Meiji Tokyo Renka (明治東亰恋伽)

Meiji Tokyo Renka

A woman's face changes from day to night.

Make-up is applied lightly, with elegance during the day so it does not crack.

And at night?

It is done stylishly and alluringly.

Try not to make such an unattractive noises.

Especially from such cherry-red lips.

Behold. You are truly a vision this evening.

This is me?

You refer to guests as "sir."

Other geisha are "onee-san."

You keep smiling even at unfavorable guests and say...

My, what a terrible jokester you are!

Hey, why do I have to do this?

You look adorable, Kyoka-san!

Well now, you've made quite an incredible transformation.

I'll have to make sure not to be outdone.

Stop messing around!

I can't do this! There's no way!

I can't be some working geisha girl!

Then pay me for the tatami mats.

Well, it's only for tonight, so let's both do our best to get through it together.

She's right. And besides, all the guests that will be there tonight are rich,

so if everything goes well, we might get paid extra on top of our usual fee.

Do you ever think about anything besides money?

They do say that money opens all doors.

In this day and age, being without money is like being without your head.

You said the guests would be rich...

What kind of people will be attending the festivities this evening?

This event is called a popular party,

which is a banquet for all the important people who support Japan.

What? They're really that important?

Oh, no, now I'm getting nervous.

Don't look so glum, silly.

You are my number one student,

so just hold your head high and stand tall.

But what if I mess something up?

You don't need to worry. I will be watching over you closely the entire time.

That's reassuring.

You're not only beautiful, but you have such a big heart, Otoyakko-san!

Isn't she just the most amazing woman, Kyoka-san?

Some woman, indeed.

Now then, it is time we were on our way.

Yes, ma'am!

Electricity of Dreams and Passion

Hey! We're out of sake!

All right, be right with you!

Now then, get to work, you two.

Yes, ma'am.

Unbelievable!

I know that voice...

I wondered who this beautiful geisha girl might be, and it's you, Mei-san.

I thought it was you, Yakumo-san!

What are you doing here?

I should be the one asking you that!

Why are you here? Are you working as a waitress?

S-Sure, something like that.

I see, I see!

Either way, you look so beautiful!

I truly envy Mori-san!

What was that about Ougai-san?

You're here too, Syunso-san?!

If Syunso-san is here, that means...

You don't need to wonder. Ougai-san is on his way here now.

Why are you here, and why are you dressed up like that, anyway?

Well, about that... Things are kind of complicated...

Hum, hum.

Am I, Lafcadio, the only one hum-humming?

So this is a job you're keeping secret from Mori-san.

Okay. I will help you when the time comes.

T-Thank you so much!

Hey! Hurry up and bring more warm sake!

Yes, sir!

I'm so sorry. I'll be going now.

Hum, hum?

It's so crowded in there, and since I look so different, I'll be able

to get away without running into Ougai-san if I'm lucky.

Please pardon me.

I spoke too soon!

Well now, I thought I heard you out here, Mori-sensei.

Why, if it isn't Otoyakko, the most famous geisha in Kagurazaka.

How can you be so formal? It's not like we're strangers.

You haven't changed a bit.

Don't you mean to say I'm as beautiful as ever?

They know each other?

Is your apprentice there a new addition?

How astute you are. She is merely in training.

She has struggled her way here fresh from the countryside.

Oh?

She is a rather lovely girl.

She has been coming to me to learn proper etiquette,

so she won't disgrace the man she cares about.

Isn't it the sweetest thing?

Proper etiquette?

You there, don't just stand there all day. Go back inside.

Your guests are waiting.

Y-Yes, Onee-san. Please excuse me, sir!

She truly is a wonderful young woman.

Isn't she?

So, are you eventually planning to keep her close as an apprentice geisha?

Huh?

You had her come to this party so that you could assess her suitability, correct?

You are a cunning man.

Frankly, I hadn't thought that far ahead, but I wouldn't mind if it happened.

I see.

I can't let a special girl like that go to waste on a fine man like yourself.

With proper refining, she could be a shining jewel.

Do you mean to steal her from me?

That might be entertaining as well.

Who is the cunning one now?

Hey, I'm out of sake!

Me, too!

Yes, sir!

No matter how many bottles I bring them, it's never enough.

How much can these men drink?

Woman! Come, sit on my lap and serve me!

Umm, umm, umm...

My, what a terrible jokester you are!

Come on, come on, come on, come on!

H-Huh?

Why do you keep running away?

Come on, come over here!

No, don't touch me!

Sir!

What do you want?

You mustn't sexually harass people.

S-Sexual harassment?

Allow me to explain!

Sexual harassment is a term which refers to

extremely ungentlemanly, disgraceful behavior.

Proper ladies and gentlemen should not partake of such behavior.

Okay, got it.

Thank you so much, Yakumo-san.

The geisha here today are especially excellent.

How would you two like to do things with me tonight?

T-Tonight? Now, wait just a minute...

You there! Please tell me what's in this dish.

Syunso-san?

Y-Yes, right away.

Pardon me, sir.

This dish?

I don't actually care about the dish.

Anyway, you shouldn't get too close to the drunk ones.

Thank you for getting me out of there.

Left to your own devices,

you'd make a careless mistake with someone important.

Eh, that man is someone important?

They all are.

Huh. They all just seem like drunk old men to me.

Kyoka-san's been caught again!

Do you really need to take care of him so much?

Izumi is a man, so he'll be fine.

But Kyoka-san is a germophobe.

It has nothing to do with being a man or a woman.

Why do you try so hard for everyone?

Touching is not allowed, sir!

Shut up! Butts exist to be touched!

That's absurd!

But, you see, umm... she... yes! She is betrothed!

Being betrothed is the same as having a fiancée,

which is also the same as an intended.

Okay, okay?

Intended Fiancée Betrothed

They all mean the same thing!

Betrothed? Just break it off or something!

What an awful thing to say!

I am of an age where I am sensitive to words like "fiancée"!

Don't think you're going to get away with speaking to me like that!

I can't do this anymore...

Insisting that I break things off would only be appropiate if I were a geisha.

And I'm not even a woman, let alone a geisha,

so you might as well just tell me to die!

I've had enough!

P-Perhaps I've had too much to drink.

Now then, one and all,

Shokyokusai Ten'ichi would like a moment of your time.

Huh?

Where have I seen him before?

I would like to sincerely thank you for listening to my wishes

and holding a special popular party today.

Who is that?

That is Iwasaki Tosuke,

a famous investor and the foremost figure in electrical generator research.

Electrical generator? That means electricity, right?

I had no idea there was someone like that in this time.

Before I make my argument,

please enjoy a performance by the greatest magician of the age.

Wait, is that Charlie-san?

Impressive.

You startled us.

What do you mean?

When it comes to negotiating, giving the other party something first

makes them feel that they, too, have to give something back.

That man, Tosuke,

will likely get down to business after everyone has enjoyed themselves to the fullest.

In other words, he's a pretty shrewd person.

Now, for all those present,

in a great magical transcendence of time and space,

I will bring forth here a profoundly mysterious creature

from the far southern reaches of Egypt!