Figures of Showa stage #7 – Nakamura Utaemon V in the role of Masaoka in “Meiboku Sendai Hagi”

Series
Figures of Showa Stage

Series Number
7

Title in English
Figures of Showa stage #7 – Nakamura Utaemon V in the role of Masaoka in “Meiboku Sendai Hagi”

Title in Japanese
政岡（五世中村歌右衛門丈） 昭和舞台姿　その七
Showa utai Sugata 7 – Masaoka Nakamura Utaemon V

Title in French
Portraits de la scène de Showa No.7. Nakamura Utaemon V dans le rôle de la gouvernante Masaoka dans “Meiboku Sendai Hagi”

The play
The play « Meiboku Sendai hagi” is based on a real event during the succession conflict in the Date clan of Sendai in the North of Japan. The play was written in 1777 and has been modified in the 19th century for censorship reasons, relocating the action in the Ashikaga clan in the 15th century. The names of the main characters have also been modified with Lord Date Tsunamune becoming Ashikaga Norikane. The play is made of 3 acts and 6 scenes. This play is one of the most popular thanks to Masaoka’s sacrifice and impassibility in front of her son’s murder and Nikki Danjo’s wizardry and tricks.

The Japanese title contains a series of puns. The characters for meiboku refer to a famous aromatic wood, suggesting the expensive clogs said to be worn by Yorikane when he visits the pleasure quarters. Sendai hagi is Japanese bush clover, which, though written with different characters, is a symbol of Sendai City. Thus, while the title literally reads “Fragrant Wood and Japanese Bush Clover”, it is also a sly reference to the dissolute ways of the leader of the Sendai clan.

The story