Help...
What's that?
So bright...!
Help me... please...
The butt is... talking?
Help...
Ma... Master?
Master?
This guy?!
Hey there, Shirara-chan.
It's been too long.
SEIZED
GOODS
That money you've been borrowing from here and there,
today we'll finally have you pay it all back.
Forget about it.
It's pointless to expect anything from him.
Bunko-chan!?
Among Kamigata rakugoka, there are four great masters.
They're known as the "Big Four"
What of it?
This fool here is one of the four.
Enshi Kirino.
Utaroku Ebisuya.
Me, Bunko Daikokutei.
And the king of roaring laughter,
Byakudanji Tsubaki.
Him? No way!
Rather than sending him to a sweatshop,
having him put on a comeback show
would be a more effective way to earn money.
If that doesn't work out,
you can do as you please with me.
A Show to Clear the Debts:
Byakudanji Tsubaki
The Kabuki theater really is sold-out
What a shame,
you don't get to do anything to me now.
Shut it, she-kitsune!
Get out of here!
(My Master Has No Tail)
Choi to soko no hito oide nasai
Watashi to ii koto itashimasen ka?
Ichigoichie no hitotoki wo
Wasurarenu toki ni shiteageru wa
Shouki ja nai no wa / jūbun shouchi yo
Jibun ni uso wo tsuite ikite itakunai dake
Otogi-banashi wo sā hajimemashou
Bakashi bakasareteitai no
Mayakashi-darake no kono yo wo
Kagayaite azamuite tanoshimi-tsukushite-ikimasho
Damashi damasare de ii no yo
Honto no koto ga dou ka nante
Taishite jūyō na koto ja nai
Kanjiru yorokobi ga honmono yo
Watashi no shippo wa tsukamasenai
(My Master Has No Tail)
(Episode 9 If it isn't Master, there's no point!)
Err... everyone...
YAMATOYA RESTAURANT
I appreciate everyone's gathering here today.
I'm a bit nervous myself.
I mean, I've never seen something like this before...
The Big Four all in the same room...
BYAKUDANJI TSUBAKI,
SECOND GENERATION
Huh...? What are you all doing here?
Are we celebrating something?
Not.........
ENSHI KIRINO
quite.........
Ah......
that's right....
Sakubon-han.....
the Big Four's...
UTAROKU EBISUYA
Sorry.
You see, Byakuda–
BUNKO DAIKOKUTEI
Today...
Bunko-chan...
we'd like to discuss....
something with you...
Could you speed up a little, please?
Ah, cough drops! Let me get you a cough drop!
And now he's asleep again! What's going on here?!
We're gathered here today,
Bunko-chan, because we have something we'd like to ask you.
Even after spreading wasabi all over,
why hasn't he woken up?
Why did you break your promise with our master and accept an apprentice?
I don't remember him prohibiting me from doing so.
Mere sophistry.
After all,
it's because you'd accepted the terms of not accepting any apprentice,
that we've been letting you carry on the name of Daikokutei.
If you're going to betray our master,
I'll make sure your apprentice won't have anywhere to go.
Wherever the Daikokutei perform, I'll forbid my apprentices to appear.
And of course, we'll sever all business ties with Shunrai-Tei.
Not me too!
Hold on a moment!
Huh?! What's with the wasabi?!
Sorry! A few moments ago I...
It's all right.
I have a better idea to propose.
Consider it a celebration of my release from prison
So please, hear me out.
To start, we'll tell Mameda-chan...
As of today, you're expelled.
Huuuuuh?!?
Hold on... Huh?
Why? Did I do something wrong?
Did I screw up?
No.
Then why?!
Ah, is it because I've been sneaking snacks?!
Or is it because during errand runs
I stop by the theater to have tea?
I get it!
It's because I slept on your books and drooled all over them!
But I made sure to hide that though!
Or is it because I tore your clothes but didn't say anything?
Or maybe...
Get out of here, you fool of a tanuki!
Look, there's a tanuki.
You're right. And it's not moving at all.
Poor thing. Was it hit by a car or something?
And it was just a cub.
Someone read the poor thing a prayer.
Master... why...
We were...
Yeah! We were so close!
It's still alive!
What? Was it playing dead just now?
Alright, maybe he would know something.
Out of the blue she just expelled me without warning!
LIAR
GIVE ME
MY MONEY!
This just doesn't make any sense!
There's no way Master could hate me!
After all, I'm her precious apprentice
Shocking.
Really, just where does your confidence come from?
Sure you didn't do something to upset Bunko?
I can't firmly deny that.
Alright, I'll try talking to her.
For the time being, you can stay here.
But that wasn't what I...
Right, that's perfect!
You should stay with us!
There's no need to rush things.
Just be a good girl, and I'm sure you'll soon be welcomed back.
I'll leave the rest to you, Shirara.
So, that's the reception room.
There's the study.
If you have any questions, just let me know.
It's a surprisingly big house!
We've got plenty of apprentices here.
My rank is the lowest here, so
showing someone around like this feels novel.
Thugh you might be the lowest ranking, you're always so reliable!
You're amazing, Shirara!
It's...
It's nothing at all.
Alright, this is our work for today.
How much is this!?
How many people are we cooking for?!
Around here, this much is nothing.
At my old home, we cooked for even more.
Mameda.
You understand what it means for me to hold a knife,
don't you?
What's the wager?
Tomorrow's laundry duty!
It's on!
The first to fillet three of them wins!
I'm won't lose!
Well then, everyone...
itadakimasu
Thank you.
The food tastes great.
You and Shirara did the cooking, right?
Yes.
And that scoring technique...
That is some delicate work!
I learned from my master, after all.
Who's your master...?
Master Bunko!
I see.
Wow, so Bunko-san took an apprentice, eh?
No wonder you're so good with the details.
Still, it sure is lively here!
Indeed!
It's always like this for us.
I don't know how things are elsewhere, though
Hey, Mameda!
Show us something too!
Alright! I'll show you my tanuki dance!
Ooh, that's great! Go for it!
TENNOJI BATH HOUSE
You haven't cried a bit Mameda.
You're usually such a crybaby.
Where's this coming from?
Well you know,
When my master was arrested, I felt really mad at him.
Like why'd he leave me behind and go...
I had the senior apprentices with me so I didn't really feel lonely though...
That's true.
I was surprised by how lively things were.
At our place, it was just Master and I.
But sometimes it does get a bit too noisy.
But thanks to that, I'm not lonely either.
And everyone's so nice.
I'm glad to hear that,
But if my master suddenly expelled me,
I'd be so disheartened that I couldn't pull myself together.
And so in that regard, you seem surprisingly fine.
It's not exactly that I'm fine...
But so far everything Master has done for me
has had some meaning to it.
Besides,
crying now...
would be like saying I'd lost my trust in her,
wouldn't it...
Thanks for the meal.
Mameda, are we out of soy sauce?
Ah sorry! I'll go out and buy some now.
Don't be silly.
We already have that bottle you bought instead of sake by mistake, right?
That's right! I figured this would happen.
So I messed up on purpose!
I really am a genius, aren't I?
How foolish....
(My Master Has No Tail)
An errand?
I want you to ask Tanimachi's owner about extending this month's deadline.
After that, at the liquor store pick up two sho of sake.
Have them put it on my tab.
Understood!
You've shown me great kindness, so I'll do anything you need!
Mameda!
No matter how kind he's been to you,
you shouldn't just agree to things!
This jerk is trying to have you wipe his butt for him!
Then I'll get wiping!
Hold on!
I'm coming with you!
Now then, how will things turn out?
This is exciting...
TANIMACHI LIQUORS
So this is Tanimachi's...
As expected of the merchant block...
There are so many big houses around!
I've been here so many times that I've gotten tired of it...
But this house seems new.
Alright.
We'll just tell the owner to extend the deadline.
I'm off!
You dummy!
First let me show you how it's done.
What? Aren't you Haku's brat?
What do you want?
If it's about the repayment deadline,
that ain't budging by even a single day!
Tell him he's paying up even if it kills him!
Oh no, we're here on account of the shop's rennovations.
Master wanted to send his regards!
Oh, I'm surprised he noticed...
Of course!
it's already become the talk of the town!
Made from such splendid tsuga wood!
And on the courtyard: subtly rippled stucco!
The entryway of cherry wood, 3.5 ken wide.
And to top it off, the entrance door with nary a knot in sight!
Y-yeah, that so... You sure are knowledgable.
Would you like to see the inside too?
Aaah, and the ceiling's made from Satsuma cedar!
Hey, isn't that from the zenza story "Cow Flattery"?
What are you...
Just stay quiet for now.
Why, even Kyoto's Kinkakuji temple would pale in comparison!
Eh... really?
To think that my house would earn such praise!
I guess the folks who know their stuff really do get it.
Since you've come all this way,
how about I treat you to some pocket money
or would you prefer some snacks?
I appreciate the offer,
but we have errands to run.
And more importantly, the deadline...
Ah it's alright,
I don't mind if it's next month or the month after.
Just tell that Haku to drop by more often.
Wait here.
TANIMACHI LIQUORS
Well then, please excuse us!
Excuse us!
Take care on the way back!
That's how you do it!
Amazing!!! You even got a gift!
You'll do just as well, too, Mameda.
Next is the liqour store around that corner.
I'm lucky to have such a great senpai!
Well then, I'm off!
She's like a little sister in some ways...
TANAKA LIQUOR
The next shop...
TANAKA LIQUOR
is all rundown, I forgot...
Excuse me!
What do you want?
We don't sell liquor to kids.
I'm here to clean up Mr. Butt's mess and get some sake.
Huh? Butt's mess?
What are you talking about?
I'm busy here.
If you're going to waste my time, just leave.
Let's see...
You just renovated the place, right?
That's great!
Are your eyes attached?
What part of this dump looks renovated to you?
Or are you saying
this place is so filthy that it needs to be redone?
Yeah, it's become the talk of the town!
Huh?!
First, the exterior made of solid tsuga wood!
The garden, with its finely rippled stucco.
Er... the entryway of cherry wood, 3.5 ken wide.
Oh my...
Even Kyoto's Kinkakuji temple would pale in comparison!
Are you mocking me?
Alright,
you can hand me the sake now.
Huh?
And... the gifts too...
Huh?
GET OUT!
But why!
Unbelievable.
You know, it really was awful.
What the heck?!
That may as well be a rakugo story!
Can I punch him?
Go right ahead.
That hurts...! I'm dying here...!
That version of "Cow Flattery" could really only be pulled of by Mameda
Guess I should've expected that...
If...
just hypothetically...
Bunko doesn't forgive you no matter what,
would you consider joining us?
With us,
you'd have everything you need as a rakugoka.
Mameda-chan, someone as young and passionate as you
can't just be left by the wayside.
Thank you, Butt-danji...
But...
If it isn't Master, there's no point.
Is that so?
Could you lend me your fan for a sec?
Huh? But why?
Your test to "become a rakugo tale" is complete.
You pass!
I passed?
And wait, your handwriting's awful.
I guess I can come clean now...
The one who proposed to have Mameda-chan expelled...
was me!
Huh?!
Ouch...
So,
the four of you got together and were arguing about Mameda.
Then what happened?
Butt,
why can't Master accept an apprentice?
It was an old promise...
Or perhaps rather a prescription...
Struggling to break free from those fetters, Bunko-chan's been
fighting
Huh?! Expel Mameda-chan?!
That's... going too far...!
Oh my.
Seems everyone agrees to expel the apprentice.
Alright, adjourned.
It was only a suggestion, and hear it out fully.
To see if Mameda's worthy of the Daikokutei name,
we'll each test her based on our own standards.
Sounds like you're still sleep-talking.
We're talking about our master's last wishes.
Besides, what do we get out of this?
I'll give up the Daikokutei name.
If you end up deeming Mameda unworthy,
I'll give up the Daikokutei name.
How about that?
Oh my...
Now, that makes... things... interesting.
In that case...
I'm...
on board...
But when...
she comes to me...
I'll push her to the point she'll give up entirely on performing.
Are you still...
That won't be a problem.
Don't go looking down on my apprentice!
The past can't be changed,
that's for sure
but people can
Someone needs to tell Bunko-chan
that she should be allowed to change too.
And I think the only who can do that
is you, Mameda-chan.
But still, I'm only like the zena spot.
Next up, you've gotta gain the approval of Enshi Kirino.
Amongst the four of us, she has the most
difficult personality.
Even so, her skills are peerless.
Watch her closely,
rip off what you can,
then surpass her.
I'll become a proper Daikokutei!
Just you wait, Master!
Maru de muku na aozora no you ni
Anna muri na kizutsuita koto datte
Nani mo nakatta you ni
Hashire maware yurase
Daremo okitenai machi wo
Zenpen "one cut" de kiritoru yo
Mabushii asa ni
Souzou no hane ga
Kimi wo tsurete yuku
Akiramenai kagiri
Kanarazu tadoritsuku
Mienai monotachi no sonzai
Shinjiraretara
Kimi wa kitto mirai no ibuki wo
Dakishimeru darou
Nando demo
Maru de muku na aozora no you ni
Kienai hatenai
Yume ni shitaku nai yume wo
Hajimerun da
The tail end.
Up next,
to make everyone excited for the ending,
This Mamedanuki will serve as your host for "Mameda Facts".
For our ninth episode,
the story Shirara and I made use of,
USHIHOME (COW FLATTERY)
Ushihome, is what I'd like to discuss
Although I messed up...
The story beings when a jobless man who spends his time lazing
gets a lead from another guy
"If you praise this newly built house in the town over,
the houseowner will gratefully offer up some pocket money."
If you could make money by simply singing words of praise,
you'd compliment anyone and everything, right?
However, complimenting is easier said than done.
The guy is pretty careless to start with,
so he can't think of anything about the house to praise at all.
That's when another man gives him a rundown on flattery, but since
recently the homeowner had been concerned with a knothole on the kitchen pillar,
the man also advises him to mention that Akiba-sama's talisman could be placed there.
Akiba-sama is the god of fire prevention.
Since the man further mentions praising the house's prized cow
would surely earn him extra,
with high spirits our guy heads to the neighboring town.
Initially he clumsily reads off his notes to praise the house
at which the owner takes offense
but eventually his mood brightens!
In particular, he responds to the man's advice regarding the knothole:
"It covers it up, looks pretty nice,
and not to mention helps prevent a fire! Thank you so much!"
Which as expected, earns him some pocket money.
To earn even more, the man heads to the cow pen.
He tries his best to praise the cow,
but the cow simply turns around
and starts pooping in front of him!
Seeing that, the owner says
"Hey, cut them some slack.
"If they were human they'd utter words of gratitude
But then again, these are cows."
At that, the man replies,
"You should place Akiba-sama's talisman over the cow's hole too."
"It would cover it up and, help prevent gas too!"
I hope to see you all again soon!
Next episode, "Why Not Me?"
Stay tuned.
(Episode 10 Why Not Me?)