Night Storm Okinu Flower Frail Dreams of Revenge Volume One the Beginning - English Translation

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    Night storm Okinu Flower Frail Dreams of Revenge - Volume One: thebeginning

    (- : )(Yoarashi Okinu Hana no adayume - Shohen j: Hottan)

    The story of the murder of Kobayashi Kinpei, the money lender boss, byArashi Rikaku III (3) (later Ichikawa Gonjr II (2)1848 -1904) and Yoarashi Okinu (1844-1872). Written by OkamotoKisen/Kanz ( / ) (1853. - 1882.7.20 ) and published in 11(Meiji 11 - 1878). Nishiki-e (pictures) by Utagawa Yoshitora

    Previously serialised in Sagigake newspaper in 1878 and then published asthis five volume gkan (bound volume) and was again serialised in Ch

    Shimbun newspaper in 1904 possibly to coincide with the death of Okinuslover and co-defendant Ichikawa Gonjur II (formerly Arashi Rikaku III) whodied of pneumonia the same year in Tky

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    Nishiki-e

    Yoshikawa Toshio etsuYoarashi Okinu hana no adayumeKaminomakiOkamoto KanztsuduriEi katsu m toki eKin Shd shi---Yoarashi Okinu hana no adayume shohen shogenWaga sakigake shinbun daisan hyaku nij g (honnen gogatsu nijhachi hi)no shij wo motte shi hottan wo setsu okoshi, g wo te renjitsu kakage kitari

    shi dokufu Okinu no tsutawa, shi jitsuroku ni yo te ama ga tawamure ni hikkiwo hashirase shi ni, hakarazu kankaku no kassai wo kmu ri, shin kami nohatsubai ta wo kuwauru no hae wo eta redo, sudeni shij ni shime seshshiku, haiy Ichikawa Gonjr ga Rikaku tarishi toki, djin wo cheki otoshiire,goshin no genkei ni shosei seraretaru dai ganmoku wa, tada Okinu ga batsurono ichiji nomi. Shi shgai no kan aku wo s reba sude-e no chinsetsu kidantatan ni watari, shinbun no shimen ni tsuku su ata wa zaru nominarazu, ichijno setsuwa mo sug ni wataru wo motte, kankaku aruha shi shubi sh woayamaru no kan naki ni ara neba, Kanematsu-d no shujin ga k ni ji, hantoni shij no keisai wo tome, Okamoto (Kanz) shi wo shite kore wo sshi nitsudura se, koko ni shohen wo hatsuda seri. Dai shite Yoarashi Okinu hana

    no adayume toiu. Shi tenmatsu wo kisreu ya, katsute shin kami ni kakegeshimo no to kotosara ni hyri wo shimesu wo motte, sukoburu kankaku nokokoro wo tano mashi muru mono aran.Meiji jni nen roku gatsu Yoshikawa Toshio ki

    Picture pageYoshikawa Toshio revision

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    Night storm Okinu Flower Frail Dreams of RevengeFirst volumeOkamoto Kanz compositionA picture, in perpetuity, whats timeKin Shd printing block

    ---Night storm Okinu Flower Frail Dreams of Revenge Volume One Preface

    Ours is the 120 edition established daily newspaper (this current year, May28th) that sought out and published for circulation in this magazine anillustrated story speculating about the evil woman Okinu. Already this attemptto write at an authentic account based on an historical legacy unexpectedlyreceived much acclaim from the readership increasing the newspaperscirculation. Actor Ichikawa Gonjr, who was previously called Rikaku, saidthat he had served hard labour as a convict because of his deceit, a majortheme in the story which also covers another aspect of the story, Okinus final

    days. Besides, her lifetime of cunning and wicked evil activity is generally thesubject of a range of many published articles expounding strange theoriesand stories which have been successfully published in the newspapers againand again. We also apologise because this particular strange story has alsopossibly been a bit misleading for the readership in that the course of eventsmay be a bit flawed. The abbot of Kanematsu (now Daishoji) Temple wasasked for his input but halfway into the article this ceased. Okamoto (Kanz)wrote and composed this entire written work and here we publish volume onethe subject of this story called, Night storm Okinu Flower Frail Dreams ofRevenge. This unparalleled story, published by the former newspaperpublisher, is part of an entire tale written in sections of varying length and iswritten very much with the increased pleasure of the audience in mind.6th month of the year Meiji 11 (June 1878) Yoshikawa Toshio note---

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    Shohen j - HottanYoarashi ni utsu rohi miseshi Yamazakura, Yae mo hito e ni Tokugawa noseiji ni osamaru happyakuyach, mada Tky mo Edo toiu goro, Honmachihen no yakushiyu tonya de, hitomo shiru Kinokuniya Kakutartoieru wa,hayaku futaoya ni wakare, jhachi sai ni shite kamie wo szoku sesh ga,seiku uta haikai chanoyu, sono hoka yu gei wo nomi konomi shika wa,tonikaku kagy wo uru saku omoi, wazuka rysan nen nite ototo Takejir e

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    Volume One first part the beginningAnyway Yoarashi, who is also Yae(1), was on a pilgrimage to see theMountain cherry blossoms because at the same time the political affairs of theTokugawa (Bakufu ruling military) are at peace all over Edo. At the timeTky was still called Edo and the Honmachi area was the centre for herbalwholesale shops. It was said that everyone was acquainted with KinokuniyasKakutar who, early on, left his parents for a while and who, at the age ofeighteen years inherited his family name. He was a master writer of modernhumorous poetry and the tea ceremony, whilst his only other favourite and

    pleasurable pastime was drinking. Anyway his expectation was that hisfathers occupation would provide money to spare. For only two or three yearsTakejir apprenticed in order to

    (1) Yae is a shar, or pun, on double flowered, referring to double floweredcherry blossoms---

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    myseki wo yuzuri, jibun wa kanete shitsurae o kishi, Ushijima no hotorinaru Koume no bess e utsuri sumi te, mada sadamareru tsuma monaku,ashita niwa hana wo tanoshimi, ybe niwa tsuki wo sh shite, fry ninomi yowo okurishi. Kotoshi wa zansho no tsuyo kushite, shinogi kane taru yori

    omoitachi, Hakone no tji kara Enoshima hen wo kenbutsu sento, tsunenideiri no ssh to taikomochi no Mamehachi hikitsure, ry gake ikka wo otoko

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    ni katsu ga se, Edo wo deshi wa shichigatsu no hajime, isoga nu tabi totemichisugara uta wa mure te kyji tsutsu, sore ygureni Kanagawa juku etadoritsuki, Ishii toieru Hatago-ya e tomari, tagaini kokkei no zgon ni, yomohaya yotsu wo sugi shi koro, tonari zashiki no onna dure nokyaku nchi hitorino musume ga kyni shaku

    inherit his family name, though prior to this he had already been invested asthe familys honourable heir and successor. Arrangements had been made forhim, on his return, to settle in a villa in Koume(1) in the neighbourhood ofUshijima. As yet he was expected to settle down sin a short while with a wifeand he was looking forward to the blossom in the garden in the mornings andviewing the moon in the garden in the evening garden moon as a reward forhis efforts and his refinement as the next in succession having left home for awhile. That same year the strong seasonable summer heat lingered. Therewas more than enough money tided over to fulfil his expectation of a visit toHakones healing springs where the nearby sento (bathing resort) ofEnoshima(2) was the main attraction to which he paid regular visits with histeacher and entertainer Mamehachi(3) making the journeys fellowship twicethe size for porterage. At the beginning of July they left Edo, a hurried anddamp journey due to downpours though somewhat recompensed throughbeing accompanied by an amusing group of travellers. Struggling on they

    arrived that evening at an Hatagoya(4) inn, at Ishii(5) in the vicinity ofKanagawa juku(6) for a stopover. That evening, at about four oclock theytogether jokingly mocked each other as they settled down next to the zashiki(tatami room) near a group of fellow women travellers, chance guestsamongst whom one girl was unexpectedly

    (1) Sumida Mukojima Shrine traditional honouring of the birth of a child(2) Enoshima a small island near Tky(3) Mamehachi possibly named after a mischievous character in humoristTamenaga Shunsui's (1790-1843) fictional work "Haru no wakagusa (TheYoung Grass of Spring)"

    (4) Hatagoya lodgings for travellers at the main staging posts(shukuba) along the main national travelling roads during the Edo period

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    (5) Ishii a small town in the Kanagawa area south of Tky on theroute to Hakone(6) Kanagawa juku a post station on one of the old main highways

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    wo oko shite to chira ruru ysu nite shi hahaoya to oboshi kiga, shikirini o

    O-Yae to yoba ike kedo, sarani osamaru moy nakereba, minaminatwakutainaru wo, Kakutar wa kinodoku ni omoi, kagy garato te saihai niryyaku yoki kusuri wo takuwae tare do, mishiranu onna no kich e, sasugawa sore toihi kane, yado no onna wo chikaku shhei de, kusurino koto wo ifufu kume, tonari zashiki heihi ireshi ni, konata wa kotoni yorokobi te, sukoshinari tomo tada kitai to noko tonare de, ky ki kusuri nareba bunry ga sugi tewa naranu, jishin ni itte tedu kara ni, to di tsume rare shi bynin no k e yakuwo sosogiko mishi ni, sono kiki meni ya, ky ku sashikomi taru shaku mohitotoki ni ira kishi kaba, haha wa nao sara, tsu s onna no tarekare mo, kamikoto bakari Kakutar wo ushi ogami, kawarugawaru ni rei wo nobe, cha nadosenji te mote na santo seshi ga, onago bakari no zashiki ni nagai wo suru mo

    ikaga na ranto omo e ba, yomo itaku fuke tareba, mych yururi too me nikakaru beshi to sore ba wo tachi sari, tagai ni gash eiri taru ga, kakarukonzatsu no naka nari kereba, sh tomo namae nado wo tazuneru koto woshitsunen seshi tozo. Satemo kikaku no hitomure wa, y aru tabi ni ara reba,hinaka shoki no hageshi kima wo yasu man hodoni, suzushiki uchinisukoshimo yuka nto, sono yokuch, tonari zashiki no hitobito ga mada okoi denuma heni, shitaku wo totono e, isoide kono ya wo tachi i deshi wo,sukoshimo shiranukao onnadure ybe O-Yae no kaih ni tsukareta runo ka,

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    and continuously coarse, and the mother apparently hungry. Oh andsomeone called O-Yae frequently making bad remarks, furthermore it was justas well that this free for all needed clamping down on to because if it wasnteveryones embarrassment would otherwise become a matter of somesubstance which Kakutar felt would be unfortunate simply because hisfathers well thought of medicine trading business needed to command totalrespect. As one would expect a group of seemingly well off unacquaintedwomen had gathered at the inn and, adjacent, called out an invite. Theirspeech seemed to have been affected, rendered odd, giggly and stupid

    sounding, by something medicinal. They were admitted to a zashiki (tatamimat room) adjacent to their neighbours adding an additional feeling of slightlydelightful anticipation. Added to his sense of intent the quantity of medicationavailable proved irresistible. It was personally felt that there was a need toassure the means to an end by confidently pouring medicinal libations intothe strangers sick mouths to arrive at a joyful experience. They scoldedthose responsible for the biting speech they were hearing and served themother more food. Sticking to his plan, and his belief that they were anybodyswomen, and thinking only of god (kami) Kakutar was characteristicallypersuasive (ogami(1)), expressing his thanks to each of them in turns. Infusingtea (cha(2)) he proved to be a positively popular and virtuous benefactor.

    Proud of himself he estimated a long visit to the zashiki (tatami mat room) ofthe girl (onago(3)) to pass the time. Growing late he gave himself over to theevening and moved over. Taking his time he was unconcerned at the distantprospect of the dawning of the following morning when he would leave. In theconfines of the bed their transaction was mutually reciprocal. In the inn it wasverging on congested and the issue of whether or not to find out hiscompanions name or to wangle out of it through forgetfulness was a questionhe considered. Well, the groups plan was to persist in renewing the businessof their journey as during the intensely hot daytime weather there was achance of respite during a window of opportunity to Sukhavati(4) by travellingearly the following morning. Preparing to go the people in the neighbouringzashiki were yet to wake up and leave and as a result they werent swamped

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    by everyone going at the same time. Being young and in a hurry they quicklymade ready and prepared to depart the inn but didnt pretend one jot to knowthe group of women from the previous evening. He had been considerablywell looked after by O-Yae but was worn out with overdoing things a bit,

    (1) Shar, or pun, on the word for God, kami(2) Shar, or pun, on the word for tea, cha, can also mean mockery(3) Possibly a shar, or pun, on the characters for girl , can also be readas meko which can mean girl or, in archaic slang, vagina(4) Buddhas Pure land---

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    Tadashi mata, ky wa osoku mo taku e kaeru to kokoroni yurumi gadetaruni ya, tsui ne wasure te, higashi naru renshi no mado kara asahi nosasu ni manako wo zamashi mireba, O-Yae ga oranu yori, haha wa odorokiminamina wo yo o shi, soko yo koko yo to saga sedo mo, sarani shire neba,

    hahaoya ga zashiki e kaette musume gash wo aratameru to, makura noshita deta ipp wa, O-Yae no shuseki nite kakioki toaru ni, mune todoroki sendatsu namida nomiko nde, isogi hi i te yomi kudaseba, watakushi koto wakearitei, totemo taku heha kaere nu yue, yoni nakimono to go akiramekudasaretaku, haha sama heha fuk no emona keredo, hirani o yurushi wo negimai rase soro shikajika to, temijika ka ni sho no koshi taru itts wo, kaonioshiate, hahaoya ga watsu toba karini nakifu te,

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    but still. That day she was late getting back to her family group whom shefelt disregard for. She had, against her better judgement, forgotten about theprevious evenings assignation. Looking eastward she crept from the windowof the noble familys child, the sun shining brilliantly in her eyes. O-Yae was

    missing and her shocked mother, not knowing why, called to everyone tosearch, Over there!, Here! and, Out through the rear door too. Discoveringthat she was nowhere to be found the mother went to the to check herdaughters bed in the zashiki (tatami mat room) and under the pillow shefound a sealed letter containing a note which was certainly in O-Yaeshandwriting. With her heart pounding in her breast and shedding tears inanticipation she quickly read O-Yaes note which revealed her decision inregards to her reason for, and the bare truth about, her personalcircumstances, that she felt dead to the world and slipping away she had lefthome and thankfully, and honourably, given up her life at home. However, themother felt that it was unlikely that she had reached this decision through a

    lack of filial piety. Should it be that I humble myself and honourably forgivethis brief note? she asked her younger sister, she went on, Its so short, isntit? A single handwritten letter on a used piece of paper . Against her dignityshe temporarily broke down and cried, What can I say?---

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    Shisai wa nanikashira mo yumi, hiite kaeranu wakearaba, naze butsu aketekochi haha ni, kshite tabe toi hane nimo, ya no tatsu tameshi mo arumonowo, tatoe donoyona kotoni moare, tada ta ichinin j-ji ya mono, toho shiteyarai deaku mo nozo, kore hodo om kochi haha no kokoro moshira de, miwo kakusu sonata no kokoro wa yasukaru ga, ato ni nokotta hitobito no

    kokoro wo sukoshi wa kumiwakete, mufunbetsu naru ryken wo kanarazu oshite ta moru na to, soko ni O-Yae no oru yni, kakikudo ki shiga, shi nai mokokoro seka rete, wakai yo tsuto fuchikawa he demo shizumi wa senu kato,yadoya no shujin he tano nde hito wo yato, shoh he te wake wo shite, shikinzai wo kumanaku tazune shiga, sarani yukue ga wakara neba, hitoma duEdo he kae tsuta j, mata tomokaku mo sen mono to, chikara oto shite jo ren,zehi mo nakunkau kochi ie wo ta i de,

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    The upshot of a drawn bow is in the consequences of the action. Likewisethe mother was certainly stricken every day as a result of the circumstancesand would eat very little. This unmarried common girl lately walked slowlyovernight, and while she walked steadily thought about her mothers feelings.Following her path she shamefully disguised her thoughts about her mothersfeelings something which not everyone would understand. Herthoughtlessness would invariably result in indiscretion and would in turn serveothers. A hasty youth, to survive O-Yae carelessly harassed others, quicklythrowing herself into any opportunity on offer and though a bit depressed at

    first was, as one would expect, changing. The master of an inn asked her towork at his establishment where she helped out with all sorts of things. Allaround neighbouring villages everywhere looked for her; needless to sayunaware of her whereabouts. She had once again gone back to Edo and setherself up in a single furnished room. Anyway it was a choice made and shewould set out to become famous in the company of like minded women. Itwould certainly be a tearful journey to establish herself and her household---

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    Edo no sumika he kaeri keru. Tsuma ni hikikae, Kakutar no ichigun wa,ureigoto shiranu kisanji no tabi wa michi ku sa yo wa hayaku yado ni chaku te,

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    Hakone naru tji mo, yamai no aranu mi wa, ase wo nagasu no hokanarazu,suzushiki uchi wa achikochi to, hina mezurashi ki mimono ni, tsukare tekaeruyadoya no taruki bana, kazairi yoki ni sudare wo maki age, Go nado kao ndetanoshimi keruga, niwa no anata no hanarezashiki, hashidika ku oriori tachiide konata wo nagame, tsuki no joch to naniyara n sasayaki au te butsu

    tawamureru keda kaki fujin wa, toshinokoro hata amari ni te, kiry sugure teuruwashi ku, tarai no y no shitoyaka ni, orime tadashi kifuruma wa, sarudaimy no o heya sama, sukoshi no byki wo i hita teni, yusan nagara no tjitoa, sono tsukibito no suku na ki nite zo shirare keru. Kikaku wa asay kaomiawase, yoni bi kushiki fujin zato, katamini shiri nado tsutsuki ai, matamotennyo no raig to me wo nagusamu ru bakari nite, tagaini gokoroariso kai,fukaki sukoi wo kumi kanete, mada kotoba sae

    to live in Edo. Speaking of the nearest and dearest, Kakutars group,ignoring their experience relaxed on their journey following the route of thenext section of their walk they soon reached Hakone arriving at an inn andalso taking the baths a cure for the bodys various illnesses, sweatingprofusely. It was certainly the way to feeling like they had reached theBuddhas Pure Land with the appeal of the curious country atmosphere.

    When fatigued they returned to their accustomed place under the inns raftersto cool off in an area sectioned off with a sudare bamboo screen and raisedrolls of cloth. In this, their private space, amongst other things, they enjoyedplaying Go (a strategy board game played with counters). Occasionally theywent to an inside section of the corner of the hanarezashiki (room detachedfrom main dwelling) on the other side of the garden to enjoy the view. Therethey joined the women servants where, whispering to each other for somereason, they bumped into and flirted with the ladies up for the languid summerseason whose average age was over twenty. Their personal looks surpassedeven those of the most beautiful people, their movements graceful, theybehaved in the most correct manner. Using a certain daimys admirable

    room, with their ailments, they visited the baths in the certain knowledge andassurance that the attendants knew they were to make themselves scarce.

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    Their plan was to become totally acquainted. The key to their plan was toregularly and thoroughly become acquainted with the enigmatic society ladieswith, amongst other things, their lovely protruding backsides. To be onceagain on their sojourn be nothing but comforted by the sight of the arrival ofthese, Buddhas heavenly welcoming nymphs, was probably a mutually

    favourable haven. The gradual development of their intentions wasunderstood by all and as yet, in a manner of speaking, clearly only thing theyneeded---

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    Kahasa nchi, haya oitoma ga sema rishi to mie, jchu no mura wa tshowo tade de, Edo no kata he to kaerishi nochi, kikaku wa kokoni yon go hiamari try seshi ga, dsho ni akita ru nomika, tennyo ga kage wo kaku seshi

    yue, semete tennyo no iwaya nari tomo ogaman mono to, futari no tsure wounaga shite, Enoshima e to koso wa omomu kike ru. Koko wa Tkaid hodoka tani yado no ni atari, Kanazawa Kamakura e no chikamichi naruShimooooka no sanch ni te, mada hono anki rob ni, shigeru namiki nomatsu ga e nokozue hanareru Akegarasu ga aiai no shmon mo, imasarakono minitsumasare te, omoi maa hitonashi, michini somukeru, giri aru chichie yokaranu wo baki sema jito, onnai miki hahaoya no nageki wo atoni yy to,hito no hanashi ni kiki o kishi, yamiji wo tadoru O-Yae no kokoro mo saikinaga reno gan nis, michi no kata he no matsune ni, koshi uchi ka te botsuto hitoiki tsukuduku to, wagami nagaramo kowa ro shiya, y koko made wakita koto zo, k wake michi e maa tsute wa, mohoyaotte wa kiha sumai, omoino hokani kutabire ta reba,

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    was time with entertaining older women. Already the end of their appointedleisure time was drawing near and they appeared sad at the prospect ofleaving. The group of women servants group were also preparing to leave theplace a bit later, heading towards Edo. Their plan therefore was to sojournthere for four or five days they had left. They would get together in the sameplace in the autumn when they could plan their holiday around the visits of theheavenly nymphs whose cavern was at least welcoming and friendly toeveryone. However two of those people needed to get together as a matter ofurgency and had concocted a risky plan. This would be to head along theTkaid (Edo to Kyoto highway) until they reached the area behind a valleyinn among the mountains at Shimooooka(1) via a shortcut(2) in the area ofKanazawa in Kamakura. The current suggestion was to meet at a thicklygrown pine grove by a roadside culvert far enough from Akegarasu(3) (theirdawn parting). This they also shared their plans with an adherent of theBuddha who showed deep sympathy for their plight. Though in love you couldsay that Kakutar was being a narrow minded and ungrateful fellow. To turnaway from his path of duty to his father and instead deciding on acquiring abad reputation in order to press for his own self satisfaction which would alsolater result in his august mothers terrible overflowing feelings of sorrow.

    Though people would talk about and try to understand the actions of hisparents honourable last child his would be a dark road to follow. O-Yae alsofelt that she should ignore the Buddhist priestesss points and, suddenlypaused. She was verging on feeling resilient about the idea of followingdirections and journeying to the growth of pine trees. Her own feelingsnotwithstanding she was frightened about the path they were taking and theposition it would place them in though there was the heavy influence ofanother course of action that was already being pursued and which wouldbecome a test of her strength. And besides, with all this she was alreadyfeeling worn out

    (1) Then an outlying village Shimooooka was in an area which has since beenincorporated into Yokohama City

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    (2) This would have been via the Shakad Pass (3) Akegarasu - Daybreak sounding of a crow is a poetry anthologypublished in 1773 by a one of Busons disciples Kit. Dawn Crow is usuallyfound in poems referring to lovers parting at dawn---

    Hino noboru made yasuma nto kokoro ni sukoshi yurumi ga koshika, yoi niri shikka e no shaku ga, mata ky saki e kiyakiya sashi komare teha taihen to,hosoobi kakaku wakashimete, gaman wa sure do tsukareta karada, korae kireneba shi mamani taore kurushimu orimo yoku, Zshiki mura no kata kara

    koko e tooru wa, kore mo onna no hito tabi, toshinokoro wa nijgo/roku nitedoko yara akanu taru to no fzoku, daruma kaeshi ni kami wo musubi

    Relieved about leaving at sunrise she was a little uncertain in her mindabout in the direction she should be heading in and left for her homeneighbourhood some time that evening which was a bit annoying. It was againher intention, come rain or shine, to seek out her fortune, though herprospects at best from the outset would be very uncertain. Pretending to pullon a narrow sash (putting on a brave face) and so she would not suffer acollapse as result of both starvation and her health being close to worn outshe persevered and tolerated what scraps of food could be had. On her lonelyjourney she headed in the direction of, and through, Zshiki(1) village. Thoughuncertain she was about twenty five or twenty six years old and had sufficient

    style for the capitals manners and customs(2)

    , and returning hurried to aconclusion(3)

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    (1) Now part of Tkys ta ward ( ta-ku)(2) fzoku , manners and customs, can also be read to mean sex industry(3) Kami wo musubi conclusion of hair a saying that in referring tothe hairstyles of the daughters of Edo implies concluding impatiently. In thiscase daughter of Edo is referred to in the text darumakaeshi ni kami wo musibi lit. doll returning to hair is concluded, as daruma or doll, which can also be read as prostitute

    References:

    Waseda University Library images Night storm Okinu Flower Frail Dreams of RevengeYoarashi Okinu Hana no adayume

    http://www.wul.waseda.ac.jp/kotenseki/html/he14/he14_02689/index.html

    Night storm Okinu Flower Frail Dreams of Revenge

    () [] Reprint Japanese Modern Literature(Jan 2006) by Okamoto KisenPublisher: National Institute of Japanese Literature