Yuyake No Uta

研究論文 Unrequited Love in Yuyake no Uta

MORII Tetsuji

Key words : unrequited love, SAIGAN Ryohei, Yuyake no Uta

There is, of course, a vast amount of literature and blog “Unknown In English : Ryohei Saigan” manga comics on ‘unrequited love.’ Among the most (2010),6 McCarthystateslikethese:“...somany recent examples is the waka poems titled successful manga artists and writers remain almost “Hyakushuka” (One Hundred Waka Poems) by FUJI- unknown in the English speaking world....Unless MOTO Yayoi1 in Shigaku 40 (2009) Osaka Ohtani you followed the recent manga creators’ protest University Bulletin. Some of them well convey pa- against proposed lolicon manga legistlation very thetic pain from unrequited love. closely, this may be the first time you’ve heard of The object of this paper is to give an introductory Saigan. Unless you read Japanese and have wide- description in English of ‘unrequited love’ in SAI- ranging tastes in manga, it’s unlikely that you know GAN Ryohei’s manga comics Yuyake no Uta (Songs his work.” Thus, she lets us know that Saigan’s at Sunset).2 Although an impressive amount of schol- works, especially his main manga comics, remain arship has been devoted to the introduction of Japa- largely unknown in the English world, although he is nese manga comics, very few serious attempts have regarded as one of the most popular manga artists in been made in English to introduce the works of SAI- Japan. GAN Ryohei one of Japan’s highly appraised manga So it seems reasonably safe to claim that no de- artists. tailed paper have been written in English on the spe- Frederik L. Schodt’s Dreamland Japan : Writings cific topic of ‘unrequited love’ in Yuyake no Uta. on Modern Manga (1996)3 hasnomentionofSAI- My immediate hope is that this paper will act as a GAN Ryohei at all. Neither does Paul Gravett’s stimulus for more research on a wide variety of top- Manga－Sixty Years of Japanese Comics－ (2004)4 ics in Yuyake no Uta (Songs at Sunset). of Saigan’s manga comics. What surprises us most is that even Jason Thompson’s Manga : The Complete 1 Guide (2007)5 does not list Saigan’s works at all. It may be just because his main works have not been SAIGAN Ryohei was born in Tokyo on July 30, translated into English yet. 1947. He entered Rikkyo University in which he ma- One of the rare and latest mentions of SAIGAN jored in economics. He was on manga comics club in Ryohei is that by Helen McCarthy. In her inspiring college. Saigan made debut by his manga comics

― ２８ ― “YUMENO Heishiro no Seishun” (YUMENO Hei- erty. shiro’s Youth) (Vol.2) in 1972. He started creating a Lastly, it goes without saying that ‘sunset’ is quite series of Yuyake no Uta (Songs at Sunset)inBig important for the creator and us readers as well just Comics in 1974. because it sets the basic tone for this series. Saigan Some of Western fans of Japanese manga comics himself explains the ‘magical’ meaning of ‘sunset’ in may remember the year of 1974 as the one when the episode entitled “Yuyake Meruhen” (Sunset Fairy YAMAGAMI Tatsuhiko’s Gaki Deka (Boy Detec- Tales) (Vol.41) like these : “Magic at sunset ...a tive) and MATSUMOTO Leiji’s Uchu Senkan mysterious power that, sleeping in the bottom of our Yamato (Space Cruiser Yamato) (which was “re- heart, inspires nostalgia for the good old days. Time leased as Star Blazers in the US in 1979”) were pub- stops at a red sunset, and the past and the future lishedinJapan.7 meet each other at there. Then, we happen to look SAIGAN Ryohei was awarded the 38th Japan back on ourselves in the distant past.” This key tone Manga Grand Prix for his Kamakura Monogatari repeats itself in the other episodes including “Hari- (Tale of Kamakura) in 2009. He received the Medal komi” (Stakeout) (Vol.32) and “Hyoshigi” (Wooden with Purple Ribbon in spring, 2010. SAITO Takao, Clappers) (Vol.51). The creator adds to say thus in “creator of Golgo 13, received the Order of the Ris- “Tasogare” (Twilight) (Vol.52) : “The past and the ing Sun in the same list.”8 present, the dead and the living, join and mingle with Saigan’s Yuyake no Uta rarely has violence nor each other at sunset . . .” sex, let alone drugs. It is characterized by family- oriented description. It is centered on the Suzuki 2 family and the ordinary people on Third Street of Yuhi-cho. It is not about superheroes, but about Unrequited love is depicted in the various episodes everyman. It is “the celebration of the ordinary”.9 of Yuyake no Uta (Songs at Sunset). Among the ear- Saigan loves drawing a variety of families. Among liest ones is “Lemon Tea no Mita Yume” (Lemon the members of the family, a grandmother is one of Tea’s Dream) (Vol.2). The hero Kohei, fresh from his most favorites. Grandmothers appear in this series the country into Tokyo, is now working as a waiter from time to time. Most of them are described with a for a fruits parlor. He is in love with Yuki-chan12 a touch of warmth.10 This reminds us of Doraemon waitress working at the same parlor. Kohei likes to Gadget Cat from the Future by Fujiko F. Fujio.11 go window shopping during lunch break at the de- Saigan was born and brought up as a city boy, so partment store next to the parlor. He likes seeing is specialized in describing everyday life of common high-quality furniture. One of his favorite furniture people living in downtown Tokyo. He likes to depict there is a fine table set. One day he happens to meet the country life, too. Furthermore, he loves to de- Yuki-chan at there. He finds that she too likes the scribe poor families, especially the ones of the past same set of table. He dreams of a happy home life period just after the World War II when he grew up. with her. He, however, gets filled with despair when The artist seems to think that they were ‘happy’ in he hears that Yuki-chan has got married another man that period despite the fact they were living in pov- who is a son of a division chief of a big company.

― ２９ ― The similar pattern is found in the episode often bullied by her classmates. No one except one “Pachinko Jinsei” (Life Addicted to Pachinko Pin- classmate named Kacchan tries to stop them to bully ball) (Vol.7). Goro the hero is a senior student at her. After being helped by Kacchan, she gets fond of college, and is now unwillingly looking for jobs. He him, and makes friends with him. She likes going does not take things seriously. He regards life as play back home with him, and playing with him. Kac- just like playing pachinko Japanese pinball. So he chan, however, comes to feel unpleasant with her, leads an easy-going life. One day he happens to see and tries to shun her. He himself cannot understand a woman named Yoko on the street, and falls in love his kind of change of mind. At any rate, Kacchan with her. His life suddenly changes. He makes a breaks up with Haruko after all. On the other hand, fresh start. He is earnestly looking for a job, and fi- Haruko, with her elder sister’s advice on kind of tac- nally lands a job. He proposes marriage to her. He, tics of love, tries to get over her first pains of broken however, is refused by her who says that he is just a heart. playmate, and that she is going to get married an- The similar theme is described in the episode other man who is an only son of a director of a big “Machi no Denkiten” (Electrical Appliances Store in firm. Town) (Vol.49). Matsushita-kun13 is a schoolboy The hero named Tamekichi in the episode titled who is a son of the electrical appliances store. On “Christmas Tree” (Vol.9) also has one sided-love for the way back home after school, he is unexpectedly a girl. The season is set in winter. He is a boy in his asked by his classmate SUGITA Nozomi to go to his teens working for a charcoal shop. He is fresh from home with her. He is pleased to feel that she likes Kagoshima Prefecture southern Japan. So he is very him. It, however, does not need much time for him sensitive to the cold. One day Tamekichi happens to to realize that it is not him but the TV set in his see a girl called Komako who is working as a maid- store that she really likes. On finding that the TV set servant at the customer’s house nearby. She shows is not available for her, she leaves him. She proves kindness to him. She is from Tohoku district north- to be a girl who can easily change her boyfriend ern Japan. Komako says she has been longing for whenever she considers him not useful for her. He is living in warm districts like Kagoshima since her one of the victims of her capriciousness. childhood. He wonders what would happen to them Misunderstanding sometimes brings us grief and if he buys her all kinds of heaters including kerosene disappointment. Michiko-chan (or Micchan) in the heaters and kotatsu a traditional Japanese heater. episode “Micchan’s Hatsukoi” (Micchan’s First Could she get married him? He gives her a brooch Love) (Vol.3) is also a schoolgirl. She lost her for a Christmas present. Komako, however, eventu- mother in her infancy, and lives with her father who ally gets married another man who is working for a is a tateguya joiner and is a widower. Micchan is an big heater manufacturing company. admirable girl who does housework all by herself. As expected, Saigan likes to depict unrequited love Micchan has a small accident on her way back among elementary school children. The heroine home from shopping. She stumbles and scatters away called KAMEI Haruko in the episode “Kokoro no her groceries on the street. Roku-san a young me- Iro” (Color of Heart) (Vol.39) is a schoolgirl who is chanic helps her pick them up. She comes to have a

― ３０ ― secret love for him, while he is not interested in her vals for him including her best friend. But, she has so much. After that, she frequently visits Suzuki Mo- an advantage over them : she knows his birthday. tor Repair Shop where Roku-san is working. She, So, she decides to knit a sweater all by herself and however, calls in front of the shop “Let’s play, Ippei- give it to him for a birthday present. On his birthday, kun!” It is not Ippei the son of the Suzukis but however, she is crushed to find that he has already Roku-san whom she actually wants to play with. She received a sweater as a present from her home eco- is too reserved to reveal her heart frankly. nomics teacher. One day she accidentally spots her father playing Another example of unfulfilled love of the high at a pachinko parlor where she tried to find Roku- school students is found in “Omoide no Nagisa” san. Her father appears to be very lonely to her. Mic- (Memories on the Beach) (Vol.51). ISHIDA Tetsuya chan suddenly decides to give up her love for Roku- is a junior student at Yuhi High School. He was a san, and to concentrate herself on taking care of her captain of basketball club at junior high school. He, father. however, is now just a reserve at high school basket- MIYAZAKI Yoshiko (that reminds us of a then ball club. popular actress with the same name in Japan) the He has longing for a girl named NONAKA Sayuri heroine of the episode “Midori no Kaze” (Green who also is a second-year student at Yamayuri Girls Wind) (Vol.15) is a senior student at high school High School. He asks her if she goes mountain who looks fresh and active, but has some inferiority climbing. He dreams of becoming intimated in the complex about her figure, especially her legs. She mountain. But she turns it down, and instead, asks happens to see a high school student called HINO him if they will go to the sea. Tetsuya is anxious Shohei (that too reminds us of another then popular about it because he is very poor at swimming, but actor with the same name) while cycling in the coun- accepts her offer. try. She goes out with him several times thereafter. When he is worried about swimming, he happens However, Yoshiko loses her love after all. Shohei to see TANAKA Toshiko who was his classmate in breaks up with her chiefly because he is deluded by junior high school and got a job at a cannery after his friends’ stupid opinions of her. Later, when he is finishing junior high school. She is good at swim- a university student, he realizes that she is the right ming. So he asks her to give him a lesson. She gives woman. He repents of having left her thus : “She him a willing consent. They go to the sea together. sure looked shining in the green wind...IfonlyI She helps him swim well. It turns out that Toshiko could have believed my heart throbbing with joy actually has been longing for him since junior high whenIwaswithher....”Heisamanwhoiseasily school days. He does not realize it. Anyway, despite influenced by others’ opinions. his efforts, he fails in winning Sayuri’s heart after Mako-chan the heroine of episode “Teami no Se- all. hta” (Hand-knitted Sweater) (Vol.18) is also a high Kyoko the heroine in the episode “San-Gakki” school student. She has a secret love for Mr. Morita (The Third Term) (Vol.26) has a close friend named her history teacher. Her heart beats fast every time Sakiko. They are senior students at high school. It is she sees him. She knows well that she has lots of ri- the third term. Kyoko knows Sakiko loves Onodera-

― ３１ ― kun her classmate. It turns out that he actually loves there that he too will have a marriage celebration Kyoko, not Sakiko. Kyoko is caught between love soon. But he lets her know that his marriage was ar- and friendship. ranged just by his parents. Kazuko and Heikichi de- The similar pattern of unreturned love is depicted cide to be true to each heart. She dreams, with rea- in “Haru ga Kita” (Spring Has Come) (Vol.56). It is son, of getting married with him. The following day, a graduation season. They have to separate from each however, she is shocked to know that Heikichi ran other. Each suffers from unrequited love. What inter- away from home with a widow who is eight years ests us about them is that the teacher who is con- his senior. She realizes that it is not her but that sulted by a student about her worry is herself suffer- woman who he actually has loved. ing from the same problem. UENO Yoko is a senior UENO Mami in “Chojo Monogatari” (Tale of Eld- student at high school. She is suffering from one- est Daughter) (Vol.38) is an eldest daughter with a sided love. She talks to Miss Tooi her teacher about younger brother and a younger sister. Her mother it. Miss Tooi also has the same problem. used to get Mami to help with housekeeping since We find a typical chain of unrequited love in this her childhood. To her sad astonishment, her mother episode. UENO Yoko has a secret longing for her ran away from home when she was a sixth grader. classmate ARAKIDA Shuji, whereas he has a secret She hears the news that her mother is living with her longing for Miss Tooi his teacher. Miss Tooi is in lover in a distant place. Mami has since been running love with Mr. Hanagata her colleague who is the whole house including cooking for her father, younger than her by two years. All of them have no brother and sister. courage to tell their own love. Now she is working for a company. She has a se- The heroine MATSUYAMA Rie in “Chiisana cret love for her boss who is 15 years her senior. He Koi” (Little Love) (Vol.47) is a university student 20 is the section chief, and has a wife and children. years of age. She knits a muffler for her boy friend Mami, however, resolutely restrains from following as a Christmas present. He is a medical student. She, her love just because she does not want to ruin his however, is gravely disappointed on Christmas Eve home. It should be her last thing that she herself will to find that he has found another girl friend. cause the children to have the same sorrows from their parent’s extra-marital relation as hers. Kazuko the heroine of the episode titled “Marriage INUBOSAKI Goro is the hero of “Otoko to On’na Blues” (Vol.38) is engaged to a man named MU- to Neko” (Man, Woman and Cat) (Vol.40). He is RAKAMI Yosuke. They will have a marriage cele- now in his late twenties. His major in college was bration in fall. In spite of that, she does not feel that law. He is honest, warm-hearted and faithful, but is she is immersed in great joy. Then, she calls up her not handsome or clever. After graduating from uni- memory of first love in high school days. She had a versity, he has failed the judicial examination several boyfriend named YAMAGUCHI Heikichi. times in a row. So, Kazuko decides to go back to her home vil- One day he happens to see a young woman named lage to meet with him so that she can find out MINATONO Yoko, and has since been living to- whether he still has love for her or not. She finds gether with her. She dreams of becoming a singer,

― ３２ ― and is now working as a waitress at a coffee shop. and glamorous. Despite Mami’s efforts, she finds She is quite different from him in personality. She is that Hanagata actually chooses Reiko not only for his a fickle woman. She likes flirting with whoever play mate but for his wife. looks nice. As a result, he has big trouble concentrat- Some episodes are allegorical ones. Among them ing himself on studying the examination. He almost is “Ame” (Rain) (Vol.52). The main characters are gives up taking the exam for her. To his surprise, ‘Amayadori’ (meaning shelter from the rain), ‘Ku- however, one day she leaves him and gets married morino’ (cloudy field), and ‘Teruko’ (sunny girl). with a wealthy man. Saigan seems to like this allegorical kind of naming AKAI Ichiro in the episode “Saikai” (Reunion) of his characters. (Vol.45) had a secret longing for SHIRATORI Ma- Anyway, AMAYADORI Yoshio aged 25 loves chiko when he was a university student. On the other KUMORINO Yoko 24 his childhood friend. Yoko, hand, Machiko loved his best friend named AOKI however, regards him as a close friend to whom she Shuichi. They were close friends in their college can tell everything, not as an object of love or mar- days. Aoki and Machiko lived together like husband riage. She goes out with another man who is a son and wife. They, however, separated from each other of a medical doctor. A year passes. She gets de- after a while because they had a quarrel about trifles. pressed because she is turned down by that man. She Now, several years after their graduation from col- returns to Amayadori for relief and comfort. He lege, Akai invites them to his own ‘farewell’ party at kindly listens to her grief. She finally realizes that he a restaurant. Aoki unexpectedly meets Machiko again is the very man whom she should get married. Ama- at there. They find that it was Akai who arranged yadori, however, tells her that he has already decided their meeting. Akai confesses in his letter to them to get married another woman called Teruko. that he had vainly made every endeavor to win her A young woman falls in love with a young man of heart in his university days. He continues to say that noble character named Takada in the episode he now suffers incurable disease and will die before “Nichiyo Gakko” (Sunday school) (Vol.20). Takada long. is a Catholic priest with a vow of celibacy. As ex- The heroine MITSUBOSHI Mami in “Mitsuboshi pected, she has to face serious loneliness from sepa- Restaurant” (Three-Star Restaurant) (Vol.47) is a ration when he declares that he will devote his whole plain woman who is working for a company. Her life to God without getting married, though he too mother used to tell her as a girl that a man sure will will suffer from loneliness later. choose for his wife a woman who is homely and Very occasionally, Saigan describes the unrequited good at cooking, although he may choose a sexy love among middle-aged or elderly people. Mic- woman for just a play mate. Mami believed her. She chan’s father suffers from it due to his misunder- grew up with her mother’s advice. So she is now su- standing in the episode “Mangekyo” (Kaleidoscope) perb at cooking. She loves one of her co-workers (Vol.26). There lives in the neighborhood HOSOK- named HANAGATA who is a good-looking and AWA Miyako who is a war widow. She is so kind promising employee. He, however, is attracted to an- to them. She serves them dishes from time to time. other woman named FUJIWARA Reiko who is sexy She seems to be interested in Micchan’s father. His

― ３３ ― heart is pounding with expectation of getting married he became intimate with during his trips and to run a her. However, it turns out that she actually loves an- restaurant together. She said, “Come back to me and other widower who is a mystery writer. live together with me, whenever you get tired of The hero of “Shichiya” (Pawnbroker) (Vol.1) is an making a trip.” He believes her, and all the way goes old pawnbroker. He had loved a woman when he to meet her. To his unexpected grief, however, he was young, but suffered the heartbreak of losing his discovers that she actually has no intention to get love because of his poverty. She got married a rich married him at all. man. The pain of disappointed love made him learn a lesson. It made him do anything for money without 3 getting married since then. He finally succeeds in be- coming a pawnbroker. He is notorious for his profes- One of the main characters in this series who em- sional stinginess. body “unrequited love” is CHAGAWA Ryunosuke Now, an old woman visits his pawnshop just be- an elderly writer. CHAGAWA Ryunosuke (not fore the closing time. She asks him to lend her AKUTAGAWA Ryunosuke one of Japan’s best 20,000 yen in exchange for her ‘diamond’ ring that known authors) was born and brought up in the she received from a certain person decades ago. To country. He was regarded as a genius at his boyhood. her astonishment, he lends her as much as five mil- He entered Tokyo University Japan’s prestigious uni- lion yen. It turns out in the final scene that she is the versity. His major in university was literature. He very woman whom he loved in his youth. He recog- writes a novel. After graduating from university, he nizes her as soon as he sees her, while she does not. has challenged to apply for the Akutagawa Prize Ja- And, the ring actually is a cheap fake because it was pan’s most respected literary prize around 30 times he who bought it to her. He does not want to ruin in a row, but all in vain. her pleasant memory of him. He later smiles wryly He failed in love, too, in the episode “Love Let- to himself because he finds out that his lingering ters” (Vol.5). He fell in love with a female student at love for her proves stronger than his professionalism. first sight when he was a university student. He The hero called Umemura in the episode “Iwashi wrote her the most passionate love letter in his life, Gumo” (Fleecy Clouds) (Vol.14) is a middle-aged but could not get a letter from her at all. travel writer. He frequently makes a trip across the Chagawa runs a dagashiya very small shop selling country. He writes for leisure magazines articles on cheap candies. Most of the customers are small boys various topics including local festivals and restau- and girls in the neighborhood. He, however, hates rants. His job brings him lots of chance meetings children. Besides, Chagawa writes a love letter for with men and women. He has special relationships others as a part-time job from time to time. What is with some local women like pub landladies. Yet he more, he writes adventure novels for boys too for remains single up to now. living. Getting pessimistic on some autumn day, Uemura One fall day, Chagawa is unexpectedly visited by thinks of retirement from his job. He now desires to a young woman called Hiromi who works in a bar or settle down and get married one of those women that nightclub in the episode “Koorogi no Uta” (Chirping

― ３４ ― by Crickets) (Vol.14). She asks him to look after an Let’s take a more typical example. Chagawa has a orphan called FURUYUKI Jun’nosuke (not YOSHI- secret love for another middle-aged woman called O- YUKI Jun’nosuke another popular novelist) on a Tomi-san in the episode titled “O-Tomi-san” (Vol.9). temporary basis. According to Hiromi, Jun’nosuke’s O-Tomi-san runs a small oden Japanese hotchpotch mother was a stripper and had been in prison for her restaurant. She remains single for unknown reason. It indecent exposure, and has since been disappeared, appears to him and other regular customers that she while his father is unknown. In the beginning, Cha- is quite a mysterious, and so, attractive woman. As a gawa is perplexed by this weird kid with a sullen result, Chagawa has many rivals including a middle- face and thick glasses on just like Chagawa himself. aged man called Gen tekiya a street vendor in love But, Chagawa soon gets moved by him in the epi- for O-Tomi-san. All of them, however, fail to win sode “Asagao” (Morning-Glories) (Vol.16). He finds her heart just because she loves only one man. Who that the kid is very considerate, and that he is willing is that special man? To our surprise, she, it turns out, help Chagawa do his chores including helping out in actually has a passionate unrequited love for HASE- his small shop. Jun’nosuke has a warm heart and is GAWA Kazuo one of the most popular actors in Ja- be very good at school as well. To Chagawa’s big pan. She desires to keep her love for him to herself pleasure, Jun’nosuke shows a great interest in litera- for the rest of her life. Anyway, it should be note- ture, and proves excellent at literature for his age. He worthy that all the main characters in this episode even helps Chagawa with making a fair copy of his are burning with unfulfilled love. manuscript. Moreover, he deeply respects Chagawa I would like to refer to the exceptional example for his novels. here. It is found in the episode “Nogiku no Hana” The role of looking after this kid forsaken by his (Wild Chrysanthumum Blossoms) (Vol.20). Chagawa parents helps Chagawa improve some of his charac- is now 51 years old, whereas the woman called KO- ter flaws. He recovers some pride or confidence and MORI Tamiko is a 63-year-old widow. She likes becomes a little warm-hearted, especially to kids in reading books, especially Japanese novels including the neighborhood. ITO Sachio’s tragic love story entitled Nogiku no By the way, as expected, Chagawa has been fasci- Haka (Grave of Wild Chrysanthemum) that may pos- nated by women many times since graduating from sibly inspire Saigan to create this episode. They love college. But almost all his love has ended in unful- each other. Nevertheless, they cannot help but give filled love so far. One example is found in “Love up getting married and separate from each other be- Letters” (Vol.5). One day in fall, he happens to find cause she is forced by her children to move over to a cheap magazine which has pages for marriage and Osaka where they live. She is sent to one child’s partnership. He starts to exchange letters with one of home to another, and dies a year after. the women. She writes in her letter to him that she is a middle-aged widow named Shima and that she 4 likes reading books. Chagawa feels affection for her. He, however, suffers from unrequited love when he Roku-san14 (whose family name is Hoshino) was has sent her the photograph of him. born and brought up in the countryside. His given

― ３５ ― name ‘Roku’ means the number six, so it may sug- Consequently he is attracted to her. After all, how- gest that he is not the eldest son who usually suc- ever, he soon realizes it is not Roku-san but the ceeds the family headship, especially in the country middle-aged master of the coffee shop whom Chieko in the past. The episode “Hatsu Hinode” (The First actually loves. Sunrise of the Year) (Vol.24) lets us know that he One day, Roku-san begins to go to the movies in has an elder brother, an elder sister, a younger sister “Eiga no Sekai” (Cinema World) (Vol.14). He takes named Sakura, and a younger brother. Ippei his employer’s son with him to the theater al- Roku-san is one of the so-called ‘golden eggs’ most every week. It turns out that he has a secret who moved en masse from rural districts to Tokyo love for a young woman who is working as a ticket and other metropolitan areas after finishing school. collector at the theater. His one-sided love, however, He is working for a small garage called Suzuki Auto abruptly ends because she suddenly disappears. The on Third Street of Yuhi-cho. He is a garage me- new ticket collector lets him know that she quit the chanic. He lives at a cheap apartment house called job and has already returned to her home town after “Mogura-so” (Villa Mole) with his younger sister her own dream of becoming a movie star was shat- who also is working at a factory in Tokyo. He is shy tered into pieces. and naïve, not sophisticated. Much later, Roku-san is blessed with a good Sakura is honest, reserved und unsophisticated just chance to have a date with a woman called Tomoko like her brother. She also suffers from unrequited whom Sakura his sister introduces to him in the epi- love. She is attracted to a co-worker called Higashi- sode “Planetarium” (Vol.47). She is one of her co- yamawhoissokindtoherintheepisode“Hatsu workers. Roku-san and Tomoko-san go to see a Hinode” (The First Sunrise of the Year) (Vol.24). He movie entitled “Hoshizora no Futari” (Two under the is working for the same company called Matsuue Starry Sky) at the theater. “I desire to live seeing the (not Matsushita) Denki Kogyo KK (Matsuue Electri- stars at night together with you,” so tells the hero to cal Equipment Manufacturer). At the end of the year, the heroine in the film. she is shocked to hear the news that Higashiyama Roku-san has been going out with her since three gets married a woman the daughter of his boss in the months ago, but has not yet grasped her hand, nor same company, and that he is transferred to the head- told her frankly that he loves her. He thinks that he quarters in Osaka. could dare to declare his love to her under the starry On the other hand, Roku-san feels affection for a sky. But he knows that she is not allowed to go out woman named Chieko whom he happens to meet at at night because she lives at dormitory. a coffee shop called Swan in front of the railway sta- Roku-san comes up with a good idea that they can tion in the episode “Kohi no Kaori” (Aroma of Cof- have a starry sky at the planetarium even in the day- fee) (Vol.4). It is his first time that he enters a coffee time. So he asks her to go to the planetarium. He de- shop because he thought it was a terrible place where sires to grasp her hand and tell his love to her in the hooligans are grouping. Chieko is a club singer, but darkness. Unfortunately, he loses his good chance to not popular at all. She is a regular customer at the do so because Ippei-kun and his friend unexpectedly shop. She is pretty and kind to Roku-san as well. join them. . . . The result is that Tomoko-san gets

― ３６ ― married another man the next month. that she is a right woman for him. He, however, Roku-san is poor, and has no girl friends. He knows he cannot help giving up his love for her just writes his main wishes on a fancy paper strip on the because he has lied to her, pretending to be different Tanabata Star Festival in the episode “Sasa no Ha from his true personality and social status. Sarasara” (Rustling of Bamboo Leaves) (Vol.6). What he desires to get are a motorcycle and a girl- 5 friend, of course. On a spring day, Sakura wins a prize for a tour in CHAGAWA Ryunosuke an elderly writer and the episode “Kensho Ryoko” (Prize Travel) (Vol.53). Roku-san a young mechanic are the most remarkable She and Roku-san join a three days’ coach tour for characters in terms of embodying unrequited love in couples that turns out to be for newly-married cou- Yuyake no Uta. CHAGAWA Ryunosuke cannot ples. Roku-san feels embarrassed by other couples’ achieve his main goals. After having failed in the ju- free love making throughout the trip on coach. dicial examination around 30 times in a row, he to- Thus, Roku-san almost always suffers from loneli- tally gave it up. Moreover, he remains single. He ness caused from having no female friends not only cannot get a right woman. He is lonely and sort of in these episodes but also in many others throughout perverted, we could say. Roku-san is just like Charlie this series. Brown in Peanuts by Charles Schulz.15 Roku-san is Now, we may well add to say here that we notice honest, but is shy and clumsy. He almost always several characteristics in the drawing of Roku-san. fails in love and suffers from loneliness. Many epi- Among the most striking ones is that his eyes and sodes center around Roku-san who rarely end hap- eyebrows are not drawn. His eyes are wholly covered pily. by his hair in almost all episodes except one. We “Explain love to me, Chuck,” so asks Peppemint wonder why Saigan does not draw his eyes. Patty to Charlie Brown in Peanuts. They are both Let us check the exception. It is found in the epi- typical embodiments of unrequited love in Schulz’s sode “Saraba Natsu no Hi” (Farewell to Summer works. Days) (Vol.11). Roku-san takes a two days’ summer vacation. He boldly tries to change his image com- Peppermint Patty : I don’t understand love. pletely. First of all, he changes his hair style. It un- Charlie Brown : Who does? covers his thick bushy eyebrows and big shining Peppermint Patty : Explain love to me, Chuck. eyes that help him look handsome and intelligent. He Charlie Brown : I can recommend a book, or a goes to the beach for girl-hunting by a rented con- painting, or a song, or a poem, vertible. He happens to see a girl called Keiko. She but I can’t explain love.16 is cute and honest. Keiko has a complex of having rough hands. She frankly says she is working for a Neither can we explain love, especially unrequited beauty parlor as a trainee. On the other hand, Roku- love. However, we could say figuratively that love is san pretends that he is a rich entrepreneur. She be- not so different from passion for professional sports lieves him. He had a good time with her. He thinks like MLB (baseball) and NBA (basketball). If you do

― ３７ ― have any heavy favorite team, you will be concerned 2. Saigan, Ryohei. Yuyake no Uta [Japanese phonetic ti- about the result. You will be excited or depressed at tle], Songs at Sunset [literal translation ; not official English title]. Big Comics. 58 vols. Tokyo : Shogaku- each game. You will have anxious painful days. kan. 1975 (November)-ongoing. Volume numbers will Likewise, if you do have any particular favorite man be given in the text. The subtitle Sanchome no Yuhi or woman, you sure will be worried about him or (Sunset on Third Street) has been added to the original her. Love is whimsical. It holds sway over you. title Yuyake no Uta since Vol.17 (1985. 2.). Transla- tions throughout the work are mine. We wonder what Saigan tries to convey to us 3. Schodt, Frederik L. Dreamland Japan : Writings on through his depiction of unrequited love among Modern Manga. Berkeley, California : Stone Bridge wide-ranging characters in the series. As to unre- Press, 1996, p.219. quited love in childhood, Saigan seems to say that “it 4. Gravett, Paul. Manga－Sixty Years of Japanese Com- is all part of growing up,” to borrow Schulz’s ics－. London : Laurence King Ltd, 2004. 5. Thompson, James. Manga : The Complete Guide. A words.17 Saigan leaves us a simple message in the Del Rey Trade Paperback Original. New York : Del episode “Ichijiku no Mi” (Figs’ Fruit) (Vol.27) thus : Rey Books (Random House, Inc.). 2007. Even if you lose your love, you will have another 6. McCarthy, Helen. Her blog “Unknown In English : love some time. People come and go. Such is life. Ryohei Saigan” posted on April 29, 2010. 7. Gravett, op. cit. p.6. Commonplace as it may sound, it should be true. 8. Wikipedia and Helen McCarthy, op. cit. Finally, it should be noted that Roku-san and Cha- 9. Schodt, op. cit. p.28. gawa are both from the provinces, be they young or 10. Among the moving episodes are “Obaachan no Hiba- old, unsophisticated or sophisticated. Saigan loves chi” (Granny’s Brazier), Vol.12, “Obaachan-ko” these country-bred characters. The city-bred manga (Granny’s Boy), Vol.41, and “Obaachan no Wataire” (Granny’s Wadded Clothes), Vol.47. artist shows in the series a great longing for the 11. Fujiko F. Fujio. Doraemon Gadget Cat from the Fu- countryside which, I think, is surpassed only by a ture. Shogakukan English Comics. 10 vols. Tokyo : passionate nostalgia for the past, especially the post- Shogakukan. 2002−2005. war period of his youth. We could say that the past 12. We use ‘-chan’ after a name when we call a boy or girl in a friendly manner. and the present, the country and the city, unrequited 13. We also use ‘-kun’ after a name when we call a boy love and fulfilled love, they all join and mingle with (and sometimes a girl) in a friendly or formal way. each other at sunset. 14. We use ‘-san’ after a name when we call a man or woman in an honorific way. 15. Schulz, Charles M. The Complete Peanuts. Ed. Gary NOTES Groth. Seattle : Fantagraphics Books, 2004-ongoing. 1. The word order of Japanese names here in my paper 16. Peanuts, August 10, 1975. follows our traditional usage with family name first 17. ibid. May 15, 1976. and given name last.

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