音元出版会長 和田光征の「巻頭言」2020年2月：先代会長岩間正次氏から託されたこと

岩間正次会長のこと

私が取締役社長になったのは1984年のこと、先代の社長であった岩間正次氏はその際に代表取締役会長となった。その岩間会長が他界されたのは1992年のこと、享年71歳であった。そして私は48歳で代表取締役社長に就任した。

岩間会長が亡くなる前夜、私が虎ノ門病院に駆けつけたのが19時半頃。看護師さんの案内で暗い会長の部屋に着くと、「…分かってるだろう」と言われた。「自分はもうあの世へ行くが、本当に君には感謝している、ありがとう」としっかりと手を握られた。そして、「ワイフを頼む、娘たちを頼む、会社を頼む。君がやる気がないなら会社は畳んでくれ。やってくれるなら社長、相談役、そして顧問になって会社を守って欲しい」と言う。私は「わかりました。しっかり守ってまいります」と会長の手を握って応え、看護師さんに促されて病院を出た。

翌日一番で再び病院に行くと会長は別の部屋に移されていて、「よく来てくれたねぇ」と言う。医師の説明では厳しいとのことであった。昼になって私は銀座で昼食をとり、デパートで弔辞用の巻紙を調達した。病院に戻ると会長は既に亡くなっていて、その時間はちょうど私が巻紙を購入した時だった。この符合は極めて意味があると私は感じ、会長の私への思いが伝わってきたのだった。

岩間会長はよく旅行に行ったが、ある時友人との旅行の前に上野のふじ屋で昼食をとっていると、慌てた様子でカバンや服のポケットを探している。「何をなくしました？」と尋ねると「薬なんだよ。旅行は厳しいな」と本当に困った様子で言う。私は「10分待ってください。何とかします」と言うと走り出て、手を尽くして代わりの薬を手に入れ、会長の元に戻った。

するとさっきまでのうち沈んだ会長の顔が昼間のお天道様のように明るくなった。「頼りになるのは君だけだな・・・」と言いながら、会長は私の肩を抱きしめた。表に出て、上野駅の方へ手を振りながら一人で歩いて行き、雑踏の中へと消えていった。

私の胸中はこの上ない安堵に包まれた。旅に出る会長の嬉しさが私の胸中にもいっぱいになって伝わってくる。会長はその日、友人たちと共に無事東北へと旅立った。私も嬉しい限りであった。

ENGLISH
Mr. Masatsugu Iwama

When I was appointed president of Ongen Publishing in 1984, the previous president, Mr. Masatsugu Iwama, became representative director and chairman of the company. Mr. Iwama passed away in 1992, at the age of 71. I then took over as representative director and president, at the age of 48.

In the evening of the day before Mr. Iwama passed away, I visited him in Toranomon Hospital at around seven-thirty. When a nurse showed me to his dark room, he said to me, “You understand the situation, I’m sure . . .” He gripped my hand firmly and went on, “I’m going to the other world. I’m so very grateful to you. Thank you.” And then he added, “Take care of my wife and daughters, please. And the company. If you don’t want to carry on, fold it up. If you want to have a go, then take good care of the firm as president, chairman, counselor and advisor.” “Understood,” I replied, shaking his hand. “I’ll take good care of them all.” Then the nurse signaled to me that time was up, and I left the hospital.

First thing the next day I went to the hospital again. Mr. Iwama had been moved to another room. “Thank you for coming,” he muttered. According to the doctor’s explanation, Mr. Iwama’s condition was critical. I ate lunch in Ginza and then went to a department store to buy some rolled paper for a funeral address. When I returned to the hospital, Mr. Iwama had already passed away. He had died at precisely the time I had been purchasing the rolled paper. What an extremely poignant coincidence, I thought. I realized just how much Mr. Iwama had felt for me.

Mr. Iwama often went on trips. Once, before he went on a trip with some friends, I had lunch with him at Fujiya in Ueno. Mr. Iwama was desperately rummaging through his bags and pockets searching for something. “What have you lost?” I asked. “My medicine,” he replied, looking really distressed. “I can’t go without my medicine.” “Wait here for 10 minutes. I’ll see to it,” I said, getting up and dashing out. Eventually I returned to Mr. Iwama with some alternative medicine that I had managed to find.

Upon receiving the medicine, Mr. Iwama, who had been so down until then, suddenly brightened up, his face beaming just like the sun in the middle of the day. “You’re the only one I can trust,” he said, giving me a hug. When we went outside, he set off alone in the direction of Ueno Station, waving to me until his figure was lost in the crowd.

What a relief! I could fully sense how pleased Mr. Iwama was to be going on his trip. He safely departed for Tohoku that day together with his friends. I felt so pleased as well.