The danmari "Otowa-ga-Dake Danmari" was premiered in March 1935 at the Kabukiza. It was staged within a special program which commemorated the 32nd anniversary (33rd memorial service) of the passing away of Onoe Kikugorô V and which celebrated the shûmei of Bandô Shinsui VII [more details].

It was revived in 30 years later, in May 1965 at the Kabukiza, to commemorate the 16th anniversary (17th memorial service) of the passing away of Onoe Kikugorô VI and the shûmei of Onoe Kikunosuke IV, Onoe Tatsunosuke I and Bandô Shinsui VIII. Some roles were changed in this revival:

Then, it was afterwards staged 4 times, always at the Kabukiza to celebrate an Otowaya related event:

In November 1973 to celebrate the shûmei of Onoe Kikugorô VII. In this version, Tenmei Yashagorô became definitively Otowa Yashagorô.

In May 1990 to celebrate the shûmei of Onoe Matsusuke VI and the hatsubutai of Onoe Matsuya II.

In October 2009 to celebrate the omemie of Fujima Taiga.

In October 2015 to commemorate the 26th anniversary (27th memorial service) of the passing away of Onoe Shôroku II.

In the heart of the mountains ^[1], a band of samurai and their followers engage in a fierce battle against two larger-than-life thieves (sanzoku), Kumokiri Kesatarô and Otowa Yashagorô ^[2], vying for possession of the prized banner belonging to a samurai clan. A danmari, or "fight in the dark," ensues over the coveted treasure. Through dance-like movements, the characters skillfully mime their way through the darkness, with costumes and gestures revealing the distinct personalities of both the actors and their roles ^[3].

In a climactic moment, Yashagorô swiftly seizes the treasure, making a hasty exit. The remaining characters, with Kesatarô in a prominent stance, strikingly pose on the stage as the curtain descends. Following the closure, Yashagorô confidently exits on the hanamichi runway, displaying a triumphant and swaggering roppô walk.

[1] In the original 1935 dance-drama, the scene was set in Chichibu.

[2] The two thieves spectacularly appear on stage from a tsujidô.

[3] Depending on the production, it might be the keisei Tsukuba, Hatakeyama Shigetada, the tsubone Tokiwagi, the yakko Datehei (in reality Kiso Yoshikata or not) or the yakko Tsumahei, Futaara no Iwagorô, Ôkubo Tomooki, Yûki Tamonnosuke, Edo Jirô Masayuki or Mitsumine Nuinosuke. The minor roles might be kashin, kikori, rikisha or gunpyô.

Otowa-ga-Dake Danmari

Prints & Illustrations