However that murder was a likely matter the same as recently. Chikamatsu added a lord family trouble and a Japanese sword that was called Aoe Shimosaka to his play in order to give realism, and this play became dramatic.

A Japanese sword is made for killing a human only, and I think that it is the most beautiful weapon in the world. Historical kabuki plays have a Japanese sword as a key of the drama. It is always stolen or lost, and makes its owner change one after another, and kill people unreasonably.  That seems that a Japanese sword itself wants human blood. People can't get away from the mysterious power of a Japanese sword. A Japanese sword might have power the same as a ring of 'The Lord of the Rings'.

Also Aoe Shimosaka makes its hero, Fukuoka Mitsugi kill many persons who are near him accidentally then. Mitsugi lost himself out of jealousy for a prostitute, Okon. Although Okon refused him unwillingly in order to get a written statement of the sword Aoi Shimosaka that Mitsugi searched for, Mitsugi believed that Okon loved another man. It was misunderstanding, but Mitsugi had fallen into the trap of the sword.

A cook Kisuke recommends Mitsugi to stop coming to a geisha house, and that seems that Kisuke is a moralist. However, Kisuke says nothing about Mitsugi's murder, moreover he himself wipes blood of the sword that Mitsugi has. That seems that the sword became a master of every concerned people I think that this play is a mysterious Japanese sword's drama rather than a suspensive love story. (2004,5,1)

☆★☆★☆★☆★

There was an announcement of succession to Ebizo 11th at Kabukiza Theater this month. I went to the theater on the first day, and watched the daytime program, because I couldn't get the nighttime program's ticket. Ebizo 11th performed as Kisuke in this play.

There was an elder woman at the next seat of me, and we chatted at the interval time. She said that she was a fan of Ebizo 9th who was grandfather of Ebizo 11th. And there was another woman who was younger than that elder woman at her next seat. She said that she was a fan of Ebizo 10th (Danjuro 12th now) who was father of Ebizo 11th. The eldest woman came from Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture, and the elder woman came from Mie prefecture, it is very far from Tokyo. They both told me how they loved their Ebizo. We all would have liked to watch the nighttime program, but we all couldn't get its ticket, however it gave me an interesting experience like that.

When I left from the theater, the Prime Minister Koizumi arrived there. I think that if Mr. Koizumi hadn't come to the theater, we could have watched the nighttime program with his guards' ticket.