Nakamura Kichiemon as Kato Kiyomasa in "Kiyomasa Seichuroku" (The loyal Kiyomasa) - Figures of the Showa scene #6
清正 - 中村吉右衛門丈 昭和舞台姿 その六
The print
Artist: Ôta Masamitsu
Publisher: Miyake Koshodo (Banchoro)
Carver: Nagai Otokichi (1902-1979)
Printer: Ito Harutaro
Date: 1953 #81/200
Format: Oban-tate
Catalogue: S-661
This is an historical play in three acts premiered in 1890, a shortened version of a 6-acts play called « Minori no aki seicho denki » dated 1875. The original play used disguised names for the characters to avoid censorship, but the 1890 shortened version uses the real names.
Historical context: Toyotomi Hideyoshi rose from a humble background to become the most powerful ruler of united Japan in 1590's. But he died while his only remaining heir, Toyotomi Hideyori, was still very young. Anxious as to the future of the Toyotomi clan, he named Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of his generals, to act as Hideyori's guardian and trustee of the regime until the youth becomes of age. After Hideyoshi's death, his followers split into rival factions and Ieyasu played them off one against the other until eventually in a decisive battle, Tokugawa Ieyasu and his Army of the East got the upper hand. He decided to build his castle in Edo (now Tokyo) while the Toyotomi clan stayed in the Osaka castle.
Kato Kiyomasa (1562-1611) was one of the generals of the Korean war in 1592 under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. When Hideyoshi died in 1598, Kato went back to Japan and joined the Army of the East led by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who defeated the West coalition in 1600. Ieyasu became shogun and Kato was then rewarded with a domain.
In 1610, war would break out between the Tokugawa clan and the Toyotomi clan, the latter trying to assert his inheritance rights. The play chronicles of Kato Kiyomasa's attempts as mediator to promote peace.
He died shortly after in 1611, probably poisoned. The war between the two camps took place three years later and ended with the final elimination of the Toyotomi clan and the destruction of their castle in Osaka by Tokugawa troops in 1615.
Kato Kiyomasa: Vétéran de la guerre de Corée, vassal de Toyotomi Hideyori, veut préserver la paix
Toyotomi Hideyori: Jeune chef du clan Toyotomi, héritier légitime du pouvoir
Yodogimi: Mère d'Hideyori, Veut la guerre.
Ono Dogen: Vassal d'Hideyori, partisan de la guerre
Katagiri Katsumoto: Vassal d'Hideyori, partisan de la paix
Sakakibara Yasumasa: Emissaire de Tokugawa Ieyasu
Prologue
Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu is the guardian of Toyotomi Hideyori, son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Yodogimi, Hideyori's mother would like to overthrow Ieyasu so that her son becomes Japan's ruler. Ieyasu and Hideyori meet at Nijo-jo Castle in Kyoto where Hideyori is accompanied by Kato Kiyomasa and his lieutenants Ikeda Terumasa and Asano Yoshinaga. In Hideyori's absence, they are served dishes poisoned with manju, a very slow but incurable poison.
Act I
The first act takes place at the Hideyoshi Mausoleum in Kyoto. Ikeda and Asano, the two lieutenants knowing they are doomed, go to Hideyoshi mausoleum to say goodbye to their master and kill themselves. Kiyomasa joins them there, but asks them not to kill themselves as it could start a war that Hideyori's supporters are not ready for. He tells them that for now the preservation of peace is more important and that they must wait until Hideyori grows up and Ieyasu is old and weak to take revenge. They agree to return to their respective domains to die there without mentioning the poisoning and trying to keep the peace.
In the background, people sing a popular song about how even if the plum tree (ume) dies and the reeds (ogi) grow, the cherry trees (sakura) will still bloom. This is a parable saying that even if the Toyotomi (plum tree) clan falls and the Tokugawa (reed) clan wins, the important thing is that the emperor (the cherry tree) and the people flourish.
Toyohara Kunichika - Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Kato Kiyomasa (1894) (Image Toshidama Gallery)
Act II
The second act takes place at Osaka Castle, Hideyori's home. Kiyomasa has come to submit his resignation and asks permission to return to his domain. He meets Hideyori and his mother Yodogimi in the presence of two other samurai: Katagiri Katsumoto who wants to preserve the peace and Ono Doken who wants immediate war. Yodogimi asks him why he leaves them in these difficult times. Katagiri defends Kiyomasa and recalls his past exploits. Hideyori is saddened to see the old warrior go and shows him his affection by giving him his fan. Ono Dogen becomes jealous and suggests that Kiyomasa leaves as he is secretly allied with Ieyasu. Katagiri intervenes and calms the situation.
Hideyori asks for a gift in return, and Kiyomasa offers to sing him a farewell song. He then sings the song of the plum tree, the reed and the cherry tree and takes leave of young Hideyori, knowing that he will never see him again. Katagiri fully understands the meaning of the song and nods at Kiyomasa to let him know that he will do anything to keep the peace.
Act III
The third act takes place in Kyoto near Kiyomasa's house. Kiyomasa pretended to leave for his castle, but secretly stayed in Kyoto to make sure Ono Doken didn't start the war. Sakakibara Yasumasa, an emissary from Ieyasu who heard rumors about his presence, comes to investigate. Ono Doken wants to take the opportunity to attack him, but Kato Denzo, a cousin of Kiyomasa goes to meet Ono's troops to delay them. Sakakibara enters the scene and is approached by Mamesuke, a kind of spy who confirms that Kiyomasa is still in Kyoto and asks for a reward. Sakakibara outraged by this behavior kills him instead. Kiyomasa then arrives and Sakakibara prepares to defend himself, but Kiyomasa assures him that he does not want to fight. He only stayed in Kyoto to thwart Yodogimi and Ono Doken's plans who are doing everything to provoke Ieyasu and start the war. Sakakibara understands that Kiyomasa is loyal and that they have the same goal. The two warriors who fought side by side in Korea agree that peace will be preserved and part ways.
Nakamura Kichiemon I (1886-1954) had made Kato Kiyomasa his signature role and performed it throughout his career. Nakamura Kichiemon I was one of the great kabuki actors of the first half of the 20th century and the subject of many prints in various roles.
Nakamura Kichiemon I playing Kato Kiyomasa in 1915
Matsuda Seifu - Nakamura Kichiemon I as Kata Kiyomasa (1915)
Sekino Junichiro - Nakamura Kichiemon I portrait (1947) (Image Boston Museum of Fine Arts)