Twin Sumida Rivers

Japanese: 双生隅田川 - ふたごすみだがわ

Puppet theatre. Historical piece. Five acts. Written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon. First performed at the Osaka Takemotoza in August 1720 (Kyoho 5). Performing narrators were Takemoto Harima Shojo, Takemoto Tanomo, and Takemoto Masadayu II. Based on the Noh play "Sumidagawa" and based on Uji Kagajo's Joruri play "Sumidagawa", it is notable for its strong element of mystery, including the curse of a sacred tree and the ghost story of a famous painting by Rigiyo. Yoshida Shosho Yukifusa and his concubine Hanjo had twin sons, Umewaka and Matsuwaka. Yukifusa was killed by a scheme by his father-in-law, Hitachi Daijo Momotsura, and Matsuwaka was kidnapped by a Tengu.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

人形浄瑠璃。時代物。5段。近松門左衛門作。1720年(享保5)8月大坂竹本座初演。出勤の太夫は竹本播磨少掾，竹本頼母，2世竹本政太夫ほか。能《隅田川》を骨子とし，宇治加賀掾の浄瑠璃《隅田川》などによったが，吉田家のお家騒動に霊木のたたりをからませ，鯉魚（りぎよ）の名画の霊怪談を付加するといった怪奇性の強い点に特色がある。吉田少将行房とその愛妾班女（はんじよ）との間に，梅若･松若の双生児がいた。行房は舅の常陸大掾百連（ももつら）の計略にかかって死に，松若は天狗にさらわれる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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