Chapter I: Front Matter

KIBUN DAIZIN

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“As the two boys were steadily gazing, up came the shark”
]

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KIBUN DAIZIN

OR

_FROM SHARK-BOY TO
MERCHANT PRINCE_

BY

GENSAI MURAI

TRANSLATED BY MASAO YOSHIDA

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
BY GEORGE VARIAN

NEW YORK
The Century Co.
1904

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Copyright, 1904, by
THE CENTURY CO.
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Published October, 1904.

THE DEVINNE PRESS.

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PUBLISHERS’ NOTE

THE CENTURY CO. counts itself fortunate in being able to present to young readers an admirable story from the Japanese, written by one of Japan’s most popular novelists and filled with the spirit of that great Oriental nation. The author of this story, Gensai Murai, was once a student of the Waseda School, founded by Count Okuma, leader of the Progressive Party in Japan. There he studied English Literature as well as Japanese, and after completing his course of study he was employed by one of the well-known Tokio daily papers, called the “Hochi,” to write stories for it. His writings soon arrested the attention of the reading circles in Japan. Several of his novels went through as many as ten editions within two years.

This story of Kibun Daizin is founded upon the life of Bunzayemon Kinokuniya, a Japanese merchant of the eighteenth century, whose pluck, wisdom, and enterprising spirit made him one of the most prosperous and respected men of his time. He is much admired by his countrymen, and is talked of familiarly, even to this day, by the Japanese, under the nickname of “Kibun Daizin.” “Ki” and “Bun” stand for the initials of his personal and family names, while “Daizin” means “the wealthiest man.”

The shrewdness and dauntless ambition of the young hero of this story will commend him to the admiration of American boys, and in Kibun Daizin, as here pictured, they will find a true representative of the wonderful nation which, within thirty years, has entirely changed the modes of life that it had followed for more than twenty centuries, and has suddenly fallen into line with the most civilized countries of the world.

The story was translated especially for ST. NICHOLAS, and many quaint terms and expressions have been purposely retained, although the pronunciation and meaning of the Japanese words are given wherever necessary.

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I AN AMBITIOUS BOY 3

II BUNKICHI PLANS TO KILL THE SHARK 23

III A BOAT CAPSIZED—A HAIRBREADTH ESCAPE 37

IV THE TABLES TURNED 54

V THE BATTLE OF STONE MISSILES—THE MONKEYS’ 75
PANIC

VI THE GREAT HAZARD—A PERILOUS VOYAGE 91

VII THE SEA-GIANT APPEARS 103

VIII AN ECCENTRIC FELLOW 118

IX THE GREAT CONFLAGRATION—THE CHARITY “BENTO” 135

X AMBITION SATISFIED—THE MERCHANT PRINCE 151

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

As the two boys were steadily gazing, up came the Frontispiece
shark

“If you please, sir, are you the head of the 5
Daikokuya?”

“Why, it’s just like a real dragon-fly!” she 17
cried, with delight

The lad was in the air, suspended by the rope 49

Putting a rope round the body of the shark 57

As though they were stricken by thunder at the 69
boy’s words, down they tumbled on the ground

Giving him a helping hand, Bunkichi led the man 77
along to the next village

Hundreds of monkeys had drawn a circle around 83
three men, whom they were pelting with a shower
of stones

He drew his sword and ran toward the monster 111

Bunzayemon then put on a lordly air 129

Matahachi in the great fire at Yedo 143

“I have no words in which to express my thanks to 159
you”

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KIBUN DAIZIN

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KIBUN DAIZIN

OR

FROM SHARK-BOY TO MERCHANT PRINCE