Today (May 27th) is my mother’s birthday. Her real birthday is March 11th but back then in Japan it was not as strict in terms of documentation, it was in fact possible to choose a different birthday for the records. Her name is actually “Sajiko” but the Chinese characters are pronounced “Sachiko”. But my grandmother always used to call her “Saji san” (My grandfather died when I was three years old so I do not know what h sd to call her). My father on the other hand used to call her “Shime”. I asked him why but he did not respond. Many relatives also asked about it but my father never revealed his reasons. The only possible thought that comes to mind is that my mother’s maiden name was “Shimeno” and that it was derived from that. “Shimeno” family are not our blood relatives because my mother’s father (grandfather) was adopted by Shimeno family of Kochi as a child. This grandfather was the first son of a painter called Toraji Ishikawa and a woman named Shizu Takigawa from Tokyo. Sadly, Shizu passed away quite young and the painter was also very young at that time. Therefore his son, my grandfather, was given up for adoption. My mother’s mother (my grandmother, who raised me) is from a town called Ino in Kochi prefecture. When she was a child, she suffered a family tragedy but she did not know about it until later in life. When she was very young, her father had a fatal accident. Her mother married again. Her mother gave birth to my grandmother and a younger brother and also the man had children from a previous marriage. My grandmother did not know about this and she had a very good relationship with her parents and siblings. Sadly, her only blood-relative brother died during the Second World War. When she was quite young she gt married to my grandfater and gave birth to an only daughter, my mother. It could be said that to my mother’s knowledge she had few blood relatives .
Recently I heard from someone that someone is spreading rumours that I am not my mother’s real daughter. This is extremely vicious and unforgiveable. Should it ever be required, I can instantly show my birth certificate. Of course there are few relatives on my mother’s side and also my mother passed away in 2011 but it must not be allowed to spread lies about my family. The love and relationship between mother and child is something special and strong. I cherisch my mother and I lover her. I am also part of her existence.
Congratulations for your birthday, Mother, I will live strong also for you. I will fulfill your wishes.
今日、5月27日は私の母の誕生日です。しかし、本当の誕生日は3月11日なんだそうです。母が生まれた頃の日本では、子供の誕生日を正確に登録しなくても構わなかったようです。母の名前は「幸子」で、正式には「サヂコ」と読みます。しかし、誰もが「サチコ」と思っていました。母の母親（私を育ててくれた祖母）だけが、いつも母のことを「サヂさん」と呼んでいました（祖父は私が3歳の時亡くなったので、母のことをどう呼んでいたかは私の記憶に残っていません）。父は母のことを「シメ」と呼んでいました。どうしてなのかと誰が聞いても、父は答えてくれませんでした。多分、母の結婚前の苗字が「示野（シメノ）」だったからだろうと、私は思っています。しかしながら「示野家」と私たちに血のつながりはありません。なぜなら、母の父親（私の祖父）が子供の頃、示野家に養子として貰われたからです。この私の祖父の父親は、石川寅治という洋画家で、母親は瀧川靜という東京の人です。残念ながら瀧川靜はとても若くして亡くなりました。画家も非常に若かったので、長男である私の祖父を、高知の示野家に養子として貰ってもらった次第です。母の母親（私の祖母）は、高知県伊野市の生まれです。この私の祖母も、生家に悲しい歴史を持っています。私の祖母の実の父親は、祖母が小さかった頃、事故で亡くなったんだそうです。その後、祖母の母親は再婚しました。祖母には実の弟がひとりあり、祖母の母親が再婚した相手にも子供が数人いました。しかし、祖母は大きくなるまで、全くそんなことは知らず、大変幸せな子供時代を過ごしたそうです。年若くして、祖母は祖父と結婚し、一人っ子の私の母が生まれました。残念ながら、祖母のひとりだけの実の弟は、第2次世界大戦で戦死したので、母には血の繋がった親戚が、本人が知る限りではほとんどおりません。
最近、母と私は、実の母娘ではない、と言いふらしている人がいると聞きました。そのような根拠のない、心ないことを何故言うのでしょう。いくら私たちの親戚が少なく、母も2011年に亡くなったからといって、嘘をつくことは許されません。必要とあれば私の戸籍を見せましょう。母と子の繋がりは切っても切れません。母は私であり、私は母なのです。
お母さん、お誕生日おめでとう。私、お母さんのためにしっかり生きるからね！がんばるからね！お母さんの望みを、きっと私が叶えるからね！
Picture by Yuka Simeno, May 2020 in Vienna
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