Cloud-like Ueno Hatsuhana - Cloud-like Ueno Hatsuhana

A Kabuki play. A domestic drama in seven acts. Written by Kawatake Mokuami. Commonly known as "Kawachiyama" or "Nao Samurai." It was first performed in March 1881 (Meiji 14) at the Shintomiza Theater in Tokyo, with the 9th Ichikawa Danjūrō ​​as Kawachiyama Soshun, the 5th Onoe Kikugōrō as Kataoka Naojirō, the 8th Iwai Hanshiro as Oguchiya Michitose and Koshimoto Namiji, and the 1st Ichikawa Sadanjū as Kaneko Ichinojō. This work is an adaptation of Shorin Hakuen's storytelling "Tenpo Rokkasen," and is an expanded and revised version of "Kumoue no San'e no Sakumae," which the author wrote in 1874.

Kawachiyama, a monk of the Sukiya style, disguises himself as an emissary of the Miya family of Ueno in order to rescue the maid Namiji, who has been placed under house arrest by Matsue Izumo no Kami. After successfully getting Namiji back, he is spotted by Kitamura Daizen at the front door as he is leaving. However, he manages to stay put and threatens the man, and with the help of the elder retainer Takagi Kozaemon, he returns home safely. Meanwhile, Kataoka Naojiro, a former vassal of the shogun, becomes a wanted man after exposing the hidden wealth (gambling using lottery tickets) of the bannerman Hiki Tozaemon and extorting money from him. Before leaving Edo, he bids a sad farewell to his lover, Michizai, at his dormitory in Iriya, and is able to buy Michizai away from him through the sympathy of his love rival, the swordsman Kaneko Ichinojo. However, he is chased by his pursuer after being betrayed by his younger brother Kurayami Ushimatsu, and is forced to flee through the snow.

It is a masterpiece that features a troupe of great actors that decorated the heyday of Meiji Kabuki, and the highlight is the scene in the third act where Kawachiyama makes a defiant speech at the entrance to the "Matsue Residence." The sixth act, in which Naozamurai visits Sanzensai, is a section that displays the author's poetic sensibility, from "The Soba Shop," which vividly depicts the social conditions of Edo, to "Oguchiya Ryo," which uses the Kiyomoto work "Shinobiou Haruno Yukidoke" (commonly known as "Sanzensai") to develop colorful patterns, and is often performed independently under the title "Yuki no Yubei Iriya no Azemichi."

[Toshiaki Matsui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

歌舞伎(かぶき)脚本。世話物。7幕。河竹黙阿弥(もくあみ)作。通称「河内山(こうちやま)」「直侍(なおざむらい)」。1881年（明治14年）3月、東京・新富座で9世市川団十郎の河内山宗俊(そうしゅん)、5世尾上(おのえ)菊五郎の片岡直次郎、8世岩井半四郎の大口屋三千歳(おおぐちやみちとせ)・腰元浪路(なみじ)、初世市川左団次の金子市之丞(いちのじょう)らにより初演。松林伯円(しょうりんはくえん)の講談『天保六花撰(てんぽうろっかせん)』を脚色、作者が1874年に書いた『雲上野三衣策前(くものうえのさんえのさくまえ)』を増補改訂したもの。

　お数寄屋(すきや)坊主の河内山は、松江出雲守(いずものかみ)に軟禁された腰元浪路を救うため、上野の宮(みや)家の使僧に化けて乗り込み、まんまと浪路を取り戻しての帰りがけ、玄関先で北村大膳(きたむらだいぜん)に見破られるが、逆に居直って相手を脅し、家老高木小左衛門(こざえもん)の計らいで無事に立ち帰る。一方、御家人くずれの直侍こと片岡直次郎は、旗本比企東左衛門(ひきとうざえもん)の蔭富(かげとみ)（富籤(とみくじ)を利用した博打(ばくち)）を暴き、金を巻き上げたことからお尋ね者になり、江戸を去る前に愛人の三千歳と入谷の寮で別れを惜しみ、恋敵(こいがたき)の剣客金子市之丞の情けで三千歳を請け出すことができるが、弟分暗闇(くらやみ)の丑松(うしまつ)の密告により捕手に追われ、雪の中を逃げてゆく。

　明治歌舞伎の全盛期を飾る名優ぞろいの一座にはめた代表作で、とくに三幕目「松江邸」の玄関先で河内山が啖呵(たんか)を切る場面が眼目。直侍が三千歳を訪ねる六幕目は、江戸の世相を活写した「そば屋」から、清元(きよもと)『忍逢春雪解(しのびおうはるのゆきどけ)』（通称「三千歳」）を使って色模様を展開する「大口屋寮」にかけ、作者の詩情を発揮する箇所で、『雪暮夜入谷畦道(ゆきのゆうべいりやのあぜみち)』の名題(なだい)で独立して上演することも多い。

［松井俊諭］

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