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'The Last Day of Oishi' From 'Genroku Chushingura'

Background Information

This play was written by Mayama Seika in 1934, based to the real incident. It made a hit, and after that Seika wrote the other episodes of that incident. And they made a long drama called 'Genroku Chushingura'. This play, 'Oishi Saigo no Ichinichi/The Last Day of Oishi', showed the last day of Oishi Kuranosuke, the chief retainer of the Lord Asano.

That incident happened at Edo Castle in 1701, and it caused the famous vendetta in 1702. Emperor sent an imperial messenger to the shogunate government, and Asano Takuminokami, the Lord of Ako, was in charge of seeing to the messenger's comfort and entertainment while he stayed in Edo (Tokyo) in 1701. Kira Kozukenosuke was the most important the Lord who was in charge of the ritual matters of the shogunate government. Kira should have given advices to Asano, but Kira didn't take care of Asano. Moreover, Kira gave a harassing to Asano.

March 14, 1701, Asano tried to kill Kira with his sword at the Edo Castle. But Asano couldn't kill Kira, because a retainer of a shogun stopped him. Kira was given just a small wound on his forehead. Asano was restricted right away, and the shogunate government ordered him to do the ritual suicide, harakiri. But Kira wasn't given any punishment then.

After that, Asano's feudal land Ako was forfeited, and all his retainers became the Lord-less retainers. Some of them had been planning the vendetta of their lord secretly, and they did it in December 14, 1702. The 47 ex-retainers attacked Kira's mansion at the snowy midnight. It was a surprise raid completely. They searched for Kira, a person who had a small wound on his forehead that Asano gave to him. And they could kill Kira finally.

After they killed Kira, they brought his severed head to Sengakuji temple. Their lord Asano had been buried there. It was already next morning, and people applauded of them on the way to the temple. The shogunate government restricted them with respect. The 47 ex-retainers were divided to four groups, and were confined leniently at the four the Lords' mansion for two months. Each the Lord treated them well.

Story

Scene-1; Center room of Hosokawa's residence

Cast

February 4 in 1703. After the vendetta, the 46 ex-retainers were divided and confined leniently at the four the Lords' mansion. Although there was the 47 ex-retainers did the vendetta, one of them has been missed. Oishi Kuranosuke who was a chief retainer of the Lord Asano is now in the Lord Hosokawa's residence with the other 16 ex-retainers. Every one seems relax, but they all care of the decision of the shogunate government.

Recently, there is a reputation that the loyal 47 ex-retainers are the real bushi, samurai. People respect them very much, and they are proud of it. However Oishi is worried if they were deluded by that reputation, because he knows that they must die sooner or later. Oishi says that they shouldn't forget the first mind. They had a wish to achieve a matter that their the Lord couldn't do. At the result, they could do it fortunately, but they shouldn't be proud and arrogant of it.

Oishi has one more thing that he worries about. One of the ex-retainers, Isogai Jurozaemon seems to keep a thing secretly. Oishi says Isogai to talk his mind to the others. However, Isogai says that he has no problem. Oishi feels that he doesn't have any method to help Isogai. Oishi thinks that Isogai's problem might hinder his death. Oishi worries if Isogai would be able to die splendidly.

Then, a retainer of the Lord Hosokawa notifies that Naiki who is a son of the Lord will come there soon. A retainer recommends changing their clothes to a formal wear that the Hosokawa clan readied in order to meet Naiki. Oishi refuses it, because he thinks that they are criminals, so that they don't have any capacity to meet a noble person. And Oishi says that it is better to think that Naiki would just see them when he passes a corridor.

Hosokawa Naiki comes there. Naiki asked his father to give him a chance to meet the loyal ex-retainers of Ako, but the Lord Hosokawa didn't allow it. Today, he was allowed to meet them at last. Naiki is excited very much, because he is 15 years old. The youngest warrior, Oishi Chikara who joined the vendetta is the same age as Naiki, 15. Chikara is a son of Oishi Kuranosuke, and he is now in the Lord Matsudaira's residence. Naiki says to Oishi that it is very sorry. He thinks that the shogunate government should have made father and son be together. Naiki knows that they don't have enough time, and that Oishi can't meet his son anymore.

Naiki says that he evaluates their success of the vendetta highly, and that he respects them very much. Naiki asks Oishi to give to him some word to keep it in his mind. Oishi says not to forget his first mind. If a person thought too much, or considered too much, sometimes it would lead things a wrong way. Naiki appreciates it very much. And he promises to become a lord great enough to have retainers like them. Naiki leaves there.

Scene-2; Guardroom of Hosokawa's residence

Cast

After Oishi went to thank for the visiting of Naiki, he drops by the guardroom. There is Horiuchi Denemon, a retainer of the Lord Hosokawa, who has been a friend of Oishi for long years. Horiuchi says that he would like to give tea to Oishi, and a boy brings it. Horiuchi introduces a boy to Oishi like the following; that boy is Shizuma who is a son of Otomeda Mokunoshin, an ex-retainer of the Lord Hosokawa. Horikawa says that Mokunoshin asked him to make Shizuma be near the loyal ex-retainers as a page even if it would be short time. Mokunoshin would like to teach to his son Shizuma what Bushido/samurai's spirit was. Horikawa understood Mokunoshin's thought, so he asks Oishi to accept Shizume as a page. Oishi refuses it, because he can't accept any false thing. Shizuma is a young woman.

Horiuchi and Shizuma are surprised really. Horiuchi apologizes of it, and says that her name is Omino. Omino is a daughter of Otomeda Mokunoshin who is an ex-retainer of the Lord Hosokawa. Mokunoshin hoped to get a good son-in-law. An acquaintance recommended Isogai as a bridegroom of Omino. Mokunoshin was very glad, and he arranged a big celebration party for the new couple. Omino played the koto very well there. After that, Isogai and Omino were going to make an engagement formally. However, Isogai had disappeared.

Mokunoshin was furious. But that vendetta happened; Mokunoshin knew that Isogai was a member of the 47 ex-retainers then. Mokunoshin was very glad, and said to everyone who he knew that Isogai was his son-in-law. Mokunoshin thought that he understood why Isogai was disappeared. However, it was just a feeling of Mokunoshin only. Omino thought that she would like to know Isogai's mind. She wondered if Isogai disguised her in order to do the vendetta. So Omino asked Horiuchi to make her meet Isogai.

Omino asks Oishi to make her meet Isogai. Oishi refuses it, but he has a thing that he wondered. Oishi asks Omino if she gave to Isogai a finger plectrum when she played the koto at the celebration party. Omino answers yes. And she says that she intends to make false be true. Oishi accepts her request.

Isogai comes and is surprised to find Omino there. But Isogai says that he has never known her. Oahis says Isogai to take a finger plectrum out. Isogai is very surprised, because he really keeps it in the bosom. Otomi is very delighted to hear that Isogai has kept her finger plectrum. Omino asks Oishi to say nothing to Isogai anymore. Oishi understands that Omino was satisfaction already. Isogai is suffering. Isogai asks Omino to say to her father Mokunoshin that Jurozaemon is his son-in-law really. And Isogai leaves there.

Scene-3; Drawing room of Hosokawa's residence

Cast

Messengers, Araki Juzaemon and Hisanaga Naiki, from the shogunate government have arrived. All 17 ex-retainers gathered in the drawing room. A messenger Araki reads aloud a decision of the shogunate government. The 46 ex-retainers of the Lord Asano were given the ritual suicide, harakiri. They all accept it calmly. Araki has known Oishi for years, and he sympathizes with them. Araki says that it is a digression but the Kira family will be wiped out. Oishi is very glad to hear it; their vendetta caused the same thing as the Asano family to the Kira family. All of them are sobbing.

Scene-4; Guardroom of Hosokawa's residence again

Cast

The 17 ex-retainers pass the guardroom one by one on the way to the place prepared to commit the ritual suicide. They all are wearing a white death robe. When Oishi passes by there, he finds Omino who is going to die. She has stabbed herself. Isogai comes there, and they both are surprised very much. Omino says that she made false to true. Isogai says that he will follow Omino soon, and he leaves there. The other retainers went to the ritual suicide place already. It is announced that the first retainer has finished his life. Oishi heard it, and says that they all seem to die calmly and honorably. Oishi goes to the ritual suicide room calmly. (2003,4,5)