Background Information This play is based on the classic novel of the same title “Genji Monogatari /The Tale of Genji” that was written in eleventh century by Murasaki Shikibu. Its hero is Hikaru Genji who is the second son of the emperor Kiritsubo. The themes are Hikaru's love affair and political strife. If you would like to know more information, please look at 'Genji Monogatari' May 2000. Story Hikaru is the second son of the emperor Kiritsubo. His mother who was a woman of comparatively low rank had died, when he was 3. After Hikaru's mother had died, the emperor got other woman, Lady Fujitsubo, who was resemble Hikaru's mother. Hikaru and Lady Fujitsubo fell in love secretly, and Lady Fujitsubo had Hikaru's son. Before Kiritsubo died, he abdicated his throne to his first son Suzaku, and made the son who Lady Fujitsubo gave birth be the crown prince, Togu. And Kiritsubo made Hikaru be a guardian of Togu. The emperor Suzaku had a mistress Lady Oborozukiyo who was an ex-lover of Hikaru. But Hikaru and Lady Oborozukiyo fell in love again. Their love affair was accused by Suzaku's mother. Before Hikaru lost everything by force, he left his political position, and went to Suma with a few retainers. Hikaru is 26 now. Act-1; Suma One year has passed already since Hikaru took residence in Suma. Fishers and women divers work at the beach near the villa that Hikaru lives in. They talk each other that they all are glad of his being there. A shout that was saying someone has killed himself by drowning in the sea is heard. The dead man was Fumio who was a musician in service of Hikaru. It is reported to Hikaru immediately. Fumio parted from his wife and children and followed Hikaru to Suma. He wasn't patient enough to live without his family. All retainers of Hikaru have a longing for the life in Kyoto the same as Fumio. Hikaru is also one of them. One day, the long standing friend of Hikaru, Sanmi-no-Chujo visits to Hikaru at Suma. He used to be called To-no-Chujo, and he has been promoted to the rank of Sanmi. Sanmi-no-Chujo promised to visit to Suma, when Hikaru left from Kyoto. But Hikaru had thought the visiting was impossible. Sanmi-no-Chujo is the son-in-law of Minister of the right who is the political enemy against Hikaru, because Hikaru is the son-in-law of Minister of the Left. Hikaru thinks he doesn't need to hide his real mind to Sanmi-no-Cuhjo. He says that it is painful to live in Suma alone. And he says that sometimes he thinks that he would like to live as a monk of Buddhism, unless he killed himself. Hikaru stopped killing himself, because he thought that many mistresses were waiting for his coming back to Kyoto. He has been thinking that his unhappy life was caused by his previous existence. Sanmi-no-Chujo brought two letters. One of them was from Hikaru's legitimate wife Lady Murasaki, and the other was from Lady Fujitsubo. Both of them wrote that they were waiting for his coming back to Kyoto as soon as possible. Of course Hikaru is glad of both of two letters, but he feels glad of the letter from Lady Fujitsubo more than from Lady Murasaki. Sanmi-no-Chujo tells about present Kyoto. After Hikaru left from Kyoto, the Minister of the Right and his faction abuse their political authority. And the emperor Suzaku has gotten an eye ailment. People have been thinking that all of the unhappy matters were caused as the punishment by falsely accused Hikaru. But Hikaru doesn't have any grudge at the emperor. Several days later, Suma has a thunderstorm. Even the exorcist's prayer cannot stop the downpours with thunderbolts. When a thunderbolt hits Hikaru's residence, he sees the ghost of the former emperor Kiritsubo standing in the smoke. Even after Kiritsubo died, he has been worried about his son Hikaru. Kiritsubo says that Hikaru should leave from Suma immediately getting on a ship that will come from other place. And Kiritsubo says that he will go to Kyoto in order to talk with the emperor Suzaku. Hikaru shouts to take him with Kiritsubo to Kyoto, but Kiritsubo has disappeared already. The thunderstorm has gone next day. Akashi-no-Nyudo who was a former provincial governor of Akashi sends a ship to meet Hikaru. Nyudo invites Hikaru to Akashi. Hikaru decides to go to Akashi in order to follow the words of his father Kiritsubo. Act-2; Akashi The ship has taken Hikaru to Akashi. And it has passed a month, after he arrived to Akashi. Hikaru has been living in Nyudo's residence that was made in like Kyoto style. He enjoys his life at Akashi. Nyudo has a daughter, Lady Akashi who is a highly educated beauty. The provincial governor thought that he wanted Lady Akashi to marry with his son before. Nyudo refused it and said that he didn't intend to give her to anyone, even the provincial governor's son, except a noble. When Hikaru hears it, he is interested in the daughter Lady Akashi. Hikaru thinks that he might have come to Akashi in order to meet her, because he is a real noble. Nyudo visits to Hikaru, and talks about his daughter Lady Akashi. Finally he says that 'On the night of the full moon ...' The full moon night has come. Hikaru visits to Lady Akashi, but she says nothing. She looks refusing Hikaru. He used to love intractable women at Kyoto. Hikaru thinks that love affair should be difficult. Hikaru decides to get Lady Akashi. Then he has done. In Kyoto, Sanmi-no-Chujo visits to Hotaru-Hyobukyo who is one of Hikaru's half brothers. Both Sanmi-no-Chujo and Hotaru-Hyobukyo has been worried about Hikaru very much. Hotaru-Hyobukyo says that he will go to the imperial palace in order to talk with the emperor Suzaku about Hikaru. They both goes to the imperial palace. The enperor Suzaku is almost blind now. He recalls that the ghost of his father Kiritsubo appeared on his dream one night. Kiritsubo said that Suzaku didn't follow his last will. It means that Hikaru has been exiled. Suzaku was going to hate Hikaru, because he robbed of Lady Oborozukiyo's mind. She is a mistress of Suzaku. But Suzaku couldn't hate Hikaru, and he couldn't give any punishment to Lady Oborozukiyo. Suzaku feels sad, because he knows that Lady Oborozukiyo loves Hikaru still now. But Suzaku make Lady Oborozukiyo stay in the palace. Sanmi-no-Chujo and Hotaru-Hyobukyo come to the imperial palace. They wants the emperor's clemency for Hikaru. Suzaku says that he has forgiven Hikaru already. And Suzaku gives the written clemency to pardon Hikaru to them. They thank Suzaku very much. Sanmi-no-Chujo visits to Lady Murasaki at the Nijoin palace. Lady Murasaki complains to Sanmi-no-Chujo, because Hikaru sent her a letter that he confessed about his new lover Lady Akashi. Sanmi-no-Chujo talks about the emperor's writing, and Lady Murasaki knows that her husband Hikaru will come to Kyoto in a month. Lady Murasaki is glad very much. Akashi, again. Hikaru will leave from Akashi today. He is worried about Lady Akashi, because she is pregnant now. Hikaru recalls that a person who claimed to have psychic powers told him she thought Hikaru would have a daughter in the future. And she says that his daughter would marry to the most noble man, an emperor. Hikaru thinks that he might have met Lady Akashi in order to get a daughter. Hikaru promises that he visits to Akashi again in order to take Lady Akashi and her baby girl to Kyoto. Then Hikaru leaves from Akashi to come back to Kyoto. Act-3; Kyoto Hikaru has returned to Kyoto after three years of exile. His coming back made people be happy. Eyes of the emperor Suzaku has recovered. Suzaku celebrates for Hikaru's reinstatement at the imperial palace. It means Hikaru's comeback to the central political circle. And he becomes very busy. Lady Akashi has a baby girl. Akashi-no-Nyudo decided to divorce his wife in order to make her accompany Lady Akashi to Kyoto. Nyudo will devote himself to Buddhist services and training in the mountains. Nyudo's wife accepts her husband's wish, and she takes her daughter and granddaughter to Kyoto. Then, they live in Saga near Kyoto. Sometimes Hikaru visits there. One day, Hikaru asks Lady Murasaki to perform the role of tying a sash around the daughter of Lady Akashi at the ceremony for children. HIkaru thinks that his daughter needs a high-ranking woman for the role. Lady Murasaki has known that Hikaru wishes that Lady Akashi's daughter be brought up by Lady Murasaki, a high-ranking sophisticated woman. Lady Murasaki accepts everything that her husband wishes. After that, Hikaru visits to Saga in order to take his daughter to the Nijoin palace. Lady Akashi feels it very sad, but she agrees with Hikaru finally. Hikaru leaves from Saga holding his daughter. Lady Akashi and her mother look at the little girl leaving. Snow falls on everyone there like their sorrow. The play finishes at this scene, but the story has continued.
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