Comic story Edo & Kamigata
Manju Kowai (Scared of Sweet Buns)
まんじゅうこわい・まんじゅうこわい
The story
A group of young men pass the time boasting about what frightens them, from snakes to spiders. One fellow confesses that what truly terrifies him is manju, sweet steamed bean-paste buns. Delighted, his friends decide to torment him by piling manju all around him.
What to listen for
A story so well-built that it stays funny even when you already know where it is going. A favorite for its simple, universal mischief.
Background
Manju are soft steamed buns filled with sweet red-bean paste, a common everyday treat, which is what makes claiming to fear them so absurd.
Notable performers
桂枝雀笑福亭鶴瓶
🤫 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).