Who Is The Daimyo (the Master) (Kahomono)?
A vain, hot-tempered master
Daimyo
The Daimyo (the Master) is the role of the pompous master in kyogen, Japan's traditional comic theater. He is not a great lord like the daimyo of the Edo period, but is thought of as a small provincial landowner. The laughs come from how vain and quick to anger he is while still being a bit of a fool. Depending on the play, the master of Taro Kaja and the other servants may also be called "kahomono" (a fortunate man) or "shu" (master).
In Episode 1, Suehirogari, the master is a "kahomono" in the original play, a wealthy and fortunate man. He is furious when Taro Kaja brings home an umbrella, but gets carried away by the festive song and forgives him. In Episode 2, Busu, the master lies that his sugar is deadly poison to keep it all to himself, and ends up being fooled instead. In Episode 3, Bo-shibari, he ties up his two servants before going out to protect his sake while he is away. In Episode 4, Kazumo, he hires the Mosquito Spirit in an effort to gain more retainers, wrestles it himself and has his blood sucked, and is finally thrown to the ground by Taro Kaja.
Episodes featuring this character5
NEWEpisode 1
Told to Buy a Fan. He Bought an Umbrella.Suehirogari (The Fan)
Taro Kaja is sent to the capital to buy a "suehirogari," without knowing it means a folding fan. A smooth-talking swindler sells him a battered old umbrella for a fortune, and the Daimyo explodes. Thrown out of the house, Taro Kaja makes one last move with the song the swindler taught him.
19 pages
NEWEpisode 2
Even Its Breeze Kills. So We Peeked.Busu (The Poison Jar)
Before heading out, the Daimyo leaves behind a tub of "busu," a poison so deadly that even the breeze off it will kill you. Left to watch the house, Taro Kaja and Jiro Kaja are terrified, but they can't stop wondering what's inside. Once they find out, they turn their master's lie right back on him. It's one of Japan's best-loved kyogen comedies, a favorite in school textbooks.
19 pages
NEWEpisode 3
Can't Reach My CupBut I Can Reach Yours — Bō Shibari (Tied to a Pole)
Every time the Daimyo leaves home, his sake mysteriously goes down. So before heading out, he ties Taro Kaja's arms to a pole and Jiro Kaja's hands behind his back. Neither can lift a cup to his own mouth, but each can reach the other's. This kyogen play about two servants teaming up is 600 years old.
19 pages
NEWEpisode 4
Mid-Bout, He Turned Into a MosquitoKazumo (The Mosquito Wrestler)
A show-off daimyo demands a strong new retainer by the end of the day, so Taro Kaja runs out to the highway and finds a sumo wrestler who claims he's never lost. There's just one problem: he's actually a man-sized Mosquito Spirit.
19 pages
NEWEpisode 5
The Lord Who Cheated Off a Servant's ShinHagi Daimyo
A vain lord who can't write a single line of poetry walks into a poetry challenge armed with his servant's fan ribs and, somehow, a shin. Only you know the answer in Hagi Daimyo, a 600-year-old comedy about cheating.
19 pages