今は昔のこと、海辺の阿弥陀寺という寺に、芳一という目の見えぬ一人の琵琶法師が住んでいた。彼の弾く琵琶の腕前といったら見事なもので、とりわけ平家物語の弾き語りにかけては、並ぶ者がないとさえ言われていた。
Long ago, in a temple by the sea called Amidaji, there lived a blind biwa-priest named Hoichi. The skill with which he played the biwa was famous, and when it came to the recitation of the Tale of the Heike, it was said that no one in all the land could rival him.