The Restaurant of Many Orders

Two gentlemen from the city went to a forest in the mountains to hunt. Dressed like British hunters, they had as companions two large white dogs. However, after a day of hunting, they have failed to capture any game. Deep in the mountains, they are separated from their guide, and the forest begins to take on a sinister air. Their dogs howl, then foam at the mouth and fall dead. The two gentlemen discuss their monetary losses, then decide to return home. Finding themselves hungry, they soon spot an elegant Western-style building with the sign “Restaurant Wildcat House” hung across the entrance. Despite the bizarre emergence of this fine restaurant deep in the mountains, the two are so hungry that they decide to enter the restaurant. There, they find glass door with peculiar orders: “Please come in. No reservations necessary." They decided to enter the restaurant. In the restaurant, there is a precautionary statement. It said, “Our restaurant is the restaurant of many orders. So, we kindly ask your understanding.” They interpreted it this restaurant is very famous and many orders spend their time to prepare the dishes. They opened the door and there was another door. In the room, there was a precautionary statement “Please comb your hair and remove the mud of your shoes.” Every time they open doors, precautionary statements say strange orders.

[2]

Kenji had been thinking about disadvantages of his birth of place, Tohoku area. For example, Tohoku area has very harsh nature which is strongly related to death or poverty. Meanwhile, he also believes that human can live with nature through agriculture. Kenji's region is Nichiren sect of Buddhism. Nichiren sect has truth called Issinhokai. It means that the universe equally has the unique and absolute rule. These points reflect this work.

Firstly, two gentlemen's clothes look like sailor clothes. They come forest to hunt wild animals. But their look isn't fit to their purpose. It is often said that Kenji criticized western civilization symbolized two gentlemen. Secondly, two gentlemen accept almost strange orders. They were very hungry and tired. So, they lost normal ability to think. Precautionary statement is written language. Written language is unidirectional communication tool. They were forced to interpret it what is convenient to them. Therefore, their interpretations are so funny.

• 1958 - Chūmon no ōi ryōriten (puppet animation)
• 1993 - Chūmon no ōi ryōriten (animation)
• 2012 - Chūmon no ōi ryōriten (in Bungo sasayaka na yokubo)

• Getsuyō Onna no Suspense (Bungo series)
  • Aired December 10, 1990 (TV Tokyo)[3]
• 80nen go no Kenji - Miyzawa Kenji Eizō Dōwa shū
  • Aired February 20, 2013 (NHK BS Premium) commemorating 80th anniversary of Miyazawa Kenji's death.[4]
  • Director: Shibue Shūhei
  • Cast: Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, Sarutoki Minagawa, Yasoda Yūichi

• Miyazawa Kenji
• Night on the Galactic Railroad
• Kaze no Matasaburō
• Gauche the Cellist
• List of Japanese writers

• Full text of "The Restaurant of Many Orders" in the original Japanese from the Aozora electronic library
• Full English translation of "The Restaurant With Many Orders" from Wikisource
• e-texts of Kenji Miyazawa's works at Aozora Bunko