[From November Issue 2012]

Railroad Man (Directed by FURUHATA Yasuo)

This movie is based on a novella by ASADA Jiro that won the Naoki Prize. Its Japanese title is “Poppoya.” The word “poppoya” comes from the “sho shoo, poppo” noise made by steam locomotives. Employees working for the railroad, or “railroad men,” proudly called themselves “poppo-ya.” Released in 1999, the movie is about SATO Otomatsu who, nearing retirement, looks back on his life as a poppo-ya. Shortly before he retires something miraculous occurs.

Otomatsu is the stationmaster of Horomai, the terminus of the Horomai Line, a route that is about to be closed down. Once a flourishing coal mining town, the population of Horomai is now down to about 200 elderly people, and hardly anyone uses the Horomai Line. Despite this Otomatsu removes snow from the platform and carefully keeps a diary, never failing to carry out his duties.

One day, after the New Year’s holidays, SUGIURA, an old friend from the time Otomatsu was taking his apprenticeship in the locomotive business, visits. At Otomatsu’s home in the station house, they drink sake and reminisce about the good old days. Sugiura, who is the stationmaster of Biyoro City, is the same age as Otomatsu and is also nearing retirement. He suggests Otomatsu joins him in applying for a job at a resort hotel, but Otomatsu turns his offer down.

When, after 17 years of marriage, Otomatsu’s wife finally became pregnant with a daughter, Yukiko, she sadly died shortly after being born. Two years ago his wife also passed away. As the life of a poppo-ya is all he knows, Otomatsu believes that he isn’t fit for any other kind of work. Although he doesn’t regret that he always put work first, even though this meant he wasn’t around during these family deaths, he feels responsible and cannot leave the station house where he lived with his wife and daughter.

It gets late, Sugiura falls asleep and a young girl appears at the station building. She says she’s looking for a doll that her younger sister left behind in the station during the day. Otomatsu offers her a drink and together they have a pleasant conversation. The girl leaves, forgetting to take the doll along with her. Sugiura wakes up and hears Otomatsu’s story, then jokes that the girl was a snow fairy.

The next day, a girl wearing a high school uniform, who says she is the “oldest sister” appears at the station house. She is a railroad enthusiast and asks questions about the subject, so Otomatsu enjoys her company. After he receives a phone call, he discovers the true identity of the three sisters.

Though the station name is fictitious, Ikutora, a real station on the Nemuro Honsen Line in Hokkaido, was used as the location for the film and this station is still visited by movie fans. The central character is played by TAKAKURA Ken, an actor who used to star in Japanese gangster movies and later became known for his performances in “The Yellow Handkerchief” and Ridley SCOTT’s “Black Rain.”

[2012年11月号掲載記事]

鉄道員（監督：降旗 康男）

原作は、浅田次郎による直木賞受賞の同名短篇小説。「シュッシュッポッポッ」という蒸気機関車の走る音から、鉄道員が自分たちを「ぽっぽや」と誇りを持ってそう呼ぶ。1999年に公開されたこの作品は、ぽっぽやとしての人生を終わらせようとする１人の男、佐藤乙松のこれまでの人生を振り返る。そして定年間近の乙松に訪れるある奇跡が描かれる。

乙松は、廃止寸前のローカル線、幌舞線の終着駅である幌舞で駅長をしている。かつて炭坑の町として栄えたこの町も、わずか200人の高齢者ばかりが住む町になり、幌舞線の利用者も少ない。しかし、乙松はホームの雪かきをおこたらず、日誌も毎日ていねいに書き、業務をいい加減にはしない。

正月明けのある日、昔の蒸気機関士の見習いのころからの親友、杉浦が乙松を訪ねる。駅舎の中にある乙松の家で、酒を飲みながら昔話をする。都会の美寄駅の駅長で、やがて乙松と同じく定年を迎える杉浦は、自分と同じリゾートホテルへの再就職を持ちかけるが、乙松は首を横に振る。

結婚17年目でさずかった女の子、雪子は生後間もなく病死し、2年前には妻にも先立たれていた乙松は、ぽっぽや一筋で生きてきた自分には他の仕事は務まらないと思っている。ぽっぽやとしての職務を最優先させ、家族の死に目に会えなかったことに悔いはないが責任を感じており、妻や子と暮らした駅舎を離れられなかった。

夜も更け、杉浦が眠り込んでしまったころ、駅舎に少女が現れる。昼間、妹が駅に忘れていった人形を探しにきたという。飲み物を振る舞い、楽しく話をするが、その少女もまた、人形を忘れて去ってしまう。ちょうど目を覚ました杉浦は、乙松の話を聞くと、その少女は雪女ではないかと冗談交じりに言う。

翌日、彼女たちの「姉」を名乗る女子高生が制服姿で駅舎に現れる。鉄道ファンという少女から鉄道に関する質問を受け、乙松は楽しく過ごす。そこへ一本の電話が入り、3人姉妹だと思い込んでいた少女たちの正体がわかる。

舞台となった駅は架空のものだが、実際に撮影に使われた北海道にある根室本線の幾寅駅は今でも映画ファンが訪れるという。また、主役を演じた高倉健は、かつてヤクザ映画で脚光を浴び、その後「幸福の黄色いハンカチ」や、リドリー・スコット監督の「ブラックレイン」などへの出演でも知られる日本の代表的な俳優の１人。