Gusokuya edition Yosha Bunko

Gusokuya edition Yosha Bunko

Tokyo nichinichi shinbun
No. 592   1874-1-26 (no seal)
Virtuous shamisen player

Story in brief

Kumajiro lived in a rental house in the 5-ban neighborhood of the 4-chome area of Hamamatsucho, in Shibaura, part of what is now Minato-ku in Tokyo. A long eye illness had left him unable to do very much, and so he was supported by his wife, who peddled fish by day, and by night in wind, rain, and snow, strolled the streets playing a samisen. Early during the 1st month of 7th year of Meiji she was awarded some money. (WW)

Commentary

According to the newspaper article, their family name was Yokota and her name was Hide. During the evenings she left Aka, their daughter, in the care of her husband, and took the baby with her. The amount of the award, given by the government of Tokyo in recognition of her principles, was 1 yen 25 sen.