つる Crane

The characters in rakugo are usually stock characters--　Hachi, Kuma, the landlord, and the retiree who lives on the side street… The story often opens with someone like Hachi or Kuma visiting the retiree…

The retiree invites Hachi to come in (go up--上がる) -- he thinks that the landlord has invited him to eat あがる. Hachi says he came over just to pass the time and chat with the retiree.

I’m glad you came. We’re an odd match but we get along well. I’m not in a good mood unless I see your face once a day.

If I don’t see your face once a day… You don’t feel good either?

No, I can’t move my bowels.

The other day my friends and I were talking about you. We were saying how strange it was that for someone who does nothing but hang around all day you wear pretty nice clothes and eat well so maybe you’re a…

Retiree: Huh? Hachi: We were saying how strange it was that for someone who does nothing but hang around all day you wear pretty nice clothes and eat well so maybe you’re a …

Retiree: I can’t hear what you’re saying. You’re mumbling at the end. Speak up.

OK, I’ll say it more clearly… We were saying that you wear pretty nice clothes and eat well for someone who sits around all day and does nothing…

…so maybe you’re a thief.

The retiree asks Hachi if he stuck up for him when the guys called him a thief.

I said, ‘he’s no thief. He quit three years ago.’

Then it looks like I WAS a thief.

They said a lot of things about you, like, ‘nobody knows as much about things as the retiree.’ You’re a walking encyclopedia, a fount of knowledge!

Hachi asks the retiree if the crane is the representative bird of Japan.

Yes, it’s fair to say that the crane is the representative bird of Japan. How come? The crane is a beautiful bird. It’s polite, steadfast and fastidious…

When cranes mate, if another female bird approaches the male and whispers sweet-nothings to him, he doesn’t even turn around; he loves his mate and stays with her for his whole life.

That’s really something That’s really something. Compared to that, human couples are always fighting.

So I guess there’s no such thing as cheating cranes. Of course not!

Hachi then asks why the crane’s neck is long. The retiree explains that long ago, the crane wasn’t called “tsuru,” but “long-necked bird.” Hachi asks how the name became “tsuru.”

Long, long ago, a white-haired (hakuhatsu) old man was standing on the shore looking faaaar away out toward the open sea, when a male long-necked bird came flying in ‘tsuuu’ from the direction of China and alit on a pine branch.

When he saw a female long-necked bird follow, flying ‘ruuuu,’ he said, ‘that’s a tsu-ru.’ That’s how long-necked birds became ‘cranes.’

After having it explained to him again, Hachi finally figures it out, and leaves so that he can tell somebody else what he learned.

Hachi: Hey, Tatsu, are you there? Tatsu: Oh, it’s you. What are you doing here in the middle of the day?

Hachi: Your luck has turned. Tatsu: What do you mean? Hachi: Do you know about “tsuru”?

Tatsu: Oh, you mean Otsuru from the vegetable store Tatsu: Oh, you mean Otsuru from the vegetable store? She has a crush on me, you know. Hachi: I’m not talking about her--the bird, ‘tsuru.’

Of course I do! Even children know about cranes.

Long ago, cranes used to be called ‘long-necked birds.’ Shall I tell you why?

That’s OK. I’ve got work to do. Come back later when I’m done.

After I came running here especially to tell you After I came running here especially to tell you?! … OK, you just keep on working while I talk.

Long, long ago ‘tsuru’ were called long-necked birds Long, long ago ‘tsuru’ were called long-necked birds. An exploding (bakuhatsu) old man…

That’s a dangerous old man!

No, I mean a white-haired old man (hakuhatsu) was standing on the shore looking faaar away out toward the open sea, when a male long-necked bird came flying in from the direction of the clothesline (monohoshi)

Clothesline?

I mean, China (Morokoshi)…

A male long-necked bird came in flying ‘tsuuu-ruuuu’ from China and alit on a pine branch. A female crane followed… um, uh…

Tatsu, you wanna know how long-necked birds came to be called cranes Tatsu, you wanna know how long-necked birds came to be called cranes? Long, long ago, a white-haired old man was standing on the shore looking faaaar away out toward the open sea, when a male long-necked bird came flying in ‘tsuuu-ruuuu’ from the direction of China and alit on a pine branch. A female long-necked bird followed..

Goodbye.

In a soliloquy Hachi tries to figure out what went wrong. He returns to the retiree’s house and has the retiree explain it to him again. He realizes his mistake, thanks the retiree, leaves, and goes back to Tatsu’s house to try it out again.

Hachi: Tatsu! Tatsu: You again? What do you want now?

You know how long-necked birds came to be called cranes?

What is it with you and the long-necked birds?

I’ll tell you how long-necked birds came to be called cranes I’ll tell you how long-necked birds came to be called cranes. Long, long ago, a white-haired old man was standing on the shore looking faaaar away out toward the open sea, when a male long-necked bird came flying in ‘tsuuu’ … This is where I messed up the last time.

A male long-necked bird came flying in ‘tsuuuu’ from the direction of China and alit, ’ru’ on a pine branch. A female crane followed… Eh, uh, (He tries again…)

A male bird came flying in ‘tsuuuu’ from the direction of China and alit, ’ru’ on a pine branch. A female followed…, a female followed.., a female followed…

What did the female say?

Nothing

The End