Introduction
Shusaku was left at the bottom of the coal mine after the dynamite ignited. Dad hold back his tears to avoid total destruction. Natsuki facilitated a fake telegram Gawase, causing a huge loss to the bank. The long-awaited bonus that Seiichiro got was paid by mistake by the personnel manager. This early novel by Yuzo Yamamoto depicts human beings as beings in search of light.
An event that led to me reading this book
When I was a boy, I was devoted to the works of Yuzo Yamamoto. The name Yuzo Yamamoto is no longer heard of. When I asked my daughter about him, she said she had never heard of him.
I only remember that I was very much impressed by this book. The first book I read was “Stones on the Road” and I cried a lot at the end. Next, I read “Truth on the Road,” and I was troubled by the thought of what I would do if my parents were not really my birth parents.
I was certain that this book was the third one I read, but just the other day I went home to my parents’ house and found a book report collection. When I was in the third grade of junior high school, I was chosen as the school representative for my book, “All Living Things.”
When I read it, I found that it was quite well written. I felt so in tune with my past that I wondered if perhaps I had not grown anything in 40 years.
I wanted to read it irresistibly. But I checked a while ago and it didn’t show up; it was only listed on Amazon for a ridiculous amount of money.
I almost gave up on it, but then I searched every one of my parents’ bookshelves just to be sure, and it was still there at the far end. I took it out of my parents’ house and devoured it.
Author’s Words
(omission) I believe that there is not a single living thing in this world that is not, in some way, reaching for the sun. Every single tree, every single plant, from amoeba-like microorganisms to human beings, is fighting to take as wide a seat as possible in relation to the sun. Perhaps it is in the nature of all living things to seek light, both material and spiritual.
However, as we try to shine more light on each other, the result is that some gain light and flourish, while others fail to do so and fade away. It pains me to think of the many people who have received the same life in this world, but have become emaciated because they have been blessed with only a little light. I am deeply moved.
(omission)
Although I have chosen the title “All Living Things,” it goes without saying that I could not possibly write about all the things that live in this world. Although the characters in this novel are only a few in number, the author would like to touch upon something that is related to the title in the incidents that take place among these people.
Yuzo Yamamoto, “All Living Things”, Shincho Bunko, p. 5-6
The author’s preface to the book says, “all life seeks the light.” The author’s positive attitude toward life is expressed here. On the other hand, the author is intensely aware of the fact that some are defeated in the race for survival. Needless to say, this constitutes part of the material of this novel.
The Historical Background of the Taisho Period
For someone like me, who was born in the 1960s, the world depicted in the chapter titled “Shusaku” is fully understandable.
Shusaku returns home after a quarrel with Oikawa, the chief laborer in charge of the mine. When Shusaku returns home, his father not only threatens him, saying, “It’s your fault, but took Shusaku to Oikawa’s house. Shusaku’s father bent down like a grasshopper and apologized for his mistake. The reason for this is that power cannot be defeated.
There is an unreasonableness in this world that cannot be defeated by power. But from today’s perspective, this scene may indeed seem comical. This may be the reason why Yuzo Yamamoto is out of fashion.
On the other hand, the father’s love for his child strikes a powerful chord with readers. I hope you will read this book and enjoy it. (Even though out of print, used books are relatively easy to find on the Internet in these days.)
The Father’s Human Power
Shusaku miraculously survived at the bottom of the mine. Then an old engineer named Endo decided to provide him with financial support, and he spent his time studying. He graduated from the Department of Mining and Metallurgy at the University of Tokyo, became a chief engineer, and seconded to Taiwan. The old man Shusaku is now both president of a mining company and president of a bank.
Shusaku’s son, Natsuki, is what we now call a bonbon. As the son of the president, he was a young deputy manager of money order department, and during the absence of the section chief, he took resourceful action against a telegraphic remittane that was not collated, causing great damage to the bank.
Natsuki’s father was home early that day.
He said, “–not so much to worry about, not so much.”
(Omitted.)
“But,” he said, “that’s not what I mean. But I say so because you think I am your child. What if someone else had fallen for the scam? Would you leave him alone?”
(Omitted.) “But if you get angry, you will never be of any use. But if you just get upset, there is nothing you can do about it. In addition, you fully admit that you are at fault. If that is the case, then you have nothing more to say. Everyone is at fault. I am negligent too. When I was young, I made terrible mistakes. But it turned out to be good medicine.”
Yuzo Yamamoto, “All Living Things,” Shincho Bunko, p. 76
I think this conversation came about because they are parent and child before they are president and deputy general manager. But can I really give this kind of advice to my daughter? His father is awesome as human and inclusive. Since this is a novel, Shusaku is an imaginary character created by the author, but I think it is the author’s ability to portray such a personality and draw the reader’s attention to him.
After this, Shusaku tells his own story of failure, and this story is also interesting. It is very interesting to see whether this kind of plot comes out of his mind, or whether it is something that is passed down from someone else, or whether it is something that can be easily imagined in the context of the times.
Seiichiro Isahaya.
This novel is unfinished. If I were to ask who is the protagonist of this work, which was left unfinished due to ill health, I think it is Seiichiro Isahaya.
I won’t go into the details of the story about the bonus payment beyond a few words in the “introduction,” but the pros and cons of his actions could be the subject of a junior high school Japanese language class.
“Nothing has bothered me more than Seiichiro’s bonus fiasco. I couldn’t help but feel that his earnest nature was intended by the powerful author to transcend the book and appear before my eyes. In the end, I dare not say what he said or did. I also don’t know if the path he took was the right one or not. (Omittied.) It seems to me that he could have done better. But I am at a loss if you say, ‘Tell me that.’ I am at a loss. …”
This was my answer about 40 years ago. I said I din’t know. But I could feel myself struggling and trying hard to find the answer. I was surprised that I used the word “path” along the way.
What is the best way? The best way he should do would be to honestly confess and apologize. Now that I have experienced more than 30 years of working life and know how hard it is to earn money, Seiichiro’s anguish cannot be dismissed with mere moralistic notions. It is even sympathetic, because it is caked with a kind of grime of life experience.
The author, while making Seiichiro out to be honest to a fault and serious character, rather develops a new story by justifying his lack of courage and financial poverty. The novelty of the plot idea in this area was also very interesting to read.
What did you want to convey in “Silent confession”?
Seiichiro had a talented younger brother, Reiji. He does not want this younger brother to go through the same life as himself. There is not enough money for him to take the high school entrance exam next year. Just as Shusaku had done, he was planning to talk to a wealthy family. The wealthy man was Natsuki.
However, when Reiji tried to make firecrackers with other students, they exploded and caused everyone to get injured.
“Why didn’t you tell me that before? It was completely meaningless even if you told it to me now. I was summoned to the school today, and the principal told me all about it. You really are an idiot, aren’t you?”
“So you think what I did is wrong?”
“Yes, of course. Why did you do such an unnecessary thing when the school was going to give you a lenient treatment? No one is going to benefit from that nonsense.”
“But I didn’t do it for profit or loss. I did it because I thought it was the right thing to say.”
“That’s why I called you an idiot. What good came out of your telling the truth? You just madet a gteat trouble to school. And then you were expelled and the other students were punished, too. How is that right? How can something like what you did be justice for a junior high school student?”
Yuzo Yamamoto, “All Living Things,” Shincho Bunko, p. 209-210
Seiichiro saw a ray of hope in Reiji. His brother had ruined the school’s lenient treatment with his sense of justice. Although he realized how much he had worked at his brother’s expense, and just when he was beginning to see some assistance from the entrepreneurs, his brother ruined his own life. He couldn’t stop feeling angry and frustrated.
Seiichiro could not confess and chose to keep himself a secret in the dark, even though the other was suffering from the bonus matter. Reiji, on the other hand, could not allow social expediency to victimize only others and raised his voice. This contrast is sad.
What did the artist want to say through his work “All Living Things”? The author’s world-view is not one that puts black and white on each person’s actions, but one that depicts love for humanity by acknowledging and warmly observing the reasonableness of each choice.
There is no solution presented in this story. There is no moral guidance. It seems to leave room for each reader to really think about what he or she would do if it would happen. Therefore, I found myself immersed in this novel.
I sincerely hope for a reprint.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version), and revised a bit by me