The play "Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto" was originally written for the puppet theater (Bunraku) and staged for the first time in the 8th lunar month of 1735 in Ôsaka at the Toyotakeza. It was adapted for Kabuki the following year and staged for the first time in the 3rd lunar month of 1736 in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai (unknown casting).

"Ôuchi Yakata" is rarely-staged nowadays. During the second half of the 20th century, it was staged in ôshibai only twice:

"Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto" is made up of 5 acts. "Ôuchi Yakata" ('in Ôuchi Mansion'), also called "Ya Watashi" ('Handing of the Arrow') was the opening scene (kuchi) of the third act.

Ôuchi Yakata

In Kyûshû, Ôuchi Yoshihiro, the powerful leader of the Ôuchi Clan, has issued a decree to neighboring lords demanding their most prized possessions as a display of allegiance. He has appointed Tatara Shindôzaemon to oversee the reception of these offerings.

Shindôzaemon has a daughter, Yûshide, aged 20 and still a virgin. She is an okurago (miko) in the great Shrine of Ise, where only virgin maidens are allowed to serve. When summoned to Ôuchi's estate, Yûshide is commanded to become his mistress. Firmly, she refuses, citing the significance of a white-feathered arrow she wears, a symbol of her chastity bestowed by divine ordinance. Despite Ôuchi's threats, his wife (midaidokoro) intervenes, promising to persuade Yûshide to comply.

Meanwhile, various daimyô like Sue Zengyô of Higo, Tomokata Daigaku of Bungo and Kaigetsu Shikibu of Hizen arrive, bearing valuable gifts for Ôuchi. Notable exception, Kenmotsu Tarô Nobutoshi, a karô representing the daimyô Katô Saemon Shigeuji of Chikuzen, has arrived empty-handed. Ôuchi, anticipating a prized jewel named Yameishu from Katô, grows furious at its absence. Questioning Kenmotsu, he learns the gem's peculiar nature-it retains its splendor only if handled by a 20-year-old virgin. Yûshide, possessing the requisite purity, steps forward, offering to accompany Shindôzaemon and Kenmotsu to retrieve the jewel from the Katô mansion. Their departure ends the scene.

[1] The title "Karukaya Dôshin and the Souvenir of Tsukushi" came from "A Kabuki reader: history and performance".

Illustration from the ezukushi banzuke for the staging of the drama "Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto" in the 7th lunar month of 1790 in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai with Ichikawa Danzô IV (Tatara Shindôzaemon), Yoshizawa Iroha I (Tatara Yûshide), Arashi Sanpachi I (Ôuchi Yoshihiro), Yoshizawa Goroichi II (Ôuchi Yoshihiro's midaidokoro) and Nakayama Tazô (Kenmotsu Tarô Nobutoshi)