Jugemu


Jugemu, written in hiragana as じゅげむ, is a Japanese folktale and is one of the most famous stories in rakugo, a form of Japanese spoken entertainment. It has a simple storyline, with the most humorous part being the repetition of a ridiculously long name. It is often used in training sessions for Rakugo entertainers.

Plot

A couple could not think of a suitable name for their newborn baby boy, so the father went to the temple and asked the chief priest to think of an auspicious name. The priest suggested several names, beginning with Jugemu. The father could not decide which name he preferred and, therefore, gave the baby all of the names.
Jugemu's full name is:
In one version of the tale, Jugemu got into a fight with a friend one day, and the friend suffered a large bump on his head, so in protest he went crying to Jugemu's parents. However, due to the amount of time it took to recite his name, by the time he finished, the bump on his head had already healed.
Another version states that Jugemu fell into a well and drowned; everyone who had to pass along the news had to spend a lot of time reciting his entire name.
In yet another variant, Jugemu fell into a lake, and his parents barely arrived in time to save him.

Interpretation

; Jugemu
; Go kō no surikire
; Kaijari suigyo
; Suigyōmatsu
; Unraimatsu
; Fūraimatsu
; Kuunerutokoro
; Sumutokoro
; Yaburakōji-no burakōji
; Paipo, Shūringan, Gūrindai, Ponpokopī, Ponpokonā
; Chōkyūmei
; Chōsuke

Cultural references

The recitation from memory of these names is a feature of the NHK children's TV program Nihongo de Asobo.
Lakitu, the cloud-riding turtle-dropping enemy character of the Super Mario Bros. video game series is called Jugemu in Japanese versions of the game. In a similar reference, the eggs Lakitu drop, which turn into Spinies, are referred to as Paipo in Japan, despite only being referred to as "Spiny's Eggs" or "Spiny Eggs" in English. The spiked balls thrown by Spikes and blown in the air by Ptooies are called shūringan in another reference. Additionally a Lakitu by the name of Lakilester is named Pokopī in the Japanese version of Paper Mario.
Jugemu's full name is being quoted in the song "Jousha Hissui No Kotowari, Okotowari " by Japanese rock band KANA-BOON.
Jugemu is a colossal underground monster appearing to be only a tiny twig with a single leaf on the surface in the video game '.
"Jugemu-jugemu gokōnosurikire sammy-davis broilerchicken" is the chant Sasami uses to turn into Pretty Sammy in the Japanese anime Magical Girl Pretty Sammy.
In a short included as a DVD extra for the ' anime series, the character known only by the mononym "Scar" reveals he shares his name with Jugemu; the character King Bradley then reveals that it happens to be his real name as well. They continue saying it while preparing for battle, until Scar, in reciting the name, accidentally bites his tongue.
Gintama has a monkey whose full name also starts with "Jugemu Jugemu" as an anime-only character, and was known for his vulgar habits. Trying to find a middle ground, the main characters have adopted a very long name which included insults regarding feces, certain species of fish and squid, as well as references to Final Fantasy IV and the Japanese rock duo B'z.
Jugemu's full name is recited in the lyrics of "Nippon Egao Hyakkei", the ending theme to Joshiraku, which is an anime about a troupe of female rakugo performers.
Lucy from Servant x Service also shares the similar fate as Jugemu and when she first reveals her name her co-workers remark that she is a "modern day Jugemu Jugemu".
In Capcom's , case 4, "Turnabout Storyteller", contains multiple references to different Rakugo, including Jugemu. At the beginning of the trial, the prosecutor Nahyuta Sahdmadhi is questioned about his knowledge on Rakugo, and in response offers to read Jugemu, and begins the story, before being cut off by Athena Cykes in order to return focus to the trial at hand. A character appearing in the case, Geiru Toneido, also has a dog called Jugemu, named after the story. Later in the game, it is revealed that one of the game's antagonists, Inga Karkhuul Khura'in, in reality has a Jugemu-esque name: Inga Karkhuul Haw'kohd Dis'nahm Bi'ahni Lawga Ormo Pohmpus Da'nit Ar'edi Iz Khura'in III; his middle names are pronounced as "How could this name be any longer or more pompous than it already is?"
It is featured prominently in an episode of Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū. Two of the main characters perform it for a kindergarten their son attends.
In, Miku Flick/02, and, A Vocaloid producer named "Vocaliod-P" made a song named "Jugemu Sequencer " which was inspired by Jugemu. This song has reached the Hall of Fame.
In episode 21 of Kamen Rider Fourze, the rakugo club can be heard practicing Jugemu when JK and Ryusei come to speak to one of the members.

Similar stories and performances