(Tanuki-bayashi begins at 09:14)
Yesterday, my dad got really angry at me because I just can't transform properly no matter how many times I try. Even Konkichi the Fox[1] who's the same age as me can already turn into a Jizo and scare people out of their rice balls. Damn it! And we tanuki are the ones that are supposed to be the superior ones at transforming compared to some foxes. My dad can even transform into a feudal lord. Well, the best I can do is change into a rice-cake offering.
When a tanuki transforms, they slap their belly and shout "popon!" But my "popon" seems be out of tune or something. That's why I have to keep practicing with my dad yelling at me to try it again. My mom says that there is no need to get impatient since I'm still a child, but I want to become as good as my dad as soon as possible. I want to transform into a princess and bring lots of pretty kimonos to my mom. And I guess I want my dad to praise me. Today will be the day when I transform into a Jizo!
Oh! Just what the doctor ordered, an old woman is coming right this way. I'll scare her for sure.
Slap my belly and popon!
Aah! Why is my tail still visible!
Once more. Popon! Popon!
H- huh? I think I actually did it!
No tail in sight, and my body's stone too!
All right! I'll just wait still here...
Oh! This is so exciting!
Ah! The old woman is praying to me!
She even left me an offering of rice-cakes and sake!
I did it! I did it dad! Daddy!
"Dear Jizo, I've grown so old that my eyesight is leaving me and as of late I cannot see things clearly. Even now, it looks to me as if you had whiskers on your face. I humbly ask for my eyesight to get better again."
[1] Konkichi means fox. English equivalent would be Reynard the Fox.
陰陽座百物語 第拾肆話「狸囃子」
昨日、父ちゃんに怒られた。オイラがいつまで経っても上手く化けられないからだ。狐のこん吉は、オイラと同い年なのにもうお地蔵様に化けて、旅人を脅かして御握りをくすねてるらしい。ちくしょう、何だよ！本当は狐なんかよりオイラ達狸の方がすごいんだぞ。オイラの父ちゃんは、殿様にだって化けられるんだ。そりゃ、オイラはまだ御供えの餅にしか化けらんねえけど。
狸が化ける時は、お腹を叩いてポポーン！と一鳴きするんだ。けど、どうもオイラのポポーンは、拍子が合ってねえらしい。だから何度も父ちゃんに、もう一回！って怒られながら練習する。母ちゃんは、お前は子供なんだから焦らなくていいのよって言うけど、オイラは早く父ちゃんみたいになりたい。お姫様に化けて、母ちゃんのために綺麗な着物持って来てやりたいんだ。それからやっぱり、父ちゃんに褒められたいし。だから今日こそお地蔵様に化けてみせる。
あ！お誂え向きに向こうからばあさんが歩いてきやがるじゃねえか。絶対脅かしてみせるぞ。
お腹を叩いて ポポーン！
あー！何で尻尾が隠れないんだよ！
もう一回。ポポーン！ポポーン！
あ・あれ？なんか上手くいった気がするぞ。
尻尾も出てねえし、体もちゃんと硬くなってる！
よーし！このままここでじっとして・・・
あー！ドキドキするなー！
は！ばあさんがオイラを拝んでる。
お供えのお酒とお餅も置いたぞ！やった！やったよ父ちゃん！父ちゃーん！
「御地蔵様、私もようよう年がいってしもうて、近頃目が悪ろうなって碌に物が見分けられませんのじゃ。 今も、御地蔵様の顔に、髭が生えてる様に見えておりましてなあ。 どうか、この目が良くなります様に」
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