Figures of Modern Stage #5 – Nakamura Kichiemon II in the role of Ichijo Daizokyo

Series
Figures of Modern Stage

Series Number
5

Title in English
Figures of Modern Stage #5 – Nakamura Kichiemon II in the role of Ichijo Daizokyo

Title in Japanese
現代舞台藝蕐(5) 一條大蔵卿 中村吉右ェ門 丈
Gendai Butai Geika 5 – Ichijo Daizokyo Nakamura Kichiemon

Title in French
Portraits de la scène moderne No.5 – Nakamura Kichiemon II dans le role of Ichijo Daizokyo

The play
Historical play about the rivalry between the Genji and Taira clans in the 12th century, written in 1731 first for the Bunraku puppet theater and later adapted to the Kabuki theater. The play has five acts that can be performed independently of each other. Here it is the fourth act called Ichijô Ôkura Monogatari (The tale of Ichijo Okura) or Ôkura Yakata Okuden “(In the inner pavilion of the Okura Palace). Kijiro and his wife Okyò, emissaries of the Genji clan, think that Dame Tokiwa has abandoned the fight against the Heike clan and its leader Taira Kiyomori by being married to the simple Ichijo Okura. But Kijiro realizes that she is continuing the fight in secret and prays for Kiyomori’s death. A spy wants to denounce them and Okura kills him. Okura was pretending to be mad, but it is an elaborate masquerade to hide his loyalty to the Genji clan and survive in these troubled times.

The story
Lord Ichijo Ôkura leads a reclusive life in his palace under the control of the Heike. He feigns madness, devoting himself to the dances of the Noh theater. In fact, he does everything to avoid to take part in the war between the Heike and Genji clans. The Heike clan holds power with Taira Kiyomori (1118-1181) at its head. He defeated the Genji clan of Minamoto Yoshitomo, (1123-1160), took his widow Tokiwa Gozen as his concubine but left his two young children Yoritomo and Yoshitsune alive. When she lost her charms, he married her to Ichijo Ôkura, believed to be innocuous. Ôkura secretly has an important sword, the possession of which strengthens the position of those in power. Minamoto Yoshitsune, now an adult, sends one of his lieutenants Yoshioka Kijiro and his wife Okyô to visit Tokiwa Gozen. Kijiro does not like Gozen because he is outraged by the way she accepted Yoshitomo’s defeat and concubinage with Kiyomori. They arrive at the palace at night and find Gozen training in her bow. Kijiro blinded by his indignation, accuses her of treason and approaches to kill her. But with dignity, she reveals her true nature by shooting an arrow in the center of the target, and lifting the target, she shows a portrait of Kiyomori hidden inside. The portrait has been pierced by multiple arrows and Gozen says that every time she shoots, she prays for Kiyomori’s death.
At this moment, Yatsurugi Kageyu rushes forward shouting “Traitor, I am going to report you to my master Kiyomori”. Kageyu is a spy placed there by Kiyomori to watch Gozen. As Kijiro prevents him from leaving, Ôkura appears with a lacquered box containing the famous sword. He begins to dance his usual Noh dance with a fan and the box on his left shoulder when his expression abruptly changes and he transforms himself into a noble in full possession of his means. He gives the sword to Kijiro to pass it on to Yoshitsune as a symbol of the resistance. Kageyu has yet to realize that Ôkura is not feebleminded and he still thinks his actions are a new form of madness. He tries to leave to warn Kiyomori when he suddenly realizes he is in fact witnessing an act of high treason. He rushes for the door, but Okura takes a halberd, stabs him, and beheads him. Okura confesses that he has sworn to kill Kiyomori and that with Gozen’s help they will succeed. He then shows his true colors and nobility, says he killed a spy but there may be others. He then resumes his role of idiot and begins the masquerade again, playing with the head of the beheaded spy.