Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees

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Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees

Bunraku: November 1747, Osaka Kabuki: January 1748, Ise; May 1748, Edo

This is the one of the three plays (along with Sugawara and the Secrets of Calligraphy and Kanadehon Chushingura) considered the pinnacle of puppet-based Kabuki drama. It is a five-act show, but Act II (Tokaiya Shop/Daimotsu Bay), Act III (The Sushi Shop), and Act IV (Kawatsura Hogen’s Palace) are often performed independently. The historical Minamoto Yoshitsune led his forces to victory in the decisive Genpei battle, but was pursued thereafter by his jealous brother to an ignoble death. His life story has long been a popular tale among the Japanese, and many heroic stories have been passed down to the present time in various forms. This drama is in that line, showing the fleeing Yoshitsune being attacked by Heike warriors who he had thought were dead. It is a dramatization of The Tale of Heike colored with unexpected developments in romance and fantasy, creating a grand historic drama.

●main graphic Tokaiya Ginpei, actually Taira Tomomori（Nakamura Kichiemon）　July 2012　Osaka Shochikuza Theatre

●publication date　June 2015