouble for that man. He seems entirely unfit for marriage proposals—all promising matches get refused by the other side. When I watch him, he does appear rather pitiable, doesn’t he?”

“Pardon me, but are you quite…”

“Me?”
“I too, as it happens, remain unmarried.”
“Personally, I had considered it still somewhat premature, but should a suitable partner present herself, the timing would be of no consequence.”
“As indicated on my earlier card, I am employed at the Ministry of Railways’ Transport Bureau.”
“Having engaged in track and such during my school years, my physique—unlike *sensei’s* here—is robust; my father has lately been acquiring land with an eye toward my future; my disposition is thoroughly placid—I abstain from drink and tobacco; as for diversions, I merely attend baseball spectacles.”
“This too—upon marrying—I intend us to venture out together.”
“Furthermore…”

“Such matters would be better discussed with Madam here.”
“Father—might we now take our leave?”

“No—it seems this has become customary for men to withdraw from gatherings first.”
Or perhaps that fellow doesn’t mean to return upstairs at all?
I’ve gone and sown another seed demanding cultivation now.
To what depths must a man sink?

Then, Makutaro shuffled up.

Asuke (gazing at him with pitying eyes): “Hey—we ought to be going now.”

Makutaro: “I don’t see any need to rush.”

Asuke: “No—once we’ve finished talking, the other party must have their own circumstances to attend to. Shouldn’t we be the ones to conclude?”
“That would be best.”

Makutaro: “I still have things to discuss.”

“Look—there’s… there are circumstances, you understand? It becomes rather trying when you persist in this sort of nonsense.”

Kumi (covered her face with both hands, stifling her laughter)

Asuke (glancing briefly in her direction): “Come now—let us go. At any rate, we should go downstairs.”

Makutaro: “I just came down.”

Asuke (clicked his tongue).

“Well now, that should suffice.”

Asuke: “Is that so?”
(sat down)

“Miss Kumi,” said Makutaro, “you disliked men slow to decide, did you not? Those who wish to leave ought to leave briskly. Now—might I ask something? Can those hands manage water work?”

“I shan’t know until I try,” replied Kumi.

“Who asks such things?” interjected Asuke.

Makutaro pressed on: “How many children do you mean to bear?”

“Hey! You idiot!” cried Asuke.

Kumi countered: “And you?”

“As many as you please...” Makutaro trailed off.

Asuke muttered: “If he’d but stop... What an idiot this fellow is...”

Makutaro (stood up): "Well then, let’s let in some air."
“It should be all right to open the shoji now.”
(opened the shoji and stepped onto the engawa) “Miss Kumi, come and see.”
There was a man who had climbed up that tall chimney and was cleaning it.

Kumi (after a slight hesitation, stood up, steadied herself against the shoji screen, and gazed at the distant sky beyond).

Makutaro (invisible, voice only): "If I were to take up that line of work—would you object?"

Asuke: He'd gone quite mad.

Kumi (laughing): "Well now—one couldn't possibly know unless it came to pass."

Asuke (in a low voice to Okuzo): "Given his propensity for discourtesy—might I entreat you to bend protocol and make your withdrawal first?"

The sound of Makutaro imitating Chaliapin and humming the Volga Boat Song was heard.
Kumi looked at Father’s face.
Sone came up.

Sone: “My apologies for keeping you waiting.”

Kumi (returned to her seat)

“Once you’ve finished speaking, Mr. Wakui, please come downstairs…”
“Me too?”
“Well…”
Makutaro appeared. “Aren’t you coming back up?”
“Depending on how matters develop… that could go either way…”

“In that case, since I might end up staying downstairs once I descend, I shall take my leave here with proper greetings. I pray we may have the honor of meeting again.”

Okuzo: “My sincerest apologies for the disruption.”

Asuke: “Miss, pray think none the worse of this…”

With Sone leading the way, Makutaro and Asuke descended downstairs.

“How was it?”
“Still no good?”

“Not exactly.”

“Do you see potential?”

“There certainly is.”

“Truly? Then...”
“No wonder you all seemed oddly composed.”

“That man’s precisely the sort you can’t understand without speaking to him.”

“What made him appeal to you?”

“Why... I can’t quite put it into words.”
“Putting it into words wouldn’t sound complimentary—but that very quality suits my taste oddly well. They say he hasn’t finished school and owns no property... yet life with someone like him might prove rather amusing.”

Okuzo: “Those eyes of yours must be trustworthy.”

Kumi: “What happens after this, nobody could possibly know. That cousin of his is so presumptuous, swallowing every assumption whole—it’s ridiculous how he thinks any bride would come running to his doorstep. But I do want to see him pull an unexpectedly disappointed face soon.”

At that moment, Sone came flusteredly rushing in.

“You must understand—these indirect discussions tend to have so many discrepancies...”
“But given our earlier conversation, both of you...”

Kumi: “Yes.”
“I leave it in your hands…”

Okuzo: “So then... what would today’s fee amount to?”

Sone: “If we are to advance the discussion, I must ask for five yen.”

Okuzo (extracting bills from his wallet): “Ah well—thanks to you, we’ve found our candidate.”
“So long as my daughter fancies him, I care not what terms change or what must be done.”
“A man singing through his nose hardly matters... Ha ha ha ha!”

Kumi (casting a sidelong glance at her father, starting to laugh as if remembering something, then suddenly rising, concealing her face in her sleeve, rushing to the shoji screen where she trembles with suppressed mirth).

Sone (stood dumbfounded, unable to comprehend what was happening).

―Curtain―