　横綱の髷を根本で縛る元結（もとゆい）は、楮（こうぞ）でつくる和紙である。横綱の元結は歌舞伎の『人情噺文七元結（にんじょうばなし　ぶんしちもっとい）』の、あの元結。歌舞伎の元結は「もっとい」と読む（言う）。ついでに述べれば、「文七元結」はそれが一つの名詞である。文七という名の男が考案したとか、諸説あるようだが、楮和紙の紙縒（こより）をフノリと胡粉をまぜて糊として塗り固め、乾かして更に糊を塗ってつくった丈夫な紙紐である。
　私は以前、やはりこのブログで楮和紙生産の後継者不足で和紙の製造が危うくなっていることを書いた。まさにそのことが、横綱の大銀杏の元結に及んでいるようだ。

　さて、冒頭に述べた「不意に思い出したこと」とは，・・・

　昔、ニューヨークの自然史博物館を訪ねたとき、民族関係の展示室の日本コーナーで「おい、おい、何じゃこれは！」と驚き呆れたのだ。
　鎧を着た小さな埴輪が展示されていた。その鎧たるや平安時代後期の大鎧なのだ。おそらく外国人観光客目当ての土産物の埴輪であろう。どうせまがい物でも、時代考証が正しければ、美術品展示ではないのだから参考品として、私は笑って済ませてもよかった。しかし、もうひとつ「いやな感じ」の展示物があったのだ。日本女性のマネキン人形が結っている日本髪の形がめちゃくちゃなのだ。島田髷のつもりか丸髷のつもりかは知らぬ。鬢付け油で整えるでもないまるで小母さんゴリラのような不格好な髪型である。
　私は「いやはや呆れた」と思いながら、近くに居た展示室の職員をつかまえて2点の展示品の誤りを指摘し、注意した。その職員は当惑して（そりゃ、そうだろうな）、館長に言ってくれと言った。

　私は、帰国したら館長に手紙を書こうと思ったのだが、いつのまにか忘れてしまった。
　展示品の誤りに気がついた私が博物館に手紙を書くのを忘れてしまったのだから、他人のことは言えない。しかし、在ニューヨークの日本文化センターはいったい何をやっているのだろうかと思ったものだ。文化交流だとか日本文化紹介だとか言うけれども、アメリカが誇る博物館における自国の展示物にはまったく目が向いていないのではあるまいか。たといお土産のイミテーション埴輪であっても正しい時代考証の物を一つ寄贈することなど何でもなかろうに。あるいは、国会議員や地方議会議員たちが海外視察と称して税金を使って物見遊山気分で渡航していることを思えば、日本から伝統的日本髪を結える髪結いさんを一人招聘する費用など、何程のことでもなかろうに。・・・毎日何千人あるいは何万人と海外から観客が訪れている博物館だ。ハリウッド映画に登場する出っ歯で眼鏡のちんちくりんな日本人像は、形を変えて博物館のなかにもあった。
　「日本文化紹介」は口先ばかりではなるまい。

Yesterday, I wrote in this blog diary that the skill of
Japanese traditional architects seems to will be regis-
tered as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. While
writing, and also when I read the Asahi Shimbun re-
porting on the lack of successors to the traditional
technologist involved in the work of tying the sumo
Yokozuna's Ōichō (the hair style of the shape like
big ginkgo) with a motoyui , so I was bring to mind
a certain thing.

Motoyui , which ties the Yokozuna's maghé (a top-
knot) at the root, is using Japanese paper made from
kōzo (a kind of mulberry). The Yokozuna's motoyui is
same of mottoi that of Kabuki's "Ninjō-banashi
Bunshichi-mottoi" . In the Kabuki, motoyui is read (said)
mottoi .

By the way, "bunshichi-mottoi" is one noun. It seems
that there are various theories about name's origin, for
instance, a man named Bunshichi devised it, etc, but it
is a durable paper string that kozo paper which is twist-
ed with applying glue of the mixing of the funori (a
paste made from seaweeds) and the gofun (whitewash
made from oystershells).

I wrote formerly on this blog that the production of
Japanese paper is in jeopardy due to the lack of succes-
sors to the production of Japanese paper.
That is exactly what seems to be extending to the
motoyui of Yokozuna's Ōichō .

By the way, the "thing I suddenly remembered" men-
tioned at the beginning is ...

A long time ago, when I visited the Natural History
Museum in New York, I was surprised and disgusted
at the Japanese corner of the ethnic relations exhib-
ition room, saying, "Oh no, what's this!"

A small haniwa wearing armor was on display. It is
the large armor of the late Heian period. Probably a
souvenir haniwa for foreign tourists. Even if it's a
fake one, if the historical evidence is correct, it's not
an art exhibition, so I could have laughed as a refer-
ence material. However, there was another "un-
pleasant" exhibit. The shape of the Japanese hair of
a Japanese female mannequin doll is messed up. I
don't know if it's Shimada-magé style or Maru-magé
style. It has an awkward hairstyle like a gorilla lady
without bintsuke-abura (paste oil with aromatic).

While thinking "No, it's bad. I was surprised", I
caught the staff of the exhibition room nearby and
pointed out the mistakes of the two exhibits and
cautioned. The staff was perplexedly and told the
director that he should say it (yes, of couse that's
right).

I thought I would write a letter to the director
when I returned to Japan.

Although I noticed the mistake of the exhibits,
but I forgot to write a letter, so I can't say anything
about others.
However, I wondered what the Japanese Cultural
Center in New York was doing. It's said that it's a
cultural exchange or an introduction to Japanese
culture, but I think it's not at all looking at the
exhibits in own country's room at the museum that
USA is proud of. Even if it's a imitation haniwa , if it
is provided the correct historical evidence, they
might be able donate it without any ploblem. Or,
considering that parliamentarians and local coun-
cilors are traveling abroad using taxes in the mood
of a sightseeing tour, what is the cost of inviting
one hairdresser who can tie traditional Japanese
hair from Japan? It should be not so much cost.
... It is a museum that is visited by thousands or
tens of thousands of spectators from overseas
every day.
The tiny Japanese image with protruding teeth
and wearing glasses that appeared in Hollywood
movies changed its shape and was also in the
museum.

"Introduction to Japanese culture" is not just
about words.

Tadami Yamada

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