Nanbu-zaka Yuki-no Wakare
Background Information 'Genroku Chushingura' was written by Mayama Seika from 1934 to 1941, and is a long historical play that has 10-volume, 22-act, 43-scene. 'Nanbu-zaka Yuki-no Wakare' is the 6th volume that was first performed in 1938. So-called 'Chushingura' is a drama that is based to a real incident that happened in March 14, 1701. The feudal lord of Ako, Asano Takuminokami tried to slash to Kira Kouzukenosuke in the Edo Castle. Kouzukenosuke didn't die then, but Takuminokami had to do the ritual suicide, hara-kiri. If a lord drew a sword even a little bit in the Edo Castle, regardless of his motive, he had to do the ritual suicide at that time. His retainers became lord-less retainers. The 47 ex-retainers made a raid on the mansion of Kouzukenosuke to kill him for the revenge of their lord. And they have been known as 'the 47 loyal retainers' for a long time. They achieved the revenge that was called 'Uchiiri' in December 14, 1702. However, Tokugawa shogunate government ordered them to do the ritual suicide. As a result, they all were killed. That incident is made into many movies, stage plays, and TV-dramas, and 'Genroku Chushingura' is also one of them. Genroku is the name of era like Heisei. Story
Act-1 After Lord Asano Takuminokami has died by the ritual suicide, his ex-retainers is planning to revenge secretly. Some elderly ex-retainers of Ako come to Sengakuji Temple in order to visit to a grave of their lord. They meet Hagura Itsuki who is a scholar there. Itsuki doesn't know they are planning a vendetta, so he is very disappointed that Oishi Kuranosuke who is the ex-chief retainer of Ako seems to do no action. A son of Itsuki's wet nurse, Kayano Sanpei has done suicide in January 14. Sanpei was an ex-retainer of Ako and he was one of the members of the vendetta. Sanpei's father tried to let him work for other lord, but he couldn't make a pretext to refuse it, because the vendetta should be secret. Sanpei was cornered between the duty for his father and the loyalty for his ex-lord Asano. As a result, Sanpei has killed himself. Itsuki expects the ex-retainers of Ako to do the vendetta, and he intends to help it instead of Sanpei. Actually, Itsuki gave the sketch of a mansion of Kira Kozukenosuke, but Kuranosuke did nothing. Itsuki says to the elderly ex-retainers that he has a plan to kill Kira now. And he leaves there instead of Sanpei in order to visit to a grave of Lord Asano. The ex-retainers of Ako have followed him. Then, Oishi Kuranosuke visits to a grave of Lord Asano. The elderly ex-retainers talk about the plan that they heard from Itsuki. They say that Itsuki will invite Kira to a party to kill him. However, Kuranosuke refuses it, because he thinks that it isn't a respectable action as a bushi to make a plot to kill Kira. He says that it must be just a murder. Itsuki comes there, and he says to Kuranosuke; 'How foolish you are!' Itsuki leaves there, but Kuranosuke says nothing. It is snowing silently. Act-2 Lord Asano Takuminokami was the lord of the Ako-Asano clan, and his wife Aguri was a princess of the Miyoshi-Asano clan. There was a blood relationship between Takuminokami and Aguri. After Lord Asano had died, Aguri came back to the Miyoshi-Asano residence. Aguri has cut hair to become a nun, and she is called Yozeiin now. Today is the day of the annual yearend cleanup at the Asano residence. After the cleanup finished, the attendants of Lady Yozeiin talk about Oishi Kuranosuke. Although they all expect Kuranosuke to do the vendetta of Lord Asano, they aren't sure if he would really do it. Then, Kuranosuke himself visits there to meet Yozeiin. He is escorted to Lady Yozeiin's room soon. Scene-2; Lady Yozeiin's room Lady Yozeiin was waiting for Kuranosuke in order to hear about the vendetta of her husband, but he says nothing. Kuranosuke just says good-bye, because he thinks that there might be a spy somewhere. Lady Yozeiin thinks that he doesn't intend to do the vendetta, so that she is disappointed very much. Kuranosuke asks Lady Yozeiin to allow him to burn incense for Lord Asano. Lady Yozeiin refuses it, and says that she is sure that her husband doesn't hope it. Kuranosuke feels very sorry, and he gives his poem to Ochiai who is a retainer of the Miyoshi-Asano clan. And he leaves there alone. Scene-3; Outside the Asano residence When Oishi Kuranosuke goes from a back gate of the Asano residence, he meets Hagura Itsuki who comes there to teach poem to Yozeiin. Itsuki starts talking that he is disappointed of Kuranosuke. He says Kuranosuke is cowardice. Lord Asano died nevertheless Kira is still alive. If Kuranosuke was a loyal retainer, he must do the vendetta. Itsuki says it not because of Sanpei, but because of bushido, samurai spirit. He just would like to see a manifestation of the real Japanese spirit. However Kuransuke seems to do nothing for his dead lord. Itsuki says that Kuranosuke is nothing but cowardice. He kicks Kuranosuke and goes into a back gate of the Asano residence. Kuranosuke slips out into the snow. Just after that, Ochiai comes there running from a back gate of the Asano residence. The poem that Kuranosuke gave to Ochiai was a secret covenant under joint signature of the vendetta. It shows that Kuranosuke will do the vendetta really, and that he must die. The window of the Asano residence opens, and Lady Yozeiin is there. Yozeiin says that her husband is fortunate in having a retainer like Kuranosuke. Kuranosuke says nothing, and stands up silently in order to leave there. That is the previous day of the incident, which the loyal retainers raid on the mansion of Kira in order to kill him in December 14. It is snowing silently. (2002,4,6)
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