Masakado

（ ）

Masakado

July 1836, Edo

A major tokiwazu piece (narrative musical style) in the well-known Masakado genre. The principal character is the daughter of Taira Masakado, a warrior who is said to have rebelled against the throne toward the end of the Heian Era in the late 12th century. Masakado had a large number of supporters in Edo, where he is worshipped as a demigod in places like the Kanda Myojin Shrine, and is the subject of a good number of plays and novels. Kabuki plays commonly feature his sons and daughters rather than the warrior himself. This piece, revolving around Masakado’s daughter, adds an element of revenge along with hints of a love affair in a seductive and magical play. The piece was originally the finale of a long Kabuki show by Takarada Jusuke based on a popular novel by the noted Edo Era writer Santo Kyoden, but is now performed as an independent piece. The role of the princess was created by Ichikawa Kuzo II (later Danzo VI), while Ichimura Uzaemon XII played Mitsukuni. The princess role was associated with Nakamura Utaemon VI in the postwar era and has recently been taken by such luminaries as Nakamura Jakuemon IV, Nakamura Shikan VII and Bando Tamasaburo V.

●main graphic ［from left］Oya Taro Mitsukuni（Onoe Shoroku）、Courtesan Kisaragi, actually Princess Takiyasha（Nakamura Tokizo）　December 2006　Kabukiza Theatre

●publication date　March 2016