-薄田いとさんのブログから- 「父のこと」（抜粋） ----------------------------------------- 父は終戦直前の8月4日、南京で産まれました。 生後半年で両親(私の祖父母)と5人の子(父は末っ子)で 文字通り命からがら引き上げてきたそうですが その頃から祖父の具合は悪く 日本に着いて一ヶ月ほどで亡くなってしまったそうです。 家族を必死に守るため、自分の身体は二の次だったのでしょう。 もともと祖母は島津藩、祖父は三春藩をルーツとする 薄田家は士族でした。 祖父は優秀だったようで、 中国では豊かに暮らしていたようですが 祖父が亡き後、 身を寄せた祖母の兄弟がいる淡路島で、 女手ひとつで父一家は大変苦労したようです。 戦後このような家庭はとても多かったのだろうと思いますが。 父は最近、という言い方はヘンですかね、、 晩年？NHKの番組『ファミリーヒストリー』が好きでしたが 祖父の話なんか聞いていると 驚くような話ばかりで ぜひ我が家を取材して欲しいですね（笑） 他の兄弟はサラリーマン、教師などになる中 父はものつくりの道を選びました。 芸術家というより、職人タイプ。 京都で勉強した後、民芸ブームの風に煽られ 見学に来た益子。 自由で自然豊かな益子がすっかり気に入り 裸ひとつ移り住みました。 今でこそ益子への移住者はたくさんいますが… 益子入りの先駆者ですね。 益子という土地で約50年。 自治会長を何度も引き受けたり、 焼き物協同組合の理事をしたり。 地域の繋がりをとても大切にする場所ですので 父のような穏やかで誰ともうまくやる性格が 地元の方々に受け入れられたようです。 まぁ、50年も住んでいれば よそ者も何もないですが(笑)。 父は益子という土地で生き 幸せだったと思います。 父を支えてくださった皆様、 今まで本当にありがとうございました。 今後も母や私達家族と 変わらぬお付き合いをしていただけたら幸いです。 いろんなニュースなどを観るとふと思います。 父だったらなんて思うかな。。 もう一度、ゆっくり話をしたい。 そう叶わぬことを願ったりもしますが これからは心の中で語りかけようかと思います。 最後に。 現在私の周りにもガンや 病気で戦っている方が何人もいらっしゃいます。 その方々やその家族が 少しでも安心して、穏やかな日が過ごせるよう 心からお祈りしています。

-From Ito's blog. 'About my father' (excerpt) ----------------------------------------- My father was born in Nanjing on August 4, just before the end of the war. He was six months old, with his parents (my grandparents) and five children (my father was the youngest). I'm told that they literally pulled out of there with their life. My grandfather has been sick since then. He died about a month after arriving in Japan. He was desperate to protect his family, so his own body must have been secondary to his own. My grandmother originally came from the Shimazu clan and my grandfather from the Miharu clan. The Susukida family was a samurai family. My grandfather was a brilliant man. I see that they lived a rich life in China. After my grandfather died. On the island of Awaji Island, where my grandmother's brother is holed up. My father's family had a very difficult time with just one woman. I think there were many families like this after the war. Recently, my father has been having a hard time. In his later years, he liked the NHK program "Family History". I've heard my grandfather talk about it. It's just an amazing story. I'd love for you to cover our house (laughs). While the other brothers are going to be businessmen, teachers, etc. My father chose to become a craftsman. He was more of a craftsman than an artist. After studying in Kyoto, he was encouraged by the folk art boom. Mashiko, which he came to visit. He loved Mashiko, with its freedom and rich nature. He moved to Mashiko naked. Nowadays there are a lot of people moving to Mashiko... He is a pioneer in Mashiko. He has been in Mashiko for about 50 years. He' s also a board member of the pottery cooperative. It's a place that's very much about community connections. He's got my father's calm, unflappable personality. It seems to have been accepted by the locals. Well, if you've lived there for 50 years. He' s no stranger or anything (laughs). My father lived and worked in Mashiko. I think he was happy. To everyone who supported my father. Thank you so much for everything you've done. I will continue to work with my mother and our family. I would be happy to have an unchanging relationship with you. When I watch various news reports, it makes me think about how I would feel if I were my father. I wonder what my father would think. I would like to talk to him again. I sometimes wish that this would never happen I think I'm going to speak to my heart from now on. Finally. I am currently surrounded by people with cancer and There are several people who are battling with the disease. Those people and their families. To make your day a little safer and more peaceful. My heartfelt prayers are with you.

私です。2歳くらい？？ It's me... about two years old?	私ではなく姉。まだ家の周りもなんにもなく開拓者みたい(笑) Not me, but my sister.We were still like pioneers with nothing around the house (lol)	まだ畑やガーデンなど何もない頃。  when we didn't have anything like fields or gardens yet.
長女が2年生くらい？ My oldest daughter was in the second grade?	次女と。 With my second daughter
		益子のお祭り、御神酒頂戴式にて  At the ceremony for receiving sake at the festival in Mashiko
そしてこれが今夏の益子のお祭り、お神酒頂戴式にて。その年の秋に亡くなるなんて誰も思わないですよね(笑) And this is at this summer's festival in Mashiko, where he received his sake. No one would think that he would die in the fall of that year, would they?