Japanese habit/custom ~34 ~ When you can't wait at the toilet

  Today, there was a concert by famous pianist, Fujiko Heming.
As I introduced you on this blog, you can't see a lot of people
on the street in Maebashi city. But today, I saw so many people
around the concert hall. The pianist is over 80 years old, and she
is almost deaf. But she is still engaged in concert.
  The capacity of the hall was　about ２０００ seats. And it was almost full today.
She played many pieces. The audience was so excited.

  Well, I want to write about Japanese middle age woman.
When you join this kind of event, women have to make a line
at a toilet. Today, I saw a lot of women making a line at toilet.
If you really need to do that quickly, how do you deal with the situation?
Japanese middle aged women sometimes get in the man's toilet.
When I was going to get in the toilet, a woman suddenly got in the
man's toilet. ∑(｀□´/)/ ﾅﾆｨｨｲｲｲ!! Unexpected intruder !!
  Japanese women are strong...∑(￣[]￣；)!ﾎｴｰ!!

  I sometimes see this situation, when you are at toilet of the high way.
Men can't use the women's toilet in Japan. But women use the man's
toilet without permission in an emergency.

Japanese lifestyle ~44~ my Japanese class at cram school

  Now, I am teaching Japanese to elementary school children.
I introduce what kind of things they are learning at the class.
This is some questions they had to answer at the class.

次の言葉を漢字にしなさい。Write down Kanji(Chinese character)
①りよう(use)
②つたえる(convey)
③りょうり(dish)
④さんりんしゃ(a tricycle)
⑤ふしぎ(mysterious)
⑥がくし（a bachelor's degree）

答え
①利用②伝える③料理④三輪車⑤不思議⑥学士

  Like above, Japanese children are studying Kanji through Japanese class.
This task continues until 18 years old...

Japanese saying ~9~ こ ko

  I haven't written about Japanese saying recently.
こうかい　さきに　たたず(koukai sakini tatazu　後悔先に立たず)
This saying is often heard in our daily life.
It's no use crying over spilt milk.
It's too late for regrets.
こうかい means regret.
If I translate directly, you can't regret before you do something.

  Japanese people use this saying when you encourage someone to do something.
When you hesitate to do something, or you are at a loss whether to do something
or not.
  But is this English saying(It's no use crying over spilt milk) used
when you make a mistake?
 When I look up on Internet, 後悔先に立たずis translated
"It's no use crying over spilt milk".
The translation may be slightly different. ???r(･x･｡)ｱﾚ???

Japanese lifestyle ~43~ a memorial service for doll

  Here is one more story about a memorial service.
 When I am driving, I sometimes find a temple that have the
a memorial service for dolls. (人形の供養　にんぎょう　の　くよう)
  Have you ever heard such a thing in your country?
  Maybe there are some people who care dolls like human being.
I can't imagine what the memorial service is like...

  When I search on Internet, I found

  It costs from 2000 yen to 3000 yen per one box.

Japanese lifestyle ~42~ a memorial service for pet

  When I was in barber shop a few weeks ago, I heard the customer
next to me was talking about a memorial service for pet.
  In Japan, there are some temples that provide the memorial service
for your pets. When I was kid, my house kept a dog (Cocker Spaniel).
When he died, hour family did not use such service.
  By the way, the customer at the barber shop, was complaining about
the high price of such service. Actually, he were not going to use
such service. He was just complaining that the monk can earn a lot of money.
He said that a temple near his house has four luxury cars(Lexus of TOYOTA).
And he also said that tax collectors have been investigating the temple.
  Maybe the price of such service for pet is almost same as the man's
funeral. So, a quite few people may use such service.

  Do you have such service in your country?

My work (children's story) ~7~ Genta part 4(ゲンタ 第4話）

  It's done! This is the last part of this story.
What is Genta going to do next !?  I attached the story written in Japanese as usual. 
 

   ～４～

 Genta decided to clean the square for everyone. He started to pick up trash scattered around the square. About 10 minutes later, the square became cleaned. Genta didn’t tell about that to everyone because everyone was still practicing the play.

  Secondly, Genta decided to fold everyone’s costumes. Everyone had not seen Genta folding the costumes. But Genta didn’t mind. About 10 minutes later, Winwin came to the place where the costumes were folded in. He came there to put on his costume. But Winwin went back to the place where everyone was practicing. But Genta didn’t mind.

　About 10 minutes later, the leopard, Luc shouted,”Let’s take a break!” Everyone talked about their performances during the break.

  Genta wanted to do something for everyone. But he didn’t know what to do.

  Genta decided to go back to his home.

  Genta wanted to do something for everyone. But he didn’t know what to do.

  Genta cried in his home at night.

  Finally, the day of the performance came. It was fine day and there was no wind. Genta had decided to go and see everyone’s performance since before. When he went to the square, he found a crowd. He got into the crowd, and he found a stage setting had been broken. A footstool, made by an evergreen oak had been broken. Maybe it was because of the strong wind last night.

“Oh, we can’t play our performance…”

 Someone in the crowd said. No one talked about that.

“I’ll manage to fix it.”

Genta said. Genta was a big bear. So, he was good at lifting heavy woods.

“Can you fix it, Genta?”

“Yes, I’ll try.”

 Genta started to put the scattered logs in order. Genta did the task so quickly without saying anything. Sometimes he tottered because the log was too heavy. Everyone was looking at his task.

“Oh…are you all right?”

 Pokey said so because Genta looked so serious. Everybody has never seen Genta like that.

“…I’m OK.”

 Genta didn’t know how to answer. He just thought he had to finish it by the raising of the curtain.

“I leave the matter in your hands.”

 The director, Luc said.

“We’re going to check our performance once again. The play will start in one hour!”

Luc shouted.

“Yes.”

 Winwin didn’t need to check his line because he didn’t have many parts. So he decided to help Genta.

 Finally, the play started…

 The broken stage setting had been fixed by the raising of the curtain. Everyone did well. The audience gave the actors and actresses a big hand. Genta was watching their play at the seat. He could not join their play but he was satisfied. When audiences started to leave the square, Winwin came close to Genta and said.

“Thanks, Genta.”

 Winwin walked to the direction of Chirochiro River.

 Genta was so touched. He was so happy.　But he also thought that it was difficult to join everyone’s play again because he didn’t know how to talk to them. When Genta looked at the stage, everyone was praising with each other.

 Genta decided to go back to his home. Everyone was going to clear the set the next day.

Genta thought he would come to the square again to help them. He decided to weed the square.

Fin

 

４　

ゲンタは、ひろばの周りのごみひろいを始めました。３０分くらいして、ひろばのまわりのごみはきれいになりました。ゲンタはごみひろいをやったことをみんなにいいませんでした。みんな、れんしゅうのさいちゅうだったからでした。

　つぎに、ゲンタはみんなが脱ぎすてた衣装をたたむことにしました。みんな、ゲンタがみんなのために衣装をたたんでいるところを見ていませんでしたが、それでもゲンタはかまいませんでした。１０分くらいすると、ぶたのウィンウィンが脱いだ衣装（いしょう）をとりにゲンタのところまでやってきました。たたんである衣装をひろうと、またすぐにみんながいるほうに行ってしまいました。ゲンタはそれでもいいと思いました。

しばらくすると、やまねこのリュックのかけ声がして、休けい時間になりました。休けい時間になっても、みんな劇の話をしていました。

　ゲンタは、ひろばで何かみんなのためにしたいと思いましたが、何をしたらよいのかわからくなりました。

ゲンタは、家に帰ることにしました。

みんなのために、何かしたかったのですが、何をしたらよいのかわからなかったのです。

ゲンタはその日の夜、家でたくさん泣きました。

とうとう本番（ほんばん）の日がきました。その日は、とてもてんきがよく、ひろばからとおくの山を見ることができました。ゲンタはひろばにいくことを決めていました。ゲンタがひろばにいくと、ひとだかりができていました。ゲンタがひとだかりの中に入って、様子を見ると、ぶたいそうちが壊れていました。かしのきを切ってまるたをつくってそれをつみかさねてつくった台がくずれていたのです。たぶん、夜の間につよい風が吹いたせいでした。

「このままじゃ、本番は無理だね。」

　人だかりの中のだれかがいいました。みんな、どうしたらいいかわからずだまっていました。

「ぼくがなんとかするよ。」

　ゲンタは思いきっていいました。ゲンタはほかのどうぶつたちよりも体が大きく、重いものをもちあげることに自信がありました。

「ああ、ゲンタ。これをなおしてくるのかい？」

「やってみるよ。」

　ゲンタは、そういってすぐにくずれたまるたをひとつひとつなおしはじめました。しかも、とても早いいきおいでゲンタは一人でまるたをもちあげてなおしていきます。ときどき、ゲンタはまるたが重くてよろよろしました。みんな、まわりで見ているだけでしたが、ゲンタは何も言わず、やりました。

「どうしたんだい？」

　キツネのポーキーは、ゲンタがあまりにもしんけんだったので、思わず聞きました。

「いや、いいんだ。」

　ゲンタは、何と答えたらいいのかわかりませんでした。ただ、本番に間にあうように早くぶたいそうちをなおさなければならないと、まるたをはこんだりととのえたりしました。

「じゃ、たのむよ。」

　やまねこのリュックはそういいました。

「みんな、本番まえの最後のかくにんをしよう。あと一時間くらいしたら本番がはじまる。」

「はい。」

　ブタのウィンウィンはせりふが少なくて、れんしゅうをするひつようがなかったので、ゲンタを手伝うことにしました。

　

　いよいよ、本番がはじまりました。

ぶたいそうちは何とかほんばんの１０分前くらいにもとどおりになりました。みんな、れんしゅうどおりにせりふをいって、ぶじ本番を終えることができました。劇を観にきていたお客さんは、みんな大きなはくしゅをしていました。ゲンタは観客席（かんきゃくせき）で劇を観ました。ゲンタは、けっきょく、みんなの劇にくわわることができませんでした。しかし、ゲンタはなんとなく、お手伝いできてよかったとおもいました。

劇が終わり、お客さんが帰り始めていたところで、ぶたのウィンウィンが近づいてきていいました。

「ゲンタ、ありがとう。君のおかげでたすかったよ。」

　ぶたのウィンウィンは、川のほうへと行ってしまいました。

ゲンタはむねがあつくなる思いがしました。そして、うれしくなりました。でも、ゲンタはみんなにどうやって話しかけたらよいのかわからなかったので、これから、みんなの劇にくわわっていくことはむずかしそうだとも感じていた。劇に参加していたどうぶつだちは、ひろばのところでうまくいったことをよろこびあっていました。

ゲンタは家に帰ることにしました。明日は、劇のぶたいそうちの片づけをみんなでやることになっています。ゲンタは、また明日もひろばに来ようと思いました。明日は、ぶたいそうちの片づけをてつだって、それから、ひろばのまわりのくさむしりをしようとこころのなかで決めていました。

おわり

Short trip in Gunma ~7~ shopping district in Maebashi part 2

  Today, there was a preview of an exhibition at this art space.

(I have introduced this art space, Short trip in Gunma ~6~)

  This is the place to make Maebashi city active through artistic activities.

You can use this space for dance, theater play, and other exhibition.

As you can see above, there were no people when I took this photo.(ﾉω･､) ｳｩ･･･

It is not because of the big earthquake. ^^; Just economic recession.

  But I saw a lot of people inside of this town.

  I saw some works made by children. The atmosphere was so nice.

It was enjoyable!! A lot of press was coming.

  And also, I joined an opening ceremony of my piano academy.

The academy moved to around this shopping district.

The walls were made of Akita sugi(a Japanese cedar).

  I heard that the carpenter who made this room has sophisticated skill.

He has great knoleghe of Japanese traditional architecture. Nowadays,

the numbers of carpenters who have great skill like him are decreasing.

Akita sugi is the most expensive wood in Japan.

  I heard that a mayor of Maebashi city is an understanding person

toward art. He came to this opening ceremony and celebrated about this

event. I had a chance to talk to him.

 And I came up a good idea in my mind!! 

How about I plan to hold a big event of children's literature?

I would like to get a lot of people together from all over the world to this city!

 ((((oﾟ▽ﾟ)o))) ﾄﾞｷﾄﾞｷ♪

 And cosplay event would be attractive for a lot of people. 

 Anyway, I wanted to tell that local area in Japan is challenging!! がんばっている！

The price in Japan ~7~ barbershop

   If you have hair cut at barbershop in my hometown, it costs 3500 yen.
(28.51 Euro, 37.07 USD, 1,142.41 RUB) A barber cuts and wash your hair.
And, he shaves whiskers and so on.
  What do you think of this price?
  I guess it is more inexpensive in abroad.
  I still remembered the day when I challenged to go to
the barber in New Zealand. I could not speak English at all
at that time. I just explained how to cut by gesture.
The barber(she looked like a punk rocker. she was wearing black
leather pants.) didn't understand my gesture at all.
  And she grimaced so much....
  I said, OK OK....!!! (I was just embarrassed.)
  Anyway, the barber costed just about 7 New Zealand dollar.
(But she didn't wash my hair.)

  But nowadays, I sometimes find some barbers that cut your hair
just 1000 yen. I have been such barbershops several times. But
I realized that those barbers don't have good skills. And they really
do not treat politely.

 I have never been to a beauty parlor yet. In Japan, some men
go to a beauty parlor for having their hair cut. Is this common in
your country? I want to write about a beauty parlor someday.

Japanese lifestyle ~41~the difference of way of thinking 考え方の違い（中国と日本）

  A few days ago, I had a discussion on the difference of way of thinking
between Chinese and Japanese. There is a Taiwan restaurant near my house.
Some Chinese people are working there. I am studying Chinese when I have time.
I talked with the owner who is working as server there. I had already talked with her
from time to time(I had eaten 3 times at the restaurant.).

  She asked me if the dishes are good or not.
I answered "good". (Actually, I thought the dishes were good.)
She said Chinese people often ask customers if the dishes are good.
I was upset little bit at that time.
  If Japanese people are in this case, I guess a lot of people would
answer "good!". Even they don't feel "not good", they may say
"It's OK". Because Japanese people don't like to criticize directly.
(Of course, some people would say "not good", but he or she would
need courage.)
  I heard that customers say so for the shop keepers. If the customers
don't tell that directly, the shop keepers would not be able to know
the responses of customers. It is not good for the development of the
restaurant. I can understand the benefit.
  But Japanese people hesitate to say "not good" because they are afraid
they get in trouble.

  I often see an evaluation form at restaurants nowadays. Maybe the shop
keepers consider the feelings of Japanese customers. Probably it is hard
for restaurant managers to know the real intention of Japanese customers.
If Japanese people see the customers criticizing "not good" openly at a restaurant,
a lot of people would see the customers negatively. I guess they would see the customers
just a bad claimer.

  So, I am thinking which way of thinking is majority in the world.
（￣ー￣?）.....??ｱﾚ??

 Thanks for reading!

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My work (children's story) ~６~ Genta part 3(ゲンタ 第3話）

  I translated the next part of my work.

It is sometimes hard to translate directly.
So, maybe there are some parts whose nuances are different between
Japanese and English.

 

 3

After a few weeks later, it was getting cold. When Genta was fishing by the Chirochiro River, he found a white bird flying. It was coming from a square.

“Hey, you! I haven’t seen you around here! Who are you?”

“Me? Yes, I’ve come around here from the north land. I’m a migratory bird, Teruteru. I’m going to take a rest with my friends near this village. Why didn’t you go to the square?”

“Why? I don’t have anything to do at the square.”

“Everyone is practicing a play.”

“Really? Is everyone practicing a play now?”

“Yeah, everyone is at the square.”

“I didn’t know the play would happen again!”

“I heard they would do again because the last play didn’t go well. The performance will be on next Sunday. I’ll see you there, bye!”

A migratory bird, Teruteru flew in the direction of the forest.

 

Hey, I haven’t heard everyone will do the play. Why anyone didn’t tell me about that!?

 

Oh…

 

Is that because I cheated them at the play…? Maybe everyone didn’t tell me about the next play because I would do something at the play.

Genta looked up the sky.

 

Actually, I dug a hole at the last play, but…it was because that would become funnier!

----Why everyone didn’t tell me about the next play? I would join them if they told me.

-----------------Did everyone decide not to do the play without me…?

 

 ---- I may not be able to join the play after this.  

 Genta reminded the days when he practiced the play with everyone. And he missed the days.

--- I should go to the square. And I will join them.

 Genta decided to go to the square.

Genta found about 15 animals practicing at the square.

“Hey guys!”

Genta said to them, but nobody turned toward to Genta because they were practicing seriously. His voice might be too small. Everyone was practicing each line with loud voice. Genta sat down at the big stone in the grass and watched the scene played by them. Nobody turned toward to Genta.

Has everyone decided not to see me!?

 

Genta lay down on the grass. The sky was so clear. Some fleecy clouds were there. It looked like the sea he saw with mom some years ago. He wanted to see a cloud shaped like a ship, but there were not the clouds there.

 Genta didn’t know how to do. Nobody looks at him and talks to him.

 Genta sat up suddenly.

--- Probably, they don’t talk to me because I bothered them at the last play…

 Maybe I have to compensate for it.

 Genta thought.

To be continued

 

３

　それからしばらくして、だいぶ寒くなってきたころでした。ゲンタは、川べりで魚つりをしていると、ひろばのほうから白い鳥が飛んできました。

「ねえ、君、ここらじゃみかけないね。」

　ゲンタは空に向かってさけびました。

「わたしのこと？そうね、さいきん、北の国からわたってきたのよ。わたり鳥(a migratory bird)のテルテルよ。しばらく、なかまとこの村でお休みをするつもりなの。どうして、あなたは、ひろばにいかないの？」

「ひろば？いかないよ。べつにようじはないから。」

「みんな、劇のれんしゅうをしているじゃない？」

「ええ？みんな、劇のれんしゅうをしているの？ほんとうに？」

「そうよ。村のみんながひろばにあつまっているわ。」

「また劇をやるなんて、しらなかったな。」

「この間、劇がうまくいかなかったから、またやるらしいわ。こんどの日曜日にあるらしいけど、私は観に行くわ。じゃあね。」

　わたり鳥のテルテルは、そういうと森のほうへと飛んでいきました。

 

　なんだよ・・・またみんなで劇をやるなんてしらないぞ。だれもおしえてこないじゃないか。

 

　あ・・・。

 

　たぶん、ぼくがいたずらばかりしていたから、みんな劇をやることをぼくにおしえなかったんだ・・・。きっと、またぼくがじゃまをするから・・・。

　ゲンタは、空を見上げながらそう思いました。

 　でも、このあいだの劇であなをほったのは、そっちのほうがぜったいおもしろいからだ。

 　どうして、みんなぼくに劇のことを話さないんだ。話してくれば、いっしょにやるのに。もしかして、ぼくを劇のなかまにいれないことを、みんなできめたんだろうか。

 

――――――――　もしかして、もうこれからずっとみんなの中に入れなくなるのかな。

 

――――――　どうしよう？

 

　ゲンタはみんなといっしょに劇のれんしゅうをしていたときのことがなつかしくなりました。ひろばにいけば、劇のれんしゅうのなかにはいれるかもしれないな。

　ゲンタはひろばに行くことにしました。

ゲンタがひろばにやってくると、１５ひきくらいのどうぶつたちが、劇のれんしゅうをしていました。

「やあ、みんな。」

　ゲンタはみんなにむかって声をかけましたが、みんなはれんしゅうのさいちゅうでしたので、ゲンタのほうにふりむきませんでした。声が小さかったのかもしれません。みんな、それぞれ自分のせりふを大声でれんしゅうしています。ゲンタは、しばらくのあいだ、みんなのれんしゅうのようすをくさむらのなかにある大きな石にこしかけてながめていました。しかし、だれもゲンタのほうをむきません。

　みんな、ぼくのほうを見ないようにしているんだろうか

　ゲンタはごろんとねっころがってしまいました。空はとても澄みわたり（すみわたり）、ゲンタがいつかお母さんといっしょに見に行った海のようでした。ゲンタはどうしたらいいのかわからなくなりました。だれもゲンタのほうをむいてくれませんし、だれもゲンタに話しかけてきません。

 

　ゲンタはおもいついて、おきあがりました。やっぱり、ぼくがみんなの劇をじゃましたから、みんなぼくにはなしかけようとしなくなったにちがいない。

―――　なんとかしなくてはいけない。

ゲンタは思いました。

つづく

Short trip in Gunma ~6~ shopping district in Maebashi 前橋の商店街（まえばしのしょうてんがい）

  Today, I introduce a shopping district of Maebashi.
Maebashi is the prefectural captal in my hometown.
  Unfortunately, a lot of cities in the district area have
problems. The liveliness has been down for a long time.

This is a small river that goes through the shopping district.

We go to this arcade street.

This is cyouchin. I posted about this on this blog.
When I posted this article, I could not find a good picture.
http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1615883098712371315#editor/target=post;postID=4503079407169546755

Here is the main street of shopping district. As you see above, there is no people... ^^;

But there was a temple like this. The statures made by stone are called "Ojizousama".
It is said that ojizousama helps our life. Japanese people have friendliness to these
statures.(I should have got closer to and taken a picture.)

This shop is selling Japanese traditional goods.

 ふくしまや is the place where people sell goods of Fukushima (the earthquake happened in Fukushima) to support them.

No people....（ToT）

A public toilet(for free)

This is nice restaurant. なかなか素敵（すてき）なレストラン

  This building will become art space in October. People in Maebashi try to
become this city active.

  As you see, our Maebashi city is not like Tokyo.
When I go to Tokyo, I feel uneasy because there are too many people.
（￣□￣；）！！

Thanks for reading!

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My work (children's story) ~5~ Genta part 2(ゲンタ 第2話）

  I finished the second part right now...
I could not translate directry because of my lack of English.
I keep studying English!
 Anyway, please overlook the mistakes of my English as usual. ^^;

 ~ 2 ~

Everyone in the forest is now practicing play at the square.

“God! Help me…”

 A pig, whose name is WinWin said this line.

“No! You must say more sadly.”

The leopard shouted to WinWin.

“Say again.”

“God…help me…”

WinWin said.

“Just imagine sad thing and then you say your line.”

WinWin encouraged himself but the leopard, Luc say again and again.

WinWin was almost crying. WinWin became quiet because he didn’t know how to play the line.

“Oh, we got stuck. OK, we are going to take a rest. Get together after fifteen minutes!”

Luc said, and he went to Chirochiro River. Everyone scattered in all direction.

A wild monkey, named Kiki, and WinWin were talking.

“Your line is so difficult. You’re doing well.”

“I can’t play well…I’m at a loss.”

“You can do it next time.”

 Kiki encouraged WinWin.

 A fox, Pockey came there and said.

“Hey, guys. Listen to me. Why does Genta play with us? He is mischievous. He is annoying. He must play the mischief with our play.”

“Yeah, but it can’t help. It’s rule. All animals have to join the play.”

Kiki said.

“He must do some mischiefs at the performance.”

Pockey went to the Chirochiro River to drink river water.

 

 The day of the performance came at last. The square was so crowded. A lot of animals who are living far from Horohoro plain came to watch the performance. They looked forward to this performance. Animals in the village look tense just a little bit. When the performance started, the audience watched the play carefully. The story came to the last scene. It was a scene of fighting. At that scene, the main character, the wild monkey KiKi, was fighting with two bad guys, played by Genta and Pokey.

“Hey, you! Stop!”

 When Kiki was going to fight against Genta, suddenly Kiki disappeared with the big sound!! At the moment, the audiences at the square, Pokey, and Luc got surprised so much!!

“What happened???”

“Kiki disappeared!!”

A theater audience was at a stir.

When Pokey ran to the place where Kiki disappeared and found Kiki plumped down a big hole.

“Oh, my God!”

“OK, I am OK…I just hurt my leg a little bit.”

Kiki climbed up the hole.

“Who dug this hole? I didn’t see this hole yesterday. ”

“Yes! Me neither!”

Genta laughed suddenly.

“Hey, Genta. You did it, didn’t you?”

Pokey said to Genta.

“Yes.”

Genta answered.

“Why did you do that?”

Pokey said with anger.

“Well, this story must be much funnier. The main character falls down at the most important scene. Oh, such a blunder guy!  Hahaha!!”

“What!!!”

“Come on! The story got better. And Kiki didn’t get injured. He is Ok.”

Genta pouted.

“Everyone just got confused! We don’t know how to do the situation if he disappeared at this scene!”

Kiki said.

“Hey, guys, why did you stop the play? The story will be nicer. ”

Genta disappointed and walk to the Chirochiro River...

 

To be continued

 

2

　さて、広場では、えんげきの練習が続いています。

「神様、助けてください。」

このセリフをいったのは、ぶたのウィンウィンです。

「そうじゃない、もっとかなしそうにいうんだ、そこは。」

やまねこがぶたのウィンウィンに向かって大きな声をだしました。

「じゃ、もう一回いって。」

「神様、助けてください。」

ぶたのウィンウィンはいいました。

「かなしいことを想像してセリフをいうんだ。」

ぶたのウィンウィンは、いっしょうけんめいがんばっているのにやまねこのリュックはなんどもいいます。ぶたのウィンィンはなきたくなりました。ぶたのウィンウィンはどうやって言えばいいのかわからなくなって、だまってしまいました。

「ううん、さきにすすまなくなってきたなあ。よし、わかった。きゅうけいにする。１５分たったら、またここにあつまるように。」

　やまねこのリュックはみんなにむかってそういうと、チロチロ川のほうへといってしまいました。みんなちりぢりになりました。やまざるのキキとぶたのウィンウィンがひそひそ話していました。

「いまのせりふはとてもむずかしいよ。ウィンウィンはがんばっているなあ。」

「どうしてもうまくいえない。どうしようかな。」

「つぎこそできるよ。」

　そこへ、キツネのポーキーがやってきました。

「なあ、きみたち。ちょっと、ふまんがあるんだけど、聞いてくれないか。どうして、くまのゲンタもいっしょに劇をやることになったんだ？くまのゲンタはいたずら好きでほんとうにこまるんだよなあ。くまのゲンタまでいっしょに劇をやると、きっと劇がめちゃくちゃになってしまうよ。」

「でも、村のどうぶつはみんな劇をやるきまりなんだからしかたないよ。」

やまざるのキキがいいました。

「ほんばんにどうなってもしらないぞ。くまのゲンタはほんとうにいたずら好きなんだから。」

　そういうと、キツネのポーキーはふきげんそうにチロチロ川のほうへ水をのみにいってしまいました。

　

さて、いよいよほんばんの日がきました。森の動物たちは、みんな少しきんちょうしているみたいです。

物語が始まると、遠くからやってきたいろいろな動物たちはしんけんに劇を観ました。

物語は後半の盛り上がるシーンになりました。

　それは、やまざるのキキがくまのゲンタやキツネのポーキーがえんじる悪者をたいじするシーンになるところでした。

　「こら、おまえたち！これいじょう、わるさをすることは許さない！えいやーーー！」

と、やまざるのキキがくまのゲンタにむかってたたかおうとした、そのときです。

ドシーーーーン！！！

と大きな音とともに、やまざるのキキが消えてしまったのです。とつぜん、やまざるのキキが消えてしまったので、劇をみていたどうぶつたちも、いっしょに広場にたっていたキツネのポーキーも、そわそわと劇をみていたやまねこのリュックも、みんなおどろきました。

「どうした？」

「なに、なにがおこったの？キキがいきなり消えちゃったよ。」

劇をみていたどうぶつたちがざわざわいいはじめました。

キツネのポーキーがやまざるのキキのところまで走っていって何があったのか見ました。なんと、やまざるのキキがあるこうとした道にぽっかりと穴があいていて、キキは穴の中に落っこちていたのです。

「うわ、たいへんだ。」

「うーん、ちょっといたかったけど、だいじょうぶ。」

やまざるのキキは穴からでてきました。

「だれかが穴をほったんだよ。これまで、こんなところに穴はあいていなかったもの。」

「そうだ、そうだ。」

　みんながそんなことを話していると、ゲンタが笑いだしました。

「もしかして、ゲンタがこの穴をほったんだろう？」

キツネのポーキーがいいました。

「ああ、そうだよ。」

くまのゲンタがこたえました。

「どうして、穴をほったのさ？」

キツネのポーキーがおこっていいました。

「だって、主人公がだいじな場面で穴に落っこちる話のほうが、きっと楽しいはずだもの。主人公がドジなことやるほうが、おもしろいさ。ははははーっ」

「ええっ？」

「いまキキが穴に落っこちておもしろくなったじゃないか。キキだって、べつにけがしたわけじゃないし。」

くまのゲンタは口をとんがらせていいました。

「とつぜん、キキが穴に落っこちたりしたら、まわりのどうぶつたちはどうしたらいいのかわからなくなっちゃうだろ。」

　やまざるのキキがいいました。

「なんだよ、みんな劇をとちゅうでやめちゃうのさ？とつぜん主人公がドジやって、せっかくこれからおもしろくなりそうだったのに。」

くまのゲンタはつまらなそうな顔をして川のほうへ行くことにしました。