Jugemu

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The folktale of Jugemu (寿限無?) is one of the most famous Rakugo in Japan. It has a simple story line with the funniest part being repeating of the ridiculously long name. It is often used in a training session of Rakugo entertainers.

A couple could not think of a suitable name for their newborn baby boy, and so the father went to the temple and asked the chief priest to think of an auspicious name. The priest suggested several names, beginning with Jugemu. The father could not decide which name he preferred, and therefore gave the baby all of the names. But one day, Jugemu falls into a lake and his parents arrive barely in time to save him as everyone had trouble reciting his name.

Jugemu's full name is as follows:

Jugemu-jugemu
Gokōnosurikire
Kaijarisuigyo-no Suigyōmatsu
Unraimatsu Fūraimatsu
Kūnerutokoroni-sumutokoro
Yaburakōjino-burakōji
Paipopaipo-paiponoshūringan
Shūringanno-gūrindai :Gūrindaino-ponpokopīno-ponpokonāno
Chōkyūmeino-chōsuke
寿限無寿限無
五劫の擦り切れ
海砂利水魚の 水行末
雲来末 風来末
食う寝る処に住む処
やぶら小路のぶら小路
パイポパイポ パイポのシューリンガン
シューリンガンのグーリンダイ
グーリンダイのポンポコピーのポンポコナーの
長久命の長助

The recitation from memory of these names is a feature of the NHK children's TV programme Nihongo de Asobou (Let's Play with Japanese Language).

The story of Tikki Tikki Tembo, which is told in America under the auspices of being a Chinese folktale, is very similar.

"Jugemu" (sometimes "Jugem"; known as Lakitu in the U.S.) is also the name of an enemy character from the Super Mario Bros. series of games. In Star Ocean: Blue Sphere, ジュゲム is a colossal underground monster (#40 on the list) showing only a tiny twig and a single leaf aboveground.

Jugemu-jugemu Gokōnosurikire is also part of the chant Sasami says in the 'Pretty Sammy' OVA to transform into Pretty Sammy, the rest being 'Sammy Davis Broiler Chicken'