【朗読】山本周五郎『似而非物語』【作業・睡眠用朗読】読み手七味春五郎　発行元丸竹書房

A Fake Master Saves the Castle! ■Synopsis Mokusuke, an old man, returns to Ushikubo Village in the Hakusan Valley of Kaga Province after forty years. He was a lazy man who showed no interest in anything since his youth, always lying around saying "How boring," but he also possessed a strange, keen eye. Meanwhile, Iizasa Chōisai, rumored to be the greatest swordsman in the land, was living in seclusion in the mountains. However, weary of his fame, Chōisai makes Mokusuke his decoy. The apprentices mistakenly interpret Mokusuke's casual words and gestures as "secret techniques," eventually leading to a major incident that shakes Kanazawa Castle. What is authenticity? What is a master? This is a hilarious and humorous historical novel that depicts societal preconceptions and human vanity with the irony and humor characteristic of Yamamoto Shūgorō. 📚Character List Mokusuke An old man from Ushikubo Village. Commonly known as "Mokusuke with the Round Eyes." From a young age, he was extremely lazy, saying "That's boring" no matter what he saw. He returns to the village after forty years and, for some reason, is made to act as a stand-in for the sword master Iizasa Chōisai. Yaichi An old man from Ushikubo Village. He knows Mokusuke from the past. He is small and shabby, but he is very energetic and talkative. He is the first to realize that Mokusuke has returned home. Iizasa Chōisai A sword master renowned throughout the land. He claims to have abandoned fame and fortune and retired to the mountains, but in reality, he still clings to his reputation. To escape from his apprentices, he makes Mokusuke his stand-in. Otome-sama The mistress of Kuromon. At Kuromon, the mistress has traditionally been called "Otome." She has inherited the dream of marrying a legendary young warrior and has a special interest in Mokusuke. Hyakusuke Mokusuke's father. He tries to correct his son's laziness, but Mokusuke's "crazy eyes" prevent him from being strict. He conveys a secret mission from Kuromon to Mokusuke. Koto Mokusuke's mother. After Mokusuke's departure, she falls ill and dies from guilt towards Kuromon. The Five Girls Young girls from Ushikubo Village. They take an interest in Mokusuke and come to help him, bringing food and laundry. They are cheerful and free-spirited, and liven up the atmosphere of the hermitage. Ichinoki Taro The first apprentice to come to Mokusuke. He is overweight and a little clumsy, but works well as a caretaker. Ninoki Jiro The second apprentice. He is serious and nervous. He is troubled by his daughters' unruly behavior, but he takes Mokusuke's story of "The Hen and the Daughter" as a secret technique and believes he has mastered it. Sanoki Saburo The third trainee. A strong man obsessed with sparring with the wooden sword. He fails to master it in the end and leaves cursing at the hanging wooden sword. Shinoki Shiro The fourth trainee. He is good at shoulder massages. He takes Mokusuke's sneeze as a secret technique and leaves in awe. Gonoki Goro The fifth trainee. He has a stutter and a habit of holding up one finger. When a tissue thrown by Mokusuke hits him in the face, he also takes this as a secret technique. Oi Ikuhei A retainer of the Maeda family. To save Kanazawa Castle from crisis, he comes to meet Mokusuke, believing him to be Iizasa Choisai. Iwami Shigetayu A great warrior who claims to be unrivaled in the world. A giant who challenges Mokusuke to a duel at Kanazawa Castle. Overwhelmed by Mokusuke's "crazy eyes," he faints and collapses. The Maeda Family The samurai of Kanazawa Castle. They believe Mokusuke to be a true master swordsman and haile him as a hero who saved the castle. 📚 Glossary Similar but not genuine Something that looks like the real thing at first glance, but is not the real thing. Meaning a fake or counterfeit. A word that represents the very theme of this work. Crazy Eyes In the story, it means something like "crazy eyes." A strange habit of Mokusuke's; when he is strongly surprised or frightened, both of his eyes move in different directions, astonishing his opponent. Hakusan Valley A deep mountain valley in the Hakusan area of ​​Kaga Province. The setting of the story. Symbolizing the secluded atmosphere of the mountain village and the simple world of its inhabitants. Tedori River A river flowing through Kaga. It is depicted impressively at the beginning of the story, in the scene where Mokusuke returns to his hometown. Ushikubo Village Mokusuke's hometown. A mountain village along the Tedori River. The villagers are diligent people who make a living through temporary farming, but Mokusuke alone grew up as a lazy person. Temporary Farming A form of farming in mountainous areas. It involves leaving the village from spring to autumn and farming while living in a mountain hut. Nagihata A form of farming similar to slash-and-burn agriculture, where fields are cleared from the mountain forest...