귀환서사에 나타나는 냉전 표상

The Representation of the Cold War in the “Hikiage” Epic Novel

本稿では五木寛之の引揚体験を素材にした小説を対象に、引揚敍事に現れるソ連認識と、それと関連された冷戦表象について考察した。まず、引揚者らのソ連に対する表象と認識がどうなのか、北朝鮮から引揚した作家の実体験を考察した。次に小説に現れたソ連表象の特徴を分析した。ソ連表象は、戦後冷戦体制下で親米的な日本のソ連認識ともつながっていた。三番目に引揚敍事に現れる被害者意識と加害者意識の衝突は、植民地経験の亀裂をもたらしていた。結論的に、五木の小説は敗戦と引揚の記憶を再生する過程で、戦後の日本人たちのソ連と植民地経験の認識に亀裂を作って、ひいては冷戦表象にも亀裂を作り出している。ただし、彼はエンターテインメント的な要素を強調することで、引揚という重いテーマを軽く扱うとした。このような面が、大衆的情緒とは合致するが、日本という国家の公的責任に対する責任を弱化させて、極限状況で私的なリンチに翻弄される‘個人’を強調する側面を著しくした側面もあるといえよう。

In this article, we examine the novel featuring “Hikiage” written by Hiroyuki Itsuki, exploring the recognition of the Soviet Union depicted in the “Hikiage” epic novel and the related representation of the Cold War. Firstly, we analyze the author’s own experience of “Hikiage” from North Korea in order to clarify the recognition of those who were subject to “Hikiage.” Secondly, we survey the characteristics of the representation of the Soviet Union in the novel. The Soviet Union at the time of “Hikiage” is negatively represented. This negative representation is related to the representation of the Soviet Union by Japan, which was, at the time, sympathetic for the US under the system of the Cold War. Thirdly, the collision between the sense of victim and the sense of perpetrator as portrayed in the novel brings about a crack in the experience of living in a colony. In conclusion, Itsuki’s novel reproduces the memory of defeat and “Hikiage,” and during this reproduction process, a crack is engendered in the recognition of the Soviet Union and the experience of living in a colony by the post war Japanese people, which, in turn, yields a crack in the representation of the Cold War. It must be noted, however, that Itsuki attempted to lightly handle the serious theme of “Hikiage” by emphasizing the entertaining aspect of the issue. This corresponded with the public feeling, but it also weakened the public responsibility of the Japan nation and emphasized the “individuals” who suffered from private tortures under extreme conditions.