The following is a direct except from the Azuma
Odori programme of 1950, from the private collection of Naomi
Graham-Diaz, ImmortalGeisha.com. This has been copy-typed verbatim,
along with scans, from the original programme by Naomi
Graham-Diaz.
The first part: |
opened at 11:00 A.M...........From
1st to 12th |
| |
Opened at 3:00 P.M............From 14th
to 24th) |
(1) Youchi Soga.................................................
by Tokiwazu
(2) Magaki-no Iro (Color of Hedge)...................... by Utazawa
Jiuta
(3) Renjishi .......................................................by
Nagauta
(4) Nuremoyo-Iro-to-Yudachi ...............................by
Kiyomoto
(5) Popular tune, Mawari-doro (Revolving Lantern) .9 eceneries
The second part: |
opened at 2:30 P.M…..........From
1st to 12th |
| |
Opened at 11:00 A.M..........From 13th
to 24th) |
(1) Shiki-Sanba-So by Kiyomoto Tomo-Yakko .......by Nagauta
(2) Sannin Katawa (three Deformities) ..................by Tokiwazu
(3) The mother of Shosho-Shigemoto...................worked
by Junichiro Tanizaki. Adopted and produced by Seiichi Eunabashi
(4) Festival Suite................................................by
Yamatogaku
1. Youchi Soga (Tokiwazu)
The Soga brothers – the elder called Juro and the younger,
Goro – attempted to avenge Suketsune Kudo, who had killed
their father. Firmly determined to carry through their avewed retaliation,
the two brothers went up to the foot of Mt. Fuji, where Kudo’s
residence was located. There, they succeeded in avenging their father’s
assassin. This is a brave dance However, it also contains amour
and sense of transiency…………
2. Magaki-no-Iro
Tanabata (1,2,3,13,14, & 15, Nov.)…………………….Utazawa
This is a dance being performed by beautiful woman. No story behined
it. The dance is just for spreading maganificent picture on the
stage through dancing.
Matsubazome (7,8,9,19,29 &
21, Nov.)………………Utazawa
This is a dance being performed by youngsters and girls.
Kikuno Tsuyu (4,5,6,16,17,18,
Nov.)……………………Jiuta
A girl resents her lover who doesh’t show up before her in
spire of his promise. The girl is looking at chrysanthemum.
Yukari no Tsuki (10,11,12,22,23,24,
Nov.)…………Jiuta
This is about an entertainer who has been bought by an unexpected
man, and who is now recalling the days passed by.
3. Renjishi (Played by a band
of Nagauta singers and drummers.)
This is Nagauta, based on No hand its story is about a lion which
pushed its baby lion into the valley with a view to test the latter’s
braveness.
4. Nuremoyo Iro to Yudachi (Played
by a band of Kiyomto.)
A low-class man, named Shichinosuke Kozaru, met an aristocratic
lady on the bank of Fukagawa in Edo. He lost no time in winning
her mind for him. All this story is told in the form of Kiyomoto,
and played by erotic dancing.
5. Zokkyoku Mawaridoro (Popular
tune Revolving Lantern.)
This consist of folksongs, complied in the form of a suite. Local
moods and womenfolks manners are expressed in this song.
1. Shiki Sanbaso (By Kiyomoto
players)
Tomoyakko (By Nagauta players)
This is one of the masterwork of Kiyomoto composed about 120 years
ago. It was originated from a “Noh” play, “Sanbaso”
of which dance expresses a pray rich harvest.
A. Sanbaso is played with Yoshiwara as its background.
Players are disguised as Yoshiwara prostitute and buffoon.
B. Tomoyakko was written in 1828. This play is
performed by a servant to an ancient lord who comes up to Yoshiwara.
The servant lost sight of his master and strayed in search.
2. Sannin Katawa. (Played by Tokiwazu)
This was written in 1888.
This is about bliend. Dumb and cripple who gathered round to an
ancient lord. They were hired for service to this lord. However,
the three were actually in perfect condition bodily, they just lied.
But their lie was later found out by their lord.
3. Shosho Shigemoto no Haha (By
Nagauta group)
Written by Junichi Tanizaki; adopted by Seiichi Funabashi. Published
serially in the Mainichi.
This is a battle of love between Fujiwara Shihei and Dainagon
Fujiwara Kunitsune. Beccause Sheihei was a man of power, he snatched
away the latter’s wife, leaving behind her child, Shigemoto.
20 years passed, and Shiegemoth, no grown-up, finaly managed to
see his mother. This encounter is the climax of this play.
Matsuri Kumikyoku.
This is a suite comprising folksong about festivals’ at Yedo
era.
In the beginning of the 9th century, the brilliant aristrocrate
culture prospered with the House of “Fujiwara” as its
center in Kyoto where the capital of Japan was. Shihei Fujiwara
was a leading man of power in one part of that period. He was a
young heir of Fujiwara, with whom no one could compared in his official
rank and authority. Like a man who is used to obtain his every wish,
he was very anxious to obtain the most beautiful lady in the world.
First Scene
Hearing that the wife of his uncle “Kunitsune” has a
peerless beauty, and that his friend Heichu had fallen love with
her, he resolved to obtain that lady by all means. Soon he began
to give letters with words of endearment and nice presents to his
uncle who lived rather in obsecurity. On a new year’s day
Shihei visits uncle and makes him frantic with joy by means of nice
presents, banquests, and generous compliments, finally puts his
uncle into the embarrassing situation of being obliged to offer
him his wife whom he cherished as his best treasure. Kunitsune finds
himself abstracted with the grief over his wife’s parting.
Second Scene
It was quite a misfortune for Heichu that Shihei stole a march upon
him and secured the lady whom he introduced to him. He had no means
to meet the lady who lived in the inmost room of the residence.
It was only Shigemoto her son born of Kunitsune her former husband
who could meet her freely. Heichu once wrote secretly a love poem
on the arm of Shigemoto so that his amorous wish might be conveyed
to her.
Third Scene
Shihei and his new wife become a loving couple and were so happy
together that everyone was envious of them. However, this happiness
did not last very long. There came out a rumour that the soul of
Michizane Sugawara who was political rival of Shihei and who was
forced out of power by him, appeared in the shape of thunder with
full reproach on him. One day the thunder suddenly roared hard which
annoyed Shihei very much and finally struck him dead. It was therefore
said that the cause of Shihei’s death was due to the grudge
of Michizane Sugawara.
Fourth Scene
Twenty years have passed since Shihei was dead. The lady became
a Buddist nun and was retired in a mountain hamlet near Koto, the
capital. Day and night she was watching the tomb of Shihei and praying
for the repose of Shihei’s soul. She had been unable to see
her son, Shigemoto who were supposed to have grown up to a young
man. In the evening of one spring day, a young man happens to visit
this lovely hamlet among the beautiful cherry blossoms. He is the
very person, Shigemoto. Meeting again after twenty years, they throw
themselves into each other’s arms and do nothing but shed
tears of joy.
This story was written by Junichiro Tanizaki,
a great master of modern Japanese literary circle; and was dramatizen
by Seichi Funabashi who is also a most famous novelist; choregraphy
by Kikunojo Onoe; music by Rokuzaemon Kineya; stage arrangement
and costume by Yuki Ogura, the member of Inten; the highest artist’s
groupe.
Fujiwara Shihei |
Marichiyo |
Shigemoto |
Marichiyo |
Fujiwara Kunitsune (Shihei’s
Uncle) |
Kanechiyo |
Kitanokata (wife
of Kunitsune) |
Kokuni |
Heichu (Shihei’s
friend) |
Kofumi |
Sadakuni (Shihei’s
follower) |
Chiyo, Muneko |
Sugane (Shihei’s
follower) |
Kiyo, Rinko |
Sanuki (Cheifmaid
of Kunitsune’s house) |
Some, Yukio |
Joro (Peeress) |
Katsuko Oimatsu |
|
Titsuko Kazue |
|
Sengiku Hamagiku |
|
Chiyono Tama |
|
Shigeno Haruno |
Nyobo (maid of kunitsune’s
house) |
Tsuyano Isoko |
|
Hatsuko Komiyo |
Shigemoto (childhood) |
Hiratsuka Kiyo |
|
Hirota Yumiko |
Nun |
Yaeko Taro, Keiko |
|
Komiyo Imako, Iseko |
|
Kuniyo, Kinumaru |
|
Hatsuko Fukumaru |
Sugawara Michizane |
Kosuga, Yaeharu |
