a

　　　　Dance Drama

Background Information

'Funa Benkei' was written by Kawatake Mokuami as a nagauta dance drama. It was first performed in 1885. Some Kabuki plays are from Noh, and they are performed on the stage that is made like a Noh stage. They are called 'Matsubame-mono'. 'Funa Benkei' is one of them.

This is performed dividing into the two dance parts. A professional dancer, Shizuka plays as a main character the first half. She is a mistress of Minamoto-no Yoshitsune who is a commander of the Genji clan. A vengeful spirit, Taira-no Tomomori plays as a main character the second half. He was a commander of the Heike clan, and was an enemy of Yoshitsune. Tomomori has died in 1185 at the Dannoura battle that was the final battle of the Genji-Heike clan war.

Shizuka and Tomomori, both of them are performed by the one actor. Audiences can enjoy two characters of the one actor at the one play. This dance drama starts after the Dannoura battle finished.

Cast

Story

After the Genji clan extinguished the Heike clan at the Dannoura battle, Minamoto-no Yoshitsune who is a commander of the Genji army has been cornered. Minamono-no Yoritomo, an elder brother of Yoshitsune, decided to exclude Yoshitsune from the Genji clan. Yoritomo thought that Yoshitsune was too able as a combat commander, and that Yoshitsune might become the next enemy of him. Yoshitsune will get away from his brother to Kyushu on a sea route. Benkei who is the first retainer of Yoshitsune is waiting for his master Yoshitsune at the port Ohmonoura.

Yoshitsune and the big four of him arrived to an inn where Benkei was waiting. His mistress Shizuka, a professional dancer, came there together, and she is in another room now. Benkei suggests to Yoshitsune to make Shizuka go back to Kyoto. Yoshitsune agrees with Benkei. Yoshitsune has been thinking that it wasn't a good matter for Shizuka to go with him. His company has gotten away from the enemy, and they will be in the battle in the near future. There is no choice anymore. That's why he accepted Benkei's proposal.

Benkei meets Shizuka, and says that she has to go back to Kyoto alone. Shizuka is surprised very much, and says she would like to answer to Yoshitsune directly. Benkei takes her to Yoshitsune's room. Yoshitsune talks silently, and Shizuka accepts to leave from him unwillingly. Yoshitsune requests Shizuka to show a farewell dance.

Shizuka wears a formal headwear of Yoshitsune, and starts dancing beautifully. When Shizuka finishes dancing, the headwear falls down from her head. She feels that it might be an evil signal. Shizuka leaves there bringing a formal headwear as a memento of Yoshitsune. Yoshitsune had almost stopped her departure, but his retainers didn't allow him of it.

Then a head boatman comes there, and says that he has finished to ready of a boat. Yoshitsune's company boards the boat, and begin their trip of getting away. Sky has been covered by cloud suddenly, and strong winds and wild waves attack the boat. Yoshitsune and his retainers find many ghosts over there. The ghosts seem the dead spirit of the Heike clan people. One of them goes heading to the boat. It's a vengeful spirit of Taira-no Tomomori.

Tomomori's vengeful spirit dances angrily, and Yoshitsune and his retainers tries to defend with a sword. However Benkei knew that there is no method to fight against an evil spirit except praying. As a result, Tomomori's vengeful spirit is eliminated by Benkei's praying. Tomomori's vengeful spirit and the other ghosts disappear into the waves. (2002,6,8)