In the 1600s, new sea transport networks were developed around Japan. High-capacity cargo ships sailed between Edo and others main ports. One brave ship captain, who was called Kuwanaya Tokuzô, became a sea legend. The legend said that, when his ship was about to sink in a terrible sea tempest, he had a supernatural discussion with an ominous sea monster and succeeded in saving his ship. A seaman like this one was tailored for Kabuki stages. Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Kuwanaya Tokuzô Irifune Monogatari" was premiered in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai the 27th day of the 12th lunar month of the previous year, which was the 11th February of 1771 in the western calendar [casting]. It was full of new mechanical devices used on stage, the most notable one being the room of a Yoshiwara courtesan transformed into Tokuzô's ship at sea. The story of Kuwanaya Tokuzô, most notably the scene on the rough sea with Tokuzô and the ghost of Higaki, was integrated in Chikamatsu Tokuzô and Namiki Miyosuke ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Sato no Funauta", which was premiered in the 1st lunar month of 1810 in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai [casting]. The premiere was the 13th day of the 1st lunar month (the 16th of February in western calendar) and it was so successful that it was extended up to the 1st day of the 3rd lunar month of 1810 (the 4th of April in the western calendar). Both dramas were successful and performed quite often, only on Kamigata stages but never in Edo.

In modern times, "Kuwanaya Tokuzô Irifune Monogatari" was revived in July 1963 at the Yomiuri Hall in Tôkyô; it was a Tôhô Kabuki production and it was staged with the following casting:

the current version of "Kuwanaya Tokuzô Irifune Monogatari" is divived into 5 acts (7 scenes):

Act I, Act II

Takamaru Kamejirô, the young heir to the Takamaru family, the Lord of Sanuki, has been given an important assignment to extend official welcome to Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the Shôgun, who is coming to pay homage to the Shrine of Konpira. Though the day is drawing near, Kamejirô does not return home from Edo where he is infatuated with the keisei Higaki, a courtesan at Yoshiwara.

Tadotsu Ikkaku, the Lord's Chief Retainer, is deeply concerned with the situation. Pretending to join Kamejirô in fun, Ikkaku helps him to chase Yamana Tomoenojô, his rival, out of Yoshiwara. However, at the same time Ikkaku devises a plan with his colleague Ishidô Tatewaki and Tokuzô to get Kamejirô and Higaki out of Yoshiwara secretly by carrying them out in an oblong chest.

Act III

Kamejirô and Higaki, who have been taken out of Yoshiwara, are now separated. Higaki meets her death when Tokuzô throws her into the sea, and Kamejirô is locked up in a cabin of the heavy ship. The big ship steered by Tokuzô speeds to Sanuki. When the ship reaches the Sea of Enshû, a storm overtakes it, and Higaki's ghost (yûrei) appears from under the waves. Undeterred by the ghost, brave Tokuzô speaks to it and explains that if the Clan of Sanuki fails to receive the Shôgun properly because of Kamejirô's indulgence in pleasures it will suffer a disaster. That was the reason why Tokuzô killed her, though reluctantly. He finally succeeds in persuading the ghost to disappear. The ship, skillfully steered by Tokuzô, returns to Sanuki, and Kamejirô is now able to carry through his important mission.

Act IV

In the meantime, Shinzô, Ikkaku's brother, was married into the family of Tokuzô, who had not been home for over ten years, to be the husband of Koshio, Tokuzô's wife. They had a daughter who has been looked after by Rokubei, his father-in-low.

During his stay in Edo, Kamejirô had embezzled his clan's money because of his infatuation with Higaki. The money, amounting to 1,000 ryô, was to be used for the construction of a new shrine for the Konpira, and Shinzô has been trying to make up the loss for his master. Then, by chance, Rokubei comes with a girl with 100 ryô in her bosom. Not knowing that she is in fact his own daughter, Shinzô murders her to get the money.

Act V

Kamejirô has been expelled by his family because of his embezzlement, and is now being sheltered by Shinzô and his wife. There appears Sagami no Gorô, the rebel, disguised as Tokuzô who has been missing, and seeks Kamejirô's life.

Koshio, Shinzô's wife, becomes suspicious of his behavior which is unlike Tokuzô's. Then, Kuwana no Ohama, a woman, drops in and reveals that Tokuzô once promised to marry her, and, not knowing that Tokuzô is in fact Gorô, presses him to marry her. Discovering from her amulet-case that she is Kamejirô's step sister, Shinzô beheads her so that he can present her head to his Clan instead of Kamejirô's.

The ghost of Higaki, who met an untimely death, still unable to give up her love for Kamejirô, reappears to protect him from the villains. Sagami no Gorô's plot against his master now comes to light, and he gets wounded by Shinzô's dirk. But they promise each other to have a duel someday and part.

The actors Nakayama Nanshi II and Kataoka Ichizô I playing the roles of the keisei Higaki and Kuwanaya Tokuzô in the drama "Keisei Sato no Funauta" in a mitate-e print made in 1861 by Utagawa Kunikazu

Prints & Illustrations