The play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" was originally written for the puppet theater (Bunraku) and staged for the first time in the 8th lunar month of 1748 in Ôsaka at the Takemotoza. It was adapted for Kabuki the same year and staged for the first time in the 12th lunar month of 1748 in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai [casting]. The fifth and sixth acts acts were performed with the actors Arashi Sanjûrô II and Yoshida Manshirô in the roles of Hayano Kanpei and Okaru.

The "Teppô Watashi", "Futatsudama" and "Kanpei Harakiri" scenes, which are nowadays frequently performed (independently or as part of a tôshi kyôgen), are the fifth ("Teppô Watashi", "Futatsudama") and sixth ("Kanpei Harakiri") act of "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

Previous scene: "Teppô Watashi"

Act V, Scene 2: Futatsudama
Two Bullets

The same night, Yoichibê, who is father of Okaru, is resting by the roadside on his way from the district of Gion in Kyôto. Gion is a well known as a red-light district. He made arrangements to sell his daughter Okaru as a geisha there. Kanpei needed money in order to become a member of the vendetta of his lord, and Okaru knew it. But Okaru also knew that her parents have no fund. So she asked her father Yoichibê to sell herself to Gion. Yoichibê thought that there was no choice, and he has done it. Yoichibê received 50 ryô, half the price of his daughter service. He takes out his purse. Suddenly the highway thief Sadakurô, who was hiding behind Yoichibê, in the bamboo frames holding the bundles of drying rice-ears, robs it and kills the old man with his sword.

Sadakurô, a son of Ono Kudayû, who was also a retainer of lord En'ya, is well known as a bad guy. After having killed Yoichibê, a wild boar rushes toward Sadakurô. Two shots ring out, and they hit Sadakurô instead of the wild boar. Kanpei comes here, and he finds that he has killed a man. Kanpei is very surprised and he finds a purse. There are 50 ryô in it, and he needs the same amount of money. Kanpei takes the purse, and runs away. Everything happened in utter darkness, and Kanpei does not know whom he has killed.

This summary has been written by Sekidobashi Sakura (October 2002) and edited by Shôriya Aragorô

Next scene: "Kanpei Harakiri"

The actors Kataoka Gadô II and Bandô Hikosaburô IV playing the roles of Hayano Kanpei and Ono no Sadakurô in the fifth act of "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which was staged in the 5th lunar month of 1854 at the Nakamuraza (print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III)