Christmas Onana Nana Daiba/Bond Story

A fish vendor who runs around Edo selling her fish. She might love the West, but she’s a genuine alcohol-loving city-girl from Edo. An excerpt from the play “Christmas Rakugo - Shibahama/Shiba Beach.”

Script Meeting

Yuyuko:

......

Yuyuko:

............

Yuyuko:

...Hmm... I can't think of a good one...

Nana:

Ah, there you are! Hello!

Yuyuko:

Hello, Banana-san.

Nana:

How's the script going?

Yuyuko:

Sorry to say it, but not very well.

Nana:

I see... Is there anything I can help with?

Yuyuko:

Well, I was actually trying to come up with a good title for the performance... Which one do you think works best?

Nana:

Let me see... "Women of Shiba Beach", "Dreaming in Shiba Beach", "Shibahama", "Shabba Dabba", "Kujukuri Beach", "Shibata & Hamada".

Nana:

Yuyuko-chan... These titles...

Yuyuko:

Yeah, I know. Let's just say naming things is not my forte... *sigh*

Nana:

Yuyuko-chan, don't worry. I think there are a few words we can use.

Yuyuko:

Really?

Nana:

Well, "Kujukuri Beach" is in a different place, and "Dreaming in Shiba Beach" is basically spoiling the story, so no...

Nana:

"Women of Shiba Beach" sounds like a soap-opera, so that leaves us with "Shibahama"...

Yuyuko:

...You're just going to gloss over "Shabba Dabba" and "Shibata & Hamada", aren't you?

Nana:

What was that?

Yuyuko:

...Nothing, never mind.

Nana:

I think "Shibahama" is quite to the point, but maybe we could improve it a bit more...?

Yuyuko:

How?

Nana:

How about we add the translation to the title as well, so it feels more original?

Yuyuko:

Hmm... I like that idea... Like a collaboration between two cultures...

Nana:

Well, I only said what came to my head...

Yuyuko:

No, it actually goes really well with the script. The balance between Japanese and Western elements is very good.

Yuyuko:

Let's go with that title.

Nana:

Great!

Yuyuko:

...Oh, there's also another thing I'd like your advice on.

Nana:

What is it?

Yuyuko:

I'm not sure how to call the two sisters... I can't seem to come up with any fitting names...

Nana:

Hmm...

Yuyuko:

If you have any good idea, I'd like to hear it.

Nana:

What if you name them after the couple in the original story?

Yuyuko:

I thought about that too. The husband is called Katsugoro or Kuma, so Okatsu or Okuma would work well.

Yuyuko:

The wife, on the other hand, doesn't usually have a name, but we could use Osaki - the name of the reliable wife from "Fire at the Stable".

Yuyuko:

They both sound like names that would be used in the Edo period, but somehow they don't fit well for a couple of sisters.

Nana:

Hmm... Ah!

Nana:

What if we use our names?

Yuyuko:

Huh?

Nana:

The younger sister could be "0yuyu-chan", and the older one "Onana-chan"!

Yuyuko:

Oyuyu and Onana... I guess you'd write them like this in kanji...

Nana:

Yes, that would also make a lot of sense.

Yuyuko:

Onana from "falling dawn seven times, and getting up eight times", and Oyuyu from "closely bonded"!

:

Bana-nice!

Yuyuko:

Thank you, Banana-san. I can go back to working on the script now.

Nana:

I'm glad I could help you.

Yuyuko:

Now I just have to implement a Christmas element to the story...

Nana:

Ah, I almost forgot. I have something for you!

Nana:

Ta-da! A Santa Claus costume!

Yuyuko:

......

Nana:

I thought you could use it.

Yuyuko:

How am I supposed to use this...?

Nana:

Huh? Something wrong?

Yuyuko:

Ah, no. Thank you for the outfit.

Nana:

(I bet she would look really cute in it...)

Nana:

(Okay! Time to roll up my sleeves and get back to the production!)

Becoming Onana

Nana:

Onana-chan is a brash city-girl who is sloppy, and loves to drink and get into fights...

Nana:

Considering she celebrated Christmas in a period when Christianity was banned, she was also a very bold person.

Nana:

She would probably talk like Momo Amami from Synchro Girls, but her personality is completely different. I need to work on her role from a different angle...

Nana:

I know it's important to research about the customs and lifestyle of the people of the Edo period, but I'm not sure it's the best way to get into her character more...

Nana:

Hmm...

Junna:

Student Number 25 of the Seisho Music Academy Actor Training Department's 99th class, Junna Hoshimi. Ready to begin!

Mahiru:

Student Number 17 of the Seisho Music Academy Actor Training Department's 99th class, Mahiru Tsuyuzaki. Ready to begin!

Nana:

Ah... Junna-chan, Mahiru-chan! Good morning!

Mahiru:

Morning, Banana-chan.

Junna:

Moming! Were you practicing by yourself?

Nana:

Yes. I want to get more into my role for the next time I have rehearsals with Yuyuko-chan.

Mahiru:

If there's anything we can do to help, let us know, okay?

Nana:

Thanks, that would be great!

Junna:

...

Mahiru:

...

Nana:

...Erm...

Mahiru:

If there's anything we can do to help, let us know...

Nana:

...?

Nana:

Ooh! Did you come here to give me a hand?

Junna:

We did. We've finished drawing the map for the stage, so most of our tasks are done. We can help you rehearsing the lines.

Mahiru:

We've brought the mixing console too, so if you need the sound effects it's ready.

Nana:

You two are so kind! If I have to be honest, I'm not sure how to get more in the role of Onana-chan...

Junna:

I see... It's hard to act in a historical play, not to mention the fact that the main character is a working-class girl from Edo.

Nana:

Exactly. The way people spoke and moved back then completely different. No matter how many rakugo videos or period dramas watch, my body just won't get used to it.

Mahiru:

And the lines are also pretty hard.

Nana:

Yes, that too.

Mahiru:

Oh, I know. How about you change the way you go about your daily life?

Nana:

Huh?

Mahiru:

You could speak using Edo period expressions, and change the way you refer to yourself or pronounce words.

Junna:

I suppose method acting is a good way to get into character. Why don't we try it?

Nana:

Okay, so... I'll change the way I talk...

Nana:

I'm Onana, and I live in a tenement house... Erm...

Junna:

It still feels a bit stiff. Try to become Onana more.

Junna (Ojun):

...Oi, sis! Wake up, sis! Something happened!

Nana:

Huh? Erm...

Mahiru:

Go, Banana-chan!

Nana (Onana):

...Who on earth is shouting in my ears this early in the morning!?

Junna (Ojun):

Sis, have you forgotten me? It's me - your older sister Ojun!

Nana (Onana):

Ooh, Ojun! Why are you being so loud?

Junna (Ojun):

Sis, do you know where we are?

Nana:

Erm... where...

Junna:

Don't worry about it. Just go with the flow.

Nana (Onana):

Ah! What is this weird room covered in mirrors!?

Junna (Ojun):

I don't know either. I woke up here as well...

Nana (Onana):

I have no idea. I remember getting drunk and falling asleep in the living room...

Junna (Ojun):

Sis, look at that! That iron box!

Nana (Onana):

Ooh, it's moving!

Mahiru:

(Are they talking about that car...?)

Junna (Ojun):

I'll be damned! It looks like we were brought here without our knowledge.

Nana (Onana):

Look at these weird clothes we're wearing...

Junna (Ojun):

This is not the period we are from...

Mahiru:

(Oh, I see. They're time-travelers.)

Nana (Onana):

How are we supposed to get back to our own time?

Junna (Ojun):

Don't worry. I'll protect you with my life!

Nana (Onana):

Ojun, you...

Junna (Ojun):

Let's get out of this room first. We might find clues on how to go back to Edo.

Nana (Onana):

Wait!

Junna (Ojun):

Huh...?

Nana (Onana):

Show yourself, already!

Junna (Ojun):

...

Nana (Onana):

You're not Ojun, are you?

Junna (Ojun):

What are you saying, sis? Don't you remember me?

Nana (Onana):

You may look like her, but you're not Ojun.

Nana (Onana):

Ojun would never try to protect me.

Junna (Ojun):

...

Nana (Onana):

We're both girls from Edo. No matter the situation, we protect ourselves!

Nana (Onana):

Now show yourself, impostor!

Junna (Ojun):

I see... You saw right through me... *rip rip rip*

Nana (Onana):

Ahh! Your face just transformed!?

Junna (Ishikawa Goemon):

Rivers may dry up, and mountains may erode, but thieves will never stop existing!

Junna (Ishikawa Goemon):

I'm the legendary thief - Ishikawa Goemon!

Mahiru:

...! Whaaat!

Nana (Onana):

Heh heh. You've finally shown yourself, Goemon. I was waiting for this moment... *rip rip rip*

Mahiru:

(Banana-chan as well!)

Junna (Ishikawa Goemon):

Y-You...!?

Nana (Zenigata Heiji):

The beautiful Edo may be vast and wondrous, but no one can escape me!

Nana (Zenigata Heiji):

People call me Zenigata Heiji!

Mahiru:

(Huh? Where is this going...?)

Junna (Ishikawa Goemon):

Well, well... If it isn't the old Zenigata. Still, a thief and a detective... I couldn't think of a worse scenario.

Nana (Zenigata Heiji):

Time to give yourself up, Goemon!

Junna (Ishikawa Goemon):

Hah! As if I'd get caught by someone like you!

Mahiru:

(Wh-What's going on...?)

Junna (Ishikawa Goemon):

Catch me if you can!

Nana (Zenigata Heiji):

Wait, Goemon--!

Mahiru:

Erm...

Mahiru:

(They look like they're having so much fun, but...)

Mahiru:

(...I'm not sure how this is helping Banana-chan get into her role...)

Nana:

I've never performed rakugo before, but I can't let this opportunity go to waste. I'll do my best!

Nana:

Onana-chan - the main character of "Shibahama" - is an alcohol-loving, sloppy city girl from Edo...

Nana:

She's nothing like me, but she's so human that it's fun to perform as her.

Nana:

I'm sure I'll learn new expressions by performing Onana-chan! I hope you'll enjoy my performance!