"雛鷲の母 Hinawashi no haha" (Mother of a baby eagle), 1944 November 20

Date

1944 November 20

Summary

A young boy named Ken’ichi was a thriving elementary school student who tried to respond to his mother’s and grandfather’s wishes to make him a scholar. However, he longed to be a military pilot. He hid his dream from his family, thinking they would not approve of it. After his teacher conveyed Ken’ichi’s wish to his family, they were supportive of his patriotic cause. Two years later, Ken’ichi made a triumphant return from the sky to his village, where the entire village welcomed him with a character written with rice stalks in the field: “loyalty.”

The moral of the story is to elevate the military-patriotic dedication to the nation and the Emperor above other respectful professions and encourage young boys to serve in the army. It suggests that celebrating the holy spirits at the Yasukuni shrine ensures an eternal recognition of the soldiers’ services.

Archival processing title

"雛鷲の母 Hinawashi no haha" (Mother of a baby eagle)

Creator/Contributor

Artist

Takasawa, Keiichi

Author

Hatta, Naoyuki, 1905-1964

Transcription

Card 20
陸軍報道部推薦 文部省選定兒童向紙芝居 雛鷲の母
作 八田尙之 繪 高澤圭一
1(表紙)
負けず嫌ひの山村彥兵衛老人は、息子を博士にしようと頑張りましたが、長男宗太郞は、医者となり、次男の產次郎は役場の助役となって間もなく病氣で亡くなりました。
今日は長男の息子秀夫と次男の息子健一が國民學校へ 新入學の日です。彥兵衛老人は今度こそ孫を博士にしようと、自慢の勲八等を胸に輝やかせー
「さあ日本男子は胸を張って、手を大きく振って歩くんだよ。お一、二。お一、二」
と張り切って健一のお母さんと一緒につきそひ役です。

Card 1
(久助)「健一、この虎の子が二十一匹目には兵隊さんだ、その時には仔馬ほどの虎の子を祝ふぞ」
健一の誕生日には提灯團の久助叔父さんは、虎の子の やうに強くなれと云ふ氣持で、一年每にひとまはりづつ大きい虎の子を祝ってくれます。今日は十一匹目の虎の子です。
(老人)「健一は四年生まで優等生だが、ここらで油断は大禁物ぢゃ、此頃儂は健一ばかりがたのみだ。どうでも健一を博±にせにゃならん」
彦老人は偉人协語の本を贈り物として健一をはげまします。
(久助)「健坊が博士になったら、店の提灯を村中に配って 提灯行列をやるぞ」
(母) 「そんなことになったら、私は村中にお赤飯を配って步くよ」
お母さんもにこにこです。

Card 2
やがて健一は六年生になり、今日は須田先生に連れられて山登りです。
頂上でお母さんが暗いうちから仕度して下さったおむすびを嬉しくいただいてゐると
「あつ飛行機だ」と誰かが叫びました。
翼に日の丸乗組は 大和魂の持生だ 散機はあらましつぶしたが あるなら出て来いお代り来い プロペラばかりか腕も鳴る。…（適宣に歌ふ)
あちこちから合唱がはじまりました。飛行機は生徒たちの上空を、ぐるぐると旋回するのです。岩の上に立った健一は勇ましい飛行機を見つめているうちに、なんだか熱い涙があふれてくるのです。
僕も日本男子だ、あの勇ましい飛行機に乗って憎い敵をやっつけてヤるぞーと叫んだ拍子に
(普通に抜きながら)
あっと足が須部って岩の上から落ちました。

Card 3
いつもお母さんが、 お詣りする神樣のお守りか、健一 は足の骨を外しただけですみました。
お母さんは二人前のお弁当持ちで健一をリヤカーに乘せ學校から病院へ通ふのがお仕事になりました。
(健一)「お母さん、もし僕がびっこになったら、どうする」
(毋) 「お前がびっこになんかなったら、母さんは盲になるさ」
(健一)「どうして？」
(毋)「母さんは見てゐる元氣がないからね、目をつぶしてお父さんにおお詫びするよ」
健一はぞっとしました。
――お母さんは僕をこんなに思ってゐる、それなのに僕はお母さんに心配させようとしている、と、健一はお母さんの泥のついたゴム靴を見てゐるのが苦しくなって來るのでした。

Card 4
健一の足はすっかり治り、今度からもう心配をかけまいと思ひましたが、山の頂上で見たあの勇ましい飛行機のことが、どうしても心から離れません。
この頃の健一の目には、空を切るやうに飛ぶツパメは戰闘機となり、舞ひ下るトビは急降下爆擊機となり、池の上のトンボが雷擊機で、 鯉の行列が敵艦隊になってしまうのです。
町角に貼ってある少年飛行兵のりりしい姿のポスタ— を見ると、自分の得意な姿を見るやうで、恥かしいやうな氣がします。
しかし 、お母さんや彥兵衛爺さんのことを考へると・ サッと黑いカ—テンを引かれたやうに心が暗くなるので した。

それから健一は、お小遣から內緖で少年飛行兵の本を買ひ集め、お父さんのお墓のあるお寺の綠の下へかくし學校の帰りにお寺の大木に登って讀みふけるのでした。

Card 5
(和尚)「おおい・木の上にいる奴は誰だ、降りて來い。お前は山猿か、家なしか」
(健一)「家はありますよ」
(和尚)「ではどうして每日のやうに木の枝に止って、みみづくみたいに本を読んでゐるんだ、一体何を読んでゐる」
(健一)「飛行兵の本です」
和何「あははははは、さてはお前、木に登って、飛行機に乘ったつもりでいたのか」
(健一)「違ひますよ、家で読めばお母さんが心配するからですよ」
(和尚)「なあるほどね、お前のお母さんなら飛行機どころか木登りしても青くなって心配するだらう」
(健一)「それに本家のお祖父さんが……」
(和尚)「ああ、あの博士氣違ひか、――今度からわしの部屋で、ゆっくり読みなさい」

Card 6
ーケ月ほどすると、健一は急に熱を出して床につきました。
久助さんは自分で釣った鯉をもって見舞ひに來ました。
久助「鯉の生血は藥になるから飮ませやうと思って持つて來た、どれ料理するかな」
(母)「いえ料理は私がしますから――」
その時健一は熱にうなされて「コンドルだ!コンドルだッ!」と囈言を言ひました。
(久助)「なんだとコンドルだと！」
(母)「まア、コンドルって阿でせうか」
それがドイツの飛行機のこととは知らない久助さんとお母さんは首をひねりました。
(母)「囈言なんか詩って健一は大丈夫でせうか、宗太郎先生は心配するなと言ふのですが」
(久助)「心配だな、何しろ宗太郎先生だからな、あの先生 は腹下しや風邪なら― 親類の誼みで薬代も只だが、こんな時にはなあ」
(母)「と云って他のお醫者さんも呼べないし」
(久助)「かうなると、うっかり、へボ医者の親類は持てないなあ」

Card 7
久助さんが帰った後で、お母さんは見舞の鯉を藁に包んでお寺の古池へ來ました。
(母)「さあさあお前を助けて上げるから、お前さんも健ーを助けておくれ」
とお月さまの浮ぶ池へ放してやり、傍らの地蔵様へ
(毋)「私の命に代へても、どうぞ健一を救って下さい」 と祈りました。
(和尚)「おお、山村さんか、今頃何をお願ひぢゃ」
法事の帰りの和尙は不審に思ひました。
(毋)「あつ和尙さん、健一が急病で――」
(和尚)「病氣の事なら地蔵さんより、お醫者さんに願ふことだなあ」
(毋) 「本家の宗太郎先生にかかってゐますが」
(和尚)「危い、危い、重い病なら大概の人はあの先生の門前は素通りぢゃ」
(毋) 「でも他から呼ぶわけにも参りませんし」
(和尚)「わしが地蔵さまなら――親類も本家もない、可愛い子の命が大切なら縣立病院で一番の、仁井田博士にたのみなさい、と吿げるがな」
(毋)「はい、よく判りました。お告げに従ひませう」

Card 8
大いそいで家へ戾ると、何と不思議なことでせう。頼みに行かうと思っていた仁井田博士が診察に來てゐます。
(毋)「先生どうして私のところへ」
(博土)「山村宗太郎君に頼まれましてね。來てよかった、 相富警戒すべき容態だったが、注射しておいたし、後は山村君と相談して間違ひのないやうにやりませう」
(母)「こんな遠方へ、わざわざお出で下さってお禮の申しやうも……」
(博土)「いや、お禮には及びませんよ、山村君とは大學時代一緖の下宿に居った親友でね、山村君は人のいい男で、僕はいつも迷惑ばかりかけてゐたもんです。山村君に電話ー本かけられれば百里でも飛んで來なければならん間柄ですよ」
お母さんは宗太郎先生を迷惑な先生だと思ったことが心からすまないと、淚があふれて來ました。

Card 9
仁井田博士と宗太郎先生のお蔭で今日は全快祝ひを持って彥兵衛老人の家へ向ふ途中、
(健一)「お母さん随分心配しましたね、とても痩せたもの、若し僕が死んだら母さんどうしたらう?」
(母)「ばかなことを云はないでおき！お前が死んだら 母さんに何の樂しみがある、それこそ生甲斐がないよ 母さんはお前の後を追って死んでしまうさ」
健一はか母さんの心を思ふと、またしても飛行兵になる望みが遙か遠いやうな氣持になり悲しさがこみ上げて來るのでした。
秋晴れの澄みきった山の頂きを眺めながら步いてゐると、
ブンブン荒鷲ブンと飛ぶぞ――
と、あの歌が心の底から聞えて來るのです。 老人の家へつくと、彦老人は中風でぶっ倒れてねていました。

Card 10
彥老人は二人の孫を枕許に呼んで、
(老人)「ぢいはな――悪いことをせんから大手を振って大威漲りで極樂へ行くんぢゃ、その前にお前たちが將來何になるか、それを土產に聞いて行かう、秀夫お前何になる」
(秀夫)「僕はどんな仕事でもかまひません。眞面目にやります」
(老人)「なにツ、ばか者、 そんな心がけでどうする、わしの孫ではない」
(秀夬)「でも須田先生がさう敎へたのです」
(老人)「なんといふ情ない先生だ、わしは死にきれんぞ、 考へ直せ!ところで健一、わしはお前一人が頼りだが、お前は博士に立ってくれるな」
(健一)「はい」
(老人)「きつとだよ、なあ健一」

Card 11
ところが老人の極樂行きはのびてしまひ、そのうちに日本と米英の戰爭が超きさうな雲行きになりました。 老人は「この重大時局に死んでも居れんわい」と國民學校の須田先生に談判に出かけました。
(老人)「あんた児童にー職工でも立派なもんだと敎へたさうですなあ。怪しからん、抑々立身出世をして親の名をひろめるのは最大の孝行だ、敎育は立身出世のためぢゃ。なぜ勉强して大臣、大將、博士になれと敎へんのだ」
(須田)「吾國の敎育は人間一人の立身出世のためではありません。お國に役立つ國民を育てるための敎育です。 一兵士、一職工でも、一將軍、一大臣でもみんな同じやうにお國へ仕へる立派な一本道です。尊いとか卑しいとかの差別はありません。みんな天皇陛下のみ恵みを受けてゐる有難い國民の一人一人です」
老人は自分の考へが何だか怪しくなって、
「うむ」と唸りました。

Card 12
やがて學期末となり、健一は、博士にすると言ふお爺さんやお母さんの希望をかけて、中學へ受驗しました。今日はその考査の日です。
健一の体は立派だし、勉强もよく出來るので、中學へは、イの一番で入學出來るのです。
けれども健一の心の中には、もう鐵のやうな堅い決心が出來ていました。
――もしも俱が中學へ入學したらば、お爺さんも、お母さんも、中途で學校をやめて飛行兵になることなんか許して下さらないだらう。博士になっても立派な御奉公は出來るけれど僕は一日も早くお役に立つやう近道を選び少年飛行兵となって戦はう。どんな事があっても、僕は少年飛行兵になるんだ。――

Card 13
健一はとうとう中學へは受かりませんでした。お母さんとお爺さんは、健一の心も知らないでがっかりしましたが、來年こそはと健一をはげましました。 その中、突然須田先生が肪ねて來ました。
(須田)「実は健一君に頼まれて來ましたが」
(毋)「まあ何でございませうか」
(須田)「健一君は自分から云へないと云ふのですが、実は健一君少年飛行兵になりたいと」
(毋)「えつ、飛行兵に――」
(須田)「さうです、飛行横に乗って敵の飛行機と決戦する
のです」
(毋)「あの飛行機で――」
(短い時間――)
ああ、天にも地にもたった一人の吾が子が母を扳りきって大空へ戦いに行くと云ふのか。

Card 14
健一が病気の時、自分が身代りとなって死にますから――と祈ったお母さんです。
くらくらと世界中が虞暗になってしまひましたが、その暗い底から不思議にもサッと一筋の光が母の胸へさし込んで來ました。
(毋)「健一、出來心ではないのかい」
(健一)「いいえ」
(毋)「お前はった一人の子だよ。それもよく考へたかい」
(健一)「ええ」
(毋)「お毋さんのことも考へたね」
(健一)「うん」
(毋)「それでも飛行兵になるんだね」
(健一)「ええ」
(毋)それを今までどうしてかくしてゐたの」
(健一)「だって僕が死んだら、お母さんも死ぬんだなんて云ふんだもの」
(毋)「ばかだねえ、それゃお前が一人前にならないうちに死んだら、お母さんは生甲斐がないからね。だけど飛行兵と云ったら、一人前も一人前、天皇樣のお役に立派に立つんだもの、死んだお父さんだつて大よろこびでせう。母さんだって、よろこんで喜んでお前を空へ――

Card 15
お母さんばかりの子と思ってゐたのが間違ひ、天皇樣のお蔭で生きている自分たち親子、健一は日本男子の一人だと、母の胸は明るくひらけたのです。
お母さんは、和尙さんと、久助さんと三人で彥兵衛老人の處へお願ひに向ひました。
(老人)「なにッ、飛行兵になる！うむ、なるほど小さい時からしっかりしていただけある、目のつけどころが違ふわ。大空目がけて舞ひ上って行くか、偉い奴だ、はははは」
「本當ですとも、何萬圓の墓だって永い歲月には誰の墓だか読めなくなってしまひ線香一本上げる人もいなくなる。それに比べ飛行兵になって、たとへ戦死するともお天道樣のあるかぎり靖國神社に祠られて畏くも天皇陛下が御親拜遊ばされるのです、この有難さの判らん者はとても極樂へ行けませんよ、わっはっはっはっはっは」

Card 16
それから二年目、今日は明後日に迫った健一の晴れの鄕土訪問飛行について、どうして地上から歓迎するか、その親類会議です。
(老人)「どうぢゃ久助さん、よい考へがあるかな」
(久助)「ありますとも、わし畳4四枚敷の大凧を上げようと思っていたんですが」
(老人)「ほう、凧を、だが風が吹かなかったらどうするね」
(久助)「なるほど、それでは駄目かな」
(久助)「では鯉のぼりはどうだらうなあ」
(老人)「うむ、それならよからう」
(医者)「勇ましくてそれがいい、それがいい」
(母)「私は、きまりが悪いですけれども」
(老人)「ほう、何か他に名案でも」
(母)「はい、うちの田圃に字を一つだけ書いて健一に見せたいんです」
(老人)そりゃ駄目ぢや、飛行機から見たら家だってマッチ箱位にしか見えんと云ふから田圃の字なんか見えやせん」
(母)「でも田圃一杯に刈入れた稲藁で大きく書いたら見 えると思ひますけど」
(老人)「なるほど、そりゃ大變な手間だが見えるぢゃらう、して何と書く、健一の健の字か」

Card 17
お母さんが、きまり惡いと云ひ渋った一文字、そ九は「忠」の一字でした。
天皇樣に捧げた健一に、お母さんの云ひたいことは、 ただ「忠」をつくせの一字でした。
お母さんは暗いうちから一人で、稻藁の文字をこしらヘようとしましたが、親類一同を始め近くのか百姓が一人二人とふえ、おしまいには村中總出となって、皆めいめいに自分の稻藁を運んで來るので「忠」の字はぐんぐん大きくなって行きました。
折から朝日をうけて稻藁文字は金色に神々しく光り、見渡せば村中一軒殘らず日の丸の旗が、そよ風になびい て健一の來るのを待ってわます。
――あつ爆音がするぞ――
見上ぐれば山の遙か彼方に一點の黑い影、まさに健一 が飛んで來たのです。

Card 18
はるばる幾山河越え來たった健一は常に仰ぎ見た故鄕 の山をいま足もとに――懐かしい我家の方を眺めると、はっと胸うつ金色の文字「忠」――
健一はしばし目礼し――やがて母の一人住む我家へぐっと超低空旋回です。
轟々たる爆音は、お母さんの胸を轟かせ、その見上げ る眸に飛びこんで來る。
「こんなに勇ましくなって――」
つきることのない感激、歓喜、お母さんは淚一杯――
(母)「健一、お母さんは嬉しくって、嬉しくって泣いてゐるんだよ。これ以上の幸せなんかどこにもない、有難う、有難う」
(抜きながら)
その時、機上から通信筒が投下されました。

Card 19
「母上樣、機上より母上樣の御健在をお喜び申します。 健一は常に元氣一杯、もういつでも決戦の大空へ征ける 身になりました。
思へば母上樣に別れて二年目、我家の虎の子は十八匹 になったことと思ひます。
健一も敵機一機やつつけたら日記に虎の子一つづつ記すつもりです。
北海の空か、南海の空か、また大陸の空か、たヾその 命令の日を心たのしく待っています。我家も故鄕も、これが見納めなりと思っています。今は望むのは只一つ我れに數倍する敵機を向ふに廻して戦ふことだけです。 母上樣、その時こそ撃って撃って撃ちまくり、憎い米 英機を火だるまにして叩き落してやります。では母上樣 どうぞ健一にその日の來るのを祈ってゐて下さい。
健一」
(言葉をかへて)
敵機は無礼にも本土を狙ってゐる。決戦の大空は健一を、いや「僕ら」の征くのを待ってゐます。
(完)

Translation of transcription

Card 20
Recommended by the Japanese Imperial Army Press Department
selected as kamishibai for children by the Ministry of Education
Mother of a baby eagle
Written by Naoyuki Hatta
Illustration by Keiichi Takazawa

1, COVER PAGE

NARRATOR
Competitive old Hikobei Yamamura tried hard to make his son a scholar. However, the elder son, Sōtarō, became a doctor, and the younger son Sanjirō, who became an assistant officer in the city hall, soon passed away from illness.
Today, the elder son's son, Hideo, and the younger son's son, Ken'ichi, enter elementary school. Old Hikobei excitedly accompanies them along with Ken'ichi's mother to school, hoping to make his grandchildren scholars. With his 8th-ranked badge of pride on his chest, he said, "Japanese boys should hold their chests out and walk with arms swinging wide. One, two. One, two."

Card 1
HISASUKE
Ken’ichi, see this tiger cub? The 21st tiger cub will become a soldier. At that time, we will celebrate the tiger cub as much as one would celebrate a foal.

NARRATOR
At Ken’ichi's birthday, uncle Hisasuke of the lantern group celebrates with an increasingly bigger tiger cub toy every year. This year is the 11th tiger cub.

OLD MAN
Ken’ichi is a good student in his fourth grade. But I shouldn't lower my guard. These days, Ken’ichi is my only hope. I have to make him a scholar.

NARRATOR
Old Hiko encourages Ken’ichi by giving him a book of great men's stories.

HISASUKE
When little Ken’ichi becomes a scholar, I will distribute all the lanterns in the store throughout the village and make a lantern procession.

MOTHER
If that happens, I will distribute celebratory red rice throughout the village.

NARRATOR
She is also smiling.

(Pull the slide.)

Card 2
NARRATOR (continued)
Now Ken’ichi has become a 6th grader. His teacher Mr. Suda takes them to climb a mountain. At the top of the mountain, he was joyfully eating rice balls that his mother prepared at dawn.

Just then, somebody shouted, "A plane!"

(Sing as you see fit)
The rising sun flag on the wings—the pilots have Yamato spirits.
They destroyed most of the enemy planes. But if any are left, come on out.
As the propellers make sound, I'm itching to fight.

A chorus started here and there. The plane is circling over the students. Standing up on top of the rock, Ken'ichi is staring at this brave plane with passionate tears flowing down his face for an unknown reason.
I'm a Japanese boy. I would fly that brave plane and destroy hateful enemies, he shouted. But as he did,
(As you pull the slide normally)
He slipped and fell from the rock.

Card 3
NARRATOR (continued)
Perhaps the god that his mother always prays to protected Ken'ichi. He only dislocated his leg.
His mother carried Ken’ichi on the carrier from school to the hospital with two bentos.

KEN’ICHI
Mother, what if I become crippled?

MOTHER
If you become crippled, I will become blind.

KEN’ICHI
Why?

MOTHER
I don't have the guts to see you like that. I will kill my eyes and apologize to your father.

NARRATOR
Ken'ichi got scared.

KEN’ICHI
My mother is thinking of me this much. And yet, I'm making her worry.

NARRATOR
He felt guilty as he looked at his mother's muddy rubber shoes.

(Pull the slide.)

Card 4
NARRATOR (continued)
Ken’ichi’s leg was completely healed, and he didn’t want to make his mother worried again. However, the sight of the brave plane that he saw at the top of the mountain would not leave his mind. Ken’ichi could not help but daydream; a fast-flying swallow was a fighter plane, a quickly-descending black kite was a bomber, a dragonfly in the pond was a torpedo bomber, and a procession of carp was an enemy fleet.
When he sees a poster of a gallant-looking young pilot on the street, he feels like he is looking at himself and becomes embarrassed. But when he thinks of his mother and old Hikobei, his heart darkens as if a dark curtain was quickly drawn.
Ken’ichi secretly buys books on young pilots with his allowance, hides them underneath a temple building where his father's grave is located, and indulges in reading them under a big tree at the temple on the way back from school.

(Pull the slide.)

Card 5
MONK
Oh, who is up in the tree? Come down. Are you a mountain monkey or homeless?

KEN’ICHI
I have a home.

MONK
Then, how come you climb the tree every day and read books like a worm? What on earth are you reading?

KEN’ICHI
A book about military pilots.

MONK
Ha ha ha ha ha. You climb the tree and pretend as if you were flying a plane, don't you?

KEN’ICHI
That's not right. It’s because if I read these books at home, my mother will get worried.

MONK
I see. Your mother will get worried about you climbing the tree, let alone flying a plane.

KEN’ICHI
On top of that, my grandfather in the head family...

MONK
Uh-huh, that old man who is crazy about scholars--from now on, take your time and read your books in my room.

(Pull the slide.)

Card 6
NARRATOR
About one month later, Ken’ichi suddenly came down with a fever and became bedridden. Hisasuke came to see him with a carp he caught.

HISASUKE
Live carp's blood makes good medicine. Let's cook it.

MOTHER
No, I will cook.

NARRATOR
At that moment, Ken'ichi, who was suffering from a fever, said in his delirium, "Condor! Condor!"

HISASUKE
What did I hear, Condor?
MOTHER
Oh, what is a Condor?

NARRATOR
Hisasuke and Mother, who didn't know that a Condor is a German airplane, scratched their heads.

MOTHER
Is Ken'ichi really alright? He's talking in his sleep. Doctor Sōtarō said not to worry about him.

HISASUKE
It's worrisome. After all, it's Doctor Sōtarō. He is an alright doctor to treat diarrhea and the common cold. But, in this serious situation, I'm not sure… although he doesn't charge his relatives for medicine.

MOTHER
Even so, I cannot call a different doctor.

HISASUKE
Hmmm, quack doctor relatives can be troublesome.

(Pull the slide.)

Card 7
NARRATOR
After Hisasuke left, Mother went to the temple pond with the carp, Hisasuke’s gift, wrapped in straw.

MOTHER
Come on, come on. I'll save your life, so please save Ken'ichi.

NARRATOR
She let the carp go in the pond that was reflecting the moon, and she prayed to the nearby jizo statue.

MOTHER
Please save Ken'ichi’s life, even if it is in exchange for mine.

MONK
Mrs. Yamamura, what do you wish for at this hour?

MOTHER
Oh, Mr. Monk. Ken'ichi suddenly became ill.

MONK
For his illness, you should turn to a doctor instead of the jizo statue.

MOTHER
Dr. Sōtarō in our head family is seeing him.

MONK
That's risky, that’s risky. Most people when they are seriously ill would pass right by his door.

MOTHER
However, I cannot call a different doctor.

MONK
If I were the jizo statue, I would tell you that it doesn't matter if it's relatives or your head family. The most important thing is your beloved child's life. Ask help from Dr. Niida at the prefectural hospital.

MOTHER
Yes, I understand very well. I will follow the oracle.

(Pull the slide.)

Card 8
NARRATOR
When Mother hurriedly returned home, what a surprise! Dr. Niida had come to see Ken’ichi before she even requested him.

MOTHER
Why did you come to my home?

DOCTOR
Mr. Sōtarō Yamamura asked me to come. I'm glad I came, Ken’ichi was in critical condition. I gave him a shot, and I will make sure to treat him well in consultation with Mr. Yamamura.

MOTHER
I don't even know how to thank you for coming all this way.

DOCTOR
Don't mention it. Mr. Yamamura is my best friend from college, and we boarded together. Mr. Yamamura is a good man, and I was always a troublemaker. If Mr. Yamamura gives me a call, I'd fly over 400 kilometers to help him.

NARRATOR
Mother felt deeply sorry that she thought that Mr. Yamamura was a troublesome doctor. Tears welled up in her eyes.

(Pull the slide.)

Card 9
NARRATOR (continued)
On his way to Old Hikobei’s to celebrate his full recovery thanks to Dr. Niida and Dr. Sōtarō, Ken'ichi said,

KEN'ICHI
Mother, you were anxious about me. You lost a lot of weight. If I die, what would you do?

MOTHER
Don't say such a foolish thing! If you die, what pleasure is left for me? I will lose all my reasons to live. I would die after you.

NARRATOR
When Ken'ichi thinks of his mother, he becomes sad over his longing to be a military pilot. As he walked, he looked at the mountain peak under the clear autumn sky, and,
“Vroom, vroom, vroom, the Arawashi fighter aircraft flies…”
He heard this song ring from the bottom of his heart. When they arrived at the old man's house, Old Hikobei was in bed, suffering from gout.

Card 10
NARRATOR (continued)
Old Hiko called his two grandchildren to his bedside.

OLD MAN
Grandpa doesn't sin, so I will proudly go to heaven. As a gift to heaven, can you tell me what will become of you in the future? Hideo, what will you become?

HIDEO
I don't mind whatever work I have to do. I will just work diligently.

OLD MAN
What! A fool! You’ve such little ambition, you're not my grandchild.

HIDEO
But Mr. Suda told us.

OLD MAN
What a sorry teacher! I cannot die yet. Reconsider! By the way, Ken'ichi, you are my only hope. You will become a scholar, won't you?

KEN'ICHI
Yes.

OLD MAN
You will be for sure, Ken'ichi.

(Pull the slide.)

Card 11
NARRATOR
However, the old man didn’t go to heaven just yet, and the dark cloud of war began to loom between Japan and the US and Britain. The old man went to have a talk with Mr. Suda at the elementary school, saying that he couldn't afford to die in this critical situation.

OLD MAN
I heard you told your pupils that even a worker is a respectable profession. I don't agree. We all have to strive and get promoted to make the honor of our parents known. That is the utmost filial piety. Education is for advancement and success. Why don't you teach your pupils to study hard to become a minister, a general, a scholar?

SUDA
Our education is not for individual success. We educate young children to become citizens to serve the nation. A soldier, a worker, a general, a minister, they're all on the same honorable path to serve the country. There is no difference between a noble and vulgar profession. Every citizen is respectable and receives the benevolence of the emperor.

NARRATOR
The old man was not so sure about his beliefs anymore. He just groaned, saying, "hum."

(Pull the slide.)

Card 12
NARRATOR (continued)
At the end of the semester, Ken'ichi responded to his grandfather and mother's wishes and took an entrance examination to enter middle school. Today is the exam day. Since Ken'ichi is healthy and has excellent academic records, he wouldn't have a problem entering middle school.
However, Ken'ichi has made a firm decision. Once I enter middle school, my grandfather and mother would not allow me to quit school and become a military pilot. I want to take a shortcut to become a young military pilot and fight. This way, I would not delay in serving the nation instead of becoming a scholar. No matter what it costs, I will become a young military pilot.

(Pull the slide.)

Card 13
NARRATOR (continued)
Ken'ichi was not admitted into middle school. Not yet aware of Ken'ichi's decision, his mother and grandfather were disappointed. They encouraged Ken'ichi to try again next year. Suddenly, Mr. Suda came to see them one day.

SUDA
Ken'ichi asked me to come.

MOTHER
I wonder what all this is about.

SUDA
Ken'ichi said he couldn't tell you directly. He wants to become a young military pilot.

MOTHER
What? A military pilot!

SUDA
That's right. He would like to navigate a plane to fight the enemies.

MOTHER
A plane!

(A short pause.)
Oh, my God. He's my only child and he wants to fight in the sky against his mother's wishes.

(Pull the slide.)

Card 14
NARRATOR
Ken’ichi’s mother offered her life when he was ill. First, she was struck by darkness, but now she miraculously sees a ray of bright light entering her heart amidst the darkness.

MOTHER
Ken'ichi, this is not an impulsive decision?

KEN'ICHI
No.

MOTHER
You are my only child. Have you considered it thoroughly?

KEN'ICHI
Yes.

MOTHER
You’ve thought about your mother?

KEN’ICHI
Yeah.

MOTHER
After all that, you still want to be a military pilot.

KEN'ICHI
Yes.

MOTHER
Why haven't you told me so until now?

KEN'ICHI
Because you said if I die, you will die.

MOTHER
You are a fool. If you die before you become an adult, I lose my purpose in life. However, a military pilot. You’ll be a full-fledged adult who will be of service to the Emperor. Even if you die, your father would be delighted. I will gladly send you to the sky.

(Pull the slide.)

Card 15
NARRATOR
His mother thought, “it was my mistake to think that you are my child.” Now she opened up her heart, realizing that both she and Ken’ichi are living thanks to the Emperor, and Ken'ichi, too, is a boy of Japan.
Mother, the monk, and Hisasuke all went to see the old man to persuade him.

OLD MAN
What? Ken'ichi is going to be a military pilot! I see, he’s always been resolute, he’s got quite a different perspective. He's a great boy. He will fly to the vast sky. Ha ha ha ha.

Indeed. Overtime, the tombstone you spent tens of thousands of yen on would become illegible, and nobody would come to pray with incense. Compared to that, as long as the sun shines, becoming a military pilot would ensure a place at the Yasukuni shrine where the emperor visits.

(Pull the slide.)

Card 16
NARRATOR
Two years later, two days before Ken’ichi’s flight over his hometown, his relatives gathered to discuss how to welcome him from the ground.

OLD MAN
Hisasuke, do you have any good ideas?

HISASUKE
Of course, I do. I'm thinking of flying a large kite, the size of four tatami floor mats.

OLD MAN
A kite. What if we have no wind?

HISASUKE
I see. It may not work.

OLD MAN
How about carp streamers? That would work.

DOCTOR
Gallant carp streamers. That's a great idea. That's a great idea.

MOTHER
I feel embarrassed, but...

OLD MAN
I see. Do you have a different idea?

MOTHER
Yes. I would like to draw a character in our field.

OLD MAN
That's impossible. From a plane in the sky, houses look like matchboxes. He won't be able to see a character in the field.

MOTHER
I think he can see a character written with rice stalks stretching across all four corners of the field.

OLD MAN
I see. That's going to be a lot of work. By the way, which character would you write? Ken'ichi's “Ken”?

(Pull the slide.)

Card 17
NARRATOR
The character that Ken’ichi’s mother said she was embarrassed to say was “loyalty.” She just wanted to tell Ken’ichi, who dedicated himself to the Emperor, to fulfill his loyalty. From dawn, Ken’ichi’s mother took to making the character with rice stalks. At first, she sought to work alone, but all the relatives came to help, then gradually one or two farmers, and then eventually, the entire village carried rice stalks to make the character larger and larger in the field. The morning sun shone on the rice stalk character with a glorious golden color, and all the Japanese flags in the village were swaying in the breeze awaiting Ken’ichi’s return.

Oh, a booming sound.
Far away in the sky above the mountains, a dot of a dark shadow –it is Ken’ichi flying to the village.

(Pull the slide.)

Card 18
NARRATOR (continued)
Looking down the mountain of his home country, after crossing mountains after mountains, Ken'ichi looked toward his familiar home. He noticed an impressive golden character --loyalty.

Ken'ichi silently bowed and circled low around his home, where his mother lives alone. At the booming sound, his mother looked up excitedly. He became such a brave man. She burst into tears with exaltation and excitement.

MOTHER
Ken'ichi, I'm crying because I am joyful. There is no happier moment than now. Thank you. Thank you.

(As you pull the slide)

NARRATOR
A message tube dropped from the plane.

Card 19
“Mother, I express from my plane my delight in seeing you in good health. I am always healthy and trained to fight in the great sky. It's been two years since I said goodbye to you, I believe there are eighteen tiger cubs at home now. As I destroy one enemy plane, I will record one tiger cub in my diary. I'm looking forward to receiving an order to fight, whether it is in the North Sea, the South Sea, or the continental skies. I think of this as the last time I will see my house and country home. All I'm wishing for is to fight the enemies that are several times more in number than us. Then I will shoot, shoot, shoot, I will shoot down the hateful US and British planes in a flame. Mother, please pray that that day will come for me.”

(Change the tone)
NARRATOR
Enemy planes are disrespectfully aiming at the Japanese mainland. The decisive battle in the great sky is waiting for Ken’ichi, no, for all of us to join the ranks.

(The end.)

Scope and contents

Hatta Naoyuki 八田尙之 (author); Takazawa Keiichi 高澤圭一 (artist); Dai Nihon Gageki Kabushiki Kaisha 大日本画劇株式会社 (publisher). 陸軍報道部推薦 文部省選定兒童向紙芝居 雛鷲の母 Recommended by the Japanese Imperial Army Press Department; selected as kamishibai for children by the Ministry of Education.

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

"雛鷲の母 Hinawashi no haha" (Mother of a baby eagle), 1944 November 20, Kamishibai collection, Hoover Institution Library & Archives, https://n2t.net/ark:/54723/h3vw2w

Identifiers

Record ID

2018C32.00001

Permalink

https://n2t.net/ark:/54723/h3vw2w

RefID

6aafdb39219ccf8b2948c43a0ce2abbe

EZID

ark:/54723/h3vw2w

Digitization information

Imaging system

IQ180, Phase One

Capture date

2018-07-08T09:57:46-07:00