社員：明日のパーティーは、部長に取り仕切っていただきたいのですが…
部長：いや、こういうことは若い人にまかせて、私はのんびりさせてもらうよ。
Torishikiru
Shain: Ashita no paatii wa, buchoo ni torishikitte itadaki tai no desu ga....
Buchoo: lya, koo iu koto wa wakai hito ni makasete, watashi wa nonbiri sasete morau yo.
Staff member: We'd like to leave tomorrow's party in your hands. You know, let you run the whole show.
Chief: No thanks. You should leave it up to those younger guys. I'm planning to take it easy.
* * *
Torishikiru refers to managing or doing all by oneself, to running the whole thing, to having com- plete control over, to having something under one's thumb.
In Tokyo's Roppongi, there's a wonderful French restaurant called Queen Alice. Primarily with the pur- pose of announcing the engagement of our daughter, my husband and I decided to have a party for our relatives there. I was scheduled to attend a meeting in the morning on the day of the party. I knew that I wouldn't be able to get to the restaurant much before the party was to begin. I said to my husband, "Toojitsu no paatii wa, anata ga torishikitte kudasai ne (You run the whole thing on the day of the party, okay)?" My husband: "Boku ni torishikiraseru no wa, yameta hoo ga ii yo (I don't think it's such a good idea to let me manage the whole thing by myself)." It's the day of the party. Just as I'd expected, by the time I arrived in Roppongi the party had already begun. Worried, I entered the restaurant and found about 20 of my relatives all standing around the en- trance. To my mother-in-law: "I'm so sorry to be late." Her response: "Torishikiru hito ga inai kara minasan magomago shite imasu (With no one ap- parently in charge of things everyone has just been lingering about out here)." Even though I replied, "Shujin ni torishikitte kureru yoo ni, tanonde oita no desu ga (I asked my husband to take care of everything, but)" it was a feeble excuse.
What do I mean by "take care of everything" in this case? All he'd had to do was greet the guests, get them seated and then make a few welcoming remarks.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was truly elegant. Once everyone was seated though, they all looked over our way, waiting for something to happen, some signal from us. When I asked my husband to make some welcoming remarks, he replied, "But we're all just here to eat today. There's no need for any aisatsu." Yes, I too am bored by parties where the so-called "greetings" go on and on, but it's strange to say nothing at all.
"Everyone, thank you all for coming today on behalf of these two young people. I'd like at this time to ask my daughter's future father-in-law to make a toast" My sister: "Yappari, oneesan ga torishikiranai to, paatii ga shinkoo shimasen ne (I thought so. Unless Mizue takes control, the party won't get moving)." There were no special speeches after the toast. Everyone enjoyed talking and eating until it was time to leave. About that time my father came over to me. "You can't let the party end without introducing the two kids, you know. Somebody's got to introduce them." "All right, Dad. Then you do it," I said. My father then stood up and made a short speech of introduction. Yappari, paatii wa, torishikiru hito ga inai to, umaku ikanai yoo desu (Parties just won't be successful unless there's someone running the whole affair). In formality-conscious Japan, one seems required to play by the rules more often than not.