Pathway to Japanese Literature

Author: Kishida Kunio

A middle-class family’s parlor—the kitchen visible beyond a rear shoji screen—had the Mistress’s everyday kimono carelessly draped over a clothes rack, while cosmetic bottles sat in disarray on her dressing table, their lids left off.

The maid O-hae leaned against the long brazier, reading a dramatic tale book.

In the kitchen came a woman's voice: "Excuse me."

O-hae (standing up): "Oh my，you've already finished closing up? That was quick."
"Look，I'm still just like this."
"Since Master returns late anyway，I can do it whenever."
"Do come in."
"Don't just stand there…"

(Woman's voice): "Well then，I'll take you up on that."
"Oh my…"
*(With these words，she enters the parlor.)*
*(It is O-shima，the maid from next door.)*

“O-hae-san… Take a look… What a mess…”

“You… did this?”

“No—the Mistress.”

“Our Mistress keeps things meticulous,” said O-shima-san. “Wouldn’t let maids near her dressing table.” She tugs at a chest drawer while speaking. “See? Doesn’t even lock these.”

It slides open effortlessly.

“Hey! What’re you doing?”

Flustered now closing it.

“O-hae-san, please sit here.”
(Offering a cushion)

O-shima (sitting down and stroking the edge of the long brazier): “This is a stylish brazier.”
“Nicer than ours.”

“It’s no good if you don’t take care of things—even if you spend a lot of money…” (taking out tea utensils and pouring tea) “What are you looking around for?”

“Oh… I was just wondering if there was anything unusual around here…”

“I’ll show you all sorts of things now.”
“What time are they coming back at your place today?”

“They said they’d have dinner out somewhere.”
“The Mistress keeps pestering him for Western food or something again.”
“The Master likes eel.”

“Oh Miss Hae—ours does the same thing.”
“Today though, I heard they went out for dinner somewhere...”
“Don’t tell me you don’t know—that couple who’s always visiting? The wife’s the tall one...”
“They say he’s a painter, but he doesn’t look the part.”

“Miss O-shima... I don’t know those people...”

“Is there anything you don’t know?”
“They’re always laughing up a storm here, aren’t they?”

“At your place, everyone cackles so loud you can’t tell who’s who.”

“If you say that, O-shima-san, your household isn’t one for laughter.”

“O-shima-san, it’s just that there’s nothing funny happening.”

“O-hae-san, it’s strange how you say there’s nothing funny.”
“The tea’s getting cold.”
“Oh right, let’s get that out.”
(Took salt rice crackers out of a tin can and placed about two on O-shima-san’s lap.)

“O-shima-san, please don’t stand on ceremony.”

“I received another one-yen raise starting this month.”

“So you’re at sixteen yen now.”
“In this neighborhood, places paying fourteen yen are pretty rare.”
“If only there were more side dishes…”

“O-hae-san—as for that—our Mistress understands.”
“She gave me a detachable collar last night too.”
(She stood up and brought over a worn detachable collar.) “I haven’t worn this one much at all.”

O-shima (briefly taking it in her hand but seeming unimpressed): "Your room must be cold..."
O-shima: "It’s cold indeed…"
"Your room is…."
O-hae: "This isn’t getting us anywhere."
"Besides, the futon’s all worn-out and thin…"
"I’ve been seriously thinking of bringing one from my family’s place, but…"
"There’s just no good opportunity, you see."
O-shima: "O-hae-san, it must be nice having a family that does that for you."
"What happened with that matter…?"

“O-shima-san…?”

“O-hae-san—come now, didn’t you mention before that there’s someone wanting to marry you…?”

“Was that how it was, O-shima-san?”

“If you’d just stop dwelling on yourself, there’d be no problem. You must forget because there are so many.”

“That might be true… What was that about again?”

“Well… They say he works as a town clerk… A bit older, but good at Naniwa-bushi… And he’s saved up some money—even lends it out to people… Isn’t that the one?”

“Ah, right, right,” said O-shima-san. “That matter, you know… There’s one better than that.”

“O-hae-san, you shouldn’t be so picky. You’ll end up with scraps.”

“That one’s a reservist,” continued O-shima-san, “but he’s quite good-looking.”

“That’s not bad at all,” replied O-hae.

“I don’t want that—it’d mean too much hardship.”

“(Pause) Hey, O-hae-san, won’t you do my hair again?”

“O-shima-san… Ah yes—of course…
“I can take my time today…”

O-shima (sitting before the Mistress’s dressing table): “Is this spot all right?”

“O-hae-san, don’t stand on ceremony about it.”

“Shall I apply the curling iron like the Mistress does…?”

(O-hae-san moves behind O-shima-san and begins to undo her hair.)

“Even half as big as this house would do—I want my own home soon.”

“Would you put a dressing table like this in yours?”

“O-shima-san: What kind of husband do you want to have?”

“How should I know? Such things...”

“O-shima-san—as if there’s anything you don’t know! You’d hate being a farmer’s wife, wouldn’t you?”

“O-hae-san: Even a farmer—if he can read, that’s fine.”

“What’s even the point of being able to read?”

“We’ll read books together.”

“O-shima-san… What kind of book…?”

“There’s an interesting book.”

“You should just read by yourself, shouldn’t you?”

“O-hae-san, that wouldn’t be any fun.”
“Then we wouldn’t get to discuss what we’ve read…”

“O-shima-san… Is that so…?”
“Me—I don’t care if they can’t read or anything. Someone who can sing songs would be nice.”

“O-hae-san—you want to sing together?”

“I’d just be listening to them sing.”
“If you ask me what part of a man I fall for—it’s his voice.”

“You like singing though, don’t you?”
“Didn’t you get scolded once before for singing something in the kitchen?”

“O-shima-san, what’s wrong with singing songs?”
“I don’t sing because I want to.”
“It just comes out on its own—there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“O-hae-san—doesn’t it hurt?”
“The hair comes out so easily…”

“O-shima-san—just do it without worrying.”
“Your hair’s filthy.”
“I haven’t had time to wash it.”
“Mine hasn’t been washed in two months either.”
“Maids aren’t meant to wash their hair anyway…”
“My Mistress has such beautiful hair.”
“My Mistress is balding right at the crown…”
(as O-shima casually picks up the lotion bottle) “Do you know what that costs?”

“O-Shima-san—this one?”
“It’s like some gourd lotion or something.”
“It doesn’t matter how much it costs.”

O-hae-san: “You could buy eight bottles of gourd lotion with that…”

“O-Shima-san—I’ve been getting these strange bumps on my face lately—do you think putting this on would help clear them up…?”

“O-hae-san, stop it—they’ll notice if it gets low.”

“O-shima-san (rummaging through the dressing table drawer): There’s a flatiron in here of all places…”

“O-hae-san—if you keep looking down like that, it won’t work.”

“O-shima-san—what’re you putting on those cracked hands?”

“O-hae-san—I’m not putting anything on them.”

“O-shima-san—how much d’you think it costs to get all the household things together?”

“O-hae-san—by then it’ll be too late to think about it.”

“O-shima-san—what’s your Master like with the maids?”

“O-hae-san… What do you mean by ‘what’s he like’…?”

“O-shima-san—are you being nosy?”

“O-hae-san—there’s no need to make such a fuss.”

“O-shima-san—are you the type to stay quiet?”

“O-hae-san—you’re the quiet type, aren’t you.”

“O-shima-san—do you drink sake?”
“O-hae-san—why ask something like that?”
“O-shima-san—they say there’s masters who tease their maids, you know.”

O-hae-san…

“O-shima-san—I’ve been asking around a little, you know. The neighborhood’s saying all sorts of things about you.”

O-hae-san—what kind of things?

O-shima-san—I don’t know if it’s true or not, but you know how the Mistress was hospitalized once before? Back then—they say your voice and the Master’s could be heard talking late into the night…

O-hae-san—when was that…?

“O-shima-san—it’s because the Mistress was in the hospital and not home, right? During that time, they say you and the Master were acting suspiciously.”
“I don’t know anything about that…”
“O-hae-san—who said that?”

“O-shima-san—I don’t know who it was.”
“Everyone’s saying it.—Isn’t it fine? If that’s how it is, then so be it…”

“Even you, O-hae-san—there’s no way such things could be true…”
“It’s all just nonsense…”

“O-shima-san—that hurts!”
“There’s a scab right there.”

“O-hae-san—where… here?”
“Sorry.”

“But O-shima-san—the Master would properly do what needs doin’, wouldn’t he?”

“What’re you even sayin’, O-hae-san?”
“Quit askin’ such queer things!”
“I won’t do your hair no more then…”

“O-shima-san—hair’s hair and Master’s Master, ain’t that how it goes?”
“—World’s full o’ such stories…”
“But you gotta stand firm or it’s no good.”
“Bein’ some plaything ain’t no proper life.”
“Unless you steel yourself to face down the Mistress when it counts, this’ll never settle right.”

Since even O-hae-san has no such matters going on—it’s fine.

“O-shima-san—how many months was the Mistress hospitalized again?”

“O-hae-san—first it was a month and a half, then the second time two months…”
“O-shima-san—just look… It’s plain as day—anyone can see…”
“O-hae-san—everyone’s saying it, and it’s true.”

“O-shima-san… It’s true…”
“Go ask anyone.”
“Even the fishmongers and greengrocers know.”

“O-hae-san… Oh…”

“But O-shima-san—there’s no need to worry.”
“People like that are on our side, you know.”
“But if you go around acting high-and-mighty thinking people don’t know, you’ll just make them resent you.”
“Right—past one kindergarten building, next door there’s a two-story house with a stone gate.”
“That mistress over there—the one with the round chignon, quite stylish—have you seen her? What do you think she is?”
“She’s a mistress, they say.”
“What’s more, they say she goes around boasting ‘our household this, our household that’ about the man who occasionally visits.”
“Before the neighborhood knew about that, the Master must’ve thought he was leaving the house for business.”
“But if it turns out that’s not the case—well, then whoever’s been putting on airs until now must look ridiculous.”
“They say everyone’s started mocking her and doesn’t even bother with proper greetings anymore.”

O-hae-san…

“O-shima-san—you’re different from that. After all, we’re talking about the Master here. And you’ve always had this reputation as a good-natured girl—even if people found out, nobody would think ill of you.”

Who could’ve spread such things…

“O-shima-san—nobody’s spreading anything. These things just… come out on their own.”

O-hae (helplessly): “I don’t know what to do…”

“O-shima-san—the Mistress still doesn’t know… does she?”

“O-hae-san—it seems she’s started noticing.”

“O-shima-san—this is serious.”
“When you say she’s noticed—in what way…?”

“O-hae-san—is he deliberately assigning his errands to me?”

“O-shima-san—did something like that happen?”

“O-hae-san—that’s only very recently…”
“Isn’t that a bit too obvious?”

O-shima (putting a hand to her head): “No, this will do…”
“You’re really good at this.”
“Thank you.”
“Is it alright to leave this here like this?”

“O-hae-san—I’ll clean up later myself—it’s fine.”

O-shima (returning to the long brazier): “And then… aren’t you going to say something sarcastic?”

“O-hae-san—you don’t go around saying such things yourself… but recently something strange happened.”

“O-shima-san—what happened?”

“O-hae-san—while the Master was away, a young person who looked like a student came by—someone who’d never visited before.”

“O-shima-san—a man?”

“O-Hae-san… Yes—a man…”

“O-shima-san—did he come up?”

“O-hae-san—oh, do listen. Then, the Mistress says to me—after that man left—‘You must keep today’s visit a secret from the Master.’ ‘In return, since the Master must have his own secrets from me, I’ll pretend not to know about those…’”

O-shima (impressed): “Is that so? So something like that happened?”

“O-hae-san—how about another rice cracker…?”

“O-shima-san—ah, go on.”

**O-hae** (handing a rice cracker): “They’ll notice if too many go missing—this is all you get.”

“O-shima-san, you just don’t get it.”
“As for the inside story…”
“O-hae-san—and then there’s this: that’s why the Mistress treats me well.”
“O-shima-san—it’s because we’re in this together.”

“But O-hae-san—is it really alright to keep going on like this forever? Even if I tried to consult someone, there’s no one to consult…”
“O-shima-san—why don’t you try saying that to the Master?”
“Oh, O-hae-san…”
“What’s it to me if you say ‘O-hae-san…’?”
“But even you—O-hae-san—when I see the Master’s face… I just can’t speak.”

“O-Shima-san—why?”
“O-hae-san… I don’t know why…”
“O-shima-san… You’re committing something sinful… Really…”
“That’s why I hate men.”

“O-hae-san—I think I’ll ask to be let go, since I feel terrible toward the Mistress.”

“O-shima-san—More than wronging the Mistress, it’s you who’ll end up pitiable that way.”

“O-hae-san… I wonder…”

“You don’t need to quit—just get him to set you up with a house somewhere.”
“If you make him give you a hundred yen a month, couldn’t you live comfortably?”

“O-hae-san—I don’t want to become anyone’s mistress.”

“Then why don’t you drive out the Mistress and take her place? Do you have the nerve for that?”

“O-hae-san—I can’t do such a thing—but if things stay like this… I don’t want people saying all sorts about me.”
“It’s tiresome being thought strange things about when there’s nothing to it.”

O-shima-san…

O-hae-san… But who knows what’ll happen from here on out, with things like this…

“You’re trying to scare me, O-Shima-san? Then until now, such things hadn’t happened at all?”

“O-Hae-san, you’re insufferably persistent! So you’re saying that’s why you got disappointed?”
“Respectfully speaking, I’m not exactly flourishing either.”
“I’ll just have to dig in my heels right here and endure.”

O-shima-san (was looking at the shamisen hanging on the wall)

“O-hae-san—you can play the shamisen, right?”

“O-Shima-san… Ah, but I haven’t played in a while…”
“O-hae-san—go on, play it.”
(Tries to stand up)
“O-shima-san, that’s enough of that…”
“Stop it—it’s unseemly…”

“O-hae-san—it’s no use just sitting around like this either, don’t you think? Let’s find something to do. Did you lock up?”

“O-shima-san… Ah, I did it. Shall we go somewhere?”

O-hae-san—you don’t have time for such things.

Voice (From the kitchen): “Hello…...”

O-hae-san (startled, stands up) “Who’s there…?”

Voice: “Thank you as always.”

O-Hae-san—the Greengrocer?

“I’ve brought the onions.”

“O-Hae-san—thanks for your trouble. Just leave ’em there…”
“O-Shima-san—what about ours, Greengrocer…?”

“Huh?”

(Peering in) “Oh, it’s you.”
“What’s goin’ on?”
“Is… anyone home?”

“O-Shima-san—even if you go to our place, it’s locked up tight. Just leave ’em there.”
“I’ll take ’em back myself…”
“Still makin’ your rounds?”

Voice: “Nah—today ends at your place…”

“O-Shima-san—why not come up an’ stay awhile?”

Voice: “But that’d be rude…”

“O-shima-san—just now we two were gossipin’ ’bout you…”

Voice: “Just makin’ small talk…”

O-shima-san—is that really just small talk? Don’t you think, O-hae-san?

O-hae-san—well now, why don’t you have some tea or something.

My feet are dirty.

“O-hae-san, there should be a rag there.”
(Stands up to go)

“Is it really all right?”

“It’s fine.”
“He won’t be back until evening, so…”

O-hae (returning to her seat): "Even though it's such a mess..."

“O-shima-san, bring out the cushion.”
“There should be one for guests.”

O-hae hesitated briefly but resolutely brought a formal cushion from the drawing room.

“O-shima-san—come on, over here….”

The Greengrocer put his hand on his head. “This is strange... You sure about this?”

“O-shima-san, come over here more… Between the two of us….”

The Greengrocer awkwardly muttered, “On here? Ah, hell, don’t mind it,” and sat down.

“O-Shima-san—the cigarettes are with you-know-who.”
“Oh, they’re over there.”
She stood up on her own, went to the drawing room, and brought cigarettes. “Here, please have one.”

“I’ve got my own cigarettes.”

“Even if you’ve got yours already—have these.”
“Two or three sticks—she won’t even notice.”

O-hae poured tea and served it.

Greengrocer: "Much obliged..." (glancing around)

"O-shima-san—should we offer some rice crackers...?"

Greengrocer: "Don’t bother about me."

O-hae reluctantly opened the can and pushed rice crackers toward the Greengrocer.

O-shima took out a few pieces and offered them: "Here, have one..."

Greengrocer: "Thank you.
But is this really all right?"

"O-shima-san—this doesn’t concern you."
"Just eat quietly."
"Oh, and O-hae-san—I’m running a quick errand. Keep him here for me, will you?"

“O-hae-san—where are you going?”

“Just wait, O-shima-san.”
“You’ll come right back…”

“I can’t be lounging around either.”

“What are you talking about?”
“You only slack off when it suits you…” (Stands up and exits)

“What in blazes is going on here?” muttered the Greengrocer under his breath.

“Greengrocer… You won’t go spreading rumors about me out there… will you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“What do you mean ‘what kind of thing’? It’s something that doesn’t even exist.”
“What do you mean by ‘something that doesn’t even exist’?”
“If you don’t know, then it’s better you don’t.”
“I don’t know.”

“O-shima-san… she won’t say anything… about me…”

“When?”

“Sometime…”
“You won’t say anything either… will you?”
“If you don’t speak up… better keep silent.”

“I won’t speak.”

A long silence.

“O-hae-san… People are so meddlesome, aren’t they?”

Greengrocer (fidgeting): “Does this have to do with me?”

O-HAE (surprised): What do you mean by something related to you?

GREENGROCER: Well... isn't there something going on between you and me?

O-HAE: You and...?
(blurting out) That's not it!

GREENGROCER (at a loss for where to put himself): I see... Well, if that's how it is.

A long silence.

“O-Shimasan! You liar!”

Greengrocer: “I’m leaving now.”

“O-hae-san—wait.”
“There’s something I need to say when O-shima-san comes back…”

Greengrocer: “Do I really gotta go?”

“Ah… It’d be better if you stayed.”
(Pause.) “Well then… I’ve got my own things to think about too…”

Greengrocer: “What’s this all about, O-hae-san…?”
“You could’ve just told me straight.”
(To himself) That woman… Probably said some nonsense ’bout the two of us…

“O-HAE-SAN...”

GREENGROCER-SAN: “I don’t recall doing anything worth being talked about like that.”

O-HAE-SAN: “You don’t need to worry—it has nothing to do with you.”

GREENGROCER-SAN: “Still... people must see something there somehow.”

O-HAE-SAN: “See what?”

GREENGROCER-SAN: “The way you come around this house feels different—no matter how much you try hiding it...”

O-HAE-SAN: “What am I hiding?”

“You don’t have to press me so hard,” said the Greengrocer with visible strain.

“O-hae-san…?”

“Figured a nobody like me wouldn’t get so much as a glance from you—that’s why I’ve kept my mouth shut and toughed it out till now. But if even strangers can see right through me… might as well lay it all bare… O-hae-san—on days I don’t see your face, my head gets so weighed down I can’t stand it.”

O-hae…… (dumbfounded, she stared at the Greengrocer’s face)

“I don’t know what O-shima-san might’ve said,” said the Greengrocer, “but when it comes to my part, she must’ve told you something accurate.”
“I might’ve caused you trouble, but like I’m telling you now—I didn’t blab anything.”
“Don’t think badly of me.”

“O-hae-san…”

Once O-shima-san comes back, it’ll all be clear.

At this moment, O-shima-san entered from the kitchen.
The two of them simultaneously looked up at O-shima-san’s face.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.
I just came back after mentioning that sushi.”
(Noticing their strained expressions yet maintaining her usual nonchalance) “Wasn’t this a nice little diversion for you?”

Greengrocer: ┐

├ (simultaneously) “O-shima-san.”

O-hae-san ┘

O-shima-san—what’s this? Getting all formal…

A long silence.

“O-hae-san—you’re a liar.”

“Greengrocer-san—let’s just drop this pointless talk, shall we? We’re just causing each other trouble here.”

“O-shima-san—what are you talking about? What did I even say?”

“O-hae-san—have you already forgotten?”

“O-shima-san—ah, that matter? If it’s about that matter, let’s just drop it…. Oh right—the Greengrocer-san didn’t say anything about it, did he….”

“Then who said it, O-hae-san?”

“O-shima-san—was it the fishmonger? Then… I don’t clearly remember such a thing. It might’ve been the fishmonger.”

“Tsune-kō from the fishmonger’s?”
“What’s that guy saying about me…?”

“O-shima-san—this isn’t about you at all.”

“Then what—you mean that guy’s also got… toward O-hae-san…?”

“You just keep quiet!” O-hae said flusteredly. “Because the stories don’t match up…”

The Greengrocer…

“O-hae-san, if that’s how it is, then I’ll go ask the fishmonger.”

“Then go ahead and ask, O-shima-san. But what’s the point in asking about such things? It’ll only bring you shame.”

“O-hae-san—what’s so shameful about it? Huh? What’s so shameful? I’ll say this in front of this person here—I’m not the kind of woman who does such indecent things. I won’t have anyone lumping me in with that sort of thing.”

“O-shima-san—when did I ever do anything indecent?”
“Hey—you shouldn’t go saying things that sound so bad to others.”

“Now now…”

“O-hae-san—I didn’t think you were that kind of person.”

“O-hae-san—why don’t you stop being so angry and make up here for my sake? O-shima-san didn’t say that out of spite either.”

“O-hae-san’s innocence…”

“I’ll vouch for it.”

“O-shima-san—it ain’t right to go ’round spouting guesses like facts.”

“A young punk like me shootin’ my mouth off might sound fresh—but I’m tangled up too! Can’t bear seein’ O-hae-san get wronged like this.”

“O-hae-san—if you’d just stayed quiet…”
“O-shima-san—I was wrong.”
“Hey, please forgive me.”
“I didn’t mean it that way when I said it.”
“It’s just that with how the conversation was going, I ended up saying something like that without thinking.”
“This is my bad habit.”
“And please don’t take offense either, Greengrocer-san.”

Greengrocer (bashfully): “Oh, it’s not like I…”

“But I ended up making you out to be the villain.”

Greengrocer (stealing a glance at O-hae): “There’s no such thing.”

“O-shima-san—O-hae-san’s an honest person, you know.”

The Greengrocer steals another glance at O-hae.

“Greengrocer-san—how old are you?”

“Me? I’m one year older than you.”

“My goodness—how do you know my age?”

The Greengrocer looks toward O-shima.

“O-shima-san—I was the one who mentioned it.”
“What were we even talking about again?”

“O-hae-san (brightly): You really are such a chatterbox.”

A long silence.

“Greengrocer-san, shall I find you a bride?”
“O-shima-san... if you’d just drop that talk...”

Even for O-shima-san, this was a first.

Greengrocer (hesitating, mindful of O-hae): “I figured I’d get yelled at again…”

“O-shima-san—who’d get angry over something like that?”
“If you hate it, just say you hate it.”

Greengrocer-san (feigning bravado): “No!”
O-hae-san (with a lonely smile): “Right, right. If you ask someone like O-shima-san, nothing good will come of it.”
“That’s how it is.”
“Shall I say who it is?”
Greengrocer-san (unable to endure it any longer): “I’m goin’ home…” (attempts to stand up)
O-hae (laughs out loud)

“O-shima-san—it’s a lie, a lie!”
(pulling the Greengrocer’s hand) “You’re still young yourself.”

“O-hae-san—that’s enough teasing.”

In the kitchen, a voice calls out, "Thank you for waiting—we're always grateful…"

O-shima (standing up): "Thank you for your trouble."
(Exits, then returns carrying a plate heaped with sushi)

O-hae-san... That much...?

O-shima-san has to do this much once in a while…

Greengrocer-san—are you treating us?

“O-shima-san—don’t hold back. Go ahead and eat.”

“I’ll bring the hand towels,” said O-hae.
(She went to the kitchen and returned with small dishes of soy sauce.)

“They say the nori rolls here are the best...”
“Here, help yourself.”

The three of them stuffed their mouths with sushi, each lost in thought.

“Don’t know why,” muttered the Greengrocer, “but my throat’s all tight... Won’t open right...”

They continued eating sushi in silence.
A long time passed.

――CURTAIN――