Date: Augst 4 (Sat), 2012
Place: “Shoya (庄や)” and “Dou(童)” in Ofuna
Participants: 5 graduates (all men)
Ben planned Class-Reunion again during my vacation in Japan. Tami and Sagara joined again, but no lady this time. In stead, Ohyama came to see us for the first time (at least, to me.)
When I saw him last, it was 53 years ago, yet I remembered him and he recognized me when we saw each other.
That day, I went to “Yukai-sokai-Taya” one of many “Super-Sento” which locates close to my house in Ofuna.
I like this “Super-Sento” very much, and during my stay in Ofuna, I visit this hotspring almost every day.
I got “evening shower” a semi-torpical shower which came in the afternoon in Kanto area that day. So, I went home and changed my clothes and went to Ofuna Station.
The meeting time was 6 pm in front of the ticket gate of Ofuna Station. All members, except Ben came to the palce on time. But Ben had business in Tsujido that day, and he joined us 15 minutes later.
Ben indicated the restaurant where we were supposed to have the party, but the restaurant “Dou” was full with customers. Ben had not reserved our seats. So, we had to find an alternative restaurant until “Dou” had enough space for us.
Tami recommended an “Izakaya” near Ofuna Station. The name of the “Izakaya” was “Shoya” and the location was the 2nd floor of the building at which ex-theater called “Odeon Theater.”
It’s a very nostalgic name for all of us, since it was a movie theater closed about 30 years ago.
[We waited at Shoya, 我々は『庄や』で『童』の空くのを待った、 우리는『셔야』에서 『동』의 자리가 나는 것을 기다렸다 ]
Anyway, according to Tami, “Shoya” provides good fresh foodstaff (esp. sea products) with reasonable price.
He was right! When we saw a memu with colorful pictures, a big dish of “sashimi” looked very good. It costs only 2000 yen but full of nice looking “sashimi.” We ordered this “sashimi-moriawase” and acturally it WAS good. Devided by five means only 400 yen for each!
[2000 yen "All sashimi in one dishl", 2000円の『刺身盛り合わせ』、2000엔의 『생선회모듬』]
We ordered draft beer, and enjoyed that “sashimi” while waiting for our seats in “Dou.” (The owner of “Dou” is a nephew of Ben, so we can enjoy for a long time with reasonable price there.)
[At "Shoya" for the 1st party, 『庄や』にて一次会、『셔야』에서 일차회에서]
Ben got a call from the owner of “Dou”(one of his nephews) and we went to the Korean-style BBQ restaurant, “Dou.”
[We left "Shoya" and headed for "Dou.我々は『庄や』を出て『童』へ向かった、"우리는 『셔야』를 나가서 『동』에 갔다.]
We enjoyed Korean-style BBQ while watiching a football game between Japan and Egypt in London Olympics on TV.
[We went to "Dou" and began our 2nd party with "Cheers!", ようやく『童』に入って、二次会を開始した、드디어 『동』에 들어오고, 이차회를 시작했다. ]
Our talks/chats were naturally about good old days of 1950s while we were elementary students. To my great surprise, Ohyama is a Japanese Korean.
[We enjoyed Korean BBQ while having talks about "Good-Old-Days", 昔の話をしながらBBQを楽しんだ。옛날 이야기를 하면서 BBQ를 즐겼다.]
He was once a teacher at Korean University in Japan! He said he used to attend Korean Class at Tamanawa Elementary School from which we graduated, 53 years ago.
Come to think of it, there were so called “Chosen Buraku” or “Korean villages” back in 1950s or even 1960s in Ofuna and in my neighborfood. He must have commuted from such villages back then.
Ohyama said that he though he could earn more money if he had technical quolifications concerning electricity or mechanical engineering, so he studied hard and acquired such quolifications and quit the job at the Korean University.
He said he happened to see Tami at a construction site when he was working as a mechanic to operate a crane. Tami has been working at construction sites as a leader of the group/company for all his careers.
Story told by Tami was most interesting and surprised me. He said when he began to understand things, he saw men with tattoos in their whole bodies, or men who were addicted to “Philopon” (Methamphetamine, also known as metamfetamine, meth, ice, crystal).
He even mentioned about “Akasen” and he talked with women who worked at such district in Ofuna.
“Akasen” is Japanese slang and a collective term which was used to identify districts in Japan where prostitution and the sex industry flourished until 1958, specifically during the period of January 1946 through March 1958. (Wikipedia)
It was abolished in 1958, when we were in 5th grade of elementary school. So, it must be true that he talked with women who worked at such a place.
To my surprise, all other guys except I, knew the fact of “Akasen” in Ofuna. And the world of “Yakuza,” men of tattoos.
The class-reunion was over when the football gave between Japan and Egyt was over with the victory of Japanese team (male) in London Olympics. It was 10:30 p.m. and we promised to see each other again when I came back to Japan next time.
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イベント：「小学校の同窓会(卒業後53年)」
月日：2012年８月4日(土)
場所：大船、元オデオン座2F、居酒屋「庄や」及び中通り商店街の裏、焼肉「童(どう)」
参加者：男５人(B、S、T、O＆George)
昼食後大船のスーパー銭湯『湯快爽快田谷』へ。夏休みで家にいる間はほぼ毎日、回数券を購入して通った。今回いままでと変わったことは、以前の洞窟温泉が『洞窟・塩サウナ』になっていたことだ。10種類以上ある他の温泉は変わりない。ただし、今回、五右衛門風呂に入りながら読書をしていたら、湯槽に本を持ち込んではいけないと注意された。以降、露天部分に置かれた椅子に座って読書するようになった。
さて、この日は午後2時半ごろから4時ごろまでかなり激しい夕立があった。夕立が止んでからいったん家へ戻り、支度をし直して大船駅へ向かった。
S、Tのほか、今回初めてOが来た。彼に会うのは卒業以来だから53年ぶりだ。しかし、当時の面影がある。彼も私を「泰ちゃんだろう」と言ってすぐに認識した。
今回の主催者、Bは辻堂の建築現場からの直帰で6時の集合時間に15分ほど遅れた。
彼の甥が経営していると言う中通りの『童(どう)』はだいたいの場所はSが知っていて、みなで探したが、結局私が見つけた。
しかし、かんじんのBが予約していなかったため、満席の店には入れず、席が空くまで別の店へ行くことになった。
Tのすすめで大船オデオン座跡のビルの２Fの「庄や」で一次会にした。ここは席も多く、食材も新鮮で安いという評判通りだった。
生ビールに刺身の盛り合わせを注文したがこの盛り合わせが2000円弱ですばらしかった。韓国でこの程度のものを注文すれば15万ウォン(約1万円強)は下るまいと思った。
[At "Shoya" for the 1st party, 『庄や』にて一次会、『셔야』에서 일차회]
ちょうど1時間後、童から電話が入り、席ができた。こちらは韓国風焼肉屋で、韓国通のOが良く知っていて注文し、如才無いSが次々と焼いてくれた。
[The entrance of "Dou"(Left), 『童』の入り口(左側),『동』의 입구(왼쪽)]
[We enjoyed Korean BBQ while having talks about "Good-Old-Days", 昔の話をしながらBBQを楽しんだ。옛날 이야기를 하면서 BBQ를 즐겼다.]
店内の大型TVではロンドン五輪の男子サッカー日本対エジプト戦をやっていて、割我は飲みながら最後まで観戦した。3-0で日本の勝ち。
さて、話題はやはり小学校時代の話だが、松竹に関連した美空ひばりや笠智衆にまつわる個人的なエピソードを聞いた。
Tの話では物心ついたころから彼の家には全身に刺青をした男や、ヒロポンを打つ人間が出入りしていたといい、どうも生家は土建業だったようだ。
私はまったくの初耳だが、彼の家の近所には「赤線」があったし、彼はやくざたちにもかわいがられたと言う。赤線は1958年に廃止になっているから小学校5年ごろまではあったとしても不思議ではない。
また、今回初めて会ったOはどうも朝鮮系の在日らしく、彼の知人の中には『地上の楽園』という嘘につられて北朝鮮へ渡った者も数人いると言う。
私はまったく記憶にないが、玉縄小学校には朝鮮学級があり、彼は上級からそこに入り、ハングルを学んだと言う。
また、彼は、朝鮮大学校で歴史や地理を教えていたと言うが、高校からは朝鮮学校へ通ったのかもしれない。
彼はその後、職業を変え、土建業を始め、さまざまな免許をとって現在も現役だと言う。また、現場で起重機を操作している時に、偶然Tと出会い、「お前、Oじゃないか？」「お前はTだろう。」という事になったと言う。
彼は最も若々しく、みごとな体型と筋肉をおもにジム通いで維持しているらしい。私はOに腹筋運動の正しい方法を伝授してもらった。
[Ohyama ordered "Gukpap" and it looked delicious, Oは最後にクッパを注文したがとてもおいしそうだった。O는 마지막에 국밥을 주문했는데 매우 맛있게 보였다.]
最後はひょんなことから宗教談義となり、ここでもキリスト教の啓蒙をすることになったが、そのためにもさらに学び、また御心が語れるように聖霊の助けを求めなければならない。
男ばかりの小学校の同窓会は10時半まで続いて家へ帰ったのは11時ごろだった。
