Stories that land

The brooch that caught Nagomido’s eye

At an izakaya, Nagomido spots comedian Matsuo Bannai and finds even the smallest detail of his outfit impressive.

Before the story

Nagomido remembers seeing Matsuo Bannai at an izakaya, a Japanese pub. Why did one little accessory seem so perfectly suited to a successful comic?

At the izakaya

Nagomido here. I was having a drink at an izakaya when Matsuo Bannai walked in.

To struggling comics like us, Bannai was a comic who had made it.

He wasn't tall, and his face was craggy. But there he was in a Western hat, with a dragonfly brooch on his clothes.

I thought, of course he stands out. That's what successful comics do.

About two hours later, Bannai asked for the check. He got up from his seat.

The dragonfly brooch that had been on his clothes for those two hours flew away.

It was a real dragonfly.

I thought, successful people really are something.

Illustration of a storefront with a large orange sign in Japanese and partly cropped yellow banners below.
Text in the illustration:黒木屋 → Kurokiya (lettering on the illustration; the story does not name its izakaya)

We use AI as part of how we create our articles.

Next story A single-story white fishing facility with a red sign, green shrubs and a brown wall alongside it. Takahashi and the regular across the pondTakahashi recalls a good day of goldfish fishing—and a regular who kept staring at him.
More stories Drawing of a black and purple scooter against an orange background. I thought everyone was recognizing me on my scooterKasuga recalls a hurried stop on the way home, followed by a ride that seemed to attract everyone’s attention. A lecture for the “Professor”An agency booked a comedian to give a talk on phone scams. The word “Professor” in his stage name had helped secure the job. Two illustrated men in dark jackets against a pale yellow background. The short-haired man on the left wears a red tie and holds a hand near his chest; the man on the right has longer black hair and a white shirt. Yamamoto and the note from his momBack from swim practice, Yamamoto found a message from his busy mother. She had left him money for something to eat. All stories
Start here The Boyfriend Sales Pitch A hopeful dater sweetens the pitch with every no. The friend listening won't budge. 3:36 Watch the whole thing (3:36)