Freedom School - Jiyuugakko

A full-length novel by Shishi Bunroku. It was serialized in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper from May to December 1950. It was published by the Asahi Shimbun Company in 1951. Minamimura Iosuke, a clumsy man who was dominated by his capable and active wife Komako, quits his job because he "want[s] freedom," and is chased out by his wife and lives in a hut. His wife also has affairs with several men, but eventually she misses her husband, and he is involved in a smuggling ring and is brought back home. When his wife again forces him to submit and he tries to leave the house, she cries, "I'm sorry. I've lost...stay home!" This is a humorous novel that sharply satirizes the liberalism and ideas of gender equality immediately after the war, while skillfully incorporating postwar customs. It gave birth to catchphrases such as "Tondemo Happun" (Unbelievable What a surprise), and caused a huge sensation, leading to a film being made by both Shochiku and Daiei.

[Tsuzuki Hisayoshi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

獅子文六(ししぶんろく)の長編小説。1950年（昭和25）5月から12月まで『朝日新聞』に連載。51年朝日新聞社刊。有能で活動的な妻駒子(こまこ)に支配されていたでくの坊の南村五百助(いおすけ)は、「自由が欲しく」なって会社を辞め、妻にも追い出されてばた屋小屋に住み着く。妻も何人かの男と浮気心をおこすが、結局は夫が恋しくなり、夫も密輸団事件に絡んでわが家に連れ戻された。妻がまた服従を強いるので家を出ようとすると、「ごめんなさい。敗けたわ……家にゐて！」と泣きつくという物語で、敗戦直後の自由主義や男女同権思想を、戦後風俗を巧みに取り入れながら痛烈に風刺したユーモア小説である。「とんでもはっぷん」などの流行語を生み、松竹と大映の2社によって競作映画化されるなど大きな反響をよんだ。

［都築久義］

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