Hototogisu, be written as 不如帰 (1st third)

Hototogisu

The Hototogisu is the masterpiece of Tokutomi Roka, one of the most famous Japanese novelists. While the English translation uses the heroine’s name, Nami-ko, as its title, in Japan, the title Hototogisu is written 不如帰 (Fujyoki, which means would better come home).

This name comes from a traditional Chinese legend story of one emperor who has no ability to save his people but eagerly wants to do that. After the other person saves his country and his people, the emperor gives his throne to this man and leaves his own country. He dies someplace, but none knows, and his soul becomes a cuckoo bird and tells people to care about their farmland every year. However, every time the cuckoo sounds its alarm, it spits out blood. Because of that, the cuckoo is always connected to sorrow and regret around Asian-culture based countries, including China and Japan.

While the English version omits too many details, I read the original Japanese version. In the first third of the story of a pitiful new-married girl Nami-ko, every character appears with their specific and exaggerated characteristics, her father who loves her so much but uses his method of balance; her husband who also loves her but cares nothing about people around their lives; her step-mother who hates her due to the jealous and prejudice; her brother-in-law who wants to marry her at first for higher status and military rank.

“上州(じょうしゅう)伊香保千明(いかほちぎら)の三階の障子(しょうじ)開きて、夕景色(ゆうげしき)をながむる婦人。年は十八九。品よき丸髷(まげ)に結いて、草色の紐(ひも)つけし小紋縮緬(こもんちりめん)の被布(ひふ)を着たり。
色白の細面(ほそおもて)、眉(まゆ)の間(あわい)ややせまりて、頬(ほお)のあたりの肉寒げなるが、疵(きず)といわば疵なれど、瘠形(やさがた)のすらりとしおらしき人品(ひとがら)。これや北風(ほくふう)に一輪勁(つよ)きを誇る梅花にあらず、また霞(かすみ)の春に蝴蝶(こちょう)と化けて飛ぶ桜の花にもあらで、夏の夕やみにほのかににおう月見草、と品定めもしつべき婦人。”

At the beginning of the whole story, Tokutomi describes this beautiful madam waiting for her returning husband, and starts by depicting her melancholy emotion in order to foreshadow their tragic fate after these peaceful honeymoon days.

Beyond the omniscient viewpoint, readers can see how people who are cherished by Namiko and her husband are planning to ruin their newly-married life to fulfill their selfish desire and personal prejudice. By reading those dramatic plots and their exaggerated emotional changes, readers will feel nervous about the innocent and powerless heroine, Namiko.

Among all those characters who only consider of themselves, Namiko looks selfless and polite to everyone, even to someone who had or tried to hurt her.


Japanese Version: http://www.aozora.gr.jp/cards/000280/files/1706_44742.html