The Summer Burglar (Natsu Doro)

An English Rakugo Story

(Excerpt from "Talking About Rakugo 1: The Japanese Art of Storytelling")

Kodanji Ichikawa IV (1812–66) as Nezumi-kozo Jirokichi, in the January 1857 Edo Ichimuraza production of Nezumi Komon Haru no Shingata.(Public domain)

Characters:

B: Burglar

C: Carpenter

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B: Oh! The door is unlocked.

Is there anyone home?

It stinks of mosquito repellent.

What a dirty house!

But folks living in houses like this usually save up a ton of cash.

Oh, there’s someone sleeping in the corner.

Hey, wake up!

C: What?

B: I said, wake up! Give me all your money.

C: What?

Give you my money?

Who are you?

B: Who am I?

C: Yeah, who are you?

What are you doing here?

B: You know what I’m doing.

C: You know what you’re doing,

but how should I know what you’re doing?

B: I’m a burglar.

C: Oh, a burglar.

Then, I have nothing to worry about.

B: What? I’m a burglar!

C: Don’t shout.

You must be a novice.

A burglar shouldn’t raise his voice.

The neighbors might hear you.

B: Shut up! Give me all your money.

Or else you’re a dead man.

C: I have no money.

B: Don’t lie to me.

C: I mean it.

B: I don’t believe you. If you don’t give me your money, I’ll kill you.

Do you see this knife?

C: I see. Kill me, then.

B: What? When I say I’ll kill you, I really mean it.

I’m not kidding.

C: I was thinking about ending my life.

So you’ve come at a good time.

Go on. Kill me!

B: Hey, don’t shout! he neighbors might hear you.

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Find out what happens next by picking up your copy of "Talking About Rakugo 1: The Japanese Art of Storytelling."

Product details

Published ‏ : ‎ 2nd edition (April 14, 2022)

Language ‏ : ‎ English

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 474 pages

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1088023606

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1088023600

Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.38 pounds