The Nagauta-based dance-drama was premiered in the 3rd lunar month of 1854 at the Nakamuraza [more details].

After WWII, it fell into oblivion. No staging for many years! Then, it was revived in April 2016 at the Meijiza and in December 2020 at the Minamiza.

One day, a female daimyô ^[1] orders her servant Tarôkaja to purchase a folding fan (suehiro) with "good quality paper, polished ribs, and a playful picture drawn on it."

When Tarôkaja goes into town, however, he realizes he has no idea what a suehiro actually is. Determined to complete his task, he wanders through the streets calling out, "I want to buy a suehiro!" A passing swindler notices his confusion, approaches him, and cleverly deceives him into buying a paper umbrella-complete with ribs and a handle-convincing him that it is the desired item.

Tarôkaja returns triumphantly and presents his purchase to the daimyô. His mistress is furious when she discovers that he has spent a large sum of money on a second-hand umbrella instead of the proper fan. In desperation, Tarôkaja performs a lively dance and sings a song the swindler taught him, hoping to improve her mood. His performance gradually delights his mistress, and her anger melts away. In the end, the tension gives way to joy as they dance together.

[1] A female daimyô is standard. A version with a male daimyô is also possible.

The actors Kataoka Matsunosuke II and Onoe Karyû playing the roles of the servant and the female daimyô in the dance-drama "Wakamidori Suehirogari", which was staged in the 3rd lunar month of 1854 at the Nakamuraza (illustration from the illustrated cover of a Nagauta manuscript)