湖畔の人々 / People by the Lake

Hyogo Saiki, a veteran senior retainer of the Takashima domain, returns to Shinano with his wife Natsu under the pretext of taking a rest.

At night he entertains guests lavishly at an inn beside the lake. Before dawn, however, he secretly visits workshops where local farmers are struggling to establish a new agar industry.

The domain is in serious financial difficulty, and Hyogo supports a plan to increase taxes. But young finance magistrate Sakunoshin Hagiwara strongly opposes him. He argues that the new industry is still fragile and that heavier taxation would destroy the very people and production that could restore the domain.

Their conflict becomes sharper when Sakunoshin openly criticizes Hyogo's extravagant behavior.

Behind the political confrontation lies another, deeply personal connection involving Hyogo's wife Natsu and the young magistrate.

"People by the Lake" is a thoughtful historical drama about public finance, economic reform, generational conflict, pride, and the responsibility of those who govern.

Written by Shugoro Yamamoto.

Narrated by Shichimi Shungorō.

Produced and published by Marutake Shobo.

高島藩の重臣として長年藩政を担ってきた斉木兵庫は、六十歳を過ぎ、妻・那津を伴って信濃へ帰国する。

表向きは保養の旅。湖畔の宿では夜ごと華やかな酒宴を開いていた。

しかし兵庫は未明になると、密かに寒天作りの現場へ足を運ぶ。

財政難に苦しむ藩では、年貢の増徴が検討されていた。兵庫はそれを進めようとするが、若い勘定奉行・萩原作之進は強く反対する。

寒天産業は、まだ育ち始めたばかり。ここで負担を増やせば、農民も産業も潰れてしまう――。

作之進は兵庫の遊興まで厳しく批判し、老家老と若い奉行は真正面から対立する。

だが二人の間には、藩政だけでは説明できない、那津をめぐる深い縁も隠されていた。

藩財政、産業育成、増税、世代の対立、そして為政者の責任を、静かな湖畔を背景に描く山本周五郎の人間ドラマ。

著者：山本周五郎

朗読：七味春五郎

制作・発行：丸竹書房