In the end they decided to go ahead with the prospective match with Tagawa-ya. The draperâs son was in Tokyo. After graduating from one of the universities, he was staying on to study English, they were told. He had been hoping to go to Europe to learn business, as he was convinced that soon the time would come when people would wear more European clothes than the traditional kimono. However, the situation in Europe was taking an ugly turn and war was about to break out. He would stay home and wait for an opportunity. For the same reason Yasuharuâs plan of going abroad was postponed. It was 1914. Archduke Ferdinand had been assassinated and the ripples from Sarajevo were felt as far away as Kitani village.
When Tei-ichi heard of Tagawa-yaâs sonâs ambition, his last feelings of hesitation disappeared and he positively looked forward to the successful conclusion of the negotiations.
Kei and Ayako wanted to settle Takekoâs marriage within a year or two at the latest. There were two more daughters to think of and it was necessary for the eldest to marry, otherwise she would hinder the younger onesâ chances. Encouraged by her family, Ayako visited the go-between friendâs house.
âWe are very grateful that you have taken the trouble to think of my daughter, Takeko. We think that the match with Tagawa-ya san will be very desirable and I came to ask you to proceed with the negotiations.â
The friend also expressed in formal language her pleasure at being of use and promised to do her best to arrange the match, but she was slightly confused about who Ayako was until she had time to think about it.
âSurely she could not be older than her late twenties. No, if this is Takeko sanâs okahsan, she has to be at least about thirty-four.â The friend was calculating in her mind and admired how young Ayako looked.
Tagawa-ya himself was a plump and happy-looking man, with humble manners. On several occasions, when Kei and Ayako had visited the draperâs shop, he had been sitting among the young employees, greeting a customer, telling his assistant what to do, being consulted about what to buy. The shop was always full of customers and they could tell that the business was flourishing.
Ayako and the Shirais needed at least a year to prepare for the marriage. Once the marriage was finalised, there would be much to do. Since Takeko was marrying into a family which handled kimono materials, it might not be necessary to have a lot of kimonos made, but a chest of drawers, a dressing table, a desk, bedding, all had to be specially made. The lacquered utensils had to be ordered from Kyoto. Good lacquering would take over a year.
Since Ayakoâs wedding had been organised mostly by Shobei, it was Tei-ichiâs first experience of handling arrangements, and when he was shown the shopping list, he said with a sigh, âThey say three daughters are the ruin of a family, and they are quite right.â
Ayako had made up her mind to spend all that Shobei had left for his granddaughters on their weddings. It was the last luxury the Miwas would be able to afford.
About a month after Ayako had asked the go-between to proceed with the marriage negotiations, she came back to Kei and Ayako to tell them that Tagawa-ya was very pleased about the prospect of having Dr Shiraiâs granddaughter as their sonâs bride. They had sent someone to Takekoâs school to find out about her, and had heard that she was a very polite, gentle lady and there had never been any problems.
Tei-ichi was known among his neighbours as an honourable person, particularly since he had intervened in the family feud over the inheritance.
âThey also heard about your second daughter, Haruko san,â the go-between friend said, âand should you have already accepted another proposal for Takeko san, they would be pleased to ask for Haruko san. She seems to be a highly intelligent young lady and Tagawa-ya san thinks that she would be a very suitable wife for his son who also likes books and studying. After all, we are in a modern age. It is not shameful for a girl to like studying.â
âThat is very thoughtful of Tagawa-ya san, but Haruko is still only fifteen and we hope Takeko will make a good wife for their son,â Ayako answered politely.
The Shirai side wanted to settle the negotiations and exchange the gifts of engagement as soon as possible and were disappointed when nothing happened for a few months. The next step was to set a date for the meeting of the two young people before the marriage was finalised.
âTagawa-ya san is saying that their son is coming home from Tokyo next month, and then we will know when to get together,â was the message.
âWeâd better visit Mrs Kawamatsu with some presents,â Ayako said to Kei, referring to the go-between friend. âShe has been coming and going between our houses for some time.â
âWhen all is formalised, we will give her proper presents. For the moment, you will go to her taking perhaps a bottle of saké and a box of cake,â Kei suggested.
Another month had passed without further news. One day, Mrs Kawamatsu finally returned but when they saw her, they knew the news was not good before anything was said.
After an exchange of seasonal greetings, the visitor said, âI will not beat about the bush. I will be straightforward and say I come to apologise today. Tagawa-ya san is so embarrassed and angry as well.â
Tagawa-yaâs son had already met someone whom he intended to marry, but knowing how his family would react, he had been waiting for a good opportunity to tell them. The young lady was the daughter of his landlady.
âAfter all, he is a well brought up young man and does not know what people are really like. That crafty landlady must have tricked him. The whole Tagawa family is upset. Tagawa-ya san is very angry and he is saying he will disinherit the son. Certainly Tagawa-ya san will not give him permission to marry this young lady in Tokyo. They donât know anything about her family, of course. Tokyo women are so dangerous.â
She leant forward and lowered her voice. âApparently women dance with men. Would you believe such disgraceful behaviour? Of course, for a young man from the countryside, there must be so much temptation.â
After the friend left with lots of apologies and stories of orgies going on in the capital, Kei and Ayako each let out a deep sigh. The rumour had already spread that Dr Shiraiâs granddaughter was marrying Tagawa-yaâs son, and they had not bothered to deny it.
Once Tei-ichi had become enthusiastic, the whole family began to believe that it was a most desirable marriage.
âNever mind. There will be better proposals. We might be thankful in the end.â Kei tried but could not help feeling humiliated. âItâs Tagawa-yaâs fault,â she said. While there was a prospect of the Tagawa family becoming her relations, she called them Tagawa san or Tagawa-ya san when referring to the shop, but now she put them down as Tagawa-ya. âThey should control their son. Yasuharu san would never be trapped by women in Tokyo. Look at Shintaro san, too.â Then she declared with dignity, âWe are glad that we do not have to marry our Takeko to such a feeble-minded merchantâs family.â
In November another proposal came. It was from a rich landownerâs family in Kyushu, and Tei-ichi said, âThis is a proposal from far away.â
There had been a lull since Tagawa-ya, and both Kei and Ayako were on the point of giving up the idea of getting the marriage settled within a year.
âIn this day and age, when people are going abroad, Kyushu is just next door,â Kei said, and Ayako came round to agreeing, though she still regretted the abortive liaison with Tagawa-ya.
âThe father of the bridegroom-to-be died several years ago, and the young man is the head of the family now,â they were told. âThat is why he has remained a bachelor until the age of thirty. He is a hard-working man and liked by everybody in the area. He is introducing improved rice varieties and organising