Takeshiba Kisui's drama "Tôyama Zakura Tenpô Nikki" was premiered in November 1893 at the Meijiza [casting].

The original drama was in 5 acts (12 scenes).

Kosaburô, merchant son of the Obanaya, is in love with the music teacher Kiyomoto Nobuwaka, and the pair plan to drown in the Sumida River. Arriving at the same place on his way to the pleasure quarters is the priest Sajima Tengaku of the Jônen Temple, who is mistaken by the police for Ikuta Kakudayû and arrested. Kosaburô, unable to kill himself, becomes the thief Yûten Kozô Kokichi. Tengaku and Kakudayû, finding themselves in jail together, break out, meet up with Yûten Kozô, and all three swear blood brotherhood at Mount Gomaki in Narita. Three years later, Kakudayû is practicing thievery in the guise of the blind masseur Den'an. Reproved by his former wife, Omoto, he kills her. Kakudayû-Den'an is captured after breaking into the Obanaya home and brought to trial, the presiding judge being the sympathetic Fujimura Urata. The evidence is indisputable so Kakudayû-Den'an cannot play the innocent. But Fujimura announces his mistaken belief that Kakudayû-Den'an is the fugitive Tengaku. This unexpected pronouncement creates such turmoil that Kakudayû-Den'an is able to escape.

Tôyama Kinshirô, a playboy who frequents Kabuki dressing rooms and has gained the disapproval of his parents and siblings, has become a magistrate and is now looking into the circumstances of Fujimura's trial of Kakudayû-Den'an. It is revealed that Fujimura, who completely acknowledges his crime, was sympathetic toward the accused because he believed that the man he thought to be Tengaku was falsely charged and imprisoned for crimes he did not commit One of the witnesses is Nobuwaka, who, failing in her suicide bid, has been sold into prostitution and became Kukimanjiya Wakamurasaki. She is actually Kakudayû's daughter, Owaka. Her former lover, Yûten Kozô, also gives himself up. Tengaku's crime of jail breaking is pardoned. Presently, news arrives that Kakudayû-Den'an, has been caught and everything is settled.

Courtesy of Samuel Leiter Summary from "New Kabuki Encyclopedia"

"The play is considered interesting because of its antiestablishment views regarding the penal and judicial system. It is thus reflective of a new age in Japanese history." (Samuel Leiter in "New Kabuki Encyclopedia")

"Tôyama Zakura Tenpô Nikki" was part of a special program celebrating the opening in November 1893 of the Meijiza [more details]. The Meiji star Ichikawa Danjûrô IX, who did not play any major role in this drama, appeared on stage in one scene as the deity Fudô Myôô. This scene fell into oblivion.

[1] The others sakusha were Takeshiba Hyôzô II, Takeshiba Hikosaku, Takeshiba Kanematsu ^[2], Takeshiba Denzô, Matsushima Shôsaku, Takeshiba Masatarô ^[2], Takeshiba Fusazô ^[2] & Takeshiba Tamezô ^[2].

[2] Not sure about the reading of the first name.

Ichikawa Gonjûrô (left), Ichikawa Sadanji I (center) and Nakamura Fukusuke IV (right) playing the roles of Sajima Tengaku, Tôyama Kinshirô and Kukimanjiya Wakamurasaki in the drama "Tôyama Zakura Tenpô Nikki", which was staged in November 1893 at the Meijiza (print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III)

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