Grandfather's powerful "Demon, go outside."… 祖父の迫力の「鬼は外ォ～」

"Demon, go outside. Demon, go outside. Demon, go outside."

When Setsubun(means the day before the beginning of spring)
approaches, the bean-throwing ceremony of the grandfather
who lived in Shimane and established custom every year is
recalled. The full voice is raised by becoming of my ear
trembled, and he throws out mightily toward the road in
front of the door. The even demon might also have barefooted
run away by his power. It is surprised to not only the demon
but also passers-by .

I was associating in this bean-throwing ceremony until
a primary schoolchild. But I became shameful to the passer-by
and the vicinity when I became a junior high school student.
And when the grandfather started the preparation for the
bean-throwing ceremony, I became to hide myself in the interior
of the house quickly. Still, the grandfather did not change
every year and continued the bean-throwing ceremony.

I married on ground left from the parents' family, and
gave birth to the first child last year. I became parents
and became to think that I want to teach the traditional
event of Japan to my child neatly.
Demon's mask and the appearance of the bean-throwing ceremony
are scheduled to be shown to my daughter at Setsubun.

My grandfather aged 86 with the advanced acknowledgment
syndrome has not done the bean-throwing ceremony any longer now.
However, the voice of that bean-throwing ceremony of the
grandfather sounds clearly in my ear now. I wish sincerely to
express our gratitude to the grandfather who left strong memories
now. It is because my child is made to hear a lot of memories
story every time Setsubun comes.

--
2008/2/1 Asahi Shimbun "Voice" column
YOKOYAMA-SAN
Sapporo City, 34 years old


…
「鬼は外、鬼は外、鬼は外ォ～」

節分が近づくと、島根の実家で毎年恒例だった祖父の
豆まきを思い出す。私の耳がキーンとなるほど大きな
声を張り上げ、玄関前の道路に向かって勢いよく投げ
つける。迫力に、さすがの鬼も裸足で逃げ出しただろう。
鬼ばかりか、通行人たちも驚かしたものだ。

この豆まきに小学生まで付き合っていた私は、中学生
になると通行人やご近所の目が恥ずかしくなり、祖父
が豆まきの準備を始めると、さっさと家の奥に隠れる
ようになった。それでも祖父は毎年、変わらず豆まき
を続けた。

実家から離れた地で結婚した私は、昨年初めての子供
を産んだ。親になり、我が子には日本の伝統行事を
きちんと教えていきたい、と考えるようになった。
節分には、まだ赤ん坊の娘に鬼のお面や豆まきの様子
を見せてやる予定である。

現在８６歳で、認知症が進んだ祖父は、もう豆まきは
しない。しかし祖父のあの豆まきの声は、今も私の
耳に鮮明に響く。強烈な思い出を残してくれた祖父に、
今は心から感謝している。節分がくる度に我が子に
たっぷりと思い出話を聞かせてあげられるからだ。

--
2008/2/1　朝日新聞　「声」欄
札幌市西区　横山さん　34歳