[Goldfish Edo Tales] Night 9: The Flutter of the Butterfly Tail

Welcome everyone.I, Yuugyotei Junmyoraku, will tell amusing tales of goldfish and the people of Edo.

Night 9 features the "Chobi"(Butterfly Tail), whose large tail fin spreading on the water surface looks like a butterfly resting its wings.Enjoy this slightly frivolous story of an Edo playboy who has a weakness for beautiful things.

So then, let it begin, let it begin...

Night 9: "The Flutter of the Butterfly Tail"

Well, from spring to summer in Edo, admiring butterflies dancing in the fields and mountains is fun.But in the water, there is a goldfish that makes you want to tame that butterfly, with an obsession that goes beyond elegance.This is the "Chobi"(Butterfly Tail).Viewed from above, its tail fins spread wide left and right, looking just like a swallowtail butterfly spreading its wings.

Now, here is the young master(Wakadanna) of a row house.He loves flashy things, and after being told by the goldfish seller old man that "This is the best Butterfly Tail in Edo," he bought a beautiful black Chobi.

"Listen, look at this. This tail fin is not just a goldfish fin. It has such momentum that it looks like it might actually jump out of the water and dance in the sky someday."

The young master put his proud Chobi in the best bowl and called out to it every day, "Fly, fly." Then, Gen - san, a cynic, passed by and looked into the bowl.

"Young master, you say strange things again. There's no way a goldfish can fly in the sky."

"Gen-san, you don't understand. Look at this fluttering. This guy is tired of the cramped life in the water and is dreaming of the wide Edo sky."

The young master, getting carried away with his boasting, said to the Chobi. "Hey, Chobi! Move those wings with all your might today and surprise me!"

Then, what happened ? The goldfish shook its tail fin violently and started slapping the water surface. "Oh! Is it going to fly? Is it going to fly?" Just as the young master leaned forward, the goldfish, with too much momentum, splashed water grandly onto the young master's face.

The young master stood there rolling his eyes.Seeing that, Gen - san laughed loudly and said:

"Young master, that's too bad. It wasn't practicing to fly in the sky. Because you were being noisy..."

"It was angry that you 'dampened' (poured water on) its enthusiasm when it was resting its wings!"