Naomi: A Novel by Junichiro Tanizaki

Author:Junichiro Tanizaki [Tanizaki, Junichiro]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Japan
ISBN: 9780375724749
Amazon: 0375724745
Publisher: Vintage
Published: 1970-01-02T03:00:00+00:00

FOURTEEN

THERE'S no need to go into detail about our pillow talk that night. When Naomi heard what had happened at the Seiyoken, she didn't make much of it. "How rude!" she said severely. "They don't know anything!" The problem was that people didn't understand social dancing yet. If a man and a woman danced with their arms around each other, people assumed that they were having an improper relationship and started to spread the word. Reactionary newspapers wrote groundless articles that gave social dancing a bad name, and so most people had made up their minds that it was unwholesome. We'd just have to resign ourselves to hearing that sort of talk.

"And, Joji, I've never once been alone with another man. Isn't that right?"

We went dancing together, we played at home together, and she never entertained a lone guest when I was out. If someone did come alone, she'd say, "Sorry, I'm by myself today," and the visitor would respectfully leave. None of her friends was ill-mannered enough to stay. Then she added "I may be selfish, but I know what's right and what's wrong I could deceive you if I wanted to, but I'd never do anything like that. Everything's open and aboveboard, Joji. I've never kept anything from you."

"I know. It's just that it was unpleasant to have people say that sort of thing to me."

"Then what do you want to do about it? Are you saying that we give up dancing?"

"We don't need to give it up, but you ought to be careful so that people won't misunderstand."

"But I just told you how careful I've been with my friends."

"That's right. But I'm not the one who's misunderstanding."

"If you understand, then I'm not afraid of what other people say. They all dislike me anyway, because I'm coarse and I have a dirty mouth."

Then she repeated, in a sentimental, sugary voice, that she only wanted me to trust her and love her, that it was natural for her to make male friends, because she wasn't like a woman. She preferred men because they were more open and uncomplicated, and that was why all of her friends were men. But she didn't have improper feelings for them at all—not sensual, not romantic. And finally, weeping copiously, she delivered her usual lines: "I've never forgotten the debt I owe you for raising me," and, "I think of you as both father and husband." Then, she had me wipe her tears and rained kisses on me.

But strangely, whether by design or by coincidence, she never spoke of Hamada or Kumagai in the course of that long conversation. I'd actually planned to mention their names and watch her face for a reaction, but I missed my chance. Naturally I didn't believe everything she said, but once you start doubting, it's hard to know what to believe. There was no need to scrutinize the past so closely; all I had to do now was be attentive and supervise her more closely. . . . No, at first I'd intended to be firm, but gradually she brought me around to this vague position.

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