Act 1, Scene 3 Summary

Captain Fisby does not arrive in Tobiki until ten days later, as his passengers have requested side trips to visit relatives along the way. Sakini addresses the audience with some details of the trip and motions for the bamboo panels to to raise and reveal the impoverished village of Tobiki.

Fisby calls for Sakini, because Plan B indicates that the Captain must hold a public meeting. Fortunately, the people have already gathered, and Sakini translates as Fisby begins to share the plans for what America will do for the village. Sakini interrupts Fisby by telling the Captain that it is bad manners to make the villagers feel poor, and that the Captain must accept the gifts offered by the local people.

Among the gifts offered up are chopsticks, wooden sandals, lacquer bowls and two cricket houses. Crickets are symbols of good...