The play "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" was originally written for the puppet theater (Bunraku) and staged for the first time in the 1st lunar month of 1771 in Ôsaka at Takeda Shinmatsu's theater (ex-Takemotoza). It was quickly adapted for Kabuki and staged in Kyôto in the 3rd lunar month of 1771 at the Kitagawa no Shibai [casting]. It was a long run, produced from the 25th day of the 3rd lunar month to the 10th of the 5th lunar month of 1771. For this premiere, the role of Shibaroku was played by Edosaka Kyôemon.

The "Shika Koroshi" scene went into oblivion at the beginning of the 20th century. It was fortunatelly revived at the National Theatre in April 1974, starring Nakamura Ganjirô II and Nakamura Kotarô V in the roles of Shibaroku and Shibaroku's son Sansaku.

"Shika Koroshi" is the second scene (naka) of the second act of "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

The hunter Shibaroku is a former retainer of Fujiwara no Kamatari. He is trying to be reinstated with his former lord by serving him in various ways. One night on Mount Tsuzura, Shibaroku kills a sacred dark black deer (shinroku), a crime punishable by death. He has learnt that mixing the blood of a black deer and the blood of a jealous woman is the only magic potion able to kill the evil Soga no Iruka.

The "Shika Koroshi" scene (top/left of the picture) of "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" with Asao Tamejûrô I ^[1] in the role of Shibaroku, which was staged in the 5th lunar month of 1775 at the Kado no Shibai

[1] Arashi Kichisaburô I according to the National Theatre's "Jôen Shiryô-shû 377"