Princess Kuzunoha

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Princess Kuzunoha

Bunraku: October 1734, Osaka Kabuki: May 1735, Kyoto

This is a five-act history drama taking place under the 10th-century reign of Emperor Suzaku. It depicts a battle between Ashiya Doman and Abe Yasuna over an imperial document. Yasuna’s lover Sakaki committed suicide after secret documents were stolen by Doman’s gang. Yasuna goes mad from the shock. He then meets Sakaki’s sister, Princess Kuzunoha, who bears a striking resemblance to Sakaki. He falls in love with her, bringing him back from his despair, and they become engaged. Shortly thereafter, he sees a white fox running in fear from the evil Akuemon. He rescues the animal but, in fending off the villain, is injured. Princess Kuzunoha suddenly returns to save him. They then marry and settle down, and the act “Princess Kuzunoha” is the continuation of this story. The princess is in fact the fox that Yasuna rescued, now disguised as the princess (foxes in Japanese folklore have magical powers). When the real princess turns up, the fox’s identity is revealed, and she must return to the woods. Later in the story, Doman admits his wrongdoing and resolves to start a new life. He meets the son of Yasuna and the fox and, Impressed by the lad’s intelligence, names him Abe Seimei. Yasuna is killed by Akuemon but is resurrected thanks to Seimei’s prayers, and the evil men are defeated.

●main graphic Kuzunoha, actually a fox（Nakamura Ganjiro）　November 2004　Kabukiza Theatre

●publication date　March 2017