The Bridge of Drunken Lovers

KOMACHI'S TRAVEL GUIDE:

This bridge was built by Ryoko Owari's ninth governor, and was one of the first projects of the famous architect Kenchikuka. At the time it was called the Magnificent Bridge because of its width and splendid decorations. In time its name changed; this is how:

Long ago, there lived a woman named Riko who was renowned throughout the city for her cunning. However, her father was sad, for though he had nine daughters, he had no sons.
At this same time, in the distant Lion lands there was a young warrior named Okami who was making quite a name for himself as a fearless and deadly fighter. However, his father was unhappy, because their family was poor.
It happened that the father of Riko learned that Okami's family had produced only boy children for the last six generations. Hoping to marry his daughter to Okami, and get a grandson before his death, he proposed a marriage and offered a great sum as a dowry.
The idea of the marriage pleased Okami's father a great deal, for he had need of money. Therefore, he asked his son to write a letter to Riko. When Okami had completed it, his father was appalled. Though a great warrior, his son was no poet and was lacking in certain graces of wit and mind. Therefore, Okami's father recopied the letter, making a number of changes, and passed it on to Rikos father. Now, Riko's father was also uneasy, for he knew his clever daughter had a sharp and sometimes unpleasant manner of speaking - to men especially.
Therefore, he opened the letter from Okami and, finding it a bit crude and provincial, recopied it, adding certain phrases and passages he thought his daughter would find pleasing. When Riko read the letter, she immediately wrote a reply, which her father read, changed and recopied before passing it to Okamis father, who also read, changed and recopied it before giving it to his son.
In this fashion, Riko and Okami corresponded for half a year, during which neither read more than one word in ten from the other. Now, at this same time there was a certain Crane gentleman who had an interest in Riko - an interest that increased as her father announced her vast dowry. He had encouraged her to reject or dissuade her distant Lion clan suitor, and though she tried, none of her harsh words could make it past the two fathers, both intent on a marriage of mutual advantage. In due time, it was decided that Riko and Okami should meet.
Riko's father suggested dusk (for he knew his daughter was no great beauty and hoped that the lengthening shadows would add allure to her features) and Okami's father suggested the Magnificent Bridge (for he knew his son was no great thinker, and hoped that the Magnificent Bridge was obvious enough that even Okami could find it). As the time of the meeting came closer, both fathers grew nervous. Okami's father knew that, although Okami was fearless in battle, he sometimes became quiet and shy around women, especially beautiful ones. Since Riko's father had told him that Riko was lovely as the dawn, he was afraid his son would become shy and say nothing.
As for Riko's father, he was increasingly afraid that his daughter would say something sarcastic and offend her provincial suitor. Too, Okami and Riko became nervous. Okami was nervous because he, too, had heard that Riko was beautiful almost beyond bearing, while Riko was unsure if she wanted to marry anyone, let alone a strange Lion instead of her friend the Crane.
Consequently, both Okami and Riko took several drinks of liquor before the meeting to give themselves courage. Neither had imagined that their fathers would also ply them with sake on their way to the bridge. Okami's father hoped the sake would loosen his son's tongue, while Riko's father hoped it would still hers. By the time they reached the bridge, both were very drunk.
Things still might have been different if Riko's Crane friend was not waiting upon the scene. As the drunken Okami staggered towards the bridge, the Crane approached him and asked him where he was going. "The Magnificent Bridge," Okami said. "I'm supposed to meet my fiancee there for the first time:"
The Crane briefly considered sending him to the wrong bridge, but then decided to make him look so foolish that Riko would refuse to marry him.
"Oh my," said the Crane. "Looking like that? That will never do. Haven't you heard of the latest fashion?"
"Fashion?"
"Yes, you simply must carry a flower behind each ear when courting. It's all the rage."
"Flower?"
"If you really want to impress her, carry a third blossom between your teeth. When you see her, don't speak a word, but embrace her firmly and pass her the flower with a kiss."
The Crane providentially had three large, garish blossoms, which he gave the Lion samurai, then sent himoff, confident that he would make an utter fool of himself. The Lion did indeed look foolish with a flower behind each ear and another clutched in his mouth. Even his small wit could imagine, and at the foot of the bridge he could not resist bending down to look at his reflection. As he bent, both flowers slid from his ears and fell in the water. Upset, the Lion opened his mouth to curse, and the third flower fell as well.
Seeing his finery float downstream, the disconsolate Lion pulled out a tiny bottle of sake and finished it cold. Now thoroughly inebriated, both suitors staggered onto the bridge and saw each other. Okami was highly fuddled, but still remembered being told something about "don't speak a word, but embrace her firmly" and so he did just that. Riko was too surprised to speak before his lips had found hers. Seeing their children embracing, the two fathers (who had, naturally, lurked near the bridge to watch events) rushed forth, proclaimed a match blessed by love at first sight, and arranged the nuptials before Riko and Okami had even said their first words to each other.
Since that time, the bridge has been called the Bridge of Drunken Lovers