Comic story Edo
Kaen Daiko (The Flaming Drum)
火焔太鼓・かえんだいこ
The story
Jinbei, a bumbling secondhand-goods dealer, picks up a filthy, battered old drum that his sharp-tongued wife is sure is worthless junk. But a passing lord's household takes an interest in it, and the grimy drum turns out to be worth a jaw-dropping three hundred ryo. The fun is in the back-and-forth between the flustered dealer and his skeptical wife, and his giddy delight when fortune turns.
What to listen for
One of the signature stories of the legendary master Shinshō (Kokontei Shinshō), carried by its bouncy, breathless comic rhythm.
Background
A ryo was a large gold coin, so three hundred ryo was an enormous windfall. Secondhand dealers like Jinbei roamed old Tokyo buying and reselling odds and ends.
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).