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.

"Yasui no Hama" ('The shore at Yasui') has not been staged since the end of WWII but it could be revived at the National Theatre in the future to come.

"Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" was made up of 5 acts. "Yasui no Hama" ('The shore at Yasui') is the second scene of the second act (naka). It fell into oblivion ^[1].

Accompanied by Sakuramaru, Prince Tokiyo and Princess Kariya come to the port of Yasui where a ship carrying Kan Shôjô is at anchor. Sakuramaru appeals to the hangandai Terukuni, Kan Shôjô's escort, to allow Prince Tokiyo and Princess Kariya to meet Kan Shôjô but Terukuni refuses, saying that the couple are responsible for Kan Shôjô's misfortune. Sakuramaru thereupon suggests to Prince Tokiyo to part with Princess Kariya in order to appease the emperor's anger and thereby secure Kan Shôjô's pardon. Sakuramaru easily wins Prince Tokiyo's consent. Tatsuta-no-Mae, Kakuju's daughter and Princess Kariya's elder sister, arrives at the boat to ask Terukuni to permit Kan Shôjô's visit to the house of Kakuju before going to exile. Terukuni agrees and takes Kan Shôjô in a palanquin (kago) to bring him to Kakuju's residence. Meanwhile, Prince Tokiyo returns to the Imperial Palace, accompanied by Sakuramaru.

[1] No record in ôshibai between the end of WWII and 2024.

An illustration from an ezukushi banzuke depicting the "Yasui no Hama" scene of the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which was staged in the 9th lunar month of 1771 in Kyôto at the Kitagawa Higashi no Shibai with Fujimatsu Sanjûrô I, Onoe Shinshichi I, Mimasu Tokujirô I, Sawamura Kunitarô I and Nakamura Torashichi in the roles of Sakuramaru, Terukuni, Prince Tokiyo, Tatsuta-no-Mae and Princess Kariya