Pathway to Japanese Literature

Characters

Bunroku — Fifty-five years old

Osei — his wife, forty-five years old

Rentarō — his son, twenty-three years old

Ochika — his daughter, seventeen years old

Tsunekichi — Apprentice, sixteen years old

Kyōsaku — Lodger, forty-two years old

Wanrai — Newspaper reporter, thirty-eight years old

Time: Winter of Taisho ×10× Year

The outskirts of the capital

Scene 1

The family room adjoining the bread shop’s storefront.

Bunroku, Osei, Rentarō, and Ochika were gathered around the dining table, while Tsunekichi sat slightly apart at a separate meal tray; all were eating.

6:00 PM.

Bunroku (after slurping his soup): “Osei, you forgot the ginger again.
Clams need ginger, tofu needs scallions—post that in the kitchen.”

Osei (with her mouth full of rice): “I told Ochika that much, but...
Could there still be some of that from before in the bamboo sieve with the broken rim?”

Ochika (while plucking a hair from her mouth with her fingers): “Tsune-kun, you forgot again. Ugh.
(To Osei) There’s none left?”

Tsunekichi: “Was it ginger too? I didn’t hear about that one.”

Ochika: “Whenever I ask this person to do something, it always ends up like this...”

Rentarō (snapping): “Idiot.”
(Thrusting his empty bowl toward Ochika) “Cut out the pathetic jokes.”

Ochika (staring blankly at Rentarō’s face.
After finishing scooping her rice, she slammed her bowl down and burst into tears.)

Osei (to Rentarō): “What’s come over you too? Making such a scene over nothing...”

Bunroku: “Enough with the crying.
“You likely didn’t mean it as a joke.
“My fault for nitpicking.
“In this frigid sky, countless souls can’t even eat warm meals.”

Osei: “Father, what about your rice?”

Bunroku: “Hmm, just wait.”
(He brought the sake cup to his lips.)

(At this moment, Kajimoto Kyōsaku appeared halfway down the stairs, extended a hand holding a kettle, and revealed half his body.)

Kyōsaku: “A cup of hot water, please.”

Osei: “Yes, right away.”
“Ochika.”

Ochika (going to take the kettle): “I’ll bring it right away.”
(She poured the hot water and ascended to the second floor.)

Bunroku: “Mr. Kyōsaku hasn’t been coming downstairs at all lately.”

Rentarō: “Quit calling him ‘Mr.,’ Father—he’s just a primary school teacher!”

Bunroku: “So we shouldn’t call him ‘Mr.’ just because he’s a teacher?”

Rentarō: “Because it’ll go to his head.”

Osei (chidingly): "Rentarō."

Rentarō: "There's nobody I can't stand more than that guy."

Tsunekichi: "That's true. Just the other day, he did the same to me..."

Bunroku: “You shut up.”
“Well, never mind.”
“The world’s got all kinds of people.”

“Rentarō, you’re not yourself tonight.”

(A long silence.)

Rentarō (looked toward the second floor): “Mother，it’s no use．We have to call Ochika．”

Osei (to Tsunekichi): “Once you’re done，clean up quickly．” (Looked at the clock) “If you’re going to night school，hurry up and get going．”

Tsunekichi (silently cleared the meal tray and headed toward the kitchen．)

Osei： “What could she be doing… Not even eating her meal…”
(Tactfully) “Ochika．”
“Ochika．”

“What do you mean ‘what’s she doing’? You know perfectly well.”

Bunroku (holding out his bowl toward Osei): "Rentarō, after you finish eating, shall we play some shogi again?"

Rentarō: “Tonight there’s Mr. Maruo’s talk at the church. Aren’t you going, Father?”

Ochika (descending from the second floor with a tray and kettle): “Do you need something, Mother?”

Osei: “Come down after you’ve put everything away.”

“But I was still drinking my tea!”
“Just come down already, Ochika.”
(Muttering to herself) “This cleanup will never end...”

Bunroku: “I’m still eating.”

Osei: “You’re fine as you are.”
“Take your time eating.”

(A customer’s voice called out from the shopfront.)

Bunroku (pointed at Osei with his chin)

Osei: “Welcome.”
(She stood up as she spoke) “One loaf of bread, coming right up.”
“Butter-stuffed and jam-stuffed, half a pound each.”
“Unfortunately, we’re out of strawberry jam. Is that so? My deepest apologies.”

Bunroku: “What kind of talk will Mr. Maruo give tonight?”

Rentarō: “How could I know what he’ll say without hearing it?”
“It’s called ‘The Mission of Humanity and the Mystery of the Cosmos.’”

Bunroku: "What was that?"
"That man's lectures are too complicated for the likes of me to grasp."
"Compared to that, Nezu-san's talks are downright approachable."
"I can't speak to his academic credentials, but getting people to say 'I see'—that's real skill."

Rentarō: "It amounts to the same thing since we never say 'I see.'"
"It's better not to listen to that kind of sermon."

Bunroku: "It's not quite like that."
"That person—you know—is closer to Jesus than someone like Mr. Maruo."
"What they say is one thing, but their primary actions are different."
"That person doesn't put on airs."
"Mr. Maruo makes his confessions with a face like he's slain his parents' killer, doesn't he?"

Rentarō: “It’s because confession’s such a pleasurable thing, see.”

Bunroku: “Hmm, I’m not so sure about that.”

Rentarō: “You still don’t get that part?”

Bunroku: “You mean you’ve figured it out already?”

Osei entered. “What an odd customer we’ve got out front. He’s telling such a peculiar story.”
“Says his wife’s taken ill.”
“Buys bread every evening on his way home.”
“She sounds quite modern-minded.”
“But when he brings butter-stuffed loaves, she demands jam-filled ones instead.”
“Then when he gets jam-filled ones, she insists they must be butter-stuffed.”
“So tonight he’s buying both—but get this—he says if he presents them together it’ll spoil the fun. First he’ll give her one kind, then…”

Rentarō (abruptly stood up): “Not interesting.”
“What a pointless story.”

Osei (sullenly): “My, has this boy lost his mind?”
Bunroku gestured as if to say, “Now now, let it be.”
Rentarō took his bird-hunting hat and scarf: “I’ll go alone.”
He exited.

Bunroku: Rentarō.

Rentarō (without showing himself): “Ah.”

Bunroku: Wait.

Osei (silently begins clearing the meal trays)
Ochika (leaves for the kitchen).

Rentarō: "What is it?"
(Remaining standing at the threshold, he waits for a reply.)

(A slightly long silence.)

“The sermon starts at seven,” Bunroku said.
(Pause.) “Snap out of it and go.”
(Pause.) “Just sit down.”

Rentarō reluctantly settled by the brazier.

“You’re shivering,” Bunroku observed.
(Pause.) “Take the exam again this year.”
“Third time’s the charm.”

“I don’t need school or anything,” Rentarō countered.
“Let me do what I want instead.”

“What’ll that be?” Bunroku pressed.
“Theology?”

(A long silence stretched.)

Rentarō: “Father, can I go become a live-in student?”

Bunroku: “A live-in student.”

Rentarō: “Mr. Maruo says he wants me to study…(Pause) But somehow—staying like this, there’s nothing but things I don’t understand, and I just end up hating it all.”

Bunroku: “That’s why those things you don’t understand get taught at university, isn’t it?”

Rentarō: “They say university’s useless.”
“What I don’t understand isn’t that sort of thing.”
“When people talk about scholarship—it is scholarship—but not the kind you get from books.”
“Because it’s about life itself...”

Bunroku: “A matter of life? I see. That’s a problem.”
Rentarō: “Without my own philosophy, my own religion, nothing will come of it.”
Bunroku: “Your own, huh? Then whose religion is Christianity?”

“That’s exactly why,” Rentarō shot back. “Another’s Christianity won’t do. Without my own brand of Christianity...”

Bunroku crossed his arms. “Then why cling to Christianity at all?”

“There’s no teaching grander than the Bible!”

“Then shouldn’t everyone follow it exactly as written?” Bunroku pressed, his voice rising.

Rentarō leaned forward, eyes blazing. “Interpretations vary. It bends to any reading. That’s precisely why—” he jabbed a finger at his chest “—only interpretations I deem worthy have value.”

Bunroku himself might think it’s good, but he can’t tell for sure.

Rentarō: “That’s where belief comes in.
What you deem good is what God commands.”

Bunroku: “If you think that way, there’s no helping it.
Do you really think there’s such a thing as God?”

Rentarō: “If there’s no God, how was the universe created?”
“Where the hell did humanity come from then?”

Bunroku: “They say it’s from monkeys, don’t they?”

Rentarō: “What? That’s a century-old theory.”
“Then where did that monkey come from before that?”

Bunroku: “Monkeys? You’re talking about monkeys? It’s monkeys, I tell you!”

Rentarō (turns away) "Ridiculous."

Bunroku: "Then I'll ask you—if all humans die, what will God do?"

(A long silence)

Rentarō: “God? God wouldn’t do something like that.
“God is the creator.
“He isn’t a destroyer.”

Bunroku couldn’t simply accept that assertion.

Rentarō: “War? Earthquake? That’s destruction for building a new world.”

Bunroku: “So then—there’s no telling whether He might not decide to wipe out all these wretched humans and try creating something better instead.”

Rentarō clasped his head in both hands and thought deeply for a moment.

Osei and Ochika began sewing.

Bunroku: “That’s from the perspective of God having created humans.”
But perhaps God was created by humans.
Wasn’t it said that God dwelled within the human heart?
Then if all humans were to die, even something called God would cease to exist.

Rentarō: “That’s exactly it—(pause) Wait.”
“I should ask Mr. Maruo about this—yes!”

Bunroku: “Go ask.”

“Mom, I need to buy books—give me two yen. I won’t buy anything next month.”
“Books? How many have you bought just these past few days?”

Bunroku: “Give it to him.”

Osei: “Mr. Kyōsaku upstairs says he’ll lend you as many books as you need…” (takes money from her obi and hands it over)

Rentarō: “It’s no good. Books that guy has are…” (Ochika looks up at Rentarō with resentful eyes.)
(Rentarō, unaware of this) Marriage and Love, huh?
I don’t want to read that kind of stuff.
(Ochika starts and looks up at Rentarō again) “Well, I’ll go then.”
(Stands up and leaves) “It’s a customer.”
(Rentarō’s voice can be heard)

Ochika (stands and approaches) “Welcome.”

Osei sidled up to Bunroku. “There’s something I need to discuss with you tonight—” She pointed toward the shop with her chin. “—about Ochika.”

Bunroku stiffened. “What’s happened with Ochika?”

Osei kept her eyes downcast. “The truth is... something inexcusable has occurred regarding you, Father.”

Bunroku’s face twisted in anguish rather than mere worry. A heavy silence stretched between them.

He spoke first, shaking off dark thoughts like water. “Well? Out with it.”

“Ochika still begs me not to tell you,” Osei whispered. “But we can’t let this fester. Though mind you—it’s not absolutely confirmed yet.” Her fingers worried at her apron. “From what I’ve observed... yes, I fear it’s true.”

Bunroku (fearfully) “So it seems to be the case?”

Osei: “Yes.”

(Silence)

Bunroku (pointing upstairs with his chin) “Is it... Mr. Kyōsaku?”

Osei: "I thought it couldn't be possible, but…"

(Ochika’s shadow was projected on the shoji screen.
It remained motionless.)

Bunroku (seeing that, harshly) “Ochika! Come here.”

Osei: “What’s done is done, so don’t say anything too harsh.”
“I may be furious myself, but it’s not all her fault… I bear heavy responsibility too…”

Bunroku (as if her words weren’t reaching his ears): “Ochika! I said come here—are you not coming?”

(The sound of Ochika’s stifled sobs could be heard.)

――Curtain――

Act II

Same as before.

Bunroku and Osei faced each other at the long brazier.
Ochika lay collapsed in tears beside the mother.

Not much time had passed since the previous scene.

Bunroku: “I can’t do it. No matter what—I can’t do something like that.”
“Then it won’t be the child’s doing anymore—it’ll be yours.”
“Enough—just watch. Whether what I do’s right or wrong—well—just watch.”

(At this moment, Kyōsaku descends the stairs with a resolute expression.
A man over forty in appearance.
Holding a hat and dressed to go out.)

Bunroku (hurriedly straightening his posture): “Oh, Mr. Kyōsaku—are you going out?”
“It’s bitter cold tonight.”
(He shoots Osei a meaningful glance urging intervention)

Osei (urging with her eyes: "You should say something")

Kyōsaku steps out briefly.
(With this declaration, he exits to the storefront)

Bunroku (swallowing nervously) "Ah... Mr. Kyōsaku."

Kyōsaku (recoiling as if pulled back) "Yes?"

Bunroku: "If you're not pressed for time, Mr. Kyōsaku—there's something I'd like to discuss immediately. Would this be convenient?"

Kyōsaku: "Not at all—please proceed."
(He sits down, maintaining forced composure.
(His eyes keep darting toward Ochika)

Bunroku (to Osei, making a gesture that says "You say it")

Osei wore an expression that seemed to ask, "How could such a thing be possible?"

Bunroku: "It seems particularly cold tonight."

Kyōsaku responded as if waking from a dream: "Yes."

Bunroku began, "Well, you see..." His words trailed off as he looked at Osei and laughed in a way that seemed about to burst into tears. He cleared his throat once and bowed to Kyōsaku.

Kyōsaku—not understanding what this was about—bowed his head slightly with a forced polite smile.

Osei (with a troubled expression added charcoal to the brazier).

Bunroku (resolutely): "The truth is... this time... we've decided to..." (glanced briefly at Ochika) "...send Ochika away..." (Everyone present made expressions showing this unexpected topic had been raised, looking at Bunroku) "If we do so... naturally... our hospitality will become inadequate... and while my wife..." (glanced briefly at Osei) "...may appear quite diligent... she's actually terribly lazy..." (Osei forced a smile mixing dissatisfaction and agreement) "Just the other day... I observed... she was using the soup bowl meant for you... to feed rice to the bulldog next door..." (Kyōsaku's eyes widened)

Osei (about to say something)

Bunroku: “You keep your mouth shut. When Ochika’s here, we can at least keep the house somewhat orderly, but if she’s no longer present... well, even cleaning Mr. Kyōsaku’s room would become slipshod—an unpleasant admission, but...”

Osei: “Papa.”

Bunroku: “Huh? Is she still here?”

Ochika (imploringly): “Papa.”

Bunroku (flustered): “To put it plainly—well, I believe this situation must also be inconvenient for you, Mr. Kyōsaku, and moreover...”

Kyōsaku: “I understand.”
“You’re essentially telling me to leave, then.”
(pause) “When you couch it in such circumlocutions, discussion becomes difficult—though I’ve largely discerned the circumstances.”
“It should have been I who sought your instructions from the outset.”
“While your considerations appear to avoid touching upon the most critical matter, I must insist on resolving this as my own responsibility.”
“First—if I may—regarding my indiscretion, I must offer apologies to you both as her parents.”
(placing both hands on the floor and bowing formally) “It pains me profoundly that I cannot be allowed to assume full responsibility for Ochika-san’s future as I desired—that having robbed her of maidenly dignity, I must now cravenly disappear from her life.”
“Simultaneously, I’ve no justification before Ochika-san’s chaste heart—she who trusted my love and a man’s vows, offering both body and soul.”
(turning to face Ochika and bowing courteously)

Ochika (bows while sobbing)

Kyōsaku: "To speak truthfully, I had been awaiting one outcome that no circumstance could sever our bond—for I believed it would grant victory to our love. That I cannot witness this triumph fills me with profound regret. Yet I sense this hope need not be wholly abandoned. Should a keepsake of my love remain within Ochika-san's body... when the time comes to know of it... Ochika-san shall be mine. I belong to Ochika-san."

(His agitation grows) "I am presently wed—this I do not deny—but mine is a marriage in name alone. The woman I must call wife was sent back to her hometown under pretense of frailty, yet she possesses a body of stone and heart of ice. She buys a single fish—claims its plump back meat for herself—leaving me ribs and entrails. She pawned the watch essential to my profession to swim at Koyasu Beach with our neighbor's college student! Were this all... But no—upon receiving a month's wages, she pocketed them without settling debts and fled homeward."

(Bunroku and Osei, gradually drawn into his account, nod solemnly.)

“Her hometown?”
“Didn’t you say it was Kishu?”

Kyōsaku: “Yes, Kishu.”
“A citrus-producing region.”
“Given these circumstances—that is to say... yes, a citrus-producing region.”

(A long silence. Kyōsaku wipes tears.)

Osei: “As I listen to your story gradually, Father, it does seem something more could still be done about this.”

Bunroku: “But look here—the way you’re phrasing it—no matter what sort of woman she might be, we can’t just force our daughter on a man who already has a wife.”

“So then,” Osei pressed, “if we could just handle his wife somehow…”

“Now hold on,” Bunroku cut in, “what are you suggesting? Mr. Kyōsaku would never stoop to such a thing.”

Kyōsaku: "Given these circumstances—yes, I neglected to mention earlier—I intend to settle matters with her as promptly as possible and then consult with you anew. Until then, I humbly ask to remain under your roof as I am…"

Bunroku: "As a matter of principle, I cannot remain silent on such matters. While it's true your marital relations seem less than harmonious from what I've heard, that remains an entirely separate issue." His voice began rising in intensity. "When one meddles with another's daughter like a fox stealing chickens—to put it metaphorically—" He glared at Kyōsaku's presumptuous demeanor, "—there's no justification for such conduct! What purpose do parents serve if not to understand their role?"

Kyōsaku (apologetically): “No—I must offer my profound apologies on that count.”
“Yet I must ask you to consider—how could this face of mine dare request making Ochika-san, who is but seventeen, my wife when I’ve crossed forty’s slope?”

Bunroku: “If you believed it impossible, you should have properly given up from the start.”

Kyōsaku: “I’m deeply ashamed.”
“But this isn’t like shopping—when desire strikes, one can’t go counting coins in their purse.”
“Parents see every man as a fox prowling for their daughter, save those they’d take as sons-in-law.”
“Yet even among foxes exist divine messengers of Inari Daimyojin.”
“My homeland too has legends of chickens thought stolen returning multiplied.”
(Bunroku and Osei exchanged glances.)

Bunroku: “Having chickens returned multiplied might actually prove troublesome.”
“No—this too is metaphorical, but regardless, our daughter differs from a chicken. Kindly understand this.”
“Though unreasonable to demand tonight, I must request you relocate elsewhere first thing tomorrow.”

Ochika (after looking toward her mother, bursts into muffled sobs again)

Kyōsaku: “Ochika-san, aren’t you going to say anything? Mr. Kyōsaku is leaving now.”

Bunroku: “Ochika has nothing to say. I apologize for detaining you as you were about to leave. Now then, please feel free to go.”

Kyōsaku: “If that is how you put it, there is nothing to be done. I will prepare my belongings.”
(Weakly stands up and ascends to the second floor.)

Ochika (clinging to her mother's knees, in a trembling voice): Mother.

Bunroku: (waiting until Kyōsaku disappears from view, dejectedly) There's just no helping that.
"I’ve completely misjudged him!"
“Ochika, give up.”
“Even if a man grows nothing but a beard, don’t take someone like that as a husband. Osei, what do you think?”

Osei: Well...
“It’s too late for anything we say now, but that you would think so much of us…”

Bunroku: "Even you, Osei? What good is a man who just sits there silently letting himself be fed fish guts? Ochika - do you actually like that sort of man? Would you truly want such a husband?"

Ochika (nods clearly).

Bunroku: "There's nothing good about this."

Ochika (bursts into audible sobs, occasionally looking up at her mother's face with a pleading gaze).

(At this moment, commotion erupted from the front of the shop.)
Tsunekichi ran in from the kitchen.

Everyone, seized by anxiety and terror, looks toward Tsunekichi and listens intently toward the front.

Tsunekichi: “Did you all hear that?”

Bunroku (unconsciously stands up): “What?”

Tsunekichi (stammering): “The Earth’s gonna get crushed, they say!”

Bunroku: “What’s this all about?”

(At this moment, Rentarō comes rushing in from the front.)
(Everyone stands up.)

Rentarō: “Father, I heard.”

Bunroku: “What on earth is going on?”

Rentarō: “They say Earth will collide with a comet tomorrow night around eleven—it’s certain. The trains have stopped running and there’s not a single policeman left. Dr. Mochizuki just announced it at the Central Astronomical Observatory.”

(The shouts of a crowd can be heard in front of the shop.
Everyone goes out to the front of the shop.

(From the second floor, Kyōsaku Kajimoto descends timidly while holding hemp rope and newspaper in his hands)

“I represent Our Existence, the smallest newspaper in the capital with a circulation of merely six hundred copies.”
“I am Hamaoki Wanrai, society section reporter.”
“To prove I don’t deal in groundless rumors, I formally declare my credentials.”
“Gentlemen, I take heartfelt pride that Our Existence’s reporting now faces the destiny of narrating human history’s final page.”
(Someone shouted, “Get to the point!”) “Today at 1:00 PM, Dr. Mochizuki—Director of the Central Astronomical Observatory—suddenly discovered a massive comet emerging in a corner of the sky and confirmed its trajectory directly approaches our Earth. After urgently calculating its velocity with his assistant, they verified this comet—advancing at 28,000 miles per minute—will inevitably collide with Earth tomorrow night: February 31st of Taisho ×10× Year at 11:00 PM.”
“That Earth must perish from this collision needs no elaboration—the comet’s size being sevenfold ours makes this conclusion inevitable.”
“Gentlemen, Dr. Mochizuki’s expertise—rooted in profound learning and noble character—carries more certainty than Hebrew prophets.”
“The Doctor deeply pondered whether to announce this unprecedented catastrophe.”
“His scientific conviction resolved the matter thus.”
(Someone yelled, “We understand!”) “He proclaimed: ‘Free humanity’s final day from convention’s shackles!’ (Scattered applause erupted) Dr. Mochizuki immediately summoned capital reporters to fulfill their ultimate duty.”
“Alas! These oblivious journalists vanished before he finished speaking—not one paper has issued an extra edition since.”
“Behold! Government ministries, corporations—even the military—dissolved without orders; communications collapsed; prisoners escaped; servants fled; eateries were looted; grudges settled in blood; the comely defiled—(crowd noise drowned out remaining words).”

Bunroku: "Everyone, come here."

(Osei, Ochika, and Tsunekichi followed him and returned to their seats.)

"What should I do?" Ochika thought. "I’m going to die after all."

Osei turned to Bunroku: "What are they saying will happen to the Earth?"

Bunroku: “It’s okay. Don’t panic.”
(He paces restlessly,
bumping into Kyōsaku) “There’s no need to panic.”
“Well then... There’s no need for everyone to panic.”

(Rentarō enters accompanied by Hamaoki Wanrai.)

Rentarō: “This is the person—the one who just gave the speech.”

Wanrai: “Please let me have a glass of water.”
(Wanrai wiped his sweat and exchanged bows with everyone)

Bunroku: “Come on now, Ochika, hurry up and give him some water.
Osei, the front shutters… Rentarō, you go close them.”

(Rentarō heads toward the shop.)

Tsunekichi: "Master, please let me go to Otsuka’s place."

Bunroku: "Just shut up and run away when it’s like this."

Tsunekichi (placing his hands on the floor politely): "Then I’ll take my leave."
(He departed)

Wanrai (plopping down): "Everyone, why don’t you sit down instead of standing?"

(Everyone sat down as if suddenly remembering.)

Ochika (draws water into a cup and brings it over, passing it to Wanrai)

Wanrai: “Ah, finally the fatigue is catching up to me.”
(Leaning against a pillar) “I wonder what I’m doing this for.”
“I’m neither doing this because I think it’s a newspaper reporter’s duty, nor am I doing it to make a name for myself.”
“If humanity perishes, what meaning does duty hold?”
“What meaning does fame hold?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
(Laughs lonesomely) “I’m unmarried.”
“There was a woman in Yatsuyama.”
“Needless to say, she was a prostitute.”
“I was in love with that woman, but I couldn’t make her mine alone.”
“She was exactly as I had thought.”
“I rushed to that woman’s house just now.”
“I thought that by tomorrow night at eleven, I would be embracing that woman and turning into ashes in the heavens.”
“The woman’s house had its door firmly shut.”
“Outside the door, over a hundred men are blankly looking up at the second floor.”
“From time to time, from someone or other’s mouth, various women’s names are called out despairingly.”
“The same name is shouted from different men’s lips.”
“Inside the house, not a single sound could be heard.”
“The name of the woman I had been trying to meet was called out by at least ten men.”

“I didn’t have the courage to look any of those men in the eye.”
“Then a brawl started.”
“I watched them smash through the door and come flooding into the house.”
“I heard a woman scream.”
“I ran.”
(Silence.)

Rentarō: “Father, I’m going out for a bit.”

Bunroku: “Where are you going?”

Rentarō: “To Mr. Maruo’s place.”

Bunroku: “What are you going to do at Mr. Maruo’s place?”

Rentarō: “I’m going to ask about that matter. Since this happened in the middle of the sermon, I haven’t heard it yet. If God ceases to exist, I don’t want to die like this.”

Bunroku: “Go find out quickly.”

(Rentarō exits.)

Wanrai: “It isn’t about whether God exists or not. It’s whether you believe or not. I do not believe. The act of disbelieving is itself a form of faith. I do not believe humanity has advanced for the sake of believing in God. Nor do I believe they could have found happiness through believing in God. The highest culture and the most enjoyable life are born when humanity places the greatest expectations in its own power. The heart that prays to God when nearing death is undoubtedly tranquil, but it cannot compare to the radiant moment of praising oneself when facing death. Attachment to life transcends temporal concepts. If the final curtain of life should close amidst joy and ecstasy, death becomes a rest. No—rather, it is a continuation of joy and ecstasy, an extension. We must consider how to spend this remaining day. Repeat what brought you joy. Seek what you sought but could not obtain; drink the wine you love; sing what you wish to sing; dance what you wish to dance.”

Osei (prepares sake)

Wanrai: "Let those without love choose new love."

Kyōsaku (shuffles closer toward Ochika)

Wanrai: "Those who love, press forward without fearing anything."

Kyōsaku (takes Ochika's hand)

Bunroku (seeing that, pretends not to notice)

Wanrai: “Those who are loved must give everything without bashfulness.”

Ochika (leans against Kyōsaku’s shoulder)

Bunroku (seeing that, pretends not to notice)

Osei (pours sake for Wanrai and Bunroku)

Wanrai (downing it): Let those who store two days' provisions distribute one day's portion.

Bunroku (stands and heads toward the shop; next, the sound of a box being moved outside is heard)

Wanrai: Let those who possess two wives release and yield one.

Kyōsaku (looks at Osei’s face.
Osei (looking around restlessly, glances about)

Wanrai (appearing drunk): “O humanity, you now are about to conduct your own Last Judgment.
O humanity, let your history shine forth.” (Having said this, he lies down on his back.)

Kyōsaku (quietly peers at that face)

Bunroku (returns, sees this state, and is shocked)

Osei: “I wonder if Rentarō’s alright.”

Bunroku—as if struck by sudden realization—bolted outside in a panic. “Rentarō! Rentarō! Hey! Rentarō...” His voice faded into the distance.

Ochika sidled up to Kyōsaku.

Kyōsaku (finally embraces Ochika)

Osei (running out as if fleeing) "Father..." (her voice breaking into a sob)

Bunroku’s voice (from afar): Rentarō…

—CURTAIN—