The play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" was originally written for the puppet theater (Bunraku) and staged for the first time in the 8th lunar month of 1748 in Ôsaka at the Takemotoza. It was adapted for Kabuki the same year and staged for the first time in the 12th lunar month of 1748 in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai [casting]. The "Sandanme" act (third act) was performed with the actors Ichimura Mihoemon, Yamamoto Koheiji and Ichinokawa Hikoshirô II in the roles of Moronô, Momonoi Wakasanosuke and Hen'ya Hangan.

The "Sandanme" act, the third act of "Kanadehon Chûshingura", is made up of three scenes commonly called "Shinmotsu" (literally "Presenting the Bribes"), "Ninjô" (literally "The Attack") and "Uramon" (literally "At the Back Gate"). Scene 1 and 2 are always performed for a tôshi kyôgen production of this drama and are never staged independently of the others acts. The "Uramon" scene, which is about the couple Kanpei/Okaru, is usually omitted (except for some tôshi kyôgen performances in the Kamigata style) and replaced by the michiyuki "Ochiudo".

Act III, Scene 1: Shinmotsu
Presenting the Bribes

Act III, Scene 2: Ninjô
The Attack

Act III, Scene 3: Uramon
At the Back Gate

The actors Ichimura Kakitsu IV (1st from left), Ichikawa Kodanji IV (second from left), Seki Sanjûrô III (third from left), Nakamura Nakasuke II (third from right), Jitsukawa Enjaku I (second from right) and Ôtani Tomomatsu (1st from right) playing the roles of En'ya Hangan, Kô no Moronô, Kakogawa Honzô, Sagisaka Bannai, Hayano Kanpei and Okaru in the second act of the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura" (mitate-e made by Nakai Yoshitaki in 1865)