The Tokiwazu-based dance-drama "Futa Omote" was premiered in the 9th lunar month of 1798 at the Moritaza, where it was staged under the title "Futa Omote Tsuki no Sugatae" and starred Ichikawa Danzô IV in the role of the woman selling shinobu, in reality the ghost of both the evil Hôkaibô and Princess Nowake [more details]. Its source was an older dance, which was entitled "Shinobu-gusa Koi no Utsushie" and premiered in the 3rd lunar month of 1775 at the Nakamuraza [more details]. The current version of "Futa Omote" was staged in January 1906, staged at the Meijiza under the title "Futa Omote Mizu ni Terutsuki", starring Ichikawa Kodanji V and Ichikawa Metora II in the roles of the shinobu-seller (in reality the ghost of both the evil Hôkaibô and Princess Nowake) and Okumi.

"Futa Omote" is either staged as an independent dance-drama or it is the last scene of Nagawa Shimesuke I's drama "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage".

Near ferry landing beside Sumida River

Osaku, a ferrywoman on the Sumida River and Jinzaburô’s wife, is waiting for Yôsuke and Okumi, who have been entrusted to her by Jinzaburô. The pair arrives disguised as herb sellers, carrying baskets of grass herbs. The three lament the sad fate of luckless Princess Nowake, murdered by Hôkaibô. Yôsuke takes out a silken wrapping that had belonged to Princess Nowake and burns it in order to speed the soul of the departed on its way.

Suddenly, the ghosts of Princess Nowake and Hôkaibô rise from the smoke and disappear. Then the ghost of Hôkaibô emerges in the form of Okumi so that Yôsuke and Osaku cannot tell which is the ghost and which is the true Okumi. Osaku tries to clarify the matter by having the two Okumis relate and dance certain past incidents from Okumi’s life that only the real Okumi would know.

First, the false Okumi performs a hand-gesture dance, followed by the real Okumi, who dances her first meeting with Yôsuke and her falling in love with him. The ghost then performs the celebrated double-character dance, speaking to Yôsuke in the voice of Princess Nowake and then to Okumi in the voice of Hôkaibô.

Finally, the ghost grabs Yôsuke and Okumi by their sleeves and, alternately using the voice and form of a man and a woman, talks to each of them about its feelings of hatred. Osaku realizes that the ghost is the vengeful spirit of both Princess Nowake and Hôkaibô and, having heard that the carp scroll has great power, uses it to drive away the ghost, who leaves writhing in pain.

Source: Lincoln Center

"Futa Omote" in November 1936 at the Kabukiza