"Adayume" was premiered in June 1966 at the Nissay Theatre with Nishikawa Koisaburô II as both the choreographer and the leading dancer. It was adapted to Kabuki and staged in March 1969 at the Kabukiza [more details]. It became a classic for the Nakamuraya guild.

Miyuki, a high-ranking courtesan (tayû) in the Shimabara pleasure quarters of Kyôto, is deeply in love with her handsome dancing master. A young kamuro waits eagerly by the looking-back willow tree (mikaeri yanagi), anticipating the arrival of the dancing master, as visitors to the pleasure quarters often pause there to glance back.

Beneath the floor of Mibu Temple, a badger has become infatuated with Miyuki. Today, it disguises itself as the dancing master and makes its way to Shimabara. Greeted by the kamuro and other attendants, the badger is ushered into a guest room (zashiki). Moments later, the beautiful Miyuki emerges in her graceful daytime attire and begins her dance practice.

As she sways and stumbles with delicate steps, the badger, brimming with unspoken passion, confesses its burning love for her. Unaware that the dancing master before her is actually a badger in disguise, Miyuki is overjoyed by the confession and promises to become his wife.

The following morning, the real dancing master arrives to teach Miyuki, but their conversation quickly goes awry, as they fail to understand each other. The owner (teishu) of the ageya becomes worried, fearing that Miyuki may have fallen under the spell of a fox or some other spirit.

Soon after, the dancing master, now disguised as the badger, arrives. Learning that the badger has a deep love for sake, the owner decides to have Miyuki and the two dancing masters dance with great energy while drinking. The badger dances wildly, losing all restraint, until it finally reveals its furry tail.

The owner then tells the badger that, in order to release Miyuki from her confinement, it must bring a box containing 1,000 ryô. The badger agrees and departs to retrieve the money.

Meanwhile, the owner and the staff set up a trap in the mulberry field, placing the box of coins along the path. When the badger arrives, they catch it and, with no mercy, beat it senseless.

At the ageya, Miyuki confesses her intense love to the dancing master. However, bound by his commitments to his wife in Edo, he must part with Miyuki and return there. Realizing that her love cannot be realized, Miyuki tearfully bids him farewell.

Meanwhile, the badger, on the brink of death from the beating, reaches the ageya garden, illuminated by lanterns beneath the cherry blossoms. Miyuki, moved by the sorrow of the badger's love, understands its aching heart. The badger, which had longed for a new home, shares this silent sorrow with her through their dance. The empty dream the badger held evaporates like the falling cherry blossoms, fading into the night.

The end of "Adayume" by Momomonmon55