Tokaidochu hizakurige (Hoofing It along the Tokaido Route)
An Edo-period best-seller of Ikku Jippensha’s that follows Yaji and Kita on their travels filled with curious mishaps; it ushered in the golden era of books of humorous stories
Tokaidochu hizakurige (Hoofing It along the Tokaido Route), also known as Dochu hizakurige (Hoofing It along the Way) and translated as Shank’s Mare, was a series of humorous stories penned by Ikku Jippensha and published from 1802 to 1809. It consisted of 8 books in 17 volumes. The work wittily follows the missteps and humorous episodes of Yajirobei and Kitahachi (Yaji and Kita), residents of Hatchobori, Edo, as they travel along the Tokaido route, worshipping at the Ise Shrine before making their way to Kyoto and Osaka. Possessing aspects of a travel guide as well, the work met with fervent acclaim and ushered in the golden era of books of humorous stories. Later on, Hottan (Prologue) (1 vol., 1814) and Zoku hizakurige (Hoofing It, a Sequel) (12 books, 25 vols., 1810–1822) appeared. Zoku hizakurige follows the pair’s pilgrimages to Konpira and Miya Island, as well as their travels along the Kisokaido route, to Zenko Temple, and to Kusatsu Spa in Joshu, before concluding with their return home to Edo. With Robun Kanagaki’s Bankoku kokai seiyo dochu hizakurige (Incidents along the Way on a Sea Journey to Western Lands) in 1868 and so on, the hizakurige format of incidents occurring in the course of travels continued on even with the coming of the modern era, and even today works are seen that employ the term hizakurige. Even today, a carefree, amusing trip might be likened to “Yaji and Kita’s curious travels,” and an funny couple might be called “Yaji and Kita.”
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