目次
On friends and fashions
読者の皆さま、またお会いできましたね。前回からお変わりなくお過ごしでしたでしょうか。
私はよく思うのです。鬼の長所は、怪力でもなければ、金棒を振るう武勇でもありません。もっとも、妖怪の世界で鬼が最強の力士であることは疑いようがありませんし、伝説の英雄ミロン・オブ・クロトンも、当時うわさされたように本当に鬼だったなら、木の切り株に手を挟まれたくらいで獅子ごときに遅れを取ることはなかったでしょう。
もちろん、「あれは腕力ではなく技術の問題だ」とおっしゃる方もいるでしょうし、「相手は二頭ではなく巨大な一頭の獅子だった」と伝説を正す方もいらっしゃるはずです。そして何より、彼はどれほど強くとも人間だった―それが事実です。
それでも私は、あの不運さえなければ彼は生き延び、さらに大きな名声を手にしたのではないかと思っています。ただ、もし彼が並の鬼ほどの力でも持っていたなら、片手だけで獅子を放り投げていたに違いありません。
もっとも、そんな自慢話を長々とするのは品がありません。私たち鬼が本当に誇りにしているのは力ではなく、家族や仲間に対する忠義と変わらぬ情なのです。
Hello again dear readers, and I hope you’ve been well since our last meeting. I often think that one of the best traits we oni have is neither our strength nor our considerable martial prowess (most especially with a club). No doubt, as many of you may be aware, we oni are the finest wrestlers in the yokai kingdom, and I suspect that if the legendary olympian Milo of Croton truly were of our kind – as many in those days suspected – then such a minor inconvenience of having one’s hand stuck in a tree stump would not have greatly hindered him from driving off or even subduing one or two measly little lions. Now, I suspect many of you would argue that’s a question of technique more than strength, and you may also contend that, according to the legend, it wasn’t two smaller beasts, but rather a single massive lion who caught him off guard, and still others might say – and this is the plain truth – he was, for all his incredible strength, only a mortal man! Now, I for one think had he not been most tragically hindered by his unfortunate predicament, he may have survived and won even more glory to his name, but the fact remains that if he truly were an oni of even moderate strength and ability he would’ve sent those pesky felines flying and one hand would’ve been quite sufficient to do so. Impressive as this may seem, and we do not deny our excellence in this regard but find it unbecoming to boast too readily and too frequently, what we truly cherish is not our strength, but our loyalty and steadfastness to kith and kin.
その忠義の表れとして、私たち鬼には少し変わった習慣があります。長らく会っていなかった旧友と再会すると、その後は何か月、時には何年も、ほとんど毎日のように顔を合わせるのです。
もっとも、この習慣は親戚一同にも当てはまります。悪気はなくても少々閉口する相手がいるのも事実ですが、それもまた身内というものなのでしょう。
人間にも、ごくまれではありますが、同じ気質を持つ方がいます。そして寿命の短い人間だからこそ、その姿はいっそう立派に映ります。
鬼は天狗ほど長命ではありませんし、中には三千年近く生きるという空狐に迫る者もおりますが、寿命は種によってさまざまです。寿や麒麟のような霊獣がどれほど古くから生きているのかは誰にも分かりませんし、鵺や四神ほど古い存在となれば、神々を除けば比肩する者はいないとも言われています。
だからこそ、限られた時間しか持たない人間の中に、友情を大切にし、友と過ごす時間を幸福と感じ、その友の力になれることを喜ぶ人がいるのを見ると、私は深い感銘を受けます。
鬼にとっては、そうした振る舞いは何百年という歳月の中で身についた、ごく自然な習慣です。人間が「失礼します」や「ありがとうございます」を意識せず口にするように、日本の方々が数え切れないほどの礼儀作法を自然に身につけているように、積み重ねられた小さな習慣が、その人らしさを形づくっているのでしょう。その価値に気づくのは、少々礼儀に欠ける土地を訪れた時か、あるいは実に騒々しい観光客の集団に出会った時くらいかもしれませんね。
In this regard, we oni have a somewhat peculiar habit of catching up with an old friend after a long absence and then spending a few months or even a few years seeing each other nearly everyday. Regrettably, this duty also falls to our myriad of cousins and other relations who sometimes can be a bit of nuisance to say the least, even if they mean no harm as it were. It is this trait that I also find, although quite rare it seems to me, among some humans as well. I find it all the more admirable given their brief lifespans. You see, we oni, are not quite so long-lived as the oldest of the tengu. Though some of us have reached near the age of the kuuko (which they say is around 3,000 years or so) and of course no one really knows exactly how old the kotobuki or other sacred beasts like the kirin are. Furthermore, surely none but the gods are as old as the nue and the four celestial beasts – or so they say. My point being, dear readers, is that it is all the more impressive that some of the nobler souls of mankind, exhibit this same quality despite having so little time. For one of those great and unselfish acts that we all can muster is to be a good friend and to count ourselves most blessed when in the company of friends – especially when we find ourselves able to be of some benefit to those we hold dear. In our case, this is built up over many years and so becomes second nature to any oni of good breeding, in the same sense I suspect many humans find it only natural to say things like, “pardon me,” or in the same sense that the Japanese observe a myriad of other complex social niceties to the extent that they are hardly aware that they are doing them, and only see the compounded positive effect of these “second nature habits” after visiting some less fortunate land or, perhaps, by exposure to a particularly dense mass of tourists.
さて、本当はこの話ももっと掘り下げる価値があるのでしょうが、今日はもっと単純なお話をしたいのです。
靴のお話です。
この点では、私たち鬼は人間を理解するのが実に難しいのです。
犬がコートを着せられて散歩している姿を見かけることがありますね。もし彼らが飼い主と十分に会話できたなら、「お気遣いはありがたいのですが、少々恥ずかしいですね」と答える犬が大半ではないでしょうか。
もちろん、寒さに弱い犬種で、優しい飼い主のおかげで厳しい土地でも快適に暮らしている犬なら、その厚意を喜ぶでしょう。それでも多くの犬は、服など着ずに済むならその方が気楽だと思っているようです。
私はそれを知っています。鬼は多くの動物と、いわば共通語で会話できますから。
旧友との語らいほど豊かな会話にはなりませんが、犬くらいの語彙でも意外と多くのことが分かるものです。
ある冬の朝、パン屋へ向かう途中、震えながら歩くヨークシャー・テリアが私にこう言いました。
「このショールは悪くない。でも、どうしてわざわざ外まで用を足しに来なきゃいけないんだろう。主人には、そのためだけの部屋が家にあるじゃないか。私にも一つ用意してくれればいいのに。」
もちろん、今のはほんの少しだけ意訳しています。
犬は多くを語れませんが、とても美しい魂を持っています。その深い感情は、人間の言葉に移し替えるとどうしても少し薄れてしまうのです。
Again, this is something that warrants much more rigorous investigation and, I should think, must have some grand cause or design behind it, but I must confess that what I really wanted to talk to you about today was something of a decidedly simpler nature, namely: shoes. Now, this is something wherein we oni are truly at a disadvantage to understand, in the same way that while it’s not entirely uncommon to see dogs wearing coats, one gets the impression that if the poor beasts could communicate clearly with their loving but deeply misguided human masters, they would almost uniformly state that while the gesture is appreciated they do feel rather ridiculous donning such entirely superfluous garments. I suppose there is the odd canine, perhaps a breed ill-suited to a colder climate yet fate had brought them to the home of some kindly caretaker in less than ideal environs, who appreciates this gesture. However, I would venture to say most would prefer to dispense with the pretense of clothing altogether and indeed have had this confirmed on numerous occasions. For we oni speak a kind of “universal tongue” with most of the beasts you know, and while it may not be so cordial as a pleasant chat with an old friend, we can get a surprising amount of detail with a few words, such as dogs are capable providing that is. “This shawl is nice, but I don’t see why I had to come all the way out here to relieve myself. I know for a fact my master has a special closet built for just this purpose. I would much prefer he provide me with something similar,” said a kind but rather chilly yorkshire terrier one brisk winter morning whilst I heading to the bakery. Oh, I admit I used some license with the translation just now, but only very little. You must understand that dogs, despite their limited capacity for words, are endowed with very fine souls, and in this manner they have great depth of feeling, which seems to falter when rendered into human speech.
私たち鬼も、人間が靴に足を押し込んでいる姿を見ると、似たような気持ちになります。
もちろん、人間にとって靴は風雨や危険から身を守るための鎧です。それはよく分かります。しかし鬼にとって靴は、ほとんど装飾品に過ぎません。
「では鬼はみんな裸足なのですか」と尋ねられそうですが、私はすべての鬼を知っているわけではありません。ただ、多くの鬼にとって靴を履くことは、「人間かぶれ」の症状と見なされます。
つまり、人間が好きすぎて、人間の妙な習慣まで真似してしまう鬼ですね。
靴を履く。眼鏡をかける。仕事に就く―そんな類いです。
もっとも、私には「鬼の文化人類学者」のような叔父がおりまして、人間の服飾をこよなく愛し、長年にわたり衣服や履物を集め、写真と観察記録を丹念に残しています。
I can tell you we oni, in general, have the same sort of reaction when we see humans cramming their fleshy heels and delicate toes into these coverings. It’s perfectly reasonable that men should have such “armor” to protect from the elements and other harm, but in our case it represents a pure decoration. Now, if you’re wondering, “Does that mean that all oni go barefoot?” Well, my friends, I cannot speak for all for I don’t know each and every one – though we are a rather large-ish clan with a very, if I may say, illustrious and curious history – but for the most part it is seen as a sympton of what we call “mankind mania,” meaning an oni who is, “Overly fond of humans to the point wherein he or she adopts the most ridiculous accouterments of mankind.” Oh you know what I mean, “wearing shoes” and “wearing glasses” and “getting a job” – that sort of thing. Although that reminds me, I have an uncle who is a sort of “oni anthropologist,” and maintains a great fondness for human fashions, cataloguing and accumulating them over many years, along with his observations and photographs.
あまり鬼の文化を明かしすぎるのも考えものですが、およそ百年ごとに、鬼の学者や人間世界を研究する者たちが集まり、妖怪と人間に関する大きな討論会を開きます。
私は叔父の応援で一、二度参加したことがありますが、講演の内容は「実に興味深いもの」から「眠気との戦い」までさまざまでした。人間の学会も、おそらく似たようなものなのでしょう。
ある年、叔父は人間の履物の歴史を語りました。形、素材、製法―人類が足を守るために積み重ねてきた工夫、そして下駄やヨーロッパのハイヒールのように、時には足を痛める結果にまで至った話です。
I don’t wish to give too much away regarding the lesser known aspects of our culture, but every 100 years or so, (for we oni believe this is a proper time to truly gauge things) our greatest scholars and what you might call “explorers” of the human world hold a sort of symposium to discuss yokai and human affairs. I have only attended once or twice, in support of my dear uncle, and I must confess that the various talks, lectures, and research findings range from “quite interesting indeed” to positively “snore inducing” and I imagine similar human events are much the same. One year, he spoke of the human development of footwear – from the design, to the materials, to the manufacturing and I don’t believe I’m boasting of my relation when I say that the room was genuinely fascinated at how much effort mankind has placed into the protection and in some cases (such as the Japanese geta and the European high-heel) unintentional damage of their own feet.
会場は心から聞き入っていました。
しかし多くの鬼にとって本当に驚きだったのは、「人間はなぜ足そのものを鍛えないのか」ということでした。鬼のように丈夫にしたり、毛が生える薬でも塗れば済むではないか、と。
そこで叔父は、いかにも彼らしい結論を披露しました。
「人間にも、その気になればできるでしょう。あるいは、すでに方法はあるのかもしれません。しかし彼らは、靴を履きたいから履いているのです。」
会場はどよめきました。
叔父は続けます。
「それは人間が変化を愛し、遊び心を持ち、そして何より、ファッションを楽しむ生き物だからです。」
尊敬を集める年長の学者が、講演の終わり際にゆっくり尋ねました。
「つまり君は、人間は新しい楽しみのためなら、自分の足を今のまま弱く頼りない状態にしておくことを選ぶ、と言うのかね。」
叔父は静かに答えました。
「私の観察では、それが最も筋の通る結論です。」
再び会場がざわめき、やがて老学者が深くうなずきました。
「実に興味深い。」
その一言を合図に、小さな拍手が広がり、やがて大きな喝采になりました。
私はあの時、とても誇らしい気持ちになったものです。冒頭でもお話ししたように、鬼は友や家族を深く大切にします。趣味や仕事が少々変わっていたとしても、その人の成功を自分のことのように喜べるのです。
最後に一つだけ申し上げるなら、人は靴を履き替えることはあっても、古い友人や家族を履き替えることはありません。
そして、毎日欠かせない靴を大切に思う読者の皆さまなら、この考えにはきっと心から賛同してくださるのではないでしょうか。
それでは、また次回お会いしましょう。友よ。Until next time, friends!
For many, the truly stupendous thing was that humans wouldn’t instead find a way to make their feet tougher like us oni by tempering them somehow, or perhaps using some special ointment to make them grow fur to guard against the cold. It was here that my uncle, in his own curious and clever way, posited before the academy and the audience hat it was his assessment that while humans certainly could do such a thing if they put their minds to it, or perhaps even that something of this nature was already possible, but that they simply prefer to wear shoes for their own sake. He then went onto claim that this was yet another manifestation of their great fondness for variety, for sport, and for fashion. This was met with many an awed whisper. “Do you mean to say they’d rather leave their feet as vulnerable and maladroit as they are, simply to have something novel to do with their extremities?” said a very old and well-respected member of the panel as my uncle’s presentation was coming to close. “Well sir, from my observation, this seems to be the only plausible conclusion.” Again, much murmured discussion, before the elderly scholar began again, “Most fascinating, truly,” and at this there was a small trickle at first and then a rush of applause. I must admit I was most proud in that moment, for as I said at the beginning we oni have a great sense of loyalty and fondness for our friends and relations, and even if their hobbies or “professions” strike us as a bit odd, to share in their victories is a splendid feeling indeed. In closing I shall say only that, while one can quite imagine changing out a pair shoes, changing out an old friend or relation would be quite unthinkable, and I suspect many of you, dear readers – who understandably view shoes as quite an indispensable everyday good – would heartily agree.
Until next time, friends!
What a splendid land this is, and how lovely are its people! Fear not, I promise not to eat anyone!
-Aka-Oni
