Page:Eminent Authors of Contemporary Japan, volume 2.pdf/144

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Eminent Authors of Japan

carried it deftly to his own mouth.


“The other day I visited that sushi-stall you told me about.” said Mr. A. to Mr. B.

“And how did you enjoy the cooking there?”

“Oh, it was very delicious indeed! And by the way, I noticed that the people who were there were picking up the sushi in this manner … with the tunny-side down, and carrying it to their mouths rather rapidly. It seems to be the conventional way of eating it.”

“Well, yes. that seems to be the right way to eat tunny-sushi,” answered his friend.

“Why do you eat it with the fish-side down?”

“Because if the meat should not be very fresh, it would at once give your tongue a warning as soon as you put it into your mouth.”

“Ah! Your authority regarding sushi is very doubtful!” said Mr. A. laughingly.

Mr. A. then began to relate to his friend about the poor shop-boy that he saw there. I could not help being sorry for him,” he said. “I should have been pleased if I could have helped the poor youngster.”

“Surely you could have treated him to some. If you had given him as much as he could have eaten, how delighted he would have been!”

“Yes, the boy would have been pleased, but I should have been in a cold sweat with embarrassment!”

“Why a cold sweat? After all, you had but little courage!”