Tenuki (Pair of tweezers)    毛抜

The play

The first version of "Kenuki" was staged within the drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura" in 1742 in Ôsaka starring Ichikawa Ebizô II in the leading role of Kumedera Danjô. This role was transmitted from generation to generation up to Ichikawa Danjûrô VII, who added it to his Kabuki Jûhachiban. Then it went into oblivion. "Kenuki" was fortunately revived by Ichikawa Sadanji II, in September 1909 and it is nowadays a popular play, which is staged quite often. The act IV of the play is also staged independently as “Narukami”. 

Lord Ono no Harumichi has a daughter named Nishiki-no-Mae, who is engaged to Lord Toyohide, but their marriage is postponed because of the girl’s strange illness. Her hair stands on end. Kumedera Danjô, a retainer of the Lord Toyohide, arrives to investigate and he can witness the strange phenomenon. He suspects that Genba, Harumichi’s chief retainer is behind this stratagem as he is plotting the overthrow of the Ono family. 

While Danjo waits in another room, he decides to shave his face with a giant pair of tweezers. He puts the pair of tweezers on the floor, which suddenly start to float up into mid-air. The reason is simple: a magnet is hidden somewhere. Danjô then goes back to Nishiki-no-Mae’s room and takes out the hair ornament from her head, and her hair stops standing. The hair ornament was made in iron. Danjô pokes the ceiling with a spear, and a ruffian who holds a big magnet falls down from there. Lord Harumichi gives a sword to Danjô as a token of gratitude and Danjô suddenly slashes Genba, who dies. Lord Toyohide suspected that Genba plotted to take over the Ono family, so he sent Danjô to solve every problem that happened there. 

As an old-fashioned play there are a number of interesting features to mention. Kabuki's traditional stylisation is employed to the full in character types, costume, make-up and props. We have the typical good retainer and bad retainer, the lord in his omigoromo, (large brocade outer coat with tuxedo collar), and the akahime, "red princess", dressed entirely in crimson with a silver tiara. Each role type has its own fixed role patterns and vocal delivery making for an interesting contrast. The props play a more important part than usual in this play and, in keeping with the aragoto acting-style of the hero, are at times exaggerated in size so that, for example, at one point we see a giant pair of tweezers float up into mid-air. The use of such props adds to the atmosphere, and perhaps the "crowning" touch is when the evil retainer's head is decapitated and it literally flies through the air on a stick!

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