Musui's Story

In “I Ran Away,” Katsu describes his misadventures when he left his adoptive home at age 14 for approximately four months. He seeks to get from Edo (Tokyo) to Kyoto and stay there. This chapter includes a map of the relevant places mentioned by the author, which helps situate the narrative (22). To start, Katsu only has seven or eight stolen gold ryō coins, a kimono, and two swords. Within days of leaving his home, he loses his money and belongings to his haphazard travel mates, who are thieves. They introduce themselves as tradespeople and rob him at an inn in Hamamatsu.

An innkeeper suggests that Katsu beg for money at the Hamamatsu Castle to sustain himself, and Katsu is indeed able to get some rice and copper coins. Henceforth, he relies on begging throughout his time away from home. Murata, a fellow beggar, advises him to visit the Ise Shrine and find Ryūdayū, a priest. Katsu makes the priest believe that he traveled all the way from Edo on a pilgrimage when he was robbed. As a result, an impressed Ryūdayū feeds Katsu, lets him bathe, and even gives him a thousand copper coins.