Figures of Showa stage #11 – The actor Nakamuro Ganjiro I as Kamiya Jihei in “Love suicide at Amijima”

Series
Figures of Showa Stage

Series Number
11

Title in English
Figures of Showa stage #11 – The actor Nakamuro Ganjiro I as Kamiya Jihei in “Love suicide at Amijima”

Title in Japanese
紙治 – 初代中村鴈治郎丈 昭和舞台姿 その十一　
Showa Butai Sugata 11 – Kamiya Jihei Nakamura Ganjiro I

Title in French
Portraits de la scène de Showa No.11 – Acteur Kitamura Ganjiro I dans le role de Kamiya Jihei dans “Suicide d’amour à Amijima”

The play
The play “Shinju ten no Amijima” (Love Suicide at Amijima) was originally written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653-1724) for the Bunraku Puppet Theater and first performed in Osaka in 1720. It is based on a real story, the double love suicide of a paper merchant and a courtesan of the reserved quarter. The play was adapted to kabuki in 1721 and premiered the same year in Edo at the Moritaza Theater. The play has three acts.

This is the desperate love between a married man and a courtesan who struggle with their sense of duty, propriety and money problems until the final tragedy. The title of this piece is a play on words between Amijima (where the suicide takes place) and Ten no Ami (Heaven’s net) referring to a Chinese proverb by Lao Tzu, “Nothing slips through Heaven’s net” i.e. the guilty cannot escape the law. But here those who pray in Amijima (net island, that is, caught in Buddha’s net) will be saved.

The story
Act I Kawasho – Jihei, a paper merchant is married to Osan and they have two young children. He is in love with the courtesan Koharu of the Kinokuniya house in Osaka. She has just received a letter from Osan begging her to end their relationship. Another courtesan encourages her to take Tahei, a wealthy merchant, as lover. Tahei has offered to buy the contract between Koharu and Kinokuniya, but Koharu refuses and when Tahei hears this, he threatens her and curses Jihei in his absence. A samurai enters, also abused by Tahei, and the samurai expels him. The samurai tries to find out if she plans to kill herself with Jihei, but she tells him that she is giving up the idea, thinking about her family and friends and asks him to become his client. Jihei who was walking around the restaurant is outraged when he sees Koharu with another customer and hears her talk like that. He draws his sword and slashes through the paper wall. The samurai grabs his arm and ties him to the window. Tahei, who was passing by at the time, takes the opportunity to attack Jihei. The samurai intervenes, saves Jihei’s life and removes his head cloth. Surprise, it is Magoemon, Jihei’s older brother. He asks him to break off the love affair with Koharu and Jihei pretends to do so, promising to return all of Koharu’s letters. But the knowing looks they exchange make it clear that they have not given up on their resolution to die together.

Act II – At Kamiya Jihei’s house – Ten days later, Osan is busy at home while Jihei takes care of the accounts. Magoemon enters and informs her that someone is going to buy the contract that binds Koharu to House Kinokuniya. Jihei says it’s probably Tahei and Mogaemon leaves. Jihei starts to cry, but Osan is not fooled and realizes Koharu is thinking about killing herself. She tells Jihei that she wrote to Koharu and gives him all of her savings to buy out the contract. Jihei is relieved to see that Koharu has not given up on their plan, but is worried for his wife and children. Gozaemon, Osan’s father arrives, speaks harshly to Jihei, collects the money and leaves with Osan. Osan’s suffering shared between her children and her husband is the highlight of this play.

Act III – Michiyuki (travels) – The next day, Jihei and Koharu manage to escape Magoemon’s surveillance and meet in a tea house. Under the moonlight, the lovers leave through the city, crossing many bridges, a symbolic descent into hell. At dawn they climb the steps to Daicho-ji temple in Amijima as if they are ascending to Paradise. Their last gesture is to cut their hair in homage to Osan, then Jihei stabs Koharu and hangs himself with her sash.