作品Free Graded Reading
吉原百人斬りYoshiwara: One Hundred Killings
Yoshiwara Hyakunin Giri
by 正岡 容 · Masaoka Yō
A chilling tale of a massacre in Edo's pleasure quarter.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe author reflects on the death of storyteller Kanda Hakuryū and describes his unique style and influence, particularly his rendition of 'Yoshiwara Hyakunin Giri'.
The story of Yoshiwara Hyakunin Giri begins: on a summer day in 1718, the geisha apprentice Agata visits the impoverished rōnin Hōshō Einojō.
The narrator describes the silent scene where Einojō, after a passionate night with Yatsuhashi, stretches and rubs his body, prompting the audience to imagine the prior erotic encounter.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 馴染 (なじみ) | familiarity; acquaintance |
|---|---|
| 蓋し (けだし) | indeed; certainly |
| 高座 (こうざ) | storyteller's stage; elevated platform |
| 世話物 (せわもの) | domestic drama; stories of common life |
| 悪謔 (あくぎゃく) | bad joke; crude jest |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～ないわけには行かない N2cannot help but; mustやはりその死は唐突の感をおぼえないわけには行かなかつた。
- ～と云へよう N1one could say; it might be said「永々」とは、蓋し彼が前座で空板を叩いてゐた昔々から、老後の今日に至るまでの、満天下の聴衆への、「永々」の感謝だつたと云へよう。
- ～さうだ (伝聞) N4hear that; it is said that……と云って下りて行ったさうだ。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Kanda Hakuryū and the Art of KōdanKanda Hakuryū was a renowned kōdan (storyteller) specializing in 'sewamono' (domestic dramas). His style was influenced by the writer Tamenaga Shunsui and the storyteller Ippenritsu Bunkē. Kōdan is a traditional Japanese oral narrative art that emphasizes dramatic delivery and historical or domestic tales.
- Yoshiwara Pleasure QuarterYoshiwara was the famous licensed red-light district in Edo (modern Tokyo). It thrived during the Edo period and was a popular setting for stories and plays. The text describes the 'Yoshiwara Hyakunin Giri' (Hundred Killings of Yoshiwara), a famous incident where the merchant Sano Jirōzaemon went on a killing spree.
- Tamenaga Shunsui and 'Shunshoku Umegoyomi'Tamenaga Shunsui was a popular Edo-period writer of 'ninjōbon' (sentimental novels). His work 'Shunshoku Umegoyomi' (Spring Colors: A Plum Calendar) influenced many later artists, including Kanda Hakuryū. The author points out that Hakuryū used a similar gesture (stroking the chin) that appears in Shunsui's work.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat did Kanda Hakuryū say on his last performance instead of his usual closing phrase?
- I thank you for your long attention.
- I have put this story together as a short piece.
- I am grateful for your eternal listening.
- Please enjoy this erotic scene.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the frequent use of classical Japanese grammar and archaic vocabulary—consider keeping a reference list handy.
Read a sample in Japanese
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