Bancho Sarayashiki

A play by Kido Okamoto. One act, two scenes. It was first performed in February 1916 (Taisho 5) at the Hongoza Theater in Tokyo, with Aoyama Harima played by Ichikawa Sadanji II and Okiku played by Ichikawa Shocho II. Aoyama Harima of the Shiratsuka group is constantly fighting with townsfolk. Worried about this, her aunt advises Harima to settle down. Okiku, a maid of the Aoyama family, is in a relationship with Harima and has promised to spend the future with him, but when she hears rumors that he will soon be taking a wife, she purposely breaks a plate that has been handed down through the Aoyama family to test Harima's heart. Harima initially forgives Okiku as a mistake, but when he finds out the motive, he becomes so angry that he slashes her and jumps into a fight with a townsfolk to ease the pain in his heart. Based on the traditional legend and play of the Plate Mansion, this work does away with the traditional horror story of Okiku, who was brutally murdered by Aoyama Tetsuzan and thrown into a well, counting plates every night, and instead adds a new interpretation to it. It well depicts the regret of a man whose innocence was doubted, and coupled with Sadanji's excellent performance, it was well received. This is one of Sadanji II's "Ten Kyoka Plays."

[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。1916年（大正5）2月東京・本郷座で、2世市川左団次の青山播磨(はりま)、2世市川松蔦(しょうちょう)のお菊により初演。白柄(しらつか)組の青山播磨は町奴(まちやっこ)と事を構え喧嘩(けんか)が絶えない。これを案じた伯母は播磨に身を固めるよう意見する。青山家の腰元お菊は播磨とは未来を約した仲だったが、近く奥方を迎えるという噂(うわさ)を聞き、播磨の心を試すため青山家重代の皿をわざと割る。播磨はいったん過ちとして許したが、動機を知るや、怒りのあまりお菊を斬(き)り、心の痛手を紛らすべく町奴との喧嘩に飛び出してゆく。従来の皿屋敷の伝説・戯曲に材をとり、青山鉄山に惨殺され井戸に投げ込まれたお菊の亡霊が夜な夜な皿を数えるという怪談劇を排し、これに新解釈を加えた作で、純情な心を疑われた男の無念さがよく描かれており、左団次の好演と相まって好評を博した。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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