Tsukigata Hanpeita

A play by Yukitomo Rifu. Four acts. First performed in May 1919 (Taisho 8) at the Meijiza Theater in Kyoto by Sawada Shojiro and other Shinkokugeki actors. Tsukigata Hanpeita, a samurai of the Choshu clan, spends his days in teahouses drinking and women. Tsukigata exhorts his comrades to be more sensible and restrained, but due to a scheme by his friend who does not understand his true intentions, he is attacked by the Shinsengumi and dies leaving behind a death poem saying that he will become a demon who protects the country. The story is about two geisha girls from Gion, Umematsu and Somehachi. It is a gorgeous work with love and swordplay, and the famous line, "Let's go wet in the spring rain." The play features stylized directing throughout, including the use of a kabuki-style geza (lower seat). As a form of Shinkokugeki theatre, it stands on par with "Kunisada Chuji," and the role of Hanpeita was passed down from Tatsumi Ryutaro to Oyama Katsumi after Sawada's death. It has also been made into many films.

[Toki Michiko]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

行友李風(ゆきともりふう)の戯曲。四幕。1919年（大正8）5月京都・明治座で沢田正二郎ら新国劇により初演。長州藩士の月形半平太は、茶屋に入りびたって酒と女に明け暮れている。月形は同志たちに軽挙妄動を慎んで自重せよと説くが、彼の真意を解しえなかった朋友(ほうゆう)の策略で、新撰(しんせん)組に襲われ、死して護国の鬼となるの辞世を残して息絶える。若き剣士にまつわる祇園(ぎおん)の芸妓(げいぎ)梅松と染八。恋あり剣ありの華やかな作品で、「春雨じゃ濡(ぬ)れて行こう」の台詞(せりふ)は有名である。歌舞伎(かぶき)式に下座(げざ)を用いるのをはじめとして、随所に様式的演出がみられる。新国劇の型物として『国定忠治』と双璧(そうへき)をなし、半平太の役は沢田没後、辰巳(たつみ)柳太郎から大山勝巳へと継承された。映画化も多い。

［土岐迪子］

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