THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 OR 
 
 O'lWA INARI 
 
BY THIS AUTHOR 
 SAKURAMBO 
 
 (THE FRUIT OF THE TREE) 
 
 Travel notes on thoughts and things Japanese, exper - 
 eneed during a four years' sojourn in the country 
 
 Octavo. 339 pages. 
 
 MORE JAPONICO 
 
 A critique of the effect of an idea — communityism — 
 on the life and history of a people 
 
 Octavo. VI, 594 pages. 
 
 SAITO MUSASHI-BO BENKEI 
 
 (TALES OF THE WARS OF THE GEMPEI) 
 
 Being the story of the lives and adventures of 
 lyo-no-Kami Minamoto Kuro Yoshitsune and Sait5 
 Musashi-Bo Benkei the Warrior Monk , 
 
 Octavo. 2 Vols., XXI, 844 pages, with 69 full page 
 illustrations (frontispieces in color) and 
 three maps. 
 
 OGURI HANGWAN ICHIDAIKI 
 
 (TALES OF THE SAMURAI) 
 
 Being the story of the lives, the adventures, and the 
 mis-adventures of the Hangwan-dai Kojiro Sukeshige 
 and Ternte-hime, his wife 
 
 Octavo. XV, 485 pages, with 45 full page illustrations 
 (frontispiece in color) and three maps. 
 
X3 
 
The O'Iwa of the Tamiya Inari .Iikja 
 of echizenborl, tokyo 
 
TALES OF THE TOKUGAWA 
 
 THE 
 
 YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 OR 
 
 O'lWA INARI 
 
 RETOLD FROM THE JAPANESE ORIGINALS ' 
 
 BY 
 
 JAMES S. DE BENNEVILLE 
 
 "The mainspring of human existence 
 is love {7iasake), for others or — oneself." 
 
 — Seishin 
 
 PRESS OF 
 
 J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, U. S. A. 
 1917 
 
copyright, 1917, by 
 James Seguin de Benneville 
 
 PRINTED AND COPYRIGHTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
 
PREFACE ^:P. P ""^ '^ 
 
 1^17 
 
 Tales of the Tokugawa can well be introduced by two " won- 
 der-stories " of Nippon. One of these, the Yotsuya Kwaidan,^ 
 is presented in the present volume, not so much because of the 
 incidents involved and the peculiar relation to a phase of Nip- 
 ponese mentality, as from the fact that it contains all the 
 machinery of the Nipponese ghost story. From this point of view 
 the reading of one of these tales disposes of a whole class of the 
 native literature. Difference of detail is found. But unless the 
 tale carries some particular interest, as of curious illustration of 
 customs or history — the excuse for a second presentation — a long 
 course of such reading becomes more than monotonous. It is 
 unprofitable. Curiously enough, it can be said that most Nip- 
 ponese ghost stories are true. When a sword is found en- 
 shrined, itself the malevolent influence — as is the Muramasa blade 
 of the Hamamatsu Suwa Jinja, the subject of the Komatsu 
 Onryu of Matsubayashi Hakuchi — and with such tradition 
 attached to it, it is difficult to deny a basis of fact attaching to the 
 tradition. The ghost story becomes merely an elaboration of 
 an event that powerfully impressed the men of the day and place. 
 Moreover this naturalistic element can be detected in the stories 
 themselves. Nipponese writers of to-day explain most of them 
 by the word shinkei — " nerves " ; the working of a guilty con- 
 science moulding succeeding events, and interpreting the results 
 to the subsequent disaster involved. The explanation is some- 
 what at variance with the native Shint5 doctrine of the moral 
 perfection of the Nipponese, and its maxim — follow the dictates 
 of one's heart; but that is not our present concern. 
 
 * Kwaidan means " Wonder Tale." The word is of general mean- 
 ing, requiring liinitation for the specific case. 
 
 7 
 
 507198 
 
8 PREFACE 
 
 Their theory, however, finds powerful support in the nature 
 of the Nipponese ghost. The Buddhist ghost does not remain 
 on earth. It has its travels and penalties to go through in the 
 nether world, or its residence in Paradise, before it begins a new 
 life — somewhere. The Shinto ghost, in the vagueness of Shinto 
 theology, does remain on earth. If of enough importance it is 
 enshrined, and rarely goes abroad, except when carried in proces- 
 sion at the time of the temple festival. Otherwise it finds its home 
 in the miniature shrine of the kami-dana or god-shelf. There is 
 a curious confusion of Nipponese thought on this subject; at least 
 among the mass of laity. At the Bon-Matsuri the dead revisit the 
 scene of their earthly sojourn for the space of three days; and yet 
 the worship of the ihai, or mortuary tablets, the food offerings 
 with ringing of the bell to call the attention of the resident Spirit 
 is a daily rite at the household Buddhist shrine (Butsu-dan). 
 When, therefore, the ghost does not conform to these well- 
 regulated habits, it is because it is an unhappy ghost. It is then 
 the O'Bake or Bakemono, the hjiunting ghost. Either it has be- 
 come an unworshipped spirit, or, owing to some atrocious injury 
 in life, it stays to wander the earth, and to secure vengeance on the 
 living perpetrator. In most cases this is efifected by the grudge 
 felt or spoken at the last moment of life. The mind, concentrated 
 in its hate and malice at this final crisis, secures to the Spirit a 
 continued and unhappy sojourn among the living, until the ven- 
 geance be secured, the grudge satisfied, and the Spirit pacified. 
 There are other unhappy conditions of this revisiting of life's 
 scenes ; as when the dead mother returns to nurse her infant, or 
 the dead mistress to console a lover. In the latter case, at least, 
 the expressed affection has a malignant effect, perhaps pur- 
 pose — as in the Botan D5ro of Sanyutei Ench5, a writer most 
 careful in observing all the niceties called for by the subject. 
 
 In the Nipponese ghost story the vengeful power of the ghost 
 acts through entirely natural means. The characters involved 
 suffer through their own delusions aroused by conscience. In the 
 
PREFACE 9 
 
 old days, and among the common people in Nippon to-day, the 
 supernatural was and is believed in, with but few exceptions. 
 Such stories still are held to be fact, albeit the explanation is 
 modern. Hence it can be said that the " Yotsuya Kwaidan " is a 
 true story. O'lwa, the Lady of Tamiya, really did exist in the 
 Genroku and Horei periods (1688-1710) ; just ante-dating the 
 reforming rule of the eighth Tokugawa Shogun, Yoshimune Ko. 
 Victim of an atrocious plot of her husband and others, she com- 
 mitted suicide with the vow to visit her rage upon all engaged 
 in the conspiracy. The shrine of the O'lwa Inari (Fox-witched 
 O'lwa) in Yotsuya was early erected (1717) to propitiate her 
 wrathful ghost ; and the shrines of Nippon, to the shabbiest and 
 meanest, have their definite record. On the register the name of 
 the husband appears as Ibei ; " probably correct," as Mr. Momo- 
 gawa tells us. With him the name of lemon is retained in the 
 present story. lemon is the classic example of the wicked and 
 brutal husband, on the stage and in the Gidayu recitation of Nip- 
 pon. There was but little reason to revert to the record. The 
 shrine always prospered. It appears on the maps of the district 
 as late as Ansei fourth year (1857) ; and the writer has had 
 described to him by a friend a visit to this shrine some twenty 
 years ago. The lady in question referred to it rather vaguely 
 as beyond Samegafuchi : i.e., at Yotsuya Samoncho. It was par- 
 ticularly favoured by the hair dressers, and to the eyes of a young 
 girl was a gorgeous structure in its continually renewed decora- 
 tion. Inquiry of late in the district elicited the information that 
 the shrine had been removed. Many changes have been made on 
 the southern side of Yotsuya by the passage of the railway from 
 lidamachi to Shinjuku. The Myogyoji, with other temples there 
 located, has been swept away. In fact the Meiji period handled 
 all those institutions established by deceased piety with great 
 roughness. Teramachi — Temple Street — is now but a name. The 
 temples of eastern Yotsuya have nearly all disappeared. Have 
 public institutions occupied this " public land "? Of course; the 
 
10 PREFACE 
 
 sites were sold for the secular purpose of profit, and poverty 
 spread wide and fast over them. Yotsuya got the shell of this 
 oyster. 
 
 About the middle of Meiji therefore (say 1893) the shrine 
 disappeared from Yotsuya Samonchd ; to be re-erected in Echizen- 
 bori near the Sumidagawa. Local inquiry could or would give 
 but little information. A fortunate encounter at the Denzu-In 
 with an University student, likewise bent on hunting out the old 
 sites of Edo's history, set matters right. Subsequent visits to 
 the newer shrine were not uninteresting, though the presence of 
 the mirror of O'lwa and of the bamboo tube inclosing her Spirit 
 (Mr. Momogawa) was strenuously denied by the incumbent. In 
 the presence of the very genuine worship at the lady's shrine much 
 stress need not be laid on the absence. 
 
 The present story practically is based on the " Yotsuya Kwai- 
 dan " of Shunkintei Ryuo, a famous story-teller of the Yoshiwara, 
 and an old man when the " Restoration " of the Meiji period 
 occurred. The sketch given in the " OTwa Inari Yurei " of 
 Momogawa Jakuen filled in gaps, and gave much suggestion in 
 moulding the story into a consistent whole. Parts merely 
 sketched by the older story-teller found completeness. This col- 
 lection of ghost stories — the " Kwaidan Hyaku Monogatari " 
 published by the Kokkwado— is in the main written by Mr. 
 Momogawa, and can be recommended as one of the best of these 
 collections, covering in shorter form the more important stories 
 of this class of the native literature. The " Yotsuya Kwaidan " 
 of Shinsai Toyo, one of the older and livelier of the Kodan lec- 
 turers, gives the scene at the house of Chobei, and his quarrel 
 with Toemon. It is found in the " Kwaidan-Shu " published by 
 the Hakubun-kwan. The gidayn (heroic recitation) and the 
 drama handle all these stories for their own peculiar purposes. 
 The incidents of a tale are so distorted, for stage use and dramatic 
 efiPect, as to make these literary forms of sniall avail. The letter 
 of O'Hana, however, is practically that of the play of Tsuruya 
 
PREFACE 1 1 
 
 Namboku (Katsu Byozo). It has been thought well to append 
 to the story the gidayu of this writer, covering the scene in lemon's 
 house. Also the strange experience of the famous actor Kiku- 
 goro, third of that name, is put into English for the curious 
 reader. Kikugoro was the pioneer in the representation of the 
 Namboku drama. 
 
 This life history of the O'lwa Inari — the moving cause of the 
 establishment of her shrine — is no mere ghost story. It is a very 
 curious exposition of life in Edo among a class of officials en- 
 tirely different from the fighting samurai who haunted the fencing 
 schools of Edo ; from the men higher up in social status, who 
 risked heads, or rather bellies, in the politics of the day and the 
 struggle to obtain position, which meant power, in the palace 
 clique. These latter were men who sought to have a share in the 
 government of the Shogun's person, and hence of the nation. 
 They strove to seat themselves in the high posts of the palace. 
 Here was a rapidly revolving wheel to which a man must cling, or 
 be dashed to pieces. To prevent being shoved off into destruction 
 they used every means of slander and intrigue, and fought against 
 such, that the life of a rich and luxurious court afforded. The 
 result, too often, was the present of a dagger from the suzerain 
 they sought to please. Trapped into some breach of the harsh 
 discipline, or even of mere form of etiquette, the gift was "respect- 
 fully received " with the mocking face of gratitude, even from 
 the hand of the successful rival in office. At his home the de- 
 feated politician cut his belly open. His obedience to the suzerain's 
 will was duly reported. His family was ruined or reprieved 
 according to a capricious estimation of its power of resentment — 
 and it became a question of " who next? " to try for a place on 
 the wheel. On the contrary those lower officials,- engaged in the 
 dull routine of bureaucratic offi>ce, had a much less dangerous 
 
 *The go-kenin, for the most part; although some hatamoto. whose 
 incomes ran as low as 300 koku could be classed with them. In Eng- 
 lish — cf. T. H. Gubbins — Trans. Asiatic Soc. of Japan, xv. 
 
12 PREFACE 
 
 service and etiquette to deal with. In insignificant ease they Uved 
 and intrigued in their petty way, under no obligation to take sides 
 in the politics of the truly great. If they fell, it was largely their 
 own fault. Such was the position of those in immediate contact 
 with the working wheels of the Shogun's Government. The great 
 bugyO (magistrates) were continually shifting. Their court staff 
 was the solid foundation of unyielding precedent in form. The 
 one was a court officer; the others court officers. 
 
 Hence the Kwaidan possesses value for the social lesson it 
 conveys. The admittance of a stranger to the ward, his evil 
 bond with the Lady of Taniiya, the previous passion for O'Hana 
 and thereby the entanglement of Kwaiba in the plot ; all form a 
 network in which the horror of the story is balanced by the useful 
 lessons to be drawn by the mind of Nippon from its wickedness. 
 Perhaps this belief in the effect of the curse of the suicide acts 
 both in deterring or bringing back the erring husband, and in 
 saving the wife from the extremities of her despair in abandon- 
 ment. The story of OTwa, the belief in her power, to-day has 
 a strong influence on a certain class of the Nipponese mind; espe- 
 cially among the women. If the present writer might have felt 
 momentarily an amused feeling at sight of her worshippers, it 
 was quickly lost at sight of the positive unhappiness expressed 
 in these faces of the abandoned. A visit to the Tamiya Inari 
 is not necessarily either one of idle curiosity or without results. 
 Some exceedingly painful impressions can be brought away in 
 the mind. 
 
 It is not entirely in jest therefore that apology is made for the 
 reproduction of the story. It is well in such matters to follow 
 one's predecessors. Moreover, public sentiment is not to be de- 
 rided nor disregarded. It has a certain title to respect, even when 
 superstition is involved. Hence the statement can be made, that 
 in telling this story of the " Yotsuya Kwaidan " no derogatory 
 motive is involved — to people, class, or person ; least of all in 
 reference to the dread Lady of Tamiya. 
 
 Omarudani — 4th July, 1916. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Chapter. Page 
 
 Proem 15 
 
 I. O'mino and Densuke 17 
 
 II. Kawai San of Kanda Ku 28 
 
 III. Takahashi Daihachiro 35 
 
 IV. The Appearance of O'Iwa San 43 
 
 V. The Affair of the Shiba Kiridoshi 49 
 
 VI. Negotiations: The Business of a Nakodo or Marriage 
 
 Broker 63 
 
 VII. Iemon Appears 74 
 
 VIII. If Old Acquaintance be Forgot 86 
 
 IX. Love Knots 93 
 
 X. The Plot Against O'iwa 99 
 
 XI. The Plot Develops 106 
 
 XII. Kwaiba's Revenge 114 
 
 XIII. The Yotaka (Nighthawks) of Honjo 123 
 
 XIV. The Punishment 131 
 
 XV. Chobei Gets the News 141 
 
 XVI. News Reaches Kwaiba 155 
 
 XVII. News of Kwaiba 162 
 
 XVIII. In the Shadow of the Go Inkyo 173' 
 
 XIX. Tamiya Yoemon: With News of Kondo Rokurobei and 
 
 Myozen the Priest 180 
 
 XX. Kibei Dono 195 
 
 XXI. Matters Ecclesiastical 212 
 
 XXII. The Rites for O'Iwa 222 
 
 XXIII. The Sanzugawa, Bridgeless; the Flowerless Road Trav- 
 ersed BY the Dead 233 
 
 Appendices 251 
 
KASAI 
 BARA 
 
LEGEND. 
 
 The outline of the map is that found in Volume I. of 
 the Edo Sunago, published Keio 2nd year (1866). The 
 detail of district maps found in the book is worked in, 
 together with that from the sectional map of Edo pub- 
 lished Ansei 4th j'ear (1857), and from the Go Edo 
 Zusetiu Shuran published Ivaei 6th year (1853). The 
 map therefore shows in rough outline the state of the city 
 just before the reinoval of the capital from Kyoto ; the 
 distribution of the castes. 
 
 The Pre-Tokugawa villages (Eiroku : 1558-1569) indi- 
 cated on the map found in the " Shuran " are ; — 
 
 North and Sjuth Shinj,gawa : Meguro-Motomura : 
 Gin-Mitamura : Mitamnra: Onemura : Upper and Lower 
 Shibuya^: Ilarajuku-mura : Kokubunji : Azabu ; Kawaza 
 Icbi : Ozawa-mura : Iinai-mura : Sendagaya : Yama- 
 naka-mura : Icbigaya : Ushigome : Kobiko-mura : Upper 
 and Lower Hirakawa-mura : Oohiya : Sekihon : Ike- 
 buknroya : Tomizaka-mura : Ishibukero-mura : Tani- 
 baragaike : Neruma-mura : _Okurikyo : Nakarai-mura : 
 Koishikawa : Zoshigayatsu : Oji : Shimura : Takinogawa : 
 Kinsoboku-mura : Harajuku-inura (II.) : Komegome- 
 mura : Taninaka-mura : Shimbori-mura : Mikawajima- 
 mura ; Ashigahara-mura : Haratsuka : Ishihama-mura : 
 Senju-mura : Suda-mura : Sumidagawa : Yanagijima : 
 Jujo-mura ; Itabashi : Sugamo-mura : Arakawa (river) : 
 Kandagawa pool (ike) ; Kanda-mura : Shibasaki-mura : 
 Shin-Horima-mura : Yushima-mura : Shitaya-mura : 
 Torigoe-mura : Shirosawa-mura ; Asakusa-mura : Harai- 
 mura : Sorae-Ushigome : Ishiwara : Kinoshitagawa : 
 Ubagaike (pool) : Negishi-mura : Kinsoki-raura : Kameido- 
 mura (near Ueno) : Shinobazu-ike (pool). 
 
 From South to North circling by the West. 
 
 Shinagawa : Mita-mura : Takanawa : 
 
 Near Iinai-mura is a MyOjin shrine, close by the 
 mouth of the present Akabane river. 
 
 Ikura : Ilibiya : Tsukiji : Tsukuda : Taine-ike (pool) : 
 Tsukuda MyOjin : Ota's castle : Sanke-in i Hirakawa- 
 mura : Sakurada-mura : Honjn-raura : Otamage-ike : 
 Kametaka-raura. To the East. 
 77 villages, total. 
 
 Pronounce as in Italian, giving vowels full value : 
 cb-as in " church." 
 
THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 OR O'lWA INARI 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 O'MINO AND DENSUKE 
 
 YoTSUYA is a suburb — at the extreme west of Edo-Tokyo. Its 
 streets are narrow and winding, though hilly withal ; especially on 
 the southern edge toward the Aoyama district, still devoted to 
 cemeteries and palaces, sepulchres whited without and within. 
 Echizenbori would be at the other extremity of the great city. 
 It fronts eastward on the bank of the Sumidagawa. The popu- 
 lous and now poverty stricken districts of Honjo and Fukagawa 
 beyond the wide stream, with other qualities, deprive it of any 
 claim of going to extremes. In fact Echizenbori is a very staid 
 and solid section of Edo-T5ky6. Its streets are narrow; and 
 many are the small shops to purvey for the daily needs of its 
 inhabitants. But these rows of shops are sandwiched in between 
 great clumps of stores, partly warehouses and partly residences 
 of the owners thereof. These stores line the canals of Echizen- 
 bori, water courses crowded with junks carrying their ten tons, 
 or their hundreds of tons, of freight — precious cargoes of rice to go 
 into these stores in bulk, of shoyu (soy) by the hundred kegs, 
 of sakarazumi (charcoal from Shimosa) by the thousand tawara 
 (bale), of fish dried and fresh, of takuan or daikon (the huge 
 white radish) pickled in salt and rice bran, of all the odds and 
 ends of material in the gross which go to make up the necessi- 
 ties of living in a great city .^^L Echizenbori then can make its 
 show of poverty, and very lii^e'display of wealth, it is not one 
 of the poor quarters of f^is' coital. crty of Nippon. 
 
 2 ^ "^ ' ' 17 
 
THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 OR O'lWA INARI 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 O'MINO AND DENSUKE 
 
 YoTSUYA is a suburb — at the extreme west of Edo-Tokyo. Its 
 streets are narrow and winding, though hilly withal ; especially on 
 the southern edge toward the Aoyama district, still devoted to 
 cemeteries and palaces, sepulchres whited without and within. 
 Echizenbori would be at the other extremity of the great city. 
 It fronts eastward on the bank of the Sumidagawa. The popu- 
 lous and now poverty stricken districts of Honjo and Fukagawa 
 beyond the wide stream, with other qualities, deprive it of any 
 claim of going to extremes. In fact Echizenbori is a very staid 
 and solid section of Edo-Tokyo. Its streets are narrow; and 
 many are the small shops to purvey for the daily needs of its 
 inhabitants. But these rows of shops are sandwiched in between 
 great clumps of stores, partly warehouses and partly residences 
 of the owners thereof. These stores line the canals of Echizen- 
 bori, water courses crowded with junks carrying their ten tons, 
 or their hundreds of tons, of freight— precious cargoes of rice to go 
 into these stores in bulk, of shoyu (soy) by the hundred kegs, 
 of sakarazumi (charcoal from Shimosa) by the thousand tawara 
 (bale), of fish dried and fresh, of takiian or daikon (the huge 
 white radish) pickled in salt and rice bran, of all the odds and 
 ends of material in the gross which go to make up the necessi- 
 ties of living in a great citv. ^J j^ Echizenbori then can make its 
 show of poverty, and \- e xy^m^^is play of wealth, it is not one 
 
 of the poor quarters ol fhis' capital city of Nippon. 
 
 1 ' n "I 
 2 17 
 
18 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Crossing the Takabashi from Hachobori and plunging down 
 the narrow street opposite ; a short turn to the right, a plunge 
 down another narrow street and a turn to the right ; one comes to 
 the high cement wall, in its modernness of type a most unusual 
 attachment to shrine or temple. The gate is narrow and formal ; 
 almost like the entrance to a garden or smaller burying ground. 
 Within all is changed from the busy outside world. The area in- 
 closed is small — perhaps a square of a hundred and fifty feet — 
 but marked in lines by a maze of lanterns of the cheap iron 
 variety, set on cheap wooden posts. On the right is seen a minor 
 shrine or two dedicated to the Inari goddess. On the left is a 
 small building devoted to votive offerings, the crude and the more 
 elaborate. The most striking is the offering of a little geisha 
 lady, and portrays an heroic scene of early days. There are 
 other portraitures, in which perhaps a wandering lover is seen 
 as a hero, to the lady's eyes, of these later times. On the outside 
 of the structure are posted up by the hundred pictures of once woe- 
 begone ladies, now rejoicing in the potent influence of the Tamiya 
 shrine to restore to them the strayed affections of husband or 
 lover. Next in line is an open, shed-like structure. It is a poor 
 chance if here the casual visitor does not encounter one or two 
 of the petitioners, patiently trotting round in a circle from front 
 to back, and reciting their prayers in this accomplishment of " the 
 hundred turns." Just opposite, and close by, is the shrine itself. 
 This is in part a massive store-house set back in the domestic 
 structure, with the shrine of the Inari facing the visitor. The 
 floor space at the sides and before it often is piled high with tubs 
 of shoyu and sake, with bundles of charcoal, such negotiable 
 articles as the wealthier shopkeeper can offer to the mighty lady ; 
 and long tresses of hair of women too poor to offer anything 
 else, or wise enough to know that a woman could make no greater 
 sacrifice. And is not the obj^c1>of their worship a woman? Nu- 
 merous are these severed strands. 'Entering the shrine and passing 
 the pleasant spoken warden at its entrance, peddling his charms and 
 
O'MINO AND DENSUKfi 19 
 
 giving advice w^here often it is sadly needed — perhaps the more 
 valuable of his two public duties — to the left within is the Oku- 
 no-In, the inner shrine containing the iliai or memorial tablet of 
 O'lwa. That the shrine is popular and wealthy ; that the lady 
 is feared, venerated, and her dreadful powers much sought after; 
 this is plain to the eye in the crowded elaborateness of this inner 
 holy place of the larger sacred structure. 
 
 Now Echizenbori is not a particularly old quarter of the 
 city. Long after Edo was established, the city, step by step, 
 fought its way down to the river; filling in lagoons and swamps, 
 and driving their waters into the canals which were to furnish 
 very largely the means of communication for its traffic. Yotsuya 
 on the contrary is old. Its poverty is of later date. In the Edo 
 days it was a favourite site for the homes of doshin, yakunin, 
 and a whole herd of the minor officials who had the actual working 
 of the great Tokugawa machine of government in their hands. 
 In the maps of Ansei 4th year (1857) the shrine of the O'lwa 
 Inari figures in Samoncho, in its Teramachi; a small part of the 
 great mass of red, indicating temples and shrines and their lands, 
 which then covered a large part of Yotsuya. How then did it come 
 to pass that the shrine was removed to this far off site in Echizen- 
 bori, with such incongruous surroundings? The explanation 
 must be found in our story. 
 
 When the Tenwa year period (1681-83) opened, long resi- 
 dent at Yotsuya Samoncho had been Tamiya Matazaemon. By 
 status he was a minor official or doshin under the Tokugawa 
 administration. These doshin held highest rank of the permanent 
 staff under the bureaucratic establishment ; and on these men lay 
 the main dependence for smoothness of working of the machinery 
 of the Government. Matazaemon was the perfect type of the 
 under-official of the day; smooth, civilly impertinent to his equals, 
 harsh to his inferiors, and all unction and abjectness to his superi- 
 ors. Indeed, he laid more stress on those immediately above him 
 than on the more removed. To* serve the greater lord he served 
 
20 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 his immediate officer, being careful to allow to the latter all the 
 credit. No small part of his function was to see that ceremonial 
 form and precedent were carried out to the letter. It was the 
 accurate and ready knowledge of these which was of greatest 
 import to his chief, indeed might save the latter from disaster. 
 Matazaemon's readiness and conduct rendered him deservedly 
 valued. Hence he enjoyed the double salary of thirty tazvara 
 of rice, largely supplemented by gifts coming to him as teacher 
 in hanaikc (the art of flower arrangement) and of the cha-no-yu 
 (tea ceremony). He had a more than good house, for one of 
 his class, facing on the wide Samoncho road, and with a garden 
 on the famous Teramachi or long street lined with temples and 
 which runs eastward from that thoroughfare. The garden of 
 Tamiya almost faced the entrance to the Gwanshoji, which is 
 one of the few relics of the time still extant. It was large enough 
 to contain some fifteen or twenty fruit trees, mainly the kaki 
 or persimmon, for Matazaemon was of practical mind. Several 
 cherry trees, however, periodically displayed their bloom against 
 the rich dark green foliage of the fruit trees ; and in one corner, 
 to set forth the mystic qualities of a small Inari shrine relic of 
 a former owner, were five or six extremely ancient, gnarled, 
 and propped up plum trees, sufficient in number to cast their 
 delicate perfume through garden and house in the second month 
 (March). 
 
 Such was the home of Matazaemon ; later that of OTwa San. 
 It was pretentious enough to make display with a large house- 
 hold. But the master of Tamiya was as close-fisted and hard 
 and bitter as an unripe bhva (medlar). His wealth was the large 
 and unprofitable stone which lay within ; the acid pulp, a shal- 
 low layer, all he had to give to society in his narrow minded ad- 
 herence to official routine ; the smooth, easily peeled skin the 
 outward sign of his pretentions to social status and easily aroused 
 acidity of temper. With most of his neighbours, and all his rela- 
 tives, he had a standing quarrel. Secure in his lord's favour as 
 
O'MINO AND DENSUKfi 21 
 
 an earnest officer, so little did he care for the dislike of the 
 ward residents that he was ever at drawn swords with the head 
 of his ward-association, Ito Kwaiba. As for the relatives, they 
 were only too ready to come to closer intimacy ; and Matazaemon 
 knew it. 
 
 His household consisted of his wife O'Naka, his daughter 
 O'Mino, and the man servant Densuke. The garden Matazaemon 
 would allow no one to attend to but himself. The two women 
 did all the work of the household which ordinarily would fall 
 to woman-kind, with something more. Densuke performed the 
 heavier tasks, accompanied his master on his outings, and repre- 
 sented his contribution to the service of the ward barrier, the 
 Okido, on the great Koshu-Kaido and just beyond the Uban- 
 gumi. The barrier cut off Yotsuya from the Naito-Shinjuku dis- 
 trict, and, as an entrance into Edo, was of considerable importance. 
 When the time of service came Densuke appeared in full uniform 
 and with his pike. A handsome young fellow of nineteen years, 
 the women, especially O'Mino, saw to it that his appearance should 
 be a credit to the House. His progress up the wide Samoncho, 
 up to his disappearance into the great highway, was watched by 
 O'Mino — and by the neighbours, who had much sharper eyes and 
 tongues than Matazaemon and his wife. They marvelled. 
 
 With ground for marvel. In the eyes of her parents O'Mino 
 was the most beautiful creature ever created. Occasionally 
 Matazaemon would venture on criticism. " Naka, something is 
 to be said to Mino. Too much powder is used on the face. Un- 
 less the colour of the skin be very dark, the use of too much 
 powder is not good. Mino is to be warned against excess." Thus 
 spoke the official in his most official tone and manner. Wife 
 and daughter heard and disobeyed; the wife because she was 
 ruled by her daughter, and the daughter because she would emu- 
 late the fair skin of Densuke and be fairer in his eyes. O'Mino 
 had suffered both from fate and fortune. She had been born 
 ugly ; with broad, flat face like unto the moon at full, or a dish. 
 
22 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Her back was a little humped, her arms disproportionately long, 
 losing in plumpness what they gained in extension. She seemed 
 to have no breasts at all, the chest forming a concavity in corre- 
 spondence to the convexity of the back, with a smoothness much 
 like the inner surface of a bowl. This perhaps was no disad- 
 vantage — under the conditions. So much for fate. But fortune 
 had been no kinder. "Blooming" into girlhood, she had been 
 attacked by smallpox. Matazaemon was busy, and knew nothing 
 of sick nursing. O'Naka was equally ignorant, though she was 
 well intentioned. Of course the then serving wench knew no 
 more than her mistress. O'Mino was allowed to claw her coun- 
 tenance and body, as the itching of the sores drove her nearly 
 frantic. In fact, O'Naka in her charity aided her. The result 
 was that she was most hideously pock-marked. Furthermore, 
 the disease cost her an eye, leaving a cavity, a gaping and un- 
 sightly wound, comparable to the dumplings called kuzumanju, 
 white pufify masses of rice dough with a depression in the centre 
 marked by a dab of the dark-brown bean paste. The neighbours 
 used to say that O'Mino was nin san bake shichi — that is, three 
 parts human and seven parts apparition. The more critical re- 
 duced her humanity to the .factor one. The children had no 
 name for her but "Oni" (fiend). They had reason for this. They 
 would not play with her, and treated her most cruelly. O'Mino, 
 who was of no mild temperament, soon learned to retaliate by 
 use of an unusually robust frame, to which was united by nature 
 and circumstances her father's acidity of character. When the 
 odds were not too great all the tears were not on O'Mino's side ; 
 but she suffered greatly, and learned with years that the Tamiya 
 garden was her safest playground. 
 
 O'Mino grew into a woman. Affection had to find some 'out- 
 let. Not on the practical and very prosaic mother; not on the 
 absorbed and crabbed father; but on Densuke, on the samurai's 
 attendant or chugen, it fell. All manner of little services were 
 rendered to him ; even such as would appropriately fall within 
 
O'MINO AND DENSUKfi 23 
 
 his own performance. At first O'Mino sought out Httle missions 
 for him to perform, out of the line of his usual duties, and well 
 rewarded in coin. This was at his first appearance in the house. 
 Then she grew bolder. Densuke found his clothing undergoing 
 mysterious repairs and replacement. His washing, even down 
 to the loin cloths, was undertaken by the Ojosan. Densuke did 
 not dare to question or thwart her. Any trifling fault O'Mino 
 took on herself, as due to her meddling. She became bolder and 
 bolder, and sought his assistance in her own duties, until finally 
 they were as man and maid employed in the same house. Mata- 
 zaemon noted little increases in the house expenses. O'Mino took 
 these as due to her own extravagance. The father grunted a 
 little at these unusual expenditures. " What goes out at one end 
 must be cut off at the other end. Densuke, oil is very expensive. 
 At night a light is not needed. Be sure, therefore, on going to 
 bed to extinguish the light." Densuke at once obeyed his mas- 
 ter's order; and that very night, for the first time, O'Mino boldly 
 sought his couch. Confused, frightened, overpowered by a pas- 
 sionate woman, Densuke sinned against his lord, with his master's 
 daughter as accomplice. 
 
 Henceforth Densuke had what O'Mino was willing to give 
 him. On Matazaemon's going forth to his duties, O'Mino, and 
 O'Naka under her orders, did all his household work. The 
 only return required was submission to the exigencies of the 
 Ojosan. This was no slight obligation. Densuke at times thought 
 of escape, to his home at Togane village in Kazusa, to his uncle 
 Kyubei in the Kanda quarter of Edo. O'Mino seemed to divine 
 his thoughts. She would overload him with favors ; or openly 
 express her purpose of following wherever he went in life. 
 Kanda? Kyijbei was a well-known hanger-on at the Tamiya. 
 Matazaemon entered him up in his expense book at so much 
 a year. Togane? He could not get there except through Kyubei. 
 Matazaemon had farms there, and the nanushi or village bailiff 
 was his servant. Besides, he would be a runaway. Matazaemon 
 
24 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 surely would come down on Kyubei as the security. So the 
 months passed, and matters were allowed to drift. Perhaps it 
 was some gossip of the quarter which reached the deaf ears of 
 Matazaemon. As he was about to go forth one day he followed 
 the figure of O'Mind sharply with his little eyes all screwed up. 
 " Naka, there seems change in the figure of Mino. Surely the 
 gossip of the neighbours as to Densuke is not true? Mino is said 
 to harbour a child by him.- In such case it would be necessary 
 to kill them both. Warn Mino in time; a chugcn is not one to 
 become the adopted son (muko) of the Tamiya. He is an ex- 
 cellent lad, and costs but little. His habits are not riotous. To 
 dismiss him thus causelessly would not only be unjust, but to 
 no profit. Mino giving heed to the warning, all will be well." 
 With this the lord of the household stalked forth to the house 
 entrance. Receiving his clogs from O'Mino, he stalked forth to 
 his official attendance. The two women, prostrate in salutation 
 at his exit, raised their heads to watch him stalk. 
 
 It was a frightened face that O'Naka turned to her daughter. 
 In whispering voice — "The honoured father's words have been 
 heard? If not, it is to be said that gossip of the neighbourhood 
 has come to his ears as to relations with Densuke. He notices 
 that an obi is not often worn; and when worn is soon discarded. 
 However,- a man's eye is not so apt in such matters. Even in this 
 Naka cannot speak positively. Doubtless the report is not true." 
 O'Mino, if ugly, was anything but obtuse. Her mother must know ; 
 and yet not know. " My honoured father does not consider the 
 diflference of age and status in Densuke. Densuke is but a boy. 
 This Mino has passed her twenty-third year. Moreover, surely 
 she deserves a better husband than a chftgen. Least of all would 
 she give her father cause for regret or painful thoughts. Can 
 a woman be pregnant otherwise than by a man?" O'Mino, re- 
 spectfully prostrate, with this raised her head. The two women 
 looked each other in the face. Finally O'Naka said — " With joy 
 is the answer heard. But Matazaemon San is of hasty temper. 
 
O'MINO AND DENSUKfi 25 
 
 In his suspicions even he is to be avoided. However, the busi- 
 ness of the house is to be performed. This will take the time 
 until late in the day. Tradesmen may come for payments of 
 the month. In the closet ten ryo in silver will be found. Here 
 are the keys to the chests. It would be well to take an inventory 
 of the effects. The winter is at hand. It is time to make warmer 
 provision for it. Be sure to observe circumspection." With these 
 words, and a sad look at her erring daughter, O'Naka donned 
 street garb, threw a haori (cloak) over her shoulders, climbed 
 down into her clogs, and their patter soon disappeared down 
 the street. 
 
 Her departure was almost coincident with the reappearance 
 of Densuke. His attendance on the master to the offices of the 
 palace stables accomplished, for the time being he had returned. 
 Thus did Matazaemon effect an outward state and an household 
 economy. None too willing was the presence of Densuke. He 
 was faithful in his way to O'Mino, and much afraid of her. 
 Even in the most private intercourse to him she was the Ojosan, 
 the daughter of the House ; but he had no other recourse than 
 the Tamiya. Once assured of him, O'Mino had cut off all the 
 previous flow of coin, and with it the means of his rare indiscre- 
 tions at the Shinjuku pleasure quarter. Besides, their interviews 
 took place in the darkness of night. In the daytime O'Naka 
 usually was present, who, lacking other company, sought that 
 of her daughter, and moreover was unwilling to be too compla- 
 cent in the intrigue she saw going on. As soon as the sound of 
 Densuke's steps was heard, O'Mino called him. There was a 
 sharpness in her tone, a note of alarmed decision, that frightened 
 and chilled him. Humbly he sought her presence. A glance 
 showed the absence of O'Naka, yet as usual he prostrated him- 
 self in salutation. In that position he did not see her face. She 
 said impatiently — " For salutation there is no time nor occasion. 
 It is no longer the Ojosan who speaks; it is the wife. My father 
 knows all concerning this Mino and Densuke. On his return 
 
26 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 he is sure to take the occasion of the presence of both to kill 
 us. It is his right and our duty to submit to his punishment. 
 But to do so consigns the infant in the womb from darkness 
 to darkness. This is too dreadful to contemplate. Unfilial though 
 it be, we must run away. Make up your mind to do so." Den- 
 suke looked up. She was bent in meditation over this flight. 
 The corners of the mouth widened out, the eyelid drooping more 
 conspicuously than ever and forming a heavy fold over the empty 
 socket, the bald brow, the scanty hair at the sides in disordered 
 whisps and strands, all these made her a hideous mask. He 
 could not endure the sight. Timidly he said — " Terrible news 
 indeed ! How has it happened ? Surely, honoured lady, you have 
 been very rash ; nay, somewhat clumsy withal. Cannot women 
 take their pleasure with whom they please without such dire re- 
 sults ? Ah ! Such luxury, such pleasant surroundings ! All 
 must be abandoned. This Densuke will seek his native village 
 in Kazusa. And the Ojosan whither will she go; what will she 
 do?" 
 
 Was the question asked in innocence, or in deepest guile? 
 O'Mino could not have answered, well as she thought she knew 
 Densuke. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He sprang up in 
 fright, hardly knowing whether it was a demon, or O'Mino 
 turned demon, who confronted him. Her mouth half open, her 
 large, white, shining, even teeth all displayed, her single eye 
 darting malignant gleams, and the empty socket and its fold 
 quivering and shaking, she was a frightful object. " To speak 
 of pleasure without the consequences, such talk is that of a fool. 
 Densuke was taken for the relationship of the two worlds. Now 
 you would abandon me. Very well — do so. But this Mino does 
 not perish by her father's sword. The well is at hand. Within 
 three days I shall reappear and hunt you out. Torn to pieces 
 the wretched man shall die a miserable death. Better would it 
 be now to die with Mino. A last salutation . . ." Two 
 vigorous arms seized his neck. Densuke gave a cry of anguish 
 
O'MINO AND DENSUKfi 27 
 
 as the sharp teeth marked the ear. Letting him go, she sprang 
 to the roka (verandah). Frightened as he was, Densuke was 
 too quick for her. He grasped her robe. " Nay ! The Ojosan 
 must not act so desperately. Densuke spoke as one clumsy, and 
 at a loss what to do . . . yes ... we must run away 
 . . . there is the uncle, Kawai, in Kanda. To him Densuke 
 will go, and there learn the will of Tamiya Dono." O'Mino's 
 tragic attitude lapsed. At once she was the practical woman of 
 the house. She gave thanks for her mother's foresight. " The 
 escape is not as of those unprovided. Here are ten ryo in silver. 
 A bundle is to be made of the clothing and other effects. This 
 is to be carried by Densuke. And the uncle : Mino presenting 
 herself for the first time as wife, a present is to be brought. 
 What should it be? " She talked away, already busy with piling 
 clothes, quilts {futon), toilet articles onto a large furoshiki 
 or square piece of cloth. Then she arrayed her person with 
 greatest care, and in the soberest and richest fashion as the newly- 
 wed wife. With time Densuke managed to get his breath amid 
 this vortex of unexpected confusion into which he had been 
 launched. " The uncle's teeth are bad. Soft takuan ^ is just the 
 thing. For long he has eaten little else. Four or five stalks are 
 sufficient." He went to the kitchen to secure this valued gift. 
 Then he collected his own possessions. With the huge bundle 
 of the furoshiki on his shoulders ; with straw raincoat, sun hat, 
 clogs for wet and dry weather, piled on the top, and the stalks 
 of the takuan dangling down ; " it was just as if they were running 
 away from a fire." As Densuke departed O'Mino closely ob- 
 served him. He was too subdued, too scared to give her anxiety. 
 Later she left the house to join him at the Hanzo-bashi, far enough 
 removed from Yotsuya. It was then Tenwa, 2d year, nth month 
 (December, 1682). 
 
 1 The hard palatable pickled yellow daikon (radish). Nukarniso- 
 zuk(! is a way station in its production by pickling in salt and bran. 
 Nukamisosiike is better described than smelt. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 KAWAI SAN OF KANDU KU 
 
 This uncle of Densuke, Kawai Kyiibe; by name, was a rice 
 dealer, with a shop in Matsudacho of the Kanda district. The 
 distance to go was far. As with all ladies, O'Mino kept Densuke 
 waiting long at the Hanzo-bashi. Indeed, there was much ro- 
 mance about this ugly, neglected, hard girl. She waited until the 
 sound of O'Naka's clogs was heard. Then she halted at the 
 corner of Teramachi until she could see her mother's figure in 
 the dusk; see it disappear into the house. When she went down 
 the street toward the Samegabashi she was crying. It was late 
 therefore— after the hour of the pig (9 p. m.) — when the pair 
 reached Kanda. The business of the day was long over in this 
 business section of Edo. The houses were tightly closed. On 
 reaching the entrance of Kyubei's house said Densuke — " Ojosan, 
 condescend to wait here for a moment. The uncle is to be in- 
 formed. Deign to have an eye to the furoshiki. Please don't 
 let the dogs bite into or insult the takuan." He pounded on the 
 door. Said a voice within — " Obasan (Auntie) ! Obasan ! Some- 
 one knocks. Please go and open for them." The more quaver- 
 ing and softer tones of an old woman made answer — " No, it 
 is not my turn and time to go to the door. Get up; and first 
 make inquiry before entrance is allowed. With little to lose, 
 loss is much felt. Ah ! Tamiya Dono in the Yotsuya has been 
 sadly neglected." The scolding tones hummed on. Grumbling, 
 the old man was lighting a rush. " 'Tis agreed; 'tis agreed. To- 
 morrow without fail this Kyubei visits Tamiya. Ah ! It is no 
 jest to go to that house. Not only is the distance great, but . . ." 
 He had the door open, and his mouth too. " Densuke ! Grace- 
 less fellow ! But what are you doing here, and at this hour ? 
 28 
 
KAWAI SAN OF KANDA KU 29 
 
 No ; the luck is good. There is a big bundle with you, a huge 
 bundle." He spied the takuan and his face broadened into a 
 smile. "Ah! If dismissed, it has been with honour. Doubt- 
 less the takuan is for this Kyubei. Thanks are felt. But is all 
 this stuff Densuke's ? He has not stolen it ? Doubtless a woman 
 is at the bottom of the affair. Never mind; an opportunity pre- 
 sents itself to offer you as muko — at the Tatsuya in Yokomachi. 
 Of late a boy has been hoped for, but another girl presented her- 
 self. A miiko now will be welcome. The wife is getting past 
 child-bearing, and there is little hope of a son. The Tatsuya girl 
 is just the thing. In a few months she will be fit to be a wife. 
 She . . . " 
 
 Densuke edged a word into this stream. " The honoured uncle 
 is right. The cause of Densuke's appearance is a woman." The 
 old man made a face. Said he — " Well, in such a case it is good 
 to be out of it. This Kyubei has heard talk of Densuke — and 
 of all things with the Ojosan! That would be terrible indeed. 
 But how is the Oni (demon) ? What a sight she is! Bald, one- 
 eyed, hairless, with a face like a dish and no nose — Kyubei came 
 suddenly on her at dusk in the Yotsuya. lya ! It was cold feet 
 and chills for him for the space of seven days. It is that which 
 keeps Kyubei from Yotsuya, although a little aid would go far. 
 The last dealings in rice notes were not favourable. Besides, ac- 
 count is soon to be rendered to Tamiya Dono. But though wicked 
 of temper and ugly, O'Mino San is rich. Even for the demon 
 in time a good match will be found. She will be the wife of 
 an honoured kcuin (vassal), and the husband will buy geisha 
 and joro with the money. Such is the expectation of Tamiya 
 Dono. Don't allow any trifling there.* Remember that she is the 
 daughter of a go-kenin. They talk of Densuke in the Yotsuya. 
 Of course it is all talk. Don't allow it to happen." Densuke 
 found an opening. The words meant one thing ; the expression 
 another. " It is not going to happen." Kyubei looked at him 
 aghast as he took in the meaning. " What ! With the demon ? 
 
30 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Densuke has committed the carnal sin with the demon? Oh, you 
 filthy scoundrel ! Rash, inconsiderate boy ! Obasan ! Obasan ! 
 . . . What did she pay you for the deed? . . . This low 
 fellow Densuke, this foolish rascal of a nephew, has been caught 
 in fornication with the demon. . . . What a fool ! How is 
 it that death has been escaped ? And you have run away. Doubt- 
 less a pregnancy has followed. After putting his daughter to 
 death Tamiya Dono will surely hunt out Densuke. Or perhaps 
 keep O'Mino San until he catches the interloper. Sinning to- 
 gether, both will die together. Ah ! To cross the Sanzu no Kawa, 
 to climb the Shide no Yama, with the demon as company : terrific ! 
 It is terrific ! And what has become of her ? Why fall into 
 such a trap, with a woman old and ugly? Her riches are not 
 for you. Caught here, the tatami of Kyiibei will be spoiled." ^ 
 Densuke countered. He spoke in the old man's ear. " Re- 
 fusing consent, she threatened to kill herself and haunt this Den- 
 suke as O'Bake (apparition). The Ojisan (uncle) has seen the 
 Ojosan. Would he be haunted by her, be seized and killed with 
 torture? . . . And then — here she stands, just at the door." 
 The old man spluttered, and gasped, and went on his nose in 
 abject salutation— " Oh, the fool! .• . . the Ojosan is here 
 in person ... he would trifle with the devil ! . . . the 
 low rascal would seduce the honoured daughter of Tamiya . . . 
 put ten hags in a row and pick out the worst . . . will the 
 Ojdsan condescend to honour Kyubei's place . . . Oh ! She's 
 a very O'Bake already. Pregnancy with a beautiful woman is 
 bad enough. With this demon it makes her an apparition . . . 
 condescend to enter; deign to enter." O'Mino slowly came for- 
 
 ^ Sanzu no Kawa — the river crossed by the dead; the Buddhist 
 "Styx." Shide no Yama — the mountain to be crossed on the way 
 to Hell, or to the judgment hall of its great king — Emma Dai-6 
 (Yama). All deserve, and get, some punishment in this nether 
 world. 
 
KAWAI SAN OF KANDA KU 31 
 
 ward. That what had been said by the rash and unconscious 
 Kyubei had escaped her ear was unHkely. The humiUty of de- 
 meanor hardly veiled the ofifended dignity of her approach. " Den- 
 suke has spoken truth. We come as husband and wife. Con- 
 descend to give shelter for the time being, and become the inter- 
 cessor with Tamiya Dono! Such is the prayer of this Mino." 
 As she spoke she bowed low on the tatami (mats). Kyubei 
 caught the hint; for if she had heard the talk of Densuke, she 
 had assuredly heard his still louder ejaculations and ill-timed wit. 
 The Obasan was in a rage at him. Taking the conduct of affairs 
 in her own hand — " Condescend to make this poor dwelling a 
 home for as long as desired. Plainly the visitors have not come 
 empty handed. Ma ! Ma ! 'Tis like an escape from a fire. Den- 
 suke is a strong lad to shoulder such a burden. But he always 
 has been something of an ass. As for Matazaemon Dono, to- 
 morrow the Ojisan shall attend to the affair, and see what is 
 to be expected. Meanwhile, deign to be as in Samoncho itself." 
 The kindly old woman pushed KyiJbei and his clumsy apologies 
 out of the way. She busied herself about O'Mino. The two 
 women understood each other. The varied contents of the fiiro- 
 shiki were quickly stowed away. A little supper was prepared 
 for the hungry fugitives. Kyubei sat by, his eyes dazzled by 
 the wealth of goods displayed, and his nostrils shifting under the 
 acrid perfume of the takuan and remembrance of his stupidity. 
 
 The next morning Kyubei was up betimes. Matazaemon was 
 no dawdler. It was best to catch him satisfied with the morning 
 meal, and perhaps beset by the night's regret over the loss of 
 his daughter. In no way was it a pleasant mission. Kyubei's 
 pace became a crawl as he approached the garden gate on Tera- 
 machi. He put in an appearance at the kitchen side. O'Naka 
 was here established, engaged in her duties and surely awaiting 
 him. At sight of him she burst into what was half laugh and 
 half tears. " Ah ! It is Kyubei San. Doubtless he comes on 
 the part of Mino and Densuke. It is kind of Kyubei to befriend 
 
32 ^ THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 them. The Danna (master) is very angry indeed. An only 
 daughter, and one on whom he depended for a muko, he is much 
 upset. Please go in and talk with him. Show anger at the run- 
 aways. To agree with him may somewhat soothe his passion. 
 Condescend so to act." Kyubei winked. And turn some of 
 this anger on himself ? Well, agreement might rouse the spirit 
 of contradiction in Tamiya Dono. It was a characteristic of 
 this hide-bound official. Matazaemon was drinking the last sips 
 of tea from his rice bowl when the shoji were gently pushed 
 apart, and the head of Kyubei inserted in the opening. At first 
 he paid no attention. Then as one in haste — " Ah ! Is it Kyubei ? 
 He comes early to-day — and hardly to apply for anything. The 
 rice notes are not yet due for some weeks." His tone was grim; 
 the usual indifferent benevolence of demeanor toward a towns- 
 man was conspicuously absent. Kyiibei felt chilled. Densuke 
 must not sacrifice his good uncle to his own folly. 
 
 Said Kyiibei — "Yet it is to seek the honoured benevolence of 
 Tamiya Dono that Kyiibei comes." Matazaemon turned sharp 
 around toward him. Frightened, the townsman continued — " Den- 
 suke has acted very wickedly. The low, lascivious rascal has 
 dared to seduce the honoured daughter of the House. Both 
 are now harboured at the house of this Kyubei, who now makes 
 report. Their lives are in the hand of Tamiya Dono. But Kyubei 
 would make earnest plea for delay. O'Mino San being preg- 
 nant, the child would be sent from darkness to darkness — a 
 terrible fate. May it be condescended to show the honoured 
 mercy and benevolence. Evil and unfilial though the action of 
 the two has been, yet 'benevolence weighs the offence; justice 
 possesses two qualities.' Such are the words of Koshi (Confu- 
 cius)." The eyes of Matazaemon twinkled. He had heard that 
 Kyiibei was on the verge of shaving his head (turning priest). 
 Truly the townsman was profitting by the exhortations of his 
 teacher. After a time he said — " The memory of Kyiibei is ex- 
 cellent. Don't let it fail him on the present occasion. For such 
 
KAWAI SAN OF KANDA KU 3^ 
 
 a deed as has been committed the punishment is death, meted out 
 by the hand of this Matazaemon. The fact ascertained, it was 
 intended to kill them both. The flight of Mino and Densuke 
 has altered the complexion of the affair. It is no longer neces- 
 sary to inflict the extreme penalty. O'Mino is disowned for 
 seven births. Neither she nor Densuke is to appear before this 
 Matazaemon. If the talk of the ward be true, in exchange for 
 a loyal service Densuke has secured a beautiful bride. There 
 can be no regrets." Then, taking a sprightly and jeering air, 
 " But this Kyubei has been the one to exercise benevolence. 
 Matazaemon now learns that the two runaways have been re- 
 ceived by him. Entertain them well ; entertain them well. Thanks 
 are due to Kyubei San — from them. Doubtless he is much occu- 
 pied with his guests. Less will be seen of him in Yotsuya. . . . 
 But official duties press. This Matazaemon must leave. Don't 
 be in haste. Stay and take some tea. . . . Naka ! Naka ! 
 Tea for Kyubei San; the haori (cloak) of Matazaemon . . . 
 Sayonara . . . Ah ! The rice notes this Matazaemon took 
 up for Kyubei San, they fall due with the passage of the weeks. 
 But Kyubei is one who always meets his obligations. As to that 
 there is no anxiety." With this last fling the prostrate Kyiabei 
 heard the sound of the clogs of Matazaemon on the flagged walk 
 outside. A departing warning to O'Naka as to the tea, and steps 
 were heard near-by. He raised his head, to confront the mistress 
 of the house. 
 
 O'Naka spoke with tears in her eyes — a salve to the alarmed 
 and wounded feelings of Kyubei. " Don't be frightened. After 
 all Matazaemon is a samurai. To press Kyubei, or any trades- 
 man, is beyond him. But this Naka cannot see her daughter! 
 To add to his anger would bring disaster on her and the unborn 
 child. Alas! Anyhow, give Mino this money; and these articles 
 of value, properly her own. Her mirror has been forgotten in 
 the hasty flight." O'Naka brought forth one of those elaborate 
 polished silver surfaces, used by the ladies of Nippon in these 
 
34 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 later luxurious days of the Shogunate. It was only now that it 
 became the property of O'Mino. It was part of the wedding 
 outfit of O'Naka herself. With this little fiction the mother 
 continued — " When the child is born allow the grandmother at 
 least a distant sight of it. Perhaps it will resemble Tamiya ; be 
 like its mother, and soften a father's heart." Now she 
 wept bitterly ; and Kyubei wept with her — ^bitterly. " Like 
 the mother! The Buddhas of Daienji ^ would indeed weep 
 at the appearance of such a monster." This was his thought; 
 not expressed with the humble gratitude, prostration, and prom- 
 ises which he fully intended to keep. Kyubei reverentially 
 accepted the mirror, the goods, the money. Taking his leave of 
 Yotsuya — a long one he feared — with sighs he set out for Kanda. 
 Here he made his report. Said the old townsman with severity — 
 " The will of the parent is not to be disobeyed. It is the duty 
 of this Kyubei to see to its performance." He had O'Naka more 
 in mind than the master of Tamiya. O'Mino might yet be the 
 goose to lay golden eggs. A goose of such plumage ! Kyubei 
 made a wry face in the darkness of the corridor. 
 
 ^ Near Meguro: scores of quaint figures, seated in tiers and 
 meditation. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 TAKAHASHI DAIHACHIRO 
 
 Some means of support had to be found. Employed in a 
 kenin's house, and leaving it under such conditions, kindred 
 occupation was out of the question. There was a sort of black 
 list among these officials to cover all grades of their service. 
 Time and the host of servants of some great House would get the 
 lad back into the only occupation he understood. Trusting to 
 some such accident of fortune, Kyubei made Densuke his agent 
 on commission. Densuke was no idler. Kyubei managed to meet 
 the Tamiya security for his loans, largely through the efforts of 
 the younger man. The married couple at this time set up their 
 establishment in Gorobeicho of Kyobashi Ku. Coming and 
 going, often with no definite task in hand, Densuke to all appear- 
 ance was an out-and-out idler. For the first time released from 
 the trammels of her class, O'Mino could attend the theatres and 
 farce shows of the capital. She delighted in acting this part 
 of a tradesman's wife. Moreover she was very sure of not meet- 
 ing with Matazaemon, of whom she was in great fear. Bound 
 to the formulm of his class, her father might feel bound to cut 
 her down on sight. 
 
 One day Densuke was idling and hanging over the parapet 
 of the Nihonbashi. Some fishermen were violently quarrelling 
 in the fish market on the bank just below the bridge. As he looked 
 on with interest a hand was laid on his shoulder. Turning, he 
 saw a man, partly in the dress of a chfigen, partly in that of a 
 menial attendant of one of the larger yashiki (nobleman's man- 
 sion). Scars of burns on his hands and arms, patches of rice flour 
 and bran, showed that he was a cook. His eye was severe and 
 his manner abrupt as he rebuked Densuke. " An idle fellow ! 
 This Tarobei never fails to come across Densuke as an idler, 
 
 35 
 
36 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 or on the way to Asakusa with the worthy wife. Is he fit for 
 nothing ?" Densuke was a mild man. To this man with a grievance 
 his answer was soft. Besides he had no hking for the cook's 
 knife stuck in the girdle, and handy to carve fish or flesh. He 
 said — " Perchance the idleness is more in appearance than fact. 
 Buying and selling on commission the task is an irregular one. 
 It is true, however, that this Densuke has no settled labour. Alas ! 
 Former days in the service of a samurai are much to be regretted." 
 — "Can you cook rice?" was the abrupt interruption. "This 
 Densuke knows the " Sanryaku " fairly well. Is more needed? " 
 The man looked at him dumbfounded. " The ' Sanryaku ' — 
 what's that ? " — " Knowledge of the ' Sanryaku ' enables one to 
 meet all the requirements of a bushi (knight).^ At the school 
 in Kazusa Togane the priest who tai .^ht this Densuke, at one 
 time a samurai, was far more taken with the " Sanryaku " than 
 with the Sutra (Scripture) ; the lessons taught applied more to 
 Bushido (the knight's way) than to Butsudo (the way of the 
 Buddha). . . . But to the point ; this Densuke for three years 
 cooked the rice at Tamiya in Yotsuya. First there is the toro-toro 
 of bubbling water ; then the hiri-hiri, as what little remains passes 
 as steam through the rice grains. Then the sharp whistling cry 
 of a baby from the pot on the slow fire (niurashite) . The task is 
 done, and the vessel is removed from the stove. " The man looked 
 with respect on this learned cook. Said he — " Densuke is the 
 man. Tarobei must leave the kitchen of Geishu Sama at once. 
 The mother is ill in Aki province. A substitute is to be found. 
 The salary — is next to nothing ; but the perquisites are numerous, 
 and the food ample to feed several Densuke and their wives. 
 Deign to accept." Densuke did not hesitate — " The obligation 
 lies with Densuke. But how secure the position ? There is 
 Tamiya . . ." The man laughed. " There are many Den- 
 
 ' A famous Chinese book on military tactics. Prince Yoshitsune, 
 hero of the Gempei wars, served arduously for a glimpse of it. Cf: 
 Life of Benkei, vol. i, pp. 311 reg. Densuke refers to the three (sail) 
 stages of rice cooking. 
 
TAKAHASHI DAIHACHIRO 37 
 
 suke in Edo ; and no connection between the yashiki of Matsu- 
 daira Aki no Kami and the house of a doshin in Yotsuya. There 
 is small likelihood of meeting old acquaintances. Be sure to 
 remember that it is Densuke of Kyobashi ; not Densuke of Yot- 
 suya. This pass will answer to the gate-man. Substitutes are 
 common. Whether it be Densuke or Tarobei w^ho cooks the rice 
 makes no difference ; provided the rice be well cooked. Tarobei's 
 service lies elsewhere ; to Densuke San deep his obligation." He 
 held out the pass, and Densuke took it. 
 
 With mutual salutation and joy in heart they parted. Den- 
 suke betook himself to the yashiki of Matsudaira Aki no Kami at 
 Kasumigaseki. No difficulties were encountered. Tarobei was 
 not so superlative as a cook that the substitute could not be better 
 than the original. At this place Densuke acted the part of the 
 koniatsukibatta. This is a narrow brown weevil, some three parts 
 of an inch in length, and which stands on its head making the 
 repeated movements of o' jigi, much as at a ceremonial encounter 
 in Nippon. Densuke was not long in becoming well liked. He 
 was ready to run errands for all, outside of the hours of his duties. 
 From those higher up in the yashiki these errands brought him 
 coin. Every month he could bring O'Mino twenty to thirty 
 nion in " cash " ; apart from the ample rations of rice and daikon 
 bestowed on the kitchen staff. Nay : as cook at times fish could 
 not be allowed to spoil, and fell to the perquisites of Densuke. 
 Thus time passed; and with it the delivery of O'Mino, and the 
 crisis in the affairs of Densuke, approached. Now Geishu Sama - 
 was a fourth month daimyo. Hence with the iris blossoms he 
 took his departure from Edo to the government of his fief in 
 Aki province. The Sakuji Machibugyd, one Takahashi Dai- 
 hachiro, plead illness on this occasion of the exodus. As unable 
 to accompany his lord he remained in Edo. On plea of con- 
 
 ' Geishu-Aki province. For six months the daimyo left Edo to 
 govern their fief in person. Their wives and families remained in 
 Edo. The penalties at the barriers (Hakone, for instance) were severe 
 if the wife tried to get away (escape) from Edo. 
 
38 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 venience he established himself in the abandoned quarters of the 
 ashigaru or common soldiers, situated right over Densuke's cook- 
 ing stoves. Entirely removed from the bustle of the household, 
 except during Densuke's now rare attendance, he secured com- 
 plete isolation and quiet. Densuke went on cooking for Taka- 
 hashi Sama, just as if it had been for the whole military house- 
 hold. Daihachiro was a forbidding kind of man ; and it was with 
 no amiable look that he greeted Densuke when the latter appeared 
 very late to prepare the meal. It being the 5th month 5th day 
 (the sekku) of Tenwa 3rd year (30th May, 1683), perhaps he 
 suspected Densuke of preparation for, and participation in, the 
 great festival which was in progress. " Densuke is very late. This 
 Daihachiro has made the trial ; to find out that he is no cook. 
 Indeed the right hand has been severely burnt. A cook should be 
 on time — for the meal, not the matsuri." Densuke was all apology 
 — " Nay, Danna Sama; it is not the festival which has detained 
 Densuke. An infant was expected to-day by the wife. Hence 
 Densuke's neglect. Deign to pardon him." — " A baby being born 
 is no reason why Daihachiro should starve. Prepare the meal 
 in haste. The rice is to be soft ; and please see that the fish also 
 is soft. Make the sauce not too sharp. It would give great 
 trouble to make the bath in the quarters. In Owarimachi, or 
 Kubomachi, good bath-houses are to be found." Densuke took the 
 hint. At once he recommended one he thought befitting the great 
 man's greatness. " Well : Sayonara. See that the meal is ready by 
 the return." Ofif stalked Takahashi Daihachiro, towel dangling 
 from his hand, and toothbrush and bran bag in his bosom. 
 
 Densuke gave a sigh of reljef as he left the court. Daihachiro 
 often employed him on missions, and was never particularly gener- 
 ous even when the transaction was decidedly shady. Densuke 
 was dreadfully afraid of him. Somehow he felt as if Daihachiro 
 was Fate — his fate. Turning to his stoves, the pots and the pans, 
 the meal soon was in successful preparation. As Densuke lifted 
 the cover to inspect the rice — splash ! A great red spot spread in 
 widening circle over the white mass. In fright Densuke clapped 
 
TAKAHASHI DAIHACHIRO 39 
 
 on the lid of the pot. He looked upward, to locate this unusual 
 condiment to his provision. On his forehead he received in 
 person a second consignment. Applying his finger to his head, 
 and then to his nose — " Blood ! Ah ! O'Take's fierce cat has 
 caught a rat and is chewing it in the room above. How vexatious ! 
 If the Danna should find out . . ." Hastily he tried to shove 
 his equipment to one side. This would not do. The massive stone 
 blocks forming the furnace were too heavy for Densuke to move 
 unaided. Somewhat helpless he looked around. The rice was 
 almost done; ready for the process of murashite, or simmering 
 over the slow fire. The fish, carefully prepared, as yet was to be 
 cooked. All was to be ready against the return of Daihachiro 
 Sama. Ah ! Again the dropping began. As finding some channel 
 in the rough boarding of the ceiling it came fast. His kitchen 
 began to look like the place where the Eta (outcasts) slaughter 
 beasts. Densuke shuddered. 
 
 Circumstances, the results involved, make the timid brave. 
 Grasping a pole Densuke started up the ladder leading to the loft 
 and the quarters of the ashigaru. Arrived at the top his eyes took 
 in the poor apartment. The rafters and beams of a low-cast roof ; 
 six wretched (Loo-choo) mats on the floor, for the men to sit, 
 and sleep, and live upon ; such its bare equipment. In the middle 
 of the mats was a great red stain. Densuke was at once attracted 
 to it. " A cat would eat a rat ; but it would not wipe up the 
 blood." His eyes were caught by the straw basket used to store 
 away the raincoats. This was all stained red at the bottom. Going 
 close up he found it was wet. Perhaps the cat was at work 
 inside. Densuke raised the cover and looked in. In alarm he 
 sprang back. On the trunk and limbs of a body was placed a 
 freshly severed head. Without replacing the cover, with pole 
 uplifted over his head in defence, Densuke backed toward the 
 ladder. His one idea was to flee this yashiki. As he reached the 
 top of the steps the voice of Daihachiro was heard below — " A 
 pest on such filthy bath-houses ; and filthier patrons. . . . 
 What! No rice yet, Densuke? Ah! Where is the fellow?" 
 
40 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Densuke looked down, to meet the altered countenance of Dai- 
 hachird looking up. He retreated as the latter sprang up the 
 ladder. Daihachiro gave a rapid glance. He saw the raised cover 
 of the basket. The next moment the bosom of Densuke's dress 
 was harshly grasped, and he himself was forced down on the 
 floor. Gloomily Daihachiro regarded him — " Rash and curious 
 fellow ! Why not keep to your pots and pans ? Densuke loses his 
 life; and Daihachiro a fool for a cook." He had drawn his 
 sword to strike. Densuke clung to his knees in petition — " Par- 
 don, master ! Pardon ! This Densuke is no idle gossip. The drip- 
 ping blood threatened to spoil the meal. Thinking the cat was 
 eating a rat, fearing the anger of the Danna Sama if the meal had 
 to be re-cooked, Densuke came up here to chase the animal away. 
 Thus the crime was discovered . . ." — "Crime!" thundered 
 Daihachiro. " Ah ! This intermeddler must certainly die. By 
 the word of a samurai . . ." In his terror Densuke almost 
 put his hand over the irrevocable sentence. He spoke with life 
 at stake. " Deign, master, to pardon Densuke. He has committed 
 no offence ; knows of no offence in others. Densuke has seen 
 nothing. Life is a jewel, to be kept at any cost. Densuke is far 
 too insignificant to deserve the anger of Takahashi Sama." He 
 grovelled in the abject terror of his petition. 
 
 Takahashi Daihachiro hesitated. An idea seemed to occur to 
 him, at sight of the man's fear-struck state. He smiled grimly. 
 " Densuke saw the head? " — " 'Tis so," admitted Densuke. " But 
 to see a head means nothing." Daihachiro dragged him over to 
 the raincoat basket. Holding him down, he grasped the head 
 by the cue and lifted it out. " Look ! " Densuke gave a cry of 
 surprise at sight of the features of a once neighbour. " It is the 
 head of Iseya Jusuke, the money lender of Hachobori ; a hard man. 
 Surely the Danna . . ." — " Just so," replied Daihachiro, care- 
 lessly throwing the mortuary relic back into the basket. " Borrow- 
 ing five ryo, in six months with the interest the sum now due is 
 twenty-five ryo. Pleading illness Daihachiro remained in Edo, to 
 try and soften the usurer. He threatened a report to my lord; 
 grew insolent beyond measure. The sword drawn, he was killed 
 
TAKAHASHI DAIHACHIRO 41 
 
 forthwith. . . . Here Densuke finds his use and saves his Hfe. 
 This body is an awkward impediment. Densuke must take and 
 cast it away. Otherwise, a second head is added to this first. 
 With one already to dispose of a second gives no difficuhy. De- 
 cide: is it agreed? Moreover there will be payment." He took 
 out a money belt (domaki), that of Jusuke. Densuke recognized 
 i't. Daihachiro had robbed Jusuke, after killing him. Lovingly 
 he ran the golden ryo through his fingers. Seventy of 
 them Densuke counted. Daihachiro picked out three ryo. 
 " Here is payment. Life is spared, and it is agreed to 
 cast away the body." Stammered Densuke — '' On the rub- 
 bish heap?" Daihachird looked at him — "You fool! Why 
 not proclaim that Densuke murdered Jusuke? Once the gate is 
 passed — and this Daihachiro goes in company so far — it is Den- 
 suke who is the murderer of Jusuke. Remain in this place until 
 night. Then off with the body; pitch it into the ditch of Kuroda 
 Ke, or that of Saio Dono. Daihachiro now takes his meal. There 
 is nothing wrong with it?" He looked meaningly at Densuke. 
 The latter, with eyes on the shining sword, at once denied all 
 defilement. He now plumed himself on the care taken of the 
 Danna's interests. Daihachiro descended ; to feed at ease and keep 
 watch over the unwilling Densuke. 
 
 In the 5th month (June) the days are long. Densuke was a 
 coward ; and for company had the corpse of the murdered Jusuke. 
 To the poor cook the time passed was torture. He was continually 
 going to the stair and calling down — " Danna Sama, has the time 
 come ? . . . Ah ! The sky is light. The streets at night will 
 be full of people with lanterns. Plainly O'Tento Sama (the Sun) 
 has forgotten to decline in the West. Alas ! This Densuke is 
 most unlucky." At last the hour of the dog was passing (7-9 
 P.M.). Daihachird appeared. "Now for the corpse! Wrap it 
 up in this matting. . . . Coward ! Is Densuke afraid of a 
 dead man? " He took the body and cut the tendons of arms and 
 legs. Then he placed the head on the belly. Doubling the limbs 
 over the body so as to hold the head he wrapped the matting 
 around the whole. The outside he covered with some red rain- 
 
42 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 coats — " in case of accidental stains." Then he strongly roped 
 the whole together. He stood back to inspect a truly admirable 
 job. Densuke wondered how many usurers Daihachiro had thus 
 disposed of. His speculations were interrupted. Everything was 
 ready. " Now ! the loan of Densuke's back." Groaned Densuke — 
 " Danna Sama, a request." — "What?" asked Daihachiro. 
 " Condescend to put a board between the body of Densuke and that 
 of Jusuke. The head might seize and bite me with its teeth." 
 Daihachird snorted with laughter, contempt, and anger mixed. 
 " What a cowardly rascal you are ! Off with it as it is." Said 
 Densuke respectfully and firmly — " The task is that of Densuke. 
 Condescend so far to favour him." His obvious terror threatened 
 collapse even of the influence of Daihachiro. An old remnant of 
 the back of a corselet was at hand. Said Daihachiro — " This is 
 still better. It is metal. In it goes. Now off with you." Stalk- 
 ing along in the rear of the unfortunate cook, Daihachiro kept 
 within easy distance of a sword blow. At the gate he said — 
 " Pray grant passage. Densuke takes washing of this Daihachiro 
 — bed quilts and futon to be renovated." — " Respectfully heard 
 and understood." The gate-man let fall the bar and stood aside. 
 Densuke passed into the street. A little way off he looked around. 
 Takahashi Daihachiro had disappeared. Now indeed it was an 
 affair between Densuke and Jusuke.^ 
 
 ' The Japanese personal pronoun is used — in the first person only 
 to obviate ambiguity in the sentence. Women use it more frequently 
 than men. In the second person it is used to express emphasis, great 
 familiarity, impertinence, or rebuke. The last two uses are frequent. 
 Ordinarily the honorifics and the construction of the sentence take the 
 place of these pronouns. Such at least seems to be the usage of the 
 kodaii writers, and in the present book the example has been followed, 
 as far as possible. In a few instances the use of a pronoun will relieve 
 the strain of a lengthy sentence or involved circumlocution in the west- 
 ern tongue. At times the clo.ser style can be abandoned — as in the 
 direct narration of the Tale of the Baryufu Kwannon. So also with 
 the translations of the gidayu and the kodan attached. These are for 
 recitation. In the original the pronoun is rarely written in. But the 
 literal translation of the honorifics would appear stilted. To westerners 
 these are appellations; to the native they are indications. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 THE APPEARANCE OF O'lWA SAN 
 
 Shouldering his pack Densuke made off down the broad 
 space Hned by the white walls of the yashiki. In this quarter of 
 the biisJii the highway was not crowded with citizens and their lan- 
 terns. Densuke had high hopes of an early disposition of the 
 incubus. He approached the ditch which protected the wall of 
 the yashiki of Prince Kuroda. When about to put down the bundle 
 a hail reached him from the samurai on guard at the Kuroda 
 gate. " Heigh there, rascal ! Wait ! " But Densuke did not wait. 
 In terror he gave the load a shift on his shoulder and started off 
 almost at a run. On doing so there was a movement within. The 
 cold sweat stood out on the unhappy man's forehead. A moment, 
 and would the teeth of Jusuke be fastened in his shoulder? " Ah ! 
 Jusuke San ! Good neighbour ! This Densuke is but the w^retched 
 agent. 'Tis Daihachiro Sama who killed Jusuke. Deign to pur- 
 sue and haunt Takahashi Sama. Jusuke San ! Jusuke San ! " 
 Fright gave him strength and boldness. The Tora no Mon (Tiger 
 gate) of the castle should be the place of disposal. Here the ditch 
 was deep and dark. But to its very edge swarmed the people 
 with their lanterns on this night of festival in early summer. The 
 moor of Kubomachi was his next goal. AX this period it really 
 was open ground. With a sigh of relief Densuke let the bundle 
 slip from his now weary shoulders. Alive he would have laughed 
 at the idea of carrying the portly Jusuke. Yet here the usurer 
 bestrode him, far heavier weight than on other unfortunate 
 clients. " Let's have a look at him ; address him face to face." His 
 hand was on the knot, when a woman's voice spoke in his ear. 
 Densuke did not wait to ascertain the nature of her solicitation. 
 He sped away into the darkness, toward the distant city. With- 
 
 43 
 
44 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 out goal, he found himself at Shiodome.^ Crossing the Shim- 
 bashi he entered on the crowded and lighted Owaricho. It was 
 only the hour of the pig (9 p.m.), and the house lanterns as yet 
 burned brightly. He hesitated, with the idea of turning toward 
 Shiba, of trying his luck in this still rustic district; or on the 
 seashore, not far off. 
 
 A man close by greeted him. " lya ! Densuke San at last is 
 found. The honoured wife suffers great anxiety. Thinking 
 that the festival might be the attraction this Goemon set out to find 
 you. Deign to hasten at once to Gorobeicho." Densuke shifted 
 his burden away from the man. Did it not already somewhat 
 taint the air? His nostrils were wide open in alarmed inquiry. 
 He made excuses. With his heavy pack he would follow after 
 slowly. He was overwhelmed by his neighbour's kindness. Goe- 
 mon offered to share the work. Densuke did more than refuse. 
 Unable to shake off his companion in stolid desperation he took 
 his way to his home in the tenement (nagaya). " Tadaima " (just 
 now — present), he called from the doorway. Entering the shabby 
 room he put down the furoshiki in a distant corner. Going to 
 the Butsudan, or house altar, at once he lit the lamps. O'Mino 
 eyed him with astonishment. " What's that?" she asked, point- 
 ing to the bundle — " Washing of Daihachiro Sama " — " But Mino 
 is ill. So situated she cannot do washing. How negligent ! " — 
 " It makes no matter," replied Densuke recklessly. O'Mino did 
 not like the tone of his voice. She eyed him sharply. Then more 
 pressing matters urged. " Weary as you are it is to be regretted; 
 but money must be in hand, for the midwife and other expenses. 
 A few hours, and this Mino will be unable to leave her bed — for 
 three turns (weeks). There is cooking and washing to be done. 
 Please go to Kyubei San and ask the loan of a ryo. Perhaps he 
 will give half." — " He will give nothing," was the surly reply 
 of Densuke. " Of loans he has grown tired of late. As the 
 
 iThe old Shimbashi station and its yards cover this site. "Tide 
 limit " — a suggestive name. 
 
THE APPEARANCE OF O'lWA SAN 45 
 
 uncle is the only stay in dire necessity care must be taken not to 
 offend. Moreover, the loan is unnecessary. Here are three ryo." 
 He brought out the shining oblong pieces. O'Mino's eyes were 
 bright with terror. "Ah! Has Densuke turned thief? How 
 was this money secured? What has happened? Why so late in 
 returning? " But Densuke was made confident and ready of 
 tongue by the physical helplessness of O'Mino. " Don't be 
 alarmed. Densuke is neither thief nor murderer. He is no 
 Shirai Gompachi. Perhaps there is a corpse within, not washing. 
 Would the Ojosan see a head, arms, legs, freshly severed? " He 
 laughed harshly as she turned her head from him to the bundle, 
 then back again. " This money was given to Densuke by Taka- 
 hashi Sama ; in return for faithful service in an important matter. 
 Don't be frightened. It has been honestly earned." Said O'Mino, 
 almost to herself — " But Daihachird Sama is not one to give such 
 a sum as three ryo. He is always in debt. The wife of Jusuke 
 San complains of his delays with her husband. However . . ." 
 Confidence restored, she bade Densuke put the money in the 
 drawer of the toilet stand. Then he was to prepare some food; 
 for themselves, and for the neighbours ready to assist at the 
 expected birth. 
 
 Densuke did so, his eyes shifting from O'Mino to the stove, 
 from the stove to the deadly bundle. Finally he removed the 
 furoshiki to their outer room, mumbling some excuse as to the foul- 
 ness of a buck-basket. He returned to his cooking. Barely tast- 
 ing some food O'Mino soon was sound asleep. Densuke observed 
 her. " Ugly, rich, a very o'hake in appearance is the Ojosan ; and 
 yet she takes as husband a spiritless creature, such as is this 
 Densuke. Is it good or bad fortune ? How grateful would be her 
 advice." He went to bed himself in the outer room ; to spend 
 a hideous night of nightmare in company with the dead Jusuke, 
 who now did taint the air with that indefinable pollution of even 
 the freshest corpse. Wild visions floated through the brain of 
 Densuke. The neighbours would assemble. The food was ready. 
 
46 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Ah! Here comes the wife of Jusuke San. She demands her hus- 
 band. A moment, and Densuke was stealing from the house en- 
 trance into the darkness. The river? Ah! That was it. The 
 canal of Hachobori was close at hand to Jusuke's own home. 
 It would float him to his very door. Densuke soon saw himself at 
 the river bank. No one was at hand. Splash ! In went the foul 
 burden. There it was again. . But now it was Jusuke in person. 
 " Jusuke San ! Jusuke San ! Pardon ! 'Twas not this Densuke 
 who killed you. Seek vengeance of Daihachiro Sama. He is the 
 murderer." In his terror he lost all fear of being heard. He 
 shouted at the top of his lungs. But Jusuke laid a heavy hand 
 on him. With one long drawn out groan Densuke — awoke. 
 
 O'Mino was leaning close over him, her face spectre-like with 
 pain. Seeing that he was awake she took away her hand. " What 
 is the matter with you? All night you have been shouting and 
 mumbling in sleep. Just now it was ' Jusuke San ! Jusuke San ! 
 Daihachiro Sama ! ' It is indeed a matter of Jusuke San. The time 
 of Mino is at hand ; the pains begin. Go at once to the house of 
 Jusuke, and ask his wife O'Yoshi to condescend her aid." Den- 
 suke sprang up. An idea flashed into his mind. He would go to 
 Hachobori and make full confession. Which was the most im- 
 portant? O'Yoshi as confessor or as midwife? With his brain 
 thus puzzled over an answer he started ofif. His last injunction 
 to O'Mino was — " by no means meddle with the bundle of 
 Daihachird Sama." There could have been no more direct invi- 
 tation to her to do so. For a short time O'Mino did nothing 
 but eye the strange bundle. Then she was on her knees before it, 
 examining it. " Rain coats as wrapping ! And tied with rope : 
 a queer kind of washing. What a strange odour ! Pickled daikon 
 (nukamisozuke) ? " She shook it. Something inside went gotsu- 
 gotsu. This was too much for her curiosity. Her old suspicion 
 came back, that Densuke had turned robber. She poked a little 
 hole in the straw wrapping. Some kind of cloth covering was 
 within; a kimono without doubt. Through its tissue something 
 
THE APPEARANCE OF O'lWA SAN 47 
 
 shone white. The kitchen knife was close at hand on the brazier 
 (hibachi). She reached out, and in a moment the rope was 
 severed. " Oya ! Oya ! " Out rolled a head. An arm, two 
 helpless flexible legs were extended before her. With a scream 
 of horror O'Mino fell flat on her back. Lying stretched out she 
 uttered one sharp cry after another. The neighbouring wives 
 came hurrying in, a stream of humanity. " What is wrong? A 
 young wife screams not without cause. Oya! Oya! O'Mino San 
 has given birth to a baby and a head. lya ! Head, limbs, body — 
 a monstrous parturition ! " With the woman groaning in the pain 
 of her delivery, the wives in confusion, children flying to summon 
 the men folk, the whole district was in an uproar. In the midst 
 of the confusion arrived Densuke and the wife of Jusuke. As 
 yet he had not found courage to confess. He was still " deciding." 
 A neighbour greeted him — " Densuke San ! Strange things have 
 happened to O'Mino San. She has given birth to a head and a 
 baby at the same time. Hasten, Densuke San ! Hasten ! " Densuke 
 did hasten ; but it was to disappear down the nearest byway in 
 headlong flight. Amazed and confounded the wife of Jusuke pro- 
 ceeded alone to the house ; as the first thing to set eyes on the head 
 of her husband, eyes still open and glaring in death. With a 
 cry she precipitated herself upon it; took it in her arms. The 
 midwife, summoned in haste, parted infant from mother. Thus 
 did O'lwa San come forth into the world. 
 
 The affair was grave. The kenshi (coroner) was soon on the 
 scene. O'Mino with feeble voice told what she knew. " Deign 
 to examine into the affair beyond the surface. My husband Den- 
 suke is not the man to commit this crime. Ask the neighbours, 
 who know him. Last night he brought three ryo, given him by 
 Takahashi Daihachiro Sama, the Sakuji Machibugyo of Geishii Ko. 
 He said that it was for important service rendered. There is no 
 doubt that Takahashi San is the murderer. Deign to examine 
 well ; show benevolence. . . . Ah ! This Mino shall have 
 vengeance. For seven lives Daihachiro shall be pursued. . . .'' 
 
48 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Her eyes became injected with blood. Her breast heaved painfully 
 in the attempt to get air. The women around her gave cries of 
 alarm. O'Mino sank back in a pool of blood. She had died in 
 the midst of her curse. Said one present — " This Tokichi would 
 not be the honoured Sakuji Sama; nay, not for the full seven 
 existences in human form." The others felt as he did. Even the 
 kenshi drew up his shoulders a little at the frightful mask of the 
 dead woman's face. He could learn but little. Kyijbei, soon 
 at hand, petitioned for the dead body of O'Mino and the custody 
 of the infant. The neighbours corroborated the story of O'Mino; 
 but Densuke had disappeared. Daihachiro never had confidence 
 in his agent. His preparations for flight had been made before 
 Densuke's discovery, and almost together with Densuke he had 
 passed out the gate of Geishu Sama, with the seventy ryo pro- 
 vided by Jusuke. Report being made to the Machibugyo a " grass 
 dividing " search was made, without result. No trace of either 
 man was found. As for the child born under these auspicious 
 conditions, Kyubei went at once to Tamiya Matazaemon and made 
 report. With bowed head the old man awaited the decision. Said 
 Matazaemon — " The name giving is to take place on the seventh 
 night. Kyubei will not fail to be present." He did not speak 
 further. Thus the offence of the parents was pardoned in O'lwa 
 the infant ; the grandchild of a man and woman passing the period 
 of middle age.- 
 
 * A sakuji biigyo was the official who had charge of the mainte- 
 nance and construction of public works within the daimy5's fief. 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 THE AFFAIR OF THE SHIBA KIRId5SHI ^ 
 
 It was Genroku 8th year (1695). O'lwa, a girl of twelve 
 years, could understand what came to her ears. In dealing with 
 each other the Nipponese are very exact and exacting. The New 
 Year must start with a clean balance sheet for the tradesman — 
 all bills paid and collected. The last night of the dying year, and 
 its last few hours ; this time is the busiest and most anxious. 
 Zensuke, the hanto (clerk) of the Shimaya dry goods shop, accom- 
 panied by one Jugoro, was passing the Shiba Kiridoshi. It was 
 the hour of the tiger (3 a.m.). Of the two, Jugoro was the fight- 
 ing man. Jurozaemon of the Shimaya had provided him with a 
 short sword and sent him as guard to Zensuke, who would have 
 more than three hundred ryo in gold. Said Jugoro — " Banto San, 
 whither now? The hour is late." — " It is never late on the omi- 
 soka (31st of the 12th month)," replied Zensuke tersely. " How- 
 ever, there remains but one account to collect ; at Nishikubo. We 
 will hasten." — ■" Go on ahead," said Jugoro. " A moment here 
 for a necessity." Thus the two men became separated by nearly 
 a cho (100 yards). The district was one of yashiki and temples. 
 The white walls of the former blended with the white carpet of 
 snow on the ground. At any hour it was no busy place ; now it 
 was desolate. The high banks of ttie cutting crowned by woods 
 and approached through the trees, made it an ideal place for a 
 hold-up. Zensuke hesitated. He slowed his pace to allow his 
 companion to join him. He thought he saw something move in 
 
 ' A deep cutting through the hill. They are common features in 
 Nippon. Many valleys are only accessible by a climb, unless miti- 
 gated by a kiridoshi, or obviated by a tunnel. Kamakura, for instance, 
 is accessible by land in no other way. Asahina kiridoshi : there are 
 several others. 
 
 4 49 
 
50 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 the darkness close by. From behind a tree just before him came 
 a samurai. Two others followed this man from the shadows. 
 The heads of all three men were covered by zukin (hoods). They 
 wore vizors. "Wait!" Zensuke stopped in fright. "What 
 suspicious rascal is this, travelling the quarter at this hour? 
 Probably some clerk making off with his master's funds. Come 
 nowi Give them into better keeping. Low fellow ! You are fairly 
 trapped." Zensuke began to retreat, but two of the men were now 
 behind him. He began to shout for Jugoro. The latter came 
 up at a run — " Honoured Sirs ! This is the Banto San of the 
 Shimaya of Honj5 Itchome. He is collecting the house bills. 
 Deign not to disturb him." — "Shut up!" was the reply of the 
 leader. " Another fellow of the same kidney. Look to him." 
 Roughly he thrust his hand into Zensuke's bosom and began to 
 hustle and fumble the clerk. When Jugoro would interfere the 
 two other men prevented him. With fright he saw the money 
 belt of the Banto dangling from the man's hand. The nature 
 of the affair was plain. *' Heigh ! Jokes don't go, honoured sirs. 
 We are not suspicious fellows. Condescend to pardon us." As 
 he spoke he took advantage of the negligence of his opponents, 
 their interest in the struggle of Zensuke and their leader, to 
 wrench himself free. At once his sword was out. Jugoro was 
 of no mean skill. None of his wardsmen could face him. One 
 man received severe wounds in scalp and face. The other lost 
 part of his hand. But Jugoro was no match for the odds of two 
 trained soldiers. He was soon cut down. Meanwhile Zensuke 
 was shouting lustily for aid. At this period there was a guard 
 called the tsujiban (cross-roads watch). It was mostly composed 
 of oldish men not fit for active service. Such regulations as there 
 were they observed. These were very severe; but, as with the 
 present day police, kept them to their post. They rarely troubled 
 themselves to patrol their district. From these men there could be 
 little hope of aid. Just then, however, the train of some lord came 
 in sight. With one hand the leader held Zensuke by the bosom 
 
THE AFFAIR OF THE SHIBA KIRIDOSHI 51 
 
 of his robe. The hand holding the money belt was already thrust 
 in his own bosom. In a moment it would be free. Then Zensuke 
 would go in company with Jugoro to the Yellow Fountain (in 
 Hell). His captor gave a startled cry. "The train of Geishu 
 Sama ! Lose no time ! " As he wrenched himself away Zensuke 
 sank his teeth deep into the man's hand. With a howl of pain 
 the fellow made off, exchanging a little finger for the three hun- 
 dred and twenty-five ryo in Zensuke's ddmaki. 
 
 The banto crouched in conventional attitude by the roadside. 
 His distress was plain ; the prostrate body of a man evidence of 
 some unusual condition. A samurai left the passing train and 
 came up to investigate. " Ah ! Robbery and murder : follow 
 behind to the tsujiban. It is their affair." With moans and 
 groans Zensuke made his report. He was indignant at the luxury 
 of these watchmen, toasting at their fire. They noted it; looked 
 at each other and out into the snowy night, and laughed with 
 contempt. For a tradesman's money belt were they to disturb 
 themselves? They questioned him harshly, in such way as to 
 excuse any further effort on their part. Surely the thieves by 
 this time were at the other end of Edo. Two of them, however, 
 did accompany Zensuke to the scene of the hold-up. Casting 
 an eye over Jugoro's mangled corpse, said one — " A good fight : 
 the occasion has been missed. As perhaps the criminal this man 
 is to be bound. Probably his intent was to run away with the 
 master's funds." Roughly they seized him, hustled him back 
 to the guardhouse. Trussed up Zensuke had to spend the hours 
 in alarm and fear. Luckily the kcnshi soon appeared. It was 
 the omisoka. No official business would be performed during the 
 three days following. Jugoro could hardly exercise patience and 
 remain as he was for that space of time. So the examination was 
 duly held. The Shimaya soon secured the body of Jugoro and the 
 release of Zensuke. The latter's evidence was put on record; 
 none too satisfactory, as the concealing aukin prevented any 
 recognition or description of the features of the assailants. He 
 
52 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 only knew of the cries of impatience at wounds received, and 
 knew that he had left his mark on his own opponent. How then 
 were they to be run down ? The kenshi showed some impatience. 
 Said he to the captain of the tsujiban—" Why truss up this man, 
 even though a tradesman? He has all his own fingers, and 
 the corpse lacks none." He touched the severed finger with his 
 baton. With this all were dismissed, and to all seeming the affair 
 was forgotten. 
 
 The Tokugawa had their plain-clothes police. One of the most 
 noted was Magome Yaemon of Hachobori. His great grand- 
 father had captured Marubashi Chuya, of note in the rebellion of 
 Yui Shosetsu at the time of the fourth Shogun lyetsuna Ko. One 
 day this Magome Dono, in company with a yakunin (constable) 
 named Kuma, was rummaging the poorer districts of Shitaya 
 Hirokdji. The two men were disguised as charcoal burners, and 
 attracted little attention. All the legitimate profession in the 
 way of medicine and pharmacy had been ransacked by the magis- 
 trate (machibugyo) of the south district. Yaemon felt sure that 
 there were still some by-ways. " Who's that fellow ? he asked 
 Kuma. The constable laughed. He's a snnekiri (shin-cutter). 
 The rascals can be told by their tough dark blue cotton socks, 
 the coarse straw sandals, and the banded leggings. Deign to note 
 the long staff he carries. They peddle plasters — shin plasters, 
 guaranteed to cure any wound, to stop any flow of blood. A 
 man's arm hangs but by a strip of skin ; the blood flows in tor- 
 rents. Apply the plaster and the flow ceases at once, the arm 
 heals. They drive a roaring trade, even among the biishi {samu- 
 rai) ; selling a shell here, two there. As for their real useful- 
 ness. . . ." He laughed.- They followed after the man and 
 
 * " The description is curious. Writing fifty years ago Ryuo tells us 
 these men no longer practised. His book is not readily met with and 
 the passage in the original is worth preserving — " Kono siiiiegiri yatsti 
 to iu wa tadaima de wa arimasen ga; makurajima no tabi ni asaura wo 
 haki, sankeigyd ito kyahan de, iiagai no wo ippon sashi. Eh! To de a 
 
THE AFFAIR OF THE SHIBA KIRIDOSHI 53 
 
 soon came to a guard house. Said Magome San — " Detain thai 
 man yonder. He is to be examined." The ward officer was a Ut- 
 tle surprised — " Respectfully heard and vmderstood. It is old 
 Yamabayashi Yogen."' Soon the man entered the guard house. 
 Said the official drily — " Magome Dono is here to talk with 
 ■ Yogen. What has he been up to ? " But the old fellow was con- 
 fident. " Thanks are felt." With the ease of the righteous 
 and prosperous he passed into the presence of Yaemon. The lat- 
 ter greeted him with a non-official genial smile. " Ah ! This is 
 Yamabayashi Yogen, the head of the Sunckiri. And business?" 
 — " Truly this Yogen is grateful. Man was born with teeth. 
 Men and women still seek each other's company. So long as such 
 endures Yogen finds profit." — " And plasters? " — " They are the 
 aflfair of Tokichi. Would his worship deign to examine him. 
 . . . condescend dismissal. At once he presents himself." 
 
 Thus in short order the straight haired, unshaven, low browed 
 Tokichi stuck his head into the Sanbashi guard house. " Deign 
 to pardon this Tokichi. The honoured benevolence. 
 The ward officer eyed him knowingly and quizzically. " Shut up ! 
 Magome Dono has questions to ask about clients. Wait until the 
 questions deal with the doings of Tokichi. That will be well. Then 
 it will be time enough to lie. Meanwhile, be sure and tell the 
 truth." With this disinterested advice Tokichi was passed to the 
 presence. Once more conscience spoke louder than caution. 
 
 isogi de nai. Okata wa zvatakushi no mosn koyakii no kono wo kiite o 
 motome nasai. Nukeba tamachirii iiagai no yaiba da nure kami de mo kayo 
 ni kircru, tadaima yatsu ga wo kiri chi ivo tomcte goran ni ireru; to 
 marn de kirn yd desti ga ha (yaiba) no arte tokoro wa madzu no kata 
 bakari de, moto no kata wa yaiba ga hiite am yiic, sono ha hiku no 
 tokoro wo tide he ataru to stiji ga tsnku bakari de kire washimasen ga^ 
 tanka ga kircru kara, chizua taki-tsti se no gotoku nagareru. Chi ni wa 
 sakarazvacu iktisa naka ko wo mochiircba, sokuza ni todomaru nani mae 
 kara todotterii no desu ga, hagyn da kara rnaru de chi ga tomaru yd ni 
 micrti kara, kono ho he hitotsu gai, kono ho he futatsu gai, to uremasu." 
 — " Yotsuya Kwaidan," pp. 31-32. 
 
54 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 The honoured benevolence, the honoured pity; condescend the 
 honoured examination into the innocence of Tokichi." Yaemon 
 laughed. " Fortunately it is not a matter of Tokichi, but of his 
 plasters. Who bought these at this year's Shogwatsu (New 
 Year) ? Be careful in answer. The case is a bad one." Tokichi 
 considered. " The first day of the New Year a man came. His 
 purchase of salve was large. In the course of the past three 
 months he has been many times to buy. His visits now are wider 
 spaced, and he praises the goods — as he ought. No hand ever had 
 a worse poisoned wound. He . . . " — " Age and appear- 
 ance?" interrupted Yaemon, now all attention. He had struck 
 a trail. " Perhaps fifty years; fair of complexion, tall, and stout. 
 By his lordly manner he must at least be a go-kenin, or a charla- 
 tan." Who was this man ? Yaemon felt sure that he was about 
 to learn something of interest. Kuma was given his instructions. 
 "Go daily to the shop of this man and receive his report. As to the 
 samurai in question be circumspect. Evidently he is no ordinary 
 person. \ samurai is to be summoned, not disgraced by arrest — 
 if he is a samurai." So Kuma with several aids established him- 
 self in the rear of Tokichi's shop. The man not having put in an 
 appearance for several weeks, the wait, if uncertain, was soon 
 rewarded. On the 25th day of the 3rd month (May) he pre- 
 sented himself. Kuma recognized him at once by the description ; 
 sooner than Tokichi, who was engaged in filling his little shells 
 with the marvellous salve. The officer's decision was prompt. 
 At a call Tokichi turned from his drugs. " Ah ! the honoured Sir. 
 And the arm, does it honourably progress?" — "Progress could 
 not be better. This is probably the last visit." In replying the 
 man eyed Tokichi with some astonishment. The latter made his 
 bows, first to the new-comer, then to the indefinite rear of the 
 establishment. " Indeed the drug is all tliat is claimed for it. 
 The wound being poisoned, at one time it looked as if the hand, 
 nay arm, must go. These House doctors are notoriously good for 
 nothing. Just as nothing can surpass your product, good leech. 
 
THE AFFAIR OF THE SHIBA KIRIDOSHI 55 
 
 Here is money for two shells of its virtues." He held out a silver 
 bu.^ Busied with his preparations Tokichi looked in vain toward 
 the rear apartment. After as long delay as he could contrive 
 he passed the shells and a heap of copper change over to the custo- 
 mer. As soon as the latter had left the shop Tokichi bolted for 
 the rear. Kuma was gone. His aids were calmly smoking their 
 pipes and drinking the poor tea (bancha) of Tdkichi. 
 
 Kuma had little trouble in following his man to Okachimachi 
 in Shitaya. He found near by a shop for the sale of every- 
 thing, from tobacco to daikon (radish), both odoriferous, yet 
 lacking perfume. Said Kuma — "A question or so : this tall 
 samurai, an oldish man, who lives close by; who is he?" The 
 woman in charge hesitated. Then dislike overcame discretion. 
 "Ah ! With the hand wrapped in a bandage ; his name is vSakarai 
 Kichiro Tayu. Truly he is a bad man. That he should quarrel 
 with his own class is no great matter. Maimed as he is, thrice 
 report has been made to the guard house, but in each case he 
 has escaped further process. He is a dreadful fellow ; one who 
 never pays a debt, yet to whom it is dangerous to refuse credit. 
 Already nearly a ryo is due to this Echigoya. It has been the 
 bad luck to support him and his family during the past six 
 months." Said Kuma — " Thus maimed, to hold his own in 
 quarrels he must be a notable fencer as well as brawler. Was 
 the wound so received ? " — " lya ! That is not known. Some 
 quarrel at the New Year's festivities probably was the cause. 
 Before that time he was sound enough." She laughed. " He 
 has two friends ; Kahei San and Miemon San. They are birds 
 of a feather; and all partly plucked. Perhaps they quarrelled 
 in company, but if so have made it up. Sakurai San is a match 
 for the two others." She looked at Kuma, to see if he had more 
 
 ' One-fourth of a ryo = 15 silver momme = 872 grains Troy. Money 
 had much greater purchasing value at that time as compared with the 
 present days ; perhaps 20 times, but adulteration of the coinage caused 
 great variations. 
 
56 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 to say. Indifferent he picked out a strand of tobacco. " He 
 shouldered this Gobei into the ditch close by here. Fortunate is 
 it to have escaped worse injury." Satisfied with his inquiries he 
 took his way in haste to his master. The eyes of Yaemon and 
 his aid shone with enjoyment. Surely they had the men of the 
 Shiba Kiridoshi. 
 
 Magome Yaemon at once sought out the machibugyo's office. 
 His lordship heard the report. " Different disorders require dif- 
 ferent treatment. Of two of these men this Gemba knows some- 
 thing. The other man is hard to place, and evidently not so easy 
 to deal with." Two doshin and yakunin were sent at once to the 
 addresses indicated. To capture Nakagawa Miemon and Imai 
 Kahei was an easy task. The doshin and yakunin sent to the 
 house of Sakurai formed a band of twenty men. The house sur- 
 rounded, without ceremony the officer and an aid entered. " On 
 the lord's mission: Sakurai San is wanted at the office of Matsuda 
 Dono. H resistance be made it will be necessary to use the rope. 
 Pray accompany me." Sakurai Kichiro divined the object of the 
 arrest. " The affair at the Kiridoshi has been scented out. The 
 manner of that rascally drug seller was strange to-day." The 
 officer had planted himself right before the sword rack. Sakurai 
 could neither kill anybody, nor cut belly. He turned to his wife. 
 " There is a matter on hand to be explained. Absence will prob- 
 ably be prolonged. Already the day is far advanced. . . . Ah ! 
 Is it Kichitaro ? " A boy of seven years had rushed into the room. 
 " Pretty fellow ! . . . Honoured Sir, be patient. The separa- 
 tion is no short one. No resistance is made. We go the same 
 road. . . . Taro; rude fellow! Salute the gentleman." The 
 boy obeyed, with grave ceremony and a hostility which divined 
 an unpleasant mission. " Your father leaves you. It is now 
 the time to obey the mother in all she says. Remember well, or 
 the end will be a bad one." Wife and child clung to him, fright- 
 ened and now weeping. It was an arrest; their mainstay was 
 being taken from them. In the last caresses he had time to bend 
 
THE AFFAIR OF THE SHIBA KIRIDOSHI 57 
 
 down and whisper to O'Ren — " In the toilet box is a scroll sealed 
 ,up. All is there explained. Read and destroy it. In later days 
 at discretion let our son know." Roughly he pushed woman and 
 boy aside. With rapid stride he reached the entrance. The 
 yakunin confronted him. He laughed and waved a hand. " There 
 is no resistance. We go the same road." The doshin permitted 
 the laxity of discipline. He had his orders. 
 
 Meanwhile the examination of the other two men was in 
 progress at the office of the machibugyo. As the biggest fool 
 of the two, Nakagawa Miemon was the first summoned to the 
 presence of Matsuda Dono. Said the Judge * — " Nakagawa Uji, 
 there is a slight inquiry to make. How were those scars on the 
 face come by? These are marks of wounds not long since re- 
 ceived. Consider well and remember." The tone of menace stag- 
 gered Miemon. He had anticipated some rebuke for slight in- 
 fraction of the peace, not unusual with these men. " Naruhodo ! 
 Has the Shiba Kiridoshi matter cropped up?" He hesitated — 
 " The story is a long one, and a foolish one. To weary the 
 honoured ears . . ." Matsuda Gemba caught him up with 
 impatient gesture. " Answer the question, and truly. Naka- 
 gawa Miemon is noted neither for judgment nor sobriety." The 
 man caught up the last phrase as a cue. Eagerly he spoke, the 
 doors of the jail opening wide for exit — " So it is indeed. Wine 
 never benefited man ; much less a samurai. Hence, with Kahei 
 and Sakurai Uji, it was decided to forswear wine forever. It 
 was determined to make a pilgrimage to Kompira San. There 
 the vow of abstinence was to be taken; on its holy ground. All 
 went well. We met at Nihonbashi. Alas ! At the Kyobashi the 
 perfume of a grog shop reached our noses. The vow had not 
 yet been taken. The ground was not holy. Just one last drink 
 
 * The Machibugyo was judge and prosecutor (procurator or dis- 
 trict attorney); the two offices being held by the same man. A court 
 trial included both functions. Teiigu, used below, is the long-nosed 
 wood bogey. There is a note in Benkei, i, 260. 
 
58 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 before setting out. But the Buddha was unfavourable. Once 
 begun, the drinking was adjourned to a cook shop. There the 
 bout continued all day. Wine lent us the wings of tengu. We 
 travelled the road to Kompira San in a dream. In the progress 
 Kahei and this Miemon quarrelled. Swords were drawn, and 
 we cut each other. These wounds on head and face were the 
 portion of this Miemon. Kahei had his hand nearly severed. 
 Sakarai San, who was asleep, aroused by the noise, sprang up 
 to part us. He is a man to be feared; but in my rage I sank 
 my teeth in his hand. The bite of man or beast is poison. His 
 wound was worse than that of either of us. 
 
 Gemba Dono was in conversation with his chamberlain. He 
 let Miemon talk away. He was not one to say too little. As 
 barely having listened he asked — " When was this fight ? The 
 day of the vow and journey to Kompira? Truly the result has 
 been the vengeance of offended deity." — " The twelfth month 
 tenth day," naturally replied Miemon. Gemba forced him to re- 
 peat the answer. Several times he put the query in different 
 forms. Miemon, fool that he was, stuck to the date. Then said 
 the magistrate — " Miemon, you are a liar. Moreover, you are 
 a murderer. On the 13th day, on going up to the castle, this 
 Gemba had converse with your lord. At that time Nakagawa 
 Miemon was summoned to carry out a mission. As a man of 
 whom report had been made you were noted well. At that time 
 you had no wound. . . . Tie him up, and take him away." 
 The yakunin fell on him from all sides. In a trice he was trussed 
 up and removed. 
 
 Then appeared Imai Kahei. Kahei was cunning, but also a 
 coward. To the questions of the Machihugyo he procrastinated 
 in his answers, confused them all he could. What had Miemon 
 said? " He spoke of the eloquence of Imai San; of Kahei Uji as 
 the clever man, the one to tell the tale properly. Now let us have 
 the true statement of the case." Such was Gemba's reply. It 
 was flattering. Unable to help himself Kahei set sail on his sea 
 
THE AFFAIR OF THE SHIBA KIRIDOSHI 59 
 
 of lies. " We all like wine . . ." — " Ah ! After all you are 
 agreed." Gemba smiled pleasantly. Kahei took courage — " But 
 wine costs money. Together we went to Kuraya Jibei, a money- 
 lender living at Kuramae no Saka, as is well known." Gemba 
 nodded assent. " Of him two ryo were borrowed, on agreement 
 to repay ten ryo as interest within a month. The nearest grog 
 shop was sought, and it was the hour of the rat (ii p.m.) before 
 the return was started. At the Teobashi a band of drunkards was 
 encountered. Without cause these men forced a quarrel on us. 
 Thus was the hand of Kahei nearly severed. This is the truth." — 
 " And what was the date of this money bond? " Imai hesitated. 
 He had caught a glimpse of the drug seller Tokichi on being 
 brought into the place. Without doubt the Kiridoshi affair was in 
 question. He must antedate his wound. " Kahei does not remem- 
 ber with certainty. Perhaps it was the seventeenth day; before 
 the Kwannon festival of the eighteenth day." He mumbled, and 
 was frightened. Said Gemba sharply — " Speak distinctly ; the 
 seventeenth day ? " — " Hei ! Hei ! Some time in the last decade 
 of the month ; the nineteenth or twentieth day — not later ; not 
 later." Matsuda Gemba almost leaped at him. " Oh, you liar ! 
 On the last day of the year you came, in person, to this Gemba 
 to anticipate the New Year's gift {^seho^. At that time you had 
 no wound. Yet the drug seller sees you next day with maimed 
 hand. It was not at Teobashi, but at Shiba Kiridoshi, that the 
 wound was received. . . . Tie him up, and away with him." 
 The yakunin came forward. Imai made a spasmodic attempt 
 to rise. They threw him down, and in a moment he was keeping 
 company with Nakagawa Miemon. 
 
 Gemba Dono braced himself for the more serious task. So 
 did his yakunin. A glance showed the magistrate that he had 
 mistaken his man. Sakarai Kichiro came forward with calm and 
 dignity. Making his ceremonial salutation to the judge he came 
 at once to the point. " What lies Miemon and Kahei have told, 
 this Kichiro knows not. The fact is that we three plotted together 
 
60 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 to rob the fatly supplied purses of the banfo making their rounds 
 in settlement of accounts at the close of the year. Hence the 
 bantO of the Shimaya, Zensuke, lost his money belt, and a man 
 of the same stamp, one Jugoro, was killed. All three of us are 
 guilty of the murder. . . ." As he would proceed Gemba held 
 up his hand. " Bring in the other two men. Continue, Kichiro." 
 Said Sakarai — " Miemon was badly cut about the head and face. 
 Kahei nearly lost his hand. This Kichiro would have killed the 
 clerk, but the procession of Geishii Sama came in sight, and 
 recognition was feared. Of the three hundred and twenty-five 
 ryo secured. . . ." The eyes of Nakagawa and Imai stood 
 out. Aghast they had followed the confession of Sakarai Kichiro, 
 with full intention to deny its truth. Now they were in a fury. 
 " What ! Three hundred and twenty-five ryo! And we had but ten 
 ryo apiece. You jest, Sakarai Uji. . . . Oh! The low fel- 
 low ! The villain ! A very beast ! A swine ! " 
 
 Gemba Dono could ask for nothing more. With smiling face 
 and courtesy he turned to Sakurai Kichiro. Why did Kichiro 
 take the three hundred ryo, giving to these fellows such a paltry 
 sum? " Answered Kichiro — " As deserving no more. They are 
 paltry fellows; little better than common soldiers (ashigaru). 
 But there is more' to tell, now the end is reached. The true name 
 of Sakarai Kichiro is Takahashi Daihachiro, at one time a re- 
 tainer of Matsudaira Aki no Kami. Pressed by the money lender 
 Jusuke, I killed him and had the body disposed of by one Densuke, 
 the cook at the soldiers' quarters of the yashiki. This was in 
 Tenwa 3rd year 5th month (June 1683). Fleeing to avoid arrest 
 the occupation of writing teacher was taken up at Yuki in Shimosa. 
 Densuke, too, had fled, and hither he came as a wandering beggar. 
 Fearing his tongue I killed him ; and mutilating the corpse, threw 
 it into the castle moat close by. A beggar found dead, no inquiry 
 was made." — " When did this take place? " asked Gemba. "' Just 
 one year later — Jokyo ist year 5th month." He made a little 
 movement. Nakagawa and Imai broke out into protest at the 
 
THE AFFAIR OF THE SHIBA KIRIDOSHI 61 
 
 completeness of this confession, but Sakarai turned fiercely on 
 them. " Shut up ! To undergo public trial would bring shame 
 on all kerai throughout the land ; would cause people to fear our 
 caste. We three planned the deed and secured the money." He 
 put his arms behind his back. The yakunin, stepping softly, roped 
 him up almost with respect. A wave of Gemba's hand and the 
 guilty men were removed. Unable to help themselves, Naka- 
 gawa and Imai made confession to avoid the torture in what was 
 now a hopeless case. Later the sentences of condemnation were 
 issued. Degraded from their status the three men were taken to 
 the execution ground of Shinagawa, and there decapitated. 
 
 The wife of Takahashi Daihachiro did not wait these pro- 
 ceedings. The confession of her husband was in her hands 
 before he himself told everything to Matsuda Gemba. Before 
 night she had decamped with her son. At eight years of age 
 Kichitaro was placed as disciple (dcshi) at the Joshinji of Fuka- 
 gawa. Receiving the name of Myoshin he became the favourite 
 of the rector (jTishoku) of the temple. The mother now became 
 reduced to the greatest penury. For a time she was bawd in the 
 Honj5 Warigesui district. Subsequently she was promoted to the 
 position of favourite sultana (wife) of her master Toeman, local 
 head of his profession. Her name now was O'Matsu. When 
 Mydshin was thirteen years old in some way he was told that she 
 was dead. Henceforth he had no stay in the world but the worthy 
 priest, who became a second and better father to him. This treat- 
 ment found its usual and virtuous reward. At eighteen years, now 
 a priest and learned in priestly ways, he took to himself the con- 
 tents of the temple strong box. Fifty ryo soon disappeared in the 
 company of the harlots of Fukagawa Yagura-Shita. A prolonged 
 absence of Myoshin aroused the inquiries of the other monks, and 
 the eyes of the rector were soon opened as to his unworthy prose- 
 lyte, the blighted issue of a miserable stock." 
 
 *The tazvara equals two-fifths of a koku. At present-day figures the 
 stipend of Tamiya can be put at about 2000 yen; that of Ito Kwaiba, 
 
62 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 mentioned later, at 13,000 yen. The great dainiyo with incomes running 
 into the hundreds of thousands of koku were princes administering 
 part of the public domain, with armies and an elaborate civil service 
 to support. Even a hatamoto (minor daimyo, immediate vassals of the 
 shogun) of 10,000 koku, such as Yagyu Tajima no Kami had a large 
 train at his Edo yashiki and at his fief. The Date House of Sendai, or the 
 Maeda of Kaga, Etchu, and Echizen, are examples of the greater 
 Tozama,or lords independent in the administration of their fiefs. Labour, 
 it is to be added, was cheap compared to food values. Taxes were 
 heavy — ranging from 30 to 70 per cent. The middleman took his high 
 fee. Yet sumptuary laws were necessary to prevent extravagance among 
 the farming class. Some of them were rich men, especially in the better 
 administered Tokugawa fiefs. The public works required of the daimyo 
 — especially the Tozama — prevented a dangerous accumulation of re- 
 sources, and sometimes almost ruined his subjects. Accurate measure- 
 ments of income are not available. The koku of daimyo income has 
 been placed as high as ten bushels. The present-day koku equals 5.13 
 bushels. The price of rice ranges between 15-20 yen per koku. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 NEGOTIATIONS: THE BUSINESS OF A MARRIAGE 
 BROKER (NAKODO) 
 
 The presence of O'lwa created an upheaval in the Samoncho 
 household. The wet nurse required brought with her a train of 
 servants. With the child's growth this was maintained, even 
 increased. The young lady (Ojosan) found herself graduated 
 into one with a status to maintain. All the niggardly habits of 
 Matazaemon were thrown to the winds with the advent 6f this 
 grandchild. The affection never shown outwardly to the mother, 
 was lavished on her daughter. At seven years of age OTwa under- 
 went the common enough infliction of smallpox. It showed itself 
 on the anniversary day of O'Mino's death, and the child's sick- 
 ness afforded but mutilated rites for the memorial service of the 
 mother. Matazaemon would have abandoned all his duties, him- 
 self to nurse the child. O'Naka loved O'lwa for self and daughter. 
 She had sense enough to drive the old man into a corner of the 
 room, then out of it; and further expostulations sent him to his 
 duties. Who, in those iron days, would accept such excuse for 
 absence ? The child worried through, not unscathed. Her grand- 
 mother's qualifications as nurse have been mentioned. O'lwa 
 was a plain girl. She had the flat plate-like face of her mother. 
 The eyes were small, disappearing behind the swollen eyelids, the 
 hair was scanty, the disease added its black pock marks which 
 stood thick and conspicuous on a fair skin. Otherwise she was 
 spared by its ravages, except — 
 
 Whatever her looks O'lwa compensated for all by her disposi- 
 tion. She had one of those balanced even temperaments, with 
 clear judgment, added to a rare amiability. Moreover she pos- 
 sessed all the accomplishments and discipline of a lady. At eleven 
 
 63 
 
64 THE YOTSUYA KWAipAN 
 
 years Matazaemon unwillingly had sought and found a place for 
 her in attendance on her ladyship of the great Hosokawa House. 
 O'lwa's absence made no difference in his household. The train 
 of servants was maintained, to be disciplined for her return, to be 
 ready on this return. Perhaps it was a pleasing fiction to the 
 fond mind of the aging man that she would return, soon, to- 
 morrow. O'Naka acquiesced in the useless expense and change 
 in her habits. She always acquiesced ; yet her own idea would 
 have been to make a good housekeeper of OTwa — like herself, 
 to sew, cook, wash, clean — a second O'Mino. She could not 
 understand the new turn of Matazaemon's mind. As for O'lwa, 
 she grew to girlhood in the Hosokawa House, learned all the 
 accomplishments of her own house and what the larger scale of 
 her new position could teach her ; everything in the way of eti- 
 quette and the polite arts, as well as the plainer tasks of house- 
 keeping, she was likely ever to be called on to perform. The 
 plain child grew into the plain woman ; perhaps fortunately for 
 her. The okugata (her ladyship) was a jealous woman. Her 
 spouse was mad on women. Every nubile maid {koshiuioto) in 
 the yasliiki was a candidate for concubinage. His wife countered 
 by as hideous a collection of females as her owni House and her 
 lord's retainers could furnish. O'lwa attracted from the first 
 by her lack of all physical attraction. His lordship tried to get 
 used to her with the passage of years — and failed. He could not 
 stomach the necessary advances. But the girl's admirable temper 
 and even judgment secured the esteem of all. These latter quali- 
 ties captivated the whole household. It was O'lwa who per- 
 formed all duties for her ladyship, took them in charge as her sub- 
 stitute. For the first time in his life Oki no Kami found some- 
 thing in a woman apart from her sex. When the time came for 
 O'lwa to depart, the regret of lord and lady was substantially 
 expressed in their gifts. But his lordship had to admit failure. 
 Not a retainer could be found willing to take the daughter of 
 Tamiya as wife. So far O'lwa's mission at the yasliiki had failed. 
 
THE BUSINESS OF A MARRIAGE BROKER 65 
 
 O'Naka knew this. Matazaemon never gave it thought ; so glad 
 he was to get her back. He received the honoured words and 
 presents with humble and delighted thanks. O'lwa reentered her 
 home, a recovered jewel. She was the Ojosan, the lady daughter. 
 A first step of her's was gradually to get rid of a good part of 
 the superfluous train. O'lwa was a very practical girl. 
 
 Matazaemon was now old and ill. He was nearing his seven- 
 tieth year. The one idea in his head was the mtiko, the son to 
 be adopted as husband of the heir of the House; the mate to be 
 secured for O'lwa, and the posterity to be secured for his House. 
 As a little girl O'lwa had been much courted — in fun, Watanabe 
 Juzo, Natsume Kyuzo, Imaizumi Jinzaemon, many others the 
 growing " sparks " of Samoncho and roundabout, could not for- 
 bear this amusement with the little " Bakemono " (apparition). 
 Of their ill intent O'lwa knew nothing. Indeed a short experience 
 with O'lwa disarmed derision. Most of the unseemly lovers 
 came genuinely to like the girl, unless inherent malice and ugliness 
 of disposition, as with Natsume and Akiyama Chozaemon, made 
 their sport more than mere pastime. But as grown men they could 
 not face the results of the final step, and no parent was harsh 
 enough to graft his unwilling stock on O'lwa's persimmon trees. 
 The girl was clever enough to know this. It was Hoei 6th year 
 (1709) and she was now twenty-six years old. It was indirectly 
 at her suggestion that Matazaemon sought the aid of Kondo 
 Rokurobei. This man lived just behind the large inclosure of the 
 Sainenji, on the hill slope which dips steeply down to the Samega- 
 bashi. The relationship was very distant at best ; but with nearer 
 relatives in general, and with Yoemon his brother in particular, 
 the master of Tamiya had deadly feud. To them he would not 
 turn to find a husband for O'lwa. 
 
 Thus it happened that one day in the seventh month (August) 
 
 Rokurobei was awaiting the appearance of Yamada Chobei. He 
 
 really knew little about the man, but Chobei at one time had been 
 
 resident in the ward. He had undergone vicissitudes, and now 
 
 5 
 
66 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 was a dealer in metals and a kind of broker in everything under 
 the sign of Musashiya. He had a wide acquaintance over Edo 
 in his different businesses, and was the easy and slip-shod means 
 by which Rokurobei would avoid the more arduous part of the 
 task laid on him by Matazaemon. Chobei was not long in put- 
 ting in an appearance. All affairs were gifts of the gods to a 
 man who lived on wind. Kazaguruma Chobei — Windmill Chobei 
 — he was called. His flittings were so noiseless and erratic, just 
 like the little paper windmills made for children, that the nick- 
 name applied exactly fitted him. The maid in announcing him 
 showed no particular politeness. " Wait here a moment . . . 
 Danna Sama (master), Chobei San, the metal dealer, requests 
 an interview." — "Ah! Pass him here at once. . . . Is it 
 Chobei? Please sit down." Chobei had followed almost on 
 the girl's footsteps. She drew aside to make room for him, 
 then flirted out in haste. Poverty and dislike had no influence 
 in Yotsuya in those days. She seemed to scent the man. 
 
 Chobei looked with envy at the comfortable Rokurdbei. The 
 day was hot. The thin kimono fallen about his loins, the latter's 
 garb was a pair of drawers and a thin shirt. He sat looking out 
 on the garden, with its shade of large trees, its shrubbery and 
 rock work. Everything was dripping with the water indus- 
 triously splashed to this side and to that by the serving man. The 
 tea was brought and Kondd at last remembered that he had 
 a guest. As he turned — " It is a long time since a visit has been 
 paid. Deign to pardon the intrusion." Chobei sighed in making 
 this remark. The irony was lost on his fat host. As Rokurobei 
 seemed unwilling, or hardly to know how to impart the subject 
 concerning which he had summoned him, Chobei continued — 
 " And the honoured health, is it good ? The honoured business, 
 is it on some matter of moment that Chobei is summoned?" 
 Rokurobei woke up under the direct question. He, too, sighed. 
 Chobei was noted for a greed which inspired fear. For money 
 he would do anything. " Blindman Chobei " had been his nick- 
 
THE BUSINESS OF A MARRIAGE BROKER 67 
 
 name of old days in the ward. Kondo remembered this. He 
 Hked money, too. It brought in so much comfort. He hated to 
 part with comfort. It was to be a question between himself 
 and Chobei how much of his hard-earned commission was to be 
 parted with. This last thought completely aroused him. " It is 
 a matter of securing a nmko. This Rokurobei is the one charged 
 with the task. As a son-in-law outside the ward is desired, no one 
 has wider circulation and better opportunities than Chobei San. 
 Hence the desire for a consultation." Chobei whistled inwardly. 
 Outside the ward ! What was wrong with the case. Here was 
 coin to be turned up by the circumspect. " Surely there are young 
 fellows enough in Samoncho, fit to be muko. Of course with 
 impediments . . ." — "It is the daughter of Tamiya; O'lwa 
 San. Matazaemon Dono has commissioned this Rokurobei to 
 secure a muko." Chobei whistled outwardly. " For O'lwa 
 San! . . ." — "She is no beauty, as Chdbei evidently knows. 
 Wealth compensates for other deficiencies. At all events his aid 
 is desired." — "For how much?" Chobei spoke bluntly. If 
 Rokurobei had forgotten Chobei, Chobei had not forgotten Roku- 
 robei. He went on — " To get a price for damaged goods is no 
 sinecure. Fortunately she is only out of repair on the surface. 
 . . . Say ten ryo? " Kondo laughed scornfully — "And they 
 call Chobei ' the Blind-man ' !* Rather is it vision magnified. The 
 entertainment should be the reward; with what Chobei collects 
 from the happy bridegroom." Chobei replied gravely — " With 
 such a wealthy connection the future of Kondo Dono is to be 
 envied. Chobei has to realize his future at once. Not a ryo 
 less can he afford." Plainly he was in earnest, as was the long 
 conversation which followed. Finally Chobei emerged with par- 
 tial success, and half the sum named as stipend for his labours. 
 
 He began them at once. The next day he was at the metal 
 market in Kanda. In course of chaffering over wares he never 
 bought — " You fellows always have some ronin in train ; a fine, 
 handsome fellow for whom a wife is needed. Application is made. 
 
68 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Jinzaemon, you have a candidate." — " Not for the kind of wife 
 Chobei San provides." Those present laughed loudly at the 
 sally. Chobei did not w^ink. He explained. " No bad provision 
 is this one. Rich, with an income of thirty tawara, a fine prop- 
 erty in reversion, and but twenty-five years old. The man there- 
 fore must be fit to pose as a samurai; able to read and write, to 
 perform official duty, he must be neither a boy nor a man so old 
 as to be incapable. Come now ! Does no one come forward ? 
 Ronin are to be had. A ryo for aid to this Chobei." — " Too 
 cheap as an offer," was Jinzaemon's retort. " A ronin is one to be 
 handled with care. Those favoured with acquaintance of the 
 honoured hushi often part with life and company at the same 
 date. Those without lords are equally testy as those in quarters." 
 He spoke with the bluntness of the true Edokko, the peculiar 
 product of the capital ; men who were neither farmers nor pro- 
 vincials, but true descendants of the men of the guild of Band- 
 zuin Chobei. He jested, but the subject interested the crowd. 
 Said one — " Does Chobei San get the ryo out of groom or bride? 
 She is a bold wench, unmarried at that age ; and none too chaste 
 eh, Chobei San? She will provide the husband with wife and 
 child to hand, or in the making. Or, are matters the other way ? 
 Has she been tried and found wanting? Is she impotent, or de- 
 formed ; or is Chobei making fools of us ? " Answered Chobei 
 slowly — " No ; she is a little ugly. The face round and flat, 
 shining, with black pock marks, making it look like speckled 
 pumice, rouses suspicion of leprosy. This, however, is not the 
 case. At all events she is a woman." All were now roaring with 
 laughter — "A very beauty indeed! Just the one for Chobei's 
 trade ! Too honied was his speech. He would market anything. 
 But in this market it is a matter of hard cash ; without credit. 
 This is a bit of goods too wilted. Even Chobei cannot sell it." — 
 "You lie!" said Chobei in a towering passion. "At the first 
 hint of ill-fortune threatening wine supply or pleasure, there is not 
 one of you who would not turn to Chobei to find the money needed. 
 
THE BUSINESS OF A MARRIAGE BROKER 69 
 
 Sisters, daughters, wives, aunts . . . mothers are for sale." 
 He was choking with rage. " Sell her? Chobei can and will." 
 Angered by the final item on his family list, a man nearby gave 
 him a sharp poke in the back. Others voiced resentment, perhaps 
 would have given it material form. The canal was spoken of. 
 Chdbei took the hint. He did not wait for a ducking. At a sharp 
 pace he trotted off toward his tenement at Asakusa Hanagawado. 
 For a while he would avoid the metal market. He regretted his 
 display of temper. It was in the necessities of other trades that 
 he fovmd the material of his own, and flourished. 
 
 In plain terms Kazaguruma Chobei was a pimp for the Yoshi- 
 wara and kindred quarters. His other occupations were mere 
 channels accessory to this main business. Hence his seasons of 
 increase and decline. Just now he was in a period of decline. His 
 eagerness in this Tamiya affair was sharpened. Pushing his way 
 through the Kuramae of Asakusa suddenly a hopeful light came 
 into his eye. Abruptly he made his way to the side of the road- 
 way. Here boarding covered the ditch, removing the occupant of 
 a booth erected thereon, and would-be clients, from the passing 
 stream of humanity. There was a table in the booth, and on it 
 were several books, a vessel containing water, brushes (fiide), 
 scrolls for writing, and a box containing divining sticks. It was 
 the stand of a strolling fortune-teller. At the time the occupant 
 was engaged in gathering together his professional apparatus, with 
 the evident purpose to decamp. Chdbei did not delay in accosting 
 him. " Ah! The Sensei ; ^ Kazuma Uji finds the day too hot to 
 pry into the future. Does the Sensei leave his clients to their fate, 
 or have the clients abandoned the Sensei? Deign to come along 
 with Chobei. Perhaps he, too, can tell fortunes. At all events 
 the wife has been forewarned ; the bath is ready. It will put life 
 
 ^ The title for all men of learning and professional attainments. 
 The great medical doctor is " Sensei," the doctor of literature is 
 " Sensei " — and the charlatan who peddles charms by the highway is 
 " Sensei "-teacher. 
 
70 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 into both of us." The young man laughed and hastened his opera- 
 tions, nodding assent — " Thanks are felt, Chobei San. Indeed 
 this Kazuma has but to continue the art of prophecy if he would 
 foretell his own fate. No one will buy the future when money 
 is so needed for the present. Besides this is a pleasure ground. 
 Men have no hankering to learn of possible worse luck than being 
 here. All the fools have died — except their prophet." He shoul- 
 dered his scanty apparatus, and with rapid stride the two men 
 pushed their way up the crowded street toward the great gate of 
 the temple. In his haste Chobei yet had time to eye, from time to 
 time, his companion, always gaining encouragement from the pal- 
 pable seediness made more plain by a handsome person. The 
 two were neighbours in a house-row (nagaya) of the Hanaga- 
 wado, that poverty-stricken district along the river close to the 
 great amusement ground, and furnishing those who perform its 
 baser tasks. On arrival Chobei called out — " O'Taki ! O'Taki ! 
 The bath, is it ready ? The Sensei, Kazuma San, honours us with 
 his company. Make all ready for his reception. . . . Sensei, 
 condescend to enter ; please come up." 
 
 Yanagibara Kazuma dropped his clogs in the vestibule. As he 
 entered the room — " Pray pardon the intrusion. This Kazuma 
 feels much in the way. He is continually putting his neighbours 
 of the nagaya to inconvenience ; too great the kindness of Chobei 
 San and wife." O'Taki laughed deprecatingly. Truly this was 
 a handsome young man. In this 6th year of Hoei (1709) Yanagi- 
 bara Kazuma was twenty-one years of age. O'Taki was thirty 
 odd. She appreciated masculine beauty all the more. Chdbei 
 grunted from heat and the merest trace of discomfiture. He 
 had his limit, even in his business. Quickly he shook off his 
 kimono, and fan in hand squatted in his loin cloth. " Ah ! 'Tis 
 hot beyond endurance. Business is bad — from Yoshiwara to 
 Yotsuya." O'Taki looked up at the last word. He continued — 
 " The Sensei takes precedence. Kazuma Uji, deign to enter the 
 bath. All is ready?" His wife nodded assent. Kazuma fol- 
 
THE BUSINESS OF A MARRIAGE BROKER 71 
 
 lowed the example of Chobei. In a trice he was naked as his 
 mother bore him. Chobei burst out into phrases of admiration — 
 " What a splendid fellow ! Ah ! Waste of material ! If a woman 
 Kazuma San would be a fortune to himself and to Chobei. . . . 
 Taki, note the skin of the Sensei. It has the texture of the finest 
 paper. How regrettable ! " He drew back for the better inspec- 
 tion of the sum total of his subject's charms. O'Taki drew closer 
 for the same purpose. Chdbei sighed — " It is plain enough that 
 Kazuma San is not a woman. An error of Nature ! Somehow 
 the age at which a woman becomes of use, is that at which a boy 
 becomes a mere burden. He is fit for nothing but to be a story- 
 teller. . . . And you, Taki, what are you about? " The lady 
 of his afifections was far advanced in the process of disrobing. 
 She protested. " Does not the Sensei need aid in the bath? How 
 cleanse the back, the shoulders. This Taki would aid him." — 
 " Immodest wench ! " bellowed Chobei. " The Sensei needs no 
 such aid. " Why ! You . . . Taki . . . one would take 
 you for a charcoal ball (tadon), so dark your skin. Nay! For 
 two of them, for a cluster piled in a box, so round the buttocks 
 and belly. The Sensei wants no aid from such an ugly jade. This 
 Chdbei can do what is needed ; with as much skill and better pur- 
 pose than a woman." Kazuma modestly interposed in this incip- 
 ient quarrel between husband and wife. " Nay, the matter is of 
 no importance. Kazuma is grateful for such kindness, but aid 
 is not needed. His arm is long." He held it out, almost simian 
 in proportion and slenderness, the one proportional defect of this 
 handsome body. The quarrel of Chobei and O'Taki lapsed before 
 his pleasant smile. 
 
 Seated over tea said Chobei — " This Chobei, too, has claimed 
 to be a diviner. Don't deny it. The Sensei at one time has been a 
 priest." Kazuma looked at him with surprise, even misgiving. 
 Explained Chobei — " The manner in which the Sensei takes up 
 the cup betrays him; in both hands, with a little waving of the 
 vessel and shake of the head. The rust of the priest's garb clings 
 
72 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 close." Said Kazuma — " Chobei San is a clever fellow. It is 
 true. At one time I was priest." — " Whereabouts? " asked Chobei. 
 " At the Reigan of Fukagawa," replied the prophet — " Ah ! Rei- 
 ganji ; and later would return to the life of a Samurai. Such pose 
 and manner possessed by the Sensei are only gained in good com- 
 pany. He would reassume the status. This Chobei was not 
 always as he is. Wine, women, gambling, have brought him to 
 pimping. The buying of geisha and joro cost the more as they 
 imply the other two vices. Wife, status, fortune; all are gone. 
 Such has been Chobei's fate." — " Not the only case of the kind," 
 grumbled his partner in concubinage. " And the wife, what has 
 become of her?" — " None of Taki's affair, as she is no longer 
 an issue. Would the jade be jealous?" He glowered at her. 
 " But Kazuma San, this Chobei is not only diviner, to tell for- 
 tunes. He can make them." Kazuma laughed. " Don't joke. 
 Chobei San's line of business has already cost this Kazuma for- 
 tune and position." — "To secure a' better one. Kazuma San is 
 a ronin (without lord), a man of education, and of line appear- 
 ance. He is just the one to become a muko. — " In some trades- 
 man's family ? " The samurai spoke with disdain. Said Chobei 
 eagerly — " No : Chobei prophesied the return of Kazuma Uji to his 
 own caste." — "At what cost?" said Kazuma coolly. "The 
 honour of a samurai cannot stand open taint. Kazuma has no 
 desire to cut belly at too early a date, to save the situation for 
 others. Has the woman erred, and is the father's sword dulled ? " 
 — " It is no such case," answered Chobei. The parents, rather 
 grandparents, are fools in pride. The girl is twenty-five years 
 old, rich, and, one must admit, not too good looking. It is by a 
 mere chance, a former connection, that the affair comes into 
 Chobei's hands. As Kazuma Uji knows, it is not much in his line. 
 Let us share the good luck together." — " Is she a monster ; one 
 of those long-necked, pop-eyed rokurokuhi? " — "That can be 
 determined at the meeting," said the cautious Chobei. " She is 
 somewhat pock-marked, as with others. It is a matter of luck. 
 
THE BUSINESS OF A MARRIAGE BROKER 73 
 
 Chobei's position forces him to fall back on Kaziima San as the 
 only likely man to recommend. Deign not to refuse to come 
 to his aid." — " Rich, and granddaughter of people old in years." 
 He eyed Chobei quizzically. The latter nodded agreement. " No 
 matter what her looks, this Kazuma accepts with thanks — unless 
 this be a jest of Chobei San." Chobei slightly coughed — " There 
 is a commission. . . ." — " x\h ! Then the foundation is rock. 
 As to commission, assuredly; Kazuma is not rich, nor in funds." 
 — " But will be. At ten ryo it is a cheap affair." — " Agreed," 
 replied the diviner carelessly. " The money will be paid." — " With 
 the delivery of the goods." Chobei now was all gaiety — " Of 
 the Rokurokubi, the monster with sextuple lengthed neck," laughed 
 Kazuma Sensei as he took his leave. He was engaged to meet 
 Chobei the next day at the house of Kondo Rokurobei in Yotsuya. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 lEMON APPEARS 
 
 In his difficult mission Kondo Rokurobei had hopes of Chobei ; 
 but not much more. It was with no small pleasure that he heard 
 the announcement of his visit the next morning. The maid was 
 a shade more civil — " Please wait." Kondo was decidedly so. He 
 greetevd Chobei with an effusion which Chobei noted. The tea 
 brought, the two men faced each other over the cups. To 
 Kondo's inquiring; look — " Honoured master the task is a 
 difficult one." He retailed his experience at the Kanda market. 
 Kondo was somewhat discomfited. He had put a different inter- 
 pretation on the ea rly visit of Chobei. Continued the latter — " A 
 difficult task, but not hopeless. Surely five ryo is very small 
 remuneration." LCondo's eye lit up. Chobei had his man. " It 
 is all this Kond5 i.S qualified to give. Chobei knows Tamiya Dono. 
 After all it is he who pays, and Chobei can claim but his share. 
 However, the mat ter is not urgent. A bad turn with Matazaemon, 
 and O'Naka will be much easier to deal with . . . unless it be 
 Yoemon who interposes." He made a wry face; joined in by 
 Chobei. Kondd went on — " It is matter of regret to have troubled 
 you. The parents lof Natsume Kyuzo show signs of breaking off 
 present negotiations and coming round to us. This is a matter 
 of yesterday, and on hearing that the affair of OTwa San was 
 definitely in the hands of Rokurobei." Chobei was frightened. 
 Was this the cause of Kondo's joy? Had he misinterpreted on 
 his entrance? He put out a hand, as if to stop the talk of his 
 host. " Deign to allow the money question to stand as agreed. 
 Such step would put this Chobei in an awkward position. The 
 man is found, and soon will be here. Probably even Kondo Dono 
 will be satisfied." — " Who is he? " asked Kondo.—" One Yanagi- 
 bara Kazuma. He has practised divination at Asakusa . . ." 
 74 
 
IfiMON APPEARS 75 
 
 — "A charlatan! A quack doctor! Chobei, are you mad?" 
 Rokurdbei pushed back his cushion and his cue in horror. Not a 
 word did he say of Natsume Kyuzo. Chobei smiled. He had been 
 trapped ; but he had detected Kondo. " Don't be alarmed. The 
 man is a rdnin, his divination of small account and due to tem- 
 porary stress. Kondo Dono will soon judge of the man by his 
 appearance. Let the subject of Kazuma San be dropped — with 
 that of Natsume San. Our bargain has been made firm." Kondo 
 looked down. He felt a little injured. Continued Chobei — " For 
 his man Chobei cannot answer if all be known. Pray follow my 
 plan, and precede us to the house of Matazaemon. He must not 
 see OTwa at this juncture. Tamiya Dono is ill and not visible. 
 The O'Basan is wise enough to do as she is told. Years have 
 drilled that into her. OTwa has taken cold. Her hair is loose 
 and she cannot think of appearing. Make this known when the 
 time comes to serve the wine. Meanwhile send her off on some 
 mission; to the house of Akiyama, or that of the newly-wed 
 Imaizumi." — " But the man must see the girl," protested Kondo. 
 Answered Chobei — " He must see the property. It is with that 
 Chobei intends he shall become enamoured. He is not to see 
 the girl until she is his wife. To keep the estate he will cleave to 
 the woman. Trust Chobei for a knowledge of men's hearts 
 . . . at least that of Yanagibara Kazuma." Perhaps he spoke 
 a little too plainly. Rokurobei had a last touch of conscience — 
 " Chobei, what manner of man is this one you bring? What is 
 his real nature? Tamiya is upright as the walls of the Honmaru 
 (castle). And Yanagibara Kazuma . . ." Chobei's brow 
 wrinkled. He was spared an answer. Said the maid — " Yanagi- 
 bara Sama would see the master." — " Show him in at once," said 
 Rokurobei. 
 
 He rose, as much in amazement as in courtesy. Kazuma was 
 a striking figure as he entered the room. His dress of white 
 Satsuma was of finest quality, and perfectly aligned. The haori 
 (cloak) was of the corrugated Akashi crape. In his girdle he 
 
76 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 wore the narrow swords then coming into fashion, with finely 
 lacquered scabbards. In person he was tall, fair, with high 
 forehead and big nose. Slender and sinewy every movement was 
 lithe as that of a cat. Kondo gasped as he made the accustomed 
 salutations. " This man for O'lwa ! Bah ! A fox has stolen a 
 jewel." All his compunction and discretion vanished before this 
 unusual presence. Kazuma gracefully apologized for his intru- 
 sion, thus uninvited. Kondd stammered protests and his delight 
 at the opportunity of meeting Yanagibara Dono. Chobei smiled 
 inward and outward delight at thus summarily removing any too 
 pointed objections of Kondd. For absolute self-possession in this 
 awkward situation the younger man easily carried the palm. 
 Kazuma acted as would a man double his years. Chobei was 
 not only delighted, but astonished. " Whence had the Sensei 
 produced all this wondrous get-up? Was he in real fact a magi- 
 cian? Kazuma knew, but he was not one to enlighten Chobei or 
 anyone else. After talk on general matters the affair of the meet- 
 ing was broached. Said Kondo Rokurobei — " Thus to trouble 
 Yanagibara Dono requires apology, but the affair is not without 
 advantage. The lady is the daughter of Tamiya, a doshin and 
 favoured by the Hosokawa House. This Kondo is honoured in 
 presenting Kazuma Dono in Yotsuya." — " Nay, fear enters.^ 
 The honour of this meeting with Kondo Dono is as great as the 
 intrusion has been unseemly. Deign to pardon the precipitancy of 
 this Kazuma." Kondo protested in his turn. Said Chobei — " The 
 presentation made, doubtless the matter is as good as concluded. 
 But Tamiya Dono is ill; this visit is unexpected. If Kondo Dono 
 would deign to precede, and ascertain how matters are at Tamiya, 
 
 ' A technical social expression = " I trouble you " or " with highest 
 respect and consideration." Satuma = Satsuma-Jofu, the grass cloth 
 of fine quality woven and dyed in Loo-choo ; narrow swords ; all this 
 (Momogawa) is an example of the earnest study the kodan lecturers 
 make of their subject. These delightful little expositions of dress and 
 inanner are frequent. 
 
IfiMON APPEARS 77 
 
 it would be well." To this Kondo assented. Making his excuses 
 he set out for Samoncho, bubbling over with excitement, and 
 praying that the matter would have certain issue ; and thus estab- 
 lish him for life on the shoulders of the wealthy Tamiya. Prayers ? 
 Indeed he did stop on the road, one lined with the ecclesiastical 
 structures. Kondo had too much at stake, not to invoke all 
 likely aid. 
 
 With his departure Chobei began to go into the externals of 
 the House of Tamiya. As they walked along — " Congenial sur- 
 roundings." This was with a grin and a wave of the hand toward 
 the long line of temple buildings and graveyards they were passing. 
 "Not much savour of present lodging in Hanagawado. Eh! 
 Kazuma Uji, even Chobei notes the difference." He stopped 
 opposite the Gwanshoji and looked across the way. The fruit 
 was already formed on the trees of Matazaemon's garden. 
 " Persimmons of a hundred momme (375 grammes) each ; twenty 
 cartloads for the profit of the house at the fall of the year." As 
 they passed in the entrance on Samoncho he pointed to a store- 
 house. " Stuffed with rice, from the farms of Tamiya in Kazusa. 
 No husks to be found in it." — " Who said there were ? " said 
 Kazuma testily. His eyes were taking in the wide proportions of 
 the garden, the spreading roof and eaves of a stately mansion. 
 As they passed along the roka to a sitting room Chobei called his 
 attention to the fret work (rania-shoji) between the rooms, the 
 panelled ceilings, the polished and rare woodwork of iokonoma 
 (alcoves). A kakemono of the severe Kano school was hung in the 
 sitting room alcove, a beautifully arranged vase of flowers stood 
 beneath it. Matazaemon could not use his legs, but his hands were 
 yet active. Of his visitors he knew nothing; least of all of 
 Chobei. Kondo Rokurobei appeared. With him was an old lady. 
 O'Naka bowed to the ground before the proposed son-in-law. 
 She was in a flutter over the beautiful man destined for OTwa. 
 The admirable courtesy of his manners, the tender softness of 
 voice, robbed her of what little judgment she had. Her only fear 
 
78 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 was that the candidate for honours and the Tamiya would escape. 
 
 Said Chobei — " Asakusa is a long distance ; the occasion ex- 
 ceptional. Cannot the Ojosan favour us by pouring the wine? " 
 The old woman hummed and hawed. Kondo, too, seemed put out. 
 "As a matter of fact O'lwa is not presentable. She has taken 
 cold, and just now is in bed. Perhaps the O'Basan will urge her 
 further, now that Yanagibara Uji is present." O'Naka at once 
 rose, like to an automaton, the spring of which has been pressed. 
 She disappeared, to return and repeat her lesson. " Wilful as 
 a child ! One would suppose her such. Illness she would disre- 
 gard, but her hair is not made up. She cannot think of appearing 
 before company. Truly she is vexing." — " Not so," defended 
 Chobei. " She could not show higher regard than by refusing to 
 appear before a future husband in careless attire. It is a guarantee 
 of conduct when married. She is much to be commended for such 
 respect. All women like to appear well. A man in the neigh- 
 bourhood, and rice powder and rouge are at once applied. How 
 neglect such an elaborate structure as the hair? Trust Chobei's 
 judgment as to women." 
 
 O'Naka thought that he spoke well, but like most men with 
 great conceit. Kazuma looked out towards the beautiful garden. 
 He took the chance to smile, for he had soon ascertained that 
 Kondo knew little about his agent ; was in fact a precipitate, testy 
 man. However, he was a little put out at not seeing the would-be 
 bride. At an opportunity he stepped out, to see more of the house 
 and its surroundings. Chobei came up to him as he stood on the 
 roka. His voice was coaxing and pleading. " Is it not a fine 
 prospect — for Kazuma Dono ? " His voice hung on the ' Dono.' 
 " Nay, don't let escape this splendid piece of luck. Long has 
 Chobei interested himself in his neighbour. Such a beautiful 
 exterior should have a proper setting. Marry OTwa San and 
 Kazuma Dono is master of Tamiya. Is it agreed ? " Kazuma 
 looked down in thought. At his age there are ideals of the 
 other sex, hard to put aside. Said he — " Not to see the lady. 
 
IfiMON APPEARS 
 
 79 
 
 . . . Is she so horrible ? " Chobei protested. " Not so ! The 
 lady is a mere item, well fitted to go with this fine house, this 
 beautiful garden, these store-houses filled with goods. Look: 
 Tamiya Dono is a man of double rations. The property has 
 nagaya for attendants. For long this has not been used. Tamiya 
 will not rent it out. It will be so much revenue added to the stipend 
 of the House, and will replace the old man's uncertain income 
 from his accomplishments as master of hanaike and cha-no-yu." 
 Kazuma looked around, following the pointing finger of Chdbei. 
 He was in sad straits. His only future was this position of a 
 miiko. No matter what the woman might be, there was compen- 
 sation. To Chdbei's direct question he made answer — " Yes." 
 
 The affair of the marriage suffered no delays. Chobei had 
 struck home. Kazuma was so impressed with the surroundings, 
 especially after a return to his own miserable quarters, that the 
 matter of the interview took a minor place to the inspection of 
 his future property. Within the week he had removed to the 
 house of Kondo Rokurobei. The latter introduced him to his 
 future associates in the ward by a succession of fish and wine din- 
 ners dear to the heart of the men of Nippon. These neighbours 
 were astonished at the future son-in-law of the Tamiya. This 
 man was to be the husband of the O'Bake? Was he mad, or 
 drunk? Perhaps the latter, for neither themselves nor Kazuma 
 had the opportunity to be particularly sober during this period of 
 festivity. Of course there was an introduction to Matazaemon, 
 the other principal involved. As Kondo carefully explained, no 
 set date could be made for this interview. Tamiya Dono was ill, 
 and to be seen at a favourable time. As ill luck would have it, 
 on the very day the interview was permitted OTwa San received 
 an urgent summons from the Okugata of the Hosokawa House. 
 This cdulil not be disregarded, and her absence on the second occa- 
 sion was easily explained and condoned. Kondo certainly made 
 no effort, and Kazuma no suggestion, for a meeting in the three 
 days intervening before the formal marriage. 
 
80 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 At evening the guests met in the reception rooms of Tamiya. 
 In a private apartment were Kondd Rokurobei and his wife, 
 O'lwa, and lemon. The latter name had been assumed by 
 Kazuma on his formal registration in the Tamiya House. It was 
 Chobei who had purchased the watahoshi, or wadded hood, of 
 floss silk worn by the bride on this great occasion of her life, 
 lemon could see but little within its depths, except the shining 
 light of her countenance. Joy perhaps? At least this curiosity 
 was soon to be satisfied. Nine times — three times three — were 
 the sake cups drained. Kondo Rokurobei joined the hands of the 
 train, exhorting them to mutual forbearance, OTwa to unquestion- 
 ing obedience to the husband. He pattered over the maxims of 
 the Dojikun of Kaibara Yekken in this strange case, as he had 
 done twenty times before with favourable results. Yekken's 
 book was comparatively recent, only a few decades old, and the 
 woman's guide. Truly the position of the nakodo was no easy 
 one, if it was to bring him at odds with either House involved. 
 He felt complacent. This pair at least presented less complications 
 in that line than usual. What there was of doubtful issue came 
 now to the test. At this crisis he cast an eye to the roka (veran- 
 dah) to see that Chobei really was at hand as promised. Then 
 the strings of the zvataboslii were loosed. The hood concealing 
 the face of OTwa was removed. 
 
 lemon rose to his feet as if impelled by springs; then hur- 
 riedly he sat again with some mumbled excuse and trembling 
 hands. He could not take his eyes from the shining white of the 
 face before him, the glazed smooth surface left in many places 
 between the black of the pock marks. The removal of the hood 
 had somewhat disarrayed the hair, leaving the broad expanse 
 of forehead more prominent, the puffed heavy eyelids in the face 
 more conspicuous. In the depths shone two tiny points, the eyes. 
 Indeed, as Chobei afterwards described it, eyelids and eyes had 
 the appearance of kuzitmanju, the dumplings of white rice paste 
 with the black dots of dark brown bean paste sunk deep in the 
 
IfiMON APPEARS 81 
 
 centre. Never had O'lwa appeared to such disadvantage. She 
 was now engaged in removing the white garment, to appear in her 
 proper array as bride and wife. lemon took advantage of this 
 absence to step to the roka. In leaving the room Kondo had 
 given a wink to Chdbei. lemon ahiiost ran into him. He 
 seized him by the arm. The young man's voice was excited. He 
 spoke in a whisper, as one who could barely find speech. With 
 satisfaction Chobei noted that he was frightened, not angered. 
 " What is that ? Who is that creature ? " were the first words of 
 lemon. Replied Chobei coldly — " That is the wife of Tamiya 
 lemon; O'lwa San, daughter of Matazaemon Dono; your wife 
 to eight thousand generations." Then roughly — " Deign, lemon 
 San, not to be a fool. In the purchase of cow or horse, what does 
 the buyer know of the animal? Its real qualities remain to be 
 ascertained. OTwa San is ugly. That much Chobei will admit. 
 She is pock-marked, perhaps stoops a little. But if the daughter 
 of the rich Tamiya, a man with this splendid property, had been 
 a great beauty, this lemon would not have become the niuko of 
 Tamiya, the future master of its wealth. What qualification had 
 he for such a position — a diviner, a man whose pedigree perhaps 
 would not stand too much search." He looked keenly at lemon, 
 and noted witJi satisfaction how the last thrust had gone home. 
 Chobei must know more of lemon, ex-Kazuma. He determined 
 on that for the future. 
 
 He continued — " Withdrawal at this juncture would merely 
 create scandal. Matazaemon is not so bereft of friends that such 
 a step would not cause serious displeasure in high quarters. The 
 insult would find an avenger. Then consider please : the old man 
 is kept alive by the anxiety to see his granddaughter established 
 in life, the line of the Tamiya assured. He will die within the 
 month. If the old woman hangs on too long" — he halted speech 
 for a moment, then coldly — " give her lizard to eat. A diviner, 
 doubtless lemon San knows Kondo Rokurobei by this time. He 
 will never prejudice the man who holds in his hands the purse 
 6 
 
82 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 of the Tamiya. lemon San and O'lwa San are left alone. Good 
 luck to you, honoured Sir, in the encounter. In this Ch5bei a 
 counsellor and friend always is to be found ; and one by no means 
 lacking experience of the world. As for the woman, she is your 
 wife; one to take charge of the house and affairs of lemon Dono 
 is to hand. No other msu ^ could be found so earnest in duty 
 and so cheap, as O'lwa San. Take a concubine. This Chobei 
 will purchase one for you ; such a one as will be the object of 
 envy and desire to the whole of young Edo. His opportunities 
 in that line are exceptional. Come ! To turn on the lights. On 
 our part at least there is nothing to conceal." lemon did not pay 
 attention to the hint. The one thought harassing him must out — 
 " lop-sided and — a leper ! " He spoke with despair and con- 
 viction, eyes fastened on Chdbei, and such a frightened look that 
 even Chobei had pity. One foot in the room he turned back. 
 " That is not so — absolutely." lemon could not disbelieve the ear- 
 nes,t testimony. Said Chobei — " The wounds of smallpox were 
 no trivial ones. In healing the scars were such in places as form 
 over burns. Hence the shining surface. Positively there is no 
 leprous taint in Tamiya." He was gratified by the sigh which 
 came from lemon, sign of the immense weight lifted off the young 
 man's mind. "Bah! leave things to the future, and — enjoy the 
 present. O'lwa cannot grow ugly with age. So much is gained. 
 What difference will her looks make to lemon thirty years hence ? 
 She is a woman. Make a child on her. Then you are free to 
 turn elsewhere." 
 
 At once he began to place lights everywhere, as a sign to 
 Kondo that all was well. This worthy came forward with other 
 guests, to congratulate the Tamiya House on being once more in 
 young and. vigorous hands. It was lemon himself who gave the 
 signal to retire. How matters went alone with his bride has 
 reference to one of those occasions over which the world draws 
 
 ^ Riisu or rusuban^ caretaker in the owner's absence. As often as 
 not the wife is so regarded by the Japanese husband. 
 
IfiMON APPEARS 83 
 
 the veil of decency. In the morning O'lwa arose early to attend 
 to the matutinal needs of her spouse. The ablutions performed, 
 lemon sat down to tea, as exquisite and exquisitely served as in 
 any dream in literature of how such ceremony of the opening day 
 should be performed. Then the morning meal was brought, under 
 the same supervision of this woman, as expert in all the technique 
 of her craft as she was ugly in feature ; and that was saying much, 
 lemon watched her movements in the room with curiosity, mixed 
 with a little pain and admiration. He was quick to note the skill 
 with which she concealed the slight limp, due to the shrinking 
 of the sinews of one leg and causing an unevenness of gait. It 
 was a blemish in the little quick movements of a woman of surpas- 
 sing grace ; who by art had conquered disease and an ungainly 
 figure. 
 
 OTwa had left the room for a moment to get flowers to place 
 in the vases, offering to the hotokc (Spirits of the departed) in the 
 Butsudan. On his return lemon held the ihai (memorial tablets) 
 in his hands. A priest, these had at once attracted his notice. 
 " Kangetsu Shinshi; Kangetsu Shimmyo; OTwa San, these people 
 have died on the same day of the month — and the year? " — " Is 
 on the back of the ihai," rephed OTwa. " No; it is not a case of 
 suicide together." Then seeing his evident curiosity she motioned 
 him to sit as she poured tea, ready for a long story. With 
 its progress voice and manner grew more strained and earnest. 
 She never took her eyes from the tatami (mats). "The tablets 
 are those of the father and mother of this Iwa. My mother's 
 name was Mino. Daughter of Tamiya she acted badly with 
 my father Densuke, a mere servant in the house. This Densuke 
 was a good man, but his status of chugen made my grandfather 
 very angry. He drove the twain from the house. Thus de- 
 prived of means to live, my father took a position as cook in the 
 yashiki of a great noble. Here he was frightened into becoming 
 the tool of a very wicked man. Having killed an usurer this man 
 forced my father to dispose of the body under penalty of death 
 
84 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 if he refused. The body being placed in a cloth, my father had 
 carried it to his house. During his short absence my mother's 
 curiosity led her into untying the bundle. Her screams aroused 
 the neighbourhood. As they entered she was seized with convul- 
 sions, and gave birth to this Iwa, thus brought into the world 
 together with the exposure of the crime. My father, doubtless 
 warned by the crowd, fled from Edo. My mother had but time to 
 tell her story to the kcnshi. Then she died. A year later to the 
 ■ day my father's dead body was found floating in the castle moat, 
 near the town of Yuki in Shimosa. A beggar man, but little in- 
 quiry was made into the crime. For long the cause and the 
 criminal were unknown. Then a banto was robbed in the Shiba 
 Kiridoshi ; his companion was killed. The criminals were traced, 
 and on confession were put to death. The leader and most wicked 
 of them also confessed to the murder of the usurer Jusuke and 
 to that of my father Densuke. My father had met him again 
 in Yijki town, and had aroused in him fear of denunciation of 
 past crimes. He spoke of ' this Densuke ' as a superstitious, 
 haunted fool ; thus in his wickedness regarding my father's re- 
 morse and desire to clear up the strange affair. The execution of 
 this man removed all chance of my avenging the deaths of father 
 and mother on himself. But he has left behind a son. The one 
 wish of this Iwa is to meet with Kichitaro ; to avenge on him the 
 wickedness of his father Takahashi Daihachiro." lemon at first 
 had followed in idle mood her story. With the development of 
 the details he showed an attention which grew in intensity at every 
 stage. With the mention of the name of Takahashi Daihachiro 
 he gave a violent start. Yanagibara Kazuma, lemon Tamiya — 
 what were these but names to cover this Kichitaro, the one-time 
 priest My5shin of the Joshinji at Reigan Fukagawa, and son of 
 Daihachiro. 
 
 Strange was this retributory fate which had brought these 
 two into the most intimate relations of husband and wife. When 
 lemon could control his voice he said — " That O'lwa San should 
 
l£MON APPEARS 85 
 
 have this feehng in reference to the wicked Daihachiro can be 
 understood. But why such hatred toward this Kichitaro ? Surely 
 the boy is not to be held guilty of the father's offence ! " — " That 
 is a man's way of reasoning," answered O'lwa. " A woman, 
 ignorant and foolish, has but her feelings to consult. To seven 
 births this Iwa will clutch and chew the wicked son of a wicked 
 father. Against Kichitaro is the vow made." She raised her head, 
 lemon turned away shuddering. She had aged into a hag. The 
 shining face, the marks like black spots in pumice standing out, 
 the mere dots of eyes in their puffy bed, the spreading mouth with 
 its large shining teeth — all turned the plain gentle girl into a very 
 demon. The certainty, the intensity, of a malignant hate was 
 driven into lemon. He was so frightened that he even nodded 
 assent to her last words. The gentle voice of O'lwa added — 
 " Iwa is ugly ; perhaps annoys by the tale. Leave the affair to 
 her and to the enemy. To lemon she is bound for two existences. 
 Deign to drop all formality; call her Iwa, and condescend to 
 regard her with affection." And lemon covenanted with himself 
 so to do. The present should compensate for the past. But in 
 the days which followed O'lwa sat on him as a nightmare. He 
 felt the impress of her teeth at his throat, and would wake up 
 gasping. Time made the situation familiar. He carefully lulled 
 her into a blind admiration and belief in her husband lemon. 
 There seemed no likelihood of O'lwa learning the truth ; or beHev- 
 ing it, if she did.^ 
 
 ^ Reiganji, the great temple giving the name to the Reigan district 
 of Fukagawa, is one of the many temples there found. The Joshinji is 
 close by. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 IF OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT 
 
 Matazaemon's illness justified all the predictions of Chdbei. 
 In the course of the month it was plain that his last hold on life 
 was rapidly weakening. In that time lemon had won golden 
 opinions from household and neighbours. His face was beautiful, 
 and this they saw. His heart was rotten to the core, and this he 
 kept carefully concealed. The incentive of his fear of OTwa kept 
 up the outward signs of good-will. He found this easier with the 
 passage of the days. Plain as she was in face and figure, no one 
 could help being attracted by the goodness of OTwa's disposition, 
 lemon, in his peculiar situation, placed great hopes on this, even 
 if discovery did take place. Day following day he began to dis- 
 count this latter contingency. To a feeling of half liking, half 
 repugnance, was added a tinge of contempt for one so wrapped 
 in her immediate surroundings, whose attention was so wholly 
 taken up with the matter in hand. She easily could be kept in 
 ignorance, easily be beguiled. 
 
 One day lemon was summoned to the old man's bedside. He 
 was shocked at the change which had taken place in a few hours. 
 Propped upon pillows Matazaemon would speak a few last words. 
 With a shade of his old impertinent official smile and manner — 
 " The Tamiya is to be congratulated on its great good fortune 
 in the entrance of one so well qualified by appearance and manners 
 to uphold its reputation. Deign, honoured Muko San, to accept 
 the thanks of this Matazaemon. All else has been placed in the 
 hands of lemon — goods, reputation, granddaughter." lemon 
 bowed flat in acknowledgment and protest at the good-will ex- 
 pressed. Continued Matazaemon — " There is one matter close to 
 the old man's heart. Concerning that he would make his last 
 86 
 
IF OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT 87 
 
 request to the admirable heart of lemon. Iwa is a plain girl. The 
 end of time for man, and the carping comment of neighbours come 
 to his ears, have opened the eyes of Matazaemon to the truth. 
 Great has been the favour in disregarding this plainness and taking 
 her to wife. Everything is in the hands of lemon San. Consider 
 her happiness and deign to use her well. Abstain if possible from 
 taking a concubine. At all events conceal the fact from Iwa, if it 
 be deigned to keep such company. Plainness and jealousy go 
 together. Faithful and upright, such a disposition as hers is not 
 to be strained on that point. She would be very unhappy. Better 
 the light women of Shinjuku Nakacho, than one who takes the 
 place of the wife. Condescend to remember this last request of 
 Tamiya Matazaemon." He clasped the hand of lemon, and tears 
 were in his eyes as he spoke. lemon, too, was affected. It almost 
 frightened him to be left alone with OTwa. " Deign not to con- 
 sider such unlikely contingency. The amiability of OTwa is com- 
 pensation for the greatest beauty. Who could think of injuring her 
 in any way? Perhaps a child soon will be the issue. With this in 
 mind condescend to put aside all gloomy thoughts. Concentrate 
 the honoured will on life, and complete recovery to health will 
 follow. Such, indeed, is the daily prayer of this lemon at the 
 Myogyoji." 
 
 Matazaemon smiled faintly — with gratification or grimness? 
 Perhaps death unseals the vision. Often indeed did lemon present 
 himself at the family temple; he the substitute for the Master of 
 Tamiya. But as often did his feet return by the diametrically 
 opposite direction, running the gauntlet of the charms of the frail 
 beauties of Nakacho. lemon held on to the hand of Matazaemon, 
 swearing and forswearing himself with the greatest earnestness 
 and the best of intentions. Suddenly he raised his head. The 
 emotion aroused by the interview had been too much for the old 
 man's fluttering heart. His head had slipped down sideways on 
 the pillow. A little stream of dark bitter refuse flowed from the 
 mouth and choked him. He was dead. 
 
88 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Great was the grief of wife and grandchild; great was the im- 
 portance of lemon, now in very fact Master of Tamiya. Whether 
 or not he followed the advice of Chobei, and gave the old woman 
 tokage (lizard) ; whether her constant small journeys to the houses 
 of neighbours, reciting a litany of praise of this wondrous son- 
 in-law ; whether the loss of the companion of so many years wore 
 out the feeble frame; it is fact that O'Naka followed her lord 
 before the maple leaf turned red. Again the Tamiya was the 
 scene of the funereal chanting of the priest. The corpse removed 
 with the provision for the guests and watchers at the wake, the 
 seventh night of the death observed, with this removal of the 
 deceased spirit from the scenes of its former activities lemon could 
 turn himself without impediment to the life of the future. Out- 
 ward change there was none. He was the same kind and affection- 
 ate husband as of former days. Neighbours, anticipating some 
 change of manner, were still louder in their praises. One day 
 there appeared at Tamiya two intimates, Natsume Kyuzo and 
 Imaizumi Jinzaemon. "lemon Uji, a matter of importance presses. 
 We are on our way to the ward head, ltd Kwaiba Dono. Deign 
 to go in company. You are known to be an expert at go,^ a game 
 at which the old man prides himself for skill. He chafes at the 
 presence of this unknown rival, heard of but not yet tested. A 
 dinner and wine are at stake. Without lemon Uji we do not dare 
 to present ourselves. Condescend to go in company. To know 
 the great man of the ward, the wealthy Ito Kwaiba, is of advantage 
 even to Tamiya." lemon laughed and assented. He was soon 
 dressed for the greater ceremony of a first visit. All three 
 climbed down into their clogs, and set out for the house of the 
 Kumi-gashira near Samega-bashi. 
 
 If lemon had been impressed by the wealth of Tamiya, he felt 
 insignificant before that of the head of Yotsuya. Ito Kwaiba was 
 a man of sixty-four years, retaining much of the vigour of his 
 youth. For the past ten years he had added go to his twin passions 
 
 ^ A complicated checkers-chess like game. 
 
IF OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT 89 
 
 for wine and women, neither of which seemed to have made any 
 impression on a keenness of sight which could read the finest print 
 by the scanty Hght of an oiidon, teeth which could chew the hard 
 and tough dried mochi (rice paste) as if bean confection, and an 
 activity of movement never to be suspected from his somewhat 
 heavy frame. At the name of Tamiya he looked up with much curi- 
 osity, and lemon thought his greeting rather brusque. He saluted 
 with great respect — " Truly fear is inspired. For long no visit has 
 been paid to the honoured head. Coming thus without invitation 
 is very rude. Intrusion is feared."—" Nay ! Nay ! " replied 
 Kwaiba, apparently attracted by the splendid externals of lemon. 
 "The failure to visit is reciprocal. In fact, Tamiya and this Kwaiba 
 have been at odds these many years. Visits had altogether ceased. 
 This, however, is no matter for the younger generation. But 
 lemon San is indeed a fine fellow. So Kwaiba had heard from 
 all he met. Ah ! A fellow to put all the girls in a flutter. He 
 is the very image of this Kwaiba in younger years. The husbands 
 were little troubled when he was around. The fair ones were 
 attracted. Well, well : they all had their turn at Kwaiba ; and 
 Kwaiba has stood the pace. He is as good to-day as ever; in 
 some ways. . . . And it is a man like lemon San who has 
 married the— lady of Tamiya." lemon knew the term " O'Bake " 
 had nearly slipped out. Knowing OTwa's attractiveness of tem- 
 perament, feeling touched in his own conceit, this astonished and 
 satirical reception he met with on every side nettled him more 
 than a little. Perhaps Kwaiba noted it. With greatest unction 
 he urged a cushion and at once changed the subject. " lemon San 
 is noted as a go player. This Kwaiba is a mere amateur. It is for 
 him to ask odds in making request for a game. . . . Ho ! 
 Heigh ! The go board and stones ! " 
 
 Kwaiba and lemon were the antagonists. Natsume and Imai- 
 zumi sat at the sides of the board. Kwaiba, confident in his 
 powers, readily accepted the deprecatory answer of lemon at its 
 face value. The game was to be on even terms. lemon really was 
 
90 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 an expert of the sixth grade ; certainly of several grades superior- 
 ity to Kwaiba.- The latter's brows knit as his position rapidly 
 became imperilled. Natsume was in a ferment. Fish or wine? 
 If lemon sought Kwaiba's favour by a preliminary sound thrash- 
 ing at his favourite game, the prospects of either were small. 
 He dropped his tobacco pipe. In picking it up he gave the but- 
 tocks of lemon a direct and severe pinch. lemon was too aston- 
 ished to cry out. His ready mind sought a motive for this unex- 
 pected assault and pain. The face of Natsume was unmoved, 
 that of Imaizumi anxious. A glance at Kwaiba's attitude en- 
 lightened him. Politeness and a dinner were at stake. Even 
 Natsume and Imaizumi wondered and admired at what followed. 
 The blunder of lemon was a stroke of genius, the inspiration 
 of an expert player. It was a slight blunder, not obvious to the 
 crudeness of Kwaiba ; but it opened up the whole of lemon's 
 position and put the game in his antagonist's hands. Kwaiba 
 promptly seized ^he advantage. His triumphant glance shifted 
 continually from lemon to the onlookers, as the former struggled 
 bravely with a desperate position. Kwaiba won this first game 
 somewhat easily. A second he lost by a bare margin. In the 
 third he scored success in a manner to make evident his superior- 
 ity over a really expert player. Confident in his championship 
 of the ward, he was all geniality as at the end he sorted and swept 
 back the go stones into their polished boxes. " Go-ishi of Shingu ; 
 soft as a woman's hands. But never mind the sex. Now for fish 
 and wine. . . . However, Hana can serve the liquor for us." 
 To the servant — :" Heigh ! Some refreshments for the honoured 
 guests ; and convey the request of Kwaiba to O'Hana San, to be 
 present." 
 
 With the wine appeared O'Hana San. She was a beautiful 
 girl. Of not more than twenty years, on the graceful sloping 
 shoulders was daintily set a head which attracted attention and 
 admiration. The face was a pure oval — of the uri or melon, as 
 
 ^ There are nine of these stages of skill. 
 
IF OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT 91 
 
 the Nipponese class it — with high brow, and was framed in long 
 hair gathered below the waist and reaching nearly to her ankles 
 with its heavy luxuriant mass. She was dressed for the hot season 
 of the year in a light coloured Akashi crape, set off by an obi 
 or broad sash of peach colour in which were woven indistinct 
 and delicate wavy designs. The sleeves, drawn a little back, 
 showed the arms well up to the shoulder. Glimpses of a beauti- 
 fully moulded neck and bosom appeared from time to time as she 
 moved here and there in her preparation of the service of the 
 wine utensils. The delicate tissue of the dress seemed to caress 
 the somewhat narrow hips of a girlish figure. Every movement 
 was studied and graceful. This O'Hana had belonged to the 
 Fukadaya at Yagura no Shita of Fukagawa. She had been what 
 is known as an ohitsuke harlot, wearing the ohi in the usual form, 
 without the loose overrobe or shikake of the common women. 
 "In the period of Temp5 (1830-1843) all Fukagawa harlots 
 were dressed in this manner." Attracted by her beauty old 
 Kwaiba had ransomed her and made her his concubine. For 
 nearly two years she had held this position in his house. In serving 
 the wine she came to the front and knelt before lemon as first 
 to receive it. In handing him the tray with the cup she looked 
 into his face. The start on the part of both was obvious. Some 
 of the wine was spilled. 
 
 Said Kwaiba — "Then lemon Uji, you know this woman?" 
 His tone was hard and truculent. It conveyed the suspicion of 
 the jealous old male. lemon's former profession stood him in 
 good stead. He had a glib tongue, and no intention to deny what 
 had been made perfectly obvious — " It is fact, and nothing to be 
 ashamed of on the part of lemon ; except as to attendant conditions 
 beyond control. I was a diviner on the public highway." — " So 
 'twas heard," grumbled Kwaiba. " Without customers, and with 
 no use for the diviner's lens but to charr the rafters of the garret 
 in which you lived." lemon did not care to notice the attack. He 
 merely said — " Deign not to find amusement in what really is a 
 serious matter to one who has to suffer poverty. While seated 
 
92 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 at the diviner's stand attention was drawn by a girl coming down 
 the Kuramae. Slouching along close by her was a drunken 
 samurai. From time to time he lurched entirely too close to her. 
 Turning unexpectedly her sunshade caught in his haori (cloak), 
 which thereby was slightly torn. At once he flew into a great rage. 
 Laying hands on her he showed no disposition to accept her 
 excuses. " Careless wench ! You have torn my dress. How 
 very impudent of you. Unless you at once accompany me to the 
 tea house close by, to serve the wine and please me, pardon, there 
 is none; be sure of that." The people had gathered like a black 
 mountain. Nothing was to be seen but heads. O'Hana San was 
 in the greatest embarrassment, tmable to free herself from the 
 insults and importunities of the drunken fellow. The samurai was 
 hid under the diviner's garb. Stepping from the stand I inter- 
 posed in the girl's behalf, making apology, and pointing out the 
 rudeness of his behaviour to the drunkard. Instead of becoming 
 calm he raised his fist and struck me in the face. His condition 
 gave the advantage without use of arms. Locking a leg in his tot- 
 tering supports I threw him down into the ditch. Then with a 
 word to O'Hana San to flee at once, we disappeared in different 
 directions. The samurai lemon again became the diviner. That 
 part of his role this lemon regrets ; but a weapon he could not draw 
 in the quarrel. Later on meeting O'Hana San at the Kwannon 
 temple of Asakusa thanks were received, for what was a very 
 trivial service." — " And again renewed," said the beauty, raising 
 her downcast face to look direct into that of lemon. Said Kwaiba 
 — " Ah ! That's the tale, is it ? A fortunate encounter, and a 
 strange reunion ; but the world is full of such. O'Hana, it comes 
 in most befitting that opportunity is afforded to favour the rescuer 
 with something of greater value than thanks. Pray serve him 
 with wine." Then did Kwaiba take the matter as a man of the 
 world. But he was no fool, " this old tanuki (badger) of a thou- 
 sand autumns' experience on hill and in dale." He understood 
 very well that between lemon and O'Hana there had been a closer 
 connection than that of mere accident. 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 LOVE KNOTS 
 
 Many were the visits paid by lemon to contest at go with 
 Ito Kwaiba. Rapid was the progress of the love affair between a 
 young man and a young woman, both inspired with a consuming 
 passion for each other. In former days — something more than 
 two years before— when lemon was priest in the Joshinji of the 
 Reigan district of Fukagawa, and was spending the money of the 
 osho so freely, he had met O'Hana at the Fukagawa of Yagura no 
 Shita. Just entering on her career, she at once captivated him with 
 a permanent passion. It was in her company that the funds of the 
 temple had been cast to the four winds of heaven. His love had 
 been fully reciprocated by O'Hana. The one purpose was to ran- 
 som the lady, and then to live together as husband and wife. Such 
 was the engagement plighted between them. However, the ransom 
 figure was large. lemon — or Kazuma at that time, he dropped 
 his priestly name when out of bounds — had already planned a 
 larger raid than usual on the ecclesiastical treasury. Warned by 
 O'Hana that his operations had been discovered, he had sought 
 safety in flight ; not without a last tearful parting with his mistress, 
 and assurance that fate somehow would bring them again together. 
 The engagement thus entered on was to flourish under the new 
 conditions. 
 
 As to this pursuit of O'Hana, in which the maiden was coy 
 and willing, the lover circumspect and eager, or at least thought he 
 was, those around the pair were soon well informed ; that is, with 
 the exception of the most interested — O'lwa and Kwaiba. The 
 marked neglect which now ensued O'lwa took in wifely fashion ; 
 and attributing it to some passing attraction of Shinjuku Nakacho, 
 she did not take it to heart as she would have done if a concubine 
 
 93 
 
94 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 had been at issue. As for Kwaiba, the usually astute and prying 
 old man was so immersed in his go as to be struck blind, deaf, 
 and dumb. The matter coming to the ears of Kondo Rokurobei, 
 the worthy gentleman was seriously alarmed. If true, the old 
 man had indeed reached a parting of the ways, at which he had to 
 satisfy lemon. Master of Tamiya, O'lwa, his ward, and Ito 
 Kwaiba, the powerful influence in the daily life of all of them. 
 That night there was a meeting at the house of Kwaiba, a com- 
 petition in gidayu recitation, dancing, and poetry (uta) making. 
 He presented himself in season at the door of the Tamiya. " Ah ! 
 OTwa San ; and to-night does le^non join the company at the 
 house of the kiimi-gashiraf Rokurobei comes from Kawagoe, and 
 perhaps is not too late to find company on the road." — " Oya! 
 Is it Kondo Sama ? lya ! the Danna has but begun his prepara- 
 tions. . . . lemon ! The Danna of Yotsuyazaka has come ; 
 for company on the way to Ito Sama's house. . . . Deign to 
 enter. In a short time lemon will be ready." Kondo looked at her 
 quizzically. There was no sign of distress or misgivings in this 
 quarter. He felt encouraged. Probably the rumour was false 
 or exaggerated; perhaps it was wholly due to the malice of 
 Akiyama Chozaemon, from whom that day he had heard it. 
 
 He turned to greet lemon, who emerged ready for the street. 
 At the entrance they halted. Said lemon — " It will be a long 
 drawn-out affair. Deign to retire, and not await the return." 
 Replied OTwa — " A small matter. The sound of the Danna's 
 footstep will arouse Iwa to receive him." lemon laughed. " How 
 so? How distinguish my steps from those of Akiyama San or 
 other constant callers? " Said OTwa gravely — " When the wife 
 can no longer distinguish the husband's footstep, then affection 
 has departed. OTwa will be ready to receive lemon, no matter 
 what the hour." — " And, indeed, a late one," put in Kondo. " The 
 party consists mainly of young men. After it they will adjourn 
 to Nakach5. Is it allowed to lemon Dono to accompany them ? " 
 OTwa winced a little. " The Master is always master, within 
 
LOVE KNOTS 95 
 
 and without the house. He will do as he pleases." — " Gently 
 said; like a true wife. Truly such a married pair are rarely to be 
 encountered. They are the mandarin duck and drake of Moro- 
 koshi transplanted to Yotsuya. Rokurobei feels proud of his 
 guardianship." As he and lemon took their way along the Tera- 
 machi, he said — " lemon is indeed a wonderful man. He is hand- 
 some and pursued by the women. OTwa undeniably is ugly; yet 
 never is there failure to show her respect and consideration, in 
 private as well as public. One's life here in Yotsuya is open to 
 all the neighbours, and these speak well of lemon." Said the 
 younger man, in matter of fact tone — " Who could fail toward 
 Iwa? She is amiability itself. Plain, perhaps, but gentleness is 
 the compensating quality, a truer source of household wealth than 
 beauty." — " Well spoken ! Deign to keep it in heart, for the 
 neighbours' tongues wag as to lemon and O'Hana. Malice can 
 cause as much unhappiness as downright wickedness. Besides, 
 Kwaiba is no man to trifle with." lemon was a little put out and 
 alarmed at the directness of Kondo's reference. " Be sure there 
 is nothing in such talk. A slight service, rendered in earlier days, 
 makes O'Hana San more cordial to one otherwise a stranger. 
 The excess shown is perhaps to be discouraged. But ltd Dono is 
 good company and has good wine ; and besides really is a good go 
 player. It would be loss to shun his house." 
 
 Kondo noted a first symptom on their arrival. He spoke 
 sharply to the maid — " Middle age in company with youth plainly 
 finds a poor reception. Is that the master's order? The clogs of 
 Tamiya are not the only ones. Is Rokurobei to shift for himself ? " 
 The girl, all confusion, made profuse apology as she hastened to 
 repair the neglect. Kondo was easily mollified. " Bah ! No won- 
 der. Bring Tamiya near a woman, and all is confusion. . . . 
 But ltd Dono ? " — " This way, honoured Sirs : the Danna awaits 
 the guests." They entered the sitting room, to find Kwaiba in a 
 high state of anger and sulks. For some reason, error in trans- 
 mission or date or other ambiguity, not a man of the guests had 
 
96 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 appeared. " The supper prepared is next to useless. We four 
 can do but little in its dispatch. Not so with the wine ; let every 
 man do double duty here." He hustled around and gave his 
 orders with some excitement; more than cordial with the guests 
 who had not failed him. There was present one Kibei. lemon 
 had noted with curiosity his first appearance on this ground. 
 What effect was this factor going to have on O'Hana's position 
 in the household. He had been reassured on the physical point. 
 Kibei was exceedingly ugly, a regular mask, and O'Hana was a 
 woman to make much of physical beauty, as well as strength and 
 ruggedness. He was a younger son of Inagaki Shogen, a hata- 
 moto with a yashiki in Honj5 and an income of three thousand 
 koku} It was almost certain that Kwaiba would adopt Kibei. 
 The negotiations had been long continued, and there was some 
 hitch in the matter that lemon could not make out. What he 
 did realize was Kibei's hostility to himself. A noted fencer, mak- 
 ing some sort of a living as teacher of the art, he was the last man 
 with whom lemon had any desire for a quarrel. lemon was a 
 coward, and the cold eye of Kibei sent a chill down his spine. 
 Himself, he was always excessively polite in their intercourse. 
 
 Limited as to number the party tried to make up for the missing 
 guests by liveliness. There was a dance by Kibei, drinking as sub- 
 stitutes of the absent, and competition in uta (poetry). Handing 
 in his own effort — no mean one — lemon left the room for a 
 moment. As he came out on the corridor, and was about to return 
 to the guest room, he found the maid O'Moto awaiting him with 
 water and towel. A shght puckering frown came over lemon's 
 face at this imprudence. Said the girl pleadingly — " Danna Sama, 
 deign to exercise patience. That of the mistress is sorely tried. 
 The absence of the other guests, the pursuit of Kibei Dono, who 
 only seeks to compromise her and secure her expulsion from the 
 house, or even death at the hand of Kwaiba Dono, has driven 
 her well nigh mad. A moment — in this room." lemon drew back. 
 
 ^5.13 bushel. Income of the samurai classes were so measured. 
 
LOVE KNOTS 97 
 
 — " A room apart, and in darkness ! The age of seven years once 
 passed, and boy and girl are never to be allowed alone together." 
 He would have refused, but a sudden push and he was within. 
 The shoji closed at once. 
 
 Kwaiba's voice called loudly — " Hana ! Hana ! What has be- 
 come of the girl? There is no one to serve the wine. If the ugli- 
 ness of Kibei drives her to cover, Tamiya's beauty should lure her 
 out. Hana ! Hana ! " O'Hana slipped- hastily from the arms 
 of lemon. Passing through the garden she entered the kitchen 
 and snatched up a sake bottle from the stove. She did not notice 
 that the fire had gone entirely out. She and lemon entered the 
 sitting room together, from different sides. Rokurobei looked 
 sharply at lemon. Kibei was engaged in hot talk with 
 Kwaiba. Said Kondo — "Where have you been? Pressed by 
 necessity? For such a lapse of time! nonsense! Is rice powder 
 found in such a place? ' Plaster '? It does not leave the mark 
 of a cheek on the sleeve." He laid a warning hand on lemon, 
 skilfully removing the telltale mark in so doing. " What has hap- 
 pened is clear enough. Fortunately Kwaiba and Kibei have got 
 into a dispute over the merits of Heinai and Shosetsu as fencing 
 masters; both of them dead as the long ago quarrels of the 
 Tc^^otomi and Tokugawa Houses. Heinai was loyal, and Shosetsu 
 a traitor ; but Kibei tries the old man and officer by supporting the 
 prowess of the latter. Besides the sake is cold and Kwaiba at 
 start was in a very bad temper. He has thought for naught but 
 his drink and disappointment. Cajole him by agreeing with him, 
 but don't get into a quarrel with Kibei. He is expert with the 
 sword, has a temper as ugly as his face, and would willingly 
 engage in one. He don't like you. . . ." He stopped. Kwaiba 
 was speaking sharply. He had just taken the fresh bottle. " Cold 
 as a stone ! How careless you are." — " Not so," said O'Hana in 
 some surprise. " It has just come off the stove." Kwaiba put 
 the bottle in her hand, to her confusion. " O'Hana must have 
 been asleep; or much engaged, not to note the difference." For 
 7 
 
98 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 the first time he looked sharply at her, then at lemon. O'Hana 
 often executed great freedom with him — " Asleep! Just so; and 
 no wonder. Without guests the evening has been stupid enough. 
 If Tamiya Sama had brought his wife with him it would have 
 been complete." Kwaiba, Kibei, Kondo smiled at the sally. 
 lemon took the cue, and chose to resent the words. He said 
 coldly — " O'lwa certainly brings spice into everything she engages 
 in. Her intelligence is unusual." O'Hana looked at him ; then 
 smiled a little, reassured. Passing behind him she stumbled. 
 " Forgotten " — lemon felt a letter thrust into his hand, which 
 he passed quickly to his sleeve. Then he and Kondo rose to take 
 their leave. The usual salutations followed. As if to compensate 
 for the failure of the entertainment all joined in seeing them 
 depart. Kwaiba was still grumbling and half quarrelling with 
 O'Hana. O'Moto was engaged with Kondd Rokurobei. Kibei 
 insisted on aiding lemon ; and lemon did not dare to refuse his 
 services in donning the kaori. As he adjusted the awkward efforts 
 of Kibei on one side, this amateur valet made a mess of it on the 
 other. Besides, neither of them was any too steady on his 
 feet. Then Kondo and lemon set out in the rain. " Sayonara ! 
 Sayonara ! " 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 THE PLOT AGAINST O'lWA 
 
 The following morning lemon sat brooding, mind and tongue 
 clouded by the drinking bout of the previous night. O'lwa silently 
 busied herself with his renovation. Rokurobei had delivered him 
 over to her, decidedly the worse for wine and wear. He was 
 somewhat astonished at the young man's easy discomfiture. Mid- 
 dle age with the Nipponese usually means the seasoned and steady 
 toper. Regarding the matter as partly due to her own fault, and 
 reassured by Kondo as to the events of the evening, O'lwa heated 
 the sake with all the greater care, serving it herself, chatting on 
 the indifferent gossip of the neighbourhood. She spoke of the 
 talk current as to ltd Kwaiba's adoption of an heir. " This man 
 Kibei, his disposition appears to be as ugly as his face." With 
 a little smile she added, " for the latter compensation is to be 
 found in the first-named quality ; a truth which he seems to disre- 
 gard. What will become of O'Hana San?" For the first time 
 since the night before the thought of the letter flashed into 
 lemon's mind. He put down the renovating morning draft, and 
 on some excuse arose. His kimono lay neatly folded in the hira- 
 buta (flat tray). Hastily he searched the sleeves. There was not 
 a sign of the missive. With clouded brow he returned to the sit- 
 ting room. A glance at O'lwa made him feel ashamed. It had 
 never .come into her hands. He knew her well enough to be 
 assured that he would have found it, scrupulously laid together 
 with the tobacco pouch, nose wipe (hanagami) , and divers other 
 minor articles of daily use carried on the person. The whole 
 affair perhaps was a dream. The more he considered, the more 
 he became so convinced. His transports with O'Hana, their sur- 
 prise, Kondo's rebuke — so far the evening was tolerably clear. 
 It was only as to the final cups, the rising to depart, the standing 
 
 99 
 
100 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 in the cold night air, that the exact course of events became 
 clouded. " Ah ! It was all a vision. O'Hana never would have 
 been so imprudent." There was a trace of doubt in his mind. 
 He would clear it up at the fountain source — at Kwaiba's house 
 and by the lips of O'Hana. 
 
 Kwaiba greeted him with ahiiost boisterous cheerfulness. 
 " Ah ! Tamiya comes early ; a flattering acknowledgment of last 
 night's reception." To lem.on's deprecatory speech and apology — 
 " Don't talk folly, after the manner of a country boor. lemon 
 San is a man of the world; and will give this Kwaiba credit for 
 being the same. What does it amount to? A matter of a little 
 too much wine. . . . Hana ! Hana ! The Master of Tamiya 
 is present. Cut some bean paste, and bring tea. Heat the wine. 
 Matazaemon was so sober an old dog that it is doubtful whether 
 O'lwa knows aught about the best remedy for past drinking." 
 As Kibei entered — " There is the inventory of the Shimosa 
 farms. Condescend to take a glance at the report of the naniislii 
 (bailiff). Hana will aid." Thus dismissed, the two left the room. 
 Kwaiba turned to lemon — "A draught: no? Then Kwaiba will 
 drink for both. For him it is a day of rejoicing. The coming 
 of Tamiya is opportune. It was intended to send for him. Deign 
 to aid this Kwaiba with counsel. The adoption of Kibei has 
 finally been settled." The old man's exultation influenced even the 
 indifference of lemon's aching head. With well-simulated interest 
 he said — " Naruhodo ! Kibei Dono is indeed to be congratulated. 
 As to our chief, since everything is to his satisfaction, lemon is 
 but too glad to speak his pleasure, to ofifer his congratulations." — 
 " Nay! A little more than that, lemon Uji. This Kwaiba would 
 seek his aid in another matter of importance. Kwaiba is old. 
 A woman no longer is an object to him. He cannot make a child. 
 If O'Hana should give birth to a child great would be the dis- 
 comfiture, knowing the truth. What is to be done in such a 
 case ? " He now was looking with direct inquiry into the face 
 of lemon. The latter was much confused. He stammered — " Just 
 so : so indeed. O'Hana San is truly an embarrassment. Doubtless 
 
THE PLOT AGAINST OTWA lOI- 
 
 she is also an obstacle to Kibei Dono. She . . ." Sneered 
 Kwaiba — " Tamiya, though young, is wise. He grasps the situa- 
 tion at once. Deign, lemon San, to take O'Hana yourself." 
 Kwaiba raised his voice a little. Kibei brought O'Hana with 
 him from the next room. She seemed alarmed and embarrassed. 
 Said Kwaiba — " What have you there ; the inventory ? Ah ! 
 A letter: and there is no one to read a letter like lemon San. 
 Deign, Sir, to favour us. lemon San alone can give the contents 
 the proper inflection. He handed it to lemon. A glance showed 
 the latter that it was a letter from O'Hana, probably that of the 
 previous night. His pocket had been neatly picked by Kibei. 
 It was plain. He had been trapped. The pretended entertain- 
 ment had been a plot in which the passion of O'Hana had been 
 given full chance to range. Even the disinterested witness, the 
 old fool Kondo, had been provided. He caught a curious, mocking 
 smile on the face of the girl O'Moto, just then passing along the 
 roka. 
 
 Kwaiba allowed the silence to become oppressive. He seemed 
 to await an incriminating outburst on the part of O'Hana, plainly 
 on the verge of tears. However, the girl caught herself up. In- 
 stead she turned a calm, inquiring look toward the three men. 
 lemon alone looked down, his gaze on the letter the characters 
 of which danced and waved before his eyes. Sharp as he ordi- 
 narily was, before this vigorous and astute old man, backed by 
 the ruffianly prospective son with impertinent smile, the cowardice 
 of lemon deprived him of all spirit. His faculties were numbed. 
 Kwaiba leaned over and removed the letter from his hands. 
 " Since lemon San will not read the letter, Kwaiba will try to do 
 so; a poor substitute for the accomplished cleric." The old fel- 
 low seemed to know everything, as the tone of contempt indicated. 
 He ran the scroll out in his hands- — " Naruhodo ! Ma ! Ma ! 
 What's this ? From some woman : a lascivious jade indeed ! . . . 
 Eh ! Kibei Dono, apology is due your ears. This Kwaiba laughed 
 at your suspicions." He threw down the scroll, as in a fury. 
 Kibei picked it up. He began to read : 
 
If^YA THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 " Night is the source of pleasure, but greater that pleasure at sight 
 of lemon. The day comes when lemon and Hana will be husband and 
 wife, in fact if not in form. ' Ah ! Day and night to be at the service 
 of lemon.' Thus does Hana pray gods and Buddhas. When distant 
 from his side, even though the time be short, painful is its passage. 
 Place this letter next to your very person. May that night come quickly, 
 when the coming of lemon is awaited. The connection with OTwa San is 
 the punishment for sin committed in a previous existence. Condescend to 
 dismiss her from your mind. View the matter wholly in this light. The 
 spiteful brush (pen) refuses further service. Hard, hard, is the lot of 
 this Hana. The honoured Master comes ; the heartfelt wish is accom- 
 plished. 
 
 With compliments. 
 To lemon Sama." Hana. 
 
 Kwaiba's rage grew and grew with the reading. At lemon's 
 name he sprang up and made a movement toward the stand on 
 which reposed his swords. Laying a hand on the larger weapon 
 he turned with a scowl — " Ah ! This Kwaiba is old, but in vigour 
 he is young. It is for Kwaiba to sport with the women. They 
 are not to make a fool of him." Kibei sharply interposed. " Does 
 Kwaiba Dono gain satisfaction by such a vengeance? To Kibei 
 it seems a poor one. A matter so easily to be settled is not to be 
 made a scandal in the ward. Deign, honoured Sir, so to regard it. 
 To punish both at once with death is proper. But is it expedient ? 
 Condescend to hear the words of Kibei." 
 
 Kwaiba pulled himself up. It was as if some one had dragged 
 him back. His rage departed. A cold malice took its place. He 
 smiled blandly — " One does not quarrel over a harlot. Kwaiba 
 spares their lives. lemon shall take Hana home — as wife." — 
 " As wife ! " lemon broke through his fear. " Surely the hon- 
 oured Kashira is unreasonable. This lemon is but the muko of 
 Tamiya. To demand that OTwa San be discarded is going too 
 far. Positively in this matter, though there have been love 
 passages, the most intimate relation has never followed — now 
 or in previous relations." — " You lie ! " said Kwaiba coldly. 
 " Furthermore 'tis a matter not passing the period of last night. 
 
THE PLOT AGAINST O'lWA l03 
 
 But that is not to the point. ' Against Matazaemon this Kwaiba 
 has a grudge — as yet unsatisfied. Through O'lwa San this shall 
 be paid. With lemon no harsh measures are adopted. Nay ; 
 Kwaiba comes to his aid. You, too, Kibei, shall assist. . . . 
 Ah ! For the ready consent, thanks. Ma ! A delicious revenge is 
 that gathered by Kwaiba. O'Hana the harlot takes the place of 
 the Ojosan. And she loves lemon ! In our feasts Natsume and 
 Imaizumi get the skin of the omelet ; lemon the centre. Then 
 O'lwa is to be driven out. To that Tamiya cannot object. He 
 substitutes honey for garlic;^ O'Hana the flower for the ugly 
 toad O'lwa. Splendid ! Splendid ! But how ? Ah ! Here's 
 Kondo, just in the nick of time. Rokurdbei, aid us with your 
 experience and influence. Aid us with lemon, who would cleave 
 to the O'Bake." 
 
 Put in possession of the facts Kondo was aghast. He had 
 come to the parting of the ways; and under conditions which 
 assured his participation in the plot. At first he turned on lemon 
 with bitter recrimination. " Oh ! A virtuous fellow, who would 
 drink a man's wine, lie with his woman, and then preach morality 
 to a household! But the mischief is done. If not the paramour 
 of O'lTana San, everybody believes it to be so . . ." Kwaiba 
 held up his hands in well-simulated anger. Kibei and Rokurobei 
 interfered. lemon's last resistance was broken down. To talk? 
 That is the business of a priest. Soon he was as eagerly engaged 
 in the plot as if he had left the house in Samoncho for that pur- 
 pose. Said Rokurobei — " What difficulty does the matter pre- 
 sent? Set on Watanabe Goro to tempt and make love to O'lwa. 
 He is badly in debt. The handsome man of the ward everyone 
 would suspect her fall. Surprised by lemon, O'lwa is driven 
 out as unchaste. This Kondo stipulates that matters go no fur- 
 
 ^Kyara=: nut gall, in Momogawa's kodan. From the marriage to 
 the expulsion of OTwa his treatment of the story is mainly followed. 
 Ryuo slurs the marriage, but describes the persecution with great 
 effect. The lines of treatment only diverge subsequently. Ryuo is to 
 be preferred. 
 
i64 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 ther. After all O'lwa is innocent of offence. The husband's 
 full rights are not to be excused. Neither she, nor Watanabe is to 
 suffer injury." 
 
 Kibei laughed outright at the idea of a drawn sword in 
 lemon's hand. lemon turned the contempt on to Kondo. Sneer- 
 ing, he replied — " The plan is worthless. O'lwa is chastity itself. 
 In the absence of this lemon no man is allowed entrance to the 
 house." Kwaiba knitted his brows — " Kakusuke ! Kakusuke ! " 
 As the chugen appeared — " Go yonder to the house of Akiyama 
 Chozaemon San. Say that the Kumigashira would speak with 
 Akiyama San." As the man departed — " Chozaemon is the man. 
 For gossip and malice he is a very woman. Rejoice and he weeps ; 
 weep and he rejoices. If Akiyama cannot concoct some plan to 
 get rid of O'lwa, then no one can. . . . Alas ! O'Hana and 
 lemon must die by the hand of this Kwaiba. Kibei will give his 
 aid." The old man and Kibei got much enjoyment out of the 
 cowardice of lemon and the fright of O'Hana. But not for long. 
 Akiyama Chozaemon, the one-time boy lover of O'lwa; a long, 
 lean, hungry-looking man, with long, cadaverous face and a de- 
 cidedly bad eye, appeared with the chugen Nakusuke close behind. 
 The latter seemed a sort of policeman attending the none-too- 
 willing Chozaemon. The latter's brow lightened at sight of the 
 company. He owed Kwaiba money. Sending away the servant, 
 Kwaiba unfolded the situation. Said Chozaemon — " Heigh ! 
 Tamiya takes the cast off leman of Ito Dono. Fair exchange is no 
 robbery; Kibei Uji against O'Hana San. lemon San goes into the 
 matter with eyes wide open. The lady is an old intimate, it is 
 said." This manner of approaching the subject was Chdzaemon's 
 way. He cared nothing for the scowls of Kibei nor the wrath 
 of Kwaiba. He was needed, or they would not have called him 
 to counsel. As for lemon, he was grateful to Chozaemon; as 
 neighbour, and for the insult to Kibei and Kwaiba. 
 
 Continued the mediator — " The obstacle of course is the 
 O'Bake. O'lwa is to be driven out. And Watanabe won't answer ? 
 Maa ! Chastity in an O'Bake ! It is a thing unheard of. 'Tis 
 
THE PLOT AGAINST O'lWA 105 
 
 such, once of womankind, who seduce Hving men. Tamiya is 
 now head of the House. O'lwa once driven out, the property 
 remains in his hands as its representative. She must be forced 
 to leave of her own will. Good; very good. What is it worth to 
 Kwaiba Dono? " — " Look to lemon for commission," said Kwaiba 
 roughly. " Nay ! Nay ! " mouthed Chdzaemon. " Kwaiba is 
 Kwaiba; lemon is lemon. The two are to be settled with sepa- 
 rately. If Kwaiba Dono had gone to extremes at the start no 
 question would have been raised. To do so now, with all present 
 and after discussion, is out of the question. Kwaiba Dono wishes 
 to adopt Kibei Uji; to get rid of O'Hana San. lemon San has 
 been neatly trapped. He must consent. O'Hana is a woman. 
 She has no voice in the matter. All this is clear. But as to 
 Chozaemon's labour in the affair ; that it is which interests this 
 Akiyama." He gave a sour reprimanding look at Kibei. Then 
 he looked impertinently from Kwaiba to lemon, and from lemon 
 to Kwaiba. lemon in delight nodded assent. Chozaemon promptly 
 turned his back on him and faced Kwaiba. At first the old man 
 was very angry at the acuteness of Chozaemon. The sharp, free 
 exposure did not please him. Then the idea of countering on this 
 acuteness made him good tempered. He grumbled — " The ten 
 ryo owing to Kwaiba at the New Year — principal and interest ; 
 such is the fee for a successful issue." Chozaemon held up his 
 hands in pretended horror — " Pay back borrowed money ! Is 
 that expected by the Kumigashira? " — " Not ' expected,' " put in 
 Kwaiba promptly. " With the seal of Akiyama San the return is 
 assured." Chozaemon became thoughtful — " It is true. The last 
 loan was under seal. . . . Too bad. . . . Well ! Well ! 
 The conditions are hard. Submission is necessary. The debt will 
 be forgiven?" — "Kibei and lemon stand as witnesses," replied 
 Kwaiba — "Then how is this?" said Chozaemon. All put their 
 heads together. Akiyama Chozaemon went into details. Kwaiba 
 pushed back his cushion ; slapped his thighs. " Chozaemon, you 
 are cheap at double the money. Just the thing! Eh, lemon, 
 Uji? Eh, MukoSan?" All grinned a raptured assent. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 THE PLOT DEVELOPS 
 
 For two days lemon was maturing the preliminaries. He 
 seemed unwell and out of sorts. The third day he did not get 
 up at all. OTwa was properly anxious. Said she — " The change 
 in the year is a sickly season. Condescend to take some drug. 
 Allow Suian Sensei to be summoned." lemon grumbled a dis- 
 sent. She went on in her enthusiasm — " He is the very prince 
 of doctors. See : here is a salve he recommends ; for skin and 
 nerves. O'Hana San, the beautiful concubine of Ito Sama, uses 
 nothing else. He guarantees it on her praise, as means to remove 
 blemishes of any kind or source." lemon looked up quickly. 
 The connection puzzled and did not please him. Perhaps he 
 noted a puffiness about OTwa's face, remembered a repulsion 
 toward marital usages. The women should leave the men to 
 play their own game. He said gruffly — " Suian ! A dealer in 
 cosmetics and charms. Have naught to do with his plasters and 
 potions; as cheats or something worse. As for O'lwa, she is 
 black as a farm hand from Ryukyu (Loo-choo). O'Hana is fair 
 as the white kiku. Can the pastes of Suian Sensei change black 
 to white?" Startled, OTwa looked round from the glass into 
 which she was peering. She was taken by surprise. In their 
 personal relations lemon had always been more than considerate. 
 For some weeks in secret she had been using this drug of Suian 
 Sensei. In childhood OTwa had shown something of an epileptic 
 tendency. This had worn off with time. Of late the recurrence 
 had alarmed her. The drug of Suian, at the time anyhow, made 
 her less conscious of the alarmed critical feeling which heralded 
 the inception of the attacks. 
 
 lemon gave her but time to catch the meaning of his insult. 
 He went on — " Probably it is but a cold. Some eggs, with plenty 
 of hot wine, will obviate ill effects. Deign to see that they are 
 106 
 
THE PLOT DEVELOPS 107 
 
 prepared." The channel of O'lwa's thoughts changed. At once 
 she was the housekeeper and nurse, and all solicitude to make him 
 at ease. In the course of the meal of eggs with sake in came 
 Natsume Kyuzo and Imaizumi Jinzaemon. " Ah ! lemon, par- 
 don the intrusion. Probably the engagement of yesterday with 
 Kwaiba Sama was forgotten. ... In bed ! A cold ? But such 
 is no treatment for the complaint. There should be a cheerful, 
 lively atmosphere. . . . Ah ! Here is the dice box. One 
 can shake dice as well lying down as sitting. Deign to refresh the 
 spirits with play as well as wine." lemon saw to it that both were 
 available. With surprise at first, misgiving afterwards, OTwa 
 heated bottle after bottle of sake. The men did not pay the slight- 
 est attention to her presence. Absorbed in their game, there was 
 but a rough call from time to time for wine, addressed to the air, 
 a servant, anybody. At the end of the play Natsume rose to leave 
 in high spirits. Imaizumi and Tamiya were correspondingly de- 
 pressed. This was but a first day's procedure. Day after day, 
 for the space of half the month, the play was repeated. lemon 
 had long since recovered. One day he stood with his hands shoved 
 into the folds of his sash. He was very sober and sour. " Iwa, is 
 there money in the house ? " She looked at him in surprise. 
 " Matters have not turned out at all well with Kyuzo and Jinzae- 
 mon. This lemon is a hundred ryo to the bad. With spare cash 
 at hand an attempt can be made to repair the loss." 
 
 OTwa prostrated herself before him. " May the Danna deign 
 to consider. To Iwa this pastime of gambling seems a very ill 
 one, particularly in a man of official rank. It is fraught with peril ; 
 and the offence once known rarely is pardoned. Condescend 
 to hear and forgive the warning of this Iwa.'' She stopped a little 
 frightened. lemon was looking at her in greatest wrath and aston- 
 ishment. "What! Is there argument from wife to husband? 
 This insolence of behaviour crowns the insult of refusal. The very 
 sight of your face is enough to make one sick at the stomach. 
 Boors and hakcmono are shut out at the Hakone barrier. But 
 you — the guards have been put to sleep, and you have slipped 
 
108 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 through. Shut up ! Get the money, or . . ." O'lwa crouched 
 at the shoji, in terror and surprise. The insulting words heaped 
 on her pained and tortured. Now she feh the sharp sting of a 
 hand forcibly applied to her cheek. Without a word she left the 
 room. Returning she brought thirty ryo in gold on a salver. 
 Timidly prostrate she presented it to lemon. " Condescend to par- 
 don Iwa. That she is ugly and incompetent she knows. Did not 
 lemon accept her ? " The man stuffed the gold in his girdle. In 
 reply — " No : lemon was cheated by Kondo and Chobei. A plain 
 woman — perhaps ; but a monster, a worse than rokuro-kubi, was 
 never thought of even in a dream. Compensation is to be found, 
 lemon likes gambling. He will gamble. Have a care to supply 
 the needed funds; and don't interfere." Roughly he shoved her 
 out of the way, and left the house. 
 
 For long O'lwa saw nothing of lemon; but she heard from 
 him. In fact he was living in semi-secrecy at the house of 
 Rokurobei. Now this messenger, then that, would come to OTwa. 
 " If there is no money — sell something. The bearer will indicate. 
 A supply must be found." Thus one thing after another left the 
 house — to be stored in the godown of Kondo Rokurobei, to whose 
 clever suggestion was due this way of stripping OTwa of all she 
 possessed. With goods and clothes went the servants. In the 
 course of a few weeks OTwa was living in one room, furnished 
 with three tatami in lieu of the usual twelve in number. Hibachi, 
 andon (night lamp), the single garment she wore, this was all she 
 possessed in the house. Then at last she saw him. The light 
 dawned on a cold snowy morning of early March. OTwa rose, 
 opened the amado, and started her day. About the fourth hour 
 (9 A.M.) the shoji were pushed aside and lemon entered. He 
 looked as if fresh from a night's debauch. His garments were 
 dirty and disordered. His face was sallow, the eyes deep set and 
 weary, his manner listless. OTwa gave him the only cushion in 
 the room. Seated before the hibachi (brazier) after some time 
 he said — " A million pardons : the luck has been very bad. . . . 
 Ah ! The place here seems in disorder. It is not fit for a man 
 
THE PLOT DEVELOPS 109 
 
 to live in." He looked around as one waking from a dream. 
 " No wonder : yet all can be restored. lemon has surprised you ? " 
 Said O'lwa timidly — " Matters are a little at odds and ends. 
 O'lwa needs but little; a stalk of daikon (radish) and a handful 
 of wheat (;m(^j). Does the Danna remain here ? If so . . ." 
 There was a painful hitch in her voice, a puzzled look on her face. 
 She had one bn in cash. In fact she was hoping for the monthly 
 visit of Yosuke the farmer; if there was a farm any longer. She 
 did not know. 
 
 " For the night," replied lemon. " Sleep and food are the 
 essentials of good play. All has been lost in the gambling houses 
 of Shinjuku and Shinagawa, at the Nakanochd. Is there no 
 money in the house ? . . . Evidently not. Deign to secure 
 some, no matter how." He took the silver hu she presented to 
 him. " At least a bath and tobacco can be had. See to it that 
 a meal is ready at even; not much, sashimi (sliced raw fish) and 
 wine. lemon would play, not eat." With this he rose. O'lwa 
 heard the sound of the closing gate. Long she remained, her 
 face buried in her knees. In this gloomy situation what was she 
 to do? She looked around. There was not a thing to sell; not 
 even herself. Who would buy the ugly O'lwa? An idea came 
 into her head. In a moment she was in the street. Soon she 
 stood at the door of her uncle, Yoemon. With this uncle and 
 aunt she had but little to do. Matazaemon had been at daggers 
 drawn with his brother, whom he accused of being a wretched 
 miser, one acquiring wealth by very questionable means for a 
 samurai. In old days Chobei had been a hired agent of Yoemon. 
 The principal had escaped ; the second had to leave Yotsuya and 
 its neighbourhood. The Obasan (aunt) came out at O'lwa's 
 call. She greeted her niece with surprise. " Oya ! Oya ! Iwa is 
 a stranger to this house. It has been heard that a splendid 
 muko was received at Tamiya." The old woman looked at O'lwa 
 shrewdly, and not without kindness. O'lwa took heart. She 
 made answer — "It is true; of late matters have not gone well. 
 Just now Iwa would ask the loan of a sho (V5 peck) of rice. 
 
110 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 together with a bii to buy eels or sashimi.^ It is very rude indeed 
 . . ." — " Very rude indeed ! '' said a harsh voice close by. 
 O'lwa shrank to the outer part of the doorway. The aunt fled 
 to the inner part of the house. Continued Yoemon — " And what 
 is Iwa doing at the house of Yoemon? That there is relation- 
 ship between them this Yoemon does not recognize. Yoemon 
 never exchanged look or word with his brother Matazaemon, 
 nor does he desire to do so with the issue. Let the Tamiya of 
 Samoncho look out for itself. A muko was taken without aid 
 or advice of Yoemon. A stranger, one practising wayside divina- 
 tion, this fine fellow turns out a gambler and a debauched man, 
 to the ruin of the House. Iwa can look to him ; ignorant and 
 foolish woman that she is. This Yoemon would contribute to 
 the needs of a beggar before granting even a single mon to Iwa." 
 The grating rattled sharply as the angry old man pushed it 
 to and let fall the bar. O'lwa looked into the dark recess with 
 pained and startled eyes. So much of a recluse she was learning 
 that lemon had long been the talk of the ward. She turned, 
 and slowly took her way back to Samoncho. Here the reaction 
 came. Strong was the inclination to laugh and weep ; too strong 
 for self-control. In alarm she ran to take from the closet the 
 potion of Suian. Its efifect was the opposite of what she ex- 
 pected — or perhaps it was taken too late. For an hour OTwa 
 writhed, screamed, laughed in her agony. Then she sank into 
 slumber. On awakening the sun was already well past the zenith. 
 She sprang up in alarm. This meal to prepare — the duty of the 
 wife — and not d step taken. It could not be helped. Just as she 
 was, twisting a towel around her disordered hair, she started out 
 to the place of one Kuraya Jibei of the Asakusa Kuramae no 
 Saka. This man was a lender on the notes from the rice pensions 
 of the samurai — a fudasashi dealer, as these men were called. 
 
 ^The monetary bn was one-fourth the ryo; the shil was one-fourth 
 the value of the bu. A hundred vioti = one seji. To-day there are 
 blind shampooers (and for massage) at 500 mon = 5 sen. 
 
THE PLOT DEVELOPS 111 
 
 The distance was great. O'lwa was- tired out on her arrival. 
 At the entrance the kozo or "boy" hailed her sharply. He waved 
 her off. " No ! No ! Old girl, it won't do. Nothing is to be had 
 here. Please come back the day before yesterday." He barred 
 the way. Said O'lwa, shrinking back — " Nothing is wanted of 
 the honoured house. An interview with Jibei San, an inquiry 
 to make. Such the request." Something about tone or manner, 
 certainly not pity, made the fellow hesitate — " Jibei San ! A beg- 
 gar woman wants an interview with Jibei San! How about it? " 
 — " Nothing to be had," answered the hantos voice. " Tell her 
 to read the white tablet hung before the entrance. It is all the 
 house has to give." In speaking he edged around a little. OTwa 
 raised the towel from her face. At once he was on his feet. 
 " Ah ! For long the honoured lady of Tamiya has not been seen. 
 Many and profitable the dealings with Matazaemon Dono. Con- 
 descend to pardon this senseless fellow. He outrivals his com- 
 panions in lack of brains. Deign to enter." The koso was all 
 apology — " Condescend wholly to pardon. Deign to have pity 
 on the ignorance shown. With fear and respect . . ." Look- 
 ing into OTwa's face he was overcome by his feelings. Bursting 
 with laughter he fled to the front of the shop to stuff the dust rag 
 into his mouth in mistake for a towel. This slight error restored 
 his equanimity. The hanto looked after him with some fellow 
 feeling and much anger. " He is half idiot. Condescend to dis- 
 regard his rude speech and manner. After all he is but a kozo. 
 . . . What can this Jibei do for the lady of Tamiya?" 
 
 " Knowing that the House has dealings with Jibei San, and 
 there being necessity for three slid of rice, it is ventured to ask 
 the loan." Thus spoke OTwa. Money, actual coin, was on the 
 end of her tongue, but somehow she could not get the words out. 
 Jibei was not particularly astonished. Since lemon had taken 
 charge of the affairs of Tamiya, its income was usually discounted 
 well beforehand. Moreover, the rumour of lemon's gambling was 
 spreading among his connections. Neither Kwaiba nor Akiyama, 
 nor the others engaged, were men to lose sight of the likelihood 
 
112 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 of fine pickings from the Tamiya. Jibei made prompt answer. 
 " Respectfully heard and understood. It shall be sent . . . 
 Ah! It is required now? Matsu ! Matsu ! Put up three sho of 
 rice for the lady of Tamiya. Its conveyance is to be provided. 
 Place a bu in the parcel. The distance to Yotsuya is great. The 
 kago (litter) men are exacting." OTwa's heart leaped with grat- 
 itude at the perspicacity of Jibei. He watched her departing 
 figure as far as he could see it. Then he took out a ledger; and 
 against the name of Tamiya he placed a question mark. 
 
 It was dusk when OTwa entered the house at Samoncho. 
 She gave a start on finding lemon glumly seated before the fire- 
 less brazier. " A fine hour for a woman to be gadding the 
 street. And the meal ! Unprepared : excellent habits in a wife ! 
 
 " To the Danna apology is due. This Iwa is much in the 
 
 wrong. But for the meal money had first to be secured . . ." 
 — "Then there is money, or means to procure it? Where is it? 
 How much?" — "Nay, the rice is here. This bu is enough to 
 secure eels, sashiini, some delicacy . . .'' She hesitated be- 
 fore lemon's doubting glare. He was eyeing rice and money. 
 The mark on the bag caught his eye. " Whence was this rice 
 had? And this money? From Jibei, the fudasashi dealer? A 
 visit paid in such garb? Truly the House is disgraced, not only 
 by your ugliness, but by ill conduct. Who could remain in such 
 a den?" OTwa threw herself in his way as he rose to leave 
 the room. Clinging to his sleeve she pleaded for pardon, as only 
 a woman can do who has done no wrong. There was an ugly 
 look on lemon's face as he turned on her. Frightened, she 
 would have fled. Instead she could only crouch like a dog under 
 the blows he showered on her. Then with a violent kick in the 
 groin he rolled her over, and departed. 
 
 O'lwa heard footsteps. Had lemon returned? Despite the 
 pain, she half sat up in her dread. Kondo Rokurdbei appeared. 
 The portly man held up his hands in horror and benevolence at 
 what he saw. " But OTwa — what has occurred ? Ah ! Kondo 
 has heard rumours of what is going on. The tatami (mats). 
 
THE PLOT DEVELOPS " 113 
 
 screens, drawers (tansn), clothes-baskets — the house is com- 
 pletely stripped to satisfy the thirst for the money of others. 
 Now he has descended to blows ! Truly he is a miserable fellow." 
 Kondo's voice grew loud in his wrath. " This must not go on. 
 Rokurobei is responsible to Tamiya, to the ancestors. To be 
 subject to a fellow like this will never do. A divorce is to be 
 secured. Let him depart with his plunder. Let him have every- 
 thing ; only to get rid of him. He is husband, and head of Tamiya. 
 But Kondo will be too much for him. A divorce shall be secured. 
 I to Dono, the ward chief, is to be interested in the affair. Pressure 
 shall be put on lemon to grant the letter of divorce." Indigna- 
 tion choked the worthy man. O'lwa spoke slowly, with pain 
 and effort. " Be in no such haste, Kondo Sama. lemon has not 
 been a good man. Much, is known to this Iwa. He buys women 
 at Nakacho. He buys geisha. He gambles. These are a man's 
 vices. As to these Iwa has nothing to say. She is the wife, for 
 two lives to maintain the house in good and ill fortune. A good 
 wife does not look to divorce to rectify mistakes. With such 
 remedy Iwa has nothing to do. But is not Kondo Sama the 
 nakodof Was he not the mediator in the marriage between lemon 
 and Iwa? Deign to speak as iiakodo. Rebuke lemon. Cause 
 this gambling to be brought to an end." Rokurobei could hardly 
 hear her to the end. His testy impatience was in evidence. He 
 broke into protest — " This is complete madness ; utter folly. You 
 allow this fellow to ruin the House. He will dispose of the 
 pension." — "The goods, the House, Iwa, all belong to lemon; 
 to do with as he pleases. Iwa is the wife. She must submit 
 . . . Ah ! You refuse. Kondo Sama is no longer the friend 
 of Iwa, to act as nakodo." What had come into the soul of this 
 gentle woman? Kondo in fright shrank back from the look she 
 gave him — " A very demon ! The mother, O'Mino. has returned 
 to life. Oni ! Oni ! You are not human. Kondo assuredlv will 
 have nothing to do with O'lwa, or O'lwa's affairs." He left her 
 helpless in the middle of her fit. Forgetting in his fright even 
 his clogs, barefooted, he fled from the house in Samonchd. 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 KWAIBA'S REVENGE 
 
 KoNDo RoKUROBEi went direct to the council of the conspira- 
 tors. He found them assembled in the house of Ito. Kwaiba, 
 lemon, O'Hana, Chozaemon, Kibei, were drinking sake. Kwaiba 
 as usual was bragging over his prowess in youth extended into 
 age. O'Hana was laughing at him behind his back. Kibei was 
 surly; yet his share of income was assured. Kwaiba roundly be- 
 rated lemon for lack of energy. " OTwa has been allowed to 
 get the upper hand. lemon is far too soft to deal with a woman 
 who has been spoiled all her life." lemon listened in silence, 
 with a rather doubtful smile of acquiescence or contempt. In 
 fact, knowing O'lwa as he did, he had little confidence in Kwaiba 
 or Chozaemon, or the methods they proposed. His own plan was 
 maturing. Meanwhile in part it ran parallel. On this assembly 
 burst the discomfited Rokurdbei — " Ah ! What an experience ! 
 The woman is a very fiend. A new pair of geta, bought but yes- 
 terday, and left at your house, lemon Uji." lemon looked at 
 Kondo's frightened face and bare feet. Then he burst into a 
 roar of laughter. Kwaiba was indignant. " Is the fright of 
 Kondo San any license to bring his dirty feet on the tatami. 
 Deign, good sir, to accept water for the cleansing. O'Hana San 
 now is inmate of the house of Kond5; yet condescend for the 
 moment to act the mistress here." This was part of the arrange- 
 ment. With the goods of OTwa the person of O'Hana had been 
 transferred to the charge of the honest Rokurobei. There lemon 
 had easy and decent access to the use of both. 
 
 Said lemon — " What happened after this lemon left Samon- 
 cho? Kondo Dono has been frightened." Kondo puffed and 
 fumed as he cleansed his feet at the mounting step. He groaned — 
 114 
 
KWAIBA'S REVENGE 115 
 
 " lemon Dono, you are certainly done for. Was it ' three years,' 
 she said? Her face was frightful. This Rokurobei has no more 
 to do with the affair. He goes no more to Samoncho. Alas ! 
 He will never sleep again. Oh ! Oh ! To be haunted in the next 
 existence by such a rotten O'Bake." Said Kwaiba — " Did lemon 
 really beat her? He says he did." Answered Kondo — "She 
 could barely move a limb. Of love for lemon not a spark is 
 left; but she clings to the honour of Tamiya, to the wife's duty 
 to the House. There is no moving her. Rokur5bei is suspect, 
 as not doing his duty as nakodo. Look to yourselves. If she ever 
 gets suspicious of the real facts, has an inkling of the truth — 
 look out for yourselves." 
 
 Kwaiba was thoughtful ; lemon was indifferent. None of them 
 could think of aught but the venture already engaged in. A week, 
 ten days, passed. In that time every effort was made to move 
 O'lwa to consent to a divorce. As Kumi-gashira, Kwaiba sum- 
 moned her to his house. Before his kindly sympathy O'lwa 
 melted into tears. The scandalous treatment of lemon had 
 reached his ears. Why had he not heard of it before it reached 
 such extremes? He looked indignation at his messenger, the 
 one who had brought O'lwa to his presence, Akiyama Chozaemon 
 the neighbour of Tamiya, living not far off near the Ten-5. Said 
 the ward head — " Kwaiba always took this lemon, or Kazuma, 
 for a scoundrel. A stranger, why bring him into the ward? But 
 now he is master of Tamiya. In the place of the excellent, if 
 obstinate, Matazaemon. Alas ! The pension of the House is said 
 to be hypothecated for five years. And the household goods ; and 
 separate properties of Tamiya — all gone? " O'lwa nodded assent, 
 and Kwaiba threw up his hands at such wickedness. At all events 
 he counselled her to consider matters, to accept his aid. He 
 would place her somewhere ; in the country and far off from the 
 ward in which lemon as master of Tamiya in its degradation 
 would always be an unpleasant sight and influence in her life; 
 at least until lemon could be expelled. With the fellow's past 
 
116 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 career doubtless this would happen before long. Meanwhile 
 O'lwa was to pass into one of the wretched, overworked, ex- 
 hausted drudges on one of Kwaiba's Shimosa farms. From his 
 chief's expressed views Ch5zaemon dissented. This was the one 
 man O'lwa distrusted. He had always shown dislike to her. In 
 defense of her conduct Chozaemon was too clever to show any 
 warmth. He was the subordinate making exact report to his chief. 
 OTwa was completely taken in. This friendly neutrality aroused 
 her every grateful feeling. Said Chozaemon — " lemon is a 
 coward. A samurai beats neither woman nor dog. If either are 
 unfaithful to him, he kills the offender. lemon's conduct has 
 been thoroughly bad. Before the reproaches of OTwa San, 
 beaten in argument he has retaliated by beating her to a jelly. Her 
 face bears the marks of his violence. As to her body, my wife 
 answers for it that it is a mass of bruises." — " Is that so? " said 
 Kwaiba in deep sympathy. O'lwa burst into tears. Kwaiba 
 fumed with rage — " Truly lemon is not a human being. He has 
 the horns of a demon." 
 
 Then the priest Myozen, of the family temple, the Myogyoji 
 of Samegabashi,^ appeared at the Samoncho house. To him 
 O'lwa looked for ghostly consolation against the ills of this world. 
 Instead he merely chanted the old refrain, harped on the scandal 
 brought on Samonchd by the continued bickering of the married 
 pair. Husband and wife had mutual duty toward each other; but 
 also there was a duty toward their neighbours. lemon was irre- 
 claimable. . . . This stranger ! O'lwa San should deign to 
 take the active part herself ; not afiford this ill spectacle and 
 example to the ward. Like most parsons he was convinced by 
 the noise of his own voice, and spoke with the intense conviction 
 of long rehearsal. OTwa heard him out with a curious chill at 
 
 ' Of the Nichiren sect. The characters of the " Yotsuya Kwaidan " 
 move within the circle of this Presbyterian cult: i.e., Presbyterian in 
 its stiff attitude of hostility and superiority to all other sects. There 
 is another Myogyoji, neighbour to the Ten-6 shrine. 
 
KWAIBA'S REVENGE 117 
 
 heart. The graves of her beloved hotoke (departed ones) were 
 in the cemetery of Myogyoji. The temple had been one of the few 
 generous features, almost extravagances, of Matazaemon. It 
 had profited greatly by his donations. It was the honour of 
 the House against the argument of the priest and the convenience 
 of the neighbours ; and all because a bad man had been brought 
 into it. " What the revered osho (prebend) has said reaches to 
 the heart of this Iwa. Submission is to be an inspiration from 
 the revered hotoke. Iwa will seek their counsel." Baffled, the 
 priest left the house ; veiled censure was on his lips ; open diso- 
 bedience and contempt on the part of OTwa. 
 
 Said Kwaiba — " Chozaemon has failed. At least this Kwaiba 
 has saved his ten ryo — and gained one object. Kondo Dono, 
 thanks for your kind hospitality to O'Hana San. Do you pro- 
 pose to adopt her? " Kondo made an emphatic gesture of protest 
 and dissent. He said — " At least Kondo has the security of goods 
 and money for his generous expenditures." — " Both of them be- 
 longing to OTwa San ; just as Kwaiba holds the acknowledgment 
 of Akiyama San." Chozaemon made a wry face. The prospect 
 of pressure put on him, with all the added accumulation of the 
 months of interest, was not a cheerful one. Said Kwaiba angrily 
 — " Ah ! Whoever would have suspected such obstinacy in the 
 O'Bake; she who always was so yielding within her home and 
 outside of it. She seemed to be such an easy mark. It was 
 merely a matter of ordering her out. And now she baffles this 
 Kwaiba of his revenge ! " lemon laughed outright. Kwaiba 
 looked at him with surprise. Was this charlatan playing a double 
 game ? Said lemon — " Fear enters at the words of the honoured 
 chief. Pray condescend to be easy in mind. As yet Chozaemon 
 has not failed. At least the question can be argued with the 
 Kumi-gashira. It is left to these principals. lemon is of better 
 counsel." Then after a silence during which Kwaiba intently 
 eyed him — " To-morrow OTwa San leaves Yotsuya. Kwaiba 
 Dono gets his revenge on the late master of Tamiya. Pray re- 
 
118 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 member it, in favour of the present incumbent of the House." 
 Said Kwaiba fervently — " lemon would be a son to Kwaiba ! 
 Is it really true — that the O'Bake will be expelled the ward, in 
 disgrace ? " lemon nodded assent. 
 
 On the following day O'lwa had completed her ablutions. 
 She arrayed herself in freshly washed robes. Then she took her 
 place before the Butsudan. It was memorial day of the decease 
 of the hotoke. Earnestly she prayed — " Deign, honoured hotoke, 
 to have regard to this Iwa. The year has not lapsed since the 
 hand of Iwa was placed in that of lemon. Now the House is 
 brought to ruin. No heir appears to console this Iwa and to 
 continue its worship, to inherit its revenues. ' Take these in hand. 
 Life lies before lemon for their enjoyment. His revenue will be 
 ample. Deign but to have the honour of the House in mind, the 
 continuance of its line as object.' Such were the words of the 
 honoured Matazaemon when in life. Unworthy has been the 
 conduct of this trust by lemon. But divorce is a scandal, always 
 to be avoided by a woman. Return the love of lemon to this Iwa. 
 Deign, honoured hotoke, to influence his wandering passions 
 toward this child of the House. Cause the husband to return 
 to Tamiya, once more to uphold its rights and influence. Such is 
 the prayer of this Iwa." She rose, placed the offerings, and 
 struck the little bell with the hammer. As she did so a noise 
 was heard at the entrance. lemon, carrying fishing rod and 
 basket, and followed by Natsume Kyuzo and Imaizumi Jinzae- 
 mon, burst into the room. All three were more or less drunk. 
 Dumfounded OTwa looked from one to the other. Imaizumi 
 carried a tub. Kyuzo knocked it from his shoulders. Then 
 tumbled clumsily down on the cask. None of them had removed 
 the dirty waraji (straw sandals) they wore. " Why do so in such 
 a barn?" hiccoughed Kyuzo. "And this sake; Kyuzd found it 
 without, at the kitchen door. Jinzaemon shouldered it. Whence 
 does it come, lemon San? Faugh! It smells as if the cask had 
 been placed for the convenience of passers-by on the wayside. 
 
KWAIBA'S REVENGE 119 
 
 It stinks. That's what it does." He gave the cask a kick, knock- 
 ing out the bung. The tihhy liquid poured out on the floor. 
 
 lemon appropriated the tub. He seated himself on it." 'Tis 
 the fine liquor of Tamiya. All the house possesses. lemon is 
 hungry." Opening his basket he took out an eel. He began to 
 skin it. A cry from OTwa arrested him. His wife sank down 
 before him in attitude of prayer. "Importunate jade! What 
 would you now ? Further advice to a husband who wants but 
 to get rid of the sight of an ugly face? Bah! This lump of a 
 wench is neither good for child-bearing nor for house-keeping; 
 she is not even a good rusu (care-taker). His knife made a rip 
 in the skin of the squirming animal. OTwa laid a hand on his 
 sleeve. With a voice in which sobs mingled with the petition — 
 " To-day is a memorial day of the honoured Hotoke Sama;. 
 Deign to refrain from taking life in the house; nay, before the 
 very ihai in the Butsudan. Such deed will cause pain to the 
 Hotoke Sama; bring disaster on the House, perhaps on this 
 Iwa and lemon San." lemon fairly roared as he sprang up from 
 the tub — " What ! You noisy slut ! Is this lemon to go without 
 food because the hotoke dislikes the smell of eels? . . . Jin- 
 zaemon, can you cook eels ? " Imaizumi had sought the roka. 
 His round featureless face showed his fright and indecision be- 
 fore this critical quarrel of husband and wife. Of all involved 
 in the plot he was the most unwilling in performance of his role. 
 But he answered according to rote — " lya ! lemon Uji, the office 
 of cook is a special one. Jinzaemon is no cook. He leaves that 
 office to his wife. Moreover the cooking of eels is an art in itself." 
 — " And the artist is here," chimed in the malignancy of Kyuzo. 
 " OTwa San is noted for her skill." — " Right ! " said lemon. 
 " Kyuzo and Jinzaemon have heard the refusal of OTwa. Cook 
 this eel — or else lemon pronounces the formula of divorce against 
 the disobedient wife." 
 
 In silence OTwa rose. She went to the portable stove. With 
 the bellows she stirred up the fire therein. She did not dare even 
 
120 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 for a moment to pray at the Butsudan. The skillet was on the 
 fire. The eels were sizzling in the hot liquor. Suddenly lemon 
 made an exclamation. Taking a towel he grasped the handle of 
 the vessel. The next moment he had forced down the hot pan 
 and its contents on the head of OTwa. " Kiya ! " With the single 
 cry she fell over backwards, writhing in pain under the infliction 
 of the scalding mess streaming over face, neck, and bosom. Imai- 
 zumi fled in dismay. Even Natsume Kyuzo protested. Seizing 
 the arm of lemon — " lemon Uji, you go too far. Don't kill her." 
 " Kill the O'Bake ? It's impossible." lemon spoke coldly. He 
 was the one person of collected wits in the room. 
 
 Groaning with agony O'lwa came to her senses. A man 
 was leaning over her. Half blind as she was, she could recognize 
 Chobei. His look was grave. His voice was reticent and con- 
 fused. "What has been going on here, O'lwa Dono? Ah! 
 Chobei comes at a bad season. Ma ! Ma ! The house, too ; 
 stripped bare to the very boards, and the season still wintry. 
 Truly this lemon is a beast — a very brute (chikusho). What 
 is Chobei to do? There is this matter of the honour of Tamiya." 
 He wrung his hands as in great perplexity, glancing sideways 
 toward OTwa. The first part of his speech she disregarded. 
 Such talk and consolation were growing stale. That all should 
 pity her caused no surprise. Her situation was not unusual. It 
 was the last words which caught her ear. " The honour of 
 Tamiya: Chobei San?" Chobei turned away; to put some pep- 
 permint in his eyes. Tears stood in them as he turned again to 
 her. O'lwa was alarmed. "What has happened?" She caught 
 his sleeve, drew close to him. He answered — " Chobei cannot 
 speak. To find O'lwa San in such dreadful state renders it im- 
 possible to explain. lemon San has gone too far." So he had, 
 from Chobei's point of view and for his purposes. These young 
 fellows never can keep within bounds ; even in abuse of a woman. 
 His resentment was extreme. O'lwa insisted. Finally the resist- 
 ance of Chobei was overcome. lemon's name was posted at the 
 
KWAIBA'S REVENGE 121 - 
 
 Kuramae of Asakusa. He was in debt on every side. As the 
 final blow, he had stolen the seal of Ito Kwaiba and forged an 
 acknowledgment for twenty ryo. Kwaiba's enmity to Matazae- 
 mon was well known. He liked lemon no better, and would pur- 
 sue him to the end, force him to cut belly, and accomplish the 
 official degradation and extinction of the Tamiya House (kaieki). 
 " What is to be done ? " He turned squarely to O'lwa. She said — 
 " Ito Dono has been kind to O'lwa. Perhaps if request be 
 made . . ." Chobei laughed. " Ito Kwaiba is always kind 
 to a woman. It is not O'lwa San whom he hates. But this is 
 an affair between men. He secures vengeance on Matazaemon 
 through lemon and this official extinction of Tamiya. It is too 
 tempting. He is not to be trusted. No hint of the deed must 
 reach him. Is there no money at the command of O'lwa San? 
 The sum is but twenty ryo. lemon brought this news to Chobei 
 last night. He leaves Edo, to go in hiding, after . . . after 
 . . . punishing the . . . Well ! Well ! He is a wicked 
 man. Chobei never suspected such wickedness. But lemon is 
 not the issue. He represents and can disgrace the Tamiya. There 
 lies the issue. Has OTwa San no means, nothing in coin?" — 
 " Less than a bu, sixty mon." She held out the coppers to Chobei. 
 Said Chobei with decision — " There is one resource left. There 
 is the person of OTwa San. Deign to go into service at the 
 pleasure quarter. Chobei is skilful. In seven days these wounds 
 can be healed. Twenty ryo secured, the paper is taken up, the 
 robbery of the seal is never discovered. We can laugh at Kwaiba's 
 anger. All is for the Tamiya." He noted that OTwa was hesi- 
 tating — " It is but as a pledge. The money is advanced on the 
 person of O'lwa San. A week, ten days, and other sources of 
 loan will be discovered. This is the only measure Chobei can 
 suggest. He has no means of his own to meet this debt." He 
 smiled as at a thought — " Perhaps Kwaiba himself will pay his 
 own debt ! " He chuckled at the idea. " Why not make appeal 
 at once? " repeated O'lwa, grasping at any straw of safety from 
 
122 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 this resource, so horrible to the samurai woman. Said Chobei 
 promptly — " Ito Sama knows perfectly well the state of Samon- 
 cho. Asakusa, Hon jo, are far removed. An appeal for twenty 
 ryo as surety money in applying for a situation would appeal to 
 him ; the other would not. Besides, thus far away he could not 
 investigate closely, if he would. He could but say ' yes ' or ' no.' " 
 O'lwa remembered what Kwaiba had said — the necessity of re- 
 moving to a distance. The words and actions of these rascals 
 dove-tailed admirably. A long silence followed. With exultation 
 at heart Chobei saw her rise. She put out the fire, gathered to- 
 gether the few personal articles she still possessed. On seeing her 
 struggle with the heavy rain doors he came to her aid. " For 
 the time being accept the hospitality of Chobei's poor quarters. 
 These wounds are to be healed." With full heart OTwa grate- 
 fully accepted. She took his hand as if to kiss it. Chobei hastily 
 snatched it away. In his sleeve, the ink not twenty-four hours old, 
 was the paper of the sale of O'lwa to Chobei; her passing over to 
 his guardianship, to dispose of as a street harlot, a night-hawk. 
 The consideration? Five ryo: payment duly acknowledged, and 
 of course nominal. The paper of transfer was in thoroughly cor- 
 rect form. Chobei had drawn it himself. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 THE YOTAKA (NIGHT-HAWKS) OF HONJO 
 
 O'Iwa's stay of nearly seven days at Chobei's house was 
 one of the golden periods of her life. O'Taki received the 
 Ojosan with humble joy. lemon could not drop Chobei out of 
 his life of prosperity. O'lwa was soon brought in contact with 
 the humble pair in adversity. Her's was a generous heart, and 
 O'Taki could not look around her house without some indication 
 of this kindness. Her sympathy with the wronged wife was 
 great. A husband — thriftless, a gambler, inconsiderate — of such 
 a one she had some experience. By the same means this lady was 
 brought to her present pass. It roused her indignation. As to 
 brutality ; that was another matter. She squared her stout shoul- 
 ders and looked derisively at the loose angularity of Chobei, his 
 rickety physique. But the storm would pass. Ito Sania, Kondo 
 Sama, Myozen Osho, all these were agreed. The Ojosan now 
 out of his reach, without a home to go to, and only hostile 
 faces met with in the ward, lemon Sama would soon come to 
 terms. Would the Ojosan deign to honour their humble home as 
 long as she liked. She at once suppressed OTwa's rather futile 
 attempts to aid in her rough household work. It had been the 
 lady's part to direct her maids in their more repugnant tasks, and 
 now brought right under her hand in this plebeian household. 
 OTwa never had undergone the harsher lot of her mother O'Mino. 
 
 Chdbei in his way was as kind as his wife. At once he devoted 
 himself to the repair of his property. When OTwa produced 
 the paste and lotion of Suian Sensei, as sovereign for the com- 
 plexion, Chobei took them, smelled and carefully tasted, and 
 finally put some of the paste on the end of the liashi or sticks to 
 arrange the charcoal in the hibachi. A smell of garlic pervaded 
 
 123 
 
124 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 the room. He noted the puffy face of O'lwa, the unnatural, almost 
 ghastly, white of the skin where the wide pockmarks permitted 
 it to be seen. Within the circles of these scars there was a curious 
 striated effect, only seen at times in the efforts of artists to depict 
 the supernatural, or of savages to frighten their foes. It gave 
 a drawn cadaverous look to the lower part of the face. " There is 
 more in it than that," mused Chobei. During her stay OTwa had 
 one of her attacks — of nerves — in fact a true epileptic seizure. 
 Chobei put an embargo at once on all remedies but his own. Cyni- 
 cally, he added — " But elsewhere there will be no Chobei. If the 
 Okusama deigns to apply the drugs of Suian Sensei where she now 
 goes, doubtless she will find early relief. At present they spoil 
 Chobei's efforts." The clever rascal at once recognized his fellow 
 in Suian, bribed to render OTwa more hideous than Nature had 
 made her, to take away her womanhood and hope of an heir to 
 the Tamiya. To poison her ? That he doubted ; although the 
 ignorance of leech and victim might readily lead to such result. 
 
 Within the seven days OTwa San once more could show 
 herself in public. It was now Chobei's part to carry the plot to 
 completion. lemon, at the proposition, had said — " Sell her as 
 a nighthawk ! An ugly woman like that no one will approach." — 
 " 'Tis Chobei's trade," said the pimp coolly. " In Yoshidamachi 
 they have noses — over night. Between dark and dawn the member 
 melts, becomes distorted, and has to be made. It has served its 
 purpose. This is Chobei's affair. Provided that O'lwa. never 
 again troubles the presence of lemon Sama the object is attained." 
 — " That is true. Do what you please. Kill her, if desired. 
 O'lwa in the Yotsuya ; and Chobei feels the wrath of Ito Dono, of 
 this lemon." Unwillingly he signed the contract required by 
 Chobei. He gave the latter a fee of ten ryo for the excision of 
 this excrescence, and with a sigh of joy learned of the disappear- 
 ance in company of the pimp and O'lwa. Within three days car- 
 penters and other workmen swarmed over the Tamiya in Samon- 
 cho. The master made ready for his return. 
 
THE YOTOKA OF HONJO 125 
 
 O'Taki had gone forth on a mission for Chobei. This would 
 insure her absence for the greater part of the day. Said Chdbei — 
 " Deign, Okusama, to allow Chobei to prove his art. All his 
 accomplishments have not been displayed." To pass off the ugly 
 woman at night could be done. He was compelled to act by day- 
 light ; though relying somewhat on the dusky interior of Toemon's 
 entrance and reception room. This Toemon was the chief of the 
 guild which bought and controlled these unfortunate street- 
 walkers, lowest of their class. Chobei sat down before OTwa. 
 As if in an actor's room he was surrounded with a battery of 
 brushes and spatulas, pastes, paints of all shades of greys, flesh 
 colour, pinks — even reds. Under his skilful hands OTwa was 
 transformed. To make her beautiful was impossible. He made 
 her passable. The weather was cold, though spring was now close 
 at hand. Chobei hesitated. The walk was a long one. His handi- 
 work might fade or melt under the sweating induced by effort. 
 Besides he had no desire for conversation. There were to be 
 as few answers to curious questions as possible. In his house 
 he had left the two women to themselves, and saw OTwa only 
 when O'Taki was present. So he called a kago and gave the 
 necessary directions. As the coolies moved off with their fair 
 burden he trotted along in the rear, his project occupying his 
 busy mind. 
 
 The place of Toemon was at Yoshidacho Nichdme, in the 
 centre of the Warigesui district. To the north was the canal 
 of that name. To the south a second canal ditto ; the 
 second stream was the larger, fairer, and more preten- 
 tious South Warigesui. An equal distance to the east was 
 the Hoonji Bashi, with the great temple of that name just 
 across the bounding river or canal of the district. As the 
 kago bearers ambled down the bank of the North Warigesui, 
 OTwa thought she had never seen a more filthy stream than 
 this back-water with its stale current. The bearers put them 
 down at the canal. Chobei had some directions to give during the 
 
126 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 short walk of a couple of hundred yards to their destination. 
 Said he — " For a samurai woman to engage in this business is a 
 serious offence. After all the matter is mere form; a pledge to 
 secure the return of the sealed paper forged by the husband. 
 The wife performs her highest duty in saving the honour of 
 the House. Is not that true? " There was a little sob in OTwa's 
 voice as she gave assent. She felt different now that she was 
 close at hand to the scene and crisis of her trial. Continued 
 Chobei — " The agreement has been made out as with OTwa, 
 daughter of Kanemon, the younger brother of this Chobei and 
 green-grocer of Abegawacho of Asakusa. Deign to remember 
 that the twenty ryo is needed to save a father in peril of default 
 and imprisonment." — " The cases are not so different," whis- 
 pered O'lwa. " Just so," said Chobei. " Here is the place. Con- 
 descend to wait a moment, here at the entrance." Briskly he 
 entered the house. " A request to make ! " — " Ah ! Is it Chobei 
 San ? The Danna Sama is absent for the day, at the office of the 
 ward magistrate. Some drunkard considers that he has been 
 robbed. The girl he accused was punished — perhaps unjustly. 
 All the women of this house are honest." — " Beyond repair," 
 laughed Chobei. " However, the other matter has been agreed on. 
 The girl is here. An uncontrollable jade ! The master has deigned 
 to aid Chobei. Thanks are felt. Since she will run with the men, 
 it is as well for Kanemon to get the profit of the business. If she 
 breaks out — put a ring in her nose, and treat her as the farmers 
 treat their cattle. Don't let her again bother home or Chobei. 
 She will lie — of course. At Toemon's they are used to lies ? " The 
 woman Matsu laughed — " No fear as to that." She looked over 
 the contract with care. " Ah ! She is sold for life service ; other- 
 wise the twenty ryo would be a scandalous price. Is that her? 
 . . . Um ! Not a likely jade. Stand a little in the light. 
 . . . This Matsu would never have closed the bargain with- 
 out a view. But Toemon San has left no choice. In the scarcity 
 of women, and his good-will to Chobei San, he would pay any sum. 
 
THE YOTOKA OF HONJO 127 
 
 At twenty, ryo she is a gem ! You can come up here. Take ! 
 Haru ! A new girl. Take her in cliarge and show her the house 
 and its ways. . . . Chobei San, some tea." Chobei put a 
 word into this running comment and invitation. As the girls 
 were leading ofif the hesitating OTwa he said loudly and roughly — 
 " Remember to obey the Okamisan (wife) in everything. What- 
 ever she commands is right and must be done : no nonsense. Ah ! 
 Something, forgotten : a moment please." He drew OTwa aside, 
 seeing that she was on the verge of tears. Speaking gently — 
 " Be astonished at nothing; be ignorant of everything. The house 
 of Toemon in Honjo is not the drawing room of Tamiya in Yot- 
 suya. Deign to remember that Chobei must play his part. Life is 
 like an excursion in a pleasure boat. There are rough places to 
 pass, some danger, and much refuse to get rid of. Condescend 
 to have House and husband in mind. It is but for a week — or so." 
 — " And lemon San, the House ; they will be secure ? " — " That 
 Chobei is assured of. See : he has the twenty ryo in hand. It is 
 mere matter of securing the compromising paper and the return 
 of lemon. Some negotiations are necessary for that. In the 
 future his behaviour will be much improved." He clinked the 
 coin before her. As O'lwa passed up the stairs he returned to 
 the hibachi of the wife. The tea was a short course. Chobei 
 was on needles while drinking it. He feared an outbreak from 
 above in the course of OTwa's initiation into a vileness the 
 depth of which she never even could suspect. " Yes : trade is 
 good. Women are difficult to secure. The men prefer to have 
 them in their homes, rather than to gain by their service else- 
 where." In such professional talk df a few moments he quickly 
 dispatched the refreshment, climbed into his clogs, and departed. 
 OTwa had disappeared far into the depths. 
 
 Toemon and his wife were quarrelling. Said the woman — 
 " Are you mad, to pay twenty ryo for such an ugly wench ? No 
 choice was given. This Matsu was to receive her. Chdbei is a 
 
128 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 cheat." Toemon and the banto drew O'lwa under the Hght, much 
 as if she were a bag of rice^" The clever rascal ! From crown 
 of the head to neck she is all made up. And perhaps elsewhere." 
 — " At all events she is a woman." The banto spoke as in doubt. 
 " Never mind : we are great artists, too, if not so good at cheating 
 as this Chobei. Twenty-six years ! She's forty at least. . . . 
 What may be your honoured age? " — " Twenty-six years," replied 
 the distressed OTwa. The wife threw up her hands — " And she 
 does not lie ! . . . Haru ! Kota ! It is time to go out. The 
 bell already strikes the hour of the dog (7 p.m.). Take Iwa to 
 the reception room (yoseba). She is to learn the ways of the 
 place ; where to entertain her guests. . . . Come ! Along 
 with all of you ! " Some ten or fifteen women had gathered in their 
 array for their night's campaign. Paint, powder, plaster, dis- 
 guised the ravages of disease among the hardened set of this low 
 class house. O'lwa accompanied O'Haru to what had been 
 called the yoseba. The girl explained to her. Here was the place 
 to bring and entertain any guest picked up on the street. They 
 were not the degraded wretches who made the darkness of an 
 alleyway the reception room for their lovers. It was to be re- 
 membered that the wine drunk not only profited the house, but 
 paid in commissions for their own cosmetics and other little 
 gratifications. On entering the place OTwa shrank back to the 
 wall in horror ; to shrink away in turn from the filth and obscenity 
 to be seen on that support. She would have fled, but the entering 
 crowd pressed her further in. It was a long room. The entrance 
 formed a sort of parlour or place to sit. The rest of the apartment 
 was divided longitudinally into little cubicula, rooms of the space 
 of the one dirty mat with which each was furnished. A shelf 
 contained its cynically filthy and suggestive furniture. 
 
 O'lwa's disgust and terror was too obvious. O'Haru held on 
 to her arm to prevent flight. The attention of the others was 
 drawn to them. " Does the beauty want an apartment to herself? 
 
THE YOTOKA OF HONJO 129 
 
 That is the privilege of the Oiran, the Go Tayu, the Kashiku.^ 
 Ah ! Sister dear ; it is to be learned that this place is Hell — First 
 Block. There is no 'second block' (riichome). One gets used 
 to anything here; even to use a demon's horns for toothpicks." 
 Thus spoke a hard-faced w^oman of some thirty odd, by her looks. 
 Said the frightened O'lwa in low tones — " Iwa has not come for 
 this service. She is but a pledge. This redeemed, within the week 
 she returns to her home. This place upsets one's stomach." Those 
 present laughed loudly. " We all say that. The real reason for 
 our coming is not to be told. Be assured that you must perform 
 the service, or suffer. Condescend not to fall into the hands of 
 the Okamisan. In anger she is terrible." There was a general 
 movement of the' women. Said O'Haru, drawing along O'lwa 
 by the hand — " Come ! Make no trouble. A newcomer, you are 
 sure to be successful and please Matsu Dono." O'lwa resolutely 
 held back. No matter what the suffering she would undergo it. 
 Ah ! A week in this place indeed was to be life in Hell. She 
 called up the sight of the dismantled house, the figure of her grand- 
 father, anything to strengthen her will to resist. O'Haru left the 
 room. " Okamisan, the new girl refuses to serve. Haru makes 
 report." The wife of Toemon leaped up from her cushion. 
 Dressed in night clothes, a long pipe in hand, she rushed into the 
 room. " What nonsense is this ? Which slut is it that refuses the 
 service of the house ? . . . . You ! The ink on the receipt for 
 twenty ryo paid for your ugly face and body is hardly dry. . . 
 Pledge ? A week's service ? You lie : as your uncle said you would 
 lie. You are here for life service as a street harlot. Out with 
 you ! . . . No ? No ? " She was about to throw herself on O'lwa, 
 
 ^ High sounding titles given to the great hetairae. The difiference 
 from the Greek world lay in their not being independent. They were 
 confined to the houses of their owners. But these noted women were 
 ransomed at times — even by great nobles. Thus Date Tsunamune the 
 3rd daimyo of Sendai bought the famous Oiran Takao, weighing in the 
 scales the woman against gold. In a fit of passion he killed her soon 
 after, and had her body cast into the Edogawa. 
 
 9 . • 
 
130 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 to cast her into the street. Then her passion, to outward appear- 
 ance, cooled. She was the woman of her business, malevolent 
 and without pity. " O'Kin ! O'Kin ! " The others now gathered 
 around OTwa. O'Haru and the girl O'Take plead with her to 
 obey. They tried to hustle her off by force. Said O'Haru — " Re- 
 port had to be made. This Haru acted for the best. Truly such 
 obstinacy deserves punishment. But Haru is filled with pity. 
 Deign to obey. Go forth to the service. The result of refusal is 
 terrible." O'lwa shook her head — " O'Haru San is free from 
 blame. Iwa is grateful for the kind words. To go out to this 
 service is impossible." The woman O'Kin strode into the room; 
 a big, strapping wench, and the understudy of O'Matsu in her 
 husband's affections. " A new recruit ? " She spoke in inquiry — 
 " Yes : and obstinate. It is a matter of punishment in the scmeha. 
 . . . Now ! Out with you all ! No dawdling ! " The irate 
 woman turned on her flock. They fled like sheep into the open. 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 THE PUNISHMENT 
 
 OTwA did not move. The two women approached and laid 
 hands on her. Her yielding made no difference in the roughness 
 of their treatment. Dragged, hustled, shoved, with amplitude of 
 blows, she was already much bruised on reaching the place of 
 punishment — the semeba, to use the technical term of these estab- 
 lishments " for the good of the community." During a temporary 
 absence of the mistress, a ray of kindliness seemed to touch the 
 woman O'Kin. She pointed to the square of some six feet, to 
 the rings fastened in the rafters. " Don't carry self-will to 
 extremes. Here you are to be stripped, hauled up to those rings, 
 and beaten until the bow breaks. Look at it and take warning. 
 Kin is no weakling." She shoved back her sleeve, showing an 
 arm as hard and brawny as that of a stevedore. With disapproval 
 she observed OTwa. The latter stood unresisting, eyes on the 
 ground. Only the lips twitched from time to time. As the only 
 person in the house, male or female, not to fear the Okamisan, 
 O'Kin could only put down the courage to ignorance. She 
 shrugged her shoulders with contempt. " A man would cause 
 you no pain. The same cannot be said of Kin. You shall have 
 the proof." Perhaps severity would be more merciful, by quickly 
 breaking down this obstinacy. 
 
 The wife returned with the instrument of torture, a bow 
 of bamboo wound with rattan to strengthen it. O'Kin took it, 
 ostentatiously bent and displayed its stinging flexibility before 
 the eyes of O'lwa. The latter closed them. She would cut off 
 all temptation to weakness. At a sign O'Kin roughly tore off the 
 obi. A twist, and the torn and disordered kimono of O.'Iwa 
 fell to her feet with the skirt. She had no shirt. Thus she was 
 
 131 
 
132 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 left completely naked. In modesty she sank crouching on the 
 ground. The cold wind of the March night made her shiver as 
 O'Kin roped her wrists. Again the woman whispered her counsel 
 in her ear — " When you get enough, say ' Un ! Un ! ' " Detecting 
 no sign of consent she took a ladder, climbed up, and passed the 
 ropes through the rings above. She descended, and the two women 
 began to haul away. Gradually O'lwa was raised from the sitting 
 posture to her full height of extended arms, until by effort her 
 toes could just reach the ground. In this painful position the 
 slightest twist to relieve the strain on the wrists caused agonizing 
 pains through the whole body. " Still obstinate — strike ! " shouted 
 the wife. O'Kin raised the bow and delivered the blow with full 
 force across the buttocks. A red streak appeared. OTwa by a 
 natural contortion raised her legs. The blows descended fast, 
 followed at once by the raised welt of flesh, or the blood from the 
 lacerated tissue. Across the shoulder blades, the small of the back, 
 the buttocks, the belly, they descended with the full force of the 
 robust arms and weight of O'Kin. Every time the legs were 
 raised at the shock the suspended body spun round. Every time 
 the toes rested on the ground the bow descended witH merciless 
 ferocity. The sight of the torture roused the fierce spirit in the 
 tormentors. O'Kin redoubled the violence of her blows, seeking 
 out the hams and the withers, the shoulders, the tenderest points 
 to cause pain. The wife ran from side to side, gazing into the face 
 and closed eyes of O'lwa, trying to detect weakening under the 
 torture, or result from some more agonizing blow. O'lwa's body 
 was striped and splashed with red. O'Kin's hands slipped on the 
 wet surface of the rod. Suddenly she uttered an exclamation. 
 Blood was now gushing from the nose, the eyes, the mouth of 
 O'lwa. " Okamisan ! Okamisan ! It won't do to kill her. Deign 
 to give the order to cease. She must be lowered." The wife coolly 
 examined the victim. " She has fainted. Lower her, and throw 
 saltwater over her. The sting will bring her to." O'Kin followed 
 the instructions in the most literal sense. She dashed the bucket 
 
THE PUNISHMENT 133 
 
 of water with great impetus right into O'lwa's face. " Un ! " was 
 the latter's exclamation as she came to consciousness. " She con- 
 sents ! She consents ! " cried O'Kin with deHght. The wife 
 was decidedly sceptical, but her aid plainly would go no further 
 at this time. Said she — " Leave her as she is. There are other 
 matters to attend to than the whims of an idle vicious jade. She 
 would cheat this Matsu out of twenty ryo? Well: time will show 
 the victor." She departed — " to drink her wine, pare her nails, 
 and sing obscene songs to the accompaniment of the samisen." 
 
 Tied hand and foot OTwa lay semi-conscious in the cold shed 
 of punishment. At midnight the girls returned to this " home." 
 They gathered around the prostate OTwa. From O'Kin they 
 had an inkling of the courage displayed. They admired her, but 
 none dared to touch her bonds. At last O'Haru San, unusually 
 successful in her night's raid, ventured to approach the half 
 drunk mistress of the house. " Haru makes report." She spread 
 her returns before the gratified Okamisan. Timidly the girl 
 added — " O'lwa San repents. Deign to remit her punishment. 
 She looks very ill and weak." — " Shut up ! " was the fierce retort. 
 Then as afterthought of sickness and possible loss came to mind. 
 "She can be untied and sent to bed." — "And food?" — "She 
 can earn it." The woman turned on O'Haru, who bowed hum- 
 bly and slipped away. That night the girls contributed from their 
 store to feed O'lwa ; as they did on the succeeding days and nights. 
 The wife would have stopped the practice, but Toemon interfered. 
 He meant to keep his dilapidated stock in as good repair as pos- 
 sible. He fed them pretty well. " The woman is not to be 
 starved — at least too openly. The last case gave this Toemon 
 trouble enough, and on the very day this epileptic came into the 
 house, to bring confusion with her. Beat her if you will ; but 
 not enough to kill her. O'Matsu followed his words to the letter. 
 One beating was followed by another ; with interval enough be- 
 tween the torture to insure recuperation and avoid danger to life. 
 These scenes came to be regarded as a recreation of the house. 
 The other inmates were allowed to attend, to witness the example 
 and fascinate their attention. But at last the Okamisan despaired. 
 
134 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Amusement was one thing; but her hatred of O'lwa was tempered 
 by the desire to find some use for her, to get a return for the 
 twenty ryo of which she had been swindled. Finally the advice 
 of the banto was followed. " The men of the house cannot be 
 tempted to approach such an apparition. The other girls have 
 not time to devote to making up OTwa as for the stage. They 
 have not twenty ryo at stake, as had Chobei. Let her wash the 
 dishes." Thus was O'lwa " degraded " from her high estate as 
 street-walker. Turned into a kitchen drudge she shed tears 
 of joy. She almost forgot the matter of the pledge in this new 
 and pleasant life. The time and the place, perhaps the drug she 
 took, had done their work on the mind of OTwa. lemon, the 
 house of Samoncho, the thai in the Butsudan, the pleasant garden 
 — all were of the tissue of a dream amid a toil which deposited 
 her on the straw wrappings of the charcoal and in a shed, thor- 
 oughly worn out at the end of her long day. The OTwa of 
 Samoncho at this end of the lapsing year of service was dormant. 
 But accidents will happen. 
 
 There was excitement in the house. Mobei, the dealer in toilet 
 articles — combs, brushes, jewel strings — was at the grating. The 
 women were clustered before the wares he exposed in his trays. 
 This Mobei, as dealer in toilet articles (koma-mono) wandered 
 all the wards of Edo, his little trays fitting neatly into each other, 
 and wrapped in a furoshiki or bundle-handkerchief. His wares 
 formed a marvellous collection of the precious and common place, 
 ranging from true coral and tortoise shell, antique jewelry and 
 curious netsuke of great value, to their counterfeits in painted 
 wood, horn, and coloured glass. " Mobei San, long has been the 
 wait for you. Is there a bent comb in stock?" — "Truly this 
 Mobei is vexing. He humbly makes apology, lady. Here is just 
 the thing. . . . How much? Only a. bu. . . Too high? 
 
 Nay ! With women in the ordinary walks of life it is the wage 
 of a month. To the honoured Oiran it is but a night's trifling.'.' 
 The other women tittered. O'Haru was a little nettled at the high 
 
THE PUNISHMENT 135 
 
 sounding title of Oiran. She would not show her irritation. 
 Mobei continued his attentions. He laid before her and the others 
 several strings of jewels, their " coral " made of cleverly tinted 
 paste. "Deign to look; at but one bii two shfi. If real they 
 would cost twenty ryo." — " And Mobei has the real ? " The 
 dealer laughed. As in pity, and to give them a glimpse of the 
 far off upper world, he raised the cover of a box in the lower tier. 
 They gasped in admiration before the pink of the true coral. 
 Hands were stretched through the grating to touch it. Mobei 
 quickly replaced the cover. " For some great lady," sighed O'Haru 
 — " Just so," replied Mobei, adjusting his boxes. He had sold two 
 wooden painted combs and a string of horn beads in imitation of 
 tortoise shell. He pocketed the hundred " cash," those copper 
 coins with a hole in the centre for stringing. Then briefly — " The 
 necklace is for no other than the Kashiku of the Yamadaya, the 
 loved one of Kibei Dono of Yotsuya. The. comb {kanzashi) 
 in tortoise shell and gold is for the honoured lady wife of lemon 
 Dono, the go kenin. But Mobei supplies not only the secular 
 world. This — for one who has left the world; for My5zen Osho 
 of Myogyoji, the gift of Ito Dono. For the custom of Mobei the 
 Yotsuya stands first in order." He took a box from his sleeve 
 and showed them the rosary of pure crystal beads. Even in the 
 dull light of a lowering day the stones flashed and sparkled. The 
 women showed little interest. A priest to them was not a man — 
 ordinarily. 
 
 He shouldered his pack. " Mobei San — a comb with black 
 spots, in imitation of tortoise shell. Please don't fail me on the 
 next visit." Mobei nodded agreement. Then he halted and 
 turned. One of the women had called out in derision — " Here 
 is O'lwa San. Surely she wants to purchase. Mobei San ! Mobei 
 San ! A customer with many customers and a full pocketbook." 
 These women looked on OTwa's assignment to the kitchen as the 
 fall to the lowest possible state. At sight of the newxomer Mobei 
 gasped. OTwa on leaving the door of Toemon's house, miso 
 
136 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 (soup) strainers for repair in one hand, fifteen mon for bean 
 paste (tofu) tightly clasped in the other, came face to face with 
 the toilet dealer. " The lady of Tamiya — here ! " — " The lady of 
 Tamiya ! " echoed the astonished and curious women. Said 
 OTwa quickly — " Mobei San is mistaken. This is Iwa ; but lady 
 of Tamiya . . ." Hastily she pulled her head towel over her 
 face. In doing so the " cash " slipped from her hand. A mon 
 missing meant no tofu; result, a visit to the semeba. In recover- 
 ing the lost coin Mobei was left in no doubt. " 'Tis indeed the 
 lady of Tamiya. It cannot be denied." OTwa no longer attempted 
 the impossible. She said — " It is Iwa of Tamiya. Mobei San, 
 a word with you." The women were whispering to each other. 
 " He called her ' shinzo.' " Said O'Haru— " There always was 
 something about her to arouse suspicion ; so ugly, and with such 
 grand airs. And how she endured the punishment! Truly she 
 must be a samurai woman." The minds of all reverted to their 
 master Toemon, and how he would take this news. 
 
 OTwa had drawn Mobei somewhat apart from the grating. 
 With downcast face she spoke — " Deign, Mobei San, to say noth- 
 ing in the ward of this meeting with Iwa." To Mobei's earnest 
 gesture of comprehension — " Affairs had gone badly with Tamiya. 
 lemon San was misled into gambling by Natsume Kyuzo and 
 Imaizumi Jinzaemon. He was carried away by the passion. It 
 was no longer possible to stay in Samoncho. Worse conduct fol- 
 lowed. In the kindness and advice of Ito Dono, of Akiyama and 
 Kondo Sama, this Iwa found support. But she disobeyed. She 
 would not follow the advice given. However, gratitude is felt by 
 Iwa. One cannot leave this place, or long since she would have 
 paid the visit of acknowledgment. A matter of importance arose. 
 Chobei San came to Iwa's aid, and saved the situation. This 
 place is terrible, but the consequences of not coming would have 
 been more so. To Chobei gratitude is felt. It was the oppor- 
 tunity offered the wife to show her faith and courage." Now 
 she looked bravely in Mobei's face. It was the toilet dealer's 
 turn to show confusion — " Honoured lady, is nothing known ? " — 
 
THE PUNISHMENT 137 
 
 " Known ? " answered O'lwa in some surprise. " What is there 
 to know? When this Iwa left Samoncho to be sure the house 
 was cracking apart everywhere. The hght poured in as through 
 a bamboo door. . . . Ah ! Have matters gone badly with 
 the Danna in Iwa's absence? " Mobei shook his head in dissent. 
 " Alas ! Ito Sama, Akiyama or Kondo San, has misfortune come 
 to them, without a word of condolence from Iwa? Perhaps 
 Chobei San, in his precarious life . . ." The poor isolated 
 world of the thoughts of this homely creature was limited to these 
 friends in need. 
 
 Mobei had sunk on his knees before her. He raised eyes in 
 which stood tears of pity and indignation. " The Ojosan knows 
 nothing of what has occurred in Yotsuya? This Mobei will not 
 keep silent. With the affairs of lemon Sama, of ltd Dono and 
 Akiyama San nothing has gone wrong. The absence of the lady 
 OTwa is otherwise related. She has abandoned house and hus- 
 band to run away with a plebeian, the hanto at the green-grocer's 
 on Shinjuku road. Such is the story circulated." OTwa drew 
 away from him as from a snake — then : " Mobei, you lie ! Why 
 tell such a tale to this Iwa? Are not the words of Ito Dono, 
 of Akiyama Sama, of Chobei San still in Iwa's ears? What else 
 has she had to console her during these bitter months but the 
 thought of their kindness? This dress (a scantily wadded single 
 garment), these bare feet in this snow, this degraded life — are not 
 they evidences of Iwa's struggle for the honour of husband and 
 House? Mobei, slander of honourable men brings one to evil. 
 Mobei lies ; lies ! " 
 
 He seized her dress. The man now was weeping. " The 
 lady of Tamiya is a saint. Alas ! Nothing does she know of the 
 wicked hearts of men. Too great has been the kindness of the 
 Ojosan to this Mobei for him to attempt deceit. Deign to listen. 
 This day a week; was it not the day to a year of the Ojosan's 
 leaving the house in Yotsuya ? " OTwa turned to him with a 
 startled face. He continued — " A week ago Mobei visited Yot- 
 
138 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 suya. He has many customers there, not too curious about prices. 
 Hence he brings the best of his wares. Coming to the house 
 in Samoncho a feast was in progress. There were present ltd 
 Dono, Akiyama Sama, Natsume and Imaizumi Sama, Kondo 
 Dono ; O'Hana San, of course. All were exceedingly merry, 
 lemon Dono poured out a cup of wine. ' Mobei ! Mobei ! Come 
 here ! Drain this cup in honour of the occasion. We celebrate 
 the anniversary of the expulsion of the bakhnono. The demon 
 is driven forth from the Paradise of Yotsuya. Namu Myoho 
 Renge Kyo ! Namu Myoho Renge Ky5 ! ' This Mobei was 
 amazed— 'The O'Bake. . . . What O'Bake ? '— ' Why : 
 OTwa San. A year since, with the aid of these good friends, and 
 one not present here, lemon freed himself from the clutches of 
 the vengeful apparition. Our Kumi-gashira granted divorce in 
 due form. The son of Takahashi Daihachiro — Yanagibara Ka- 
 zuma — Tamiya lemon no longer catches at sleep to wake in fear. 
 Chief, deep is the gratitude of lemon for the favour done by Ito 
 Dono.' The Ojosan a hakemono! At these outrageous words 
 Mobei felt faint. Receiving the cup, as in modesty returned to the 
 roka to drink, the contents were spilled on the ground. Ah ! 
 Honoured lady, it is not only that the Ojosan has been driven out. 
 Her goods have been cleverly stolen by false messages of gam- 
 bling losses. Stored with Kondo Sama they were brought back 
 on the success of the wicked plot. The whole is a conspiracy 
 of lemon Dono with Ito Dono, with Akiyama, Chobei, Kond5, and 
 others. They bragged of it, and told the tale in full before 
 this Mobei, laughing the while. Why, lady ! On the word of 
 Chobei San the order of divorce was issued by Ito Dono. Within 
 the month O'Hana San left the shelter of the house of Kondo 
 Sama to enter the Tamiya as bride. Deign to look. Here is a 
 jewelled comb reserved by lemon Sama as present for O'Hana 
 San his wife. Here is gift of Ito Dono to Myozen Osho for his 
 efforts ' in the cause.' " 
 
 O'lwa stood as one frozen. With Mobei's words the light 
 
THE PUNISHMENT 139 
 
 was flooding into mind and soul. Step by step she now followed 
 clearly the stages of this infamous conspiracy against her peace 
 and honour. She had been fooled, cheated, degraded — and by 
 Ito Kwaiba, the enemy of Matazaemon ; by lemon, son of the 
 hereditary foe Takahashi Daihachiro. Mobei remained huddled 
 at her feet, watching with fright the sudden and awful change in 
 her face. The words came in a whisper. At first she brought 
 out her speech with difficulty, then to rise to torrent force — 
 " Cheated, gulled by the hereditary foe ! And this Iwa lies bound 
 and helpless ! 'Tis understood ! The end is at hand — Ah ! The 
 poison ! The poison ! Now it, too, rises ; flowing upward to heart 
 and head of Iwa. Accursed man ! Accursed woman, who would 
 play the rival and destroy the wife ! The time is short ; the crisis is 
 at hand. Chobei's dark words become light. Hana would poison 
 Iwa through this treacherous leech. lemon would kill her by the 
 foul life of this brothel — Gods of Nippon! Buddhas of the Uni- 
 verse ! All powerful Amida, the Protector ! Kwannon, the Lady 
 Merciful ! Deign to hearken to the prayer of this Iwa. Emma 
 Dai-o, king of Hell, summon not the daughter of Tamiya before 
 the dreaded throne for judgment — through the course of seven 
 existences — until the vengeance of Iwa be sated with the miserable 
 end of these her persecutors. May the sacred characters of the 
 Daimoku, written on the heart of Iwa for her future salvation, be 
 seared out as with hot iron. On Ito Kwaiba, lemon, Akiyama 
 Chdzaemon, Ch5bei, all and every one engaged in this vile plot, 
 rests the death curse of Iwa. Against these ; against Natsume, 
 Imaizumi, Yoemon of Tamiya, lies the grudge of Iwa of Tamiya. 
 Gods and Buddhas — grant this prayer ! " 
 
 A violent hand was laid on the bosom of Mobei's robe. He 
 screamed in terror at the fearful face bent over him. A broad 
 round dead white swollen face, too sharp gleaming malignant dots 
 darting flashes as from a sword between the pufTed and swollen 
 lids, froze him into a passive object. One of these lids drooped 
 horribly down upon the cheek of the apparition. In the physical 
 
140 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 effort exerted, the slit of the mouth showed the broad black even 
 teeth, which seemed about to clutch at his throat; as did the 
 vigorous hand, the nails of which sank into his gullet. Framed 
 in the mass of wild disordered hair Mobei was isolated as in a 
 universe of space; left alone with this fearful vision. "Lady! 
 Lady O'lwa ! Lady of Tamiya! This Mobei has done naught. 
 Others have wronged OTwa San. Mobei is guiltless. 
 Ah ! Ah ! " With fright and pain he rolled over on the ground 
 in a dead faint. Screaming and shouting the women Take and 
 Kota rushed around and out to his rescue. O'lwa San was now 
 under the full control of her disorder. Takezo staggered back, 
 her hands to her face to hide the horrible sight, to wipe from eyes 
 and cheeks the blood streaming from the deep tears made by 
 OTwa's nails. Kota from behind seized OTwa around the waist 
 and shoulders. Sharply up came the elbow shot, catching this 
 interloper under the chin. Neck and jaw fairly cracked under 
 the well-delivered blow. Kota went down in a heap as one dead. 
 A chiigen coming along the North Warigesui had reached the 
 crossing. He thought it better to stand aside, rather than attempt 
 to stop this maddened fiend tearing through space. At the canal 
 bank there was a moment's pause. Then came a dull splash ; as of 
 some heavy body plunged in the water. With a cry the man 
 hastened forward. Not a sign of anything could be seen. In this 
 rural place no help was to be had, and he was little inclined to' 
 plunge at random into the foul stream. In haste he turned back 
 to where a crowd was gathering around the prostrate Mobei, the 
 groaning harlots to whom punishment had been meted out. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 CHOBEI GETS THE NEWS 
 
 The chugcn stood over the toilet dealer now coming out of 
 his half-trance condition. The eyes of the two men met and showed 
 mutual astonishment. " Naruhodo ! Mobei San ! In a quarrel 
 over his wares with the vile women of this district?" — " Kaku- 
 suke San ! Ah ! There is much to tell. OTwa San . . ." 
 The chugen of Ito Kwaiba was amazed attention. " This Mobei 
 to his ill fortune, met with the lady of Tamiya. Her condition, 
 her ignorance, was too pitiful. Learning all the truth from Mobei 
 she inflicted on him this punishment. May it cease there ! Namu 
 Amida Butsu ! Namu Amida Butsu ! . . . Heavy the grudge 
 against your master Ito Dono ; against lemon Sania, his wife 
 O'Hana San, all in the plot against the Lady OTwa. ' To seven 
 existences grant this Iwa opportunity to vent her anger. Every 
 one of the perpetrators of this deed shall be seized and put to 
 death.' She invoked all the gods and Buddhas ; Nay, the king 
 of Hell — Emma Dai-6 himself. Look to yourself, Kakusuke San. 
 Deign to seek employment elsewhere." Kakusuke completed 
 his task of raising the battered and scratched toilet dealer to his 
 feet. " Mobei San, you have acted the fool ; without doubt. Re- 
 late what has happened." Mobei did so in full detail. Kakusuke 
 was thoughtful. " Much of this Kakusuke hears for the first 
 time. A servant gets but snatches of the inside of such matters. 
 Just now the mission has been from his master, Ito Dono, to the 
 Inagaki yashiki near Hoonji; matter of transfer invplved in the 
 late adoption of Kibei Dono into the House of the Danna Sama. 
 So that scoundrel Chobei sold the lady of Tamiya to 
 Toemon for a harlot. Alas ! She deserved a better fate. One 
 way or another they would kill her ; and Chobei, his money in 
 hand, abetted the crime. Where is this brothel? " 
 
 141 
 
142 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Surrounded by his women Toemon was listening to their ex- 
 cited statements. Takezo was crying with rage and pain, as she 
 examined her fissured countenance before a toilet stand (kyodai). 
 Kota, brought back to consciousness, lay groaning in a corner. 
 They were applying cold compresses to her broken jaw. Toemon 
 looked up suspiciously as Kakusuke entered, supporting the lamed 
 and maimed Mobei. " Look to this man's wares, scattered in 
 the roadway; and to the man himself." He spoke roughly, and 
 with authority. Toemon did not dare to resent his manner. With 
 well feigned solicitude he addressed Mobei — " Ma ! Ma ! A ter- 
 rible punishment. Your fare has the blush of the plum blossom 
 marked upon it. . . . O'Haru, run to the house of Waki- 
 yama Sensei. Kota is badly hurt ; his skill is needed. Stop 
 at the drug store. Here is the ' cash ' to bring salve for this good 
 man's wounds. Alas ! That a woman of Toemon's house should 
 so maltreat others. When caught her punishment. . . ." — 
 " Shut up ! " said Kakusuke. He had already taken his line of 
 conduct in his master's interest. " How comes it that the Lady 
 O'lwa is found at the house of Toemon? " — " The Lady O'lwa ! " 
 replied the brothel keeper in well-feigned surprise." Turning 
 to Mobei — " It is true, then, what the women report ; that Mobei 
 San called the O'lwa of this house ' Shinzo.' Who is this 
 O'lwa ? " Said Kakusuke coldly — " The Lady O'lwa is the grand- 
 daughter and heir of Tamiya Matazaemon, a higher doshin. She 
 is the wife of the go-kenin, Tamiya lemon." 
 
 Toemon now was truly aghast. " Heir and wife of go-kenin! 
 This Toemon had not the slightest inkling of her status. Chobei 
 has juggled this Toemon most outrageously." He turned savagely 
 on O'MatSu. " So much for stupid brutality. One must give 
 you head, or have no peace. Why not treat the woman kindly, 
 learn her story? Lies or truth that of all the women in the house 
 is known. But O'lwa San was a mark for malice. Chobei has 
 lied. Between you the house is ruined. Since when were samurai 
 women sold to life service? Fool ! It means imprisonment, exile. 
 
CHOBEI GETS THE NEWS 143 
 
 to those implicated. This Toemon ends his days among the savage 
 fishermen of Sado." He would have struck her. Kakusuke and 
 the banto interposed. The woman did not budge. Defiant, she 
 stood with folded arms — " It was Toemon's arrangement to buy 
 her in blind belief of Chdbei. Why blame this Matsu? Since 
 when were women exempt from service or punishment? The 
 rule of the house is one or the other. How long has it been since 
 O'Seki left the house — in a box ; and Toemon had to make answer 
 at the office." Then catching herself up in the presence of 
 strangers — " Danna Sama, this is no time for a quarrel. Those of 
 the house will say nothing; in their own interest. As for this 
 worthy gentleman, the Lady O'lwa was wife and heir neither of 
 himself nor his master. Toemon San is grossly neglectful of 
 courtesy due to guests. Leave Mobei San to this Matsu." She 
 whispered in his ear. 
 
 Toemon had now recovered his balance. Kakusuke was a 
 chugen. He had an object in coming to Toemon's house, instead 
 of making report at once to his master, to the outraged lemon 
 Dono. Of course Toerhon misintrepreted this motive; and Kaku- 
 suke was quite ready to profit by his mistake. To the now cour- 
 teous brothel keeper he was equally cordial. O'Matsu and her 
 women carried ofif Mobei, to salve his wounds, regale him with 
 fish and wine and good treatment, carefully to make inventory 
 of his goods, and repack them with substantial diminution of 
 purchases. What more could Mobei ask. His valued rosary, 
 the necklace, the kanzashi, all the treasures were uninjured. His 
 exchequer was palpably swollen, and more pleasingly than his 
 phiz. His beating had turned out a good day's venture ; and with- 
 out misgiving he can be left in the careful hands of O'Matsu and 
 her women. Meanwhile Kakusuke and Toemon sat over their 
 wine. From the chugen and toilet dealer the latter secured a 
 complete view of his situation. It was bad, but not irreparable. 
 As Kakusuke with due tardiness prepared to depart, the hospitable 
 innkeeper had ample time to prostrate himself in salutation, mean- 
 
144 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 while pushing over a golden ryo wrapped up in decently thin paper 
 which permitted the filtering through of its yellow gleam." Great 
 has been the trouble and delay of Kakusuke San. Mark not this 
 day in memory, good Sir." Kakusuke was equally polite in salu- 
 tation-^" Fear enters: thanks for the kind entertSainment of 
 Toemon San. This alone is to be kept in mind, mark of a day 
 otherwise of but little import." These last words were a healing 
 balm; and Toemon rejoiced. 
 
 With the departure of Kakusuke, the chief of the " night- 
 hawks " turned at once to his aids. " Take ! Haru ! . . , 
 Ah ! Kota is completely done up. You, Take, bear the marks of 
 the day's encounter. Go to Asakusa Hanagawado. Chobei is to be 
 brought here at once. The house must clear its skirts of this 
 affair. If he refuses to come, put a rope about his neck and drag 
 him here." The women bowed. At once they prepared for the 
 street, a mission welcome enough under other conditions. O'Take 
 was smarting from her wounds and not very willing to be an object 
 lesson. O'Haru had in mind the fearful curse of OTwa, plainly 
 heard by the women. Very willingly she would have had nothing 
 to do with the affair. 
 
 Chobei was engaged at go with the metal dealer of his neigh- 
 bourhood. The fish and wine were in course of preparation in 
 the kitchen close by and under the skilled hands of O'Taki. 
 The perfume, vinous and of viands, came to the noses of the 
 competitors, to the disturbance of their game. Chobei had just 
 made a profitable stroke. He had five ryo in hand, commission 
 from the worthy doguya for the successful sale of a daughter 
 to the Yamadaya of Nakanocho. This enterprising plebeian, 
 having a son to succeed him in the business, had secured the neces- 
 sary furnishing and adoption of a second son into the rival house 
 of the ward, by means of the fifty ryo secured for the girl through 
 the experience and clever tactics of Chobei. Many the compli- 
 ments and congratulations exchanged by these excellent men and 
 worthy representatives of their class as they tussled over their 
 
CHOBEI GETS THE NEWS 145 
 
 game of go. Profuse were the thanks of the metal dealer for 
 past services and future feasting. -It was with some displeasure 
 therefore that O'Taki had her offices interrupted to respond to a 
 loud and harsh—" Request to make ! " sounded at the house en- 
 trance. Said she crossly — " Who is it ? . . . Ah ! O'Take 
 and O'Haru San of Toemon Sama." Then in wonder — " Oya ! 
 Oya ! O'Take San. . . . Your honoured face. . . . Has 
 O'Take San gone to bed in the dark with the cat ? " Answered 
 O'Take, in no amiable mood — " It could well have been. Your 
 man Chobei deals in such articles. There are the marks of 
 O'lwa's nails. As for Chobei, is the precious rascal at home?" 
 O'Taki heard her with rising rage — " O'lwa? What has 
 Chobei San to do with any O'lwa and the house of Toemon San ? 
 Why call the man of Taki a scoundrel? " — " Because he is such. 
 Nay, Okamisan, don't get angry." — O'Haru was speaking — " has 
 your husband a brother in Abegawacho, a brother in need of 
 twenty ryo and with a daughter who would do nothing but run 
 after the men?" O'Taki was puzzled. "Chobei San has no 
 brother, in Abegawacho or any other cho. Hence such brother 
 has no daughter O'lwa; nor are there children of his own, except 
 the one born to him by this Taki, and a girl already sold. . . ." 
 A light was breaking in on O'Taki. Months before she had come 
 home to find that the Ojosan had taken her departure. Explained 
 Chobei — " At Yotsuya everything has been adjusted. lemon Dono 
 is established again with his wife. The Okusama will not come 
 back to us. Deign to rejoice at the auspicious settlement of her 
 afifairs." Which O'Taki did; all the more as Chobei often was 
 in funds in the successive days through Tamiya. Now she looked 
 from one woman to the other, her fists clenched and working. 
 Said the harsh voice of O'Take — " Chobei lied then ; just as the 
 Danna Sama thought. Nearly a year ago he brought to the 
 house the daughter of- his brother Kanemon. He sold her into 
 life service as a nighthawk. For this she turned out to be worth- 
 less. O'Taki San knows our Okamisan. No matter how severely 
 10 
 
146 THE YOTSUYA KVVAIDAN 
 
 beaten, even until the blood came, O'lwa would not consent to 
 serve. Other means were tried, but the men of the house would 
 have nothing to do with her. She was too ugly. Finally she was 
 degraded into being the kitchen wench, to fetch and carry, and 
 do the hardest and most nauseating tasks. At this downfall in 
 her prospects like a very fool she rejoiced. To-day she met 
 the toilet dealer Mobei. He recognized her as the Lady O'lwa 
 of Tamiya in the Yotsuya. Drawn apart they spoke together. 
 Suddenly she was transformed into a demon. Leaping on Mobei 
 she tore and clutched at him. Kota and this Take ran to aid him. 
 Kota lies helpless and with a broken jaw. Truly it might have 
 been the kick of a horse she received. This Take is — as can 
 be seen. The Lady OTwa disappeared toward Warigesui. A 
 chugen saw her leap in. Probably she has killed herself. . . . 
 And now, O'Taki San, is not your man Chobei a scoundrel ? " 
 
 Said O'Taki — " Rightly spoken ; more than right. Wait here." 
 Abruptly she entered the inner room. To Chobei — " You . . . 
 my fine fellow ... is this a time for go? Up and off with 
 you ; to accompany O'Take and O'Haru from Toemon's in 
 Honjo. A pretty business is in preparation there." Said the 
 embarrassed and enraged Chobei — " Wh-what does this rude en- 
 trance of Taki mean ? Is not the master of the metal shop present ? 
 Is such language, such abruptness, to be used in his presence ? " — 
 " The Danna of the doguya is certainly present," coolly replied the 
 woman. " It would be better if he was at home. . . . Hon- 
 oured Sir, pray betake yourself there. This Chobei has business 
 with Toemon Sama of Honjo, the brothel keeper and chief of the 
 nighthawks, to whom he has sold for life service as a street harlot 
 the Lady O'lwa, wife of the go-kenin lemon Dono and heir of 
 Tamiya Matazaemon the doshin. A man can be too clever — as 
 this Chobei, who cheats his wife and all others. Do you be 
 clever enough to take the hint and depart. . . . Off with 
 you ! " The doguya had sat in silence. His eyes were popping 
 out of his head in frightened amaze. Chobei bounded up in a 
 
CHOBEI GETS THE NEWS * 147 
 
 rage — " You huzzy — shut up ! Would you pubHsh the affairs 
 of this Chobei to the world? Many a bridge is to be passed in 
 the course through this world; and none too sure the footing. 
 Money must be had to live and enjoy life. The result, not the 
 means, is the important factor in its acquisition. Such rudeness 
 to a guest! Vile jade, Chobei will . . ." O'Take and O'Haru 
 had to interfere — " Fight it out later, Chobei San. This quarrel is 
 no concern of ours. The sooner the master is seen, the better for 
 Chobei San. His rage is great, and mounting. You have the con- 
 tract ? With that face the master ; if you can." — " Just so ! Just so ! 
 As for this wench — she shall have something to remember this Cho- 
 bei by . . ." The worthy and trembling metal dealer took this re- 
 mark as threat of renewed violence. " For the kind reception 
 and entertainment : thanks. Jubei calls later." Nimbly he was on 
 his feet. Diving under the haori into which Chobei was strug- 
 gling he bounced out the front, leaving Chobei on the ground and 
 floundering in the folds of his garments, from which issued most 
 violent language. For the first time that day O'Take and O'Haru 
 had something to amuse them. O'Taki refusing, they assisted 
 Chobei to his feet and adjusted his robe. Then one on each side 
 of him they set out for Honjo Yoshidacho. As parting salute to 
 O'Taki, Chobei finished his sentence. . . . " Something to 
 remember on Chobei's return." Her laugh in reply was so savage 
 that the women turned to look at her. In fright they hastened 
 off with their prize. 
 
 At Honjo the reception of Chobei called forth the whole 
 house. The pimp entered the presence of Toemon wnth confident 
 and jaunty air. "He has the contract?" said Toemon to the 
 woman. O'Haru indicated a sleeve. The banto and one of the 
 umkashu (young men employes) grasped the arms of Chobei. 
 The incriminating document was deftly removed by O'Haru and 
 passed over to Toemon. " Now the fellow can neither produce 
 it, nor play his tricks wath it." He looked it over carefully; then 
 placed it with his own copy. Chobei was too outraged and 
 
148 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 frightened to do more than squat and gasp as he looked around 
 the circle of hostile faces. Without cushion he sat on the bare 
 tatami, much as does a criminal at the white sand. Said Toemon 
 severely — " For once Chobei has drunk hot water with this Toe- 
 mon. Does he think to act thus with impunity. The younger 
 sister of his brother Kanemon, ' a noted wench for the streets,' was 
 brought here for life service; sold to Toemon for twenty ryo. 
 Toemon does not intend that the price shall be too high for him. 
 Chobei cannot lie out of his own contract. Toemon has it in his 
 hands. Ch5bei has the twenty ryo. Toemon loses his money. 
 Well and good : Toemon clears himself from the affair. The 
 responsibility lies wholly with Chobei. Let him look to it." 
 Chobei seized the moment when lack of breath in his anger halted 
 the speech of Toemon. He would have lied, but Toemon again 
 broke in. " Chobei has no brother. Chobei has no woman to dis- 
 pose of on his own signature. The one he did have, the one he 
 possesses, Toemon knows where to find. Toemon had a woman 
 OTwa in his house. You sold the wife of a go-kenin, lemon Dono 
 of Yotsuya ; a woman who was the heir of Tamiya Matazaemon the 
 doshin. The Lady OTwa is traced to the hands of Chobei. Settle 
 the matter with those in office — machihugyo, doshin, yakunin — 
 when the affair comes to Hght . . ." — " Easily," burst in 
 Chobei, once more himself. " Honoured chief, matters do not call 
 for such earnestness. All this is mere froth and fury. It is true 
 that Chobei has deceived the chief ; but it was at the orders of those 
 much higher. The lady of Tamiya was an obstacle. The sale 
 was ordered by lemon Dono himself ; backed by Ito Kwaiba the 
 head of the Yotsuya ward." — " Chobei, you lie," said Toemon. 
 The words and advice of Kakusuke still rang in his ears. " lemon 
 Dono? Ito Dono? Who else will Chobei bring in as his bails? 
 Such a man is not to be trusted. With this Toemon there is no 
 more dealing. The guild is to be warned by a circular letter." 
 
 At this fearful threat all Chobei's jauntiness left him. His live- 
 lihood, his existence, were at stake. He prostrated himself before 
 
CHOBEI GETS THE NEWS 149 
 
 Toemon, dragging his body over the tatami to the sen (low table) 
 at which was seated this autocrat of the nighthawks, this receiver 
 of the refuse and worn-out goods of his greater brothers in the 
 trade. Toemon harshly repulsed him with his foot. Chobei in 
 despair turned to O'Matsu — " Honoured lady the chief is un- 
 reasonably angry. There shall be no loss of money, no harm 
 suffered by the affair. Deign to say a word for Chobei." — 
 " Since when has Matsu had aught to do with the affairs of the 
 house? The women are her concern. She goes not outside her 
 province." The pimp sought the feet of O'Take — " Condescend 
 to plead for Chdbei. His fault is venial. When no injury re- 
 sults, pardon follows. This is to cut off the breath of Chobei, 
 of wife and child. Deign to intercede." The street harlot laughed. 
 Her cracked voice was rough — " The commission of Chobei San 
 has no attractions. This Take has had enough to do with the 
 matter. Truly Chobei is a wicked fellow. Take would fare badly 
 in such intercourse. Besides his company is too high flown. 
 Officials ! Samurai ! Chobei San seeks and will find promotion 
 in the world. Lodgings are preparing for Chobei Sama in pub- 
 lic office — on the Ryogokubashi ; of such he is assured." She 
 drew away from him, harshly cackling. Thus he crawled 
 from one to the other. It was " Chobei Sama," " Chobei 
 Dono," in derision they would call him prince — -" Chobei K5." 
 All stuck out their tongues at him. The young fellows 
 of the house, several of them, stood round the entrance, 
 ostensibly occupied, but with one eye on the scene. As Chobei 
 sought the banto's aid, the man raised a long lean leg and gave 
 him a violent kick in the breast. Strong hands seized him as he 
 rolled over and over to the edge of the platform, to land in the 
 arms of the enthusiastic zvakashii. The next moment, and Chobei 
 was picking himself up out of the mud and snow of the street. 
 The lattice of the house entrance closed noisily. 
 
 In his confusion of mind by force of habit Chobei turned 
 round and bowed with ceremony toward the place of his uncere- 
 
150 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 monious exit — " The time is inopportune. Chobei intrudes. He 
 will call again." The opening of the wicket gate, the peering, 
 scowling face of the banto recalled the past scene to mind. With 
 all the haste his tottering gait allowed Ch5bei sprang off north- 
 ward to the Adzumabashi and home. As he sped, swaying along, 
 his active mind was making calculations. " Ryogokubashi, the 
 last home of the outcast beggar — other than the river which flows 
 beneath it ! " He shuddered at the prophecy. " Bah ! One ras- 
 cal loses ; another gains. Toemon loses twenty ryo. From 
 lemon San ten ryo was the commission. Ito Dono gave five ryo 
 and asked no questions. The total to Chobei sums up thirty-five 
 ryo. For a year the affair of OTwa has fattened Chobei ; with 
 something still left." His foot struck a stone in the roadway. 
 He looked up and around to find himself before the Genkwoji. 
 About to enter on the maze of temple grounds and yashiki separat- 
 ing him from the bridge his gaze fell on the stagnant squalid 
 waters of the canal. It was in the dirty foulness of this North 
 Warigesui that OTwa had disappeared. Chobei pulled up short. 
 A dead cur, copper hued, with swollen germinating sides and grin- 
 ning teeth, bobbed at him from the green slime. Chobei slewed 
 round — "A vile ending; but after all an ending. lemon profits; 
 Chobei gets the scoldings. Ah ! If it was not that Ito Kwaiba is en- 
 gaged in this afifair ; Tamiya should pay dearly. There is a double 
 ration to share with Chobei — and not to be touched ! Ito Dono 
 is no man to trifle with. There was that affair with Isuke; and 
 now, as he says, lemon is a very son to him." A memory seemed 
 to touch Chobei. His pace became a crawl. " Why hasten ? 
 Ch5bei rushes to the fiend — that demon Taki. Chobei would 
 rather face OTwa than Taki in a rage." He laughed — " The 
 attenuated hands of a ghost and the thick fist of Taki, the choice 
 is not uncertain. From the lady mild and merciful there is noth- 
 ing to fear. Evidently she has settled matters once and for all 
 in the Warigesui. But at the tenement — there it is another affair. 
 This Chobei will fortify himself against the shock. A drink ; then 
 
CHOBEI GETS THE NEWS 151 
 
 another, and still more. The scoldings will fall on a blunted mind 
 wandering in some dreamland. Time will soothe her rage. 
 To-morrow Chobei wakes, to find the storm has passed and 
 Taki his obedient serving wench." Near the Adzumabashi, fol- 
 lowing his prescription against domestic enlivenment, he entered 
 a grog shop ; to turn his good coin into wine. 
 
 The quarter at Hanagawado in Asakusa was in an uproar. 
 What had occurred was this — There was an old woman — " Baba " 
 in the native parlance for Dame Gossip — a seller of the dried 
 seaweed called nori (sloke or laver), still called Asakusa nori, 
 though even at that time gathered at Shinagawa, Omori, and more 
 distant places. This old trot had returned, to make her last sales 
 to the excellent metal dealer who lived opposite her own home 
 in the nagaya, in which she lived next door to the Chobei. husband 
 and wife. The tongue of the dogiiya was still in full swing of the 
 recital, not only of his own experiences, but of the revelations 
 of O'Taki. JEie-Was only too willing for this twenty-first time 
 to repeat the tale to the nori seller, his good neighbour. The 
 good wife and wives listened again with open mouths. The Baba 
 was the most interested of them all. This choice morsel of gos- 
 sip was to be gathered at the primal source, from the lips of 
 O'Taki herself. She was all sympathy in her curiosity — ranging in 
 the two cases of Chobei and wife on the one part, and the metal 
 dealer and his insulted household on the other part. Away she 
 stepped quickly from the assembly of ward gossips. At the door 
 of Chobei's quarters she stopped — " Okamisan ! Okamisan ! 
 Strange : is she not at home ? Is she so angered that no 
 answer is given? However, this Baba fears no one. 
 Nesan ! Nesan ! " She passed the room entrance and went into the 
 area. Glancing into the kitchen — "Oya ! Oya ! The meal is burnt 
 to a crisp. It has become a soppy, disgusting mass. Nesan ! Nesan ! 
 The rain falls, the roof window (hikimado) is open." She put 
 down her empty tubs in order to play the good neighbour. The 
 first thing was to close the window against the descending rain. 
 
152 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Quickly and deftly she proceeded to wipe the moisture off the 
 shining vessels, to put everything in order in O'Taki's usually 
 immaculate kitchen. Women of this class are finicky house- 
 keepers in their own homes. As the old wife became less engaged 
 she began to hear strange sounds above. Some one was in con- 
 versation — and yet it was a one-sided queer kind of talk. The 
 voice was threatening and wheedling. Then she heard a child cry. 
 Surely O'Taki was in the upper room; and thus neglectful of her 
 lord and household. 
 
 The old Baba went to the foot of the ladder and listened. 
 " Nesan ! Nesan ! " No answer came, beyond the curious dron- 
 ing monotone above, varied by an occasional wailing cry of the 
 child. It seemed to be in pain. Resolute, the sturdy old Baba 
 began to climb the steps. At the top she halted, to get breath and 
 look into the room. The sight she witnessed froze the old woman 
 in horror to where she stood. A woman was in the room. She 
 knelt over the body of the child, which now and again writhed 
 in the hard and cruel grasp. The queer monotonous voice went 
 on — " Ah ! To think you might grow up like your father. The 
 wicked, unprincipled man ! To sell the Oj5san for a street whore, 
 for her to spend her life in such vile servitude ; she by whose 
 kindness this household has lived. Many the visits in the past 
 two years paid these humble rooms by the lady of Tamiya. To 
 all her neighbours O'Taki has pointed out and bragged of 
 the favour of the Ojosan. The very clothing now on your 
 wretched puny body came from her hands. While Ch5bei spent 
 his gains in drink and paid women, Taki was nourished by the 
 rice from Tamiya. When Taki lay in of this tiny body it was 
 the Ojosan who furnished aid, and saw that child and mother 
 could live. Alas ! That you should grow up to be like this vil- 
 lainous man is not to be endured. . . . Ah ! An idea ! To 
 crunch your throat, to secure revenge and peace, security against 
 the future." She bent down low over the child. Suddenly it gave a 
 fearful scream, as does a child fallen into the fire. The Baba, 
 
CHOBEI GETS THE NEWS 153 
 
 helpless, could only feebly murmur — " Nesan ! Nesan ! O'Taki 
 San ! What are you about ? Control yourself." She gave a fright- 
 ened yowl as the creature began to spread far apart the child's 
 limbs, and with quick rips of the sharp kitchen knife beside 
 her dissevered and tore the little limbs from the quivering body. 
 At the cry the woman turned half around and looked toward her. 
 Jaws dripping red with blood, a broad white flat face with bulging 
 brow, two tiny piercing dots flashing from amid the thick swollen 
 eyelids, it was the face of O'lwa glowering at her. " Kiya ! " 
 The scream resounded far and wide. Incontinently the old woman 
 tumbled backward down the steep steps, to land below on head 
 and buttocks. 
 
 Some neighbours, people passing, came rushing in. A crowd 
 began to gather. " Baba ! Baba San! What is wrong?" She 
 could not speak ; only point upward and shudder as does one with 
 heavy chills. As they moved toward the stair a roar went up 
 from the crowd in the street. O'Taki had appeared at the win- 
 dow, her face smeared with blood and almost unrecognizable. 
 She waved a limb of the dismembered infant. The crowed were 
 frozen with horror. As some shouted to those within to hasten 
 the woman brandished the bloody knife. Thrusting it deep into 
 her throat she ripped and tore at the handle, spattering the in- 
 cautious below with the blood spurting from the wound. Then 
 she fell backward into the room. When the foremost to interfere 
 rushed in they drew back in fear at what they saw. The child's 
 head was half knawed from the body; its limbs lay scattered to 
 this place and that. The body of O'Taki lay where she had 
 fallen. It was as if the head had been gnawed from the trunk, 
 but the head itself was missing. Search as they would, it was not 
 to be found. Meanwhile the news of these happenings spread 
 rapidly. In the next block it was shouted that the wife of the 
 pimp Chobei had gone mad and killed and eaten five children. 
 A block further the number had risen to twentv-five. At the 
 
154 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 guardhouse of the Adzumabashi she had killed and gnawed a 
 hundred adults. 
 
 These rumours were mingled with the strange tale of the old 
 woman as to O'lwa San. In time there were many who had wit- 
 nessed the suicide of O'Taki, who were ready to swear they had 
 seen the fearful lady of Tamiya. Chobei first learned of the affair 
 by being dragged from the grog shop to the guardhouse of the 
 Adzumabashi. Here he was put under arrest. Distressed and 
 discomforted he stood before the ruin in his home, under the 
 eyes of his neighbours. These stood loyally by him. As hap- 
 pens in ward affairs in Nippon the aspect of the affair not im- 
 mediately on the surface was slow to reach official ears. Thus 
 it was as to the Tamiya phase involved. Chobei had suffered 
 much, and was in to suffer more. His fellow wardsmen were 
 silent as to all but the actual facts needed for interpretation. 
 The marvellous only filters out slowly. But they had their own 
 way of dealing with him. The kensJii (coroner) made his report. 
 Examinations, fines, bribes, the funeral costs, reduced Chobei to 
 his worst garment. With this after some weeks he was permitted 
 to go free. The house owner had turned him out. The wards- 
 men had expelled him. Enough of Kazaguruma Chobei — for 
 the present. 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 NEWS REACHES KWAIBA 
 
 KwAiBA was hard at it, practising his favourite arts. His 
 sake cup stood before him, and from time to time he raised the 
 bottle from the hot water, testing its temperature with skilled 
 hand. He accompanied the action with a continual drone of a 
 gidayu. Kwaiba by no means confined the art of gidayii reci- 
 tation to the heroic tales usually therewith associated. His 
 present effort was one of the suggestive and obscene ukarebuslii, 
 quite as frequent and as well received in the gidayu theme con- 
 taining them. Kibei listened and applauded, with cynical amuse- 
 ment at the depravity of the impotent old man. Kwaiba had 
 found an excellent bottle companion, and renewed his own former 
 days in the " Quarter," with the fresher experiences retailed by 
 Kibei. Said Kwaiba — " All has gone well. For half the year 
 Kibei has been the son of Kwaiba. He has brought luck into the 
 house." Kibei bowed respectfully. Continued the old man — 
 " lemon with his whore is fast destroying Tamiya by riot and 
 drinking. Chozaemon is a fish in the net. The debt of ten ryo 
 has doubled into twenty ryo, which at any cost he must repay. 
 Kwaiba will make him cut belly if he don't. And Tamiya ! Old 
 Tamiya; Matazaemon ! OTwa is paying his debt to Kwaiba by 
 becoming an outcast, perhaps a beggar somewhere on the high- 
 way, n.she shows her face in the ward, seeking ' cash ' to keep 
 life in a wretched carcass, this Kwaiba will send her to the jail, 
 to rot as vagrant. But what did become of her? lemon has 
 never spoken." Kibei shrugged his shoulders. " A close mouthed 
 fellow ; too wise to talk of himself. He would but say that Chobei 
 took the affair in hand." Kwaiba threw up his hands in horror 
 and merriment. Said he — " 'Tis rumoured the fellow is a pimp. 
 
 155 
 
156 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 But surely he could not dispose of O'lwa in his line. The very 
 demons of the Hell of lust would refuse all intercourse with her." 
 
 Just then Kakusuke presented himself. " Report to make 
 to the Go-Inkyo Sama. Inagaki Dono sends his compliments to 
 Ito Sama. The papers of transfer are these; by the hand of 
 Kakusuke." As he took the documents, said Kwaiba in answer 
 to Kibei's inquiring look — " Your honoured parent has favoured 
 this Kwaiba. The transfer is of farms in Kazusa for others in 
 Shimosa. Thus all can be brought under one hand. A single 
 naniishi (bailiff) can manage the whole property in the two vil- 
 lages." — " But the office . . .," objected Kibei. He had the 
 samurai instinct against the slightest taint of failure in obligation. 
 " Let Kibei San deign to follow in the footsteps of Kwaiba. The 
 successor to the nanushi recently deceased is a child. Kwaiba 
 is in no haste to provide a substitute pending majority. The 
 right will lapse, and at majority the boy can be found occupation 
 elsewhere, to no small gain in the revenue. ' Out of sight, out of 
 mind. Kwaiba's present manager is imsurpassed ; so is the in- 
 come he manages to gather." He looked around in some surprise, 
 seeing that Kakusuke still maintained his position, although dis- 
 missed. Then noting him closely—" What has happened, Kaku- 
 suke? Your colour is bad. Too cordial entertainment by the 
 chugen of Inagaki Dono? Or has Kakusuke seen a ghost? " 
 
 " Kakusuke has seen OTwa San ; of Tamiya. Rather would 
 he have seen a ghost; if indeed it was not a demon he saw." 
 Kwaiba started — " OTwa ! Where ? " — " It was at the brothel 
 of Toemon, chief of the night-hawks, at Yoshidacho in Honjo. 
 Mobei the toilet dealer had suffered direfully at her hands. Meet- 
 ing her unexpectedly, the fool let out all he knew of the happen- 
 ings in the ward. In a rage she flew on him. ' To seven lives a 
 curse on lemon Dono, on Akiyama Sama, on Kondo Sama.' " — 
 He hesitated ; then added — " on the Go Inkyo Sama. Then in 
 a straight line she flew off toward the canal. Did she drown 
 herself? This Kakusuke could not ascertain. Going to the aid 
 
NEWS REACHES KWAIBA 157 
 
 of Mobei, mauled and prostrate on the ground, the whole story 
 was learned. Chobei had sold her for life to Toemon, to serve 
 as a night-hawk." 
 
 Ito Kwaiba sat straight up. His idle braggart words of a few 
 moments before came home to him. In Kibei he found no en- 
 couragement. After all Kibei was a samurai; harsh, but with 
 the courage of his caste and profession. He spoke openly — " It 
 was an outrageous deed. To sell a samurai woman to such a life ! 
 It stinks. This comes of bringing in a low dog (yard) such 
 as this Chobei. Did lemon know of his intention? " He looked 
 Kwaiba in the eye, but the latter met him squarely — " What 
 lemon knew or did not know, this Kwaiba knows not. But of this 
 event he must know — and at once. Kakusuke, go in all haste to 
 the house of Tamiya Sama. Kwaiba would consult with him." 
 Kibei fidgetted and fumed. He walked up and down the room. 
 Then abruptly — " Condescend to pardon the presence of Kibei. 
 The honoured father having matters to discuss with the diviner — 
 he finds no amusement in the counsellor." As he was withdrawing 
 lemon entered. Their greeting was cold to the extreme. lemon 
 knew that Kibei hated and despised him ; as much as he, lemon, 
 hated and feared Kibei. Kwaiba called sharply to his genial 
 son — " Pray be within call, if needed." He was glad to see the 
 surly fellow's exit. In some things Kwaiba felt fear. The stiff 
 courage of Kibei made him ashamed openly to air his weakness. 
 He broke the news at once to lemon. " Kakusuke has seen 
 OTwa." lemon looked at him curiously. Was Kwaiba fright- 
 ened? Said the one-time priest — "What of that? She lives in 
 Edo. A meeting with her is quite likely ; at least for a man 
 of the grade of Kakusuke." He smiled grimly — " But . . .," 
 said Kwaiba. He plunged into the story of the chngen in its full 
 details. .lemon listened carefully. " Ah ! She is likely to come 
 here." — "Come here!" bellowed Kwaiba. "Just so," answered 
 lemon. "If she seeks vengeance on this lemon, on Kwaiba, or 
 the others, where else would she come than Yotsuya. We cannot 
 
158 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 run away." Kwaiba gasped at his coolness — " And lemon Dono, 
 does he open Tamiya to the presence of its ex-lady and mistress? " 
 — " A beggar, an outcast, importuning Tamiya ; the severed body 
 will lie in the ditch, for the gatherers of offal to cast as food to 
 the dogs on the moor. Fear enters, but — honoured chief, conde- 
 scend to follow the example of lemon." 
 
 The round eyes in the round face of Kwaiba stood out. He 
 leaned over and touched lemon's sleeve. In astonishment lemon 
 noted the fright depicted in his face. The blustering old man at 
 bottom was an arrant coward. Two knaves should understand 
 each other — as did he and Chdbei. He felt that he had been 
 gulled during the whole of his intercourse with this old fool. 
 He should have bluffed; and not been bluffed. Said Kwaiba in 
 lowered voice — " Kakusuke could see nothing of her. She dis- 
 appeared into the waters of Warigesui. Suppose OTwa appears 
 as a ghost, to take vengeance on Kwaiba . . ." He straight- 
 ened up in astonishment and some anger at the derisive smile 
 playing over the face of lemon. Indeed lemon was more than 
 amused. Not at the circumstances, but at finding at last this 
 weak spot in the man who had dominated him. Conditions, 
 however, controlled him. It was fact that the physical OTwa 
 might appear — to the distress and discomfiture of all concerned. 
 They must stand together. He spoke with severity — " Rich and 
 afraid of ghosts ! Has not Ito Dono two spearmen when he goes 
 abroad ? When he has an interview with his lord does he tremble 
 with fear? When the enemy in life, with all physical powers, 
 is not feared ; why fear a disembodied spirit deprived of all means 
 of venting its wrath and spite? It is but the imagination which 
 works havoc. None are more helpless than the dead. With them 
 time and occasion has reached an end. If OTwa returns to 
 Yotsuya, it will be in her own person. With OTwa, the beggar 
 and night-hawk, our knmi-iiashira knows how to deal." — " Then 
 lemon knew the lot dealt out to OTwa." — "At first hand; from 
 Chobei himself. The lean knave has prospered by the affair. 
 
NEWS REACHES KWAIBA 159 
 
 lemon had no such desire to see hhn, as to secure his costly pres- 
 ence at the dinner so unfortunately witnessed by Mobei. . . 
 But deign to call for wine ; drive out these vapours with wine. 
 Honoured chief, condescend to play the'host to lemon." lemon's 
 manner was not wholly natural, as Kwaiba could have detected 
 if more himself. He felt immensely relieved. A priest — surely 
 he was one to know all about the nature of ghosts ; was one to speak 
 with authority. lemon was hardly to be regarded as in ecclesiasti- 
 cal good odour. But Kwaiba was easily satisfied. He, too, roared 
 — "Wine! Wine! Bring wine!" As by magic Kibei appeared 
 at the welcome sound. He disliked lemon, but he liked wine. 
 The servants bustled around. The wine was heated — again and 
 again. A feast of fish — with more wine — followed. It was late 
 when lemon left the house, the only sober member of the party. 
 Of his hosts; one was maudlin, the otlier asleep. The ample 
 resources of Tamiya, if not of benefit to his person, in these 
 past two years had given him the chance to harden his head ; and 
 he had grasped it. 
 
 lemon by no means had all the confidence he displayed before 
 Kwaiba. He was a priest, but environment influences everybody. 
 There was a possibility — discountenanced by experience, but ex- 
 isting. As he walked slowly along Teramachi his thoughts strayed 
 back into the past. " It was an ill bond between this lemon and 
 OTwa San. Without question she has drowned herself in the 
 Warigesui. The body must be found and buried. Memorial ser- 
 vices are to be recited, for one dying without relatives or friends 
 (segaki)." The virtuous resolution was the outcome of his medi- 
 tation and glances into the many graveyards passed in his progress 
 through the temple-lined street. It was a beautiful street, with its 
 overhanging trees, its open spaces populated by the many dead, 
 its temples gorgeous in red and gilding amid the dark green of 
 pine and cedar. lemon on this night had to hasten his steps. Rain 
 threatened. Gusts of wind came sharply from this side and that, 
 
160 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 driving the first drops of the coming storm. He reached home 
 just as it broke with all its fury. 
 
 To O'Hana he would say nothing of Kwaiba's mission. On 
 her remarking on the lateness of the hour, he made answer that 
 the old man was out of sorts. Kibei was too robust a bottle com- 
 panion for a man reaching toward his seventieth year. No 
 matter how vigorous, Kwaiba's wine was showing on him. The 
 two prepared for bed. O'Hana listened as the rain dashed in 
 streams against the amado, as if trying to break its way in. She 
 gave a little chuckle — " Who would have thought it4 " — " What? " 
 asked lemon, perhaps a little tartly. He was nervous. O'Hana 
 laughed — " That lemon and this Hana should be where they now 
 are. Their parting was on a night like this. Ah ! At seeing a man 
 weep Hana could have retired into a cave — forever. Only the for- 
 tunate accident of a drunken yakunin (constable) as guest en- 
 abled her to give warning. . . . And now ! Once more 
 united lemon and this Hana live in luxury. Every wish is grati- 
 fied. Thanks for the past which contained this meeting in its 
 womb ; thanks for the present in which happiness is secured : 
 
 ' Losing one's way, again roads meet! 
 The hill of flowers.' " * 
 
 A terrific gust struck the rain-doors. They bent and cracked 
 before the force of the gale. The vivid white of lightning showed 
 that one door had been forced from its groove. lemon rose and 
 replaced it. As he turned away suddenly the room was plunged 
 in darkness. Said the voice of O'Hana — " The light of the andon 
 has gone out. Oya ! Oya ! The lights in the Butsudan (altar) 
 are lit. And yet this Hana extinguished them." Grumbled lemon 
 — " The wind has blown out the light in the andon. Doubtless 
 a spark was left in the wick of the altar light. Fire is to be 
 dreaded; great care should be taken in extinguishing the light." 
 As he relit the light in the night lamp, O'Hana went up to the 
 
 ^ " Haguretc mo niata afu tiiichi ya hana no yama. 
 
NEWS REACHES KWAIBA 161 
 
 Butsudan to extinguish the Ughts there. She put her hand out 
 to take one. A sharp scream, and she fell back in confusion and 
 fright. " An aodaisho in the Butsudan ! Help ! Aid this Hana ! " 
 As she fled the snake witJi a thud fell on the tatami. Unrolling 
 its six feet of length, it started in pursuit. lemon stepped behind 
 it and caught it by the tail. A sharp rap behind the head stunned 
 it. It hung limp in his hand. " Hana, please open the amado." — '- 
 " No, no : this Hana cannot ; move she will not." — " Coward ! " 
 said lemon. " Time comes when Hana, for generations in the 
 future existence, will wander hill and dale in such form." — 
 " Ara ! " The woman was properly shocked at this speech, wicked 
 and brutal as an imprecation. " Has the life of Hana been so 
 foul as to deserve such punishment in a future life? Surely 'tis 
 not the priest of Reigan who speaks; nor lemon." She could only 
 see his lips move as he stood at the amado. " Evil was the con- 
 nection between OTwa and this lemon. Wander not as one un- 
 buried, but becoming a Buddha at once enter Nirvana. Namu 
 Myoho Renge Kyo ! Namu Myoho Renge Kyo ! Wonderful the 
 Law, wondrous the Scripture of the Lotus ! " With the invocation 
 he cast the stunned reptile far out into the garden. Returning, 
 he said — " The aodaisho is the most harmless of snakes. The 
 farmers keep it to destroy the rats which infest house and store 
 rooms. How can Hana be afraid of snakes, living in this yashiki 
 overgrown by weeds and grass, from roof to garden ? " O'Hana 
 did not reply in direct terms — " It is evil fortune to take a snake 
 in the hand." — " Never mind such talk. It is the priest who 
 speaks. This lemon knows all about snakes. Go to sleep." She 
 obeyed, knowing nothing about OTwa and the events of the day; 
 yet her slumber was broken and restless. By morning she was in 
 a high fever. ^ 
 
 ^ The aodaisho is something of the nature of a black snake. Says 
 Brinkley's Diet. " elaphis virgatus." 
 
 11 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 NEWS FROM KWAIBA 
 
 KwAiBA was reported as ill ; very ill. His friends and de- 
 pendents who had to pay visits of condolence, spoke of this illness 
 with awe and terror. To understand what follows something 
 must be said of the past of this man. The actor, drawing on the 
 presumed knowledge of his audience as to the story ij;i the gross, 
 can pass this over with a speech or two ; a horror-struck gesture 
 and allusion. Not so the kodan writer, who perforce must lay 
 before his reader all the minnticc of the case. 
 
 Ito Kwaiba did not brag when he spoke of his beauty as a boy, 
 his handsome figure as a young man. These had brought him 
 wealth and position ; gained, it was whispered, in vilest service to 
 his lord. In these days he had in his employ a chilgen named 
 Isuke, or as some say Kohei. Engaged before the mirror Kwaiba 
 was applying the paint and powder which of late had become 
 necessary adjuncts to fit him to appear before his lord. A gesture 
 of pain and discomfiture, and then Kwaiba turned irritably toward 
 his satellite. " Isuke, you are a clever fellow. Kwaiba has needed 
 no aids to his looks — up to recent days. Now paint and powder, 
 all the armoury of a woman, or paraphernalia of an actor, hardly 
 avail to conceal the blotches which disfigure Kwaiba's face and 
 body. The voice broken and husky, the lightning pains in limbs 
 and joints, these violet patches — in such state it soon will be 
 impossible to act as attendant on his lordship's household service, 
 as kami-yakunin. What disorder eats into the life and happiness 
 of Kwaiba?" 
 
 For a time Isuke made no answer, beyond a bow at his master's 
 acknowledgment of his cleverness, and in which he heartily con- 
 curred. He seemed engaged in a close contemplation of the end 
 162 
 
NEWS FROM KWAIBA 163 
 
 of his nose. " Hei ! Hei ! " It was all that Kwaiba could get out 
 of him for the moment. Then noting the growing anger Isuke 
 began with — " Condescend beforehand to pardon this Isuke. 
 Though the anger of the Wakadono (young lord) is hard to bear, 
 yet a faithful servitor should speak. Deign to step this way." 
 He conducted Kwaiba to one of those small retired rooms, open- 
 ing on an inner garden and common to every properly built house 
 of any size in Nippon. He closed the few rain-doors, shutting 
 out the light. Then fetching a piece of camphor, he set fire to it. 
 When the thick yellow light flared strongly he took up a hand- 
 mirror and passed it to Kwaiba. Kwaiba was frightened at what 
 he saw. His face was dark as that of a peasant of Satsuma. 
 Said Isuke — " The darkness is shown up by the light of the burn- 
 ing camphor. The colour is due to the poison circulating between 
 the body and the outer skin. The white sunlight does not show 
 up this symptom. But there is another test." Lighting a candle, 
 he took a long steel kanzashi needle and heated it to redness. 
 Holding the cold end by his head towel he grasped the arm of 
 Kwaiba. The latter drew back, afraid. " Nay, it will give no 
 pain," said Isuke. He thrust the hot length of the needle several 
 inches under the skin. As far as Kwaiba was concerned he might 
 as well have thrust it into the straw matting (tatami) at his feet. 
 Isuke withdrew the needle and carefully pressed the arm. A 
 brownish liquor oozed out ; not blood. " The Danna has a nose — 
 as yet." Kwaiba hastily applied his arm to that member. He 
 turned his face to one side in disgust and horror — " Is this 
 Kwaiba already dead and rotten? In such condition all is lost. 
 Duty no longer can be performed. Service and income cease 
 together. Isuke, there remains naught but to get out the mats. 
 Kwaiba will cut belly." 
 
 Isuke examined him carefully and quizzically. Satisfied with 
 his inspection, he said — " Deign to have confidence in Isuke. In 
 former days he was not Isuke the chfigcn. Son of a doctor of the 
 Dutch practice at Nagasaki ; gambling, wine, women have re- 
 duced Isuke to the state of a servant. Family and friends long 
 
164 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 since have discarded and cast him out. The severance of rela- 
 tions between parent and child was formal. Isuke owes naught 
 of service or duty to any but his master Kwaiba. Here is his 
 refuge. Deign to give Isuke three silver ryo. The disease is 
 curable. Trust the matter to Isuke. Sop pin (mercury) duly 
 applied will remove the poison, and with it all the disastrous 
 symptoms. The two hundred and thirty tawara of income are 
 enjoyed by the Wakadono. Service can be performed; and 
 Isuke preserves such a good master." Flattered and frightened 
 Kwaiba at once handed over the money. Isuke disappeared to 
 secure the drug necessary to the " Dutch practice." Baths and 
 potions, potions and baths, followed in due course. The promises 
 of Isuke were fulfilled. The fearful symptoms gradually were 
 alleviated. In the course of six months Kwaiba was himself 
 again ; his position was assured to him. He heaved double sighs — 
 of relief from the nightmare which had pursued him; of anxiety 
 at the nightmare substituted for it. 
 
 Kwaiba was a rake and a gambler. So was Isuke. The two 
 hundred and thirty tawara of income was saved to Kwaiba — and 
 Isuke. Not long after the cure was thus assured Isuke disap- 
 peared. Kwaiba sighed gently, with relief at the departure of 
 one who knew too much of his affairs, and with a scared feeling 
 on losing the only " doctor " in whom he had confidence. " These 
 fellows come and go, like leaves on a tree. Isuke has grown tired, 
 and deserted. Some day he may return. This Kwaiba is a good 
 master." Isuke did return — in the form of a note from the 
 Yoshiwara. Twenty ryo were needed to pay his debts to pleasure 
 and gambling. Severely reprimanded, Isuke opened his eyes in 
 astonishment. " Respectfully heard and understood : has the 
 income been reduced ? But that does not afifect the share of Isuke. 
 He keeps well within his limit." This was the first intimation 
 Kwaiba had of Isuke's views as to his role of physician. In 
 those days the doctor usually had the pleasure of performance, 
 not of payment. Moreover with the great — like Kwaiba — per- 
 
NEWS FROM KWAIBA 165 
 
 formance was carried out at a distance ; the pulse felt by the vibra- 
 tion of a string attached to the wrist, or at best by passing the 
 hand under the coverlet. For a time Kwaiba's strange medical 
 attendant devoted himself to his more prosaic duties of chugen. 
 Within ten days his master ransomed him from a resort in 
 Shinagawa ; price, ten ryo. A few weeks later he was heard from 
 at a gambler's resort in Shinjuku. The note was peremptory — 
 and for fifty ryo. Kwaiba lost all patience. Moreover, just then 
 he held office very favourable for bringing this matter to an issue. 
 But he must have Isuke; and have him in Yotsuya. As usual 
 payment secured the presence of a repentant Isuke, full of prom- 
 ises of amendment. Kwaiba smiled, used soft words ; and shortly 
 after Isuke was confined to the jail on a trumped up charge of 
 theft from another chugen. Kwaiba, then acting as magistrate 
 for the district, had full power. On notification he assured Isuke 
 of a speedy release. This the unhappy man secured through a 
 poisoned meal, following a long fast. He died raving, and cursing 
 his master. No one heard him but his two jailers, who considered 
 him crazy — this man of bad record. 
 
 Years had passed, but Isuke merely lay dormant in the mind 
 of Kwaiba. Then came up the affair of Tamiya — the threatening 
 curse of OTwa San. lemon's counsel lasted but over night. 
 With soberness and morning Kwaiba straightway showed the 
 results of wrecked nerves and distorted imagination. Sleepless 
 nights he now visited on his friends by an increasing irritability. 
 The first few days of this state of Kwaiba were laughable. He 
 spoke of O'lwa San ; not freely, rather with reticence. He made 
 his references as of jesting expectation of her advent. Then he 
 passed to boisterous tricks ; springing out on the maids from dark 
 corners or the turns in the corridors. Alarmed by these manifes- 
 tations of the old man — not entirely strange, for he was a terror 
 to the female element in his household — they soon noted that there 
 was an unnatural wildness in his amusement at their discomfiture. 
 Now he would talk of nothing but O'lwa. From this hysterical 
 
166 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 mirth he passed to an hysterical fear. Afraid of visions of the 
 Lady of Tamiya he stayed awake at night. To be alone appalled 
 him. He would have others keep awake with him. He was now 
 at the gibbering stage. " Night in the house of Kwaiba is to be 
 turned into day. The day shall be the time for sleep. Lights ! 
 Lights ! More lights ! " He sat surrounded by his household, 
 until the white light of dawn filtered through the spaces above 
 the rain-doors. One of his women, her hair down for washing, 
 met him unexpectedly in the corridor. With a howl of terror he 
 started to flee. Then recognizing her, he flew on her and beat her 
 almost to a jelly in his insane rage. People began to talk of 
 the eccentricities of Ito Kwaiba — the honoured ward head. 
 
 Barely three weeks after lemon's visit a violent scene occurred 
 in the mansion of the kumi-gashira. Shouts and screams, the 
 smashing of screens and sounds of a terrific struggle were heard 
 in Kwaiba's room. Kibei, who with the men' preferred night for 
 sleep, rushed in. He found the old man standing, stark naked and 
 alone. His attendants had fled — to a woman. His pillow sword 
 drawn, Kwaiba ■ was dancing to this side and that. " Isuke ! 
 OTwa ! Pardon ! This Kwaiba is a wicked fellow ! Isuke was 
 poisoned by Kwaiba. OTwa San ? Kwaiba sold her for a street 
 whore. For seven lives they pursue him. Ah ! A merry chase ! 
 But Kwaiba deals not with night-hawks. His game is higher. 
 Away with the huzzy ! " He had grasped in both hands the 
 flower vase standing in the alcove {tokonoma) . Kibei dodged, 
 and catching him by a wrestler's hold, threw him to the ground. 
 Kakusuke, just entering, was knocked flat by the heavy missile. 
 Groaning, he rose, and with other servants came to the aid of the 
 Wakadono. Kwaiba was overpowered and guarded during the 
 remainder of the night. 
 
 With daylight he knew nothing of what had occurred ; at least 
 he made no reference to it, no response to the talk of others. 
 His fear was now full on him. He babbled of nothing but Isuke 
 and OTwa San. Now he was incapacitated, downright ill. There 
 
NEWS FROM KWAIBA 167 
 
 was no more turning of day into night, and vice versa. He 
 was in the hands of his nurses. But to humour him Kibei mar- 
 shalled the women. Their beds were made encircling that of 
 Kwaiba in the midst. Kibei and Kakusuke were present. Thus 
 they lay in this room brilliant with its scores of lanterns, its wax 
 lights blazing on the lamp-stands. At the sides and in each corner 
 were placed the scrolls of the holy sutra. Kwaiba in despair 
 sought a sleep which would not favour him. " Some one walks in 
 the corridor. . . . Namu Amida Butsu ! Namu Amida 
 Butsu ! . . . Kibei ! Kibei ! " The appeal to the man would 
 bring quicker response than that to the Buddha. Indeed there 
 was a sound, as of hair rubbing across the paper screens, of some 
 one or something trying to peer through the opaque material. 
 There was a rattle and dash of rain. A gust swept through the 
 corridor, the shoji slightly parted. Kwaiba gave a shriek — 
 " OTwa ! OTwa San ! Ah ! The bloated face, the drooping 
 eyelid, the corpse taint in the air. It catches Kwaiba's throat. 
 OTwa the O'Bake would force away Kwaiba the living. Ha ! 
 Ha! " A stronger gust, and the slwji dislodged from its groove 
 whirled round and fell noisily into the room. Terror gave strength 
 to the sick man. Kwaiba sprang madly forward. It was horrible 
 to see the ghastly renovation of this tottering, flabby, emaciated 
 man, who yet inspired the fear of a maniac's reckless strength. 
 The frightened women huddled and crouched in the now dark- 
 ened room, lit but by a single andon near the alcove. Was 
 Kwaiba mad ? As the men fought over the ruins of the shoji, in 
 the darkness of the corridor, at first faint as a mist, then distinctly 
 seen, the women were assured of the presence of O'lwa. In long 
 black robe, face wide and bloated, of a livid greenish tint, hair 
 in wild disorder, bulging forehead, swollen eyeless lids, she stood 
 over the struggling men. Suddenly she thrust the severed head 
 she carried into the face of Kwaiba, leering horribly at him the 
 while. With a yell he fell flat on his back. The braver entered 
 with lights. All gathered round the unconscious Kwaiba. 
 
168 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 This scene was the crisis of his disorder. The disease, once 
 dormant, now fell on him suddenly and with full force. Perhaps 
 these mental symptoms were its first indication. More annoying 
 to his comfort, ulcers broke out all over his body. The itching 
 drove the man nearly frantic. His mad scratching spread the 
 sores. The boils developed. They ran with pus. So terrible was 
 the stench that few would stay by him. The women fled the room 
 in terror, driven away by the running stream of physical corrup- 
 tion, the continual babble of lewdness from the corrupt mind. 
 He soon noted their absence. Kibei, attended by the sturdy and 
 faithful Kakusuke, remained to nurse him. Suddenly said Kwaiba 
 — " O'Hana, the harlot of Reigan ; this Kwaiba would have 
 talk and dalliance with her. Summon her hither. Let wine and 
 the samisen be brought, a feast prepared. O'Hana ! O'Hana ! '' 
 He raved so for the woman that Kibei thought her presence would 
 quiet him. A request was sent to the house of lemon. Wishing 
 her to know nothing of the affair of O'lwa, lemon had kept silence. 
 He would have refused the mission — on the pretext of a quarrel 
 with Kwaiba and Kibei. O'Hana showed herself unexpectedly 
 obstinate — " It is to the favour of Kwaiba Sama that lemon owes 
 this Hana. She has a duty to the past, as well as to the present." 
 With a snarl she turned on him, glowering. lemon shrank back. 
 He passed his hand across the eyes into which O'lwa had just 
 looked. He no longer opposed her going. 
 
 O'Hana was still weak from repeated attacks of the fever 
 which had visited her ever since the night lemon had cast forth 
 the aodaisho. She said that the snake had bitten her. It was the 
 poison, not fever, working in her. lemon had laughed at her 
 proposal to try the exorcisms of the priest. Behind the irritation 
 aroused by his scepticism was that peculiar clinging of a woman 
 to an old lover, to a man with whom she had been intimate. 
 In the heart of O'Hana there still remained a strong leaning to 
 the man who had removed her from the rapid and nauseating life 
 of the Fukagawa brothel, which cast her into the arms of anyone 
 
NEWS FROM KWAIBA 169 
 
 who paid the price and raised his finger. With time and the old 
 conditions probably she would have been as unfaithful to lemon 
 as she had been to Kwaiba. The latter showing his desire, she 
 would have answered his call. Even before this disease-eaten 
 swollen mass of dropsy, she showed but temporary repugnance. 
 Leaning over him, almost overcome by the stench, with endear- 
 ing terms she strove to rouse him to consciousness and recognition 
 of her. It seemed fearful to have him die without the word of 
 parting. Kibei aided her by raising the old man. The result was 
 a horrible frightened stare in eyes made large by fever and 
 delirium. Long he gazed at her. Said the woman — " 'Tis Hana ; 
 Hana once the intimate of Kwaiba. Deign to take courage. This 
 is but a passing afifliction. With Hana as nurse recovery to health 
 is assured." She laid her hands on his shoulders. In so doing 
 her hair, come loose, fell down around her wan face. Kwaiba 
 was as .galvanized. With a howl the old man pushed her violently 
 away. " Scrawny wench ! What impudence to show your face 
 here ! Ah ! To the last moment, waking and in dreams, she 
 pursues this Kwaiba. I sold you. 'Tis true — I sold you for a 
 night-hawk — to Toemon of Honjo. Does Kwaiba consort with 
 wenches of such ilk ? Raising his fist he dealt her blow after blow, 
 all the time shouting — *' OTwa ! OTwa ! The O'Bake solicits 
 Kwaiba. Broken loose from Hell and the waters of Warigesui 
 she would force away Kwaiba. Help ! Help ! Aid for Kwaiba ! 
 Away with the O'Bake ! " The old man again had broken into his 
 mad fit. The shouts of Kibei brought Kakusuke. Kwaiba's hands 
 were detached from the masses of O'Hana's hair. The wounds 
 on her face were not so deep as those inflicted on her mind. At 
 last the secret was out. In bare feet she fled along the muddy 
 street toward the Samoncho house. 
 
 It was true that the vileness of the disease, the vileness of 
 Kwaiba's tongue, had driven the women from attendance in the 
 sick room to the remotest quarters of the house. But there was 
 a deterrent even to their now limited service. All said the place 
 
170 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 where Kwaiba lay was haunted. Under press of necessity a maid 
 had brought needed medicaments to the sick man's room. Put- 
 ting down the Hght she carried on the roka, she pushed open the 
 shoji to enter the outer chamber. Her robe caught as she did so. 
 Turning to release it she gave a fearful shriek. Standing in the 
 corridor, at the open screen behind her, were two tall figures 
 robed in black. With dishevelled hair, broad white flat faces, 
 bulging brows, eyelids swollen and sightless, yet they gazed 
 through and through the onlooker and into the farther room. 
 One creature, even more hideous with drooping lid and baldness 
 extending far back, half moved, half fell toward the frightened 
 maid. The woman's screams now were mingled with wild 
 laughter. Kibei came rushing out, sword drawn, to find her in a 
 fit of mad hysterics. Catching the drift of her broken phrases he 
 went out on the roka. There was no one there. Maori and 
 kimono, hung up there to dry, rustled and moved a little in the 
 draft. Had these frightened the woman ? Kakusuke carried her 
 back to her companions. Henceforth no one would enter that 
 ■part of the building occupied by the sick man. Kibei as son, 
 Kakusuke the old and faithful attendant, \yere isolated in their 
 nursing. 
 
 Kibei noted the sick man's face. " Father, why the forehead 
 so wrinkled? Is pain condescended? " Said Kwaiba — " 'Tis the 
 rats; they gnaw and worry at Kwaiba." — " Rats? " replied Kibei 
 in some astonishment. He looked around. The shoji were tight 
 closed. Kwaiba noted the inspection. He shook his head, and 
 pointed to the rama-shdji, the ornamental open work near the ceil- 
 ing. This could not be obviated. ''Auntie (Obasan) is old and 
 deaf. She sleeps ; while rats, attracted by the foul sores of the 
 scrofulous child, enter and attack the infant in its cradle. The 
 child gets thinner and weaker every day ; then dies. A terrible 
 creature is the rat." So much for the opinion of Nippon. Kibei 
 had brought a mosquito net. Its edges were weighted down with 
 
NEWS FROM KWAIBA 171 
 
 heavy stones. Thus the watchers could not be taken by surprise. 
 Under its protection the sick man was saved from annoyance. 
 
 Said Kibei — " This illness is most tedious. Could not Kibei 
 go to the Yoshiwara for a space? The letters of the Kashiku 
 {oiran) accumulate. Kibei has nothing to give, and has given no 
 explanation for not giving. What thinks Kakusuke ? " Kaku- 
 suke was brave. Moreover he knew the Wakadono was brave. 
 The prospect, however, of facing his old master in a crazy fit — 
 and perhaps OTwa — had no attraction. He gave his advice — 
 " The Go Inkyo Sama is in a very precarious state. He is now 
 very weak. The worst may happen at any moment. For the 
 Wakadono to be taking his pleasure at the Yoshiwara would 
 arouse criticism in the ward ; nay, even more than criticism. It 
 would be held unfilial. Deign to reconsider the purpose." 
 Kibei looked sourly at the swollen corruption which represented 
 Kwaiba — " How does he hold on! His strength must be great." 
 Kakusuke shrugged his shoulders — " The Go Inkyd Sama will 
 not die easily. He has much to go through yet." — " In the name 
 of all the kami and Buddhas, how has he come to such an end? 
 He is a sight to inspire fear — in those who can feel such." Re- 
 plied Kakusuke with sly look — " The Go Inkyo Sama has lived 
 high, and loved beyond measure. The Wakadono does well to 
 reconsider his purpose." 
 
 The night was passing. The two men, worn out by the con- 
 tinued watching and nursing, after vain struggle to keep awake 
 had gone to sleep. Kakusuke was in the room with Kwaiba. In 
 his slumber Kibei was back in the fencing room. The clash of 
 the wooden swords {hokken), the cries of the contestants, rang 
 clear in his ears. He woke to find rain and storm shaking and 
 tearing at the amado. But it was the shouts of Kakusuke, stand- 
 ing at the shdj'i, which had aroused him — " Danna Sama ! Danna 
 Sama ! Wakadono ! At once ! At once ! Deign to hasten ! " 
 Kibei rushed into the next room. In fright Kakusuke pointed to 
 the moscjuito net. A figure stood upright within it, swaying. 
 
172 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 gesticulating, struggling. It was a figure all black and horrible. 
 " Un ! Un ! " grunted Kwaiba. He was answered by a mincing, 
 gnawing sound. " Father ! Have courage ! Kibei is here." He 
 rushed at the heavy stones, to toss them to one side and enter 
 the net. The swaying figure within suddenly toppled over in a 
 heap. With his sword Kibei tore and severed the cording of the 
 net. The black mass of rats scattered to the eight directions of 
 space. On approaching Kwaiba a terrible sight met the eye. 
 Eyes, ears, nose, chin, toes and fingers had been torn and eaten 
 off. The lips were gnawed away and exposed to view the grinning 
 teeth. A feeble groan — and Kwaiba had met his end. Neither 
 Kibei nor Kakusuke dared to touch the foul body. In their panic 
 the two men looked in each other's faces. " Namu Amida Butsu ! 
 Holy the Lord Buddha, Amida ! " prayed Kibei, on his knees 
 before the corpse. " Namu Amida Butsu ! " answered Kakusuke.^ 
 
 ' The term " Inkyd," already several times used, applies to a man 
 who has retired from active life, leaving the management of the affairs 
 of the House to the duly appointed heir and successor. A specified 
 portion of the income is usually assigned for his maintenance, and 
 forms a first lien, so to speak, on such return. The modernized law 
 of Nippon does not permit assumption of this state before the age of 
 fifty years, unless there be incapacitation such as necessitates retire- 
 ment. In ancient days (pre-Meiji) there was no such limitation. 
 Men often retired very early in life — from caprice, family intrigue, 
 or for the freer management of their affairs. In the latter case they 
 had more power and less responsibility; the latter falling on the heir 
 and successor, perhaps still a mere child. Go is merely honorofic. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 IN THE SHADOW OF THE GO-INKYO 
 
 Said a neighbour next day, on meeting his fellow-gossip — 
 " Ah ! Is it Goemon San ? It is said the Go Inkyo is to be 
 congratulated." Kamimura Goemon sniffed. He was a long man ; 
 with long face, long nose, long thin arms, long thin legs ; a mali- 
 cious man, who longed to give advice to his fellows which they 
 much disliked to hear, and liked to see them writhe under the 
 infliction. In fact this epitome of length rarely spoke in good faith 
 or temper — " The Go Inkyo is to be congratulated ? Escaping 
 the troubles of this world, perhaps he has fallen into worse 
 troubles in the next." At this unorthodox reply Mizoguchi 
 Hambei showed surprise. Continued Goemon — " The Go Inkyd 
 died a leper, eaten by the rats. Such an end hardly calls for con- 
 gratulations." Mizoguchi gasped, with round eyes and round 
 face. " Extraordinary ! " — " Not at all," replied Kamikura, com- 
 placently tapping the palm of one hand with the elongated fingers 
 of the other. " The Go Inkyo drove out OTwa San from Tamiya. 
 He gave O'Hana in her stead to lemon as wife. Hana the harlot ! 
 Cursed by OTwa in dying, he has met this frightful end. Aki- 
 yama, Natsume, Imaizumi will surely follow. As will all those 
 involved in the affair.'' — " But is OTwa San really the cause of the 
 death? The Go Inkyo in life was not the most careful of men 
 in conserving health." This was timidly interjected by a third 
 party. Kamimura suppressed him with a scowl — " Of course 
 it is OTwa San. Has she not been seen? The women of the 
 house answer for it. Only Kibei the sceptic, and Kakusuke who 
 would face the devil in person, attempt to deny it." He threw 
 up a hand. With unction — " Ah ! It inspires fear. Small is the 
 profit of wickedness and malice. He is a fool who indulges in 
 either. , . . How cold it is for the time of year ! " 
 
 173 
 
174 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN " ' 
 
 Said the interloper — " But the congratulations have to be 
 rendered all the same. It will bp necessary to attend the all-night 
 watch. How vexatious ! Perhaps O'lwa San will not appear. 
 There is no getting out of it? " — " Certainly not," answered Kami- 
 mura. " The Go Inkyo was the head of the ward association. 
 Twelve neighbours have been invited to the watch. At dawn the 
 body is to be prepared. A pleasant undertaking, if all that is 
 said be true ! The viands will be of the best, the wine no worse 
 and plentiful. None must fail to attend." He smacked his lips. 
 The others likewise, but much less heartily. 
 
 It was an unwilling band which crawled in laggard procession 
 through rain and mud and the length of the Teramachi to Kwaiba's 
 house. A doshin, the ward chief, a rich man, the mansion dis- 
 played all its splendour. The atmosphere, however, was oppres- 
 sive. Kibei greeted the guests with heartiness, and accepted their 
 condolence and gifts with lavish thanks and the cheerful face 
 of him that profiteth by the .funeral. Kakusuke was his main 
 aid in connection with the Go Inkyo's last appearance. Occasion- 
 ally a timid white-faced woman was seen, but she would flit away 
 from the scene of these festivities, to seek the companionship of 
 her panic-stricken fellows. Entering the funereal chamber the 
 body was found, laid out and decently swathed so as to cover, as 
 far as possible, the horrible nature of the death. On a white 
 wood stand was the thai in white wood, a virtuous lie as to the 
 qualities of the deceased. It ran — Tentoku Gishin Jisho Daishi. 
 Which can be interpreted — " A man of brilliant virtues, virtuous 
 heart, and benevolent temperament." Screens, upside down, were 
 placed at the head : 
 
 " Alas ! The screen : the carp descends the fall." ' Akiyama, 
 Natsume, Imaizumi, were the last to appear. The former had 
 been composing a violent quarrel between his two friends — the 
 long and the fat. Much recrimination had passed, and the usually 
 
 ^ " Awarase ya: Byobu wa koi no taki sagari." The living carp 
 strives to ascend the fall. 
 
IN THE SHADOW OF THE GO-INKYO 175 
 
 peaceful Imaizumi was in a most violent and trucculent humour. 
 He glared with hate on Natsume, who now aided Akiyama in 
 efforts to soothe his anger. On entering the assembly the looks 
 of all were composed. " A retribution for deeds in the past 
 world. Old ; but so vigorous ! The offering is a mere trifle. This 
 Kyuzo would burn a stick of incense." Kibei extended his thanks 
 and suppressed his smile as much as possible. He was breathing 
 with full lungs for the first time in weeks. The storm was over; 
 happiness was ahead; the clouded sky was all serene. " Thanks 
 are felt. This Kibei is most fortunate : nay, grateful. Such kind- 
 ness is not to be forgotten during life." — " The Inkyd an hotoke ; 
 lemon Dono and O'Hana are the husband and wife not present? " 
 The question came from some one in the room. " O'Hana San 
 is very ill. Her state is serious. lemon does not leave her." 
 Akiyama answered for the truant pair. Kibei's joy was complete. 
 Akiyama, Natsume, Imaizumi were standing by Kwaiba's body. 
 Kamimura slowly approached. The long man's face was longer 
 than ever ; longer, much longer than that of Natsume ; and Kibei 
 was not in the running. Goemon meditatively fondled his nose ; 
 on the pretence of concentrating thought, and for the purpose of 
 relieving that member from the savour arising from Kwaiba's 
 bier. This was no bed of roses — " Yes, the Inkyo is indeed 
 dead." He sniffed. " Soon it will be the turn of all of you — 
 to be like this; " another sniff — " of lemon and O'Hana, of Nat- 
 sume and Imaizumi, of this Akiyama San." The latter gave a 
 violent start. With hand to his nose also, he turned on the in- 
 truder. Continued Goemon — " A plot was concocted against 
 OTwa San. Beggared and driven from the ward, deceived and 
 sold as a street harlot, this death of the Inkyo is but the first in 
 the roll of her vengeance. Kamimura speaks with pure heart and 
 without malice. You men are not long for this world. Is 
 Akiyama San reconciled? And . . ." He pointed a skinny 
 finger at Kyuzo, then at Jinzaemon. " You show it. Your eyes 
 are hollow ; your nostrils are fallen in. The colour of the face 
 
176 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 is livid. You seem already to be hotoke, prepared to lie with the 
 Go Inkyo." Akiyama found his tongue. He burst out in a rage — 
 " The jest is unseemly. Kamimura San goes too far. It is true 
 this Chozaemon gave counsel to Ito Kwaiba. Kyuzo and Jinzae- 
 mon took some part in what followed. But we acted on the orders 
 of Ito Dono, of lemon San. On the first will be visited any 
 grudge." Goemon laughed harshly. He pointed to the corpse. 
 "Here he lies. How did he die? Goemon does not jest, and 
 the argument of Akiyama San is rotten. The master bids the ser- 
 vants to beat the snow from the bushes. The snow falls on them ; 
 not on him. How now Akiyama San ? " Chozaemon turned away 
 discomfited. All three felt very bad — in mind and body. 
 
 The bell of Sainenji struck the eighth hour (i a.m.). Just 
 opposite, its clangour filled the whole mansion with a ghostly 
 sound. In the depths of night this inert mass of metal seemed a 
 thing of life, casting its influence into the lives of those present, 
 rousing them to face grave issues. Noting the absence of Nat- 
 sume, the round-faced, round-eyed, round-bodied Imaizumi fol- 
 lowed after. Kibei came forth from the supper room, to find his 
 guests all flown. " Where have they gone to, Kakusuke? " He 
 looked around in amazement — " They were taken with pains in the 
 belly. With this excuse they departed. Yotsuya is afflicted with 
 a flux." The chug en answered in the dry and certain tone of one 
 unconvinced. Kibei shrugged his shoulders. " There is naught 
 wrong with wine or viands ? " — " Nor with the guests," replied 
 Kakusuke. " They are cowards, who have caught some inkling 
 as to the not over-nice death of the Go Inkyo." — " The latter day 
 hushi are not what the hushi were of old; at least this brand of 
 them. Ah! These wretched little bureaucrats; hushi of the pen. 
 Two men to eat a supper prepared for twelve sturdy trenchers. 
 Well : two are enough to wash the corpse. Lend a hand Kaku- 
 suke." — " Respectfully heard and obeyed," replied the chugen. 
 
 The white dress for the last cover to the body was laid ready. 
 Secured by Kwaiba many years before in a pilgrimage to the holy 
 
IN THE SHADOW OF THE GO-INKYO 177 
 
 Koyasan, the sacred characters were woven into its tissue. Kaku- 
 stike dragged a large tub into the bathroom. Kwaiba's body was 
 unswathed and placed in it. Kakusuke eyed his late master with 
 critical and unfavourable eye. " Naruhodo ! The Go Inkyo is a 
 strange object. No eyes: nose, ears, lips gone; his expression is 
 not a pleasant one. . . . Nay ! The Wakadono is awkward. 
 Throw the water from head to feet. . . . Take care ! Don't 
 throw it over Kakusuke. He at least is yet alive. The Wakadono 
 is wasteful. More is needed. Deign to wait a moment. Kaku- 
 suke draws it from the well." He opened the side door and went 
 outside. Kibei drew a little apart from the body. It stank. A 
 noise at the sliding window (hikimado) in the roof made him 
 look up. Oya ! Oya ! The face of O'lwa filled the aperture — 
 round, white, flat; with pufTed eyelids and a sightless glare. With 
 a cry of horror and surprise Kibei sprang to the door. As he did 
 so slender attenuated hands groped downward. " Kakusuke ! 
 Kakusuke ! " — " What is it, Wakadono ? " — " OTwa : she looks 
 down through the hikimado! She seeks the Inkyo! " Kakusuke 
 gave a look upward — " Bah ! It's the cat. Is the Wakadono, too, 
 getting nerves ? They are a poor investment." — " The cat ! " 
 Kibei sighed with relief. Nevertheless he kept his hand on 
 his sword. 
 
 He turned round — to give a shout of surprise — " Kakusuke ! 
 Kakusuke ! The body of the Go Inkyo is no longer here." As the 
 astonished chugen came running to look into the empty tub, both 
 men nearly fell over in their wonder. The body of the Inkyo was 
 whirling around the neighbouring room in execution of a mad 
 dance. Followed by Kakusuke, his worthy son and heir sprang in 
 pursuit. Invisible hands led Kwaiba and the pursuers into the 
 darkness of the garden, into the rain and storm. Kibei heard 
 the steps just in front of him. He pursued madly after them. 
 " To lose his parent's body — this was against all rules of Bushido." 
 Thus comments the scribe of Nippon. Kibei could commit all 
 the moral and physical atrocities except — failure in filial conduct 
 12 
 
178 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 to parent and lord ; the unpardonable sins of the Scripture of 
 Bushido. Kakusuke soon lost his master in the darkness. Dis- 
 concerted and anxious he returned to secure a lantern. The 
 wind promptly blew it out ; then another, and a third. He stood on 
 the roka in the darkness to wait the return of the Wakadono. For 
 the first time Kakusuke had noted failing purpose in his young 
 master. He was more solicitous over this than over the strange 
 disappearance of the Inkyo s body. Was the Wakadono losing 
 his nerve ; as had the O'Dono ? 
 
 In time Kibei reappeared. To Kakusuke's inquiring glance — 
 " Kibei pursued to Myogyoji; then up the hill. Here sight was 
 lost of the Inkyo. The darkness prevented further search. A 
 lantern is next to worthless in this gale. Kakusuke, go to the 
 houses of Natsume and Imaizumi close by. They are young and 
 will aid Kibei in the search." Kakusuke did not demur. Pulling 
 his cape over his head, off he posted. He asked but to come 
 across the Inkyo's body, in OTwa's company or not made no differ- 
 ence to this iron-hearted servitor. His mission was fruitless. The 
 two men had expressed the intention of spending the night at the 
 Kwaiba wake. Neither had as yet returned. Grumbled Kibei — 
 " The filthy fellows ! With this excuse to their wives they seek 
 new pastures at Nakacho (Shinjuku), to spend the night in dissi- 
 pation. 'Tis Natsume who is the lecher. Gladly would he wean 
 Imaizumi from his barely wed wife." — " Or wean the wife from 
 Imaizumi Sama ! Wakadono, nothing can be done now. The 
 dawn should be awaited." With these sage comments the chug en 
 squatted at respectful distance from his master. From time to 
 time one or other arose, to look sceptically into the empty tub 
 in which once had reposed the Inkyo's body. Finally both nodded 
 off into sleep. At dawn — don, don, don, don, came a loud knock- 
 ing on the outer gate. Kakusuke went out, to return with aston- 
 ished face and portentous news. The dead bodies of Natsume 
 Kyuzo and Imaizumi Jinzaemon had been found at the foot of the 
 hake-icho, a huge tree close by the guard-house. Finger tip to 
 finger tip three men could not girdle this tree. With the bodies 
 
IN THE SHADOW OF THE GO-INKYO 179 
 
 of the men lay that of a woman. Two corpses, man and woman, 
 were stark naked. Kibei's presence, as the successor to Kwaiba^s 
 office, was required. 
 
 He prepared at once to start for the Okido. The tale was 
 in time learned from the prolix Kamimura Goenion, who had wit- 
 nessed part at least of the scene. As he was knocking at his 
 door on the Shinjuku road, having just returned late from the 
 watch at Kwaiba's house, rapid steps were heard in the street. A 
 man, recognized as Kyuzo, passed, running at top speed. He 
 dragged along by the hand a woman, the wife of Imaizumi. The 
 two were nearly naked. Close in the rear pursued Imaizumi 
 Jinzaemon, his drawn sword in his hand. They sped up the 
 wide road. Goemon stepped out, to follow at a distance this 
 flight and pursuit. At the icho tree the fugitives were overtaken. 
 The woman was the first to be cut down. Kyuzo turned to grap- 
 ple with the assailant. Unarmed his fate soon overtook him. He 
 fell severed from shoulder to pap. Having finished his victims 
 Imaizumi seated himself at the foot of the tree, and cut open his 
 belly. " Long had such outcome been expected," intoned the 
 long-nosed man. The case needed no explanation. Others echoed 
 the opinion of Goemon, who was merely many fathoms deeper in 
 the scandal of the neighbourhood than most of them. It was 
 agreed to hush the matter up. Reporting his own experience, 
 to the astonishment of his hearers, Kibei, accompanied by Kaku- 
 suke, started down Teramachi toward Samegabashi. As they 
 passed the Gwanshoji attention was drawn by a pack of dogs, 
 fighting and quarrelling in the temple cemetery. A white object 
 lay in the midst. With a shout the men sprang in. Tearing up 
 a grave stick Kibei rushed into the pack, driving off the animals. 
 There lay the body of Ito Kwaiba, brought hither by the hands 
 of OTwa to be torn and mangled by the teeth of the brutes. 
 Thus was it that the funerals of Ito Kwaiba, Natsume Kyuzd, and 
 Imaizumi Jinzaemon took place in one cortege on the same day 
 and at the same time. The postponement in the first instance — 
 was it providential? 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 TAMIYA YOEMON: WITH NEWS OF KONDO ROKU- 
 ROBEI AND MYOZEN THE PRIEST 
 
 Tamiya Yoemon was stumbling home in all haste from the 
 funeral of Ito Kwaiba. He was full of news for the wife, 
 O'Kame. The neighbours could talk of nothing but the strange 
 happenings in the ward, and details lost nothing in the telling; 
 perhaps gained somewhat by the process. Most edifying was 
 the reported conduct of the wife of the late Natsume Kyuzo, the 
 observed of all observers at the funeral, the object of that solici- 
 tous congratulation which embodies the secret sigh of relief of 
 friends, neighbours, and relatives at the removal of a prospective 
 burden. Natsume had left behind him a wife, an old mother, an 
 infant child, and huge liabilities. To administer this legacy — 
 and perhaps to get rid of her mother-in-law — the wife had 
 promptly and tearfully sacrificed her status, and sold herself for 
 a term of years to the master of the Sagamiya, a pleasure house at 
 Shinagawa post town. The sum paid — one hundred ryo — re- 
 lieved the immediate future. The neighbours derided the igno- 
 rance of the Sagamiya in accepting the uncertain bail of Akiyama 
 Chozaemon. If the lady behaved badly, small satisfaction was to 
 be obtained of her security. " Ignorance is bliss." Let the Saga- 
 miya bask in both and the beauty of the prize. Meanwhile their 
 concern and admiration were for the lady destined to this post 
 town of the crowded Tokaido, the stopping place of high and low, 
 noble and riff-raff, entering Edo town. Of the inmates of the 
 pleasure quarters, the harlots of Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Itabashi, 
 were held in lowest esteem. 
 
 Arrived at his door Yoemon stopped short in surprise and 
 alarm. To his loud call of "Wife! Wife!" answer there was 
 none. Looking within he could barely distinguish objects through 
 180 
 
TAMIYA YOfiMON 181 
 
 the thick smoke which filled the house. The last thing the Nip- 
 ponese would do under such conditions, would be to throw open 
 doors and panels. This would convert the place at once to a blaz- 
 ing conflagration. Where was the fire getting its start ? Choking 
 and spluttering Yoemon groped his way through the rooms into 
 the rear. Wherever the fire was, it was not in the living rooms. 
 The smoke was accentuated on reaching the kitchen. H6re was 
 a smell of burning rice, of Yoemon's dinner gradually carbonizing 
 under the influence of an element other than the juices of his 
 round stomach. Looking into the room, through the thickened 
 haze he saw the flame of the fire brightening. O'Kame the wife 
 could be made out, on her knees before the portable furnace. 
 She was blowing a mass of slivers and brushwood into flame by 
 the aid of a bamboo pipe. It was this stuff, green and partly wet, 
 which gave out the choking acrid smoke. Yoemon was angered 
 beyond measure at the sight of his ruined meal and expectations. 
 " Kame ! Kame ! What are you doing ? Have you gone mad ? 
 Ma ! Ma ! The dinner is being ruined. You are ill. Kame's 
 head whirls with head-ache. Yoemon will act as cook. Go to bed 
 — at once." At his peremptory speech the wife looked up into the 
 face of the husband standing over her. She scowled at him in a 
 way to cause fear. "Not a sho of rice; not a nion. Yoemon 
 would give freely to a beggar, rather than confer a ' cash ' on 
 Iwa. Yoemon sells me as a street harlot." He started back in 
 fright before the snarling distorted visage. The wife sprang to 
 her feet. Pash ! On his devoted head descended the hot iron pan 
 with its content of stew. "x\h ! Kame is mad — clean daft." With a 
 wild laugh she seized the pot full of boiling rice and began to pour 
 it into the drain. When he tried to stop her, he received the 
 mess full in his bosom — " Mad ? Not at all. This Kame never 
 felt in better spirits. When grass grows in Samoncho we enter 
 Nirvana. Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! To hasten the happy time ! " With a 
 kick she knocked over the furnace. In an instant the tatayni 
 was in a blaze. Yelling like mad, shouting for help, Yoemon 
 
182 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 leaped from the house. O'Kame seized the burning brands in 
 her bare hands, hurhng them into this room and into that. Out- 
 stripping the old Yoemon, the younger men of the neighbours 
 rushed in. The mad woman was soon overcome and carried from 
 the burning building. Nothing else was saved. They took her 
 to the house of Akiyama Chozaemon. Here she was tied hand 
 and foot, and put in a closet. The old man Yoemon stood by 
 in despair, watching the progress of events. Before the conflagra- 
 tion was extinguished his own and four other houses were de- 
 stroyed. He was a ruined man ; responsible for all. 
 
 Myozen the priest had just set foot on the slope leading up 
 from Samegabashi to Yotsuya. A somewhat long retreat at 
 Myohonji, attendance at the ceremonies held on the Saint's 
 (Nichiren) birthday, had kept him in ignorance of recent events 
 in Yotsuya. In the dawn of the beautiful day of earliest 3rd 
 month (our April 13th) he had set out from Kamakura. Sturdy 
 as were the priest's limbs, yet he was a little tired. He rested at 
 the foot of the hill. Then his eyes grew big with astonishment. 
 In the waning afternoon a funeral came wending its way down- 
 wards. But such a funeral ! Two spearmen led the way. Then 
 came a long train of attendants. Three catafalques followed, the 
 first a most imposing bier. Then came the relatives. Kibei on 
 horseback headed these. The women rode in kago. That it was a 
 ward funeral Myozen had no doubt, both from its source and 
 make up. He noted a parishioner in the cortege. " Kamimura 
 Uji!" The long-limbed, long-faced, long-tongued man left the 
 ranks and obsequiously greeted his spiritual father. At Myozen's 
 question he expressed gratified surprise, and unlimbered his lingual 
 member at once — " Whose honoured funeral this ? Nay ! It 
 is a triple funeral ; that of Natsume Kyuzo, Imaizumi Jinzaemon, 
 the Go-Inky5, our ward-head. It is owing to this latter that there 
 is such an outpouring of the ward, with attendance of barrier 
 guards and firemen. Although the ending of Natsume and Jinzae- 
 mon was not edifying, that of our honoured once head gratified 
 
TAMIYA YOfiMON 183 
 
 still more the public curiosity. Gnawed and eaten by the rats 
 he died most horribly." He told of the eventful night. " Hence 
 delay in the burial. The deaths of Natsume and Imaizumi were 
 almost coincident. The body of the adulterous woman, rejected 
 by both families, was cast out on the moor." He noted with satis- 
 faction the great impression his tale made on the priest, as also the 
 clerical garb and rosary held in hand. " Pray join the band. A 
 little re-adjustment . . ." He bent down. With the baton 
 he held in hand as leader of his section he carefully dusted the 
 robes. Adjusting the folds he pronounced the results as most 
 presentable. " The honoured Osho is ready to bury or be buried." 
 Myozen took this remark in very ill form. He prepared to answer 
 tartly, but curiosity overcame his weariness and ill temper. The 
 procession was moving fast. He fell at once into line, with hardly 
 an acknowledgment of Kamimura's courtesy, as this latter 
 hastened forward to his place. 
 
 His neighbour in the procession explained. The nature of the 
 deaths of the three men had aroused the feeling in the ward. Their 
 connection with a conspiracy against O'lwa San was now gener- 
 ally known. Without doubt it was owing to her vengeance that 
 they had died as they did. Let them lie outside the quarter. The 
 protest to Kibei was respectful but emphatic. A newcomer, he 
 had made no great resistance. It was determined to bury them 
 at the Denzu-In, close by the mound of the nameless dead of 
 Edo's great fire of more than half a century before. Hence the 
 direction of the cortege. As the cemetery of the great temple 
 was approached the curiosity of Myozen, morbidly growing the 
 while, became overpowering. The priest slipped from rank to 
 rank. At the grave he stood in the very front. As long-time 
 friend he besought a last glance at the dead. Those given to 
 Natsume and Imaizumi called forth a careless prayer for each. 
 The men hesitated before raising the cover concealing the body 
 of Kwaiba. At Myozen's peremptory gesture they complied. He 
 bent over and looked in. Frozen with horror, he was fascinated 
 
184 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 by those great holes for eyes, large as teacups, which seemed to 
 fix him. Dead of leprosy, gnawed and torn by beasts, the face 
 presented a sight unforgettable. The holes torn in the flesh 
 twisted the features into a lifelike, though ghastly, sardonic grin, 
 full of the pains of the hell in which Kwaiba had suffered and now 
 suffered. A stench arose from the box which made the hardened 
 bearers hold their noses and draw away. Yet the priest bent down 
 all the closer. In his corruption the lips of the old man seemed to 
 move. Did Kwaiba speak? Closer and closer: Myozen seemed 
 never satisfied with this inspection. The poise and brain gave 
 way. Priest and corpse met in the horrible salutation. With 
 exclamation the attendants sprang forward. Mydzen in a dead 
 faint was carried apart and laid on the ground. Some priests of 
 the hall busied themselves over him. Somewhat revived he was 
 taken off to the residence quarters of the temple, and soon was able 
 to return to his home. " Curious fool." Kibei was greatly 
 angered. He was easily irritated in these days. The delay in the 
 rites almost maddened him. Would old Kwaiba — his father Ito 
 Inkyo — never be got out of men's sight ? Out of Kibei's sight ? 
 
 That night Mydzen sat alone in his quarters. Somewhat 
 shaken, he was ashamed and regretful at thought of his unseemly 
 curiosity of the afternoon. The priests of Denzuin had regarded 
 him with covert amusement and repulsion. He had noted one 
 passing the sleeve of his robe over his lips. Myozen explained 
 the incident by more than usual weariness. They condoled with 
 him, and made horrified gestures of ill-disguised glee when they 
 thought his attention was elsewhere. In his present privacy the 
 scene at the grave came back to mind again and again. " Ah ! 
 Ah! If this Myozen had not looked. The Inkyo's face was ter- 
 rible. Mydzen cannot put it from mind." He glanced at the 
 pages of the sutra lying before him. He turned them over. He 
 knew they spoke of the horribleness of death ; but what was the 
 cold script to the actuality? It was no use, the attempt to read. 
 Kwaiba's face interposed. " Oh ! That salute ! The very idea 
 
TAMIYA YOfiMON 185 
 
 of that terrible salute, the contact with corruption ! " He was as 
 if plunged in an icy bath. He started nervously. It was but rain 
 dashing against the amado, rattling and twisting in the gale. 
 He could not sleep. That night he would watch. The fire was 
 hot in the hihachi (brazier). He went to the closet to get some 
 tea. On opening it he sprang back with a shout of alarm, to 
 lean trembling and quivering in every limb huddled against the 
 wall. " Namu Mydho Renge Kyo ! Namu Myoho Renge 
 Kyo ! " One character of the wondrous formula secured pardon 
 and safety to the believer in that paradise of Amida which Myozen 
 was in no great haste to visit. Shivering as with a chill intently 
 he watched the animal as it glided along the edge of the room, to 
 disappear into the shadows. He shrugged his shoulders wearily. 
 A rat had frightened him almost out of his wits ! His heart beat 
 tumultuously, almost to sufifocation ; then it seemed to cease alto- 
 gether; to resume its wild career. 
 
 Hardly was he again seated, his hand on the kettle — don — 
 don, don — don, don, don, don. Some one was violently knocking 
 on the door. Myozen sprang up. Approaching the amado with 
 silent step he eyed the bolts : " All secure." Snatching up a stake 
 close by he jammed it in between floor and crosspiece. Leaning 
 heavily on the panel he listened. " Myozen Sama ! Osho Sama ! 
 Condescend to open ; deign to give entrance ! The storm nearly 
 throws one to the ground. News ! News for the Osho ! A 
 request to make ! " Myozen held his ground against this outer 
 temptation. " Who are you, out at this hour of the night and in 
 such weather? To-night Myozen does not open. Go away; re- 
 turn in daylight." — " But the honoured Osho Sama is needed. 
 His presence is requested. Deign to open ; at least to hear the 
 message. The priest aids the afflicted." There was something 
 in the voice he recognized, despite its terror. Regaining some 
 courage he parleyed. The priest was for the consolation of the 
 unfortunate. O'lwa had been, was unfortunate. He could not 
 open. " Who are you ? Unless the name be given this Myozen 
 
186 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 holds no further talk. To-night he is unwell, positively ill. Come 
 at dawn and Myozen will receive you." — "Who? Does not 
 the voice answer for the person? This is Tomobei, from the 
 house of Kondo Rokurobei. Deign to open. The master needs 
 and calls for the aid of the Osho Sama. 
 
 Voice and speech, the importance of Kondo in the life of 
 Myozen, broke down his hesitation. Slowly he removed the bars. 
 Tomobei entered, dripping with wet. He cast down his straw coat 
 at the entrance. The man's eyes and manner were wild. He kept 
 casting frightened looks into the wild welter of storm outside. 
 When the priest would withdraw into the room he held him 
 by the skirt. " What has happened? " commanded Myozen briefly. 
 Replied Tomobei — " A terrible thing ! To-day the master was 
 ready to attend the funeral of Ito Inkyo. The wife was engaged 
 in putting the house kimono in the closet. O'Tama was playing 
 on the upper roka. She is but seven years old. Leaning far over 
 to see her father leave, she lost her balance. Down she fell, to 
 be impaled on the knife-like points of the shinohi-gaeshi. The 
 sharp-pointed bamboo, protection against thieves, have robbed the 
 Danna of his greatest treasure (tama). Deep into throat and chest 
 ran the cruel spikes, to appear through the back. The sight in- 
 spired fear, so horrible was it. He could but call out — ' Tomobei ! 
 Tomobei ! ' All effort to detach the child, to saw off the points, 
 did but make matters worse. It was necessary to fetch a ladder. 
 When taken down she was dead. Alas ! Alas ! The Okusama is 
 nearly crazed. The Danna Sama in his cruel distress does but 
 
 rage through the house. ' Myozen Oshd, he loved the child. Let 
 
 Myozen Osho be summoned to say a prayer of direction, while 
 yet the child spirit hovers hereabouts.' Such is the cry of the 
 Okusama. Hence the presence of this Tomobei. Otherwise he 
 would rather be scourged at the white sand than face the darkness 
 in which O'lwa San wanders abroad." Man and priest were 
 weeping. The former in his fright and over the confusion and 
 
TAMIYA YOEMON 187 
 
 distress fallen on the household ; the priest over the sudden and 
 dreadful end of this child to whom the homeless one, the man 
 devoted to the solitary life, had taken an unbounded affection 
 as of a father. Great as was his terror, he forgot his own ills in 
 the greater misfortune of the life-long friend. He remained 
 bowed in prayer. " Namu Myoho Renge Kyo ! Namu Myoho 
 Renge Kyo ! Oh ! The wondrous law, the stitra of the Lotus ! " 
 He rose — " Myozen comes." 
 
 As they struggled through the storm, Tomobei kept up a non- 
 sensical, running talk, full of the superstitious fear of the man of 
 the lower classes. " lya ! The affair has been terrible, but mis- 
 fortune is in the air. . . . What's that ! Ah ! Something 
 passes by . . . above. OTwa ! O'lwa ! " He seized the 
 priest's arm and clung to him in terror. Myozen's fears had all 
 returned. He would have run away, but was too tightly held. 
 " Where ! Where ! " He shrieked and whirled around toward 
 Samegebashi. Tomobei held on tenaciously to his skirts. An 
 object was bearing down on them in the dark. Close upon priest 
 and man they jumped to one side. A cold hand was laid on the 
 neck of the cleric, who squawked with fear. A howl answered 
 the howls and mad cries and blows of the two men, who now 
 threw themselves flat on the ground to shut out sight of the 
 apparition. The beast sped down the hill. Discomfited, Myozen 
 disentangled himself from the embraces of a broken water spout, 
 which descending from the roof under which he had taken shelter, 
 was sending its cold stream down his neck. Tomobei rose from 
 the mud puddle in which he lay face downward. They gazed 
 at each other. " A dog ! A wandering cur ! " Myozen eyed his 
 once immaculate garments with disgust. How present himself in 
 such a state ! Tomobei read his thoughts and determined to 
 keep a companion so hardly won. " There are present but the 
 master and the Okusama, Tomobei, and Kiku ; other company 
 there is none. . . . Yes; the Ojosan." — "The corpse needs 
 no company," said Myozen testily. In his disgrace and unkempt 
 
188 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 condition Myozen was unduly irritated at his child friend. The 
 business was to be gone through. They were opposite the ceme- 
 tery of Sainenji, on its western side. Said Tomobei — " A paling 
 is loose. There is no need to descend the hill. This is no cheer- 
 ful spot at this hour. Deign to sprint it, Osho Sama. In the time 
 one can count ten the entrance at the rear is reached. Deign a 
 spurt, honoured priest; deign to sprint." Myozen felt he was in 
 for everything this night. With Tomobei he tucked up his robes to 
 his hams, as if entering a race. Crawling through the bamboo 
 palings into the haunt of the dead, at it they went — a mad spurt 
 across to Kondo's house. Tomobei was the more active. He 
 turned to watch the priest tripping over hillocks in the grass, 
 knocking into gravestones hidden by the darkness. So near home, 
 courage was returning. He burst into laughter at sight of Myozen 
 madly hammering a battered old stone lantern of the yukimldoro 
 style. The broad-brimmed hat-like object he belaboured as some- 
 thing naturally or unnaturally possessed of life, all the while 
 giving utterance to anything but priestly language. Tomobei 
 ventured back to his rescue. Mydzen was quite battered and 
 bleeding as the two rushed into Kondo's house. 
 
 The master was expecting them ; but he threw up his hands 
 as they appeared in the room. " Osho Sama ! Tomobei ! What 
 are you about! Why rush into the room, clogs still on the feet? 
 Deign to withdraw. The tatami are stained and streaked with 
 mud. . . . Water for the feet of the Osho Sama ! Tomobei, 
 are you mad? Out with you: bring water to clean up this mess." 
 In confusion the priest withdrew. . His apologies were profuse as 
 he reappeared — " Alas ! Terrible the loss, and in such dreadful 
 manner. Kondo Dono, Okusama, part at least of this grief 
 Myozen would take on himself. Great is the sorrow at this end 
 of one just beginning life." The wife received the condolence 
 of the priest with a burst of weeping. Then she turned fiercely 
 on the husband — " It is all the fault of Rokurobei. He was nakodo 
 for OTwa San in the marriage with lemon. Turning against her. 
 
TAMIYA YOfiMON 189 
 
 he took O'Hana into the house. Did she not spend her time 
 in idhng, and teaching the child the ways of her questionable 
 life — 'how to please men,' forsooth? . . . Ah! Tama did 
 have pretty ways. Though but of seven years, she danced, and 
 sang, and postured as would a girl double her age. Now thus 
 cruelly she has perished." Her mind, reverted to the child, 
 again took a turn. " The plot against OTwa — with It5 Kwaiba, 
 lemon, Chozaemon — here is found the source of this calamity. 
 OTwa in dying has cursed all involved. Now 'tis the turn of 
 Kondd and his unfortunate wife." She ended in another out- 
 burst of tears, her head on the mats at the feet of the priest. 
 Rokurobei was tearing up and down the room, gesticulating and 
 almost shouting — " Yes ! 'Tis she ! 'Tis she ! The hateful O'lwa 
 strikes the father through the child. Ah ! It was a cowardly act to 
 visit such a frightful ending on one budding into life. OTwa seeks 
 revenge. OTwa is abroad ; and yet this Kondo cannot meet with 
 her." Myozen was almost deafened with his cries and noisy 
 earnestness. Truly to bring peace into this household, with 
 division reigning between husband and wife smitten with fear 
 of the supernatural, would be no easy matter. His priestly ex- 
 perience taught him the safest way to bring about his object. 
 
 " 'Tis true ; 'tis true. But loud cries avail nothing. The 
 aid of the Buddha for the deceased is to be sought." Apologeti- 
 cally he showed something of his condition to the wife. At once 
 she rose. Outergarments were removed. Muddied undergar- 
 ments were renewed. Myozen went into the mortuary chamber. 
 The little ** Jewel " was laid out as in sleep. The wounded chest, 
 the torn throat, were concealed by garments and a scarf-like 
 bandage adjusted by a mother's sad and tender care. The in- 
 cense sticks lay in clay saucers near the couch. " Oh, the won- 
 derful Law ! The sittra of the Lotus ! Namu Myoho Renge 
 Kyo ! Namu Mydho Renge Kyo ! " He looked long at the little 
 silent figure. His eyes were full of tears as he turned and took 
 the hands of the weeping mother who had followed him into the 
 
190 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 room. Then for long he spoke in consoling tones. She was some- 
 what quieted when they returned. 
 
 Kondo Rokurobei was still moving restlessly about the room. 
 Now he was here, now there ; from the death room he returned 
 to the company; from them he passed to the kitchen. The wife 
 thought of the friend and priest. " Tomobei, go to the store-room 
 and bring wine." Myozen was a curious mixture. His weak 
 spot was touched — " Deign it, honoured lady, for all. Let the 
 occasion be made seemly, but more cheerful. Cause not sorrow to 
 the dead by an unmeasured grief. This does but pain the Spirit 
 in its forced communion with the living. Death perchance is not 
 the misfortune of subsequent existence in this world, but a pas- 
 sage to the paradise of Amida." He spoke unctuously ; as one full 
 informed and longing for its trial. His homily had no eiifect in 
 moving Tomobei, who was flatly unwilling to perform the service 
 ordered. " The wine . . .," broke in Kondo harshly. — " The 
 go-down is at the end of the lot. The hour is very late, and the 
 storm . . . and other things ... it rages fiercely. This 
 Tomobei . . ." — " Shut up ! " roared his master, with easily 
 roused anger. The maid O'Kiku timidly interposed — " There is a 
 supply in the kitchen. This Kiku early brought it there, antici- 
 pating the need. Indeed the storm is terrible. One gets wet to 
 the bone in traversing the yard." The wife caught the last words 
 — " Aye ! Wet and chilled the lost child spirit wanders, ringing 
 its bell and vainly seeking aid and shelter ; no aid at hand but that 
 of the heartless hag in the River of Souls." ^ At the thought 
 of the little O'Tama in cold and storm she broke down. Crying 
 bitterly, she crept from the room and laid down beside the bier. 
 
 The wine was served. Myozen drank. Then he drank again. 
 His potations gave him confidence — for more drink — and recalled 
 
 ^ The old hag who lurks in the River of Souls, waylaying little 
 children, robbing them of their clothes, and compelling them to con- 
 struct huge piles of stones. Her counterfeit presentment (by Unkei) 
 can be well seen at the Ennoji of Kamakura. 
 
TAMIYA YOfiMON 191 
 
 him to his functions. " Let us all pray. Namu Myoho Renge 
 Kyo ! Namu Myoho Renge Kyo! Wonderful the Law! Won- 
 derful the sutra of the Lotus, explanatory of the Law by which 
 mankind are saved, to enter the paradise of Amida. Be sure the 
 wanderings of O'Tama will be short. Scanty is the power of the 
 Shozuka no Baba. Soon shall the child sit upon a lotus. Early 
 shall be her entrance into Nirvana. Namu Myoho Renge Kyo ! 
 Namu Myoho Renge Kyo ! . . . Honoured master, let all 
 join in. Command the servants to join in the recital of the 
 Daimoku." Kondo waved a hand at Tomobei and O'Kiku, in 
 assent and command. Vigorous were the tones of all in the 
 responses. Myozen drank again. He pressed the wine on the 
 others ; drinking in turn as they agreed. The night was passing. 
 It was the eighth hour (1-3 a.m.). Said he — " Don't get drowsy. 
 By every means avoid it. Now ! A vigorous prayer." He raised 
 his hand — "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo! Namu Myoho Renge 
 Kyo ! " But the responses were flagging. Said Myozen — " This 
 will never do ; at this hour of the night." He drank again — to find 
 that the supply had come to an end. Kondo was nodding. Tomo- 
 bei, if awake, was deaf to words. Myozen rose himself to fetch 
 a new supply. 
 
 Kondo pricked up his ears. The temple bells were booming 
 the hour watch in solemn unison. The rain splashed and pattered 
 on the amado. A rustling, swishing sound was heard, close by, 
 in the next room. Now it was as if a hand was passing along 
 the screen. He sprang up, drawn sword in hand. His eyes were 
 riveted on the shoji, anticipating an appearance. Then he laid a 
 violent hand on the interposing obstacle and threw it back. A 
 tall figure robed in black, with broad flat face and bulging brow, 
 puffed eyelids in which were sunken little dots in place of eyes, 
 hair in wild disorder framing the dead white face, stood before 
 him. " OTwa ! OTwa ! " The lamp was knocked over, but not 
 before he dealt the one fierce upward blow. Madly he sprang 
 on the apparition and slashed away in the dark. " Kiya ! " The 
 
192 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 cry rang loud. Kond5 danced with joy, calling loudly for lights. 
 " O'lwa ! O'lwa ! Kondo has slain the O'Bake, the enemy of his 
 child! Rejoice with Kondd ! The vendetta is accomplished !" In 
 the darkness and confusion a groan was heard ; then another, still 
 fainter; then there was silence. Tomobei appeared with a light. 
 He leaned over the long black robed body ; to raise an alarmed face 
 to his joyful master. "At what does the Danna Sama rejoice? 
 What has he done ? 'Tis Myozen Sama, the Osho Sama, who lies 
 cut down. Dreadful has been the mistake of the Danna Sama. 
 This is like to cost the House dear." — " Namu Myoho Renge Kyo! 
 Namu My5ho Renge Kyo! " The sword had slipped from 
 Kondo's hand, and in genuine grief he knelt beside the body of 
 the unfortunate priest, seeking for some sign of life. Alas ! 
 Myozen had almost been cut in two by the upward sweep of the 
 sword. From liver to pap was one gaping wound. He lay in the 
 pool of almost all the blood in his body. Gathered around the 
 corpse the four people eyed each other with terror. 
 
 Don — don — don, don, don, don. They sprang up in a hud- 
 dled mass. The sound was at their very shoulders. " Some one 
 knocks at the back door," said Tomobei. " Go open it," com- 
 manded Kondo. Tomobei flatly refused, and without respect, 
 nay with insolence. Kondo picked up and weighed in his hand the 
 bloody sword. Why mingle vile blood with good? Instead of 
 cutting the man down he went himself and opened the half door 
 at the top. A woman, dripping with water, her hair in wild 
 disorder, her face white as chalk, stood outside in the storm. 
 Kondo gave an exclamation of surprise — " O'Kame of Tamiya ! 
 How comes O'Kame here? It was said that Yoemon San had 
 shut her up, as one gone mad." The woman smirked with satisfied 
 air — " Kondo Rokurobei is seer as well as murderer. This Kame 
 was bound and imprisoned ; nay, almost divorced. Myozen, just 
 dead at Kondo's hands, to-morrow was to pronounce the divorce. 
 For so much, thanks to Kondo Dono. But O'Tama has died. 
 Kame would condole with Kondo San ; burn a stick of incense for 
 
TAMIYA YOfiMON 193 
 
 O'Tama. Condescend to grant entrance." Said Rokurobei ab- 
 ruptly — " How knows O'Kame of the death of Mydzen; who told 
 her of the fate of O'Tama?" She laughed wildly — "Who? 
 O'lwa; O'lwa is the friend of Kame. It was she who loosed 
 the bonds. 'O'Tama of Kondo's house is dead. O'Kame should 
 condole with the wife, the friend of this Iwa. Get you hence, 
 for Kondo has murdered the priest.' . . ..So here we are; 
 O'lwa accompanies Kame. Here she is." She waved a hand into 
 the storm and darkness. " Deign to give passage to the chamber 
 where lies O'Tama. O'lwa and Kame would burn incense to the 
 darling's memory, to the little Jewel." With a roar Kondo seized 
 the breast of her robe — " Vile old trot, off with you ! " He gave 
 her a violent push which sent her on her buttocks. The woman 
 remained seated in the mud, laughing noisily. She held out two 
 skinny arms to him. With a slam he shut the door. 
 
 He knelt by the priest's body, truly grieved — " Ah ! O'lwa 
 is abroad. How has this mad woman knowledge of this deed? 
 What was the offence of Myozen thus to deserve the hatred of 
 Tamiya O'lwa?" O'Kame had seen the priest enter, had stood 
 in the wet listening to the wild talk of Kondo, had seen the bloody 
 sword in his hand. Her mad brain had put riot and death to- 
 gether. The talk as to O'Tama she had overheard from her closet. 
 Kondo thought of neither explanation. He was at odds with 
 Akiyima, and had sent no message to his house. As he speculated 
 and thought how best to compound matters with the temple, now 
 grieved at the rash blow fallen on a friend, now aghast at the 
 certain and heavy indemnification which would be exacted by the 
 enraged clerics, an uproar arose outside. There were wild cries 
 and a scream of pain. Then came a loud triumphant shout — 
 " Heads out ! Heads out ! O'lwa is slain ! This Akiyama has 
 killed the O'Bake. The incubus of the ward is lifted. Help ! " 
 Kond5 sprang up and out of the house. Were the words true ? 
 Had another succeeded where he had failed? His lantern, the 
 lanterns of many others, threw light on the place where Akiyama 
 13 
 
194 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Chozaemon bravely stood ward over the prostrate body of the 
 apparition. Returning late from Shitamachi he had entered the 
 ward with shrinking terror. As he skulked along, with eyes on 
 every dark corner, the figure of a woman was seen close by the 
 eaves of the house of Kondo Rokurobei. As he approached she 
 came forward laughing wildly the while. The light of his lantern 
 fell on the ghastly white face, the disordered hair. In a spasm of 
 fright he dropped the lantern and delivered his blow in drawing 
 the sword. The cut was almost identical with the one delivered 
 to Myozen the priest. The men there gathered looked into each 
 other's faces, then at the body of O'Kame lying in their midst. 
 The crowd parted, and Tamiya Yoemon appeared. Kondo Roku- 
 robei and Akiyama Chozaemon stood by with bloody swords, their 
 own skins without a scratch. They were self-accused. 
 
 The upshot of the affair was ruin for all. Matters in Yotsuya 
 were coming to the official ears. Yoemon was forced to make 
 charges against Akiyama; the more willingly as therein lay a 
 chance to recoup his own losses through the wife he intended to 
 divorce on the morrow. Kondo easily cleared his skirts of this 
 offence, but was involved with the irate temple priests. All were 
 entangled in the heavy costs of the law^ of those days. Of these 
 three men something is to be said later. 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 KIBEI DONO 
 
 KiBEi was in great straits, financial and domestic. The death 
 of Kwaiba had brought him anything but freedom. In Nippon the 
 headship of a House is much more than the simple heirship of our 
 western law. Relieved of his obligation in office the old man's 
 hands were wide open to shower benefice or caprice on the most 
 worthless. Endorsement for cash and goods to Natsume, Imai- 
 zumi, and Kamimura ; donations to the temples of Teremachi and 
 the Yotsuyazaka; favours in every direction except that of Aki- 
 yama Chozaemon. in the pursuit of whom Kwaiba found much 
 amusement ; all these items added to the very free living in his 
 household had pledged deeply the ample revenue of two hundred 
 and thirty taivara, and would have upheld the samurai trait of 
 not knowing the value of money — if Kwaiba had been of that 
 kind. Between Kwaiba and Kibei, the wild debauchery of the last 
 year had brought the House to the verge of ruin. Kibei was 
 aghast. Long since he had become deeply involved with the 
 Kashiku Tamagiku of the Yamadaya in Edomachi Itchome of the 
 Yoshiwara. The ugly fellow was madly in love with the beauty. 
 On her he had poured out the treasures of the Ito House during 
 the six months which preceded the illness of Kwaiba. During his 
 prolonged absence from her the letters of the Kashiku had inun- 
 dated the writing table of Kibei. Had he deserted her? Was 
 all affection gone? Where now were the promises of ransom, the 
 blood-sealed vow to become husband and wife, to assume the rela- 
 tion which endures for two worlds ? Kibei sullenly read these 
 lines; cursing Kwaiba and cursing himself. Ransom! With 
 strict living for the next five years Jic might set matters straight 
 and free the Tayu ; and any day slie might be bought bv some 
 
 195 
 
196 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 rich country samurai or goshi (gentleman farmer), or be carried 
 off to ornament the bcsso of some hatamofo. Kibei wiped the bit- 
 ter saliva from his lips.^ 
 
 The domestic difficulties were accompaniment to these more 
 important matters. In the large mansion Kibei was now alone. 
 The tenth day had witnessed the flight of the last of the servants. 
 The women had departed with the funeral, through fear, sacrific- 
 ing wages and even such clothing as could not surreptitiously 
 be removed. What woman — or man — could remain in a house 
 which was the nightly scene of such fearful sounds of combat. 
 Shrieks, wails, groans, came from the quarters once occupied 
 by the dead Kwaiba. As to this there was no difference of opin- 
 ion. The more venturesome had been favoured with actual sight 
 of the scenes enacted. They had seen the old man as he was in 
 death, pursued from room to room by two frightful hags, as 
 gaunt, blear, sightless as himself. Dreadful were the cries of the 
 dead man as the harpies fastened upon him, descending from above 
 like two huge bats. These scenes took place usually at the eighth 
 hour (i A.M.), not to cease until dawn. As for the men ser- 
 vants, they took their leave in the days following, asking forma! 
 dismissal (itoma) with recommendation to another House. They 
 scented the approaching ruin of their present employer. 
 
 One day Kakusuke presented himself. Kibei looked up. He 
 understood at once that the man had come in his turn to take 
 leave. Kakusuke alone had remained with him. He was chilgen, 
 stable boy, cook, maid ; and did the work of all four without com- 
 plaint. The change in his master was too marked. Kibei, in his 
 turn, had become irritable, timorous as a girl, subject to out- 
 breaks of almost insane rage. To Kakusuke the young man 
 seemed to have lost all nerve. Kakusuke wanted to serve a man. 
 As long as the Wakadono gave promise of redemption, of rising 
 above his difficulties and emerging into a splendid career in which 
 
 ^ An ordinary disposition of these women; who often preferred 
 their Edo lover to such lot. 
 
KIBEI DONO 197 
 
 Kakusuke could take pride, the chugen was ready to take the 
 bitter with the sweet. To be maid servant and keeper of a man 
 half mad had no attraction for this blunt-nerved fellow. He spoke 
 plainly — " The Wakadono should deign to throw up the whole 
 connection. Under the present conditions the ruin of the House 
 is unavoidable. Condescend to return to the original House in 
 Honjo Yokogawa. This course will be best. At least the Waka- 
 dono secures his own salvation. This is the advice of Kakusuke, 
 grown old in experience of service in a samurai household. In 
 naught else is there hope. As to himself, would the Wakadono 
 condescend to grant dismissal." Long had been the intimacy be- 
 tween ltd Kwaiba and Inagaki Shogen. Kakusuke, the messenger 
 between the two Houses, had watched this Fukutaro (Kibei) 
 grow to manhood, had noted his prowess. It w^as with delight 
 he had carried the documents which were to bring this new and 
 vigorous blood into the home of his decadent master. This was 
 the result. " A pest on these witches — and their craft ! " 
 
 Kibei heard him out with growing anger. As the man's words 
 gathered vigour and plain spokenness his hand wandered to his 
 sword. He had a mind to cut him down then and there for his 
 freedom of speech. More than half induced to recognize the truth 
 of the indictment his better feeling halted him. With harsh 
 and sardonic tone he gave unbelieving thanks for the implied 
 reproof of the chugen. The service of Kakusuke had been faith- 
 ful beyond measure. It should have its proper reward. If others 
 had chosen to depart as do those who run away, they had shown 
 ignorance of this Kibei. From a drawer of the desk he took out 
 a letter already prepared, a roll containing wages. He pushed 
 the zen toward Kaktisuke. This readiness, as if foreseen, hit the 
 man hard. Respectfully he pressed the letter to his forehead, 
 bowing with extended hands on the tatami; the money he did not 
 touch. Finally he raised a timid questioning glance to his one- 
 time master. Said Kibei jeeringly — " Kakusuke has given his 
 advice. Is it part of his long experience that a servant should 
 
198 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 question the wages placed under his nose ? Off with you ! This 
 Kibei would be alone; most willingly so."' At the peremptory 
 threatening gesture Kakusuke no longer hesitated. He had no 
 inclination to be a victim of one of the mad outbreaks of the 
 young man. Taking the roll humbly he backed out of the room. 
 His steps were heard a few minutes later passing the entrance. 
 Then the outer gate shut to with a clang. 
 
 For a long watch Kibei sat in meditation. He was as one who 
 sleeps. Then he rose with decision. " 'Tis the last chance. Kaku- 
 suke is right. The matter is to be brought to an end." Dressing 
 for the street he left the house. He opened the big gate ; then went 
 to the stable, and saddled and bridled his horse. He led it outside, 
 closed the gate, and mounting he rode forth, to go to Hon jo 
 Yokogawa and the yashiki of his father, Inagaki Shogen. Coming 
 unaccompanied he was received with surprise and some discomfi- 
 ture,' as he was quick to note. He was very cpiick to note things 
 in these days. Prostrating himself before his mother — " Kibei 
 presents himself. Honoured mother, deign to pardon the intru- 
 sion. Fukotaro would solicit her pity and influence." The lady 
 looked at him with amazement. " Fukutaro! What then of 
 Kibei? Is some jest deigned at the mother's expense? It is in 
 very bad taste. . . . But the face of Kibei implies no jest. 
 Pray put the matter plainly. Why does her son come in petition 
 to the mother ? " Began Kibei — " The matter is most serious 
 . . ." He went into the full details ; from the time of his en- 
 trance into the ltd House, through the cpurse of dissipation and 
 illness of Kwaiba, down to the present ruined state of affairs. 
 " All this is due to the curse of OTwa San, to this plot in which 
 Kibei foolishly engaged." Of this he now fully felt the force. 
 The events of the past weeks had wrecked him in mind and body. 
 One disaster after another, in house and ward, had been visited 
 on Kibei. The bitterness and dislike of the people toward Kwaiba 
 was visited on his representative, who was held responsible. In 
 his great mansion he lived alone. No servant would enter it to 
 
KIBEI DONO 199 
 
 attend to his wants. Was he to cook and be valet for himself — 
 and pose as the Kumi-gashira; the great chief of the ward ! The 
 position was an impossible one. Deign to use a mother's influence 
 with Inagaki Dono. " Condescend to secure permission for the 
 return of this Kibei to his original House, for the cancellation of 
 the adoption." 
 
 The wife of Shogen sat frightened ; at the tale, and at this 
 radical way of finding an exit from the situation. The mother's 
 heart was full of pity for the distracted son, whose haggard looks 
 showed the strain of the past weeks. Besides she was a woman, 
 and as such fully believed in and feared the curse of this dead 
 O'lwa, one who had died without funeral rites or prayer. " For- 
 tunately the honoured father now is on the night watch at the 
 castle. He is at home, drinking his wine. His humour is ex- 
 cellent.. Wait but a moment." Leaving Kibei she went to the 
 room of Shogen's light indulgence. The severe and conscientious 
 nobleman was bending under the genial influence of the sake. 
 " Kibei ? He comes in good season. The heir of Kwaiba Inkyo 
 has not favoured his real father of late. Ah ! The boy was well 
 placed. Kwaiba soon made way for him ; and none too willingly, 
 one can believe." He chuckled. Then noting his wife's troubled 
 looks. " But there is something to tell." — " So indeed; none too 
 pleasant." She went into the story Kibei had told her. " His 
 fear of O'lwa San is deadly. The House is ruined, with no profit 
 in the connection. Deign to permit the cancellation of the adop- 
 tion, his return to the House of his true parent." She stopped 
 before the stern astonished look of the husband. Said he harshly 
 — " Let him come up. Shogen answers Kibei Dono in person. 
 . . . Heigh ! Up here with you ! For Ito Dono there is 
 wine . ..." Kibei entered joyfully at his father's call. Suc- 
 cess was in his hands. Once more he was to marshal his father's 
 retainers and accompany him to the castle ; once more be the 
 habitue of the fencing rooms. "Honoured father, fear enters: 
 for long this Kibei has not ventured into your presence." — " And 
 
200 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 need not for long again," thundered the old man. " What stufif 
 is this for the ears of Shogen ? Kibei would sever his connection 
 with the Ito House. Kibei is afraid of a ghost! He fears a girl! 
 A samurai wearing two swords shrinks from an encounter with 
 a woman ! Has Shogen no obligation toward his old friend 
 Kwaiba ? In more serious matters and in life Shogen would share 
 Kwaiba's lot. Back with you to the house in Yotsuya! If this 
 matter become known, both Kibei and Shogen will be the laughing 
 stocks of Edo. At least keep such fears to yourself. Off with 
 you ! Shogen had wine for Ito Dono. For the fellow who would 
 call himself — Fukutaro, he has none." With a kick he sent rolling 
 the zen (table) with its burden of bottles and heating apparatus. 
 In a rage he left the room. 
 
 Kibei's face was white as he raised it from the tatami. " Father 
 has no experience of ghosts; he speaks at random and in anger. 
 Terrible is the actuality." Said the mother, slowly and pain- 
 fully — " He is the father ; he is to be obeyed." Kibei was sitting 
 upright. He nodded grave assent. Then suddenly he pros- 
 trated himself ceremoniously before the sJioji through which 
 Shogen had disappeared. He repeated the salutation before his 
 mother. Then he rose — " Ito Kibei takes leave. May good health 
 and fortune visit those of this House." At his exit the mother 
 rejoiced. Severe had been the father's words, but they had 
 brought the boy to reason. She wept and trembled at the reproof. 
 Men had best knowledge of such affairs. She would pray at 
 Reiganji, and have memorial service held for the peace of this 
 OTwa in the next world. Then the curse would not rest upon 
 her son. 
 
 On his appearance at the house entrance an ashigaru (foot 
 soldier) led up the horse. Kibei waved him away. — " For the 
 present keep the animal in charge. With matters to attend to 
 close at hand Kibei will use other conveyance." The man took 
 the animal away. Leaving the gate of the yashiki Kibei walked 
 the short distance to the Hoonji bridge. Here was a kago (litter) 
 
KIBEI DONO 201 
 
 stand. " To Yamadaya in Yoshiwara." As the kago men went 
 off at a trot — " Kibei has played and lost. How does the account 
 yonder stand? Seventy ryo owed at the Matsuminato-ya. For 
 the rest, this Kibei can claim a night's attendance from the 
 kashiku. If affection would not grant it, the huge sums bestowed 
 in the past have a claim upon her. Then to end matters and die 
 like a samurai. To-morrow Kibei cuts belly." It was the debt 
 which sent him direct to the Yamadaya, and not first to the tea 
 house. Sitting over the wine all effort of the Kashiku to enliven 
 him failed. Noting her discomfiture he smiled gloomily. 
 Then in explanation — " The thoughts of Kibei go astray. 
 The House is ruined. Ransom is impossible. This is the 
 last meeting. To-morrow Kibei cuts belly, and dies like a 
 samurai." At first the girl thought he was joking. Then 
 noting the wild look of despair in his eyes, she was frightened. 
 Partly in disbelief ; partly seeking to postpone this desperate 
 resolve, to turn his thoughts and gain time for reflection ; partly 
 in that sentimental mood which at times affects this class of 
 women — " Is Kibei truly ruined ? Lamentable the fate of Tama- 
 giku. Why not join him in death? But the idea is too new. 
 Deign to postpone the execution for a space. To-night shall be 
 a night of pleasure with the Kashiku Tamagiku. With the mor- 
 row's darkness she dies with Kibei. Hand in hand they will 
 wander the paths of Amida's paradise." She came close to him 
 in service of the wine ; put her arms about him, and drew him 
 to her bosom; in every way cajoled and sought to comfort him, 
 and corrupt his purpose. Consent was easy. The night was passed 
 in love and wine. In the morning he left her. 
 
 Kibei was making his final preparations ; writing directions 
 which would benefit as far as possible the House in Honjo at the 
 expense of that in Yotsuya. In the Yoshiwara a very different 
 scene was taking place. With his departure the Kashiku sprang 
 up. Hastily throwing a robe around her person she sought the 
 room of the yarite — the bawd of the house. " The Kashiku ! At 
 
202 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 this hour — what has happened?" — "Something of importance. 
 This night Tama dies with Kibei Dono. The compact is closed, 
 hard and firm." The astonished bawd had been rubbing the sleep 
 out of her eyes. The last words brought her full awake — " Is 
 the Kashiku drunk with wine ? Is she mad? Truly it would seem 
 so. And the bail? What is to become of the unfortunate? True 
 it is Toemon of Honjo; and he has trouble enough already. He 
 will never leave his prison." Tamagiku made a gesture of im- 
 patience — " This Tama has acted but to gain time. Can she have 
 affection for such an ugly fellow? Was she to be the victim of 
 some crazy outburst ? Perhaps the day will bring better counsel ; 
 but the night's conversation does not augur it. His plans are most 
 complete. The master must be' seen. Deign to mediate ; prevent 
 the admittance of Kibei Dono as guest." O'Kayo the bawd nodded 
 intelligence and assent. At once she sought the master of the 
 house. " A dangerous guest," was his comment. " Send to the 
 Matsuminatoya. They must be warned. We can look after 
 ourselves." As an attendant of the tea house presented himself — 
 " And the master, Teisuke San ! " — " Is absent; this Tosuke repre- 
 sents him. He has gone to Edo. Perhaps the house will deign to 
 look at a new inmate. A true Tayu ! The daughter of Akiyama 
 San of Yotsuya sacrifices her caste. But sixteen years, she is a 
 jewel. Less than a hundred ryo will buy her. He is in great diffi- 
 culties." Tosuke spoke with enthusiasm. The master of the 
 Yamadaya answered promptly and with emphasis — " Accepted : 
 let her be on hand in the course of the day. But Tosuke, there 
 is another matter. Kibei Dono no longer can be accepted as a 
 guest." He went into details. Tosuke drew a long breath. " A 
 dangerous fellow ! The Danna Sama never liked his presence. 
 But he owes the house much money ; seventy ryo." — " That is 
 your affair," coldly replied the master of the Yamadaya. " This 
 house answers not for the accounts of the tea-house. Previous 
 notice has been given. Kibei Dono cannot be received as guest." 
 — " That is not to be denied. He is most undesirable. But the 
 
KIBEI DONO 203 
 
 seventy ryo! And the week's settlement to make with this 
 house? "' The Yamadaya had an idea — " It rarely passes a hun- 
 dred ryo. . . . Five years is accepted? Then take thirty 
 ryo and deliver this girl to the Yamadaya. ... A true Tayu ? 
 If so the debt of Kibei finds payment." Tosuke agreed with joy. 
 
 At night the kago man set Kibei down before the Matsumina- 
 toya. Teisuke, the tcislifi (host), regarded his arrival with mixed 
 feelings. His coming meant something. Giving up his two 
 swords, and once seated, Kibei 's first act was to give thanks for 
 past services. Calling for his account he produced the seventy 
 ryo in its settlement. Prompt and profound were the humble 
 thanks of the house for this unexpected liquidation. Kibei had 
 secured the money by the transfer of obligations of Akiyama 
 Chozaemon to the usurer Suzuki Sanjuro. Three hundred and 
 fifty ryo immediately due against seventy ryo in cash satisfied 
 even this shark. Teisuke was impressed. How deny such a 
 guest ? He would get rid of him, and profit both ways. Yamadaya 
 now would promptly pay the additional seventy ryo due on the 
 girl with whom they were so delighted. He had paid fifty ryo 
 for her. At Kibei's call his order was prompt. " Tosuke, accom- 
 pany Kjbei Dono to the Yamadaya." Kibei's calm and collected 
 manner reassured him. This man did not contemplate suicide. 
 
 With the appearance of Tosuke and Kibei at the Yamadaya 
 there was a flutter. The Banto Matsuzo respectfully came for- 
 ward. As Kibei came up to the roka and shook off his gcta he 
 interposed. " Deign to wait. Kibei Dono. Matters have changed 
 since morning. The Kashiku is very ill. She can see no one. 
 Condescend to come another time. For one ill in body pleasure 
 is no pastime. Pray consider ; grant excuse for this one occasion." 
 Kibei was surprised. He had left her perfectly well in the morn- 
 ing. Something in the hanto's face, in the massed position of the 
 men standing by, apprised him of the truth. He was enraged 
 at the lie and the insult. " 111 ? That is very strange, when so well 
 at morning. But it is immaterial. Kibei goes to the room." — 
 
204 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 "Impossible," was the firm reply of the banto. "The Kashiku 
 lies isolated from all. It is the order of the physician. Even 
 those in the rooms around her have been ordered out. Pray for- 
 bear." But Kibei was obstinate — " Then a glass of wine at her 
 bedside; Kibei has matters to impart." The banto stuck to his 
 post — " Wine ! Amid the smell of drugs, the unseemly vessels of 
 the sick room ! Such could not be permitted." Kibei stretched 
 out an arm. The banto went flying a dozen feet. Kibei made a 
 leap toward the stairway. But the bawd O'Kayo interposed her 
 vinegary presence. She was brave; having the support of great 
 numbers, of the whole household. " What rudeness ! How incon- 
 siderate your way of acting ! You behave in very bad taste ; with 
 the roughness of an ashigaru (foot soldier). The Yamadaya 
 does not entertain such miserable scamps. The Tayu is ill. This 
 Kayo says it. Get you hence — to some coolie house. Return 
 the day before yesterday." - Kibei gave a yell — " Yai ! You old 
 bitch ! The whole affair is plain to Kibei. Out of money, his 
 presence is no longer desired. Ah ! Kibei will have vengeance." 
 Without arms, before the sullen determination of these plebeians, 
 he felt his helplessness. An unseemly brawl, in which he would 
 be worsted, must not be entered on. He must leave. In a. tower- 
 ing rage he strode back to the. tea-house. Tosuke tried to keep 
 pace with him. 
 
 Said Teisuke in feigned astonishment — " Kibei Dono ! What 
 has happened?" Kobei did but stutter and fume. The teishu 
 turned to Tosuke. This latter made answer for his charge — " At 
 the Yamadaya they were very rude. Admittance was refused to 
 Kibei Dono. The bawd O'Kayo told him to come back day be- 
 fore yesterday ! " — " Very rude indeed ! Were such things said ? 
 It is unpardonable. An explanation must be had with the house. 
 
 'Ototoi oidc: It is the salutation of the good Buddhist to the cap- 
 tured insect, thrown without and requested to return " the day before 
 yesterday " :^ the Greek Kalends. As used above it is a gross insult 
 to the person addressed. 
 
KIBEI DONO 205 
 
 Danna Sama, for to-night deign to leave this matter to Teisuke. 
 Ample satisfaction shall be had for the outrage." Teisuke threw 
 up his hands as with uncontrollable anger. Kibei paid no atten- 
 tion, but demanded his swords. Outwardly he had regained his 
 self-control. The maid O'Moto looked with ditifidence at her 
 mistress. The woman was accustomed to such scenes. At her sign 
 the girl brought the weapons, carefully wrapped up. She placed 
 them before Kibei. Unrolling the cover he put them on. With 
 scanty salutation he strode off. Teisuke watched him^ — -" It would 
 be wise for the Yamadaya to close early to-night, to take in their 
 lanterns ; nay, even to board up the front and take refuge in the 
 store-house." Tdsuke was in no hurry to face Matsuzo, the 
 banto of Yamadaya. Continued the easy old fellow — " Well, 'tis 
 their affair. They are as good judges as Teisuke ; and they could 
 have been more civil in refusal. At all events the house has seventy 
 ryo, and Kibei Dono is sober. He will cut belly before dawn ; 
 and perhaps nothing will happen hereabouts." The old pimp went 
 off to his inner room ; to sit down before his wine about the same 
 time that Kibei did the same in a cook shop opposite the great gate 
 of Yoshiwara. Here he idled, barely touched his drink, and 
 passed the time in bantering the maid servant. He was in a riotous 
 humour. He would take her to wife — and sell her the next morn- 
 ing. "As they do yonder." But OT<[iyo was not of that kind. 
 " There is a lover? " — " Of course ! " In admitting it she blushed, 
 somewhat offended at hint of suspicion that such was lacking. 
 Jibed Kibei — " He will do the same. Better to be the wife of a 
 samurai; even for an hour." In the end he frightened the girl a 
 good deal, so boisterous was he. She had gone out to buy him a 
 deep hat. With relief she saw him put it on and set forth into 
 the darkness and the rain. 
 
 The eighth hour (i a.m.) was nearly ready to strike. The 
 pleasure quarter was silent. Passersby were few. The occasional 
 shuffling sound of sori (sandals) could be heard behind the closed 
 amado. Kibei smiled cynically as he recognized this mark of re- 
 
206 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 volting passage from one room to another. In doubt he stood 
 before the gate of the Yamadaya. How break in and kill them all ? 
 If Kibei had his way the Kashiku would keep her word. Just then 
 a noise of voices was heard within, the falling of the bar. Several 
 belated guests came forth. They were in the charge of O'Moto, 
 the maid of the Matsuminatoya. Affectionate were the leave- 
 takings with the quondam wives. " Condescend an early visit. 
 This Haya lives but in the thought of Mosuke." — " Bunzaemon 
 San, be faithful to this Hana. In his absence she is always ill. 
 She receives no one." At this there was a roar of laughter from 
 the others of the company. Bunzaemon answered, with re- 
 proaches. Kibei followed behind. This fellow was somewhat 
 lamed. He lagged behind. Kibei pulled his sleeve. Bunzaemon, 
 the cit, turned in surprise and fear at sight of the samurai in 
 his deep hat. Said Kibei — " Don't be afraid. Bunzaemon San 
 has forgotten pipe, or purse, or something. He must go back 
 to the Yamadaya." At the fellow's groping in his garments and 
 failure to understand he grew impatient. " A friend lies at the 
 Yamadaya. It is late, and they will not open at an unknown 
 voice. Entrance somehow must be had. Deign to lend your 
 aid." At last the fellow comprehended — "O'Moto- San! A mo- 
 ment: my pipe . . ." — " Oya ! The Danna Sama has forgotten 
 his pipe?" The girl went back the short distance to the gate. 
 She knocked and called. With sleepy tones the voice of Matsuzo 
 the banto was heard. The bar fell. The girl turned to look down 
 the street toward her guests. She looked right into the face of 
 Kibei. Dropping her lantern, with a smothered scream she fled. 
 Matsu, the banto, looked with horror at the man before him. 
 As Kibei threw off his hat he turned to flee. Tripping, he fell. 
 Kibei drew him back by the leg. A blow cut him through the 
 shoulder. As he rose staggering a second vicious side swing 
 sent the severed head to the ground. The gateman took the 
 chance. Fleeing to the recesses of the kitchen, he swarmed up 
 a post and hid himself among the rafters of the roof, amid the 
 
KIBEI DONO • 207 
 
 darkness of their shadows. Kibci turned back and carefully 
 barred the gate. With the key at the girdle of Matsuzo he locked 
 the bar chain. All was now ready for his visitation and search. 
 
 On the floor above they had a drunken guest in hand, trying 
 to get him to depart. A ban to and several women formed the 
 committee of expulsion. "Ah! Money gone, one's welcome is 
 quickly worn out in this hell. But Jusuke does not budge. He 
 fears not the whole pack of foxes. . . . Thanks : deep the 
 obligation of this Jusuke, extending to the next life." A woman 
 had picked up and restored his purse. "The bill is paid? An 
 early start Tokaido way? Ah, true ! Jusuke had forgotten." He 
 was now all compliments and thanks. Then in a rage — " Oh ! The 
 huzzy! What is Jusuke's purse worth with nothing in it? Who 
 has robbed the purse of Jusuke?" He was madly fumbling his 
 tobacco pouch. A woman put his hand on the missing object in the 
 folds of his girdle. He was mollified. As they moved to the 
 head of the stairs — " Take care ! Jusuke San, don't fall ! Banto 
 San, deign to aid the guest." Refusing all help the man lurched 
 half way down the flight. Then he stopped, staring and looking 
 before him. At the foot stood Kibei, bloody sword in hand. 
 " Down with this Jusuke ? But Jusuke cannot down. A fool 
 blocks the way. . . . Fool, you block the way of Jusuke." — 
 " Out of the road, drunkard ! " The words of Kibei came between 
 his teeth, half growl, half snarl. The man obstinately held his 
 own. When Kibei would push past him — " Beast ! " He struck 
 the samurai. Kibei whirled the sword. The head rolled to the 
 bottom of the steps. The blood bathed Kibei from head to foot. 
 
 His appearance was horrible. The women fled in all direc- 
 tions. The banto covered their retreat. " Kibei Dono ! Pray be 
 reasonable. Control yourself ! " Kibei made a step toward the 
 women's rooms. The banto was dreadfully frightened, yet bravely 
 he interposed to save them. He shouted for aid ; below and to the 
 neighbours. Kibei reached him. A blow and he fell severed. 
 Kibei gave a howl of joy. O'Kayo the bawd came out to ascertain 
 
208 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 the cause of the brawl. She turned livid with fear on recog- 
 nizing Kibei. They were standing together in the sort of entresol 
 or room at the head of the stairway. Only a large brazier separated 
 Kibei from his vengeance. Its massiveness of three or four feet 
 breadth baffled him. The woman was fleeing for life. As he 
 strove to get within striking distance fear gave her wings. From 
 one side to another she leaped and dodged. Kibei was hampered. 
 He had to cut her off from stair and roka. As he hesitated she 
 discharged the iron kettle at his head. One implement followed 
 another. In hurling the iron tripod ashes entered her eyes. At 
 once Kibei leaped to close quarters. The first sword blow she 
 dodged. As Kibei recovered she sprang by him and over the 
 hibachi, seeking the safety of the stairs now open to her. Her 
 night-dress caught on the handle of the brazier and brought her 
 to the ground. Next moment she was severed from shoulder 
 to midriff. 
 
 Methodically Kibei began his examination of the rooms. To 
 most of the inmates this uproar was a mere quarrel in the house, 
 the cause of which they neither knew nor cared to know. The 
 first search was at the room of the Kashiku, close to that of 
 O'Kayo the bawd. Her reception room was dark. Here the 
 Kashiku's bed usually was prepared. The inner room, her dress- 
 ing room, showed the dim light of an andon. Noting her absence 
 from the usual place a hasty stride brought him to the shoji. As 
 he violently shoved them apart a man rose from the bed in the 
 room. A mere glance showed that this was no lover. As Kibei 
 with drawn sword stood over him, he squatted on his hams, crouch- 
 ing and begging for life. To Kibei's astonishment he called him 
 by name — " Deign, honoured Sir, to spare this Chobei. Be assured 
 the Kashiku is not in this place. She lies to-night with the Danna 
 of the house. Deign to seek her in his company." He pointed 
 vaguely as he spoke, to give direction. Kibei laughed ferociously. 
 From this source these directions were atrocious. He lowered 
 the weapon- — " Chobei ! At this place and t*ime ! Well met, good 
 
KIBEI DONO 209 
 
 Sir. Kibei is doubly grateful for what he has learned. Chobei 
 and Kibei are fellows in fortune. Willingly Kibei leaves him to 
 O'lwa San and her mercies." His attentive gaze never wan- 
 dered from the face of the one-time pimp. With a gesture of 
 horror he rushed from the room. In fright Chdbei rolled his 
 head up in the coverlet, to keep out the vision evoked. 
 
 He continued his search — " Is it my little black fellow ? " 
 Such the greeting of one woman aroused from sleep. Trembling 
 she rose at sight of Kibei. Harshly told to lie down, she gladly 
 obeyed. Her quivering limbs already were nearly yielding as he 
 spoke. In but one place did he encounter opposition. Pushing 
 open the shoji of the merest closet of a room he came upon a 
 girl whose face somehow was familiar. She was a mere slip of 
 a creature to be called a woman. The undeveloped hips, the yet 
 immature bosom, aroused his astonishment at finding her in such 
 a place as inmate ; that is, until the pure oval and beauty of the face 
 caught his glance. As he entered she sprang up in alarm. Just 
 roused from sleep she hardly knew where she was — " Father ! 
 Father ! A man ! A man is in the room ! Help ! " Kibei pushed 
 her back on the bed. With his bloody sword he rolled over the 
 bed-clothes. Then he made a move to get at the closet behind. 
 Perhaps mistaking his action the girl sprang upon him. Kibei was 
 startled at her mad energy. When he thrust her down she seized 
 his hand in her teeth, sinking them deep into it. Pain and impa- 
 tience — after all he was pressed for time — overcame him. Un- 
 able otherwise to shake her ofif he thrust the point of the sword 
 into her throat and gave a vigorous downward push. Coughing 
 up great clouts of blood, the girl sank back, dying on the futon. 
 As he left the room remembrance came to Kibei's mind. He had 
 seen her in Yotsuya. More than once O'Tsuru had served him 
 tea in the house of her father, Chozaemon. How came she in this 
 vile den? He took a step back to aid her if he could. She was 
 stone dead. 
 14 
 
210 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 The Tayu Nishikiyama ^ now knew the cause of the 
 disturbance. To the frightened page (kamuro) who came 
 running to her — " Be quiet child. This is no time to lose 
 self-control. Aid me in preparation. She dressed herself 
 with the greatest care ; " all in white, as befitted a lady 
 in attendance on a nobleman." Then she took down her 
 koto and struck the opening bars of an old and famous song — 
 the "Jinmujo" (Inexhaustible Happiness) — said to have been 
 sung by the famous Shizuka Gozen when she danced the Horaku, 
 or sacred dance, before the Shogun Yoriitomo at Kamakura Hachi- 
 mangu. As Kibei turned into the corridor the voice of the Oiran 
 caught his ear as she sang in accompaniment to the instrument. 
 She was bending over the koto as the shoji were flung apart. 
 Kibei, his hair hanging in disorder and framing a face ghastly 
 white in contrast to the red streaks splashed over it and his gar- 
 ments, stood transfixed at the entrance. The Tayu looked up. 
 With calm pose and courteous salute — " Kibei Dono, what man- 
 ner of acting is this ! Is not Kibei Dono the bushif Truly mad- 
 ness has seized you, honoured Sir. This is Nishikiyama. . . . 
 Deign to be seated. 'Tis Nishikiyama who serves Kibei Dono. 
 What has been done cannot be undone. The last cup of wine in 
 life is to be drained. Deign to accept it from these humble hands." 
 
 Kibei continued gazing on her. The unhappy man, his mind 
 was opened to a flood of light. The hurricane of passion was pass- 
 ing. Slowly he advanced into the room. " Truly the Go Tayu is 
 right. Kibei has gone mad ; mad indeed ! " He sank down on the 
 cushion before her. At a sign the page placed the stand containing 
 the bottle of cold sake before the lady. Skilfully the slender 
 hands held it, gracefully poured it for the man doomed to death, 
 taking this final cup served by her. Kibei raised it, drained it to 
 the last drop. " The Kashiku : she is on this lower floor. Where 
 lies she?" Nashikiyama noted the wild light returning to his 
 
 ^Damask hill: the names taken by these great hetairai were most 
 fanciful. 
 
KIBEI BONO 211 
 
 eyes. She bowed her head before him — " The life of Nishiki- 
 yama is at the command of Kibei Dono. Her Hps are sealed. 
 Honoured Sir, how answer Kibei Dono's question ? " For the 
 moment he looked down. Then he rose — " Whose daughter can 
 the Oiran be ! Truly no lady in the land could show a higher 
 courage, a finer courtesy. The final salute of this Kibei in life is 
 to the Go Tayu." In grave ceremony it was performed. As he 
 left the room the woman buried her face in her hands, weeping 
 bitterly. In wonder and gratitude the frightened page extended 
 her hands, her face hidden in the white robes of the Go Tayu. 
 
 Kibei trod this lower corridor with sombre tread. He would 
 cut belly at the garden pond. With some surprise he noted an 
 amado open at the end of the roka. Voices were heard. Standing 
 at the opening he saw lanterns. Some frenzied women had raised 
 a ladder to the garden wall. They would thus escape, but the 
 knife-like bamboo stakes prevented. Said a voice outside, and 
 close to him — " The key to the gate : here it is." The Kashiku 
 at a run passed by him. Kibei gave a shout. The frightened 
 woman turned, recognized him, then sped on. In a few steps 
 he was on her. The raised sword descended as she fell on her 
 knees before him, in attempt to swerve its course. Through 
 wrist and collar-bone, from neck to navel, the keen blade passed. 
 Kibei threw the weapon aside. He leaned over her, his dagger 
 drawn. Then he rose, holding by its tresses the head. For a 
 moment he gazed on it. Slowly he walked to the pond in the centre 
 of the garden. Carefully he washed the bloody trophy and placed 
 it on the curbing. Confronting it he made reverential salutation. 
 " Kibei keeps his promise to the Kashiku. With Tamagiku he 
 treads the gloomy paths of Shideyama. Honoured lady — a mo- 
 ment and Kibei follows." Seated before the head reposing on 
 the curb he opened his clothes. Thrusting the bloody dagger deep 
 into his left side he slowly drew it across the belly ; then made the 
 upward cut. The body fell forward. Kibei indeed had kept 
 his word. 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 MATTERS ECCLESIASTICAL 
 
 Inagaki Shogen received the news at dawn, just as he was 
 leaving the castle on completion of his night watch. The old 
 knight smiled gravely, thanked the bearer of the message, and re- 
 warded him with lavish hand. The kago bearers jolted on. The 
 news had reached the train, and chugcn and spearman exchanged 
 whispers. On arrival at the Inagaki yoshiki his lordship made 
 no motion to descend. The chamberlain raising the curtain gave 
 a cry of horror. The old man lay stretched at the bottom of the 
 little chamber. The dagger and the pool of blood told the tale. 
 Shogen had followed the example of his son. He, too. now trod 
 the paths of Shideyama. 
 
 With laggard tottering step Akiyama Chozaemon entered his 
 house. Regardless of wife and the cushion she offered, of the 
 hardly repressed tear in her salutation, he cast himself full length 
 on the mats. He buried his face in his arms. The groans which 
 issued from the prostrate body frightened the woman. " The 
 honoured return; has other misfortune fallen on the House?" A 
 shrug of the shoulders, a shiver; then the man half rose and faced 
 her. She was startled at his expression. He was facing the most 
 dreadful, not mere thought of ruin to him and his — " Suzuki San 
 is liar and thief. Fifty ryo in hand the promise was for ab- 
 stention. Now he demands twenty ryo more — the interest on the 
 debt in full." His voice rose to a harsh scream. He laughed 
 despairingly. " Seventy-five ryo interest, for the loan of a month ; 
 and that loan forced on this Chozaemon by Ito Kwaiba ! Kibei 
 has sc[uandered everything. The loan comes back on the bail. If 
 Suzuki holds the interest in hand, he allows the principal, three 
 hundred and fifty ryo, to stand for the month. Unless he has the 
 212 
 
MATTERS ECCLESIASTICAL 213 
 
 lacking twenty-five ryo by the fourth hour (9 a.m.) to-morrow, 
 complaint is laid at the office. As usual the interest is written 
 into the face of the bond. The end is certain. This Chozaemon 
 must cut belly or suffer degradation (kaieki)." He looked her 
 over critically. The light of hope died out of his eyes — " Ah ! If 
 this Tsuyu could but be sold, the money would be in hand. But 
 she is old and ugly. Pfaugh ! . . . " How he hated her at 
 this moment. Some half a dozen years older than Chozaemon the 
 marriage had been arranged by the parents on truly financial prin- 
 ciples. Mizoguchi Hampei was rich, and reputed stingy and sav- 
 ing. Just recently he had fallen into the Edogawa as he returned 
 home late one night. Drunk and surfeited with the foul waters 
 of the stream they had fished him out stone dead. Then it was 
 learned that the old fellow of sixty odd years had several con- 
 cubines, of the kind to eat into house and fortune. The reversion 
 of the pension, of course, went to the House. In all these years 
 Chozaemon had never received the dower of O'Tsuyu ; nor dared 
 to press the rich man for it, too generous to his daughter to 
 quarrel with. The funds eagerly looked for by Chozaemon were 
 found to be non est uwentus. Probably, if alive, Mizoguchi would 
 have argued that the dower had been paid in instalments. In his 
 grave difficulties Akiyama could find no aid in his. wife. She 
 mourned her uselessness — " Willingly would Tsuyu come to the 
 aid of House and husband, join her daughter in the bitter service. 
 But past forty years. . . . 'Tis useless to think of it. Per- 
 haps some expedient will come to mind." She brought out the 
 arm rest and placed it near his side. Then she sat apart watching 
 him. From time to time was heard the tap of her pipe as she 
 knocked out the ashes. At last, overcome by sleep and seeing no 
 sign of movement on the husband's part, she went off to bed, ex- 
 pecting that he would soon follow. 
 
 She woke with a start — " Father ! Father !" The voice of 
 O'Tsuru rang sharply in her ears. Dazed she half rose and looked 
 around her. The daylight streamed through the closed amado. 
 
214 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 She had been dreaming. With surprise she noted her husband's 
 absence. Had he gone forth? The cries of a bean curd seller 
 were heard without — " Tofu! Tofu! The best of tofu!" The 
 palatable, cheap, and nutritious food was a standard meal in this 
 house as in many others of Nippon. Akiyama was most generous in 
 indulgence of his passions for gambling, wine, and the women of 
 Shinjuku ; and his household with equal generosity were indulged 
 in an economical regimen of tofu. The wife rose to answer the call 
 of the street huckster. Her surprise increased as she found every 
 means of exit bolted and barred, as during the night. The open 
 sliding window in the kitchen roof caught her eye. Surely he had 
 not departed that way ! As she opened the back door a murmur 
 of voices, as in the roadway or close by, struck her ear. The tofu 
 seller had his head turned away looking upward. At her call he 
 turned quickly with apology — " Good day, honoured lady. A 
 strange event ! Ah ! The honoured household still sleeps. All is 
 silent. . . . Strange indeed ! A man has hung himself on 
 the big oak tree in the temple ground. Deign to look." He pointed 
 to the big tree close by in the grounds of the Myogydji."^ Sure 
 enough : forty feet from the ground dangled the body of a man. 
 It swayed gently to and fro in harmony with the movement of 
 the branches. A hand seemed to grasp the heart of Tsuyu. The 
 branches of the tree reached far over their roof. The open hiki- 
 mado! With feeble voice she said — '' My husband ; he is strangely 
 absent. Deign, somebody, to climb up and find out whether this 
 man is — of the ward." The startled tofu seller hastened to get 
 aid. Several men entered the garden, quickly mounted to the roof, 
 and thus reached the tree. Said the topmost fellow — " Ma ! Ma ! 
 It is no pretty sight. He makes a hideous spectacle. The face is 
 black as a rice boiler. The eyes stand out as if ready to burst. 
 The tongue hangs out like a true guard {hyotan). The grin on 
 
 * Next to the Ten-6 Jinja; not that of Samegabashi. To-day retired, 
 neat and clean ; without the dirty publicity of larger temples. It is a bit of 
 country in crowded Yotsuya. 
 
MATTERS ECCLESIASTICAL 215 
 
 the distended mouth is not nice to see. Ah ! The rascal has used 
 the merest cord to cut himself off. And he has nearly done so. 
 The head is almost severed." He gave a shout — " Naruhodo ! 
 Why, its . . ." One close by silenced him. The men above 
 looked down. They made signs to those below. The women gath- 
 ered around O'Tsuyu as if to keep her from the sight. She broke 
 away from them as the body was gently lowered to the ground. 
 Her shrieks rang loud. They strove to detach her from the dead 
 body of Chozaemon. The House ruined, daughter and husband 
 taken out of her life in a single day; the blow was too crushing 
 for a brain harassed by a life with this debauched worthless man. 
 Her warders struggled with one gone clean daft. Years after 
 men grown up from childhood in the ward looked with pity at 
 the feeble ragged old mad beggar woman who crouched by the 
 beautiful bronze dragon which ornaments the water basin of the 
 Ten-o Jinja. They would drop in her hand a copper " cash," and 
 drive off with rebuke the children who taunted and annoyed her — 
 as they had done years before. Thus were mother and daughter — 
 the innocent — involved in the father's crime against the dread 
 Lady of Tamiya. 
 
 All these events created a tremendous stir in Yotsuya. Men 
 disliked to go abroad at night. Women, to their great incon- 
 venience were confined to the house. Two figures approaching 
 each other in the darkness would be seen to hesitate and stop. 
 " What's that — standing, slinking yonder by the wall ? Alas ! 
 This Kinsaburo, this Genzaemon has evil fortune led him into 
 the clutches of the O'Bake ? O'lwa ! O'lwa ! " With that and mad 
 cries they would fall on each other; at times only to exer- 
 cise restraint after some injury had been done. Hence 
 quarrels arose ; feuds, started in all innocence, came into being. 
 Women, as suspects, were chief sufferers. The local atmosphere 
 was overcharged, nerve racked. And so from Honjo to Nakacho 
 (Shinjuku), from Nakanocho (Yoshiwara) to Shinagawa, even 
 in the nearer post towns of Kawasaki, Tsurumi, and Kanagawa 
 
216 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 the talk was spreading of the strange happenings in Yotsuya of 
 Edo town. Katada Tatewaki, descendant of that Katada Samon 
 who, as vassal of Gongen Samon (lyeyasu) had had this Aoyama- 
 Yotsuya district in fief, now first began his inquiries into the 
 affair. The Katada had wide possessions elsewhere at the time of 
 the grant. Samon had gifted much of his new fief as temple 
 land, and on the old maps of the day this part of Edo is a blood 
 red splash, indication of these many establishments. But the 
 Katada influence still prevailed through the ward, indeed through 
 the more than good will of the beneficiaries. Tatewaki's yasJiiki 
 was at the top of Ushigomezaka. His modest pension of a thou- 
 sand koku by no means represented the extent of his power, 
 lemon became frightened at the storm gathering against him. He 
 was open to all suggestions of remedy for the cataleptic state into 
 which O'Hana had fallen. The neighbour gossips suggested call- 
 ing in the Daih5-in of Shiomachi. A service kept part at least of 
 the money in the ward. They had their share in provision and 
 consumption ; the fifty ryo necessary were much to them — and to 
 lemon in his present circumstances. 
 
 The neighbours were assembled at Tamiya. lemon went forth 
 to greet the Daih5-in. With his attendant kannushi and train he 
 presented himself at the entrance. lemon was prostrate in saluta- 
 tion before the great man. — " Reverential thanks for the conde- 
 scension. Deign to enter this unfortunate house." The Shinto 
 priest was brusque, as is the way of the kind. Himself he was the 
 samurai, with all the tone of official manner. " Ha ! Ha ! Salu- 
 tation to all." He gave a comprehensive glance through the as- 
 sembly and lost none of them in the process. He approached the 
 couch of O'Hana. He opened the closed eyes, which stared 
 fixedly into space as of one dead. He raised an arm upright from 
 the body. Stepping aside, he squatted. Some moments passed. 
 The arm remained rigidly upright. Satisfied, the Daiho-in signed 
 to his attendants. Raising O'Hana they placed her in a sitting 
 
MATTERS ECCLESIASTICAL 217 
 
 posture on a mat. Her hair was arranged in ichoniage.- A gohci 
 was placed between her hands. Then the Daiho-in began the 
 recitation of the prayers and charms. The other priests gave voice 
 at times in response. All present were awe-struck. The women 
 hardly breathed, leaning eagerly forward. Their eyes took on a 
 vacant stare, as if themselves mesmerized. The gohci began to 
 tremble ; then to shake violently. The woman's hair fell down in 
 disorder around her face. All turned away their faces. Some 
 women gave smothered cries. It was OTwa San who glared at 
 them out of those eyes. The Daiho-in eagerly leaned close over 
 O'Hana — "OTwa: where are you? What has become of your 
 body? Be sure to speak the truth. Don't attempt to lie to the 
 priest. . . . You don't know ? Ah ! you would be obstinate 
 in your grudge. The charm shakes and quivers ; it possesses 
 O'lwa. . . . You would rest in Samoncho ground? That is 
 much to ask : particularly when the body is not in hand. . . . 
 A substitute will do ? Ah ! Prayers ? . . . For a year, at 
 morn and night of each day? That is terrific. Consider the cost. 
 . You care not for the cost ! Only then will you cease to 
 afflict the ward ? . . . Very well : humbly this Daiho-in 
 transmits the will of the dead." 
 
 Thus did the priestly mediator interpret to his gaping auditors 
 the mumbling and cries given forth by O'Hana. The wild look 
 faded from her eyes. She rolled over as in a faint. The priests 
 raised her up. The Daiho-in turned to lemon and the assembly — 
 " The words of O'lwa have been heard through this woman. 
 O'Hana has been possessed by OTwa. Hence her trance. . . 
 Heigh ! Water !"' He begaji making passes over his patient — 
 " The stage has passed. O'Hana no longer is possessed by O'lwa. 
 The wronged lady leaves O'Hana to peace. O'Hana is completely 
 herself again. O'lwa is all delusion. O'Hana believes this. She 
 
 ^A young girl's method of fixing the hair; but Ryuo uses the term. 
 Gohei are the paper strips used as offering. Usually attached to a short 
 stick. 
 
218 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 believes firmly. The Daiho-in tells her to believe. O'lwa does 
 not haunt O'Hana. OTwa has no ill will against OTIana." He 
 looked fixedly and with command into the eyes of O'Hana. His 
 voice rang clear and authoritative. Then he began gently to 
 stroke the back of her head, her neck and spine. " All is well? " 
 " Hai ! Hai ! This Hana is completely restored. All is well." 
 With a little sigh she sank back, to be laid on the cushions in a 
 sleep which all wondered to see was most natural. Those present 
 were in transports of delight. They buzzed approval as the 
 Daiho-in addressed lemon. " The Daiho-in has done liis part. 
 All have heard the words of O'lwa San. The rest lies with the 
 temple. Deign to receive these words. The Daiho-in returns." 
 With his pack voicing loudly at his tail he left the entrance gate. 
 The assembly streamed after. lemon was left alone, biting his 
 thumbs in helpless rage. He was aghast. " The old fox ! What 
 is to be done, pressed as lemon is for funds? How is this 
 lemon to act? Refusal means the open hostility of the whole 
 ward. It will turn against him. Ah ! What a miserable old 
 scamp. He did it all himself ; he and his confederates. The gods 
 descend from above ; the Daiho-in shakes the goliei from below — 
 and those fools believe, to the ruin of lemon !" 
 
 Hence he would have postponed the costly appeal to the temple. 
 Within the week a committee of the ward waited upon him. As 
 if expecting them, lemon gave ready compliance. With four or 
 five other gentlemen he waited upon Shuden Osho, the famous 
 priest of the temple of the Gyoran Kwannon. The Lady Merci- 
 ful, Kwannon Sama, seemed the fitting deity to whom appeal 
 should be made. A word is to be said as to this famous manifesta- 
 tion of the goddess. Told by Ryuo at length, of necessity here 
 the account is much abridged. Gyoran Kwannon — ^Kwannon of 
 the fish-basket — has several other names. She is called the 
 Namagusai Kwannon, from the odour of fresh blood attached to 
 the pursuit; the Byaku Kwannon, or the white robed; the 
 Baryufu Kwannon, as wife of Baryu the fisherman. The image 
 
MATTERS ECCLESIASTICAL 219 
 
 of the Byaku Kwannon exists.'' It is carved in white wood, stained 
 black, with a scroll in the right hand, and holding a fish basket 
 {gydran) in the left hand. The. story of Baryu, and of his con- 
 nection with Kwannon, is of more moment. 
 
 In Morokoshi (China) there is a place called Kinshaden. 
 Across the bay from Edo-Tokyo is Kazusa with its ninety-nine 
 villages, one of which has the same name — Kinshaden. The fish- 
 ing population of Nippon is a rough lot. From babyhood there is 
 little but quarrelling and fighting between the bands which con- 
 trol the dififerent wards of the villages. The relations between 
 the people are very primitive. One of the important occupations 
 is the iwashi, or pilchard, fishing. To pull in the nets loaded with 
 the fish requires the united effort of the whole village population, 
 men, women, even children. Among their toilers the people of 
 Kinshaden noted a young girl of some sixteen or seventeen years ; 
 easily noted by the great beauty and attraction of face and figure, 
 the willing readiness and wonderful strength she showed in her 
 struggles with the weighted net. As she appeared several times 
 at last some men went up to her — "Girl, you are a stranger here. 
 For your aid thanks are oflfered. Who may you be ; and whence 
 from? Strangers, even in kindness, in Nippon must not conceal 
 their names." The girl smiled — 'T come from Fudarakusan in 
 the South Ocean. . . . Where is Fudarakusan? It is in 
 India. . . . And India? It is in the South Ocean, the 
 Nankai." To the wonder expressed at her coming such a distance 
 of thousands of ri. — " I come, I serve, for my husband." — " Your 
 husband? Pray who may he be, in these parts ? " — " Not yet is he 
 chosen," answered the girl. "Come! The nets are drawn, the 
 fishing ended for the day. I will ascend that rock ; read the sutra 
 of the Lady Kwannon. He who can first memorize it shall be my 
 husband." Ready was the assent to such an attractive proposal — 
 a beautiful helpmate in prospect, one endowed with surprising 
 strength for her frail form, and who seemed to bring luck to the 
 
 'At the Gyoranji of Matsuzakacho in the Mita district of Tokyo. 
 
220 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 efforts of the village in the struggle for a livelihood. Even the 
 Nipponese prejudice against strangers paled before such practical 
 qualification. 
 
 The maid ascended to the rostrum. For three days she read 
 and expounded the holy sutra of the Lady Kwannon. On the 
 fourth day the fisherman Baryu — young, handsome, strong — felt 
 sure that he could answer to the test. " Woman, descend ! To- 
 day this Baryu will repeat the sutra, expound its meaning." With 
 seeming surprise and merriment the girl obeyed. Baryu took her 
 place. Without slip or fault he repeated the sutra, expounded 
 the intricacies of its meaning. The girl bowed low in submission. 
 " Condescend to admit my humble person to the hut of Baryu the 
 fisherman. To-night she pollutes with her presence a corner of 
 his bed-chamber." Rejoicing Baryu at once took her to his home, 
 where he would act the husband. At first gently she rebukerl him. 
 " These rough people of Kinshaden have regard to nothing! There 
 is such a rite as marriage. Nine times are the sake cups to be 
 drained between husband and wife. Thus is established this im- 
 portant relation. In the connection between man and woman 
 there is such a thing as etiquette. This observed, the woman 
 passes to the possession of the man. For the woman, second mar- 
 riage there is none." 
 
 Thus were the decencies of the marriage bed taught to the 
 rough fisherman. Near dawn Baryu awoke with surprise. His 
 bed-fellow was in the last extremities. Dripping with sweat, she 
 seemed to be melting away. Already she was unconscious. Then 
 vomiting forth water she died. Baryu was tremendously put out. 
 To lose a wife, who barely had been a wife; one so beautiful, so 
 strong ; this was extremely vexatious. " This won't do at all ! 
 Why has such a misfortune befallen this Baryu? O'Kabe (Miss 
 Plaster) and O'Nabe (Miss Stewpan) endured without mishap 
 the passage of their marriage night. . . . Hai ! Hai !" in reply 
 to a friend knocking at the door. " Baryu cannot go to the fishing 
 to-da3^ . . . The woman? She has died. Baryu's wife is 
 
MATTERS ECCLESIASTICAL 221 
 
 dead." Opening the door he retailed his experience to the won- 
 dering friend. As they talked, along came a priest most strangely 
 dressed for this land. Approaching them he said — " Is this the 
 house of Baryu? " At the fisherman's acknowledgement — " Has 
 a girl come here ? . . . Dead ! Deign to let this foolish cleric 
 hang eyes upon her." Baryu thought he would take his turn at 
 cjuestions. " And you ; whence from?" "From Fudarakusan in 
 the Nankai." " Get you hence, frantic interloper," broke in 
 Baryu with grief and anger. " Enough has this Baryu heard of 
 Fudarakusan. Baryu must needs observe his state as widower. 
 The month must pass before he seeks a wife. And more than half 
 its days remain ! But look." Mollified by the humble attitude of 
 the priest he went and raised the coverlet from the woman's body. 
 He uttered a cry of surprise. " Oya ! Oya! She has disap- 
 peared. There is naught here but a wooden image. Ma ! Ma ! 
 what a curious figure — with scroll and fish basket, just as the wife 
 appeared at the beach. This is what one reads of in books." He 
 turned to the priest in wonder and as seeking explanation. Said 
 the latter with earnest and noble emphasis — " Favoured has been 
 this Baryu. The Kwannon of Fudarakusan of Nankai has shown 
 herself before his very eyes. For the reform of this wicked 
 people, to teach them the holy writing, she has condescended to 
 submit to the embraces of the fisherman. Let not Baryu think of 
 other marriage. For him has come the call to leave this world. 
 Fail not to obey." Baryu rushed to the door, to catch but a 
 glimpse of the departing form. All sign of the priest quickly 
 faded. Baryu returned to the wooden figure lying where once 
 had reposed the body of the beautiful girl. It was a most 
 unsatisfactory substitute for the flesh and blood original. But 
 Baryu made the most of it. He took his vow. He shaved his 
 head, becoming a priest to recite and preach the sutra of the Lady 
 Kwannon. Hence this Kwannon is known as the Baryufu Kwan- 
 non — wife of Baryu the fisherman. Hence she is called the 
 Kwannon of the fish basket, in honour of the aid she brought the 
 people of this village and land. 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 THE RITES FOR O'lWA SAN 
 
 Iemon fared as badly at the hands of the Buddha as at those 
 of the Kami. Shuden Osho, as guardian of the sacred image of 
 the Gyoran Kwannon, was a very great man indeed. After some 
 delay the deputation from Samoncho was ushered into his pres- 
 ence, lemon made profound obeisance and explained the cause 
 of their presence. The visitations of OTwa to the district were 
 causing the greatest public commotion. Not as a matter of private 
 interest, but of public utility his interference was sought. If 
 lemon thought to abstract a copper " cash " from the priesijy 
 treasury he made a gross mistake. Besides, the individual whc 
 disturbs the public peace suffers severely from official mediation, 
 no matter what form this takes. Shuden inquired minutely as to 
 the visit of the Daiho-in, of which he seemed to have heard. 
 What information lemon might have withheld, or minimised, or 
 given a different complexion, was cheerfully volunteered by 
 others, who also corrected and amplified any undue curtailing ..Qr^ 
 ambiguity of their spokesman. Shuden listened to lemon with 
 a gravity and an expression hovering between calculation and jeer- 
 ing comment. He turned from him to the committee, giving great 
 attention to those scholiasts on the text of the orator. He gravely 
 wagged his head in agreement with the rival prelate, whose acumen 
 he highly extolled. Memorial services were to be provided for a 
 year. It was, after all, merely a form of restitution to the wronged 
 lady. But also the wandering spirit of OTwa was to be suitably 
 confined. Here lay the difficulty. Recitation of the sutra for 
 seven continuous days ; proper inhumation of the substitute beyond 
 possibility of disturbance, would surely lay a spell on the enraged 
 lady, and put an end to the curse of one dying an unworshipped 
 222 
 
THE RITES FOR O'lWA SAN 223 
 
 spirit. For the burial a bamboo was to be provided — of length one 
 shaku eig-ht bu (one foot nine inches) between the joints. 
 
 With this notice lemon and his companions withdrew. He 
 was resigned to the payment of the fifty ryo necessary for the 
 memorial services extending over the year. The inclusion in the 
 bamboo was another affair. The finding of such was about as easy 
 as the fishing for black pearls. He soon found that securing the 
 substitute and securing the body of OTwa San for proper inhuma- 
 tion were kindred problems. After looking over all the bamboo 
 which had drifted to Edo and was in the hands of the world 
 secular — and most of it at surprisingly cheap rates — the com- 
 mittee was driven back on the religious world. They soon found 
 that the article in question was kept in stock only at the Gyoran 
 Kwannondd. Resorting to the priestly offices, lemon felt con- 
 vinced that the grave salutation of the incumbent official — they 
 directed him to the treasury — concealed a derisive grin at his ex- 
 pense. He was sure of it when he learned that this rare object 
 could be had — for another fifty ryo. The temple gave no credit ; 
 but Suzuki, the usurer who was one of the partv, after some 
 demur agreed to hand over the amount, which he had just received 
 from Akiyama Shozaemon, the service bounty of the daughter 
 O'Tsuru. With some reluctance the long nosed, long faced, long 
 limbed Kamimura went security for the repayment on their return 
 to the ward. With cheerful recklessness lemon pledged the last 
 chance of any income from the pension and resources of Tamiya 
 for the next three years ; so heavily was he in debt. Shuden on 
 his part lost no time. With at least one member of the committee 
 in attendance, to see that he played fair, for seven days vigorously 
 was the sutra intoned by the loudest and most brazen of his sub- 
 ordinates, backed by the whole body of priests. Day and night a 
 priest would slip to the side altar, to invoke the nity of the Ruddha 
 on the wandering spirit of the deceased ladv in few pithy but hasty 
 words, and to spend the rest of his vigil in a decent slumberous 
 immobility. 
 
224 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 The seven clays accomplished, the procession formed. Six 
 men in new uniforms — provided by lemon — made pretence of 
 great difficulty in carrying the long box {jiagamochi). Four 
 men carried the sambo, or sacred tray of white wood, on which 
 rested the section of bamboo wrapped by the hands of Shuden 
 himself in the sacred roll of the sutra of Kwannon. Officialdom 
 of the ward was present. The citizens turned out en masse. For 
 long Yotsuya had not witnessed such a scene. Within its precincts 
 the yashiki of the great nobles were conspicuously absent; their 
 long processions of spearman, chngen, samurai and officials were 
 only to be witnessed at times on the highway which leaves Shin- 
 juku for the Koshukaido and the alternate and then little used 
 Ashigaratoge road. Arrived at Samonchd the ground selected 
 was inspected by Shuden. The bishop's eyebrows puckered in 
 questioning mien. " Here there are too many people. Is there 
 no other place?" They led him to another site. The wrinkle 
 deepened to a frown — " Here there are too many children. Their 
 frolics and necessities are unseemly. These would outrage the 
 tender spirit. Is there no other place?" The committee was non- 
 plussed, lemon was in terrible fear lest all his effort and expendi- 
 ture would go for naught but to swell Shuden's cash roll. A 
 thought came into his mind. " There is no other open land, but 
 the garden of Tamiya is wide and secluded. The wall prevents 
 public access." People looked at him aghast. He was either mad 
 with courage, or obstinate in disbelief in the power of OTwa San 
 so plainly manifested. Shijden paid no attention to that surprised 
 whispering. " Deign to show the way thither." Thus the pro- 
 cession took its course back to Teramachi and through the gate of 
 Tamiya. A spot was selected, just before the garden gate. It 
 was open to the salutation and vows of passers-by, yet could be 
 shut off from direct access toward house and public. At Shuden's 
 order a hole was dug, just four shaku (feet) in depth. The 
 Osho began the recitation of the sutra. The priests stood by in 
 vigilant attention. As the last word reverberated on the bishop's 
 
. THE RITES FOR OTWA SAN 225 
 
 lips they seized the sutra wrapped bamboo, sHpped it in the long 
 box — bum ! the lock snapped. The congregation was tremendously 
 impressed. For a decent time Shuden remained in prayer and 
 meditation. " The charm is complete. O'lwa no longer wanders, 
 to her own penance and the disaster of men. Henceforth he who 
 says she does so lies. Hearken to the words of Shiiden. Admit 
 none such to your company. Let not children make this place a 
 playground. Shuden has given warning. Pollution surely fol- 
 lows. Their habits are unseemly, an insult to the dead. Even 
 as to parents, those with infants on their backs are specifically to 
 be excluded." He tied a paper covered with Sanscrit characters 
 to a bamboo stick. This was placed on a white wood stake. On 
 the stake he wrote kindred words, converting it into the counter- 
 feit of a sotoba. Neither he nor any present knew what the words 
 meant, or had care as to their ignorance of this essential of re- 
 ligion. Then he and his train gathered up their gowns and gal- 
 loped out the gate, after practice and receipt of grave courtesy, 
 so much did temple dififer from shrine in its contact with secular 
 life. The assembled multitude departed ; much edified by the day's 
 proceedings, and with low comment to each other on the dilapida- 
 tion of Tamiya, its fall from the one time spruce and flourishing 
 state. Introduce a spendthrift in the door, and the wealth leaks 
 from every crevice. The spirit of Tamiya Matazaemon must 
 grieve at this sight. But why did he bring in as muko a stranger?" 
 lemon could flatter himself on the efUcacy of the divine 
 interposition. The public mind was quieted. Nothing more was 
 heard of O'lwa San. Only the daily summons, on one pretext or 
 another, to the ward office troubled him. The yakunin also made 
 a practice of taking in Tamiya en route to performance of their 
 various missions. This he knew was a practice as to men under 
 observation. He went over his career as known to Yotsuya. 
 There was nothing in it to call for question. Ofificial censure does 
 not rest its case on a ghost story. The famous investigation of 
 Echizen no Kami (Ooka) into the Yaeume case of Yamada was 
 15 
 
226 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN , 
 
 matter of later days. Moreover, all his troubles were lightened 
 by the state of O'Hana, the devoted object of unwavering affec- 
 tion. Ever since the Daiho-in had mesmerized her, impressed his 
 will on her, the daily improvement could be marked. Now again 
 she was her normal self; sadly thin and worn in spirit, a woman 
 tired out, but yet the figure of O'Hana and in her right mind. To 
 him she was the beautiful tradition of the past and just as beauti- 
 ful as ever in actuality. Two weeks had passed since Shuden's 
 experiment. One night, as the hour of the pig (9 p.m.) was 
 striking, there came a knocking at the door. O'Hana rose from 
 her sewing. " Danna, Kamimura San would say a word." lemon 
 made a gesture of annoyance. The long man had shadowed him, 
 ever since entering on the engagement of bail. He went to the 
 door and looked at his caller with amazement. Kamimura, his 
 hair in confusion, was stark naked except for his wife's under 
 cloth — and she was almost a dwarf. He stretched out a hand to 
 lemon, half in threat, half in begging. " lemon Uji, a word: 
 condescend to grant this Goemon ten ryo in silver, not in words. 
 Suzuki the usurer has come on Goemon as bail of lemon, in the 
 matter of the exorcism. To-day he stripped the house of every- 
 thing. Wife and children, hungry and almost naked, lie on bare 
 boards. When Goemon begged mercy, that he go to Tamiya, the 
 wretched fellow jeered. ' Tamiya? Tamiya has but liibachi and 
 three mats; the clothes worn by himself and wife. The house 
 and land of Tamiya is but a reversion. Suzuki gets nothing at 
 Tamiya but a lawsuit which would not pay the office fees. 
 Kamimura is rich ; his house is well supplied. One petition ; and 
 not only expenses, but the debt finds payment. Hence Suzuki 
 troubles not Tamiya.' With this off he went deriding me. Deign 
 the loan, lemon San. Condescend at least the shelter of clothes 
 and food." 
 
 To the wretched fellow lemon could make no reply. Ten ryo! 
 Kamimura might as well have asked for ten thousand ryo. In 
 house and land lemon was secure. These belonged to the heirship 
 
THE RITES FOR O'lWA SAN 227 
 
 of Taniiya as long as the House maintained its status. The pen- 
 sion was long mortgaged. The farms had disappeared. The 
 trouble of Goemon pained him. He could only refuse ; palliating 
 the refusal with vague promises as to the near future. He would 
 effect a loan. The debt of Suzuki repaid, all his goods would be 
 restored to Kamimura San. Goemon took this talk at its real 
 value. Shaking his fist he berated lemon with violent words. 
 " Ah ! Shame is brought to the House of Kamimura, wretched- 
 ness to his family — and by this vile stranger. It is lemon with 
 his heartless wicked treatment of OTwa San, who has wrought 
 distress and ruin to the ward. For Goemon there is neither food 
 nor clothing? Wait! Time shall bring his vengeance on lemon 
 and his House." lemon would have detained him ; sought in some 
 way to mollify him, at least get a hint as to how he purposeid 
 injury. Goemon shook him off as one would a reptile. With a 
 wild laugh he went out naked as he was into the darkness. 
 
 He had no definite purpose in mind. However, as he passed 
 the garden gate of Tamiya his eye caught the factitious sotoba 
 standing white in the fitful moonlight. He stood stock still ; then 
 clapped his hands in mad joy and decision. Hastening to his 
 home he sought out an old battered mattock and a rusty spade. 
 Soon he was back at the garden gate. A blow and the bar fell. 
 Goemon passed within. " She lies but four shakn deep. The task 
 is quickly performed. None pass here at this hour." The dirt 
 flew under his nervous arms. Soon he had the box out on the 
 ground beside him. A peel of thunder ; he must hasten, or stand 
 a ducking from the coming storm. He laughed. What had a 
 naked man to fear from getting wet ? The clothes he wore would 
 not spoil. Why did not man dress in a towel, as after the bath ; 
 its use, to wipe the moisture from the body. Now his eyes were 
 fixed in curiosity on the bamboo staff before him. The first few 
 drops of the rainstorm fell on his bare shoulders, but he disre- 
 garded them. "Naruhodo! How heavy it is! OTwa in life 
 hardly weighed more. Lady of Tamiya — show pity on this 
 
228 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Goenion. lemon and O'Hana — those wicked voluptuaries — pros- 
 per and flourish, while Goemon is brought to beggary and starva- 
 tion. Deign to visit the wrath of O'lwa San on these vile 
 wretches. Seize and kill them. Goemon sets O'lwa free." He 
 seized the mattock. Raising it overhead he brought the edge 
 sharply down on the bamboo stake. At the moment there was 
 a violent peal of thunder rolling off into a crash and rattle. The 
 landscape was lit up by the vivid lightning. People uneasily turned 
 over on their beds. 
 
 Shortly after dawn lemon woke with a start. Don-don-don, 
 don-don-don. There was a tremendous rapping at his door. 
 O'Hana could hear but a whispered consultation going on without 
 the amado. lemon returned to the room. His face was white ; 
 his step tottered. Hastily he donned an outer robe. To her ques- 
 tion he made scant reply, so agitated was he. His one idea was to 
 keep from her what he had just heard. In the garden he found 
 his wardsmen assembled. All were dumbfounded and aghast. 
 They looked at each other and then at the broken bamboo tube. 
 Close by lay the body of the man who had done the deed. Brains 
 and blood had oozed from the hole in the skull in which yet stuck 
 the pointed end of the mattock sunk deep within. Evidently the 
 instrument had rebounded from the resilient surface of the bam- 
 boo. A by-stander pointed to the tiny fracture near the hard 
 knot of the staff. It was a small thing, but enough to destroy all 
 the past labours. lemon went up to look at the body. "AVhy! 
 'Tis Goemon." To their questioning he told how Kamimura had 
 called on the previous night, his rage at the inability of lemon to 
 aid him in distress. With hanging heads, eyes on the ground, and 
 wagging tongues, all departed to their homes. Later the body 
 of Goemon was borne to his house by neighbours. lemon picked 
 up the bamboo staff. Carrying it within he placed it in a closet. 
 It was as costly an object as the house had ever held. He was in 
 despair. 
 
 It was on that very day, at the seventh hour (3 p.m.), that 
 
THE RITES FOR OTWA SAN 229 
 
 O'Hana heard a call at the door. " A request to make ! A request 
 to make ! " She recoiled from the sight presented. A beggar 
 stood at the entrance of Tamiya. A dirty mat wrapped around his 
 body, feet and arms emerging from bandages, making him like 
 to some hideous insect with its carapace, his face wrapped in a 
 towel, the efifects of leprosy were hideously patent." — " What do 
 you here? There is naught to be had. Pray depart at once." 
 The answer was in tones the very harshness of which seemed to 
 cause pain to the utterer — " The request is to lemon Dono. Conde- 
 scend to notify him." With fearful glance O'Hana shrank within, 
 lemon noted her nervous quivering. Promptly he was on his feet 
 — " A beggar has frightened Hana? Such are to be severely dealt 
 with." He went to the entrance. ",A beggar, and such a fellow? 
 How comes it entrance has been had to the ward? There is 
 nothing for you here. H you would escape the dogs and basti- 
 nado, get you hence at once." The man did not stir from the 
 spot on which he stood. Slowly he opened the mat held round 
 his body (komokaburi), one of the coarse kind used to wrap round 
 sake barrels. He was clothed in rags glued together by the foul 
 discharges of his sores. He removed the towel from his face. 
 The ghastly white and red blotches, the livid scars of the leper, 
 the head with patches of scurfy hair ready to fall at a touch, 
 startled even lemon the priest. He would not have touched 
 this man, expelled him by force, for all the past wealth of Tamiya. 
 The intruder noted the effect produced. 
 
 " To such has the wrath of O'lwa San brought this Chdbei. 
 Does not lemon, the one-time neighbour Kazuma, recognize 
 Chobei? And yet all comes through lemon. Child, wife, means 
 of life, all these have failed Ch5bei. In the jail robbed of every- 
 thing, degenerate in mind and body, Chobei has found refuge at 
 nights in the booths of street vendors ; on cold wet nights, even 
 in the mouths of the filthy drains. Fortunate is he when fine 
 weather sends him to rest on the river banks. To seek rest ; not 
 to find it. O'lwa stands beside him. When eyelids drowse 
 
230 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Chobei is aroused, to find her face close glaring into his. Beg 
 and implore, yet pardon there is none. ' Chobei has a debt to pay 
 to Iwa. In life Chobei must repay by sufifering; yet not what Iwa 
 suffered. Think not to rest.' Some support was found in a 
 daughter, sold in times past to the Yamadaya of Yoshiwara. 
 There the child grew up to become the great profit of the house. 
 The influence of the Kashiku was all powerful to secure entrance. 
 For a night Chobei was to find food and a bed. But that night 
 came Kibei San. He killed the Kashiku — crushed her out, as one 
 would crush an insect. This Chobei nearly died ; but Kibei left 
 him to the mercy of OTwa. Her mercy ! " He would have 
 thrown out his arms in weary gesture of despair. The pain and 
 effort were too great. He moaned. " Last night Chobei sought 
 relief. Of late years the river has been spanned, for passers-by 
 and solace of the human refuse. Standing on Ryogokubashi the 
 dark waters of the river called to Chobei as they swept strongly 
 by to the sea. A moment, and all would be ended. About to leap 
 hands were laid on Chobei's shoulders. He was dragged back. 
 Tvxrning — lo ! 'twas O'lwa San. Another creature, still fouler 
 than she, with sloping eyelid, bald head, and savage look, stood 
 by. Said OTwa San — ' And Chobei would end all — with luxury 
 before his eyes ! Chobei dies not but with the consent of Iwa. Get 
 you to Yotsuya ; to lemon and Hana, living in luxury and Tamiya. 
 Aid will not be refused you.' And so she brought me here. 
 Deign to hear the prayer of Chobei. Allow him to die in Yotsuya, 
 upon the tatami; not on the bare earth, to be thrown on the moor 
 for dogs to gnaw. Grant him burial in temple ground." 
 
 He changed his theme; the feeble quivering hands clasped 
 his belly. " Ah ! This pinching hunger. Double Chdbei's suffer- 
 ing ; of mind and body. Apply for alms or food, and the leper 
 is repulsed. See ! Two fingers remain on this hand. Count of 
 the rest fills out the tale for but one member. O'Hana San, 
 condescend a rice ball for this Chobei. You, at least, know not 
 the pinch of hunger. . . . Ah ! She still possesses some of 
 
THE RITES FOR O'lWA SAN 231 
 
 that beauty and charm for which lemon has brought ruin upon 
 all." Before the horrible lascivious leer of this object O'Hana 
 fled. Left alone lemon spoke. He had been thinking — " Chobei 
 has spoken well. From lemon he is entitled to relief. Chobei 
 shall die on his mat. But in such shape nothing can be done. Get 
 you hence. Buy clothing fit to appear before men's eyes. In 
 the bath wash that pus-laden body. Then come to lemon. Relief 
 shall be granted Chobei." Wrapping a ryo in paper he passed 
 it to the leper. It was the last coin he possessed. O'Hana 
 now returned with five or six rice balls savoured with salt. Fas- 
 cinated, the two watched the horrible diseased stumps awkwardly 
 shoving the food into the toothless mouth, cramming it in, and 
 breaking it up so as not to lose the savour of a grain. " Until 
 to-morrow," said Chobei. He picked up his stick. In silence the 
 man and woman watched him. " Leaning on his bamboo staff 
 he crawled away like some insect." O'Hana looked inquiringly 
 at lemon. He turned away his head. 
 
 Through the dusk Chobei crawled across the Ryogokubashi. 
 The words of the woman O'Take had come true. He had a sense 
 of being followed. He turned at the sound of footsteps. At 
 sight of a samurai in deep hat, mechanically he stretched out hands 
 and self in the roadway, begging an alms. The man drew apart, 
 passing him in disgust and haste. Chdbei went on. He had no 
 aim. It was with surprise that he found himself, as often of 
 late, on the embankment of the North Warigesui. He looked 
 down on the foul place of O'lwa's disappearance. " A foul end- 
 ing; but after all an end. One night! One night's sleep! Deign, 
 lady of Tamiya, to grant pardon and respite to Chobei. Just 
 one hour of sleep." Carefully he adjusted his mat. Painfully he 
 stretched himself out on it. " To die on the mat. Such was the 
 w^ord of lemon." He felt his rags. " It was well he agreed. 
 Chobei had other means to force compliance. Well, 'tis for later 
 use." A continued rustling aroused him. Some one was cau- 
 tiously picking a way through the dry grass of the past winter, 
 
232 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 was creeping toward him. He half rose. Seeing that concealment 
 was no longer possible, the man rushed on him. Chdbei struggled 
 to his feet, as one to fight for life. " Life is dear. Why kill 
 Chobei the leper? Is he a test for some new sword? Deign to 
 pardon. The flesh of the leper is too rotten. It defiles the weapon. 
 Chobei has been the samurai; he knows. . . . Ah ! Respite there 
 is none. 'Tis lemon ! lemon of Tamiya would kill Ch5bei ! " He 
 shouted and coupled the names in his despair. Fearful of discov- 
 ery, of being overheard, lemon did not delay. The gleaming 
 weapon descended. Standing over the body lemon showed uncer- 
 tainty. He had some thought of search ; even bent down over it. 
 But he could not touch those foul rags. His nicety of feeling, 
 almost womanlike — recoiled. Besides, what more had lemon to 
 do with the leper Chobei. Their account was closed. Should he 
 leave the body where it was ? Recognition might convey some 
 danger, at least inconvenience. He looked around for means to 
 sink it in these waters, and yet not handle its repulsiveness. A 
 shoyu tub, old but fairly intact, lay upon the bank. It caught 
 his eye. He rolled it up to the corpse. Gingerly he girdled 
 the body of the dead man with his tasuki (shoulder cord). Now 
 tight fast it clasped the roundness of the barrel. This he filled 
 with stones, drove in the head, and with a shove sent it and its 
 burden into the Warigesui. " That will hold him down. The 
 rotten punk ! Three days, and none could recognize him." Then 
 he set off" at rapid pace for Yotsuya. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 SANZUGAWA BRIDGELESS: THE FLOWERLESS 
 ROAD TRAVERSED BY THE DEAD 
 
 It was the hour of the pig (9 p.m.) before lemon reached 
 the house in Yotsuya. To his surprise he found the ainado still 
 open on the garden. Some one was lying face downward on the 
 roka. It was O'Hana. To his alarmed inquiry as to what was 
 wrong she answered in the voice of one trying to suppress great 
 pain. " This Hana knows not. Opening a closet to get the 
 spices used in preparing the meal, a rat sprang out. It scratched 
 the face of Hana. Truly the pain is very great." She groaned, 
 lemon gently raised her. At the look on his face O'Hana said — 
 "There is a mirror in the toilet set (kyodai). Deign to get 
 it for Hana." He did not get it — this dower gift once of OTwa 
 — but tried to soothe her — " Let be : the wounds soon will heal. 
 The pain will pass away." She shoved him aside and ran to the 
 toilet stand. She took the hand-mirror to the solitary lamp 
 lighting the room. Aghast she contemplated her features. One 
 side of the face was completely discoloured. It was a dark red, 
 almost black, with the mark of five fingers plainly visible, as if a 
 hand had struck her. No rat had made this wound. O'Hana 
 leaned over, her head resting almost on her knees. lemon touched 
 her shoulder — " Don't mind it. Truly the pain will pass with 
 dawn. Hana . . ." He drew back from the scowling madness 
 in the face raised to him — " Sa ! Sa ! lemon ! lemon ! Easily 
 did you get hold of all my property, to waste it on O'Hana. 'Twas 
 like grasping wet millet. Then, barbarous as you were, you sold me 
 to the vile life of a street harlot. Ah ! Vengeance ! " In fright 
 lemon retreated. O'Hana, taking herself to be OTwa, all her 
 madness had relurned. She sprang up. Screens were beaten and 
 torn to pieces. With the heavy mirror she turned on him, seeking 
 233 
 
234 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 vengeance for her imagined wrongs. lemon narrowly escaped 
 injury as he dashed in to grapple with her. He succeeded in drag- 
 ging her away from the lamp. Thus did this wild battle rage in 
 the half dark room. The fictitious strength of the ill woman 
 gave out. He held her on the floor, as one subdued. As she 
 relapsed into a sleep, almost of unconsciovisness, he ventured to 
 release her. Going to a closet he placed the mirror beside the 
 bamboo stick ; both hidden away. 
 
 All night he watched over her. Wearied out, with day he 
 sought an aid readily given. The nurse, however, in alarm soon 
 roused him. O'Hana was raving madly in a high fever. The 
 woman could not restrain her. Her cries were terrible, but not 
 more so than the speech from her lips — " OTwa, pardon ! With 
 the drugs of Suian this Hana would palsy OTwa's mind and 
 body ; poison the very springs of life, cut ofif all hope of issue. Ah ! 
 Vain the love of a man. All is granted him ; body and goods. 
 lemon sells Hana for a street harlot. Out with him ! Help ! 
 . Ah ! Kwaiba aids — in all his rottenness. How horrible 
 he is — huge vacant eye holes, the purple whitish flesh gnawed and 
 eaten. . . . Ugh! He stinks! . . . Nay! 'Tis not 
 Kwaiba. 'Tis Chobei : Chobei the leper, who would embrace this 
 Hana. lemon comes. There is murder in his eye — for Hana 
 to see, not Chobei. Away! Away! . . . Again, there she 
 comes ! " She grasped the nurse's arm, and pointed to the just 
 lighted andon which barely relieved the shadows of the darkening 
 night ; was it the woman's imagination ? By the light, dimly out- 
 lined ; sat O'lwa San. Her hair hung down around face and 
 body half turned aside. The bulging forehead, the puffed eye- 
 lids, were not to be mistaken. The woman shook off the sick girl's 
 hand and fled the house. lemon did not try to prevent her. He 
 was as one paralyzed. He, too, had seen, and was convinced. 
 
 To watch through the night was the task of the anxious and 
 wearied man. In the day a yakunin had come, with formal notice 
 to attend next day the office of Katada Tatewaki Dono. His 
 
SANZUGAWA BRIDGELESS 235 
 
 lordship had an inquiry to make. The summons was not to be 
 disregarded, 'no matter what his own exigencies. O'Hana had 
 dropped into a cataleptic state. As the eighth hour (i a.m.) 
 approached he thought to clear brain and body by the rest of a 
 few moments. His head had barely touched the pillow when 
 sleep followed. The bell of Gwanshoji struck the hour. It roared 
 and reverberated through Tamiya. lemon awoke ; an oppression 
 like suffocation pervaded his whole body. Opening his eyes they 
 stared into the wide white fiat face of OTwa. Her eyes were now 
 alive, darting gleams of fire deep from within the puffed and 
 swollen lids. He felt her wild disordered hair sweeping his face 
 as she swayed a little, still retaining her post and clutch on his 
 bosom — " lemon knows Iwa now ! Hana knows Iwa now ! 
 Sworn to seize and kill both for seven births — come ! Now it is 
 that Iwa completes her vengeance." As she shook and pressed 
 on him he came gradually out of his sleep. With a shout he 
 cast her backwards. Springing up he grasped the sword at his 
 pillow. Madly he dealt blow after blow on the body before him. 
 To the groans he replied by fresh blows. 
 
 An uproar without called him to himself. Don — don — don, 
 don, don, don. There was knocking at the gate. lemon hastily 
 trimmed up the wick of the lamp. He leaned over the body. 
 O'Hana ! The young man stooped over her, leaning on the gory 
 sword. Great drops of cold sweat stood out on his forehead. 
 A shout came from without. " In his lordship's name ! Open, 
 or force will be used." Why had the summons for the day been 
 anticipated? The unhappy ravings of O'Hana flashed to his 
 mind. lemon no longer reasoned. A cunning insane light was 
 in his eyes. Softly he made his way to the aniado fronting on 
 the garden. No one was without. In the rain and storm he 
 might escape. Traversing the darkness he noted, however, the 
 man posted at the gate in the rear. Springing on the roof of the- 
 shed he looked over into Teramachi. It was deserted. With the 
 bloody sword he hacked off the sharp points of the bamboo 
 
236 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 stakes. They now aided his flight over the wall. He cast the 
 weapon aside. In a few minutes he disappeared in rapid flight 
 down the street. When Katada Tatewaki, accompanied by his 
 men, at last broke down the stout resistance oflfered by the outer 
 door of Tamiya he found the house empty, except for the dead 
 body of O'Hana, lying in its pool of blood. She was still warm. 
 He took it for mere murder, giving more urgent directions for 
 immediate pursuit. Methodically he searched the house, down 
 to the very rubbish pile. The seal of Tamiya was secured. This 
 meant much. With sceptical smile he handled the broken bamboo 
 stick found in a closet. He did not show the discovery to his 
 men. 
 
 Where did lemon go? The unhappy man himself could not 
 have told what happened in the intervening days. He came to 
 consciousness in the darkness of a spring night, just before the 
 dawn. The stars were beginning to pale in the East. The land- 
 scape had the livid eerie light in which it is uncertain whether day 
 or night is to be the issue. With surprise lemon looked around 
 him ; then shuddered. The stagnant waters of Warigesui's filthy 
 stream lay beneath him. He had found rest on the bank, at the 
 very place where Chobei had died under his hand. 
 
 " The Sanzugawa — without hills or bridges ; 
 On highway traversed by the dead, flowers there are none." * 
 
 The yama ( )i( ) refers to Yamada Chobei ; the hashi ( tjtI^I ) to 
 
 D 
 Takahashi lemon; the hana (Z /") to O'Hana, the wife of lemon. 
 
 Such was the then interpretation of the old poem. 
 
 lemon could go no further. His course was run. He knew 
 it ; but how end life ? At heart he was an arrant coward. Deter- 
 mined to cut belly he drew the dagger he had kept with him. A 
 shudder went through him at sight of the steel. Ah ! Better the 
 
 ^ Sanzngaiva : Yama mo nakereba, hashi mo nashi; shinde no tabiji hana 
 wa nao nashi. Sanzugawa, the river crossed by the dead. 
 
SANZUGAWA BRIDGELESS '237 
 
 green slime of the waters below. He thrust the blade back into its 
 scabbard. Moodily standing and gazing down, he gave an idle 
 kick to a stone near by. Dislodged, it swayed, then rolled heavily 
 down the bank, to plunge noisily into the stream, disturb its 
 noisome depths. The effect was surprising. Following its course 
 with his eye lemon suddenly gave a yell of horror. Eyes starting 
 from his head, arms raised high, he bent toward the stream. 
 Hair standing on end he watched the hideous object rise to the 
 surface. The face of Chobei, purple and bloated, the lips half 
 gnawed and open in a fiendish grin, looked up at him. Down 
 came the arms, and lemon put hands over eye§ to shut .out the 
 fearful vision. A horrid curiosity drove him again to view it. 
 Was he mad ? This time the barrel in its slow revolution brought 
 to view the wide flat face, the bulging brow and heavy lids, the 
 tangled, disordered hair of the drowned OTwa. Scream after 
 scream of the now frantic wretch rang in the air. These waters ! 
 Seek death there ! No ! No ! A thousand times — No ! He 
 turned to flee the place, but his legs refused the service. With 
 fell purpose he ripped the blade from its scabbard, tore open 
 his clothes to give the deadly thrust. As he raised the dagger 
 invisible hands seized his arm. When he would release it, the 
 other arm was seized. Everywhere these hands held him fast. He 
 raged, tore, struggled madly to elude their grasp. Then, over- 
 come, he fainted. 
 
 Katada Tatewaki from the top of the bank had been watching 
 the struggle of his men. He came forward and looked down at 
 the bound and helpless creature. " 'Tis he: in very fact." On 
 order a bamboo pole was fetched, and run between the bound 
 hands and feet. Thus like some beast was lemon conveyed to 
 the nearest ward office. The formalities were few and soon over. 
 To avoid chance of repetition of the scene they conveyed him as 
 he was. Thus began the brutal progress across Edo in full 
 daylight. People turned and stared after this escort of the man- 
 beast. At a distance they took the burden as some savage bear. 
 
238 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 or perhaps one of those reputed " tamtki " so noxious in their 
 pranks on humankind. Come closer it was seen to be a man. 
 Any mad struggle to get free was treated to spear pricks applied 
 with no great nicety beyond the avoidance of serious injury. Vio- 
 lent as were his struggles at times, it is doubtful if they could 
 have walked him the long distance. For the days of his flight 
 he had never rested; nor had these men in his pursuit. Yet he 
 was unexpected game. The Yotsuya alifair was taking a widening 
 sweep. Tamiya Yoemon and Kondo Rokurobei were under ex- 
 amination. The death of a girl O'Haru at the brothel of Toemon 
 of Honjo had unexpected effects. In the investigation which fol- 
 lowed one of the women, O'Take, had made full confession. 
 The pedlar Mobei had never left the house of Toemon ; never 
 escaped from the hospitality of O'Matsu. His goods had aroused 
 her cupidity. The man died by poison, and was buried in the 
 garden of Toemon's house. O'Haru knew of the deed. This 
 knowledge was the girl's destruction. The wife and her sub- 
 stitute O'Kin hated O'Haru. Some remains of a first good looks, 
 her youth, gave her power with the master of the house. The 
 two women worked on his fears to gain consent for her destruc- 
 tion. A charge easily was trumped up, and she was dragged 
 off to the cell of punishment. Under the hands of the wife and 
 O'Kin she suffered so that she died in three days, not without 
 letting her mate O'Take into the secret. Promptly the Honjo 
 police were at work ; not more prompt than was the woman 
 O'Kin to disappear from Edo, almost a confession in itself. The 
 rosary, found in the hands of the rector of the Reiganji, was 
 easily traced through different mediators straight to O'Matsu her- 
 self. The man Toemon held out, and died under the torture. The 
 woman confessed; and in her confession was comprehended the 
 full story of O'lwa's connection with Toemon's house. Of her no 
 more need be said. She rotted and died in the jail. The girls 
 were scattered to kindred houses. Two of the women, hunting 
 their pray on Warigesui toward the yashiki quarter, had wit- 
 
SANZUGAWA BRIDGELESS 239 
 
 nessed the murder of Chobei three nights before. The police had 
 gone to secvire the body. Tatewaki Dono was notified and had 
 accompanied them. To the surprise of all lemon, then the object 
 of earnest search, was found on the spot. 
 
 The affair kept on spreading — to the very source of all these 
 troubles. Katada Tatewaki in the course of procedure had trans- 
 mitted the Tamiya case to the jurisdiction of the macltibnc/xd of 
 the North district of Edo town, Homma Iga no Kami. With 
 greatest interest the two men in company poured over the innu- 
 merable documents now piling up in the case. Old Tamiya Yoe- 
 mon proved easy game. He readily confessed all he knew. 
 This brought in many witnesses from the wardsmen. It was not 
 exactly what was wanted. The evidence was mostly mere hearsay 
 and conjecture. In those days such testimony had a value not far 
 below that of direct statement. All pointed the way to the real 
 criminal, who after all was the star witness. Against Yoemon at 
 first there was but little. However, in his rage against lemon 
 and Kondo Rokurobei — Akiyama was out of his reach — his tongue 
 was too long. The faces of the magistrates grew serious as his 
 connection with the money lender Suzuki was made plain. A 
 saninrai loaning money on interest! and pressing men to ruin for 
 payment ! ! The stingy avaricious Yoemon appeared behind the 
 usurer — until in time his own heavy losses had made him a bor- 
 rower, and placed him in the hands of his once partner. Yoe- 
 mon, together with the conspirators, was not allowed to participate 
 in the forced restitution made by Suzuki. Nevertheless, at the 
 time no great severity was shown the old man. He was remanded 
 to the custody of his bail, to be kept confined to one room in the 
 house. 
 
 The same leniency was shown toward Rokurobei. When he 
 showed a disposition to be recalcitrant, to equivocate, Homma 
 gave sign to the dosJiin. Quickly the scourgers came forward 
 with their fearful instrument, the niadake. Made of bamboo 
 split into long narrow strips, these tightly wrapped in twisted 
 
240 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 hempen cord to the thickness of a sun (inch), with the convenient 
 leverage of a couple of shakn (feet), the mere sight brought 
 Kondo to terms. As he entered he had seen them lead away a 
 heimin (commoner) who had undergone the punishment. The 
 man's back, a mass of bruised and bleeding flesh, was vivid to 
 mind. At once he prostrated himself ; made full confession. At 
 last they were at the source. Kondo was a witness of the fact. 
 He could and did tell of the inception and progress of the whole 
 plot against O'lwa San, the source of untold woe to Yotsuya. 
 His story covered the period from the entrance of lemon into the 
 ward up to the discovery of the body of Kamikura Goemon. The 
 role played by Kazaguruma Chobei was in part dark to him. Of 
 the disposition of OTwa to the Honjo master of the Yotaka he 
 pleaded ignorance. Tatewaki Dono smiled as he counselled indul- 
 gence on this point. He knew. 
 
 Kondo, however, was sent back to the jail. He was unques- 
 tionably a principal. At last it was the turn of lemon. The weeks 
 had passed. The body had been carefully nursed back to vigour. 
 The mind was in lamentable state. The ill-meant efforts of the jail 
 authorities, the strengthening of the criminal in order better to 
 endure the torture to the confession point, were somewhat baffled 
 by the nightly visions of the wretched man. The two hags, OTwa 
 and O'Mino; Chobei in his final stage of purple bloatedness; 
 these were his nightly companions, to torment and harass him. 
 Sleep! If he could but close his eyes to shut out these horrors! 
 Instead they became more vivid. The jailors put him at the 
 farthest corner of their ample premises. His fellow prisoners, 
 such as were allowed daily exit to the yard, visited him with blows 
 and foul insults for the disturbance he created in the night. 
 But he was cunning withal. Trapped as he was, in his lucid 
 moments he realized that there could be but little against him. 
 OTwa ? Not even in Tokugawa times was the supernatural cause 
 of prosecution except at the hands of the vulgar. Nor in those 
 days, any more than in these of Taisho nengo, was a wife legally 
 
SANZUGAWA BRIDGELESS 241 
 
 protected against abuse of husband or parents-in-law. As for 
 Chobei — he was dead. His own presence on the scene was no 
 evidence against him as murderer. His only misgivings on that 
 point lay in the confusion of mind as to the few days then covered. 
 But who would blame a samurai for testing his blade on a beggar f 
 What were beggars for? He knew nothing of the evidence given 
 by Yoemon and Kondo ; of the vile proof in the hands of Katada 
 Dono. He had wholly forgotten the nurse who had listened to the 
 wild ravings of O'Hana in her illness, broken sentences bearing so 
 heavily and dove-tailing so nicely into the completed case. Owing 
 to this woman Tatewaki Dono had not waited the appearance of 
 lemon at morning. lemon also left out of account the characters 
 of the two men before whom he appeared. Iga no Kami sat as 
 judge in the case. Close beside him, a little in the rear, sat 
 Katada Tatewaki, in whose jurisdiction the case had originated, 
 and who was familiar with every stage. The four doshin sat to 
 one side and the other of these two men. 
 
 Homma and Katada were typical of their caste. Cold, callous, 
 cruel, devoted rigidly to the formula; of the samurai code, with 
 strange exceptions granted to the virtues required of the common 
 people — filial conduct and unswerving obedience to a superior — 
 they were not men likely to regard with favour this intruder into 
 their class. The name of samurai had been brought into contempt. 
 Hence the serious character of the offence, the necessity of sever- 
 est scrutiny. To the valued suggestion of Tatewaki, Iga no Kami 
 nodded assent. lemon thought of nothing but the murder of 
 Chobei, the abuse of his wife OTwa, the conspiracy against her 
 life and honour. The first question paralyzed his defence. Was 
 he not the son of Takahashi Daihachiro? The whole terrible 
 vista of the consequences of avowal appeared before him, once 
 himself a doshin and familiar with legal procedure. The family 
 had suffered kaieki (deprivation of rights). It had been degraded 
 from the caste. Properly speaking lemon was an intruder into 
 the samurai class. He was an impostor. His offence was against 
 Id 
 
242 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 the suzerain lord, the Shogun. All the terrible penalties of treason 
 hung over him. Tatewaki had been quick to note the opportunity 
 to take this case out of the category of offence by a samurai. 
 lemon was a plebeian and a charlatan. He had insulted Govern- 
 ment. At the stumbling denial quick order w^as given. A yakunin 
 seized the rope and dragged down the head of lemon. ♦Others 
 held him at the sides, to maintain the body rigid. Stout fellows, 
 the pick of the jailors, came forward. With ferocious regularity 
 the blows fell. Welts at once appeared. Soon the blood was 
 trickling from the torn skin. There was no sign to mitigate the 
 severity of the infliction. When at the seventieth blow the body 
 collapsed in a faint the wretched man was a terrible sight. The 
 attendants of the jail, witnesses of the full punishment of double 
 the number of stripes, had rarely seen such severity exercised. 
 The jailors hated this smooth fellow, this disturber of their peace. 
 They kept a jail, not a madhouse. Their superiors showed no 
 sign of the mercy of renewed questioning. Hence they would 
 change the mad nightly ravings to the subdued groans of the 
 punished. 
 
 The days passed and his body had healed, though movement 
 caused pain and distress. Brought again before the judges at 
 the very sight of the scourges he screamed out confession. Ques- 
 tioned as to the conspiracy against the caste, his fraudulent attempt 
 to consummate marriage with a samiirai woman — the actual fact 
 or legality of it was ignored — his ill-treatment and sale of her ; all 
 these in terror he denied. Once he had looked upon banishment 
 from Edo as the limit of his punishment. Now decapitation 
 would be a merciful end. He strove to secure the favour of a 
 quick and painless death. Again he was beaten almost to a jelly. 
 He clung to his denial, so important was the issue. At the next 
 appearance he was seized and dragged to a post fixed in the 
 ground not far from the judge's seat. His knees were pressed 
 down on the edges of the triangular bars. These formed a sort 
 of grid, the edges of the bars being just enough blunted to avoid 
 
SANZUGAWA BRIDGELESS 243 
 
 cutting the skin. None of the pain was spared, yet the prisoner 
 remained fit for early future torture. The granite slabs were then 
 piled on his knees. Each one weighed thirteen kzvan (107 lbs.). 
 As the fifth slab was placed on the body of lemon, the flesh 
 assumed a reddish tint from the impeded circulation. Froth 
 stained his mouth, mucus ran from his nose. A sixth, a seventh 
 stone, were placed. " How now ! How now ! " The men pressed 
 heavily on the stones. A doshin bent over him, listening and wait- 
 ing for sign of the important confession. The criminal was the 
 one important witness of Tokugawa penal law. Without confes- 
 sion he was innocent beyond all other proof. As the eighth stone 
 was placed lemon began to vomit blood. The doctor raised his 
 hand. The feet were showing signs of blackness, which rapidly 
 spread upward. The man was in a dead faint. No confession 
 had been secured. 
 
 Perhaps the examination was thus conducted out of some 
 severity. Days passed. Whether or not the report of the phy- 
 sician was unfavourable, influenced by some means Homma 
 had fear the man might die before a public retribution was secured. 
 When lemon again was dragged before his judges he had a ter- 
 rible object lesson before him. A man was undergoing the 
 torture of the lobster. Hands drawn up behind to the shoulders, 
 the feet tightly bound across the chest, he was propped up on a 
 mat. Properly conducted this " effort to persuade " took place 
 in the jail. Homma wished to try the efifect of anticipation on 
 lemon. The prisoner looked quickly at the man under torture, 
 then hung down his head. His lips were twitching with uncer- 
 tainty. Homma struck hard — " Why deny the plain fact ? Is 
 justice so ignorant of the doings and whereabouts of a scamp. 
 Kichitaro, or Kazuma the diviner, as he called himself, murders 
 Chobei the pimp; a deed carried out before witnesses." A dosJiin 
 placed the document of the confession of the whores so that 
 lemon had no difficulty in ascertaining its title. "And why? 
 Because of the agreement with Chobei to sell the woman he dared 
 
244 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 to call his wife. The proof? The seal of Tamiya, the document 
 itself." At last lemon looked up. The doshin placed under his 
 eyes the fatal contract with Chobei — agreement of exchange of 
 the body of the woman in return for five ryo duly received. It 
 had been recovered from the dead pimp's corpse. Carefully 
 wrapped in oiled paper, Chobei had carried it — sewn in what he 
 called his dress. lemon unwilling to recognize past services, 
 Chobei was sure to find it useful. Truly lemon was young and 
 impatient, and Chobei was double his age. With bitterness the 
 survivor recognized this primal fact. 
 
 lemon's eyes wandered from the paper to the thief under 
 torture. The dark green of the body was rapidly changing. 
 The doctor present gave a quick frightened sign. Skilful hands 
 at once cast loose the bonds. Over toppled the body. lemon 
 noted the white, almost livid, colour of death. Restoratives were 
 applied. All were busied with bringing the man back to life. 
 Then he was carried ofif, expression so unlike that of a human 
 being that the less hardened shuddered. Said Homma — " No con- 
 fession yet ? " He raised his hand to make a sign. lemon knew 
 the quickness of response. He almost screamed his appeal for 
 further respite. The Law had triumphed. As lemon put his 
 thumb seal to the confession of guilt to insolence (futodoki) the 
 magistrates rose and disappeared. " Futodoki " — they and he 
 knew that it meant the death sentence.^ 
 
 ' A fourth form of torture was suspension — ^an exaggerated infliction 
 of " the lobster." These official forms are described by J. Carey Hall in 
 the transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, vol. XLL, Part V. The 
 native references are the " Tokugawa Seikei Shiryo," " Keizai Dai Hiroku," 
 " Kojiki Ruihi Horitsu-bu." Cf article on Gomon in the " Kokushi Dai 
 Jiten." There were other forms. In the examination into the famous con- 
 spiracy of Yui Shdsetsu (1651 A. D.) no confession could be secured from 
 Yoshida Hatsuemon. He was brought out, to find his thirteen-year-old 
 son Hachitaro undergoing the torture of dropping water. At the last ex- 
 tremities the boy pleaded for mercy. His father drily told him to act the 
 samurai, and not to imperil the lives of others. It was different with 
 Matsubayashi Chuya (really the last heir of the famous Chosokabe House 
 
SANZUGAWA BRIDGELESS 245 
 
 Judgment was not delayed. The next day Homma, with 
 Katada and an officer of the Shogun's household present, gave 
 sentence. Yoemon and Rokur5bei glared hate at lemon who 
 squatted with head bent to the ground. The sword — that now was 
 his only hope. The first words of Homma showed that no mercy 
 was to be dealt out in this case. Suzuki the plebeian merely suf- 
 fered stripes and banishment from Edo. He had to make resti- 
 tution to the amount of his property — such as was left after pay- 
 ing the huge fine to Government. Tamiya Yoemon and Kondo 
 Rokurobei underwent degradation from the caste. There was no 
 disposition to overlook the offence of usury. Beggary was to be 
 the portion of Yoemon, the destitution of the outcast. For some 
 years the senile old man, the virago of a woman once the wife of 
 Kondo Rokurobei, were stationed at the Niomon, to attract and 
 amuse the worshippers passing up to the great temple of the Asa- 
 kusa Kwannon. Not for long could the woman hold her tongue. 
 Abuse passed with the sun's height to blows, and the by-standers 
 had to interfere and rescue the old man from the severe beating. 
 It was to the profit, rather than disadvantage, of the temple. The 
 pair were an added attraction. The priests left interference to 
 those at hand. Then the old man disappeared ; to ornament the 
 highway with his corpse, or be cast on the moor, food for dogs and 
 crows. Such probably was the end of Tamiya Yoemon. The 
 woman had not been seen for some months. Her abilities as scold 
 had attracted those qualified to judge; her transfer to the posi- 
 tion of bawd in a low-class house of the neighbouring Yoshiwara 
 soon followed. 
 
 Kondo Rokurobei fared tolerably well, considering his deserts. 
 His confession had been a great aid in unravelling the case. He 
 was not sentenced to cut belly. Degraded he heard with dismay 
 
 of Tosa). At sight of his old, white haired, white faced, jail wearied 
 mother threatened with the fire torture, he did for her what he would not 
 do for himself. The old woman wiUingly would have undergone the 
 torture. Chuya's confession cost the lives of seventy-five men. 
 
246 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 the sentence of deportation and exile to the far distant island of 
 Sado. At this savage place, subject to the hell of a Siberian 
 winter and the intense heats of the summer, the once pampered 
 man lived out his last days, few and evil. He who had passed the 
 time idling with tea-cup, or go, or flower arrangement, and taking 
 enjoyment in the freshness and coolness of his garden at the 
 Yotsuyazaka, at fifty years now tried to lead the hard and dan- 
 gerous life of the wild fishing population among whom he was 
 unceremoniously cast. Such life was soon forbidden him. He 
 was but in the road. Then he did such clerical duties as the 
 village at times needed. A wife even was provided for him. 
 The final blow was a palsy, cutting ofif all effort at making a liveli- 
 hood. Beatings now took the place of food. The villagers laughed 
 when they heard of the old man's fall from a cliff. They, too, 
 would have acted as had the brothers of O'Nabe (stew pan). 
 They took the word for the deed ; and at the cliff foot near 
 Negai they erected a wooden shrine to propitiate the spirit of 
 " Jiya Rokuro." 
 
 The day of execution had come. When sentenced, bound 
 as he was lemon struggled forward to plead for mercy, respite 
 from the barbarous punishment to be inflicted on the traitor. His 
 reward was the cangue and bamboo saw — nokogirihiki; failing 
 death by this, he was to be crucified. The attendants fell on him. 
 Kicks and blows had little effect on the man frantic with terror. 
 He almost reached the roka at which sat Homma. Then madly 
 struggling he was carried off to the jail. Said a doshin — " His 
 antics in the cangue will find small scope." The last clause of 
 the sentence was due to the notorious unwillingness of any 
 passer-by to give a cut. The punishment had lapsed since the 
 days of the third Shogun, and was no more successful in lemon's 
 case. Placed in the cangue at the execution ground of Shinagawa 
 a cut was made in each side of his neck. Smeared with blood 
 the bamboo saw was placed on the cangue in inviting proximity 
 to the head. For five hours people passed, with curious glances. 
 
SANZUGAWA BRIDGELESS 247 
 
 but no movement to release the criminal. An Eta (outcast) 
 butcher sidled up. The guards watched him with curiosity. Pick- 
 ing up the saw he made one pass. At the yell given by lemon he 
 dropped the implement and fled in terror, amid the laughter of 
 guards and by-standers. Toward the hour of the sheep (i p.m.) 
 a yoriki with his doshin appeared. On signal the cangue was 
 removed. Inert limbs feebly twitching lemon was bound tight to 
 the double cross, his legs and arms stretched wide apart. This 
 was raised, and again the hours passed in miserable waiting for 
 a death which seemed to recede. If unconsciousness threatened he 
 was given vinegar to drink as restorative. His fevered lips 
 eagerly sought the fluid and prolonged his torture. In the spring 
 light the days were long. As the sun was about to set the officer 
 gave command. A doshin came forward to the cross and made 
 a sign. A guard thrust his spear upward into the belly of lemon. 
 The limbs made a movement, as in attempt to be drawn up. A 
 guard on the other side in turn made a thrust. Others followed. 
 For some moments they continued their sport, the reward of long 
 waiting. The man was not yet dead. Impatient the doshin gave 
 the shaft of a spear a violent upward thrust. Its point appeared 
 through the left shoulder. The head fell forward on the breast 
 and hung limp. lemon was dead. 
 
 4: ^ H< :): ^ H^ ^ 
 
 These events could not be let pass without notice from either 
 the pious or the timorous. Kyoho 2nd year 2nd month 22nd 
 day (3rd April, 1717) the Inari shrine built to propitiate the 
 fearful Lady of Tamiya was opened to worship with due cere- 
 monies. It had been erected on the ground of the house once 
 occupied by Matazaemon, facing on Teramachi and on the narrow 
 street paralleling Samonchd to the East. It was almost opposite 
 the entrance to the Shogwanji. At the family temple, the Myo- 
 gyoji, on the Samegabashi side, a grave and stela was set up. 
 With time, however, the opposition made itself felt. It was 
 asserted that the Lady OTwa still walked the ward, inflicting 
 
248 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 pains and penalties on the inhabitants thereof. Triumphant refer- 
 ence was made to recent pubHc disasters — of plague, pestilence, 
 famine, and tax levies. The shrine was invitation for her pres- 
 ence. People had grown indifferent as the new paint grew old, 
 then shabby on the once famous miya. Success lay with the oppo- 
 sition, and abolition of shrine and grave was easily enforced. It 
 was but for a time. The ward was either equally, or more, 
 unfortunate without the protection of its tutelary Inari shrine. 
 Just when it was re-established cannot be stated, but in the late 
 eighteenth century it was most flourishing. It was a favourite 
 resort of samurai women, seeking consolation for unfaithful or 
 brutal conduct of their husbands, and strength in the reputation 
 for chastity of the famous Lady of Tamiya. In 1825 the third 
 Kikugoro made Yotsuya famous by his presentation of the " Yot- 
 suya Kwaidan " as written for the stage by Tsuruya Namboku 
 (Katsu Byozo). In the first years of the Meiji restoration period 
 Shunkintei Ryu5, the famous story-teller, heralded its renown in 
 the Shin Yoshiwara. O'lwa San became a feature of the Konha- 
 ruko fete of that quarter. A grave was again erected to her at 
 the Myogyoji. As she had no kaimyo, or posthumous name, the 
 rector of the temple gave her that of " Tokusho-In Myonen 
 Hisho Daishi," which can be interpreted — " She, pleasing of dis- 
 position and earnest in prayer; a woman of greatest brilliance." 
 Let the reader not judge this composition harshly; or its truth. 
 
 The editor to the reproduction ^ of Ryuo's story speaks of his 
 difficulties. Placed in his hand for judgment he saw at once the 
 power of the tale. But — how avoid incurring the divine anger 
 of the Yotsuya Inari ; how avoid being charged with the divine 
 punishment ? This question was solved by the publisher assuming 
 the burden of both inflictions ; under the spur of what he re- 
 garded as publication in inferior and untrue form. He answered 
 these questions with a laugh — " Afraid ? Not so : I, too, am 
 
 * Hif umikwan (Tokyo), Meiji 29th year 2d month 15th day (28th 
 March, 1896). 
 
SANZUGAWA BRIDGELESS 249 
 
 human. Though the unusual is an object, yet I would not rejoice 
 at incurring the divine anger by publishing what should not be 
 published. Though the divine anger be incurred by publishing 
 the Yotsuya Kwaidan, and the divine punishment be inflicted, 
 yet who would not gladden the eyes and ears of the land ? Hence 
 in haste the true record is to be printed; owing to emission of 
 unfounded stories. The true record being put forth, the people 
 profit by it. How then is the divine wrath incurred by publica- 
 tion? Certainly not: the protection of the divine one is secured." 
 The editor trusted in his argument ; as does the present scribe. 
 
 More than once the remark has been heard as to these shrines 
 of Nippon — " Their temples? Those dirty, shabby places, without 
 architecture or interest, the haunts of snotty, ragged children?" 
 The sun-helmeted gentleman and lady, or collection of their kind, 
 rush them by in haughty contempt, and with some ridicule and 
 ridiculous comment. Good Sir and Madame, you are passing his- 
 tory on the road. At this Kwogwanji, in its rather shabby guest 
 hall, Kusonoki Masashige and his devoted followers spoke their 
 last defiance and then cut belly. Kobe? It is noted as a place 
 to take ship, and not be too long in doing so. This other, barely 
 a mile from the Tokyo-Yokohama railway, is contemporary record 
 of Nitta Yoshioka, who carved his bloody protest on the Ashi- 
 kaga before he killed himself in the trap set by their treachery 
 at this spot. Here behind the Koraiji near Oiso is a very shabby 
 and tiny shrine nestled at the foot of the cliff. This had better be 
 avoided. It is dedicated to the small-pox god. But more than 
 history is neglected in the indifference and contempt shown these 
 minor miya. A vein of thought inwoven into the minds of this 
 strange people is instanced by this modest shrine of the Tamiya 
 Inari. Wandering along the amusement quarter of some great 
 city, a theatre is seen with a torii gorgeous in its red paint standing 
 before the entrance. Within this entrance is a small shrine and 
 a box for the practical offerings of cash or commodities. The 
 theatre is decorated inside and outside with flags as for a festival 
 
250 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 (matsitri). Such is actually in progress. The representation is 
 that of the Yotsuya Kwaidan. From manager and actor (even 
 in the presentation of the figured screen of the moving picture) 
 the malevolence of the O'lwa Inari — the Fox-witched O'lwa — 
 is to be averted. Hence all the signs of worship as at her very 
 shrine; hence the unwillingness of author or publisher to handle 
 the story, at least in its full form. This is but a remnant of the 
 fear of " black magic " still found and practised in Nippon. On 
 the beach at Kamakura at times can be found straw chaplets with 
 gaudy cloth attached to the centre ; a copper coin, and rice offering 
 are accompaniments. Or such will be found at the crossroads 
 of town or village, or on the Yokohama Bluff. Or in times of 
 epidemic in numbers they are laid on the wayside shrine of the 
 god of measles or other disease. The latter disposition conveys 
 its own warning ; the others are majinai or charms by which it is 
 hoped to transfer the disease to some other child, thus insuring 
 the cure of the first sufferer. The coin has been rubbed on the 
 body of the little patient. Dogs usually dispose of the food offer- 
 ing; and passing children are only too likely to pick up the 
 nefarious coin. The road cleaner comes along at his rare intervals 
 and sweeps the chaplet into the hole for refuse. It is to be re- 
 gretted that the ignorance and malevolence indicated by these 
 chafms cannot as easily be gathered in and disposed of. With 
 these remarks the Yotsuya Kwaidan and its tale of ill-fortune is 
 brought to an end. 
 
 Yokohama, 
 
 5th June-4th July, 
 
 1916. 
 
 Finis 
 
APPENDICES 
 A 
 
 [In printed copies of the gidayu the characters are to be dis- 
 tinguished by their theme, only the term kotoba is used to mark a 
 speaker. The shading into descriptive writing is at times vague. 
 In the present translation the characters are indicated. The orig- 
 inal figures in most gidayu collections. C£., " Gidayu Hyakuban," 
 p. 271.] 
 
 The Gidayu : 
 
 Tsuruya Namboku was a writer of drama. Many are the 
 persons called Namboku. The three preceding generations were 
 actors who played in buffoon parts. In the fourth generation 
 for the first time was taken up the literary work of play-writing. 
 The Namboku in the fourth generation, Yomyo Genzo, later 
 known as Inosuke, was born at Motohamacho. The father car- 
 ried on the business of katatsuki dyer, (handling the cloth to be 
 more or less gaily patterned). Anei 4th year (1775), entering 
 at the Kanai Sansho no Mon he (Ydmyd) took the name of Katsu 
 Byozo. Later he received the name of Nan Tsuruya Boku. When 
 he became a playwright he was about fifty years old. His plays 
 are most ingenious, and are very numerous. Among them are 
 the " Osome Hisomatsu," " Iro-yomi-uri," " Sumidagawa Hana 
 Gosho," " Yotsuya Kwaidan." In the playhouse they are known 
 (collectively) as the " Namboku Mono." 
 
 Iemon Sumika no Dan 
 
 (Scene in the house of lemon) 
 
 Now to present it : — Already on that day — ko, ko — the bell 
 
 of sunset had issued its call. In the hedges were heard sounds 
 
 of the swarms of insects. Still more lonely was the deserted 
 
 251 
 
252 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 mansion. O'lwa, disturbed, anxious, when was her countenance 
 to be open, her breast cleared of its darkness ? She brought forth 
 the andon; took out the sulphured slivers of wood from the box 
 holding steel, flint, and tinder. In the depths of her husband's 
 mind no flowers bloomed. She thought it was her woman's tem- 
 perament that made her brood. In her anxiety she gave expres- 
 sion to her gloom : 
 
 O'lwa — "Truly as 'tis said, it is a fleeting world; the flowing 
 of water the future of men. Before this I performed the service 
 of the inner apartments of the Hosokawa House. The marriage ! 
 Connected in thought with lemon Dono the honoured dismissal 
 was requested, that I should become a bride. Without fortune is 
 that Inosuke, heir of the master, such object of delight to bring 
 him to maturity. In the end all affection is absent. Nerve-racked 
 from birth, with the pains of child-birth, the blood clot, such sick- 
 ness has seized upon me. Then suddenly — one without a home, 
 shorn of all ornament. Overcome completely by the struggle, 
 effort and end have culminated. Parent and child, husband and 
 wife, these (relations) master this self. Detested is the fleeting 
 world, gloomy one's existence." 
 
 As she pondered, unbidden the tears mingled with her depression. 
 Without restraint, gradually rising-rising-rising, mounted the 
 flow of blood : 
 
 O'lwa — " Ah ! Ah ! Again the ever-present disease shows itself. 
 Deign — a remedy ! Oh ! Oh ! That ! That ! That same remedy 
 of aforetime, stirred and mingled with pure water. Two sips, 
 three sips; if one drinks poison — one becomes divine; life comes 
 to an end, but pity is aroused." 
 
 The curtain before the dressing room was gently raised. With- 
 out speaking Gombei seated himself close to O'lwa. 
 " Eh! Who is that? lya ! No one is announced. Hana, I say! 
 Hana, I say! Oh! 'Tis he — of all men! Gombei San, has he, 
 come again? Vengeance is satisfied, no longer exists." 
 As she would depart he held her sleeve to stop her. 
 
APPENDICES 253 
 
 Gombei — " Ah ! Ah ! I say — please wait. A Uttle while ago, 
 at lemon's coughing and clearing his throat, I was frightened away. 
 Trembling, at that time I went round to the rear. Thinking him 
 really absent, with stealth I have entered. The motive of a man 
 lies at the bottom of the heart. Just think to grant me a little 
 affection. Alas ! Ma ! Submitting it is deigned to hear what I 
 have to say. Heigh ! A woman like this, her whole mind on 
 lemon, she would be the chaste wife. But the affections of lemon 
 are elsewhere, far distant. Ya ! Hoi ! Hoi ! Hoi ! To fly ! Ho ! 
 Ho ! Ho ! Ho ! Ho ! Oh ! Moreover the disposition of Gombei 
 is not wicked. He seeks to be the husband. Other purpose there 
 is none. Condescend to be easy in mind." 
 
 But his words carry no weight. The face of OTwa in the light 
 has a glare. 
 
 Gombei — "As usual: Ma! One deeply distrustful. lya! 
 These matters, though in thought, are not to be put in words. 
 The state of affairs is too urgent to be put into words. Sa ! 
 But I hear you say — ' lemon probably goes to Hachiman. Ground- 
 less all these censures.' Do you really believe this? The in- 
 trigue is with the only daughter of Okumura Kinai, by name 
 Koume. She is indeed a beauty ; whether one regard the shape 
 of her face, her manners, or the carriage of her loins as if the 
 willow of spring. The intimacy with lemon could go no further. 
 The proof spoken of is here. This letter — the sealed envelope: 
 it fell from the sleeve of lemon. Stealthily I picked it up, by 
 accident. Now then ! Whereabouts is it ? A lengthy thing — Sa ! 
 Let's see what's in it. The coquettishness of the sentences ! 
 But let's see what she does say. Eh ! What's that ? ' The night 
 is source of pleasure. Great the pleasure at sight of you. With 
 compliments.' Assuredly there can be no mistake, when she talks 
 this way — ' The day comes. Soon we will be husband and wife; 
 morning and night to be at your service. With compliments.' ^ 
 
 ^ Mairase Soro: "I take the liberty of . . ." Brinkley's Diet. 
 A purely formal expression used in the letters of women writers. 
 
254 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 — ' Thus are the gods invoked. With compHments.' Eh ! What's 
 this? ' When distant from your side but for a moment, painful 
 Time's course. Place this signature next your very person 
 (hadaka) ' — 'To-night — come quickly; your advent is awaited. 
 With compliments.' What a miserable creature is this ! Is she 
 not? But there's still more. ' O'lwa Sama and matters with her, 
 this is a punishment due to offence in a previous existence. Conde- 
 scend to be relieved in mind. Be sure thus to view it. The spite- 
 ful brush (pen) stops. With compliments.' — ' It is hard (my 
 lot) ; very hard. With compliments.' — ' The honoured master 
 comes ; the ever-present desire.' How naw, O'lwa Sama ? Sa ! 
 Is there no outbreak as to this ? The occasion is no pleasing one. 
 Is there no harsh remark forthcoming as to one who holds illicit 
 intercourse with the husband of another ? Eh ! You are a woman 
 of marvellous patience ! Oh ! Oh ! Oh ! Oh ! At all events say 
 what you think. ' As yet in this matter, as yet in this affair, you 
 are certain of nothing.' Is that it? That Koume and her mother 
 plot together. Eh ; but she has a beautiful face ! And you — you 
 are bloated, eyes wide distended, one side of the face caved in, the 
 hair of the head all fallen out. That — and that — how describe the 
 ugliness of your face ! The affection of lemon has worn out. 
 Ah ! What is the name of that poisonous drug, begged of Suian 
 until secured ? That, too. has been learned. Oh ! Fearful, fear- 
 ful, fearful ! This is to act as one without care. Life is not some- 
 thing which lasts forever. Send from this house dismissal to 
 lemon, the act of separation. This the finality ! Surely the in- 
 trigue is proved. Mere thought, easily exhausted, is to no purpose. 
 Make up your mind; express your feelings. At all events your 
 reputation is preserved. Act and decide as one indifferent. More 
 and more have in mind the susuki of Masuo. Deign to yield. 
 Do this — just this — O'lwa Dono ! " 
 
 O'Izva — " No ! and always, No ! Firm the stand taken. In 
 no way is this to be endured — to be endured. To hate a person 
 is unreasonable ; 'tis unjust. But — the embracing arms, the closely 
 clinging, this is to act the lover." 
 
APPENDICES 255 
 
 With fingertips she thrust him off. Angry the tears ; her voice 
 trembled. 
 
 O'hva — " Ya ! 'A woman, and the object of contempt; one 
 treated by her lord with rudeness beyond measure. The hus- 
 band has become wearied. Here's the proof. Are you a woman 
 lacking sense ? ' One so unmeasurably rude — out with you ! 
 One's whole frame vibrates with passion. At one's very feet, the 
 fact is made plain. Quick — away with you ! Delay — and this 
 shall be the guerdon." 
 
 With violence she drew the dagger of Kosuke. Gombei, wicked 
 as he was, weakened forthwith. 
 
 Gombei — " Eh ! Treated thus one's purpose is brought to naught. 
 Listen now to reason, self-willed as you are. A little while, and 
 it will not be the time for a snarling face. Very well : notice is 
 given that soon your spirit will be broken. The petition is lodged 
 at the Daikwan's office. There will be difficulty in gathering prin- 
 cipal and interest. Just wait." He said these words on leaving, 
 ready to make a bolt of it. With zori (sandal) on one foot and 
 a wooden clog (geta) on the other rapidly he ran away. Left 
 alone O'lwa rose in haste. To the conflagration burning in her 
 bosom, was added the fuel of a woman's temperament. H it were 
 true ! How learn ? Pondering over the details filled her with 
 anxiety. 
 
 O'liva — " Ah ! Ah ! Ill feeling seeks to destroy — already it 
 turns to wickedness. Gombei's face betrayed him. His talk 
 was specious. At sight of the letter he read the doubting heart 
 learns the truth. Burdensome the knowledge for one's heart. 
 The mind tastes the bitterness of adversity. The hair of the head, 
 behind the temples, is affected by the feelings. To draw out the 
 dressing stand to hand : the little combs of willow, where are they? 
 Sorrow effects change; as does entanglements of the heart. The 
 fine-toothed comb which holds the thousand strands of hair — 
 how now! It has been forgotten." 
 
 Again she took up the hair. To get it out of the way she took the 
 front hair in both hands, making space to see. 
 
256 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 O'l-wa — " Alas ! I fail to understand. To-day the vertigo is more 
 pronounced than usual ; especially with the hair like this. Did 
 sickness cause the loss ? " 
 
 As she spoke, she drew the cover from the mirror. Reflected 
 in it was a face to inspire fear. Ha ! Frightened, she rose and 
 drew back. Though she looked around her — there was no one. 
 Alas ! How strange ! Thus she stood. Then leaning forward 
 carefully she scanned the mirror. " Ya! Ya ! Since when has 
 my face been like this ? It is completely altered." As if she could 
 repair the ravages to self and features squint-eyed she stood and 
 gazed. To sight she seemed a woman of evil. " Hai ! Ha ! " 
 She fell prostrate. " How now ! How pitiful! " Like one crazed 
 she arose. Her body writhed in pain, at the pit of the stomach. 
 These stomach pains, of frequent occurrence, now seized her. 
 Thus long she lay writhing where she was. 
 
 While she twisted in agony; knowing nothing of what has hap- 
 pened, and hearing the wheedling voice of a crying child, Kosuke 
 had returned and was at the entrance. 
 
 Kosuke — " Honoured lady, long have you been kept waiting. The 
 honoured priest had matter to relate. In Yotsuya I went from 
 this place to that, in efifort to coax supply. But just now. . . . 
 Is she suckling the child? " While speaking he drew close — " In 
 the meantime the honoured illness has developed beyond measure. 
 After retiring for the night you walk in your sleep. Eh ! Deign 
 to be a little prudent." 
 
 Softly the child came to her side. On seeing in what agony she 
 was : 
 
 Kosuke — " Ya! Alas I Alas! Have you again one of those hys- 
 terical attacks, now so frequent ? Okusama ! I say I " 
 To restore her from the fit to consciousness he raised her in his 
 arms. Regarding with attention her frightful appearance : 
 Kosuke— "Yo\ Yo! Yo ! Yo ! This face of the Okusama: 
 Ma ! What can be the matter? " 
 He staggered in bewilderment. 
 
APPENDICES 257 
 
 Kosuke — " How changed ! The Danna is absent. Heigh-ho ! 
 Ma ! How has this occurred ? What can be done ? The cold 
 water in the kettle here . . ." 
 
 Opening her mouth he made her swallow a mouthful. He placed 
 his mouth to her ear. 
 Kosuke — " Okusama ! Your ladyship ! " 
 
 Gently he stroked her back. Thus nursed, the breath of the heart- 
 broken OTwa faintly returned. 
 
 O'Izva — " Hei ! Has Kosuke returned? Why do you stroke me 
 thus? I had but gone to sleep, just now." 
 
 " Oh ! Oh ! " said he—" Ma ! Ma ! How joyful. Ah ! lya ! 
 I say, Okusama ; how long have you been in that state ? Your face 
 inspires fear." 
 
 At his question again she was the woman. The tears in her breast 
 rose high and overflowed. For a time she did not answer. When 
 a little calm : 
 
 O'Izva — " Deign then to listen. As usual lemon Dono went forth 
 to worship at Hachimangu. Subsequently my vertigo was too 
 pronounced. Two or three drinks were taken of the medicine pre- 
 scribed by Suian Dono. Secretly at the rear entered Naosuke 
 no Gombei, to make illicit courtship. Various were his pleas. 
 Thus — lemon Dono was deeply in love with the daughter of 
 Okumura. The worship (kami-mairi) was all a lie. He was con- 
 tracted to Koume. Hence his affection for me was at an end. 
 This change was due to the drug. Hear what is to be done. Love 
 unrequited is to be satisfied by revenge. Thus did Gombei put 
 the matter. But it is not likely that my husband is so cruel. 
 Heart again will turn to heart. The attack of vertigo was strong. 
 The hair was pulled out. Moreover, suddenly the face became 
 altered. . . . My appearance : Ma ! Gombei then did not lie. 
 By the plotting of the Okumura, parent and child, I have drunk 
 poison. They have an understanding with Suian. Eh ! At the 
 thought — at the thought — anger rises. My husband, a man of 
 note, with him she commits adultery. Hence the hatred of these 
 17 
 
258 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 people. Since the poison has been quaffed ; as serpent, as demon, 
 none shall be my equal. The Okumura, parent and child, are 
 you the kind thus to act ! " 
 
 Suddenly she sprang up, and would have dashed out at the front. 
 At her act the frightened Kosuke put his arms around and stopped 
 her. 
 
 Kosuke — " Heigh ! Heigh ! I say, Okusama ! The expression 
 of your face has changed. Heigh-ho! Whither away? Alas! 
 It is plain that she would go to the yashiki of Okumura. Evil 
 her purpose. She would confute the malice spoken by Koume, 
 by parent and child. She would fetch away with her lemon Dono. 
 lya ! Ho, there ! Your honoured judgment strays. She be- 
 lieves in what Gombei has said; that he is with the Okumura. 
 Does she not remember times past, the reproof of the Danna? 
 Sa ! As before ! As before ! As before! Put on outward seem- 
 ing. Deign to be calm. No ! No ! No ! Though there be shame ; 
 display a smile. Do but this. The prudence of the lady carries 
 the day. The colour, the perfume, of the flower has no effect. 
 Sa ! She won't stop ! She will go ! Thither she will take her 
 way ! The conflagration of her wrath is in her glare. She goes, 
 and Kosuke remains behind!" At a sound she looked aroimd. 
 The little boy was weeping bitterly at his mother's state. The tie 
 of blood, her affection, prevailed. 
 
 O'lwa — " Oh ! Bonka ! Bonka ! Bonka ! The pretty fellow 
 grieves." 
 
 She drew near to embrace him. Earnestly he looked in his 
 mother's face. 
 
 Child — " lya ! lya ! My lady mother is not like this. I'm afraid ! 
 I'm afraid ! " 
 
 Weeping, the little boy dropped from her knee. 
 " Bei-yo ! Please call my real lady mother." 
 O'lwa — " Are ! Are ! Are ! Deign to hear that ! In heart chil- 
 dren are without discernment. My appearance changed, he fears 
 the presence of his mother. To her side he will not approach. 
 
APPENDICES 259 
 
 How, how comes this face ! Meeting with lemon Dono one would 
 think — one would think — my very self meets with retribution 
 for some deed done in a past existence. Husband and beloved 
 child — alas! they avoid my sight." 
 
 With lamentable cries she wept. Kosuke, too, was moved, and 
 joined in her tears. O'lwa again inspected the appearance of 
 her face. 
 
 O'Izva — " To continue living thus in the world would be one 
 unending shame. Dying the grudge will be repaid. Holding thus 
 the skirt prevents my leaving. This must not be. To that place 
 I go." 
 
 As the two struggled the girdle (obi) came loose. The contest 
 was brought to an end. At this juncture returned Hamiya 
 lemon. He had little disposition to enter his home. Thus unex- 
 pectedly, without premeditation, the two came face to face. Mu- 
 tually they gazed at each other. " Ho! The Danna: good day." 
 Kosuke remained where he was, uneasily twisting. OTwa clasped 
 tight the breast of her husband's coat. " Heigh ! lemon Dono." 
 O'lwa — " Complete has been the silence toward me. Every night, 
 every night, polluted. With Koume have pillows been exchanged." 
 Speech and voice vibrated with jealousy. She glared at him. 
 Without showing alarm : 
 
 lemon — " Ma ! I don't understand. This way of acting is un- 
 usual. Why look like that? In that manner painful the change 
 in appearance." — "Why? Why? Eh! You pretend ignorance. 
 You pretend ignorance of the joyful result. By the artifice of 
 Koume, of parent and child, in unison with Suian, a poisonous 
 drug has been given me to drink. By this means I am made 
 unrecognizable. Would that never I had been born, to live so 
 deformed ... all due to the feeling aroused in these people. 
 Sa ! Sa ! Sa ! Restore my former appearance ! Bewitched, 
 seized by anxious care, it remains but to withdraw." 
 lemon — " Ya ! What mad talk ! In my absence, loosening the 
 cord of the obi, secretly you indulge your lewdness. Detected by 
 
260 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 the master's eye, disloyal as you are, death is the weighty punish- 
 ment. Make ready ! " At hearing the unjust proposal the upright 
 Kosuke with tears held tight his knees. 
 
 Kosuke — " Heigh ! Danna Sama. lya ! I say, lemon Dono ! 
 This Kosuke an adulterous fellow ? Heigh-ho ! It is unreason- 
 able ! Unreasonable ! Unreasonable ! You speak for your own 
 purpose. I, the mere servant, have been to call the honoured priest 
 to the Yotsuya. Returning home I found the Okusama uncon- 
 scious. When she learned the true state of affairs the Okusama 
 would have rushed forth. To stop her I seized the end of the ohi. 
 And that is to be unchaste ! lya ! A paramour — heigh-ho ! That 
 is too much ! Too much ! Too much ! It is to go to excess. 
 Truly, truly, for these years and months you have gone forth 
 in the world. Such has been your conduct. You have allowed a 
 sight of you — at the Bon Matsuri, at the New Year, in accidental 
 meetings on the street when on some mission. Why ! The very 
 dogs bark — the honoured constables of the night watch — eh ! they 
 administer reproof." 
 
 O'lwa — " Lamentable the distress. How many times ! Sleepless 
 the nights — the time when one should slumber. But this does not 
 move him. Hence the unkindness of his speech." 
 Kosuke — " Eh ! He don't listen. Danna Dono, beating the tatami 
 one weeps with regret." 
 
 O'lwa forthwith sprang up in haste — sprang up — sprang up. 
 " Superior is the concubine to the lady wife. Below the basely 
 mean is one placed. In the relation of husband and wife, the 
 thought is to treat the husband with respect. Such is the duty 
 of woman. To you the poverty and distress are not displayed. 
 Obtaining her means to live by washing and occasional tasks, 
 yet the wife is discarded. The sum total of the sunshine trans- 
 forms the flowers ; invisible their change. Regardless of self- 
 distrust of the past is put aside. But you act with cruel motive ; 
 a grudge as lasting as a night without moonlight. From the clouds 
 
APPENDICES 261 
 
 the drizzle falls on bamboo and on village. And between the in- 
 tervals of rain there is naught but v^^eeping." 
 lemon refused to listen : 
 
 lemon — " Ya ! Mere excuses these ; mere excuses these. In the 
 master's absence the cord of the obi is loosed. Madly you go your 
 rounds. The lewdness is evident. Sa ! Make honest confession." 
 At the outrageous words of the husband the voice of O'lwa trem- 
 bled still more : 
 
 O'lwa — " Eh ! 'Tis your own sin you would conceal. Regard- 
 less of self you would impute evil reputation to me. Having driven 
 me out, you would make Koume your wife. But by that you 
 shall gain nothing. Miserable one ! Unblushingly do you join in 
 the hate of the Okumura, parent and child? " 
 With a rapid motion she snatched his dagger. She half turned : 
 lemon — " Ya ! Whither? Whither? Here one must pick one's 
 words. This is not the time to inquire into the facts. lya ! lya ! 
 lya ! Where do you go ? " 
 
 At their quarrel Kosuke was perplexed. Said the child in troubled 
 voice : 
 
 Child — " Honoured mother — where go ye ? Honoured father — 
 forbearance, patience." 
 
 He clung to their garments in kindness and affection. The eyes 
 of the two in Shurado (Hell of fighting) were .blinded. On this 
 side and that they pulled at the scabbard of the sword. In the 
 wrestling, the springing in and recoil, the sword slipped from the 
 scabbard. Without intention to five or six inches it pierced the 
 shoulder. Atto ! The wife fell — " Namu Sambo ! " - Plucking 
 out the sword O'lwa cast it aside. By the action of retributive 
 fate the point of the weapon pierced the chest of Kosuke. The 
 wound was fatal. Seven revolutions and a fall : alas ! he was 
 dying. Close under his feet the blow of lemon had reached 
 the child. With but a single cry forthwith he died. At the 
 
 ^ The three holy things — Buddha, his Law, the priesthood. 
 
262 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 accident the husband was at a loss what to do. He stood stupified. 
 With difficulty O'lwa rose from the ground. 
 
 O'Izva — " Heigh-ho ! Heigh-ho ! Heigh-ho ! You would kill me ! 
 Oh ! Since you would kill, put into deed the ardent wish. Wretch ! 
 An idea — Koume, the parent and child : these are to be seized and 
 put to death. Be it so ! " 
 
 With eyes of hate, her hair fallen down, jealously glaring, in 
 appearance she was just like a female devil. Blood curdling, she 
 inspired fear. The husband gave vent to his inner thought : 
 lemon — " Though one kill without intent, yet the brandishing 
 of the sword is one's own deed, one's very act. It is the punish- 
 ment of Heaven for unchastity and jealousy. Bear it in mind." 
 At the cruel words Kosuke, drawing painful breath : 
 Kosuke — "Eh! To us, to us, to us, such speech applies not. 
 Unkind, unrighteous, is this death punishment. There is naught 
 to compare to it. Very wicked and unprincipled, surely you are 
 possessed of a devil ! Seldom is the life of a serving man grudged 
 him ; unconsidered as he is. Forgetful, the evil reputation of 
 lechery is attached, and death the portion. Eh ! How regret- 
 table ! The sight is unseemly. 'Twas you who inflicted the 
 wound ! To the Okusuma also, evil the name. Thus, without 
 intention, the end of your life is not witnessed by your child." 
 lemon — " By the hand of another your wound, by one your 
 parent ! On my part — on my part — had I aught to do with this ? 
 Heigh! Am I not grieved? Eh! Cold? Unfeeling? A wound 
 to myself could not pain more." 
 
 Vainly writhing he raised and embraced the body of the child. 
 As sadly he lamented, OTwa crawled up close. Tightly her arms 
 clasped the dead body of her child. 
 
 O'lwa — " Alas ! Alas ! Inosuke ! Inosuke ! The selfishness 
 of your father; the temperament of the mother; foolish their 
 thoughts. Thus have you ended life. . . . How great is the 
 grudge. Heigh ! Exercise forbearance ! Exercise forbearance ! 
 Deign to show forbearance. Parent and child are related for but 
 
APPENDICES 263 
 
 one life, 'tis said. Now separated, again in what world will there 
 be meeting? Men are born into the wide world. There is such 
 a thing as sympathy, 'tis said. Before your eyes lie kerai (re- 
 tainer), wife, and child. Now, on the very brink of time, not 
 once do you recite the Buddha's name. Abandon your inordi- 
 nate desires. Is your heart that of a demon? Eh! A snake? 
 Cruel and cold to your wife, you reckon up your various hates. 
 With Kosuke I am the one to lament. Tears overflow. Steady 
 the fall of rain of Yosuji, of swnidare (the rainy season). When 
 dying the chief of birds vomits forth blood with his song: so I." 
 lemon — " Ya ! The song she sings inspires no regret. A prayer 
 said and the child enters Nirvana. Namu Amida Butsu ! As 
 for these two — I would kill them by inches ; as they twisted, and 
 staggered, and fell grasping at the air, and in every way showed 
 their agony. In the next world may they meet with a mountain 
 set with sharp-edged swords, so cruel as to inspire pity." 
 Just then came running to the front entrance Suian. He gasped 
 for breath : 
 
 " Heigh ! Heigh ! lemon Dono ! " 
 
 Sitian — " O'lwa Dono's appearance has changed. It was the 
 drug, our own secret nostrum, administered at request of the 
 honoured mother of Okumura. Though sorrow was felt, unex- 
 pected the good luck in killing the honoured wife. Henceforth 
 come out openly. Who would not drain the sake cups with 
 Koume Dono! The three lands (China, India, Japan) are the 
 inheritance of one who was but an adopted son. All in good 
 order ! All in good order ! All in good order ! Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! 
 Ha ! Ha ! Sa ! To set about it at once." 
 The husband concealed tears of regret for past conduct. 
 lemon — " Plain it is that wife, child, and kerai, though deserving 
 compassion, have found death. 'Twas determined by fate in a 
 previous existence. But to obviate fear of future disaster, though 
 not the original purpose, the dead bodies of these two are to be 
 nailed to a door panel, with the inscription — * unchaste and jeal- 
 
264 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 ous.' Let them float away on the current of the Nenashigawa. 
 The entrance of the house is close to the inner room. Make 
 ready : it will be best to leave by the rear. Quick ! Quick ! 
 But . . ." 
 
 Sitian — " It happens that the neighbor Dansuke comes." He bent 
 and peeped through the entrance. " Dansuke ! Dansuke ! '' Dan- 
 suke Mizuo in presence, mouth to ear he was informed. " Namu ! 
 Namu ! Namu ! Namu ! " He nodded consent. The two men 
 talked in whispers. The dead bodies of the two (OTwa and 
 Kosuke) were carried into the inner room. For some time Nao- 
 suke Gombei had been watching what went on, peeping out and 
 listening. He appeared from the shadow. 
 
 Gombei — " Yai ! Unjustly have the blameless wife and kerai 
 been punished by Hamiya lemon. Complaint is to be made at 
 the Daikwan's court." 
 
 When he would rush forth he was pulled back by the girdle (obi). 
 " Ya ! Ya ! Whither would you go? There is matter of impor- 
 tance to hear." — " The intent is plain. You would kill me." One 
 had the long sword of the soldier. Two or three passes and he 
 was nearly cut down by the skill of Hamiya. When he tried to 
 flee, from behind he received a cut through the shoulder. It 
 finished him. Then he (lemon) would hide the dead body of 
 his child from the eyes and reproach of men. Close at hand was 
 a heavy stone trough. For funeral rites — " Namu Amida Butsu ! " 
 Into the well crib he threw it. Are ! Marvellous ! Suddenly the 
 house creaked and trembled. From somewhere came swarms of 
 rats. Heigh ! Incomprehensible ! lemon wavered. Singling him 
 out they flew and seized him. Sha ! Confused he slashed in 
 attempt to drive them off. Lightning blazed around the sword ; 
 many phosphorescent lights — in wreaths, double, triple. To the 
 end of the worlds his retribution. 
 
 Thus the causes, origins, are made known of what remains as the 
 Yotsuya Kwaidan. 
 
APPENDICES 265 
 
 End of the Gidayu 
 [It can be noted that Japanese thought and expression are not very 
 different from that of the West. An idea perhaps can be obtained 
 from this gidayu as to why the native waxes enthusiastic over the 
 pose and vivid gestures of the geisha, who is the one to interpret 
 these dramatic recitations. To her falls the "^kotoba." The de- 
 scriptive lines are recited by a chorus to the harsh and effective 
 twang of the samiscn. The samisen may not afford music, but it 
 can give expression to the emotional in feeling. The gidayu reci- 
 tation is a favourite art with the Go Inkyo Sama. Symposia are 
 held, before which the old gentleman recites, often enough without 
 chorus ; for he, and the geisha, at times have to fill the role both 
 of " kotoba " and chorus, modulating the voice according to the 
 theme. Symposia is not an unbefitting term. Meetings are held 
 for public competition in gidayu recitation; but in the privacy of 
 one's circle and hobby the banquet is an important feature — at 
 least to the guests. In his history of " Japanese Literature " 
 (Dai Nihon Bungaku Shi, pp. 591-596) Suzuki Choko gives a 
 long extract from the play, as sample of Tsuruya's powers as a 
 dramatist. Adopted into the House of the actor Tsuruya Nam- 
 boku, and marrying his daughter, Katsu Byozo in turn assumed 
 the name Tsuruya Namboku.] 
 
 B 
 
 [In the original the story by Momogawa Jakuen is found in the 
 Kwaidan Hyaku Monogatari, vol. ii, p. 83 (Kokkwado-Tokyo). 
 This collection has already been referred to, as sketching a num- 
 ber of the best known Japanese kwaidan. The present example 
 furnishes a specimen of kodan style, and has application to the 
 present subject. It also instances how the Japanese stage boldly 
 faces situations, the exigencies of which call for the greatest 
 adaptation and facility on the part of actor and stage manager. 
 The " Yotsuya Kwaidan " in the stage representation presents a 
 number of critical scenes in which both qualities are severely 
 
266 ^ THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 strained. Rapid metamorphosis is a sine qua non. And it is 
 effected — somehow. ] 
 The kodan: 
 
 Once Kikugoro no Yurei 
 
 From former times and generations the Otowa ^ House held 
 a monopoly in the representation of ghosts. Its representative 
 in the fifth generation was the most skilful of all at spectres. This 
 man of the third generation lived at Mukojima no Terajima. He 
 was commonly called Terajima no Kikugoro; his stage name was 
 Baiko. This man's daughter was the mother of the fifth genera- 
 tion. Thus it can be seen that he was the maternal grandfather 
 of this fifth representative. This third Kikugoro was the first 
 to act the Yotsuya Kwaidan, in Bunsei 8th year 7th month (14th 
 August-i3th September, 1825) at the Nakamura-za (theatre). 
 The author was the noted Tsuruya Namboku, who constructed 
 the very famous " Tokaido Yotsuya Kwaidan." O'lwa San, the 
 attendant (zvakatd) Kohei, and Enya no Ronin Sato Yomo Shichi, 
 these parts fell to Kikugor5. Matsumoto Koshiro, he who strutted 
 it at the Koraiya, did the Naosuke Gombei. lemon was the part 
 of the seventh Danjuro ; later Ebizo, who was the real father of 
 the ninth of the name. The staging of OTwa Sama includes — 
 1st scene, the combing of the hair; 2nd scene, the Sunamura 
 Ornbobori ; 3rd scene, lemon ill in the dark room at Hebiyama ; 
 4th scene, the yashiki of Naosuke Gombei at Fukagawa Sankaku. 
 OTwa appears at the scene of the combing of the hair as men- 
 tioned, in the incident where the guests are received, and in the 
 \ 3rd scene at Hebiyama. lemon is ill. Splitting apart the lantern 
 set out during the Festival of the Dead (Bon Matsuri) the ghost 
 of OTwa appears with the child in her embrace. lemon receives 
 them as would a stone Jizo. OTwa, at sight of the fright of 
 lemon, laughs — ki, ki, ki. At once they fade away ; and at once 
 the ghost of Kohei the wakato takes her place, he who was charged 
 
 ^ Another reading of the characters for Kikugoro — to the initiated. 
 
APPENDICES . 267 
 
 with unchaste conduct with O'lwa. It was the part of the per- 
 former to please the uninitiated by some strenuous effort. The 
 first performance at this theatre was for three months— from the 
 seventh to the ninth month. On consideration the drama is of 
 interest. O'lwa is killed at Yotsuya. With the dead body of the 
 wakato Kohei she is fastened to a door, and from the rear the 
 scoundrel sets them adrift. Fishing at Ombobori, lemon sees 
 th'em float by. From Yotsuya to Sunamura is a very great 
 distance. It would occupy a woman's legs for the space of a day ; 
 or faint-hearted fellows, water drinkers, such of the kind as 
 would try it. Winding along what rivers, by what intersecting 
 canals had they floated here ? In no way does one conceive. All 
 the more the reasons influencing the author's design are not 
 known. Very interesting is the story, to the cheerful character, 
 and those not to be chilled by apparitions. At all events they get 
 to Ombobori ? The third Kikugoro, the first to take the part of 
 O'lwa, was a superlative actor, skilled in capturing the people. 
 In the third scene, the dark room at Hebiyama, the ghost comes 
 forth from the Bon lantern. Every day the kozo (man or boy as 
 apprentice) of the utility shop in Asakusa Umacho slowly took 
 down the lantern covered with white paper. In a straight line, 
 before the eyes of all, he passed along Kuramaedori, crossing Asa- 
 kusa. From Yokoyamacho he crossed to Daimaru no Mae. 
 Passing through Norigyocho he reached the Nakamura-za in 
 Sakaicho. As he passed along these streets crowded with people, 
 . the eyes of men were attracted : 
 
 No. I — " Every day,~'every day, the koso goes by carrying that 
 Bon lantern. Where does he go ? " 
 
 No. 2 — " He ? Kikugoro now is playing O'lwa Sama at the Naka- 
 mura-za. The ghost issues from that Bon lantern. The lantern 
 used is brought every day by the koso." 
 
 No. I—" Ha ! A practical application. We must be sure and go 
 see." Through this advertisement the guests came readily. As 
 fact, every day but the one Bon lantern was used. Split apart, 
 
268 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 it was repaired. From the first day, up to the performances of 
 a thousand autumns, one lantern answered all purposes. Truly 
 Kikugoro was more than a clever actor. He was wonderful in 
 securing the good will of people. No actor was equal to him. 
 Tradesmen, Government officials, learned men, refined people — 
 he was skilful at gaining their support. Hence he did not lack 
 money. His status did not affect him. When as usual the Bon 
 lantern one day was to be carried out, Kikugoro made his pupil 
 Onozo the bearer. Said Kikugoro : 
 
 Kikugoro — " Onozo, don't I frighten you somewhat in this 
 shape ? " 
 
 Onozo — " I'm not in the least frightened. Every day acting as 
 your assistant I'm not afraid." 
 
 Kikugoro — What? Not afraid? Say that you're afraid." 
 Onozo — " Patron, that is unreasonable. One not afraid — is not 
 afraid. Hence it cannot be helped." 
 Kikugoro — " Anyhow, say you are afraid." 
 Onozo — " I'm not at all afraid." 
 Kikugoro — " An obstinate rascal, this." 
 
 While speaking — pokari, he gave Onozo a whack on the head. As 
 it was he went through the performance. Coming to the green 
 room, at once he called Onozo. 
 Kikugoro — " Fool and low fellow." 
 
 Qnozo — " Why is it then you would strike a fool and low fellow 
 with a stick ? " 
 
 Kikugoro — " You are just like a fool. A little while ago when 
 told to be afraid of' me, you would not say you were afraid." 
 Onozo — " Patron, that is to be unreasonable. I attend you. 
 Every day I see you." 
 
 Kikugoro — " I know you are not afraid. But you are the very 
 one who acts as my attendant. In public you are to look at me 
 as one frightened beyond measure. If this be not widely pub- 
 lished, will not the theatre be deserted ? An actor who is good only 
 
APPENDICES 269 
 
 at acting, he is not to be called a clever man. He must draw 
 people. Fool and low fellow ! " 
 
 Onoso — " Naruhodo ! Since you say it — I'm afraid." 
 Kikugoro — " Your answer now is to the purpose." 
 Hence on considering the matter, was not Kitcugoro in every way 
 a talented man ? For the space of eighty days this theatre turned 
 away guests. Later, in Tempo 7th year 7th month (12th August 
 to nth September, 1836) again this drama was produced. The 
 actor was the same as at the previous production. On this occa- 
 sion Kikugoro took thought. As it was the second time, it must 
 be changed in presentation to an audience. Domo! There was 
 the coming on of the ghost. It is clad in a grey robe. If OTwa 
 wears a gray robe, and the zvakato Kohei wears a gray robe, both 
 being the same to view this would fail to interest. He con- 
 tinually worried. Nevertheless it would not do to wear armour; 
 and a ghost in kami-shimo ~ raises no chill. Some contrivance 
 must be hit upon. Day and night the matter worried him. Habitue 
 of the gallery of this Moritaza was a man named Tsutaya no 
 Yoshi, commonly known as Tsutayoshi. An extraordinarily dis- 
 solute fellow he borrowed to the four sides and eight directions. 
 At this time in the Yoshiwara Sumicho was a tenement placed in 
 the rear of the prostitute houses. He removed thither, and 
 soothed his troubles by living alone. His face washed in the 
 morning, at once he ran forth. He ate his meals at a cheap 
 eating house. A varied meal consumed he made his way to the 
 Morita-za. Lunch was eaten in the theatre. On the return he 
 took a drink and then went home. In truth he was a lively 
 fellow. The Yotsuya Kwaidan had just been determined on for 
 the close of the sixth month (July). At sundown he returned 
 to his home in the Yoshiwara. On the way he drank — the 
 strongest of liquors. At once he hung up the mosquito net and 
 
 *" Top-bottom " : the beautiful lozenge shaped "X dress of the samurai 
 when on court service, or for other ceremony : full dress. 
 
270 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 went inside. Not knowing front from rear he went to sleep. 
 Pressed by a necessity the sound of the wooden clappers 
 (hyoshigi) made him open his eyes. It was the harlot quarter, 
 the 9th hour and more (after 3 a.m.), and the liveliness of the 
 night was over. The quiet of the place inspired fear. From 
 evening he had not stirred from the mosquito net, but had slept. 
 The light had gone out, and it was pitch dark. Soundly had he 
 slept. In the jar was fresh water for drinking. Greedily he 
 drank. 
 
 Yoshi — " I have slept — in a way to cause fear. It is now past 
 the 9th hour. I still can sleep without stint." 
 Again he entered the net. He drew the tobacco box close to 
 his pillow head. He would smoke. Looking toward the andon, 
 beneath it, faintly outlined, he saw somebody. 
 Yoshi — " Who is there? This place used to be a brothel. Now 
 it is a tenement. I rent it. It don't do to have it taken for a 
 brothel. Oi ! You — whence do you come ? 
 At the words — he ! It disappeared. 
 
 Yoshi — " I say now ! A marvellous thing — that over there. A 
 kind of dream — -extraordinary: I don't remember having a grudge 
 with anyone. Yai ! If the spirit which just came entertains a 
 grudge I have never even dreamed of such. I am a dissolute 
 fellow, but remember no grudge with anyone." 
 Thus loud and wrathfully he shouted out. As one without 
 fear he went to sleep. Waking up, the next day he left the 
 house to go to the hot bath in Umacho. On the way he break- 
 fasted. Then he went to the Morita-za. Although the perform- 
 ance had not begun, as it was a first representation the theatre 
 was crowded with people. Said a friend : 
 
 Friend — " Yoshi San, the colour of your face is bad. Are you 
 affected by the heat?" 
 
 Yoshi — " Liking strong spirits, I feel badly. Moreover, last 
 night a strange thing was witnessed. I feel out of sorts." 
 Friend — " What was it? " 
 
APPENDICES 271 
 
 Yoshi — " In the middle of last night I opened my eyes. Dimly 
 outlined beside the lantern {andon) sat a rascal; some fellow 
 who had been amusing himself at a neighbouring brothel. I 
 thought that being drunk with wine he had come there by mistake. 
 'Who are you?' Thus I shouted. It disappeared. Domo! It 
 was a strange occurrence. Was it a ghost, thought I ? I could 
 remember no grudge with another person. Anyhow, in all likeli- 
 hood it is no ghost, thought I. However I look at it, I don't 
 understand." 
 
 Friend — " Hei ! Yoshi San, it was your own imagination." 
 Yoshi — " Though I considered it a vision of my own, as strange 
 I mention it." 
 
 Friend — " If you feel bad it will be well to stay away for to- 
 night." 
 
 Yoshi — " I don't think I feel badly in any other way. To-night — 
 for the whole night — I'll make the test." 
 
 That day he returned to the Yoshiwara house. That night no 
 one was seen. But when he did see it, was the thing a matter 
 of his own imagination? The next day he came to the theatre. 
 The friend was waiting for him. 
 Friend — " Yoshi San, did it appear at night ? " 
 Yoshi — " lya ! At night it did not appear. In the middle of the 
 night opening my eyes I looked with especial care to the eight 
 sides. Nothing that could be considered suspicious w^as to be 
 seen." 
 
 Friend — " Then it was as I said. It being at one time a brothel, 
 would not something appear in this house ? Having this wholly 
 in mind, the thing presented itself to your eyes." 
 Yoshi — "Doubtless it is but that; a freak of the imagination." 
 That night returning to the Yoshiwara, nothing happened. A 
 space of five nights passed. His habit was to return early ; and as 
 his thin dress was wet with sweat he would change it. Going 
 upstairs he took out the thin garment from the clothes-basket 
 (tsuzura). With this in hand he was about to descend. Now 
 
272 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 as at one time the place had been a brothel the steps were broad 
 
 and wide. Seated on the lower step, lying face downward, was 
 
 somebody. 
 
 Yoshi — " Ah ! Has it come ? " 
 
 Being a courageous fellow, while speaking he raised his leg. 
 
 Yoshi — " You're in the way." 
 
 Pon : he gave a kick. There was not the slightest resistance. 
 
 Forthwith — ha ! it was gone. 
 
 Yoshi — " Domo! Remarkable: it is a strange occurrence." 
 
 While speaking he changed his robe and lit the fire. Making the 
 
 water boil, with Echizen peat he heated some wine he had bought 
 
 on the road and brought home with him. With tsukiidani,^ or 
 
 something of that kind to eat, he drank and thought. 
 
 Yoshi — " To-day it is no product of my imagination. Who can 
 
 that rascal be ? " 
 
 Talking to himself, he drank the sake. Attending to preliminaries 
 
 he would go to bed. He went to the necessary and opened the 
 
 door. Some one stood there, with his back to him. 
 
 Yoshi — " Here again ? " 
 
 At the words it disappeared. No matter how brave he was, that 
 
 night he felt badly and did not sleep. Awaiting dawn he was 
 
 quick to go forth. On coming to the theatre — 
 
 Friend — " Good day : how goes it with Yoshi San ? Are you not 
 
 very much out of tone? 
 
 Yoshi — " At night it came. Moreover it appeared twice." 
 
 Friend — " Did it appear ? " 
 
 Yoshi — " At first.it was seated on the stair. The second time it was 
 
 inside the necessary." 
 
 Friend — " Hei ! That is marvellous. Probably it is the work of 
 
 fox or badger (tanuki)." 
 
 This talk abruptly terminated. Tsutayoshi was a bold fine 
 
 fellow. Unmoved, he retired to his own home in the Yoshi- 
 
 ^ " Small fish boiled in soy in order to preserve it (named after 
 Tsukudajima-Tokyo — famous for its preparation)." — Brinkley's Diet. 
 
APPENDICES 273 
 
 wara. After that nothing was seen for several days. Just as he 
 
 was forcing a way into the theatre — 
 
 Man — " Yoshi San! At the Bairin (Plum Tree) over the way is 
 
 the master of Otowaya. He is urgent to see you ; so he says. It 
 
 will be well to go at once." 
 
 ]'oslii — "Was he told I was here?" 
 
 il/fl»— " Ah ! " 
 
 Yoshi — " How annoying! The Otawaya San has lent me money. 
 
 Domo ! A meeting, 'tis bad news." 
 
 Man — " As nothing was said about it — go. Surely the return of 
 
 the loan is not involved." 
 
 Yoshi — " It's not to be avoided. I'll go and see." 
 
 Opposite to the theatre was the tea house called the " Bairin." 
 
 He went in. 
 
 Yoshi — " Good-day." 
 
 Maid — " Oya ! Yoshi San. As the master of Otowaya is waiting 
 
 upstairs for you, just condescend to go up." 
 
 Yoshi—" Ah ! Is that so ? Condescend to pardon." 
 
 Don, don, he climbed the stairs. At the end of a six-mat room 
 
 was a man fanning himself. He was alone. It was Kikugoro, 
 
 the third of the name. He had been noted as a handsome man. 
 
 However, at this time he was an old man. The white summer 
 
 garb of that very fine quality of cloth-grass known as jofn was 
 
 girded in by a chakcnjo obi.* Of his profession there was not 
 
 a hint. 
 
 Kikugoro — " Sa ! Yoshi San, come here, please." 
 
 Yoshi — " The patron: domo! truly it has been rude not to come 
 
 and see you. I have not crossed the threshhold." 
 
 Kikugoro — " lya ! Why speak so ? You now live in the Yoshi- 
 
 wara." 
 
 Yoshi — ■" That is so ; for a long time I lived in Fukiyacho. The 
 
 neighbourhood was a bad one. I had borrowed money. It was 
 
 * Brown, with stripes — a favourite pattern with men and women. 
 18 
 
274 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 like running away in the night. A one-time brothel now the rent 
 is ridiculously cheap. Mikoshi (carriages) are kept in it now." 
 Kikugoro — " The Yoshiwara is a gay place. For people who 
 would amuse themselves there is none superior. It is an excellent 
 locality." 
 
 Yoshi — " One can find whatever is desired." 
 Kikugoro — " So Yoshi San, now you live alone." 
 Yoshi — " Hai ! I'm alone." 
 
 Kikugoro — " I've just heard the talk of people. A ghost appears 
 at your place." 
 
 Yoshi — "Who said such a thing?" 
 
 Kikugoro — " lya ! It was heard, by accident. Is it true? " 
 Yoshi — " Hai ! First it was seen beside the andon; then on the 
 stairway, and in the necessary." 
 
 Kikugoro — " A strange matter! Is it man or woman? " 
 Yoshi — " Domo ! That I don't know. It was seen as in a mist. 
 Whether man or woman, I don't know." 
 Kikugoro — " Are there male and female ghosts? " 
 Yoshi — " Male or female — I know nothing about it." 
 Kikugoro — " What its nature? When it appears this time, conde- 
 scend to take a good look at it." He continued (then) — " The 
 present drama of the Yotsuya Kwaidan — as to my part, as you 
 well know, QTiy:a__and Kqhei before the very eyes must change 
 places in an instant. For both to wear the grey kimono lacks 
 interest. Which of them is to change ? It is on my mind. Domo ! 
 Thought fails to solve the question. Hence the request to you. 
 What kind of dress does that ghost wear? That is what I want to 
 learn." 
 
 Yoshi—'' Hei ! " 
 
 Kikugoro — " But Yoshi San : It is no mere request. I loaned 
 you ten ryo." 
 
 Yoshi — " Patron, do you condescend still to remember it ? " 
 Kikugoro — " Deign not to jest. Who would forget such a rascal? 
 
APPENDICES 275 
 
 I'll wipe out that ten ryo — and give you five ryo in addition. How 
 now? Condescend to observe." 
 
 Yoslii — " Thanks are felt. When it appears I'll take a good look 
 at it. 
 
 Kikiigoro — " With the month's change the first representation 
 takes place. It must be ascertained in the intervening time. Prob- 
 ably in four or five days it will be seen." 
 
 Yosbi — " That is so. Domo ! The opponent being a ghost, will 
 it appear to-night ? Or has is ended by going away ? That I don't 
 know. Having found out its dwelling place, I'll send a postal- 
 card." 
 
 Kikugoro — " Don't jest. As just said, I'll give you five ryo. Be 
 careful ; and please take a good look." 
 
 Yoshi — " Respectfully heard and understood. This time I'll get 
 a good look at it." 
 
 Thus agreed Tsutayoshi returned that night to the Yoshiwara. 
 Yoshi — " A pleasing thing ! Ten ryo wiped off, and five ryo re- 
 ceived in addition. Thanks : a fine bit of work. It will be well 
 if the rascal of a ghost comes to-night. Anyhow, just before the 
 Bon it suffers distress beyond measure. For several days noth- 
 ing has been seen of it. Its purpose may have changed : Yai ! 
 If the ghost is to appear, please show up at once. Don't it yet 
 appear ? Oi ! Ghost ! " 
 
 The ghost was not to be drawn out by this display of energy. 
 Several days passed without the slightest sign of it. Every day 
 Kikugoro came to the Bairin and sent for Tsutayoshi. 
 Kikugoro — "Yoshi San, has it not yet appeared?" 
 Yoshi — " Domo ! The patron is vexed. Every day, every day, 
 it is awaited; and not a sign of it. Feeling oirt of sorts, has it not 
 died? That's my idea." 
 
 Kikugoro — " Oi ! Oi ! Yoshi San. Being dead, is it not a ghost ? 
 Once dead, does the rascal die again ? " 
 
 Yoshi — " D5mo ! Patron, nothing is known of one's spirit. For 
 it not to appear is annoying. Spirits (ki) suffer pain; and suffer- 
 
276 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 ing pain they don't show themselves. It seems that you want it to 
 appear before the first representation. If I see it, I get five ryo. 
 I would like to have it show itself before the Bon. My purpose 
 is to get through this year's Bon ^ by means of the ghost. 
 Kikugoro — " Anyhow — have a care." 
 Yoshi—" Agreed." 
 
 That night he went home and drank wine. 
 Man — " Yoshi San, is he at home ? " 
 
 Thereupon without ceremony entered an intimate friend, from 
 Sakaicho near Fukiyacho. He had loaned money to Tsutayoshi, 
 and now sought the repayment. 
 
 Man — "Yoshi San, you say you will bring it, you will bring it; 
 and you make no sign of bringing it. That was my money, and 
 the failure to return it is vexing. Will matters change before the 
 Bonf" 
 
 Yoshi — " Wait but a little. If to-night something materializes 
 I get iive ryo. The money in hand, at once I will pay you back." 
 Man — " What is going to materialize ? The five ryo you spoke 
 of?" 
 
 Yoshi — " In fact at my house a ghost appears. The Otowaya 
 San heard of it. As of immediate use to the theatre I am care- 
 fully to observe what the ghost wears. He says he will give me 
 five ryo. The money obtained, at once the two ryo will be repaid. 
 Wait until that happens." 
 
 Man — " Oi ! Oi ! Yoshi San. Does a ghost really appear?" 
 Yoshi — " It really does." 
 Man—" What kind of a ghost ? " 
 
 Yoshi — "As to that — right before one; a most blood-curdling 
 thing. Anyhow, I shiver all over at sight of it. Just like this — " 
 Man — " Where does it show itself ? " 
 Yoshi — " Just where you are seated." 
 Man — " Yoshi San, jokes don't go." 
 
 ° Feast of the Dead. This festival is held in July — in the country 
 in August, the old calendar seventh month. 
 
APPENDICES 277 
 
 Without waiting for an answer he fled. Seeing this said Tsuta- 
 yoshi : 
 
 Yoslii — " A ghost is a very profitable object. Do but speak of it, 
 and he who would collect borrowed money takes to flight. If it 
 appears, money is obtained. Hence a ghost is a remarkable thing. 
 After this when the dry goods man comes for repayment, I'll 
 chase him out again with the ghost. Anyhow this house brings 
 good luck. The rent is cheap, and there is a ghost which enables 
 one to dodge paying loans. Thanks : henceforth in renting a house 
 I'll confine myself to haunted houses. So much for that. Will 
 it show itself to-night? " 
 
 Tsutayoshi hung up the mosquito net. He drank a glass. Thus 
 reinforced, tranquil and pleased he laid down on the pillow. After 
 sleeping awhile he opened his eyes. All around was quiet. The 
 bustle of the night had ceased. There was not a sound. Outside 
 the mosquito net the wick of the andon had burned low and gave 
 a faint light. Suddenly the bell of the eighth watch (i a.m.) 
 was heard on Bentenyama. Thereupon — de ! . . . the sound 
 was heard and the light of the andon went out. Then as a mist 
 an object like to a human being (hito) was visible. Ha! Tsuta- 
 yoshi was frightened. Was this the ghost ? He rolled up the mos- 
 quito net, the pupils of the eyes intent. Thus he had it in plain 
 view. The hair of the head was in wild disorder. To sight it 
 was certain it was a man. He wore a grey cotton garment. 
 Yoshi—" That's it ! " 
 
 At the sudden exclamation — Ha ! It disappeared. The andon 
 having previously gone out truly it was the very blackness of night. 
 Coming out from under the mosquito net he (Yoshi) lit the wick. 
 Smoking his tobacco he staid awake until dawn. In time the 
 East became white. At once he left the house. He entered the 
 bath at Agecho, breakfasted as usual at the cheap eating house in 
 Komegata, and then went to the Morita-za in Kibikicho. 
 Friend — " Good-day." 
 Yoshi — " lye ! It's hot to-day." 
 
278 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Friend—" How now, Yoshi San ? The O'Bake? " 
 Yoshi — " As usual — it came in the night." 
 
 Friend — " Is that so ? When Otowaya San hears that, he will 
 rejoice." 
 
 While in talk a message came from Kikugoro. At once Tsuta- 
 yoshi went to the Bairin. Otowaya was waiting for him. 
 Kikugoro — "Yoshi San, how now — the ghost?" 
 Yoshi — " Patron, condescend to rejoice. It appeared in the night." 
 Kikugoro — " Did it appear ? The rascal is brave. Is it man or 
 woman ? " 
 
 Yoshi — " A man in all likelihood." 
 Kikugoro — '* The dress ? " 
 
 Yoshi — " Was seen to be grey cotton — positively so." 
 Kikugoro — " That's interesting. A kimono of grey colour just 
 suits the ghost of the wakato Kohei. Sa ! Yoshi San, in accord- 
 ance with the bargain I give you five ryo." 
 Yoshi — " Domo ! Thanks are felt." 
 
 Kikugoro — " There they are. Yoshi San, you are a brave fellow. 
 Life in a haunted house is unpleasant. It will be well to remove 
 elsewhere." 
 
 Yoshi — " lya ! A haunted house is splendid. A friend just now 
 came for the return of borrowed money. When told of a ghost 
 appearing, he fled. Again, merely for noting what the ghost wears, 
 you tell me I will get five ryo. All this is due to the honoured 
 shadow of the ghost. Thus regarding (my) Yurei Dai Myojin 
 Sama,® to abandon such a splendid ghost and remove to some other 
 place would change my luck. My purpose is to go on living with 
 this ghost. 
 
 Kikugoro — " In that case, Yoshi San, it would be well to have 
 the house cleaned. Domo ! Don't you think it is the work of fox 
 or tanuki? " 
 
 Yoshi — " Naruhodo ! At all events I'll have the house cleaned." 
 So receiving the money from Kikugoro, rejoicing Yoshi returned 
 
 ° Apparitional divine lord. 
 
APPENDICES 279 
 
 to the Yoshiwara. On the way he took a glass or so. Somewhat 
 
 drunk, he entered the Tanaka no Mikawaya, a tabi (sock) shop. 
 
 The house was the owner of the place where Tsutayoshi lived. 
 
 Yoshi — " Good-day." 
 
 Mikawaya — " Oya ! Yoshi San. Are you on your return? Ma! 
 
 Condescend to enter. Domo ! The theatre now pleases the people. 
 
 The audiences are large." 
 
 Yoshi — " Thanks are felt." 
 
 Mikawaya — " What your business, Yoshi San ? " 
 
 Yoshi — " Danna, I would like to have the house cleaned." 
 
 Mikazvaya — " Cleaned ? " 
 
 Yoshi — "Domo! At present a supernatural object appears. It 
 
 is vexing. As I will furnish the wages of the workman, I thought 
 
 it would be well to have it cleaned." 
 
 Mikawaya — " Hei ! What appears ? " 
 
 Yoshi — " At times a ghost shows itself." 
 
 Mikawaya — " A ghost ? " 
 
 Yoshi — " Once it showed itself beside the andon. The second 
 
 time it was seen in the necessary. At evening it was seated at the 
 
 entrance to the stairs. There is nothing to fear, unless it be the 
 
 work of fox or badger. It would be bad for outsiders to get wind 
 
 of it; so I would like to have the place cleaned." 
 
 Mikazvaya — " Is it man or woman? " 
 
 Yoshi — " There is no doubt of its being a man, of small stature. 
 
 His dress plainly is of grey cotton." 
 
 Mikazvaya — " A dress of grey cotton — the man of small stature, 
 
 Un ! Jo ! It is that low fellow." 
 
 Yoshi — " Oi ! Oi ! Danna, did you know him ? Was he a wicked 
 
 fellow? Setting up in the ghost way — pray excuse me." 
 
 Landlord — " Ma ! Yoshi San, please hear what I have to say. 
 
 The house that I rent to you originally was a brothel called the 
 
 Yamashiroya. The landlord was an unrighteous fellow. One 
 
 night an oiran lacked any guest.'^ He took her with him to the 
 
 ' The expression is technical — " hitoban de mo o cha wo hikeba." All 
 night a mere tea-server. 
 
280 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 scmcha — (punishment room) and treated her most cruelly. No 
 one called the place ' the Yamashiroya.' It was known as the 
 Onimise (devil-shop) of Fushimicho. It was just this time last 
 year that a wakaslifi (attendant) named Tokuzo fell in love with 
 a woman named Kotsu no Wakatake. Pressed for money, to 
 get it he had an eye to the pillows of the guests. From the low 
 brothel mentioned perhaps he would get a bu — a couple of shu. 
 A restitution privately effected would have been well. He was 
 roped up and carried ofif to the town hall. In every way a low 
 scoundrel he was sent to Temmachd. Soon after he died in the 
 jail. Subsequently there were nothing but unpleasant happenings 
 at the Yamashiroya. It was completely ruined. Later I bought 
 it. Undecided about setting it up, I divided it into two houses 
 and rented them out." 
 Yoshi—'' Hei ! " 
 
 Mikazvaya — " That Tokuzo, as the zvakashii was called, when sent 
 to the town hall was dressed in the thin grey cotton robe given as 
 present to him by an oiraii. I knew Tokuzo. He was flighty and 
 good natured; an interesting fellow. Of low stature, he was a 
 good worker. Probably he failed to carry out his purpose." 
 Yoshi — "Is that the case? It is a wonderful affair. Anyhow 
 condescend to make everything clean." 
 Mikazvaya — " Agreed." 
 
 After this workmen came from the Mikawaya, and the cleaning 
 up was performed. Tsutayoshi at a subsequent meeting with 
 Kikugoro told him the story of Tokuzo. It would be well to have 
 a funeral service held. So the memorial service for Tokuzo was 
 conducted at the family temple of Tsutayoshi. The figure was 
 never again seen. Kikugor5 in the role of ghost of the zvakato 
 Kohei came out dressed in a grey robe marked with kokumochi 
 (the badge of the white disk figured on coloured ground). Ke- 
 fore one's very eyes he changed to OTwa. As ghost and arrayed 
 in the family crest it was restricted to the Kohei of the " Yotsuya 
 Kwaidan." The theatre was packed. Such was the crowd that 
 
APPENDICES 281 
 
 the upper gallery of the theatre collapsed. Even though an actor, 
 everywhere he (Kikugoro) was spoken of as a great man. To 
 favoured guests of Kikugoro the matter was so related. Thus 
 the tale is a true one. 
 
 Takuan 
 
 Three great priests of influence figure in the rule of the first 
 three Tokugawa Shogun. Tenkai Osho of the Nankwobo, bishop 
 of the temple foundation at Ueno, was all powerful under lyeyasu. 
 His successors, Nikkei Sozu of the San-en-Zan Zojoji at Shiba, 
 and Takuan Zaisho of the Daikokudo, the Tokaiji of Shinagawa, 
 were the priestly influences under the 2nd and 3rd Shogun. It 
 is the last-named cleric who is responsible for the hard and pala- 
 table yellow preparation of the daikon (radish) known under his 
 name of takuan. The daikon is soused in brine and rice bran, kept 
 weighted down under heavy stones, and allowed '* to ripen " for 
 some weeks. A way station in its preparation and edibility, and 
 to be experienced in every Japanese household, is the unspeakable 
 and unbreathable soft nukamisozukc. Its presence always arouses 
 suspicion of a pressing defect in the house drainage. 
 
 Takuan deserves esteem and appreciation for other than 
 culinary reasons. On a visit to the castle one day the old friar 
 noted the depression of his valued and intimate friend Yagyu 
 Tajima no Kami. The aging dmetsnkc (suzerain's eye) and 
 fencing teacher to the third Sh5gun opened out his woes. His 
 second son was dead. His third son was worthless. At least 
 the father thought so at this time. His eldest son, Jubei, as great 
 at arms as himself and his legitimate successor, was a madman — 
 gone mad over his own excellence. Takuan heard the particulars. 
 At once he volunteered to act as physician. " Be of good heart. 
 This Takuan will prescribe." The grateful Munenori, in the 
 course of the next few days sent to the prelate's quarters to know 
 when the journey to the far-ofif Yamato fief would be made. He 
 would make provision for the prior's comfort and conveyance. 
 
282 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Said a sleek scribe and substitute — " The lord abbot has long 
 since departed. It is useless to attempt to overtake him. He 
 travels fast." Such was the. message to the pleased but discom- 
 fited Munenori. Meanwhile at Yagyu Masakizaka in Yamato 
 there turned up a shabby travel-stained old fellow. The gate- 
 keepers were inclined flatly to refuse admission. However, the 
 karo, or chief officer of the fief, had to be notified. He was un- 
 willing to let slip any chance of relief to the condition of Jubei 
 Dono. With some misgivings the old fellow was ordered around 
 to the garden. The samurai code made little account of cutting 
 down a retainer, a beggar, or an outcast. In the first case com- 
 pensation was allowed ; the last two were honoured by the experi- 
 ment. Priests and women were not covered by the code; matter 
 of omission, rather than of importance. The wanderer had taken 
 his seat by the little pond in the garden. Here to all appearance 
 he remained in a meditation which was roughly interrupted by 
 the irruption of the lord of the mansion into a room close by. 
 Jubei kicked the shoji out of the frames, and strode to the edge 
 of the verandah. His hair was in wild disorder. He wore 
 armour on his shoulders, and was stark naked below the waist. 
 Face twitching and eyes flashing he hailed his visitor, to demand 
 on what mission he had dared to intrude on the time and patience 
 of the great man. Let the excuse be a good one. Otherwise — 
 But at abuse the cleric was a good hand himself. He, too, had 
 heard of Jubei Dono; he who posed as the great man of Nippon. 
 This was poaching on his own ground, for he set himself up to 
 be the match of any number in the land. At this Jubei broke 
 into angry jeers and invectives. The priest made answer with 
 equal roughness. " How face two opponents — to right and left ? " 
 Jubei snorted with contempt. He was active enough to neglect 
 the one and cut down the other before aid could be brought. The 
 Yagyu-ryu, or style of fencing, made provision for such occasion. 
 Aye ! And for four — and against eight ..." And against 
 sixteen, and thirty-two, and sixty-four, and a hundred and twenty- 
 
APPENDICES 283 
 
 eight opponents . . . against all the many fighting men of 
 Nippon ? How would Jubei face all those ? " To this Jubei could 
 but answer that he would die fighting. The priest in his turn 
 snorted with contempt. " Die fighting : by such words Jubei 
 admits defeat." But he did not allow Jubei to turn questioner in 
 his turn. Swiftly he shifted the argument. He, the cleric, con- 
 sidered Jubei of small account. He would prove to him what a 
 fool he was by the interpretation of a mere thirty-one syllables 
 of poetry. This should be the test of intelligence. The Knight's 
 Way (Budo) had its inner and cryptic meaning expressed in 
 verse. So had the Way of the Buddha (Butsudo). Of this latter 
 Jubei knew nothing; and he doubted if he knew anything of the 
 former. At least let him display some sample of his wit. Jubei 
 leaped at the test to prove his greatness. Now he scorned to deal 
 with a priest in arms. How was this : 
 
 " By night storm of Narutaki broken, 
 The scattered jewels, e'en the moon, it harbours."' 
 
 " Is there but that to prove wit? " — " How then with this one? " 
 
 "Tree leaves on Yamakawa's flood: 
 The self, abandoned, does but drift — lo!"" 
 
 The priest threw up his hands. " Such stuff will never do ! And 
 this fellow considers himself educated ! " 
 
 "Rain seen, impeded not to flow away; 
 
 The snow breaks not the stem of willow green." '" 
 " Various and many though the ways of teaching be, 
 
 There is but one true stroke of sword." " 
 
 * [Narutaki no yoru no arashi ni kudakarete ; 
 
 Chiru tama goto ni tsuki zo yadoreru.] 
 ° [Yamakawa no nagare ni ko no ha shizumu tomo; 
 
 Mi wo sutete koso ukabu se mo are.] 
 " [Furu to miba tsumoranu saki ni haraekashi ; 
 
 Yuki ni wa orenu aoyagi no ito.l ° 
 " [Sama Sama to oshie no michi mo okeredo 
 
 Uchikomu tokoro shin no itto.] * 
 
284 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 Jubei gleamed most homicidally at his questioner. The priest only 
 said — " A child has such by heart." And Jubei knew 'twas so, 
 and was rebuked. Now he was in less haste : 
 
 " The heart, how judge it? 
 An ink sketch of the breeze amid the pines." ^" 
 
 A shrug of the shoulders was the reward of this effort. 
 
 " Though barrier mount, the leafy mount, the inner mount, be dense 
 with leafage; 
 What e'er one wills, naught hinders." " 
 
 The priest shook his head as with grave indulgence to childhood's 
 thoughts. Jubei burst into a rage. He turned to his sword- 
 bearer, and laid hand on the weapon. The lad knelt with bowed 
 head, uncertain whether the sword was to fall on himself or the 
 visitor. Without paying the slightest attention to the hostile atti- 
 tude the priest cut matters short. " Jubei Dono would question 
 the priest's right to judge. Come now ! The cleric's foolish head 
 against the wits of Nippon's great man. O warrior, interpret ! " 
 A sign; and ink stone and poem paper (tanzaku) were put before 
 him. Jubei in turn took the scroll in hand. He read : 
 
 " Tataciimuna, yukuiia, iiiodoruiia, isuwaruna ; 
 Neruna, okiruna, shim mo shiranti mo." 
 " It neither stands still, nor goes forward, noi 
 goes backward, nor remains as it is; 
 It sleeps not, rises not: known or unknown." 
 
 Jubei started with a bellow ; and ended in a whisper. The re- 
 tainers looked in each other's faces. Who was the maddest — their 
 lord or the shabby hozuf A long silence followed. Jubei no 
 longer stood in grandiloquent pose. He squatted down before 
 
 " [Kokoro to wa ikanaru mono wo iu yaran; 
 
 Sumie ni kakitsu matsu kaze no oto.] ° 
 " [Tsukubayama, Hayama, Nakayama, Shigeredomo; 
 
 Omoiru ni wa mono mo sawarazu.] ° 
 
APPENDICES , 285 
 
 the ideographs. At last he said — " The poem contains much mat- 
 ter. Deign to allow time for the solution." His voice was gentle 
 and courteous to this future victim of his intelligence. The priest 
 nodded a genial assent. Before he. withdrew Jubei gave emphatic 
 orders as to ward and entertainment. The pleasures of antici- 
 pation, of solution of the poem and slicing of the cleric, must 
 have compensation. His tread was slow and stately as he left 
 the room ; his looks were contained and thoughtful. The man 
 of black robe was carried off to a better reception than so far 
 experienced. With scorn he sent away the scanty meal of vege- 
 table food; and ordered matters to his taste with a manner that 
 none cared to obey, or dared to disobey. 
 
 Meanwhile Jubei started in on the poem. With the progress 
 of his efforts ideas of his greatness disappeared. No matter what 
 might be his skill with the sword — and the priest already had 
 shown its limitations — his inexperience in literature was patent. 
 Ah ! If he could but win the head of this scurvy cleric. His mind 
 now was totally removed from thoughts of himself. For two days 
 and two nights he never closed his eyes, which were 
 fastened on the infernal ideographs — palpably so full of a meaning 
 he could not grasp. Then he was worn out. He went to sleep, 
 and slept for a full twenty-four hours. On awaking he was a 
 different being. The cobwebs of the mind were clean swept. Its 
 vague shiftings had been brought to concentration — to thought. 
 Now it was the household which was mad with joy. It was Jubei, 
 lord of the manor, who sought interview with his saviour. Pros- 
 trate he gave thanks, apology for the poor entertainment; and 
 expressed his hope and wish to keep always by him the holy man. 
 Who was he — this man who had given him back mind and power 
 of thought? Just then a messenger from his father, Tajima no 
 Kami, was announced. Those assembled leaned forward at sight 
 of the man in amazed prostration, first before his lord, then before 
 the shabby old priest. " Takuan Osho Sama at Yagyu ! And yet 
 
286 THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN 
 
 this Kyutaro has made all speed to Yamato to make report of 
 his lordship's coming." All fell on their faces, including Jubei. 
 Takuan smiled, a little grimly. " The garb makes not the cleric. 
 Jubei Dono will forgive the presence of the humble priest who 
 now must leave him, pressed by affairs, none of which have been 
 more important than the mission here." And leave he did— but 
 ample gifts to the temple followed after. Jubei never could take 
 his father's place close to the Shogun's side. His one-time mad- 
 ness forbade assumption of such office. Indeed on rare occasions 
 the mad fit again would threaten; but the infallible remedy was 
 at hand. To Jubei's question Takuan had answered — " The mean- 
 ing? The poem has none. If there had been verily Takuan would 
 have lost his head. But find one, if you can." The joy of Tajima 
 no Kami was completed by the return of his third son Matajuro, 
 restored to normal health. Later this Matajuro became the 
 famous Hida no Kami and successor to his father as the Shogun's 
 fencing master. Of these three men — more anon." 
 
 " Cf . — " Araki Mataemon — Ueno Adauchi," by Masui Nanzan. 
 There is little reason to believe that Jubei's madness was assumed, 
 a rather extravagant explanation of the more than probable fact that 
 his well-known travels were inspired by the Shogun's government. 
 Actual knowledge and inspection of the conditions and feelings in far- 
 off Satsuma, made by an expert, was much desired. Okubo Hikozae- 
 mon also travelled as the Shogun's private eye. Jubei undoubtedly 
 found his reputation for one-time madness very useful, and played 
 upon it. 
 
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