[1] Kwaidan means "Wonder Tale." The word is of general meaning, requiring limitation for the specific case.
[2] The go-kenin, for the most part; although some hatamoto, whose incomes ran as low as 300 koku could be classed with them. In English—cf. T.H. Gubbins—Trans. Asiatic Soc. of Japan, xv.
[3] The hard palatable pickled yellow daikon (radish). Nukamisozuké is a way station in its production by pickling in salt and bran. Nukamisozuké is better described than smelt.
[4] Sanzu no Kawa—the river crossed by the dead; the Buddhist "Styx." Shide no Yama—the mountain to be crossed on the way to Hell, or to the judgment hall of its great king—Emma Dai-ō (Yama). All deserve, and get, some punishment in this nether world.
[5] Near Meguro: scores of quaint figures, seated in tiers and meditation.
[6] A famous Chinese book on military tactics. Prince Yoshitsuné, hero of the Gempei wars, served arduously for a glimpse of it. Cf.: Life of Benkei, vol. i, pp. 311 reg. Densuké refers to the three (san) stages of rice cooking.
[7] Geishū-Aki province. For six months the daimyō left Edo to govern their fief in person. Their wives and families remained in Edo. The penalties at the barriers (Hakoné, for instance) were severe if the wife tried to get away (escape) from Edo.
[8] The Japanese personal pronoun is used—in the first person only to obviate ambiguity in the sentence. Women use it more frequently than men. In the second person it is used to express emphasis, great familiarity, impertinence, or rebuke. The last two uses are frequent. Ordinarily the honorifics and the construction of the sentence take the place of these pronouns. Such at least seems to be the usage of the kōdan writers, and in the present book the example has been followed, as far as possible. In a few instances the use of a pronoun will relieve the strain of a lengthy sentence or involved circumlocution in the western tongue. At times the closer style can be abandoned—as in the direct narration of the Tale of the Baryufu Kwannon. So also with the translations of the gidayu and the kōdan attached. These are for recitation. In the original the pronoun is rarely written in. But the literal translation of the honorifics would appear stilted. To westerners these are appellations; to the native they are indications.
[9] The old Shimbashi station and its yards cover this site. "Tide limit"—a suggestive name.
[10] A sakuji bugyō was the official who had charge of the maintenance and construction of public works within the daimyō's fief.