The play "Hirakana Seisuiki" was originally written for the puppet theater (Bunraku) and staged for the first time in the 4th lunar month of 1739 in Ôsaka at the Takemotoza. It was adapted for Kabuki the following month and staged for the first time in the 5th lunar month of 1739 in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai, produced by Mizuki Tatsunosuke II for the nadai Hoteiya Umenojô [casting]. Then, the play "Hirakana Seisuiki" was performed for the first time in Ôsaka in the 9th lunar month of 1740: it was produced at the Kado no Shibai by Nakamura Jûzô I and the only know actor in the casting was Nakamura Tomijûrô I in the role of Chidori. This play was staged for the first time in Edo in the 7th lunar month of 1753, at the Ichimuraza [casting].

The play "Hirakana Seisuiki" is made up of 5 acts. "Ôtsu Yadoya" and "Sasabiki" are the opening and second scenes of the third act, which ends with the famous "Sakaro" scene. Most of the times, "Sakaro" is staged alone. On rare occasions, the "Ôtsu Yadoya" and "Sasabiki" scenes are also produced along with "Sakaro".

==> Act III, scene 1: ÔTSU YADOYA

==> Act III, scene 2: SASABIKI

The actors Yamashita Yaozô I, Arashi San'emon VI, Arashi Shichigorô II, Arashi Fusajirô & Arashi Shinpei II playing the roles of Oyoshi, Ofude, Gonshirô, Yamabuki Gozen & Kamata Haito in the "Ôtsu Yadoya" scene of the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki", which was staged in the 12th lunar month of 1783 at the Naka no Shibai