Butakichi and Hyoroko

Butakichi is unusually short and round; Hyoroko is unusually tall and thin. Their village treats them as curiosities and arranges a spectacular wedding. Unable to bear the staring, they flee together, hoping to find a doctor who can make their bodies ordinary.

Beyond the village, the world proves no kinder. A carriage ride becomes a public spectacle, a bridge keeper demands double payment, and a sideshow owner sees a chance to profit from their appearance. Their search brings them to Dr. Reckless, whose marvelous medicines, terrifying tools, and outrageous tricks turn every escape into another adventure.

First published in 1926, this Japanese fantasy combines comic exaggeration with uncomfortable questions about cruelty, belonging, and the wish to change oneself. Its grotesque cures and eventual reunion preserve the strange moral logic of the original tale. This complete translation includes the full dialogue and drinking song, with concise notes explaining speaking names, period language, measures, and textual oddities. AI-assisted translation.