Picture Card Show (紙芝居 kamishibai):
Behind Distinguished Service,
August 1942
Behind Distinguished Service
(A National Policy Kamishibai)
Summary of the Story
Published in mid-August 1942, on the cusp of a sea change in the war with the United States’ victory at Midway in June, this kamishibai pays homage to soldiers on the front line and citizens on the home front.
Heitaro, a veteran, is called up again to serve, but family problems have driven him to drink. With a pep talk from his neighbor, a fortune teller, and his wife, his spirits lift and he eagerly joins up. He is sent overseas to an unmentioned location but his family problems weigh on him. Noticing Heitaro's demeanor, his company commander asks him to confide in him so he can assist. His company commander reaches out to Heitaro's neighborhood association and the association steps in to help the family.
Realizing he must make amends for his attitude, Heitaro declares his gratitude to his commander, the neighborhood, and the nation, and prepares for the coming offensive. Our story closes with a paean to the "work of those protecting the home front" and the nationalist slogan "100 million people, one heart."
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Card facing audience
殊勲の陰に
Behind Distinguished Service
日本教育紙芝居協会
Japanese Educational Kamishibiai Association
___________________________________________________
方面委員聯盟入選作 殊勲の陰に
A selected work by the Federation of the District Committee Alliance
Behind Distinguished Service
【演出ノート】
【Director's Notes】
ひどく咎める調子になら ぬやう。
Don't sound overly reproachful.
Script accompanying cover
(表紙の説明)
(しづかに)
こゝは大都會の片隅, 木枯の 風の唸りの合間々々に, どこか 夜業の機械の響が聞えてくる。
(少し力を入れて)
銃後をまもる産業戰士が、たゝかつてゐるのだ。
(Cover description)
(quietly)
NARRATOR: Here is a corner of the big city, where amid the howling of the wintry wind, occasionally the sound of nocturnal machinery can be heard.
(with a little more effort)
Protecting the industries behind the front lines, the industrial warriors are fighting.
Script read by narrator
Colophon (publishing information along lower portion of card)
原作 大山 眞佐夫
檜画 野々口重
脚色 發作 日本教育紙芝居協會 [日本教育紙芝居協会]
original story: Ōyama Masao
illustration: Nonoguchi Shigeru
adaptation and production: Nippon Kyōiku Kamishibai Kyōkai (Japanese Educational Kamishibiai Association)
殊勳の蔭に 二十枚挿込 ナシ
作品番號 322
Behind Distinguished Service, twenty illustrations Inserted, no additional sheets
Work number 322
定價 貳圓
Fixed price: 2 yen
昭和十七年八月八日印刷納本
昭和十七年八月十三日發行
Printed and deposited on August 8, 1942
Published on August 13, 1942
_____________________________
殊勲の陰に
Behind Distinguished Service
_____________________________
不許複製
No reproduction allowed
編輯者 佐木秋夫
Editor: Saki Akio
發行者 相馬正男
Publisher: Masao Sōma
印刷者 横山豊
Printer: Toyoyama Yoko
印刷所 横山印刷所
Printing company: Yokoyama Printing Company
發行所 日本教育畫劇株式會社
Publishing company: Nippon Kyōiku Gageki Kabushiki Kaisha
日本教育紙芝居協會 作品
[Nihon Kyōiku Kamishibai Kyōkai]
Work of the Japan Educational Kamishibai Association
(Police officer) "You there! Aren't you Ide Heitaro?"
(Heitaro, drunk) "Hmm? What do you want?"
(The police officer, looking slightly annoyed) "Where have you been wandering around? For three or even four days!"
(Heitaro) "Huh?"
(Police officer) "You're not making any sense again, you're drunk. Everyone at home, including your parents and even the housekeeper, is worried sick and making a big fuss! Especially veterans like you, silently leaving home for several days!"
(brief pause)
"Both the neighborhood association and the police were making a big fuss searching for you!"
(Heitaro) (Eh?)
(Police officer, strongly) "You've been called up! The draft notice has arrived!"
(extract [the card] smoothly and quickly.)
(brief pause)
(Mother) "Truly, we've only caused everyone worry..."
(Misai, the man next door) "We're all worried, but he's supposed to enlist tomorrow at 8 AM. If he doesn't make it in time, well, that would be a huge problem."
(Ine, the wife, speaking modestly but confidently from the side) "But, no matter what, he will definitely come back tonight."
(Misai) "Yes, my forecast also says he'll be back tonight. But, you know, these things sometimes go wrong.
(brief pause)
"Ah, it's getting really cold again tonight...
(brief pause)
(extracting the card) "By the way, Ine-san..."
(Misai, speaking hesitantly) "Not that I want to pry as a close neighbor, but, um, if I remember correctly, Ine-san, you were cut off—financially and otherwise—by your brother, right?"
(Ine) "Yes.
(Brief pause)
When I came here, my brother was strongly opposed. He said if I got married, I would no longer be his sister, even if I had to crawl on the ground."
(Misai, almost jokingly) "You went against his wishes to come here. That’s no small thing...
(Returning to seriousness) But in that case, what about the family register?"
(Ine) "It's still the same; my brother hasn't allowed it yet..."
(Misai) "That's troublesome. Your children are considered illegitimate, aren't they? Going forward, with school and all... If Heitaro doesn’t come back soon, it'll be a real problem."
(Brief pause)
(While smoothly extracting the card)
(Heitaro) "I'm back. Sorry for the trouble."
③
(見齋、言ひにくさうに) 「隣り同志の 心易だてに根堀り 葉堀りする譯でもないが、むゥ、 たじか おイネさんは、むゥ 兄さんから
財富――さいふか、義絶になってるたんだなァ 。」
(イネ)「えゝ 。
(短い間)
わたじがこゝaへ来るときに、
兄は どうしても反對して、
どうでも嫁くなら 足でもない 妹でもないってー」
(見齊、ちよつとふざけさうになる)「それを 押じ切って来たんだから お安くないナー
(まじめにかへつて) じかし さうすると 籍のほうに?」
(イネ)「そのまゝて、兄が まだ いれてくれませんー」
(見齊)「困るナ 子供さんたちだって 庶子だらう?
これから先―― 學校もあるしー
平さん 早く歸って来なければ、 困るなア 全く。」
(短い間)
(スッと ぬきながら)
(平太郎)「今歸つた。すまねエ」
(Everyone, unintentionally loudly) "Welcome back!"
(brief pause)
(Misai) "Heitaro, Heitaro, you really worried us! It's been so long since you left!"
(Heitaro) "I just heard about it at the police box, and I rushed back—please forgive me."
(Misai) "Is that so? Oh, there's nothing to forgive. Hey, this is all thanks to Ine-san, ha ha ha, it’s such a happy occasion. Come on, come inside."
(Heitaro) "Yeah, I'm just to ashamed to face everyone..."
(quickly extract [the card])