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In Shibahama, Edo, Uokatsu finds a wallet at the beach with a fortune of 50 ryo. But when he tries to convince his wife, she claims he never went to the fish market as promised. Confusion ensues as they try to determine what really happened.
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There used to be two kashi (fish markets) in Edo. One of them was a place called “Shiba.” Shiba had two auctions a day, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.
“Dear, wake up… wake up.” Katsu starts to wake up.
“Please go to the kashi (fish market).” “What? Why do I have to go to the kashi?” “You promised yesterday you would quit drinking and go to work.”
“Did I say that? … I must have been drunk.” “Ok. You’re right. Every day, all I do is fool around and drink…” “Fine, I will go to the kashi.”
“But, I haven’t worked for twenty days -- the handai (wooden carrier of fish) must be dry and loose.” “No. I have watered it everyday, so it is tight and no water will leak from it.”
“The knife might be rusty.” “It’s sharp because I wrapped it in oiled paper.”
“My waraji sandals--?” “I bought a new pair.” “Oh…Everything seems ready.”
Walking to the market. It’s very early in the morning, and very cold. Katsu sees the neighborhood dog, Shiro walks by. “Oh, you surprised me! Shiro! It’s me Shiro! After not working for 20 days, even the dog has forgotten my face…”
“None of the stores are open. What’s going on? Is today a holiday? No way…” He hears temple bells.
“Oh, she woke me up ittoki early (about two hours).” “I’ll just head towards the beach then.”
“I love the smell of the ocean. That’s probably why I became a sakanaya (fish seller)…” Oh, the sun’s rising. What a pretty sight! Mr. Sun, this is Uokatsu (his trade name). I will start working hard from today. So, please watch over me.
He finds something floating in the water. “What is this? A wallet?” “It’s an old, dirty wallet.” “Money...?”
“Open up! Open the door!” “Yes, dear!” “Check to see if anybody is following me.” “What? Did you get in a fight?”
“Just look!” The wife looks outside the door. “No one’s there. What happened? Did you get into a fight?”
“You woke me up ittoki early.” “I’m sorry! By the time I realized it, you had already gone…”
“It’s not that. When I got there, not a single shop was open. Then I heard the temple bells and realized it was too early, so I went to the beach…” He tells the story about finding the wallet.
“There is money in the wallet.” “How much?” “I don’t know! Count it!”
“How much?” “I have never seen this much money!” “Count it quick! What are you doing?” “Wait. My hands are shaking.”
Katsu takes the money and counts it. “50 ryo! (about $40,000)”
“With this kind of money…we don’t have to work and can live a luxurious life.” • “What are you talking about? • Dear, please go to the kashi!”
“No need to do that. You can wear nice clothes all the time with this money!” “You promised to start working.” “No way. Go get my sake. Now!”
“Wake up, dear…please, go to the evening kashi.” Katsu gets up and picks up a towel. “No way. I’m going to the bath house.”
After Katsu leaves, tempura, sake and unagi (grilled eel) are delivered to their home. Katsu ordered all the food to celebrate.
“Konnichiwa! Fish delivery”. “What? We ARE a fish shop!” “Katsu ordered them to celebrate an occasion…”
Several of Katsu’s friends come over for a feast. Katsu returns from the bath house. “Dear, your friends are here for a feast…but did something happen?” “Don’t worry…. Sorry for the wait. A good thing happened to me. Let’s celebrate!”
The party ends. Everyone goes home and Katsu falls asleep.
“Wake up. Please go to the kashi.” Katsu starts to wake up. “Go to the kashi…” “Why do I have to go to the kashi?”
“You promised yesterday that you would quit drinking and would go to work.” “We don’t have to work, since we have a lot of money. We can enjoy life with the fifty ryo.”
“Dear, what are you talking about?” “I found the wallet in Shiba and brought it back and fifty ryo was in it!”
“What are you talking about? A wallet withfifty ryo in it?” “The wallet I found yesterday at Shiba…there’s no way you don’t remember that!” “You never went to the kashi yesterday.”
“You woke me up!” “You didn’t go to the kashi.” “You woke me up too early…” “You did not get up!”
“I heard the temple bells.” “You can hear those bells from home. Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?” Katsu retells his side of the story.
“You did not go to the kashi!” “I tried over and over to wake you up and finally when you did get up you went to the bath house.” “Then, your friends came over and you celebrated with sake and food. And then, you fell asleep.”
“Doesn’t that sound like a dream to you?” “That was a dream? A dream??”
“So, it was… a dream. I wanted money so badly I dreamed up the whole thing? and threw a party?”
“The trip was a dream and all the drinking and eating was real? How can I pay for it?” “If you work hard, it won’t be a problem. You can pay it back in no time!”
“I’ve been such a lazy fool, from this day on I will quit drinking and work hard.”
“Is the handai dry?” “No, I water it every day.” “Is the knife rusty?” “No. It’s been kept sharp wrapped in the oiled paper.”
“And the waraji?” “I bought a new pair..”
“I had the same conversation in my dream…” “Don’t get into a fight at the kashi, ok?”
From then on, Katsu began to work very hard and regained his reputation.
“Hey! Come try this fish, it's delicious!” • What are you talking about? I have plenty of fish at home. • “No, this is the good stuff, I'll even deliver it for you! Hey come back!”
