Tanuki Bayashi – The Procession of the Tanuki

Translated from Edo Tokyo Kaii Hyakumonogatari

Almost every night would come the sound of the taiko drums. At times they would sound very near, at times they would sound very far away, and a local fisherman, overwhelmed with a desire to see the interesting site, became exhausted almost to the point of death while trying to find the players. After a night of hard searching, it was all he could to make his way back home where he quickly lay down and fell soundly asleep.

The first thing he noticed was the song of a bird, so close it was like it was being sung into his ear, and his eyes sprang open at the mysterious sound. While he thought he was comfortably at home, the dew was still clinging to his raincoat that still covered his body and the sounds of the forest were rumbling with his loud snoring.

“My wife will be angry at me”, he thought, and he was a man filled with deep regret. Even here in this world there are such things as a procession of magical beasts.

Translator’s Note:

This print, by Utagawa Kuniteru, is called Tanuki Bayashi (狸囃子), and depicts one of the Honjyo Nana Fushigi (本所七不思議) meaning one of the Seven Wonders of Honjo.

百物語怪談会 Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai