Ido no Chawan Kuzuya and two samurai Kuzuyas

Ido no Chawan (Kuzuya and two samurai) 井戸の茶碗

Kuzuyas were workers that would go around and buy recyclables from people and sell them to others.

Within all the kuzuyas in the Edo (old Tokyo) area, there was a man named Seibei, his nickname was “honest Seibei”

Main story begins.

Seibei: Kuzui~ Kuzuya~ Oharai (calling out for recyclables)

Seibei goes into a back alleyway and hears a young girl calling for him. He sees this girl and notices how pretty she is.

He wonders why such 　 a pretty girl in a dirty kimono is in the filthy alleyway. He follows the girl to a house.

Girl: Father, I’ve brought the kuzuya 　 over.

Chiyoda: Oh! is that　so… Kuzuya, thank you for coming. There are some recyclables over there. How much can you take those for me? ”

Thank you sir… I’ve weighed everything and it will be a bit more than 7 mon ($1. 25). But since this is the first time, I would like to buy everything for 8 mon ($1. 50).

Oh! Everything for　 8 mon? . . . also kuzuya-san would you be able to buy this off of me too?

My, this is a Buddha statue, but sir I don’t really deal with antiques. I’ve been told that I don’t know the true value of antiques. So please sell it to another kuzuya.

Kuzuya, do you think 　 this Buddha statue is suspicious?

No, I would never think that.

I am saying that this　is a legitimate Buddha statue. My name is Chiyoda Bokusai. I teach writing to children during the day and am a fortuneteller at night.

But due the recent rain, I can’t work as a fortuneteller, the kids parents who I teach are giving me miso and soy sauce to make ends meet.

I was hoping that I could sell this Buddha statue and relive my daughter. It doesn’t matter how much it would be, would you be able to buy it from me?

Seibei offers to accept the Buddha statue for 50 mon ($10) as an advanced payment for future recyclables. But, Chiyoda does not accept it.

Oh, brother. . okay then how about this? I will buy the Buddha statue for 100 mon ($20).

If I sell this Buddha statue at a higher price, we can split the difference.

No, the amount that you make is for your business. I’m sorry about asking so much from you.

So, that’s the deal for now. I will take the Buddha statue with me and see what happens.

Kuzuya takes the Buddha statue with him in his basket and returns to his job.

Kuzui~ Kuzuya~ Oharai

Kuzuya ends up underneath the house of Hosokawa (samurai clan). He was just talking to his servant how the room looks dreary. He needs something to dress up the room.

Kuzui~ Kuzuya~ Oharai

Takagi: Ryosuke, in Edo, there are so many street-walking vendors. Hey, what are you selling?

I’m kuzuya. Takagi: Kuzuya? What is a kuzuya? Do you go around and sell garbages?

Oh no no, I buy the recyclables from people. What buying recyclables? So what’s that in your basket? Is that a zou (a statue)?

No it’s not a zou (an elephant) but a Buddha statue. You’re a funny one. Come on in.

Kuzuya, can I see the Buddha? Wow, this is a great statue, is this baibutsu (merchandise)?

No it’s a Buddha… not kaibutsu (a monster) You are truly silly, I’m asking if this is your merchandise.

Yes! I’m trying to sell this!! How much are you selling this for?

I bought this statue from a man for 100 mon ($20). If I can sell it for any higher price, I will split the difference.

You’re such a honest guy. How about this? What if I buy it for 200 mon ($40).

What? But I bought it for 100 mon? You would buy it for double the price? . . Really? . . Oh my! It would be a 50 mon profit.

You’re such a honest guy. Ryosuke, give him 200 mon. I will keep recyclables for you so, come on by often.

Ryosuke, bring me a cloth so that I can clean the Buddha. What’s that rattling sound? Something inside of it? Perhaps another Buddha statue?

As he polishes the statue, a small bundle wrapped in paper falls out, inside the wrapper, 50 ryo ($4, 000) comes out.

Ryosuke! Did you see that?

Yes I did… we hit a jackpot, you bought the Buddha for only 200 mon and found the hidden treasure of 50 ryo. Congratulations!

You stupid, I bought this Buddha, but not the money hidden inside of it.

Kuzuya was saying, the man who sold this was suffering with money, I should return the money to him.

No, if the man knew there was money inside the Buddha, he would have never sold it for 100 mon. That kuzuya didn’t even know.

The only people who knows about this is just you and me.

There is no way you can buy money with money. I would like to return the money to him. . I forgot to even ask what the man’s name is…

That kuzuya will pass by soon.

(From that day on, it became Ryosuke’s job to oversee all the kuzuyas that passed by the house. )

(A few kuzuyas pass by and Ryosuke makes comments on how it is not Seibei. )

(At a neighbor kuzuya gathering they talk about the Hosokawa samurai calling out to all the kuzuyas and making fun of their faces. )

Kuzuya 1: Oh! here comes Seibei! Hey Seibei! What’s going on? You haven’t been around lately! Yeah, I caught a cold recently and have been home sick.

Kuzuya 1: Oh yea? By the way, have you heard about the Hosokawa house? . . The samurai and his servant stop us and keep on commenting on our faces as we walk by.

They talk about how our faces are dirty, long, square and so forth. I’m sure you’ll get commented on it if you go there too.

Is that the house over there? Yea, that’s the one.

I think… they’re looking for me. Looking for you? Why?

I recently sold a Buddha to the samurai at that house.

That’s it!. . . Seibei I told you not to handle any antiques. Hey… was that Buddha statue dirty when you sold it to him?

He did mention that it is aged.

See! When samurais say that it’s aged, it means dirty. He probably polished it and the head fell off.

Samurais are very sensitive to heads falling off. He probably got very angry with the product and is looking for you!!

Well, I didn’t know about that! That’s why we always tell you not to deal with antiques!

What should I do? My advice would be to just not do business in that area anymore.

But I have a lot of good business around in that area! Which is more important? Business? ? Or your own life? ?

Okay, this is what you do… when you pass by that house, don’t say anything and just walk by. Oh! I see… I’ll just walk by there silently…”

As Seibei walks by the Hosokawa house, he can’t stop his habit of calling out. . Kuzui~ Kuzuya~ Oharai~

Takagi: Hey you! Kuzuya!! OH NO!. . Sweet~ Amazake~!

What are you doing? ! There’s no one that would be selling amazake in a basket. . Take off your hat…

Ryosuke! get him! It’s him!”

Please~! Please don’t take my life!! I truly didn’t know that the Buddha head was going to fall off!

I’ll give back all of your money. I have to take care of 3 mothers that are 3 years old.

What you talking about? ! Calm down!. . . What? The head fell off? I was polishing the Buddah and I found 50 ryo from inside the statue.

I bought the statue from you, but I did not buy the money inside of it. The man who sold it is in need of money, I wanted you to go and return that 50 ryo to him.

Oh, I see… I thought you were going to cut my head off… but I think that since you bought the statue the money should belong to you.

Don’t be stupid. You can’t buy money with money.

Wow! I’ve been called honest Seibei, you are truly a honest person… May I ask what you name is?

It doesn’t matter what my name is. .

No, I need to tell the man your name. Hmm. . well, my name is Takagi Sakuzaemon… and the man what is his name? ”

I believe it was Chiyoda Bokusai.

(Seibei goes to Chiyoda. )

Excuse me! Chiyoda: Oh! it’s the kuzuya. I’m sorry about what happened before.

Oh no! it’s okay… I was going to come back earlier but I got sick…

He starts to explain about Takagi and made 100 mon. Seibei hands him 50 mon…

No that’s not necessary, that is your profit. You keep that money.

No, don’t say that. . I just sold the Buddha statue and made 50 mon, so the other half is your share. I understand… then I will gladly keep that money.

There’s more. . What? 50 ryo. . that’s a large amount of money.

Yes, that is all yours… Takagi-sama was polishing the statue and the money fell out, he claims he bought the statue but not the money.

He wanted me to return the money to you.

No, I can’t. Once I sold the statue the money belongs to him as well. I would like for you to return the money back to Takagi-sama.

Please don’t say that… it’s 50 ryo! If you had 50 ryo you wouldn’t have to live like this.

Your daughter doesn’t have to wear such filthy kimono… I mean non fashionable kimono…

Nonsense!! You have no right to tell me how I live… Return it! If you don’t return it I will have to take my sword out.

Wait a minute…why do I have to get in trouble. . that’s why I don’t like samurais.

(Seibei goes back to Takagi. )

Oh! how did it go? Chiyoda must have been happy!

No, he wasn’t. He said he won’t take the money back…. (Seibei explains the conversation between him and Chiyoda. )

So I brought back the 50 ryo.

What? ! So Chiyoda said that he would take out his sword? . . . Well then I would have to take out my sword as well.

Seibei goes back and forth carrying 50 ryo with him. He goes to an Ooya (landlord) for help.

Ooya suggests 20 ryo goes to Takagi, 20 ryo goes to Chiyoda and 10 ryo to Seibei for his honesty. Ooya and Seibei go to Takagi.

Seibei, forgive me. I forgot to think about you. I will gladly accept the money.

Ooya and Seibei go to Chiyoda. What do you think? Takagi gladly accepted the money.

Ooya suggests that if he can’t take the money alone, sell something to Takagi for 20 ryo. But I don’t have anything that is worth 20 ryo.

It can be anything. . even paper. . No, I can’t give him paper… well, what about this? It’s a bowl that my father and I used to drink tea in.

Oh! that sounds great.

Ooya takes the bowl and goes to Takagi.

The story about the bowl makes its way to Lord Hosokawa invites Takagi to bring the bowl to him.

He finds out the tea bowl is called Ido no Chawan and is a rare item. Lord Hosokawa decides to keep the bowl and hands Takagi 300 ryo.

Now what to do? ! Ryosuke! Call Seibei!!. . Hey Seibei! Look at this money!

What are you so mad about?

Takagi explains to Seibei about the one of a kind bowl.

And? … just as I feared… but I almost got my head cut off bringing 50 ryo…

What do you think is going to happen when I bring 150 ryo to Chiyoda.

You’re the only person I can ask. Seibei goes to Chiyoda.

Don’t argue with me, nor take out your sword and accept this 150 ryo. Seibei explains the story about Lord Hosokawa.

No, I can’t accept that. .

I knew it was coming. . Well how about this? Giving Takagi-sama something that is worth 150 ryo.

Don’t be stupid. . I don’t have anything that is worth 150 ryo…. Is Takagi-sama single?

A wife? No, he’s not married.

What do you think about asking Takagi-sama to take my daughter as his wife? Then I would take the 150 ryo.

I’m sure that would work out… If Takagi-sama doesn’t welcome her then I would take her hand.

I can’t give her to you….

I am just a kuzuya. Is it okay for me to be the cupid for the samurai families? I am so honored and proud of myself!

Seibei brings the news to Takagi.

Chiyoda probably thought really hard on his decision. If she is Chiyoda’s daughter, she would be a perfect wife.

That’s such wonderful news! She is very well qualified, just that she needs to be freshened up, put some make up on, dress her in a new kimono…

and “polish” her up and she would be perfect. ”

If I “polish” again… money might come out.

The (HAPPY) End