Netsuke Teacup Travels

'Here they come, my two intrepid explorers.

'Charlotte and Lokesh.

'I'm their great aunt Lizzie, you see,

'and I wonder which one is coming to see me today.

'Ah! So it's Charlotte.'

-Hello, Charlotte!

-Hello, Great Aunt Lizzie.

'Once upon a time, I travelled the world, discovering treasures

'from long ago and far away, and no end of stories to remind me.

'But my most precious possession of all

'is my extraordinary collection of tea cups.'

Here we are.

Your time to count the clouds. Let's have a nice cup of tea and a story.

But first we need the tea cup.

But which one?

That one.

Ah! The Japanese Imp Netsuke.

What a marvellous little work of art.

With a wonderful story to tell, too!

Something wrong, Charlotte?

Is there anything you can do to fix this, Great Aunt Lizzie?

Well, we can give it a go, can't we?

But first, shall I tell you this story?

Charlotte And The Adventure Of The Groom's Netsuke.

Yes, please.

It all began long, long ago,

in a far-off land named Japan,

where temples jostled with cherry blossom trees

between the snow-capped mountains.

After journeying for days, Charlotte came to a little town.

She was hoping to find a place to sit down for a bit

when she spotted a beautiful hairpin

lying in the street.

It was a very elegant hairpin.

Whoever lost it must be searching everywhere for it.

Just then, a few feet away she spotted a coin.

Could the coin belong to the same person who lost the hairpin?

Then she spotted another coin, and another!

Charlotte followed the mysterious trail of coins, little brush

and a small note which led to the door of the tailor's workshop.

So, are you excited about tonight, Katsuyori?

Why? What is happening tonight?

You're getting married tonight!

Oh, yes, of course. Sorry.

I keep forgetting everything.

Just don't forget to turn up to your wedding and you'll be fine.

I am in charge of so many things.

The food, the music, the guests!

I had to prepare a list of all the things I needed to do.

Oh, I need to add one more thing.

-Oh! Noritada, I have lost my to-do list!

-Then write a new one.

Whoa! I've lost Yuki's special wedding hairpin, too!

-I-I can't get married without it!

-Where did you last see it?

In my kimono sleeve. What a disaster!

We will find it, don't worry.

Excuse me. Is this yours?

Yes! Oh, thank you so much! You saved me.

-Where did you find it?

-Outside, on the ground. I found all this, too.

My to-do list. And my comb!

I must have dropped it on the way here.

What do you think you're doing?

Trying to find a place to put it all in my new wedding outfit.

Oh, no, you are not. I will not have you ruining my lovely work.

It will destroy the shape, and anyway,

you'll lose it all again if you put it in your sleeve.

-So where can I put it?

-You need a small purse.

I might have something for you.

-Here. You can borrow this one.

-Thank you. Thank you so much.

But I'm afraid I haven't got a netsuke to fix it in place.

Without one, your purse will just fall off again.

See? And, as it is your wedding day today, you will need a special one.

Where can I find a netsuke?

Would you be kind enough to go to Old Babba just around

the corner and ask for a netsuke?

-Tell her it is for him, Katsuyori Nakajima.

-I'll be as quick as I can.

Excuse me. I'm here to...

No! Don't tell me.

I know exactly what you're here for.

You are here to...

-..buy some cards.

-No.

Sell some cards?

-No.

-Paint some cards?

So what are you here for, then?

Come on! We haven't got all day!

-Katsuyori Nakajima sent me.

-Ah!

-So he needs some cards, then.

-No.

He's getting married tonight

and he needs a special netsuke for his purse.

Let's see.

'So Charlotte watched as Old Babba shuffled

'a deck of cards and laid them on the ground.'

Interesting.

'She seemed to be trying to learn something from them.'

Ah!

Just as I thought.

He will need the imp netsuke.

This will bring him great luck and prosperity.

Excellent!

-What are you waiting for?

-The imp netsuke.

Do I look like a netsuke maker?

You need to go to Michimoto. He makes netsukes.

Where can I find him?

Up in the mountain.

Tell him Old Babba sent you.

'Oh, my! What was Charlotte to do?'

Old Babba's very tired.

'It was already lunchtime,

'and it was an awfully long way up the mountains to the netsuke maker.'

Goodbye.

'Charlotte had never reckoned with that.'

-Bit fiddly, Charlotte, but we'll get there.

-What's an imp?

Like an imp netsuke, you mean?

Just a cheery little man.

Old Babba thought it would remind Katsuyori to enjoy his wedding day

-and not to worry so much.

-He certainly was worrying a lot.

And if he saw the little imp netsuke, he'd calm down.

He needed it to hold his purse, too.

Otherwise, he might lose everything again,

and then he really would have something to worry about.

And, it has to be the imp netsuke,

no matter how far up the mountain it is.

I think you're absolutely right.

She couldn't go back to Katsuyori without it, now, could she?

Off went Charlotte in her hat, bag and boots...

..deep into the forest...

..and up and up the mountain.

When she was almost out of breath, the path ran out!

There was only way to get to the bottom.

Charlotte took a deep breath.

At last, Charlotte made it to the mountain top.

But there was no time to admire the view.

Charlotte had to get that netsuke.

Among the peaks and rocks, she found a rickety hut,

where a young woman was polishing a little statue.

Wow!

-It's very beautiful.

-Thank you. It's an imp netsuke.

That's exactly what I need.

Well, this is your lucky day, then.

Charlotte looked carefully at the exquisitely carved figure.

It was of a cheery looking man holding a fan.

Is it ready?

Not quite. We still need to make the hole for the cord.

-You will have to wait for Michimoto.

-I really need it for tonight.

It's for Katsuyori's wedding.

But I'm only his apprentice. I can't do it by myself.

I've only done it with Michimoto standing next to me to guide me.

'What a pickle!

'If only the apprentice had the confidence to do it

'without Michimoto by her side.'

You want to be a netsuke maker one day, right?

And you said you've done it before.

Perhaps you can imagine Michimoto is standing right next to you.

OK. I'll try.

SHE SIGHS

I did it!

Thank you for encouraging me.

Send my congratulations to Katsuyori on his wedding day.

I will. Thank you.

Back came Charlotte,

down the hills,

and along the twisting dirt tracks.

Just in time.

-Did you get one?

-I did.

An imp netsuke! Very nice.

This is so beautiful. Oh, thank you so much.

Old Babba said it will bring you good luck and prosperity.

Excellent. And that's the last thing on my to-do list checked.

-Who wants some tea?

-Are you sure you haven't forgotten anything?

Eh? No. All done.

What about going to your wedding ceremony?

-Right. When is it?

-Now!

-Oh! I think I'd better go, then.

-May I?

Thanks again for everything.

So, that was that, the whole kit and caboodle.

The story of Charlotte And The Groom's Netsuke.

It was lucky Charlotte made it on time for the wedding.

It was, and it was a beautiful wedding.

And Katsuyori didn't forget anything.

Well, when he was supposed to give Yuki a special wedding hairpin,

he accidentally gave her his to-do list instead!

That's what it's like when you're nervous.

The netsuke assistant was a bit nervous, too.

Yes, but Charlotte helped her overcome it.

-And you mended my pendant. Thank you.

-You're welcome, Charlotte.

Oh, my, is that really the time? Your mum'll be here in a minute.

Now, how did that get there?

Home time, Charlotte.

Thanks, Great Aunt Lizzie.

-Cheeribye, Charlotte.

-Bye!

-Bye!

-Bye!

Subtitles by Ericsson