The play is based on a rakugo created by San'yûtei Enchô, first published in a Tôkyô newspaper in 1888. It was adapted for Kabuki and staged by a female Kabuki troupe (onna shibai) in August 1897 at the Misakiza, with the actresses Ichikawa Rishô, Matsumoto Kinshi and Ichikawa Minemasu playing the roles of Hishikawa Shigenobu, Shôsuke and Isogai Namie. In 1914 the Kabuki actor Jitsukawa Enjirô I (Jitsukawa Enjaku II) added the villain Uwabami no Sanji, and along with the other lead characters, Hishikawa Shigenobu and Shôsuke, performed the three leading roles in August 1914 at the Minamiza. It was staged for the first time in Tôkyô the following summer, in August 1915 at the Kabukiza [casting]. He passed this tradition onto his son Jitsukawa Enjaku III. It is worthy to note that this typical Edo/Tôkyô ghost story became a classic in the repertoire of an important clan of the Kamigata Kabuki. It was performed by Jitsukawa Enjaku III for the last time in August 1974, in Ôsaka at the Nakaza. Afterwards, this ghost play fell into oblivion for 16 years. It was fortunately revived by Nakamura Kankurô V in August 1990, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza [casting]. It was a huge success and became a trademark drama for the Nakamuraya guild.

The current Nakamuraya version of "Kaidan Chibusa no Enoki" is made up of 4 acts (8 scenes).

Act I, scene 1: Sumida Zutsumi
The Bank of the Sumida River

Oseki is the devoted wife of the famous artist Hishikawa Shigenobu. They have a newborn baby boy, Mayotarô. Oseki encounters her cousin, Matsui Saburô. Saburô is searching the country for the villain Sasashige and his henchman Uwabami no Sanji (meaning Sanji the Snake), who both vanished after stealing 2,000 gold coins and humiliating his father.

When drunken rogues harass Oseki, a mysterious masterless samurai (rônin), Isogai Namie, rescues her. Shôsuke, the Shigenobu household servant, comes looking for his mistress and is informed of the incident. Namie tells Takeroku, the fan-maker, that he wants to become Shigenobu’s apprentice, and pays him to make an introduction. Watching everything is Sanji, who recognizes Namie as the villain Sasashige.

Act II, scene 1: Yanagishima Hishikawa Shigenobu Taku
At Hishikawa Shigenobu’s House in Yanagishima

Namie is now Shigenobu’s apprentice. Shigenobu accepts an urgent commission to paint in the Nanzôin Temple and puts Namie in charge while he is away. Namie takes advantage of the master’s absence and preys upon Oseki, but Shôsuke appears just in the nick of time. Oseki tries to convince him to stay at home, but oblivious to her predicament, Shôsuke sets out after Shigenobu, leaving Oseki alone in the house with Namie.

Act II, scene 2: Takada no Ryôtei Hanaya no Nikai
At the Second Floor of the Hanaya Restaurant in Takada

One month has passed and Shigenobu’s temple painting is nearly completed. At a restaurant (ryôtei) near the temple, Sanji blackmails Namie with knowledge of his insidious past. When Shôsuke arrives, Namie gets him drunk and manipulates him into agreeing to kill Shigenobu.

Act II, scene 3: Ochiai Tajimabashi
At the Tajima Bridge in Ochiai Village

At Shôsuke’s suggestion, Shigenobu comes to view the fireflies at night. Namie ambushes and kills Shigenobu. Sanji passes by as Shôsuke flees and bumps into Namie in the dark night. Unable to see each other, the two men struggle in the dark.

Act II, scene 4: Takada Nanzôin Hondô
In the Main Hall of the Nanzôin Temple in Takada

Shôsuke rushes in claiming his master has been murdered, but is told that Shigenobu is in the other room. Shigenobu’s ghost enters and completes the painting by filling in the dragon’s eyes.

Act III, scene 1: Hishikawa Shigenobu Taku
At Hishikawa Shigenobu’s House

On the 100th-day memorial of Shigenobu’s death, Namie manipulates Oseki into marrying him and orders Shôsuke to take her baby, Mayotarô, and kill him. He then instructs Sanji to follow Shôsuke and kill both Shôsuke and the baby.

Act IV, scene 1: Tsunowazu Jûnisô Ôtaki
At the Great Waterfall of the Jûnisô Pond in Tsunowazu

A distraught Shôsuke throws the baby into the waterfall of the Junisô Pond, but Shigenobu’s spirit appears and saves the child. Shigenobu’s ghost gives Shôsuke a second chance, but Sanji attacks Shôsuke. The two fight in the waterfall and the ghost kills Sanji.

Act IV, scene 2: Nerima Akatsuka-mura Chibusa no Enoki
The Wet Nurse Tree in the Village of Akatsuka in Nerima

Nine years have passed. Shôsuke and Mayotarô, now a young boy, are living by a tree (enoki) that produces curative milk. Namie comes to get some of the milk to save Oseki and their child who are both gravely ill. Finding Mayotarô and Shôsuke alive, Namie tries to kill them. Saburô, discovering that Namie is actually the villain Sasashige, assists Mayotarô in killing Namie. Mayotarô finally avenges his father’s death.

Courtesy of Ronald Cavaye

Kaidan Chibusa no Enoki