Several days ago Miyagawacho Kaburen-jo theater held a premiere of Kabuki play "The faithful wife", written and staged by Maiko Kikuhino. This Kabuki play tells us story of 2 merchants, who made a bet that Yoshimitsu will seduce the wife of Ryuji, Yukiko. Yoshimitsu bribes Hoji, servant from Ryuji's household, to receive intimate details about Yukiko's body and her ring. Then, Yoshimitsu lies to Ryuji that he has slept with his wife, therefore he saw birthmark on her thigh and that she had given him her wedding ring as a token of her love. Ryuji rushed into the house questioning Yukiko, and after not being able to find the ring, he decides to get rid of her. He calls Hoji, his servant, tells him to take her into the woods and kill her. Hoji disobeys and leaves Yukiko to die in the winter forest, while bringing his master her blood soaked kimono with deer heart and lungs. Yukiko is saved by a Monk and is taken into the temple. After some time, she decides to leave and accidentaly onher way she saves the son of Lord Shibatsu, Shinji, who was attacked by bandits. She carefully takes care of him, until one day comes Lord Shibatsu himself and Shinji asks his father to thank this young lad (Yukiko disguised herself as a young man) for saving him. It is decided that Yukiko/Uki will now serve at the Lords mansion. When Lord Shibatsu, his son and Yukiko/Uki returned to the castle, they saw Ryuji san on his knees waiting for the Lords punishment for killing his innocent wife. Yukiko throws off her disguise and bows deeply before the Lord Shibatsu asking to show mercy on her husband. After seeing that how faithful the wife was to her husband, Lord Shibatsu lets the two lovers go...
The Kabuki play was a success! After the curtains went down, the audience thanked the talented actors with standing ovations.
🎠Actors:
Geiko Kikumaru - Lord's Shibatsu son Shinji, Narrator
Maiko Kikune - Yoshimitsu(merchant), Komuso monk, Hoji
Maiko Kikushino - Ryuji(merchant), Lord Shibatsu
Shikomi Junko - Wife of Ryuji Yukiko (Uki)
For those who wanted to come but didn't have a chance, Geiko Kikutsuru san took some amazing photos during the play. Please enjoy!
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| "All seemed well until one night Ryuji san bumped into an old acquaintance in the local chaya where they drink sake and dine after work ..." |
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| "Ryuji san drew his sword and raised it poised to strike but was too cowardly to strike the blow himself ..." |
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| "Hoji, now fearful for his life, knowing his master is plotting to kill him, sleeps with one eye open and sees a shadow slide past the half open shoji doors and as the light catches the flash of a sword is struck a glancing blow fleas in terror hearing the swish of the blade strike after strike around his ears fleas screaming into the night...." |
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| "I came as quickly as i could when i heard the news that your party had been attacked and sent out soldiers to comb the surrounding area for those bandits, they wont get far..." |
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| Actors are bowing towards the audience |
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