My Dear, Look at the Autumn Moon

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Meeting again to say goodbye forever.

Cast

Nobuko: Chisa Sasuga
Teruko: Panda Yanagiba
Shunkichi: Hikari Yonaguni
Nobuko’s husband: Kamira Akiru


Act I

As summer has faded, autumn is taking hold.

“You had better not be always writing novels!”

Nobuko’s husband says that without looking at her, wiping his soiled collar. His voice is calm, but the expression on his face gives away his annoyance.
He proceeds to make a number of other nagging remarks, and as he turns away, Nobuko says quietly and decidedly, but almost in a whisper, “I shall never again write novels!” She repeats those words again and again, until her voice becomes hoarse with tears.

Eventually, the day passes and the night falls.

Nobuko gently takes out some pink sheets of letter-paper from the bottom of her workbox. After coming home drunk, her husband is sleeping soundly on the futon next to her. She holds the letter up to the dim light of the desk lamp.

“O my dear sister Nobuko,

I know quite well that you decided this hurried marriage only for the sake of your poor sister. Even though you may deny it from your kindness of heart, I know that it is true. I know well that you too love Shunkichi-san.

Oh, my dearest, I entreat you to forgive me.”

A few days after Nobuko’s marriage the couple left for their new home in Osaka. The younger sister Teruko who came to see them off seemed to be feeling the parting very much, and her eyes brimmed with tears. As Nobuko was comforting crying Teruko, the younger girl secretly handed her that letter.

The voice of her sister begging for forgiveness keeps reverberating in Nobuko’s head. Nobuko gently holds the letter to her chest and weeps quietly.


Act II

As the autumn advances, Nobuko sits beside the brazier flipping through different literary magazines. In one of them she sees Shunkichi’s name and a story he wrote. After successfully graduating from a literary college, he started his own magazine in cooperation with a few of his friends. Since her marriage Nobuko ceased corresponding with him altogether, and the letters from Teruko have been the only way to know how he has been doing. Not long afterwards Nobuko receives the news that Shunkichi and Teruko have gotten married.

One day, during the following autumn, Nobuko accompanies her husband on a business trip to Tokyo. Since he is busy with work, Nobuko goes to visit Teruko and Shunkichi’s new home in Yamanote alone. She is somewhat disappointed by the rows of newly-built similarly-looking houses and the rather common-place atmosphere of the neighborhood.

“Hello! Nobuko-san!”

A familiar voice greets her with unusual hilarity. Teruko has gone out shopping, so the one to welcome her is Shunkichi. Suddenly Nobuko feels strangely bashful.

“Though we knew from your letter that you were coming, I never expected the pleasure of welcoming you today, Nobuko-san.”

She follows Shunkichi into a drawing-room where newspapers, magazines and sheets of writing paper are scattered about. Sitting there, they talk of all kinds of things. Novels, life in Osaka, their mutual friends, memories of their younger days… And sometimes they both become silent. At such moments Nobuko starts to feel hope rising in the depth of her heart, but Shunkichi immediately finds some other topic to discuss.

Eventually, Teruko comes back. They haven’t seen each other since Nobuko’s marriage. Shedding tears of joy, Teruko takes her sister’s hands. As Nobuko smiles, her eyes also fill with tears. Forgetting all about Shunkichi’s presence, the two hug each other happy to be reunited.


Act III

Later in the day, the three young people sit down to supper. Teruko says that the eggs which have been prepared for their meal have been laid by her own fowls.

“Human life consists only of plundering, doesn’t it? Even with this egg it is no different,” makes a witty remark Shunkichi.

Teruko finds it amusing, knowing that despite what he said eggs are in fact his favorite food, and laughs. The warm and jolly atmosphere of this supper-table makes Nobuko think of the lonely evenings she spent with her husband back in Osaka.

On the night of this day the moon shines beautifully in the sky.

“Why don’t you come out here? Just look at this wonderful moon!”

Shunkichi invites Nobuko who has stayed for the night to take a walk in the garden with him. Their conversation isn’t as lively as during the day, and they spend most of time in silence. Still, it feels as if they were back in the old days. Together Nobuko and Shunkichi enjoy these nostalgic yet sweet moments. He then takes her to their hen-house. Peeping into it, Shunkichi whispers, “They are all asleep.”

When the two of them return from the garden, they find Teruko sitting at Shunkichi’s desk, staring absently at the electric lamp.


Act IV

The next morning, Shunkichi has to visit the cemetery. Leaving, he tells Nobuko that he should be back before noon and asks her to wait till he returns.

The two sisters are alone in the house. Teruko offers Nobuko some tea, and as they drink it, they converse in a somewhat aloof manner. At last, Teruko notices that her sister wears a depressed expression, and becomes concerned. However, as if to deceive her, Nobuko says in a joking tone, “You seem very happy, my dear.” Teruko replies with a smile, “But aren’t you also happy?” “Do you think so?” answers Nobuko, regretting it as soon as these words have escaped her lips.

For a little time there is silence between them.

“But isn’t your husband very kind?”

Nobuko drops her gaze at Teruko’s probing question and says nothing. Then she hears the sound of weeping. Looking up, she sees Teruko in tears.
Nobuko tries to comfort Teruko, but at the same time she feels a kind of cruel triumphant joy. Her sister’s expression is filled with the color of jealousy, sparked by Nobuko and Shunkichi’s night stroll.

Nobuko has left the house and is sitting in a rickshaw heading towards the station.

After Teruko’s fit of crying had subsided, the young women smoothed things over and parted as the same loving sisters they had always been before. However, Nobuko feels that a huge rift has formed between them.

Suddenly, through the window of the vehicle Nobuko sees Shunkichi. Her heart starts to beat violently and she wants to cry out to him, but something makes her hesitate. She stays hidden under the cover of her rickshaw and the two pass each other by.


Aftertalk

Panda Yanagiba:
“The leaves are falling… Autumn makes me feel kind of sad.”

Chisa Sasuga:
“The season of cold somen noodles is over. Next comes the season of somen noodle soup…”

Panda Yanagiba:
“Is somen the only thing on your mind?! Give me back the somber air I was in just now!”

Panda Yanagiba:
“Ah-choo! Anyway, it’s getting cold lately.”

Chisa Sasuga:
“Are you cold?.. Should we go home and eat some somen noodle soup then? It will keep your body and soul warm.”

Panda Yanagiba:
“Oh well, what can you do. There’s also dinner, so let’s try not to eat too much, okay?”

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Pub: 19 Mar 2024 16:25 UTC
Views: 273