Shizuka Gozen

The plot

Act IV, scene 1: Yoshinoyama (Mt.Yoshino)

Yoshitsune is chased by the troops of his brother Yoritomo and has to flee with some followers. His beloved Shizuka Gozen wants to come with them, but Yoshitsune stops her and ties her to a tree to prevent her from following him. And as a proof of his love, he entrusts her with a small drum that the emperor had given him. He asks Sado Tadanobu, one of his lieutenants to be her bodyguard and gives him an armor. Yoshitsune leaves with Benkei to escape from the Yoritomo's troops chasing them.

For the moment, no one suspects that this Tadanobu is not the real thing, but a fox-spirit who personifies him to be close to the drum that was made using the skins of his parents. The audience realizes this because Tadanobu makes an exit through the hanamichi by hopping like a fox (kitsune-roppo) and bending his fingers to look like paws. The real Tadanobu went to take care of his sick mother and knows nothing about these events.

Shizuka is determined to reach Yoshitsune and sets off across the mountain among the cherry blossoms accompanied by Tadanobu. Tadanobu comes and goes and then disappears. Feeling very lonely, Shizuka starts to play the drum. To her great surprise, Tadanobu reappears very suddenly. Shizuka is sad to be separated from Yoshitsune and to cheer her up, Tadanobu puts on an armor to look like him. They dance together (michiyuki dance), re-enacting the heroic death of Sato Tsugunobu, Tadanobu's older brother. Tadanobu becomes more and more of a fox, changing kimono quickly and bouncing everywhere.

Yoritomo's soldiers led by Hayami no Tôta arrive and try to kidnap Shizuka. Tadanobu defends her with all his strength, jumping, parrying, attacking in his turn and he succeeds in making them flee.

Act IV, scene 2: "Kawatsura Hôgen Yakata" (In Kawatsura Hôgen's palace) nicknamed "Shi-no-kiri (end of fourth (act))

Yoshitsune arrives in Yoshino among the thousand cherry blossoms where he finds the real Tadanobu who says he knows nothing about Shizuka or the drum. Yoshitsune becomes very suspicious and has Tadanobu arrested. Shizuka arrives in the meantime and she too finds this Tadanobu to be very different from the one who accompanied her.

She then strikes the drum and the fox Tadanobu appears immediately. He admits being an impostor and reveals himself in the form of a fox, explaining his ploy to try to seize the drum, whose recovery is a duty of filial piety. Yoshitsune then decides to give him the drum and the fox begins to play. The spirit of his parents warns him that soldier-monks will attack that night and the fox informs Yoshitsune that he has placed a magical protection around the house and that he can sleep in peace. A little later, the soldier-monks approach, but the fox mystifies them and puts them on the run. His duty accomplished, he leaves with the drum.

The actor

Nakamura Tokizô III (1895-1959) was a great actor of female roles. He played many times with his brother Nakamura Kichiemon I as a partner in male roles. He was the head of a large family with five sons (all actors) and five daughters.