Sogoro the Fishmonger
新皿屋舗月雨暈～魚屋宗五郎
Sakanaya Sogoro
The fishmonger Sogoro is serious and sober. When he learns that his sister was punished unjustly, he lets drink get the better of him and attacks his master.
The scene is an old local festival. The fishmonger Sogoro learns that his sister has been wrongly punished for a crime. He drinks sake, breaking his abstinence, and becomes drunk. He takes his frustrations out on his master, who killed his sister. A household usurpation story incorporating the popular “broken plate” story and depicting the minds of local townsmen.
Otsuta unjustly killed by her master
Otsuta, the good-natured sister of the fishmonger Sogoro, serves as a concubine to Isobe Kazuenosuke, a senior retainer to the shogun. However, the samurai Iwagami Tenzo falls for her and tries to seduce her. She is rescued by another samurai, but in return Tenzo accuses the two of having an affair. Her master, infuriated, kills her and orders that her body be thrown into a well.
Drunken Sogoro heads to master’s mansion
Sogoro is overwhelmed by the death of his sister. He tells himself there must be a reason for the punishment. Otsuta’s maid comes with sake for prayer. She reveals to Sogoro that his sister was innocent and suffered an unjust and brutal death. Sogoro becomes desperate. He had a problem with alcohol in the past and has vowed abstinence, but this news drives him to take a drink, which quickly turns to more. Upon getting thoroughly drunk, he goes to confront her sister’s employer.
【Left】Sogoro the fishmonger（Onoe Kikugoro） May 2014 Kabukiza Theatre 【Center1】Onagi（Onoe Kikunosuke） October 2008 Kabukiza Theatre 【Center2】［from left］Sankichi（Bando Kametoshi）、Sogoro the fishmonger（Onoe Shoroku）、Ohama（Nakamura Shibajaku）、Tahei（Kataoka Ichizo） May 2010 Shinbashi Enbujo Theatre 【Right】Sogoro the fishmonger（Onoe Kikugoro） November 2011 Shinbashi Enbujo Theatre
Sogoro saved by thin margin at the mansion
The drunken Somogoro arrives at the mansion. His wife Ohama desperately chases after him. He is nearly killed because of his extreme rudeness, but is saved by a quick-thinking retainer. Sogoro says, “I’m not saying this because I’m drunk…” and raves on about his sister. He finally falls asleep. When he wakes up, he finds himself in the garden of the mansion. He is sober now but does not remember anything. The master appears and apologizes for killing Otsuta. He pays compensation money to Sogoro. Tenzo’s crime is revealed, and he is caught trying to escape.
【Left】［from left］Ohama（Nakamura Tokizo）、Sogoro the fishmonger（Nakamura Kanzaburo）、Urato Juzaemon（Kataoka Gato） April 2007 Kabukiza Theatre 【Right】［from left］Ohama（Nakamura Tokizo）、Sogoro the fishmonger（Onoe Kikugoro）、Urato Juzaemon（Ichikawa Sadanji）、Isobe Kazuenosuke（Bando Mitsugoro） November 2011 Shinbashi Enbujo Theatre
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