Pathway to Japanese Literature

Mugitaro

Mayuko

Umiroko Fujin

Female Clerk

Director Kizawa

Ms. Sodehara

Other Silent Characters

ACT I

A corner of the park—through a grove of cedar trees, a black plank fence stretched into view, and against a break in the rainy season sky, red roof tiles glistened.

Before the path lay a single decaying bench, with empty Cider bottles, rolled-up newspapers, and trampled paper scraps scattered about.

Mayuko appeared at the head, followed by Mugitaro and Umiroko Fujin.
Mayuko was a twenty-three- or twenty-four-year-old unmarried woman holding a pale blue parasol.
Mugitaro wore a uniform with gold buttons paired incongruously with a hunting cap—an odd ensemble—and even carried a slender cane with affected dignity, yet his hands still bore the youthful innocence of a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old.
Umiroko Fujin wore a crested black summer haori—eschewing an umbrella in favor of a folding fan—a modern maternal type in her mid-forties who habitually covered her nostrils with her upper lip when silent.

“Mayuko, if you walk that fast, Mother can’t keep up.”
“But Mugitaro keeps poking me in the back from behind.”

Mugitaro (retracted the cane he’d thrust forward) “You’re pinning it on me again.”

Umiroko Fujin: “Just behave today, Mugitaro… Let’s rest here awhile before going on. If I’m this winded, I’ll never manage proper words with the Director.” (She spreads a handkerchief on the bench and sits)

Mayuko: “It’s not even dirty…” (copying her mother’s motions)

Mugitaro (watching them settle): “I’m bolting—” (he sprints away)

Umiroko Fujin┐

(simultaneously exchanging glances, simultaneously rising in despair) Mugitaro!

Mayuko┘

Mugitaro (ran five or six steps as if dashing off, then immediately returned) “…What a…”

Umiroko Fujin (grabbing Mugitaro’s arm) “Don’t startle me like that—no… We made such a promise last night, didn’t we? Mother would never do anything that isn’t for your sake… I’ve already spoken at length with the Director about everything, you know. Calling it a reformatory might sound bad, but that place is different from others—they said they absolutely don’t use restrictive teaching methods… In that regard, it’s way more free than your previous middle school or anything. They let those who like art focus solely on art, and make those who enjoy gymnastics devote themselves entirely to that, you know. For a child like you who doesn’t want to do anything, they’ll probably just leave you be without making you do a thing.”

“Liar!”

“It’s true,” said Umiroko Fujin. “They’ll educate you so that gradually you’ll develop things you want to do—things you’ll come to like.” She turned to her daughter. “Don’t you agree, Mayuko?”

“Yes,” Mayuko replied. “I should’ve gone to a school like that myself. Then I wouldn’t be like this now.” She twirled her parasol absently. “Every morning when I wake up, I wouldn’t have to wonder what I ought to do that day.”

“I don’t think about that stuff.”

“That’s exactly why you’re fine as you are,” said Umiroko Fujin. “You just don’t know what you want to do yourself. Not a single thing you do is something you do because you like it. That’s right, isn’t it? Who would ever do something that bothers others because they want to?”

“That ain’t necessarily so,” Mugitaro shot back.

“It’s no use—no matter what Mother says….”
Mugitaro raised his cane. “You gettin’ lippy with me?”
Mayuko sprang up abruptly. “Why d’you think your sister bothered coming along today?”

"Don't you get anything?"

Umiroko Fujin: "Mugiarō—please! I'm begging you—don't act up now we've come all this way."
"Sister here's your greatest ally—though you'd never know."
"Even Mother does this because she cares."
"When Father kept insisting otherwise—it was me who kept him waiting."
"Since this whole mess began—I haven't slept proper nights worrying over your future."
"But still... something tainted lingers when I look at you."
"After all I've done... can't claim pure intentions."
"Especially remembering raising you since birth—makes me want forbidden things."
"That's why I need Sister here."
"She watches us both with clearer eyes."
"When I twist your words worse than they are—she checks me proper."
"So today—when I tell your story final time to Director—she'll bear witness."
"Lest I speak too harsh about my own son."

“And another thing—if I try to make a break for it on the way, you’re planning to get me nabbed right there, ain’t ya?”

Mayuko laughed. “Getting collared by your own sister? What a sorry excuse for a man.”

“So what’re you aiming to do?”

“You don’t have to get angry over such things…” Umiroko Fujin fretted anxiously.

"I hate women like Mayuko.
From when she wakes up till she crashes at night, all she does is stew about marriage—then when someone mentions goin' into the reformatory, she puts on this jealous face, and when people butter her up right to her mug, she just shuts her eyes and laps it up…"

Mayuko: "Then how'm I s'posed to listen?"
"Keep my eyes wide open?"

Mugitaro: "Better'n keepin' 'em shut."

Umiroko Fujin: "Does any of that really matter?
Now then—Mugitaro—what'll it be? You comin' quiet-like? Just taggin' along ain't enough.
You gonna tough it out there awhile?
If you pitch another fit in front of the Director, Mother'll catch hell for it."

“I’ll decide after seein’ what kinda guy this Director is. If he’s some bastard like our old man, count me out.”

Umiroko Fujin: “Even our Father… if only you had been more obedient…”

Mugitaro: “Got it, got it.”
“Cut it out already with that talk.”
“So that place surrounded by the wooden plank fence—that’s the reformatory?”
“Looks pretty damn spacious, don’t it?”
“I’ve gotten real bad wantin’ to see inside.”
“Might as well be a zoo—can’t say that’s wrong.”

“Oh, it’s not that sort of thing at all.”
“You’re horrid, Mugitaro.”

Umiroko Fujin: “What an outrageous misunderstanding you’re having.”
“This child—”
“Didn’t I tell you last night too? There are proper bedrooms and study rooms... a playground with swings and tennis courts, a big pond with boats, flower beds for those who like plants, even little birds for those who want to play with them...”

Mayuko: “Didn’t Mother say they’ve got all the instruments too?”
“Pianos and everything...”
“It’s way better than home.”

“You bastard should get in too.”

“They say women aren’t allowed.”

“So there’s no such thing as a women’s reformatory?”

“If women were to enter reformatories, that would be the end of things.”

Men were just getting started.
A fence like that—no reason I couldn’t jump right over it.

“Then try doing something like that, you….”

“Shut up.”
“Every damn time…”
“At least let me say what I gotta say.”
(There—for reasons unknown—he took out a thin coiled wire from his trouser cuff, tied one end high on a roadside tree’s branch while gripping the other end tightly before climbing onto the bench.)

Umiroko: “What are you doing?”

Mugitaro: “There’s a squirrel up in that tree.”
“If we wait like this, that squirrel’ll come down and do a tightrope walk on the wire—so just watch.”

Where was Mayuko?

Mugitaro: “Isn’t it in that thicket of branches?”
“If you make a noise, it’ll run away.”

Umiroko Fujin and Mayuko were intently looking up at the treetop.
Then from one direction appeared a man and a woman.
The man was a middle-aged gentleman wearing a newly bought straw boater hat; the woman was unmistakably a geisha with her hair in a shimada style. Mindful of public scrutiny, the man had slightly quickened his pace.
The man took out a cigarette and lit it.
The moment he did, the straw boater hat transformed into an Amida Buddha statue and flew backward with force.
Mugitaro’s mischief had borne fruit.
The man shouted “Ah!” and reached for his head, but it was already too late.
Unable to comprehend what had happened, he looked around.

“You can’t go through there!”
(Finally noticing) “How utterly rude…”

“Mugitaro.”

Umiroko Fujin hurriedly picked up the hat. “I truly apologize.”
“You see—just now—he mentioned there was a squirrel up in that tree…”
“He was attempting to have that squirrel perform a tightrope walk on the wire.”
“Oh, it’s nothing—he’s always playing such pranks for fun, so I didn’t pay it any mind… Truly, with his own mother right here, I don’t know what to say.”

The man took the hat and, without so much as a word, donned it and left.
Eventually, only the woman’s “Say something already!” was heard.

“Mugitaro, why must you keep making Mother suffer like this?”

Mayuko: “That squirrel was a lie, wasn’t it.”

Mugitaro (grinning slyly)

Mayuko (bursting into laughter as if suddenly remembering something)

Umiroko Fujin: “This isn’t something to laugh about.”
(While suppressing her own laughter) “Still, he turned out to be mild-mannered so it ended well—but what would you have done if he’d actually challenged us?”
“You can’t keep using childhood as an excuse.”
“It’s as if Mother was born to apologize to everyone for your misdeeds.”

“I’m the one who was born later, y’know.”
“That’s why I’m saying it’s like I gave birth to you just to apologize.”
“Then that’s—the story’s different again.”
(pitifully) “You never learn your lesson from anything, do you.”

Don’t cry—ain’t cool, so cut it out.
So this is really the end.
Once I get in that reformatory—what’ll they even let me do?
Nah—probably don’t gotta do nothin’ at all.
(Thinking) Damn—can’t tell which way’s up anymore.

“Mugitaro’s actually good-natured at heart.”
“No matter what mischief he does—when I look at that face—I just can’t stay mad.”
“Ain’t scared even if ya blow up.”
“That’s our Mayuko for ya.”
“Quit actin’ all high-hat!”

At this moment, the sound of the wind ensemble's march could be heard coming from the direction of the reformatory.
All three of them remained silent for a while, listening intently in that direction.

Umiroko Fujin: (rising to her feet) “Come on—let’s go… over there…”

——CURTAIN——

Act 2

The wind ensemble music from the previous scene continued.

The reception room of Shizen Gakuin, a private reformatory that styled itself a "natural academy."

Umiroko, Mugitaro, and Mayuko were guided into the room by the Female Clerk.

Female Clerk: “Please wait here momentarily. The Director will arrive shortly…”

Mrs. Umiroko: “You’re too kind.”

Female Clerk: “Ah, if you would please take seats over there. Should you remain standing like that, I’ll be reprimanded later…”

Umiroko Fujin: (blankly) “I see.”
(she sat down)

The Female Clerk offered chairs to Mayuko and Mugitaro, bowed politely, and exited.
Mugitaro immediately stood up, went over to the window, and looked outside.

Umiroko Fujin: “Mugitaro, your hat...”

Mugitaro (does not immediately attempt to take it off.
But at the sound of the door opening, he suddenly reaches for his hat)

Director Kizawa, a fifty-six-year-old jovial old gentleman.
He had a bandage over one eye.

Director: “Ah, my apologies for keeping you waiting.”

Umiroko Fujin: “I’ve finally brought him.”

Director: “That’s splendid.”
“I’ve drawn up a basic plan.”
“Once we’ve properly discussed things…”

Mrs. Umiroko: “Ah yes, please be sure to…”
“This is Mayuko—Mugitaro’s sister.”

Mayuko: “This time it’s my brother again…”

Director: “Now now, no need for concern. As you see before you – an ordinary school. A home. And simultaneously, a club. Mugitaro. Don’t face that direction – come here.”

Mugitaro (grinning awkwardly)

Umiroko Fujin: “This brings me such shame – even at his age, he still hasn’t mastered proper bowing.”

Mayuko: “It’s not that he can’t – he won’t. He’s made up his mind not to.”

Director: “There must be some reason behind it. Moreover, I don’t want any bowing or such formalities. Mugitaro-kun—which school subject do you like best?”

Mugitaro: ….

Umiroko Fujin: “Well… I wonder if there’s anything he likes…”

Director: “Now now—quiet.”
“Hm?”
“What?”

Mugitaro still hadn’t said a thing.

A long silence stretched on.

The Female Clerk brought in tea.
The music stopped.

Director: “Well then, let’s postpone our talk with Mugitaro-kun for later. If there’s anything else you’d like to ask…”

Umiroko Fujin: “Ah, well—if I were to begin listing them all, there’d be no end.”
“What I previously brought to your attention was merely the beginning…”
“Mugitaro, you come and listen here.”
“What Mother is about to tell the Director is all for your sake, you know.”
“You must have the Director hear every single thing you’ve done up till now and get him to fix whatever needs fixing.”
“If you think I’m saying unnecessary things, don’t go resenting Mother for it.”
“By the way, Director, what happened to your eye?”

Director: “This here?”
“This here—well, our little troublemaker took a blowgun with a sewing needle attached to the tip and managed to land a perfect shot, it seems.”

“My, how dangerous…” Umiroko Fujin said.

“My, my—I can’t afford to let my guard down,” the Director replied.

“So what became of that child?” Umiroko asked.

“Did nothing,” said the Director. “He’s still playing with his blowgun as usual. Instead, we made paper targets for him.”

Umiroko Fujin turned to Mugitaro with emotion. “Did you hear that?” Then addressing the Director again: “Now regarding our earlier discussion—even if this repeats what I previously mentioned—I must beg your pardon…”

Mayuko: “Mother—and doing this in front of Mugitaro—it still feels too cruel.”

Director: “No need to dwell on particulars.”
“I’m fully apprised.”
“Now then—he’s never been apart from his parents until now, correct?”

Umiroko Fujin: “No, there hasn’t.”

Director: “None... How many times has the school failed?”

Umiroko Fujin: “Once in elementary school, twice in middle school…”

Mugitaro: “Three times.”

Umiroko Fujin: “Oh… Was that so…”

Director: “Three times in middle school... So—were you the leader of that… what’s-it-called secret organization?”

Mayuko: “The vice-leader, I suppose.”

Director: “The one called leader…?”
“A friend from middle school?”

Mugitaro: ………….

Umiroko Fujin: “As I mentioned previously, that person happens to be a girl. Barely nineteen or thereabouts…”

Director: “Ah yes, quite right. Where did you make that girl’s acquaintance? This time you shall answer for yourself.”

Mugitaro: …………….

Umiroko Fujin: “With all due respect, this child would never deign to answer such inquiries.”
“The teachers at every school were utterly exasperated by this, and when the police conducted their investigation the other day, they said this child alone remained completely tight-lipped from start to finish—why, even the Police Chief appeared quite incensed about it.”
“Though it may sound strange coming from a parent’s mouth, even so, he gives half-hearted replies only to the things I inquire about.”
“Admittedly, most of it seems to be utter nonsense, though.”
“I shall gradually request your discipline, but as for today—no matter how much you instruct him—I believe it will ultimately prove futile. What are your thoughts on this?”
“As I mentioned the other day, in daily life, he has never shown any sign of hardship whatsoever.”
“Although we by no means live luxuriously at home, we have made it a point to give our child whatever he desires.”
“He may have joined the company of those who commit such audacious acts, but I believe he never put a single penny into his own pocket.”
“On the other hand, in terms of having a warped disposition—(looking at Mugitaro)—there is hardly any equal to him.”
“And then, the way he nonchalantly engages in mischief of ill nature—Director, it’s enough to make one shudder just thinking about it.”

Director: That very thing—as I mentioned before—is because he remains unaware of what he himself wants to do. It’s certainly not that he does them out of any desire.

Umiroko Fujin: It truly must be so, mustn’t it? That is why—no matter what mischief he does—when I see his face—glancing at Mayuko—I simply cannot bring myself to hate him. If I may say he has a good heart—even when quarreling with his sister, you can see he holds back somewhere—he doesn’t act as violently as his words suggest. Moreover, this daughter of mine named Mayuko is exceedingly fond of her brother—despite suffering harsh treatment herself, she persists in shielding him.

Mayuko: “There’s no need to talk about me.”

Umiroko Fujin: “Even so—if we don’t begin explanations from your own conduct—you’ll never understand—and I must say—this child was never originally of such a nature.
“When he was small—he proved such an ingenious child that everyone marveled—though no one taught him anything—he memorized works like the Hundred Poets anthology by heart…”

Mugitaro: “Is that all Mother has to say?”
Umiroko Fujin: “Uh—well—that’s about it.”
Mugitaro: “Then there’s something I want to ask.”
“Can I ask?”
Umiroko Fujin: “To me?”

“Anyone’s fine—someone who can answer, give me a response.”
“Who decided this whole business of what’s good or bad?”
“Why is it that good things aren’t interesting—why’s only bad stuff interesting?”

Director: “Well now, Mugitaro-kun…”

Mugitaro: “Who’s this ‘Mugitaro-kun’ you’re talking about?”

Director: “Then let me explain, Mugitaro-kun—this matter of good and bad? Humans decided it. A great many people took a long time to decide it. And good things aren’t interesting because you can do them anytime. Bad things are interesting because they’re hard to do. Understand? But even among good things, there exist good things that are hard to do. Now these—they’re splendidly interesting! Once you start doing those, bad things stop being fun. You’ll find yourself wondering why you ever thought those boring things were worth doing.”

Mugitaro: "Is there nothing in the world but good things and bad things?"

“Hmm?”
“That isn’t so.”
“I’m tellin’ ya, I hate studying and exercise.”

“Good, good, that’s fine.”

“But, Director…”

“No—that’s quite enough.”

At this moment, the wind ensemble music that had temporarily stopped began to be heard again.

The female clerk entered.

Female Clerk: "Director, matters over there appear to be in order."

Director: "Ah, right—well then..."
"Well then—Madam and Miss—I must ask you to wait here for a while."
"Mugitaro-kun, come along over here."
(Stands up)

Mugitaro (Hesitates for a moment, then follows along with a smirk)

After the Director and Mugitaro departed, the female clerk replenished the tea and such.

“Oh please—there’s no need to trouble yourself further…”

“Are you acquainted with our Director here?”

“Yes, we received a referral through an introduction from a certain person.”
“But it must be quite trying, I imagine.”
“This sort of work…”

“It’s work one couldn’t do unless they loved it.”
“As for myself, even being here in this position without direct relations to the students—there are truly things beyond tolerance.”
“Young masters from quite respectable families come here too—what does one make of that?”
“Well then, kindly excuse me.”

(Exits.)

Mayuko: “She’s the very picture of a clerk, isn’t she.”

“Did you want to say something?”

Mayuko: “But this works out well.”

Umiroko: “That’s good then. He should be fine if he keeps this up.”

Mayuko: “He’s quite skilled, isn’t he.”

Umiroko: “He’s grown accustomed to it, you know. But since I was only thinking about what I wanted to say myself, I don’t remember at all who said what. Even I myself was so caught up that I don’t recall what I said or how I said it. Did I say anything strange?”

“You did say something.”
(Pause) “By the way—Mugitaro’s actually putting real thought into it.”

Umiroko: “Is that so.”
“It’d be good if he keeps thinking about it, but…”

Mayuko (listening closely): “Manhattan Beach,” she identified.
“They’re rather skilled, aren’t they?”

Umiroko: “Well—this sort of place does seem somewhat reassuring.”
“But somehow—my heart’s started pounding.”

“With that, you’d think I’m the one obsessing over marriage.”
It became absurd.

“As long as this doesn’t hinder your marriage prospects…”

“Let it interfere for all I care.”
“That’s not what I’m thinking about at all...”
(Pause) “So there really are women’s reformatories after all.”
“I remembered... I...”
“It was in the direction of Itabashi, I believe....”

“It’s all right if we come check on him sometimes, right?”

“If need be, I could even move to this neighborhood.”

Umiroko: “You should try asking Father yourself as well.”
“Father thinks that Mugitaro ending up like that is my fault.”
“It’s so hard for me to talk about…”

Mayuko: “The first one is Father’s fault.”
“Next comes friends… then comes… I suppose.”

Umiroko: “I suppose I would have said the same.”
“Well, of course I have some responsibility too.”
“When you put it that way, I have nothing left to say.”

Mayuko: “Oh, I wasn’t trying to… Mother…”

The music had imperceptibly shifted into an utterly fantastical tone and now sounded much farther away than before. Then it gradually faded away.

At this moment, the Director appeared.

The Director’s face had grown paler than before, even appearing somewhat sinister…….

“Well now—this concludes the formalities.”
“The assigned caretaker is Ms. Sodehara—someone who studied child psychology in America—and serves as an ideal mother figure.”
“I will now introduce her.”
“And then, I will individually introduce all teachers directly involved, so…”

Before he could finish saying this, the teachers came trooping in.
Each one possessed extremely distinctive features that at first glance gave such an extraordinarily bizarre impression they seemed not of this world.
To make this impression maximally effective, these people could each be wearing masks.
After waiting for the entire group to finish entering—

“Well then—” said the Director, “this is Mr. Sunamori, our physical education instructor…”

“Pleased to meet you…”

Director: “This is Mr. Kazama, our music instructor…”

Umiroko: “Pleased to make your acquaintance…”

Director: “And there you have Mr. Iwanishi of natural sciences…”

Umiroko: “Is that so…”

Director: “And next to him is Mr. Hiromi of fine arts…”
Umiroko: “I’ve long been aware of your name…”

Director: “And to the left is Dr. Mizuochi of hygiene.”
“...”

Umiroko: “Hygiene... Oh my, well I never...”

Director: “There are still others, but unfortunately, as they are either in the middle of lectures or have already left for the day, we cannot have you meet them today.”

Some time ago, the music had stopped, and instead, only the sound of the drum could be heard.
At this moment, one person arrived late—the nursery governess Ms. Sodehara—entering while adjusting her collar.
This was an ordinary woman—though at first glance, one could see she was an old miss hardened by confidence and common sense.

Director: "Ah."
"This is our nursery governess, Ms. Sodehara…"
"And here we have the mother and elder sister of our current pupil…"

Umiroko: "As you can plainly see…"

Sodehara: (cutting in) "The young master has indeed been entrusted to us."
"Though someone like myself is hardly capable, under Director Kizawa’s guidance I shall devote myself entirely to his care."

Umiroko: "Your kindness is most appreciated."
"Given his... peculiar tendencies…"

Sodehara: "Not at all! Observe this—" (pricking up her ears) "That drumming you hear? That’s the young master himself."
"He’s already grown quite accustomed."
"When we brought him to the playroom moments ago, he immediately spotted the drum and asked, ‘Might I play this?’ To which I replied, ‘By all means.’"
"That’s what I told him."
"And wouldn’t you know—he seized those drumsticks with such delight!"
"Seeing this, my anxieties dissolved completely."
"One rarely encounters such artless sincerity."
"If you’d kindly step this way for a better view…"

Umiroko Fujin and Mayuko stood in the doorway.

Sodehara: “It’s over there. You should be able to see from that window.”

Umiroko Fujin watched the scene for a while but suddenly covered her face with both hands.
Following this, Mayuko pressed her sleeve to her eyes.
The two of them dashed into the room just like that.

Umiroko Fujin: (in a trembling voice) Mugitaro is drumming...

Mayuko: (choking up, parroting) “Mugitaro’s drumming…”

Umiroko Fujin: (laughing and crying) “The drum…the drum…What’s the use…Again with the drum…”

Amidst their tearful laughter, the raucous drumming resounded.
Eerie faces all at once poured their gazes upon the two women.

――Curtain――