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).

"Nagamachi Ura" (lit., the Back Lane at Nagamachi) is the seventh act of the 9-act drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami". It is usually staged along with "Torii Mae" and "Sabu Uchi".

When Danshichi catches up with Giheiji and Kotoura he asks Giheiji to turn Kotoura over to him. Giheiji refuses and instead questions Danshichi's character, while bringing up his past wrong-doings. Giheiji lashes out at Danshichi. Danshichi begs Giheiji to send Kotoura back, offering 30 ryô (approximately 3 million yen or $33 thousand) in exchange. With this Giheiji changes his attitude and accepts Danshichi's offer, saying, "Okay, I will give you a special discount as you and I are father and son-in-law, but don't forget that I could get more than 100 ryô if I took Kotoura to Otori." Without responding to the implied threat, Danshichi asks the bearers to take Kotoura back home. When the palanquin has left, Giheiji presses Danshichi for the money. Then Danshichi confesses that he has no money, and Giheiji burns with anger. He strikes Danshichi's face with his clog, abuses him loudly, and then proceeds to beat him up. Danshichi receives the cruel treatment without resistance, but finally he can stand it no longer and tries to slash Giheiji with his sword. Giheiji then dares Danshichi to kill him. In the struggle, Danshichi accidentally stabs him in the ribs. Giheiji cries out, "Murderer!" Finally, Danshichi finishes him off. Then, Danshichi apologizes profusely to his dead father-in-law and melts into a crowd, which is celebrating the summer festival at the Kôzugû Shrine.

This summary has been written by Watanabe Hisao, edited by Jeff Blair and Shôriya Aragorô [website]

"The murder takes place amid the wavering firelight of torches. And the whole scene seems to occur in a flickering shadow world beyond conscious thought. The struggle is ornately stylized, a repetitive series of images frozen and fluid. Yet the violence feels more poisonously concentrated than it ever does in a crime or horror movie. And at least one image -- of the victim rising from a brown pool, coated in mud -- feels destined to show up in your nightmares." (by Ben Brantley, 2004)

Nakamura Utaemon IV and Nakamura Tomosa II playing the roles of Danshichi Kurobê and Mikawaya Giheiji in the "Nagamachi Ura" scene of the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami", which was staged in the 5th lunar month of 1850 at the Naka no Shibai (print made by Utagawa Hirosada)