The calligraphy in this room is a verse from the Rakugo play “Shikaseidan.” It lists famous Nara fare from rolled calligraphy brushes, to sake, tea, and pickled vegetables. But what does the last portion, which reads “Machi-no-hayaoki,” mean? It roughly translates to “the town rises early in the morning”, but long ago, it was actually a crime punishable by death to kill deer in Nara. Even if you didn’t do it yourself, if a deer collapsed in front of your house, you may have been anonymously reported to the authorities, and punished accordingly. That’s why they say the unique Nara custom of waking up early in the morning to check the front of one’s house came about. “Shikaseidan” is a story about those times. We recommend searching for the play online.