The Village Page #3

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Are you married?

I was married once but I'm divorced now

I shouldn't

It's all right

I felt then forthe first time

That I wanted their performance

in my village

The general meeting day

From early in the morning

Miss Kono and I called on

every board member

persuading those who were reluctant

The board members were won over

What about the general members?

On going around all day,

I realized one thing

How spacious overvillage is

The meeting began at 8

Only natural, but the general feeling was

That a cD650,000 performance

was reckless

The board meetings' arguments

were repeated

It continued until midnight

Quiet! Be recognized by the chairman first

Isn't there some simplerway

to promote regional culture?

There's no need to pay

so much fora boring performance

What makes you think it's boring?

A performance is bound to be

Have you everseen one?

No, I haven't but

Then how can you tell?

Chuji, have you seen this Toitsu show?

Nope

performance sounds too formal

Just think of it as being a show

Chairman! I'd like to ask the board

This is a big project

Isn't it reckless that

no one has seen the show?

We're trusting Miss Kono

Even if it is uninteresting

Staging a show here

would have significance

Drive to Morioka and see one

We could do that but what about

the old folks who can't go?

Have you ever had your patents

in your car?

Sure

How often?

Once

The main problem is selling

the 650 tickets, isn't it?

How many heard the singing?

As I've told you,

our purpose is not to make money

But don't you live on that income?

We do

Then it's a business

Why do we have to feed them

when we're busy?

Hideki! Aren't you ashamed to

say such a thing?

Miss Kono is doing hervery best

To have you seen an interesting,

enjoyable show

Isn't it properto pay money for it?

CD650,000?

Ask herto reduce the price

It's their business

Can you?

Please understand

We're not selling merchandise

It's not mere buying-selling

This will be yourshow

You're the ones to decide whetherto do it

I'm confident that you can

I know cD650,000 is a big sum for you

But this is the absolute minimum of

what we'll need

It's raining

It's raining heavily Where's Takashi?

As the meeting He'll be late

Can't be helped I'll check the vinyl house

Go to sleep

Chairman!

Do something

This meeting will neverend

It's 2 am We ought to reach a decision

There are many problems remaining but

Everyone's had his say

The final decision depends on

our personal feelings

What about a deficit?

That's a practical problem

Stop it We don't want to rehash that

Now, then, is it all right to vote?

Wait! Before voting,

let's hearfrom our president

Well, Takashi?

The same as everybody else

I'd like to do it but I lack confidence

Miss Kono has done this work

With tens, hundreds of youth groups

If otherassociations have done it?

Why can't we do the same thing?

Has any ofthem suffered a deficit?

Some ofthem have

We might have a deficit too

Why say that?

Let's gamble once

I'm thinking ofthe association's finances

You've always been stingy

Be positive!

Let's vote!

Then we'll vote

Just one thing

If successful, that'll be fine

Even if it fails,

I think it's betterthan not trying

How shall I say it?

Not trying is in itself

an admission of defeat

Ratherthan not to tryby fearing failure

It's betterto tryand fail

Like farming

I'll now call a vote Any objection?

The Toitsu

Chairman!

I must ask one thing

What will our president do

ifthere's a deficit?

That's a question?

Will you answer?

I'll sell my cow and make good

Good for you! Spoken like a man

I'll sell all my cucumbers too

We'll pitch in

Let's all do it!

We'll vote Any objection?

None

Our youth group's

sponsorship ofthis show

Opposed?

Those in favor? Clap your hands

Unanimous approval has

been given to the plan!

The next day

Superintendent Koyanagi hurried over

It's reckless beyond words

The project's too big

forthe youth association Reconsider

It was decided at a general meeting

Even then

Can't you cancel it?

The village will pay the cancellation fee

Brother heard it too

It's fine if all goes well

If it fails, you as president will be blamed

Not only you It will mean

Your motherand me being criticized also

Realize that?

You won't be troubled

Just don't come crying to me afterward

The other members ofthe board

Were reproved also by parents

ortheirsuperiors

The feeling was:
No retreat!

On August 2 there will be a performance

Ofthe musical Native village

It's easy to understand

and enjoyable for young and old

Advance tickets are now on sale at

every one ofthe playguides

ltjust had to be successful

Everyone was trying hard

Half a month passed quickly

Not one ofthem has been sold?

How many sold so far?

That's all

No more than 85

Only 10 days before the show

I told you! I opposed this plan

That's not manly

It was decided

to sell the tickets individually

The 1,700 households

were divided into blocs

The youth association is

planning to put on a show

What kind of show?

Musical

It has music and dances

A show that everyone can enjoy

How much?

CD800

A musical with songs and dances

Even an uneducated person

can understand and enjoy it

Too busy Can't go

Buy 2 or 3 ticketsjust to be sociable

High-pressure sale?

What do you mean by that?

It's to promote culture that we're making

House-to-house calls at night

This isn't a money-making proposition

You wouldn't understand

Afterthe daily work,

we visited every house

One call often took much time

Sometimes after 1 or2 hours: No sale

We're publicizing it

every day by wired radio

So I'm sure you know all about it but

Counting the money, making plans

took us until 1 or2 am

I had to be up at 5 am to milk the cows

Only 2 or 3 hours of sleep

This continued fora whole week

Tickets selling?

Not so good?

Miss Kono, I'm sorry,

but won't you cancel the show?

Don't be discouraged3 more days

We'll all try harder

It's a lie Look! Just look at this 850 sold

Why, you rascal! You tried to fool me!

It was funny to see herasjoyful as a child

The final 3 days were like a madhouse

The police and

others have all been notified

Invitations?

The necessary ones have been sent out

Smoking places? Ashtrays?

Borrowing 3 buckets

Where were you?

Calf born

Which?

Male

Good for cD3,000?

Forget anything?

No sleep that night

The day ofthe show dawned

They've arrived!

Matsuo villagers,

the Toitsu Troupe is here

The musical Native village

will be presented

At the high school gym from 6:30 pm

Be sure to come

and see it with all yourfriends

And the actors?

Not here yet?

Takata, the producer

Supervisor Koyanagi

Fire chief is strict

He's coming?

Of course

A No Smoking sign?

This will do

Good evening, everybody

We thank you all for coming

To see our youth association's show

The farming villages ofJapan

have become greatly mechanized

But has the standard of living been raised?

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