Masaoka

The play

The play « Meiboku Sendai hagi” is based on a real event during the succession conflict in the Date clan of Sendai in the North of Japan. The play was written in 1777 and has been modified in the 19^th century for censorship reasons, relocating the action in the Ashikaga clan in the 15^th century. The names of the main characters have also been modified with Lord Date Tsunamune becoming Ashikaga Norikane. The play is made of 3 acts and 6 scenes.

This play is one of the most popular thanks to Masaoka's sacrifice and impassibility in front of her son's murder and Nikki Danjo's wizardry and tricks.

The Japanese title contains a series of puns. The characters for meiboku refer to a famous aromatic wood, suggesting the expensive clogs said to be worn by Yorikane when he visits the pleasure quarters. Sendai hagi is Japanese bush clover, which, though written with different characters, is a symbol of Sendai City. Thus, while the title literally reads “Fragrant Wood and Japanese Bush Clover”, it is also a sly reference to the dissolute ways of the leader of the Sendai clan.

Main characters

• Yorikane: Lord of the clan, forced to retire

• Tsuruchiyo: His very young son and successor

• Masaoka: Tsuruchiyo's nurse

• Senmatsu: Masaoka's son

• Nikki Danjo: Minister of Yorikane and wizard. Wants to overthrow his lord

• Lady Yashio: Nikki Danjo's wicked sister

• Lady Matsushima: Doctor

• Lady Sakae Gozen: Follower of Dame Yashio, in the conspiracy

• Otokonosuke: Masaoka's husband, loyal retainer

The plot

Act I

Lord Yorikane has fallen in love with the geisha Takao and is neglecting his duties. He is forced to retire and his young son Tsuruchiyo is made head of the clan. The evil minister Nikko Danjo and his sister Lady Yashio, lady in charge of the palace are fomenting a plot to kill Tsuruchiyo and take over the clan. His nanny Masaoka tries to protect Tsuruchiyo by keeping him in the women’s quarters on the pretext that he is ill. She prepares the meals herself to prevent any poisoning.

Lady Yashio wants to expose the fake illness, discredit Masaoka and pick up the child. She drops in Masaoka’s room with a doctor Lady Matsushima to examine Tsuruchiyo. The doctor concludes there is an evil presence in this room threatening the child’s life. They begin a search and find a sinister-looking man hidden in the ceiling. Upon interrogation by Lady Yashio, he confesses that he has been paid by Masaoka to assassinate the heir. Lady Matsushima who is not on the plotters’side is suspicious and questions him thoroughly. She quickly realizes that he is lying and that Masaoka is innocent. Yashio is furious and exhibits a letter supposedly written by Masaoka and exposing the details of a plan to get rid of Tsuruchiyo. Again, the doctor looks at the letter and easily sees it is a forged document. Yashio fulminates after Masaoka, woman of low birth, but is interrupted by Tsuruchiyo who takes his little sword and says that he will stay with Masaoka and her son Senmatsu. Yashio has no choice but to leave the room.

Act II

Masaoka has trained her own young son, Senmatsu, to taste Tsuruchiyo's food as a precaution against poisoning. Masaoka painstakingly prepares food using the only implements available to her-tea ceremony utensils. The waiting seems interminable to the two hungry boys. The actor playing the role of Masaoka has to movingly portray her heartache at the hardship they have to endure.

Lady Yashio and Sakae Gozen, wife of a high-ranked retainer bring cakes supposedly sent by the Shogun. As instructed, Senmatsu dahes out without waiting and eats one of the cakes, but notices immediately that something is wrong and tramples the cakes. Lady Yashio stabs him to death claiming that this rude behaviour is inacceptable. Despite her son being murdered in front of her, Masaoka shows no emotion. She is so stoic that she fools Sakae Gozen into believing she is with the plotters and that the victim is Tsuruchoyo wearing her son’s clothes. Assuming she can trust Masaoka, Sakae Gozen gives her a scroll listing the conspirators. The role of Masaoka is a fine example of fierce devotion to duty and self-sacrifice.

Finally alone, Masaoka grieves for her son, but Yashio comes back and attack her. Masaoka defends herself and stabs her. At the same moment, a giant rat appears and runs off with the scroll.

Act III

Otonosuke, a soldier loyal to Tsuruchiyo is mounting guard below Masaoka’s room. He spots the large rat with a scroll in his mouth and hits with his heavy iron fan. The rat is hurt but manages to escape. It re-emerges through a trapdoor on the hanamachi in its true form as Nikki Danjo and exits via the hanamachi carrying the scroll in his mouth followed by stagehands carrying candles.

In some versions, a judgment scene takes place where Nikki Danjo is judged guilty and condemned to death. He tries to escape but is caught and executed.

The actor

Masaoka is the most prestigious role for an onnagata actor (males actors playing female roles) as she has to show no emotion in front of her son's murder, then expresses her sorrow when she is alone.

Nakamura Utaemon V (1865-1940) was probably the onnagata actor of the first half of 20^th century. He played also male roles, but his best performances were as Dame Yodogimi (various plays), Agemaki (in Sukeroku) and Nanny Masaoka.

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