Chương Chương 13 · Jiu-Roku-Zakura

(1) Present-day Ehime Prefecture.

THE DREAM OF AKINOSUKÉ

(1) Present-day Nara Prefecture.

[1] This name “Tokoyo” is indefinite. According to circumstances it

may signify any unknown country,—or that undiscovered country from

whose bourn no traveler returns,—or that Fairyland of far-eastern

fable, the Realm of Hōrai. The term “Kokuō” means the ruler of a

country,—therefore a king. The original phrase, _Tokoyo no Kokuō_,

might be rendered here as “the Ruler of Hōrai,” or “the King of

Fairyland.”

[2] The last phrase, according to old custom, had to be uttered by

both attendants at the same time. All these ceremonial observances can

still be studied on the Japanese stage.

[3] This was the name given to the estrade, or dais, upon which a

feudal prince or ruler sat in state. The term literally signifies

“great seat.”

RIKI-BAKA

(1) Kana: the Japanese phonetic alphabet.

(2) “So-and-so”: appellation used by Hearn in place of the real name.

(3) A section of Tōkyō.

[1] A square piece of cotton-goods, or other woven material, used as a

wrapper in which to carry small packages.

(4) Ten yen is nothing now, but was a formidable sum then.

INSECT STUDIES