Human-drama story Edo & Kamigata
Hyakunenme (After a Hundred Years)
百年目・ひゃくねんめ
The story
The head clerk of a large merchant house has a reputation as a stern, humorless model of propriety. But out on a secret spree, drunk and dancing at a rowdy cherry-blossom party, he suddenly runs straight into his own master. The real heart of the story is the quiet words the master speaks to him the next morning.
What to listen for
A piece of gentle business wisdom about drawing the best out of people without ever scolding them.
Background
In a big Edo merchant house, the banto (head clerk) was the senior manager who ran daily operations under the owner, so being caught misbehaving threatened his whole standing. Hanami, cherry-blossom viewing, is a spring occasion for outdoor drinking and revelry.
Notable performers
🤫 We keep the sage (punchline) a secret so your first listen stays fresh. Reader reviews are currently in Japanese — see the Japanese page (use the 🌐 switch to come back).