Hysterectomy CAN Improve Women's Health!

Endometriosis, Considered a Shame in Japan

　When I informed my Japanese parents that I have #endometriosis , they erupted in outrage, excoriating me for bringing disgrace on the family. I guess they consider any type of gynecological condition to be embarrassing and obscene; a serious failure on my part.

 BTW endometriosis isn't a sexually transmitted disease; it's an auto-immune and hormonal condition; can happen to any woman.

 My parents believed that endo was sexually transmitted and nothing I told them would change their minds about it. 

 They asked my how many men I had slept with to get that kind of disease and told me not to go to the Dr.s because it would bring shame to the family.

Endometriosis Made Me Lose Faith in Myself

 From my first menstruation I always had the notion "there's something wrong with my period, it's different from what I hear from my friends."

 Hence it was actually a relief when Dr.s diagnosed me with endo. I'm sure anyone who's had to deal w/ health issues where the cause is unclear will understand what I'm saying.

 I hated myself and my body. I lost faith in myself;  thought the that reason I couldn't put in the same amount of work as other people was due to my lack of worth ethics and character, and always beat myself up for that. 

  I considered myself lucky to be diagnosed with something. As long as the cause is clear, there will be ways to deal with it. 

Hope of having Hysterectomy one day helped me carry on

 Around that time I read in a book:

"Currently, there is no cure for endometriosis… Recurrences after treatment are common. When all else fails, hysterectomy with removal of the ovaries else fails, hysterectomy with removal of the ovaries else fails, hysterectomy with removal of the ovariesis commonly suggested. "

 Hysteretomy probably sounds terrifying to a healthy woman, but to me this information was great news.  When all else fails, I can have hysterectomy! That helped me get through the rougn years.

 All else did fail, 10+ years later when I had become like a vegetable, not living, just existing. I finally decided NOW is the time to get hysterectomy, and went to the hospital.

Doctors refuse hysterectomy on me

 However at the hospital here is what the Japanese Dr. told me: 

"Hysterectomy isn't guaranteed to make you feel any better"

"In the past, a woman got hysterectomy after having a child but she came back wanting to get pregnant again because she remarried"

"You're still young, you never know what your going to want in the future"

 She told me I'm not qualified for hysterectomy, even thought by that time I had uterus adenomyosis, fibroid, and PCOS on top of endo. 

 I was disappointed. Insulted. Enraged. It was hard holding back my tears in her office.

 From that point, it took me about 6months to find a hospital that would perform hysterectomy on me. I visited about 5 clinics and large hospitals total.　

 Currently, it's been a year and a half from my surgery. I'm not as energetic as people with regular health, but I feel about as healthy I was 20 years ago; and that's pretty good in my book. 

 In Japan hysterctomy has such a bad reputation and stigma. But to me it was a procedure that helped me reclaim my health and do things I couldn't do in a long time. If you read my bood you'll see, but that includes sexual life aswell. Hysterectomy really improved the quality of life (QOL) for me.

Want to send the message that hysterectomy can improve QOL

 I wanted to self publish my book because I wanted to send out the message to Japan that "hysterectomy can improve a woman's quality of health.

 Even today, I'm sure there's a Japanese woman with endometriosis being told that

"Hysterectomy isn't guaranteed to make you feel any better"

 I wish I could just bust in there and scream
"Waaaaaait! At least it's made ME feel better!"

 But since I can't do that, I wanted to make it into a book so people unfamiliar with the web will have a chance to read it too. 

 Of course, I'm just one case, hysterectomy may not be for everyone. However, I believe it's for the woman to decide which treatment to get. Everyone's bodies are different and everyone is at a different stage in their lives. There is no ONE treatment that fits ALL women.

All I'm asking is to just let the woman decide for herself which path to take. It's not the doctor's job to start a negative campaign against hysterectomy.

 In Japan many times the patient herself has the least say in how to treat her body, which is not fair, not fair at all. 

Fundraising

 For all of you who contributed, thank you for trusting me, a nobody. I am a nobody but will be even less than nobody without you. I can't express enough how much I appreciate you all. Without you, I won't be able to do this. Love you all very much. 　

「子宮摘出で健康回復することもある」と本で伝えたい！製作費募集中！

初潮のころから重い生理に苦しんできた

　初潮のころから

「自分の生理はどうもおかしい、友達からきくそれとも大分違っている」

という自覚はありました。

　ですから20代後半で「子宮内膜症」という診断名がついたときはむしろほっとしたのです。原因不明の体調不良と戦いつづけたことのある人ならわかって下さると思います。

　私が人並みに頑張れないのは、体のせいじゃなく、重大な人格の欠損があるからじゃないか？

　そう悩み、自分の体が大嫌いだったから。だけど病名さえわかれば対策をたてられます。

「いつかは子宮全摘」が心の支えだった

　そのころ読んだ本にはこうありました

"Currently, there is no cure for endometriosis… Recurrences after treatment are common. When all else fails, hysterectomy with removal of the ovaries else fails, hysterectomy with removal of the ovaries else fails, hysterectomy with removal of the ovariesis commonly suggested. （現時点では、子宮内膜症は治らない……療後の再発はよくある。最終的な手段として、卵巣と子宮の全摘出が提案される）"

　健康体の女性ならば卵巣と子宮の全摘出なんて嫌でしょうけえｗど、私にとってはこの情報は福音でした。最終的にどうにもならなくなったら全摘しよう。そう思うことで、辛い症状があっても心を支えました。

　体調的にどうにもならなくなったのはそれから10数年後のこと。ずっと寝たきり、もう呼吸と排泄するだけの肉の塊と化した私は
「潮時だ、子宮を摘出してもらおう」
と決心して病院に行ったわけです。

病院で子宮全摘を断られる

　けれども病院では

「子宮を摘出したからといって楽になるとは限りませんよ」

「子宮摘出後に再婚してもう一人子供が欲しいから妊娠させてくれと言ってきた女性が過去にいましたし」

「まだ若いんですから今後どうなるかわかりませんよ」

とまあ、こんなことを言われて手術してもらえませんでした。

　落胆しました。屈辱的でした。大きな怒りもありました。涙をこらえるのに必死でした。

　 実際に子宮を摘出してくれる病院を見つけるまにじつに半年要しました。たずねたのはクリニック・大病院ふくめて5軒ほどです。

　そして現在。

　子宮摘出から一年半ほどたとうとしています。健康体の人ほどの元気はありませんが、自分史上では20年ほど前と同じくらいの健康レベルにまで回復できました。上出来です。

　とかく日本では暗くて悪いイメージしかない子宮全摘。だけど、私はこの手術によって健康が回復し、以前はできなかったいろんなことが苦痛なくできるようになりました。本書を読んでいただければわかりますが、そこには性生活も含まれます。

　これが生活の質があがるということではないでしょうか。

子宮摘出で健康回復、本で伝えたい

　今回、自費出版したいと思ったのは、

「子宮摘出が女性の健康を回復し、生活の質を上げることもある」

ということを日本に広く伝えたいと願っているからです。　

　今現在も、女性科外来で

「子宮内膜症は子宮を全摘したからといって楽になるわけじゃありませんよ」

とドクターに言われ、落胆する女性がいるかもしれません。

　できることならその場に乱入し、

「ちょっと待ったぁぁあああ！　私のようなケースもありますよ！」

と、患者女性に伝えたい。

　けどそれは無理。

　ならばウェブになじみのない人にも手にとってもらえるように本にして頒布しようと考えたからです。

　もちろん私はただのいちケースにしかすぎません。子宮摘出がよい結果を招かない女性も中にはいるでしょう。

　けれど、どの治療法にするかは女性が自分で決めればいいだけのことです。

　女性の体とそれぞれが抱える事情は全員違います。女性が100人いれば、100人全員にとってベストな治療法なんて、ないでしょう。病院で子宮摘出に対するネガティブ・キャンペーンをするのはフェアじゃないんじゃないかな、と私は思うのです。

　日本ではとかく忘れられがちですが、どの治療法にするか、決定権は女性自身にあるのです！

制作費用、募集中です

　「子宮摘出が女性の健康を回復し、生活の質を上げることもある」

　現在このメッセージを日本に広めたいと思っても製作費がありません。

現在、polcaというアプリで製作費のご支援を募っています。

詳細→ 

【告知】大和彩、同人誌制作費のご支援を募集中！ - 大和彩_Aya Yamato

　最後まで読んでくださってありがとうございます。

　これまでにご支援してくださった方がた、何者でもない私を信頼し、ご寄付をくださりどれほど感謝しているか……言葉に尽くせません。皆さまなしではなにもできません。支えてくださり、心からありがとうございますと言いたいです！

子宮摘出パーティ、魔法の子宮ケーキとは？本書を読んでいただければわかります☆

【告知】大和彩、同人誌制作費のご支援を募集中！

【告知】大和彩、同人誌制作費のご支援を募集中！

　ウェブマガジンmessyで連載していた『子宮にちんぽが届くまで』(略してしきゅちん)を同人誌として頒布したいと考えています。

　しかし、いかんせんわたしは貧乏で、印刷費用を捻出するのが厳しい状況です。

　そこでpolcaというアプリなどでご支援を募集いたします！ 

https://polca.jp/projects/HKWssYLnEdZ

目標額は10万円です！

この同人誌についての説明 

　編集Mさまが素晴らしい企画書を書いてくださったので、掲載いたします。  

　失職女子こと大和彩、今夏の炎天下、ふと思い立ちました。 「初の同人誌を引っ提げて、11月に東京で開催される第27回文学フリマ​に初出店したい！」 　暑さでアタマがやられたわけではございません。

 　同人誌展示即売会という未踏の地、勝手がわからずちょっと怖い気もするけれど、それでも届けたい作品があるのです。

 　申し遅れました、私たちは「失職女子を文学フリマに連れてって」プロジェクトチームです。

 　大和彩は2014年に『失職女子。 ~私がリストラされてから、生活保護を受給するまで』（WAVE出版）を刊行。内容は、タイトルそのまんまです。その後、自身の抱える心身の病とともに生活をつづけてきました。 

　その大和が次に書きたいと思ったのは、長年つき合ってきた病にやっと打つことができた、ひとつのピリオドについて。 

　そして、そのときに突如わいてきた、ある衝動について。 

　その一部始終は、女性向けwebサイトmessyで2017年6月〜2018年2月まで連載コラムとして配信されました。

 

▼子宮がなくなると女じゃなくなる？ そんなバカな！

 

　大和が長くわずらってきた病気とは、子宮内膜症です。よく聞く病気ではありますが、その症状の出方は人それぞれ。大和はかなりの重度でした。

 

　2017年、ついに子宮摘出手術が決定！

 

　病気のことを考えるとグッドニュースでしたが、大和には一抹の不安もありました。

「子宮をとったらもう女じゃない​」

「性生活も変わってしまう​」

そんなウワサが世の中にはあるのです。

 

　ひどい話です。

 

　そう思った大和の胸に、衝動が走りました。

「それがウソってことを、私が自分の身体で証明しよう！」 

　しかしその時点で、大和はノー性生活な10年を送っていました。こんなんじゃ証明できない…………。

　そして始まったのが「子宮のある/なしで感じ方は変わるのか大検証！計画」です。 

　マッチングアプリや、超オトナの社交場。手術を間近に控えた大和は、これまでの人生でおよそ接点がなかったさまざまな男性たちと出会っていきます。

 

▼本プロジェクトの目的：大和彩の物語を多くの人に読んでもらいたい

 

　そんなmessyの連載を１冊の同人誌にまとめ、販売します。

　まずは11月の第27回文学フリマに、必ず出店を実行いたします。そこでの様子を見て、できれば12月のコミケも参戦したい！

　そもそも大和が連載をはじめたのは、子宮摘出手術を勧められながらも

「女じゃなくなりそう」「性生活も愉しめなくなるのでは」

という理由で手術をためらう女性たちのために、本当のことを知ってほしいから、でした。

　さらに多くの人に知ってもらうための、同人誌化です。

 

▼求む！　制作費

 

　とはいえ、私たちには資金がありません。
制作するいはあれやこれやとコストがかかります。なにしろ「失職女子」です。制作費を用意するのは、とても困難です。 

　そこで、制作のための資金を募ることにいたしました。主な使いみちは、

　　・制作＆印刷代…７万円

　　・ノベルティ制作費…1.5万円

　　・諸経費…1万円

の予定です。

 

▼最後に

 

　最後まで読んでいただきありがとうございます。 

　本作は、

　「女性を女性たらしめているのは何か」

　「女性が自分の思う性生活を実現するには」

　「女性にとって子宮とは何なのか」

など、重要なテーマをいくつも含んでいます。 

　web連載のときよりさらに多くの女性に、いえ男性にも、いえいえすべてのセクシャリティの人に読んでもらうべく、ご協力よろしくお願いします！

 

 

【重要】お返し（リターン）は1000円以上から

　1000円以上のご寄付から、お返しに大和彩オリジナルデザイン・缶バッヂをご送付いたします！

 

　10万円の目標額には、リターンにご送付する予定の缶バッチの制作費用と郵送費も含まれます。本当ならご支援してくださった方全員にお返ししたいところですが、ご理解いただければ幸いです。

 

 ご支援の方法その①：polcaから

 以下のリンクからpolcaに飛び、「支援する」というボタンから、日本国内の口座にリンクされたクレジットカード・デビットカード・プリペイドカードを使ってご支援いただけます。

※リターンは1000円以上のご支援のご支援からとさせていただきます。

 

polca.jp

 

ご支援方法その②：Amazonウィッシュリストから

 

　アプリをダウンロードできない 方のために、Amazonウィッシュリストからもご支援受け付けるようにいたしました。ここからのご支援は著者の生活援助ではなく、すべて同人誌製作費にさせていただきます。

 

 

https://www.amazon.co.jp/hz/wishlist/ls/3OW3IUPDSJWVE

 

 以上、いつもお願いばかりで心苦しいですが、どうぞよろしくおねがいいたします。

 

 

 

updated: 09/07/2018, 09/18/2018, 09/27/2018

For my international friends-- Trying to self publish a book!

Introduction

 Hi, I'm Aya Yamato.

 I won't bore you w/ details but in a nutshell I was harassed and fired from a job, then applied to 100+ jobs but got rejected by all (women over age of 35 don't get hired in Japan). I went on welfare to survive, and wrote about the whole incident in a book "Shisshoku Joshi ("Jobless Woman-- My Journey of Getting Fired to Recieving Welfare)" below,  which was published in 2014.

  The book is available on U.S. Amazon from the link below! 

 

 Since then my health deteriorated, I have a bunch of conditions including Endometriosis and depression.

 Last year I finally decided to get hysterectomy (the only effective treatment for Endometriosis) because by then I was bedridden, like 20hrs, everyday. 

I was merely existing, not living. 

 However I had such a hard time finding a hospital to perform hysterectomy on me, mainly cuz I'm an unmarried woman w/ no child (the doctors were like "You'll regret this, how can you not want a child!")

  I've been writing about the Endometriosis journey as a serialised column online.

http://mess-y.com/archives/category/column/qualityoflife_sex

The theme of the Endometriosis series is

 "If a woman loses her uterus, is she not a woman anymore?"
 "How is sex life before-after hysterectomy?"
 "What defines femininity?"
 "How can a woman realize her ideal sex life (expecially in Japan where it is so taboo for women to talk about sex)"

 As you might have guessed, in Japan, a woman without a uterus isn't considered a woman and is expected have no sex life anymore.

 But I don't believe so!

 Femininity isn't defined by a woman's Uterus!

Now the series is finished and my editor and I are having a hard time getting it published, because the theme is... too "controversial" I guess?

So we decided to self publish and collect printing fees by crowd funding!

 I'd really, really, really appreciate it if you could spread the word.

 You Recieve a CUTE Pin Badge in Return!

　For contribution of 1000yen or more, I will send you a cute little pin badge (designed by me...I'll do my best to make it sooooooo cute you can't resist)!

(If you have a Japanese banking account,  to contribute--just go to this blog entry ↓

【告知】大和彩、同人誌制作費のご支援を募集中！ - 大和彩_Aya Yamato）

Our Mission for Self-Publishing this Book 

 My wonderful editor wrote a great text explaining this event, I translated it so I can share it with y'all! : 

Please HELP! A jobless woman wants to sell her book at the self-publishing sales event!

ーーー

 In the deadly Japanese summer heat, Aya Yamato, a jobless woman, was struck with an idea--
"I want to sell my self-published book at the 27th Literature Free Market https://bunfree.net/ , held on Nov.25, 2018!"

 No, she hasn't gone mad because of the heat wave.

 Yamato has never self-published a book or sold it at an event, which is quite scary. But even then, she has a message she wants to send through her book.

 Hello, we are "Gorilla Bunnies" a project team to self publish Aya Yamato's second book.

 In 2014, Yamato published a book "Jobless Woman-- My Journey of Getting Fired to Recieving Welfare" from WAVE Publishing, Inc.

 The content of the book is exactly as explained in the title. Since then, Yamato has been living with her mental and physical condition.

 The next subject Yamato decided to write about was about an end of a phase in one of her long-time illness, and also about a mission she decided to take on at that time.

 This journey has been serialized as a column in "messy," a web-magazine for women from June, 2017 to Feb, 2018.

▼You're not a woman without a Uterus? That's crazy!▼

 The condition which Yamato has been battling for a long time is Endometriosis. It is a common condition, but symptoms vary for every woman. Yamato's condition was quite severe.

 In 2017, doctors agreed to perform her hysterectomy, a procedure to take out the uterus.

 It was good news considering her health condition, but Yamato had concerns, too.

 In Japan there are myths surrounding this particular organ.
"You are not a woman anymore if you lose your uterus"
"Your sex life changes for the worse after hysterectomy"

 Terrible myths, untrue, of course (but a lot of Japanese believe it).

 Yamato couldn't help the impulse to "prove with my body that these rumors are untrue!"

 However at that point, Yamato hadn't had sex in 10 years. How's she ever gonna prove anything, being sexless?

 That was the start of the project "Does the existence of uterus change how a woman feels?"

 Dating applications and mature social gatherings. Yamato, with her surgery only weeks away, meets men whom she had never come across in her life.

▼Mission Statement: To have Aya Yamato's journey read by as many people as possible▼

 We will self-publish the serialized column in a self-published book and sell it.

 To begin with, we will participate in the Literature Flea Market in November (we've already applied and paid to participate).

 The reason Yamato began the column was to let women, who hesitate on getting hysterectomy, know the truth. Many women in Japan believe that without a uterus "I won't be a woman anymore" and that "my sexlife will change for the worse."  Yamato wants them to know that is only a myth and they don't need to worry about that when getting hysterectomy.

 By making this into a book, we hope that even more people can share the truth.

▼Please help! We need printing fees!▼

 That being said, we are broke.

 It is costly to print a book. Yamato is a "Jobless" woman. It is very difficult for her to come up with printing fees.

 Therefore we decided to ask for contributions to create this book. Main use of the money will be as follows:

 ・Creation & Printing …about $700
 ・Fees to create pin-badge in return of contributions…about $150
 ・Miscellaneous…about $100

▼Lastly▼

 Thank you for reading this to the end.

 This book includes many important themes such as below.
"What makes woman a woman?"
"How can a woman realize her ideal sexual life?"
"What is a uterus for woman?"

 Our wish is for more woman and men plus people of all sexualities, to be able read this book, compared to while it was serialized on web.
In order to do so, we sincerely need you contribution.
Thank you for your help, in advance!

*Contributions accepted from 1000yen

*Even if you could just spread the word, we will be deeply grateful!

Thanks again, we look forward to hearing from you!
(written by Yue Miura)

Thank you so much for reading this loooong post! Hope you all are doing well!

updated 09/18/2018

ご支援状況☆彡ありがとうございます Thank You for All Your Support, Updates☆彡

感謝 Our Deepest Gratitude

皆さまからのご支援、続々あつまっております!!
Thank you all, we've been receiving so many support and positivity!

現在ポルカは52,100円、ご寄付いただいてます。
Currently friends have contributed 52,100yen from polca.

日本中が大変な中、皆さまのご無事を祈らずにはいれません。
While Japan suffers disasters from continued quakes and power failures, I can only pray that everyone is safe and well.

そんな中、私たちのクラファンにご支援いただけて、本当に感謝しきれません。

We really appreciate that out of all the fundings out there, you chose to pledge for us.

ポルカは9月末まで、あと23日です。10万円の目標額、達成するまで頑張ります！

Fundraising event continues til the end of Sep, 23 more days to go--we still aim to hit our 100,000yen target!!

ご支援、本当にありがとうございます。皆さまに幸あれ～☆
Thank you for your continued support! I love all of you!

ポルカでのご支援 To Contribute from polca

https://polca.jp/projects/HKWssYLnEdZ

上のリンクをお使いください。
Please use the above link.

プロジェクト概要 Info on this Project

日本語でのこのプロジェクトの詳細は、こちらのエントリーをご覧ください。

【告知】大和彩、同人誌制作費のご支援を募集中！ - 大和彩_Aya Yamato

* * * *

沢山のご支援、重ねてお礼申し上げます。本当に勇気づけられ、エンパワメントを感じております！

Again thanks for all your support! We've been really encouraged and empowered!

updated 09/18/2018 

A Crowd Funding Company Declined our Project, saying Hysterectomy is "Indecent"

Japanese version of this entry from here 

Intro

 You might have thought that funding for our book is difficult because Japan has declining birthrate and don't want women to have hysterectomy, but I think the root of the cause is more barbaric. 

 I'll explain why below.

Message We Want to Spread Through this Book 

•  Is a person not a woman withough a uterus?
•  How is sex life after hysterectomy? 
•  How do you define a woman?
•  How can a woman realize her ideal sex life?

 I used to write a serialized column featuring the above themse on the web site "messy"  titled "Until the Penis Reaches the Uterus--Sex Before and After Hysterectomy."

This is the message I wanted to send through this series. 

 "A person does not cease being a woman due to a  loss of a uterus. There is no change in sex after hysterectomy. There is no need for a  woman considering hysterectomy to worry about those things; she should concentrate on her treatment."

 "Messy" is a site geared towards women and readers are mainly young women. To send this message to more people in Japan, my editor and I decided to self-publish the column into a book (one of those dojinshi type books). 

We want to spread the message to older women (after menopause many women get hysterectomy) and men, also people of all sexuality, trans-gender people. Some women are born without a uterus; that doesn't make her less of a woman. 

 Our dream is to spread this message, considered a taboo to even mention, all over Japan.

Why We wereDeclined by the Largest Crowdfunding Co.

 Since we don't have funds to print the book, we decided to ask for contributions through crowd funding, and applied to the largest crowdfunding platform in Japan.

 However, our project was declined by the company running the platform, reason being the theme is too "わいせつ (translated as Indecent, Sexually explicit, Immoral, Obscene)" and that "it might cause significant, inappropriate SEXUAL AROUSAL in juveniles."

My Crowdfunding Illusions?

 I believed crowdfunding is a wonderful thing, an icon for the future. I thought of crowdfunding as revolutionary method, allowing to break down barriers between people and help realize society that values friendship, peace, and equality. 

 I can't put into words how discouraged and sad I was to have our dreams, to spread the message, labled as Indecent, Sexually explicit, Immoral and Obscene. 

 My shock was beyond workds since I really believed that people involved in crowdfunding would be more open minded.

 Was it just an illusion to think of crowdfunding as revolutionary?

Any Woman has the Possiblity of Getting Endometriosis 

 There is possiblilty for any woman to have endometriosis. I hate to even mention this, but it is NOT a sexually transmitted disease either, as commonly believed in Japan. Sexual experience, age, experience of childbirth, does not cause nor prevent endometriosis. Therefore any woman has the possibility of experiencing hysterectomy as well.

 That might be your mother. Woman after menopause commonly have hysterectomy. It may be your wife, daughter, sister, friend. Anyone with a uterus has the possiblity of having endomtriosis and hysterectomy. 

 Let's imagine your loved one saying to you one day,

"I'm going to have hysterectomy soon, and I'm scared." 

 What are you going to do?

 Are you going to say

 "Don't mention such Indecent, Sexually explicit, Immoral and Obscene things to me!"

Women Not Included in This Company's Concept of Society?

 I really have no clue why trying to find out about endometriosis and hysterectomy, and how one's life might change due to it, would be seen as Indecent, Sexually explicit, Immoral or Obscene.

 "To democratize the process of fundraising and to create society where everyone has a voice"

 This is the Mission Statement of the company that we applied to.

 "Society where everyone has a voice"??

 Do only men exist in the "society" this company is mentioning?

 Are women not included in "everyone" who should have a voice?

Japan Doesn't Allow Women to Improve her QOL

 I do not hold contempt for the company which called our project indecent etc. Ironically, the app "polca" we're using for Japanese friends is owned by that company.

 But I did want our international friends to know the current Japanese situation with women's health, which is probably about a 100yrs. behind the U.S.

 In Japan, oral contraceptive and pailess childbirth still isn't common in Japan. Somehow Japanese people hate the idea of women improving her quality of life through medicine and medical procedures, especially when it comes to reproductive organs.

Thanks for reading this to the end!!

『さよならタマちゃん（武田一義）』精巣腫瘍という睾丸のがんをつうじた生と死の考察 てきな

●『さよならタマちゃん（武田一義）』

　『さよならタマちゃん（武田一義）』を読み、完成度の高さにぶっとばされました。

　本書は作者の実体験をもとに描かれました。当時漫画家アシスタントの34歳。その若さで精巣腫瘍という睾丸のがん、発覚。しかも肺に転移までしていたためにきつい抗がん剤治療が必要でした。

　本書はその病気発覚～入院手術～退院までを描いた漫画作品です。

●

　最初は闘病記かと思い、手に取ったのですが、精巣腫瘍や手術のことはさらりと触れられているだけです。

　本書では、夫婦愛、仕事、夢を追いかけるということ、さらには病気のこと、それらが網羅されています。闘病記の枠には収まらない、もっと普遍的な生と死を絵テーマとした作品でした。

●自分のこと書くのは大変よ　

　こんな風に人さまのことだときつい病名もささっと書けちゃうことに我ながら驚きです。

　なぜなら私は去年、女性科疾患で入院・手術したのですが、病名・手術内容をいちいち書くと辛かった記憶が甦るので、あまり書けないからです。

　 本書は「実体験をもとにした」、とありますが、体験をただ時系列で追ったものじゃありません。読んでみると作者が伝えたいメッセージを明確にするため、様々な体験をブレンドしキャラクターや各シーン、セリフを作り上げていることが分かります。

　自分の辛かった体験をこんな風に練り上げて作品に起こすのは本当に大変なこと。作者を心から尊敬します。漫画作家さんてすごいなあ！

●

　私が好きなシーンは退院間近、同室の人たちとカップめんを食べながら談笑する場面です。退院間近、日々の治療の辛さから解放されたひととき。外は秋晴れ、お祭りが開催されています。

　一見、他愛もない会話がのんきに交わされるのですが、バックに流れる太鼓の音がなんだか不気味な通奏低音となっています。

　最後まで読んでからまたこのシーンを読み返すと、この他愛ない言葉のやりとりに込められていた各キャラクターの複雑な心情が明らかになります。非常に効果的な演出だと思います。

『さよならタマちゃん（武田一義・講談社）』より