Figures of Modern Stage #2 – Nakamura Utaemon VI in the role of Yatsuhashi

Series
Figures of Modern Stage

Series Number
2

Title in English
Figures of Modern Stage #2 – Nakamura Utaemon VI in the role of Yatsuhashi

Title in Japanese
現代舞台藝蕐(2) 八ツ橋 中村歌右衛門 丈
Gendai Butai Geika 2 – Yatsuhachi Nakamura Utaemon VI

Title in French
Portraits de la scène moderne No.2 – Nakamura Utaemon VI dans le role of Yatsuhashi

The play
Kagotsurube, one of the sensational plays in the kabuki repertoire was written by Kawatake Shinshichi III and premiered in Tokyo in 1888 with Ichikawa Sadanji I as Jirozaemon and Nakamura Fukusuke IV as Yatsuhachi. This is the story of Jirozaemon, a wealthy merchant from the countryside who falls in love with a high-flying courtesan and wants to buy out her contract. But she humiliatingly rejects him in the middle of a celebratory banquet. He pretends to forgive her, but returns to kill her with the haunted Kagotsurube sword which, when drawn, can only be put back into its scabbard after tasting blood. Kagotsurube is the name of a special bamboo basket made waterproof by applying lacquered paper. Here the sword cannot retain blood like a pierced Kagotsurube basket cannot retain water. The play, inspired by a real incident, originally had eight acts with the first four telling how Jirozaemon came to possess such a blade. Nowadays, only the last four acts are played.

The story
Act 1: The scene opens in Nakanocho, the main street of the Yoshiwara reserved district in Edo during the cherry blossoms season. Jirozaemon, a wealthy provincial merchant, disfigured by smallpox, watches the parade of courtesans starring Yatsuhachi, the most beautiful of the oiran, high-ranking courtesans in the center. He falls in love with her at first sight, she notices him and smiles. Jirozaemon is under the spell and does not want to go back home.
Act 2: Jirozaemon has now become a regular at Tachibanaya House and a Yatsuhachi’s patron. He has earned a nickname “Sano’s big Man” and is respected by the house staff. Today two of his friends from the countryside are visiting and he introduces them proudly to Yatsuhachi. He talks openly about buying out her contract and going home with her. In another room, Gonpachi, her “guardian,” is furious that she is considering leaving as she is his main source of income. He tells Yatsuhachi’s lover Einojo that she is going to abandon him. The latter goes to Yatsuhachi and forces her to break off with Jirozaemon and not to see him again.
Act 3: A banquet is organized to celebrate the redemption of Yatsuhachi’s contract. She appears but is cold and distant, telling Jirozaemon that she refuses the buy-out and that she no longer wants him as a client. Jirozaemon falls backwards speechless, then tries to reason with her, but she rejects him harshly and publicly humiliates him.
Act 4: Several months have passed and Jirozaemon returns to Yoshiwara. He is in a good mood and all the staff at Tachibanaya house are delighted to see him again. He settles into a room and Yatsuhachi arrives and begins to apologize for her past conduct. When they are alone, Jirozaemon offers her a cup of sake, but she politely refuses. Jirozaemon tells her that this will be her last cup, gets up and kills her with one blow of his terrible Kagotsurube haunted sword. He flees possessed by the sword’s spirit, killing everyone he meets on his way out.