Comic story Edo & Kamigata
Nibansenji (The Second Brew)
二番煎じ・にばんせんじ
The story
A group of well-off townsmen are pressed into taking turns on cold night fire-watch duty. To fend off the winter chill, they smuggle sake and a bubbling pot of wild-boar hotpot into the watchman's hut and settle in for a cozy party, until a patrolling samurai official suddenly turns up.
What to listen for
The mouthwatering description of the boar hotpot is famous for making listeners' stomachs growl. A beloved winter classic.
Background
Neighborhoods took turns on night fire-watch, since fire was Edo's constant terror in a city of wooden houses. 'Second brew' refers to re-steeping used tea leaves for a weaker second batch, a phrase that pays off in how the men talk their way around the inspector.
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).