Ichijo Ôkura

The plot

Lord Ichijo Ôkura leads a reclusive life in his palace under the control of the Heike. He feigns madness, devoting himself to the dances of the Noh theater. In fact, he does everything to avoid to take part in the war between the Heike and Genji clans. The Heike clan holds power with Taira Kiyomori (1118-1181) at its head. He defeated the Genji clan of Minamoto Yoshitomo, (1123-1160), took his widow Tokiwa Gozen as his concubine but left his two young children Yoritomo and Yoshitsune alive. When she lost her charms, he married her to Ichijo Ôkura, believed to be innocuous.

Ôkura secretly has an important sword, the possession of which strengthens the position of those in power. Minamoto Yoshitsune, now an adult, sends one of his lieutenants Yoshioka Kijiro and his wife Okyô to visit Tokiwa Gozen. Kijiro does not like Gozen because he is outraged by the way she accepted Yoshitomo's defeat and concubinage with Kiyomori. They arrive at the palace at night and find Gozen training in her bow. Kijiro blinded by his indignation, accuses her of treason and approaches to kill her. But with dignity, she reveals her true nature by shooting an arrow in the center of the target, and lifting the target, she shows a portrait of Kiyomori hidden inside. The portrait has been pierced by multiple arrows and Gozen says that every time she shoots, she prays for Kiyomori's death.

At this moment, Yatsurugi Kageyu rushes forward shouting "Traitor, I am going to report you to my master Kiyomori". Kageyu is a spy placed there by Kiyomori to watch Gozen. As Kijiro prevents him from leaving, Ôkura appears with a lacquered box containing the famous sword. He begins to dance his usual Noh dance with a fan and the box on his left shoulder when his expression abruptly changes and he transforms himself into a noble in full possession of his means. He gives the sword to Kijiro to pass it on to Yoshitsune as a symbol of the resistance.

Kageyu has yet to realize that Ôkura is not feebleminded and he still thinks his actions are a new form of madness. He tries to leave to warn Kiyomori when he suddenly realizes he is in fact witnessing an act of high treason. He rushes for the door, but Okura takes a halberd, stabs him, and beheads him. Okura confesses that he has sworn to kill Kiyomori and that with Gozen's help they will succeed. He then shows his true colors and nobility, says he killed a spy but there may be others. He then resumes his role of idiot and begins the masquerade again, playing with the head of the beheaded spy.

The actor

Nakamura Kichiemon (1886-1954) is considered one of the best actors of the twentieth century. He was a specialist in male action roles and had a great influence in modernizing kabuki theater and making it attractive to a younger audience.