何気なくTVをつけたら先日のオマーン戦の再放送。むこーの客席のあの独特の音楽ですが、あーゆーものを聞くと、中近東市場担当の頃のもろもろが思い出される。
・・・ということで、先日の続きで自分に取ってはなつかしのイスラム教文化圏体験記をゆるゆる書いてみますかなっと。
中東というと日本には今ひとつ縁遠く、あまり芳しからぬ話ばかり・・・まー、普通の人はどこの国でも普通に話せる連中だよってなところが伝わればそれでいいなというつもりであります。軽〜くならない時もあるかも知れないけれど、ま、軽いつもりで！
先日同様のイエメンだったかな。。。多分、そうだと思いますが、窓の向こうの日の出のお祈りの大音量で目が覚めて、ホテルの外に出て近所のモスクを遠目に眺めたり。。。あんまり近づいて見てもなんだか失礼だしね。それで部屋に戻る途中だったか行く時だったか、、、、
I was in Yemen, at a hotel perhaps in Aden. It was very early in the morning. The loud reding of Qur'an from speakers outside woke me up around 5 o'clock. I went out and found a mosque near from my hotel.
On the going or returning way, "Mornin'!" I lightly and bit slowly bowed to an old passenger dressed in Islamic fashion in the same lift. Why did I bow? Because I'm Japanese. So, I bow for greetings. Quickly repeating right angle vowing which we often see in the Hollywood movies is not the manner. If you have met Japanese bowing in such a style, it means that you have met a bad-mannered. That's all.*1
Then, the old man replied. "Morning, morning, young man, morning" looking at me very curiously through his thick glasses, and asked me little shaking his morning paper,"Where do you come from?"
"My home country?,,,,,Where do you think?"
"O,,,,,Chinese"
"No."
"Korean"
"Never. Guess, please. Where do I come from?"
"Laos"
"Wwwhat?"
"Viet Nam"
"No"
"O, I see! Thailand!!"
"Nooooooo. I give you a hint."
"Kindly!"
"Islands!"
"Malaysia"
"NO!"
"Philippiiiiiines!"
"No."
"Singapore!"
"No. More northern, please."
"mmm,,,,,Russia!!"
"Too northern!!"
I was wondering he knew much about Asean countries or not. I gave up this game.
"I'm from Japan! Haven't you ever heard about my country?"
"Ooooooooooo! oooooo,,,,,,welcome, welcome! I know Japan. You are Japanese. Yes, yes.", he gave me a hand for shake and made another question, "So, you are samurai!"
I suppose he is still believing I am Samurai and my father is Ninja....
世界にまだ数名、まだ東京にはビルがなく、地方に行くと髷に刀を差して居ると信じている人が居たりして・・・
*1:I remember an Indian friend told me how he was interested in Japanese way of life shown in the movies such as Sayuri or The Last Samurai. "Better to see some good old Japanese movies, I believe." "Why?" "How do you think, if I say that,,,,Dear my friend! I learned about and come to like Indian culture and history through great Hollywood movies!!!" "ha-ha!!" "Now, you understand." "They may say it is introductory, but,,,,, bloody nonsense!"
