Kabuki Plus
Yukihira and Matsukaze
Ariwara Yukihira was a ninth-century poet whose works were included in the celebrated Ogura Hyakunin Isshu collection. He was the son of Prince Abo and brother of Ariwara Narihira of Tales of Ise fame. He was exiled to the shores of Suma, where he is thought to have led a modest life. He is the subject of the Noh classic Matsukaze based on the folklore tale of his relations with two sister fisherwomen, Matsukaze and Murasame. The story tells of their pining for Yukihira after he was called back to the capital, using his headgear and clothing as a keepsake. The story gave rise to its own genre, known as Matsukaze Murasame stories, and was told in various arts. Other such Kabuki plays in addition to Rampei’s Madness include Matsukaze Murasame Sokutai Kagami and the dance pieces Shiokumi, Hama Matsukaze Koi no Yomibito and Imayo Suma no Utsushie.
Fight choreographer (tateshi) Yaenosuke
The most notable feature of this play is the elaborate fight scene. Rampei climbs up a ladder on the hanamichi to escape the police, prompting acrobatic feats by policemen on the ladder such as handstands and steep plunges to the ground. Choreographers of such scenes are known as tateshi. The famed tateshi Bando Yaenosuke (1909-87) was charged with this play in September 1953 at Tokyo’s Meijiza Theater. He joined hands with the actor Onoe Shoroku II in what is now a legendary performance, taking on himself the dramatic fall to the stage. Other fights he is known for include scenes from Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees, Nanso Satomi Hakkenden and Aoto Zoshi Hana no Nishikie.
