Sumida Harugei Shakatagi

Kabuki script. Domestic drama. Three acts. Written by Namiki Gohei I. Commonly known as "Ume no Yoshibee." It was first performed in January 1796 (Kansei 8) at the Edo Kiriza Theater, starring Sawamura Sojuro III as Yoshibee, Segawa Kikunojo III as Koume and Chokichi, and others. This is the definitive version of the "Ume no Yoshibee" story, dramatizing the incident that took place in Osaka around the Genroku period (1688-1704) when a villain named Umeshibu no Yoshibee killed his apprentice Chokichi and stole his money, with a gangster as the main character. The story revolves around the plot in which Yoshibei, struggling to find money for the young master Kanaya Kingoro, kills his wife Koume's younger brother Chokichi at the banks of the Okawa River and steals his money, unaware that Chokichi has been created by his wife Koume at their request. The play depicts the tactics and tricks he engages in with Genbeibori no Genbei, who has unrequited love for Koume. Highlights include the purple hooded costume devised by the first Sojuro, when Yoshibei removes the locked hood in front of the enemy to suppress his temper, and the tragic murder of Chokichi. In recent years, the play has often been performed with a revised prologue, with "Yanagishima Myoken Temple," "The Hashimoto Chamber," and "The Outside the Wall," and a second act, "The Batam," but in 1978 (Showa 53), the National Theatre restored the original and performed the entire play.

[Toshiaki Matsui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

歌舞伎(かぶき)脚本。世話物。三幕。初世並木五瓶(ごへい)作。通称「梅の由兵衛(よしべえ)」。1796年（寛政8）1月江戸桐座(きりざ)で、3世沢村宗十郎の由兵衛、3世瀬川菊之丞(きくのじょう)の小梅(こうめ)と長吉などにより初演。元禄(げんろく)（1688～1704）ごろの大坂で梅渋の吉兵衛という悪漢が丁稚(でっち)長吉を殺して金を盗んだ事件を、主役を侠客(きょうかく)として脚色した「梅の由兵衛物」の決定版。主筋の若旦那(だんな)金谷(かなや)金五郎のため金策に苦しむ由兵衛が、女房小梅の弟長吉が姉に頼まれてこしらえたとも知らず、大川端で長吉を殺して金を奪う、という筋(すじ)を骨子として、小梅に横恋慕する源兵衛堀の源兵衛との達引(たてひき)を描く。初世宗十郎がくふうした紫頭巾(ずきん)の扮装(ふんそう)を伝え、短気を封じるため錠をかけた頭巾を敵(かたき)役の前で脱ぐところや、運命悲劇的な長吉殺しの場面が見せ場。近年は場面を改めた序幕「柳島妙見境内」「同橋本座敷」「同塀外」、二幕目「大川端」の構成で多く上演されてきたが、1978年（昭和53）国立劇場で原作復帰の通し上演が行われた。

［松井俊諭］

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