Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 381 This is Japan’s blessing!
"That person is you, a 'wandering scholar'; that person is Ishihara, the local 'mayor'; those are 'townspeople'; and the other one wearing a yellow wig is 'Perry', who represents the Americans."

Zhang Chao and Wang Zhenxu were among the lively crowd, watching the Kyogen performance on the open-air stage. The actors on the stage were all dressed in traditional Japanese costumes, so Zhang Chao naturally didn't understand much and needed Wang Zhenxu to explain it.

Zhang Chao was surprised and said, "So straightforward? Just give your real name? That 'Zhang Chao' is not like me!"

Wang Zhenxu whispered, "Of course not, it's just a symbol of status. Just like Peking Opera, characters from all dynasties wear the same clothes."

Zhang Chao actually knew this truth, but he just couldn't accept for a while that someone was playing himself in Japanese costume.

But this matter is beyond my control, and I can only "swallow my anger" and watch it -

There were lanterns of the Black Ship Festival hanging on the stage background, mixed with the American Flag. Several "townspeople" were fawning and trying to please "Perry", each holding a jar of wine in their hands, looking very ugly.

One of the "townspeople" was singing loudly, and Wang Zhenxu translated it for Zhang Chao: "The black ships are coming to open the country, the gongs and drums are beating, and we are offering thirty jars of sake and geishas dancing."

Zhang Chao was amazed and said, "The translation is quite rhyming. You have a quick mind!"

Wang Zhenxu blushed and explained, "I saw them rehearsing."

At this time, "Perry" spoke up. He took out a silver coin from his pocket and flicked it at a "townsman" with his finger: "I appreciate your sincerity! This is a new American coin. Can it be exchanged for 100 koku of rice?"

The townspeople burst into tears of gratitude: "Your Excellency is wise! I will not exchange this for rice. It is perfect for offering in my home shrine!"

At this time, the "wandering scholar" "Zhang Chao" appeared. He waved his folding fan and sneered, "What a strange sight in Japan! They treated bandits as honored guests and now offer them sacrifices! Ridiculous, ridiculous!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the "mayor" "Ishihara" rushed onto the stage and shouted angrily: "Who are you? This is an international goodwill event!" Then he smiled at Perry flatteringly: "This must be a down-and-out Chinese scholar..."

Then he said to the "wandering scholar" "Zhang Chao": "The founding of the country with black ships is the source of Yamato's enterprising spirit. Do you understand the Japanese character?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the audience burst into laughter.

The wandering scholar Zhang Chao circled around the mayor Ishihara, tapped him on the head with his fan, and scolded him: "Men of character? Back then, the shogunate opened the port as soon as they heard the cannon fire. If you are really brave, why don't you die with honor?"

Mayor Ishihara blushed and said, "Asshole! The Black Ship Festival has been passed down for a hundred years..."

The "wandering scholar" "Zhang Chao" suddenly stepped on the altar lacquer plate and smashed it: "Is the inheritance a glory? It's just a shame!" Then he turned to the audience and said: "Gentlemen, please look at it--" While speaking, he began to imitate the flattery of the townspeople, saying: "Hey, hey, Master Perry, please give me more advice!"

The audience burst into laughter again.

At this time, a "townsman" smashed the wine jar in his hand and said, "Enough! It turns out that we are playing the clowns! And we have been playing this role for 70 years!" Then he turned around and began to tear up the American flag.

Mayor Ishihara hurriedly stopped him, saying, "No, no! What if we offend the Americans?"

But his words were no longer effective at this time. The townspeople rose up and began to besiege the envoys.

The envoy ran away with his head in his hands. His wig fell off, revealing the black hair underneath. He then said innocently, "I... I am a Japanese. Why are you hitting me? If you want to hit me, go there and do it!"

As he spoke, he pointed in the distance. Everyone looked in the direction and saw that there was a port over there. The outlines of several large warships could be vaguely seen.

The audience first burst into laughter, and then fell silent.

Wang Zhenxu said: "That's the U.S. military base in Yokosuka."

Zhang Chao said "Oh" softly, showing an expression of sudden enlightenment; he turned around and found that the actors on the stage had already started to take their bows and leave the stage. He asked with some regret, "Why is it only this short? It's too short!"

Zhang Chao and Wang Zhenxu arrived late, and the performance had already started for a while when they arrived. Including the small part they watched, it was less than 20 minutes.

Wang Zhenxu said: "Kyogen was not originally a formal drama. It was originally performed in the intervals between Noh performances. It was only after World War II that it gradually became independent from Noh, so it was not very long. "

Zhang Chao still felt quite emotional after reading it.

This short Japanese play is very crude in terms of structure and performance, and the characters are very flat, but the final scene pointing to the Yokosuka U.S. military base has a finishing touch, and has the wonderful effect of breaking the fourth wall and blending with reality.

If we perform in a place where we can't see the US military base, this effect will not be achieved.

Fortunately, there are many places in Japan suitable for performing this little drama. There are six large bases, including Yokosuka, Sasebo, Yokota, Zama, Okinawa Island, and Misawa. The total number of other special bases and joint facilities exceeds 6.

It can be said that the stage is enriched.

Zhang Chao sighed and asked, "It's just a little play, how can it be considered a sacrifice?"

Wang Zhenxu was so thirsty from translating that he smiled strangely and said, "You will know it soon..."

Just as he finished speaking, a "giant object" slowly walked out from the back of the performance venue. Zhang Chao took a closer look and found that it was a "shrine palanquin" carried by more than a dozen young people - Zhang Chao, who was from Fuhai, was not unfamiliar with this thing.

But the "God's Table" on the "Shrine Carriage" made Zhang Chao's face turn darker than the bottom of a pot - the "God's Table" carved out of wood was wearing the same suit that Zhang Chao wore on the show, his face was lifelike, he sat upright with a dull look.

Zhang Chao said angrily: "How can you expose the 'god tablet' outside? The local shrine is so rude!"

Wang Zhenxu quickly said, "There is no shrine involved here. This is a non-governmental organization organized by the Zhang Chao Tokyo Support Association. It is mainly to satirize the "Black Ship Festival" in Yokosuka. It is not a formal festival."

Zhang Chao became even angrier and pointed at the "Zhang Chao" on the sacred sedan chair: "Is this how they support me? This is too unlucky!"

Wang Zhenxu said: "The founder of the 'Zhang Chao Tokyo Support Association' admires you very much... He believes that it is you who awakened the numb Japanese people, ignited the national self-esteem of the Japanese people, and tore off the disguises of those politicians..."

Zhang Chao glanced at Wang Zhenxu in confusion and asked, "Then why did you ask me to come here today..."

Wang Zhenxu's face turned red, and he hesitated for a while. Finally, he made up his mind and said, "I was hired by them as the honorary president of the 'Zhang Chao Tokyo Support Association'..."

Zhang Chao: "..."

Wang Zhenxu thought that since he had already said it out loud, he might as well not hide it, and said: "The Zhang Chao Tokyo Support Association particularly hopes to get your approval, so I must make sure you come and see it no matter what.

The "Kyogen" I just performed was really rough, because I didn't have time to polish or rehearse it. I heard you were coming to Tokyo, so I performed it urgently."

At this time, the group of young people had already set off with the "god's palanquin" and the crowd. Wang Zhenxu said, "They are going to walk around the Perry Memorial Park. Do we want to go with them?"

Zhang Chao shook his head. After knowing the whole story, he lost interest. After all, the so-called "Zhang Chao Festival" was a group of Japanese young people who were dissatisfied with the status quo and regarded him as a symbol of resistance to reality. To put it bluntly, he was just a high-level tool, a part of their play.

It's kind of boring.

Wang Zhenxu asked cautiously, "The screenwriter of the play Kyogen wants to meet you..."

Zhang Chao waved his hand and said, "Forget it, there's no need."

Wang Zhenxu naturally didn't dare to force Zhang Chao to do anything, so he asked again: "Then do you have any suggestions for this performance?"

Zhang Chao thought about it and asked back: "I am not familiar with this art form either. This is my first time watching it. I also want to ask you, what do you think after watching it?"

Wang Zhenxu was stunned. He obviously didn't expect Zhang Chao to ask him this. After thinking for a while, he said, "If I just watched them rehearse, I would think it was quite interesting. But today, when I saw the audience's reaction for the first time, I only had one feeling -

The Japanese are finished..."

Zhang Chao was very interested when he heard this: "Oh? Tell me in detail."

Wang Zhenxu said: “In fact, whether it is the ‘Black Ship Festival’ or the ‘Zhang Chao Festival’ that satirizes the ‘Black Ship Festival’, in the eyes of today’s Japanese, it does not seem like they are talking about things that happened in their own country.

Just like the "Black Ship Festival", except for a few people in the "Japan-US Friendship Association", who cares what it commemorates? Everyone just takes this opportunity to set off fireworks, wear yukatas, eat snacks, and fish for goldfish...

Today's hurried "Harishio Festival" was similar. Neither the "townspeople" and "mayor" who made a fool of themselves on the stage, nor the arrogant "Perry", could arouse their empathy.

Contemporary Japanese have already hidden themselves in a void without history... Only a few are still struggling."

Zhang Chao smiled and said, "Do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing?"

Wang Zhenxu was silent for a long time this time, and finally showed a confused look on his face. His eyes were blank for a long time before he said, "I don't know..."

Zhang Chao did not ask further questions, but asked: "I'm hungry. Where can I find something delicious nearby?"

Wang Zhenxu came back to his senses and answered, "Do you want Chinese food, Japanese food, or Western food? There is a Chinese restaurant called 'Rin' here. The chef is Japanese, but he cooks very well."

Zhang Chao shook his head, suddenly smiled evilly, and said, "The Western food here must be of good quality?"

Wang Zhenxu nodded honestly and said, "It's really good because of them." He glanced at the American warships in the distance, and then said, "Yokosuka is one of the birthplaces of Western food in Japan.

After the Meiji Restoration, when the Emperor inspected the Yokosuka Shipyard, a Western-style lunch was served on the warship he was on. This was the first time the Emperor had eaten Western food.

Zhang Chao smiled and said, "Then let's find a western restaurant. You choose the place."

Wang Zhenxu had obviously done his homework and led Zhang Chao away.

As Zhang Chao walked, he chatted, "In Japan, it's a big deal for the Emperor to eat Western food, right?"

Wang Zhenxu said: "Of course. In the past, Japan banned animal meat, and the emperor could only eat fish. There is beef in Western food, and after the emperor ate it, it actually meant that the 'meat ban' was lifted, and from then on, Japanese people could openly eat all kinds of meat.

It is said that the emperor took the lead in eating meat in order to support the policy of encouraging meat-eating, to show that Japan is a modern country, and to win recognition from foreign countries. "

Zhang Chao laughed and said, "Eating meat can be linked to seeking foreign recognition?"

Wang Zhenxu said helplessly: "It is difficult for Chinese people to understand the strong anxiety of the Japanese. Even today when there is no threat of war, the Japanese still feel anxious about not being 'international' enough. For example, the Japanese are often both envious and afraid of Asians who are good at English.

With all due respect, you are so popular in Japan largely because you can speak English. Almost all Japanese politicians and cultural figures are unwilling to have any direct conflict with you because of this. "

Zhang Chao smiled and said: "So the essence of these anxieties is actually the contradictory psychology of Japan, which wants to gain international recognition by imitating the West but is afraid of losing its cultural uniqueness under the historical inertia of 'leaving Asia and joining Europe'."

Wang Zhenxu said: "A survey conducted by the Graduate School of the University of Tokyo showed that most of the respondents on the street believed that 'Japanese culture is not truly understood by the world.' You see, even though the whole world watches Japanese anime and children all want to become 'ninjas', the Japanese still feel wronged."

Before they knew it, the two of them had strolled to the vicinity of the US military base and a restaurant appeared in front of them. Zhang Chao could not recognize the other words, but the word "Navy" was familiar to him.

Wang Zhenxu said: "When you come to Yokosuka to eat Western food, you can't miss the "Navy Curry", "Yokosuka Navy Burger" and "Yokosuka Blueberry Cheesecake".

Zhang Chao didn't mind what to eat. Since Wang Zhenxu said so, he walked in boldly.

Wang Zhenxu was in charge of taking orders. After a while, the waiter brought a triangular cheesecake to the two of them. Perhaps he could tell that Zhang Chao was a foreigner, he explained something in a gibberish. After listening, Wang Zhen translated awkwardly:
“She said that the Yokosuka Blueberry Cheesecake is a symbol of friendship between Japan and the United States. The cheesecake represents the United States, and the blueberries on it represent Japan…”

Zhang Chao held back his laughter, picked up the cake in front of him, and took a big bite. The dense texture and aroma filled his mouth and nose. He couldn't help but praise it in English, "Absolutely delicious!"

When the waitress heard Zhang Chao's relatively pure English accent, her eyes lit up and she kept looking back as she walked back.

Zhang Chao suddenly said to Wang Zhenxu: "I know why you said 'I don't know'."

Wang Zhenxu was stunned. He didn't expect Zhang Chao to bring the topic back.

Zhang Chao said to himself: "Actually, this is a good way for the Japanese...Have you seen Lao She's play Tea House?"

Wang Zhenxu shook his head. He was not familiar with Chinese literature, let alone drama.

Zhang Chao said: "The Teahouse is about China 100 years ago. There is a fortune teller named Tang Tiezui. People advised him not to smoke opium. Guess what he said..."

Wang Zhenxu stretched his neck slightly, showing a curious look.

Zhang Chao smiled slightly: "Tang Tiezui said that he no longer smokes opium, but instead smokes white flour. He also said, "I have two powerful countries, the British Empire's tobacco and Japan's white flour, serving me alone. Is this a small blessing?"

Wang Zhenxu looked puzzled.

Zhang Chao pointed outside the window. This place was right next to the military port. The American warships, whose outlines could only be seen before, were now extremely clear, and even the black muzzles of their guns could be seen.

Zhang Chao said: "America's warships and cannons, the world's most powerful country serving Japan, isn't this a small blessing?" I think this is great.

Wang Zhenxu showed a smile that was uglier than crying.

(End of this chapter)