Pit Workers in the Old Days #6 (Bringer of Bad Luck; Hated Performing Monkeys)
1958 - 1963

Mukashi no Yamabito #6 (Engi; Kirawareru Sarumawashi)
[Pit Workers in the Old Days #6 (Bringer of Bad Luck; Hated Performing Monkeys)]
21.3 x 30.2 cm Ink Painting

Text on the Right
Why did the pit workers in the past hate monkeys (saru)? It was because all of them were habitual gamblers and everyone who was found gambling by the police at that time was arrested and led away, having a rope tied around their waist (like the performing monkey used by the monkey trainer in this painting). They hated monkeys because the word "saru" also means "to leave or lose" in Japanese.
Ironically, the monkey trainer often visited the pit to entertain children though the pit workers hated monkeys so much. Additionally, even children could not call the monkey a "saru." They were always scolded by adults if they did not call it a "yaen (wild monkey)."

Song Lyrics at the Top Left
Shikkari shiyanto! Shikkari shiyanto!
Iso no hamabe no kani no yokobai.
Arya! Dokkoi! Dokkoi!

Steady! Steady!
Walk like a crab on the beach.
Arya! Dokkoi! Dokkoi! (Interjected chants)


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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