Brother and sister

A short story by Muro Saisei. Published in Bungei Shunju in July 1934 (Showa 9). It was included in Kamigami no Hedo (Head of the Gods), published by Yamamoto Shoten in 1935. It won the 1st Bungei Konwakai Award. It depicts the wild love of the family of Akaza Heiemon, a laborer on the Tama River. Akaza is a strong man, known by the nickname Akaza's Snake Basket. His wife Riki, who handles the accounts, is a gentle woman with three children. Ino, the eldest son, is a skilled stonemason, but is constantly having trouble with women. Mon, the eldest sister, has been acting out since she was abandoned after becoming pregnant with a student's child at her place of employment. While Mon is away, a student named Obata comes to visit, but Akaza can't bring himself to get angry. However, Ino hits Obata. When Mon returns home and finds out, he grabs Ino and they start insulting each other. There is a sequel called "The Head of the Gods" (retitled "Continued Brother and Sister").

[Kunio Torii]

"Brother and Sister" (Kadokawa Bunko)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

室生犀星(むろうさいせい)の短編小説。1934年（昭和9）7月『文芸春秋』に発表。1935年山本書店刊の『神々のへど』に収録。第1回文芸懇話会賞を受賞。多摩川の人夫頭赤座平右衛門一家の野性的な愛情を描いている。赤座はたくましい男で、赤座の蛇籠(じゃかご)というあだ名で知られている。勘定を取り仕切る妻りきは柔和な女で3人の子がある。長男の伊之(いの)は石職工の腕はあるが女のごたごたが絶えない。上の妹のもんは奉公先で学生の子をはらんで捨てられてからぐれだしている。もんの留守に学生の小畑が訪ねてくるが、赤座は怒る気にもなれない。しかし伊之が小畑を殴る。帰ってそれを知ったもんは伊之につかみかかりののしり合う。なお続編に『神々のへど』（改題『続あにいもうと』）がある。

［鳥居邦朗］

『『あにいもうと』（角川文庫）』

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