The Izumo-ya currently bears a significant debt inherited from Seiji's father and it is due for repayment. Seiji beseeches the man who holds their debt and, in honor of Seiji's late father, he grants a one month extension. The man even suggests that Seiji consider selling some of the items in the lending shop, but Seiji turns it down. Though the debt is great, Seiji tries to come up with an alternative means of coming up with the money. Meanwhile, a samurai named Yaemon of the Takada clan visits the Izumo-ya and says he wants to buy the rabbit comb that Usagi inhabits at any price.
According to a letter I received 
from my wife the other day,
وحسب الرّسالة الّتي تلقّيتُها 
،من زوجتي ذات يوم
Neulich erhielt ich einen Brief
von meiner Gemahlin,
Según la carta que recibí
de mi esposa el otro día,
Según la carta que recibí
de mi esposa el otro día,
L’autre jour, ma femme m’a écrit
que notre fille avait perdu ce peigne
Ma l'altro giorno ho ricevuto
una lettera da mia moglie, nella quale diceva
De acordo com a carta que
recebi de minha esposa,
Однако на днях
я получил письмо от своей жены.