スポ根まんがの先駆け

[From April Issue 2014]

Kyojin no Hoshi (Star of the Giants)
“Kyojin no Hoshi” was published in Weekly Shonen Magazine between 1966 and 1971. During the period it was serialized, an animated TV version, movie adaptation and theatrical version were released. It all begins when HOSHI Hyuma, the main character, sets his sights on joining the Yomiuri Giants – a professional baseball team known as Kyojin-gun.
Hyuma, who lost his mother as a small child, lives with his father and older sister. His father, Ittetsu, once played for Kyojin-gun, but gave up his career as a player because of a war injury. Ittetsu tells Hyuma to “become a star with Kyojin-gun” and gives him specialized baseball training. To develop his muscles so that he can throw fast balls, Hyuma is constantly forced to wear a device called a “major league ball training brace.”
Raised with the aim that he becomes a major league pitcher, Hyuma grows to hate Ittetsu and baseball. Before long he has an encounter with his future rival, HANAGATA Mitsuru. Through this, he discovers what a great sport baseball is and decides to join Kyojin-gun.
Upon entering Seiun Senior High School, Hyuma meets BAN Chuta, who becomes a good friend. Later on they form a battery (a collective term for pitcher and catcher). They enter the National High School Baseball Tournament during which Hyuma breaks a nail while pitching against SAMON Hosaku, another rival. Although Hyuma directs powerful pitches at Hanagata – despite his bleeding finger – he loses the final.
Hearing about this injury, Hanagata praises Hyuma for being a formidable rival. He vows to beat Hyuma fair and square the next time. Hanagata and Samon join different professional teams in order to play against Hyuma who has joined Kyojin-gun, his dream team. However, it turns out that, as a pitcher, Hyuma has a fatal flaw. The ball lacks impact because of his small stature, so if the batter makes contact he can make a big hit.
Hyuma is devastated that he is too small to become a professional baseball player; this is a problem that can’t be overcome with effort. After an agonizing period, he comes up with the “Major League Ball No. 1;” a curve ball which deliberately strikes the bat to get an out. This technique is only possible for Hyuma, whose ball control is second to none thanks to the training he’s received from childhood. Meanwhile, Ittetsu becomes a coach for another team and stubbornly gets in Hyuma’s way.
Ittetsu sends Ozma, a former Major League player, to strike and beat the Major League Ball No. 1. Ball No.2, developed subsequently, beats Hanagata and No.3 beats Ban who has now become an adversary. Exhausted from his efforts, Ban falls to the ground and Ittetsu accepts Hyuma’s victory. By then, Hyuma’s left arm is damaged for good. With his career as a player cut short, Hyuma disappears off somewhere. Though he has burned himself out as a true “Giants’ star,” his achievement still sparkles to this day.
Text: HATTA Emiko[2014年4月号掲載記事]

巨人の星
「巨人の星」は1966~1971年まで週刊少年マガジンに掲載されました。連載中からテレビアニメが放映され、映画化や舞台化もされています。主人公の星飛雄馬が、巨人軍の愛称で知られる実在のプロ野球チーム、読売ジャイアンツへの入団を目指すところから始まります。
飛雄馬は早くに母親を亡くし、父親と姉と暮らしています。父親の一徹は巨人軍の選手でしたが、戦争での負傷をきっかけに選手の道を断念しました。一徹は飛雄馬に「巨人軍の星となれ」と言い、野球の英才教育をします。速球を投げる筋肉を鍛えるため「大リーグボール養成ギプス」と名付けた器具を、常に身に着けさせます。
メジャー級の投手を目標に、厳しい訓練を受ける飛雄馬は、一徹と野球を恨みながら育ちます。やがて生涯のライバルとなる花形満との出会いを経て、野球の素晴らしさを知り、巨人軍への入団を決意します。
青雲高校に入学した飛雄馬は、後に親友となる伴宙太に出会い、バッテリーを組みます。全国高等学校野球選手権大会に出場しますが、もう一人のライバル左門豊作との戦いで、飛雄馬の爪が割れてしまいます。決勝戦では、花形との勝負で指から血を流しながら力投したものの敗退します。
けがのことを知った花形は、飛雄馬を素晴らしいライバルだと讃えます。そして次は対等の条件で勝つと誓います。念願の巨人軍に入団した飛雄馬と戦うため、花形と左門はそれぞれ違う球団に入ります。しかし飛雄馬には投手として致命的な欠陥があるとわかります。体が小さいせいで球が軽く、バットに当たれば大きなヒットになってしまうのです。
プロ野球選手としては小柄という、努力では克服できない要因に飛雄馬は打ちのめされます。苦悩の末、わざとバットにボールを当ててアウトを取る変化球「大リーグボール1号」を編み出します。幼い頃からの訓練により、抜群のコントロールを持つ飛雄馬だからこそ可能な技でした。そこへ、他球団のコーチとなった一徹が立ちはだかります。
一徹は元メジャー選手のオズマを送り込み、大リーグボール1号を打ち崩します。続いて開発した2号は花形に、3号は敵に回った伴に打たれます。攻略のため体力を使い果たした伴は倒れ、一徹は飛雄馬の勝利を認めます。そのときには飛雄馬の左腕は壊れていました。選手生命を絶たれた飛雄馬は、どこへともなく去っていきます。まさに「巨人の星」として、青春を燃やし尽くした飛雄馬が放つ一瞬の輝きは、今も色あせることはありません。
文:服田恵美子

Leave a Reply