Background Information

'Kamakura Sandaiki' was written by Chikamatsu Hanji, and it was first performed in 1781. It has 10-act, and this scene 'at the villa of Kunugawa village' is its 7th act.

Story

Scene; at the villa of Kiugawa village

Yoshimura Miuranosuke was wounded at the battle against Hojo Tokimasa's army, and left from the battlefield in order to meet his mother Nagato at the villa in Kinugawa village. Nagato has a serious illness. When Miuranosuke arrived to the villa, he lost consciousness at last. Tokihime found him at the gate of the villa, and she made him wake up with Chinese medicine. Tokihime is a fiancee of Miuranosuke, and she has stayed there in order to take care of Nagato.

Miuranosuke speaks to Nagato, but she doesn't meet him, because she thinks that Miuranosuke should go back to the battlefield as soon as possible. She said from the next room that it was the way of Bushi/Samurai. Miuranosuke accepts it, and he decides to go back to the battlefield. But Tokihime stopped him. Tokihime knew that Miuranosuke intended to die, and she thought that she would like him to become her husband even if it might be only that night. Tokihime asked Miuranosuke to stay there in the night as her husband. Tokihime says that it is a short summer night, so that he doesn't need to worry about losing his loyalty. However, Miuranosuke refused it, because Tokihime was a daughter of his enemy, Hojo Tokimasa. Miuranosuke was engaged to Tokihime once, but now he is fighting against her father's army, so he can't marry with Tokihime anymore. But he has an idea, and he decides to stay there that night.

Tomita Rokuro appeared on the stage from the well of the villa's garden. There is a secret road in the well. Hojo Tokimasa ordered Rokuro to see how Tokihime was there, and to take her to home if possible. A woman, Okuru was waiting for Rokuro, and she escorted him to the villa.

Then Adachi Tozaburo came to the villa secretly. Hojo Tokimasa ordered Tozaburo to take Tokihime to home, and he handed a short sword to Tokihime to identify himself. He said Tokihime to go with him, but she refused it of course. Tozaburo said that her father Tokimasa allowed him to marry with Tokihime if he could take her to home. Tokiheme is furious of it, and tries to slash him with the short sword. Tozaburo rushed into a well in the garden and managed to get away.

Tokihime realized that her father Tokikmasa wanted her to kill Nagato with the short sword. She thinks that she has no choice except death. When Tokihime tries to commit suicide with the short sword, Miuranosuke stops her. And Miuranosuke asked Tokihime if she could kill her father. Tokihime is surprised very much. It is taboo to kill a parent anytime anywhere. Miuranosuke said that she wouldn't be a parent murderer, if she killed herself just after she killed her father. Miuranosuke demanded to Tokihime to do a suicide terrorism because of her love. Love demands a tragedy to a person who loves more than the other Finally, Tokihime accepts Miuranosuke's unreasonable request.

Rokuro observed the entire scene. And he rushed into the well in order to get away, but a spear appeared from the well and attacked him. Then Tozaburo appeared from the well, and killed Rokuro with a spear completely. Tozaburo is Sasaki Takatsuna in real. Takatsuna found Tozaburo who looked like him, and he bought Tozaburo's life. Tozaburo was killed at the battle as Takatsuna, and Takatsuna was waiting a chance to kill Tokimasa as Tozaburo. Okuru who was a wife of Tozaburo comes there, and says that her husband Tozaburo must have been glad to be killed as a warrior Tozaburo, because he was just a farmer. And Okuru committed suicide.

Now, there is no problem. Miuranosuke goes back to the battlefield, and Tokihime leaves with Takatsuna from the villa to her home in order to kill her father Tokimasa.

The End. (2004,1,5)