A novel “Echizen Bamboo Doll” by Tsutomu Mizukami

I visited “Echizen Bamboo Doll Village”, where was in Maruoka, Sakai City, to take a video
near the end of last year.
Speaking of Echizen bamboo doll reminded me of the novel of the same title by
Tsutomu Mizukami. So I read it on the occasion.

 

“Weeping Cherry Tree” Created by Reimei Morota(1936-2010) from the website of
“Echizen Bamboo Doll Village” 　

 

The novel is set in present South Echizen Town. However, it is written in
Wakasa dialect which is close to Kyoto language thoroughly. It may cause a problem by current proofreading but it matched the subtle and profound world of the novel.

 

The main character of the novel, Kisuke grew up without mother’s love. After his father
who was a master of bamboo craft died, Tamae, who was a prostitute in Awara hot springs visited Kisuke and said that his father had been a help to her.

 

Afterwards, she got into trouble and was deeply upset. I was impressed that he depicted
her feelings realistically as if he was a woman himself.

 

Because she didn’t want to hurt her most important person, she thought and thought again. Once she makes a decision, she will just do it. Tsutomu Mizukami wrote well such aspect of women’s ways as if Tamae possessed him. Or, it seems that he wanted to tell us that women are in a vulnerable position at any rate and women cry over reasonable things.

 

A famous writer Junichiro Tanizaki commented on the novel as follows.
― It left feelings as if I read Japanese classics. Also, it is good that the plot flows naturally.
I even associate ”The Tale of Bamboo Cutter“ with the novel because Tamae is compared to spirit of bamboo. ー

 

By the way, a Japanese famous theater group Bungakuza performed the “Echizen
Bamboo Doll” last October to November. While the performance period, Fukui Prefecture
sold its specialty like Habutae-mochi, bamboo dolls etc. and they were sold out.
I hope that they will perform it in Fukui someday. (H.S)

 

Here is a video that we took about two foreigners who live in Fukui experience to make bamboo dolls.