YA NO NE
   
Play title Ya-no-Ne  In Japanese
Authors Murase Genzaburô (lyrics)
Kineya Kisaburô (music)
History

The short and bombastic "Ya-no-Ne" scene was staged for the first time in the 1st lunar month of 1729, at the Nakamuraza, within the new year program "Suehiro Ehô Soga". The roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Ichikawa Danjûrô II and Sawamura Sôjûrô I. It was integrated in the Kabuki Jûhachiban collection of plays of the Ichikawa clan by Ichikawa Ebizô V in 1840. The current version was created by Ichikawa Danjûrô IX in 1882.

Key words Aragoto
Kabuki Jûhachiban
Kudô Saemon Suketsune
Ôzatsuma
Soga Gorô Tokimune
Soga Jûrô Sukenari
Sogamono
Summary

The play takes place in the Sagami province, in the house of Soga Gorô Tokimune. The audience can see a beautiful mount Fuji in the back of the stage and Gorô's amazing collection of oversized weapons (mountain-cutting swords, giant arrows). This is the first day of the new year and Gorô is busy sharpening one of his arrows. He has to be ready for the day of the revenge. Gorô gets a visit from Ôzatsuma Shuzendayû, the head of the Ôzatsuma school of music. This friend gives him a new year present, a beautiful silken scroll depicting the seven god of Good Fortune (shichifukujin) in their boat full of treasures. He says that Gorô can have a premonitory dream if he uses this silken scroll as a pillow for the first night of the new year. Shuzendayû leaves the house and Gorô goes to sleep. His brother Soga Jûrô Sukenari appears in his dream. He tells his brother that he is prisoner in Kudô Saemon Suketsune's palace and needs Gorô's help. Gorô wakes up with a jump and gets ready to go to Jûrô's aid. A seller of white radishes and his horse arrive. Gorô would like to use the horse to go quicker to Kudô's palace. The merchant refuses and the impatient Gorô can't afford to lose time in talks. He takes the horse, pushing away the radish-seller. He rides on the horse and triumphantly leaves the stage through the hanamichi, using a giant white radish as a whip.

The actor Ichikawa Omezô I playing the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the "Ya no Ne" scene

 
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