Hikoshichi Omori - Hikoshichi Omori

Kabuki play. Historical piece. One act. Written by Fukuchi Ochi. First performed in October 1897 (Meiji 30) at the Meijiza Theater in Tokyo, starring Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Hikoshichi and Ichikawa Metora VI as Chihayahime. This is a new interpretation of a passage from the Taiheiki in which Omori Hikoshichi, a samurai from Iyo Province (Ehime Prefecture), who killed Kusunoki Masashige in the Battle of Minatogawa, was tormented by Masashige's vengeful spirit, and turned it into a half-dance play in tokiwazu and takemoto. Music by Kishizawa Nakasuke. Choreography by Hanayagi Jusuke I.

In the mountains of Matsuyama, Iyo, Masanari's daughter, Chihaya-hime, puts on a demon mask and attacks Omori Hikoshichi, her father's enemy, but Hikoshichi clears up the princess's misunderstanding by telling her the details of Masanari's final moments, and returns the Kusunoki family's treasured sword, Kikusui no Tsurugi, to her, causing her to leave. The play is structured like a historical drama, but the highlight of the dance is when Hikoshichi pretends to be insane, frightened by vengeful spirits, in order to blind his fellow Ashikaga samurai. It was selected as one of the "New Kabuki Juhachiban," and later became a hit role for Matsumoto Koshiro VII, and has been passed down to the present day.

[Toshiaki Matsui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

歌舞伎(かぶき)劇。時代物。1幕。福地桜痴(おうち)作。1897年（明治30）10月、東京・明治座で9世市川団十郎の彦七、市川女寅(めとら)（6世門之助）の千早姫により初演。湊川(みなとがわ)の戦いで楠正成(くすのきまさしげ)を討った伊予(いよ)国（愛媛県）の武士大森彦七が正成の怨霊(おんりょう)に悩まされたという『太平記』の一節を、新解釈により、常磐津(ときわず)、竹本の半舞踊劇に仕立てたもの。岸沢仲助作曲。初世花柳寿輔(はなやぎじゅすけ)振付け。

　伊予松山の山中で、正成の息女千早姫が父の仇(あだ)大森彦七を討とうと鬼女の面をかぶって襲うが、彦七は正成最期の模様を語って姫の誤解を解き、楠家の宝剣菊水(きくすい)の剣(つるぎ)を返して立ち去らせる。活歴(かつれき)風の構成だが、最後に彦七が同僚の足利(あしかが)侍の目をくらませるため、怨霊(おんりょう)におびえて乱心した態(てい)を装うところが踊りの見せ場。「新歌舞伎十八番」の一つに選ばれ、その後は7世松本幸四郎の当り役となり、現代に伝わった。

［松井俊諭］

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