Ume no Yoshibei Mono - Ume no Yoshibei Mono

Japanese: 梅の由兵衛物 - うめのよしべえもの

It is a type of Kabuki Kyogen and Ningyo Joruri. It is based on the story of a villain named Umeshibu Kichibei from Jurakucho, Osaka, who killed Nagayoshi, an apprentice at Tennojiya, and stole his money. The incident is said to have occurred in 1689 (Genroku 2), and in January of the following year, it was performed as a kabuki play at the Iwai Hanshiro-za in Osaka. Later, in Umeyoshibei Kawasekin (December 1728, Osaka Seki Sanjuro-za), a plot was created in which Yoshibei, who was desperate for money for a sword to save his master, kills Nagayoshi, the younger brother of his wife Okichi, and in Yukun Yoroi Soga (January 1736, Edo Nakamura-za), Yoshibei, a gangster played by the first Sawamura Sojuro, was a big hit, and his costume was later inherited.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

歌舞伎狂言，人形浄瑠璃の一系統。大坂聚楽町の梅渋吉兵衛という悪党が，天王寺屋の丁稚長吉を殺し金を奪ったことに拠る。事件は1689年(元禄2)のことといわれ，翌90年1月には大坂岩井半四郎座の歌舞伎で演じられている。その後《梅由兵衛命代金（かわせきん）》(1728年12月大坂関三十郎座)で，主を救う刀代に窮した由兵衛が，女房お吉の弟長吉を殺す設定が作られ，《遊君鎧曾我》(1736年1月江戸中村座)は，初世沢村宗十郎の俠客の由兵衛が大当りを取り，その扮装が後に継承される。

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