Mayama Seika's drama "Katsu Awa no Chichi" was premiered in May 1938 at the Tôkyô Gekijô [more details]. It was revived, revised by Takase Seiichirô and staged on tour with the Zenshinza troupe from August to October 1957 in different theaters ^[1]. The title was definitively changed to "Tenpô Yûkyôroku".

The current version of "Tenpô Yûkyôroku" is made up of 1 act (2 scenes).

Introduction

The story, set in the waning, decadent years of the Edo Period, follows a low-ranking samurai who makes a failed attempt at promotion by hosting an extravagant banquet for a feudal government official.

The protagonist, Katsu Kokichi, is a wandering samurai who survives on a paltry pension and occasional extortion. As the seventh son of the Otani family, where only the eldest retains the family name, Kokichi is eventually adopted into the lesser-ranked Katsu household.

To gain promotion, one must secure an audience with a senior feudal official. This is typically achieved by inviting the official to a formal banquet and arranging for a mid-ranking samurai to handle the introduction. If the official and his entourage accept the introduction, a position is usually assured. However, it is customary for the official party to belittle the applicant, who must endure the abuse without protest. Kokichi's ignorance of these formalities sets the stage for trouble.

Act I, scene 1: Mukôjima Ryôri Jaya
In a Mukôjima Restaurant

Katsu Saemon Tarô, known familiarly as Kokichi, plans an opulent banquet for Ôkubo Kôzukenosuke, a government official in charge of minor palace and temple repairs, hoping to secure a promotion. On his way to the venue, Kokichi encounters his nephew, Matsuzaka Shônosuke, who begs for money to buy a gift for his favorite mistress. Kokichi tells him to stop relying on his poor uncle and instead steal from his wealthy parents-advice Shônosuke promptly follows.

At the lavish tea house, Kokichi is greeted by intermediaries Karatsu Tôbê and Enomoto Saisuke, who immediately mock his attire and poor preparation. They inform him that his elder brothers must be present to assist with the hosting duties, and that bribes must be prepared in addition to the 70 ryô banquet cost. Frustrated and on the verge of canceling, Kokichi is reassured by his acquaintances, the soeban Inoue Kakubê and Iida Jinkurô, who have arrived to help facilitate the introductions. They remind him of the promotion's importance-for the sake of providing a better life for his beloved son.

With Inoue and Iida is Sakamotoya Yaeji, Kokichi's former lover, now a courtesan, who was invited unknowingly due to her popularity with Ôkubo. Initially refusing to attend upon seeing Kokichi, Yaeji eventually relents and agrees to participate.

Ôkubo and his retainers arrive, slightly inebriated, and are escorted to the banquet room by Inoue, Iida, and the courtesans. Kokichi remains outside, face down, awaiting acknowledgment, as dictated by custom. Though initially ignored, he is eventually introduced by Inoue, wins recognition from the other retainers, and is allowed to sit in the hallway. Things appear to be going smoothly.

But the mood sours as the retainers begin insulting Kokichi and the banquet fare. Shônosuke, acting as a last-minute stand-in for Kokichi's relatives, grows indignant and seats himself arrogantly in the center of the room. Kokichi quickly reprimands him, forces an apology, and the tension breaks into laughter.

Meanwhile, the ôoku chûrô Ocha-no-Tsubone, guardian of the Shôgun's son and Kokichi's stepsister, arrives unexpectedly after a temple visit and retires to a back room. Her presence momentarily calms the festivities. Unaware of Kokichi's banquet, she has summoned his son, Rintarô, intending to take him to the castle.

The banquet resumes its lively pace, with Yaeji and other courtesans serving sake. Shônosuke enters with a bundle of candles and is scolded for doing so before nightfall. One of Ôkubo's retainers, Fushimi, loudly criticizes Shônosuke's lack of manners. Tensions escalate again. Though intermediaries attempt to mediate, Shônosuke snaps, accusing the retainers of being there only for bribes-enraging them further.

Kokichi, busy preparing the bribe money that Shônosuke had stolen from his parents, rushes in and strikes his nephew, throwing him out. Shônosuke returns in a fury but cannot escape Kokichi's grasp. Kokichi loses control, throws Shônosuke around, and finally flings him into the banquet room before collapsing in the center, declaring the matter finished.

Inoue and Iida scold Kokichi, reminding him of their efforts and his late father's wishes. But Kokichi, disillusioned, addresses Ôkubo directly, declaring that a man's worth is not measured by his pension-echoing a statement his son had made earlier. Offended, Ôkubo exits with Yaeji.

Just as the retainers are about to rough Kokichi up, Ocha-no-Tsubone's voice calls from the back room. She enters, reveals her familial ties to Kokichi, and pleads with the guests to forgive his behavior. Reluctantly, they comply upon learning of her high status, though they leave vowing retribution.

Ocha then announces that she cannot allow Rintarô to grow up in such a household and intends to raise him at the castle. Kokichi begs her through tears not to take his son, declaring he would have no reason to live. Ocha explains that the Shôgun's son had taken a liking to Rintarô on a prior visit and that the Shôgun himself has requested the boy's company as a playmate. Kokichi offers to renounce his family name to stay with Rintarô, but Ocha silences him by revealing that Rintarô has chosen to go.

Rintarô enters, bathed and dressed in fine clothes, stunning Kokichi. Suspecting he was lured by luxury, Kokichi questions him. But Rintarô insists the decision is his own-he now understands the hardships of life without rank and promises to succeed so he can one day rescue his father from this life. Moved, Kokichi tearfully gives his blessing.

Act I, scene 2: Mukôjima Ryôri Jaya Kakoi Soto
Outside the Mukojima Restaurant

The stage rotates, revealing the exterior of the tea house, where two carriages await to take Ocha and Rintarô to the castle.

After watching them depart, Kokichi is approached by Yaeji. Heartbroken over the loss of his son and dreading the scolding from his wife, he invites Yaeji to cross the nearby river with him by boat. Just then, it begins to rain, and the sound of croaking frogs fills the air.

[1] From the 16th to the 25th of August 1957 in Nagoya at the Misonoza, the 29th of September in the city of Himeji, from the 1st to the 25th of September in Ôsaka at the Ôsaka Kabukiza, the 5th and from the 10th to the 13th of October in Kôbe at the Shinbun Kaikan and from the 16th to the 27th of October in Kyôto at the Minamiza.

The actors Ichikawa Shôchô II (left) and Ichikawa Sadanji II (right) playing the roles of Sakamotoya Yaeji and Katsu Saemon Tarô (commonly called Katsu Kokichi) in the drama "Katsu Awa no Chichi", which was staged in May 1938 at the Tôkyô Gekijô

Prints & Illustrations