Toribesan Shinju - Toribesan Shinju

A play by Okamoto Kidō. One act, two scenes. It was first performed in September 1915 (Taishō 4) at the Hongō-za Theatre in Tokyo, with Kikuchi Hankuro, played by Ichikawa Sadanji II, and Osone, played by Ichikawa Shochō II. Kikuchi Hankuro, who accompanied the shogun to Kyoto, became acquainted with the innocent and pure-hearted Gion prostitute Osone. On his way back to Edo, he sells his family's ancestral sword to buy Osone back and return her to her parents. However, at a drinking party with his friend Sakata Ichinosuke, his brother Genzaburō accuses Hankuro of misconduct, leading to an argument. After a duel at Shijō-gawara, Hankuro kills him. Hankuro decides to die, and Osone follows him, hurrying to Toribenyama to commit suicide together. Based on a popular tale from the Edo period, it follows the techniques of Kabuki, but its fresh and human interpretation has resonated with audiences. It has been very well received since its premiere, and is still frequently performed today. It is one of the "Ten Kyoka Plays" by Sadanji II.

[Akira Kikuchi]

"Selected Plays of Kido Okamoto 4" (1958, Seigabo)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

岡本綺堂(きどう)の戯曲。一幕二場。1915年（大正4）9月東京・本郷座で、2世市川左団次の菊地半九郎、2世市川松蔦(しょうちょう)のお染により初演。将軍に供して上洛(じょうらく)した菊地半九郎は、祇園(ぎおん)の遊女で純情無垢(むく)なお染となじみを重ねたが、江戸へ帰るに際し、家重代の刀を売ってお染を請け出し親元へ帰してやろうとする。しかし友人坂田市之助との酒宴の席上、その弟源三郎が半九郎を不行跡となじったことから口論となり、四条河原で果たし合いのすえ、これを討つ。半九郎は死を決意し、お染も従って鳥辺山へ心中の道を急ぐ。江戸期の巷説(こうせつ)に材をとり、歌舞伎(かぶき)の手法を継承しているが、人間味ある新鮮な解釈で観客の共感をよんだ。初演以来大好評を博し、いまもって上演頻度は高い。2世左団次の「杏花(きょうか)戯曲十種」の一つ。

［菊池　明］

『『岡本綺堂戯曲選集4』（1958・青蛙房）』

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