The Oil-Hell Murder

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The Oil-Hell Murder

Bunraku: July 1721, Osaka Kabuki: October 1907, Osaka

Chikamatsu Monzaemon incorporated an actual crime into his story, written originally for the puppet theater. It was rarely performed after its premiere, but was successfully staged in Kabuki form in a sensational revival in 1909 by Jitsukawa Enjaku II. Yohei became one of his signature roles, though his portrayal appears to have been different from today’s standard. Sakata Tojuro played Yohei in a movie version prior to taking the role on stage in 1957 (under his previous name Nakamura Senjaku). He was highly praised for his so-called “après guerre” take on the role, referring to aimless youth with new values in the immediate post-war period. The present Kataoka Nizaemon XV subsequently chose the part as his breakout role in his father’s production in 1964. His portrayal of the youth as selfish and impulsive was a fresh interpretation breaking out of the typical Kabuki mold, which won many fans. The Okichi role was initially called Oyoshi, an alternative reading for the Chinese characters. This was later changed to the present name, which is considered more appropriate in Japanese for an older female. The crime depicted in the story could have been taken out of today’s newspapers, giving the play an unusually contemporary feel.

●main graphic ［from above］Kawachiya Yohei（Kataoka Nizaemon）、Okichi（Kataoka Takataro）　June 2009　Kabukiza Theatre

●publication date　January 2016