Kagekiyo

Series
18 kabuki plays

Series Number
10

Title in English
Kagekiyo

Title in Japanese
景清 Kagekiyo

Title in French
Kagekiyo

The play
The drama “Kagekiyo” was staged for the first time in 1732 in Edo under the title “drama “Ôichô Sakae Kagekiyo”. It was forgotten, but was played again at the beginning of the 20th century, then was revived in 2014 in a newly-created drama, which was entitled “Kotohoide Mimasu Kagekiyo”, created by mixing scenes and elements coming from the four plays based on Kagekiyo.

The story
The powerful Heike warrior Akushichibyoe Kagekiyo is captured and imprisoned by his enemies, the Minamoto clan. He uses his superhuman strength to smash his way out of his prison cell, and then struggles with his enemies in a violent and spectacular fight-scene (tachimawari) brandishing a large beam of wood which has been his weapon of defence.