Sukeroku

Figures of the Modern Stage #1

Ichikawa Ebiso IX as Sukeroku in "Sukeroku yukari no Edo zakura" (Sukeroku, Flower of Edo) - Series Figures of the Modern Stage #1

現代舞台藝蕐(1) 助六 九代目市川海老藏丈

The print

  • Artist: Ôta Masamitsu

  • Publisher: Miyake Koshodo (Banchoro)

  • Carver: Ito Susumu (1916-1998)

  • Printer: Uchikawa Matashiro

  • Date: 1954 No.122/200

  • Format: Oban-tate

  • Catalogue: S-540


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The play

Created in 1713, Sukeroku flower of Edo is one of the most famous and popular kabuki plays. It is part of the repertoire of the line of actors of Ichikawa Danjuro and is included in the 18 major plays (Ju-hachi-ban). The story of Sukeroku is inspired by an actual event that happened in Osaka between 1630 and 1650.

This play is also known for the costume elements that Ichikawa Danjuro brought to the character during the second performance in 1716: A purple headband encircling Sukeroku's forehead falling to the side, an umbrella decorated with concentric circles and his specific makeup that we can see in the print above and which makes him one of the most easily recognizable characters in kabuki theater. The characters are associated with "Soga monogatari", the story of the Soga brothers who want revenge for their father’s murder.

The play has two acts and is also popular for its comic numbers, for example the scene with tobacco pipes in the first act or in the second act, when Sukeroku forces Tsujin Rigyo to crawl between his legs.

Main characters

  • Sukeroku: Heros of the play. His father was murdered 18 years ago and his fabled sword Tomokirimaru stolen.

  • Miura no Agemaki: High-ranking courtesan of the Miura house. In love with Sukeroku

  • Hige no Ikyu: Older samourai, patron of Agemaki. Wants to buy her contract.

  • Kampera: Ikyu's retainer

  • Jimbei: Sukeroku's brother

  • Manko: Sukeroku's mother

  • Tsujin Rigyo: A passer-by provoked by Sukeroku

Act I - Sukeroku (Ichikawa Danjuro) coming on stage via the hanamichi and joining Agemaki and Ikyu

The plot

Act I

The scene opens at the Yoshiwara Reserved Quarter in Edo. High Courtesan Agemaki walks with her entourage. She's a little tipsy and unsteady. She has received a letter from Manko, Sukeroku's mother asking her to break up with her son who spends his time hanging out in Yoshiwara and fighting instead of doing everything possible to avenge his murdered father. But Agemaki is in love with Sukeroku and has refused.

An attendant comes to tell her that the rich samurai Ikyu is coming to see her. Ikyu is Agemaki's client, but she doesn't like him. When Ikyu arrives and starts chastising her for dating Sukeroku and talking badly about him, Agemaki gets angry, leaves the stage, refusing to entertain him.

Sukeroku then enters the hanamichi (elevated path connecting the back of the theater to the stage), dancing, doing poses with his purple headband, playing with his umbrella, showing off and flirtatious. This scene, one of the great moments of the Kabuki theater, allows the actor to improvise many poses (mie) and demonstrate his talent.

The Yoshiwara girls surround him and offer him pipes to smoke. Ikyu, annoyed to see himself deserted, asks him for a pipe. Sukeroku refuses at first, then hands him one between his toes. Ikyu is furious, but contains his rage. One of Ikyu's soldiers, Kampera comes out of the tea house, shouting that he has been cheated by one of the maids. He lashes out at them all, accusing them, shouting, pushing aside a noodle delivery man. Sukeroku beats him, knocks a bowl of noodles over his head and then proclaims that he is the best in both combat and love. He curses and challenges Ikyu, provoking him to draw his sword. Ikyu replies that his blade is too noble to be stained with common blood and they all enter the tea house, leaving Sukeroku alone on the stage.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi - Sukeroku offers a pipe with his foot to Ikyu (act I) (non identified actors ca. 1850)

Act II

A traveling sake vendor called Shimbei approaches and Sukeroku begins to fight with him. But he stops him and reveals himself. He is Sukeroku’s brother who in this disguise tries to discover the murderer. He blames Sukeroku for just having fun instead of helping him. So it appears that Sukeroku and Jimbei are in fact the two brothers Soga Goro and Juro. Sukeroku explains that he does not fight lightly, but tries to provoke the samurais to draw their swords so he can find the family sword and thus identify the murderer. Shimbei / Juro understands Sukeroku / Goro's game and they both start to provoke passers-by, including asking them to crawl between their legs.

Agemaki returns accompanied by a samurai hidden under a large hat. Sukeroku provokes him and is shocked to discover his mother Manko in this disguise. She blames him for his behavior and Sukeroku then explains his ploy. Manko is relieved and reveals that Ikyu is in fact Iga Heinaizaemon, a sworn enemy of the family and the likely murderer.

Ikyu then arrives and he begins to beat Sukeroku with his cane, asking him to abandon Agemaki. He tries to tempt him with an alliance and to make him make seditious remarks. To support his argument that all three united would be the strongest, he takes out his sword and slices off one of the legs of a falling incense holder. He then realizes his mistake. But it's too late, Sukeroku has seen the blade of his father's sword. His mission is accomplished and the murderer is unmasked. Sukeroku attacks him and demands the return of the family sword.

In some versions, Sukeroku challenges Ikyu to a duel and kills him.

The actor

Ichikawa Ebiso IX (1903-1965) was a talented actor, specialized in tachiyaku roles. He was awarded the prestigious name of Ichikawa Danjuro XI in 1962.

Danjuro XII as Sukeroku

Ikyu takes out his sword and Sukeroku recognizes his father's sword

Yamamura Toyonari - Matsumoto Koshiro VII - Sukeroku (1920)

Natori Shunsen - Matsumoto Koshiro VII - Ikyu (1929) (Image Artelino)

Yamamoto Hisashi - Ichikawa Ebiso X - Sukeroku (1980)