歴史文芸賞応募 Submission to Historical Novel Contest

歴史文芸賞応募

文芸社主催「歴史文芸賞」に本日応募した。運慶とと快慶の話を書いた。原稿用紙換算１５５枚である。このような大作？を書いたことがないので、この一ヶ月半、執筆にかかりっきりであった。特にこの１０日ぐらいは、コンピューターとにらめっこで、目を酷使した。
プロの作家が、２００枚も、３００枚も書くけれど、その苦労が分かった。見直すだけでも時間がかかるのに、体力、気力、眼力が必須だと分かった。
発表は９月下旬だが、さてどうなるやら。
あれ以上の話は書けない。

　Submission to Historical Novel Contest

　　I submitted my work to Historical Literature Contest held by Bungeisha today. It is the story about two Buddhist statue sculptors: Unkei and Kaikei. It consists of 155 pages of manuscript paper. I have never written such a long story. I have spent most of my time during the past month and a half. I devoted myself to it, especially during the past 10 days, facing my computer from morning to night, even if I had pain in my eyes.
　　How could professional writers write as many as 300 or 400 pages, I wonder. Now I understand their invincible power. Just checking the wrong spellings takes a lot of time. Writing a novel needs energy, spirit, and strong eye sight.
　　The names of the prize winners will be announced in September. I hope my name is included.

能狂言講座 Noh and Kyogen Class

能狂言講座

 

 

　７月２１日、豊田市にある能楽堂で「能狂言講座」に出席した。名古屋の能楽堂は行ったことがあるが、豊田の能楽堂は初めてである。

　講座は三部から成っていた。

１．柳生新陰流２２代宗家柳生耕一厳信（としのぶ）と天道流薙刀術１７代宗家木村恭子との対談。聞き手は味方玄（みかたしずか）観世流シテ方能楽師。

２．柳生新陰流と薙刀術の演武

３．「橋弁慶」のさわりの実演

　一番良かったのは「橋弁慶」の実演であった。味方能楽師の力強い謡と弁慶役の演技が素晴らしく、今度は装束を着けた「橋弁慶」を見たいと思った。

Noh and Kyogen Class

　　I went to Toyota Nohgaku-do in Toyota City to attend a Noh and Kyogen Class on July 21.　I visited the Nohgaku-do for the first time in my life, though I had visited the Nohgaku-do in Nagoya.

　　The class consisted of three parts:
1. Interviews with Koichi Tosihnobu Yagyu, the 22nd Soke for the traditional sword martial arts called Yagyu-shinkage-ryu, and with Yasuko Kimura, the 17th Soke for the traditional Naginata sword martial arts called Tendo-ryu Naginata-jyutsu.　The interviewer was Noh performer Shizuka Mikata.
2. Demonstrations of the above mentioned traditional martial arts.
3. The Noh performance of "Hashi-benkei" by Mikata Shizuka, Noh-performer.

　　 I enjoyed the Noh performance the best. Mikata's performance was very impressive. His chanting of "Hashi-benkei" and his movement as Benkei on the stage was so moving that I felt like going to see his performance in full costume some day in the near future.

折句 アクロスティック ポエム Acrostic Poem

Acrostic Poem

 

SUMMER VACATION

 

Shortly after lunch, I go swimming.

Up above, white clouds smiling.

Mother’s voice: “Be careful!”

“Mom, don’t worry,” I say, pedaling to the river.

Every time I swim, I can’t help

Remembering how I almost drowned.

Vicious water pulling me down,

Almost being choked,

Could this be death?

Air and fight leaving my body,

Tension rising to the extreme,

I desperately shout, “Help!” thrashing my arms and legs.

Oh, God . . . . Am I floating? I AM floating!

Now a bitter but sweet memory.