Narukami   鳴神 

The play

The very first version of "Narukami" was staged in the 3rd lunar month of 1684 in Edo, under the title "Kadomatsu Shitennô". It starred Ichikawa Danjûrô I (who wrote this bombastic drama) and Itô Kodayû II in the roles of the wicked priest Narukami and Princess Taema. The current version of "Narukami" comes from a bigger drama, "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura", which integrated it as the fourth act and was staged in 1742 in Ôsaka. This role was transmitted from generation to generation up to Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII, who performed it several times between 1836 and 1851. Then it went into oblivion because Ichikawa Danjûrô IX refused to perform it because he thought that the role was both immoral and disrespectful. "Narukami" was fortunately revived by Ichikawa Sadanji II, in May 1910 and it is nowadays a very popular play, which is frequently staged. 

The act III of the play is also staged independently as "Tenuki".

The first half of the play is played as a love scene, the second half as flamboyant aragoto style, creating a very effective contrast. The story begins with Narukami living in a hermitage near a waterfall in which he has imprisoned the dragon god. As a result all rainfall has ceased and the land is suffering from drought. The Emperor sends the beautiful Princess Taema to break the curse and restore rainfall to the land. She seduces Narukami, leading him into breaking his vows of abstinence. This frees the dragon god who escapes as thunder and lightning fill the sky. In his anger Narukami transforms himself into a raging demon and we see him in a final pose wearing a costume covered in orange-red flames and glaring in the direction his seductress has fled.

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