Series
18 kabuki plays
Series Number
01
Title in English
Fuwa
Title in Japanese
不破 Fuwa
Title in French
Fuwa
The play
Fuwa was created in Edo in 1680 with Ichikawa Danjuro I in the lead role. The play features the first and most famous “Sayaate” (鞘当)(rivalry in love) scene which requires the use of two hanamichi for the simultaneous entrance of both lovers.
The story
Here the two rivals Nagoya Sanza and Fuwa Banzaemon (wearing a basket-hat) are confronting each other to win the love of the courtesan Katsuragi. It starts when their swords scabbards touch, an very offensive move and escalates into a full blown quarrel. Fuwa is played very rarely, but Sayaate has become a separate play which is regularly staged.
Additional information
| Publish Date | 1931 |
|---|---|
| First Edition Size | Unknown |
| Format | Shikishiban |
| Publisher | Gekishokankokai 劇画刊行会 |
| Carver | Ôkura Hanbei III (1890-1970) |
| Printer | Shinmi Yohei (1885-1935) |
