Ochikubo-29
This site gives it a try to read, understand and enjoy a story written in classical Japanese more than a thousand years ago.
Tale of Ochikubo-Hime is a Japanese version of Cinderella which should entertain readers of all ages.
Your joining in this try will be highly welcomed and greatly appreciated.
(Please be informed that this site provides content based on the personal views and opinions of the author of this site.)
Dictionaries and books generally used in this site
『落窪物語』（Tale of Ochikubo）（稲賀敬二）（Inaga Keiji）（新潮社 2017）（Shinchosha）
『全訳読解古語辞典（第五版）』（小型版）（Dictionary for Classical Japanese for Reading and Interpretation, 5th edition, pocket type）（鈴木一雄 小池清治 倉田実 石埜敬子 森野崇 髙山善行）（Suzuki Kazuo Koike Seiji Kurata Minoru Isino Keiko Morino Takaki Takayama Yoshiyuki）（三省堂 2021）（Sanseido Co., Ltd.）
『ルミナス和英辞典（第2版）』（Luminous Japanese-English Dictionary）（小島義郎 竹林滋 中尾啓介 増田秀夫）（Kojima Yoshiro Takebayashi Shigeru Nakao Keisuke Masuda Hideo）（研究社 2006）（Kenkyusha Co., Ltd.）
『ニュースクール英和辞典（第二版）』（Kenkyusha New School English-Japanese Dictionary, 2nd edition）（廣瀬和清 伊部哲）（Hirose Kazukiyo Ibe Satoshi）（研究社 2019）（Kenkyusha Co., Ltd.）
The original text of Tale of Ochikubo can be found in the website below:
（https://www.komazawa-u.ac.jp/~hagi/txt_ochikubomonogatari.txt）
First of all, we see the characters of this episode of Tale of Ochikubo-Hime.
Characters of this episode
Akoki seems to be satisfied with those things ready for the third night when the marriage of her Princess will be completed on Ukon’no Shoushou’s coming. She is fortunate to have the reliable, considerate, understanding, helpful and generous aunt. Her aunt may willingly lend her a hand because of her personality, that is, she does not ask anything unless she really needs it. The aunt may support her will (wish) to support the Princess while she has chosen not to go to the aunt’s.
Ochikubonokimi (Ochikubo-Hime, Princess Ochikubo) seems not to know the details of the formalities for marriage (however the Japanese rice cakes look like the foremost element centering on the critical third night to mark the (ever)lasting love of a new couple). Such innocence and ignorance may come from her self-made barriers (in her inner heart) against the society (as she is prohibited from any connection with the outside world by her stepmother). She will believe in and may trust Akoki with her future.
Akoki’s aunt of Izumi Province is a great help for Akoki in serious need. She may be likened to a magic lamp as she meets almost all the requests of her niece instantly. The men she sent are also did their best, not deterred by the bad weather, to carry out their mission. Their labor should contribute to the respectable ceremony which means the honor of the Princess. It seems that the road to joy and happiness for the heroine is being made with much cooperation of plenty of people, even those who are not directly related to her.
Ukon’no Shoushou seems to say that he will not go to the place of Princess Ochikubo on the third night because of the pouring rain. This remark may indicate the degree or intensity, or sincerity or passion, of his love for the Princess, which means that he is not so serious or eager to get married to the lady whom he has been approached and contacted persisitently, tenaciously and obstinately. After all, he is merely a whimsical and frivolous gypsy moving from one woman to another?
Tachiwaki seems to be caught in a dilemma between his master and his wife; the carefree born prince does not understand the significance of his visit on that night and the able and short-tempered maid has cooperated against her true mind in the request of her husband. Tachiwaki on behalf of the prince has asked Akoki acting for the benefit of the Princess to accept their offering. The ladies should be waiting for them to come. What if the asking men would not go and see the loves?
Ukon’no Shoushou is really not going to see the Princess on the important night for marriage with Princess Ochikubo because of the heavy rain? The men delivering the rice cakes to congratulate on the marriage are pushing through the rain no matter how hard it is. The Akoki’s aunt who has sent those men is obviously more considerate and reliable than the flippant and shallow fellow. It may be the crucial moment both for the Prince and for the Princess too.
Let’s look up the classical Japanese languages below from the text of this episode.
[Classical Japanese Languages Picked Out]
「日やうやう暮るるほどに、少しやみたる雨、降ること限りなし。餅や得ざらむと思ふほどに、男、大傘ささせて、朴の櫃二つおこせたり。（中略）暗うなるままに、雨いとあやにくに、頭さし出づべくもあらず。少将、帯刀に語らひたまふ、「くちをしう、かしこにはえ行くまじかめり。この雨よ」と宣へば、」
（Hi-Youyou-Kururu-hodo-ni, Sukoshi-Yami-taru-Ame, Furu-koto-Kagirinashi. Mochi-ya-E-zaran-to-Omou-hodo-ni, Otoko, Oogasa-Sasa-sete, Hoo-no-Hitsu-Futatsu-Okose-tari. (omitted) Kurou-Naru-mama-ni, Ame-Ito-Ayaniku-ni, Kashira-Sashiizu-beku-mo-Ara-zu. Shoushou, Tachiwaki-ni-Katarai-tamau, “Kuchiosyuu, Kashiko-niwa-e-Iku-majika-meri. Kono-Ame-yo" to-Notamae-ba,）
日
Hi
① sun, sunlight ② day, daytime, noon, midday ③ (unit of time) a day, a whole day, day and night ④ time, period, occasion of ⑤ weather, climate, the look(s) of the sky ⑥ Amaterasu Omikami as the god of sun, his offsprings including emperors and princes
やうやう
YouYou
① gradually, step by step ② slowly ③ narrowly, barely
くる
Kuru
（暮る）① night comes, the sun sets/goes down and it gets/grows dark ② year/season, etc. ends/comes to an end
（暗る）③ get/grow dark (right) in front of one’ eyes, be dazzled/blinded ④ cannot see for tears ⑤ be puzzled/confused/baffled/perplexed/bewildered, be at a loss
やむ
Yamu
① (movement) stop, halt , (sequence/continuation) finish, end, terminate, be cut off ② stop, be called off/cancelled/given up/discontinued/suspended ③ (illness, etc.) recover, get well, be satisfied/content(ed) with ④ die, pass away ⑤ stop/halt/end/finish/terminate something ⑥ (illness, etc.) cure, heal, remedy
降る
Furu
① (rain, snow, etc.) fall ② (figurative) tears come down/fall
限りなし
Kagirinashi
① endless, limitless, infinite ② serious, gross, remarkable, extraordinary, supreme, utmost
得
U
① get, obtain, acquire, procure ② be good at, be strong in, excel, surpass, exceed ③ understand, know, realize, find, sense, attain enlightenment ④ can, be able to ⑤ be capable of, possible
ざらむ
Zaran
① (guess) will not, do not look like/seem to ② (intention) will not, intend not to
男
Otoko
① man ② adult, grown-up, young man ③ husband, lover ④ son, boy ⑤ referring to a man who is not a priest ⑥ manservant
さす（←ささ（せて））
Sasu（← Sasa (sete)）
① (light) come/shine in, shine directely at/on, shine against ② sprout, bud, germinate, shoot, come out, (branch) grow ③ tide is coming in, tide is flowing/rising ④ clouds form/go up/rise ⑤ point to/at ⑥ aim at ⑦ specify, define, limit, restrict, designate, provide, stipulate ⑧ appoint, nominate, name, designate ⑨ hold something over ⑩ set (up), establish ⑪ hold out
朴
Hou
name of a tree, Japanese/whitebark magnolia, growing in mounatins, fragrant pale yellow-white flower blooming in early summer, wood used for ribs of a folding fan and for a printing block among others, bark used for dye and medicine
櫃
Hitsu
a large-size wooden box with a top lid, various shapes, used for various purposes
おこす
Okosu
（遣す）(persons and things) send, deliver, dispatch
まま
Mama
① let it be, let it take its own course, as it is, as it goes, as it stands ② as one thinks/intends to/will/likes/pleases/wishes ③ while one remains some state ④ as time/period passes ⑤ as one passes somewhere/a place ⑥ as state/conditions/degree progress(es)/change(s) ⑦ as soon as, no sooner than, immediately (up)on ⑧ because, for, as (reason, cause)
あやにく
Ayaniku
against one’s will/intnetion ⇒① unfortunately, inconveniently ② nasty, mean, malicious, act/action against one’s will/hope/wish ③ all the more for
頭
Kashira
① head ② hair ③ top end of a thing ④ head of a group/organization, leader, chief, boss, master
差し出づ
Sashiizu
① (light) come/get in, begin/start to shine, (sun/moon) appear/shine ② intrude beyond one’s standing/position, poke one’s nose into ③ appear/stand in public, go outside, appear/turn up/show up ④ hand out, present, hold out
くちをし
Kuchioshi
dissatisfaction/discontent/disapointment when a(n) dream/expectation is not met ⇒① (an expectation is not met) disappointed, discouraged, regrettable, repentent ② dull, boring, uninteresting, worthless, unsatisfactory, unattractive
かしこ
Kashiko
there, that place/one
まじ
Maji
① do not have to, should not, will not, would not, unlikely to ② will not, intend not to ③ must not, should not, ought not to ④ must not, had better not ⑤ unlikely to be able to, must be unable to
The first half above describes the errands from the Akoki’s aunt, who properly hand over the rice cakes without fail against the severe rain. (It is generally common that the rice cakes are not brought and given under the fine weather, much less rain, considering the nature of Akoki’s request; these rice cakes are just brought on a favor of her aunt. Nevertheless the men delivering them demonstrate their remarkable sincerity.) The second half depicts the disappointing, shameful would-be hero, who says that he is not going to see the tragic heroine because of the rain. Is he really serious about saving the Princess and becomeing a real Prince for her? Well, Ochikubo-Hime may not have any expectation of him from the first. But what about Akoki?
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Akoki was very thankful to her aunt of Izumi Province for her great kindness shown in her reply. Relieved that the Princess would rest assured of the third night with Ukon’no Shoushou, the caring maid and friend shared it with the mistress. The innocent bride asked for what purpose Japanese rice cakes were sent for. The knowledgeable assistant smiled and lightly told the inexperienced lady not to mind it. Beautiful portable tables, lovely basins, containers with a ladle for carrying water, a bag of foods such as polished rice and fruits, sweets and confectionery and dried meat of chicken and fish, shellfish and other seafood, put and divided by sheets of paper in it neat and orderly, and other fine articles enough to welcome the husband were delivered to Akoki. To serve the commemorative rice cakes worthy of the elegant bride, the devoted maid made preparation with chestnuts and other seasonal food added, dishing up splendidly.
All the arrangements except for the rice cakes were made when it began raining again, harder and harder. We might not get the rice cakes, Akoki thought, but two men came walking, one holding two chests and the other putting up a big umbrella, as they seemed not to be able to use oxen or horses. Their delivery significantly touched Akoki in tears, who had not expected such trouble taken for them. Opening the lid, she found two kinds of auspicious classic rice cakes and two kinds of mugwort(yomogi)-flavor rice cakes, each of them rounded small easy to eat, a feast of various colors entertaining their eyes. Tender and thoughtful attention of the generous aunt deeply impressed the niece struggling alone. Her thanks were not enough in words all the more for the tight time limit. The letter attached said, “I am afraid that those things made available in haste will fall below your expectation, but if they help you even a little, I would be glad. I wish that I could have done more and better. May you be happy and best of luck!" To the two men who brought the rice cakes through the heavy rain, Akoki wanted to reward with plenty of allowance and presents; however, they had to hurry back and so only received drinks given in a rush. Lastly she entrusted them with a message to her aunt that the kindness given was more than satisfactory and she could not appreciate enough. I am so lucky to have such aunt; deeply grateful for the blessings, the relieved and pleased maid put the rice cakes just delivered in a lid nearby for her mistress.
The night comes and the rain is pouring so hard as to prevent them from going out. Ukon’no Shoushou said to Tachiwaki, anticipating the agreement, “We can’t go tonight, can we? We can do nothing, can’t we?" Oh my goodness, she should be pissed off; caught in uneasiness and anxiety, the faithful servant said to his easy-going master, “I wonder how the Princess would feel if you don’t go tonight. But considering the weather, I also wonder whether we can go there. You should have been there but for that rain. A letter may be useful to beg her understanding." The dull and insensitive hero, as he was told, wrote a letter to the waiting heroine: “Against my will to go there early, the rain grew heavy. My love for you never changes at all. Please do not mistake it. I always and forever stand by you even if a distance separates us." Also Tachiwaki, frightened of Akoki, desperately explained the conditions and begged for mercy: “I’ll go there now. My master also intended to go there. But the rain foiled him. He’s really disappointed."
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