"天降る神兵 Amakudaru shinpei" (Descent of a soldier sent by the gods)

Date

1944 January 5

Summary

Private Oki braved through enemy bullets to acquire weapons for his troop. With his heroic action, the unit was able to win a battle in Dutch Indonesia. The story emphasizes bravery, sacrifice, and endurance, all of which are required to win the war.

Creator/Contributor

Producer

Nihon Kyōiku Kamishibai Kyōkai

Artist

Koyano, Hanji, 1907-1992

Transcription

Card 20
天降る神兵
脚本　北島 英作
繪畫　小谷野 半二
製作　日本敎育紙芝居協會
(表紙の說明)
故國を遠く幾千浬。我か輸送船は肅々と進む。 浪荒き太平洋の眞唯中――
敵機の盲爆の間を縫ふやうにして、 今やっと、目的地〇〇島に近づいたのだ。
(短い間)
(ぬきながら)
(兵一)
『、えいッ!』
(兵二)
『おおツ!』

Card 1
これぞ 海軍が誇る猛訓練――『負け拔き試合』である。
(兵一)
『どうした 沖？……早く打込んで來ないか!』
(沖一等水兵)
『おおツ、行くぞ!』
(短い間)
先刻から七、ハ回も負け績けて來た沖一等水兵は、今にも崩折れさうに疲れてゐる。
然し、――(ハッキリ切って)
『勝つぞ! 死んでも勝つぞ!』
と、心に叫びながら、手負ひ猪のやうに逸っているのだ。
(はやく ぬきながら)
(沖ー水、氣合銳く)
『エイッ!』

Card 2
(兵一)
『やった!やった!』
(兵二)
『沖、凄いぞ。もっと突けもっと……』
見事に定った必死の一擊を戰友達は我がことのやうに喜び讃えるのだ。 激しい氣魄の中にも、暖い友情が匂ってゐる。
見敵必殺!
唯その日の爲――
勇士は、一丸となって鍛え合ってゐるのだ。
(短い間)
(ぬ く)

Card 3
(部隊長)
『命令、……我が特別陸戰隊は、愈々明朝、 メナド攻略戰に參加し、落下傘降下を以て、敵のランゴアン飛行場を強襲す。』
(短い間)
火を吐く部隊長の言葉が流れわたると、 一瞬、水を打ったやうな沈默。 勇士らは、決死の覺悟も固く、心に強く誓ふのである。
(勇士のおもひ)
『やるぞ！ガンとやるぞ……！
「負け拔き試合」で鍛えた腕に今こそ 火花を散らす時が來たのだ。』
(ぬきながら)
明くれば………………

Card 4
(調子をはって)
昭和十七年一月十一日、 烈しいスコ—ルをものともせず、我が編隊機は進軍する。
(短い間)
密雲……又、密雲。
翼も碎けよ!――と叩く、瀧の雨。
『視界零（ゼロ）。』
『高度を上げよ』
明滅する僚機の尾燈を賴りに………
荒鷲は進む。ひとすぢに突進んてゆく。
(しづかにぬきながら)
十分、………二十分………

Card 5
たが、物凄い スコ—ルの勢ひは つのる許りである。窓を撲つ雨は、僅かの隙間から露のやうに吹きこんで來る。
(短い間)
(調子をしづめて)
寒い!
ガチガチと齒が鳴る。
それも道理、 高度〇〇〇米の上空で、兵らは、
シャツ一枚の姿なのだ。
落下傘を濡らすまいとして………
武器を守らうとして………
しっかりと上着で包み、抱きしめながら、皆　齊しく祈ってゐる。
―― 一刻も早く霽れて吳れ。
せめて、降下する瞬間でも。
(ぬきながら)
やがて雲が切れると…………

Card 6
視界はパッと明るんで來た。
『天佑なる哉!』
『天佑なる哉!』
編隊機は喜び、轟々たる爆音に響かせながら、
整然と南下してメナドへ。
ランゴアン飛行場へ――
(短い間)
湖が光る。牧場が橫はる。水田が果てしなく波打ってゐる。
(ゆっくりぬきながら)
行手に蒼々とひろがる メナド港には……

Card 7
濛々と火柱が立騰ってゐる。
沖合からする、
わが艦隊の砲擊の前には、敵牙城も、
一堪りもなく 潰えてしまったのだ。
皇軍は、今こそ、敵前に 決死の上陸を敢行したのであらう。
(短い間)
(æ©Ÿé•·)
『來たぞ!』
(はやくぬく)

Card 8
愈々ランゴアン飛行場へ來た!
今こそオランダ百年の基地は足下にあるのだ。 機長を初め勇士達は、 凝乎と 息をつめながら、 降下の地點を狙ってゐる。
(短い間)
(機長、決然と)
『よしッ、落すぞ!準備はいいか。』
(沖一水)
『はッ!』
(はやく ぬく)

Card 9
機窓に待機した沖一水は、グッと下腹に力を入れた。淒まじい勢で風がなぐりつけて來る。敵彈は機をめがけて集中する。今降下するのは、焰の中へ飛び立つやうなものである。然し!沖一水は少しも騷がず、凝乎と敵地を睨んで。
……合圖の號笛を待構へてゐる。
(短い間)
と、鳴った、降下合圖!
(沖一水)
『やアッ！』
(はやく ぬく)

Card 10
飛んだ!飛んだ!
鮮かな線を描きながら、
自働曳索がスルスルと伸びてゆく。
(ぬきながら)ニッ、三ッ、又五

Card 11
次第に數を增した小さな點々が綠の芝生を背景に、
クッキリと搖れて漂ふ。 それは水草の花のやうに……
また南海に浮ぶ海月のやうに……
淸くあでやかである。
(短い「間)
だが此處は花園ではない!
敵が擊ち出す曳痕彈は、槍襖のやうに
天降る神兵を狙ひ續けてゐるのだ。
(短い間)
(はやく ぬきながら)
(沖一水)
『アッ!』

Card 12
突風に煽られて、
沖一水はドンと空中に投げ出された。敵彈は バサッ バサッと傘を貫いてゆく。 前後左右――、
曳痕彈は 無氣味な音を立てて炸裂する。
危い! 危い!
(ぬく)

Card 13
(隊長)
『しっかりせい沖!』
(æ²–)
『隊長! 皆は…… 皆は……?』
(隊長)
『全員無事降下したぞ。』
然し、危險はこれからだ!
敵は八個のトーチカから射ちまくって來る。
而も我には武器がない。……
一刻も早く手に入れねば 味方は全滅する。
(æ²–)
『隊長、沖が 武器を取りに參ります!』
(隊長)
『然し、その身体では……』
(沖、必死にかぶせて)
『いーえ! 行かせて下さい!』
(ぬきながら)
(機關銃の音)
ダ、ダ、ダダダ、、、、、。

Card 14
夕立のやうに叩きつりる敵の機銃を浴びて、沖一水は 齒がみをして敵を睨んだ。目指す梱包は彼方に見える。
味方の武器は主の手を待ってゐるのだ。
(短い間)
(沖一水)
『さうだッ！死んでも取って來るぞ!』
叫ぶと同時に、沖一水の身体中にあの『負け拔き試合』で、鍛えられた精神が、今こそ、パッと燃えあがった!
(はやく ぬきながら)
(隊長)
『アッ!…. 』

Card 15
(隊長、つづけて)
『……危い!沖!地に伏せ。地に………』
隊長の聲が聞えたのか、聞えぬのか、沖ー水は默々と武器を組立ててゐる。淒まじい彈道の中で、平然と敵を睨みながら。
(短い間)
(はやく ぬきながら)
(友軍の喊聲)
『ワ—ツ!』

Card 16
肉彈!肉彈!
小癩にも反擊して來る敵裝甲車めがけて、勇士等は 火玉となって 突ッ込んでゆく。
手榴彈諸共――
敵の十字砲火を叩き潰して進むのだ!
(はやく ぬきながら)
(爆破の音)
グワ―ン！

Card 17
地雷の破片に傷つきながら
沖一水は必死に立上らうとする。
(やや遠くから)
――突ッ込め!
(やや近く)
――突ツ込め!
彈幕を縫って流れる隊長の命令に、一步も後れじと身もだへしてゐる。
(しづかにぬきながら)
(兵らの聲)
『萬歲!』
(短い間)
(兵らの聲)
『萬歲!』

Card 18
折から堂々と近づく友軍機を迎へながら、
兵は、懸命に叫び、軍艦旗をふってゐる。
勝った!勝った!流石の敵根據地も
わが肉彈の前に崩れ去ったのだ!
『勝つまて鬪ふ』鬪魂が、パッと花咲き、実を結んだのだ!（短い間）
（しづかに ぬきながら）
海ゆかば 水漬く屍………
山ゆかば 草むす屍………

Card 19
(歌つづく)
………大君の邊にこそ死なめ
かへりみはせじ
(短い間)
輝く軍艦旗の下――
蕭々と流れる歌聲を、英魂いかに聞くことであらうか。不滅の戰果を、血に染む絹傘につつみながら、ふかぶかと眠る勇士らの上に、今ぞ世紀の太陽は燦々ご降りそそぐのであった。
（間）

Translation of transcription

Card 20
Descent of a soldier sent by the gods
Script: Eisaku Kitajima; Illustration: Hanji Koyano; Production: Nihon Kyōiku Kamishibai Kyōkai (The Association of Japanese Educational Kamishibai)

(Explanation of the cover)

NARRATOR
Our transport convoy solemnly proceeds through the rough waves of the Pacific Ocean, several thousand miles away from the homeland. We finally arrived near the destination 〇〇, after weaving through the enemy bombing.
(A short pause.)
(As you pull the slide)

SOLDIER 1
Hah!

SOLDIER 2
Oh!

Card 1
NARRATOR
This is our Navy’s intensive training—an elimination tournament.

SOLDIER 1
What’s the matter, Oki? Why don’t you attack me?

PRIVATE SAILOR OKI
Oh! I’m coming.
(A short pause)

NARRATOR
Private Sailor Oki is exhausted and is about to collapse after losing the tournament seven to eight times.
However, with his full force, he shouts silently and attacks his opponents like an injured wild boar.

PRIVATE SAILOR OKI
I’ll win. No matter what, I will win!

(As you pull the slide quickly)

PRIVATE SAILOR OKI
(With intense spirit)
Ha!

Card 2
SOLDIER 1
“You did it! You did it!”

SOLDIER 2
“Oki, you’re doing amazingly. Strike again, strike again…”

NARRATOR
The army friends praised his fantastic attack delightedly as if it were their own. You can smell the warm friendship among their intense spirits.
Look, an enemy. Strike!
The brave warriors are training together for the day this will happen.

(A short pause)
(Pull the slide.)

Card 3
UNIT COMMANDER
“Order… Our special land force is to join the attack in Manado and make a surprise attack by parachute at the Langowan airfield.”

(A short pause)

NARRATOR
The unit commander conveyed the intense order as though spitting fire, and a moment of dead silence fell. The brave warriors are firmly determined, swearing in their hearts,

BRAVE SOLDIERS
(In their minds)
I’ll do it. I will strike! Now is the time to fight and rain sparks using my arms trained in the elimination tournaments.

(As you pull the slide)

NARRATOR
As dawn approaches,

Card 4
NARRATOR (continued)
(Raising the pitch)
Our formation unit proceeded through a fierce tropical storm on January 11, 1942.
(A short pause)
Thick clouds… thick clouds.
Let the wings be broken! The downpour of rain seems to say as it strikes the planes.

“Zero visibility.”
“Ascend.”

NARRATOR
The military plane proceeds behind the flickering tail light of his peer pilot. It flies straight forward.

(As you pull the slide quietly)

NARRATOR (continued)
10 minutes ….20 minutes

Card 5
NARRATOR (continued)
However, the fierce tropical storm only grew worse. The rain that struck the windows was blowing into the cockpit through a gap and gathering like dew.
(A short pause)
(Quiet the tone)
It’s freezing!
Their teeth chattered.
No wonder, because the pilots are wearing only one shirt at 〇〇〇meters in elevation. They tried not to wet their parachutes.
They worked hard to protect the weapons.
They solemnly prayed while wrapping [the weapons] with their shirts and huddling around them.
Please let the sky clear as soon as possible.
Even just for a moment while we descend.

(As you pull the slide)

NARRATOR (continued)
The clouds broke…

Card 6
NARRATOR (continued)
Now they had a clear visibility.
“By the grace of Heaven!”
“By the grace of Heaven!”
The formation planes flew delightedly southward for Manado, with roaring explosive sounds.
To the Langowan airfield.
(A short pause)
A lake shines. A meadow spreads. Rice fields are waving endlessly.

(As you pull the slide quietly)

NARRATOR (continued)
The vast Manado port became visible in front of them.

Card 7
NARRATOR (continued)
A pillar of flame is rising like dark clouds.
The enemy’s stronghold has completely disappeared in front of our fleet’s bombing offshore.
The Imperial Army must have made the landing fully prepared to sacrifice themselves.
(A short pause)

THE CAPTAIN
Here we come!

(Pull the slide quickly.)

Card 8
NARRATOR
Finally, we arrived at the Langowan airfield!
Finally, the 100 year old Dutch base is right below their feet, the captain and his Warriors held their breath and aimed at the target below.
(A short pause)

THE CAPTAIN
(Determinedly)
Alright! Let’s descend. Are you ready?

PRIVATE SAILOR OKI
Yes, sir!

(Pull the slide quickly.)

Card 9
NARRATOR
Private Sailor Oki was on standby by the cockpit window, tucking in his belly. The fierce wind is attacking them. The enemy bullets were targeting them in high concentration. To descend now would be like flying straight into a fire. However, Private Sailor Oki remained calm and stared at the enemy base silently. He was waiting for a signal.
(A short pause)
A signal was blown—a signal to descend.

PRIVATE SAILOR OKI
Yah!

(Pull the slide quickly.)

Card 10
NARRATOR
We’re flying! We’re flying!
An automatic towline extends in a bright line.

(As you pull the slide)

NARRATOR (continued)
2, 3, and 5

Card 11
NARRATOR
Gradually an increasing number of small dots could be seen floating against the green grass. They were clear and bright, just like water flowers…. Just like a jellyfish floating over the South Sea.
(A short pause)
However, this is not a flower garden!
Enemies are shooting tracer bullets like arrows at these soldiers sent from the heavens.

(A short pause)
(As you pull the slide quickly)

PRIVATE SAILOR OKI
Ah!

Card 12
NARRATOR
The gust threw Private Sailor Oki out of his plane and into the air. The enemy bullets pierced the parachute in all directions. Tracer bullets exploded, making eldritch sounds.
Be careful! Be careful!

(Pull the slide.)

Card 13
UNIT COMMANDER
Come on, Oki!

OKI
Unit commander! How is… how is everybody?

UNIT COMMANDER
Everyone descended safely. However, the danger begins now!
Enemies are shooting from eight pillboxes. On top of that, we no longer have weapons.
Unless we acquire weapons immediately, our force will be annihilated.

OKI
Unit commander, I will acquire weapons!

UNIT COMMANDER
But, you’re injured…

OKI
(Trying desperately to persuade him)
No, please let me go!

(As you pull the slide)

NARRATOR
(The sound of machine guns)
Bang bang bang bang …

Card 14
NARRATOR
Private Sailor Oki stared at the enemy with his teeth clenched, facing enemy bullets falling on him like an evening shower.
Our army’s weapons are waiting for their owners.
(A short pause)

OKI
That's right! I'll get them even if I sacrifice my life!

NARRATOR
As he shouted, his spirit trained in the elimination tournament flamed up!

(As you pull the slide quickly)

UNIT COMMANDER
Ah!

Card 15
UNIT COMMANDER (continues)
Watch out! Oki! Cover yourself on the ground— cover yourself…

NARRATOR
Whether he heard the unit commander's voice or not, Oki assembled the weapons diligently while staring down the enemies calmly through fierce bullets.
(A short pause)
(As you pull the slide quickly)

VOICES OF HIS ALLIES
Yahh!

Card 16
NARRATOR
Human bullets! Human bullets!
Like fireballs, the brave warriors dash to the counter-attacking enemy’s armored car.
With grenades in hand
They beat the enemy crossfire to the ground and proceed.

(As you pull the slide quickly)

NARRATOR (continued)
(The sound of an explosion)
Baaaang!

Card 17
NARRATOR (continued)
Private Sailor Oki, who was injured by fragments of landmines, tries to stand up.

VOICE
(From a distance)
Strike!

(A little closer)
Strike!

NARRATOR
Following the unit commander’s order through the barrage, the soldiers didn't fall behind even a single step.

(As you pull the slide quietly)

VOICES OF THE SOLDIERS
Banzai!

(A short pause)

VOICES OF THE SOLDIERS
Banzai!

Card 18
NARRATOR
The soldiers are shouting and waving their military flags while welcoming their comrades’ military planes approaching majestically.
We won! We won! The enemy's stronghold collapsed in the face of our human bullets. Our fighting spirit, which will not cease until we win, suddenly blossomed and bore fruit!

(A short pause)
(As you pull the slide quietly)

NARRATOR (continued)
To the sea, we sacrifice our life ….
To the mountains, we sacrifice our life…

Card 19
NARRATOR (continued)
(The song continues)
Let's sacrifice our life for the emperor.
We won't look back.
(A short pause)
Under the shining military flag –
We listen to the solemn song and the heroes’ spirits. This century's sun solemnly shines upon these heroes, who lie in a deep sleep in blood-red canopies after achieving incredible results in battle.

(A pause)

(End.)

Scope and contents

Kitajima Eisaku 北島英作 (author); Koyano Hanji 小谷野 半二 (artist); Nihon Kyōiku Kamishibai Kyōkai 日本敎育紙芝居協會 (producer); Nihon Kyōiku Gageki Kabushiki Kaisha 日本教育画劇株式会社 (publisher)

Language

Japanese

Script

Japanese (alias for Han + Hiragana + Katakana)

Genre/form

Kamishibai plays

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

"天降る神兵 Amakudaru shinpei" (Descent of a soldier sent by the gods), Kamishibai collection, Hoover Institution Library & Archives, https://n2t.net/ark:/54723/h3sw3n

Identifiers

Record ID

2018C32.00020

Permalink

https://n2t.net/ark:/54723/h3sw3n

RefID

851e5bc43a55a1d1864f524d4f5a0a37

EZID

ark:/54723/h3sw3n

Digitization information

Imaging system

iXG 100MP, Phase One

Capture date

2020-11-11T16:18:09-08:00