The play "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" was originally written for the puppet theater (Bunraku) and staged for the first time in the 7th lunar month of 1745 in Ôsaka at the Takemotoza. It was so successful that it was almost immediately adapted for Kabuki and staged for the first time in the 8th lunar month of 1745 in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater. It was produced by the zamoto Nakamura Kiyosaburô I and starred Fujioka Daikichi and Sakakiyama Danshirô I in the roles of Danshichi Kurobê and Tsuribune Sabu. It was a long run and the performance was extended up to October. According to the chronicles, the play was simultaneously staged in another Kyôto theater in the 8th lunar month of 1745, at the Minamigawa no Shibai, produced by Nakamura Kumetarô I. A few months later, this Ôsaka play was finally staged in Ôsaka. The three main Kabuki venues decided to produce it almost simultaneously, starting a fierce competition for the best performance and line-up. It was first staged at the Ônishi no Shibai from the 5th of the 12th lunar month of 1745, produced by Arashi San'emon IV and starring Nakayama Shinkurô I in the role of Danshichi [casting]. Then it was staged at the Naka no Shibai from the 10th of the 12th lunar month of 1745, produced by Ichiyama Sukegorô I and starring Arashi Shichigorô I in the role of Danshichi [casting]. It was finally staged at the Kado no Shibai from the 15th of the 12th lunar month of 1745, produced by Arashi Sanjûrô II and starring him in the role of Danshichi [casting]. "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" was staged for the first time in Edo in the 5th lunar month of 1747, at the Moritaza (casting unknown).

"Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" is a 9-act drama. "Dôguya" and "Bangoya" are the nicknames of the two scenes of the 4th act of this drama.

Dôguya
The Curio Shop

Through Danshichi's recommendation Isonojô, assuming a temporary name of Seishichi, works at Magoemon's curio shop at Uchihommachi in Ôsaka. Magoemon's daughter Onaka falls in love with him. While she is confiding her love to him in the front room, Danshichi visits the shop to sell his fish. Danshichi and Onaka go off to the kitchen to discuss the fish, leaving Isonojô to mind the shop.

Presently Giheiji, Danshichi's father-in-law, visits the shop, disguising himself as a samurai. Giheiji, a wicked fellow, is trying to swindle Isonojô out of money in conspiracy with Denpachi, a senior clerk of the curio shop, and Yaichi, a wicked dealer in second-hand goods, taking advantage of the fact that Isonojô, being new to the curio business, has little knowledge of the trade.

In the presence of Isonojô the disguised Giheiji negotiates with Denpachi for the purchase of an old incense burner and after some haggling Giheiji agrees to buy it for 55 ryô, saying that he will make payment on the following day. Then Giheiji and Denpachi retire to an inner room to rest, leaving Isonojô alone in the front room.

The incense burner belongs to Yaichi, who has asked the shop to sell it for him on commission. Acting on the plan agreed with Denpachi and Giheiji, Yaichi visits the shop and tells Isonojô that he is willing to sell the incense burner, which he originally priced at 80 ryô, for only 50 ryô, since he is urgently in need of money. Remembering that Giheiji has promised to Denpachi to buy it for 55 ryô, Isonojô believes he can help his shop to clear a profit of 5 ryô and agrees to close the bargain but asks Yaichi to wait until the following day for payment. Yaichi insists that the money be paid him immediately. Confident in his ability to cover the payment, Isonojô borrows 50 ryô of the shop's money from Denpachi and pays it to Yaichi on his own authority.

After Yaichi has gone, Giheiji returns to the front room. When Isonojô tells Giheiji that he closed the bargain Giheiji denies any knowledge of his promise to buy the incense burner for 55 ryô, while Denpachi, also pretending ignorance of the deal, demands that Isonojô immediately pay back the money he borrowed. When Isonojô protests both Giheiji and Denpachi beat him. Hearing the noise, Danshichi rushes from the kitchen and protects Isonojô from further attack. He finds to his surprise that the "samurai" is none other than Giheiji, his father-in-law.

Magoemon, the proprietor of the shop, comes in and, inspecting the incense burner, finds that it has no value at all as an antique. Isonojô now realizes that he was swindled, Giheiji leaves the shop without further ado. Danshichi, as guarantor for Isonojô, promises Magoemon he will see to it that Isonojô make good Magoemon's loss. He then leaves the shop, taking Isonojô with him.

Bangoya
The watchman's hut

At night Isonojô comes back to the front of the house to find an opportunity to kill Denpachi in reprisal. Onaka, who has come out to look for Isonojô, tells him that Magoemon has given her 50 ryô to enable him to compensate for the debt he incurred as a result of the swindle practiced on him.

Isonojô notices the approach of Denpachi and hides himself in a watchman's hut. Denpachi tells Onaka that he wants to elope with her and asks her to wait while he sneaks into her father's house to steal the money to finance their flight. In spite of her objection he pushes her into the watchman's hut.

Yaichi comes to deliver Denpachi's share of the swindled money. Denpachi, asking Yaichi to keep watch so that Onaka may not escape from the hut, enters the house for his planned theft. When Yaichi opens the door of the hut to inspect his charge, Isonojô stabs him to death from within. Denpachi comes out of the house and, mistaking Isonojô for Yaichi in the dark, delivers to Isonojô some of the money he has stolen. Isonojô snatches at the money and runs away with Onaka.

Source: Hironaga Shûzaburô

The "Dôguya" (top) and "Bangoya" (bottom) scenes of the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami", which was staged in the 5th lunar month of 1765 at the Naka no Shibai

Upper part of the image: the "Dôguya" scene with Nakamura Kichiemon I (top/left) and Yamashita Kinsaku II (right) in the roles of the curio dealer Magoemon and his daughter Onaka (the actor in the middle is most likely Arashi Koroku I but we can't identify the role)

Bottom part of the image: the "Bangoya" scene with Somekawa Konohê I (left), Arashi Sangorô II (center) and Mimasu Kanzô I (right) in the roles of the tedai Denpachi, Isonojô and Yaichi