"七つの石 Nanatsu no ishi" (The seven stones), 1941 February 28

Date

1941 February 28

Summary

Kazuo was a poor and brilliant boy who came up with an idea to place stones from the Imperial Palace ground in a comfort bag to send to a frontline soldier. Corporal Yamamura received the comfort bag and shared the stones with his unit commander and fellow soldiers. Three, including Yamamura, died in the Nanjing invasion with the stones in their hands. The remaining four survived and returned to Japan. They paid homage to Kazuo. The four, Kazuo, and Kazuo’s mother, returned the four stones to the Imperial Palace ground.

Archival processing title

"七つの石 Nanatsu no ishi" (The seven stones)

Transcription

Card 20
軍人援護画劇
七つの石
軍事保護院・恩賜財団 軍人援護會推薦
第４回紙芝居コンクール一等入賞作品
作・小原 弘也
画・小宮 小次郎
１ (表紙)
これから七つの石といふお話をいたします。
（靜に拔く）

Card 1
（静かな切り出しで）
大東京の一角にある、工埸街の片隅に、吉田一夫と云ふ少年が、お母さんと只二人で住んで居りました。
(張り切った声で)
一夫「お母さん、明日ね僕達のクラスて慰問袋を戰地の兵隊さんに送るんだって、お母さん、作つて吳れる?」
（ゆっくりと沈み込んだ調子で）
母 「慰問袋をかい?」
（更に哀調を帯びて）
母「一夫、戰地の兵隊さんに、慰問袋を送って上げたいのは山々だが、お父さんが亡くなられてからは この通りの暮し，とても慰問袋なんか送れないんだよ」
一夫君は、がっかりして了ひました。
（低く）
あゝどうしたらいゝだらう。
（抜きながら）
思ひ餘った一夫君は、思はずフラフラと家を出て――

Card 2
（沈んだ強い調子）
宮城御前に膝まづきました。
(せめて、慰問袋を送れないお詫びを、天子樣にしたならば、心が少しは晴れるかも知れない。)
一夫君はこう思ったのです。
（静かにゆっくり）
暮れ行く二重橋を、はるかに拜しました。思はず落ちた淚の幾滴，ふと下を見ると落したその淚に濡れて、光って居るものがあるのです。
（急に叫ぶ）
「あツこれだ!」
一夫君は、思はず叫びました。
（抜き乍ら）
それは果して何であったのでせう?

Card 3
（調子を変へて 呼ぴかける）
「オーイ、慰問袋が來たぞ」
此處は中支の戰線です。
久し振りに届いた慰問袋に、部隊は、湧き立つやうな騒ぎです。
（明るく続く）
キャラメル、 羊羹、罐詰、雜誌，さては下駄、傘等、 銃後の眞心込めた慰問品の數々に、部隊長も兵隊も、全く子供のやうになって大喜びです。
（普通に抜く）

Card 4
（調子を変へて）
此の時ふと，部隊長の目に止ったのは、山村伍長の浮かぬ顏でした。
（ゆったり重々しく）
隊長「山村、どうした、慰問袋が氣に入らんのか?」
山村「ハツ、それがその少し變であります」
（不思議さうに拔き作ら）
隊長「なに、變だア?」

Card 5
（早口に）
山村の出す袋を取り上げた部隊長は、中を見て驚いた。
隊長「あツ石だ!」
（低く強くゆっくり）
袋の中から出て來たのは、半紙に叮寧に包んだ、 七ツの小石でありました。
山村「部隊長殿!この石は一體どういふ惫味でありますか?」
隊長「はてさて俺にも全くわからん、手紙でもあればな」
（ゆっくり感じたように）
と云ひながら，袋の底をさぐってゐた隊長は，
隊長「あツ、あった あった」
山村「アツ、ありましたか」
（喜び勇んで）
隊長「ウン、あるある、あるぞ山村，お前讀んで見ろ」
山村「ハイ、讀めば判ると思ひます」
（静かにゆっくり抜き乍ら説明）
受け取った手紙を、貪る樣に読みはじめた山村伍長の目は次第次第にうるんで参りました。

Card 6
部隊長がその手紙を見ますと、それにはこう書いてありました。
（強い哀調帯びた調子で朗読）
お國の爲に勇しく戰って下さる兵隊さん、僕は慰問袋を澤山送って上げたいのですが僕の家は貧乏なので、入れて上げる物がありません。これは宮城御前廣場の石です。この石には何百萬と云ふ日本國民 が歌った「君が代」や「天皇陛下萬歲」の聲がしみ 込んで居ります。そればかりではありません、僕の涙を吸取った石です。
この石はきっと兵隊さんを守ってくれると思ひます。どうぞ、この七ツの石を身につけて、お國の爲 に戰って下さい。そして無事に凱旋された時には、この石をもとの宮城前にお返し下さい。
吉田一夫より 忠義な兵隊さんへ
（静に拔く）

Card 7
（舞ひ込んで）
甲兵「山村伍長殿、その石を自分に分けて下さい」
乙兵「自分も是非いたヾきたいであります」
甲下士「おい山村、俺に一つくれ」
乙下士「七つも一人でとるといふのは、慾が深すぎるぞ」
丙下士「俺はくれとはいはん、借用申込む」
石の話を聞いた兵隊逹は、山村伍長の處へ押しかけて きました。
山村「持て待て!これは確に俺に送られたものだから 俺のものかもしれぬ。しかし山村は、この石の性質上、 自分のものとはせず、部隊長殿にお預けして、その處分は一切部隊長殿の御裁斷にお任せする」 山村伍長は威儀を正して云ふのでした。
（静かに抜く）

Card 8
（調子を変へて 明るく強く）
其の翌朝、部隊は、南京攻略の主力部隊として、山岳地帶を前進して居た。
昨夜の雨は名殘り無く晴れたが、なほ霧は深く立ちこめて、あたりの山は見えなかった。
（ゆっくり抜く）

Card 9
（せきこんだ調子で高く）
山村「山村斥候報吿!部隊の進路上約八〇〇米、饅頭形 の高地に、約三・ 四百の敵の陣地があります。其の前方には深い谷があって、此の攻擊は中々困難と思ひます。 山村分隊は、此の濃霧を利用して、 背後から敵の不意を衝かうと思ひます!」
敵状偵察を命ぜられた山村伍長の勇ましい姿だ。
（低いが力強く）
隊長「よろしい、引率して行く五名の兵をきめろ、山に登ったら、信號は赤一發……しっかりやれ!」
部隊長の固く結んだ口許が微かにふるえた。
それは生死を共にし、信賴しきった六名の部下を、
（抜き乍ら強く）
むざむざ死地に追ひやると同然であったからであります。

Card 10
（調子を変えて明るく）
山村伍長は、志願した五十四名の決死隊の中から、佐藤、山田、熊谷、戶田、田川の五名が選ばれました。任務を命じた部隊長はやがて嚴かに口を切りました。
（ゆつくりと一語一語力強く）
部隊長「此處に、七つの石がある。一つは俺が持つ。一つ は分隊長の山村が持て、殘る五つは選ばれた勇士が分けて持つのだ。いゝか、では行けッ!」 部隊長が渡した六つの石を、山村伍長は押しいたヾいた。
（早口に強く）
「部隊長殿、では行って參ります」

Card 11
（調子を変えて早めに強くたたみ込んで）
六つの石を持った、 六名の決死隊は、濃霧に乘じて、巧みに谷間を縫ひ、木の根、岩角を傳って、猫のやうに忍びより、敵の背面に迫って行った。
（サット拔く）

Card 12
ワーアッ!
六名の決死隊は、猛然銃劍をふるって突入した。
（早口に高く強くたたみ込んで）
不意を喰った敵兵は、 算を亂し、陣地を棄てゝ逃げて ゆく。
肉彈、遂に百倍の敵兵を蹴散らして、この陣地を占領したのだ。
（強い調子でたたみかける）
併しこの時、味方の少數を知った敵兵は、猛然逆襲に 轉じて來た。
（サッと早めに抜く）

Card 13
（たゝみ込んで強く）
アッ!
逸早く日の丸の旗を打立てゝゐた山田一等兵は、猛烈な集中彈を浴びて倒れた。
敵彈は間斷なく、山頂の砂を跳ね返して、土に喰ひ込む。
（サット拔く）

Card 14
（更に高く強く）
續いて飛び來った一彈は…… 無念、山村伍長の腹部を貫通、山田一等兵の上に折り重って倒れた。
（たたみ込んで）
殘るは四名だ。しかし、決死隊は一步も引かなかった。
苟くも、銃を取り、劍を握り得る者は、 一丸となって、
敵の逆襲に、死闘、 又死鬪を續けるのであった。
（急に調子を下げゆっくり (靜に拔き乍ら)）
併し、彈は遂に盡きた。

Card 15
（哀調を帯びた調子で低く強く）
山村伍長は、時到れりと思ったのであらう、 苦しい息の下から、喇叭手戶田上等兵に合圖のラッパを命じた。その喨々たる音が、夕闇を震はせて、谷から谷へ谺した時……
（早め艮拔く）

Card 16
（急に早口に強く）
風を切って飛び來った一彈は，戶田上等兵の胸を貫いた。――その時です。
更に
（調子をあげて強く）
おう、山麓に起る一大喊聲!
戶田上等兵、最後のラッパを合圖に、本隊は山頂をめがけて大突擊を敢行したのだ。
（早めは披く）

Card 17
（低いが語気を強く）
隊長「山村しっかりしろ、俺だ」
部隊長が山村を抱き超した時、山村伍長は、未だ殘ってゐた息の下から、かすかに叫んだ。
山村「石！石!」
（強いが低くかすかに間をおいて）
隊長「おゝ石か、今俺が、出してやるぞ」
部隊長は，山村伍長の軍服をさぐって取り出した石をその手に握らせてやった。
山村伍長は、それをシッカリ握ると、さも安心した樣に、ガックリ首を垂れて瞑目しました。
（哀調を帯びた調子で）
激しい銃聲も炸裂する砲彈の響も最早伍長の耳には聞えなかった。紫の闇は伍長の屍を包むが如く、靜に靜にこの山頂を、塗りつぶして行くのでした。
（静に拔く）

Card 18
（調子を変へて明るく）
それから一年の月日は、夢の樣に流れた。或る日，東京の工場街に、 一夫少年を訪れた一人の將校と 三名の兵士があった。
隊長「あなたが一夫君ですか?
（静にゆっくり而も強く）
我々は、あなたから七つの石をいただいた、 山村伍長の戰友です。あの七つの石の中、一つは山村伍長が、 一つは山田上等兵が、一つは戶田上等兵が、しつかり 握りしめた儘、南京攻略の華と散り、戰死の場所に埋められました。
殘る四つは、私と、當時の決死隊員であった佐藤、熊谷、田川、三上等兵が無事にかうして、故國に持ち歸る事が出來たのです。
この石は我々と供に進み、我々と共に戰ひ、あなたの眞心に對して、立派に酬ゆる事が出來ました。そこで、今日お約束を果たしに參ったのです」
（抜き乍ら）
かくてその日の午後……

Card 19
（調子を変へて 明るく）
部隊長と三名の勇士とは、一夫君母子と共に、打ち揃って宮城前の廣場に参りました。
（ゆつくりと明るく最後に調子をあげて終わる）
かうして不思議にも、戦線と銃後の眞心を、かたく結びつけ、かくも輝かしき武勳を生んだ、七つの石は、その中三つを大陸の空の下に、四つを故國の空の下に分って、今、千代八千代に榮えまします 皇居の御前に、静かに置かれるのであしました。
完

Translation of transcription

Card 20
Kamishibai to support soldiers
The seven stones
Recommended by the Military Relief Board, Imperial Gift Foundation, Soldiers’ Relief Association
The first prize winner of the fourth Kamishibai contest
Script: Hiroya Ohara, Illustration: Kojirō Komiya

COVER

NARRATOR
I’ll tell you a story of the seven stones.

(Pull the slide quietly.)

Card 1
NARRATOR (continued)
(Start quietly)
Kazuo Yoshida, a young boy, lived with his mother in a corner of the factory district in Tokyo.

KAZUO
(In high spirits)
Mother, our class will send comfort bags to soldiers on the front tomorrow. Will you make some?

MOTHER
(In a slow and depressed tone)
Comfort bags?

MOTHER
(Even more sadly)
I have all the desire to send comfort bags to soldiers at the battlefields. But we cannot afford them after your father passed away.

NARRATOR
Kazuo became disappointed.
NARRATOR (continued)
(In a low tone)
What shall I do?

(As you pull the slide)

NARRATOR (continued)
With no good ideas, Kazuo aimlessly left home.

Card 2
NARRATOR (continued)
(In a depressed and firm tone)
He kneeled down in front of the Imperial Palace.
Kazuo-kun thought, “At least I can apologize to the Emperor that I cannot send comfort bags, and I may feel a little better.”


NARRATOR (continued)
(Slowly and quietly)
He bowed to the double-arched bridge afar in the dusk. A few tears fell involuntarily, and when Kazuo looked down he saw something shining, wet from his tears.

KAZUO
(Shout suddenly)
This is it!

(As you pull the slide)

NARRATOR
What did he find?

Card 3
SOLDIER
(Change the tone and call)
Hey, the comfort bags arrived.

NARRATOR
This is a front line in central China.
The troops were excited at the arrival of the comfort bags they had not seen for a while.
(Continue in a bright tone)
Caramel, sweet bean jelly, canned food, magazines, geta sandals, and umbrellas—warmhearted comfort gifts from the home front delighted the unit commander and soldiers like children.

(Pull the slide normally.)

Card 4
NARRATOR (continued)
(Change the tone)
The unit commander noticed Corporal Yamamura’s unexcited face.

UNIT COMMANDER
(Slowly and solemnly)
Yamamura, what’s the matter? You don’t like the comfort bag?
YAMAMURA
Sir. It’s just that something is strange.

(Pulling the slide, puzzled)

UNIT COMMANDER
What? Strange?

Card 5
NARRATOR (continued)
(Speak quietly)
The unit commander was surprised to find the content of the comfort bag that Yamamura showed him.

UNIT COMMANDER
Oh, stones!

NARRATOR (continued)
(In a slow, firm and low tone)
What he pulled out from the comfort bag was seven stones carefully wrapped in Japanese paper.
YAMAMURA
Unit commander! What does this stone tell you?

UNIT COMMANDER
I have no idea. I wish we had a letter.

NARRATOR
Slowly, the unit commander felt the bottom of the bag and said,

UNIT COMMANDER
Yeah, here it is, here it is.
We have a letter, Yamamura, read it.

YAMAMURA
Yes, Sir. I think we’ll understand from this letter.

(Pull the slide quietly and slowly and explain)

NARRATOR
Corporal Yamamura's eyes were wet with tears after he started reading the letter eagerly.

Card 6
NARRATOR (continued)
The unit commander then read the letter, which said as follows:

UNIT COMMANDER
(Reading in a strong, mournful tone)
Dear soldier, who bravely fights for his country,
I wish I could send many comfort bags, but my family is poor and we have nothing to put in comfort bags. These stones are from the ground in front of the Imperial Palace. The stones are engraved with the voices of “Kimigayo” (His imperial majesty’s reign) and “Long live the Emperor” sung by several million Japanese citizens. Not only that, but the stones also soaked up my tears. I believe the stones will protect you, soldier. Please carry the seven stones and fight for the country. When you safely and triumphantly return, please return the stones to the Imperial Palace ground.
From Kazuo Yoshida,
To a loyal soldier

(Pull the slide quietly.)

Card 7
SOLDIER 1
(Jumping into the conversation)
Corporal Yamamura, please share the stones with me.

SOLDIER 2
Me, too, please.

NONCOMMISSIONED SOLDIER 1
Hey, Yamamura, give me one.

NONCOMMISSIONED SOLDIER 2
You are too greedy to keep all seven to yourself.

NONCOMMISSIONED SOLDIER 3
I won't ask you to give one to me, but let me borrow one.

NARRATOR
The soldiers who heard about the stones flocked to Yamamura.

YAMAMURA
Wait! wait!
The stones were undoubtedly sent to me so they may belong to me.
However I, Yamamura, do not claim that they are mine. Instead, I will leave the stones to the unit commander for his judgment.

NARRATOR
Corporal Yamamura said righteously in a dignified tone.

(Pull the slide quietly.)

Card 8
NARRATOR (continued)
(Change the tone and in a bright and robust tone)
The following morning, the troops proceeded toward the mountain area as a primary force of the Nanjing capture. It's clear today, with no trace of last night’s rain. However, the fog was still deep, and they couldn't see the mountains around them.

(Pull the slide quietly.)

Card 9
YAMAMURA
(In a high pitch, in a fit of coughing)
Yamamura reports! The unit proceeds at about 800 meters above sea level and witnesses an enemy base with 300 to 400 soldiers in the manju shaped plain. Before that, there is a deep valley, and we judge that this attack will be difficult. The Yamamura unit plans to hide in this thick fog and launch a surprise attack on the enemy from behind!

NARRATOR
Brave Corporal Yamamura was ordered to conduct enemy reconnaissance.

UNIT COMMANDER
(In a low but strong tone)
I agree. Select five soldiers to lead. Once you climb the mountain cut, signal with one red bullet…Good luck!

NARRATOR
The unit commander's tight lips slightly shook, because it was like he was sending his six trusted men, with whom he shared life and death,

(As you pull the slide firmly)

to die helplessly.

Card 10
NARRATOR (continued)
(Change the tone and speak brightly)
Corporal Yamamura selected Sato, Yamada, Kumagai, Toda, Tagawa out of the 54 volunteered suicide corps. The unit commander who ordered the mission opened his mouth solemnly.

UNIT COMMANDER
(Enunciate each word slowly and firmly)
We have seven stones here.
I’ll take one, and Yamamura will take another.
Share the remaining five amongst the five selected brave warriors.
Are you ready? Go!

NARRATOR
Corporal Yamamura reverently held the six stones that the unit commander gave him.

YAMAMURA
(Speak vigorously and quickly)
Unit commander, I'll be going now.

(Pull the slide.)

Card 11
NARRATOR
(Change the tone and speak strongly and vigorously)
The six soldiers of the forsaken unit, with the six stones in their hands, cleverly weaved through the valley hidden in thick fog, and approached the enemy from behind quietly like cats along the tree roots and rocks.

(Pull the slide suddenly.)

Card 12
TROOPS
Ahhhh!

NARRATOR
The six-men unit fiercely attacked the enemy with rifles and swords.
(Speak quickly and vigorously in a high pitch)
The enemy soldiers were taken by surprise and ran in disarray, abandoning the base. The soldiers became human bullets, dispelled 100 times more enemy soldiers, and occupied their base.
(Speak firmly and vigorously)
However, the enemy soldiers realized how few Japanese soldiers there were and, turning around, counterattacked fiercely.

(Pull the slide suddenly and quickly.)

Card 13
NARRATOR (continued)
(Speak vigorously and forcefully)
Oh no!
Private Yamada, who first raised a Japanese flag, fell under the fierce barrage of bullets.
Without wasting a moment, enemy bullets sprang into the sand at the mountain peak and wedged into the soil.

(Pull the slide quickly.)

Card 14
NARRATOR (continued)
(In an even higher and stronger pitch)
One of the bullets that followed, unfortunately, penetrated Corporal Yamamura’s abdomen. Yamamura fell upon private Yamada.
(Speak vigorously)
Only four soldiers remain. However, the forsaken unit did not hesitate even for a second. With rifles and swords in their hands, they bravely fought to the death against the enemies’ counterattack.
(In a sudden slower pitch)
(As you pull the slide quietly)

NARRATOR (continued)
Unfortunately, they were finally out of bullets.

Card 15
NARRATOR (continued)
(In a low and firm pitch with a sad tinge)
Perhaps Corporal Yamamura thought it was time. With labored breath, he ordered trumpet player Private First Class Toda to send a trumpet signal. The unmistakable sound vibrated through the evening darkness and echoed from valley to valley. At that moment…

(Pull the slide rather quickly.)

Card 16
NARRATOR (continued)
(Speak suddenly and quickly)
A bullet that flew through the wind penetrated Private First Class Toda’s chest.
Then,
(In a higher and stronger pitch)
A loud battle cry roared through the mountains!
Responding to Private First Class Toda’s last trumpet signal, the main unit attacked, targeting the mountain peak.

(Pull the slide relatively quickly.)

Card 17
UNIT COMMANDER
(In a low and severe tone）
Yamamura, are you alright? It's me.

NARRATOR
When the unit commander lifted Yamamura up, Corporal Yamamura faintly cried with what little breath he had left.

YAMAMURA
Stone! Stone!

UNIT COMMANDER
Oh, the stone, I'll take it out.

NARRATOR
The unit commander searched Corporal Yamamura's military uniform, pulled out the stone, and placed it in his hand.
As soon as Corporal Yamamura held it firmly, he lowered his neck and, as if relieved, fell into an eternal sleep.
(In a sorrowful tone)
The corporal no longer heard the fierce bullets or the explosion of bombs. The purple darkness colored the mountain peak quietly as if to wrap the corporal's body.

(Pull the slide quietly.)

Card 18
NARRATOR (continued)
(Change the tone and speak brightly)
One year passed quickly like a dream.
One day an officer and three soldiers visited Kazuo at a factory town in Tokyo.

UNIT COMMANDER
Are you Kazuo-kun?
(Quietly and slowly, but firmly)
We are fellow soldiers of Corporal Yamamura, who received the seven stones from you. Among the seven stones, Corporal Yamamura had one; Private First Class Yamada had one, Private First Class Toda had one. They held those stones firmly as they perished in the Nanjing conquest, and were buried in the soil where they died.
The remaining four were with me and Private Third Class Sato, Kumagai, and Tagawa of the suicide corps. We were able to bring them back to the motherland.
These stones came with us, fought with us, and were able to respond wonderfully to your sincere devotion. We are here to fulfill our promise to you.

(As you pull the slide)

NARRATOR
That afternoon,

Card 19
NARRATOR (continued)
(Change the tone and speak brightly).
The unit commander and three brave warriors went to the Imperial Palace ground with Kazuo and his mother.
(Bright and slow, accelerate as you end the kamishibai performance)
The seven stones, which miraculously united the sincere hearts of the front lines and home front and gave birth to glorious hero stories, will prosper forever; three under the sky of the continent and four under the sky of our homeland. They'll be placed quietly in front of the Imperial Palace that will flourish for thousands and thousands of years.

(The end.)

Scope and contents

Komiya Kojirō 小宮 小次郎 (artist); Ohara Hiroya 小原 弘也 (author); Dai Nihon Gageki Kabushiki Kaisha 大日本画劇株式会社 (publisher); Recommended by the Military Relief Board, Imperial Gift Foundation, Soldiers’ Relief Association 軍事保護院・恩賜財団 軍人援護會推薦; The first prize winner of the fourth Kamishibai contest 第４回紙芝居コンクール一等入賞作品

Language

Japanese

Script

Japanese (alias for Han + Hiragana + Katakana)

Genre/form

Drama

Collection information

Collection title

Kamishibai collection

Collection ID

2018C32.12417284

Collection abstract

Japanese illustrated paper play sheets, intended primarily for children and women at the homefront and dealing with World War II propaganda themes.

Rights

No known restrictions.

Holding repository

Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Preferred citation

"七つの石 Nanatsu no ishi" (The seven stones), 1941 February 28, Kamishibai collection, Hoover Institution Library & Archives, https://n2t.net/ark:/54723/h3b30j

Identifiers

Record ID

2018C32.00008

Permalink

https://n2t.net/ark:/54723/h3b30j

RefID

f7eb53f6ce4ca53f0fed2aa3edc4e06d

EZID

ark:/54723/h3b30j

Digitization information

Imaging system

IQ180, Phase One

Capture date

2018-07-11T11:58:36-07:00