Once there was no one to play the sho for the emperor, and so Kanetoshi, the former governor of Chikuzen province, was granted special permission to audition at the palace. He put the priceless instrument they gave him right to his lips and began to blow. Unfortunately, the imperial sho had a little spider inside it. The next time he inhaled, the spider shot straight to the back of his throat. The coughing and choking fit that seized him then made the emperor and his officials almost split their sides laughing. Having made a terrble fool of himself, the poor man was never asked to the palace again. He should have realized that an imperial treasure like that is seldom played and tried it out cautiously first.