Oshimodoshi (The demon repeller)    押戻

The play

The first version of "Oshimodoshi" was staged in 1727 in Edo, within the drama "Kokusen'ya Takenuki Gorô" (The bamboo uprooting Gorô) and with Ichikawa Danjûrô II in the leading role of Takenuki Gorô the demon-repeller.  It was revived by Ichikawa Sanshô V in April 1934. It is nowadays occasionally staged as the grand finale of "Musume Dôjôji" or "Narukami".  

The aim of the repeller is to push back some demon or evil spirit from the hanamichi to the stage proper. He always carries a thick length of green bamboo in one hand and wears a stylized aragoto costume with red facial make-up (sujiguma), a jerkin with gold rivets, the upswept hishikawa wig, a hat of woven bamboo, a straw raincoat, and three huge swords.

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