KUMICHO【組長】

”任侠道（NINKYOUDOU)”と呼ばれた”強き男の生き方像”が日本にはある。日本、江戸時代。このころより、他人を思いやり、困っている人や苦しんでいる人を放っておく事ができず、弱者を助けるために自らの体を張ってでも、正義を貫く男の精神美学のことである。

現在、日本に存在する暴力団や、世界に存在するギャングやマフィアに例えられる様な反社会的な”強き男像”は、立場の弱き庶民（一般市民）への暴力や恐喝での資金獲得など、圧力をかけるようなイメージがあるが、”任侠”とは、そうした男達の元となる組織ではあるが、精神や活動は、対極のものとなっているという悲しい現実があるようにおもう。　その”任侠”を重んじた当時（江戸時代～明治時代が中心）、団体の頂点に立ち、構成する仲間をまとめ上げ、対外的なやり取りのリーダーとなる人物を”組長（KUMICHO)と呼ぶ。

この作品を”組長”というタイトルにしたのは、そうした任侠道的リーダーに居てほしい、象徴的な存在が、今の日々や時代に存在してほしいという願望からだ。日本は、世界で唯一の被爆国であり、2011年３月に被害を受けた地震や津波などの自然災害。そして、人災と言うべき原子力発電所の崩壊で起こった放射能汚染。世界では、異常気象による突発的な大きなハリケーンやいろいろな災害や、終わらない戦争やテロ攻撃。世界中がそうした脅威の中にあり、日々を生き抜いていく人々の気力は日々衰え、未来を見失ってしまいそうになるほど悲しいニュースも終わりがない。　

そして、中でも、作者自身が体感することになった311の地震や津波の際、それまでの人生の価値観や生き方そのものがひっくり返され、怒りと哀しみを何処にもぶつける事のできない生まれてはじめての衝撃を味わって以来、そうしたすべてを失った中でも、”立ち続ける”　という希望が欲しいと感じたからに他ならない。どんな事にも心折れず、多くの哀しみや苦しみを背負い、仲間や大切に想う人の変わりに責任をとり、凛々しく立つテーマのこの作品を見て、なにかしらの希望を少しでも味わって”明日を生きよう。”と一人でも多くの人に感じてもらいたいというメッセージがどうしても表現したかったのだ。

全身を極める刺青は忍耐の証、無表情で悲しげな瞳は、多くの過去を背負い、任侠（現代のやくざ（YAKUZA))の世界で、仲裁に入り、対立するもの同士の和解などの際に誠意を見せるために自発的に手の指を刃物で切り落とす行為”指詰め”された前足は、任侠の極みと言える形。何事にも恐れず立ち続けるこの強靭な犬は、日本でもっとも体が大きく、古くから闘犬として存在する”土佐犬”をモデルとしている。そして、刺青の中に咲く菊は、世界で共通の死を悼み贈る花。その死の表現は、背中に存在する”弁慶（BENKEI)”という日本で実在した歴史的人物の生き様、死に様に向けたものである。”弁慶”は、幼少の頃から乱暴者で、やがて京（現在で言う都心）で、人を襲って１０００本の刀を奪うという悲願を掲げ、暴れる日々を過ごしたと言われ、９９９本まできて、最後の１本というところで、牛若丸（源 義経：日本 平安時代（～1185年頃）末期の武将）に決闘を挑み、返り討ちに遭い、その後は、一生、彼の家来として仕えたとされている。その”弁慶”の死に際は、忠誠を誓った義経（牛若丸は若い時の呼び名）を狙った兵の軍を怪力で次々と倒したが、ついには、無数の矢を全身に受ける。それでも、立ち続け義経を守るという気持ちは折れる事なく、最後は、立ったまま死んだという伝説が残されている。　

まさに、この”組長（KUMICHO)”の背中にふさわしい意味を込めたものになっている。
折れない強い心。それを持てたらどんなに頼もしいだろう。でも、そういう時ばかりではない。つらくて、苦しくても、乗り越えなくてはならない時がある。そんな時、組長のように堂々と胸をはって…

There is a term of men’s masculinity which is called Ninkyoudou(任侠道) in Japan, and Ninkyoudou also represents consideration for other people as they cannot leave behind someone who is in trouble for their justice even if they have to sacrifice themselves. Currently, there are several groups of Yakuza, which is a name for the Japanese mafia. Furthermore, there are so many gang groups and mafias in the world. We have an image for those antisocial groups that threaten people and rob money or stuffs from someone weaker. Currently, Ninkyou is a term for those Yakuza groups. They were supposed to have the mind of helping weaker people, but unfortunately, the activity and thought that Yakuza members have is in contrast to the Ninkyoudou now. In the period when people esteemed Ninkyoudou (mainly Edo period ~ Meiji period), there were people who were on the summit of the organization, corresponded to other groups, and lead their subordinates. Those leaders have been called KUMICHO.
The reason why he put the title KUMICHO on this art is that he wants the Ninkyou-spirit to exist today around our society. Japan is the only nation that has experienced being exposed to the atomic bomb radiation during the final stage of World War 2. Moreover, on March 2011, a significant earthquake and tsunami hit the Tohoku region in Japan, and the earthquakes destroyed one of the nuclear power plants that lead to the radioactive contaminant. In the world, there are also unexpected natural disasters like hurricanes. Some countries are still fighting with their hostile country or even domestically. We are always living with such menaces, and people are gradually losing their energy, vitality, and future as they live through it. It does not seem to end even in receiving this kind of bad news. Especially for him, since he experienced the Tohoku earthquake, the disaster changed his value and lifestyle that he had had until that day. Therefore, the experience has been strongly inciting and motivating him to create those wonderful arts and he hopes that his art encourage those people who lost their motivation to confront their difficulties. “Don’t give up”, ”You are not alone”, “Tomorrow will be brighter”. He has been sending those messages to viewers and he will be glad even if a few people receive those messages and are encouraged by the art.
The IREZUMI, covering his whole body, is a symbol of patience. These sorrowful eyes in poker face represent that he is carrying several pasts. If you look at his feet, you realize that he does not have any fingers. In unique and painful custom of NINKYOU(currently YAKUZA), they cut their own finger with a knife to show their respect toward hostile groups when they wanted to finish fighting with their opponent. This custom is called YUBITSUME( 指詰め), and his feet, thus, representing the perfect shape of NINKYOUDOU. The model of this huge and brave dog is Tosa-ken that is mainly considered as dogs for dog fighting in Japan from a long time ago, and the flower in the IREZUMI is the Chrysanthemum that is known worldwide as a common flower that mourns for death. Zensui depicted the chrysanthemum to show the respect for the life and death of Benkei(弁慶), who is an ancient historical Japanese person. In Japanese history, Benkei was a rowdy fellow in his childhood. When he became an adult, he started making an effort to plunder 1000 of the samurai‘s swords after defeating them. He achieved 999 swords, but he was beat by the 1000th person Ushiwakamaru (牛若丸) (a.k.a. Yoshitsune Minamotono: within the dynasty Heian period). From that time on, he worked for Ushiwakamaru as a servant during his whole life. On his deathbed, hostile armies tried to attack Ushiwakamaru, and Benkei struggled to protect Ushiwakamaru from the attack. He was very strong but the enemies were too many for him to deal with. Eventually, Benkei got countless arrows on his whole body, but the strength of his soul that wanted to protect Ushiwakamaru kept him standing even though he was already dead. This is the legend of Benkei and Ushiwakamaru. Many people respect and have been influenced by this legend. Zensui is one of them, and he concluded that their ways of life are suitable to describe an impression of KUMICHO.
That would be the best if we could have strong and unbeatable spirit every moment as Benkei, but sometimes we must confront the huge wall we have to get over. In short, the message that Zensui wants to send us through this art is “Stay on your feet! Be confident as KUMICHO!”