The Golden Country

by Shusaku Endo

GENNOSUKE: You'll certainly be able to see him tomorrow. No need to worry about him. Instead, there's a favor I'd like to ask of you.

  YUKI: A favor of me?

  GENNOSUKE: Yes. In a moment they will bring out the fumi-e to step on.

  YUKI: That's what I've been expecting. The torture.

  GENNOSUKE: I beg of you, when the time comes, please value your life above everything.

  YUKI: Above everything?

  GENNOSUKE: Just today, close your eyes and step on the fumi-e. It's not in objects such as this that your faith lies. Your faith is in your heart. This carved plaque made by some nameless craftsman in Nagasaki isn't really the face of the one in whom you believe. Even if you step on it, you won't soil your soul.

  In the meantime Hirata has entered and is listening to their conversation from a corner of the room

  YUKI: But all the same ...

  GENNOSUKE: But all the same, what?

  YUKI: But all the same, it's frightening ... to step on a face that resembles that precious face.

  GENNOSUKE: Resembles? Perhaps. But nothing more. Besides, I'm sure that even a Christian would never be punished for stepping on such a thing.

  YUKI: It's not a question of punishment. But I feel I'd be defiling the one in whom I believe with all my heart.

  GENNOSUKE: But if by stepping on this fumi-e you can continue secretly to practice your faith for a longer time, I'm sure your God would also rejoice. Isn't that true?

  YUKI: If anyone else were speaking these words, I'd refuse to listen. But when you speak in this way, I don't know what to do.

  GENNOSUKE: I don't know either. But I want to do whatever I can, Yuki.

  YUKI: But to step on the fumi-e is to betray Father Ferreira and the other Christians. I can't do that.

  GENNOSUKE: I forget all my embarrassment and make this plea to you. For a long time I've been in love with you. I never thought that I'd be in the position to force you to step on the dread fumi-e. Please step on it. Step on it and live, for my sake.

  YUKI: What shall I do? I'm just an ignorant girl. In my head everything is all mixed up. Your words and the practice of my faith. Please don't say anything more.

  GENNOSUKE: What is important is not form but spirit. Please consider if it isn't possible to continue to practice your faith secretly, even though you step on the fumi-e.

  HIRATA: Gennosuke, is everything ready? Did you bring out the fumi-e? Oh, Yuki. Thank you for coming all the way to our bureau. You may be sure that no harm will come to you. No harm.

  He laughs.

  HIRATA: Bring in the farmers.

  Kasuke, Mokichi, Hisaichi, other farmers, both men and women, enter.

  HIRATA: Are you all set? Christianity has been severely forbidden in Japan. The edict forbidding it has been made known to all, and samurai as well as farmers are bound to its observation. You have violated this edict, not only by concealing a priest but also by continuing to follow the false religion. Formerly we should have executed you on the spot. But because of our kind regard toward you, we will give you a chance to make a new start. Those who step on this fumi-e will be released at once. But those who continue to disobey the edict will find that the bureau will not mollycoddle them.

  Hirata takes the roll of names from the official and reads:

  HIRATA: Kyosaku, farmer of Korimura.

  Kyosaku steps forward, hesitates, then drops his head, unable to step on the fumi-e.

  HIRATA: What's the matter? Why don't you step on it?

  He hits him fiercely with his stick.

  HIRATA: Next, Hisaichi.

  Hisaichi stands before the fumi-e and shakes his head; he too is fiercely hit.

  HIRATA: Next, Kasuke. Oh, it's you.

  He laughs.

  HIRATA: The man who has already betrayed his fellows. It's not hard for you to decide to step on it.

  Kasuke hesitates, and as he is about to escape, is hit by Hirata.

  HIRATA: All right. Do you want to be sent to the pit with Ferreira and Tomonaga? Your God can't be of any help now, can he?

  Kasuke, his head in his hands, steps on the fumi-e.

  HIRATA: Fine. This is the first man of good sense I've met here.

  To the guard

  HIRATA: Let this man out of the gate.

  KASUKE: You're letting me go? You're letting me go? ... In this world there are the strong and the weak. The strong, when something like this comes along, are able to take it and go to Paradise. The weak step on the fumi-e as I did.

  With these cries, he is led by the guard out of the room. Even after he has gone there can be heard offstage his voice crying:

  KASUKE: Are you really letting me go? Are you really letting me go?

  HIRATA: Noro ... Noro ... Norosaku.

  NOROSAKU (in a loud voice): That's me.

  HIRATA: What about you? Will you step on it or won't you?

  NOROSAKU (in a loud voice): What?

  HIRATA: Step on it.

  NOROSAKU: On what?

  HIRATA: On the face in this fumi-e.

  NOROSAKU: Face?

  He points to his own face.

  NOROSAKU: I can't step on my face. My feet won't reach that far.

  HIRATA: Not your face. The face in the fumi-e.

  NOROSAKU: What's a fumi-e?

  HIRATA: Is he an idiot? Take him over there. Norosaku is led out.

  HIRATA (reading from the list): Next, Ichimatsu. No, wait. Next, Tomonaga's daughter. Yuki, excuse me, but will you please come over here. Don't take this amiss. It's as I told you before. This is only a matter of form. Show that you have as much sense as this last farmer.

  GENNOSUKE: Hirata ...

  HIRATA: What is it?

  GENNOSUKE: Please spare her this humiliation. She's the daughter of Lord Tomonaga, the daughter of a samurai. And you'd have her place her foot where the farmers have placed theirs?

  HIRATA (laughing): That's a strange objection! A Christian is a Christian-and a criminal. Whether he be a farmer or the daughter of a samurai. From our point of view there is no distinction in rank. Besides, the Christian teaching too recognizes that all men are equal. Even if there are distinctions in social position, there are no distinctions of soul. Isn't that true, Yuki? Go ahead and step on it.

  Gennosuke shrinks back. Hirata roughly takes Yuki's hand.

  GENNOSUKE (his hand on his sword): Hirata, if you treat her rudely ...

  HIRATA: You'll slash me, will you? I overheard you a few minutes ago, you know. I heard the advice you gave her. Mad with love, have you become the Christians' accomplice?

  To the guards.

  HIRATA: Seize him. This man too is a Christian.

  The guards hesitate and then press in on Gennosuke. Inoue enters with an official.

  INOUE: What's going on here? What's all the fuss?

  HIRATA: I'm sorry to say that as I was having the farmers of Korimura step on the fumi-e, Gennosuke tried to interfere.

  INOUE: Hirata, you've been at the bureau for a good number of years. You should know better than to stage an ugly fight between bureau officials in front of the farmers. Gennosuke's not the only one who's lost his head. Where's your common sense? We'll continue with the fumi-e tomorrow. Those who didn't step on it today may think better of it tomorrow. In fact, to make them think better of it is the job of the bureau. But your bullying is of no help, Hirata. Lead them away.

  The farmers and Yuki are led away by the officials.

  INOUE: Hirata, bring Father Ferreira up from the pit.

  The lights fade. After a few moments a spotlight centers on the three men, Ferreira, Inoue, and Hirata.

  INOUE: I'm afraid you've had quite a rough time in the pit. It must have been most painful. Hirata, put some medicine on Father's wounds.

  Hirata does so.

  INOUE: Father Ferreira, why do you continue to endure such pain? For what purpose do you keep suffering like this? Many years ago you came to Japan from the distant southern countries, crossing the wide seas and braving many danger
s. You've been in Japan for twenty years. You've buried yourself in this land without ever returning to your home country. Haven't you done enough? When you've gone this far, is there any need to go further?

  Ferreira is silent.

  INOUE: Why do you suffer like this? What meaning is there in all this suffering? Or, let me put the question in another way: what meaning is there to this kind of life? Do you do this for God? But, Father Ferreira, what if this God in whom you believe is nothing more than an illusion? Then what do you do? Does God really exist? Is he perhaps nonexistent? If, of course, he does exist, then there is some meaning after all in all this suffering and in this way of life.

  Changing his tone of voice.

  INOUE: But if he doesn't exist, then hasn't all your suffering, hasn't all your life so far been a kind of madness? If this thing you call God does not really exist.... Why do you remain silent, Father Ferreira? Can't you hear what I'm saying to you? Your life till now stands or falls on that one fact: the existence or nonexistence of God. If he exists, then all your suffering and hardships to this day will have a meaning. But if he doesn't exist, then everything you've done has as little value as a speck of dust.

  Changes tone of voice.

  INOUE: There is no God! Isn't that true? There is no such thing as a God! You too, like Tomonaga, will discover this just before you take your last breath in the pit. You'll finally understand that there is no God, that your whole life has been valueless, totally wasted. Hirata, take him back. Hang him upside down in the pit once more. Hanging upside down, Father, you can mull over God's existence at leisure.

  The light dims and then once again centers on the three.

  INOUE: Dawn. The sky is growing light. Father Ferreira, this has been a long hard night for you. Did you come to any conclusions, about what we were discussing? If God doesn't exist, then this long torture has all been wasted, without value. But if God really does exist, then why does he permit us to do as we do? With these hands I have seized many Christians, made them give up their faith; and those that refused, I tortured and condemned to the pit. But in all this time God has never taken the power out of my hands. If God exists, then why doesn't he come to the help of his people? Why doesn't he raise the winds and wield the thunder and save the lives of his Christians and of you? There is no God, there is no God, there is no God! He's lost consciousness. Hirata, is there water at hand? Sprinkle a little on him. Don't give it to him to drink. If he drinks it, he'll die. Father Ferreira, have you found an answer yet? To what purpose would you continue your work in Japan any longer? To what purpose would you further endanger the lives of the Japanese? Don't think that I consider the teachings of Christ evil. I know that like the teachings of the Chinese sages, there is in them much that should be attended to. But there are two reasons why I reject Christianity: the first is that you people are too persistent in forcing your dreams upon us. Yes, far too persistent. Consider this well, Father. Were you to remain longer in the country, the ones to suffer would be the poor farmers. They are puzzled and don't know whether they should follow you or us. When you'll have gone away, they'll do as we tell them, without anxiety. But there's still another reason: that this country, no matter what lofty dreams you may have for her, is a country that will never take to Christianity. I know Japan and the Japanese better than you. There are some things that the Japanese can never achieve familiarity with, among them the Christian teachings.

  HIRATA: He's saying something.

  INOUE: What are you trying to say?

  HIRATA (placing his ear to Ferreira's mouth): I can't make it out.

  FERREIRA: Christ returned from the Jordan and was led out to the desert where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. During that time he had nothing to eat.

  HIRATA: He's lost consciousness again.

  The spotlight shifts to another room in the prison

  GENNOSUKE: Yuki, Yuki.

  Yuki rises and goes to the prison bars.

  YUKI: Gennosuke, it's dangerous for you to be here. If you should be seen by a guard....

  GENNOSUKE: The guard has just gone back to the guardroom. Besides, my good friend, Shinshiro, is on watch. It'll be all right for a while.

  YUKI: Gennosuke, please stop troubling yourself about me. I don't want the same thing to happen again tomorrow.

  GENNOSUKE: Don't worry about me. But here.

  He hands her something.

  YUKI: What's this?

  GENNOSUKE: Nothing much . . .just a covering from my mother and some food.

  YUKI: I wish you'd give the food to my father. Is he here in the same prison?

  GENNOSUKE (hesitating): Your father is well.

  YUKI: Does he know that I am here?

  GENNOSUKE: No. They haven't told him yet. They didn't want to give him further grief.

  YUKI: That's right. Please don't tell him I'm here.

  GENNOSUKE: I won't.

  YUKI: If he should ask about me, please tell him that I'm at home waiting each day for his return.

  GENNOSUKE: Yes. Oh, why must someone like you suffer in this way? Why doesn't your God help you?

  YUKI: While father is suffering, it's a pleasure for me to be able to suffer with him. While the farmers are suffering, it's a pleasure for me to suffer with them.

  GENNOSUKE: Ah, if only I were a Christian .. .

  YUKI: What are you saying?

  GENNOSUKE: I said: if only I were a Christian.

  YUKI: Why do you say such things?

  GENNOSUKE: If I were a Christian, they'd have thrown me into this prison with you. I'd now be experiencing the same anguish as you. If I didn't have to take care of my mother, I'd have tried to save you.

  YUKI: Be careful. Someone's coming.

  Hirata passes by with an official

  OFFICIAL (looking into the room): Everything's all right, Hirata-dono.

  HIRATA: Sleep well, Yuki. Tomorrow there'll be the fumi-e again. The farmers had better think it over carefully. It'll be for their own good.

  Hirata and the official pass on.

  GENNOSUKE: Yuki?

  YUKI: Yes.

  GENNOSUKE: I'm sure you won't listen to me, but do as Hirata says. Tomorrow they'll bring out the fumi-e again. Please step on it. Please continue to live. To live is a wonderful thing.

  YUKI: Your words make me very happy. But from childhood I've been taught that the real life is not in this world but in Paradise. From Childhood this idea has steeped my heart like water. I don't know of any other way to act.

  GENNOSUKE: If only you decide to go on living, there's nothing I won't do for you.

  YUKI: If I weren't a Christian, I'd have wanted to live with you. Even if we'd had to live in a poor shack, I wouldn't have minded the hardship, if only I could have shared it with you. But that was only a dream that didn't come true. There's nothing more I can do about it. Please accept this crucifix.

  She takes it from her neck and hands it to him

  YUKI: Now please go. If you should be caught by the guard ...

  CURTAIN

  * * *

  ACT THREE SCENE THREE

  * * *

  The following day. The Bureau of Investigation. Inoue is sitting on the mat. In the garden Hirata, Gennosuke, a guard, Yuki, and the farmers.

  HIRATA: Now that Inoue-dono is here, the ceremony of the fumi-e will begin. Yuki. You are first.

  INOUE: Wait, Hirata. First, call Father Ferreira.

  HIRATA: Father Ferreira?

  INOUE: Yes, I have an idea.

  One of the guards leaves the room.

  HIRATA: Take a good look. Your Father Ferreira will be here in a minute. You'd better display your strength of faith to him.

  The guard returns, leading the staggering priest. The farmers, seeing him, begin to talk among themselves.

  HIRATA: Here's your priest. For two days and two nights, like Tomonaga, he's hung in the pit, twisting his body and crying to his God for help. But this God didn't lift a single finger to help him. Not a single finger
. That's the way this God acts toward you. It's up to you to step on the fumi-e or not. But if you refuse and are hung in the pit and like Ferreira you cry out to your God, you may be sure that he will not say a word, as if he were deaf and dumb. He'll pretend not to hear your cry.

  INOUE: Father Ferreira, I'm not giving you bad advice. If you but say the word, I'll send all these farmers back to their village immediately. I won't make them step on the fumi-e. If the sum of Christian teaching is charity, Father Ferreira, then won't you display this charity toward these poor farmers? They are pitiful creatures who've had a very hard life. Father Ferreira, show them your love.

  Ferreira is silent.

  INOUE (gently): It must be hard for you to say that you give up your religion. To you who have come so far to spread the teaching of Christ in Japan, these words must stick in your throat. But please listen carefully to what I am saying. If you are a true Christian, you will understand that to sacrifice yourself to save the lives of these Christians is also according to the way of God. Isn't that so, Father Ferreira?

  FERREIRA: My friends, who was it that promised that if I came here, Lord Tomonaga's life would be spared and that you wouldn't have to step on the fumi-e? And if I should now for your sake say that I give up my religion, would the bureau really keep its promise? I can't believe it.

  INOUE (sighing): It can't be helped, Hirata.

  HIRATA: Yuki, come here.

  Yuki comes and stands in front of the fumi-e, her eyes downcast.

  HIRATA: Yuki, don't expect to be looked after like a child. Don't make me get nasty with you.

  She stands there, her head hung low.

  HIRATA: Do you want the same thing to happen to you as happened to your father?