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Background Information

This is one of the plays written by Mishima Yukio and it was performed first in 1954. It is called New Kabuki. Mishima Yukio is one of the most famous writers in Japan. The play takes its thema from a story in "Otogi Zoshi" that was a collection of ancient anecdotes.

Story

Scene:Gojo Bridge, Kyoto

Saru-Genji is a young sardine-vender whose voice in calling out traditional vendor’s call is particularly melodies. But recently his voice hasn't been good. Because he has fallen in love with an unknown woman who was riding in a fine palanquin one evening.

His father Ebina passes through by Gojo Bridge and meets gambler Rokurozaemon who is leading a fine horse. Ebina asks to Rokurozaemon how his son Saru-Genji is recently. Rokurosaemon doesn't answer the question directly and he has gone. Saru-Genji comes on the scene. His vender's calling is so weak.

Ebina is irritated so much. Saru-Genji tells of his love for the unknown woman which has caused him to languish. He says that the unknown woman's name is Hotarubi, and that he thinks she must be of high rank or she must be a court lady. Ebina knew it is the name of a highly accomplished courtesan. It is impossible that a humble sardine vendor would approach her.

But Ebina is an enterprising man. He decides to set up his son as a visiting daimyo lord, and puts him astride the fine horse that has been brought around by Rokurozaemon. Rokurozaemon is set up as the chief retainer, and fellow fish-vendors are to act as the lord's companions. Then they are going to go to see Hotarubi.

Scene:Hotarubi's room at Higashi Toin

A daimyo lord called Utsunomiya Danjo has come to Higashi Toin. The company is beautiful very much, but it is Saru-Genji disguised. There are beautiful geishas there but nobody notices it. He asks if Hotarubi is there. Then Hotarubi appears on the stage. He is asked to tell a tale of battle exploits, and makes up an appropriately amusing story incorporating the names of all the fish.

He drinks a lot and he is getting to sleep. All of his company and geishas have gone, and there are Saru-Genji and Hotarubi left on the stage. Saru-Genji begins to mumble in his sleep. Hotarubi is surprised to listen to his mumbling of the sardine-vendor's call. She hastily wakens him and questions him about it. Saru-Genji makes up some tale to cover his slipup.

Hotarubi unaccountbly begins to weep.She tells the story of how she has become a courtesan. Many years ago she had been the princess of Tankaku Castle. One day she heard the beautiful voice of a sardine-vendor in the street far. She had never heard such a beautiful voice, so she escaped from the castle alone. But she hadn't been able to catch up with it.

Meanwhile she lost her way and was picked up by a slave-trader who sold her as a geisha. She remembered the vendor's voice in her heart deeply. She thought that she could have caught the vendor when she had heard Saru-Genji's voice. As he wasn't the vendor, she is crying.

She decides she must kill herself. Saru-Genji tells her the truth that the vendor was him. But she refuses to believe him. Then Ebina, Rokurozaemon, and others rush to the scene to prove the truth of Saru-Genji's telling.. The lovers are happily united, but the problem is left to pay off the geisha's ransom. It is about 20,000,000yen in current worth.

As they are wondering where to acquire such a large money, Jirota who is a retainer of Hotarubi's parents comes carrying enough money. He was ordered to look for Hotarubi by her parents. Hotarubi has gotten free. Jirota asks Hotarubi to return to the castle, but she says that she wants to get married with Saru-Genji, and that she doesn't return to the castle. Then Saru-Genji and Hotarubi take their hands happily.

And they all lives happily ever after.

The end.