Ataka

Japanese: 安宅 - あたか

The title of a Noh piece. The fourth piece (→ miscellaneous). The author is said to be Kanze Kojiro Nobumitsu, but it is unknown. Togashi (waki) guards the new barrier at Ataka, which was set up to pursue Yoshitsune. Benkei (shite) dresses Yoshitsune (kokata) in a goriki (strong man) costume and, together with a group of mountain ascetics, they enter the new barrier, but Togashi is suspicious of them. The group prepares itself and begins their mountain ascetic practice, but is asked to listen to the Kanjincho (request register), which Benkei loudly recites aloud. With all suspicions cleared, just as they are about to pass through the barrier, Yoshitsune is spotted in a goriki (strong man) costume, and the retainers accompanying him (tsure) become brave, but Benkei's cleverness saves them from harm. The lord and servant are relieved when Togashi delivers them some sake, apologizing for his previous rudeness, and Benkei dances with joy (male dance). It is a contemporary piece with a dramatic structure, and was later adapted into Kabuki as "Kanjincho."

Ataka

A district and former town name in Komatsu City, southwest of Ishikawa Prefecture. It is located at the mouth of the Kakehashi River. It once flourished as a commercial center for Kitamaebune ships, but since the opening of the Hokuriku Main Line, it has become a fishing port where squid and yellowtail are landed. The number of commuters to Komatsu City has increased. There is the site of Ataka Barrier, known for the kabuki play "Kanjincho."

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

能の曲名。四番目物 (→雑物 ) 。作者は観世小次郎信光説もあるが，未詳。義経追捕のために設けられた安宅の新関を富樫 (ワキ) が守護する。弁慶 (シテ) は義経 (子方) を強力 (ごうりき) 姿につくり，作り山伏の一行となって新関にかかると，富樫はこれを怪しみとどめる。一同は覚悟を決め，山伏の勤行を始めるが，勧進帳の聴聞を求められ，弁慶が高らかに読上げる。疑いも晴れ，関を通ろうとするとき，強力姿の義経を見出され，供の郎党 (ツレ) は勇むが，弁慶の知略で事なきを得る。安堵する主従のもとへ，先度の非礼をわびる富樫から酒が届けられ，弁慶は一差し舞って喜ぶ (男舞) 。劇的構成をもつ現在物で，のち歌舞伎に入って『勧進帳』となった。