Another とんち話(はなし) (witty story) involving 一休(いっきゅう)さん relates how he outwitted the Shogun. The Shogun invited young 一休(いっきゅう)さん to dinner, knowing that he would have to cross a bridge to come to him. The crafty Shogun had a sign put up saying はしをわたらないで to make it difficult for 一休(いっきゅう)さん. But はし means 'side' as well as 'bridge', so 一休(いっきゅう)さん crossed the bridge in the middle, and explained to the Shogun that he had not crossed on the sides!

The Japanese love plays on words and the Japanese language, with its many homonyms such as はし, provides rich material for puns. The increase in foreign loan words, 外来語(がいらいご), has provided further possibilities. Japanese children enjoy puns and enjoy making their own だじゃれ, but 'cool' teenagers may find them corny (さむ〜い), and refer to them as おやじギャグ (old man's gag)! Try out your Japanese sense of humour with these! (English translations below)