The Three Kichisas

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The Three Kichisas

1860, Edo

A contemporary drama written by the famed playwright Kawatake Mokuami for actor Kodanji IV. It was first performed under the title The First Purchase in the Pleasure Quarters by the Three Kichisas as a play of seven acts and thirteen scenes. It was not particularly well received at the time, but Mokuami always considered it one of his best works. He eventually reworked it, and some 30 years later, with a simplified story and new title, it became a big hit. It has since become a firmly established part of the repertoire. Three thieves sharing the name Kichisa – a priest, a cross-dresser and a former samurai –make a blood pact of loyalty. A stolen purse sets off a complicated series of events that leads in the end to tragedy. The play is replete with the ambience of the decadent late Edo Period and is noted for the beauty of its verse, including one of Kabuki’s most famous speeches. The cross-dressing criminal is a signature creation of Mokuami, who also used it famously in Benten Kozo and other plays.