Miuranosuke

Nakamura Fukusuke IX as Princess Toki and Bando Sasosuke V as Miuranosuke

The plot

Short summary of Act II (never played)

Farmer Tozaburo has been captured and is brought before General THojo Tokimasa. He is suspected to be in fact enemy General Sasaki Takatsuna. After a confrontation with Takatsuna's wife and his wife Okuru, the general is convinced of his innocence. To avoid another mistake, he is tattooed on his forehead. Hôjô Tokimasa wants to get back his daughter who resides in the village of Kinugawa with Nagato, the sick mother of Miuranosuke, an enemy warrior with whom she is engaged. Tozaburo volunteers for this mission, but asks to be able to marry the princess if he is successful. Hôjô accepts and gives him his dagger as proof of his mission.

Act III   Kinugawa-mura kankyo (At the cottage in the village of Kinugawa)

Introduction (normally not played): Orachi a housewife from the village and Okuru, Tozaburo's wife come to visit Nagato, Miuranosuke's mother who is ill. Princess Toki went out to buy sake to serve it to visitors. Orachi sits down and Okuru gets busy in the kitchen. Two court ladies, messengers of Hôjô Tokimasa enter to bring back Princess Toki to her father. Nagato answers from her bed that the princess will never go back to her father's house. When Princess Toki returns, she confirms that she will not be going. Orachi gets up, drinks some sake, then takes Toki to the kitchen to wash the rice. Orachi finishes the sake and goes out to buy another bottle. The two court ladies decide to kill Nagato and to take Toki away by force. As they approach Nagato's room, Tozaburo intervenes and tells them he has orders from Tokimasa showing them the dagger as evidence. The two women leave while Tozaburo goes into hiding.

The kabuki version usually starts from here 

Miuranosuke arrives from the battlefield to see his mother having been informed that she is very ill. Upon entering the house, he collapses with fatigue and Princess Toki comforts him. He stands up and walks towards his mother's room, but his mother tells him not to enter. She tells him that if he's a true warrior, he shouldn't have left the service to his lord for whatever reason. Her words are so stern that Miuranosuke feels compelled to return to the front lines immediately. As he prepares to leave, Toki hangs on, telling him that she loves him and will always support him. She insists that Miuranosuke stay home until morning as his mother may die overnight. Miuranosuke is not completely convinced of the loyalty of his enemy's daughter, but decides to stay.

The two court ladies come back to kill Nagato. Tonda Rokurô a soldier from Tokimasa comes out of the well and tells them that there is a secret passage to the outside and asks them to stand guard in front of the house. Toki and Tozaburô appear. Tozaburô gives the dagger to Toki and asks her to follow him, but she energetically refuses. She threatens to kill him and he runs away. Looking at the dagger, Toki sees in it a message from his father asking him to kill Nagato. But she can't bring herself to do it and decides to kill herself with it. As she goes to plunge the dagger into her heart, Miuranosuke stops her and tells her that he believes in her love. He in turn asks her to go and kill her father. She hesitates but ends up agreeing.

Okuru has overheard everything and informs them that she will go and tell Tokimasa. Miuranosuke catches her but Rokurô comes to free her. A spear thrown from the well kills him. Tozaburô appears in splendid armor and reveals his true identity, it is Sasaki Takatsuna. He says he paid Tozaburô to take his place as a double and it was he who was killed in action, this allowed him to deceive Tokimasa. Princess Toki takes the spear, but Nagato grabs it and stabs herself with it, telling Miuranosuke that she dies so he can return to battle without excuse.

Acte IV (not played)

Princess Toki and Tozaburô arrive at Tokimasa camp. Tozaburô asks for Toki's hand as promised, but she refuses. They learn that Miuranosuke has died heroically in battle and his head is brought in. Tozaburô reminds Toki of his promise to kill her father and asks him to do so in memory of Miuranosuke. She tells him it's impossible, but he asks her to wave to him when Tokimasa goes to his tent. He takes an arquebuse and at Toki's signal, shoots into the tent. Tokimasa's son comes out to announce that his father is only injured. He fights with Tozaburô and forces him to flee. Princess Toki then commits suicide by slitting her throat. The Minamoto camp is defeated and the Hôjô clan is the winner.

The actor

Nakamura Kanzaburo XVII (1909-1988) was an actor capable of doing anything, both male and female roles, in Japanese "kaneru yakusha". Brother of Nakamura Kichiemon I, he played over 800 different roles and was the first actor in his line without an impresario or agent (zamoto).

Toyohara Kunichika Sawamura Tanosuke III as Toki, Ôtani Tomoemon V as Miuranosuke and Nakamura Shikan IV as Tôzaburô  (1865)