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.

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