Background Information

'Sasaki Takatsuna' was written by novelist-playwright Okamoto Kido (1872-1939), that was first performed in 1914. Sasaki Takatsuna was a warrior of the Genji clan. The Genji clan and the Heike clan had fought each other for long years, and the Genji clan beat the Heike clan finally. After that, Minamoto-no Yoritomo who was a master of the Genji clan started Kamakura shogunate government in 1192.

Cast

Story

Takatsuna's Residence

Sasaki Takatsuna is looking at his fine horse Ikezuki that is taken care of by a young hostler Nenosuke. Minamoto-no Yoritomo gave Ikezuki to Takatsuna at the battle of Ujigawa in 1184. Ikezuki was well known as a fine horse, and Takatsuna could reach the enemy first at that battle. However the war has finished already, so there is no chance to fight with Ikezui anymore. It makes Takatsuna sad. Takatsuna orders Nenosuke to take Ikezuki to a horse barn. Ikezuki doesn't go to a horse barn easily, so Takatsuna thinks that Ikezuki has dissatisfaction like him.

Usuginu who is a daughter of Takatsuna comes home bringing a priest, Chizan. The priest Chizan is on the way going back to Mt. Koya that is a sacred mountain of Buddhism. Takatsuna meets to Chizan, and asks him to make a memorial service to Nenosuke's father. Takatsuna confesses his old crime.

When Yoritomo took up his army in Izu, Takatsuna hurried in order to join the Genji army. Takatsuna met a hostler on the way to Izu. Takatsuna needed to arrive to Izu as soon as possible, nevertheless he didn't have a horse at the time. Takatsuna killed a hostler to get his horse unwillingly. As a result, Takatsuna managed to arrive to Izu in time at the first battle.

After that, Takatsuna had regretted for it very much, so he searched for that hostler's family. Takatsuna found that hostler's son, Nenosuke finally. Takatsuna asked Nenosuke to work for him in a good condition. But Nenosuke would have liked to work as a hostler, because he was a hostler like his father. Takatsuna accepted it, and Nenosuke has worked there as a hostler after that. Takatsuna killed Nenosuke's father in August 2, 1180. Takatsuna has asked a priest walking near his residence to make a memorial service to Nenosuke's father on the same day in every month since that time.

The priest Chizan thinks that it is a good story, but that Nenosuke might do the vendetta of father. Chizan asks about it to Takatsuna. Takatsuna says that there is no problem, because Nenosuke works for him really honestly. Chizan says that Takatsuna has embodied the way of Buddhism. Takatsuna asks Chizan why dishonest people are allowed to act high-handedly, or honest people are oppressed in this world. Chizan says that that is a reason why Buddhism monks pray in order to help the honest people. The memorial service has been ready, and Takatsuna and Chizan go to an altar room.

Sasaki Kotaro, a son of Takatsuna's elder brother Moritsuna, comes there. Usuginu comes there, and says to Kotaro that Takatsuna is praying in a memorial service now. Kotaro decides to wait until it finishes, and he starts talking with Usuginu. Kotaro is a fiance of Usuginu.

Yoritomo started Kamakura shogunate government in 1192. He departed from Kamakura to Kyoto in order to meet emperor as the first shogun. Yoritomo ordered the Genji warriors who live near a main road to guard his party. And his party is coming near Takatsuna's residence soon. Moritsuna ordered Kotaro to make Takatsuna depart with him to guard Yoritomo's party as soon as possible. Moritsuna has departed last night already. Moritsuna and Kotaro tried to depart with Takatsuna many times, but he never did it. Usuginu says that her father Takatsuna get angry very easily recently. They both worry about Takatsuna.

The memorial service has finished. Takatsuna comes there, and Kotaro says Yoritomo's party is coming near there. Kotaro asks Takatsuna to go to guard Yoritomo, but he doesn't intend to depart with Kotaro. And he starts talking why he wouldn't like to go to guard Yoritomo.

Yoritomo, the Genji army had beaten the Heike army at the first battle, but they lost the next battle, the battle of Ishibashiyama. Takatsuna became a substitute of Yoritomo at the time, and Yoritomo could get away from the battle field. Yoritomo appreciated Takatsuna very much, and he promised to give the half land of Japan. And Takatsuna reached to enemy first at the battle of Ujigawa. That was great enough to receive lots of reward. However, Yoritomo doesn't seem to do anything. Yoritomo gave just some poor lands to Takatsuna.

Takatsuna wants Yoritomo to estimate him fairly. But Yoritomo ignores Takatsuna, and Yoritomo's attendants give to Takatsuna even an advice that it is better doing what Yoritomo wants him to do. Takatsuna has many dissatisfactions and gets angry with everything. Kotaro feels that it might be a very sorry matter. But if Takatsuna didn't go to guard Yoritomo, there could happen something wrong to Sasaki clan. So Kotaro says the same thing again and again. Takatsuna refuses it, and shouts 'What a troublesome thing the clan is!' Takatsuna leaves there. Kotaro also leaves there in order to ready to guard Yoritomo. Kotaro must go even if Takatsuna didn't go.

Then Omino comes there to meet Nenosuke. She is an elder sister of Nenosuke, and she intends to make Nenosuke do the vendetta of their father as soon as possible. Nenosuke comes there, but he doesn't intend to do the vendetta. When Nenosuke met Takastuna at the first time, Takatsuna apologized of his crime. Nenosuke thinks that Takatsuna had no lie at the time. Even if Nenosuke did the vendetta, his father must not revive again. Omino gets angry with Nenosuke, and says that she didn't even marry in order to do the vendetta of their father, and that she can't give up it anymore. She takes a dagger out to do the vendetta herself. Someone is coming there, and Nenosuke takes Omino into the horse barn to hide her immediately.

Kotaro who has armed comes there. Takatsuna also comes there, but he is wearing clothes of a traveling monk. Everyone is very surprised. Takatsuna says that he throws everything away, the clan, power, money, and glory. Yoritomo does things that he wants to do, and Takatsuna does things that he wants to do. Takatsuna says that his action is the same as Kumagai Jiro Naozane who became a priest suddenly.

Takatsuna says that he doesn't get awakened spiritually. He is just tired of everything. Chizan says that it would be also a kind of spiritual awaking of Buddhism. And Takatsuna intends to go to Mt. Koya as a monk with his new master Chizan. Takatsuna makes Chizan ride on Ikezuki, and he takes a horse bit to lead it on foot. Then Omino dashes to Takatsuna to kill him with her dagger. Takatsuna dodges her easily, and says that there is another one who couldn't get awakened spiritually. Takatsuna departs to Mt. Koya. (2002,9,7)