Sakai's Drum

S H O C H I K U

KABUKI PLAY

" S A K A I ' S D R U M "

YONIHIBIKU TAIKO NO ISAOSHI

One Act.

Written by Mokuami Kawatake.

To be presented by Eb i z o , Shoroku and

Baiko Joint Troupe At the Tokyo Theater

-Synopsis:

Takeda o f Koshu Pr o v i n c e and I e y a s u Tokugawa o f Suruga P r o v i n c e were at war. The t i d e turned a g a i n s t

Tokugawa's t r o o p s and the Hamamatsu C a s t l e was in danger o f b e i n g a t t a c ked by the enemy i n f u l l f o r c e .

R e s o u r c e f u l as Ie y a s u was, he asse r t e d t h a t he would have the c a s t l e - g a t e op en e d, camp­ f i r e s k i n d l e d and meet the enemy, Saemon Sakai a g r e e d t o the i d e a and drank r i c e - w i n e t i l l he g o t h e l p l e s s l y drunk. A f t e r a w h i l e Sakai l e a p t t o h i s f e e t and beat the drum announcing the time w i t h might and main h i m s e l f .

Saburobe Baba, g e n e r a l o f the a t t a c k i n g f o r c e , wondered why the c a s t l e - g a te was k e p t open,

t he camp- f i r e s were a l l a b l a z e and the sound o f the drum r e v e r b e r a t e d s o n o r o u s l y . A f t e r much c o n s i d e r a ­ t i o n , he c o n j e c t u r e d t h a t t h e y must have some p r o ­ found st ra ta gem . Thereupon Take da ' s f o r c e which had c l o s e d i n upon the c a s t l e i n gr e a t f o r c e turned back. Meanwhile, in the c a s t l e they drank in c e l e b r a t i o n o f

the success o f the st ratagem and the day be f o r e the o f f i c i a l beg i n n i n g o f s p r i n g .

- 2

-Scenes:

Scene of Inside of Hamamatsu C a s t l e .

Scene of Outside of Hamamatsu Ca s t l e .

The st age r e p r e s e n t s I e y a s u ’ s he ad qu a rte rs on the mountain. In the midd le I e y a s u we ari ng the armour and ce re m on ia l robe i s s e a t e d on the c u s h i o n ; b e s i d e him a page s i t s down h o l d i n g up h i s sword; on the r i g h t h i s l a d y dre ss e d i n a l o ng o v e r - d r e s s and f i v e w a i t i n g maids are s e a t e d i n a row; on the l e f t are se a t e d S h i b a t a and Hi r a i w a .

Lady: I ’ m g l a d y o u ' v e r e t u r n e d to t h i s c a s t l e in good h e a l t h , d a r l i n g . Not o n l y your l a d y but a l s o I , Umegae:

The F i r s t Maid: The Second Maid:

The Th ir d Maid: The Fourth Ma id : A l l : I e y a s u : L a d y : Umegae, as c h i e f w a i t i n g maid ---- . Mere w a i t i n g maids as we a r e , ---. We f e e l as i f we were the r e v i v e d w i t h e r e d f l o w e r s . Nothing i s so h a p p y ---. And c o n g r a t u l a t o r y as t h i s . C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s !

Since Baba and Yamagat a l e d the van w i t h t h e i r men out o f Tak e da 's bi g f o r c e , we were no natch f o r them and I was a l r e a d y prepa red f o r death i n a c t i o n on Sambogahara F i e l d , but thanks to Honda and the o t h e r f a i t h ­ f u l h e r o e s ' m a g n i f i c e n t d e fe n c e a g a i n s t

the enemy I had a h a i r b r e a d t h escape and could r e t u r n to t h i s c a s t l e

w i t h a whole sk i n .

I understand you must ha ve been hard p r e s s e d s i n c e you were rea dy to d i e f i g h t i n g . Whenever I heard o f an i n t e r m i t t e n t r e p o r t on our f o r c e ' s d e f e a t s i n c e t h i s morning, I wished you would r e t u r n to t h i s c a s t l e s a f e l y .

Ume: I ' m g l a d you n a r r o w l y escaped death by the p r o t e c t i o n o f Gods to whom we had pray ed f o r t h e i r h e l p .

Hi r a (Wata) : This i s due to you r c l e v e r st r a t a ge m , my l o r d .

Sh ib a : B e s i d e s , i t ' s owing to you r good

f o r t u n e as p e o p l e say t h a t y o u ' r e the i n c a r n a t i o n o f the t w e lv e g o d s .

I e : Anyway I h a v e n ' t eaten enough s i n c e t h i s morning, so I ' m awf u l l y hungry. Make ready f o r hot w ate r and r i c e ,

The F i r s t Ma i d :

anyone.

C e r t a i n l y . ( En t e r s the i n t e r i o r . ) I e : Now I 'm back i n t h i s c a s t l e , but

Sakai whom I t o l d to l o o k a f t e r the c a s t l e i n my absence to-day h a s n ' t y e t come h e r e . H ow about Saemon? Ume: W e l l , as f o r Saemon-dono who are in

charge o f l o o k i n g a f t e r t h i s c a s t l e i n your a b s e n c e --- .

I e : Has he gone anywhere? Ume: Oh, no, he h a s n ' t .

I e : Why do y ou h e s i t a t e to t e l l me about him?

-Ume: We ll Lady: Ume: I e: L a d y: We l l , I ' l l t e l l you, d a r l i n g . T he

r ea so n why Umegae h e s i t a t e d to t e l l you o f Saemon i s t h i s :

Al though he has been i n charge o f t h i s c a s t l e i n your absence t o - d a y , on the p r e t e x t o f c e l e b r a t i o n o f r e p u l s i o n o f the d i s a s t e r he drank too much r i c e - w i n e , go t h e l p l e s s l y drunk and l a y f u l l l e n g t h on the mat. Ther e­ upon the w a i t i n g maid t r i e d to r o u t him o u t , but i n v a i n as he seemed to be f a s t a s l e e p .

I wanted to t e l l him o f your r e t u r n i m m e d i a t e l y , but I ov erh ear d him s n o r i n g l o u d l y , so I h e s i t a t e d to

te l l you o f h i m , my l o r d .

P l e a s e f o r g i v e me f o r my h e s i t a t i o n . We l l , th en , you mean to say th at Saemon drank too much and had a good s l e e p i n c e l e b r a t i o n o f t o - d a y ' s r e p u l s i o n o f the d i s a s t e r ?

A w a r r i o r as he i s , i t ' s shameful o f him t h a t he drank too much r i c e - w i n e

6 -and f e l l a s l e e p h e l p l e s s l y i n s p i t e o f t h i s b a t t l e . Wata: As your la dy s a i d --- . Shiba: Saemon-dono f e l l a s l e e p i n s p i t e o f t h i s b a t t l e . Wata: W e ---.

A l l : Must not excuse him.

I e : Oh, n e v e r mind. Only such a hero as he co u ld f a l l a s l e e p i n s p i t e o f t h i s b a t t l e .

F o u r : Huh?

I e : N e v e r mind. L e t him remain a s l e e p . Lady: G r a c i o u s ! I thought you would s c o l d

him, though.

Ume: On the c o n t r a r y , you seem to have p l e a s e d w i t h him at h i s b e h a v i o r , my l o r d .

I e : Oh, i s n ' t r i c e w i t h hot w a t er ready y e t ? B r in g i t here r i g h t away.

Waiting maid: C e r t a i n l y .

(With, music, the f o u r w a i t i n g maids come out w i t h a t a b l e , a bowl and a b o i l e d - r i c e tub and o f f e r t h e t h i n g s to I eyasu. Just then from the l e f t comes out Hik o em o n .)

Hi k o : We l l , I , Hikoemon To r i i , have o n l y j u s t r e t u r ned f rom the camp.

I e : Oh, have you come back, Hikoemon?

Hiko: Yes.

Shiba: You s e e m to be s e v e r e l y wounded. H i r a ( W a t a ) : A r e n ’ t you m o r t a l l y wounded?

H ik o : I'm o n l y s l i g h t l y wounded, so p l e a s e d o n ' t w or ry about me.

( Just

then from the l e f t comes out Kaede in a l o n g - s l e e v e d d r e s s . ) Kaede: Oh, e l de r b r o t h e r , have you come

back?

Hi k o . Oh, s i s t e r Kaede, why d o n ' t you e s c o r t the lady?

Ka ede: Just now

I

was s e e i n g a l o n g d i s t a n c e w i t h

a

t e l e s c o p e t o - g e t h e r with Sakai- sama's e l d e r s i s t e r Ofuseya from the

t h r e e f o l d t u r r e t so

as

to know whether the enemy might advance on t h i s c a s t l e .

Hiko: You s h o u l d n ' t have gone up to the t u r r e t u n l i k e a woman f o r f e a r t h a t you might hurt y o u r s e l f .

Kaede: H ik o : Ka e d e : Hiko: I e :

Hiko:

t o l d he r t o see a long d is t a n c e a t the t u r r e t .

Oh, speakin g o f a h u r t , the c l o t h t i e d on your f o o t i s b l o o d - s t a i n e d , so

I 'm a f r a i d y o u 'r e s e v e r e l y wounded. When I brought up th e r e a r a w h ile a g o , the w e ll-k n o w n hero named Yama- g a t a o f the Takeda Camp th r u s t my l e f t t h ig h w ith h i s sp ea r. I t i s n ' t a r a r e t h i n g , h ow ever, t h a t we

w a r r i o r s r e c e i v e such a wound in b a t t l e .

Y o u 'd be t t e r a p p ly an ointm ent t o the wound r i g h t now.

I need no o in tm en t. (Me a n w h ile , I eyasu i s e a t i n g c o l d b o i l e d - r i c e w i t h hot wat e r . )

When I r e t u r n e d to th i s c a s t l e a w h ile a g o , th e enemy f o r c e was i n the lo n g d i s t a n c e , but how f a r have they marched on the c a s t l e now? They to o k advantage o f t h e i r v i c t o r y s in c e t h i s m orning, c a r r i e d e v e r y ­ th in g b e f o r e them, r a i s e d a shout o f

-(Hi r a )

Kaede:

H i k o :

v i c t o r y and more than t h i r t y thousand cavalrymen a dvanced on the avenue o u t s i d e o f t h i s c a s t l e .

Wata: W e l l , th en, yo u mean to say t h a t the enemy f o r c e has a l r e a d y marched on

the avenue o u t s i d e o f t h i s c a s t l e ? ( A l l o f them seem to be i l l at e ase. However, I ey a su keeps on e a t i n g the c o l d b o i l e d - r i c e w i th hot w ater in s p i t e o f t h e i r a n x i e t y . ) B r o t h e r , p l e a s e be ready f o r f i g h t i n g i n de f e n c e .

Oh, of course we must be rea dy f o r f i g h t i n g i n d e f e n c e . Now t h a t t h e r e i s on ly a s m a ll f o r c e i n t h i s c a s t l e , i f they f o r c e th e i r way i n t o he re a l l at once, t h i s c a s t l e w i l l t a ke no time i n f a l l i n g , as we ha ve n’ t g o t enough men to f i g h t i n d e fe n c e a g a i n s t them. W hat do you s a y , my l o r d?

So f a r as I , Hikoemon, think i t o v e r , I ' m o f o p i n i o n t h a t we should have the f r o n t b r i d g e cut o f f and t he c a s t l e - g a t e c l o s e d t i g h t l y l e s t t h e enemy should break i n t o t h i s c a s t l e .

- 10 -I e: Hi ko: I e: Hiko:

Oh, no, the c a s t l e - g a t e should r e ­ main open and a t n i g h t c a m p - f i r e s

be burnt so th at the enemy f o r c e could see i t c l e a r l y .

Excuse me f o r i n t e r r u p t i n g you,my l o r d , but as I t o l d you j u s t now, i f more than t h i r t y thousand c a v a l r y - men should break i n t o t h i s c a s t l e , how c o u l d you k e e p o f f the enemy? I ’ l l a dmit your remonstrance i s r e a s o n a b l e .

However, Shingen w o n ' t engage in a r e c k l e s s f i g h t and e s p e c i a l l y Nobu-f u s a Baba who i s Nobu-f u l l o Nobu-f wisdom and

le a d

the v a n , so even i f v a l o u r w i l l

the c a s t l e - g a t e should remain open, they wouldn' t make a r a i d on t h i s c a s t l e so e a s i l y .

Excuse me f o r d i s t u r b i n g you, but as people s a y , f a l s e s e c u r i t y i s a

gr e a t f o e .

W e c a n ' t t e l l w h a t k i n d o f s t e p the e n e m y w i l l t a k e i n such a c ase, so I hope y o u ' l l a d o p t my stratagem and

be ready f o r f i g h t i n g i n d e fe n c e .

I e : We l l , I ’ ve go t something up my s l e e v e ,

so do as I ’ ve told you.

Say,

w a i t on me.

Wa i t i n g maid:

Very w e l l .

(Waits on I ey a s u .)

Lady:

Excuse me f o r pushing myself

fo r w a r d ,

but i t

seems t h e r e i s

a

g r a i n o f t r u t h i n what Hikoemon s a i d j u st now, so

you'd

b e t t e r adopt h is

s tr a ta g e m , I th in k .

I e : No wonder

you may

th in k so as w e l l as my w i f e , but i n such a case we

should be unable to keep o f f th e enemy u n le s s we would r a t h e r o u tw it them than f i g h t w ith them b r a v e l y . Hiko: However, even i f we would t r y to

o u tw it the enemy, the g e n e r a l o f the t r o o p s s en t a g a i n s t us would a t t a c k f u r i o u s l y such a s im p le to n as me fi r s t o f a l l . What would you do i n such a c a s e , my l o r d ? I e : We l l , th e n , we should be obl i g ed to r e s i g n o u r s e l v e s to f a t e

and

d ie n o b ly .

12

-Hi ko:

Then, I sh all be ob lige d to disobey

your order and have the c a s t l e - g a t e

c lo s e d , my lo r d ,

(Rises to his

f e e t leaning against his spear.)

Kaede:

Wa i t a moment, brother.

You shouldn't

disobey the l o r d ' s order as his

r e t a i n e r .

Hiko:

I know I shouldn't do so in t ime

o f peace.

Kaede:

B u t ---.

Hiko:

Oh, don't detain me.

( I s about to go when Kaede detains

him.

Just then in the i n t e r i o r

Saemon's v o ic e i s heard.)

Saemon:

Hullo, Mr. T o r i i .

W

a i t a moment.

H

i ko :

W

hat?

(Just then the " j o r u r i " r e c i t e r s

on the f l o o r st a r t r e c i t i n g a

j o r u r i or a ballad-drama:)

"I n less than no time from

a room comes out t o t t e r i n g l y

Tadatsugu in charge of the

c a s t l e in the l o r d ' s absence

with a b o t t l e of r i c e - wine

Sa: Hiko: Sa: Sa: I e : Sa:

Just then from t h e i n t e r i o r comes out Saemon w e a r i n g a hemp-made c e r e m o n i a l d r e ss and a sword w i t h

some cups on a wooden stand and a b o t t l e o f r i c e - w i n e i n hi s hand;

he seems to be s l i g h t l y i n t o x i c a t e d . ) I ' v e ov er he a r d the p a r t i c u l a r s i n the room. P l e a s e w a i t a moment, Hikoemon-dono.

But i t ' s an u r g e n t m a t t e r o f d e f e n s e , s o --- .

We l l , I know, but p l e a s e w ai t a moment. "He i s o b l i g e d to s i t down.

Tadatsugu l i f t s hi s he a d s l o w l y . " (Hikoemon s i t s down on the l e f t .

Sakai l o o k s a t the r i g h t . )

Oh, my l o r d , ha ve you o n l y j ust r e ­ turned to t h i s c a s t l e ?

Thank you f o r the t r o u b l e you have taken a l l day lon g t o - d a y i n ch arge o f t h i s c a s t l e i n my absence.

(P u ts a s i d e the t a b l e . )

A f t e r you went to the f r o n t , I ,

with my e ld e r s i s t e r and became t e d i ­

ous, so I wanted to know how the

b a t t le was going on and saw a long

distance from the t h r e e fo ld tu r r e t

with a telescope when I knew the

tid e was turning against our fo r c e ,

so I feared there was p r a c t i c a l l y

no hope o f our v i c t o r y . M oreover,

I heard of only i l l news, so was

a fr a id th at I should be o b l i g e d to

i

k i l l m yself to f o l l o w you to the

other world.

(S

eems to be s t i l l s l i g h t l y i n t o x i c a t e d . )

However, I ’ m glad to see you w e l l , my

lo r d .

( Bows to I eyasu in e a rn e s t.)

Although I was prepared for death in

actio n a while ago, I could su c c es s fu lly

cut my way through the b a t t l e - f i e l d and

return to th is c a s tle again, so i t

seems the f ate o f our arms is not y e t

on the wane .

The fa te of your arms w i l l never be on

the wane, but your house w i l l prosper for

ever, I can assure you.

14

-I e:

( S eems to be s t i l l i n t o x i c a t e d . ) Tadatsugu, di d you d r i n k r i c e - w i n e ? You seem to be h e a v i l y drunk.

Oh, p l e a s e excuse me. To-day i s the day b e f o r e th e o f f i c i a l b e g in n in g o f s p r i n g and i t i s snowing hard, so I f e l t v e r y c o l d and had a d r i n k , but on the p r e t e x t o f poor p o u r i n g or new d r i n k i n g I drank s e v e r a l cups o f r i c e -

wine ti l l I f e l l a s l e e p under the i n f l u e n c e o f l i q u o r .

Indeed t o - d a y i s the day b e f o r e the beg i n n i ng o f the o f f i c i a l sp r i n g

season. You've had a t w i g o f the h o l l y - t r e e an d a d r i e d s a r di n e hung on t he g a t e a c c o r d i n g t o our f a m i l y p r a c t i c e , ha ven’ t you?

As to the s a l t e d s a r d i n e , w e 'v e had some f o r our p r o v i s i o n s , so I co ul d

have i t used f o r the purpose im m e d i a t e l y , but si n c e t h e r e was no h o l l y - t r e e i n

t h i s c a s t l e , I was q u i t e at a l o s s what to do, but now i s at the midst o f b a t t l e and I ' v e no time to have i t

I e:

Sa:

Ie:

16 -Lady : Sa : Lady: Ume : L a d y : W a i t i n g Ma i d s : lo ok ed f o r , so I ' v e had t he t w ig o f the s t a r - a n i s e on the f a m i l y a l t a r hung on the g a t e i n s t e a d o f the t w i g o f the h o l l y - t r e e .

( H ea ri ng h i s w or ds , the l a d y g e t s a n g r y . )

I t ' s absurd t h a t you should have the s t a r - a n i s e f o r Buddha hung on i t on the day b e f o r e the o f f i c i a l beginning o f s p r i n g i n c e l e b r a t i o n of the coming New Yea r.

But t h e r e i s no h o l l y - t r e e here. I f t h e r e i s no h o l l y - t r e e h e r e , why d i d n ' t you have a t w i g o f the p i n e- t r e e or the bamboo-grass hung on i t ? I t ' s unlucky to have the s t a r - a n i s e hung on i t on the unusual day b e f o r e the o f f i c i a l b e g in ni ng o f s p r i n g . As l a dy s a i d , the s t a r - a n i s e i s i n a u s p i c i o u s to be used on the a u s p i c i o u s day b e f o r e the b e g i n n i n g o f the o f f i c i a l s p r i n g season. W

a i t i n g maids, throw i t away. C e r t a i n l y .

I e :

La d y :

I e :

Shiba:

H i r a ( W a t a ) :

Oh, you need n’ t throw i t away, but l e t i t as i t i s .

Excuse me f o r i n t e r r u p t i n g you, but the s t a r - a n i s e i s an i n a u s p i c i o u s t h in g to be used b e f o r e the f a m i l y a l t a r , you know. I don’ t t h i n k i t ' s an i n a u s p i c i o u s t h i n g . As to the s t a r - a n i s e , i t n e ve r changes i t s c o l o r i n the f o u r seasons and is an e v e r g r e e n l i k e a p i n e - t r e e and a kin d o f a mandarine or a ng e.

L i k e a w i s e man t h a t Tadat sugu i s , I 'm g l a d he had the s t a r - a n i s e used, i n s t e a d .

W e l l , then, l o r d , y o u ' l l h a v e ---- . The s t a r - a n i s e used as i t i s ---- . R e a lly ?

I e : Both: Hiko: Sa : H i k o : Sa: Hiko:

Oh, y e s , from to day on we s h a l l have i t used as our f a m i l y custom.

C e r t a i n l y .

" He ar in g the d e t a i l s , Mototada f e e l s i l l a t e a s e . "

W e ll , Mr. Sakai, si n c e the enemy f o r c e i s c l o s e at hand, I a s s e r t e d th at we should

have the c a s t l e - g a t e c l o s e d , the bri d ge cut o f f and keep o f f the enemy. Although l o r d d i d n ’ t a gr e e to my i d e a , I f e l t uneasy and was running to ward o f f the enemy when you stopped me.

Wh a t ’ s your i n t e n t i o n in c o n n e c ti o n w i t h t h i s ? Excuse me f o r my rudeness under the i n f l u e n c e o f

l i q u o r , but you ne ed n’ t make p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r k e e p in g o f f the enemy as l o r d s a i d .

W e l l , then, do you mean to say t h a t you a g r e e w i t h l o r d ?

T h e y ' r e mere t r o o p s from Koshu, so you ne ed n’ t make p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r i t .

Should they f o r c e t h e i r way i n t o h e r e , I would g l a r e at them w i t h my l a r g e ey es and send them away.

Don’ t w or ry about i t .

W e ll , y o u ’ re i n t o x i c a t e d , so have made l i g h t o f them, but nowadays Shingen Takeda i s in the ascendant and we ll-kn own f o r h i s v a l o u r .

-Sa: H i k o : Sa: H i k o : Sa: I e :

Under h i s command t h e r e are o n l y brave h e ro e s as w e l l as the t w e n t y - e i g h t g e n e r a l s , so i t i s not t oo much t o say t h a t th e r e i s no hope o f our v i c t o r y . Thereupon I urged l o r d to make p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r a d e f e n s i v e war, but he d i d n ’ t adopt my p l a n . Now t h e r e i s no h e l p f o r i t . I f

the enemy f o r c e come, I would die f i g h t i n g at the c a s t l e - g a t e and hand down the f a i r name o f T o r i i to p o s t e r i t y .

"Knowing h i s f i r m d e t e r m i n a t i o n , Tadatsugu c l a p s h i s h a n d s . "

We ll s a i d !

You’ r e a p a t t e r n o f the w a r r i o r . How admirable you are!

( O f f e r s the b o t t l e o f r i c e - w i n e to Hikoemon.) By the way, won’ t you have a drink?

I d i s l i k e r i c e - w i n e .

Oh, don’ t say such a t h i n g , but d r i n k . I say, I d i s l i k e i t . I t ’ s s i l l y o f you t h a t you d i s l i k e r i c e - w i n e which i s s a i d to be Heaven’ s g i f t . (Takes up the c u p . ) We l l , i f you don’ t dr in k I ’ l l dr in k w i t h t h i s c u p , i n s t e a d . Oh, b r in g th e cup h e r e .

3 Sa: I e : Sa: L a dy : Ie: Sa: I e : Sa: W e l l , then, l o r d

---We’ ve had a d e s p e r a t e b a t t l e s i n c e t h i s morning, so I should l i k e to be r e l i e v e d o f the f a t i g u e and

have

a d r i n k h e r e .

Very w e l l .

"He t ake s up the wooden stand and o f f e r s i t to I e y a su " .

(S aka i o f f e r s the wooden stand w i t h the cups on i t to I e y a s u . )

I ’ l l f i l l your cup.

"The la dy f i l l s t h e g e n e r a l ' s cup and the g e n e r a l d r a i n s the cup f i l l e d w i t h r i c e - w i n e . "

( I e y a s u d r i n k s i t u p . )

Come n e a r er to me, Tadatsugu. C e r t a i n l y .

Here i s how!

Thank you, I ' l l take your cup and dri nk w i t h i t . " I f the enemy f o r c e should make a r a i d on the c a s t l e now, they, l o r d and r e t a i n e r , would have exchanged f a r e w e l l c u p s . "

( Watanabe f i l l s Tad at sug u’ s cup, so Tadatsugu i s about to dr ink when he exchanges g l a n c e s w i t h I e y a s u . The lady takes n o t i c e o f i t and seems t o understand t h e i r mind.

Sakai d r a i n s the cup, wipes i t w i t h a sh eet o f waste paper and o f f e r s i t t o I e y a s u . Ieyasu d r i n k s .

Sa:

I e :

L a d y : I e : Lady: I e : Shiba: Both: I e :

Both o f them seem to be l o s t in t h o u g h t . )

W e ll , we c a n ' t d r i n k r i c e - w i n e to our s a t i s f a c t i o n . With the a t t a c k i n g f o r c e as a r e l i s h , l e t ' s

drink o u r s e l v e s to death t o n i g h t .

(Thereupon Iey a su seems to be i n t o x i c a t e d . ) By g o l l y ! I c a n ' t d r i n k any more.

I ' v e been t i r e d s i n c e t h i s morning and am v e r y s l e e p y now.

I ' l l go to the i n n e r room and take a s n oo z e. W e ll , then, d a r l i n g , are you g o i n g to s l e e p in the i n n e r room now?

Oh, I ' m so s l e e p y th at I c a n ' t put up w i t h i t . Excuse me, but ther e i s now t h e enemy b i g f o r c e i n the c a st l e - t o w n .

They might make a r a i d on t h i s c a s t l e a t any moment.

I t ' s t oo audacious o f you to go to s l e e p in such an atmosphere.

Oh, d o n ' t w o r ry .

I t ' s good f o r my h e a l t h to go to s l e e p and take a r e s t f o r a w h i l e t i l l the enemy f o r c e comes here.

W e l l , t h e n ---Lord.

I ' l l take a snooze in the inne r room, so you should have the c a s t l e - g a t e wide open and be r ea dy f o r the c a m p - f i r e s .

5

-Both: C e r t a i n l y .

Ie: Then, Tadatsugu.

Sa: Lo r d.

Ie: I ’ l l see you l a t e r on.

" T h in k in g no th in g o f t h e b i g enemy f o r c e , he i s courageous enough to e n t e r the i n n e r room w i t h his l a d y . "

( I e y a su goes ahead o f h i s l a d y and the w a i t i n g - maids and e n t e r s the i n n e r room.)

Wata: L e t ’ s go to the f r o n t - g a t e r i g h t now.

Shiba: And w e ’ l l t e l l our men t o guard the gate and make ready f o r the ca m p - f i re s .

Sa: Oh, you mustn’ t be o f f your guard. Hurry up, h u r ry u p ! (Urges them to go w i t h his fan.) Both: Then, g o o d - b y e .

" A f t e r s a y i n g good-bye to him, bo th o f them hast en to the c a s t l e - g a t e . "

(Both o f them go i n t o the stage p a s s a g e . )

Sa: Now t h a t l o r d i s a s l e e p , I a l s o f e e l s l e e p y as I ’ ve been drunk.

W e l l , I ' l l a l s o go t o s l e e p .

"Saemon l a y s h i s head on h i s own elbow and l i e s down. Mea n w h i l e , Hikoemon f e e l s i l l at e a s e . "

(J u st then Saemon l i e s down, c o v e r s h i s face w i t h the f a n and f a l l s a s l e e p .

H i ko : Kaed e: H i k o : Kaed e: Hiko : Ka ed e: Hik o : Ka e d e : H i k o : Meanwhile, H i k o e mon i s i n t h o u g h t . ) I ’ m q u i t e d i s g u s t e d a t t h i s scene.

Not only l o r d but a l s o Saemon-dono w e a r i n g a p e a c e f u l hemp-made c e r e m o n i a l robe i s l y i n g f u l l l e n g t h

on the mat d e s p i t e the approa ch ing b i g enemy f o r c e o f more than t h i r t y thousand cavalrymen. I ’ m d i s g u s t e d w i t h them.

Now t h e r e i s no h e l p f o r i t .

There i s no o t h e r way f o r me but to die f i g h t i n g . Well , then, a re you g o i n g to die f i g h t i n g

b e f o r e t o n i g h t ?

Oh, y e s , I would r a t h e r d i e than become a coward w ith h e s i t a t i o n .

No wonder y o u ’ ve made up your mind to do so,

but I t hi nk they have some profound reason f o r i t , so ple as e w a i t a moment.

They c a n ' t have any profound reason f o r i t . There i s no time to l o s e .

But ple as e w a i t t i l l Mr. Honda and Mr. Okubo come back.

Oh, don’ t s t o p me.

Oh, pleas e w a i t a moment.

"She c l i n g s to Mototada and d e t a i n s him when he n od s. "

Indeed ther e i s a g r a i n o f t r u t h in your words. Both Honda-dono and Okubo-dono are s t i l l missing,

Kaede:

H i k o :

K a ed e: Hiko:

Fuseya:

We l l , then, wi l l you w a i t ? Now y o u ’ d

b e t t e r have your wound t r e a t e d t i l l b o t h o f them r e t u r n .

Oh, I ne e d n ' t have such a s l i g h t wound by the spear t r e a t e d .

But y o u ' d b e t t e r a ppl y an ointment to i t . We l l , i t ' s no use to do so, as I ' l l d i e v e r y s o o n .

"He b r a c e s h i m s e l f up and r i s e s to h i s f e e t , but c a n ' t walk owing to the pain on h i s f o o t , so he le a n s a g a i n s t the spe a r and manages t o go away w i t h h i s younger s i s t e r . "

(As the words o f the j o r u r i r e c i t e d , they go to the l e f t . The b e l l announcing the time soun ds .) " A f t e r they a r e gone, s i l e n c e p r e v a i l s . Saemon c a n ' t hear the b e l l r i n g i n g , but snores l o u d l y . Saemon ' s e l d e r s i s t e r Fuseya who has been

o v e r h e a r i n g them in a room comes out s t e a l t h i l y and g e t s near h im ."

(From the i n t e r i o r comes out Fuseya w e a r i n g a lon g o v e r - d r e s s ; she seems to be r a t h e r o l d . )

Here, h e r e , Tadatsugu, Tadatsugu!

"She r o u t s him out o f bed when he b l i n k s h i s e y e s ." (Saemon l i f t s h i s head and lo ok s a t F u s e y a . )

Oh, e l d e r s i s t e r , w h a t ' s

Sa: the matter?

-Fuse: I ’ ve some business w i t h you, so wake up. Sa: I d o n ' t know what bu sin ess you have w i t h me,

but I f e e l v e r y s l e e p y , so p l e a s e excuse me f o r a w h i l e . (A gai n l i e s down when she r o u ts him o u t . )

F u s e : I say, wake up, wake up. Sa: C e r t a i n l y , I ’ m g e t t i n g up.

" H e p l a c e s h i s hands t o g e t h e r on the mat when she l o o ks a t h i m . "

F u s e: W e l l , Tadatsugu, I c a n ’ t understand your mind. You see, in t h i s b a t t l e the enemy g e n e r a l i s the famous Shingen Takeda o f K a i and w i t h Baba and Yamagata i n the van t h e r e a r e more than t h i r t y thousand cavalrymen under h i s command,

so even i f the f o r c e o f the House o f Oda t ak es s i d e s w i t h us th er e w i l l be almost no hope o f our v i c t o r y w i t h the small f o r c e .

Our l o r d has n e v e r had such a hard b a t t l e

b e f o r e , so I i , Honda, Okubo-dono and the oth er C h i e f r e t a i n e r s are c u d g e l i n g t h e i r b r a i n s how to win the b a t t l e and have p r a c t i c a l l y no time to take thr ee me a l s a day.

E s p e c i a l l y t od a y our f o r c e has been d e f e a t e d by them, so they might r a i d here a t any moment and not o n l y la dy but a l s o I , Fuseya, am i n m o r t a l f e a r . D e s p i t e t h a t , y o u ’ r e h e l p l e s s l y drunk though today i s the a u s p i c i o u s day b e f o r e the

11

o f f i c i a l b e g i n n i n g o f s p r i n g . What a c o n t e m p t i b l e f e l l o w you are!

"A l t h o u g h I ' m a woman, I , Fuseya, am i n charge

o f the inne r p a l a c e . Sorry t o say, my e x p o s t u l a t i o n f a l l s on your d e a f e a r s . "

(Fuseya draws c l o s e to him and says s o . ) Sa: Now I understand y o u r bus i n e s s w i t h me.

Even i f Takeda’ s b i g f o r c e should break i n t o t h i s c a s t l e , I , Tadatsugu, would keep them o f f by a s t r a t a g e m . ( H i t s h i s c h e s t and shows

t h a t he i s s t i l l i n t o x i c a t e d . ) You needn’ t worry about i t .

Fuse: Oh, I c a n ' t understand you. Even Shokatsu

Garyu would be unable t o keep o f f the b i g enemy f o r c e onl y by h i s ruse

Even i f the famous Choryo and Kusunoki coun sel t o g e t h e r at home and in China t o say n o t h i n g o f Shokatsu Garyu, they would be no match f o r me so f a r as a s tr at a ge m i s concerned.

P l e a s e w a i t and s e e .

"Jus t then the t o l l o f the s h e l l b e l l i s heard v i o l e n t l y when h i s e l d e r s i s t e r Fuseya g e t s a s t o n i s h e d .

Over t h e r e at the d r o p - c u r t a i n the sound o f a

Fuse:

bamboo-trumpet i s h e a r d . " Grac iou s!

Fuse: Sa: Fuse: Sa: Fuse: Sa: Fuse:

The s h e l l - b e l l and drum are sounded near h e r e ; the enemy must have advanced on t he o u t s i d e o f t h i s c a s t l e .

"She g e t s a s t o n i s h e d a t the sound, s t r e t c h e s h e r s e l f up and l o o k s a t the d i r e c t i o n .

Meanwhile, he a gai n r e s t s h i s head on h i s own e l b o w . "

(J u st then Tadatsugu a g a i n l i e s down. Fuseya l o o k s a t h i m . )

Here, h e r e , Tadatsugu, I ' m sure the enemy has advanced near t h i s c a s t l e .

L i s t e n ! C an 't you hear the sound o f the s h e l l - b e l l ? C an 't you hear the noi s e?

"She s e i z e s him by the neck and l i f t s him u p . " Oh, you n e e d n ' t g e t so much e x c i t e d .

Even i f I ’ m i n t o x i c a t e d w i t h l i q u o r , I c a r e f o r my l i f e as w e l l as my name j u s t the same.

As I t o l d you j u s t now, I ’ ve many a s tr at a ge m a t hand, so you n e e d n ' t w or ry about i t .

I f y o u ' v e such a s tr at a ge m r e a l l y , t e l l me o f i t

and

s e t

my mind a t r e s t .

Oh, no, I c a n ’ t t e l l you o f i t . W e l l , then, have you t o l d me a l i e ? How c o u l d I t e l l you a l i e ?

13 Sa: Fuse: Sa: Fuse: Speaking o f a s tr at a ge m , i t i s b e t t e r to be kept s e c r e t . But -Oh, how o b s t i n a t e ! P l e a s e f o r g i v e me.

"He a gai n l i e s down and s n o r e s . She f e e l s l i k e c r y i n g but keeps back her t e a r s . "

(He again l i e s down and s n o r e s . Fuseya k eeps back her t e a r s . )

You must have been possessed by an e v i l s p i r i t . Since you f i r s t went to the f r o n t a t the age o f f i f t e e n y o u ’ ve nev e r f a i l e d to t a ke the f i e l d a t s e v e r a l b a t t l e s up to now and come t o be c a l l e d one o f the fo u r Devos o f the House o f Tokugawa. I t has been not only the c r e d i t to our house, but a l s o your honor.

Up to now I ’ ve f e l t proud in charge o f the inner p a l a c e , but j ust now I f e l t m o r t i f i e d to ov er he a r the maids in t h e i r room s a y , " M r . Sakai i s a

coward, so he was or d e r ed by l o r d to l o o k a f t e r t h i s c a s t l e in h i s absence today and c o u l d n ' t a c c o mpany him. "

I wanted to t e l l them . "

Oh, no, my younger b r o t h e r i s n ’ t such a c o w a r d ," but you were h e l p l e s s l y drunk, so I was o b l i g e d

Fu s e :

You see how v e x a t i o u s I f e l t , d o n ' t you?

I f you a r e n ' t i n f l u e n c e d by l i q u o r , r e n d e r a m e r i t o r i o u s deed w i t h might and main so t h a t you, Tadatsugu Sakai, w i l l go down in h i s t o r y as the b r a v e s t h e r o .

Although I 'm a woman, I ' m r e s o l v e d to p e r fo r m a d i s t i n g u i s h e d s e r v i c e s u p e r i o r to men and be worthy o f S a k a i ' s e l d e r s i s t e r .

C a n 't you hear my admonition?

Y ou ’ re s n o r i n g l o u d l y as i f my a d v i c e f e l l on your d e a f e a r s .

What a d e s p i c a b l e mind you have!

I w o n ' t r e g a r d you as my younger b r o t h e r any more, so you y o u r s e l f m u s tn 't c a l l me your e l d e r

s i s t e r .

"The sound o f the s h e l l - b e l l i s aga in h e a r d . " I t se ems the enemy f o r c e i s g e t t i n g n e a r e r and n e a r e r .

They m ig ht br e a k i n t o here a t any moment, so I' 11 urge l a d y to be prepared f o r deat h so t h a t she might not d i e i g n o b l y .

" L i k e the h e r o ' s daughter t h a t she i s , she

calmly goes to the inner pal ace in a manly manner w it h o u t shedding t e a r s . "

15

-Hik o:

( Fuseya i s about t o draw n e a r S a k a i . Just then on the l e f t Hikoemon comes out and exchanges g l a n c e s w ith Fuseya, who pr e te n d s ig no r a nc e and e n t e r s the i n t e r i o r . )

"O ve r h ea r in g the whole s t o r y , Hikoemon comes ou t on t i p t o e .

"

( Wi t h the sound o f the b e l l announcing the time, from t h e l e f t c ome s out s t e a l t h i l y Hikoemon w i t h the s p e a r . )

Although h i s r e a l e l d e r s i s t e r gave him a d v i c e , her a d v i c e f e l l on h i s d e a f e a r s and he i s now

s n o r in g l o u d l y .

Has he f e i g n e d t o be a s l e e p f o r some reason or i s he r e a l l y f a s t a s l e e p ?

Hm, I ' l l make i t s u r e .

"He works the spear through h i s hand d r a g g i n g h i m s e l f a lo n g and s h o u t s . "

Hiko:

Sa:

Hiko:

and ho ld s h i m s e l f ready t o f i g h t w i t h the s p e a r . )

Oh, how cowardly you are, Tadatsugu Saemon. I f y o u ’ re o f no s e r v i c e t o l o r d , y o u ' l l b e of no service to lord, yo u ’ l l l i v e out in v a i n , so I ’ l l t a k e your l i f e .

" H e a r in g his words, Saemon l i f t s his h e a d . ” ( S aemon l i f t s h i s head w h i l e l y i n g

down. )

Oh, Mr . T o r i i , what are you g o i n g t o do w i t h me?

Y o u ' r e h e l p l e s s l y drunk at such an i m po r ta n t moment, Saemon.

Should the enemy f o r c e f o r c e t h e i r way i n t o t h i s c a s t l e and t h r u s t

a t you l i k e t h i s , what would you do? "Hikoemon t h r u s t s at Saemon's ch est when

Saemon pushes a s i d e the spe a r , s o Hikoemon f a l l s on h i s b u t to c k s , but he i s a l s o

a hero and a gai n t h r u s t s a t Saemon.

Tadatsugu r i s e s to h i s f e e t , makes a s w i f t p a r r y , t a k e s t h e sp ear and t h r u s t s him away.

Sa:

Donami:

Hikoemon f e e l s a pain on h i s f o o t and t o t t e r s . Saemon f o l d s h i s hands and s t r e t c h e s h i m s e l f up. The lame man and drunkard have an i n t e r e s t i n g rough-tumble w i t h ea ch o t h e r .

Sakai stan ds u n r i g h t , holds h i m s e l f ready t o f i g h t w i t h the fan and y e t seems t o be drunk. Hikoemon t r i e s t o t h r u s t at him, but n o t i c e s th at he i s on the a l e r t and seems t o be st ruc k

w i t h a d m i r a t i o n . Ag a i n they s t r u g g l e with

each o t h e r and Sakai knocks down the spear w i t h the f a n . Hikoemon t r i e s t o p i c k up the

spear when Sakai h i t s h i s hand, so Hikoemon's hand g e t s benumbed. S akai t a k e s up t h e spear and t r i e s t o t h r u s t Hikoemon w i t h i t t o t t e r i n g l y under the i n f l u e n c e o f l i q u o r .

Hikoemon f i n d s i t d i f f i c u l t t o ward i t o f f .

Af t e r a l l Sakai t r i ps up Hikoemon w i t h the t i p of the wooden p a r t o f the s p e a r .

Hikoemon f a l l s and seems t o be out o f b r e a t h . Say, anyone, g i v e me a g l a s s of w a t e r . (C lap s h i s hands.) Very w e l l . " I n r e p l y , a w a i t e r comes w i t h a s i l v e r 2 -cup f u l l o f wat e r . "

( F rom the i n t e r i o r comes out Donami, a w a i t e r , w i t h a s i l v e r y cup on

a b l a c k t r a y and pu t s i t b e f o r e Sakai, who t akes i t and dr i nks the w a t e r . ) S a : Water t o t a k e o f f t h e fumes of r i c e - w i n e

i s v e r y n i c e i nde e d.

( Me a n wh i l e , Hikoemon seems to be s t i l l out o f b r e a t h . S akai n o t i c e s i t ,

s t r o k e s the edge of the cup wi t h h i s f i n g e r and o f f e r s i t t o Hikoemon, who t akes i t and d r i n k s the w a t e r . )

" J ust t hen t he c l o c k s t r i k e s s i x . " Don: Oh, the c l o c k has a l r e a d y s t r u c k s i x

in t he e v e n i n g . W e l l , I s h a l l have t o beat t h e dru m.

"So s a y i n g , he goes up t he t u r r e t , but g e t s a s t o n i s h e d t o see the enemy. ”

(The w a i t e r goes up the t u r r e t , takes up t he d ru m -s tic k and g e t s s t a r t l e d t o see over t h e r e , so he g o e s down h u r r i e d l y and t r e m b l e s . )

Ta k e d a ' s f o r c e , so when t h e y l a y s i e g e t o t h i s c a s t l e , I ' m a f r a i d t hey w i l l take my l i f e .

( Trembles . )

Don: Mr. Sakai , i t ’ s a s e r i o u s m a t t e r . Sa: He y , Donami, w h a t ' s the mat t er ?

4

Sa: Oh, wh at a b a c k b o n e l e s s f e l l o w you a r e ! I t ' s a w a r r i o r ' s wi s h t o d i e on the b a t t l e - f i e l d . Such a s p i r i t l e s s guy as you w o n ' t be a b l e t o b e a t the drum. I ' l l beat i t f o r you.

( S aemon t a k e s the w a i t e r ' s drum-stick and s t a r t s r i s i n g t o h i s f e e t . )

Don: How could you b e a t the drum as y o u ' r e h e a v i l y drunk?

S a : I ’ m a l r i g h t however much I may d r i n k . Don: Oh, no, y o u ' r e t o t t e r i n g .

Sa: L e t me g o !

"Donami d e t a i n s Saemon, but he t h r u s t s Donami away and go es up th e t u r r e t t o t t e r i n g l y . "

(Meanwhile, the s t a g e r e v o l v e s when the c a s t l e - t u r r e t w i t h the drum on i t comes t o the

c e n t e r . Just then Saemon r i s e s t o h i s f e e t t o t t e r i n g l y . Meanwhile, Hikoemon i s

l o o k i n g a t him. From the l e f t comes out Kaede w it h the box f i l l e d w i t h beans on the

K a e d e : Hi ko: Hiko:

S a :

Hiko:

K ae de : E l der b r o t h e r , y o u ’ re in charge of t o d a y ’ s b e an - th r ow in g .

As i t has s t r u c k s i x , w i l l you pl e a s e throw the beans? ( O f f e r s the wooden stand to h i m . ) Okay.

"Meanwhile, Saemon opens h i s e y e s wide under the i n f l u e n c e o f l i q u o r and g l a r e s a t

the t r o o p s of Koshu having marched near t h e o u t s i d e o f t h e c a s t l e . ”

(He l e a n s a g a i n s t th e p i l l a r s t a g g e r i n g l y and l o o k s st er n w i t h h i s e y e s wide o p e n . ) " He b e a t s the drum w i th the d r u m - s t i c k

w i t h might and main when the sound o f the drum r e v e r b e r a t e s . "

(He b e a t s the drum when with t h i s sound the snow on t h e e a v e s s c a t t e r s .

The w a i t e r g e t s a s t o n i s h e d . Hikoemon i s in t h o u g h t . )

Oh, th e e a r - s p l i t t i n g sound o f the drum! ( Saemon seems to be s t i l l i n t o x i c a t e d . )

Have you understood my t ru e mind? Oh, y e s , I ' m ashamed o f m y s e l f .

Hm! ( Ag a i n b e a t s t h e d r u m . )

Hi k o :

Baba:

( O f f e r s the wooden stand t o Hikoemon, who takes i t .)

A l r i g h t . ( Throws the be a n s .)

De v i l s out, d e v i l s out!

(With the sound o f the drum, the

stage-s e t t i n g stage-s r e v o l v e . )

The s t a g e r e p r e s e n t s the ou ts i d e of the

Hamamatsu C a s t l e . Here i s se ate d Baba Minonokami on the s t o o l w earing an armor, g a u n t l e t s ,

a l a r g e sword and a surcoat and

commands h i s army; b e s i d e him one of h i s r e t a i n e r s ho ld s Mi n on ok a m i's helmet and a number o f h i s s o l d i e r s s i t in a row.

With the sound of the drum, the s t a g e - s e t t i n g s are pl a c e d s u i t a b l y .

" Across the moat Nobufusa Baba, gen eral

o f the van, t a k e s up a p o s i t i o n and g e t s a s t o n i s h e d to hear the sound of the drum from the enemy's c a s t l e t h i n k i n g i t

a s t r a t a g e m . "

Wel l, I c a n ' t understand the e a r - p i e r c i n g sound

of the drum.

Th a t ’ s because the enemy camp

6

Althou gh they have been put t o r o u t

in the b a t t l e s i n c e t h i s morning l e a v i n g the dead bo die s o f many s o l d i e r s ,

in s p i t e of the e x i s t e n c e o f our b i g f o r c e o f t h i r t y - f i v e thousand men

o u t s id e of t h e c a s t l e , they seem n o t t o be a f r a i d o f u s. The enemy g e n e r a l i s courageous and w i t t y , so he must have some st r a t a ge m .

The Fi r s t f o l l o w e r : Excuse us f o r i n t e r r u p t i n g you, b u t ---- .

The Second F o l l o w e r : They have opened the c a s t l e - g a t e and are making c a m p - f i r e s.

The Th i r d F o l l o w e r : They seem t o have made no p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r i t .

The F ourth F o l l o w e r : I s i t a s t r a t a g e m j u s t the same? A l l : I s i t ?

Ba: Even the man who b e a t s the drum announcing the ti m e seems t o be v e r y courageous, s o we s h a n ' t be a bl e t o f o r c e our way i n t o the c a s t l e so e a s i l y .

"Baba c a n ' t understand the s i t u a t i o n o f the enemy camp and watches i t .

8 Yamagata: Ba : Yama: B a : Yama: Ba: Yama: Ba: (O v e r t h e r e Yamagata comes o u t . ) H u l l o , Mr. Baba. Ha l l o , Mr. Yamagata.

I must t e l l you, Nobufusa-dono.

There seems to be onl y a hand ful o f men in the c a s t l e , s o w e ' r e go ing t o a t t a c k i t r i g h t

away. What do you think o f i t ?

Sin c e t h i s morning our f o r c e has won the b a t t l e , so we’ ve wanted t o a t t a c k the enemy by t a k i n g advantage o f our v i c t o r y ,

but you heard the sound of the drum from the enemy camp j u s t now, d i d n ’ t y o u ?

Y e s , I d i d .

What do you t h i n k o f the sound of t h e drum? I t h i n k the drum sounded w e l l .

" He a r i n g h i s words, Nobufusa n o d s . ” Excuse me f o r pushing m y s e l f fo rw a rd ,

but whenever our l o r d Shingen speaks o f m i l i t a r y a f f a i r s , he say s th at the sound of the drum in the enemy camp has a g r e a t d e a l w i t h v i c t o r y or d e f e a t and when the enemy has a small

f o r c e n a t u r a l l y the sound of the drum becomes low and the c a m p - f i r e s d o not burn w e l l .

Yama:

Ba:

S in c e t h i s morning they have l o s t the b a t t l e and w e ’ ve advanced a g a i n s t them near the c a s t l e , so t h e y ’ re in pe r i l , but t h ey h a v e n ' t cut o f f the f r o n t - b r i d g e , have opened the c a s t l e - g a t e ,

made a b l a z i n g c a m p - f i r e at s e v e r a l p l a c e s and d o n ' t seem t o be a f r a i d o f us. No wonder they have

a s t r a t a g e m .

(H ea r i n g hi s w o r d s , Yamagata laughs m o c k i n g l y . )

Y o u ' r e t r o u b l e d about i t , but they c a n ' t

have a s t r a t a g e m . W e l l , even i f t h e y have a st r a t a g e m , such a s m a ll c a s t l e with o n ly a handful of men in i t w i l l f a l l in a t w i n k l i n g i f we make a r a i d on i t a l l a t once. T h a t ’ s why I ' m of o p in io n th at we should a t t a c k i t a l l a t once. What y o u ' v e sa id i s r e a s o n a b l e , but through a l l a g e s in b a t t l e wisdom

i s b e t t e r than v a l o r . When the famous g e n e r a l Ma s a s h i g e Kusunoki remained in s e c l u s i o n

in the Chihaya c a s t l e w i t h a small f o r c e , A s h i k a g a ’ s b i g f o r c e o f more than one hundred

10

-Yama:

Ba:

cavalrymen a t t a c k e d i t , but l o r d

Kusunoki used a c l e v e r s tr at a ge m and had l a r g e t r e e s and s t o n e s f a l l e n or s p r i n k l e d hot w a t er on them, s o numbers o f them died in a c t i o n . This i s a case o f the b i g f o r c e ’ s mistake in contempt o f the sma ll f o r c e .

I know such a thing w i t h o u t h e a r i n g your l e c t u r e , but they s u f f e r e d such a d e f e a t because t h ey were t i m i d , I should say.

Even i f the enemy throw l a r g e t r e e s or s t o n e s a t us, we could occupy even the

Chihaya C a s t l e i f we a t t a c k i t c o u r a g e o u s l y . Th i s small c a s t l e i s i n f e r i o r t o the c a s t l e , so w h at ev er str ata gem th ey may have, how could we f a i l t o occupy i t ?

"He i n s i s t s on h i s i d e a , but Baba s m i l e s . " Oh, I d o n ’ t th ink

so.

The

lo rd of

th e

c a s t l e

i sn’ t i n f e r i o r

even

t o

the

famous

g e n e r a l Lord K

usunoki.

E s p e c i a l l y

under his

command

there are a g r e a t many

strong

w a r r i o r s as w e l l as th e

four Devos.

Alt h o u g h we a r e t o march on the c a s t l e , t h ey have opened the c a s t l e - g a t e and, made camp-fires.

Yama:

Ba b a :

Yama:

More ove r, one of them shouted, " D e v i l s out" ,

in c e l e b r a t i o n o f r e p u l s i o n of the d i s a s t e r and th e sound o f the drum r e v e r b e r a t e d . Even th e

footmen and young su bo rd in a te r e t a i n e r s seem t o be in hi g h s p i r i t s .

Although the pe ople in the c a s t l e are s m a l l in number, t h e y a r e equal to one m i l l i o n .

Oh, no, whatever you may s a y , i f we are a f r a i d of them l i k e you and u n l e s s

we t ake t h i s c a s t l e by storm, i t ’ l l be a d i s c r e d i t t o Lord Shingen who has c a r r i e d e v e r y t h i n g

b e f o r e him in the neighboring p r o v i n c e

& o t h e r p r o v i n c e s . U nless we f i g h t a b a t t l e w i t h the enemy, w e ' l l be laughed

at by Oda and Ho j o and i t ' l l be a d i s h o n o r t o our l o r d , so I , Yamagata, w i l l l a y s i e g e to the c a s t l e w i t h my men t o n i g h t .

But I , Nobufusa, have been or de re d by our l o r d t o lea d the van, so i f you f o r e s t a l l me and l ead the van, y o u ' l l d i s o b e y our l o r d ’ s

m i l i t a r y command.

I know i t , but y o u ’ re to blame f o r i t , as you behave co wa rd ly .

12 B a : Yama: Ba: Yama: Ba : Yama: Ba : W e l l , we s h o u l d n ' t march on the c a s t l e so e a s i l y f o r f e a r that i t might be a d i s g r a c e t o our l o r d . I f you break the m i l i t a r y command and l e a d the van, we w o n ' t l e t you pass here though y o u ' r e on our s i d e .

What? D o n ' t g e t e x c i t e d , but w a i t t i l l our l o r d o r d e r s us to d o s o . But I ' m s o r r y ---Ar e you g o i n g to d i s o b e y our l o r d ' s d i r e c t i v e ? Now I c a n ' t he lp i t . "He f i r e s a r o c k e t in r e a d i n e s s as a s i g n a l when hi s s o l d i e r s surge l i k e a f l o o d . "

(Yamagata takes out a r o c k e t and f i r e s i t as a s i g n a l when w i t h the sound numbers o f h i s common s o l d i e r s come out and stand in a row on the s t a g e p a s s a g e .

Baba n o t i c e s them.)

Oh, d o n ' t get e x c i t e d , but keep s i l e n t .

Our l o r d h a s n ' t y e t g i v e n us h i s d i r e c t i o n s , but i f you get the s t a r t o f me though I , Nobuhide, am to l e a d the Van a c c o r d i n g t o our l o r d ’ s d i r e c t i v e , y o u ' l l d i s o b e y the

A l l : Ba: A l l : Ba : A l l : Ba: A l l : B a : Ba: Yama: Ba:

m i l i t a r y command and r e c e i v e a punishment as wi c k e d men.

But ---.

We l l , then, a r e you g o i n g t o d i s o b e y the m i l i t a r y command, Yamagata's men?

Oh, no.

Then, withdraw from h e r e . Bu t .

Then, withdraw from h e r e . Bu t .

I s a y , you must withdraw from h e r e . "W i t h h i s thundering v o i c e ,

the common s o l d i e r s turn b a c k . "

" J u s t then the sound o f a s h e l l - t r u m p e t i s h e a r d . ” (Ove r t h e r e the sound o f a s h e l l - t r u m p e t

or a bamboo-trumpet i s h e a r d . ) L i s t e n , Ma s a k a g e - d o n o !

In the d i r e c t i o n of the he ad qu a rt er s the sound o f the s h e l l - t r u m p e t i s heard,

so the commanding g e n e r a l has guessed that the enemy has some s tr at a ge m and

i s ready to wi thdraw, I should sa y . The enemy i s under our eye s, though. Anyway we s h a l l have t o a c t a cc o rd in g

14 -Yama: How v e x a t i o u s ! Ba: D o n ' t g e t so much e x c i t e d . Yama: Hum. B a : Withdraw! Yama: Do as you l i k e !

"Hearing the sound o f the sh ell- tr u m pet,

Masakage Yamagata turns back against his w i l l

in

the

snow."

(Yamagata goes away, f o l l o w e d

by

h i s s o l d i e r s . Baba sees then o f f . )

" Seeing them o f f , Nobufusa runs his eyes over

the

enemy camp."

Ba: Although th ey have been d e f e a t e d by us s i n c e t h i s morning, t h e pe o p l e in t h e c a s t l e seem not to

be a f r a i d o f us. Judging from the l i v e l y sound o f the drum announcing t h e s i x t h hour, t h e l o r d o f the c a s t l e must

be

the g r e a t e s t g e n e r a l o f a l l t i m e s .

Although he i s at present Oda’ s vassal, in the

future h e ' l l take the shogunate.

Ah, wisdom united with benevolence

is

man’ s treasure.

"He is struck with admiration."

(T he s t a g e - se t t i n g s re v o lv e three times.)