And Then by Soseki Natsume

Author:Soseki Natsume [Field, Norma Moore]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Published: 2011-06-18T16:00:00+00:00

* Ballad-drama

Daisuke, who had been accustomed to watching traditional Japanese theater from childhood, was, like Umeko, a pure and simple appreciator of the art form. For him, the “meaning” of the art performed on the stage was to be construed narrowly as applying only to the actor’s skill. Therefore, he and Umeko got along famously. They exchanged glances from time to time, adding commentary that sounded quite professional, and they were mutually impressed. But in general, Daisuke had already begun to lose interest in the stage. Even while the curtain was up, he would look this way and that through his opera glasses. Far in the corner of his field of vision, there were many geisha. Some of them had turned their own glasses toward him.

To Daisuke’s right was a man of about the same age who had brought along his beautiful wife. Her hair was done up in the married woman’s style. Looking at the wife’s profile, Daisuke thought she bore a strong resemblance to a certain geisha of his acquaintance. To his left was a male party of about four. They were all academics and Daisuke remembered each of their faces. Next to them, two people had taken over a wide area just for themselves. One of them seemed to be about his brother’s age and was dressed correctly in a suit. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, and whenever he wanted to say something, he had a habit of sticking his chin out and turning it slightly upward. When he saw this man, Daisuke thought that he somehow looked familiar. But in the end he did not even try to recall who it was. His companion was a young woman. Daisuke decided that she was not yet twenty. She had come without a cloak, and she let her pompadour hang forward more than most; much of the time she sat with her chin pressed against her collar.

Out of discomfort Daisuke got up a number of times and went to the rear corridor, where he looked out upon a narrow sky. He was quite ready to hand over Nuiko and his sister-in-law as soon as his brother arrived and to leave early himself. Once he took Nuiko with him and walked all around to stretch his legs. In the end, he even thought of sending for a little sake.

His brother came just at dusk. When Daisuke told him he was terribly late, his brother pulled a gold watch from his obi and showed it to Daisuke. It turned out to be only a little after six. As usual, his brother sat calmly, looking all round. But when the time came to eat, he went out to the corridor and did not return for a long time. After a while, Daisuke happened to look over and found him talking in the stall of the man with the gold-rimmed glasses. From time to time he seemed to address a few words to the young woman as well. But the woman would only show a slight smile, then turn earnestly to the stage.

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