Translations

from the Illustrated Tales of Regent Hideyoshi

In the Beginning1-1-1 How Hideyoshi Was Born1-1-2 How Hideyoshi Met Koroku1-1-3 How Koroku Tested Hideyoshi1-1-4 How Hideyoshi Met Matsushita Yukitsuna

from the Senjūshō

5:3 About Naiki Yasutane5:4 Sojō Yōen5:5 Kakuson and the Monk With a Poem About Rattles5:6 The Lady of the Middle Counselor5:10 A Man of Ōmi Lost His Son and Left Secular Life5:11 About a Nun of Eguchi9:8 Courtesan of Eguchi9:10 A Reunion at the Hasedera Temple

from the works of Ryunosuke Akutagawa

The Christ of NankingOginOshino

from the Chirizuka Monogatari

1:1 How a Poem of Lord Jōtokuin Shaded the Burning Sun2:6 Selfless Lord Amako Tsunehisa3:4 About the Legends of Mount Ômine4:1 About Extraordinary Tales of Master Kobo, Salt, Chikami, Reed and Other Things4:4 Witty Tales of Japan and India5:4 Lord Hosokawa's Secret Plot5:9 Lord Moronao's Amorous Affairs6:5 Priest Myosen and Masashige

1-1-2 How Hideyoshi Met Koroku

Ehon Taikoki by Takeuchi Kakusai

illustrated by Okada Gyokusan (1797-1802)

translated and edited by Yoshiko Dykstra

Koroku sees Hideyoshi on the bridge.

Hachisuka Koroku Masakatsu lived in the Kaido district of Owari province and was a great thief. He had a thousand followers who made their living by breaking into houses, stealing, and robbing.

One night when Koroku was passing over the Okazaki Bridge1 with his henchmen, he saw Hideyoshi lying sound asleep; as he passed him, Koroku deliberately kicked the boy's head. Surprised and angry, Hideyoshi shouted, "Who do you think you are, being so rude! Though I'm young, you have no reason to insult me. Come here and apologize!"

The surprised Koroku saw a boy of twelve or thirteen years of age yelling at him. Amazed, he apologized to Hideyoshi and asked him, "Where are you from? I am really impressed. You are so courageous at your young age! Why don't you join us and work for me. I will treat you well." Hideyoshi replied, "Since I have no place to go, or master to serve, I will come with you."

Koroku was pleased and explained about his job, saying, "Well, what we do is to break down gates and walls, steal treasures, and live as we please. You look very smart for your age. Tonight if you prove your talent by taking us to a big house, I will reward you accordingly."

So Hideyoshi walked ahead of Koroku and his men through the town of Okazaki. They finally came to the outskirts where they saw three big mansions in a row, but they all appeared impregnable because they were surrounded by high walls. Koroku told his men, "We'll break into the house at the end of the row because it looks easier to break in and then get out." So one of his men stood by the gate and prepared to strike it with his wooden hammer. But at that moment, Hideyoshi said, "Making a noise is not so smart when we want to steal stealthily. Just wait here. I will go inside and open the doors." Hideyoshi then climbed up a persimmon tree whose branches hung over the wall. Grasping the branches, he nimbly jumped over the wall into the mansion's compound, and quietly opened the doors. Koroku and his men ran into the mansion, and seized robes and other valuables.

The people of the mansion came out in confusion with sticks and hatchets, shouting to each other, "Catch the thieves!" All of Koroku's men ran out of the mansion except Hideyoshi, who was delayed and desperately searched for a way out. Quickly picking up a stone, he threw it into a well with a sharp cry. When the people ran to the well, he sneaked out of the mansion and ran like a rabbit.

~~~ The End ~~~

©2007 by Yoshiko Dykstra

1The bridge spanned the Yahagi River in the central part of present-day Aichi prefecture, and Hideyoshi's meeting Koroku is one of the most popular episodes in the ruler's career. Hachisuka Koroku, or Masakatsu (1526-86), was a local magnate from Hachisuka village in the Ama district of Owari province. He first served Saitō Dōsan and then eventually served Hideyoshi. He assisted Hideyoshi in attacking Shikoku; and finally in 1585, his son, Iemasa, ruled Awa province. In the Meiji Restoration, one of his descendants, Mochiaki, received the rank of marquis for his contribution to the new government.