ある表現作品を最終的には目指している「家系史探究」。
　人間が文章などで表現を目指す大きな「心理要因」は、基本的に人間への尽きせぬ興味の探究ということだと思います。いろいろな「生き様・死に様」の多様性・輻輳ぶりから伝わってくる「残響」。文学者・作家たちの告白を読み聞いても、そういう動機・思いが強いと感じる。
　ビジネスの世界から徐々にこういう「表現」の世界に導かれてくると、結局人間のやってきたことへの探究心が最大の起動要素だと深く思い至るのですね。そういう意味で一般人としていちばん「わかりやすい」のは、自分のDNAに直接関わる先人の足跡。
　で、こういった足跡探査のもっとも１次資料は「戸籍簿」の類い。
　いくつもある戸籍謄本とにらめっこする時間が増えてくる。まぁデジタル画像化することで整理整頓は比較的ラクにはなってくるけれど、ときどき「意味内容」で立ち止まる瞬間もある。上の戸籍の「一部」からの造作写真は、ある先人の「隠居届出」の表記部分。現代で「隠居」という人生局面表記があるのかどうか、それが公的機関で「認証」され登録されることがらなのか？、と立ち止まらされた次第。
　この遠縁の家系の人物は、自分の人生に「ひと区切り」付けたいと考えて役所に届け出たのでしょう。家制度上からの「責任感」を終えたい心理かと。自分事として考えると現代人は健康面のことも含め、もうちょっと「前向き」で、死に臨んでも前のめりで倒れたい、みたいな心理が大きいと思う。生涯現役感。そういう思いの落差に気付かされる。この人物の事跡をあれこれ知るほどに、重層的な気分がしてくる。
　一方、血縁者が送ってくれた情報写真で遠縁の墓域情報も寄せられた。実は墓の墓碑銘までも送っていただけて、その碑文写真を最新の「画像解析」で分析し、120-30年前の肉親・血縁の女性の「生々しい叫び声」のようなものと突然めぐり会えてしまった・・・。
　あまりの「邂逅」感で、ちょっとこころが揺り動かされていた。彼女はどのような人生を、どのような地域空間で生き抜き、そして眠っていったのかが残響して来たのです。大きく時代は移り変わってきたけれど、少なくとも「場所・空間」は追体験できる余地がある。
　月末にこの地を探訪予定ですが、前奏曲のようなものとして波動してきた・・・。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[“Brain Training” in Old Age? (lol) Deciphering Tombstone Inscriptions & Family Registers]
I wonder if modern people even have the concept of “retirement”? I gain insight into the sense of responsibility tied to the family system through family registers. Furthermore, the “thoughts” of our ancestors seem to radiate from their tombstone inscriptions…

　“Exploring Family History” is ultimately the goal of a certain creative work.
I believe the major “psychological factor” that drives people to express themselves through writing and other means is, fundamentally, the pursuit of an insatiable curiosity about humanity. It’s the “echo” that resonates from the diversity and complexity of the various ways people live and die. Even when reading the confessions of literary figures and writers, I sense that this motivation and sentiment run deep.
　As I’ve gradually been drawn from the business world into this realm of “expression,” I’ve come to deeply realize that, ultimately, the curiosity to explore what humans have done is the greatest driving force. In that sense, the most “accessible” subject for the average person is the footprints of our ancestors, which are directly linked to our own DNA.
　And the most primary source material for this kind of footprint exploration is the “family register” and similar documents.
　I find myself spending more and more time poring over the numerous copies of family registers. Well, digitizing them does make organizing them relatively easier, but there are moments when I pause to reflect on their “meaning.” The photo above, taken from a “portion” of a family register, shows the section where an ancestor filed a “notification of retirement.” I found myself pausing to wonder: Is there even such a life stage designation as “retirement” in modern times? And is this something that gets “certified” and registered by a public agency?
　This distant relative probably filed a notification with the local government because he wanted to draw a “line” under his life. I suspect it stemmed from a desire to put an end to the “sense of responsibility” imposed by the traditional family system. When I think about it from my own perspective, I believe modern people—including when it comes to health—tend to be a bit more “forward-looking”; there’s a strong mindset of wanting to fall forward, even in the face of death. A sense of staying active throughout one’s life. I’m struck by the contrast between these two mindsets. The more I learn about this person’s life, the more complex my feelings become.
Meanwhile, a relative sent me some photos along with information about the grave site of this distant relative. In fact, they even sent me a photo of the tombstone’s inscription. When I analyzed that image using the latest “image analysis” technology, I suddenly came face-to-face with what felt like the “vivid cry” of a female relative who had lived 120 to 30 years ago…
　The sheer sense of this “encounter” shook me to the core. The echoes of what kind of life she lived, in what kind of geographical space, and how she eventually passed away continued to resonate within me. Although the times have changed dramatically, there is at least room to relive the “place and space” she inhabited.
　I plan to visit this area at the end of the month, but this experience has been rippling through me like a prelude…

● Announcement
My book, *Writers and Living Spaces*, has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 8月 17th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類