スクリプトは事前提出されたものですので、ビデオの音声とは異なる場合があります。

---

The Gift from Oda Nobunaga

National Institute of Technology, Gifu College

A: Hello everyone. We are from Gifu National College of Technology. As you can see on the screen, Gifu is famous for lots of local specialties, such as Ukai, which is a twelve-hundred-year-old traditional fishing, Shirakawago, that is designated as a world heritage, and so on.

B: Hey, don't forget there was a very important person in Gifu about four hundred fifty years ago. He was the person who named this town Gifu.

A: Of course. Do you know he is still in Gifu?

B: Really? Where is he?

A: Look. He is standing in front of the JR Gifu station.

B: Oh my Lord! My dear Oda Nobunaga! This shiny gold statue shows how important he was for Gifu, doesn't it?

A: Of course. Not only for the people in Gifu, but all of us living in Japan have been affected by what he did.

B: Really? Will you tell us about that?

A: Sure. First of all, let me introduce his history. He was ...

C: Wait a minute! Why don't you let me talk about myself?

B: A.., are you Mr. Oda Nobunaga?

C: Yes. I came here from the underworld to tell you precisely what I did.

B: P.., please…

C: I was originally born in Owari, and grew up to conquer Mino in the battles with Saito clan, which was the family of Mino's former masters.
I tried to bring the whole country under my rule. I had a clear vision what this country should be. So I tried to change the system of ruling the country.

A: Yes. We learned at school one of the famous things you did, which was called Rakuichi-rakuza.

B: I know that, too. Rakuichi-rakuza is the policy to build a free open market for the citizens, isn't it?

A: That's right. In other words, he eliminated the privileged commerce and industry that governed the exclusive marketing rights or tax-exemptions.

B: I think it was an excellent policy. He gave business opportunities to the citizens in order to benefit society as a whole.

C: Hmm. I guess you are quite aware of my policy. Good...

B: I admit he was an excellent ruler. But on the other hand, he was also very cruel. I learned that he destroyed a Buddhist temple called Hieizan-Enryakuji and killed many innocent people, including Buddhist priests and even women and children.

A: Right. I have no idea what he wanted to do. It sounds like he didn't have a consistent policy...

B: He must be crazy…

A: I think so too...

C: HOLD ON, guys! Do you really think these two have nothing to do with each other?

B: What are you talking about, sir? I don't think temples and economics have anything in common.

C: Hmm. I believe it is difficult to understand for people living in the present age.

B: What do you mean?

C: Just as you said, the people who drove up prices held the monopoly. That's why I set the system of Rakuichi-rakuza. But who do you think they were?

B: Who?

C: They WERE the temples and shrines.

A: In the early sixteenth century, nobody could sell the manufactured products like paper, soy sauce or oil without permission from temples.

B: Why?

A: Because those manufacturing technology were brought in by the monks who had been to China or Korea. You could say it is now called 'patent'.

C: Yes. They had the monopoly in the markets and the price went up and up. Rakuichi Rakuza brought them to an end.

B: I got it. You tried to deprive the economic privilege of the temples. I understand they protested. But I think it's much too cruel to kill unarmed people.

C: You know nothing, do you? There were soldiers in most of the temples in my time. Haven't you seen the pictures like this?

B: Oh. I have seen this picture.

C: Yes. There were many of the so-called 'fighting-monks' in the temples. For example, In 1532, the monks of Enryakuji destroyed a 'rival' temple because of religious segregation.

A: I think it is similar to the religious terrorism which has been happening in the world today.

C: Exactly. Religious conflicts and terrorism stand in the way of building a new society. So I told them to lay down their weapons and withdraw from politics and economics. But they would never do that.

B: Is that why you destroyed them?

C: Of course. Most of modern Japanese people think that the temple was the absolute victim. But it's not true. It was just the war of revolution.

A: The case of Enryakuji served as a kind of warning to the other temples. So after Nobunaga's period, religious groups in Japan have stayed out of politics and economics.

C: My successors Toyotomi Hideyosi and Tokugawa Ieyasu followed this policy to minimize the influence from the religious groups. This might have affected Japanese people's mind concerning religion.

A: You're right. As a matter of fact, I rarely think about my own religion.

B: Thinking about that, many Japanese people celebrate Christmas, and just a week later, on the New Year's Eve, we go to Buddhist temples, and go to Shinto shrines next morning. I wonder what religion we believe in?

A: That is “The Gift from Oda Nobunaga”.

B: What do you mean?

A: He succeeded to separate religion from politics more than 400 years ago. Since then, religions have been nothing but religions in Japan. They don't affect the nation's life politically, economically, or militarily. We are totally free from religions in our life.

B: I see. That's why now we can easily accept different religions and cultures, isn't it?

A: Yes. I think it enabled us to build this peaceful society without religious conflicts. We should be more aware of this gift and give it to the next generations.

C: You seem to have good understanding about me at last. Now it seems I can be finally transported into heaven... Bye!