火の太鼓

A port town in the Hokuriku region, around the time the Meiji era was drawing to a close. Here, there was a strange custom dating back many years: whoever won the “Competitive Drumming” held on the night of the Spring Festival would gain control of that year’s fishing grounds. Consequently, the fishing boat owners went to great lengths—even resorting to underhanded tactics—to recruit the finest drummers.