Zôhiki (Pulling the elephant)   象引  

The play

The play "Zôhiki" was premiered in Edo in 1701. The hero and the villain are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô I and Yamanaka Heikurô I. It went to oblivion and the two original scripts were lost but it was nevertheless added to the 18 Kabuki plays collection of drama in 1840 by Ichikawa Ebizô V. It was revived in October 1913 and in 1933 in Tôkyô with a script based on prints of the 18th century performance. 

An elephant brought to Japan as a present to the imperial court has broken loose and is roaming the mountains. The Toshima house has been asked to capture the elephant. Two warriors Ôtomo Kachimaro and Mita no Genji Takeru fight for the privilege, the winner getting to marry the daughter of the Toshima lord. They approach the elephant and Kachimaro is easily defeated. Takeru uses his magic power to subdue the beast and is declared the winner.

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