나가이 다카시 원작 『나가사키의 종』과 동명의 가요･영화, 부록 「마닐라의 비극」과 그 서사성

Abstract

In this paper, Takashi Nagai’s essay “The Bell of Nagasaki”, which is recognized as a decisive factor in the image formation of ‘Praying Nagasaki’, and the narrative is analyzed focusing on the image of Nagai and his work. In addition, the essay "The Bell of Nagasaki" was allowed to be published on the premise that it was combined with the “Tragedy of Manila”, a collection of testimonies about the mass destruction committed by the Japanese military in the Philippines during World War II. In this paper, the narrative of the “Tragedy of Manila” was also considered.　The essay “The Bell of Nagasaki” centers on the relief situation, symptoms of atomic bomb, treatment, and the narrative of the possibility of nuclear power, and there are only a few parts that mention that the dropping of the atomic bomb on Urakami is God’s providence. However, in popular media such as music and movies, a Catholic Nagai and God's providence theory were found to be greatly highlighted. This may have been a strategic description to pass the censorship because the description of the atomic bomb was limited due to GHQ censorship at the time. In “Tragedy of Manila,” there is a description that justifies the U.S. atomic bombing while accusing Japan of atrocities. In addition, most of the testifiers are Christian priests or believers, which have the function of evoking the Christian image and divine providence theory in “The Bell of Nagasaki”. In other words, it can be said that Takashi Nagai’s image of a Catholic who spoke of God’s providence expanded with the intention of the United States and the strategy of Japanese popular media at the time.