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Portfolio /作品一覧

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Art History /アートヒストリー

序文

現在、島根県教育委員会の嘱託スクールカウンセラーを務める安部利一は大学卒業後、一貫して児童の心裡に寄り添い続けてきた。奥出雲に生まれた少年は朝鮮戦争から高度経済成長期へと目まぐるしく変化する戦後日本の動乱を目の当たりにしながら、いかにして児童心理の道を歩み、いかにして筆を執ることになったのか。その半生と共に振り返りたい。

幼少期

安部利一は1939年2月8日、島根県横田町（現在の奥出雲町）に安部家の長男として生まれました。
幼少期は、その豊かな自然の中で遊んだり、秋祭りの相撲大会に積極的に出場するなど、活発な子どもとして成長しました。また当時は戦中戦後の食糧難だったということもあり、魚取りや井戸の水汲みなどで家庭を助けていたそうです。
一方で小学校では、多動症や知的障がいを抱えた同級生たちの面倒をみたり、時にいじめから庇うなど、芯の通った正義感の強い少年でした。しかし当時の教育制度では「障がいがある子どもは学校に通わせなくてよい」とされるなど、日本社会の障がいに対する理解が極めて低かったと言います。さらに小学校5年の時、彼らを悲劇が襲います。多動症を患っていた同級生が川に転落して命を落としたのです。なんとも言えない理不尽な運命が子どもたちの心に重くのしかかったことは、想像するに難くありません。
「なぜ彼らばかりが辛い思いをしなくてはならないのか」
そんな風当たりの強さを肌で感じていた利一少年が、後々、子どもの心に寄り添う道を歩むことになるのは、必然だったと言えるでしょう。

学生時代

昭和25年、利一は地元横田中学校に入学。勉学の他に相撲や駅伝、応援団など、文武両道で青春を謳歌して過ごします。
さらに昭和28年には横田高校の普通科に進学。ここでも応援団に入るのですが、団内ではいじめが常態化しているという痛ましい状況を目の当たりにします。すると利一の心の中に、またしても持ち前の正義感が燃えたぎってくるのです。3年生になるとすぐさま副団長に立候補し、いじめ撲滅のため団内をまとめ上げることとなりました。
「なんであんなことができたのか自分でもわかりません。多分、責任感が強かったのでしょうね」

大学時代

昭和32年、利一は猛勉強の末、国立の島根大学教育学部に入学します。しかし当時の安部家では父親が病弱で思うように働けず、代わりに長兄が早くから働きに出て家計を支えているという内情がありました。当時は同様に年上の兄弟姉妹が一家を支えるケースが少なくなかったそうですが、利一の胸には
「自分だけ大学に行かせてもらって申し訳ない」という負い目がありました。
そんな家族との間には「卒業後は必ず公務員になる」という約束があったと言います。大学まで行かせてもらった分、早く安定した職に就いて家庭を支えるためだったのでしょう。そのため利一は、当初は教員になろうと考えていたそうです。しかし次第に自分が教員に不向きと感じ、方向転換を余儀なくされます。そんな折に出会ったのが児童相談所でした。幸いにも入学当初から心理学を専攻していた利一にとって、それは渡りに船の出会いだったと言えるでしょう。また彼の脳裏には、常に小学校時代の辛い思い出がありました。
「自分の仕事で少しでも子どもたちを支えてあげたい」
悲しい別れをした同級生たちが、背中を押してくれたのかもしれません。

社会人時代、作家へ

そんな矢先に、またしても悲劇が起こります。良き理解者でもあった妻が急逝したのです。大きな絶望と深い悲しみに見舞われた利一。それでも筆を折ることはできませんでした。自分がこれまで取り組み続けてきた児童相談の仕事、そして妻が望んだ仕事です。
「妻の思いに応えるためにも頑張ろう」
利一は子育ての悩みを解決する記事を皮切りに、児童の心の悩みに向き合う執筆活動を継続しました。気づくとタウン誌での連載は17年にまでおよび、ついには読者の要望で書籍にまとめて刊行するまでに至ります。
「これからも読者のため、読んだ方に役立つものを書き続けたい」
利一はそんな思いを込めて、今日も筆を執り続けます。

Introduction

Riichi Abe, currently contracted as a school counselor for Shimane Prefecture’s Board of Education, has worked in the field of child psychology since graduating from university. Born in Okuizumo, young Abe witnessed dizzying changes including Japan’s post war upheaval from the Korean War to period of rapid economic growth during his formative years. Why did he go into child psychology and later become a writer? We will take a look at his early life.

Youth in Ohgo

Riichi Abe was born on February 8, 1939 in Yokotacho Town (currently Okuizumo-cho), Shimane Prefecture as the youngest of first boys in the Abe family.
In his youth, Abe grew up as an active child, enjoying playing in verdant nature and actively participating in sumo tournaments held in the fall. At the time, there was a food shortage during and after World War II, so he helped out around the house by fishing and fetching water from a well.
He grew up as a courageous child with a strong sense of justice. During elementary school, he looked after classmates with ADHD or intellectual disabilities and protected them from bullying at times. Under the education system at the time, however, it was acceptable for people to keep children with disabilities at home instead of attending school, meaning Japan’s understanding of disabilities was extremely poor. When he was a fifth grader his school experienced tragedy. A student with ADHD fell into a river and died. It’s not hard to imagine that such tragic loss of life would greatly traumatize the children’s hearts. “Why do those with disabilities have to go through such pain?”
Young Riichi learned by experience, how cruel this world can be. It was destined for him to choose a path of helping children’s mental health later in life.

Student Days

In 1950, Riichi entered the local Yokota Junior High School. He enjoyed his years in school being good in both academics and in sports. In addition to studying, he joined the sumo team, ekiden (long distance running) team and cheer squad.
In 1953, he graduated and moved on to Yokota High School’s regular course. He also joined the cheer squad at his new school, but witnessed the painful situation that bullying on the team was commonplace. This ignited Riichi’s sense of justice deep within his heart. In his senior year, he became a co-captain of the team and in this role he took action to resolve and eradicate bullying inside the team。
“I’m not sure how I was able to do that. I probably had a strong sense of responsibility.”

University Days

After diligent studying, in 1957 Riichi enrolled in the Faculty of Education at Shimane University, a national university. At the time, however, the Abe family was faced with a challenging financial situation. His father was ill and could not work full time, so his oldest brother entered the workforce early to support the family. At the time, there were many cases where the oldest sibling supported the entire family. Deep down, Riichi felt a sense of guilt for being the only person in the family attending university.
He promised the family that after graduating he would become a civil servant. This was because he wanted to quickly find a stable job to help support his family after being allowed to attend university. Therefore, at first Riichi had thought of becoming a teacher. However, he gradually felt teaching was not suited to him and he was forced to change direction. This is when he came across a child consultation center. Fortunately, Riichi had been majoring in psychology from the very beginning. Thus, this encounter came as a lifesaver. Also, in the back of his mind ,he had always been thinking of his bitter experiences during elementary school. “I want to help as many children as possible through my work.”His classmates who experienced a sad farewell may have pushed him in the right direction.

Full Time Career and Becoming an Author

After becoming a clinical psychologist at a child consultation center, Riichi worked on children’s mental health and well-being. Just then, Japan entered a period of rapid economic growth. Due to the constant change in the environment surrounding children, his daily work became even more challenging.
Through such challenging times, there was one person who supported Riichi the most. It was his wife, his former colleague. Learning from her friendliness and her approach in treating everyone equally, Riichi recognized the importance of empathy.
In this manner, Riichi steadily built his career as an expert in child psychology. One day, the publication of a private sector town magazine fell into his lap. Initially, his wife was the one that volunteered first to help out as an assistant. That made Riichi determined to become an author to support the publication of a town magazine fostering the local community.

 

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Profile /経歴

安部利一 Riichi Abe

1939年、島根県仁多郡奥出雲町横田出身。
現在、島根県教育委員会嘱託スクールカウンセラー。医療法人「松ヶ丘病院」非常勤。「おちハートクリニック」非常勤。「島根県立石見高等看護学院」非常勤講師。臨床心理士、公認心理師。

Born in Shimane Prefecture in 1939.
Currently a school counselor commissioned by the Shimane Prefectural Board of Education. Part-time at Matsugaoka Hospital. Part-time at Ochi Heart Clinic. Part-time lecturer at Shimane Iwami Advanced Nursing School. He is a clinical psychologist and a licensed psychologist.

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