NANBA URA KOROSHI
   
Play titles Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki  In Japanese
A Diary of Two Butterflies in the Pleasure Quarters [1]
Common title Nanba Ura Koroshi  In Japanese
Authors Takeda Izumo II
Namiki Senryû I
Miyoshi Shôraku
History

The play in nine acts "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki" was originally written for the puppets theater and performed for the first time in the 7th lunar month of 1749 at the Takemotoza in Ôsaka. It was adapted for Kabuki a few weeks later by the zamoto Arashi San'emon IV in the 8th lunar month of 1749 in Kyôto. The roles of the 2 sumô wrestlers Nuregami Chôgorô and Chôkichi were played by the actors Nakayama Shinkurô I and Fujikawa Heikurô.

Structure

The "Nanba Shibai Ura" act (commonly called "Nanba Ura Koroshi") is the 5th act of the play "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki". It is staged nowadays within a tôshi kyôgen production.

Key words Azuma-yojibêmono
Dôtonbori
Gidayû Kyôgen
Koroshiba
Miuke
Sewamono
Sumô
Sumômono
Sumôtori
Summary

Nuregami Chôgorô arrives behind the Dôtonbori theater district to save Yamazaki Yogorô and Fujiya Azuma who are being beaten and kicked by the samurai Hiraoka Gôzaemon and Mihara Ariemon. Showing a receipt for 300 ryô paid by Yogorô as security money for Azuma's ransom (miuke), Chôgorô tells Gôzaemon that he has no right to claim Azuma. Gôzaemon pretends to agree and makes Ariemon attack Chôgorô with a sword but Chôgorô easily throws Ariemon to the ground. Gôzaemon also attacks Chôgorô but is kicked on the breast. As the two samurai do not cease to attack him, however, Chôgorô draws his sword to kill them, Hanaregoma Chôkichi arrives. No longer trying to prevent Yogorô from redeeming Azuma, he wishes them good luck, When Yogorô tries to kill himself to take responsibility for the trouble caused by his ransom of Azuma, Chôkichi stops him and promises to keep Yogorô and Azuma in his care. He advises Chôgorô to flee from police who may come to arrest him. Geta-no-Ichi and Node-no-San arrive and declare that they will report Chôgorô's crime to the police. With Chôkichi's consent, Chôgorô quickly kills them both and runs away.

Notes

[1] The title "A Diary of Two Butterflies in the Pleasure Quarters" comes from the 1st volume of "Kabuki Plays On Stage".

Illustration from the ezukushi banzuke for the "Nanba Ura Koroshi" scene of the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki", which was staged in the 12th lunar month of 1796 at the Kado no Shibai with Arashi Kichisaburô II, Arashi Hinasuke II, Arashi Sangorô II, Yoshizawa Iroha I, Nakayama Bungorô I and Arashi Mitsuemon I in the roles of Nuregami Chôgorô, Hanaregoma Chôkichi, Yamazaki Yogorô, Fujiya Azuma, Hiraoka Gôzaemon and Mihara Ariemon

 
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