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14 of fourteen tales, each to take up about half an hour for narration, though it would be well for him to have a few more in reserve in case others in his company should forestall any of his own intended tales. A story-teller, however, of the better class narrates a single continuous story through the whole run; but he too frequently adds much superfluous

matter to enliven the subject and practises the feuilletoniste’s trick of breaking off at the most exciting point. When a serial story is being told by a first-class story-teller, many persons attend the hall every night of the run. The story is usually a new version of an old tale, or an exaggerated account of the latest newspaper sensation.

Story-tellers are without exception men, and we find the other sex among gidayu and other singers only. Of recent years, female gidayu-singers have come into great favour, especially among students and other young men. So extensive is the patronage of the young blades that these singers now occupy more than half the halls of Tokyo, completely putting the rakugoka and others into the shade.