The drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi" was premiered in the 1st lunar month of 1796 at the Kiriza [casting]. The hero of this drama, the otokodate Yoshibê, was based on a real person of the Genroku era, Umeshibu Kichibê, who murdered in 1689 in Ôsaka a decchi named Chôkichi to steal his money. The star Sawamura Sôjûrô I was the first actor to portray Yoshibê on stage. The role was brought to Edo from Ôsaka by the Kamigata playwright Namiki Gohei I, who turned it into an Edo otokodate and wrote "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi" for Sawamura Sôjûrô III.

The lastest revival at the National Theatre was made up of 3 acts and 8 scenes [more details].

Act I, Scene 1: The Mimeguri River Bank at Mukôjima

Kanaya Kingorô, a retainer of the Chiba clan in Shimôsa Province, has eloped with Kosan, the daughter of Mishima Hayato of the same clan because their love affair has met with disapproval. Just at this time, a precious treasure of the Chiba clan, a poetry card, is found missing. Kingorô, knowing that he is suspected as the culprit, searches for the poetry card together with Kosan who by this time has demeaned herself to becoming a courtesan. Ume no Yoshibê is obliged to Hayato for past favors and because of this and also because of his inborn spirit of chivalry, he lends his assistance to Kingorô. Yoshibê is a popular otokodate known by his purple head-cloth bearing a "poem of endurance", a gift from his former master, Hayato, intended to remind him of the errors of his youth. His assistance encourages Kingorô and Kosan. In fact, the poetry card has been stolen by Sone Bangorô, an evil warrior of the Chiba clan, in retaliation for Kosan's refusal to accept his love. Shigaraki Kanjûrô of the same clan is sympathetic with Kingorô and is also moved by Yoshibê's devotion. He offers Yoshibê 100 ryô to be used as a part of the money needed to free Kosan from her indenture. In the Edo period, 100 ryô was an enormous amount of money.

Act I, Scene 2: The Daikokuya Tea House in Mukôjima

His desire for Kosan still burning even now that she has become a courtesan, Bangorô asks Genbêbori no Genbê, a chivalrous commoner (otokodate), for his collaboration. Genbê and Ume no Yoshibê have long been at odds and, what is more, Genbê is in love with Yoshibê's wife Koume. Genbê thus complies with Bangorô's request. Plotting with his follower Jippeiji, Genbê loans counterfeit money to Kingorô who he knows to be badly in need of money for Kosan's ransom. At the very moment Kingorô is about to use the money, Bangorô discloses it to be bogus. Fortunately Yoshibê appears on the scene. He settles the matter by handing over the 100 ryô received from Kanjûrô as a part of the ransom. At this juncture, a certificate stating that Bangorô has received the poetry card from Genbê is exposed by mistake. Yoshibê thus realizes the nature of the evil plan and, firmly determined, he takes off his purple cap of "endurance", a thing he has sworn never to do on any occasion. However, Genbê burns up the certificate using a magnifying glass.

Act II, Scene 1: A Rice Shop in Kuramae

Ume no Yoshibê's wife, Koume, has a younger brother called Asajirô. He works under the name Chôkichi as an apprentice (decchi) under Sajibei, Ito's Kanjûrô uncle, who owns a rice shop at Kuramae. Chôkichi is entreated by his sister and brother-in-law to raise the balance required to free Kosan. He asks his lover Okimi, his master's daughter, to assist in raising the money. A love letter written by Okimi and addressed simply to "Chô" as a short form of "Chôkichi" is misdelivered to another apprentice named Chôgorô who is also in love with Okimi. Jealous of Chôkichi, Chôgorô steals 100 ryô from the shop and puts the blame on Chôkichi and Okimi.

Kanjûrô, who enters the scene at this point, sees through the intrigue. Chôkichi is held guiltless but, his love affair with his master's daughter having come to light; he is locked up in an upstairs room.

Act II, Scene 2: outside the Rice Shop at Kuramae

In the evening, Chôkichi's sister, Koume, calls to him from outside the wall of the rice shop where Chôkichi is imprisoned upstairs. Chôkichi assures her that he will not fail to deliver the money within this very night. Feeling relieved, Koume makes her exit.

Act II, Scene 3: an Inner Room of the Rice Shop

Unable to resist his dear sister's supplication, Chôkichi promised her that he would be ready with the money by eight o'clock, but he is in fact at a total loss as to where to get the money. 100 ryô is not a sum then an apprentice has easy access to. Suddenly he hears the song "Umegae", a jôjûri, being sung by the neighbor next door. The song tells the story of Umegae, a courtesan desperate for money. In the song, Umegae beats a wash basin to make it sound like a bell (mugen no kane) and while doing so intently prays for money which she wants immediately even if obtaining the money now means that she must go to hell after death. At this moment, a shower of gold coins falls from the heaven. Chôkichi decides to try this method. Then, Okimi comes upstairs and while wrangling with Chôgorô about the money, throws down 100 ryô. Chôkichi picks it up and runs out.

Act II, Scene 4: at the Side of the Ô River

Chôkichi is assailed by a burglar at the side of Ô River. Ume no Yoshibê rescues him, and appeals to him for the loan of the money. Chôkichi does not know his brother-in-law's face. Not realizing him to be his own brother-in-law, he refuses the request and insists that the money is for his brother-in-law and cannot be lent out. Yoshibê, who does not realise that Chôkichi is the younger brother of his wife Koume, murders the young decchi. In the process Yoshibê's little finger was bitten off. The killer flees but he carelessly drops his wallet. When Koume sees the missing finger in the corpse's mouth, she realises her husband is responsible. To bear the guilt herself she cuts off her own finger and kills herself. Moreover, Yoshibê's wallet is picked up by Genbê.

Act III, Scene 1: Yoshibê's House

Genbê appears with the wallet to levy blackmail on Ume no Yoshibê. He proposes to exchange the poetry card for Yoshibê's wife Koume. Helplessly Yoshibê gives in. However, the poetry card is found to be a fake.

Act III, Scene 2: The Bank of the River

Chasing after Genbê, Ume no Yoshibê slays Bangorô and Jippeiji at the bank of the Sumida River, and recovers the poetry card. With the poetry card in hand, Kingorô and Kosan happily return to the Chiba family.

The role of Yoshibê is closely associated to the Sawamura Sôjûrô line of actors.

The white herons and black crows on the kimono of Yoshibê symbolize innocence and bad luck respectively. This pattern immediately identifies the character of Yoshibê.

The actor Sawamura Gennosuke I playing the role of Yoshibê in the drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi", which was staged in the 3rd lunar month of 1810 at the Nakamuraza (print made by Utagawa Toyokuni I)

The actor Sawamura Chôjûrô V portraying Yoshibê in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III