AME NO GORÔ
   
Dance title Ame no Gorô
Yae Kokonoe Hana no Sugatae  In Japanese
Authors Mimasuya Nisôji (lyrics)
Kineya Rokuzaemon X (music)
History

The dance "Ame no Gorô" was first performed by Onoe Tamizô II in the 7th lunar month of 1841 at the Nakamuraza as part of a nine-role hengemono entitled "Yae Kokonoe Hana no Sugatae". The role was included in this dance because of a rare exhibition in Edo at Asakusa of the Soga Brothers statues, normally located in the city of Hakone (one line in the lyrics clearly hints to this event).

Key words Hengemono
Nagauta
Shosagoto
Soga Gorô Tokimune
Sogamono
Summary

Soga Gorô Tokimune is one of the most famous heroes in Kabuki, super strong and always quick to fight. However this dance shows the soft side of this hero as he travels by night to the pleasure quarter to visit his lover, the courtesan Kewaizaka no Shôshô. Gorô wears a richly-embroidered robe with the butterfly motif (his symbol), lacquered geta and he holds a great umbrella. This umbrella gives the title to this dance, "Gorô in the rain", but there is actually no rainy weather. The word "rain" and the umbrella are in fact a strong allusion to nuregoto, the word for love scene in Kabuki, which means, literally, "moist business". The dance ends with a short tachimawari.

Onoe Tamizô II playing the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the hengemono "Yae Kokonoe Hana no Sugatae", which was staged in the 7th lunar month of 1841 at the Nakamuraza (print made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi)

 
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