Rakuda (The Camel)

らくだ・らくだ

The story

The neighborhood bully of a nagaya row-house, nicknamed 'the Camel,' drops dead after eating poisonous blowfish. His tough older 'brother' figure collars a passing junk dealer and bullies him into helping arrange the funeral. But as the drink starts flowing, the timid junk man's whole manner begins to change.

What to listen for

The great pleasure is watching the meek junk dealer transform, the more he drinks, until the balance of power flips completely. A big, meaty piece from the Kamigata (Osaka) tradition.

Background

A nagaya was a long, cheap row-house tenement where the common poor of old Japan lived wall to wall. Fugu (blowfish) can be deadly poisonous if badly prepared. Kamigata refers to the Osaka-Kyoto rakugo style, distinct from Edo's.

Notable performers

三遊亭圓生笑福亭松鶴

#ブラック #大ネタ #立場逆転