The Eccentric Family (有頂天家族)

1,200 years since Emperor Kammu settled on a location for the palace...

These days 1.5 million humans live in the city of Kyoto.

But wait, one moment.

"Humans, they're naught but an accompaniment to our history.

We were the ones who built history, and this city,"

say some big-talking tanuki.

But wait, one moment.

"The skies above the palace have been our territory since ancient times.

Fear and respect us who dwell in the heavens,"

someone arrogantly opined.

A tengu.

Humans live in the city, tanuki crawl the earth,

tengu fly through the air.

Since the Heian era relocation, humans, tanuki, and tengu have maintained a delicate balance.

That's what keeps the great wheel of this city turning round and round.

More fun than anything is watching that wheel spin.

I'm what you'd call a tanuki, but too proud to be a mere tanuki,

I admire tengu from afar and love imitating humans.

For that reason, my daily life is so dizzyingly busy

there's no time to be bored.

Episode One: Goddess of the Noryoyuka

25th Shimogamo Summer Used Book Fair, August 11th (Sun.) - 16 (Fri.)

Big brother!

Going around looking like that again!

If you keep changing forms all the time, Yaichiro'll scold you again.

Tanuki societal norms can eat dirt for all I care.

But hey, did you need something?

You're going to Prof. Akadama's place, right?

Mom said to use this.

Demachi shopping arcade Masugata

She said she found it on the ground in the ticket office at the station.

Don't tell me this is actually a leaf...

See you later.

Demachi shopping arcade Masugata

What's with you?! I'll scream!

Pervert!

Quit messing around!

What are you suppose to be? Even just looking at you is embarrassing.

So don't look then.

Don't quibble!

If you think of it as a favor to our master, Prof. Akadama--

Shut up!

We're already branded as it is,

as the regrettable children who failed to inherit the blood of Shimogamo Soichiro.

Just be good until after the Nise-emon election, got it?

Your daughter?

My younger brother.

You airhead!

You really think such a cheap trick would make me happy?

Professor, it's precisely for your sake that, as you rot away here day after day,

as a breath of fresh air for your stale life--

I have no interest in seeing your alluring figure!

Are you unable to comprehend the degree of artistry achieved in this transformation?

Behold! The swell of this perfect chest,

the slenderness of these hips, all the rest of this pert--

Cut it out, don't be weird.

You mean you can't forgive yourself for getting turned on?

In that case you're barking up the wrong tree getting mad at me.

I won't be made a fool by the likes of you.

Of all the impuden--

I bought you a bento.

Please eat it.

Have you seen Benten lately?

No, haven't seen her in a while.

She hasn't come around here in a long time.

I wonder how she's doing, wherever she is.

There's no way she'd want to come back to a place like this.

Is that so?

For me, it's still impossible.

What's all this then?

Here before you is one

Yasaburo, third son of Shimogawa Soichiro.

I come bearing a gift for Nyoigatake Yakushibo.

My thanks.

You shouldn't have gone to such trouble.

What are you wearing?

Is it weird?

So you're not human either, huh.

Hm, we'll have to see about that. And you?

I'm just a Suzuki Satomi.

Leave him be, don't tease.

He's sly, that one - a nasty fellow.

He seems interesting!

Him, interesting?

He's a clever one - capable, but knows nothing of self improvement.

He'll never amount to anything.

He seems to be quite fond of you.

Don't be absurd.

Would you like to see the flowers?

I've never seen such a splendid cherry tree.

Hey,

why don't you try doing what I taught you.

But I can't yet.

Give it a try.

I did it!

To be a tengu is

to fly through the sky at will.

Awful, awful! I can't believe I just ate that.

Let's get this place's bento again next time.

You ate half of it so it must not have been that bad.

Is that any way to treat your master?

"I'll just get this over with cheaply," psh.

Today is Friday.

I dare say Benten is out with The Friday Fellows.

She must be having a good time.

What's so fun about hanging around those humans?

Benten's human, too. Had you forgotten?

She's always out partying at night...

If I don't keep an eye on her she immediately strays down the path of evil.

Oh well.

Don't you think "strays down the path of evil" is a strange way to put...

Shush!

This place airs out better than you'd think.

Pretty much the only ones who come around here are you and the bugs.

How dreary.

I'd like to be given a bit of thanks.

Who asked you to come?

You were such a troublesome student.

I was finally rid of the chore of seeing that mug of yours

and now I'm supposed to be happy when you nonchalantly drop by?

I'm fresh out of lectures!

Wouldn't you say that the worse the student, the more you love them, Prof?

Who said that?! Idiot...

Since you've got nothing better to do,

go find Benten and bring her here.

No way. Even if I try to persuade her she won't come.

Besides, I loath both Benten and The Friday Fellows.

Also, while you're out please pick up some Q-tips.

When my ears are itchy I'm liable to unleash a whirlwind.

There is a new package of Q-tips on the washstand.

Haven't I been saying I'm not going to go?

Wait one moment, I think I'll write a letter.