The drama "Ansei Kibun Tsukuda no Yoarashi" was premiered in September 1914 ^[1] at the Ichimuraza [more details].

The original drama was in 6 acts. The part about the love affair between the tedai Kôshichi and the keisei Hagoromo has not survived. The current version is in 3 acts.

"Ansei Kibun Tsukuda no Yoarashi" was staged only 3 times during the second half of the 20th century:

Act I, scene 1: Tsukuda Yoseba Meshitakidokoro
At the Kitchen of the Tsukuda Labor Camp

This is the fifth year of the Ansei era. Aoki Teijirô ^[2] has been involved in a conspiracy against the government and has plotted breaking into a large establishment with a robber (tôzoku) named Kamiya Genzô in order to obtain money to fund the conspiracy. They have both been caught for minor offenses and are now jailed at the Rehabilitation Camp (ninsoku yoseba) on Tsukuda Island where they have been set up as overseers over the other prisoners and as supervisers at the kitchen of the camp (meshitakidokoro).

It seems that the conspiracy itself has finally been revealed and the prisoners are gossiping that Teijirô and Genzô are to be detained there for life because they are conspirators. Teijirô overhears them and is dismayed. He tells Genzô about it, and Genzô remarks that the situation must be particularly hard on Teijirô, who still has on his hands the difficult task of avenging his father's death. Teijirô's father had in his possession a map showing the location of a cave in Kôshû where the fabled treasure of the warlord Takeda Shingen was said to be hidden. He has gone to Kôshû in search of the treasure but he has finally been killed there. Teijirô, who has been disowned by his father earlier because of his love affair with a geisha, has learned of the death later, but has no idea who the killer might be. He is entirely unaware that the murderer is none other than his fellow prisoner Genzô.

Genzô eggs Teijirô on, and Teijirô, falling into the trap, suggests that they make their escape together. They lay plans to steal the garments of prisoners who have been sent in that day so that they will have something to wear instead of their prison garb.

Act I, scene 2: Tsukudajima Yoseba Soto
Outside the Labor Camp on Tsukuda Island

The scene is set outside the prison walls on Tsukuda Island. Aoki Teijirô climbs down the wall and sneak out of the labor camp, with a suit of ordinary clothes in his hand. Kamiya Genzô follows him. Teijirô, who is a good swimmer, takes Genzô on his back to make the swim across the bay.

Act I, scene 3: Fukagawa Nanbu Kawagishi
Near the Riverbank of Southern Fukagawa

Still later that same night the pair reach the opposite shore at Fukagawa and change into the stolen garments. Then they set off after a lone passerby, the young heir of the Jôshûya shop in Fukagawa Saga-chô named Jôshûya Hanjirô, and rob him of his money, unaware that they are being watched by a pair of kagoya resting by the roadside.

Now the kagoya Kanji comes out and tries to force Teijirô to hand over the stolen money. A fight ensues. Genzô watches from the side, waiting not for an opportunity to aid but to kill Teijirô if the chance should offer itself. After a hard fight Kanji is subdued by Teijirô. The other kagoya Heisuke runs away.

Act I, scene 4: Fukagawa Ofunaguramae Meshiya
At an Eatery in Fukagawa Ofunaguramae

Later, Aoki Teijirô and Kamiya Genzô are eating in a small and cheap restaurant (meshiya) by the riverboat landing in the district of Fukagawa Ofunaguramae-chô. The restaurant is managed by Oyone and the area is full of Fuji pilgrims or Narita pilgrims. Teijirô says he plans to go to Kôshû to seek the hidden treasure his father was after. Their conversation is overheard by an unsavory acquaintance of Genzô, a scoundrel named Kinezumi Seiji ^[3], who has been Genzô's accomplice in the murder of Teijirô's father. The two have learned of the map in the elder Teijirô's possession and have followed him in his search, hoping to steal the treasure. Genzô whispers to Seiji that Teijirô is none other than the son of the man whom they have killed in Kôshû.

Act II, scene 1: Fuekikawa no Watashi Gihê no Ie
At the Home of Fueki River Ferryman Gihê

Gihê is an old boatman running a ferry service across Fuefuki River in Kôshû. He lives with his daughter Osayo and his granddaughter Otami. Because of the family's impoverishment, Osayo had been forced to serve as geisha in Edo, where she has met Aoki Teijirô and has become his wife. But having been abandoned by Teijirô who has gone off on his conspiracy plot against the government, she has come back home to her father with her child, the daughter of Teijirô.

Otami is sick with a fever, and Osayo is about to go off through the snow to call a doctor when the village headman comes to say that a group of torite has come from Edo in chase of a man who has escaped from prison, and that therefore Gihê is not to ferry anyone across the river that night.

After Osayo has left on her errand, a stranger comes to the house asking to be ferried across the river. Gihê refuses and explains the situation. The stranger is none other than Aoki Teijirô. When Gihê explains the circumstances that led to his living here now with his daughter and child, Teijirô realizes that the woman must be his own wife Osayo. When the girl Otami begins to be delirious due to the fever, Teijirô comforts her and tells her that he is her father.

Now Kinezumi Seiji comes. Genzô and he have conspired with each other to betray Teijirô to the authorities, and Seiji has been put on Teijirô's tracks on his journey from Edo to Kôshû. Teijirô and Seiji fight, and Teijirô is about to be killed when Gihê steps in to lend a helping hand to his son-in-law. As a result, it is Seiji who is downed. Gihê has believed that Seiji was the criminal being sought instead of Teijirô, and is shocked to learn that the reverse was the truth.

Now Seiji who is about to die begins to talk and reveals that Genzô was indeed the real culprit. He tells how Genzô has desired Takeda Shingen's treasure sought by Teijirô's father, and how Genzô and he have killed Teijirô's father just as he has located the secret treasure cave.

Osayo returns soon after Seiji's death. Teijirô explains the full situation to Osayo and Gihê and then requests that Gihê take him across the river on his ferry. Gihê refuses, saying that he has been told by the headman not to do so. However, Osayo asks her father to help Teijirô. Teijirô is reluctant to leave behind his wife and daughter with whom he has been reunited for the first time in many years, but he nevertheless leaves the boatman's house.

Act III, scene 1: Shôsenkyô no Okuyama Dôketsu no Mae
In front of a Cave in a Remote Mountain within the Shôsen Gorges

Kamiya Genzô has come with an accomplice to retrieve the gold from a cave (dôketsu) in a remote area of the Shôsen Gorges. When the treasure has been entirely brought out, Genzô coldly kills his accomplice Mokuzô.

Two pilgrims start to pass by, frightening Genzô for a moment. He is not aware that they are in reality torite in disguise. After they pass on, Aoki Teijirô makes his appearance. Genzô is again frightened for a moment, but remembering that Teijirô has not known who his father's murderer was, he regains his composure. He starts to tell Teijirô that his father's murderer is a swordman named Yamada Sanjûrô and that Genzô will be happy to help Teijirô in seeking revenge against him.

Teijirô however, now knows that Genzô is lying, and they start to fight each other. However, they are surrounded by a group of torite led by Miyoshino Kamejirô and they are finally captured. Bound in ropes, they glare at each other and say they will continue their fight in Hell.

[1] The drama was premiered in September 1914, 17 years after the passing away of the author Furukawa Shinsui (Morita Kan'ya XII). It is worthy to note that the author's son Morita Kan'ya XIII and the author's grandson Bandô Tamasaburô IV performed in this premiere.

[2] The normal reading for Teijirô would have been Sadajirô.

[3] Literally Seiji the squirrel.

The actors Onoe Kikugorô VI and Nakamura Kichiemon I playing the roles of Aoki Teijirô and Kamiya Genzô in the drama "Ansei Kibun Tsukuda no Yoarashi", which was staged in June 1926 at the Kabukiza

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