KOMORI
   
Dance titles Yamato Gana Tamuke no Itsumoji  In Japanese
Tanabata no Hoshi Matsuri  In Japanese
Common title Komori  In Japanese
Authors Masuyama Kinpachi II (lyrics)
Kiyomoto Saibê I (music)
History

The 5-role hengemono "Yamato Gana Tamuke no Itsumoji" was premiered in the 3rd lunar month of 1823 at the Moritaza. The five roles were performed by Iwai Shijaku I [more details]. The 4th role's dance was entitled "Tanabata no Hoshi Matsuri", the "Tanabata Star Festival", has survived and is now in the Kabuki Buyô repertoire, entitled "Komori" (as the 4th role was a komori). The dance was originally related to the Tanabata Festival.

Key words Abura-age
Buyô
Dakigo
Dodoitsu
Echigo
Hengemono
Inaka Musume
Kiyomoto
Komori
Okesa
Shosagoto
Tonbi
Zatô
Summary

A dance depicting a komori with a baby strapped to her back (not a real baby but a dakigo). This komori is a country girl (inaka musume) from the province of Echigo who has come to the city of Edo to work as a maid and is now taking care of a baby. She is chasing out a kite (tonbi), which has stolen some abura-age from her. She dances to a lightly humorous dodoitsu simple song. Then she recalls her home in the province of Echigo and performs a dance depicting an Echigo zatô. The next section of the dance is an okesa folk dance from Echigo. Then, once again, the tonbi swoops into view, so the komori goes chasing after it again.

The actor Iwai Shijaku I playing the role of the komori in the "Tanabata no Hoshi Matsuri" section of the hengemono "Yamato Gana Tamuke no Itsumoji", which was staged in the 3rd lunar month of 1823 at the Moritaza (print made by Utagawa Kunisada I

 
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