ARASHI NO YORU NI

['One Stormy Night']

CAST :

Gabu

Nakamura Shidō

Mei

Onoe Kikunosuke

Tapu

Bandō Kamezō

Princess Mii

Nakamura Yonekichi

Haku

Ichimura Takematsu

Noro

Ichimura Hikaru

Mei in childhood

Nakamura Haruki

Gabu in childhood

Nakamura Natsuki

Barry

Sawamura Kiyoshirō II, changing his name from Sawamura Kuniya

Ojiji, Old Male Goat

Ichimura Kitsutarō

A painter

Ichikawa Monnosuke

Gai

Kawarasaki Gonjūrō

Obaba, Old Female Wolf

Ichimura Manjirō

Giro

Onoe Shōroku

STORY :

On the night of a storm, Gabu, a wolf, and Mei, a goat, happen to meet in a mountain hut under the cover of darkness. Unable to see what each other looks like or to tell who they are, they talk throughout the night and become friends. Before parting, they decide to use "one stormy night" as a secret code and promise to meet the next day. When they are reunited, they are shocked to find out each other's identity, for wolves are goats' natural enemy, but they cultivate their friendship keeping it a secret to both of their groups. However, soon their friendship is revealed and they face violent opposition. To protect their friendship, they run away into the snow-covered mountains and...

KAGATOBI

['The Firemen of Kaga']

CAST :

Tenjinchō Umekichi / Takegaki Dōgen, a masseur

Onoe Shōroku

Hikagechō Matsuzō

Nakamura Kankurō

Harukichō Minosuke

Nakamura Shidō

Sakigake Yūji

Bandō Hikosaburō

Banjaku Ishimatsu

Bandō Kamezō

Toraya Takegorō

Nakamura Tanenosuke

Tengu no Sugimatsu

Nakamura Tamatarō

Hirukko Onokichi

Onoe Sakon

Oasa

Nakamura Tsurumatsu

Tsumakoi Otokichi

Onoe Kikushirō

Kanesukechō Kanegorō

Onoe Kikuichirō

Juzudama Fusakichi

Sawamura Kiyoshirō II, changing his name from Sawamura Kuniya

Goshuden Monji

Nakamura Kichinojō

Kaminari Gorōji

Ichikawa Omezō

Omikoshi Yatarō

Nakamura Matsue

Iseya Yohē

Kawarasaki Gonjūrō

Okane, a masseuse

Nakamura Jakuemon

STORY :

This is a 'sewamono' play, a work portraying in a realistic way the lives of ordinary people in the Edo Period. A big fight has broken out over a trivial matter between the firemen of Kaga Domain and the fire fighters under the direct control of the Edo shogunate. All the firemen of Kaga including Matsuzō of Hikagechō gather at the town gate of Hongō to beat the fire fighters of the Edo shogunate, but Umekichi of Tenjinchō persuades his impetuous colleagues to withdraw. A masseur Takegaki Dōgen kills the farmer Tajiemon at the embankment of Ochanomizu and steals the money he possessed. Matsuzō, who has happened to pass by, picks up a tobacco pouch which Dōgen dropped. Dōgen hears that his niece Oasa received money from the Iseya pawn shop where she is an apprentice, and thinks of extortion. He visits Iseya with his lover Okane, a masseuse, and tries to extort 100 gold coins. But Matsuzō shows the tobacco pouch to Dōgen and they scuttle off. Finally, his evil deeds are discovered and pursuers are sent after him. In the end he is arrested before the front gate of the mansion of the Kaga Domain. Enjoy the speeches in seven-five syllabic meter which is typical of the playwright Kawatake Mokuami, as well as how a single actor plays both Umekichi and Dōgen.

SAGI MUSUME

['The Heron Maiden']

CAST :

The spirit of a heron

Nakamura Shichinosuke

STORY :

A woman dressed in a white kimono and hood appears at the edge of a lake. Her dance includes bird-like movements resembling those of a white heron. She expresses the misery of one whose love was betrayed. A sudden onstage costume change begins a section in which the character transforms into a young girl preoccupied by thoughts of romance. Other costume changes follow, as the maiden expresses the difficulty of capturing a loved one's heart. Finally, the stage darkens and after another spectacular costume change, the maiden transforms into the spirit of a heron as she recalls her suffering in hell.

BUKAKU SETSUGEKKA

['Three Dances on Snow, the Moon and Cherry Blossoms']

CAST :

The spirit of a cherry blossom / A matsumushi insect /
Snowman

Nakamura Kankurō

A matsumushi insect

Nakamura Chōzaburō

STORY :

It is common to group beautiful things in sets in Japan, and this dance features a set of the beauties of three seasons. The first dance evokes the cherry blossoms of spring, the second describes the songs of 'matsumushi' insects under the moon in autumn, and the third dance evokes a snowman or 'yuki daruma' to complete the set with a scene of winter.

TENSHU MONOGATARI

['The Tale of a Castle Keep']

CAST :

Princess Tomi, mistress of the keep

Bandō Tamasaburō

Himekawa Zushonosuke

Ichikawa Danko

Princess Kame

Nakamura Shichinosuke

Odawara Shuri

Nakamura Kashō

Nadeshiko, a maid

Nakamura Kamenojō

Susuki, chief lady-in-waiting

Kamimura Kichiya

Red Priest

Ichikawa Omezō

Long-Tongued Hag

Ichikawa Monnosuke

Ōminojō Tōroku, a woodcarver

Nakamura Shidō

STORY :

The top of Shirasagi Castle in Harima Province is another world inhabited by beautiful and mysterious spirits who keep humans at bay. Their mistress is the beautiful and noble Princess Tomi. Her friend, Princess Kame, who adores her as her sister visits her. Princess Tomi rejoices at their reunion and gives Princess Kame a present: the white falcon which is the prize possession of Takeda, Lord of Harima. That night, Himekawa Zushonosuke, who serves the Lord of Harima as his falconer, comes to the keep in search of the falcon. Impressed by his gallant mien, Princess Tomi gives him the treasured helmet of the castle lord and allows him to return safely. When Zushonosuke descends from the keep and returns to his compatriots, he is suspected of stealing the treasured helmet… This work which weaves together a unique blend of fantasy, is one of the foremost masterpieces of Izumi Kyōka. Please look forward to experiencing the amazing world of beautiful, mysterious spirits who live apart from the human realm.