The cook of the Nabeshima clan knew how to take one for the team and have a blast while at it

>When Lord Katsushige [of the Nabeshima clan] entertained his guest with some dishes of crane, Kichizaemon Fukuchi acted in the following manner: >A guest said, "Your honorable host, I hear that you can taste the difference between white cranes and black cranes. Is this true? >The Lord replied, "It is true." >The guest went on, "Then, how have you tasted the present dish?" > Katsushige answered, "That was a white-naped crane." >The guest replied, "I don't understand how you can tell the difference. Please send for the cook. I want to ask him." >"Let Kichizaemon Fukuchi come," the Lord said. >Kichizaemon, who had overheard the discussion, quickly went into the kitchen and drank, in succession, several big bowls of sake. He was repeatedly requested to come. After some time, he went into the presence of the Lord and guest. Then the guest repeated the question. Kichizaemon's tongue tripped and he lisped in a foolish manner: "White-black crane, nay, pure-white crane or black crane." >The Lord scolded him, "You are drunk. Get out of my sight!" Thus the Lord's face was saved. --- **Source:** Stone, Justin F.: *Bushido - The Way of the Samurai. Based on the Hagakure by Tsunemoto Yamamoto.* p.74-75 --- **Further Reading:** [Nabeshima Katsushige](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabeshima_Katsushige)