Aoi Bungaku
In the Woods Beneath the
Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom
Right after the war ended, in the 21st year of Showa (1946),
Navigator Sakai Masato
the work of a certain writer shocked all of Japan.
His name was Sakaguchi Ango.
Sakaguchi Ango
Photo: Hayashi Tadahiko
In his essay "On Decadence," he expressed a unique idea.
On Decadence
Live, fall.
People need to descend into decadence.
By descending into decadence,
they discover themselves and can reach salvation.
Ango denied the authority of prewar Japan's systems of belief.
Denied the authority
"If you want something, say you want it, and if you hate something, say you hate it."
He argued that people should live like human beings.
Live like human beings
And Ango, reflecting on the flower most beloved by the Japanese, the cherry blossom,
Cherry blossom
wrote a book which demonstrated his unique vision:
"In the Woods Beneath the Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom."
In this work, he wrote that cherry blossoms are to be feared.
In the Woods Beneath the
Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom
To be feared
What did he feel about them,
the cherry blossoms that bloom so beautifully?
They are evergreen because they are masterpieces.
They are evergreen because they are masterpieces
"In the Woods Beneath the Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom," chapter one.
Please watch.
A bandit?
If this were the ocean, I'd be called a pirate.
Damn you...
It's not like I want to kill everyone.
If you strip to the skin, I'll let you go wherever you want.
Even though I'm a bandit, I'm a kind one.
Understand?
I only understand that you're talking too much.
But I won't let you do whatever you want!
Strip already.
Yes.
Take that off too.
Yes.
You're bald.
I'm sorry.
Cherry blossoms are scary!
When the cherry blossoms bloom,
everyone drinks and acts cheerful,
but a long time ago,
nobody thought that cherry blossoms made for ideal scenery.
If you think I'm lying,
try removing the people from that lively scene.
Don't you think that's a fearsome sight?
memai no gensou sekai no henbou
Dazzling, illusions, the transfiguration of the world.
tada etaishirenu kara kodoku mashitetta
From something simply unknown, solitude increases.
hanabira fukaku kakushita himitsu
A secret is hidden deep within the flower petals.
chiruma ni sasou take my eyes
While they wither they say to me, "Take my eyes."
nokku wo mitsu tadayou fushuu toonoku ishiki
Three knocks, a drifting rotten odor, consciousness ebbs.
kaeranai uron no soul saa let's dance
The chaotic soul can never return, now let's dance.
sakura no yuuwaku hora genjitsu doko e itta
Amid the temptations of the cherry blossoms, where did reality go?
ah black out deguchi naki mori samayou
Ah, I pass out, wandering in a forest without exit.
hitosuji no hikari hora gensou no hate ni mieta
In a ray of light I can see the end of the illusion.
so break up tsumibuki tobira akeru
So break up open the gate of sin.
itsumademo sakunaraba misete yo tousui no farusu
While they bloom forever, show me the intoxicating farce.
There was a mother whose daughter was abducted.
She went out among the cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Among the shadows of the omnipresent flower petals,
she saw the image of her child and died.
When two people travel together,
a single glimpse of cherry blossoms will drive them apart.
They can no longer trust their friendship.
All this happens because cherry blossoms drive people mad.
Hey, you guys!
I'm back!
What's that, Shigemaru?
What's in your bag?
Well, just watch.
It looks delicious.
Hey, it looks big.
Put some oil on it.
It looks so delicious!
The sign says, "I want to eat it right now."
Ah, you're right.
Cock is most favorite food in my life.
The sign says, "It's the best ingredient."
Wait!
You guys regard strangers as food!
That's rude, you fools!
But, you know...
You people are a disgrace. I wonder what your parents were like.
I understand.
Sorry, wild boar.
You don't want anyone suddenly saying that you look delicious.
That was thoughtless of us.
Sorry, wild boar.
You can go home now.
Thank you.
Hey!
Bye bye!
Fool!
What are you doing?
Why did you let him run away, you fool?
All hope is gone!
But wasn't he pitiful?
Just for that, you—
Stop it.
I just have to catch it again.
Stop fighting.
I'm going to sleep now.
What's the matter with him?
You don't seem very energetic, Shigemaru.
It's nothing... really.
Here they are!
There's nothing to be afraid of.
It's just my imagination.
What are you eating?
Huh?
What are you listening to?
You're too noisy.
Just listen to what I'm saying.
Hey.
It's not like I want to kill everyone.
If you strip to the skin, I'll let you go wherever you want.
Even though I'm a bandit, I'm a kind...
Is that your wife?
It doesn't matter!
Starting today...
you are my wife.
If I'm your wife, carry me.
I can't walk on this mountain path.
Carry me.
In the Woods Beneath the Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom
Geez, weren't you walking up till this point?
My arms are sore already. Get off.
No.
If you put me down, I won't become your wife.
I'll go back to the city right away.
The city?
You were living in the city?
That's right.
Not in these empty mountains.
Don't talk nonsense.
We have everything here.
Honey mushrooms, angelica shoots, deer meat: they're all delicious.
There's spring water all year long, so we don't need water bottles.
If you saw how fat the ferns are,
you'd be amazed that they really are ferns.
What's so funny?
That's probably impressive to you.
Is that right? The ferns are fat?
That's great.
Don't laugh.
Understand?
This entire mountain — all the trees, all the valleys, from the bottom to the clouds — it's all mine.
Are you listening?
With this much mountain—
My hairpin fell out.
Huh? Is that right?
And also, I was talking about deer earlier, really—
My hairpin fell out, thanks to you.
What's wrong with you?
What are you angry about?
Go get it.
Huh?
Everything in this mountain is yours, right?
If so, then bring back my hairpin.
Or are ferns the only thing you can get?
Now, go quickly.
If you don't, I won't become your wife.
Ow.
He's bringing back a woman.
Why is he carrying her?
It's going to get even more crowded.
Never mind that, look.
She's wearing city clothes.
Really?
Where did he find her?
Here it is.
I'm tired.
Shigemaru, you're back?
Who is that woman?
Who are these women?
They're my... former wives.
Really! They're all your wives?
That is, you...
I didn't know that cute women like you existed.
No way!
Hey.
Who's behind me?
What are you doing?
If I close my eyes like this,
I thought that all those women might just vanish.
Who's behind me?
You...
They won't leave just because I tell them to.
That's not the point.
Go and kill them.
What, you...
There's no need to kill them, is there?
Even though you killed my husband,
you won't kill your own wives?
If you won't kill them, I won't become your wife.
watashi no sekai hikaru kaleidoscope ushiro no shoumen daare
My world is a glowing kaleidoscope, who is behind me?
kagami no naka yurameku compass ushiro no shoumen daare daare
Inside the mirror a compass flickers, who is behind me, who?
zougeiro no kannou
Ivory senses...
kuchizukesuru shoudou
An impulse to kiss...
sarasouju no kage
The shadow of paired sal trees..
koboreteyuku youkou
Overflowing sunlight...
kirameku yume dake
All just glittering dreams.
ukiyo oou ganbou
My desires encompass this fleeting life.
dakara imasugu ni ushiro no shoumen daare
That's why now, who is behind me?
Stop.
That woman is all right.
She'll be my maid.
I might as well kill her too.
Fool.
I'm telling you not to kill her.
This is...
the same.
It's the same as that place in the woods, beneath the cherry blossoms in full bloom.
This year, when that cherry blossom tree blooms...
This year for once,
in the midst of those blossoming flowers...
I will sit myself down.
It's hot!
What is this? Is it really edible? It's pig feed, isn't it? Disgusting!
What are you doing?
We only get to eat something like this every ten days!
No, no! I don't want to eat it!
Don't you have any pork?
If there's a pig, there should at least be...
Like I said, it's a boar.
Of course we don't have any!
Can't we at least do something about the food?
In the depths of this lonesome mountain,
the only thing I hear at night are hooting owls.
You should at least get me some food like what I'd find in the city.
Hey, Shigemaru.
Let's move to the city.
If you really are a strong man,
take me to the city.
Do you know what the winds in the city are like?
Do you understand how I feel without those winds?
Wait three days.
Three days?
What happens in three days?
The cherry blossoms will bloom.
bokutachi wa nanika wo sagashite mitsukedasu tame ni
In order to find something,
osoku okita asa demo
we open our eyes every day,
mainichi me wo samasu da
even if we wake up late.
it's not too late
It's not too late.
we say hello
We say hello.
chotto demo waratte
Smile, even for just a bit,
itsudatte konosekai wa anataga hitsuyou dakara
because this world will always need you.
it's not too late
It's not too late.
we say hello we say hello
We say hello. We say hello.
Next episode
In the Woods Beneath the Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom
Second Chapter