Uno Nobuo's drama "Ninjô Banashi Koban Ichiryô" was premiered in December 1936 at the Kabukiza [more details].

"Ninjô Banashi Koban Ichiryô" was in one act (4 scenes)

Act I, scene 1:
Imado Hachiman Mae
In front of the Imado Hachiman Shrine

At a teahouse in front of the Imado Hachiman Shrine, the zaruya Yasushichi enjoys his lunch while chatting with the chaya musume Okayo. She asks him to watch over the house in her absence before heading out to do some shopping.

After a while, the tako-uri Kichiroku comes running after a boy named Koichi, shouting about the theft of a kite. He grabs the boy and gives him a few raps with his stick right in front of Yasushichi. Yasushichi steps in and stops him, but Kichiroku refuses to pardon the boy. This causes Yasushichi to grow angry and a fight breaks out between them.

Okayo steps forward to mediate, offering to pay for the stolen kite. Meanwhile, Koichi's father, Komori Magoichi, arrives, looking for his son. He politely apologizes to Kichiroku for his son's theft and expresses deep gratitude to Yasushichi and Okayo. Though Komori is currently without work and lives in poverty, he is a samurai of higher rank than a merchant, and yet, he speaks with great courtesy to Yasushichi.

Moved by Komori's respectful manner, Yasushichi secretly gives a gold coin-his father's only legacy-to Komori's son before leaving. Unbeknownst to him, a gentle-looking samurai named Asao Shinzaburô quietly watches as Yasushichi departs.

Act I, scene 2:
Imado Gashi Ryôtei Kinparô
At the Kinparô Restaurant in Imado Gashi

Deeply moved by Yasushichi's warm-hearted gesture, Asao invites him to Kinparô, a famous ryôtei in Imado Gashi, overlooking the Sumida River. Asao praises Yasushichi endlessly for his kindness. However, as Yasushichi becomes more intoxicated with sake, he grows uncomfortable with Asao's excessive praise. He says to Asao that he understands the samurai is showing kindness, but why not extend it to the Komoris? Asao responds that he has sympathized with Komori and his son, but he couldn't help them at that time. As a samurai, he didn't want to dishonor the rônin by offering him such charity. It would have insulted Komori's honor. But Yasushichi insists that such behavior is misguided and distorted. Moved by Yasushichi's perspective, Asao decides that he will visit Komori with Yasushichi, at least to offer his support.

Act I, scene 3:
Komori Magoichi Sumika Kadoguchi
In Front of Komori Magoichi's Home

Koichi flies his kite, with the help of a few friends. When he tells Asao and Yasushichi that his father is home today, they enter the nagaya with him.

Act I, scene 4:
Komori Magoichi Sumika Zashiki
In the Main Room of Komori Magoichi's Home

As soon as they get in, to their great surprise, they find Komori dead in the only room of the house. Komori has committed seppuku before Koichi could be aware of it.

As Yasushichi notices the money he has given Komori's son, now placed beside a note on the desk by the dead body, his heart breaks. The note reveals the sorrowful details of Komori's life, both as a father and a man. It speaks of his failure to raise his son properly and the shame of accepting such a hefty sum of money from a stranger. In his despair, Komori must have felt so wretched that he chose death.

For the first time, Yasushichi understands why the samurai Asao did not offer Komori financial help. He has indeed sympathized with the Komoris, father and son, yet his sense of honor kept him from intervening. Overcome with regret, Yasushichi throws the money to the floor, lamenting his rashness.

Asao, standing solemnly beside Komori's body, swears to take care of Koichi from now on, raising him with the care Komori had wished for but couldn't provide.

The actors Onoe Kikugorô VI (left) and Nakamura Kichiemon I (right) playing the roles of the zaruya Yasushichi and the Asao Shinzaburô in the 2nd scene of the drama "Ninjô Banashi Koban Ichiryô", which was staged in December 1936 at the Kabukiza

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