Yukinojo Transformation - Yukinojo Transformation

A historical fantasy novel by Mikami Otokichi. It was serialized in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper from 1934 to the following year with illustrations by Iwata Sentaro. Yukitaro, the young son of Matsuuraya Seizaemon, a wealthy Nagasaki merchant whose family was torn apart by the machinations of a corrupt storekeeper and the Nagasaki magistrate, is raised by Osaka actor Nakamura Kikunojo and grows up to become Edo's most popular female actor, Nakamura Yukinojo. With the help of the chivalrous thief Yamitaro, Yukitaro defeats his nemesis using a clever strategy without getting his hands dirty. The setting of a female kabuki actor seeking revenge and the dramatic story development made this a popular read. It has been adapted into plays and films many times, but it is customary for one actor to play both Yukinojo and Yamitaro. The best of the films was the trilogy (directed by Kinugasa Teinosuke and starring Hayashi Chojiro) produced by Shochiku Kyoto and released in 1935-36, which was a huge hit along with the theme song "Murasaki Kouta" sung by Shoji Taro.

[Isogai Katsutaro]

"'Popular Literature Series 12 Mikami Oekichi et al.' (1972, Kodansha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

三上於莵吉(おときち)の伝奇時代小説。1934年（昭和9）から翌年にかけ岩田専太郎の挿絵で『朝日新聞』連載。悪徳な番頭や長崎奉行の奸謀(かんぼう)で一家離散の悲運にあった長崎の豪商、松浦屋清左衛門の幼児雪太郎が、大坂役者の中村菊之丞(きくのじょう)によって育てられ、江戸一の人気女方(おんながた)中村雪之丞として成長したのち、侠盗闇太郎(きょうとうやみたろう)の助けを得て、自分の手を汚すことなく、深謀を用いて宿敵を倒すという復讐譚(ふくしゅうたん)。歌舞伎(かぶき)女方による仇討(あだうち)という設定と、波瀾(はらん)に富んだ物語展開が読者の人気を得た。繰り返し劇化・映画化されているが、雪之丞と闇太郎を一人二役で演じるのが通例。映画化のうちでは35～36年公開の松竹京都製作の三部作（衣笠貞之助(きぬがさていのすけ)監督、林長二郎主演）が秀作で、東海林(しょうじ)太郎の歌う主題歌『むらさき小唄(こうた)』ともども大ヒットした。

［磯貝勝太郎］

『『大衆文学大系12　三上於莵吉他集』（1972・講談社）』

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