The April program of National
Bunraku Theatre features a full-length performance of “Imoseyama
Onna Teikin,” a masterpiece by Chikamatsu Hanji (1725-1783) first
presented in 1771. It is an epic taken from early Japanese history,
weaving together history, legend and myth.
The country chafes under the domination of the dictator Iruka, but
he is magically invulnerable and can only be killed by a weapon
carrying the blood of a sacred deer and the blood of a jealous woman.
But more than a supernatural political tale, this is a play of love,
sacrifice and human tragedy.
This performance follows the stories of Shibaroku, the man who sacrifices
himself by killing the deer, two rival families who are only alike
in being dominated by the dictator until a tragedy reminiscent of
Romeo and Juliet brings them together and Omiwa, the daughter of
a sake dealer who is goaded into a jealous fury to produce the blood
needed to finally vanquish the dictator. |
Part
Ⅰ (from 11 AM):
Act I
The Komatsubara Plain
On a beautiful spring day, handsome young Koganosuke, son of Daihanji
and Hinadori, the beautiful daughter of Sadaka, widow of Dazai
happen to meet and fall in love, not realizing that their families
are bitter enemies, with estates on either side of the Yoshino
river. But Koganosuke also has heavy duties and helps Uneme, the
daughter of the loyal minister Fujiwara Kamatari to escape from
the clutches of the evil minister Emishi.
Emishi’s Mansion
Koganosuke is ordered to report on Uneme's whereabouts and lies
that she has committed suicide by jumping into the Sarusawa pond.
Emishi's son Iruka threatens to become a Buddhist priest because
of his father's evil plots and finally Emishi is forced into suicide,
but this reveals Iruka as an even greater villain than his father,
who has plotted this seizure of power and now plans to rule the
land ruthlessly.
Act II
The Sarusawa Pond
The emperor, who is blind, mourns for his beloved Uneme
at the site where she is said to have died. He encounters a young
samurai Tankai, who was expelled due to Emishi's plotting. Now
he is reinstated, but hearing that Iruka has seized power, decides
to take the emperor away to safety instead of back to the palace.
Act III
The Dazai Mansion
Iruka blames Koganosuke for the loss of Uneme and has heard
of his love for Hinadori. He fears that these two rival clans
may be plotting against him so summons Daihanji to Sadaka's mansion,
confronts the two rival parents and orders Koganosuke to become
his retainer and Hinadori to serve in his bedchamber. He gives
them branches of cherry blossoms to be thrown into the Yoshino
river as a signal of the answers of the young people.
The Imo and Se Mountain Scene
Iruka blames Koganosuke for the loss of Uneme and has heard of
his love for Hinadori. He fears that these two rival clans may
be plotting against him so summons Daihanji to Sadaka's mansion,
confronts the two rival parents and orders Koganosuke to become
his retainer and Hinadori to serve in his bedchamber. He gives
them branches of cherry blossoms to be thrown into the Yoshino
river as a signal of the answers of the young people.
Part Ⅱ(from 4 PM):
Act II
The Killing of the Deer
The deer of the Kasuga shrine are sacred and killing them is forbidden,
but the hunter Shibaroku, once a samurai in the service of the emperor,
along with his son Sansaku, kills a deer for the blood needed to
vanquish Iruka. He hopes that this loyal service will allow him
to be reinstated.
Shibaroku’s House - The Bill Collectors
Tankai has brought the emperor here, taking advantage of the fact
that he is blind to pretend that they are back at the imperial palace.
But in fact, Shibaroku and his wife are very poor, without even
the money to pay the rice bill.
Shibaroku’s House - The Manzai Entertainers
To entertain the emperor, Shibaroku and his son perform a
celebratory Manzai dance. The emperor is entertained and convinced
that he is still in the imperial palace.
Shibaroku’s House - Shibaroku’s Loyalty
Shibaroku's service is recognized by Tankai, who reinstates him
as a samurai, but the blame for killing the deer falls on his son,
who is executed. In the end, however, Tankai's father Kamatari shows
that Shibaroku's son is safe along with Uneme and with a sacred
mirror, cures the emperor's illness and restores his sight.
Act IV
The Sugi Sake Shop
Tankai lives next to a sake shop disguised as a craftsman named
Motome. But all around are seeking a reward offered by Iruka for
Tankai. The handsome Motome is loved by two women, Princess Tachibana,
who visits him secretly in the night, and Omiwa, the daughter of
the proprietess of the sake shop. The two women argue over him and
the princess leaves with Motome in pursuit and Omiwa following desperately
after.
Michiyuki: "The Spool of Love"
Omiwa, Princess Tachibana and Motome all dance of their love until
the princess, whom Motome suspects is Iruka's daughter, returns
to the palace and he attaches a thread to follow her. In turn Omiwa
follows as well.
Fukashichi as Official Messenger
Iruka has a new palace and receives a strange visitor, a man claiming
to be a fisherman named Fukashichi who is a messenger from Kamatari
announcing his surrender and bringing a gift of sake. Iruka does
not let down his guard and has Fukashichi closely guarded.
The Return of the Princess
Motome sees that the princess is the daughter of Iruka, but she
has long realized that he is Tankai. He is about to kill her to
keep her quiet, but agrees to become her husband if she will bring
the precious sword stolen by Iruka which is part of the imperial
regalia.
The Palace
Omiwa arrives at the palace and is tormented by the ladies-in-waiting.
As she is in the height of a fit of jealousy, she is suddenly stabbed
by Fukashichi, actually a valiant hero in disguise, who tells her
that this is the blood that is needed to vanquish Iruka and for
her loyal service, she will be the wife of Motome, to be united
with him in a future life. The princess brings the sword, only to
be killed by it instead. As the magical items are brought together,
the sacred sword takes the form of a serpent that vanquishes Iruka.
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