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Background Information

'Yowa Nasake Ukina-no Yokogushi' was written by Segawa Joko, and first performed in 1853. This play has nine acts originally, but only two acts, 'Misome' and 'Genjidana', are played now. Kabukiza Theater showed the third act, 'Akama's villa', this time, so it became understandable better.

Story

Act-1

Scene; Kisarazu Beach - Misome

Cast

Yosaburo is an adopted son of a wealthy merchant family, Izuya. After he was adopted, his step-parents got a real son, Yogoro. Although everyone thought that it was no problem that Yosaburo inherits Izuya, Yosaburo thought that Yogoro should inherit it. Yosaburo has been spending a life of debauchery intentionally. As a result, Yosaburo is under the protection of a relative now. Yosaburo is waiting for the time that his step-parents throw him away.

Today, Yosaburo comes to Kisarazu beach with Kingoro who is a friend of his step-father. Kingoro hands a letter to Yosaburo. It was from Yogoro. He is worried about his step-brother very much. And Kingoro also worries about him. Kingoro tries to change Yosaburo's mind, but he doesn't intend to inherit of Izuya. Yosaburo thinks that he could have chosen the wrong way, but that he had no method except spending a debauchery life.

Then, a profession comic storyteller, Gogyotei Aisho comes there. Aisho says to Yosaburo that there is a mistress of a local gambler, Akama Genemon on a beach, and that she is really beautiful. And Aisho goes away.

Otomi who was a geisha is now a mistress of a local gambler, Akama Genemon. She came to Kisarazu beach to gather shellfish with some companions. When Yosaburo see her, she is leaving from a beach. They go by, and each of them realizes who they are. And they fall in love at first sight. Otomi says seeing Yosaburo that 'there is a very beautiful sight . . . '

Act-2

Scene; Akama's villa

Cast

One night, Akama Genemon went out, and Aisho takes Yosaburo to Akama's villa secretly. After Yosaburo met Otomi at Kisarazu beach, Aisho brought letters between Yosaburo and Otomi. And that night, Yosaburo and Otomi meet directly at last. As soon as they arrive to the villa, Aisho runs away, because he is afraid of Grnemon. Yosaburo calls Otomi with a small voice, and Otomi makes him come into the villa. They starts drinking sake at the beginning, but they have nothing to talk any more. They hold each other.

After a short time, Akama Genemon comes back with his henchmen suddenly. One of Akama's henchmen, Matsugoro informed the secret meeting to Genemon. Yosaburo and Otomi are surprised. Although Otomi managed to get away, Yosaburo is caught. Genemon is furious, and he orders his henchmen to slash Yosaburo, but not to kill. Genemon's men slash Yosaburo's body all around, and Yosaburo feels a terrible pain and asks to kill him. Genemon doesn't accept it, and he orders to tie Yosaburo with rope and throw him into sea.

Matsugoro chases Otomi, and cornered her at top of the cliff. Matsugoro loves Otomi, so he asks her to get away together. Of course Otomi refuses it. Matsugoro gets angry with her, and says that Yosaburo is killed by now. Otomi is disappointed, and she jumps into sea.

Act-3

Scene; Otomi's house at Genjidana

Cast

Three years later, and Otomi has been alive. Just after Otomi jumped into sea, she was survived by Tazaemon who was boating at the time. Tazaemon was a general manager of the big store, Izumiya. After that, Otomi has lived in Tazaemon's residence.

When Otomi comes back from a public bath on one rainy night, she finds Tohachi who is a clerk of Izumiya waiting out the sudden rain under the fence of her house. Otomi says Tohachi to wait in her house until the rain goes by. Otomi starts to make her face up in her living room. Tohachi sees it and thinks that she is really erotic. Tohachi makes a play for Otomi, but she refuses him softly. And Otomi makes Tohachi's face up with her cosmetics.

Then, Komori-Yasu comes to Otomi's house with his new friend, Kirare-Yosa who covers his head and cheeks with a towel. Komori-Yasu used to work for Izumiya, but he was fired a few years ago, because he wasn't a good worker. Komori-Yasu is now a hooligan, and he intends to threaten Otomi tonight. Tohachi is afraid of Komori-Yasu, so he gets away from the room. Komori-Yasu says that his friend was injured in fighting, and that he would like to take him to a hot spring. Kirare-Yosa shows his many injuries. And Komori-Yasu asks Otomi to give some money for his friend. Otomi thinks that she has nothing to be threatened, because she isn't a mistress of Tazaemon. Otomi lives in Tazaemon's residence like a younger sister of him. However, Otomi feels that it is troublesome to refuse to give money, so she gives some money to Komori-Yasu.

Komori-Yasu accepts it, and he says his friend to leave there together. Komori-Yasu's friend, Kirare-Yosa didn't say anything until then. But he says Komori-Yasu to leave there alone, and he says that he won't leave there, because everything of Otomi's house is his. Kirare-Yosa takes a towel from his head, and Otomi finds that he is Yosaburo.

Otomi is surprised very much, and is very glad that he is alive. However, Yosaburo isn't glad to see Otomi. After the Kisarazu matter, Yosaburo was very unhappy and unlucky unfortunately. Yosaburo has known that Otomi was alive even as a mistress of a rich man, and he became to want to complain to her. Otomi says that she lives in Tazaemon's residence just like a younger sister of him. Otomi has never had a sexual relationship with Tazaemon, and she says that she still loves Yosaburo. Yosaburo doesn't believe it.

Then, Tazaemon comes back. Tazaemon asks Otomi who Yosaburo is. Otomi introduces Yosaburo to Tazaemon as a brother. Tazaemon understands what happened. Tazaemon knows Komori-Yasu as a son of an old acquaintance and scolds him. Nevertheless Tazaemon gives money to Komori-Yasu, and says to leave there tonight. Komori-Yasu and Yosaburo accept it, and leave there. Otomi tries to chase Yosaburo, but Tazaemon stops her. A messenger boy comes, and Tazaemon goes back to Izumiya. Before Tazaemon leaves from the house, he hands a charm bag to Otomi.

After that, Otomi opens a charm bag, and finds a letter in it. That letter is written that Tazaemon is her elder brother. She is very surprised. Then, Yosaburo comes back. Otomi says that Tazaemon is her brother. Yosaburo and Otomi are moved very much by Tazaemon's kindness, and they promise to love each other forever. (2003,3,8)