I've written about Shinsekai on the note, and then it reminds me one thing.

Seven or eight years previously, I hard the story from a drunk who seems
pretty older than I am; had a seat just next to me where I was at Kushikatu
or skewered-fry joint in Shinsekai.

Suppose he'd take several shots of SAKE with himself at the tiny counter,
but when we took the next seat he delightedly spoke to us simultaneously
on different subject.

Seems he didn't have so bad personality, I gave him some neutral nods and
"Uh huhs" in between my conversations with my company even I didn't know
what he talked about.

The moment was started by the words like this: "Ya know, I saw a little
match-seller the other night."

His story caught my attention. And I thought gonna follow his story a while.
I don't know the reason, but it could be the moment is right or he had a
good way to cue, I guess.

This is the story.

There is a place called Tennoji-park just nearby the Shinsekai.

The park has vast premises, includes a zoo, and it's always be outdoor voyeurs'
mecca in summer time. I also be there for Jane M's public nudity handling.

If you spot out women's intimate place from the darkness at night by MagLite, it draws voyeurs like flies to honey.

Anyhow, the guy sat on a bench in the park the other evening. There came someone.

He recognized the person is a female, young, around late twenty.
And herd her voice in the darkness; "Hi. Do you care for a strike of match?"

He didn't get what supposed to mean.

"Gonna be pretty sight, no wind" she went on.

He still could not get.

Then she suddenly wrapped up her skirt to around her waist, sat down,
a knee up, and open her crotch. Widely.

He could not see any underwear.

But not enough light to saw the detail of the spot.

"Five-hundred yen for a strike of match. Do you care for?" she asked him again.

He could not get any more.

He bought a strike of match, then.

I could see the scene. There's a guy, he gawp the spot till the mache's dead.
There's a girl, she exposed her intimate place in an untidy manner at the bench.
I stretched my imagination and shipped my beer.

This is the kinda story for Tennoji-park; sculduddery but appear attractive.

In late forty's thru early fifty's, there's an outbreak called Issen-boom.
Sen is a currency of meantime; Issen was like one-dollar bill.

The word Issen drove market crazy: there're Issen Sushi, Issen Tenpura,
Issen cake and so on. Sell like mad.

And more. There is Ten-Sen Geisha girl.

Imamiya area just neighbor of Tennoji-park was major hangout place for
pan handlers and day workers. They didn't even have much money,
they pay from their pocket for Ten-Sen Seisha girl and call her to
their small party on roadside though.

Her Kimono was not good one, but she took care about it cleanly, set her
hair but used only tap water, and finally red-ticked lips.

It's chic era, even the people they didn't have enough money.

I believe Tennoji-park also had like that too.

The little match-seller and Ten-Sen Seisha girl.
They were over wrapped in my mind.

"You had a great experience, didn't you?" I replied to him from deep inside
of my hart. But he already reached to the other subject. "Hey ya, ya should
try quail here" he went on with red-face.

Since then his telling story was staying in my mind; the idea of bottomless
growth by degrees and influenced my play stile a lot.


Dec. 4, 1999

translated by Peter Junk