The Tokiwazu-based dance-drama "Yamato Moji Koi no Koto no Ha" was premiered in the 7th lunar month of 1819 at the Nakamuraza [casting]. It was added to the production of the classic "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari".

It was revived in January 1967, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, with a new choreography made by Fujima Kanjûrô VI [casting].

Princess Usuyuki, maddened by grief at her parting from Sonobe Saemon, comes wandering by Amano River in the province of Yamato, where she is encountered by a bird-catcher (torisashi). The bird-catcher performs an insouciant dance to a song that works in the names of various kinds of birds. Princess Usuyuki approaches him and asks him the name of the river. She is seeking her lover, and seeing a boat, she calls out to the boatman (sendô) to take her across the river. The boatman who had been napping, comes out grudgingly, but is agreeably surprised by the beauty of his customer. A dance by the boatman ensues. Princess Usuyuki joins in, performing a dance to a song that describes the emotions of love.

Men (torite) who are in the employ of Akizuki Daizen, a villain who covets Princess Usuyuki, come to capture her. Through them, the boatman and bird-catcher learn that this beautiful lady is the daughter of the lord Saisaki Iga-no-Kami, to whom they are both indebted. As a result, they come to Princess Usuyuki's aid, to prevent her from falling into the men's hands.

The actors Iwai Matsunosuke I (top), Bandô Mitsugorô III (center) and Nakamura Shikan I (bottom) playing the roles of Princesss Usuyuki, the torisashi Kichisuke and the sendô Goheiji in the dance-drama "Yamato Moji Koi no Koto no Ha", which was staged in the 7th lunar month of 1819 at the Nakamuraza (illustration coming from a tsuji banzuke)

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