1-3

by 太宰治

Thank you for your reply. I am glad that the letter I sent the other day regarding "The Conference on a Stormy Night" resonated with you. According to your opinion, Echigo-jishi might be a great politician rarely seen in our time, or perhaps a renowned great man. However, I do not think so. Now, it is rather an era where anonymous common people speak the truth. Leaders are merely confused and flustered. If things continue like this, it is clear that they will eventually be abandoned by the common people. The general election seems to be approaching, but if they continue to give strange speeches, the common people will increasingly mock their representatives.

Speaking of elections, a very unusual incident occurred in this dojo today. In the early afternoon, a circular was issued from the "Swan Room" next door. The content was as follows: While it is gratifying that women have been granted suffrage, the heavy makeup of the dojo assistants recently is unbearable. In such a state, suffrage itself would weep, and the American occupation forces would mistake women with flashy lipstick for prostitutes. This is a dishonor to the dojo and a disgrace to Japanese women as a whole. Then, the names of the assistants with noticeable makeup were listed, and it was added, "Among these six, the peacock costume is the most grotesque, like Sun Wukong after eating horse meat. We have warned them many times, but they show no sign of remorse. Therefore, they should be expelled from this dojo."

The "Swan Room" next door had always been full of hardliners, and Mr. Katapan, who was popular among the assistants, seemed to have been unable to endure the "Swan Room" and had fled to our "Cherry Blossom Room." The "Cherry Blossom Room," perhaps thanks to Echigo-jishi's virtue, is a room where the spring breeze is pleasant. Regarding this circular, Kappore first expressed dissatisfaction, saying it was terrible. Katapan also smiled wryly and supported Kappore.

“Isn’t that terrible?” Kappore sought agreement from Echigo-jishi as well. “Humans are all equal, so I don’t think there’s any need to expel them. The inherent love of humanity is something that cannot be forgotten under any circumstances.”

Echigo-jishi nodded silently and slightly.

Encouraged by that momentum, Kappore said, “See, that’s how it is, isn’t it? Free thought shouldn’t be such a petty thing. What about the young teacher over there? I don’t think my argument is wrong,” and urged me to agree.

“But the neighbors aren’t really planning to expel them, are they? Aren’t they just trying to show everyone their spirit?” I said with a laugh, and then,

“No, that’s not it,” Kappore immediately denied, “First of all, I don’t think there should be a fatal contradiction between women’s suffrage and lipstick. Those guys usually aren’t popular with women, so they must be planning to get revenge at a time like this.”

Then, Kappore continued, “There is great courage and small courage in the world. Those guys are of the small courage type. They call me ‘paipan’ (hairless). It’s been bothering me for a long time. I don’t really like the nickname Kappore either, but I can’t just stay silent when they call me paipan.” He got out of bed, showing his anger, and re-tied his obi. “I’m going to throw this circular back at them. Free thought has existed since the Edo period. It means humans cannot forget wisdom, benevolence, and courage. Well then, everyone, leave it to me. I intend to throw this back at them,” he said, his face changing color.

“Wait, wait,” Echigo-jishi said, wiping the tip of his nose with a towel. “You shouldn’t go. Leave this to the teacher over there.”

"To Hibari?" Kappore seemed greatly displeased. "With all due respect, it's too much for Hibari. We've had a long-standing feud with those guys next door. It's not something that just started now. We can't just keep quiet and back down when they call us 'paipan.' It's about freedom and restraint. Freedom and restraint, and a gentleman changing his ways. Those guys don't understand the spirit of Christ at all. Depending on the situation, I'll have to show them what I can do. Hibari can't do it."

"I'll go," I said, getting out of bed, slipping past Kappore, and at the same time taking the circular from him before leaving the room.

In the "Swan Room," they seemed to be impatiently waiting for a reply from the "Cherry Blossom Room." When I entered, eight students rushed over,

"How about it, isn't it an exhilarating proposal?"

"The handsome guys in the Cherry Blossom Room must be troubled."

"Surely, they wouldn't betray us, would they?"

"All the students will unite and demand the expulsion of Kujaku from the headmaster. Giving suffrage to a Sun Wukong like that is a waste."

they said, one after another, greatly excited. They all looked like innocent pranksters.

"Let me do it!" I said, louder than anyone else.

It fell silent for a moment, but then the commotion started again.

"Don't butt in, don't butt in!"

"Is Hibari an envoy of compromise?"

"The Cherry Blossom Room lacks tension. This is an important time for Japan!"

"Don't tell me they're drooling over pretty faces, not even knowing we've fallen to a fourth-rate nation!"

"What is it? What are you suddenly asking to do?"

"By bedtime tonight," I shouted, stretching on my tiptoes, "I will inform you, and if my solution doesn't please you all, then I will follow your suggestions."

Silence fell again.

"Are you against our proposal?" a sharp-eyed man in his thirties, whom I called Aodaishō, asked me after a while.

"I'm all for it! I have a very interesting plan regarding that. Please let me do it. I beg you!"

Everyone around seemed a little deflated.

"Alright. Thank you. I'll borrow this circular until evening." I quickly left the room. This is fine. It's not difficult. All I have to do is ask Take-san.

When I returned to the room, Kappore said,

"You're no good, Hibari. I was listening in the hallway. Nothing will come of it if you act like that. You should have said something decisive, like 'Christian spirit' or 'a gentleman changes his spots.' You could even have said, 'Freedom and restraint!' They don't understand reason, so telling them something logical is best. Why didn't you tell them that free thought is air and doves?" He kept expressing his regret.

"Just leave it to me until evening," I said, and lay down on my bed.

I was indeed a little tired.

"Leave it to me, leave it to me," Echigo said in a dignified voice while still lying down, so Kappore said nothing more and seemed to reluctantly fall asleep.

In truth, I didn't have any particular plan. I was just optimistic that if I showed this circular to Take-san, he would handle it well. During the two o'clock stretching exercises, Take-san passed by the hallway in front of the room and glanced at me, so I quickly made a small "come here" gesture with my right hand. Take-san nodded lightly and immediately entered the room.

"Is there something you need?" he asked seriously.

While doing leg exercises, I whispered, "By the pillow, by the pillow."

Take-san looked at the circular by the pillow, picked it up, and after a quick silent read, he said in a calm tone, "Lend me this," and tucked the circular under his arm.

“There is no need to hesitate in correcting a mistake. The sooner, the better.” Take-san nodded slightly, looking as if he understood everything. Then, he went to the window by the bedside and seemed to be silently gazing at the scenery outside.

After a while, he murmured towards the window, “Gen-san, you’re working so hard, aren’t you?” in a completely unadorned, natural tone. Below the window, an old man named Gen-san, the janitor, had started weeding a few days ago.

“After Obon,” Gen-san replied from below the window. “I weeded it once, but it’s grown back so much again.”

I was impressed by the resonance of Take-san’s voice saying, “You’re working so hard, aren’t you?” I was also impressed by his calm and cheerful demeanor, completely unconcerned about the circulating notice, but even more so, I was struck by the dignity in the resonance of that compassionate voice. It was a leisurely, relaxed tone, as if the mistress of a prominent family were calling out to her old gardener from the veranda. It conveyed a strong sense of good upbringing. As Echigo once said, Take-san’s mother must have been an incredible person. I felt even more reassured that if I left this heavy makeup incident to Take-san, he would surely resolve it easily.