The play "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" was originally written for the puppet theater (Bunraku) and staged for the first time in the 8th lunar month of 1746 in Ôsaka at the Takemotoza. It was adapted for Kabuki the following month and staged for the first time in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai, produced by Nakamura Kiyosaburô I [casting]. It was also performed for the first time in Edo, at the Ichimuraza, in the 3rd lunar month of 1747 [casting].

This great play is based on the life of Sugawara no Michizane (845~903), a renowned scholar who was promoted up to the prestigious rank of udaijin ("Right Minister", one of the 2 close advisors of the Emperor). Falsely accused by Fujiwara no Shihei, the "Left Minister" (sadaijin), of trying to hatch a plot with Prince Tokiyo to seize the power, Sugawara no Michizane was exiled to Kyûshû. He dedicated his last years in writing poems, expressing both his homesickness and his innocence. After his death, the Emperor's residence was often struck by lightning and people thought it was done by the vengeful spirit of Sugawara no Michizane. A shrine was built in Kyôto to appease the spirit, the Kitano Tenmangû, and Sugawara no Michizane was revered as a the God of calligraphy. In the play Sugawara no Michizane is called Kan Shôjô.

The "Ôuchi Tenpen" scene is rarely-staged nowadays. Only two records during the 2nd half of the 20th century:

"Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" is made up of 5 acts. "Ôuchi Tenpen" was the sole scene of the fifth act.

After Kan Shôjô's death, the capital city of Kyôto has been subjected to repeated fierce thunder storms, throwing all the courtiers into a frenzy of fear. There are rumors that the lightning and thunder are caused by the avenging spirit of Kan Shôjô, who has been unjustly exiled and died in distant province of Tsukushi.

The evil Fujiwara no Shihei, although he outwardly says that he does not believe in such a thing as Kan Shôjô's avenging spirit, has ordered the Buddhist priest Hôshôbô Ajari to offer special services for their safety from the frightful storms. In the meantime, his son Mareyo is hit by lightning and killed, striking Shihei's follower Miyoshi Kiyotsura with fear. Kiyotsura hurries to inform Shihei of Mareyo's death and ask him to remove the taint from Kan Shôjô's name, as well as reinstall Prince Tokiyo and Kan Shôjô's daughter Princess Kariya in their former positions. Shihei, in spite of his defiant attitude, orders that Tokiyo and Princess Kariya be found and brought back to the palace. Lightning strikes again, and Kiyotsura falls dead.

In the meantime the priest Hôshôbô Ajari in his incantations, comes in contact with the spirit of Kan Shôjô and learns from him about Shihei's plot to usurp the imperial throne. He accuses Shihei of treason, and hurries off to inform the emperor. Shihei tries to hold him back, but Hôshôbô Ajari thrusts him aside. Threatening thunder continues to rumble. Shihei strikes a menacing pose, but he too is affected by the angry spirit and falls unconscious.

Prince Tokiyo and Princess Kariya come, accompanied by the hangandai Terukuni. They accuse Fujiwara no Shihei of treason, and inform him that the house of Kan Shôjô has been restored by imperial order, with full posthumous honors for Kan Shôjô. Kan Shôjô's son Kan Shûsai is to inherit his father's estate, and is also to be granted a high court rank. Shihei sees that his plot has failed, but calls out men to defend him (hana yoten). The curtain falls as he faces his adversaries defiantly.

Illustration for the "Ôuchi Tenpen" scene from the ezukushi banzuke of the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which was staged in the 7th lunar month of 1763 at the Naka no Shibai with the actors Arashi Sangorô II, Bandô Iwagorô (Fujiwara no Shihei), Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Somekawa Konohê (Mareyo) and Mimasu Kanzô I (Miyoshi Kiyotsura)