Kagekiyo    景清 

The play

The drama "Kagekiyo" was staged for the first time in 1732 in Edo under the title "Ôichô Sakae Kagekiyo". It was forgotten, but was played again at the beginning of the 20th century, then was revived in 2014 in a newly-created drama, which was entitled "Kotohoide Mimasu Kagekiyo", created by mixing scenes and elements coming from the four plays based on Kagekiyo. 

This play is one of the Kagekiyo-mono, plays whose main characters are Taira no Kagekiyo, his lover Akoya, Hateyama Shigatada and Miyonoya Shirô Kunitoshi. The other Kagekiyo-mono included in the 18 Kabuki plays are  "Kan-U" "Kamahige" and "Gedatsu". All the Kagekiyo-mono take place at the end of the 12th century during the power struggle between the Taira family (Heike clan) and the Minamoto family (Genji clan). It became a full blown civil war which ended with the defeat of the Heike clan and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate in 1185. Kagekiyo is a warrior of the Heike clan and these plays tell his story and ultimately his defeat. 

The powerful Heike warrior Akushichibyoe Kagekiyo is captured and imprisoned by his enemies, the Minamoto clan. He uses his superhuman strength to smash his way out of his prison cell, and then struggles with his enemies in a violent and spectacular fight-scene (tachimawari) brandishing a large beam of wood which has been his weapon of defence.

Back to 18 Kabuki plays