This is a collection of short stories by Nagasaki Gennosuke (1924-
). It consists of three wartime stories for children based on his military
life: “Hattsuan” [A Man called Hattsuan], “Hae” [A Fly], and “Hato
no Fue” [Pigeon Whistle]. According to the author, fools in the stories
reflect himself struggling in the war. It is an important collection dealing
with more than humanism.
“Hato no Fue” is a story about a second-class private Ueda who pretends
to be a “fool.” Ueda is assigned to Northern China. He does not mind
being hit by superior private Miyata or being made fun of by his colleagues.
He thinks that if he is a fool, he will not be assigned to a dangerous
mission. His plan works well, and he is even favored by his superiors.
The only one who is hard on him is Miyata, who has recently lost his friend
in the war. Ueda happens to learn that Miyata is really a Korean and that
his friend has not been killed in the war but has surrendered. Ueda is
forbidden to say anything about it by his superior. Miyata’s only friend
is a Chinese boy Liang. They tame a pigeon and Miyata learns how to make
the pigeon whistle for Liang. Fighting with Chinese troops went on after
the surrender of Japan. When Miyata finds out that Ueda was pretending
to be a fool, Ueda discloses the secret forbidden by his superior. Shocked,
Miyata surrenders with Liang in the last battle and is shot dead by his
own troops. Meanwhile, Ueda, now a prisoner of war, pretends to be a fool
again and succeeds to get on a cart on their way marching home. Marching
in severe cold should have warmed him, but sitting on a cart has made him
colder and colder. He becomes seriously ill and dies before arriving in
Japan. In his last moment, he hears Miyata’s pigeon whistle.
Sarcastically, Ueda’s selfish acts end up ruining him, which is not
described as a simple retribution. Miyata’s way of living, and conflicts
of Ueda who is being reduced to a real “fool,” are depicted minutely.
They try to survive by fair means or foul. Such madness on the battlefield
is told with humor in this story. Two other stories are told in the same
way.
Fukuda Shôsuke’s powerful illustrations are very effective.
Kodansha published a pocket edition which was read widely. Although there
are some conflicts with today’s viewpoints, Ahô no Hoshi can be considered as Nagasaki’s representative work.
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