HANE NO KAMURO
   
Dance title Haru-ha Mukashi Yukari no Hanabusa  In Japanese
Common title Hane no Kamuro  In Japanese
Authors Segawa Jokô I, Takarada Jurai (lyrics)
Kineya Shôjirô I (music)
Nishikawa Senzô II (choreography)
History

A 5-role Nagauta-based hengemono entitled "Haru-ha Mukashi Yukari no Hanabusa" was premiered in the 2nd lunar month of 1785 at the Kiriza within the nibanme program of the new year sogamono drama "Yae Hitoe Kotonoha Soga" which started in the 1st lunar month of 1785. The 5 roles were performed by Segawa Kikunojô III : a Chinese woman, a female Sukeroku, Agemaki, a kamuro with a hane and a shirozake-seller. This hengemono was staged to commemorate the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of Segawa Kikunojô II. The kamuro part has survived and became an independent dance which is now still in the current Kabuki repertoire. It was popularized by the star Onoe Kikugorô VI.

Key words Ageya
Geta
Hane
Hengemono
Kadomatsu
Kamuro
Keisei
Kuruwa
Nagauta
Shôgatsu
Shosagoto
Yoshiwara
Summary

A kamuro is a little girl attending on a high-ranking courtesan (keisei) in the pleasure quarter of Yoshiwara. It is New Year in Yoshiwara and the stage set shows the lattices of one of the larger ageya. At the entrance stand two traditional kadomatsu, the traditional New Year's pine and bamboo decoration. To make the actor appear smaller, the set is built larger than life size. The kamuro clatters in on her geta and bows to the audience. The dance then proceeds in a number of sections that conclude with her playing with a battledore and shuttlecock (hane), a traditional game at the New Year. At the end, the kamuro loses the shuttlecock.

The actor Onoe Kikugorô VI performing in the dance "Hane no Kamuro", which was staged in January 1940 at the Kabukiza

 
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