Genroku Chushingura

A historical drama series by Mayama Seika, consisting of 10 parts. The final piece, "Oishi's Last Day," which premiered at the Kabuki-za Theatre in February 1934 by the Ichikawa Sadanji 2nd troupe, was well received, so at the urging of Shochiku president Otani Takejiro and the lead actor Sadanji, Seika decided to write a new play based on the events of the Ako Gishi. Following "The Sword Fight at Edo Castle," "The Second Messenger," and "The Last Great Council" (1935), the works were released in succession, but they were followed by "Fushimi Shumokumachi," "Mihama Palace Tsunatoyokyo," "Nambuzaka Snow Farewell," "The Back Gate of the Kira Mansion," "Sengaku-ji Temple," and "Sengoku Mansion." The last piece, "Sengaku-ji Temple," was premiered in November 1941, after Sadanji's death. The play portrays the utmost sincerity of samurai from the time of the sword attack by Asano Takumi no Kami, through the painstaking revenge of Oishi Kuranosuke and other Ako samurai on Kira Kozukenosuke, and the day of the 46 samurai's suicide after their revenge. It is a masterpiece of historical drama, with a grand concept and meticulous research, and the characters are skillfully portrayed. Oishi's Last Day and Mihama Palace Tsunatoyokyo (1940), which depicts the confrontation between Kofu Chancellor Tsunatoyo (the 6th Shogun Ienobu) and one of the samurai, Tomimori Sukeemon, over the ethics of revenge, are often performed. It was made into a film (two-part series, 1941-42) by director Mizoguchi Kenji, starring Zenshinza.

[Hiroyuki Fujiki]

"Genroku Chushingura, complete set of 2 volumes (Iwanami Bunko)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

真山青果(まやませいか)の戯曲。全10編よりなる連作史劇。1934年（昭和9）2月に2世市川左団次一座が歌舞伎(かぶき)座で初演した最終編にあたる『大石最後の一日』が好評のため、松竹社長大谷(おおたに)竹次郎と主演の左団次の勧めで、青果は赤穂(あこう)義士の事件を改めて全編書き下ろすことになり、『江戸城の刃傷(にんじょう)』『第二の使者』『最後の大評定』（1935）以下、発表は前後したが『伏見撞木町(ふしみしゅもくまち)』『御浜御殿綱豊卿(つなとよきょう)』『南部坂雪の別れ』『吉良(きら)屋敷裏門』『泉岳寺』『仙石屋敷』と書き継がれ、最後に発表された『泉岳寺』は左団次没後の41年11月の初演であった。浅野内匠頭(たくみのかみ)の刃傷直後から、大石内蔵助(くらのすけ)ら赤穂浪士の苦心のすえの吉良上野介(こうずけのすけ)への仇討(あだうち)と、復讐(ふくしゅう)を遂げた46人の切腹当日までを、武士の至誠を中心主題として描いた。雄大な構想と綿密な考証をもとに、巧みな性格描写で人物をとらえた青果史劇の代表作。『大石最後の一日』と、甲府宰相綱豊（6代将軍家宣(いえのぶ)）と浪士の一人富森助右衛門(すけえもん)の復讐の倫理をめぐっての対決を描いた『御浜御殿綱豊卿』（1940）はよく上演される。前進座の出演で溝口健二監督により映画化（前後編二部作、1941～42）された。

［藤木宏幸］

『『元禄忠臣蔵』全2冊（岩波文庫）』

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