梲の町屋が続く、美濃市の旧市街。
黒塀に囲まれた庭先きから、綻び始めたばかりの梅の花をまとった老木が、枝を伸ばし道往く人の目を誘う。
微かな春の予感に導かれ、小倉山の麓から長良川へ。
河畔には今も上有知の川湊灯台が聳え立つ。
古の船頭たちはここで荷を積み降ろし、穏やかな川面を眺め至福の一服を燻らせたであろう。
「おいっ坊主、これ一本やろか」。
今から37年ほど前、中学生だったある日。
胸を肌蹴た鯉口シャツに、鉄錆に汚れたニッカーズボン、そして地下足袋姿。
鳶職のオッチャンが赤ら顔で、コップ酒を煽りながら紋次郎いかを差し出した。
紋次郎いかとは、長楊枝に刺したいかの味付け煮だ。
親友のシンちゃんの母が営む酒屋の立ち飲みには、夕暮れ時を待ってましたとばかりに、何処からとも無く職人たちが寄り合い、コップ酒片手に今日の憂さを晴らし合う。
そんなオッチャンたちにとって、紋次郎いかは無くてはならない優れものの肴だった。
おそらく紋二郎いかの名前の由来は、テレビドラマ「木枯し紋次郎」が口に咥えた長楊枝との共通点からだろう。
薄汚れた道中合羽と三度笠姿で「あっしには関わりのねぇこってござんす」と、感情を押し殺して吐き出す台詞は、当時の流行語にもなった。
ぼくは鳶のオッチャンから、大喜びで紋次郎いかのご相伴に預かる。
まず、いかを唾液でふやかしてから平らげ、その後は紋次郎気取りで件の台詞を口にしたものだ。
シンちゃんの母はそれを傍目に、いつも笑い転げていた。
その年の夏休み。
シンちゃんのお母さんが、倉庫の裏の川で溺死したとの知らせが。
あまりにも呆気ない急な死に、通夜に訪れた誰もが言葉を失い、ただただ瞳を潤ませた。
「スマン。遅なって」。
紋次郎いかの鳶のオッチヤンや、立ち飲みの常連客が、いつもの作業着のまま弔問に現れた。
「シン坊、淋しなったなぁ。でもわしらも一緒や。女将さんは、わしらみたいなん相手に、一つも分け隔てせんと一杯売りして、愚痴を聞いてくれよった。『今までおおき。あの世でゆっくりしいや』」。
厳つい両の手を合わせ、何憚ることなく男は声を上げすすり泣いた。
実の母の死より悲しいと。
「家自体が年代もんやで、西側に傾いちゃってね。百年以上前に造り酒屋を買って、小売を始めたそうやわ」。
美濃市相生町の今廣酒販店、四代目女将の川井殖代さん（67）は、帳場の大黒柱を指差した。
道理で店の中の時間は止まったままだ。
中の間を仕切る千本格子に階段箪笥。
天井には明り取りの天窓、それと壁掛け式の電話機。
さすがにどれも梲の揚がる大店の証だ。
女将は21歳で上之保から嫁ぎ、二男一女の母に。
「嫁に来た頃は、両親とお手伝いさん、それに番頭と使用人もいて大家族やったわ」。
それから間も無く半世紀。
「ただ子を成し、店を守ってきただけやて」。
無欲に笑う女将の横顔と、在りし日のシンちゃんの母の顔が重なった。
何事も気張り過ぎぬが心地よい。
たとえ生涯梲は揚がらずとも。
このブログのコメント欄には、皆様に開示しても良いコメントをドンドンご掲示いただき、またその他のメッセージにつきましては、minoruokadahitoristudio@gmail.comへメールをいただければ幸いです。
木枯らし紋次郎
「あっしには関わりの無い事でござんす！」
このセリフ流行ったよねぇ！
けど、日本人の良い所で結局は関わってしまって問題を解決
まぁ～⤴昭和の時代だけどねぇ！
今だったら、余計なお世話！って言われそう・・！
多くの男どもは、なんだかんだと紋次郎の台詞を真似たものですよねぇ。
それも薄れゆく昭和の残像ですよねぇ。
紋次郎いか 昔 家に必ずありました。
時々おやつ代わりに食べたりして( ◠‿◠ )
今も食品を買いに行くと 必ず見かけて少し誘惑に負けそうになるけど 『いや待てよ！食べきれないぞ！しけっちゃうぞ！顎が痛くなって外れちゃうぞ！』と自分に暗示をかけながら 素通りしてます(笑)
あの大きな容器に入った物は、とてもとても食べきれませんものねぇ。
ぼくはどうにも、裂きイカが苦手で・・・(苦笑)
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