[Goldfish Swimming in Words] Vol.2: Edo Humor and 'Goldfish Ghost'

Goldfish also frequently appear in the "laughter" of Edo people.There was a lovable, human - like figure of a goldfish, not just swimming beautifully in a bowl.

"Goldfish's Tenacity" Depicted in Rakugo

There is a story like this in old Edo Rakugo.A man accidentally lets his beloved goldfish die and releases it into the river.However, the goldfish appears at the man's bedside as a "ghost".

When the man fearfully asked, "Why did you appear as a ghost?", the goldfish ghost answered: "I came back as a ghost because I was frustrated that when I was washed away in the river, a large carp passing by pushed me and said 'Hey, rookie'."

The ghost, which should be scary, is actually obsessed with a small stubbornness between fish.This somewhat "tiny and human-like" exchange invited the laughter of the Edo people.For them, goldfish were life - sized neighbors who seemed to have even such trivial emotions.

Affection for Life Dwelling in Laughter

Like this story, goldfish in Edo laughter are never scary beings.They are depicted as beings that are somewhat goofy and make you laugh.

While being a symbol of prestigious "beauty", it is also friendly enough to be the subject of jokes.The people of Edo must have felt as much "funniness" as respect for the small life in the bowl.Such deep affection for living things flows in Edo humor.

"World of Edo Rakugo": Transition of stories personifying animals and fish in classical Rakugo and the view of life and death of common people.

"Morisada Manko" Kitagawa Morisada(19th century): Along with the customs of the Edo period, description of goldfish appearing in humorous publications and amusements of common people at that time.

"Utagawa Kuniyoshi: Goldfish Enumeration"(Catalog Material): A series personifying goldfish.Visual material conveying "human-likeness of goldfish" common to the worldview of Rakugo.